Today was supposed to be awesome. This entire week was supposed to be awesome! How had everything gone so wrong?
Garmadon growled as he prowled his volcano, actively looking for someone to fire. He needed the relief. He grinned sinisterly as he caught a glimpse of a science nerd sleeping at their desk. Yes, that would do.
The nerd let out an impressively bloodcurdling shriek as he hauled him up by the back of his lab coat.
"Drop him, Garm!" ordered the one voice he'd actually listen to. Sometimes. When he felt like it. He just happened to feel like it now.
Garmadon groaned and tossed the nerd aside.
"C'mon, Kokes! He was sleeping on his shift!" he whined.
"You agreed, Garm," his wife said, voice more gentle. "I asked you not to fire anyone out of the volcano, and you agreed. Besides, have you tried asking him why he was sleeping? Or did you just grab him?"
His broody silence was answer enough.
Koko leaned over and helped the trembling lab technician to his feet. "Never mind him. Are you alright? Late night working on a new project?"
Traitor. Garmadon stormed out of the room.
Koko caught up to him within a minute or so, leaning over the safety barrier to stare at the slow flow of fiery, glowing lava. Anyone else would probably be blinded, but his own lava eyes were perfectly fine.
"You're supposed to be on my side," he sulked.
She took his upper left arm, lifting it up and tucking herself against his side. He timidly brought his lower left arm around her waist, waiting for a rejection. When none came, he breathed out a sigh of relief.
"I am at your side, Garm. Right here. See? Just because I don't approve of how you treat your employees doesn't mean I'm leaving."
They were silent for a long time.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Garmadon groaned. "Nothing!"
She glanced at his face disbelievingly.
"Ok, fine! General Number 3 was being a jerk, but I can't fire him, 'cause he's the only guy in the volcano that knows how to hold a golf stick and I guess I was holding it upside down or something and I made La-loyd's lunch without thinking and now it's gonna go to waste and..."
"You miss him," said Koko softly. "It's okay to miss him, Garm."
"He has every right to do his own thing! It's important for him to build relations with his minions now and figure out..." He shook his head, confused. Koko recognized the puzzled look in his eyes from when he was trying to figure out what was venom and what was himself.
"He's been so miserable," he finally whispered. "And he's finally started smiling again, and this, you, us - he should be happier than ever. But he's not here. I'm not... used to... him not being here."
Koko just hugged him tight. "You're a good dad, Garmadon. You always were, from that very first day."
"I try to teach him that it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. That life should be fun! That we'll get through anything, long as we..."
"Have each other?" She finished his sentence when he drifted off.
"And now we have you too!" declared Garmadon, trying to force excitement and joy into his voice and failing. He knew it too, but he was rather an expert in denial.
"I'm not leaving again, Garm," she said firmly. "And it's not about the golf tournament and my agreeing to the mayor's terms. I had already decided to come back."
"I want to believe you. And I do! Just... gah! You said I can't fire anyone out of the volcano, and the mayor said I can't invade Ninjago, and you just missed so much! Like the... the thing I don't want to talk about that you asked about, but I still don't want to talk about."
"The hospital?" Koko pulled back and looked up at his stubborn face.
"Nothing happened!" shouted Garmadon, in full denial mode, flinging his arms up and even putting his upper hands over his ears. Koko thought she saw a trace of flickering flames around his eyes, but he blinked them rapidly back.
Koko didn't even bother replying, just pulled him back into a hug.
After about a minute he calmed down again.
"Ok, something happened," he confessed. "It was bad. I don't want to think about it. It won't happen again, so it doesn't matter."
His eyes were so haunted, same as last night. She couldn't bear to bring it up again. But she still had to know.
She'd have to find out some other way.
~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~
Kai was relieved to find Zane and Lloyd hadn't magically become best friends in the space of one night, like Jay and Lloyd had yesterday. Maybe they stood a little closer together, but there were no giggles and whispers and exchanged glances of inside jokes.
There was an awful lot of talk about Echo, but Kai could live with that.
"He's such a sweetheart!" exclaimed Lloyd, for probably the fourth or fifth time since this morning. It was lunchtime right now, and they were eating outside under a big, shady tree. It was very clear Lloyd had never been the object of such complete and instant trust and affection before.
"You really did not have to carry him around for so long," inserted Zane, but he was smiling. "Echo can be very spoiled, and he'll probably expect the same treatment next time."
Lloyd's eyes absolutely glowed at the idea of next time. "He asked me all about the volcano and the sharks and mechs! I sketched a basic diagram of a shark mech's electrical wiring, and he put it up in his room!"
