Thank you everyone for your support and comments on the book so far. I am super excited to write this and I hope you all enjoy it.

Lloyd stood atop a tree branch outside the school. He looked out at the village not too far from them. Aria sat at the bottom of the tree, reading a book.

"Don't lean too far forward Lloyd," Aria says as she turns the page of her book "You'll fall."

"I won't," Lloyd replies before jumping down, landing in front of her on his feet. "Have you felt anything new yet?"

"No," Aria tells him "It hasn't been long since your father's presence disappeared from this world. Knowing him, he's planning something. We need to be prepared for it."

"And how exactly are two ten year old's supposed to help someone as great as my father?" Lloyd questions as he reaches up to a low branch and pulled himself up onto it. "As much as I hate to admit it, the teachers were right. We don't know what we're doing."

"Maybe not," Aria shuts her book "but with my father in sleep, all we have is the hope Lord Garmadon will return."

"I want him here too," Lloyd says as he climbs onto the next branch above him "nothing's the same without my father. Heh, mother just sent me here to get rid of another headache."

"You're right about that, you are a headache." Aria says before looking up with him

"Well excuse me princess," Lloyd replies as he hangs upside-down from the branch with a smirk "but you are the one who decided to hang around me."

"I wish you'd just stop letting the other kids pick on you," Aria comments "you're bigger then them."

"Eh, better off to lay low." Lloyd chuckles "That's why I can count on you to protect me."

"I thought you didn't need a girl to protect you," Aria mocks with a smirk "I thought that's what you said when we first got here."

"Shut it," Lloyd flips off the branch and lands in front of her "Soon enough, I'll be the one protecting you."

"You're all bark and no bite puppy," Aria comments as she stands up and pets his head "but I'll still keep you around."

"When are you going to stop calling me that?" Lloyd questions as he swats her hand away

Aria giggles "When you're taller then me squirt."

"You're taller by one inch!" Lloyd argues "We're also the same age!"

"I know I know," Aria says as she began to walk away

"Wait!" Lloyd runs after her "Where are we going?"

"To play a game." Aria replies

The two kids ran down the hill that the school sat upon. The principal stood at his window watching them.

"They're off again," the teacher behind him says

"Yes," the principal sighs "call her cousin."

Lloyd and Aria traveled to the outskirts of the surrounding forest where their secret base was. It was some old ruins from the serpentine war. The children came upon it not long ago when escaping the school. They mostly hung out towards the top, but once in awhile they ventured into the cellar that peaked up halfway into the ground.

Lloyd opened the doors to the cellar and headed in first. Aria followed behind him and closed the doors. Unknown to them, Aria's cousin was already on his way to retrieve them. They traveled down the stairs until they reached the bottom where artifacts and books lay.

"Uh, so what game?" Lloyd asks

"You're not the sharpest tool in the shed are you?" Aria questions in response, as she picks up one of the books on the ground.

"What does that mean?" Lloyd asks.

"That answers my question then," Aria sighs

"How did you get so smart?" Lloyd mutters

"I'm not looking down on you Lloyd," Aria tells him "We simply had a different upbringing. Eventually, all I know, you will know as well."

"I wish I knew already," Lloyd says as he leans against the wall "whatcha looking at?"

"It's a map," Aria replies, turning the book around to show him "looks like the locations of the serpentine tombs."

"The Serpentine's are supposed to be a myth aren't they?" Lloyd questions

"Then explain our hide out," Aria points out

"Good point," Lloyd nods "I suppose the tales you heard are different then mine."

"The Serpentine are as old as time," Aria replies "maybe we can use this to our advantage."

"Like how?" Lloyd asks

"Nothing better to cause chaos," Aria replies

"How will we-"

"Found you!"

The kids gasp as they turn to see the ninja standing at the entrance of their base.

"What are you doing here?!" Aria complains, shutting the book. "I told you I didn't wanna see you anymore."

The black ninja took off his hood, her cousin Cole looking at her disapprovingly.

"And I told you not to leave school," Cole says as he approaches her "you're not old enough to be out on your own."

"Doesn't mean you and the goon squad have to show up every time," Aria replies angrily "I just needed a break."

"You always need a break Aria," Cole says as he grabs her arm "I've tried being nice, I really have. Why can't you just listen?"

Aria pulls away from him "You're not the boss of me."

"Aria," Cole sighs "please, I'm really busy."

"Playing your video games?" Aria scoffs "You've always been a nagging busybody Cole. You're my cousin, not my brother."

"You brat," Cole looks annoyed "I'm trying to help you! What do you think will happen if you get expelled? You refuse to stay with my dad and I'm not old enough to take care of you. This school is your last hope to not go into foster care."

"Like you actually care!" Aria shouts

Cole picks her up and Aria shouts. Lloyd runs to help but is picked up by Kai, the red ninja.

"You know, this is really boring." Kai comments "I feel like we're babysitting."

"Sorry guys," Cole says

"Let me go!" Aria shouts hitting Cole's back

"They're just kids Cole." Jay, the blue ninja says "Can't the school take care of them? Even if they're villain kids they're not dangerous."

"I told my father I'd take responsibility if Aria got in trouble, that was the only way to get her out of going into foster care." Cole responds "I kinda have to get her if she leaves."

"I can hear you!" Aria shouts

"Yeah and I can hear you, you're right in my ear." Cole complains "Your shouting hurts."

"You're the worst!" Aria shouts "I hate you!"

"..let's get them back to school." Cole sighs, looking hurt by her words.

The ninja look at each other before they head back to the boarding school, dropping the kids off. The principal only ushered Lloyd and Aria inside before thanking the ninja. The teacher behind him escorted them to their room, closing the door after pushing them inside.

"And we're back under room arrest," Lloyd complains "Stupid ninja."

"I hate him," Aria mutters as she sat on Lloyd's bed

"Guess we both get the short end of the stick with our family's," Lloyd says "Our father's seem to be the only ones who get us. Your cousin is the worst, we weren't even doing anything!"

"I know," Aria sighs

"We really are on our own here," Lloyd says as he sits beside her "but as long as I got you and you got me, that's all we really need."

"I agree," Aria smiles "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."

"What's that mean?" Lloyd asks, turning to her.

"It means that the family you choose is stronger then the one your born to," Aria tells him as she looks at him "and you my little dummy, are my family."

"I'm glad," Lloyd smiles "you're my family too, Aria."

"Just wait, our time will come Lloyd. Right now we're just kids, we're not strong enough yet. But eventually," Aria looks down into her hand that held the crumpled up map of the Serpentine tombs "They'll all pay.."