Here is Zane's chapter! It takes place shortly after Lloyd discovers he is the Green Ninja :D
Special thanks to: RandomDragon2.0, MidnightStarHunter, TheYellowNinja, Star, SnowNinjaAJ, SpitfirewaterNinja, Peanut2196, Wyrenfire, Spider-Man Super-Fan, xxXTheySayI'mEvilXxx, Guest, PrairieSkies, Tex1412, Midnight, Guest, Lexy Venzon, StoiresAreMagic, imacrazyninjagofan, and Nali Nali Nalina for reviewing!
Replies to guest reviews:
TheYellowNinja: Woah, Lloyd and Jay pranking together would be VERY SCARY. XD I hope you like Zane's chapter! Aw, thanks for your comments on Lost Soul! :3 No title for the sequel yet, but I'm thinking! I'll let you know what I come up with it XD I have watched the first two episodes of season eight, and I hope to catch up this weekend! Thank you so much for reviewing! :D
Star: Aw, thank you so much! :D
SnowNinjaAJ: I'm so happy you thought it was adorable! Yeah, I thought with season eight, Lloyd thinking girls were gross would be even more hilarious XD Wow! An explosion of cuteness! What an honor! XD Thank you so much! :D
Guest: Haha, I'm so glad you think it's cute and that Lloyd is being sufficiently annoying XD Thank you so much!
Midnight: Yay, adorableness achieved! XD Aw, I'm so glad you could connect with the chapter like that! Of course! I love responding to reviews! I appreciate each and every one that is left on any of my stories :3 Thank you so much! :D
Guest: Oh my goodness, now I WISH I had included that scene in the last chapter! It made me crack up laughing! XD Ooh, I LOVE your suggestion as well! Won't be this chapter, but you've definitely got me thinking for Cole's or Lloyd's chapter! :D Thank you so much! :D
imacrazyninjagofan: Haha, yes, I knew it was you! I like your new name! XD I am so happy you thought it was adorable! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Nali Nali Nalina: I think Nya is a very awesome person, so I wanted to showcase that in her chapter :D And she knows how to get Lloyd to do what she wants XD I'm glad you liked the heart to heart they had :3 Haha, I'm glad you liked Jay and Lloyd's fandom argument! (They're such dorks XD) Yay, you noticed the theme! I like to include little stylistic threads that connect the one shots into one cohesive story :D Thank you so much for reviewing! :D
The first time Lloyd tried to run away, he didn't even get past the front door.
He'd thought it all out: pack only what he most absolutely needed, which meant- sigh- leaving behind his Fritz Donnegan comics; leave in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep; and get on the first bus that left the station. This is where the true genius of the plan laid. The ninja would look for him in places they thought he might go, like back to Darkly's or maybe Jamanakai Village, the first place he had "attacked" upon getting expelled.
But, if he went to a literally random place, the ninja would have no idea where to look, and he would be long gone by the time they figured it out.
He sighed as he peered at his mostly empty backpack. The Green Ninja gi lay on the bed right beside it, and he couldn't help but curl his lip in disgust at the sight of it.
"Going somewhere?"
Lloyd yelped and whipped around to see Zane standing in the doorway of the shared bedroom. He hadn't expected the guys to be back from their mission for hours.
"Um… no," he replied real convincingly, shifting slightly as if blocking the backpack from view would make Zane forget that he'd ever seen
"Oh. Then, why are you packing a bag?" Zane asked innocently, cocking his head.
"I was just… practicing… in case we ever have to make a quick getaway," he explained. "I didn't pack my gi, because, you know, I'd be wearing it. Because I'm the Green Ninja." Mentally, Lloyd cursed himself. His excuse had been flimsy enough but adding on the part about the gi had just made him seem even more suspicious.
And, Zane, as oblivious as he was, didn't seem quite so innocent anymore as he nodded and said, "Of course."
An awkward silence descended on the room.
