A week had gone by since the Ninja started staying us, and while they had been here, there was no activity of concern within the Palace. In the city, however, the Sons of Garmadon only seemed to become more active. On patrols and at dinners, I saw glimpses of the Ninja, and even in the hallway I traded light conversation with each one until they'd slip out of sight. Lloyd even stopped by my balcony a few more times, checking in with me since Hutchins kept a closer eye on if I went to the roof or not. We shared light jokes back and forth before he'd swing off again when one of his teammates would call for him through their comms. In fact, he had been here less than thirty minutes ago, then Jay was saying something into the comms and Lloyd left.

Now, I stood in my room. The sun was just beginning to set as I stared out my open balcony doors. It was quiet as the sky darkened into a deep purple, the most relaxed the Palace has felt in days. I was tempted to find Harumi and have her watch as the moon rose with me, as we had been more distant this past week, but I decided against it. She was probably preparing for bed now, an early sleeper most nights.

I turned to the door, not exactly sure for what, but something tugged in my gut, told me something was wrong, then the ground ripped open underneath me. I screamed out as my leg slid into the crack. My door blew in, hitting my bed and bouncing off over me. I covered my ears as the building shook again, clenching my leg tightly in the layers of my floor, then another round of explosions went off.

Pain squeezed at my leg as the temperature in my room rose quickly. I could feel the pricks of wood and stone as I tried to work my leg out. Around me, beams from my ceiling fell down, catching fire. Smoke drifted through the air, catching in my throat as I gasped in a breath. Another beam crashed from above me as I got my leg unstuck, blood already beginning to run from the several cuts. I grunted in surprise as I was shoved to the ground, hot wood pressing to my figure. My knee pulsed, screaming in protest as I shifted the leg, trying to force myself up. Tears came to my eyes as I tried to move the wood, but only fumbled it and it pressed further into my chest.

"Princess?" A voice called, and I coughed out, the smoke filling my lungs as I turned my head towards where my door should've been.

"Hello? I'm here!" I cried out as I tried to push at the wood on top of me again. The metal bracelets were beginning to grow hot on my skin as fire spread closer to me. "Help!" I yelled out, and a figure emerged in the smoke. I quickly took the figure to be Hutchins, recognizing the shape of the helmet he always wore. He scrambled over to me, pulling the wood off of me, then I was hoisted up. The building shook around us as another round of explosions were set off. Hutchins seemed unaffected as he led me out of my collapsed door. I stumbled after him, coughing as we ran through the halls. It was clearer here, but not by much.

"Are you hurt?" Hutchins asked me, pausing in one of the main rooms. I stared at him, eyes wide, then shrugged. Despite the growing pain and stiffness in my knee, I knew I couldn't complain. It could've been worse.

"My leg got caught in the first explosion. I'll be okay. I- Where is Mother and Father?" I questioned and Hutchins looked around. Across the hall, a section of the ceiling caved in.

"I meant to find them, but I knew your room was close to the explosions. You must-" Hutchins was ripped away from me.

"You did this. You helped them." Lloyd said, holding Hutchins against one of the pillars. Hutchins stared at Lloyd, his brow furrowed.

"I had nothing to do with this." Hutchins objected.

"Cole said he saw you in the tunnels with the explosives." Lloyd countered, tapping at Hutchins chest. I shook my head.

"Whatever your friend saw, it wasn't me." Hutchins argued. "I have served this house for the better part of my life and have sworn to protect the royal family." Hutchins pushed against Lloyd's hold. I nodded, hugging my hands in towards my chest.

"He's right, Lloyd. Hutchins has been in the Palace for my whole life here. He's the one who convinced them to let me stay in the first place." I spoke up, feeling as if part of me should defend Hutchins. He was always here for me, so why shouldn't I return the favor? Lloyd glanced to me, looking ready to retort, but a scream sounded behind him.

"Watch out." Hutchins cried, pushing Lloyd down. Within seconds, a sai struck into the pillar Lloyd and Hutchins had been standing in from of moments ago. I stared at the purple hilt in surprise, then slowly turned my eyes down to Lloyd and Hutchins.

"You saved me." Lloyd murmured. Behind him, the figure who had thrown the sai was now laughing. I looked to them, finding a figure in purple fast approaching us on a motorcycle. Lloyd scrambled out of the way, pulling me with him. Hutchins threw himself in the opposite direction. The motorcycle turned to us, and Lloyd roughly pushed me away before jumping over the bike. The pain in my knee flared up, as I stumbled, barely catching myself on a pillar. I hissed out a breath, seeing blood seeping through the bottom of my skirt. Only when another scream was let out from the precious figure. I turned my eyes to watch for a moment, and came to recognize the biker as a well known vigilante. Ultra Violet.

