Chapter Text
An old man makes his way quietly up to the sleepy shop. He carries nothing but a staff, and a katana on his back. The only sounds around him are the breeze billowing around his straw hat, beard, and staff, making contact with the floor.
Eventually, the old man stops before the door of the tea shop. He pushes gently, a soft chime from the bell above rings, and movement can be heard from behind the beaded curtain as the shop owner, an old woman, appears.
“Travelers' tea, please.”
“Only a fool seeks travelers' tea.”
The man says nothing but drops a few coins on the table as payment.
“You know, those who drink this never return.”
“Then I shall not bother you again, I do have one more request, however.”
“What is it you old fool?”
“I hear of a doctor who has a unique ability, I wish to speak with her.”
More rustling can be heard from behind the same beaded curtain. Eventually, a similar sound of a staff hitting the wooden floor comes, sounding louder and louder, and eventually the soft clacks of the beads indicate their arrival.
“I hear someone is in need of assistance?” a soft voice asks.
Wu looks up, and fully takes in the girl. Her dirty blonde hair pulled into a small ponytail, that if let go would undoubtedly show the sandy locks coming just below her chin. She's dressed in lavender scrubs, a testament to her title. The color makes the freckles adorning her body and face more accentuated. But what Wu is most interested in is the girl's eyes. Despite being cloudy with a white sheen, he's able to tell the light green irises have locked onto him, like they always had when she was younger.
“Yes, I need your help.”
“Those who call for me usually do,” the girl huffs, “what can I do for you?”
“It saddens me that you do not recognize me, my niece.” Wu says, tilting his head to the side in thought.
“Uncle Wu?”
“Yes, I'm so glad I'm talking with you after so long.”
“But what could you possibly need help with? You're not one to stop by unless it is something bad.” the girl points out, she walks closer to him. The sound of her staff meeting the floor practically echoing within the small space.
Though she hasn't seen her uncle ever, and hasn't been in his presence in a while, she can recognize him by his aura. His stance alone that of a true master, breathing regulated through years of hard training.
“I fear this is a dire circumstance, my niece, your brother, Lloyd, has gotten himself in danger that I fear I will not be able to stop alone.”
“But don’t you have those ninjas to help you? And what do you mean Lloyd is in trouble? He should be the one causing it while being at Darkley’s right?”
Wu sighs, realizing now how much in the dark she must be.
“Esme, Lloyd hasn't been in Darkleys for a while now, and he has been taken by the serpentine that he released.”
Esme stops and pauses, no way she heard her uncle correctly. She lets out a laugh “Ha! You have to mess with me uncle, even if LLoyd isn't at Darkleys anymore, why would he release the serpentine?”
“From my understanding, he did so to be more like his father, and unfortunately he has led to all five tribes being released.” Wu explained, hand running through his beard.
Taking in the information, Esme leans back against the counter of Mystake's store, tilting her head forward in thought.
She sighs finally having made a decision, though given the current circumstances it's not like she had much of a choice. “Alright uncle, I'll come with you, but only until we get Lloyd back, I still have people to tend to, I can't leave my job for long.”
Wu smiles, knowing that despite her sounding annoyed, Esme fears for her little brother's safety, and that is all that is needed to convince her to come with him.
“Go on and pack, my niece, I fear I do not know how long the journey ahead of us may be.”
That statement made Esme confused, so she asked “What do you mean journey? Aren't we going back to the monastery to figure out how to find Lloyd?”
“Unfortunately the monastery is no more, we have a new base. But that is not the reason why the journey may be so long. I know you may feel strongly about this, but I do believe this person will help us have a higher chance of getting Lloyd back safely.”
The feeling of dread began to build in her stomach, but she decided to give in and ask anyways, “And who is this person?”
Wu sighs, closing his eyes and preparing for the inevitable “Your father, Lord Garmadon.”
Silence.
It wasn't what he was expecting so Wu chose to open his eyes, only to find that his niece was nowhere in sight. The only other person in the room was Mystake.
