It takes two
Chapter 17
All these voices in my head get loud
PrincePacman47: Sir you are correct. Like, Misako, you're lucky you got brought back into the show. Please stop taking off for years on end then popping up outta nowhere. And then she comes back and goes "your only mistake is that you're trusting and good and see the best in people." I honestly don't understand why having such a awesome heart is a bad thing. I think what misako was trying to say was maybe that Lloyd did nothing wrong, and that he wasn't responsible for what Liv chose to do. Liv is definitely scared of losing people she cares about. No matter how evil they may be. A lot of things would've never happened if Liv never left the underworld. And you better believe that Lloyd will be thinking the same thing. Liv is - sadly - secretive by nature. And because of all these secrets, Lloyd wonders what else she's kept hidden. And if he really knows his family...
Alone.
Tired.
Weird.
All words Liv would use to describe her feelings right now. Harumi had been taken for questioning more than an hour ago. And she hadn't returned. Alone. Liv had used more of her elemental powers than she had her whole life. Struggling to hold the link between the masks and the departed realm. Tired. Ever since the resurrection - which had completely failed - Liv's felt...uncomfortable. She would've just chalked it up to her worry about facing her mother and the ninja, but it's whenever she thinks. Weird.
Liv has never really been one to be afraid of being alone. She spent most of her life exploring ninjago alone. She's grown used to it. Liv was never afraid of dark, empty village streets at night, or walking through a forest alone. She was never afraid of the dark. And despite her dark powers, she's never been one to have a dark mind.
Now, every shadow on the wall makes her want to hide - but not from the shadows, In the shadows. Now every thought that runs through her head is dark and destructive. Now the thrum of her powers buzzs beneath her finger tips. Humming wildly, and consistently. She now wishes that the cops had put a vengestone cuff on her. They don't know who I am.
Her mind is telling her to run run run! But her legs won't move.
And then everything is dark. She's alone, and afraid. Liv knows that the room she's in is perfectly lit, but for some reason, the light can't reach her. Liv's drowning in the shadows, and now it's too much. It's too much darkness, too much destruction.
But she wants more.
Liv opens her eyes upon realizing that the reason she was surrounded in darkness was because she had them closed. But when she opens her eyes, she's still locked in an ever lasting night. Liv walks forwards into the void, looking around hesitantly.
"Hello?" Liv calls into the darkness, still walking.
Silence.
Liv honestly didn't know what she'd expected. No one is with her. She's-
'Hello.'
Liv freezes, looking frantically in every direction. She's going crazy now. She's hearing voices in her head. Oh, they're going to think she's insane. No one will listen. Not the police, not the ninja, not her mother, not her brother-
'Liv Garmadon.' Came the voice. Liv tensed, shaking her head.
"W-Who are you?" Liv whispers.
'Someone you know quite well.'
Liv growls, anger bubbling in her chest. "That's not an answer."
'Ah, isn't it? Have you already forgotten?'
Liv began to run through the darkness. Trying to find the way out. She needs to leave. She can't stay alone in this room any longer. "I don't know who you are." Liv says, running faster through the void.
'Oh but you do. Think!' Shouts the voice. Liv stumbles, falling to her knees. The voice is all around her, the darkness is all around her. Closing in and suffocating her. She's numbly aware of the faint glow around her fists.
"Leave me alone!" Liv screams, lashing out with dark energy. Shouts of alarm echo faintly in the back of her mind, but it was soon blocked out by the voice.
'Tsk, tsk… It's so sad how quickly people forget things nowadays.' The voice sighs. From the corner of her eye, Liv see's the shadows around her shift.
'Isn't it, daughter?' The voice says, the shadows around Liv shifted again, revealing a tall, four armed man with pitch black skin and lava red eyes. Liv's brain completely stops. Her eyes glassy and her hand going to cover her mouth.
"Dad?" She says, the word coming out in a choked, watery whisper.
'Ah, so you do remember me.' Garmadon says, flashing Liv a sharp-toothed grin. Liv shot to her feet, stumbling into her father's surprised arms.
