The Empress sighs as she takes a cracked knight piece from the black side of her chess board, she held it tightly in her hand before leaving her room. In Ninjago, the ninja stood together on a boat as they sailed back to Ninjago City. Wu seemed lost in thought as he watched the ocean go past them.

"Master Wu," Lloyd spoke as he approached the old man.

"Yes," Wu snapped out of his thoughts and turned to him. "What is it, Lloyd?"

"That guy," Lloyd put a hand on the rail of the ship. "I sort of got the context that he's the brother of the Empress of Del, right?"

"...that is correct," Wu replies as he turns back to the sea "Zero may not look like it, but he and his younger sister are not much younger than your father and I."

"Are they as knowledgeable as you and my father?" Lloyd asks.

"I hate to admit it, but they may be more," Wu tells him. "There are parts of this world even I am naive to, but they excel in, having grown up in part of it."

"I see," Lloyd says before looking at Wu. "What is she like? The Empress of Del."

"...why do you ask?" Wu questions.

"I'm just curious," Lloyd responds. "Nothing more."

"She's a foe unlike many you have faced so far," Wu says. "While many simply wish to conquer Ninjago, whether it be for power or for revenge. The Empress has no ambition, no motive. In fact, the barrier placed between our two kingdoms were negotiated by the two of us."

"What kind of barrier is it?" Lloyd asks.

"It's a hypothetical barrier," Wu explains. "Just a simply treaty that nobody will cross the line between kingdoms. Though, select few are allowed between without breaking that treaty. I assume that Kai and Nya's sister is serving the empress, since she is from Ninjago, she is allowed between the lines." He turns to him "The agreement keeping us from war is-"

"A thin line," Lloyd finishes. "Yeah, dad said that before too." He turns to look at his uncle "How did you ever manage to get her to agree to separate the kingdoms without so much of a fight?"

"There was a fight, a long one." Wu tells him as he looks away, grief across his face. "The empress lost someone very important to her, and that's when we called it. The fighting was too much."

"So, she's human," Lloyd states.

"Even a great beast, loves something," Wu says. "A blow to the heart, is enough to bring the largest creature, to its knees."

"So, she's strong?" Lloyd grips the railing.

"The strongest person I know," Wu replies. "In terms of power, she is stronger than the Overlord. In terms of the mind, she is fragile, though she will never let anyone see it. I remembered in my youth, she had a great presence, as if the seas would part if she so wished to cross it."

"So, that's the kind of person I need to aspire to be proud of?" Lloyd took a breath. "You said, she has no motive... right?"

"Indeed," Wu responds. "She responds how she wishes in the time and place, even if it's something she may find amusing. Especially, if she's bored."

"I see," Lloyd turns around and began to walk back to the others. "Thanks Uncle."

Wu let out a sigh as he looked up at the sun "And surely, she's bored."

-

"My that took you a long time,"

Reika laughs nervously as she stood beside Zero. The two stood inside the Empress's throne room, in front of her majesty.

"That's my fault," Zero admits as he rubs the back of his neck.

"I was speaking to you brother, not my guard." The Empress states "Your little trip, took almost 30 years."

"Okay.. so maybe it wasn't so little," Zero looks away. "It's not like I was planning to be away that long."

"Liar," Reika mutters.

"Well," the Empress stood up from her throne "this is the first time seeing your little sister in 30 years. Aren't you happy?"

"Of course," Zero replies as he walks up to her, he places a hand on top of her head with a small smile. "I'm back."

"...welcome back," the Empress smiles slightly.

Hanabusa smiles happily as he stood beside Reika. Kaname let out a sigh as he stood beside the throne.

"So, he's really older than the Empress?" Reika questions.

"That's right," Hanabusa hums happily. "Though, it's hard to tell with these two, isn't it?"

"For being over a hundred years old, they don't look a day over 25," Reika mutters. "Man, their parents have really good genes."

"Believe it or not, prince Zero will die before the Empress." Hanabusa tells her.

"Huh?" Reika tilts her head. "Well yeah, he's older."

Kaname walks over to the two "He means, he'll die at least a few hundred years before the Empress."

"A few hundred?!" Reika looks at the two siblings "Does that mean Zero's over 200!"

"Don't be stupid!" Zero turns his head to look at her.

"Prince Zero is born from the previous Empress and a sorcerer," Kaname explains. "While her majesty is born from the previous Empress and Emperor. While they both possess the blood of an Oni, only the Empress is part dragon."

"Dragons can live up to 1200 years," Hanabusa adds. "An Oni's lifespan is only about 200-300 years."

"Damn!" Reika looks at the Empress. "So, like, you're still young your majesty."

"I hardly believe I will live 1,200 years." The Empress chuckles "Though, I expect to live much longer than my older brother."

"I'm still young too," Zero mutters.

"Since neither is full blooded, we're not sure if they will live their full years," Kaname says. "The First Spinjitzu Master was also half Oni and Dragon, he chose to end his life early when he felt his days were coming to an end. He lived to about 300, but his son Wu is already showing his age, and he's well into his 100's."

"He's almost 200 now," The Empress adds.

"My head hurts," Reika whines.

"Do not think of such matters Reika," the Empress says as she walks over and pats her shoulder. "You did a good job, thank you for fetching Zero."

"Um," Reika looks away. "But we kinda.. Morro is.."

"I know," the Empress turns away. "That does not matter however."

"It doesn't?" Reika looks confused.

"Everyone, expect a guest coming," the Empress tells them. "Be sure to let him in."

Zero and Reika look confused while Kaname and Hanabusa bow in response.

"Who's coming?" Reika raises her eyebrow.

-

"Ow ow ow,"

Lloyd rubs his head after he landed on it, from jumping the fence. He knew he was crazy, for even doing what he was doing. At this moment, he didn't care though. Even if it was a small chance to become stronger, he had to take it. He was reckless, not even thinking this could get him killed.

"Wow, he really did come."

Lloyd jumped up and turned around to find himself face to face with three guards. Kaname, Hanabusa, and Reika stood behind the green ninja, while two didn't look surprised. Reika was looking at him like he was an idiot.

"Um," Lloyd took a step back.

"You came to speak to our Empress?" Kaname asks.

"Y-Yeah," Lloyd says nervously. "How did you know?"

"Our Empress knows everything," Hanabusa states.

Lloyd looks between the three of them when Reika motions for him to follow them.

"Come on," Reika says.

Lloyd looks confused as he hesitantly follows the three guards into the palace that sat on the Border of the barrier. He took a breath as they neared a large door. There was no turning back now, he chose to come into Del to see the Empress, now he's here. The large doors open and he walks into the darkly lit room.

"Lloyd Garmadon,"

Lloyd gulps as he looks up at the Empress, a chill went down his spine, he was speechless. Wu was right, she really did have one hell of a presence.

"I've been expecting you."