”She went along to go pack, I would be ready for when she comes though, that girl doesn't know how to calm herself quite yet.” The old tea maker says, rearranging her shelves and making sure everything is in order.
“I expected as much, the blood that runs through her veins would have that effect on her.” Wu says and strokes his beard once more before asking, “What have you explained to her?”
“I have shared some of my secrets in order to be of help to her, however there is still much she has left to learn, especially why you are bringing her along to the realm of madness when you could've gotten her afterwards.” Mystake turns around finally, giving Wu a knowing look.
Wu takes in her words, thinking them over before nodding in understanding.”I see, thank you for guiding her, it is good to know she has a foundation for what she will need to know.”
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Esmeralda knew what her uncle and mentor were talking about, but she chose to ignore it. Instead she focused on packing things she'd feel they'd need on their trip. She didn't want to think of her father, not now, and she'd try to push off those thoughts for as long as she can.
Packing her gauze, tape, bandages, gloves, and other things helped calm her mind. The familiarness of the motion quiets the storm of emotions within her. Despite the routine, her brain couldn't help but think of her little brother.
Her uncle said that Lloyd had been at Darkleys for a while, but how long was a while? A week? A month? Hopefully not a year because who was looking after him if he was missing for a year.
Hell, why hadn't anyone told her?! After she turned eighteen she made sure to add herself to be one of Lloyd emergency contacts since no one knew where their mother went, and she hadn't heard from her uncle in a while.
She sighed in frustration.
There wasn't any reason to get about the past anymore, it wouldn't do her good , Esme thought.
She finished filling her dark purple duffle bag and went to grab her faded lavender shawl. Gripping the fabric with her fingers, she's hit with the memories of the shop she's called home for nearly ten years.
Mystake had not only been her mentor, but a mother figure, a more present and helpful one than her actual biological mother. This simple piece of clothing had been the first ever thing the woman had given her in her time here. Esmeralda thought fondly of it, it used to be so big on her, practically swallowing her whole, in a seemingly endless sea of lavender she would never be able to visualize.
Now though, it fit perfectly, worn in with near constant use, and undeniably comfortable, even in the summer days where the humidity was almost unbearable.
Closing her eyes, she tried her best to do what Mystake had taught her about calming down. Nerves that she didn't think would act up suddenly made her regret her decision of going with her uncle.
Banishing those thoughts, and replacing them with the best mental image she could of her brother, she wrapped the piece of clothing around her. Throwing the duffle over her shoulder and running a hand over the door frame, trying to savour the comforting aura of her personal space for one final time. She walks away, closing the door gently behind her and making her way down the familiar hall with confidence she won't trip, staff making contact with the floor once more. Head faced forward and avoiding the pit in her stomach she slows down as she approaches the beaded curtain. The last thing in the way of her uncertain future, a door protecting her familiarness of the life she had for the past decade.
Faintly, she can hear the two elders talking about miscellaneous things, no doubt knowing she was still struggling with walking through the curtain.
It didn't matter , she thought, and pushed the beads aside and stepped through.
The two turned to look at her, it made her skin prick with awkwardness. Though she couldn't see them, she could definitely feel their aura on her.
Flushing, she turned her head to the side, “I can still feel your eyes on me, you know.” she said, feeling a slight bead of sweat run down her forehead. The two share a chuckle before Mystake makes her way to stand in front of the one she calls her daughter.
“My dear, remember, you will always be welcomed back no matter what happens on this journey of yours.”
“Thank you Mystake”
“I wish you the best of luck, I feel I have taught you as much as I possibly could have. And with your combined medical knowledge, I know you will be able to do many great things.”
Esmeralda could feel the lump in her throat, First Master, she did not want to cry in front of her mentor. She rushed to give her a hug, feeling secure arms give one back she let out a shuddering breath.
“I’ll come back, I promise.”
“I know my dear.” And with that, Mystake pulls back from the embrace, holding her daughter's face in her hands as she tells her one last thing.