Cole shook his head, but his eyes were gentle. "Spoil him too much, Lloyd, and Echo will totally take advantage of you. He still sleeps with Jay each time we stay over at Zane's, and it's been years now! Actually cried when Zane suggested he sleep in his own room - and Jay totally caved."
Jay blushed. "I am not a sucker for Echo!"
"Totally are," replied Cole.
Zane laughed. "I love my little brother, but he does know how to get his way." Then the smile dropped. "It is too bad he cannot go to school to learn better."
Cole waved a dismissive hand. "He's just lonely."
"And you and the Doc will figure out the pain and fear thing in no time!" blurted Jay.
Cole and Zane glared at him.
"Oops. Was that still a secret?"
Zane glanced at Lloyd's worried face, then looked over at Kai and Nya's puzzled expressions. He sighed and leaned back in the grass, closing his eyes.
"I suppose it's not really a secret. Especially not from you guys. Cole?"
Cole nodded and took over, seeing Zane's discomfort with the topic. He glanced around to make sure they were alone before continuing.
"Zane's brother can't feel pain or fear. The Doc is scared he'll go off with a stranger and get dismantled."
"But Zane and the Doc are totally on it! They'll figure it out any day now!" added Jay, in complete faith, though Zane's frown spoke otherwise.
Kai and Nya exchanged confused glances. After all, weren't Zane and his brother the same? If anything, shouldn't the younger be more advanced?
Nya reached over and pinched Zane's hand.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, snatching his hand away. "I feel pain and fear just fine, thank you very much! And my hands are just as sensitive as yours!" For the first time since they'd met him, Zane actually looked rather emotional. Torn between irritation and a sort of desperate panic.
"I don't get it," said Lloyd softly, though clearly very worried to hear Echo had such a problem. And this put a whole new spin on how easily the young nindroid had trusted the son of Garmadon.
Cole and Jay looked over to Zane to reply. He clearly didn't want to, but after a moment sighed. He held out his hands and they iced over.
"When I got my powers," he whispered. "It made me more, you know, like everyone else."
Lloyd, Kai, and Nya instantly understood. Well, not the intricacies of how elemental powers could affect a nindroid's humanity, but a bit more about Zane and his insistence on being a normal teenager. And how he was different from his MOM and younger brother.
Kai, at a loss for words, reached over and pulled Zane into a hug.
"I'll help you figure it out, if you want," offered Lloyd.
"Me too," said Nya and Jay at the same time. They glanced at each other in surprise, but quickly looked away.
"Any ideas would be most welcome," answered Zane after a moment's hesitation. Perhaps his father and he just needed a new perspective on things.
It was nice after all, having two more brothers and a bonus sister. He actually felt a trickle of real hope for the first time in months. Echo could be a real human too.
~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~
We went to the Ninja Warehouse again after school. My uncle was waiting.
He kept his distance, only bowing in greeting as we entered. His eyes seemed to twinkle a little extra at me compared to the others, but maybe that was just my imagination.
Yeah. It was time. I took a deep breath and walked over to him.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
His eyebrows rose. My friends were dead silent behind me. Then the eyebrows lowered, his eyes smiled gently, and he gestured me back out the door.
I left my confused friends behind and followed him out the door back towards the docks. He climbed aboard his Destiny's Bounty, and after a moment's hesitation, I followed him.
"You know, this is actually my second time on this ship," I began, smiling as memories returned to me. "Back when I was a brat?"
He laughed. "Yes, I remember. I sent the Ninja on this ship to rescue you from the Serpentine when I realized how much danger you were in." He shook his head. "Thank goodness we got you out and stopped them in time."
Uncle Wu motioned me forwards, and I followed him into a small kitchen of sorts. I suppose it would be called a galley? Anyway, he began preparing a teapot and took down two cups. I took a seat where he gestured at the table.
My eyes followed him, probably a little too intensely, as he heated the water, measured the tea, then brought over the pot and two cups. He set one in front of me, one in front of himself, and poured for both of us. He seemed to find comfort in the routine. I couldn't blame him. This was a little awkward for both of us.
I wrapped my hands around the cup. It was still too hot to drink.
"Umm, first off, I never said thank you. For saving my life."
He smiled and hid behind his hat. Maybe that was his equivalent of blushing?
"There is no need, Lloyd."
"No," I said firmly. "No, you're wrong. You deserve my thanks. At that point, I had no redeeming qualities. I was a little terror. I had no respect for anyone or anything, except maybe my dad. Yeah, I wasn't really evil, but I certainly wasn't a good little boy."
I rushed on when he looked like he would interrupt. "I chose to seek out and release the Serpentine. It was not an accident. I deliberately sought them out, stupidly thinking they would follow a human child like good little minions. It took weeks of research and planning. I expected loyalty and support and even affection - why, I have no idea."
