This fic began from a bunch of unfinished Ninjago time-travel fanfics I began writing back in 2021. For some reason, during then, that was the only thing I could write about. It pissed me off for a few weeks but here I am now posting them. I hope you enjoy.

With his track record and absolutely terrible excuse of signature luck you would've thought that there was nothing that could surprise his at this point. But when the state of how currently impossible his circumstances were, Lloyd supposed that this time warranted an excuse at the very least.

All he'd done was gone to sleep. That was literally it, for fucking FSM's sake. And maybe he'd even woken up drenched in sweat from another nightmare. That was nothing new — heck, it had been happening every single night since they'd been staying at the warehouse — but then he came face to face with something he seriously wished he hadn't.

A flash of light.

And the next thing he knew, he…he was in this cage. He'd had another nightmare of the Colossi crushing his friends to death and woken up only to get himself into a fucking cage, of all things. A cage that could already be considered the fourth one he'd gotten himself into so far.

Just what the heck?

Lloyd heaved out a breath, fists clenching and unclenching as he stared at the rusted bars in front of him. This cage was close to lava this time, a snarling sea of orange melting off the bottom quicker than destiny could decide what else to dump on him. In a way, the sight was almost familiar, just like —

Oh, Lloyd stiffened, realizing why. The Fire Temple.

A second later, he suddenly felt something tugging the cage upwards. Lloyd jumped at that, before soon realizing that the cage was being pulled away from the lava below. His body immediately acted on auto-pilot as he saw the chance, hands latching instinctively on to whatever he could grab of the cage as he was pulled up, heart pounding faster and faster before he then swung his gaze to —

"Son!"

Lloyd abruptly felt his blood run cold.

Four arms had found themselves around him, wrapping him in an embrace he could remember being pulled into years ago. Lloyd knew very well who this was — he'd only recently survived being thrown into more walls than possible by him, while also having had it both physically and mentally beaten into him that —

For a moment, Lloyd couldn't even breathe. "F…Father?" he choked in a quivering voice.

And then he instantly froze. That voice — it…no it couldn't be —

However, Garmadon seemed to pay no mind to the state of horror he was in — nor even the fact he now sounded like he'd just stuffed his own lungs with helium. Instead, the older man was hugging him — his father was hugging him. As if Lloyd hadn't just seen his psychotic ex something succeed in resurrecting him, as if he hadn't been rejected by him in all tragic family fashion at all.

This Garmadon wasn't throwing him into another wall, or even the lava below for that matter. He'd just saved him, and was pressing Lloyd's shaking body against his chest plate like he had once before, back when it was the safest place in the whole world and —

That was when Lloyd's brain chose to screech into a rapid halt.

…wait, chest plate?

As in... that chest plate?

He was still reeling from that realization when a dark hand cautiously reached up to touch his face, gently brushing away a bead of sweat he barely felt. "My son," Garmadon breathed, half awe, half longing. Lloyd's throat closed up at that, feeling the three other arms wrap around his tighter. "It's been so long — "

"The Fangblade's mine!"

As if being rescued the exact same way he had been before wasn't already confusing enough, the sight of a red blur sprinting up the steps behind them had Lloyd completely lost for words — because Kai was dead. Just like the others were ever since that night on the train with Harumi. So there — there was no possible way that could be —

Lloyd hadn't realized that Garmadon was moving.

But when he did, a sudden spike of fear sharply gripped him, ice leaning heavily against his spine. "W-What are you doing?" he half-screamed.

Garmadon seemed confused at the panic infusing his voice. Speaking of voices, could someone please tell him what had happened to his?

"Your uncle intended for all of us to gather at the exit," Garmadon finally replied, eyebrows pulling together as he eyed Lloyd in concern. "Why? Is there an issue — "

"No!" Lloyd said quickly, feeling his cheeks warm. Curse it, curse Harumi — she was the very reason why Lloyd was now expecting his own father to toss him into the lava below when the opportunity of his obliviousness arose. "Let's…let's just keep going I guess," he finished weakly.