"How are you here? The ceremony failed - how are you in my head? Me and Harumi-" Liv began, her words rushed. Garmadon held out a hand, shushing the blond girl.
'How I'm here doesn't matter. The girl. Harumi. Where is she?' Garmadon says, his tone authoritative. Liv sniffles a bit, wiping at her eyes.
"The commissioner took her for questioning. So she should be in-"
'The interrogation room.' Garmadon finishes, Liv nods.
"That's on the first floor. We're on the third. There's a staircase we could take to get to the first and get her." Liv says, a determined smirk on her face. "Then we bust outta here."
Garmadon nods, looking at Liv with a stern face. Liv tries not to flinch under his stare. Forgetting how unnerving it can be. 'I'm in your mind, daughter.' Garmadon says. Liv frowns.
"Yeah, I figured." Liv says, rolling her eyes fondly.
'If you wish to escape, then you must let me take control.'
"What?" Liv says, backing up.
'You must let me take control of your body.' Garmadon says, reaching for Liv. She dodges the hand, holding her head.
"No, no you don't. You can tell me how to get out. Let me show you I can do this." Liv argues, stepping up to her father. Garmadon shakes his head.
'You are weak!' Garmadon yells. Liv shrinks back. 'You are not able to do what you must to gain freedom.'
"I'm not weak!" Liv says. "And I certainly don't need you of all people telling me that I am. Remember, dad, you are in my mind. If I don't get us out, then you can take control." Garmadon is silent for a beat, going over his options.
'Alright then, daughter.'
In a flash of light, Liv finds herself back in the room. But, she was no longer alone. A dozen police officers stood around her, tasers held out in warning. Liv took a slow, deep breath. Stepping forwards.
"Don't move!" One of the officers shouted. Liv smirked, eyes flashing.
'Go now.' Dark energy curls around Liv's fingers, the officers immediately fire they're tasers at her. Liv forms a shield around herself, the officers eyes widen with panic as Liv lashes out with tendrils of dark energy. A smile inches onto her face, Liv's never felt so alive! So free with herself.
She makes it all the way to the first floor in minutes. Destroying anyone who gets in her way.
Harumi was quiet. As she always should be.
The commissioner and another police officer waited just behind the window that mimics a mirror right across from the imprisoned princess. The officers weren't getting a peep outta her. Harumi frowned, glaring straight into the small lamp in front of her.
Her mind was replaying the resurrection over and over in her mind. Forcing her to watch again and again as her life shattered. She'd been so close to everything she'd ever wanted in life. And now the floor's been ripped from underneath her. Leaving her empty, alone, and angry.
Muffled thuds and shouts could be heard from outside the interrogation room Harumi was in. At first she paid it no mind, going back to her thoughts. The screams got louder, things crashed to the floor. Harumi stood up, eyes glued to the door.
The commissioner burst through the door, hitting the back wall with a sickening crack. The commissioner groaned, shoulders slumped. In came a blond girl with jade green eyes, a goofy smirk on her lips. Violet sparks danced around her hands.
"Liv." Harumi breaths. The blond smiled, but then her eyes rolled, and her head dropped. Harumi ran forward in slight panic. Liv's head shot up, her eyes a radiant red.
"Ah, so you're the girl who started all this." Liv says. But the voice didn't sound like Liv. It sounded weird, echoey, almost. Realization dawned on the white haired princess as she stepped closer.
"Lord Garmadon…?" Harumi asks in astonishment. Liv nods her head, smirking. "You're free."
Liv's eyes closed forcefully, when they opened, they were back to Livs jade green. She shook her head, frowning.
"Stop it, you'll get a turn." Liv chides. Harumi looks on in confusion. "C'mon, Harumi."
Harumi holds out her cuffed hands, Liv wastes no time blasting the cuffs off. The two girls sprint through the police station - which was thoroughly trashed. Police officers groaned from where they lay on the ground, desks and tables were flipped over, what was once on them strown about the station.