"You were lonely," said Wu gently. "You needed friends."
"Maybe," I shrugged. "But you can't deny I was hateful and angry and bitter. I mean, I bit Fire the first time he tried to grab me to get me out of there." I tried to drink a sip of tea, but it was a struggle to swallow. My hands shook slightly.
"They were your father's enemies. You were terrified. Even I could see that from where I was watching. I'd even warned them you would probably fight back."
"I was so sure they hated me. I thought they were chasing me to lock me away, not to save me. That the first thing they'd do was beat me up, and then throw me in a cage or something."
"That was all you knew, Lloyd. I love your father, but he did expose you to much more violence then the child you were was ready for. You also truly were in constant danger from his enemies at the time." He reached over and patted my hand. "Lloyd, you had just found out Pythor was manipulating you. About his plans to use you to blackmail your father, to release a great monster on Ninjago, and he'd even threatened to eat you if you didn't cooperate. None of the other Serpentine were going to defend you - that much was clear. You were literally on the run for your life at eight years old. Of course you didn't recognize the Ninja as safe."
"I didn't deserve -"
"What child 'deserves' anything, other than a chance?" commented Uncle Wu sagely. "You deserved neither more nor less kindness than anyone else. Your very actions afterwards, your attempts to change, even though they backfired, proved you deserved that chance. Certainly, every person who gave you a chance fell in love with you. Even Ice would smile when we talked about you."
I smiled slightly, remembering long talks with the various Ninja way back then. The listening ears, good advice, and open affection. But I needed to move on. A gulp of tea to calm myself, then I was ready.
"Second," I began again, taking a deep breath, then letting it out. "I've been thinking about what you said about why you stayed away. That my dad would have been jealous, afraid I might have chosen you. Maybe I would have, I dunno. Anyway..." I couldn't look at him, instead studying the intricate glazing on the teacup in my hands. "I understand. I forgive you."
Uncle Wu sat back, looking thrown. His eyes were wide, and he raised a hand to cover his mouth in his shock.
"Earth gave me your book. Way back then. I loved it to pieces. Still do. Study it every day, pretty much. I... I always wanted to meet you. The Ninja loved and respected you so much. I, I think I came to understand why, through your book. Through your students. Your teachings and beliefs and the way you'd word and explain things. I didn't understand why you didn't ever come for me, but now I do."
I swallowed nervously. Tried some more tea to wet my suddenly dry throat.
"So, uh, that brings me to point three. Can I call you Uncle Wu?"
He nodded, eyes wet, at a loss for words.
"I owe you an apology in return, nephew," he said, looking ashamed of himself. "It was on my orders that the remaining Ninja abandoned you after Ray and Maya left. I thought -"
"Point two," I interrupted. "I already said I forgive you. My dad needed me, and who knows how he might have reacted if he discovered our secret meetings."
He swallowed, but seemed intent on his own confessions. "I still believe you are the chosen Green Ninja. I don't want to, but I do."
I shook my head. "I don't want to talk about that."
"I'm afraid we have proof, Lloyd."
"Please. I don't want to fight."
He said no more. We finished the tea together.
When we got up to head back to the others, he hesitantly set a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him. His eyes met mine.
"You are my nephew, Lloyd. You will always have a place here, with the Ninja and with me. If you ever feel the need to don the gi, you need not ask permission or hesitate. Now, I vow to say no more on the matter unless you bring it up yourself. Agreed?"
I nodded, feeling... rather at peace. It was nice.
~~ ! Go Ninja Go ! ~~
Author's Notes: And there we have it! The promised reconciliation with Wu! Sorry if it seemed rushed, but it's Lloyd. Can't hold a real grudge to save his life! I'm also curious what you guys think about that little revelation about why Echo doesn't go to school (yet), as well as Garmadon finally starting to really feel Lloyd's absence. Hope you enjoyed, and please leave me a review letting me know what you think! Even a couple words is fine, though I do LOVE longer reviews!
Coming up, Lloyd's sleepover at Cole's! And yep, he's going to have a special bonding moment with his earth buddy as well, of course. Also, a VERY important scene with Koko at the hospital, collecting Lloyd's medical records.
Special thanks to Sunny Lighter for all her amazing feedback and ideas! The idea that Koko doesn't let Garmadon 'fire' anyone out of the volcano while she's there, and thus pretty much credit for that whole first scene, was all her!
Also thanks to my wonderful and supportive reviewers from last chapter: Silvermags, Carrie2sky, Pitch'snieceanddaughterofMew, Sunny Lighter, Dyphen, Lea1985, MasterOfMusic139, Beaner97, EMPFangirl02, and Bookkeeper2004! You guys are all AWESOME!