A/N: Sorry about not posting for forever, but it's summer now so I should hopefully be able to write a lot more!

Review Replies:

xxXTryMeXxx: Brad took advantage of Lloyd's biggest weakness: being a playful child. (Also, I was just like 'huh, so Pythor can jump with that tail as seen in season 3... can he skate?)

NinjagoGeek4EVER: I haven't, though I am aware the line is most famously from Star Wars.

"You kidnapped me!" Lloyd exclaimed, glaring at Brad.

Brad chuckled at that. "Tricked? Yes. But I don't think I can kidnap you by bringing you to what I assume is your legal guardian. Also you walked onto the Bounty of your own free will." His teasing grin remained plastered to his face as he rose to his feet.

Lloyd tensed, turning his glare to Wu (who was watching from the other side of the deck, clearly holding back a maniacal grin at the two's antics.) "Legal guardian?"

The old man gave a sage nod. "With your father out of commission, and your mother not here, guardianship goes to your closest family member, which would be me. We can keep an eye out for your mother, or even actively search for her, if you'd like."

"No." Both boys said in sync.

Lloyd turned back to the elder boy to glare at him. "Like you care, traitor."

"I only betrayed you because you were being an idiot! Of course I still care! Besides, good is... good, and when friends find something good they share it with friends - especially their best friend!" Brad playfully elbowed the blond.

"Shut up! Being good has made you sappy!" Lloyd - notably less playfully - rammed his shoulder into Brad's. Even with all the anger enveloping his face, there was still a hint of relief at Brad having not completely betrayed him.

Wu was giving the two of them a very confused look.

"Long story short, Misako's a jerk that doesn't even write to her kid."

Lloyd gasped. "BRAD!" Sure, the guy had already betrayed him by turning to the good side, but he didn't have to go and reveal some of his family problems too!

And Brad - oh, as if all he had done wasn't enough - just rolled his eyes! Like Lloyd was some kind of petulant child! (Granted, he was a kid, and Brad had always been fond of pretending he was the bigger person in more than just size and age, but still.) "You're unusually grumpy, when was the last time you ate?"

"Excuse me?!"

"And that's why Jack the Rabbit never trusts a snake."

Lloyd curled tighter under the covers - they weren't much, just what Wu had spare, but they were still better than Darkly's beds or the ground. His eyelids drooped, and he felt comfortable despite being smack dab in the good-guy's headquarters. "Wow, if my dad had read me that story-" he yawned, more asleep than awake, "I never would have made that mistake. I'm sorry, Uncle."

"Oh, there's no need to apologize. I'm sure it would be the first thing he'd read." Wu gently ruffled his nephew's hair as the boy finished drifting into sleep. He glanced up at the other child, giving him a pat as well. "You should get some rest too."

Brad nodded, watching Wu leave the room before tucking himself behind the door-frame.

"Seriously, Sensei? We train all day and the kid gets read a bedtime story?! It's not fair!" Brad had forgotten about the ninja's 'punishment,' if it could even be called that.

"You're right, why are you not still training? Have you found the answer to the riddle?"

All four ninja let out a sigh that definitely would have gotten him detention back at Darkly's. "No, Sensei, we still don't know the best way to defeat our enemy."

The smile was clear in Wu's voice when he spoke. "It is to make them your friend."

Brad rushed to lay down before the ninja glanced into the room, smiling as he faked sleep.

He knew he'd made the right decision trusting the ninja.

*The next morning*

Lloyd snuck past Wu, lesson book in hand, and back into the room he'd spent the previous night in. He chuckled to himself as he pulled the book out from behind his back and tucked it under his shirt.

Only a few minutes after he'd properly hidden it, Wu came into the room and gently shook him and Brad awake. "I have a very special task for the two of you."

Lloyd faked a yawn, and the two boys exchanged a look of confusion. "Task?" Brad finally asked, raising an eyebrow at Lloyd as if he suspected something. Rude.

"Yes, I want the two of you to tell lies and rumors in order to get the ninja at each other's throats."

Both boys grinned, and Lloyd was the one that spoke this time. "So... you want us to play pranks and stuff? And then just lie to the ninja? And not get in trouble?"

"Exactly."

Their grins widened as they glanced at each other.

I hope you all enjoyed!