Lloyd cleared his throat, turning back to the backpack. "But, I'm done now, so I'll just unpack it all and put it back."
"Okay. Do not let me interrupt."
Lloyd heard Zane's footsteps getting quieter as he walked down the hall.
He sighed in relief. Maybe his plan wasn't totally wrecked.
The second time Lloyd tried to run away, he didn't get off the deck of the Destiny's Bounty.
It was night, and the others were sure to be sleeping. He tiptoed down the hall, avoiding the creaky floorboards he had tested days beforehand. He was actually a little surprised that he felt sad as he left the ninja and Nya and Uncle Wu behind. Even though Kai had told him that they were sticking by him, he'd still kind of thought of the arrangement as a temporary thing, because nothing for him ever seemed to be permanent.
And, then he had become the Green Ninja and everything had become a little too permanent with the whole prophecy and destiny and complete and utter lack of choice on his part-
He shook his head. Time to focus on the task at hand.
He made it onto the deck. So close…
"Going somewhere?"
Lloyd jumped about fifty feet in the air and turned to see Zane leaning against the opposite railing, waving in a friendly manner.
Lloyd thought a very loud curse word that he was sure the others thought he was too young to know and trudged over to the nindroid.
"I wasn't running away." He repeated the curse word in his head. Real smooth.
"Of course not," Zane agreed as Lloyd joined him at the railing. "I suspect you came out here to enjoy the moon as I did, yes?"
"Yeah." Lloyd muttered, crossing his arms on the railing and resting his chin on top of them.
They stood in silence for a moment.
"Lloyd…,"
Here comes the lecture…
"We are the Green Ninja's protectors. That means that we are here to support you, no matter what."
Lloyd looked up in surprise, and Zane placed both hands on either of his shoulders.
"If you want to talk, I am here for you."
Lloyd stared up at the nindroid in shock. Maybe…
No. It was Green Ninja stuff. No one else would understand, and despite what Zane said, Lloyd doubted he cared that much.
"I'm good," Lloyd replied, shrugging off the hands with a (forced) smile. "But, I'm kind of full up on moonlight, so I think I'll just head back to bed now."
Zane held his gaze for a moment longer, and Lloyd feared that the lecture was coming now… but Zane only nodded. "Very well. Goodnight, Lloyd."
"Night," Lloyd called over his shoulder as he headed back to the room.
Next time, he'd make it for sure.
The third time Lloyd tried to run away, he finally got it.
He'd made it. Out of the bedroom (where he made sure all four ninja were asleep, including Zane) off the Destiny's Bounty's deck and all the way to the bus station. As he entered the depot, he wondered if should have left a note or not. But, what could he have written? I can't do it? Don't follow me? Sorry?
He approached the window with the little bit of arcade money that he had forced himself not to spend-
"Going somewhere?"
Lloyd screamed, making the very few people in the bus station look over at him in concern.
Not believing his ears, he turned very slowly to see Zane- how, how, how!?- sitting on a bench and waving as if they had run into each other on a Saturday while running errands rather than at two o'clock in the morning while he was trying to run away.
Lloyd stomped over to the nindroid, groaning loudly. "Fine. You win."
Zane raised an eyebrow. "Win?"
"Yeah, you caught me," Lloyd admitted, crossing his arms. "You're going to drag me back now, aren't you?"
"Of course not," Zane replied. "If you truly desire to run away, I will not stop you."
Lloyd was nonplussed, to say the least. "Wh-Why not? What about me being the 'Green Ninja?' My destiny?"
Zane looked back at him solemnly. "I was forced to forget my identity, my family, and my entire past. While my father did it only out of love, it is a terrible feeling. I will never force you to do anything you do not want to do, Lloyd."
The kid studied the nindroid incredulously. He half-turned toward the pay station without taking his eyes off Zane, as if testing his reaction. Zane did nothing. He took a step away. Zane didn't react. He turned away fully…
Lloyd whipped around, glaring at Zane. "Okay, what's the big idea!?"
