"Svern!" Layla called out as she peeked her head out of their house.

They didn't know how much time had passed in the first realm since their departure. The two had disappeared into Layla's pocket realm and never looked back. However, the great dragon was having a hard time adjusting to a world so peaceful.

"Svern," Layla approached him.

Svern opened one of his eyes ,seeing his wife standing above him. The two had chose to build their little house right next to the first tree of the realm that was now being surrounded by many young ones. It was Svern's favorite place to lay with his thoughts.

"What is it bunny?" Svern asks.

"You were out here for awhile," Layla replies as she bends down beside him and pokes his cheek "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly fine love," Svern says as he takes her hand and smiles "I've never been happier."

Layla smiles as he sat up and pulled her into his lap. The two spent many years just like that, enjoying every minute in each other's company.

"Svern," Layla looks up at him from his lap "do you think we did the right thing?"

"No," Svern kisses the top of her head "but I don't care."

"If you don't, then neither do I." Layla replies happily. "I never want to see that cursed place again."

"Come on," Svern rubbed her arm "let's go home."

Layla hopped off his lap before he stood up and took her hand, going inside the house together. The years to come were just as peaceful as ever, Layla was able to create herself a garden to make the couple food. Their happy life however, took a turn one day when they found their favorite tree beginning to wilt.

"Why is this happening?" Layla questioned as she took one of the dead leaves in her hand. "Is my power.. disappearing?"

Svern stared at it before turning to look at the other growing trees, none of them wilting.

"It's just the circle of life," Svern takes her hand "things come and go."

"It's so sad though." Layla looks down upsettingly.

"You can always create more dear," Svern says.

"But it was your favorite tree," Layla turns around to face him "How could you not be sad?"

"Things eventually will die as time passes," Svern comforts her "but something beautiful will take it's place to keep it's memory alive. As long as we are here, things will continue to grow and die. As light can't exist without darkness, morning cannot exist without night, life cannot exist without death."

"Then I'll make more!" Layla tells him "I'll grow a tree even bigger then this one for you to nap under!"

"That's my girl," Svern chuckles.

That however, was not the last of it. The realm continued changing, without proper stabilization it had little compacity for life. Layla felt defeated and grew saddened by the day. Svern was unable to help his wife, as he was only capable of destruction. One day Layla and Svern walked out of their house to find a rift in the realm.

"Svern," Layla grabbed his arm.

Svern stood in front of her protectively as a figure came out from the rift before closing behind him. Layla gasped as Svern's eyes turned into dragon slits.

"Wait!" Layla pulled him back.

Svern looked confused as Layla turned to face the stranger with a smile.

"It's good to see you, Layla." the stranger smiled.

"Ryo!" Layla smiles happily.

Layla ran to the young man and hugged him as Svern's eyes changed back to normal, still keeping his guard up.

"Svern," Layla turns to him "this is that friend I told you about."

"The one that's half dragon half oni?" Svern questions.

"Yes I am," the stranger called Ryo walked towards him "Svern the Onyx Leviathan, right?"

"I am," Svern replies "what's it to you?"

"I'm Ryoji, I'm an old friend of Layla's." he holds a hand out to him "It's nice to meet you."

"Yeah," Svern replies, ignoring his hand.

"Svern's very guarded against people," Layla explains as she stood beside her husband and held his hand "Ryoji, this is my husband."

"I see," Ryoji dropped his hand with a smile "I get it, it's hard to trust people from the first realm." he turned to Layla "I'm glad to see you have found happiness."

"I'm more suspicious on how you found us?" Svern questions "This is Layla's realm."

"I know, we often came here to escape from things back at home." Ryoji explains as he turns away "I... had to escape."

"Escape," Layla became concerned "why, what happened?"

"My parents began fighting," Ryoji sighed "the war has became so much more violent in these past years, they've began to regret their decisions not to stay with their tribe."

"How long has it been?" Layla asks.

"Almost 10 years," Ryoji tells her "but it doesn't matter. I don't want to go back."

"You're welcome to stay here," Svern turns away from them.

"Really?" Layla peeks her head around to look at him "I thought you were-"

"We've all come here to escape," Svern says with a sigh "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

"Ryoji's also a master of creation!" Layla squeals excitedly "He can help with the realm! He's so much better then i am!" she turned to Ryoji "Right?! You'll help?"

