#cole realizes that he's broken and jay doesn't

[morro-guardian-of-the-departed]

OHHH MORRO, IT'S LORE TIME.

So, the ninja, as per usual, were fighting a "low-level" villain, called the mechanic (he doesn't get the uppercase letters). The mechanic, a former worker for Chen, was searching through a warehouse for a computer chip that would allow for people to enter a video game called 'Prime Empire,' though he was beaten and sent to jail by the ninja and the motherboard was claimed by them. Unfortunately, when they were investigating the broken down location where the mechanic was going, Jay found the Prime Empire arcade machine, wanted to play it, put the motherboard in the back, played the game to 13th level, the machine opened up to a bright, glowing white light and he walked inside, entering the game. And when the chip was plugged in, EVERY other arcade machine in Ninjago was hijacked to also play Prime Empire, leading to thousands of Ninjago citizens getting trapped in the game once they reach the 13th level. Meanwhile, the rest of the ninja find about the main villain, Unagami, and find the repeated symbol of an upside-down triangle with with the top disconnected, then once they're done, they realize that, like their 5 year old child, Jay's gone. So they check the cameras and sort of find out where he went. The ninja then get Cyrus Borg to inspect the game, they try to find Milton Dyer, the game's creator, but they have no luck, Borg figures out the stuff with the 13th level and tells the ninja, not including Zane and PIXAL, due to their coding, to go inside the game and PIXAL and Zane shall continue the search for Dyer.

Kai, Cole, Lloyd, and Nya after shortly entering the game, find a cult based around Jay the League of Jay (they have avatars of him) and gets help from them to lead them to Jay. They reunite with Jay and he tells them that they have to collect 3 keytanas to beat the game and return to reality.

NOW, Unagami's evil plan. Basically, get people inside the game, make them lose all of their lives so that they turn into these energy cubes, use the energy cubes to power up a gateway that leads into Ninjago, enact revenge on Milton Dyer for abandoning him/the game.

Back in Ninjago, Zane and PIXAL are doing detective work, but Zane gets too into the role and starts narrating everything. They talk to Dyer's parents, then to his old friend who tells them about an arcade where Dyer used to hangout, they go there and Zane gets kidnapped by the mechanic and PIXAL finds Dyer, who she finds out is not Unagami like they expected. She learns from Dyer that Unagami is Prime Empire, which became sentient and his name is short for 'Untitled Game no. 1', and the reason that he abandoned the game was because it sucked his friend Scott into it, leading to him abandoning the project. Anyways, the mechanic plugs Zane up to the Ninjago side of the gateway to power it on their end.

In the game, Kai and Cole both lose their last life in the Speedway 5,000, Lloyd dies because he had to fight against an avatar of Harumi, and Nya dies to an enemy for Jay, while being the last life Unagami needed to venture into Ninjago. Jay ends up following Unagami into reality to stop him, eventually catches up to him and gets him to stop attacking everything, and he has a heart to heart with him because he was also abandoned by his parents (Libber and Gordon). Unagami ends up transforming into a child form and calls everything off, allowing those who died in the game to return into Ninjago. Then everyone has a happy ending and Milton Dyer and Unagami go home as father and son.

-Lore anon

Lore Anon, I’ll be honest with you. For a while I was trying to avoid your ask, because I figured if I didn’t read the Ninjas’ next traumatic venture, I didn’t have to process that it happened. Also their stupidity in certain situations makes me crash out. I’m deciding to read this ask because it can’t be as bad as I think it is, right?

I can already hear the hubris bell ringing at my comment.

Fuck.

Oh no. Why are their quotation marks around the mechanic’s title?

He’s a former employee of Chen’s? Ew. Chen’s an asshole.

What the fuck is wrong with spreading around this “Prime Empire” video game? How does that make him a villain?

At least the Ninja got the motherboard.

WHY DID YOU WRITE THE WORD “UNFORTUNATELY”??

NO. NO I DON’T WANNA READ WHAT COMES NEXT.

THAT’S WHAT YOU MEANT BY “ENTERING THE GAME”?? THE MACHINE FUCKING ATE THE LIGHTNING NINJA???

Not the fuckass digital domino effect 💀

Greattttt now on top of trying to get the Lightning Ninja back, the Ninja will ALSO have to save all the hostages. 

WHY THE FUCK DID HE PUT THE MOTHERBOARD THAT HE GOT FROM A CRIMINAL INTO THE FUCKING ARCADE GAME??

Unagami feels like a symbolic name, though I have no idea why.

“then once they're done, they realize that, like their 5 year old child, Jay's gone.” SINCE WHEN DID THEY HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD??

Cyrus Both is Pixal’s creator/father, right?

Oh great. Let’s all go into the killer video game, why don’t we?

How the fuck did the Lightning Ninja acquire a whole ass cult in like, TWO DAYS??

Was he THAT GOOD at grinding in Prime Empire?

Keytanas? Really?

Oh fuck there’s a limit on lives. What other limitations exist? Can the Ninja use their elements or do Spinjitzu, at least?

UNAGAMI’S THE GAME?? AND HE’S HARVESTING SOULS TO GET REVENGE ON HIS ABANDONER—

WHY CAN’T PARENTS JUST FUCKING CARE FOR THEIR KIDS?

That seems like a Zane thing to do, from my very minimal experience. It would’ve either been very comical or very annoying to watch him in “Detective Mode”.

Why does someone always get kidnapped? It’s getting kind of old at this point.

I KNEW “UNAGAMI” WAS A SYMBOLIC NAME. SOMEHOW. WHATEVER THE POINT IS THAT I CALLED IT.

Fuckass familial misunderstandings

Why do all these villains just dehumanize Zane and use him for parts? It’s sickening.

So the Fire and Earth Ninjas probably twinned in dumbassery on the speedway, Lloyd died because he was a simp for a psychopathic cultist, and Nya died to save her man from certain doom. These Ninja really DON’T have FSM-granted plot armor, do they?

Wait since when was The Lightning Ninja adopted? (I might be stupid. I have the memory of a fish.)

No fucking way they Friendshipped-Is-Magic their way out of that. I’ve got to be in the wrong timeline because what the fuck is happening.

The Hubris Bell hath strucketh. How the fuck do these dumbasses always get themselves in these situations? And SURVIVE?? I can’t tell if they have no plot armor or all the plot armor.

[youraveragedirtclod]

Small fic for @buggie-eyed for the prompt:

Lava realizing they really really really miss each other after the merge, maybe an abnormal amount

Length: ~750 words

Tags: Angst, Hurt no comfort

Note:

Uhm.... sorry??? This kinda is just sad.... Also only Kai's POV.... cuz I want this to be vaguely inconclusive about if Cole is still kicking.... so ig you could say its an AU/Canon divergent.... anyways.....

Every day, my heart aches. Nya's noticed it, I can tell by the sad eyes she shoots me across the dinner table, and the way she holds my shoulder with a sympathetic smile. I have to remind myself he's her friend too, but in the moment all I feel is anger.