"We'll be back on the bounty soon," Garmadon assured him, as though to offer him some amount of comfort Lloyd knew he would never feel. His grip around Lloyd then tightened. "Those wretched Serpentine will never be able to touch you again."

"I know," Lloyd said quietly, biting hard into his lip. At least his father hadn't suspected that something was amiss yet. Or maybe there was nothing wrong at all, and the cup of tea Nya had pushed into his hands the night before had been weird dream fuel. Or even worse, maybe the heat from the volcano had damaged his brain so much that the past five years had been nothing more than some twisted hallucination, not having had happened at all.

Which…could technically mean he was still a terrible kid with a terrible haircut but Lloyd had to admit that his current voice did sound a tad bit too familiar.

And there was also the fact he was wearing his old black hoodie — the one he'd spent a life alone on the streets in. Funny how he hadn't quite recognized it at first. Not to mention, the way his father was holding him did seem a little odd — like he was a young child again. A child that wasn't Lloyd Garmadon, resident emotional wreck of a teenager but instead; Lloyd Garmadon, stupid kid that had opened the Serpentine Tombs. A Lloyd Garmadon that wasn't even the Green Ninja —

— yet.

Just like that, Lloyd could feel the blood draining itself from his face, along with any sort of foolish hope that his luck could ever be considered somewhat enjoyable.

There…there was another possibility wasn't there? One that was probably the most ridiculous out of the meager ones he'd hysterically thought of but in the end, it was also the most possible.

But time-travel? Just — how —

"We're here," Garmadon murmured, jolting Lloyd out of his thoughts. He then set him down on his feet, some part of Lloyd bristling inwardly at how he was now barely taller than his dad's waist. Who knew that one day he'd be missing the Tomorrow's Tea huh?

Then, Lloyd turned to see that they in fact had, arrived at the exit of the Fire Temple. The place was overlooking a furious ocean of rising lava, but he knew the could make it out before it rose high enough, just like the four others also waiting there with them —

And alive.

It took everything in Lloyd to not start crying in relief at the sight.

Jay's hood was still up, the nunchucks of lightning held in his hand bringing Lloyd's mind back to a time when things had been so much simpler. A time when waking up with the sole purpose of mixing up Jay's beauty products were a priority, a time when all Lloyd really had to worry about was getting caught.

Zane was there as well, and Lloyd couldn't help but find it weird to see him without a pair of glowing blue eyes. He hadn't even realized that he'd gotten so used to seeing him with them, that he'd gotten so used to seeing Zane look more like a nindroid than like how he'd first met Lloyd as. Without his titanium plating or the cloaked disguise, Zane looked just like an ordinary human. A highly weird human, Lloyd added, trying to recall what his younger self had first thought of Zane. But he'd made good pancakes, so the younger Lloyd didn't have a lot of bad things to say.

Wu was perhaps the only one that hadn't really aged in his opinion. While Lloyd's past self would've zoned out wondering why at any given moment, he now knew about his uncle's heritage — of what he himself truly was. But still, he had to admit it was quite odd that Wu's past self was much older than his future counterpart, courtesy of the Reversal Blade, of course.

And then there was Cole — this Cole who looked a lot more muscular than the one Lloyd had gotten so used to seeing. Much bushier eyebrows were knitted together as he eyed the opposite side of the volcano, watching warily as a piece of rock collapsed in resignation to its fate. There was a seriousness in the air around him that Lloyd had nearly forgotten about — the kind that only a leader would have, and that was exactly what he was — the leader Lloyd knew he himself couldn't be. Unlike him, Cole hadn't failed. Cole hadn't been that naïve enough to end up as Harumi's target. Cole... Cole hadn't just stood there completely helpless as the Colossus —

Breathe, Lloyd reminded himself sternly, trying to listen to someone for once. They're all here, in the past — you haven't screwed up yet. Get yourself together and function like a normal person for FSM's sake. Yes. He was going to do just that. He was going to be fine —

But Jay must've noticed something though.

"You okay kid?" the Master of Lightning then asked, looking at him rather worriedly. Lloyd couldn't help but flinch at the sound of his voice, remembering the grief crumpling Nya's face when he'd gotten off the boat. "No offence, but you're kinda pale."

