#just imagine kai getting ready to train in the morning and Zane walks out with spikes in his hair and a fake scar on his eye

[kindaasrikal]

I like to think that sometimes Zane wakes up, dresses like a pirate, and says they need to follow the X to find ‘the treasure of this mission’.

Sometimes, he wakes up and is a ballerina. Other times, he’s a gang leader. And often times he dresses up as one of the other ninja and acts like them for the rest of the day.

Everyone blame Jay. It’s his fault for making him find out what cosplay was.

[xx-s3lf-ship-xx]

Sorrow Makes New Friends pt 4 (Kai pt1)

Yep!!! This is pt 1 of Kai and sorrow friendship, cuz I did imagine them having a rough start, that kai thinks he's just weak

So angsty incoming bro so...get ready :"3

Btw I don't remember the pilot XP so I might watch later oof!!! But I do remember some parts haha

Enjoyed or grab some tissues

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Sorrow finally feels more comfortable with all 3, they chat, laugh and hang out , everything was fine but until a new ninja has arrived

Sorrow, Cole, Jay and Zane were wearing their black gi and meeting Kai for the first time

They introduced Kai and welcome to the team, after that it was the next morning of training

Kai was practicing his spinjitzu but then he stopped and see sorrow, he tilted his head, he never saw a guy who is smaller compared to the other being his height, but he kept looking at sorrow

Sorrow was practicing his bow aiming then accidentally dropped his bow and his arrow, he scoffed quietly and picked the bow and arrow but keep dropping it which sorrow sense of someone is watching him

Kai: uhh...is he...okay?..

Jay: hm?...oh! You mean he? Yeah! That's sorrow alright! Heheh, don't worry he's just shy that's all

Jay patted Kai on his shoulder then goes back to training, Kai can't help but just glare sorrow even more, he crossed his arms and shook his head slowly, he walks to sorrow

Kai: hey kid, if you wanna hold that thing properly, you gotta man up...

Sorrow looked at Kai, his eyes were small due to his anxiety was rising

Sorrow: I'm..uhm..I'm trying...

He whispered so low that Kai couldn't hear which he made him a bit pissed, he rolls his eyes

Kai: ugh...if you wanna become a ninja or a warrior, you gotta speak up, now stand up and show me your aim!

Kai shouted at shouted and sorrow immediately stood up, holding his bow so tightly, he pulled the bow string, he was shaking so much, mind is racing, everything he sees was angry shouting, he breath so quickly

Kai: SHOOT!!!!

Kai yelled so angrliy Sorrow accidentally aimed at the shield which cost the arrow to bounce, shield to shield, the ninja ducking down from the arrow

Sorrow was frozen, couldn't move, looking at the arrow bouncing, Zane grabbed a wooden board so quickly and blocked sorrow with it, the arrow aimed at the wooden board

Zane: sorrow...hey, it's okay...you didn't mean to, we-

Zane use his calmly voice, Kai scoffed and shook his head

Kai: ugh! No! He almost killed us! Plus! He's weak! He couldn't be a ninja if he keep acting like this!

Sorrow blinked quickly which he begin to cry

Sorrow: I'm..I'm sorry! I just got so anxious and..and...

Kai: no! I think you should just pack up and go! You never be a ninja and you'll never be! I don't want a weak guy to save my sister!

The 3 guys gasped, sorrow feels weak that he couldn't continue practice, he runs to the dojo while crying, 3 of them turned their heads to kai and disappointed

Cole: that's not how you treated a newbie! He's was nervous!

Jay and Zane nodded agreed, Kai looked at them furiously

Kai: ugh! Are you gonna be his side! After that happened!-

Then sensei Wu slide the door and saw the ninjas arguing each other

Sensei Wu: alright! what's the fusses about?

Then the ninja stopped arguing and turned to Sensei Wu

Jay: Kai made sorrow cry! Listen here! Fire boy! If you ever talk to my buddy like that, just you wait that I will get the golden weapons and-

Sensei Wu: silent!...now...Kai, is not the best to make sorrow uncomfortable, you're supposed to make friends with him...he's now your brother now...

Kai look at sensei Wu with rage and annoyance, he rolls his eyes and goes back to training

Jay: I'll cheer up sorrow up...

Cole: same...he also need me as well...

Zane: agreed, let's cheer our little brother...

Sensei Wu: very well...now you 3 go cheer him up while I watch Kai....

The 3 of them inter the dojo then they heard sobbing which is kinda muffled crying which is somewhat loud for a quiet person like sorrow, they followed the sound

Sorrow was crying into a pillow, he was on top of the bunker, jay climbed up and gently tapped sorrow shoulder then sorrow flinched and lifted his head slowly and saw jay

Jay: hey sorrow...don't worry...Kai is outside...we are here to cheer you up, man!

He said with a cheerily voice, trying to lighten the mood, sorrow sniffles and rubs his eyes, he didn't say a word, jay climbed down from the leader to let him climb down

The 3 of them hugged sorrow

Zane: it's okay sorrow, we don't think you're weak, you're just practicing...that's all...no need to be hard on yourself...

Cole: yeah like Zane said...you don't have to worry about being skilled, if you practice enough, you be a pro!

Jay: yeah! Like a boss! Hahah!

Sorrow nodded and chuckles softly, he finally feels so loved and has affection from the 3 of them

Sorrow: hehe...yeah...but...will Kai ever...like me?...as a friend?...

Zane: is best...to be patient....is not like he's gonna hate you forever...

Sorrow nodded and sighed, then 3 of them let go of the hug to let sorrow have space of his own

Sorrow: thanks guys....I...really need that....

Cole: happy to help, bud...

Jay: yea, we be there for you man! And I don't want to let that fire breath hurting you again! Plus! You have shadow power! Can't wait to see that!

Sorrow laughed softly and nodded

Sorrow: hehehehe, yeah!

They all laughed, back to Kai, was punching the bag and feeling a bit guilty for sorrow which he shouldn't have said those words but he thinks that it is best to apologize to him later and keep focusing on the training

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Don't worry there a happy ending but I'm not spoiled it uwu

[rosiehunterwolf]

And the Walls Kept Tumbling Down

Prompts: Trust and Breakdown

Word Count: 3,706

Characters: Pixal and Lloyd

Timeline: right before season 8

Trigger Warnings: Mental Breakdown/Panic Attack, Lack of Self-Worth

Summary: Pixal has been Samurai X for awhile, now- a role that allows her to be herself, to be happy. But it’s also... incredibly lonely. Luckily, she’s not the only one alone- Lloyd has been left in the city while his friends go after Master Wu, and his presence is comforting. But as they struggle with a mysterious biker gang, Pixal can’t help feeling the want to be part of something more.

Link to read on FanFiction.Net:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13897921/1/And-the-Walls-Kept-Tumbling-Down

“Master Lloyd, maybe you should go get that checked at the hospital.”

“Pix, I’m fine, it’s just a scratch,” Lloyd mumbled through the gauze as he snapped it with his teeth, winding the last several inches around his forearm. “And I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Why? You are our master now, aren’t you?”

Lloyd snorted, tentatively testing his arm as he moved it back and forth. “I’m no master. I can’t even keep our team together.”

Pixal stared at him, shocked. “We all agreed on this, Lloyd. It is the most efficient plan to find Master Wu.”

“Yeah, and whose plan was that?” Lloyd’s voice was suddenly sharp.

“I believe it was Zane’s, but-”

“Exactly! It was Zane’s plan, not mine. I did nothing. And now, they’re off searching for Master Wu, and I’m sitting here, doing nothing.”

An unfamiliar sensation squeezed at Pixal’s chest, one that felt hot and fierce and miserable all at the same time, before she had to remind herself that no, she didn’t have a body, didn’t have a chest to feel pain in, and that she was just speaking to Lloyd over the monitors.