How could she possibly understand what I'm feeling? What I'm going through? I want to yell at her, scream, shove her hand away and wipe that look off her face. I don't need her pity.

But he was her friend too. Is her friend.

He's not gone. He can't be.

Wyldfyre hasn't noticed, I don't think, which is good. I need to be strong for her, so she can grow into the great ninja I know she can be. I try not to talk about him with her. She's not that unaware. I know she'd see through me.

Nights are quiet in the monastery. We've lost so many. Jay's not screaming at whatever dumb game he's playing. Zane and Pixal aren't up late debating serious philosophical questions or computational problems. And he isn't bothering me.

He's not here to flop on my bed and complain about his dad. He's not here to wrap an arm around my shoulder and drag me to a restaurant I've never heard of that I need to go to. He's not here to show me an old movie he found at the thrift, or a new band he discovered in town. He's not here, and I miss him.

Nya sits down on my bed. I don't hear what she says, but she's staring at me, expecting a response.

"Kai?" She's probably repeating herself now.

"Hm?" I say, not lifting my head.

"Are you okay?" Her eyes have that pitying look I'm so used to by now. I'm silent for a moment.

"I just miss him."

"Cole?"

I flinch at his name. I don't remember the last time I dared say it out loud. It feels like every time someone says his name they say it like a distant memory. They say it like he's gone.

"I don't want to talk about it," I roll over, away from Nya. She sighs.

"I need you, Kai. Jay's gone too, you know."

"I know," I glance back at Nya. She's looking down at her lap, where her hands lay shaking. Tears well up in her eyes.

"You're my brother. I rely on you, and I want you to rely on me too. You've felt so distant, lately, and I need you back."

I sit up, wrapping my arms around her trembling shoulders. I'm crying too, and I hate it. I'm a messy cryer, there's snot dripping from my nose and my tears soak through Nya's shirt quickly. I'm hyperventilating and hiccuping and choking on my own spit. There's not one part of me that doesn't want to disappear into the ground forever. At least I'd be closer to him that way.

It might've been hours by the time we pull apart, but Nya's face and mine are both shiny with tears, our eyes red and puffy. She smiles, it doesn't reach her eyes but it comforts me enough for me to smile back.

"I loved him," I say without thinking. Because, truthfully, it didn't require much thinking at all. The second it's out of my mouth it feels like the most obvious statement in the world, like the sky being blue or the ocean being deep. "I love him," I correct myself. "And I never told him."

Nya hugs me again. Harder, this time. It's bone-crushing and I can't breathe but maybe that's because I'm crying all over again. Maybe I never stopped crying. Maybe I never will. Maybe the rest of my life without him will be crying, briefly interrupted by silent lulls of melancholic sleep. Maybe I'll never know peace again. Maybe I'll never know happiness. Maybe it's over. Maybe I'm broken for good. Maybe I'm incomplete without him.

"It's okay," Nya repeats into my shoulder. "It's okay."

But it's not and it never will be, not unless he comes back. Even if only for a moment I could see him again, feel his arms around me, run my hands through his hair or eat a meal beside him, I'd maybe be able to move on with my life.

But I can't. I won't.

Because I love Cole, and now he's gone.

[berrythep4nda]

I got permission!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a little fic based on this story :

By @that-was-anticlimactic, go check her out !!! Thank you for allowing me to create a continuation for it :)

Hunger, slipping (Cole)

(not beta read, so I'm sorry if there's a mistake or something that doesn't make sense)

The bathroom was quiet, save for the sound of running water. Cole stood at the sink, his hands trembling as he rinsed his mouth out for what felt like the hundredth time. The taste of bile still lingered on his tongue, sour and bitter, a cruel reminder of what he'd just done. He turned off the faucet and gripped the edges of the sink, his knuckles white against the porcelain. His chest rose and fell in uneven breaths as he tried to steady himself, but the ache in his throat and the dull, gnawing pain in his stomach refused to let him forget. 

He dared to glance up, catching sight of his reflection in the mirror. A mistake. His eyes were hollow, ringed with exhaustion that sleep never seemed to touch. His skin looked pale, almost gray under the harsh bathroom light, and his hair, usually neatly tied back, clung to his damp forehead in uneven strands. 

It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him.

“Pathetic,” his own voice whispered in his mind, sharp and cutting. He flinched, his gaze dropping away from the mirror. He couldn’t look at himself anymore. The image burned in his mind, though, lingering like a bruise.. The strong, dependable Cole his team relied on wouldn’t be this... broken. His stomach churned again, not from hunger this time but from shame. 

“Weak,” his mind hissed, the word cutting through the silence like a blade. 

He swallowed hard, ignoring the burn in his throat. The voices were getting louder these days, harder to drown out. 

---

Walking back into the training room, the others’ voices carried through the hall. They weren’t talking about him—of course they weren’t—but every word felt like it was. 

“Cole always eats the most,” Jay had laughed the other day, nudging him playfully. “You’re like a human vacuum, dude. You ever taste your food, or does it just disappear?” 

He’d laughed then, too, because what else could he do? He couldn’t exactly tell them how much those words stung, how they latched onto the darker thoughts already spiraling in his head. It wasn’t their fault. They didn’t know. They couldn’t know. 

And then there were the others. The strangers. The fans. The ones who had no problem pointing out that he wasn’t the fastest, the smartest, or the most popular of the team. 

“You’re nothing but a joke,” the voice continued, his own voice, relentless. “Do you even realize how useless you are? They don’t need you. They never have.”

The sound of footsteps approaching pulled him from his thoughts. He stiffened, forcing a neutral expression onto his face as Lloyd passed by with a grin and a quick, “Hey, Cole!”

Cole forced a smile back, his jaw tight. As soon as Lloyd was gone, the voice came rushing back.

“They don’t see it, do they? How much you’re falling apart.”

“They wouldn’t care if they did.”

“They only keep you around because they pity you.”

The words looped in his head, over and over, like a cruel mantra. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, the sting grounding him for a moment. But it wasn’t enough to drown out the noise.

It was never enough.

No matter what he did, the cycle continued. Eat too much, hate himself for it, and force it all back out. He told himself it was control, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t. It was desperation.

And no matter how hard he tried to push past it, to drown out the voice, it was always there. His voice, whispering every cruel thing he’d ever feared was true.

“You’re not enough.”

“You’ll never be enough.”

---------------------------------------------------

The dining table was filled with the usual chaos—Jay and Kai arguing over who had taken the last of the dumplings, Zane quietly preparing more food in the background, and Lloyd bouncing between topics faster than anyone could keep up. It was the kind of energy that made their home feel alive, comforting. But Cole sat at the far end of the table, his plate mostly untouched. 

He poked at the rice with his chopsticks, shifting it into neat piles without actually eating. He’d gotten good at this, blending into the background while everyone else carried on. If he timed it right, no one would notice the untouched portions left on his plate. 

