{7:28 AM}
Sleeping in that morning happened to be a treat none of the recruits took for granted. With Garmadon and his two elites staying at the mayor's house, the recruits could doze until nearly seven thirty.
Finally though, they dragged themselves out of bed and got changed into their gear. Kai and Nya went to get some breakfast from the market with some money they'd found stuffed in their bags. Everyone had been given enough to buy a few meals, but Lloyd decided to hold off on spending it.
He found a small hill on the border of the village and sat down. It gave a clear over view of the small community, a birds eye view in case any danger should come.
As nice as being out of the pit was, Lloyd knew they were there for a reason... no matter how much it sucked.
As he sat, two voices drifted up from somewhere to the left.
"What's our game plan, Master Garmadon?"
It was Skylor.
"We gather supplies and then take the woods from the bandits."
"Wouldn't it be wiser to wait for their attack? We could easily fortify the valley. The bandits likely know their own lands better than we do."
"No." Garmadon stiffly replied. "I've been meaning to wrest that land away from them for a while now."
"Very well."
"Where's Zane?" Lloyd demanded. It had taken half an hour to track Kai and Nya down in the market, and time was slipping away.
"Ah-" Kai frowned. "I think I saw him at the library."
"Got it. Find Jay and Cole and then meet me at the inn." Lloyd was off without giving Kai or Nya a chance to respond, ducking through the crowds.
"Okay. So what are we doing here?" Cole asked, crossing his arms slightly. He was surprised honestly. Lloyd was talking to them as if he hadn't just been shunned over something stupid.
He was talking to all of them like old buddies old pals, and while Cole didn't mind; he expected Lloyd to still be... angry. He had a right to be after all.
Lloyd, unaware of Cole's thoughts, simply continued on. "We're going to engage the bandits on their own soil. Not sure when, but soon."
"Oh great!" Jay groaned. "We can barely fire straight!"
"That's why we're going to the outskirts of town. I'm going to teach you the art of spinjitzu."
"But Lloyd, we only have days." Kai pointed out. "If that!"
"I know. You'll learn as much as you can, and hope it's enough."
"But we haven't unlocked our elemental abilities yet." Nya pointed out. Her gaze briefly shifted to Cole. "Well... most of us."
"Neither have I." Lloyd pointed out. "Spinjitzu can enhance your powers, but doesn't need them."
"Well at the very least... we can give it a shot." Cole shrugged. "We're ready."
"Their markers indicate that they're all on the outskirts."
"Making a run for it, you think?" Ronin asked, looking over Skylor's shoulder at the cluster of red blips on her hand-held.
"I dunno. We might want to check out."
"They're..."
"Training." Skylor watched the recruits below. Lloyd was demonstrating a kata to them. She recognized it as the base of spinjitzu, but without the machinery. Usually an obstical course taught this kata; but Lloyd had it down so well, he could make do without.
His moves were practiced and sharp, years of experience and diligence all channeled into each specific strike.
He watched the others drill the kata, correcting them when they were wrong.
"Gotta hand it to the kid, he's pretty gifted."
"No kidding." Skylor hummed.
"What's going on here?" A deep voice boomed from behind. Skylor jumped a bit, turning to see Garmadon directly behind her.
"Lloyd's teaching them spinjitzu."
"Oh really?"
"Eh... we have an audience." Kai grunted, glancing over his shoulder to Garmadon on the hill.
"Don't worry about it." Lloyd replied simply, readjusting Kai's arm. "Normally I'd have an obstical course, but since I don't... we're gonna have to try something else."
"And that would he?" Jay asked worriedly.
"I'm gonna attack you while you're doing the kata. Do it right, and you won't get hit... do it wrong, well... I won't punch as hard as my father."
"Oh I feel so much better already." Cole deadpanned.
By the end of the day, none of them had pulled it off correctly, and all of them were sore. Thankfully Lloyd had kept his word, and none of them even had bruises... but that didn't mean they weren't going to pay for the abuse of training later.
"I'm never gonna get that down." Kai huffed quietly.
"Sure you will." Lloyd replied, warming his hands by the fire.
"Maybe... I'm just not very... quick."
