So I started this story about a year ago, actually. :) I posted it on DeviantART first, and now I'm deciding I'm going to cross-post and continue it over here as well.

Another AU idea, what a surprise.

Chapter One

The young man stood there, shirtless, coated in a thin, gleaming coat of sweat, breathing heavily. He looked up at me, and nodded, ready for the next fight. I complied with his demands, and sent in the next group to fight him.

They were quick to surround him, and he whirled on the ball of his foot, eyeing them all, deciding where to start. I turned, looking my second in command in the eye. "Start the timer."

As he clicked the button, the sharp tone chirped loudly, and he began, fearlessly, and wildly fighting with them. His body moved fluidly, and he had no qualms about hurting them. I heard several snapping bones, and shouts to go with them, but the fight still went on, one by one they each fell to the ground. Still alive, but battered and bruised in ways that would hurt for days, or weeks, in some cases.

He clicked the timer again, and read out the time, his normally flat voice showing hints of impressed tones. "Two minutes, thirty-three seconds to take down seven of your best…"

I nodded excitedly, gesturing to the young man to come up to us. He began to put away his weapons, before coming to join us, brushing his fingers through his shaggy hair. "I think he's quite ready!" I stood, smiling proudly at the boy. "You've improved so much, my son." He kept his head down, but glanced up at me with his sly blue eyes, smirking just slightly. Like he had been taught, he kept his respectful silence. "Look me in the eyes, young man." He did, and the expression on his face was ready to challenge me. "How are your powers?"

I watched him carefully as he smiled, lifting his head up to look me in the eyes, confident in himself. "They're much stronger than they were this time last year. I am more connected to them, more in control, father." As if to prove himself, he showed me small examples, and I couldn't help smiling.

"Good, good my son." I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and looked at the other man. "Tell my men to prepare for tonight. Tonight, my son will truly join us." As he nodded silently, and walked off, I looked at my son, placing my hands on his shoulders, staring into his strong blue eyes. "You do want to join us, don't you?"

The look on his face was priceless. "Father, you said-"

A loud series of snickers and giggles spilled out of me. "Only a joke! Only a joke! You take everything so seriously!" I hugged him, before pulling him back, smiling. "I know this is what you want, my son." He relaxed visibly, smiling back at me. "Now go shower, prepare yourself for tonight. Tell your sister, too." I let go of him, and watched as he took off. "For tonight, you truly become one of us!"

As he ran off, I sat back down, staring up at the sun-streaked sky, the last rays of night fading from view, but not enough that I couldn't see the bright shine coming from Arcturus, before bowing my head and closing my eyes, starting to whisper a prayer to him.

I had stopped in the doorway before leaving, watching my "father" from a distance, silent and unseen.

Seeing him drop to his knees and begin praying was not a normal occurrence in our family. Never had I seen him do it before. Holding my breath, I listened in the best that I could.

"...as you welcome him into your family, watch over him and guard him as your own." I saw him began to stand, and spun on my foot, high-tailing it out of there, to my sister's room, bursting in without knocking.

It was dark.

She was still asleep, but not for long. My feet carried me the extra few yards to her bed, and I leapt onto it, flopping down beside her with enough force to jostle her awake. "Skylor, you won't believe what's going to happen tonight!"

It had taken more than a little while to get Skylor to wake up and turn on the light so she could listen to me. The sun was still rising, so her bedside lamp was necessary.

"...Lloyd, are you sure you really want to go through with this?" She asked, brushing her hair smooth. Her eyes were staring me down, wanting the truth. "You know once you take it there's-"

"There's no way out of it, I know. I know I'll be called when the time comes. I know what it means-"

She cut me off like I had with her. "You don't know what it means, Lloyd. You don't know what it'll do to you." She rubbed her shoulder, and looked away for a second. "You don't know what it'll take for it to happen, either."

I rolled my eyes. Skylor never had wanted me to be trained, but my powers had started growing out of control, and dad had insisted upon me training, so I no longer ruined bedding in my sleep, so I no longer froze the water pitcher during dinners, so I no longer shorted the power in the building just by flipping a single switch. He just wanted what was best for me.

He always had.

"Look, if this is your way to try and get me to quit…"

"No, it's me trying to keep you safe, Lloyd." She rolled out of bed, stretching her arms as she walked to her closet. "I'll tell dad I want you to think about it for one more week, okay?" She opened the door, and grabbed a black bag out of it, throwing it at me. "For now, we're going on a trip to Ninjago City."

I caught the bag with ease, and sighed. I hated Ninjago City. I hated the anonymity of being there, the way the people would just walk on by you, like you didn't exist.

The way they could leave you there to starve, and pretend they didn't see you.

Skylor knew how I felt. She knew I hated it, which was why she wanted to take me there. "No, let's go somewhere else." I winced as the words came out. Instead of a demand, they sounded small, weak, like a sick kid asking for something to drink.

She shook her head, and smiled at me. "We're leaving in three hours, just after breakfast." There was a tone of finality in her voice, and she walked towards me, turning me to face her door. "Now get out."

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please comment, it'll make me update faster! :D