“You okay, man?” Jay’s voice broke through, startling him just enough to make his hands pause. 

Cole plastered on a small smile, one he hoped didn’t look too forced. “Yeah, just... tired. Training was rough today.” 

Jay shrugged, accepting the answer without question. “Fair enough. Kai nearly broke my arm with that new takedown move Zane taught him. Still think I won the round, though.” 

“You did not,” Zane corrected from the kitchen. 

The group laughed, and Cole leaned back slightly, letting the sound wash over him. He wanted to join in, to feel the warmth of the moment, but his chest felt tight, the kind of tightness that came from holding in too much. 

“Cole, you should eat,” Lloyd said suddenly, sliding a plate of cake across the table toward him. His voice was innocent, the gesture well-meaning, but the sight of the dessert made Cole’s stomach twist. 

He froze, staring at the cake as if it were some kind of trap. His throat tightened, the edges of the room blurring as his thoughts spiraled. 

You don’t need that.

They’ll all see how disgusting you are. 

You’ll lose control again.

“Uh, thanks,” he said quickly, his voice stiff. He pushed the plate back toward Lloyd, his fingers trembling just enough for him to notice. “Not really in the mood for sweets right now.” 

Lloyd blinked, his brow furrowing slightly. “But it’s your favorite. Zane made it for you.” 

The others glanced over now, their chatter pausing for a brief moment. Cole felt their eyes on him, felt the weight of their curiosity, their concern. 

“I’m fine,” he said, a little too quickly. “Just full from earlier.” 

Kai snorted. “Full? Dude, you barely touched your food.” 

“Leave him alone, Kai,” Zane interjected gently. “Perhaps he simply isn’t hungry.” 

Cole shot Zane a quick, grateful look before muttering something about needing fresh air. He stood, his chair scraping loudly against the floor, and left the table before anyone could stop him. 

Behind him, the team exchanged glances. 

“That was weird, right?” Jay asked, breaking the silence. 

“He’s just tired,” Lloyd said, though his tone wavered. “Right?” 

Zane didn’t answer immediately, his gaze lingering on the untouched plate Cole had left behind. “Perhaps,” he said finally, though his voice carried the weight of something more. Something unspoken.

---------------------------------------------------

  The house was silent now, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the floorboards. Cole stood in the doorway of the dining room, staring at the remnants of the meal still on the table. His plate sat untouched, the food cold and unappetizing under the dim light. 

He stepped inside, the weight of guilt pressing down on him like a physical force. Zane had spent all that time cooking, carefully preparing each dish with the thoughtfulness only Zane could manage. And what had Cole done? Pushed it around his plate and walked away like some ungrateful brat. 

He sat down slowly, his stomach already knotting with unease as he picked up his chopsticks. The rice had gone dry, and the vegetables had wilted, but he forced himself to take a bite. The first mouthful felt heavy, sitting in his throat like a stone. 

You should’ve eaten when everyone was here, his voice scolded, low and bitter. Now you look pathetic, sitting here alone, stuffing your face because you feel bad. 

He ignored it, shoving another bite in before the first had even settled. Each swallow felt harder, his body protesting, but he kept going. He deserved this. Zane’s hard work wasn’t something to waste, not because of his stupid problems. 

When the plate was empty, he pushed it aside, breathing hard, his chest heaving like he’d run a marathon. His stomach churned, sharp and angry, but he ignored that too. His eyes drifted to the cake still sitting at the center of the table. 

Lloyd’s voice echoed in his head, soft and innocent: “But it’s your favorite. Zane made it for you.”

Cole swallowed hard, his hands gripping the table as the guilt doubled. He’d been rude, hadn’t he? Pushed Lloyd’s kindness away without a second thought. Lloyd was only trying to help, trying to make him feel better. And Zane... Zane had gone out of his way to bake that cake. 

Are you really going to be that mean? his voice sneered, sharp and accusatory. To the people who care about you? The people who’ve given you nothing but goodness in this house?

His hands trembled as he reached for the knife, cutting a slice that felt too big the moment he saw it on his plate. But he didn’t stop. He took a forkful, shoving it into his mouth without hesitation. The sweetness felt cloying, sticking to his teeth and throat, but he didn’t care. He deserved this. He needed to finish it. 

Each bite came faster than the last, the edges of the world blurring as he forced himself to eat. The voice in his head grew louder, crueler, but he kept going. 

You should feel bad. You should choke on it. 

Ungrateful. Selfish. Weak.

The plate was empty too quickly, but the guilt didn’t leave. If anything, it was worse, clawing at his chest and leaving him hollow. His stomach churned violently, the discomfort impossible to ignore now. 

He sat back in his chair, staring blankly at the table. The room was still silent, but his thoughts roared, relentless and unforgiving. He closed his eyes, his hands gripping the edges of the chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. 

In the quiet, his own voice whispered again, softer this time but no less cruel: 

They deserve better than you.

The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the house. Cole sat frozen, staring at the empty plate in front of him. The food was gone, the evidence of his guilt erased from the table, but it didn’t matter. 

The voices in his head surged, each word sharp and cutting. 

Pig. Disgusting. Of course you’d do this. Stuff yourself until you can’t breathe. No wonder they look at you like that. No wonder you feel like this.

His chest tightened, the weight of it pressing down until it felt like he couldn’t draw a full breath. His stomach churned violently, the uneasy feeling rising into something unbearable. Panic laced his movements as he stumbled to his feet, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. 

By the time he reached the bathroom, his legs felt like they might give out. He barely made it to the toilet before the gagging started, his body revolting against what he’d forced down. His hands gripped the edges of the bowl, knuckles white, as everything came up in sharp, painful waves. 

The sound echoed in the small space, harsh and jarring. Each retch felt like it was tearing something inside of him, leaving him more hollow with every heave. Tears pricked at his eyes, unbidden and unwelcome, but he couldn’t stop them. 

When it was over, he stayed there, hunched over and trembling. His throat burned, raw from the acid, and his body felt weak, like it could crumble if he tried to stand. But worse than the physical pain was the ache in his chest, the shame settling in like a heavy weight he couldn’t shake. 

This is who you are, his own voice whispered, cruel and relentless. Weak. Pathetic. You’ll never be anything else.

He pressed his forehead to the cool rim of the toilet, his breaths coming in uneven gasps. The taste of bile lingered in his mouth, bitter and clinging, but he didn’t move. He didn’t deserve to. This was his fault—this mess, this pain, all of it. 

Cole’s eyes squeezed shut, as if that could block out the thoughts swirling in his mind. But they were louder than ever, echoing off the walls of his skull, leaving him trapped in the quiet horror of his own making.

-----------------------------------------------

Lloyd stirred awake, the faint sound of hurried footsteps and a muffled noise breaking through the quiet of the night. His room, closest to the bathroom, picked up every faint creak and shuffle. At first, he thought it might’ve been Zane running another late-night experiment, but the strained, retching sound that followed made his blood run cold. 

