Nya and Kai were exhausted. They'd spent hours on their parents' mechs, and then Master Wu had gone through on his requirement of two hours spinjitzu training.

Spinjitzu was hard! Their parents had actually laughed at them when they finally got home, completely wiped out though they hadn't done much more than kicks and punches in super slow motion. Being able to actually control their elements seemed impossibly far into the future.

And Master Wu said they had to read his book. Which was like super old and super boring, filled with all sorts of metaphors and wise sayings that went straight over their heads.

Jay whispered that he and Cole just relied on Zane's memory drive for any questions on the book. Kai and Nya resigned themselves to the same thing.

So, about four hours playing mechs, two hours spinjitzu training, than another two hours trying to understand at least some of Master Wu's book. Oh, and they'd had homework too. In the end the twins had gotten less than four hours sleep each.

Now, here they were, 8am, watching Lloyd wave and climb down from his dad's shark mech. And all they could do was blink at the strangely costumed lady climbing down behind him. She had cool hair, a blue cape, and was loudly sucking at her boba tea.

"Um, hey guys," began Lloyd, all his usual awkwardness even worse this morning. "This is General Number 16 - I don't know her actual name."

"General Number 16 is fine, young Master Lloyd," said the woman between sips. She sucked up a few boba and munched away. "Newly promoted after the last failed attempt to conquer Ninjago City. I'll be General Number 1 in no time!"

"And then you'll be first in line to be shot out of the volcano?" asked Lloyd sarcastically. He never understood why his dad's generals were so eager to get promoted. You think they'd be more wary of the pattern at this point.

"But I'll be General Number 1, so it will be worth it." Sssssslurrrrrrp.

"Yeah, moving on. It's just for today. My dad's got this crazy idea that my mom's gonna, like, try kidnap me to fulfill a prophecy or something crazy like that."

"Crazy," agreed Nya sleepily. Not entirely sure this wasn't a weird dream.

"Totally crazy," echoed Kai, yawning.

"Well, you never know," began General Number 16, starting to walk off toward the city and enjoying her boba.

A black clothed figure that was obviously Master Wu - his beard was showing and he still wore the hat - swooped in, snatched Lloyd, and swooped away. Kai and Nya gaped, then charged after them.

General Number 16 continued on her merry way.

Kai and Nya belted after Master Wu, managing to yank on their hoods and gi as they ran. When it became obvious that Wu was heading to the Ninja warehouse, Kai sent a frantic group text to Zane, Cole, and Jay, saying that their Master has just gone psycho and kidnapped Lloyd and to come help before Garmadon found out.

~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~

I hate Ninja. One second I'm walking along. The next I'm waking in a very awkward half-seated half-slumped position and my head hurts.

"Welcome, nephew," announced a sage, highly accented voice.

"Dad was actually right?" I grumbled, rubbing my aching head. "What did you do to me?"

"Ancient Secret Ninja Art."

I found a large bump on the back of my head.

"I'm pretty sure you just walloped me over the head. That's like, super dangerous. I probably have a concussion."

"Not dangerous, nephew. Secret art."

I'm beginning to understand why my dad hates his brother so much.

"And 'I' am gonna be late to school," I complained, trying to climb upright. Only to realize I was in a cage made of bamboo. In some sort of warehouse. Were those the Ninja's mechs?

"Oh, come on! I just got through explaining to my dad that good guys don't kidnap people!"

There was a crash and suddenly five ninjas charged into the room. I thought there were only three now? I guess Fire and Water came back? But hadn't they - not now. Have to pay attention and find a way out of this mess.

"Master Wu! What the hell?!"

"Such actions are morally dubious and ethically unsound!"

"Let the kid out! Now!"

"What on Ninjago is going on?!"

"Explain yourself, Master!"

All of the Ninja were talking at the same time, and to make things even harder on my poor aching head, their voices were kind of muffled under their hoods.

"Silence!" ordered my uncle, in a voice that demanded immediate obedience. "You are all terrible Ninja, charging in here, interrogating your master!"

"He's just a kid!"

"I didn't sign up for this to be part of kidnapping!"

"See!" I shouted, happy to hear the Ninja talking sense, even if their master was crazy. "That's what the good guys are supposed to say!"

"This is not a kidnapping!" announced Wu huffily. "It is a recruitment!"

A cricket chirped. Those little guys have awesome timing.

"Seriously? I'm in a cage."

"Lloyd is my nephew. I am offering to train him to be a Ninja."

Everyone, including myself, stared at him in disbelief.

Wu approached the cage and undid the trick knot holding the door closed. He held out his hand to help me out.

"Lloyd. You have the potential to do great things. To be a hero. I only brought you here as I did because I feared you would not listen to me."

To be a hero. A Ninja. Me?

To not be shamed for existing. To have people cheer when they caught sight of me. Heck, even to be able to wear a mask in public, avoiding all the... avoidance.

Yep, I'm dreaming. That's why my head is spinning and there's five Ninja instead of three and none of them seem familiar and my supposed uncle sounds nothing like my dad and he's telling me I could be a hero.

I wish.

Nope, too weird to be a dream. Still have a bump on my head. Kinda too bad - would be fun to run with this if it wasn't real.

I quickly shook my head, dismissing the silly thoughts. Pushing my estranged uncle aside, I stepped out of the cage on my own.

"Ok, ok, even if you were serious, totally bad idea. Fight to protect the people that hate me against the dad who loves me? Are you crazy?" I rambled, hoping I didn't sound as hysterical as I felt. "Why am I even asking. Of course you're crazy. You walloped me over the head and stashed me in a cage."

"You are destined for great things, Lloyd. To protect those who cannot protect themselves. To save Ninjago."

He held out a green gi.

