I stood on the stage beside Harumi and our mother. A little ways away was Hutchins, a small smile playing on his lips as the Emperor, our father, continued on with his speech. I shared a glance with Harumi, then looked back out to the crowd. Most of father's words went through one ear, and out the other. It wasn't exactly that I didn't care, because I knew the reasoning behind our public appearance. I had just heard the practiced speech several times this week as we all rehearsed for this moment. Our parents claimed it had to be perfect, as our appearances were rare to begin with. That, and it just never fit in my mind the idea of royalty, despite my 15 years of living with it, so often the content of it seemed to slip through my fingers. I knew one day, either I or Harumi, was meant to step up and take our father's place. I personally thought it would most likely Harumi over me. Despite her lateness into the life, she seemed to have a better grasp on it than I did.

I moved my eyes over the crowd, watching the cameras flash as my father went on. Some people waved, and I lifted a small hand, smiling at them, then I continued skimming my eyes over the crowd. Again, my mind was wondering as I turned my eyes up. There, I found a figure in green perched on the roof across from me. I quickly recognized the figure as the Green Ninja, also known as Lloyd Garmadon. He seemed as equally surprised by me seeing him as I was. Personally, I was more dazed than anything. I had seen several pictures of the Ninja themselves on newspapers, and even flitting across rooftops far away from me, yet this was the closest I had seen one of them before.

A slight tug pulled in my chest as I stared, almost as if drawing me to him, but I stayed frozen in my spot as the Green Ninja put a hand to his ear. I was only brought out of my spell when Harumi gently nudged me with her arm, letting me know to pay attention. Reluctantly, I tore my eyes away from the green figure, looking back to the crowd. I felt the urge to look again, but I kept the impulse at bay as my father finished his speech, raising a hand to the air. I could already see the smile on his face despite him not facing us.

When I was finally able to look back at the roof, the Green Ninja was gone. For a moment, disappointed flooded my mind as another tug pulled at me, this one harsher than the first. I could barely register the loud popping that followed before I was tackled onto the ground. I huffed out a groan as my headpiece tilted off to the side. My mother was beside me, but I couldn't see Harumi until the figure covering me pushed themselves up.

"Is the threat clear?" Lloyd spoke, pressing to the side of his head again. His green eyes shone as he looked out into the screaming crowd. Harumi wasn't far from us, on the ground with Hutchins and our father. The relief I felt that they were both safe was short-lived when I looked up at the Green Ninja again. He was standing now, holding out a hand to me and my mother.

My mother was the first to take his hand, brushing off her dress and sending him a smile. I continued to stare up at him, part in shock, then I realized he was waiting for me. Embarrassed, I slapped my hand into his.

"I apologize. I was trying to keep you both safe." Lloyd said, his voice sincere as his green eyes flickered between me and my mother. I was quick to shake my head.

"No. No, you're fine- I mean, okay. Thank you." I stammered out, giving a slight bow of my head after righting my headpiece. He said nothing else, only giving me a slight nod, then Harumi was gently grabbing my arm and pulling me away.

"You're staring." Harumi chided and I blinked, looking away from Lloyd as Harumi pulled me to the door. She had a smile on her face as we came to stand behind our parents. "Don't worry. He was staring too." Harumi informed me. I huffed, lightly hitting her arm as the doors opened.

"Well, he helped protect us, even if there was no real threat." I said with a shrug, then looked. "Mother, Father, do you think we could invite the Ninja at a later date? They did help protect us." I asked, raising my voice a little so they could hear me. They both shared a look, then gave a nod to Hutchins, who nodded back, then walked behind us.

"Wanting another look, huh?" Harumi whispered with a snicker. I felt my face burn as the doors closed behind us and I gave her a little push on her shoulder.

"Girls, please behave." Our mother scolded and we both nodded, though Harumi smirked at me as we walked into the Palace. I shot a playful glare back, then we both huffed laughs. Hutchins passed by behind us as we walked in a comfortable silence. He shared smiles with both of us as he walked to our whispering parents.

"The Ninja should arrive later tonight." Hutchins announced for all of us, then he too fell into the quiet conversation of the Emperor and Empress.