Throwing off his blanket, Lloyd hurried out into the hallway. The bathroom door was ajar, the light spilling into the dim corridor. He stepped closer, hesitating for a moment before peeking inside. 

“who's there?” His voice was soft but tinged with worry. 

The sight before him made his stomach drop. Cole was hunched over the toilet, his back trembling with each labored breath. His hands gripped the porcelain like it was the only thing holding him together. The air was thick with the acrid smell of bile, and Lloyd’s heart clenched. 

“Cole!” he gasped, stepping fully into the room. 

The sudden presence jolted Cole, his head snapping up, his face pale and damp with sweat. For a moment, he just stared at Lloyd, wide-eyed and frozen, like a kid caught doing something they shouldn’t. Then, as if realizing how he must look, Cole scrambled to straighten up. 

“Lloyd,” he croaked, his voice rough and raw. He coughed, quickly turning to flush the toilet. “What’re you doing up, buddy?” 

Lloyd frowned, his green eyes scanning Cole with growing concern. “I heard you... Are you okay? You’re—” 

“I’m fine,” Cole cut him off, his voice too sharp, too quick. He stood up, wobbling slightly, and reached for the sink. His trembling hands turned on the faucet, splashing water onto his face. “Just... ate something bad, I think. You know me—can’t resist food!” He forced out a weak, breathless laugh. 

Lloyd didn’t buy it. His young face betrayed his shock and confusion, his eyes darting to the toilet, the sink, and then back to Cole. “You were—” 

“Throwing up, yeah. Happens to everyone, right?” Cole interrupted again, his words tumbling out too fast, too rehearsed. He wouldn’t look at Lloyd, his gaze fixed firmly on the mirror. His reflection stared back, hollow-eyed and pale, but he avoided even that, pretending to focus on washing his hands. 

“But, Cole...” Lloyd’s voice wavered, unsure how to approach this. He was trying to be calm, trying to be comforting, but his youth and inexperience betrayed him. “You— I mean, you’ve been kinda... off lately, and now this—” 

“I’m fine,” Cole repeated, more forcefully this time. He finally turned to face Lloyd, plastering on a shaky smile. “Seriously. Just a bug or something. I’ll be better tomorrow, promise.” 

But Lloyd didn’t miss the way Cole’s hands trembled as he wiped them on a towel. Or how his voice wavered, betraying the fragility beneath his words. 

“Cole, you don’t have to—” 

“I’m fine, Lloyd,” Cole snapped, his voice cracking. The sharpness in his tone startled them both, and Cole immediately softened, guilt flashing across his face. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to... I’m just tired, okay? Please, go back to bed.” 

Lloyd hesitated, his worry written all over his face. But Cole wouldn’t meet his eyes, his shoulders hunched like he was trying to make himself smaller. Eventually, Lloyd nodded, though his heart was heavy. 

“Okay... but if something’s wrong, you can tell me, Cole,” he said quietly, lingering in the doorway. “We’re all here for you. You know that, right?” 

Cole swallowed hard, forcing another smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I know, kiddo. Thanks.” 

Lloyd lingered for a moment longer before reluctantly heading back to his room, casting one last glance over his shoulder. 

As soon as the door shut, Cole leaned heavily against the sink, his hands gripping the edge until his knuckles turned white. His reflection stared back at him, accusing and unforgiving. 

“You’re fine,” he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling. “You’re fine. Just keep it together.” 

But the words felt hollow, echoing in the empty bathroom like a cruel joke. 

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

That's it for now, this is the short version of what i have in mind, @that-was-anticlimactic I hope you like it, thank you again for letting me create this 🫶🫶

[weekend-whip]

Ninjago Fic Rec Week: Day 4

Prompts: Fluff / Cole Recs! (i'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of my favorite fics today aaaa)

Fluff Recs-

Good Hair Day: Kai helps Skylor do her hair, based entirely on a headcanon of Kai being good at doing hair (hey, his own style is a choice)

Little Brother: Lloyd realizes the perks of having five older siblings. Lots of sweet family fluff and young!Lloyd shenanigans <3

Nya, Kai, and That One Drink: Including this one specifically because it's probably the most lighthearted thing I've written yet that doesn't involve Jesse snknksnskn, the group goes for takeout in the X-1 Ninja Charger, only for one thing to lead to another and Kai winds up forgetting Nya's drink. What's a brother to do now?

Socks: Wu wearily but delightfully is forced to watch the ninja get way too much merriment out of a ridiculous pair of socks (I, personally, am of the belief that they belong to Lloyd, but—)

Five Times Jay Cheered Someone Up: And the one time he was cheered up in return (i am DISTRESSED that i didn't include this on my Jay list aaaaAAAA)

Five Times Lloyd Was a Pain: And the one time he wasn't. Child!Lloyd for the soul in this one!!!!

There's Insurance For That: In which Skylor gets a taste of the life of a ninja (and learning just how many places they've been banned from in Ninjago) Quite possibly my favorite lighthearted Skylor fic!!!

Cole Recs-

Sick Days: Sickfic, featuring Cole and having to contend with "Being useless", and the doting care

Passing On the Hammer: Cole has a meeting with his grandfather, while Jay tries his hand at being a fisherman and Kai thinks he can do the Triple Tiger Sashay. (Really a fic about Cole and his family's legacy, but Kai and Jay's antics are too hilarious not to mention snksnknksnk)

You're An Excellent Chef, Really *screams loudly* UGNH one of my very favorite fics exploring Cole and Zane's dynamic, will recommend every single time!!!! But, it's basically the duo bonding over cooking over the years. Makes my heart very happy <3

Quiet Weirdo: Cole and Nya friendship fic that the world definitely needs more of!!!!

Adjusting: PILOT BONDING, this time Cole flavored!! Cole's thoughts on his new budding team consisting of a chatty blue guy and the guy that won't stop staring at things. But a guy like Cole has never needed friends anyway, so he's got nothing to worry about, right?

Again and Again: MORE PILOTS BONDING but this time with Glacier! People keep asking me how Cole fell in love with Zane in Legacyverse and my mind always drifts back to a thing similar to this story! My personal investment aside, a nice fluffy fic about how Cole met Zane and they became friends with a touch of pining <3

You Worry Too Much: By the author of Chips and Salsa (another fandom Cole/Glacier classic), here we have a another tale centered around Cole's parents while he was growing up, and though it's a little more about Lou than anyone else, Cole ofc has a huge stake in the story and uwaah I love reading about Cole's family dynamics (both the fluff and the tragedy)

Some Climb Mountains: A retelling of how Cole met Master Wu, always gets me misty eyed because i am a soft soul ;v;

Cole and the Tastiest Broken Glass: S2 Pre-Child's Play, Cole and Lloyd bond over broken things, life philosophy, and candy. Cole and Lloyd sibling duo that the world also needs much more og!!

I'm Sure He Knows: More Cole + Wu bonding that speaks to me specifically, involving a conversation about a certain ghostly wind master who is no more.

