Lloyd could control each elemental power. He was effectively an Amber elemental, but without needing to touch another elementalist, nor be limited to one element at a time. His power manifests in what he does. Strength of the Earth. Able to create energy with lightning, flames, ice, the lot. In the past weeks, Lloyd has shown the growth in power, but a lack of control, and he misses being a kid. Kai did his best to give him his moments of childhood. From 8 till 3, like a normal school day, Lloyd trains. The rest of the time, he gets to be a kid… at least when Kai can lead his training. The others were slave driving the poor kid. When the four ninja were trained, they were in their late teens, not early double digits like Lloyd.
When Garmadon attacked the Museum, it was meant to be a routine stop him and move on, but as the Dark Lord turned back time for the Grundel, he managed to de-age the Ninja as well. With the lot of them screaming, Vex materialized to beat them over the head, getting them to shut up, though even he was younger than before, back to his teenage years.
"Why that no-good mother fucking piece of shit. I WILL SEND HIM TO BURN IN PURGATORY…" As he began to speak his ancient tongue, the ninja all shivered, except for Kai, who had gotten used to the tongue of ancients.
"Easy now, Vex. They don't need to get any nightmares." Kai warns.
"Sorry. But the next time I see Garmadon, I might not let Lloyd complete the prophecy. I might just do it myself." Vex notes, venom dripping from his voice.
"Can you even do that?" Jay asks, with Vex simply shrugging as an answer. When the police show up, Vex disappears, and lets everything play out. Not to mention, he needed to find a way to contact Wu and Nya.
With the Grundel loose, the young ninja were outmatched, and without any way to defend themselves. Vex did what he could, but he was limited, as even if he took control of Kai's body, it would stay young, thus rendering his help useless.
As the Grundel cornered the ninja, who hesitated for Lloyd's childhood, the 'Tomorrow's Tea' is knocked over to Lloyd, who swiftly tosses the potion on the ground, letting the mist cover the group, returning the Grundel to dust and bone. As the ninja stood up, Kai immediately felt different. He felt demonic energy coursing through his blood, and the Null Element symbol was burned onto his left hand, a mark of his binding to Purgatory, now in full effect.
As Lloyd stood up, the effects of the potion were immediately visible. His hair was now spiked and tousled, not to the effect of Kai's, but damn well close. His features had hardened, and his eye colour had partially darkened.
"I'm… older. I can feel my power easier, it's more potent than before. More violent." He notes.
"You're not the only one who's changed somewhat, kid." Kai's voice had changed as well, gaining a slight echo that was reminiscent of Vex's voice. He could see the colours of energy flowing through everything, just like Vex's sight helped him do, but permanently, or at least, somewhat permanently, if he could figure how to control it himself.
"The time for you to face your father has grown close with this. What would have been years from now, had shorten to only a few months, a year at most." Wu warns.
"I'm ready." Lloyd assures with a smirk.
As Kai leaves the others for a moment, he calls for his spirit companion, receiving silence in return. As he searching his own mind through a meditation that Vex taught, he stumbles upon a locked memory, one that was not his own. With a single touch, Vex appears in a holographic memory.
"When Lloyd threw the Tomorrow's Tea potion, I had to freeze time to record this and enact my final deed for this realm. I can already feel the effects, as the potion begins to merge part of my spirit with you, Kai. I leave you this message, and a key to a portion of my pocket dimension, which will hold all you need to control your new powers." Vex sighs. "Whenever something happens, where I stop being a separate entity, the Null pulls me to a new realm, treating this as my 'death'. I can leave parts of myself with the people I meet, in a bid to help them in the future, to help pass on some wisdom, and to protect those who need it.
"You might be able to find a way to contact me in my dreams while I travel the new realm, as I managed to do with others when I first started to remember my travels, maybe we will even meet again, in a future realm, though I do expect to be beaten to near death for the trouble I've caused.
"In the portion of the pocket dimension I left for you, are several weapons that you can use when the time seems right. Energy weapons, kinetic weapons, even armoured vehicles that you could pull apart to improve your own. The only thing I will say, is that the Null has already touched Lloyd, without my interference. To stop him from receiving the worst of it, I gave him a portion of my power, to add to his own, and a memory like this one. I want you to watch over him, Kai, make sure he understands that none of us have a choice in being placed within the Null, and that, overall, it won't be complete hell. If I ever find something that I believe would help you, I will put it in your pocket dimension portion.
"Until next time, Kai, take care. Protect your family, and know that it was an honour to be with you."
As the memory stops, a tear falls from Kai's eyes. Though the spirit of Vex was trying, had an odd humour, and often got on his nerves, though he hid it well, he had become family to the Fire Ninja. But Kai knows that he wanted him to move on. To further improve, to push forward, so he does. But he will never forget the spirit that helped him grow.
AT CHENS NOODLE SHOP
With the last of his strength, Vex follows his instincts, finding the person that resonated with Kai, even if the two had never met. He watches to young woman as she hides her pain, hides the marks of abuse. He puts a hand on her shoulder, letting her natural element drain the last of his power, as he binds it to her.
The Null, and the Reaper powers he has within were able to tell him that this person as well as Kai would meet, and they would be happy together. They would find a sort of kinship, and perhaps more. And if he is wrong, he can always take his binding off of her, unlike with Kai, whom he was forcibly attached to. The same could be said for Lloyd, but Vex feels that the kid would need some guidance, and maybe some 'dreams' would assist his training.
As his form shifts and shimmers in and out of reality, his time in the realm ending, he sees one last image, one last 'premonition' of sorts.
Kai and Nya, working in the Forge, Fire and Water, working together. Jay was working with a man in a wheelchair, helping invent new things to help the people of Ninjago. Zane was helping those in shelters, who could not work, nor care for themselves, instead in places like care homes. Cole was following his fathers footsteps as a part time dancer and singer. Wu was still alive and kicking, training the next generation of elementals in how to be a ninja, to help those who cannot help themselves. Lloyd was with him, helping out. The ninja would live on, and even if they were living normal lives, Vex could see that should they be needed, they would not hesitate to help. With a smile on his face, the spirit passes on, his next adventure awaiting him, and one day, maybe some old friends.
A/N - This chapter was a way to actually kill off my OC. As much as I wish I could keep him in, I feel that it is detrimental to the actual story. His powers, or at least some of them, like sending people into the Null, will still exist, and Lloyd will have an affinity for the same element, though it was going to happen due to his 'Chosen One' status, and the fact that the Null is meant to represent an element as well, thus he would have some control over it, binding him to Purgatory just by being the saviour. Yes, Skylor will be with Kai, and it might work well, and if not, they will be as close as brother and sister at minimum. With Vex now gone, and his powers, and partial personality being transferred to Kai, he will have emotional outbursts, and a few mood swings as he gets used to the power, and to also start coping with some of the other horrific dreams that he will be witnessing in future, which I should probably write out one day. Anyway, take care and stay safe.