I jumped a little when the door to the throne room was pushed open. I dropped my hands from fiddling with the two bracelets on my wrists. My eyes moved over the group briefly, then landed on the same figure in green I had been studying earlier. His mask was off now, and I could see his features more clearly. The one thing the magazines and news papers could never replicate was seeing the ninja in person. And Lloyd- he was gorgeous.

"I present to you the exalted Emperor and Empress of Ninjago and their daughters- the Jade Princesses- Princess (y/n) and Princess Harumi." Hutchins introduced as he and the Ninja walked in. As Lloyd grew closer, I came to admire how the gold lights glinted against his soft, blonde hair, and the soft smile on his lips as he bowed with the other Ninja.

"We are honored by your presence." Father told them, bowing slightly in return. Mother did the same, so I did as well. I met Lloyd's gaze again as he lifted his head back up.

"The honor is all ours." Lloyd replied. For a moment, it was quiet, and I realized Harumi was looking at me expectantly. It took me longer for me to realize that she was waiting for me to speak, but no words came to mind. Soon, she shook her head with reassuring smile.

"I apologize. My sister is a little starstruck. We have both grown up reading so much about you all." Harumi began, looping her arm with mine and leading me down the steps. "Your heroics will surely become legend." Harumi led me to the edge of the group, in front of the Ninja in red, Kai.

"Kai- the hothead who acts without question." Harumi continued. Kai smiled proudly, then gave another bow. "Cole- the rock and foundation of the team." Cole gave a small bow, some of his dark hair falling over his eyes as he did so. As we moved on to Jay, he bounced a little on his feet as he beamed at us. "Jay- the joker whose mouth is as fast as lightning." Jay calmed enough to bow, then as we stood in front of Zane, he began bouncing on his toes again. "Zane- the cold and calculating android." Zane gave a small bow and I pursed my lips.

"Nindroid." I whispered, quietly correcting her. Harumi gave me a nod.

"Nindroid." She repeated my correction, and Zane let his appearance return back to his titanium one as he lifted himself back up. Harumi turned us to face Nya.

"And Nya- the girl." Nya paused mid-bow, a scowl pulling at her lips. "The girl I've wanted to be ever since I first hear about her." Harumi added on, and Nya's face brightened again.

"With your mastery in water, and your skill in fighting. You're really talented." I told Nya, louder than I had spoke the first time so she could hear me. Nya's smiled widened.

"I like them." Nya noted to her teammates as we came to the final Ninja- Lloyd. Here, I found my words dying in my throat again on his green eyes hovered on the two of us.

"Master Lloyd- the Green Ninja." Harumi said, taking over again. Lloyd bowed his head. "The youngest, but most powerful protector. The Chosen One. I too have lost my parents, my sister as well, but we are all not without family, hmm?" Harumi tilted her head with a smile. Behind us, I heard Jay let out a nervous laugh, a silent question at Harumi's statement. I looked back at him, then our parents.

"We adopted both (y/n) and Harumi separately, and raised them as our own." Mother spoke up for us.

"When Harumi's parents passed away, and (y/n)'s mother left her behind." Father added.

"Thank you for inviting us into your home." Lloyd spoke again, making me turn to him again.

"It wasn't us, but Princess (y/n)." Father replied, making me feel flustered as Lloyd turned his surprised eyes to me.

"And we have discussed as a family how our safest option may be for you to stay with us until the threat to our throne is over." Mother told them.

"These are troubling times, and as long as we have an Oni mask, we fear our lives are in jeopardy." I nodded at Father's statement.

"The masks shouldn't be reunited. With that much power... there'd be trouble for Ninjago City." I said, scanning my eyes over the Ninja.

"Please say you will stay." Harumi spoke, looking at the Ninja with me. All of them turned to Lloyd, waiting for an answer, so I brought my eyes to him once more. He gave me a lopsided smile, one that made my heart flutter as he looked up to my parents.

"Then you have our help." Lloyd told them, giving another bow. Harumi slowly loosened her arm from around me.

"Great. Then Mr. Hutchins can show you the Palace. And perhaps, if Mother and Father allow it, my sister can accompany you as well." Harumi said. I faced my parents, and my mother gave me a small smile, then nodded. I smiled, then dropped a hand to squeeze Harumi's in silent thanks. Harumi smiled back at me, then I turned to follow after Hutchins and the Ninja.