Four Times Cole Helped The Guys With a Nightmare: And the one time they helped him. Cole's character at his purest in this one!!!

[an-au]

Pre-Series

This is my backstory post detailing a vague timeline for An's childhood and background. It starts after the Serpentine War, when Wu meets their mother (who, I'll admit, I don't have a name for), all the way to the start of the pilot.

Wu meets {NAME} after Misako and Garmadon announce their engagement. He wants to get over Misako, since he's truly happy for them to have found happiness, so the two end up dating. Um, to put it simply, one night neither can remember ends up in {NAME} disappearing and Wu thinking they're broken up. He is very surprised to find a baby on the doorstep to the Monastery, with a short note saying the baby is his.

Insert a very embarrassing conversation with his brother and Misako, since he hadn't even told them about {NAME} because she disappeared before he felt it was time, and now he has a child to care for.

To quickly deal with the Time Battle, since I think that happens around this time period, I'm going to say it happened 1 year after An's birth, and once Wu realized what was happening, he asked Misako to take An and babysit until it's all over, wherever she lives outside of the Monastery.

Once the battle is over, An has a pretty normal life in the Monastery. She frequently visits Jamanaki Village and gets along well enough with the children there. She's homeschooled, so she knows a lot about their family history, which overlaps a LOT with Ninjago's history, and her father agrees to teach her martial arts, and eventually Spinjitzu.

An is around 10 when Lloyd is born. I forgot to specify when Misako and Garmadon marry, but I've always had the headcanon that, regardless of when that happens, Garmadon is hesitant about having kids due to the Great Devourer's venom making his temper and evil tendencies worse. So, at some point after the Battle, they're married, and yes, An participates in the ceremony.

An adores her cousin. She always wants to hold him and take him everywhere. If he's around, every activity now is meant for two.

Uncle Garmadon's temper is getting worse, and An even notices it when he visits. He keeps snapping at her father, but Aunt Misako tells her that he manages it very well and he's trying to be better. He just can't help it sometimes.

A year after Lloyd was born, An wakes up to Wu and Garmadon's fight over the Weapons of Creation. She snuck out of her room, so she saw the ending of it, with her uncle nearly killing her father and being banished through a weird light, but she immediately ran back to her room and pretended to be sleeping when her father checked up on her, so he doesn't know.

After the battle, he drops her off at her Aunt's house, goes to hide the weapons, and gives the map to Kai and Nya's parents.

An learns about the prophecy later, but her father refuses to elaborate on what's written or entertain who it might be. [I'm generally under the idea that they know about Morro, but it's back-and-forth. I do know that they would not have met him.]

When An is 14-15, her father starts bringing in students to train. First, it was Cole, then Jay, then Zane. Around this time, An also masters a rudimentary and wobbly version of Spinjitzu.

2 years after Zane showed up, Wu brings over a boy named Kai, who says his sister Nya was kidnapped by skeletons.

An's role in the pilot episodes is to stay and help her father. She pretty much stays at his side until he falls into the underworld, and she barely manages to lead the group after that. They sneak off to get him back, and she reluctantly follows them and is shocked to see her uncle.

[destinysbounty]

I’m being so normal about how Zane in your elemental swap au finds Lloyd and decides to be the kids only family companion, and how that perfectly fits into Zane being built to help those who cannot help themselves even when he has no idea about that. And how he probably feels even more love and care for Lloyd after he regains his memories because he realizes that him and Lloyd becoming friends was another anchor to answers about himself he didn’t know he needed. Yep, no crying here, just completely normal reactions to these silly little Lego boys. Totally.

(Thank you for this emotional torment good sir you are doing the community a great service)

Thank you! It means a lot to me that so many people have keyed into that part of the AU, especially considering how that's my favorite aspect of it. Y'all are so wonderful and supportive and it's amazing! <3

As thanks, here's some assorted thoughts for the road

Lloyd is, like, 8 years old, and spent most of his life at Darkley's of all places. And at Darkley's he learned that girls are gross, and that girly things are stupid and worthy of ridicule. He also learned that the best way to look out for someone is to toughen them up through harassment. So yes, he does initially mock Zane for his love for pink and frills and flowers, but then he starts to feel bad about it when he realizes A) just how cool Zane is, and B) how upset Zane gets as a response to the mockery. So he apologizes and tries to be nicer - an evil mastermind must treat his henchmen properly, after all - and Zane eventually flourishes under this freedom of self-expression.

This, of course, results in him starting to wear more skirts and dresses and 'girly' things. Which likewise results in the ninja noticing, and in the middle of a battle Cole goes "wait, stop stop stop. Time out everyone. Lloyd, your henchman. What are their pronouns?" And because Lloyd's a baby who has no clue what a pronoun is, they all just kinda end up recreating that one Eggman meme.

At some point, Zane and Lloyd get split up. I have a few ideas for how this might play out, but it'll probably happen as a result of some Serpentine shenanigans. Either way, when they split up, Zane tells the falcon to go with Lloyd to keep him safe and watch over him, and to help Lloyd find his way back to the Bounty so they can meet up back at home. But then the falcon breaks, and Lloyd is scared and lost and alone with no one but his pet bird, whom he didn't even know was a robot to begin with, as his company. I've got the mental image of a crying baby Lloyd holding a broken falcon as he wanders in the desert, desperately releasing Pythor in the hopes of getting some help in locating Zane. But as you can guess, Pythor...doesn't do that. And just like in canon Lloyd gets taken in by the ninja shortly after Pythor betrays him. But Lloyd is still upset, because he's here and safe and Zane isn't, and he doesn't know where his friend is.

Nya and Jay could probably fix the falcon, but Lloyd doesn't fully trust them just yet and also isn't emotionally ready to part with it long enough for it to be repaired. Yeah, after being abandoned by his mom, getting kicked out of his school, and then being separated from Zane, the little green bean has a TON of attachment issues. Plus the falcon serves as a reminder of his friend henchman, and is his only connection to the life he had with said henchman. So yeah, even as he and the ninja grow close, and he starts to warm up to them, and they start to view him as a little brother, he still can't yet trust them with the falcon. He trusted Pythor too, didn't he? So when he gets captured by the Serpentine, he happens to have the falcon in his possession.

Here's where things get dicey: because Lloyd has the falcon with him and the falcon is broken, there isn't anything around to guide Zane to the Birchwood Forest. Meaning that in this AU, Zane takes a while longer to discover his nindroid identity and regain his memories. I imagine it happens sometime early season 2, shortly before the Tomorrow's Tea.

Eventually, Zane decides to seek out the ninja in the hopes that they'll be able to help him find Lloyd - only to discover that he was with the ninja all this time, and Zane is just barely a few days late because Lloyd was recently kidnapped. They just missed each other. And that's how Zane becomes a member of the team. He hadn't planned on befriending them, since they are Lloyd's enemies and according to the Villainy 101 lecture Lloyd gave him, You Aren't Supposed To Be Friends With The Enemy. But Zane...well, he's Zane. It doesn't take him long to get attached to the ninja, and within a matter of days he's calling them his family. And to their surprise, the ninja find that they actually like him too, and seamlessly induct him into their crew.