“I have a gift for you.” And from under the counter, she pulls out a wooden box. She dusts off the top before giving it to Esmeralda.
“What is it?” She asks curiously, inspecting the carvings along the edges with her fingers. The grooves are smooth, the overall make of the box sturdy, no doubt taken care of for a very long time.
“Go on and open it.”
She does so, holding her staff in the crook of her arm to use both hands. Opening the box slowly, she touches the inside, the velvet cushion dense under the pads of her fingers. She moves her hand and suddenly touches something cool and smooth. Picking it up gently, she feels Mystake take the box away so she can hold, what she thinks to be, a pendant in her hands.
“This pendant will aid you on your journey, you can never be lost when you wear it.” Mystake informs her, her raspy voice coming from behind her as she gently ties the thin rope of the pendant necklace.
It feels heavy, but not overly so. The round end of the tear drop shaped stone sits comfortably on the center of her scrubs.
“What color is it?” Esme asks, still holding the pendant.
“You will know in time, think of it as a way to practice your aura detection.” Mystake laughs softly, as Esmeralda makes her way around the counter to stand next to Wu, who had been silent during the whole exchange. Letting the two have their moment.
“We should be on our way, the journey will be long, but very rewarding once we retrieve Lloyd.”
The two walk towards the door, two clacks of the staff making an equal sound.
“Goodbye Mystake”
“Goodby, my dear.”
And with that, the niece and uncle duo walk out the tea shop. The uncertainty hanging onto the shoulders of the younger one. But if it meant saving her brother, then she'll have to endure.
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It's late in the evening by the time the two stop their walking, having made their way to the edge of the village.
“This is where we will stop.” Wu says, placing the tea pot on the floor in order to readjust the blade in preparation for what comes next.
“Thank the First Master, I don't know how much longer my legs could last. I used to be confident walking around, but the new terrain kind of made me . . . I don't know. . . aware of my footing for the first time.” Esme said, taking in breaths.
Wu chuckles before picking up the pot again and pouring it on the floor, a cosmic portal appearing where the tea water should have been. Esmeralda can feel the energy coming from the floor, if only she could see the mysteriousness of the portal.
“In time, your stamina and strength will grow, I have a knowing feeling about it.”
Esmeralda sighs, “I don't know what you're talking about Uncle, once we get Lloyd back I'm going back to Mystake. The village still needs a doctor.”
“The path we seek is never straight, my niece, sometimes destiny has different plans from what we want.” Wu inhales deeply before continuing, “Now, come along, I have a feeling my brother is expecting us.”
Emeralda steps closer to her uncle, reaching her hand out for help. Thankfully, he doesn't need any hinting before taking it, and jumping through it together.
An involuntary scream lets out from her lungs and she isn't used to not having the floor beneath her feet. The portal closes behind them, the scene undisturbed from the magic before.
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The contact with the ground knocked the wind out of her lungs, and being unable to tell where the up from down was, had left her unprepared for the impact of the landing.
“Ugh” Esmeralda says after landing on her back, her duffle bag landing a little away from her with a heavy thud. Her uncle landed seconds later, letting out an ‘oomf’ from beside her. The clanking of metal coming not long after.
“Where are we?” She asks as she sits up, the air feeling dense, the aura of her surroundings feeling darker than normal. She places her hand on the ground, trying to find any semblance of familiarity around her.
“We have landed in the realm of madness, where your father went after my ninja had succeeded in collecting all four golden weapons.” Wu says, standing up slowly and placing the katana back into its sheath on his back.
“Huh, well, we're really going to have to stick together now because I cant-”
“Hello brother,” A dark voice interrupts her, the two look in the direction of where the voice came from, but Esmeralda's head faces slightly to the side of the figure, not able to sense the aura around her as clearly as before.
Atop of a mountain a few meters away, a tall dark figure with his back towards the duo, with four hands, wearing a helmet stands. Red eyes nearly glowing in the darkness of the realm, a wicked smile to match.
“What took you so long?"