~~ Ch40:Wed3, Tunnels and Generals ~~

Koko directed Meowthra towards the forest, to everyone's surprise, as they'd been expecting her to take them back to Lloyd's little bay for his shark mech. Wu seemed to have an idea what she was up to and had chosen to stay behind.

After what should have been three or even four hours, but was only about twenty minutes on Meowthra, Koko called down to Meowthra that they were there.

Before them was an absolutely enormous structure hidden under the trees - it actually had a green roof with trees and shrubs on top to help it blend in.

It looked completely abandoned, but when Koko leaped down and typed in a code on a keypad, huge hangar doors slowly pulled aside, with enough room for even Meowthra to enter easily.

Maybe the outside looked abandoned, but the inside was still sparkling clean.

"Garm must still have maintenance keep this place in order, even though he's decided not to use it," commented Koko, looking around.

"What is it?" asked Jay, looking around the huge, open space in awe. And they'd thought their Warehouse was big! This was easily four to six times the size!

"I would believe it to be a military base, but there are no mechs on site," answered Zane.

"This place was originally supposed to be an alternate base for Garmadon's armies to attack from, so that they aren't all coming from one direction," explained Koko.

"What happened?" asked Nya. "It's a good plan."

"He decided sneak attacks weren't cool. He'd much rather have a big, dramatic entrance, rising from the water with rock music blaring."

"So, Meowthra?" asked Cole, raising an eyebrow. Lloyd's mom obviously didn't bring them here just to show them this place and chat about it.

Koko winked and led them to a steep ramp at the opposite end of the building. She flicked a light switch at the bottom and...

They were underwater.

It was exquisite. (Though Kai looked somewhat sick.) The walls were made of thick, completely transparent glass, and lit by strips of lighting in the floor. Just enough to give it a majestic glow, but not too much that it would be overpowering or scare off the fish.

The glass tunnel was also perfectly clean and well maintained, even if it had never been used for its intended purpose of military invasion. It had ample space for Meowthra to walk through, and she happily watched the fish swimming on the other side of the glass.

"It leads straight to the volcano," explained Koko. "Meowthra won't be able to actually come inside, but she'll be able to be much closer than the beach."

A rumbling purr from the giant cat was all the approval they needed.

"Do you need to turn back?" Nya whispered to Kai, who was determinedly staring at the back of her shirt.

"No," insisted her brother. "Let's get Lloyd home." He glanced over at his unconscious friend, still slumped between Cole and Zane. Mostly on Zane.

Nya smiled slightly. "You're a good brother, Kai."

Kai blushed slightly and ducked his head again to try hide it. And to try not look around as Koko climbed back up and they began heading out... further... under the water... He shook his head to clear it. "Do you think he knows about this place?"

"Hmm. Do I think a sixteen year old knows about a super-awesome underwater tunnel connecting his home to the forest that must have existed nearly his entire life? Considering this sixteen year old didn't really have any social life before us... probably a safe bet. And I can't see Garmadon not letting him wander to his heart's content, know what I mean?"

Kai nodded. Made sense.

Koko had actually been wondering the same thing. And it saddened her that these two children that had just met her son a few weeks ago seemed to know him, and to some extent even Garmadon. better than she did.

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

"FSM!" gasped a lower-ranked general sitting in front of a large computer system. "I've discovered the Ninja's HQ! And their identities! AND the young master and our Lady are traitors!"

Everyone else in the room sighed.

"Smack him for me?" groaned General No.1, rubbing his forehead wearily. The general sitting next to the loudmouth did just so, then leaned over and deleted everything the guy had been working on, even wiping his browser history and emptying the recycle bin. He only left open the same window that was on his own computer screen, a camera view of an unconscious Lloyd, Lady Irondragon, and the Ninja, all riding Meowthra through the underwater tunnel.

The pitiful look the newbie gave him forced a reluctant explanation from No.1's mouth. "Just be glad Lord Garmadon isn't here, No.97. You would've been fired out of the volcano, promise to his lady or not."