"I've noticed that as well," Garmadon said, giving him an anxious look. Lloyd's throat felt oddly heavy at the caring tone, a glaring contrast to what he'd used in Kryptarium. Red eyes then flashed in concern. "Son, are you sick —"

"I'm fine," Lloyd said hastily, fighting to not squirm under the man's gaze. It didn't help that Wu was eyeing him quite curiously either. "Just…just a little tired."

"You sure?" Cole asked, just as unconvinced as the rest of them. " 'Cause you really look like you caught something, to be honest."

But before Lloyd could open his mouth, Zane had crossed the distance between them, before then firmly laying a hand on his forehead.

"His temperature is indeed slightly elevated," the nindroid informed them. "However, the increase is not enough for him to have entered a fevered state, and could most likely be from the heat provided by our surroundings. Perhaps Lloyd is merely exhausted, as he had just suggested."

"Thank goodness," Garmadon sighed, before diverting his gaze to Lloyd, his expression softening. "You can rest in a while, son — we'll be back at the bounty before you know it —"

"Um…guys?"

Everyone then turned to look at Jay, who in turn was looking at —

"You gotta be kidding me," Cole breathed in disbelief.

Lloyd couldn't decide which he wanted to do more; slap himself for forgetting this particular event or slap Kai for making him relieve it in the first place.

But at least, he thought, as his idiot of an older brother continued his hunt for the Fangblade. I can now understand why I grew up to be this reckless.

"The volcano is already unstable!"

"Kai," Sensei called. "You must —"

"Leave it, Kai. It's not worth your life!" Jay shouted.

"Not without the Fangblade!" Kai yelled, jumping over a large fallen rock only to be met by a spark of lava geysers. Of course, he'd stopped soon enough to avoid them but Lloyd's stomach churned with fear as he considered what could've happened if he hadn't.

Lloyd had already lost him once. There was no way in all of the sixteen realms he could handle losing him agai —

— oh wait, but he wouldn't. If things went the way they were supposed to, Kai would make it. He'd unlock his True Potential and come back to the bounty just like last time, abandon the Fangblade and…and…

Save Lloyd…

…and why had he even needed to be saved in the first —

As if to answer that thought, it was then when the ground suddenly shook. This was nothing new, considering how quickly the place was coming apart as each second passed, but Lloyd knew what was coming — what destiny was about to do. It was literally that day all over again, the memories searing into his brain more painfully than the lava ever could. He sucked in a sharp breath, bracing himself for the inevitable.

Eyes fixed on Kai, Lloyd then took a step forward.

It didn't take long for the next rock to fall, this one collapsing with Lloyd standing calmly on it. He briefly heard his father let out a panicked shout, his voice tight with terror as the end of the cliff under Lloyd's feet gave out. The equally startled cries of the others came next, but it was too late. History had repeated itself.

The rock hit the lava with the same amount of force as before, almost sending Lloyd off his feet. The heat was unbearable, the pathetic piece of safety he was on sinking by the minute, and if Lloyd hadn't already experienced this moment, he would've been downright terrified.

"Lloyd!"

The sound of Garmadon's voice made him look upwards. The sheer fear streaked across his face was enough to make Lloyd's heart twist.

I'll see you soon, he wanted to say, swallowing hard to hold those words back. It'll...it'll be fine, dad.

The panic in Garmadon's expression never ebbed away, echoing with a desperation Lloyd knew he himself had felt the night the Colossus had done what it did. Meanwhile, Wu was saying something, whatever it was causing all five of them to step back. Sensei's hand was firmly locked on Garmadon's shoulder the entire time, the defeat clouding his features still there even when he pulled his dad back —

Then the next thing Lloyd knew, the exit had been sealed by rocks, and...they were all out of sight.

Leaving just him and Kai.

...him and Kai like last time.

Lloyd heaved in a breath, his heart racing wildly in his chest as his eyes darted around in search for the hothead. It wasn't that long until he'd finally found him. Kai was just a few yards away from where Lloyd was miraculously still floating, bent over a much larger rock while his gaze rested determinedly on a sinking Fangblade.

