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

[saline-coelacanth]

Since I have the Bad Endings Au on the brain, I wanna ramble a bit about Jay and Cole because every time I think about them I start to go feral (in a good way)

I'll put some of it under a cut since this gets pretty long

Jay and Cole parallel each other soo well that it's kind of crazy since it wasn't entirely intentional, it just sort of happened that way. So looking at their backstories, they're pretty similar. Both of them felt mistreated by the other ninja to the point where they wanted to take revenge on them. Both of them defeated the ninja when given the chance, but in the end they both handled it in completely different ways.

Cole very quickly was overcome with guilt. Morro called him out on what he did and it immediately hit him like a brick. He didn't feel good about what he did and it began to spiral into some self hatred and he eventually became very apathetic. He had killed his friends without thinking things through and now they were gone forever. Although to give him the benefit of the doubt, he was manipulated into doing so as he was in a very vulnerable mental state at the time and Yang took advantage of that to try and 'help' Cole be remembered. But that doesn't change the fact that Cole still did it and it haunts him every day of his life. He also ends up isolating himself afterwards, not wanting to face any of the family he has left even though he desperately doesn't want to be alone. That's the main reason he joins the other BE!Ninja in the first place, because for the first time in a long time, he isn't alone. And even though he doesn't want to go through with the others' plan, he stays with them since he has nowhere else to go because he thinks there's no way the normal ninja would accept him after what he's done.

And then we look at Jay who trapped the remaining ninja in his sword after he overthrew Nadakhan and became the new captain of Misfortune's Keep. Jay felt no remorse from trapping his friends. In fact, once he had finished the job, he smiled. He was happy about it. Jay truly believed the others didn't care about him, that they left him on Misfortune's Keep to rot for months. And by the time they had finally shown up to save him, he had gone through so much that no amount of explaining was gonna get him to change his mind. He had already saved himself, he didn't need the others to swoop him and save him after they treated him so terrible and abandoned him for months. And after everything was done, Jay didn't have anyone to tell him he had fucked up. Nobody on his crew would ever suggest anything like that, obviously none of the ninja were left to call him out, there was nobody to make him open his eyes to what he had become. And after living life as a pirate captain surrounded by people who would listen to him without question, people who were scared of him, he grew to love it. The ninja never took him seriously, but his crew HAD to take him seriously because they were terrified of the consequences. And when he met the BE!Ninja, he was mainly just uncomfortable seeing the other ninja again because he had grown so angry at them, but he was willing to help out with the plan to take out the other ninja because he was just that far gone.

And when the two of them meet each other for the first time, Cole is just completely shocked to see Jay at all since the Jay from his timeline is dead. And though he acts pretty cold towards him since that's just how Cole is now, he also doesn't want to leave his side because he misses Jay so much. And even though this isn't his Jay, it's still Jay. Meanwhile, Jay is angry and annoyed at having to deal with Cole. He wants nothing to do with him and turns down any offer Cole makes to help him since he doesn't need help from anyone, especially Cole. He eventually 'comes around', but that's really only because they team up with the other BE!Ninja. And yeah, over time Jay does genuinely grow closer to Cole and both of them open up about their pasts and what happened to them, but Jay always has more walls up than Cole does. He's more vague, he snaps more easily, he quickly shuts Cole down when he starts asking too many questions. Cole on the other hand lays everything down for Jay, (although he is still hesitant to open up) He lets his guard down and lets Jay realize just how lonely he's been in his timeline.