At least, in the moment, she was.

“Zane trusted me to watch over this city,” she insisted, her voice unstable- which it shouldn’t be, she was a nindroid, not affected by such things- “He trusted us.”

Lloyd flinched visibly, looking away from the computer they were using to talk. “Pix, I didn’t mean- look, I’m sure Zane much would’ve rather had you come along with him, but instead you got stuck babysitting me.”

“Normally, I would object, but I think you’ve already proven your own point,” she commented, shooting a pointed glare at his bandaged arm.

Lloyd gritted his teeth, letting out a slow breath. “I get it, Pixal, I’ll be more careful next time.”

“A doctor’s visit couldn’t hurt, Lloyd.”

“Will you drop it already?”

She frowned. “I wish you wouldn’t grow cross with me, Master Lloyd. I am only trying to look out for you-”

Lloyd stood up sharply. “I get it, okay? I’m incompetant. You don’t need to keep calling me ‘master’ out of pity, I know I’ll never be able to live up to my unc- Master Wu.”

Pixal blinked at him, stunned. “Lloyd, I never-”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it!” And then he was reaching forward, slamming down the laptop’s lid, and Pixal’s world went dark.

He knew how much she hated that, when he turned her off or walked away without her consent, like she was some sort of object.

He hadn’t meant it- she had learned a lot about Lloyd in their past year alone together, and he often became impulsive when he was angry in order to cover up his sensitive, insecure side. It would probably only be a matter of hours before he came running back, apologizing repeatedly, and sobbing over what a horrible friend he was as Pixal patiently waited for him to calm down. But she had grown to like and respect Lloyd, and it still stung when he snapped at her, even though the logical part of her mind knew that it wasn’t really her that was the problem.

What bothered her even more so, though, was the things he said about himself. It had been abrupt, this time, but she hadn’t missed the times he had slipped it in more subtly into conversation. It made her angry, how he refused to appreciate himself.

And now, stuck in this stupid form, she couldn’t go after him.

Well. Technically, she could.

The Samurai X suit had been up and operational for a few months since her last major upgrade- the one that had finally given her her own, independent body, separate from just the mech itself.

But she was nervous to remove herself from the computer entirely. She was aware that she was so incredibly useful as a program, with instant access to all sorts of technology and data. She had become an asset to her team.

She liked feeling important, feeling like she was part of the group.

But being the samurai allowed her to physically be there. In these last few months, she felt like she had really grown to know and trust Lloyd- even if he didn’t know it was her beneath the samurai mask. She wanted to get to know the others fully, too- she was already fairly close to Zane, but she liked the rest of the team, too- Cole, Jay, Kai, and especially Nya, Pixal felt intrigued by. She had spent some time connecting similarities between them- there were a lot of differences, too, but she felt like they could be friends. A physical form would allow her to bond with them, like a human. She was well aware she wasn’t one, but she wanted to understand.

But she was afraid, too. Except for Zane, and maybe Lloyd, now, seeing the others again felt daunting. They had never been particularly close before she had been scrapped. What if they thought she was infringing on their team? The six of them had been close for so long. It would make sense if she wasn’t wanted there.

She just wasn’t ready, not yet. Communicating with Lloyd through the monitors would just have to do for now. It was difficult, though- it didn’t seem like he took her as seriously this way.

For now, though, they had bigger problems. Lloyd’s injury hadn’t been too severe, from what she could tell, and would heal quickly. But it had been a sizable wound, and could leave some pretty severe scarring, if he wasn’t careful with it- she knew he wouldn’t be, which was why she had to keep him in line- but the point was, these were no common thieves going around, dealing this kind of damage. This gang- whoever they were- were something bigger, more dangerous than their day-to-day threats. Pixal wasn’t sure if it was severe enough to start calling the others back- she didn’t want to interrupt their search for Master Wu. But she would certainly have to keep a closer eye on Lloyd from now on, to make sure he didn’t get in over his head.

She should probably start playing a more active role as Samurai X. Although the ninja had a tentative relationship with her mysterious persona, she wasn’t about to send Lloyd against this gang alone again.

She just hoped he would have her.

---

The next call came in much sooner than Pixal had anticipated. At the unappealing hour of four in the morning, Lloyd hauled himself out of bed and stumbled drearily out the door at Pixal’s report of a prison breach alarm coming from Kryptarium. With the rush, there was no time to talk to him, and the drive to the prison was awkward and silent.

When they arrived, it turned out the alarm had been triggered by accident. The good news was there were no criminals to stop, the bad news was that they had woken up at four am for no reason.

Not that Pixal particularly minded- sleep was inconsequential to a nindroid, but Lloyd was less than pleased.

“I mean, if you’re going to have an alarm system that immediately pages the city’s ninja team and makes them stop everything they’re doing to rush over there, it should at least be heavily guarded. How do you even accidentally set off an emergency alarm? I thought these guys were supposed to be professionals!”

Pixal stifled a laugh as he paused, taking a sip of the iced coffee he had picked up as they had headed back. He had told her, “If I’m already up and ready, I might as well spend some time in the city for a little while. Y’know, in case they trigger any other ‘alarms’ that I need to go rushing off to.”

“Perhaps they need a lesson from the ninja,” Pixal suggested.

“I’ll say,” he grumbled. “I don’t know how this city ever survived before we showed up.”

“Well, experience is the best teacher, and you guys have triggered enough traps and alarms to last a lifetime.”

“Wait, what?” Lloyd spluttered. “No, we haven’t! We’re highly trained ninja, we’re better than that.”

“Oh, really? I seem to remember quite a few in the Tournament of Elements, or the time with the technoblades, or when General Cryptor tracked you- shall I go on?”

“Shut up,” Lloyd snorted, trying to hide his grin. “You don’t know nothin’.”

“You’re right, I don’t. I was only with you for a short time before I was uploaded into Zane’s head, and after that, my view of your adventures was extremely limited. I can’t imagine how much more trouble you got into when I wasn’t there.”

“I hate you,” he said, attempting to scowl and failing miserably, the look on his face was too comedic for Pixal to bite back her laugh this time. It wasn’t long before Lloyd joined her, and soon, he was bent over, clutching his stomach, and he had to sit down for a moment to catch his breath. Pixal felt warm inside as she watched him take a long sip from his coffee. She enjoyed seeing him like this. He had been far too tense over the last few weeks, and she missed the more childlike, carefree side of him.

After a moment, though, the expression on his face fell solemn, and he turned to the tablet they were using to communicate to look her directly in the eyes. “Pix, I’m really sorry for yelling at you last night. I was being a brat.”

She paused carefully, both relieved and nervous that they were finally addressing this. “Lloyd, I know you were hurting. I am only trying to look out for you.”

He put his hands behind his head. “Yeah, I know, I need to work harder-”

“Lloyd,” she interrupted firmly. “That’s the other thing. I need you to stop saying things like that about yourself.”

He cocked his head at her. “Like what?”

Good grief, he doesn’t even know he’s doing it. “Talking down on yourself. I called you ‘master’ because that’s what you are now. You’ve earned this title, Lloyd. Just like you’ve earned everything else in your life, and more. It was not my intention to say you would take your uncle’s place, but say that you can be just as great of a leader as he was.”

Lloyd suddenly found the cracks in the concrete to be very interesting. “See, people keep saying that, but- it’s just so hard. I feel like I always mess everything up. Something always goes wrong, or worse, someone gets hurt-”

“Lloyd, you’re one person. You can’t expect to be successful all the time. You may be a ninja, yes, but your job is very difficult and dangerous, something most people wouldn’t even dream of tackling. You’re part of a team for a reason, and I’m sorry they’re not here right now, but until they return, you’re going to have to give yourself a little credit.”

Lloyd’s breathing hitched, and he scrubbed at his suspiciously wet eyes. His next words were so quiet, Pixal could barely hear them. “I just miss them. Everyone… everyone always leaves, and I’m tired of being alone all the time.”

