The Quiet One

11 | Gallivanting Off with a Ninja

I'm so sorry for the lack of updates, everyone! It's been what, two, three months?!
IM SO SORRY GUYSS
Onto the story: this chapter, like many to come, is mostly transcribed directly from the TV series. However I am not making it an exact replica of the existing show, because... where's the fun in that? Just to let you know. :) Now enjoy! Feel free to comment and vote.

Faster.

I sprinted along the rooftops of the palace, knowing that the loud shattering of glass caught someone's (with luck, Lloyd's) attention. I had predicted and prepared for all possible outcomes, even the most absurd ones, and most of them could be solved with either sweet-talking and/or a knife.

Before long, I heard the clinking of roof tiles as someone ran, slid, and leaped after me. From the sounds of it, I was a rooftop ahead of my pursuer. It gave me some pride to realize that a Ninja couldn't catch up to me-- a princess who had no proper training whatsoever, while they had years of it.

I glanced back, making sure my massive bag was clearly visible, and suppressed a grin as a green-robed figure chased after me. For someone who should be a mysterious Ninja, Lloyd was incredibly predictable, and I planned on using that to my advantage.

Having run this route several times before, I knew that I was approaching a wide street that I had to get across quickly. As I ran, I took out the grappling gun stowed under my jacket and fired at the building across from me just as I reached the edge of the roof. I then leaped, swinging through the cold night air, and pulling myself up onto the roof of the next building.

Putting my hook away, I hid behind a generator, watching with slight amusement as Lloyd tried to figure out how to get across. He decided to take the risky route of swinging on clotheslines like a gymnast, just barely making it to my side.

Once Lloyd spotted me again, I ran to the other end of the building and spotted the rusting ladder I had marked with red spray paint a couple nights before. This one was notable because it was right near the homeless childrens' canal, but mainly because it was incredibly weather-beaten and damaged. Back at the palace, it took me a couple hours of calculations to come to the conclusion that it would only be able to withstand the pressure of one more person. Lloyd would attempt to follow me once I jumped off it but his pressure on the ladder would snap one of the hinges. He would be thrown into a dangerous situation, cueing me to swoop in, save him, and begin building his trust.

Just as I predicted, Lloyd tried to climb up the ladder and one side snapped, dangling him over a rushing street. I watched him struggle for a moment when suddenly the other hinge broke.

I did not anticipate that.

Without thinking much, I threw my sack to the side and grabbed Lloyd's hand before he fell to his death. Even through his gloves, I could feel that his palm was sweaty and hot, causing his fingers to slide in mine. I tightened my grip and yanked him up to safety, the two of us watching the mangled ladder fall onto an unlucky car with a loud clang.

I realized I was still holding his hand and quickly let go, stepping away from him and trying to shake off the tingling feeling in my fingers. Crap. Why did I save him? I never show mercy. I should have just let him die. He would have deserved it, and it would have a devastating effect on his precious little friends.

So why did I save him?

Fighting to grasp a satisfactory answer, I realized that if I hadn't rescued him and he had died, my plans would never play out and he would never pay for his actions. Besides, there would be no fun in letting him die by falling into a street.