Miraculously from Ninjago | Stranded in Etheria

57 - What is Love?

*breaks out in song* What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more

——————

Cole's POV

After running around the city for the past half hour looking for y/n, Chloe and I sat at a bench to catch our breath.

"Do you think she's okay?" Chloé asked, wrapping her arms around herself.

"She has to be," I assured her. "Y/n's one of the strongest people I know. I'm sure she'll come to her senses eventually."

"I hope so."

We sat in silence for a few moments, trying to regain our energy.

"What do you think she's gonna choose?" Chloé asked suddenly.

"Paris," I replied immediately. "It's been her home for the last five years; I don't see that changing."

"Really? But she was raised in Ninjago..."

I shrugged. "Early childhood is hard to remember. She spent all of her teenage years in France, and I know she's going to want to continue living here."

Through the fog, I saw someone running up to us. I stood up to get a better look, and as he approached, I recognized him.

"Adrien!" I exclaimed. "Wait... where's Lloyd? I thought you two were together?"

"We found her," he breathed, putting his hands on his knees. He must have been running for a while. "Lloyd's with her at the Eiffel Tower."

"Alone? Why?"

"She's probably overwhelmed; we shouldn't all try to talk to her at once. I've already found half the search party and told them to head back to the Agreste mansion while we wait for them to talk it out."

"Are you sure they're okay by themselves?" Chloé asked.

I nodded. "If anyone can calm her down, it's Lloyd."

——————y/n's POV————-

I stared down at the streets of the city, trying to figure out what to do. Ripple had fallen asleep in my pocket, and was snoring softly. I hadn't come to a decision yet, but the more I weighed my options, the more I started to realize exactly what I wanted.

To be free.

It wasn't something that I had thought about very much, but I was starting to understand just how much freedom meant to me. I had always been tied to more than one realm at a time, and I didn't see that changing. Why did I have to pick just one place to be my home when I belonged to many?

When I first transitioned to living full-time on Earth, I still considered Ninjago my home. I didn't think that I'd ever get over the fact that I had left, but eventually, I started to see Paris as a place I might spend the rest of my life.

And now Etheria! It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen, and was also where my biological family lived. I loved adventure, and it would be amazing if I could explore the rest of that world, but if I chose to stay there, I'd be given a lot of responsibility... did I really want to be a princess? I was terrible at communicating with people—I mean, for five years the ninja all thought I was dead—so how the heck was I supposed to lead an entire kingdom which I knew nothing about?

I heard something hit the metal structure of the Eiffel Tower, and look down to see I figure dressed in black climbing up. The fog made it hard to tell who it was, but soon, it became clear who it.

"Leave me alone, Chat," I said as he sprung up onto the top of the tower.

"Plagg, claws in."

I gasped and scooted backwards as the transformation fell and revealed Lloyd, not Adrien.

"What... you... you looked exactly the same as Adrien!" I shrieked. "Wait—why do you have his miraculous? Did you steal it?! Argh, I knew you two didn't like each other but I didn't think you'd go that far to annoy him!"

"No, I didn't steal it! He let me borrow it so I could come up and find you," he said, crouching down next to me. "I'm not here to talk, I'm here to listen."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't want any of us to influence your decision. You decide where your home is. I'm not gonna tell you anything; I'm just here if you need someone to talk to so you can figure it out."

"I don't need your help," I stated stubbornly. I was still a little angry with him for the way he'd been acting lately.

"Alright," he sighed. "I'll just sit here, then. I'm here if you need me."

We sat there for a few moments without saying a word. I tried to gather my thoughts, but I couldn't focus with Lloyd right next to me. And I think he knew it, too.

"Hey, y/n, look," he started quietly. "I think I owe you an apology."

I stayed quiet.

"I'm really sorry. For everything," he continued "I don't have an excuse for my childish behaviour; I just want you to know how regretful I am."

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I forgive you."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes," I said, giving him a small smile. "There's no use holding a grudge."

He smiled back, then I turned away to watch the setting sun. I could feel his gaze lingering on me for a few moments longer, but then he moved his head away, too.

"I know I said I wasn't going to talk, and of course I'll let you make the decision yourself, but can I just say something?"

I nodded, knowing that he couldn't keep his thoughts hidden from me for long. He hesitated before proceeding.

"Y/n, I don't want to live a life without you in it. I love you. I always have... so please, just this once, stay. Stay with me."

He took my hand and looked me in the eye. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, but even with all the time in the world, I would still have a hard time answering that.

"I love you too," I said. "But... I don't know if it's in the same way."

He broke eye contact and looked away sadly.

"Lloyd, I... I don't want to hurt you."

"It's okay," he whispered. "I get it."

"No," I muttered. "It's not that I don't want to love you like that—after all we've been through together—I just... I don't..."

"You don't have to explain yourself. You love Adrien; and that's okay. He's a good guy."

"What?! Lloyd! Stop it! Yes I love him, but not romantically. I don't even know what romantic love feels like..."

I curled my legs up into my chest and rested my chin on my knees. Lloyd moved closer and reached out to my face. He gently put his hand on my cheek, and turned my head towards him.

"If the love between us is platonic, then I'm okay with that," he said. "You mean everything to me, and all I want is what's best for you, even if that means you don't want to return to Ninjago."

"I do want to return to Ninjago," I said. "I just don't know if I want to stay there forever... I'm afraid that I'll get there, and it won't feel like home."

"Well, there's only one way to know that for sure," he whispered, brushing the back of his fingers against my miraculous.

I bit my lip; it was a great idea, I just wasn't sure I was ready to go back yet.

"Come with me?" I asked timidly.

He nodded.

"Okay," I breathed, and reached for the clip. I tapped it three times, and we ended up in the first place that came to mind when I thought of Ninjago.

"Where are we?" Lloyd asked, looking around at the new setting.

"I... I don't know," I said. "I just pictured a place we used to spend a lot of time together."

We turned around to see Lloyd's old school.

"Oh my first Spinjitzu master," Lloyd muttered. "We're at Darkley's."