"Big idea?" Zane repeated, confused.
"Yeah! Why aren't you trying to stop me?"
"Do you want me to stop you?"
"No! I mean... I'm going! Right now!"
"Okay."
Lloyd turned away again.
Then turned back to Zane. "Stop that!"
"I'm sorry, but I did not think I was doing anything." Zane cocked his head. "You seem conflicted. Perhaps you would like to talk about it?" He patted the space beside him on the bench.
Lloyd scrutinized him suspiciously.
"And, if you would still like to leave after that, I promise I will not stop you."
Lloyd pursed his lips, eyeing the bench longingly. "You promise?"
"I will buy the ticket for you myself."
Knowing Zane never told a lie, Lloyd was sufficiently convinced. He let his backpack slide to the ground and hopped onto the seat beside Zane.
"So, why is it that you feel the need to run away?" Zane asked.
Lloyd bit his lip, clasping his hands together in his lap. "It's just… It's just… this whole 'Green Ninja' thing! You know, nobody ever asked me if I even wanted to be the Green Ninja, and suddenly I'm supposed to be doing all this training and being this hero or whatever and, you know… I'm still just a kid. It's just… not fair…," he trailed off uncertainly, squeezing his hands together so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"I see." Zane said. "But, is it the lack of choice that bothers you about being the Green Ninja?" He paused then continued. "Or is it the opponent?"
Lloyd squeezed his eyes shut, determined not to cry in public.
"Lloyd-"
"I know he's evil," Lloyd admitted, still keeping his eyes closed. "I know… I know somebody's got to stop him, but- but- he's my dad. I love him, so how can you guys ask me to- to…"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Zane took a deep breath before replying. "My father is dead. I loved him, and I did not have a chance to save him." He placed a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "You do. Even if you are saving him from himself."
Lloyd looked up at him incredulously, tears blurring his vision. "Even if it means killing him?"
"From what Master Wu and you have told us about him, I believe Garmadon was a good man and would have been a good man were it not for the Great Devourer's venom inside him. He loves you dearly, Lloyd, and I truly believe that he wants you to win the final battle." His grip on Lloyd's shoulder tightened. "Even if it means killing him."
Lloyd looked away as the tears overflowed, hurriedly wiping his sleeve over his face.
"But, you are not alone in this, Lloyd," Zane transitioned to wrapping his entire arm around Lloyd's shoulders. Lloyd didn't pull away. "We are here for you during that battle, every minute before it, and every minute after it."
Lloyd really started crying then.
"I am deeply sorry that so much pressure is being thrust upon you at such a young age," Zane continued as Lloyd scrubbed desperately at his face. "But, it is your destiny, and I do not think you can outrun it. And if you can, I think you will regret it." Zane pulled away from Lloyd. "But, I will not stop you."
Lloyd shook his head miserably and sobbed, "I just want to go home."
Zane stood up, offering Lloyd his hand. "Then, let's go home."
Lloyd was physically and emotionally exhausted by the time they made it back to the Destiny's Bounty, and Zane had to all but drag him into bed. He burrowed into the blankets, and he felt Zane place a hand on his head.
"I hope next time you will come to one of us before doing something drastic. We are your protectors, and we will protect you from everything that we can."
"Yeah," Lloyd mumbled into the pillow, now just mostly embarrassed. "Um, thanks, Zane. I… really appreciate everything you said."
Zane smiled. "Of course."
It wasn't until several minutes later, when Lloyd was just about to hop the brink between wakefulness and sleep, that he realized that he had referred to the Destiny's Bounty as home for the very first time. And, that maybe that was a good thing.
So, Lloyd was still being annoying in trying to run away so much, but Zane doesn't really act annoyed because Zane is Zane XD
I hope you guys liked it! Let me know what you think :D