Pixal was struggling to breathe herself- even though she was a nindroid, didn’t need to breathe- the sensation was still there.

She could remember when she had been alone too. Those nights after Zane had… had died, had been some of the worst times of her life. The emptiness had only made it sting worse, but when Lloyd had reached out to her, she had refused him.

She had been scared, scared to let anyone else into her life in case she lost them too, but now she realized that he had been hurting just as much as she had. She knew his friends had gone off on their own like she had, leaving him just as alone as the rest of them. She had been the cause of that, she had only hurt him more when he was already going through so much.

When she spoke again, it wasn’t just for the situation at present.

“I’m sorry, Lloyd. I’m so sorry.”

He looked up at the screen, his watery green eyes staring into hers, then raised an arm, his fingers ghosting the screen, before falling back to his side. He looked away, swallowing.

“What is it?”

“I just… I wish I could hug you. I wish you were here. Like, actually.”

“I am much more useful in the computer, Lloyd.”

“Yeah, but you’re not… you’re not here. I don’t care about how useful you are.”

Pixal let out a trembling breath, but Lloyd hardly seemed to notice, already beginning to stand up. “Sorry about being such a downer. I better get back to the Bounty, I’m sure the police have something for me to do.”

“Lloyd?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I just… they’ll be back soon. I know they aren’t like… other people. They’re going to come back. And besides, until then, I’ve got you, right?” He gave her a shy smile.

Pixal froze. This was it. He was extending- a metaphorical- hand to her. Offering her to be part of something that she had been wanting for a long time.

But it felt wrong. She wasn’t a ninja. She wasn’t one of his teammates. What if she was assuming wrong? What if he wasn’t really asking that?

“I’m not one of the ninja, Lloyd. I can’t help you the way they can.”

“No, you’re whoever you want to be, Pix. But you’re still my friend.”

Friend. Pixal felt a sudden urge to correct him, to tell him he was mistaken. “I’m not part of your team. I… I can’t be.”

“Trust me, Pix- in every sense that matters- you are one of us.”

---

“Pixal, I need my car! Now!”

The nindroid’s voice came out slightly crackly from the radio. “Your coordinates, Master Lloyd?”

“I’m somewhere around… well, you know how to find me.”

The cable he was gripping onto slowed to a stop, then quickly began to swing back down. Squeezing his eyes shut, Lloyd prayed that Pixal knew what she was doing, and let go.

Air whipped past him as he fell freely, the fall feeling both agonizingly slow and alarmingly quick at the same time, but before he had time to question what the hell he was doing, a blur of green darted out from a nearby alleyway, and Lloyd fell into his car.

He quickly pulled himself up and took over the controls. “Impeccable timing, Pix! You’re getting good at that.”

“I have to do something while you’re busy fighting crime, don’t I?”

“Speaking of which…” Lloyd cut off, gritting his teeth as he wove in between cars on the busy street, chasing after the biker. “Who is this person? Anything you can tell me about them?”

“They appear to be affiliated with the same criminal biker gang we have been having trouble with over the last few weeks. I am afraid I cannot tell you anything other than that. They have been keeping a very low profile.”

“Well, whoever they are, they’re good. I’ll keep you posted.” Gritting his teeth, he pushed on the gas and shot through the streets after the mysterious biker. They were a skilled driver, but Lloyd wasn’t lacking in that department either, and soon, he had caught up to the biker. The person’s eyes glowed an eerie red through their mask, their expression emotionless, and Lloyd forced his gaze away for a moment to examine the object in the back of his bike- presumably the stolen item. It was a red mask, with an ugly, beast-like face patterned over the top, complete with a mouth of crooked, yellowing teeth, and deep, glowering eyes. It looked like nothing more than a costume. Lloyd wondered what they could possibly want with it.

Putting on another burst of speed, he pulled in front of the biker, making them screech to a halt to avoid a collision. The two of them stared each other down, only a short stretch of road between them.

The criminal revved his engine, and suddenly, was racing towards Lloyd. Lloyd began to do the same, and just when he thought the biker was about to hit him head-on, mechanical arms extended from the bike, driving into the road, and sending the biker flying over his head. Lloyd slammed to a halt and jumped out of the car, running over to the bridge as the biker went over the edge. He yanked something near his chest, and all of a sudden, a big sheet was billowing out from his back, gray and black and red-

Lloyd’s breath caught in his throat as the parachute unfolded fully, revealing the emblem of a face that Lloyd had never thought he would see again.

No, no, no. Lloyd stumbled back from the railing, his breath hitching in his chest as he tried desperately to draw it in. This doesn’t mean anything. Perhaps they just are a fan of Garmadon, it doesn’t mean he’s here-

But it wasn’t working. His body just wasn’t listening to him, his heart beating too fast, his breath trembling and shallow, and his head-

“Lloyd!” A voice came from seemingly out of nowhere, and in his panicked state, he couldn’t, he couldn’t-

“Lloyd, it’s Pixal. What’s happened, why aren’t you responding?”

Oh. It was Pixal, on… on the radio. With trembling fingers, he reached down and switched on his mic. “...Pix?”

“Lloyd, don’t scare me like that, what’s wrong?”

“Pixal… Pixal, I don’t know…” Oh gosh, he was spiraling, spiraling hard, panic swamped his brain as images of his father flashed before his eyes, first running off with the golden weapons, then trying to kill him when the Overlord had taken over, then when he had submerged under the ocean, down, down, down with the Preeminent-

No! Lloyd’s eyes snapped open, scattering the images. He couldn’t be thinking about this now, not- not when-

Oh gosh. His father couldn’t be involved with this gang, he couldn’t. He was gone, gone for good. He missed him, so, so much, but nothing with his father was ever that simple. Something always went wrong, and Lloyd was just beginning to get over his last death, he couldn’t- couldn’t live through the pain again-

“Lloyd, Lloyd listen to me, just try to breathe-”

He could barely hear her. His legs had stopped working, and he sunk to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest, trying to remember to breathe. The last thing he needed was to pass out from lack of oxygen.

He buried his face between his knees, gulping through the sobs. Dammit, why was he like this, he hadn’t had an episode this bad since Morro-

And now he was thinking about that part of his life, one he had so desperately hoped to forget- it had been years, why was still not over that, he had gotten good at suppressing those feelings long ago, but when he got like this, he couldn’t control anything-

He hated when he got like this, it was so terrifying, he just wanted to go home, he just wanted Kai to be here, why was he always all alone-

Suddenly, firm, cool arms were wrapping around him, pulling him close. Lloyd gasped, his eyes flying open sharply.

A pair of glowing green eyes stared back at him, shadowed with fear. “Hey,” she whispered, her metallic jaw moving with the words, “I’m here now. You’re going to be okay.”

He had lost it, he was hallucinating, how was- how was she here-

“Pixal?!”

“Yeah,” her voice was quiet, rubbing her fingers across his palm. “It’s me. I’m here.”

“How?”

“I’m Samurai X, Lloyd.”

“Oh.” Vaguely, a part of his mind told him he should be more surprised by that piece of information, but he was just tired. His mind was already on overdrive, he couldn’t afford to take in anything else.

“Lloyd.” Pixal’s voice was scared, and he realized he was trembling in her grip. “Please, what has happened to you?”

“It’s- it’s…” Lloyd gasped for breath. “My dad, he- the biker, he was- he had-” and those words alone were too much. Everything was breaking, splintering apart right in front of his eyes, and he clutched onto Pixal like she was his lifeline- in a way, she was. She felt different from Kai’s warm, soft touch- harder and cooler- but sturdier and stronger, too. And right now, Lloyd could use a bit of strength.

But most of all, she was here.

“Why did you tell me?” He managed to get out. “Out of everyone, you told me first? Not Zane?”