They ran down the streets of Ninjago city and turned into a dark alley, breathing heavily and sweating. Ambulances have started to pour into the police station, and news vans showed up not too long after.
Harumi looks to Liv, her face thoughtful. "So." Harumi starts. "He's in your head. Your father."
Liv nods, looking at the ground. "Do you know why? How he's in my head?"
Harumi taps her chin, thinking. "The link." She finally says. "Lord Garmadon was already here. The link you made between the masks and the departed realm, that's how he's here. But the resurrection was stopped before Lord Garmadon could take physical form. But his mind made it out."
"It's time for training and we're getting started. It's on you know, and we wanna see you whip and shout it. We rock! You roll!" Sang the ninja, dancing around on the small karaoke stage in Darreth's bar, Laffy's. How all five of them fit on the stage is a mystery in and of itself.
"They say, go slow. And everything just stands so still. We say go, go. We're ready for the fight, we know the drill."
Lloyd listens half heartedly to the voices of his friends. How ever off-key they may be. They still sound so happy. Blissfully unaware of the raging thoughts in Lloyd's mind. He doesn't want to be a burden, or anything. These are his problems, not his mothers, not Pixals, not his friends, His.
(Even though these problems could've been solved if they'd been honest with him).
But then again, what's the point, right? Why tell Lloyd Garmadon, the freaking prophesied Green Ninja, leader of the team, anything! There's no need for him to know that he might have a sister. No need for him to know about her troubled past that could lead to future problems.
These are the people he trusts his life with. The people he would give his life for. The people he loves more than anything else in all sixteen realms.
And they lied to him.
Now look what's happened.
His sister's incarcerated, his heart is broken, his trust shattered, and he's angry! Because he had the right to know about all of this years ago! He'd - sadly - expected it from his mother. He'd expected it from his father. He'd expected it from his uncle, too. Because even though Lloyd loves them, he truly does, he expected it.
But he didn't expect it from his brother, from his sister. He didn't expect Jay and Zane and Cole to so bluntly tell him that no one else was in the temple with them. That he'd probably been imagining it. He wants all the answers. He wants this stream of lies and secrecy to end.
Lloyd huffed, closing his eyes tightly.
A part of him knows that Liv still cares for him. In her own...secretive way. Lloyd sighed, pushing his feelings back down. Deep down. Very deep down.
"They're gonna see us whip into it! Just jump up, kick back, whip around and spin!" The ninja continued to sing, they jumped from the stage, dancing and jumping to the beat of the song. Misako had come to stand next to Lloyd, and he just turned away. He couldn't promise that he'd be able to talk without it ending in a choked, crying mess. Because he feels a really strong urge to scream at somebody.
"She still cares for you. You know that, right?" Misako says, gently.
Lloyd crosses his arms. "What does it matter?"
"It mattered to you."
Lloyd bit his lip, trying to stop the quell of emotion. They just beat the bad guys, and it didn't even take that long. Why is he so upset? Why does it feel like his insides are on fire? Why does he feel so hollowed out? So overwhelmed with emotions that should be locked up so tight that Lloyd's forgotten all about them?
"Bruises go away, bones break and heal. But when your familys broken… Lloyd, you can't let this destroy you. This is a new chapter in all of our lives. And for better or for worse, some chapters may end with things we don't like." Misako's voice broke, and she dabbed at her eyes. "I never wanted this to happen, Lloyd. I wanted our family to be together and I wanted us to be happy. I am so sorry."
Lloyd took a breath. "You know, mom? As much as you wanted us to be one big happy family, you left, too. You still kept secrets that I should've known. And you lied for years! You all lied to me for years! My own sister was right under my nose and I had no idea! This all could've been avoided if you'd been honest with me! If she'd been honest with me." Lloyd exhales, he's vaguely aware that the cheerful voices of his friends have become hushed, the music is soft, and all the eyes are on him. But he couldn't bring himself to care. He'd opened the can, now he has to close it.
