Realmfall

Lost, Found, Repeat

The two of them stared at each other, blinking in confusion and shock.

Grayish blue eyes seemed to be caught on vibrant teal.

How in the world-?

. . .

Benthomaar was kind enough to bring her to the palace before she drowned.

The Merlopian was excited to see her, he had done well for himself. The kingdom was doing fantastic. But he still missed Ninjago, the friends that he made there.

Nya was excited to see him too. That excitement, however, was a little washed out by the sheer confusion of how she ended up there in the first place.

"I am unsure of how you got here" he replied to her. "Up until just now I have never seen a portal like that in our waters."

After catching her breath, and damn near passing out from lightheadedness, she attempted to contact Pixal; to no avail.

Bentho walked her through the corridors for a while, making conversation, until bringing her to the hangar.

The Maaray Merlopian with the stutter and the prosthetics was there tinkering with something.

"Glutinous!" Benthomaar called in a sing-song voice.

Despite the happy tone the anxiety ridden Merlopian flinched harshly with a yelp.

"Y-y-yes? M-my King?"

Dear master he reminded her of Clancee.

"Do we have a mech in operation suited for helping Ms. Nya back to the surface world?"

He jumped up and straightened his back, twirling his hands around each other anxiously, head flicking to the side rapidly.

"We- we- we- we do my king."

"Wonderful! Then I shall escort you back to the surface and return." He smiled at her and the scientist flinched at the praise.

"Oh, Bentho you really don't have to do that. You've got a kingdom to run and I can make it back fine myself." She assured.

"No no! I insist! Consider it a political gesture, King of Merlopia extending a show of good faith to the champion Nya!" He persisted holding her shoulders.

Then he leaned in closer to her ear and whispered "If I don't get out of here and feel the sun I think I am going to lose it." There was an edge to his voice that she knew well and she gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Well in that case I could absolutely use and escort." She relented and Bentho smiled brightly at her.

. . .

"Soooo, what has been happening on the surface recently?" The Merlopian asked excitedly. "Based on your entrance I assume you are still working on your realm portal technology?"

"Huh? Oh! No, actually, I made a working portal a few months ago."

Benthomaar gasped widely. "That is wonderful! How are Jay and Kai doing then?" His tail swished behind him and Nya gulped.

Why was is always up to her to tell people this? Seriously? She's had to break the news to like, everybody so far. Can't she catch a break?

Benthomaar and Jay were friends. That's what made it even worse. He'd actually reached out to her when Jay disappeared because he was worried about the lack of contact he'd received.

She didn't have good news for him then, she didn't have good news for him now.

"Kai managed to make a life in the other realm so he decided to stay. But... Jay was already gone for a while by the time we made it." She gripped his hand as she watch his expression fall.