Collaborators

Please Note: The following fanfic is in an alternate universe following the events of season 16 (Crystalized).

---

Pov LittleDino
The following morning, Lloyd and Harumi are taking us aboard the newly repaired Destiny's Bounty. Lloyd says that it would be a day trip to the Domu Library. Harumi is mostly just staring at us. I have a feeling she doesn't trust us. If I'm to be honest, I don't trust her either. On the other hand, Lloyd seemed very trusting. He's telling us stories of the legendary Green Ninja. However, I could feel he left some parts out. For example, he never mentioned how he and Harumi met. I could feel the tensions between them, they did have chemistry, but it felt fragile, almost broken, yet still very much alive. Lloyd and Harumi have many questions for us. I'm trying my best to answer all of their questions. After that was settled, I tell them stories of our many adventures. Harumi made some sort of offhand comment:
“Oh great, another fearless green leader.” Lloyd elbows her after she makes that remark.

While Harumi and Lloyd are “interrogating” LittleDuck and LittleDina, I ask to go to the restroom and notice Harumi giving me a death glare. Lloyd is telling me over complicated instructions, which I don't pay much attention to. I just needed an excuse to snoop around, and find out what I could learn. They're hiding something, I'm just not sure what. I stumble into a broom closet. Then I found my way into a cabin with a bunch of beds. I found a ton of pictures on the wall, which must be pictures of the other Ninja that Lloyd told me about, and then my eyes fixed on a diary. It belonged to Harumi. I was about to read it when.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!!” I hear Harumi yelling from behind me.

Pov Harumi
I knew it! Snooping around just like I did on the bounty. Now LittleDino thinks he can just read MY DIARY. My first instinct is to charge with a dagger, but quickly remember I don’t have one on me as Lloyd doesn’t yet trust me with daggers. As an alternative, I yell, startling him in the process.
“That diary doesn’t belong to you, and hasn’t anyone ever taught you it’s rude to touch other people’s things. “
“I… I was just walking back from the washroom and caught a glimpse of this book. I was curious what it was.” LittleDino says, stepping back slowly.

He’s really going to play this trick on me. Does he not know who I am? I could play this trick so much better, if I wanted to.
“You expect me to believe that? You show up at the palace, claiming you're lost and telling little stories about how wonderful you are. Then, when Lloyd offers to help you, you conveniently decide to read MY DIARY! “I say, my voice growing in volume with every word.

It wasn’t till after I was finished that I notice LittleDino holding out my diary for me to grab. Snatching it from his hands while glaring at him. Then I turn around to find Lloyd staring at me with his arms crossed. LittleDuck and LittleDina appeared behind Lloyd looking frightened. Great! Of course, I’m automatically the one to blame.



Pov: LittleDino
“It's my fault, don’t get mad at Harumi.” I told Lloyd. Harumi appears surprised but quickly continues to glare at me.
“I was looking around and found her Diary, but I didn’t read it, I’m sorry for snooping around”
“Thank you for your honesty” Says Lloyd.
“Lloyd, are you really going to...”
“That's enough Harumi” Says Lloyd, interrupting her.
“The rest of you please return above deck and stop snooping around” Lloyd tells us.

As we walked upstairs LittleDuck and LittleDina started ranting about my poor actions. Harumi glaring at me the whole time. I needed to make it up to her. About an hour later, Lloyd tells Harumi that he needed to go below deck for something and asked if she could watch us, and make sure we don’t get into any more trouble. I decided to walk up to her and apologize.
” What do you want!” Harumi snarls.
“I wanted to say that I was sorry. It was wrong to snoop around your things, I have been hurt by a lot of people and Trust doesn’t come easily to me.” I say, noticing Harumi looking at me with an eyebrow raised.
“My Dad was horrible to me and my mother as a child and left us. My own Cousin created a whole gang to try to kill me. Almost everyone I have gotten close to has died or left me.” I continue, and I notice Harumi looking away for a moment.
“I don’t trust you yet, but that didn’t give me the right to do what I did. I hope that we can get past this and one day trusts each other.” I tell her as she just stared as if unsure what to feel and say. I walk back to where I was sitting with LittleDuck and LittleDina.

As Lloyd came back to the upper deck. He comes to talk to us:
“We’re almost there. Can you be trusted to come with us or should I give Harumi a sword and let her guard you while I figure out how to get you back to your realm?”
“You can trust us!” LittleDuck and LittleDina both say in unison, while I just nod my head in shame.

Pov Harumi
Well, don’t I feel like a jerk. Lloyd’s gone below deck, while I’m stuck watching the others unfortunately without a sword. LittleDuck and LittleDina are staring off the edge enjoying the view I suppose, while LittleDino is bowing his head in shame. I decided it was best to try and talk to him. If anything, I’m sure it’s what Lloyd would want.
“I can’t say I know what it’s like to not trust anyone, but I do know what it’s like to not have anyone there for you when you need it.” I say.

At this, LittleDino raised his head, staring at me.
“Growing up with my par… uhm adoptive parents didn’t pay attention to me. As a result, I felt alone, like no one cared if I was there.” I say, pausing momentarily as I stare off the edge of the bounty, remembering how alone I was for all those years.
“You had no one with you growing up?” Asks LittleDino, looking sorrowfully.
“No, not until I met Lloyd. Though, let’s just say our, uhm… relationship hasn’t been the greatest.” I say nervously.

LittleDino stares at me expectantly. In response, I give a small nervous chuckle and decide to continue.
“Look. Let's just say we aren’t the perfect fairy tale princess and ninja in shining armor.” I say quickly.
“Wait, princess and ninja in shining armor? Are you a princess?” LittleDino asks with wide eyes.
“Not by choice, but yes.” I say, annoyed more at the thought of the Emperor and Empress than LittleDino’s questions.

LittleDino seems surprised by this but says nothing in return. I smile to myself. Thinking of how much I’m not like a fairytale princess. After all, it’s not every day a princess wears ripped jeans and a leather jacket.

---

Fun fact: The outfit for Harumi at the beginning of this story is from another story I wrote a while ago called Secrets Left Written.

LittleDino's Fun Fact:  The outfit for LittleDino, LittleDuck, and LittleDina is the first outfit they are seen wearing in my own story, The Adventures of LittleDino.