"Kai!"

His older brother seemed to freeze at that for sharp moment, before eventually whirling around to see him standing there. "Lloyd!"

"We have to get out of here!" Lloyd shouted, seriously hoping that this wasn't an alternate reality where he died at the Fire Temple instead. "Leave the Fangblade behind!"

But then, Kai frowned, puzzled. "You seem a lot calmer than I remember."

Lloyd wasn't sure if he'd heard that part right. "Wha —"

"Nothing," Kai cut in quickly, only to succeed elevating Lloyd's confusion. He appeared to ponder something for a moment, before soon shaking his head to dismiss that thought. "Come on, we gotta go."

"But what —"

"We need to leave!" Kai yelled firmly, immediately hopping across the lava to get to him. Lloyd was beyond puzzled at this point, barely even thinking of anything else when Kai finally reached him to grab his arm.

"But Kai —"

"Later green bean," Kai cut in, wasting no time to tug him along as he spoke over him. Lloyd suppressed a cry of frustration. How typical of Kai to dodge the questi —

Wait a minute.

"You called me green bean," he whispered, watching as Kai went abruptly rigid, the pieces of the puzzle arranging themselves perfectly in Lloyd's head. It all made sense. "But you...you couldn't have known," his voice shook. "You couldn't have known that yet, could you?"

Kai's mouth suddenly opened, then closed, before instantly opening once again like a fish being told it was a tadpole instead. If it weren't for the circumstances, Lloyd would've found the sight comical.

After about a minute of choking on shock, his jaw then dropped, and he finally managed to speak. "You too?!"

"Well, what else do you expect?" Lloyd cried, equally just as rattled. "And how the heck are you alive?"

"How the heck are we even here?!" Kai shrieked back, before he then blinked, abruptly registering Lloyd's words. "Wait, you thought I was dead?"

"I thought you were crushed to death and dead!" Lloyd screeched, his arms flailing wildly. "But you're telling me that all this time you've been alive — "

Kai's face contorted into a grimace. "Look — "

" — and you couldn't have come back? I don't know — maybe you could've at least let us know you were okay or somethi — "

"Actually — "

"Do you have any idea how I've been?" Lloyd snapped, his voice furious. "How we've been? I've never seen Nya this heartbroken, Kai."

"Lloyd. "

"And we even mourned your deaths! Do have any idea how horrible that — "

"I've been in the First Realm, Lloyd."

Whatever Lloyd had been meaning to say next died out at that, like a snuffed out flame doused in cold water. His mouth then hung open as he stared at Kai, well aware of how stupid he must've looked.

"You what?" Lloyd eventually managed out.

Kai opened his mouth to answer, but then the volcano gave another shudder. "Nevermind, we need to go!"

Lloyd had to agree, and eyed the chaos happening around them warily. "You still remember how to access your True Potential?" he asked nervously.

"Well, back then I was supposed to unlock it," Kai grunted, pausing as he closed his eyes in concentration. "But... accessing it at will sounds nice."

Lloyd briefly looked down at his hands, wondering if being in the past could mean that his own powers were back.

"Hold on to me," Kai told him, and Lloyd immediately complied, just as the color of Kai's now-open eyes began to change. A grin soon spread across his face. "Just like old times eh?"

Lloyd felt his own lips twitch, pulling into what he was sure was the first genuine smile he'd had in days. "Just like old times," he whispered in agreement.

"It's Kai! He's unlocked his True Potential!"

"Lloyd!"

The deck of the bounty soon touched his feet, and Lloyd swore that he could literally feel everyone's relief as Kai set them down. Nya was the first to make her way to them, followed by a heavily frantic-looking Garmadon the second Lloyd was out of the fireball.

Garmadon pulled him into an embrace at once, visibly shaken. Meanwhile, Nya appeared to be momentarily considering strangling Kai, but fortunately her relief at seeing him alive seemed to hold her back. (thank FSM)

"Dude, did you just — "

"You made it!" Jay exclaimed.

"Well done, Kai," Wu said, nodding in approval.