Hutchins ran to fight Ultra Violet, but she turned the bike, hitting him and knocking him down. Hutchins' staff rolled out of his hands, coming to a stop at my feet as Lloyd dove after the Ultra Violet, tackling her off the bike. They both fell away, but she was the first to recover as they stood, her black hair swaying against her shoulders. Ultra Violet grabbed the sai, looking to Hutchins while Lloyd was still on the ground.

"No!" I yelled out, grabbing the staff. Ultra Violet barely had time to look up at me, then I brought the staff down against her back. Ultra Violet grunted out, turning to me with a glare.

"You're going to regret that." She snarled, stepping closer to me, then a small, white tornado came through the door. Once it hit Ultra Violet, she flew away from me with a yell. When I looked, she was frozen in ice. The tornado dissipated to reveal Zane, and Harumi entered not far behind him.

"You're okay." I huffed, part in relief as Harumi nodded at me. The makeup on her face was smeared, but she seemed unharmed.

"But what about the mask?" Harumi questioned, and I looked to Lloyd. I couldn't believe I had forgotten the mask, the only reason someone would rig the Palace to explode in the first place.

"Jay was heading to its location last I heard over out comms, probably the others too. It'll be fine." Lloyd said as he collected himself. I limped over to Hutchins, helping him up then returning his staff to him.

"That was dangerous of you to do, Princess. But thank you." Hutchins told me, and I nodded. Behind us, parts of the ceiling cracked and caved in, sending debris flying.

"We should go." Zane spoke up, watching the area around us for any other members who'd want to fight. Hutchins gave a nod, then waved a hand, gesturing for us to follow him out of the room. Our trip was short as we came to the throne room, stopping in the middle. The main door was blocked, but Hutchins only marched toward the four thrones. Zane went to the door, feeling along it, as if trying to find a way to open it.

"Uh, I think my brother just destroyed the Mask of Deception." Nya's voice crackled through the air. Without his mask on, Lloyd's comm system could be easily heard by Hutchins, Harumi, and me.

"What?" Lloyd breathed out, looking to Hutchins with wide eyes.

"That one was a fake." Hutchins replied. "I procured the real one from the vaults below." Hutchins reached behind Harumi's throne, pulling the mask out. I frowned at the orange, smiling face.

"A fake?" Harumi repeated in question, stepping closer to Hutchins.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. It is the Mask of Deception. I wasn't sure if I could trust the Ninja, but I do now." Hutchins explained, then he turned, pulling our Father's throne forward to reveal a hidden entrance. "Take it and get the Princesses out of here." Hutchins told Lloyd, handing the mask over to him.

"What about our parents?" I asked him, looking around the room as the building shook again, shifting as more of the building fell and collapsed. I hadn't seen them since dinner this evening, and the lack in their appearances was worrying me.

"I'll find them." Hutchins assured me with a soft smile. I swallowed, not liking the idea of leaving him in this alace.

"I was wrong about you." Lloyd started, but Hutchins shook his head.

"Go." He simply commanded and Lloyd nodded. Harumi was the first to hurry down the stairs in the hidden door. I slowly followed after her, looking in.

"Princess, before you go." I turned back to Hutchins. I watched as he clicked a button hidden on the side of his staff, and it retracted into itself, shortening until it was barely longer than my hand. He then quickly pushed the golden object between my fingers. "For you, (y/n)." Hutchins gave me a sad smile, and my stomach dropped as he turned away, running to the doors Zane had budged open.

"No, no. Hutchins!" I called out, wanting to go after him, but a hand grasped mine and tugged me back. I tried to pull away, facing Lloyd as he led me down the steps, then hit the button on the wall. The throne slid back into its place above us. "Stop, Lloyd! We have to go back for him." Lloyd didn't reply as he pulled me further down the tunnel. His other hand was lit green with a small fire. Harumi wasn't too far ahead of us. "He's going to die! You don't understand!" I screamed out, tears coming to my eyes the second time that night. Lloyd stopped us in the tunnels for a moment. A hardened look had come across his face, but it softened as he looked at me.

"I know, Princess. I know. But you're priority. You and your parents were closest to the explosion, so whoever set this up wanted you gone." Lloyd told me. I swallowed, shaking my head.

"But- but-" I sniffled and Lloyd frowned. He put a hand to my face, brushing away one of my tears.

"We have to go." Lloyd said gently. Behind us, a large crack formed across the ceiling, then the entrance of the tunnel was caving in. I turned to Lloyd again, blinking back my tears. I gave a slight nod, and Lloyd sighed, pulling me with him after Harumi through the tunnel.