And when Lloyd and Zane finally reunite...🥺

Also, it's just like you said. Zane protects those who cannot protect themselves even when he doesn't realize that's his purpose. And looking after Lloyd sang to parts of himself he didn't even know were there in the first place. His affection for his little brother mastermind was a much-needed tether to his sense of self, to the life he'd forgotten. That's all well and emotional and good. NOW LET'S ALL THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF SEASON 11 AND LAY ON THE FLOOR FOR A FEW MINUTES

Anyway, thanks for the ask! <3

[maybe-meadowlark]

Ice Ninja!Pixal AU Because I Can

This was all thought up late at night on a whim but I'm actually pretty proud of it. I might even make a fic of this some time. Anyway hope you guys enjoy.

For Seasons 1-3 everything goes according to cannon until that last scene in the season 3 finaly.

After a few months in the digivers, Zane manages to find his way back to Borg Tower and uploads his consciousness into an empty drive and alerting Pixal to his presence.

However, before much of anything can be done she and Zane's conscious are stolen to be used as bait for the ninja.

Clouse was going to try to dissect Pixal and figure out how she works like in canon but with the tournament starting soon he decides it would be better to wait until he has more free time and resources.

Pixal finally wakes up a few days later and tries to analyze her new surroundings when Zane's voice comes from the cell next to her. She is elated that he is safe despite his vulnerable position and together they make plans to escape.

Pixal uses a similar saw to Zane's in canon to break out of the chains and is about to go get Zane from the other cell when he insists she goes alone. Without a body Zane no longer has his element, it's Pixal's now and it is more important for her to get out than him.

Pixal, naturally, does not listen to this and goes and gets Zane anyways, inserting his conscious into her processor so they can get out together. However, as she is doing this Clouse manages to knock her out and capture her, but he doesn't realize she has Zane.

While walking by the cell Cole is surprised to hear Pixal talking and is even more surprised when he realizes she's addressing Zane.

Cole goes to investigate but is confused when he finds Pixal alone and after properly greeting her asks why she was talking to no one.

Pixal informs him that Zane is alive but has no body and his consciousness is currently in her computer.

Cole is elated to hear his brother is alive and promises to get all three of them out.

Pixal has a strange dream of an ice dragon (not the titanium dragon) holding her captive in a frozen cave. She nearly escapes the cave but the dragon attacks her before she can go but is thankfully awakened by Cole as he helps her escape.

Unluckily, they are spotted and the alarm is raised and the two make it to the exit with Zane's help.

Before they reach the exit Cole remembers the other factory workers and decides to go back for them but urges Pixal to escape.

Pixal refuses, deciding to go with him to save the elemental masters.

Together they manage to sneak back into the factory and work together with the elemental masters to make an escape plan.

The em trick the guards into thinking the noodle machine is broken and Karlof volunteers to fix it. Instead of fixing the Noodle Machine, he starts work on a roto jet with Pixal helping from the shadows.

Later, Jay is thrown in to work and is surprised to find Cole and Pixal there. Pixal explains how she is here and that she has Zane's consciousness. Jay is surprised but happy.

They then explain their plan to break out. Jay is not entirely convinced but decides it's the best way right now and helps Karlof and Pixal build the jet.

The jet is found, however, and they have to escape before the jet can fly. The em don't seem to care though and they bust out together.

They break into the nearby room where Nya and Garmadon are being held just in time to save them from the snake.

They are surprised but happy to see Pixal and are very happy to find that Zane's consciousness is safe and that she has it.

From there they bust into Chen's throne room and together the remaining ninja and the em fight Chen's goons.

As they are fighting Pixal uses her own self-defense capabilities to fight the goons that come for her. Zane reminds Pixal that she is the master of ice now and that she must use it to fight.

Pixal is uncertain and does not want to replace Zane in any compacity but decides that right now all that matters is getting out of Chen's grasp, they can figure out how to get Zane's power back later and begins to use her new power to uncertainly freeze and trip Chen's goons.

The ninja are shocked to see Pixal using Zane's power but decide to continue fighting and figure that out later.

Once they are out of the palace and have a moment to talk Pixal explains everything she can: Zane managed to get out of the diverse and up his consciousness into a dive that was stolen along with Pixal for Chen. She managed to steal the drive and put it in her processor.

Finally, at the end, she explains that somehow Zane's element has been passed on to her. She hopes to get it back to him but while he does not have a body he can't have his element. She doesn't want to replace him but she wants to help.

The ninja agree that by using ice to help them she is not replacing Zane and that they would be happy for her to come with them.

Later, while the em are destroying any way off the island Pixal finds a quiet spot away from everything to practice her new power. She is not very good at it and needs to be more confident with it if she is to help fight Chen.

Zane does his best to help teach her how to use it and is actually doing a pretty good job. While they don't have much time and he can't teach her spinjitsu or anything too complicated she is a fast learner and is doing much better than before, even if she's not nearly as good as the other ninja.

When they find out Skylor is in danger Pixal goes with them to help but falls into a hole. She tells the ninja to go on and will find a way out herself.

As she looks for a way out the cave begins to look like the cave from her dream and the ice dragon comes.

When Zane tells her he can't see it she concludes it is in her head and attempts to stop it but cannot.

Zane suggests that she use her ice against it but the dragon deflects it Zane encourages her. She must believe in herself and in her power; it is hers, she controls it, not the dragon. She is the master of ice.

After a pep talk, Pixal is able to tame the dragon and make the illusion disappear, revealing her elemental dragon which she uses to return to the others.

Pixal tells the others that in order to summon the dragon she had to believe in herself and not allow herself to doubt that she could.

The others then summon their own dragons and they fly off together to Ninjago City.

In the Samurai X Cave, the ninja are greeted by Wu and Misako along with the Falcon, who seems to sense Zane in Pixal and is very confused.

When everything is explained to them they are happy to hear that they are all safe and that Zane is alive.

Everything basically goes the same as canon for the last couple of episodes of the season, not much to really change there.

Now, to end this off please have a scene because I could not figure out how to write this as a bullet note.

Pixal sat on the edge of the rock looking down at the corridor of elders. She couldn't help but smile as she watched everyone working together to clean it up. It was so peaceful and perfect, like waking up after a glitch had been fixed and relishing in the feeling of cleanness.

Everything was perfect... except for one thing.

"Zane... how will I be able to get your powers back to you once you're back to normal?" she asked.

There was a long moment of silence before Zane's voice rang through her head. I'm not sure that's even possible, Pixal...

"What is it Zane?"

I'm not even sure I'll return to a normal body, at least, not right now.

Pixal's eyes widened "Why?" she asked, "I do not see the logic in this decision"

These past few days I've realized... there's so much I can do to help in your system, maybe I could even find ways to help the others too. But... Zane sighed Pixal, without my powers I don't think I could help much, I would only slow you down.