Pixal was silent for a moment. “I know what it’s like. I mean, not exactly- I can’t feel what you are feeling right now. But… feeling emotions has been hard. Draining. You, out of all people, seem to know that. But you’re still so strong through everything. I just… you helped me to see how to heal. How to get better.” She paused, looking down at her hands. “But I guess it doesn’t always work out that way. I figured it was about time I helped you back.”

He leaned his head into her lap, examining her long, silver fingers, brushing them gently. “I like you like this. You’re pretty.”

He wasn’t looking at her face, but he could almost feel her smile. “Thank you. I worked hard to make this. I wanted to make sure… that I was better, this time. I still have some modifications to make, but…”

Lloyd winced, feeling a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry I made you show me before you were ready.”

“Lloyd,” she said firmly. “This was my choice. Not yours.” She took one hand and turned his chin so their gazes met, green on green. “I trust you. I always have.”

Lloyd felt his lip tremble. “I-”

Pixal stopped him. “It’s okay, Lloyd. You don’t have to say it. I know.”

Lloyd curled into her side and wept.

[mcfanely]

Golem AU

For @razzle-zazzle‘s Golem AU, because I can’t get enough of it

Gaia Brookstone could do many things, She was a dancer first and foremost, something that had caught the eye of her now husband, Lou; she was creative, imaginative, and gifted with incredible powers passed down through her family lineage. The Earth seemed to bend to her guidance, shift and form under her steady hand. Maybe that was why ceramics and pottery came so easily to her? But faced with the inability to have her own biological child, she resorted to something only she would think was possible. A clay Golem, one with free will. Guided not by instructions, but by heart and soul, by magic. He would be her masterpiece, a worthy inheritor of her elemental powers. He would be her son, Cole. 

Part 1: Spells and Sigils, 2477 words

Cole found himself staring at his reflection in the mirror again. 

He would have thought that he was used to what he looked like, since not that much ever really changed about him on a day to day basis, yet sometimes he still caught himself staring. 

Staring at the water dripping from his hair following the morning shower, carving a path that was crafted by the muscle on his shoulder and down his chest. Then it eventually met its routes end, dropping off, missing the towel he had wrapped around his waist and hitting the wooden floor of his bedroom in the monastery. More drops of water followed in its wake. Cole still stared. 

It was probably because of the day. That was it, it was because of the day he was looking at himself in a different light that didn't make itself known on normal days. 

It was only once a year, when this day came about. The anniversary of the day his mother had finished her magnum opus, a project that she'd put her life and talents and everything into. Something she'd crafted so lovingly, skilled hands moulding an immense amount of clay; painting perfect and exact amounts of glaze onto the visage of an adolescent male. Months and months of work coming to fruition in the form of something she'd always wanted but had always eluded her. 

This was the day that she'd brought her son into the world. 

The day that she had finally filled him with magic and life, the day she'd created an extremely unique being. 

Well, with the elemental power of Earth along with an innate grasp of magic courtesy of her parents and pure talent for ceramics, it was no wonder that she'd managed to create something that had never been done before.

A clay Golem, this time guided by a soul. A Golem with elemental powers, one that wasn't controlled by instructions on a small piece of paper or stone tablet placed under the tongue every morning. 

There was free will. The ability to speak, to walk around, to eat and enjoy food, to feel emotions and love. All due to a neat and flowing script of runes dutifully marked over his body. 

Cole lifted his hand and slowly ran his fingers over the scripture situated above his left collarbone. The words were a deep black colour, easily mistaken for a tattoo; the colour had faded just a little from what it used to be but the glyphs were still clear. 

'Speech' or 'The act of speaking', was the literal translation. 

Everything he was, was held in these short symbols on his skin, and without them he was literally nothing but a soulless automation with nothing else. No emotion, no self-awareness, no thoughts -- he'd been there before. Twice, actually. 

The first time was on the Dark Island, and a misplaced swing from a stone warrior had taken a good chunk of stone from his shoulder and rendered the speech rune useless. 

Then there was Chen's island, where all of the runes had been blurred due to the loss of his elemental abilities and with them his soul. That hadn't been a fun experience, from what he could remember of it. He was lucky he'd been able to plan for the scenario. 

But the runes were a part of him, always had been. 

He was Cole Brookstone, son of Lou and Gaia Brookstone, and today marked the ninth year of being given life. 

His birthday. Even though, technically, he wasn't born by conventional means. 

Even though he wasn't even human. 

Cole let out a small breath and went over to his bed to get ready for the day, pulling his gi over his still sodden hair. At least he didn't need to keep his lack of humanity a secret anymore, since a damaged rune and Misako with an in depth knowledge of old magic made keeping everything under wraps pretty hard.

Though he had been lucky in some respect, since if Misako hadn't been there to explain the situation and help fix the rune, then Cole would have found it very hard to guide his then very concerned family as to how to properly put a broken Golem back together when he literally had no words to use. No voice. Nothing. 

Still, birthday or not, there was no rest from training; not when the resident electric chicken had some method of finding its way into anyone's room who wasn't awake and in the courtyard on time. 

Cole shuddered at the notion and towelled off his hair as best he could, though his gi had definitely not been spared from the water. 

Today was just a normal day. A regular day. Birthday celebrations were never his thing anyway. 

If he could just have a relaxing day training, then he'd class that as a win.. 

Though that went out the window as he swung open the door to his room, and the blue blur that was Jay shot past without so much as a 'Look out!'.

"Hey, watch where you're going, Ozone Breath! Some of us are still waking up!" Cole shouted down the hallway as he stepped out, his hands absentmindedly tightening his belt a little. Something to fiddle with. 

Jay turned back with a grin and a raised eyebrow, "Someone hasn't had his morning coffee!" He shouted back, then turned and made his way outside. 

How he had any energy at that time in the morning, Cole wasn't entirely sure. But he could put it down to him staying up all night playing video games, and running on leftover adrenaline and fumes. 

At least that meant training would be a breeze. 

Cole walked outside. 

Everyone else was already there, and in a mixed state of wakefulness. Zane, as per usual, was sitting down in a meditative position near the centre of the pavilion; Kai was swinging his sword randomly at a training dummy before a large yawn broke free from his mouth. 

Cole liked to think he was awake enough for early morning training, but the fuzziness in his vision and his slightly dragging feet even after a good shower said otherwise. 

One good thing about the day was that no one was the wiser to it's significance. They just got on with everything, and for that he was thankful. 

"Ever think we should move training into the afternoon." came Lloyd's voice as he walked out into the courtyard, stretching his arms above his head. If Sensei Wu had been within ear shot, those words would have earned a sharp tap to the head with his bo-staff. 

Jay sighed, "We tried that once, but Sensei said we were wasting the day."

"And what better time to get things done?" Cole raised an eyebrow, spreading his hands as he walked towards the general middle of the group. "Train in the morning, then we have the rest of the day to do whatever."

"Morning should start at nine, not at six."

He couldn't help the eye roll at Jay's remark. "You know, maybe if you went to sleep instead of playing games all night you might not feel like walking roadkill. It's not like we're doing it for no reason, being a ninja is a full-time job." Cole looked around the group, "And I don't want Sensei to start messing with us again."

There seemed to be a unanimous thought that ran through the team in a second, and acknowledgement that no one wanted to go through that experience again. Even Zane winced at the memory of a booby trapped monastery. 

Cole clapped his hands once. 

"Right, sooner we start, sooner we'll finish. Sparring with weapons today, no powers."

"Ha! Because Kai is always losing his!" 

There was a growled, "Shut it, Jay!” then Kai turned to face Cole, “Anyway, who said you were deciding what we were doing?" The question was general, and expected. 

"I don't see anyone else with any plans. Plus, we need to learn to not rely on our abilities. We've all lost them before at some point or another."