And the two of them realize just how similar they are, but they both end up going different paths. Cole realizes more and more that what he's doing is wrong, that he's just gonna end up making another terrible mistake if he continues down this path. He realizes just how messed but the other BE!Ninja are, he realizes that they must be hurting deep down, just like he is. But Jay just continues to spiral further and further. Once again he's with a group that doesn't take him seriously. The only one who seems to do that is Cole, but even then Cole still doesn't always treat him like the threat he is. Even worse is that Nya, the one he felt the most anger towards, isn't even helping. BE!Nya wants nothing to do with the others and actively treats Jay like he doesn't matter (though she treats everyone like that, her only real loyalty is to the Overlord). So Jay just gets more snappy, more violent, more determined to defeat their good counterparts because that'll prove to the others that he is a threat and that he should be taken seriously. Cole grows and slowly betters himself while Jay only gets worse.

God I just have so many thoughts about these two. I mean, I have a lot of thoughts about all the BE!Ninja, but Jay and Cole especially love to live in my head rent free. And there's one last little detail that I wanna point out with these two because I just think it's neat.

When Cole took out the other ninja in his timeline, the first one he went after was Jay. When Jay trapped the other ninja on his sword, the last one he trapped was Cole.

Idk I just think that's a neat detail. Anyway, I'm done rambling for now. Maybe I'll ramble about some of the other BE!Ninja in the future. I guess if there's anyone specific you want me to talk about let me know, but otherwise I'm just gonna end this post here.

[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!!!

[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

[afandomroom]

au for "burn it (so even the ash doesn't remain)"?

Sorry for the time it took for me to respond ^^

So after..quite a bit of tossing the title around, I decided on a Villain Lloyd AU, specifically one that focuses less on the actual villain part and more on the aftermath. 

Basically the concept is, after falling under the Scroll of Forbidden Spinjitzu’s corruption, Lloyd goes on a villainous rampage on the city. 

The ninja are able to stop him, but not before it’s too late. And the city is burned to the ground, along with their trust in Lloyd. 

Now Lloyd has to deal with. all that.

Short (Short) Drabble for the AU under the cut. 

Warnings: Angst, Mentioned Death, Mentioned Violence, Mentioned Blood, Injuries, ask to tag. 

The splintered remains of the staff slipped from Lloyd’s hands as a wave of clarity overwhelmed him, cold and unforgiving in its wake. The scroll rolled away from him, losing itself in the shadows. 

His breath caught and shuddered. Tears pricked his eyes. 

“No- no”

The view before him, the memories lingering heavily over his mind, were nauseating. Crawling over his skin and grabbing on tight. 

Green fire flickered over the horizon. 

The city, or what little remained of it, lay before him. Burned beyond repair. Smoke drifted from piles of ash and embers, clogging up the air. 

He could still hear the screams of civilians, desperate and pained, echoing through his ears. 

The looks on their faces as they realized their green ninja -the warrior who’d promised to protect them til his final days- was to be their doom stuck with him as he took a hesitant step forward. 

His legs shook, threatening to give way as he looked out at the destruction he’d caused. All the death and pain and anguish that had been wrought by his hands. 

Slowly, he looked down. Staring at his bloody palms, stained red by what he’d done. 

……

“Lloyd..”

He flinched at the quiet voice behind him. Hesitant. Afraid. 

Familiar. 

Turning with watery eyes, the horror of his actions still sinking in, he looked at the group of injured people who stood just behind him. 

Cole was holding an unconscious and bleeding Jay. Zane helped a limping Nya stand. 

Kai stood before him, clutching a bleeding side, watching him carefully. 

Warily. 

The sight of their injuries, the look of hurt and broken trust in their eyes, hurt so much more than their anger or the city’s reactions ever could. 

He shook his head, stepping away from them, swallowing back the bile that’d crawled up his throat. 

He was a monster. 

Just like his father. 

“No-”

It was the last thing he could manage, a choked sound, before he turned on his heel and ran. 

Running as fast as he could, ignoring the sound of the ninja calling after him. Barely able to ignore the burning ruins as they passed him by. 

Stumbling over trembling legs, choking on smoke, but still pushing forward. 

Anything to outrun what he’d just done, and leave it all behind. 

[wolfiegirlxox]

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!