"I can give back your power Zane, we just have to find a way." she said.

I don't think you can Pixal, I don't think anyone can. He paused, as if remembering something he had forgotten. Pixal, do you want to be a ninja? Pixal paused, she hadn't even let herself consider if she wanted to or not, it simply wasn't an option... but now.

I don't want to force you into anything Pixal, I won't be upset if you don't want to, it's your choice.

"I-i don't know Zane... the more I think about it the more I want to, but I don't want to replace you." she said.

You wouldn't replace me Pixal, you would be something different and special. It's your power now, not mine, you do with it what you choose.

Pixal paused, thinking through it all.

"I think I do." she said slowly after several moments.

Zane smiled. I believe in you Pixal, I believe you might even be better at this than me.

*The Best by Future Royalty plays in the background* If you know you know. ;)

And that's all I got so far! I have a few ideas for various moments across the show but it's not very fleshed out yet, so feel free to send me asks, I need to get the brain going!

[ifeellikeameowster]

Lego Ninjago Movie Theory: Lloyd does have an elemental power and it's different than in the show. He just hasn't unlocked it yet.

~~~~~~~

"Green is the power of Life. It connects all living things. Just like how I connect the ninja" - Movie!Lloyd

~~~~~~~

Okay, let me explain! In the movie, after Sensei Wu demonstrates all of the other Ninja's elemental powers one by one, Lloyd realizes that he's been skipped over and left out. (As if he doesn't already feel this way on a daily basis jeez someone give this kid a break and a therapist please.) But after asking Sensei Wu what his power is, Wu simply says...

"Green."

Which, okay, definitely doesn't answer his question. And even after Lloyd lists other elements that he could be, Wu's answer remains the same: "Green."

What does that mean? How can a color be an elemental power? It doesn't make sense. Not yet. But it will.

Later in the movie, when the ninja (along with Garmadon) find the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons, they are all in the shape of their element.

Zane's is shaped like an ice crystal, Cole's is shaped like a rock, Jay's is shaped like a lightening bolt, Kai's is shaped like a flame, and Nya's is shaped like a water splash. And then we get to Lloyd's. Lloyd's is shaped like...

A branch? Or a tree? Yes, it's obviously designed to hold all of the other elements, but the shape itself is so similar to a plant that it's hard to dismiss. It feels intentional.

Could it be, perhaps, a reference to the Tree of Life?

Which would make Lloyd's element Life itself. Life works well in so many ways for movie!Lloyd. Life not only connects all of the other elements, but it also creates and supports them. Plus the color green is often associated with Life, especially plant life, aka 'greenery'. And in Lloyd's promotional photo for the movie-

He's shown amongst plant life. All of the other Ninja's promotional photos show them with their element, so it stands to reason that Lloyd is shown here with his.

This means that when Lloyd does eventually unlock his elemental power, he'll be able to control plant life!

But Life is more than just plant life. And Lloyd's Life powers are more than that too. In fact, he might have already displayed other cool powers related to Life right under our noses.

And one of those instances is when his arm ripped off and when it was put back it was completely fine afterwards.

But that's just because they're Legos! You say. That probably happens to everyone all of the time.

Well if that's really the case, then why did everyone freak out as much as they did? Some of them were even close to throwing up... which must mean the scene was gory at least to them. And when Garmadon put his arm back into place, he told Lloyd that'd it'd be excruciating pain. But Lloyd didn't seem to feel any pain at all...in fact he didn't even scream or say "ow" or anything like that. But why is that?

It's because Lloyd unconsciously used the element of Life to automatically start healing his wound.

Life is also in relation to Life force, so it stands to reason that someone with the power of Life could heal using life force. One example of this in other media, in the webcomic Homestuck, Jane who was a Maid of Life was able to heal both herself and fellow players from wounds that would have killed them otherwise.

Jane using her Life powers to revive herself after a fatal wound.

So it stands to reason that once Lloyd unlocks his elemental power he should be able to heal not only himself, but also his fellow ninja!

Another aspect of Life is animal life. It just so happens that we also have a scene where Lloyd displays some connection and even control of animal life. And that's when he was the only one able to calm down and tame Meowthra.

So he might also have at least some influence over animals as well with his Life powers, not just plants!

But if all of this is true, then why didn't he unlock his Life elemental power along with the other ninja?

Well, I think the simple answer to that is that he hadn't yet overcome his mental blocks.

The other ninja had already overcame theirs. Their first mental block was that they were too dependent on the mechs and had grown lazy because of it. That mental block was taken care of when their mechs were broken by Meowthra. But due to that they experienced a second mental block- feeling inadequate and useless without their mechs. This was solved when Lloyd assured them that they had the power inside of them and didn't need the mechs or even the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons.

But Lloyd's mental block was something entirely different.

Lloyd's mental block was his relationship with his father.

All throughout the film he struggles with his relationship to Garmadon. And at that point in time, when the other ninja where unlocking their elemental powers, Garmadon had just betrayed him by stealing the Ultimate Ultimate Weapons for himself.

It isn't until the very end of the movie that Lloyd had reached catharsis with the relationship with his father and they have both taken the first steps to repairing it. It's likely that sometime after the events of the movie, now that this mental block has finally been resolved, that Lloyd unlocks his elemental power of Life.