"Yeah, but when we lose our powers we don't become decor." Jay said. 

Cole rolled his eyes. He was used to that, the teasing, it actually made him smile slightly. If you couldn't laugh at your flaws--

He went over to the weapons rack and hefted a hammer. Heavy, but balanced. Perfect. 

"Jay, you're with me."

Jay spluttered, "What? But I was going to go against Zane!"

"You can go against Zane afterwards, as well, if you want." Cole gave a slight smile, resting the head of the hammer against the ground, "Don't want to fight me? Scared or something?" 

There was a laugh from behind him, and it sounded like Lloyd. 

That just seemed to spur Jay on, his voice growing an octave. "Me, scared of you? Not in a million years, dirt clod." 

"Really? You know, you had me fooled. I thought I saw you shaking in your boots."

Arcs of lightning flickered briefly over the chain of Jay's nunchucks before they died down just as fast, "I'm not-- You know what, fine! Just don't cry when I put you on your ass." 

"I don't cry."

There was a brief pause, "Is that like a Golem thing? Or--" 

"No, no, it's a choice. I just do the exact opposite of what you do and I haven't cried in years."

Cole could see Jay getting riled and tightened his grip on his hammer, but otherwise didn't move a muscle.

"You can fight Zane. I get it, don't want to go against me. No shame in admitting that you're--" 

The first strike came as fast as lightning, and he'd barely shifted out of the way before the second one descended. 

This wasn't Jay using his powers, he was just scary fast. Which was why the choice of sparring partner was to both of their advantages. Jay was fast, Cole was strong. They both had contending qualities that they needed to learn to fight against. 

On the third strike, he lifted his hammer, supporting it with two hands and received a reverberating clang of metal through his arms when both the weapons made contact. 

Though the fight didn't stop there, it was only getting started. 

Cole already felt wide awake. 

He stepped forwards and swung his weapon, missing Jay by a hair breadth. 

The next blows were traded sharply, fluidly. Moving from offence to defence in less than a second. 

Cole would be lying if he said he didn't like sparing against Jay. He was a formidable opponent, especially when he stopped cracking jokes and focused. Which was rare enough. 

"Come on, Sparky, you really think some fancy nunchuck spins are going to beat me?" He took a small step back to catch his breath. He didn't know what the rest of the team was doing, but with the amount of area they were using up for this spar, they were probably watching what was happening. 

Then in the next second Jay was right in front of him, and the nunchucks connected with his cheek a millisecond later. 

Cole's face snapped sideways, though he held his ground. His feet barely even moved from their position, if only for a minor step back. His eyes widened, though he opened and closed his jaw as if to check it was still working, and still connected to his face. 

His reaction to the strike, or lack thereof, seemed to translate over to Jay. 

Jay, who stood there, slack jawed and nunchucks held loosely in his grip. "You just--! What?" He shouted, "You didn't even move! Did you even feel that?" 

Cole carefully ran his fingers over his cheek. If that hit had been any harder, or with a more formidable weapon, it could have caused a bit of damage. "I felt something." He admitted, then raised an eyebrow at Jay, "Definitely something." 

"You-- what? Was that like--" Jay paused, his hands moving a mile a minute, as if he was trying to find the words. "That was a Golem thing, wasn't it? That better have been a Golem thing!" 

"It was a Golem thing." Cole admitted, then rolled his shoulders. "Try harder next time, you might make me take two steps back."

Famous last words. 

They traded blows for another minute before Jay got another solid hit in. 

This time a direct downwards strike to his shoulder, and Cole's hand immediately shot up to the site of the impact with a pained grunt. 

Jay, meanwhile, seemed elated he'd got another hit in. 

"Ow." Cole mumbled, wincing as he fingering at a gash that was now sliced into his gi. It was just washed, fresh on that morning and now he'd either have to stitch it or bin it. 

No, Jay was going to fix it, if he was so happy to have caused the damage in the first place. 

Cole straightened himself up, lightly waving off an approaching Zane with a small smile, then he wheeled around to the blue ninja dancing about the courtyard. 

The hit had hurt, and whilst they were no stranger to bumps and grazes from training, they didn't purposefully aim for injury. 

Jay had. Whether he'd realised it or not, he'd gone in with the intent to make contact again. Maybe get a better reaction than the brick wall one he'd gotten beforehand. 

If Cole had been any closer to human, that strike would have shattered bone.

"Jay, you i- i-" Cole faltered for a second, the word catching sharply in his throat. He gave a small cough to clear it, and dropped his hammer down onto the stone inlay. 

"Y- you i-." Cole frowned. He knew what he wanted to say, he knew what word he wanted to use. 

It just wasn't coming out.

"Cole?" He saw Kai walking over, his eyebrows furrowed. "Are you okay?" 

"I- I'm f- f- fine." He ground out, then brought a hand up to quickly cover his mouth.

Cole looked around the group, at their analysing and confused expressions; one hand was still cradled tightly over his shoulder. 

"Are you hurt?" came the question, though Kai had probably already established an answer for that. 

Cole definitely had. 

Yet physically he felt fine, sure his shoulder stung and his words were jamming in his throat, but he was fine… 

He was--

His words.

He quickly felt over his shoulder, his fingers moving in a calculated motion, small circles. Down over his chest, up to his neck, over his collarbone--

Then they dipped into a prominent crevice that hadn't been there that morning. A crack, he didn’t even need to look to know that. He could feel it, the flaking clay, the rough edges and the fissure that marred once smooth skin.

A crack, over his collarbone. 

Directly through the runes.

____

Cross-posted to AO3

Part 2 coming soon!

[aweebwrites]

The Confrontation of Lloyd and Oni

Lloyd could remember how it happened in bits and flashes. It was his fault. He shouldn’t have hid it. Maybe then, things could have been different. He knew he shouldn’t have hidden what was happening but after everything with the Oni attacking Ninjago and the recovery… He didn’t want to give anyone any reason to worry. He should have known that would only worsen things. It started off with small things.

He looked down at the cup he dropped accidentally, looking at the shattered glass, watching the tea spread around the shards. It was… A captivating sight. A once whole, useful cup reduced to nothing but useless shards of glass. A shake of his head and he cleaned it up.

Then it began to get worse…

He stared down at the entirety of this morning’s breakfast plates, shattered on the ground, something urging him to break more, destroy more. He reached out, eyes glowing red and picked up his Uncle’s favorite mug.

‘Surely he could get another…’

“What happened?!” He snapped out of it, eyes flashing back to green as he looked at Cole who had his hammer ready. “Oh. I thought you were being attacked. Are you alright?” Cole asked him.

“Yeah. Just got a little distracted.” He says sheepishly, wondering what was really going on with him.

“We all have those days. How about you take it easy and I’ll take over the dishes.” Cole says, setting his hammer aside and walking over to the sink.

“Yeah… Thanks.” Lloyd says and headed out.  He paused by the kitchen door, looking at his hammer.

It was heavy, he knew that but it would make a better tool for destruction than his hands. It would have a lot more… Crash. Imagine all the things he could break with it? He reached a hand out to it, eyes glowing red. All he had to do was take it. He pulled his hand back suddenly as if he was burned, eyes clearing up. No. What the hell was he thinking? Why would he want to cause unnecessary destruction? He hurried off outside. Maybe he just needs some fresh air...

And worse…

He stood amongst the destroyed training yard, panting heavily, looking down at his hands. What was going on?! He hadn’t even trained on the course. He had just began to rip it all apart, giggling to himself, ripping claws through wood with ease, breaking the thickest of wood like a twig. It was only when a flicker of something completely eroded the chain he had in his hand did he snap out of his frenzy. His hands were black. They were clawed. Just what is going on?

“Lloyd, y-” He looked around, looking at Nya and Kai horrified.

What will they say? What will they think?!

“... Cole! I thought we agreed to take it easy on the training equipment!” Kai yelled back into the Monastery.