Lloyd lifted his face from his father's hold, just as Kai was about to nod back when he suddenly faltered. Lloyd felt himself frown at that, also noticing that even Kai was just as confused. Was he —

But before Lloyd's puzzlement could worsen any further, Kai passed out.

Kai!

"Oh no you don't, hothead," Cole said firmly, catching him before the back of his head could dare meet the floor. Kai was still unconscious, but had already gone back to not radiating heat. True-Potential-unconcious, Lloyd soon realized. Now that...that was something he might have forgotten to expect.

"Are you alright?" Garmadon asked, yanking Lloyd out of his thoughts. He could feel the weight of his father's gaze on him, long before he finally turned back to face him. "You didn't get any burns, did you?"

"I don't think so," Lloyd shook his head, vowing to ask Kai about that later. (how were they both not cooked meat anyway?)

Garmadon was silent for a moment, looking at him with something Lloyd just knew was regret.

"I still cannot believe how long it has been," he then said, quietly. His voice was infused with guilt. "You've grown so much and I wasn't there."

"Well you're here now," Lloyd murmured, thankful he'd managed to keep it together. "That's all that matters right?"

Garmadon's shoulders drooped low at that. "I never should've left, Lloyd," he said hoarsely.

Then stay, Lloyd wanted to tell him — beg him. He knew it was a lost cause — destiny had made it a life goal to lead to that after all. Please...don't leave the bounty like last time.

But no matter what, the prophecy existed didn't it? And that...that would be revealed in less than an hour's time.

He'd feel destiny's first blow in less than an hour's time.

"You came back in the end," Lloyd then said, doing his best to ignore his suddenly wet eyes. "You came back for me."

"That I did," Garmadon agreed, before falling quiet. He stared at Lloyd for a beat, expression setting into something the blonde couldn't describe. Sensei Garmadon's silences had always been warm, rarely the still air of tension Lord Garmadon often delivered. That thought never quite struck him until now.

And a small part of him did remember having this conversation at some point, but Lloyd was sure none of his responses were similar to his actual nine-year-old self, even if he barely remembered them.

So much had happened in a single day after all.

Lloyd's gaze then decided to travel to Kai, still passed out after being moved to one of those old benches they'd once had on the bounty's deck. He'd wake up soon if he wasn't mistaken — any minute now. Then, they'd all make it into the control room and a prophecy would get chucked at his face. He and his dad just couldn't catch a break could they?

Lloyd felt his stomach churn as he glanced at the older man, still silent beside him. Half of him wondered what he was thinking, and also what he would be thinking after he found out just who was destined to defeat him in battle.

The young Lloyd had been numb the entire time the weapons had reacted around him, not understanding why they even were. Garmadon on the other hand, had known about the Green Ninja prophecy before he was even born. He just hadn't known who that green figure would unfortunately be.

But still, it would be fine. The first thing Lloyd was going to do after Wu finished solemnly talking about destiny was hunt Kai down and get answers. They had to get back, back to their time. And even there Lloyd still had a father to face.

Now, that was nothing new.

Lloyd swallowed at that, suddenly anxious. "Dad?"

It had taken a few more calls to have Garmadon snap back to the present. However, when he finally did, Lloyd still wasn't entirely sure what he'd been planning to say.

"I..." he cut himself off, throat feeling weirdly clogged. He thought back to that fight in the prison, of everything that had happened with them so far and tried his best to blink back tears.

"Thanks for saving me," he finally finished, holding his breath.

His father blinked in surprise, before a small smile slowly crept on his face.

"You are most welcome, my son."

Thanks for calling me your son again.

Kai couldn't really remember any other time he'd actually wished he was back at the First Realm.

Scratch that, he definitely hadn't — but there was a first for everything now wasn't there? And so far, these past few days had been nothing but full of surprises.

But at least, now he could understand why the FSM had left. Their circumstances might've been different but being stuck with a semi-crazy First Realm Jay Walker was equally just as bad, hands down. And stupidly enough, Kai had also expected things to not spiral any worse. Hence why it wasn't doing any wonders when he'd found himself back in the Fire Temple, of all fucking places.