And he becomes able to summon plants the same way the other ninja summon their elements, along with a couple of bonuses (healing and animal handling). I mean, he is the leader and connection between all of the ninja after all! It's reasonable he'd get a couple of bonus powers to put him ahead of the rest.

~~~~~~~

And yes, yes. I know in the show that Lloyd's element is just Power itself, or "Energy". But this is a theory specifically for the movie!verse. Besides, fan theories are all about just having some speculative fun!

[blursed-ninjago-ideas]

I’m sorry if this is weird to ask but remember the post a long while ago about Aspheera hypnotizing Kai (not the brainwashed Kai AU) and he was forced to hurt Nya? I was wondering what would happen if when Kai finally snap out of it?

One again sorry if this was weird to ask-

1.) I can FEEL the anxious worry you felt writing this, and it makes my heart hurt. Dear God I Don't Respect or Fear, I feel you. It sucks. Wish I could just TELL you that you're allowed to take up space, but I know from experience that doesn't fix it. Keep up the good fight hun!

2.) I'm sorry I took awhile to respond to this ask. I wanted to give it attention I didn't have to spare until now.

3.) I spend 2 hours digging through the blog to find the specific snippet you were talking about cause I wanted to be sure to give @herhighnesstheprincess credit for writing it. (Link)

4.) You have given me a perfect segue to mention that I have come up with my own version of that AU and ask if anyone is interested in that. (Kat is a bad influence, ok!?)

5.) Have a snippet!

--

Kai had been a confused mess since he got lost in Aspheera’s swirling eyes. Any thought he had was like trying to grab a trail of smoke. He tried at first, feeling a vague urgency, but Aspheera’s words were the only thing solid enough to matter. He could do what she told him, and only what she told him. There was nothing else in his mind. He had no ability to recognize anything he was doing. Follow the line and don’t think. Easy enough.

He got a face full of antidote and it still took a full two minutes for his mind to realize it could hold thoughts again.

“-not enough!? It came form Skale’s staff! It should cure Hypnobrai hypnosis! That’s how it works!” Jay yelled in a panic.

“But perhaps Aspheera's hypnosis is different somehow? She is a very old Hypnobrai, perhaps their powers have changed since then?” Zane purposed nervously.

“Her hypnosis was unusually strong.” Cole pointed out.

“So we’re back at square one!?” Nya yelled.

Kai finally remembered how to speak.

“What happened?” he slurred.

“Kai!?” Nya yelled, grabbing his face “Are you ok!? Can you hear me!? Do you know who I am!? Do you know who you are!?”

Kai wanted to push her off, but he was still too groggy to do it.

“I’m fine, just tell me what happened.” he settled on sounded annoyed.

“Aspheera had you hypnotized.” Cole said “It was pretty bad.”

“Do you remember anything?” Lloyd asked.

Kai search his hazy confusion, trying to sift out any memories. He only found misty confusion.

“Not really.” Kai admitted.

He really didn't like that.

“What did I do?” he asked carefully.

“Attacked us mostly.” Jay said, clearly simplifying it.

“That makes sense I guess.” Kai said, trying to stand, only to hiss in pain and fall back down.

“You good?” Cole asked.

Kai took a second for his vision to clear before answering.

“You guys really weren’t holding back, were you?” he was trying to sound humorous, but he was in too much pain to do it.

“To be fair, neither were you.” Zane pointed out. “Is it that bad?”

“Absolutely.” Kai admitted.

He loathed to do it, but he really couldn’t stand.

Cole and Lloyd looked away in guilt. Kai guessed they were the heavy hitters against him.

“Is my arm broken?” Kai asked, finally taking stock of himself.

“Sorry. I didn’t really have a choice.” Cole muttered.

“It’s fine.” Kai assured him “Man, that hypnosis must’ve been strong if I was still fighting like this.”

“I’m just glad you’re back to normal.” Nya said, stubbornly hugging him. “You really scared me.”

Kai pointedly did not look at the bruises around her neck. The ones he could match his hands to. He didn’t need to know the specifics of what Aspheera made him do, and he wasn't sure if his sanity could take it.

--

You’re ask was completely and totally fine BTW, and I had fun writing this.

Oh and this isn't the Brainwashed Kai au Taylor's Version I was talking about. If you want that one you'll have to ask.

-Ivy

[parachutingkitten]

Character Thoughts - Lloyd

I want to do more analysis stuffs, and I need some time to rewatch season 5 to continue my season analysis, so I figured I'd do this. I'll do whatever characters you want, I'll definitely hit the main 6, but if there are any side characters, I'd be happy to do them as well!

Okay. Time to get real. Honest and unpopular opinion. I don't like Lloyd. I kinda hate him.

If this upsets you, please consider actually reading the whole thing before screaming at me.

Idk if it's just a thing I've got against main characters or something, but I really don't get it. He has no defining character traits. I mean, he's a good kid I guess, and he's brave and noble and all that crap, but he's just... boring.

His backstory has the potential to be interesting, but they do nothing with it. His relationship with his dad is inconsistent as hell. Does he respect him? Or not? Has he worked through the whole evil dad thing? Or not? Has he forgiven his mother? Or not? Does the whole skipping years of your life thing effect him at all? Or not? What about his impulses from when he was a bratty kid? Does he... have them?

We've spent seasons and seasons and SEASONS on Lloyd's baggage and gotten absolutely nowhere. Even in seasons when he's not the focus he's got to be important. He's got to go off on his own, or be the key to some... thing. He's got to go off with his dad and angst in the forest, or get lost or possessed or be the last one standing. And I really don't get why it ALWAYS has to be Lloyd. Especially after season 2. His purpose has been fulfilled. He did his destiny or whatever. Now he should be just as powerful as everyone else. No more special treatment.

I don't know what it is. He never like... makes mistakes. He doesn't have any real character flaws. He can be kinda impulsive sometimes maybe. Sometimes he's kinda gullible and sometimes not. Any mistakes he makes are like "oh geez, responsibility is all on me and I'm so important and cool, isn't this tragic? The fall of a hero?"

He's not human, he's just a bunch of hero tropes wrapped into a person. That's why he doesn't have a personality, his character traits fluctuate depending on what trope fits the convenience of the plot! Say what you want about Kai's impulsive stereotype, or Jay's goofy stereotype, at least they're consistant.

Speaking of the team, what even is his relationship with anyone? I don't mean headcanons, or theories, or your interpretation, I mean how does he treat Kai and Cole any differently? Who in the team is he closest to? What's his relationship with Nya? What about Zane? Where's the differentiation? I feel like the other 5 have a history and bonds and connection, and he was dropped in there. Then, without any development, they were totally buddy-buddy all of a sudden.

Now, I get why he's appealing. Especially to little kids and stuff. He's the main ninja, he's got cool powers, and is strong and easy to self insert. Ninjago is a kids show. I get it.

I also can understand the potential appeal of Lloyd. He's got this sort of ying yang sort of backstory, he's had both broken and perfect families. He has the potential to be really interesting and thought provoking and emotional.

But none of that is in the show.

I feel like that's something I'll hit on a lot in this series. We as a fandom have assigned a lot of headcanons to characters, and made theories and interpolated a lot (I am so very guilty of this with PIXAL) but when you step back and look at it... none of it is in the show. The show has so many great ideas and concepts, but it doesn't do stuff. We as a fandom have done that legwork for them. That's something to be proud of, but it's also important to realize that that's what it is.

Not to say that ninjago is a bad show or anything. It's great, and I still love it, but when someone doesn't like a certain aspect as much as you do, I think this is likely the reason.

Anyway. I don't like Lloyd, even though he's the face of the show and all. Whatever. Just my opinion. I can stomach him fine. I'm not an active Lloyd hater or anything. I just... don't care for his screen time very much.

If you love him. Cool. Try and enlighten me as to why in the notes. I'd like to know what you like about him.

Anyway, if there's someone you want to hear me vent about next, let me know!

[baitao-daughter-of-monkey-king]

I feel that Nya would just shut down, Cole wouldn't really know how to process it for sure. They would both just feel numb to the fact that Lloyd, their baby brother, died. And they couldn't do anything. Then I feel that Nya would realize just how broken Kai must have been to see that his baby brother died and he wasn't fast enough to save him. So they would obviously just take this new baby dragon under their wings (No pun intended) and care for him with Kai letting them do certain things. Of course he doesn't trust Jay to be around him alone when he has to go hunt but other than that he's cool with his old friends

Anyone wanna talk about a super angsty and nasty and gory AU idea with me? Like in an actual discussion?

I haven't been able to really find anyone to talk about it with properly...