"Being quick is a choice." Lloyd pointed out. "You just need motivation I suppose."
"You say that like-"
The doors to the inn slammed open as a young woman barelled inside.
"Margie!" The innkeeper, John, called. In seconds, he was around the counter and pulling her close. All she could do was lay her haid against his shoulder and sob brokenly.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. Lloyd's hearing allowed him to pick it up though. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
By now everyone residing within the inn walls were in the hearth room, including the recruits.
"I-I messed up." She shuddered. "He's going to have my head."
"Who, Margie? Who?"
John pushed Margie to arms length and cupped her cheek to force her gaze up to his. "What did you do?"
"She stole from me!"
The voice sent chills down the spines of just about everyone; the civilians shrank back in horror as Garmadon burst in through the front door.
Lloyd bit the inside of his cheek as his 'father' strode forward and grabbed Margie by the arm. Skylor and Ronin had followed Garmadon from behind, knowing what was about to go down. They quickly moved over to where the recruits were standing.
"And she'll pay for it!" Garmadon growled. "With her life."
"It was misunderstanding, Lord Garmadon! Please!" Margie cried.
Lloyd made a move to intervene, but Ronin caught one arm and Skylor caught the other.
"Don't." Skylor whispered.
"Margie!" John called as Garmadon dragged her to the middle of the room and forced her to her knees. Lloyd tried to get free of the grips holding him, but the elites didn't budge.
"Please... Please.." Margie begged, but Garmadon leveled his pistol and fired.
The sound rang out through the small inn, leaving everyone frozen in place. Garmadon spun on his heels and stalked out.
"Let go of me!" Lloyd snapped, wrenching his arms free. Ronin and Skylor looked saddened, but also resolute. Lloyd hated how they blindly followed Garmadon, despite the cruel evils he wrought upon the innocent.
He needed air... lots of it, growling at Sky and Ronin as he walked away.
When Lloyd didn't immediately return, the ninja in training gave him about ten minutes... then followed. They were horrified by what had judt unfolded, but the shock hadn't truly set in yet. As they walked to find Lloyd, Nya burst into tears.
"He just... just..."
"I know." Kai muttered with every ounce of hate he could muster. Gently, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. Jay and Cole were silently trapped in their own minds.
Zane, the only one handling it half way decently, suspected that Lloyd might have returned to the outskirts of the village where they had trained all day; and it was a correct assumption.
Lloyd was practicing his kata, so furiously that they could hear the wind snapping with every move.
"Lloyd." Nya called, sniffling slightly. Lloyd didn't immedietly respond, and Nya called louder. "Lloyd!"
"What?" Lloyd paused mid move and turned to face them, his eyes laden with unbridled anger... and sadness.
He stopped to take a deep breath, taking in their shell shocked faces.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I'm not mad at you."
"We know." Zane assurred. "The only person we can be mad at is your father."
"And me." Lloyd muttered, looking away.
"Why would we be mad at you?" Jay asked. "I mean, duh, we literally got. over this yesterday!"
"No. I'm mad at me." Lloyd reiterated. "All these years I've spent trying to believe I'm not the green ninja. The green ninja is responsible to bring peace to Ninjago. I didn't want that! But maybe... if I had just... accepted it sooner, none of this would have happened." Lloyd looked away, anger spilling out with every word he spoke.
"Lloyd-"
"No, Kai, let me finish. I was selfish. I believed that I could get off easy, leave someone else to deal with my father for me. But how many lives could've been saved if I had just acknowledged the truth? How many? You all might never have... have.. never have gone through all this! That woman wouldn't be dead!"
"Lloyd-" Zane took a step back.
"I don't want to be the green ninja! But I know I have to be! I am the green ninja... with whatever responsibility that implies!"
"Lloyd!"
"What?"
Jay laughed nervously as the others stared on in shock.
"You're glowing.
I'm just gonna leave it there. This doesn't need an author's note. Now onto shout outs.
Firewriter316: Yeah, Sky's starting to come around I think.
Northern Goshawk: Lloyd definitely got through to them. I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Oh and Thanks for telling me what FSM is. It makes a lot of sense now.
Bookkeeper2004: Ah thank you. Much appreciated.