I would really appreciate it if you comment on how you like this preview, there shouldn't be any real spoilers for this chapter which is why the name is hidden.
"Speech"
'Thought'
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(3rd POV: Author)
In the air, the Shift-wing, Akira's personal stealth hovercraft, meticulously followed the Destiny's Bounty. The sleek vehicle would land next to the ship whenever the Bounty had to refuel, before gracefully lifting back into the air to resume its silent escort.
Randomly, a familiar falcon, its dark feathers sleek against the sky, perched atop one of the Shift-wing's optical sensors. This was the same falcon that had once led Zane to find Lloyd's hidden treehouse. From its vantage point, the avian observer intently watched the ninja training below, its focus particularly drawn to the precise, almost mechanical movements of the white ninja, Zane, as he practiced his katas.
Suddenly, a sharp crackle of magenta electricity erupted from the optical sensor the bird had perched upon, a searing bolt coursing through its small form. If anyone had been watching closely, they would have been astonished to see the falcon's small chestplates whir open, revealing its intricate, hidden mechanical nature as the elemental energy pulsed through its circuits.
After a few seconds, the falcon's yellow eyes flickered to a brilliant, almost blinding silver, before quickly returning to their original color as its chest-plates slid back together seamlessly, hiding its robotic nature once more. It resumed its silent vigil, appearing as nothing more than a real falcon, its gaze still fixed on Zane.
(Scene break)
(3rd POV: Akira)
Akira observed the ninja through the falcon's eyes, the feed projected onto a vibrant purple holographic screen by a robotic drone.
The drone itself was a larger-than-average King Cobra, finished in matte gunmetal grey with striking amber-gold accents that formed a stylized "V" pattern on its head and striped bands along its body, stopping at its tail. Within these amber bands, glowing purple lights pulsed faintly, mimicking the rise and fall of breath.
Its calm red, robotic eyes held a steady gaze, and the Ninjago symbol for "Source" was emblazoned on its chest.
While Akira was thus engrossed, Lloyd sat comfortably on the bed, absorbed in an issue of his Starfarer comic book, one he had asked Akira to procure for him.
[CLICK, BEEP, CLICK]
Akira rumbled softly in her chest, a low, thoughtful sound. "I suppose you have a point, little cobra," she murmured, the holographic screen vanishing with a wave of her hand. "Why stay here, or why not take over Ouroboros?" She paused, her eyes narrowing with a hint of disdain.
"While I could easily and forcefully take over this city, I would not have the people's trust. Unlike Pythor, I am not obsessed with awakening the Devourer and using tricks to win the allegiance of the other serpentine tribes." Her voice was laced with clear disapproval of Pythor's recent actions.
Akira looked at Lloyd, still immersed in his comic, her eyes softening. She stretched her arm down toward the cobra drone as it slithered up her arm and coiled comfortably around her shoulders. Her tail gave a gentle, almost imperceptible twitch, a sign of her relaxed contemplation.
'That's true,' she mused, reflecting on the drone's implicit question. 'But forcing allegiance gains nothing lasting. Trust... trust is earned.' Her thoughts drifted further.
'I've had another encounter recently, with someone from a... different version of Ninjago. One of my own species as well. Perhaps I should try to travel to these... Mirror Realms.' She turned her gaze to Lloyd, a protective instinct overriding her curiosity. 'But not now. Maybe when Pythor has been dealt with.'
[Knocks]
Just then someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" The door opened, and Selma walked into the room with a tray of food that had two sandwiches and two bottles of water.
Lloyd looked up from his comic, seeing the food, he immediately sat up from the bed and moved to the table as Selma placed the tray down. "Thank you," Lloyd said, before quickly taking a bite of his sandwich.
Selma then moved to stand next to Akira. "Lady Akira, you know that you can leave the room whenever you want, right?" Selma said with a professional tone, though her red eyes widened almost imperceptibly with admiration as she added, "Even if Vengestone nullified your powers completely, Pythor wouldn't be able to stop you with your natural strength."
Akira looked at Selma with a soft, friendly smile. "You know, you don't have to act so professionally around me," she chuckled, gently poking Selma's side, careful to mind her sharp claws. "Calm down, you were acting so enthusiastic a few days ago."
Selma blushed softly with embarrassment, a faint red tinting her pink scaled cheeks.
"O-okay, as long as you're okay with it." She stuttered a reply. Akira nodded in response as Selma relaxed.
Akira's amethyst gaze drifted to the scroll shelves on the opposite side of the room. These weren't ordinary shelves; they manifested from a personal pocket dimension she had crafted, a secure repository for anything she deemed valuable, irrespective of its monetary worth.
Within this hidden space, she safeguarded relics spanning Ninjago's forgotten past: the now ancient currency of the five serpentine tribes, intricately carved serpentine statues of various sizes, a vast collection of remaining Anacondrai blades and armor, and invaluable ancient serpentine history scrolls.
Her dimension also housed rare materials, like Fusanium, an ore she had discovered and painstakingly collected. Additionally, she preserved potent artifacts, ranging from the legendary Obsidian Weapons to a complete set of Wolf Clan masks used in the brutal training of Shatter-spin.