“Buzz of Kai! I was pent up!” Cole yelled back and they all started arguing, leaving Lloyd to look at them, still standing amidst the wreckage.

Things have been like this for a while. Everyone was in a bad mood as is. He couldn’t show them this. A look down at his hands showed them completely normal. He… He’ll figure it out on his own.

And worse still.

Lloyd laughed as he used his green energy to torment a small village, having wandered away from the Monastery in the dead of night. Another charged ball of energy completely destroyed a house, allowing another loud ring of screams to echo.

“Why are you doing this?!” A man asked the green ninja who only grinned at him with sharp teeth and red eyes.

“Why not! Destruction is a thing of beauty!” Lloyd says then laughed before he gasped, snapping out of it. “What am I saying?! What am I doing?! I’m so sorry!” He apologized, green eyes filling with tears.

“Sorry for not doing this sooner!” Lloyd grinned, eyes flashing to red again as he gathered his green energy, the green orb darkening to a dark green, shaded by black smokey. The next hit leveled the entire village, as well as the unfortunate few to be left behind.

He laughed as he looked around, looking for another target to his beautiful destruction.

“Lloyd?!” The words were gasped and the being with strange feet and a blond tipped black tail looked around at the ninja with a sinister grin.

“Come to join me? It’s a little to late but I’m sure we can pick up somewhere else.” He says to them, tail flickering eagerly at the thought of more destruction.

“I don’t understand. Why would you do this Lloyd?” Nya says as Jay looked a lot terrified of him.

“Look at his eyes!” He yelled, pointing out the slitted glowing red orbs.

“Clearly none of you understand the beauty of destruction.” Lloyd says, unimpressed then gathered his dark green and black smokey energy. “I’ll show you- Ugh!” He gripped his head as he stumbled, eyes, flashing green and red.

“S-something is wrong!” Lloyd yelled and the others rushed over to him.

“Lloyd! What the hell is going on?!” Kai yelled as he panted with red tinged eyes.

“I-I don’t know! I’ve been trying to stop it but- but-”

“Why didn’t you tell us?- Never mind that. We need to get him back to Sensei Wu.” Zane say, looking at his teammates.

“Wayyy ahead of you.” Cole says from over the comms, just as the Earth Driller pulled up. “Let’s go!” He yelled once the hatch was down.

Sensei Wu couldn’t do much…

“We can’t just leave him caged up like some kind of animal!” Cole protested as Lloyd watched from the vengestone cage they got somehow.

It had a few scratches which made it clear that he tried getting out before, even though he doesn’t remember doing so now.

“We have no choice. Not until we find some way to stabilize him. I had not anticipated exposure to the Oni cloud would awaken his Oni side like this.” Wu says firmly, standing firm against his angry students.

“There has to be some other way!” Kai yelled, not liking this at all.

“No there isn’t. We have already tried locking him in the spare room. Even with the vengestone cuffs, he got free. We cannot afford another escape attempt. Too many lives have been lost already.” Wu reminded them and they all fell quiet at that.

Jay walked over to where he was.

“We’ll make you better in no time.” He promised in a whisper.

No time was too late…

There were screams and cries echoing through the thick cloud of smoke as people ran, pulling children and families along, others suffocating in the smoke. Glowing red eyes pierced the darkness before the widely grinning being who was the source of the chaos appeared. The ninja stood before him with dread, not wanting to use the tornado of creation against their friend, their brother… But they would if they have to.

“We don’t want to fight you Lloyd…” Zane say as he held his bow and arrow firmly.

“Oh? But I want to fight you Zane. You’d look so much better as bits and pieces…” Lloyd hummed as he kept walking forward.

The wind picked up, the smoke blocking their view of Lloyd momentarily but when it cleared, he looked exactly like he had before.

“Ugh. What happened?” Lloyd groaned, rubbing his head.

“Oh, Lloyd!” Cole says as they quickly rushed towards him- only to be stopped by Zane.

“That’s still not our Lloyd. Our Lloyd whenever he comes around never has these energy signatures.” Zane says with narrowed eyes, hands still holding back his friends.

“What are you talking about?” He asked, stepping forward and Zane drew his bow again.

“Stay back.” He demanded and Lloyd smirked.

“Always too smart for your own good, huh Zane?” Lloyd says with a smirk, changing back in a brief flash of dark green and black. "But playtime is over." He says with a glare and the ninja looked at each other before charging.

Things got spotty then.

He remembered ripping Zane's arm off, remembered smacking Cole out of it hard, sending him drop quickly, remembered using his dark powers to blast Nya and Kai away, leaving Jay to face him.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in the monastery, being told that he was cured.

He blinked at that. Cured?

"The Stabili-tea neutralized your Oni genes. You are still needed to take it for awhile but you will be fine from now on." Wu told him as he blinked tiredly at him. "Rest now nephew. The worst is over." He whispered and Lloyd blinked but nodded.

He fell asleep after.

Things went surprisingly well after that. People knew of the attacks he launched but assumed he was possessed again. No-one had even blinked twice at him, only to celebrate the green ninja. The others, Wu encouraged him to go with it and he did. He smiled and acted like everything was alright. He soon learned that next to no-one knew about the death tolls. It was on accident really. He had been trying to recover, trying not to shy away from anything easily breakable, anything too violent. He was trying not to fall asleep because the nightmares kept him up. He couldn't even train without enduring a panic attack. He had been flipping through the tv channels, looking for harmless cartoons to calm his nerves when he came across a report of the villages he leveled, the city he almost completely destroyed. He knew it was best to leave it in the past but he couldn't for some reason.

He sat there, hearing the damage reports and when they came onto death toll, he swallowed thickly, squeezing his eyes shut in preparation for the impact the number would have. But they hadn't said any numbers. In fact, they said there was no casualties. Lloyd know that was a lie. The blank, lifeless eyes looking at him in his nightmares proved that it was a lie. When he finally gained the courage to ask Sensei Wu, he told him the mayor of New Ninjago City decided to conceal it. He reassured him he didn't approve but there wasn't much they could do about it.

Lloyd wasn't pleased. Those people he killed, he murdered... They deserved better...

_______________________________________________

He bit back a scream as he jolted awake, washed in a cold sweat. He panted heavily as he remained sitting up, gripping the sheets so tight, his fists were white. He felt his stomach lurch, seeing the bodies again and he quickly rushed to the bathroom, making sure to do so as quietly as possible. He threw up what little food he managed to eat earlier and then some. Once he was finally finished dry heaving, he slumped against the toilet, a shudder washing over him. He glanced out the opened door and was glad the others hadn't woken up. He pulled himself up off the ground then walked over, locking the door. He then rinsed out his mouth and washed his face before sighing, looking down into the sink. It had been almost half a year now since and the nightmares never stop. The paranoia kept going. There was no recovery.

He looked up at himself in the mirror, looking at his pale face and dark rings under his eyes. Looking more specifically at his green eyes. Not red. Not him. He hung his head, holding onto the edges of the sink as he looked down.

“It's over now.... I know inside…” He tells himself softly, feeling tears sting his eyes. “No will ever know… The sorry tale of destruction… And those who died.” He squeezed his eyes shut at the flashes of bodies, their tales, their lives swept under the rug for his sake.

In a way, he didn’t want them to know. Didn’t want them to see the monster he had become.

“No one must ever know.” He whispered, tears falling into the sink. “They only see the tragedy…” He whispered, looking towards the door, knowing his friends were still peacefully asleep outside it.

“They not see my intent… The Shadow of my evil… Will forever kill… The good that I have meant…” He says softly, gripping the sink tightly as he squeezed his eyes shut, more tears falling from his eyes.

“Am I good man?” He asked himself, looking up at his reflection, flinching once a flash of him appeared, making him step back quickly. “Am I a mad man?” He questions, gripping his hair tightly with both hands as he looked down, eyes haunted.