Correction; he was back to chasing after a thousand-something-year-old snake blade, sweating his heart out in his old singed gi, the Sword of Fire on his back and…of course, with the whole place looking like it was going to come apart quicker than he could murder Jay — which he had to admit was quite an achievement.

And for fuck's sake, wasn't two time-travel trips already more than enough?

But as always, whoever up there was simply too generous.

" 'at…what happened?" he slurred, feeling his eyes flutter open groggily. His vision looked like it was spinning, the beginnings of a headache forming. "' at's goin' on — "

"Oh. You're awake."

"Nya?" Kai immediately sat up — which proved to be a big mistake, since the next thing he knew, a wave of dizziness had slammed into him. He bit back a curse, before realizing that he had been passed out on a bench, the one that had disappeared after the bounty's first rebuilding. Right. The past — he was in the past.

His sister was standing in front of him, watching him concernedly. "Your True Potential knocked you out," she explained, on the verge of a smile. "Oh, and congrats on that by the way."

"Whoa, so you're proud of me for getting knocked out?"

Nya shot him a deadpan look — Kai had to admit he'd kinda forgotten how she'd looked like without the ponytail and FSM, wasn't this when she was still a samurai?

"I'm proud that you're still alive," she huffed, her gaze eventually falling on his gi, eyeing the areas that were singed. "And there you were thinking that I was gonna get myself killed."

Kai quickly rushed to defend himself. "When it's a clanky samurai vs a silent ninja, who's more likely to get cau — ouch Nya!"

Nya rolled her eyes, giving him a second whack on the other knee with her free hand for good measure. Kai sent her glare that speedily morphed into a wounded look. "I just woke up y'know."

"Like that's enough," Nya retorted, shaking her head as she proceeded to sit down beside him on the bench. Kai briefly wished he could tell what she was thinking as soon as he saw something in her expression then change. "I really thought I was gonna lose you, you know," she whispered.

Kai's heart froze in his chest at that. He forced a smile. "Don't worry," he said with a smirk. "It takes a lot to get rid of me after all."

But you ended up in the First Realm, a voice in his head reminded him. He went utterly still. You heard Lloyd. In the end, she believed she lost you.

But I'll come back, Kai snapped, to himself, shoving down every unsure emotion he had of that statement. Because he was coming back, all of them were. They…they just haven't found a way yet.

There, he even used yet. They were going to find a way, no matter how hard or how long it took. Even if it would be years.

The last thought sent a chill down his spine. What if that was what would happen? What if the four of them returned to a Ninjago they couldn't even recognize? What if they came back to find Nya or Lloyd —

No, he told himself desperately, hoping he wasn't already shaking. They would be fine — Nya and Lloyd would be fine. He knew them, they would definitely be but what if — what if Harumi or Garmadon —

"Kai?"

Kai pulled himself back to the present at the sound of her voice — or rather, the past, he thought half-hysterically. Nya was sitting there just looking at him, studying him in the same concerned way Kai himself remembered doing to her whenever she zoned out, only for him to later realize she was thinking about Nadakhan.

"Yeah?" Kai asked, praying his voice sounded somewhat stable. Thankfully, it actually was. He feigned a sheepish look. "Sorry, I kinda zoned out — "

"Something's bothering you isn't it?" Nya cut in.

Kai's words died instantly in his throat. Nya fixed him a look, the firm, sharp kind. The one that Kai knew was designed specifically to get people to talk. But Kai wasn't Lloyd, so it shouldn't and couldn't work —

"Kai!"

Kudos to Lloyd for showing up at the right moment, Kai thought, watching as the hooded blonde made his way to them. Just like his gi, Lloyd's hoodie was also singed, the black fabric threatening to swallow his tiny frame whole. Even though Kai was well-aware that midget Lloyd barely resembled the Master Lloyd he'd just started getting used to, it was strange seeing how much his little brother had changed over the years.

…and geez, had Lloyd really been this short?

"Lloyd!" Nya exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. She wasted no time getting up from the bench, and pulled the boy into a tight hug. Lloyd's expression briefly contorted into surprise, but he made no move to pull away.