"You guys all KNOW?" gasped the newly promoted to two digits general. "Wait, HE knows?!"

General No.12 scratched the back of her head. "Yeah, every year or so some idiot runs off to declare to him that they 'discovered' the Ninja's identities, families, homes, headquarters, etc. They always get seriously pounded and then fired extra far out of the volcano. Way past the village."

"And the one time that guy actually thought he could curry favor by mugging the then-Lightning Ninja's husband? Did we ever find out what happened to him?"

"Best not to know," No.1 grumbled. "It might give us nightmares."

"I think I'll have enough just from this last episode," chuckled No.26. "How many broken bones from us minions getting thrown around? Did we get a new record?"

"Seriously, guys! I don't get it! Why can't we just-"

"It's unsportsmanlike," called out one.

"It's boring," laughed another.

"It's cowardly," explained a third.

"Not cool."

"Ridiculous."

"Stupid."

"A waste of time and resources."

"No. Means. No."

The general sitting next to the newbie patted his shoulder. "He gives a different answer each time. But it all kind of boils down to one thing."

The newbie looked so confused.

"He doesn't want to win," clarified No.1.

No.97 gaped at his coworkers in disbelief. "But, but of course he does! He's always saying... but then... Why?!"

"It's the challenge," explained No.1, looking tired as he flicked through windows on his tablet. "The fight. He needs it."

"Needs it?"

Everyone groaned again.

"Seriously! We cover this in orientation!" complained No.12. "He's cursed. Poisoned. Whatever you want to call it. Boss isn't actually a bad guy, or at least not originally. Remember? All that about being the eldest son of the FSM and being bitten by a legendary snake? Fighting alongside Ninja of the past?"

No.97 blushed. "I thought that was all just propaganda. To, you know, make him seem extra cool?"

"No, no, the propaganda orientation is the second week. The one Garmadon teaches himself, filled with stuff like his favorite soda and how to respect Lloyd as our future evil overlord."

"All hail Lord Lloyd! From now on, he decrees everyone shall be nice to each other!" joked No.26.

Everyone laughed, the idea of an Evil Warlord Lloyd obviously hilarious. Even No.97 knew by now that that particular idea was ridiculous. Not that anyone would tell Garmadon so.

"But... he's the Green Ninja," No.97 gave one last protest.

The room went silent.

"Repeat after me," growled No.1 darkly. "Lloyd Garmadon is not the Green Ninja. That idea is ridiculous."

"But, the news, and, and he has powers now, and the Ninja ..."

He got smacked again.

"Do you want to die?" hissed another general. "We all know what we know, but what we 'know' is the same as what Lord Garmadon knows. 'That idea is ridiculous.' Say it."

"That idea is ridiculous?"

"Good minion," chuckled No.32, walking past his desk and patting his shark helmet condescendingly. "Maybe you won't get your spine snapped for your stupidity." She continued her way to No.1's desk and tossed him two envelopes, which he immediately slit open and read.

Then, to No.97's shock, he took out a lighter and burned them neatly inside a little stone bowl on his desk. He even crushed the ash with a pen to make sure every last piece was destroyed and stirred it with the ash that had already been there.

He had been wondering about the ashtray. There was an extremely strict no smoking policy in the volcano. Because, yeah, volcano.

"Now, back to business everyone. A-team, eyes on Lloyd and/or on every possible entrance and exit 24/7. I've emailed you all the new bodyguard shift schedule, through remember we are legally not permitted on school grounds and to keep a respectful distance, approximately 20 feet, when he's with his friends or mother."

A round of nods went around the room. No.1 was pleased to see their seriousness over this matter.

"B-team, continue searching for Pythor or any other Serpentine. You see a hint of scales, you send an alert to bag 'em. No taking revenge into your own hands. I know this is personal for many of us, but keep your head on straight."