"A leader cannot lead if he doesn't know his team. And right now…" Lloyd says, looking at his 'team.' "I don't know my team." Lloyd turns on his heel, striding towards the stairs and out the bar. He vaguely hears the ninja calling after him, but he keeps walking.
Not once looking back.
"Sons of Garmadon!" Harumi yells, having taken control of Kryptarium prison. She's sure that the ninja have heard about her escape from custody, and will no doubt show up to stop her, guns blazing and ready for round two.
But she's got an ace up her sleeve, because right now, the Sons of Garmadon have the element of surprise. A card they didn't expect her to play. And Harumi guesses that having her master's mind stuck in one of her best friends will have to do. Harumi has no doubt that her plans will still work, that she can still take her revenge. Because what Liv wouldn't have agreed to before, she might agree to now.
"No longer shall I be the Quiet One! No longer shall I be silent, and no longer shall you! For our father has returned!" Harumi says, bowing as Liv steps out from the shadows. Her eyes a radiant scarlet, and her black ninja Gi giving her the effect of Garmadons pitch black skin.
The bikers cheered, shouting Garmadons name. Liv's lips twisted into a smirk as she lit one of her fists aflame with dark energy. The thugs cheered even louder at the sight. Harumi took Liv's hand, holding it high in the air.
"Behold! Our new Mistress!"
Lloyd dangled his legs over the edge of the skytram. Alone at last with his thoughts. The sun was starting to set, casting the city into that beautiful golden hour. Nothing seems so golden right now, though. Lloyd thinks, somewhat bitterly.
He doesn't regret snapping at his mom. If anything, he feels very proud of himself. With all these secrets and lies, Lloyd doesn't even think he knows his family at all. How's he supposed to know what's a lie and what isn't?
Lloyd sighs as he hears soft feet landing on the skytram. He turns his head, expecting to see Kai or Nya. He's not disappointed, though. As Jay sits down next to him.
"Hey, we kinda need you to come back. We've got a problem." Jay says, laughing a bit.
"When do we not have a problem?" Lloyd scoffs. Jay laughs again.
"Yeah. But - this is a, uh, a bigger problem."
Lloyd turns a quizzical eye on him. "What do you mean?"
Twenty minutes later finds Lloyd, albeit reluctantly, sitting in the bridge as the ninja rattle off half thought up ideas on how to deal with their current predicament. He really should've excepted Liv to break out. After all, the police didn't know she was an elemental master. They probably didn't give her vengestone cuffs.
But they're was something about his twin that just put him on edge. Like she isn't really herself… Lloyd shoves the feelings back down. After all, he doesn't know what Liv's true self is. All Lloyd knows is that he has to stop her, again.
"We have to go to Kryptarium prison." Lloyd says, standing up. His team shoots him glances, but Lloyd ignores them.
"Okay. We take on Liv, Harumi, and they're entire gang, again! While they're fortified in an impenetrable bunker." Jay says, pacing the deck and throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Not the best idea. Anyone have anything else?"
Everyone averted their eyes. Because apparently the cloudless sky and cracked floorboards were more interesting. "I have to face her." Lloyd says, determination in every word. "She saved me, now I have to save her."
Kai steps forwards, arms crossed and a frown on his face. "I dunno, Lloyd. Sounds like a bad idea."
"And Kai knows bad ideas." Cole says, gesturing towards the fire ninja. "He's full of 'em."
"I agree." Zane says, steamrolling past Cole's statement and Kai's glaring. "It's too dangerous. And that is probably exactly what they want."
"You don't know that!" Lloyd shouts, turning away. "I have to try. At least to get answers."
"I believe in this instance, your past success in turning your father and your quest for the truth may be clouding your judgement, Lloyd." Zane says. Lloyd turns to glare at him.
"Maybe I wouldn't feel like confronting my sister for answers if you would stop keeping secrets from me!" Lloyd says, everyone looks away once more. Everyone but Jay.