[marinbel]

Misfortune Runs Through My Mind

So... I missed the first day, but I'ma be pretty busy with school this week so I'll only be able to do a couple of the angst week days. But I mean... I live and breathe angst, so I had to attempt something. :3

One reason I loved season 6 so much is it gives so much good opportunity for Jay angst. So yup, that's what I got for today's topic:

Nightmare

Rated T for some torture mentions

Words: 761 (medium length drabble)

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Like most nights nowadays, Jay awoke in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. Shooting up in bed, he's desperately gripping to his worn out blue t-shirt trying to breathe but not hyperventilate.

It's a lot harder to do than Jay first realizes.

His lungs feel constricted, but he already took his binder off for the night. Using his other hand, he pushes his messy and damp bangs out of his face, almost like a last resort to find air.

A last resort.

It jabs into Jay's stomach much like the butt of Doubloon's staff. He flinches instinctively. But the memory of the tiger widow venom, being cornered by the pirates, and holding Nya's cold, dead body was enough to jolt him out of bed at 3:16 am.

He needed fresh air.

With shaky hands, Jay carefully climbed down his bunk as to not wake the others around him. Maybe he stumbled for a moment or two, he wasn't all that sure actually. His mind was swarming with that maniacal laugh and the blade edging closer and closer to his left eye... The way he would spit up blood in his cell after a particularly rough Scrap 'n Tap or the way his arm was ripped from the socket for not cleaning the deck thoroughly enough that evening or the way --

Jay stops himself there. Shivers race up his back and he doesn't want to dwell any longer on that last memory.

He misses the way Cole stirs in the bunk below him or the way he sits up to watch Jay leave the bedroom. He misses the way Cole contemplates following after him and eventually deciding to give Jay space. He misses the way Cole aches knowing something is dragging his best friend deeper and deeper into his own inner darkness and not being able to do anything about it.

Because he's groping the wall of the hallway to escape the way his lungs are collalsing in on him.

When Jay stumbles out onto deck, his breath is unsteady and he crashed into the railing keeping him from plummetting down into the heart of Ninjago City underneath the clouds.

He pinches his eyes shut. He doesn't want to think about being in the sky.

Tears prickle at the corner of his eyes and some even dare roll down his cheeks. He uses the back of his hand to wipe furiously at them at first, but he's quick to give that up.

"Do you're worst. I'm not making my last wish..."

Another shudder. He can hear that damn djinn's laughter again, the way it bellows, the way it slithers into every crevice of his mind and body.

"My... So we haven't broken your spirit just yet. No worries; I sincerely doubt it'll be around by morning."

Jay's trying to breathe in deeply -- try and take slow, stable breaths, he hear's Zane remind him in his mind to combat his panic attacks. But his knees are buckling together and his knuckles are turning white against the railing and his heart is nearly about to beat right out of his chest.

He hates how Nadakhan is still able to torture him from a whole different timeline. He hates how weak he is to let these constant terrors plague his mind and dictate his life. He hates how he can't gain the courage to tell anyone the full truth.

Because not even Nya knows the full truth of everything that happened when he was kidnapped by Nadakhan. And he's terrified of what she would think of him if she knew. It petrifies him to think about how any of them would react.

So he keeps it to himself. It's eating away at him, clawing away at that forced smile and tearing apart his positive demeanor... But no one can know.

He covers his mouth with his hand. He hopes no one can hear him. He doesn't want to have to explain. He's learned over time how to silence his sobs. For better or for worse, it's a skill he's picked up from his youth.

"Now come on... Let me hear you sing, Canary..."

He falls to his knees. Nadakhan still patronizes him, still poking and prodding at everything he does.

A wise man would know he probably needed help with coping and healing. Unfortunately, Jay wasn't that wise man. So here he stayed for who knows how long, having to accept the fact that tomorrow night he'd be met with the same trauma playing in his head all over again.

[minli-daughter-of-wukong]

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...