The flashing eyes and challenging looks some were giving each other were enough for No.1 to know he'd have to keep an extra eye on these hotheads. They wanted to hurt that snake for daring to touch their Lloyd, and admittedly Lord Garmadon's only restriction had been 'alive'. Bets were surely already circulating.

"Both teams are to keep myself or No.32 posted on location updates. If B-team locates any Serpentine, report immediately to A-team so they can keep Lloyd away. Yes, BEFORE you go after your target, you report, on the off chance our young master is in the area. Now, back to work."

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

(Dream/Memory)

"La-Loyd! My boy! Back from your successful recruitment of the Serpentine!"

Back from getting the power to destroy him.

I stood in the elevator doorway, staring at Dad. Who had no idea what had happened.

Who has no idea what is going on.

My mind swirled with a million emotions and thoughts in the blink of an eye.

I can't tell him the Ninja saved me!

I can't tell him my friends are the Ninja!

I don't want to admit my attempt to be just like him had met with catastrophic failure. That I had been the one being played, not the other way around.

That things are so far out of my control and I can no longer hide.

I don't even know how to begin to express that I was exhausted and starving and still jumping at shadows. That if I closed my eyes for even a moment I was met with visions of sharp fangs and swirling eyes and metal bars.

Swirls of green and a snow covered island and a prophetic scroll I wanted nothing to do with.

That I had just spent a week with his worst enemies, the Ninja. And it had been the best week of my life. I'd never felt so safe as aboard the Destiny's Bounty.

The best weeks of my life. Sleepovers and laughter and stories. Playing with mechs and exchanging of secrets.

That the previous week I had been on the run for my life, and before that, imprisoned in a tiny cage barely large enough to fit in.

That the previous years had been miserable and lonely, a constant target on my back and words more hurtful than any physical bullying following me every day.

That the Ninja had saved me, then left me on a rooftop, telling me to call my dad and tell him everything. But how could I?

I can't tell him. I'm the Green Ninja. But I can't tell him.

Evil Warlords don't quit. But I never wanted to so much as see a Serpentine ever again. And I... I...

Ninja never quit. But can I really do this? Stop my dad?

I couldn't take any more. My seven year old self burst into tears, rushing forward and leaping at my stunned father. He quickly gathered me up protectively in his four arms, as I knew he would.

I miss him. I miss him so much. Even when he's right there, I miss him. Why can't he understand?

"I ... missed ... you!" I choked out between sobs, clinging tight and hiding my face in shame.

"Shh, shh," he hushed me comfortingly. "Didn't work out? Got homesick?"

I didn't reply. With my dad it's usually best to let him follow his own ideas. Plus, then I don't have to explain anything. I just burrowed in ever tighter.

It's so easy to just hide from the world. Let my dad handle everything.

"Pythor's a jerk!" I whined. "I don't want to lead Serpentine anymore!"

"That's okay, that's okay," he tried to comfort me. "Took me a while to settle on fish-men myself! It's perfectly okay for you to take your time finding your evil pathway!"

Though they're humans, regardless of the costumes, but whatever.

"What if I don't want to be evil?" I whimpered. Both terrified of his reply and at the same time desperate for reassurance that he'd love me anyway.

What if I'm not evil? Will you still love me?

"Now that's quitter talk! Evil warlords never quit! So the Serpentine didn't work out, big whoop, time to move on and try something different! Maybe the Skulkin? They haven't been doing anything since I abandoned them for being losers, but maybe they'd be a good starter army!"

"No, Dad, I mean I don't want-"

"Of course you do! Though not for a few years - you're maybe a little young still. But it's still wonderful that you gave it your evil best!"

"It was the worst mistake of my life," I whispered. "Please, Dad. Listen to me?"

He never listens to me. Not when it's important.

He gave me a bewildered look, and I could practically see the wall of incomprehension go up. He didn't understand. He would never understand.

He'll never understand.

Why bother?

Why do things have to change?