"Look, Lloyd! We didn't want to keep secrets from you. But we made a promise that we had to keep! It wasn't our place to tell you! You're just gonna have to trust us on this." Jay says, waving his arms around. "We gotta stay as far away from that place." He points in the direction of Kryptarium. "As possible."
Lloyd scowls. "How am I supposed to trust you when I don't even know you?"
'On your left!' Garmadon shouts in Liv's mind. She quickly turns to her left, kicking another thug to the floor. 'This would be a lot easier if you let me take control.'
Liv huffs, sending another ball of dark energy at a group of gangsters. "I'll think about it."
Garmadon sighs, but leaves his daughter alone. Liv hurls another orb of dark energy, blasting bikers across the prison's basketball court. She doesn't know when, exactly, she became more comfortable using her powers, and she honestly doesn't care. Every shadow she feels drawn too, every orb thrown from her hand feels stronger, every thug that crumples to the ground filling her with glee, and lastly, everything destroyed by her hand feels natural.
"Good." Harumi purrs. "But there's still so much more to learn. Your family kept the truth from you. They were afraid of what you'd become." Harumi says, circling Liv. The elemental knows that her friend is addressing her father through her, but Liv couldn't help but feel like Harumi was talking directly to her. Like the words coming from her lips were always meant for her.
"The blood of both Oni and Dragon flows through you. You have the power to create, and destroy." Harumi continues, gesturing with her gloved hands.
"Tell me...how." Liv says.
Harumi smirks. "As Wu had previously taught the ninja, you too can unlock your true potential, a dark potential." Liv nods, the desire to discover her true potential enticing. "But to achieve it, you must overcome the one obsacle that has always stood in your way. The one person that has always held you back."
"My...son." Garmadon says through Liv's lips.
Harumi turns around, a smile on her face. "Yes. Lloyd."
Liv's fist clenches against her will, as Garmadon says. "Then...bring him to me."
"I won't have to." Harumi says, softly. "He will come."
Harumi walks away, her hair swinging behind her. Liv shakes her head. "Don't do that." She scolds the voice in her head. 'This training is for me to unlock my true potential. It was necessary for me to take control.' Her father says. Liv laughs a little, following after Harumi.
"Hey, wait up!" Liv calls. Harumi turns to Liv with a soft smile. "I need to ask you something, about unlocking my… er, my father's true potential."
Harumi tenses, but keeps walking. Liv walks with her. "What do you want to know?" Harumi says.
"What did you mean by…'overcome the one person that's stood in his way?'" Liv asks. "What's gonna happen to Lloyd?"
'What needs to be done.' Her father says.
"Shut it." She whispers to her father. Harumi just sighs.
"What I mean by 'overcome' is...battle." Harumi sighs. "Your father needs to defeat Lloyd in battle to unlock his true potential." Liv shakes her head, gaping.
"'Defeat him in battle?' Harumi! What's gonna happen to my brother?!" Liv yells, she can vaguely hear her father in her head, muttering things Liv doesn't hear. Harumi's placing a hand on her shoulder, but it's like trying to sugar coat death.
"Nothing's going to happen to Lloyd!" Harumi shouts, exasperation in her voice. "He just needs to lose to your father in battle."
'And you'll have to let me take control to do that. Unless you want to defeat your brother yourself...and unlock your own true potential.' Garmadon says. Liv goes silent, thinking.
"Lloyd is not what holds me back." Liv counters, Garmadon scoffs in sync with Harumi.
"You sure about that?" Harumi says, at the same time Garmadon says 'You're more naïve than I thought.'
"Listen Liv, how long have you spent being fearful of what Lloyd would think of you? How many things have you given up for him? How many times have you put yourself on hold for him? You might be too scared to admit it, but I'm not. He's holding you back from being who you are!" Harumi says, grabbing Liv's shoulders.
"Now it's time to focus on yourself. Lloyd Garmadon has held you back, and now it's time to break the chain." Harumi whispers. Liv looks up at her, jade eyes narrowed.
'We must defeat Lloyd, either you do it, or I will.'