“It's such a fine line…” He whispered, tears flowing endlessly down his cheeks. “Between a good man and I…” He says, voice wavering at the end, missing the shadowy form that made themself present in the mirror.

“Do you really think…” Lloyd froze, terrified at that familiar voice. “That I would ever let you go?” They questioned as Lloyd glanced up, his throat tight, panic taking him at the familiar red eyes.

“Did you think I'd set you free?” His Oni self questions, tilting his head to the side. “If you do I'm sad to say, it simply isn't so.” The Oni grinned widely, revealing sharp, jagged teeth as Lloyd looked on, horrified.

“You will never get away from me..” He declared and that struck anger in Lloyd.

“All that you are is a face in the mirror!” Lloyd yelled at him, stepping forward and gripping the sink. “I close my eyes and you disappear!” He narrowed his eyes at him.

'Huh? What?'

‘What’s going on?’

“I'm what you face when you face in the mirror!” The Oni countered. “Long as you live, I will still be here.” He grinned even wider, not phased at all by his sudden burst of anger.

“All that you are is the end of a Nightmare, all that you are is a dying scream!” Lloyd yelled, getting up close and personal with the mirror, the Oni momentarily startled. “After tonight, I shall end these demon dreams!” He declared with a snarl.

‘Lloyd?!’

“This is not a dream, you fool!” The Oni growled as he leaned forward, out of the mirror and Lloyd stumbled back, falling to the ground in his surprise. “And it will never end! This one is the nightmare that goes on!” He yelled as he hopped out of the mirror, standing before Lloyd in all of his dark, clawed glory.

“I am here to stay no matter what you may pretend.” The Oni growled with a stomp of his hind leg, cracking the tile beneath it. “And I'll flourish long after your gone!” He grinned at a cowering Lloyd.

“Soon you will die and my silence will hide you.” Lloyd says, finding his voice. “You cannot choose but to lose control!” He yelled at the Oni.

'Lloyd! Let us in!'

“You can't control me, I live deep inside you.” The Oni says smugly. “Each day you feel me devour your soul.” He grinned impossibly wide, the whites of his eyes going black.

“I don't need you to survive, like you need me!” Lloyd yelled, getting to his feet, sneering at the Oni. “I'll become whole as you dance with death!”  He spat, gathering his green energy in his hands.

“And I'll rejoice as you breathe your final breath!” He yelled, attacking the Oni who only dodged with a laugh before jumping at him, engulfing him in darkness.

'Lloyd! Please!'

“I'll live inside you forever!” The Oni yelled, a large red eye appearing over Lloyd's shoulder.

“No!” Lloyd yelled, turning around to face it looking on horrified as the Oni’s face appeared much larger in the pitch black darkness, much like the Overlord had all those years ago.

'Lloyd!'

“With darkness itself by my side!”  The Oni continued as more tears filled Lloyd’s eyes.

“No!” Lloyd yelled, the tears rushing down his cheeks.

*Pound, pound, pound!*

'Lloyd!'

“And I know that now and forever,” The Oni says, with a wide smile as the darkness wrapped around his body, slowly engulfing him. “They'll never be able to separate Oni from Lloyd!” He grinned as the darkness swallowed Lloyd.

Lloyd’s eyes glowed green from the darkness.

“Can't you see it's-” He broke free, standing against his Oni self with a fanged snarl. “Over now? It's time to die!” He yelled at the Oni.

'Lloyd! For fucks sake-'

“No, not I, only you!” The Oni says with a never fading grin.

“If I die, you'll die too!”  Lloyd yelled, getting desperate.

“You'll die in me, I'll be you!” The Oni snarled and Lloyd gritted his teeth.

“Damn you, Oni! Set me Free!” He demanded but his face screamed pleading as the tears kept coming.

“Can't you see? You are me!” The Oni yelled and Lloyd stepped back in horror, back hitting the sink and he quickly turned around.

'Have you found the key?!'

“No!” He yelled, seeing the truth, seeing that he looked exactly like he did before, like the Oni. “Deep inside…” He says, hanging his head, trying to fight.

“I am you! You are Oni!” The Oni snarled, taking over ad Lloyd’s eyes flashed red.

“No, never!” Lloyd says, shaking his head as his eyes flashed back to green.

“Yes Forever!” The Oni corrects with his wide grin.

“God damn you, Oni! Take all your evil deeds and rot in the Cursed Realm!” Lloyd yelled at the Oni from the darkness that has taken over his mind and the Oni laughed evilly.

“I'll see you there, Lloyd!” He says, knowing he’s won.

“Never!!!” Lloyd yelled outside of his mind, tears dripping down his blackened cheeks as he tried to fight but he was pulled under, the darkness suffocating him as the Oni took over.

The Oni only laughed evilly, their laugh echoing into the night as the dark green and black power he gathered in his hands became dark red and black. Dark shadowy tentacles with an undertone of glowing red slipped free from his back, ready to destroy as much as their host.

His friends on the other side of the door knew… They failed… They we're too late...

The Oni has returned.

______________________________________________

(For the purpose of plot, Cole hasn’t busted the door down. I’ve been wanting to write something for this for a long time now and I haven’t done Lloyd angst in a while. I hope I pulled this off well!- Oh! And those strike-throughs are the ninja reacting to Lloyd yelling at no-one. He’s too deep to hear them so ye. Here’s a link to the video it’s based off of if you haven’t spotted my previous post: The Confrontation of Luna and Night. Hope you guys liked it!)

[eyeofthewolfe]

Ninjago & TLNM: To Be Green

Chapter Six: A Whole New World Realm

Koko’s harsh eyes softened when she saw her older-looking son shed a tear. “Wrong?” she asked tenderly. “What’s wrong?”

Lloyd quickly wiped his eyes. “Those pictures of me...” he started as he gestured with his chin to the photos on the wall. “I have no recollection of them or the people in the photos. I mean, I see Lord Garmadon but he’s...different.”

Koko turned back, an eyebrow raised curiously. “You don’t remember any of that? Do you remember me?”

Lloyd didn’t hesitate as he shook his head. The ginger sucked in a shaky breath as she stepped back. Lloyd noticed she was starting to tense up, so he offered for them to sit down in the kitchen a few steps away.

Koko immediately put her head in her hands when she sat next to the table. Her ‘son’ uncomfortably sat across from her with his trembling hands awkwardly folded together on his lap. There was a long silence in the kitchen before she mumbled through her hands, “If you aren’t Lloyd, then where is my son?”

That was the question he feared to answer. He sat back a little more and carefully selected his words. “Well, first of all, I am Lloyd, just apparently not the Lloyd you all...know.”

She looked up at him, her face pushed together with confusion.

Lloyd continued. “However, the Lloyd you know...I don’t know where he is. I would imagine he is where I was.”

She continued to stare at him blankly as if he had spoken a completely new language. Finally she shook her head and said, “He is where you were? What does that mean?”

“I’m not from here,” Lloyd replied, trying hard to believe the words coming out of his mouth. “I am from a different Ninjago. I don’t know how that’s possible but I think maybe-“ suddenly Lloyd froze. Koko waited as her eyes slowly opened.

“Holy FSM...” Lloyd breathed as he pushed himself to his feet. His legs were shaking so much that he almost collapsed onto the ground. His ‘mom’ rose to help him, but Lloyd was already scrambling for the window. He viciously tore the curtains to the side to let him see the city. Frozen in his spot, Koko slowly joined his side with her eyes wide. “What is it?” She demanded as she wondered what about the view she’s seen all her life is terrifying to this different son of hers.

“This isn’t Ninjago,” Lloyd muttered. “I mean, obviously it is Ninjago but it’s not my Ninjago.”

Koko stared back blankly.