And, ah man, I wanted it. My head was clearing pretty quickly. This wasn't a joke. That was unmistakably a Ninja uniform. He was serious.

I quickly back-stepped, laughing awkwardly. "Lloyd Garmadon, evil lord in training, remember? I mean, did you, did you not hear the news this morning? They had a list. Ten reasons to hate Lloyd. I think you got the wrong guy."

"You are not evil, Lloyd."

I had wanted to hear those words outside of my own head for so long. Actually hearing them... did not have the affect I'd always imagined.

A sudden rush of anger surged through me. "Yes, I am! Why else did my mother leave?! Why else is THIS the first time I'm meeting you! You're supposed to be my uncle! You've been here all this time and you've NEVER reached out to me! Even in the hospital when I thought I was dying!"

At this point I was actually screaming, probably red faced, and desperately hoping no tears fell.

"Dad told me. He said you wanted me on your side. To destroy him. Well, why not? I'm evil anyway! Make the evil spawn do your dirty work, huh! Well, you can forget it!"

The tears began to fall and I began sobbing like a child, desperately trying to hide my face.

The Ninja all suddenly gasped, and I felt warm arms wrap around me. A strange, familiar scent overwhelmed me and I found myself clinging to the source of it, crying my heart out. Somehow the feel, the scent, brought back all these feelings of safety and comfort, and at the same time emphasized all my feelings of abandonment and loneliness.

And I remembered "Koko" had called my dad yesterday.

I shoved the strange woman away, panicking as I scrabbled back.

No. No, this was not happening. Not the uncle that I never knew. Not the mother that abandoned me. Certainly not surrounded by the Ninja, the heroes that battled my father weekly and probably the only people to ever show me the slightest bit of kindness.

I refused to look at her. I couldn't make this real. I had to leave. Run. Escape.

Uncle Wu charged at me just as I lunged to flee, reaching out. Probably to throw me back in that cage. I twisted around and grabbed his wrist before he caught me.

His eyes widened. His other arm slashed out and I countered. His leg and staff, but I was ready.

"You are already a ninja," said Uncle Wu in wonder.

"I know spinjitzu, yeah," I growled back, spinning around to snag his staff and throw him, but he was ready this time.

"A fine Ninja," he continued, as if I'd said nothing. "Fate truly cannot be stopped."

"Your prophecy can go to the Cursed Realm!" I growled, lunging forward to attack, then back to defend. "Let!" Punch, swing, dive. "Me!" Kick, spin, grab. "Go!" But for every attack I released he had a counter, and every time I tried to escape he was again in the way.

He swept out my legs with his staff, and before I could twist into a handspring to recover my footing and gain some distance, I was grabbed and pinned from behind. That same aching, familiar scent that I refused to acknowledge. Well, no surprise she would double team against me with Uncle Wu. She had been Lady Irondragon, after all, with a prowess that charmed my own father across a battlefield.

Her arms were wrapped tightly around me, pinning me with my back to her chest, her own hands locked around my wrists. She had a good head of height on me and took advantage of it, unbalancing me just enough that I wouldn't be able to throw her.

"No, no, no!" I screamed like a baby, struggling despite the hopeless lock I was trapped in.

"You are well trained in spinjitzu, yet you have never once defended yourself?" Wu asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"How would you know that?" I hissed. "You weren't there! You don't care! No one cares for me but my dad!"

"I was always there," he said gently, sadly. "How do you think the Ninja knew to save you when you were fleeing the Serpentine?"

I froze. No. What? "The Ninjas are heroes. Of course they're always there! They... they..."

They're human. Same as my dad. Same as me. How could they possibly have known? I hadn't even been in Ninjago City.

"I wasn't going to interfere. Your father, my brother, had already lost so much. His sanity and appearance, our mother and father, all of our friends, me, Koko. He couldn't, he can't, lose you too. He'll never admit it, but he was so scared that you would choose me, if given the option. I removed that fear, by removing myself."

"We're not trying to take you from your father. We don't want to turn you against him," said the woman pinning me. My mo - Koko. Her voice was soft, choked with emotion, and I was glad I couldn't see her face. I wanted to hate her. And that was getting harder and harder to do.

"Dad - Dad said there was a prophecy and -"

"I don't like the prophecy any more than he does!" cried out Koko. "I'm sorry, Lloyd! I'm so sorry! But I left to find a way to stop it - to find a way to save your father!"

I stopped fighting. To save? Was that possible?

"You can't stop something you know nothing about, Lloyd. I've traveled the whole of Ninjago, every temple, every tomb, every ancient cavern. I've consulted with dragons, searched for sacred relics, studied ancient scrolls. If there is a way to combat the venom of the Great Devourer, to save your father from becoming the Evil foretold to destroy the world if not stopped, we will find it."

"We do not believe Garmadon has yet become the prophesied Evil, Lloyd," said Wu, gesturing for Koko to let me down. He held out a gentle hand, not for me to take, but to try calm me as one would a wild animal.

"If anyone can do it, can save my husband, your father... it's you, Lloyd."

I finally looked at her.

It was easy to see how Dad fell in love with her. Even middle-aged now, she was beautiful. Tall, strong, with bright orange hair and large, expressive eyes.

She looked nothing like me. She didn't even have green eyes. Did that mean... I took after Dad? What he would've looked like if he hadn't been bitten by a monster? Or was I just a freak? Not like my mom, not like my dad, not like anyone.

"I again extend my offer," said Wu, holding out the green gi.

I stepped back again, shaking my head. "I can't. My dad would never forgive me. He'd think I was leaving him, just like you guys did. I won't do that to him."

"All right," Uncle Wu said, this time taking me at my word. "But this gi, and your position on our team, remains yours if you should ever want or need it."

I ran away. This time they let me go.