Liv lets out a long, exasperated sigh. "Okay. But my father can do it, the same thing holds both of us back, so if my father defeats Lloyd, then it'll unlock both of our true potentials." Liv says, Harumi nods. Liv turns to walk away.
"Oh, and one more thing." The jade eyed girl says. "Let's find a way to get my father his own body."
Lloyd knows what he's doing.
Sort of.
Maybe?
Not really.
Because locking all of his friends in the bunk room so he could go and confront his sister alone...probably is impulsive and stupid. And definitely not something the Green Ninja should do.
Then again, Lloyd used to think that family doesn't lie to your face for years.
So after making sure the navigation was locked well enough that Zane would have a hard time unlocking it, he turns towards the weapons cabinet. Expertly ignoring his friends over the radio and picking out his sword.
Lloyd fingers the blade, thoughts racing. With a huff, Lloyd shoves the sword back into the weapons cabinet. This is going to be a fair fight. To show Liv that the light is, and forever will be, bright enough to defeat the darkness.
Sending one last look at the bounty, Lloyd pulls up his mask and leaps over the side. Forming his elemental dragon and flying towards Kryptarium.
'You have something you want to tell me. What is it?'
Liv gives a sort of huffing laugh, turning over on the small prison cot. "It's - it's nothing." She says to her father. Liv can feel Garmadon's disbelief.
'It is not nothing. I am in your mind. I can feel your thoughts just as you feel mine. What do you want to ask me?' Garmadon says. Liv sighs, sitting up and swinging her feet over the side of the cot.
"If you...really are the dad I remember, then you should remember what you did. What you made me do." Liv says, twirling a ribbon of dark energy in her fingers. It wasn't a pleasant day. When she'd destroyed that village. But it was such a point in her life. Something that changed her forever, something that changed the lives of the people all around her forever.
'If you are referring to the day...that I was supposed to take you to the catacombs in the UnderWorld… Then yes, I do remember.'
"But you didn't." Liv says, anger bubbling in her chest. "You took me to destroy a village."
Her father was silent in her mind. 'Ah, so that's what's been on your mind.' Garmadon muses. 'That is why you wanted to bring me back.'
"I brought you back to say i'm sorry." Liv says, a bit hastily. "I brought you back to say that I'm sorry. For being so angry about the past when I should've let it go. And then you died. And I never got to say goodbye because I was so stuck in the past. I - I'm sorry, dad." Liv says, tears welling in her eyes. She chuckles wetly, wiping her eyes.
"You probably think this is stupid." She sighs.
'Anger is not always a bad thing.' Her father says. 'Anger fuels us to be better, be stronger. More ambitious. I...I accept...your apology. And I am - also sorry. For putting you through that, daughter.'
Liv beams, feeling like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders as she smiles at the ceiling. All her life she's been waiting to hear those words. And all her waiting has finally paid off. And Lloyd was so against this. Maybe if he could just talk to their father, he would see that this isn't a bad thing. That this was a blessing. Liv has to thank Harumi. For bringing her father back to her.
At that moment, Harumi runs in, wiping windswept hair from her face. Liv immediately stands, her face questioning. "What's going on?" She says.
Harumi takes a breath, composing herself. "He's here." Is all she says.
Liv nods, her face determined. "Let me talk to him, first." Liv says. "If I can't help him see reason, then my father can take over."
HAHA. That's that. Things are starting to get intense. The resurrection may have failed in giving Garmadon physical form, but it didn't stop his mind from escaping the departed realm. When Liv reached out into the departed realm in chapter 16, Garmadon linked onto her powers. And thus, he now lives in Liv's mind. Garmadon's powers come from Liv. But is what holds Garmadon back what holds back Liv?
Now, Garmadon will not be the emotionless demon he is in the show. He cares for his daughter to a certain extent, and later, Harumi. He sees those two as his children. But not Lloyd.
Next time: It's a battle between the darkness, and the light. As two twins fight to see which side is stronger...
