| XXXIV | Realm Hopping

                                    

                                          
   *No POV*
                          
     The Realm Crystal had first taken Morro and Lloyd into the Underworld. Large spiders crowded them, but Morro found himself out of the fray first.
                          
     "Eugh," he physically cringed as he blew away a spider web that had stuck somewhere around his lower back—specifically the hair. "How does one fight with hair this long?"
                          
     Once taking sight of the Green Ninja, he grinned down at him, seeing that he was still trying to escape. "You and I could go on fighting forever... or I could just take the Realm Crystal and leave you behind forever!"
                          
     "You're not getting away!" Lloyd shouted, kicking a spider off of him. He spun into his Airjitzu tornado, flying to catch up to Morro just as he entered the portal. Before it shut, he hopped in.
                          
     The two came tumbling out, Morro being tackled. He lost grip on the crystal, which slid down the rocks in the Realm of Madness. They too slid down the mountain, stopping at the very bottom. Once they caught sight of what they wanted, they got to their feet and began to run up toward it.
                          
     Lloyd was the victor in that race. Giving his opponent a small shove, he got ready to point the crystal to create another portal.
                          
     Except he hesitated, turning around and holding the crystal behind his back. There was no way he could try and keep Morro trapped in a realm in the current situation.. "I can't leave you behind, Scarlett... fight him!"
                          
     "You're weak!" Morro shouted, rushing forward in an attempt to grab what he assumed was rightfully his. There was no sign of Scarlett fighting back yet—unfortunately he was stronger.
                          
     No more time was wasted. Knowing he'd follow, Lloyd pointed the crystal and opened a portal and the two jumped in.
                          
     This time, they fell from the sky in the Cloud Kingdom. For a moment, Morro was on top, trying to pry the crystal out of his opponent's hands. The Sword of Sanctuary no longer mattered to him.
                          
     But being in the air, they began to spin. Even the monks below caught sight of them, but chose not to intervene. As one said, this is for them to resolve.
                          
     They didn't last too long in the Cloud Kingdom. They didn't even get to land before their fighting was stopped by another opening portal.
                          
     The two were once again in the air, falling through the beige-colored clouds. This time, they harshly landed on a rock with Morro on top of Lloyd.
                          
     A group of animal-looking people turned around, completely shocked at their sudden appearance. One even asked, "Hey, where did you guys come from?"
                          
     And then her voice returned out of nowhere. "Lloyd," Scarlett whispered, tightly gripping onto the collar of his robe. Her eyes looked pleading.
                          
     "Scarle—woah!" Before he could say anything else to her, she pointed the crystal in the air and a portal opened above them. As she had a hold on him, they both went up together.
                          
     This realm they landed in was sandy, like a desert almost. There were pillars and many edifices that gave it some type of royal vibe. The slight wind in the air made him think Morro was already back and ready to fight him again—but at the moment, no one was in sight.
                          
     Lloyd looked around, hoping to find at least her. Because if she wasn't in control, he'd be in trouble—he didn't have the crystal.
                          
     "Scarlett!" he tried calling. Come on... he hoped, hoped for anything. They had fallen together—where could she have gone? Tell me you're there...