"Of course," Ryoji smiles "after all it'll be my home now too."

Svern glances at the two with sad eyes as they continued talking excitedly about things to do with the realm.

"You two have fun," Svern says as he headed to the house.

"What?" Layla turns to him "Don't you wanna help dear?"

"Nah, I'd only get in the way." Svern replies "besides, it's about time for my nap."

"Oh okay," Layla smiles "sweet dreams dear."

"Thanks hon," Svern replies before disappearing into the house.

From then on, Svern and Layla seemed to have spent less time together. With Ryoji's help, Layla was able to expand the realm even further. Using the once wilted tree Svern loved, they created a core for the realm. It became much greater then imagined, finally existing officially as one of the 16 realms.

Together, Layla and Ryoji created a safe place for those wanting to escape their own realms, and they called it Ninjago. Villages were built and islands were discovered. Yet, every day, Layla returned to her home where her husband sat awaiting her return.

The more trips the two went on, the longer they seemed to be gone. The dragon stood outside his home at night, staring longingly at the stars, awaiting his wife's safe return. No villages were made within a large radius of the tree of life. Letting the dragon live in peace and quiet, though he longed to spread his wings and fly.

Ryoji and he however had become good friends. The three of them even being able to call each other family. Something they never truly felt the warmth of.

"Svern!" Layla called out as she ran out of the forest.

Svern, who was staring up at the tree, turned to see her. Ryoji walked slowly behind her with a smile as he waved to him. Layla ran up excitedly to Svern and jumped into his arms.

"Welcome home dear." Svern says lovingly.

"Hehe," Layla smiles up at him.

Ryoji managed to make his way to the house where he and Svern high-fived.

"What's up?" Ryoji greets.

"Nothing as always," Svern replies "It's peaceful."

"Svern Svern Svern!" Layla jumps up excitedly.

"What bunny?" Svern asks with a chuckle.

"Ryo made something!" Layla replies as she turns to her friend "Show him show him!"

Ryoji took off the bundle of cloth off his back and laid it on the ground.

"What is it?" Svern asks.

"Weapons," Ryoji replies "after what happened with Nyad, I wanted to make sure we were prepared next time."

Ryoji opened the bundle to reveal four golden weapons, a sword, scythe, nunchucks, and shuriken.

"Wow," Svern bent down to them "what do they do?"

"They can be used to channel elemental power," Ryoji explains excitedly "I proudly introduce you to the Scythe of Quakes, the Nunchucks of Lightning, the Shurikens of Ice, and the Sword of Fire."

"I've already tested all of them too!" Layla says "They really work!"

"Hm," Svern nods as he stood back up.

"You wanna try one?" Ryoji asks before nudging him "You know, spar like the old days Svern."

"Svern doesn't like such childish things anymore," Layla pouts "He won't even spar with me."

"I would let you win darling," Svern chuckles.

"No no no!" Layla stomps her foot.

Ryoji and Svern laugh as she threw a little childish tantrum.

"What do you say?" Ryoji asks turning to him "Or is the old dragon too rusty?"

"Those sound like fighting words," Svern says.

"Maybe they are maybe they aren't." Ryoji replies playfully.

"Alright, you're on." Svern agrees.

Ryoji fist pumped the air before grabbing the sword of fire.

"Alright, choose your weapon." Ryoji says.

"Alright, alright." Svern chuckles.

Svern goes to grab the scythe of quakes but the weapons reacted by creating a gold spark that made Svern fall back, shouting in pain.

"Svern!" Layla ran to him worried.

"Are you ok?" Ryoji asks worriedly as he also approached the dragon.

The two were shocked to find Svern's hand trembling, as it continued sparking gold. Gold partials were attached to his hands as if it was eating away at it. Svern held back shouts of pain as he held his hand with his other.

"What do we do?!" Layla panicked as she bent down beside her husband.

"Svern!" Ryoji bent down to him.

Svern held his hand tightly as his vision blurred from pain. Layla began to cry and Ryoji tried to figure out how to help as Svern closed his eyes.

"Honey!" Layla cried "Svern!"