"I'm just happy to be home," I settled on, cuddling close. Not interrupting more as my dad continued to talk about my (his) grand evil plans for my future. The limitless options in opposition to good laid out before me.

I tuned him out and just focused on the comforting, protective warmth of my father. The tight hug that told me he'd missed me as much as I'd missed him, regardless of what was coming out of his mouth.

I was home. I was finally truly safe. I fell asleep, thinking it was fine. I'd just find the Ninja and talk to them instead.

Home. Safe. Dad. Let other people handle the fate of Ninjago. Can't I just have my dad?

Please?

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

I jolted awake. A quick glance at my bedside clock told me it was the middle of the night. My last memory was thinking I was about to faint at the Warehouse. Apparently I had, and had been pretty much unconscious since.

Actually, no, I seem to recall something about waking to a delicious smell and eating an insane amount, but I must have only been half-awake because it's pretty vague. I'm not even sure what it was. Though I think all my friends and both my parents were there? And something about my dad being all weepy about me getting a growth spurt soon as he refilled my plate time and again?

Anyway, I'd woken from a dream, sort of. A memory of my return home after the previous Ninja had saved me from the Serpentine, mixed up with all my feelings now about all this Green Ninja stuff. All sorts of feelings I normally try to repress and thoughts I don't want to think about.

My mind was still spinning and I felt vaguely sick. I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep like this, and my head was still foggy despite sleeping hours and hours.

I swung my feet down and my foot bumped something.

It, he?, groaned. Spiky hair, even asleep.

Kai?

Kai was sleeping in a sleeping bag next to my bed. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. I was just able to make out a few more figures.

They'd slept over? Aw, guys. If I wasn't so stressed from that dream I'd be blushing. I must have worried them.

Well, I certainly didn't want to wake them up. And I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep now. I had a bad feeling if I closed my eyes my brain would cycle right to some real nightmares. Probably about Pythor eating me or being forced to kill my dad or creepy stuff like that.

I shivered, despite my warm PJs.

And now those images are floating in my head and I really, really have to do something to distract myself.

I would normally visit the sharks, but I didn't want to wake them up. And I didn't feel up to actually working, so my workshop is out.

Maybe the glass tunnel? I hadn't been down there in a long time. I could take a pillow and just watch the lava flow and fish swim by. And the lights aren't too bright, so it should be nice and relaxing.

I slipped from bed, put on my shoes, and headed for the elevator. In less than a few minutes I was walking down the ramp to see... my kitty!

Meowthra purred when she saw me. Such a good girl! And such the perfect pick-me-up!

I hurried over to snuggle and pet her and tell her how she's so wonderful. She nuzzled me back, and somehow we ended up with me resting against the soft fur of her chest, her forepaws wrapped as a shield in front of me, both staring out at the fish and me telling her all about everything that's been going on, has gone on, that I'm dreading, what I'm hoping for.

She listened patiently, purring comfortingly in all the right places, nuzzling or licking when I was particularly upset, and eventually letting me float off into a much more pleasant sleep pillowed against her soft, soft fur.

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

Author's Notes: I'm sorry! I know I promised Echo's scene, but it was just too rushed to skip straight to it. Hopefully you guys liked this chapter enough to let it slide?

Credit to Sunny Lighter for the underwater tunnel connecting the volcano to the forest! I was sure to get permission before using it. It was just too sad picturing our poor kitty waiting on the beach! Also the usual thanks to her for being such an amazing beta-reader! She also gets a large amount of credit for the back and forth memory/dream sequence, since originally it was just a flashback, but she pointed out there's some pretty strong déjà vu between the two situations that would be very interesting to explore!

Also special thanks to Black' Victor Cachat for repeatedly asking me for another generals scene. I probably would not have come up with it without their push, and I'm quite happy with it, since I finally get to present my headcanon that the generals actually aren't that stupid - they just know not to argue with Garmadon on anything, especially anything Lloyd-related.