“That made no sense to you, I’m sure,” Lloyd continued as he pressed his palms against the side of his head as he turned back to the ginger woman. “But the Ninjago I am from has 16 realms, well, 14 now- and I’ve only been to about half of them. This must be another realm.”

“Realms?” Koko repeated with disbelief.

Lloyd didn’t hear her. “But is weird...it’s like an alternate reality for my world....it so similar yet so different.” He reached out and took her arm to turn her attention back to him. “Your son must be in my Ninjago.”

She hesitated, trying to comprehend. “How...how do we get him back?”

With a sigh, Lloyd shut the curtains slowly. “I...don’t know. I don’t even know how I got here.”

Shuddering a breath, Koko collapsed back into a chair. Lloyd instinctively dropped down to her side. “Don’t worry ma’am, I will get him back. I promise.”

She held back her tears as she gazed back at Lloyd. After what felt like a full minute she smiled and gingerly placed her hand on his cheek. “You look just like him.” She breathed a whisper. “If you are here and safe, then I can have faith my boy is safe too.”

She pulled away, but Lloyd remained still. He lifted his own hand to his face to touch where she just had her hand. She scrubbed her eyebrows together at his gesture. “What is it?”

Lloyd quickly dropped his hand. “Nothing.” Koko blinked but decided to drop it. She rose to grab a tissue from the counter to wipe her eyes. “I can’t believe I lost my son and husband on the same day,” she muttered quietly to herself to ensure the new Lloyd didn’t hear. As she tossed the tissue she subconsciously glanced at the clock. Suddenly she gasped.

“What?” Lloyd called out from by the window.

She turned back to him. “It’s getting pretty late. You should probably get back to sleep since it’s a school night.”

He rolled his eyes. “Right, school.”

She pulled her head back out of shock. “What, did you not go to school back in your...Ninjago?”

He shook his head.

Koko’s jaw dropped a little. “What kind of mom wouldn’t send her kid to school?”

Lloyd actually chuckled at that. “Oh she did, just...nevermind.” He dropped it again, his throat tightening up again.

She shook her head and then walked back to Lloyd. “Now get a good nights rest, after school tomorrow we can figure out what to do next.”

Lloyd nodded, his eyelids immediately drooping over his eyes when he thought about his must-needed sleep. He turned to a closed door.

“Uh, that’s my room,” Koko giggled as Lloyd froze. He wore an embarrassed smile as he turned to the opposite door. “Goodnight ma’am.”

“You can call me Ko- uh, mom. You can call me mom.”

Lloyd hesitated at the doorknob. He turned back with a warm smile but an aching heart. He turned the knob and slipped into the bedroom.

A closet with a bed would actually be a better name for the space Lloyd walked into. Posters covered the wall of different bands, movies, but mostly of the green ninja and the ninja ‘squad’. The room was mostly clean besides the few socks and shirts on the ground, an overflowing trash bin and an unmade bed. He slowly shut the door and inspected the tiny room that was apparently his.

“Well,” he muttered aloud to himself. “It’s me alright.”

He tracked down some pajamas (bottom drawer to the right, like always) and got himself fully ready for bed. Admittedly it was odd to go to sleep in an actual apartment rather than a room in the Temple or in a large sleeping quarters with his friends. It was even weirder once he actually got into his bed, which was cramped with walls on each side. It was as if he was caged in when he was sleeping.

The small alarm clock near his bed has an alarm already set for 6:20 in the morning. With a shrug, he set it, and then flipped off his lights. The room instantly disappeared into darkness.

Minutes passed as Lloyd laid in bed very much awake, for he wasn’t used to the background buzzing of the city outside of his window. It was odd sleeping in a room so familiar but so uncomfortably different.

His thoughts drifted to this other “Lloyd” he knew was of existence somewhere. Well, he knew where- he was back at the Temple just as confused as Lloyd is.

Lloyd cringed, his mind sore from all the double Lloyd and double Ninjago confusion. He rolled onto his side where he faced a wall, and then forced his eyes shut.

I wonder how the other me is doing right now....

________________________________________________

“And you TOUCHED IT?”

“It was glowing-“

“EXACTLY!”

Lloyd slowly tightened his jaw as Nya stuffed her face in her hands. The others reacted similarly as they all leaned back some more on the training equipment they were currently leaning on. Lloyd was sitting criss-cross on the grass, picking some every once in a while anxiously.

After a few seconds of silence, Lloyd decided to continue. “After I had grasped it, the green glowing stuff dissolved into my arm. I was shocked so I fell backwards, but instead of landing on the beach I landed here.”

“So you teleported?” Jay interrupted. Lloyd hesitated before shrugging a little. “I mean...I guess? I don’t even know where I teleported to.”

Kai crossed his arms. “You are in Ninjago.”

Lloyd nodded. “That much makes sense, except I am from Ninjago.”

“That’s when it doesn’t make any sense anymore.” Cole spoke up. “There can’t be two completely different Ninjago’s.”

“Actually, perhaps there can.”

Every head turned to the robot. Zane sat forward some.

“Maybe,” Zane spoke slowly, signaling to the other ninja (expect Lloyd) that his idea was not based with fact. “....there’s another realm for Ninjago.”

The lawn fell back to silence. Lloyd stared at the other ninja, who all took that remark like it actually made sense. Finally Lloyd snorted a laugh.

“Another Realm? What are you, serious?”

The others stared at Lloyd as if he was crazy.

“Look, different worlds? Yeah they exist. I’ve been to some prrreeeeetty weird places and seen some preeeeety weird people. But a different realm? Of the same place? That’s not possible.”

Kai looked back to Zane. “He does have a point. Based on Lloyd’s story, that would mean there’s another realm that is almost exactly like ours. But....with slight differences.”

“Like me having an accent!” Jay chimed in. He cleared his throat and tried yet again another ridiculous accent. “Horw doers thirs sournd? Clorser?”

“No,” Lloyd replied sourly. “Not even close.”

While Jay angrily snapped his fingers, Nya leaned forward. “Our Lloyd said he only have been to half of the realms. It’s possible that it could exist, it’s just odd to think there’s another realm that’s a weird mirror image of this one.”

“No, guys-“ Lloyd interrupted again by pulling up a large tuft of grass. “Realms don’t exist. Period.”

Cole snorted and opened his arms up. “Welcome to Ninjago, dude. You’ve got worlds- we’ve got realms.”

Lloyd kept his mouth open for a second before shutting it. He thought back to what Master Wu had mentioned a few years back before he had helped out other Master Builders in their worlds: “New world, new rules.”

Zane pushed himself up. “There is one way to solve this. Later today we will voyage to Hiroshima’s Labyrinth and pick up the Realm Crystal and try and find the realm.”

“Realm Crystal?” Lloyd voiced, but everyone ignored them.

“I agree,” Nya nodded. “But first, more sleep. The Lloyd’s apparently don’t want us to sleep in this morning.”

With a grunted agreement, the other ninjas rose to follow Nya and Zane back into the Temple. Lloyd scrunched his eyebrows together and glanced over his shoulder, where the rising sun had fully emerged from the horizon.

“Uh...” Lloyd called out. Slowly and reluctantly the ninja turned back around.

“Aren’t we going to school?” Lloyd asked with his eyebrows raised.

There was a long pause as the ninja debated in each of their heads if Lloyd was playing with them or not. Finally Kai burst out laughing, followed quickly the rest of the team. Lloyd, in complete shock, realized that they didn’t go to school and most possibly never have.

“Okay I get it I get it, y’all can stop laughing.” Lloyd grumbled. However, he held back a smile of pure joy of not needing to go to school.

“No no no,” Kai wheezed last his laughter. “It’s not funny that you go to high school, it’s funny that our Lloyd may have to go to high school in your place.”

Lloyd narrowed his eyes a little. “Why is that so funny?”

Kai grinned. “Cuz he has the education of a third grader.”