"You really are a magnet for trouble huh," Nya was saying, clutching him a little tighter. "Never, ever, go on a Serpentine bus again, you hear me?"

Lloyd immediately stiffened at that, before nodding. Kai had a feeling it had been only then when he remembered how he'd actually gotten himself into the snake mess in the first place. Funny how that they both now had an even bigger mess to get out of. That was just how their lives were after all.

Nya then released Lloyd, her gaze making a beeline for Kai. "You saved him," she said, smiling.

That was when Lloyd decided to speak, turning to Nya. "Uh, Jay was looking for you, you know," he told her. "Heard it was about repairs…or something."

Nya's eyebrows shot up in surprise at that, but she gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks for telling me," she said.

"Anytime," Lloyd replied easily. He shifted on his feet, and added. "He's in the TV room by the way."

"Okay. I better be on it, I guess," Nya said, momentarily glancing at Kai. She let out a breath. "Try not to pass out again, will you?"

"Ninja's honor," Kai promised solemnly. She gave him one last look, as if debating the sincerity of that promise before eventually leaving. Kai waited until she was no longer in sight — and hopefully — was already where she was supposed to be, before deciding to whirl his gaze on Lloyd.

"Am I right to guess that Jay didn't say anything?" he asked pointedly.

Lloyd shot him the most innocent smile Kai had ever seen, cocking his head. "Nope. He actually did ask for Nya."

"He actually asked for Nya's help when he's a fucking inventor?" Kai raised an eyebrow, supremely unconvinced. "I have brain cells too, dude."

"Could've fooled me," Lloyd snorted.

Kai ignored the jab, and proceeded to jab a finger at Lloyd. "Okay. So you did some sabotage then."

Lloyd just crossed his arms at the accusation. "Desperate times."

"Desper — oh, like the time Zane caught you cooking ramen in the — "

"That snitch, it was one time — "

"One time that traumatized poor Zane, " Kai pointed out, remembering the memory.

Lloyd scoffed. "Oh, just how do you even traumatize a nindroi — "

"Well you tell me. You're the one that gave him nightmares about that for weeks," Kai shot back, fighting back a smile. It was probably going to be the first genuine one he'd had in days. "So would you be kind enough to tell me just what the fucking fuck did you sabotage? If even Jay couldn't fix it?"

Lloyd was just silent.

"Well?" Kai asked, already low on patience. Jay had used up most of it in the First Realm after all.

Lloyd took in a breath, before deciding to stare at the ground. "Past you would kill me," he warned in advance.

"Well, he's not here is he?" Kai tilted his head, training his gaze hard on Lloyd. "What. Did. You. Do?"

Lloyd exhaled to release a sigh. "Fine. It was the Fist to Face game progresses."

Kai felt his jaw drop, staring at the blonde in front of him in shock. "You did what."

"I know," Lloyd said sadly, actually sounding somewhat miserable. "Go ahead and come at me."

"Demon spawn."

"Says the brother-in-law of a literal djinn —"

"You call me that one more time and I will gladly burn every single comic book you have," Kai growled, throwing him a glare. Lloyd remained unfazed under it, giving Kai a surge of exasperation. "FSM, and we're even in the past."

"Nah," Lloyd shrugged, deciding to sit next to him. His shoulders slumped, making him look even smaller. "It's just another screwed up day of our lives."

Kai was dismayed that he had to agree.

He then ran a hand over his face, feeling tempted more than ever to go burn something. "And just how are we supposed to get back again?" he asked.

"Well that," Lloyd grimaced, going pale. "is the hard part."

As always.

"I was a good kid growing up y'know," Kai sighed, closing his eyes as his headache began to feel worse. "Never got into any kind of trouble at all. And then I met you."

Lloyd made an affronted noise at that, and Kai briefly tried to imagine the scowl that must've formed on his face. Their situation could never be more fantastic; two ninja, both supposed to be stuck in two entirely different realms now suddenly stuck together years back from when they supposed to be. But Kai had to admit he had it slightly better than Lloyd at least, considering that he wasn't the one stuck in the body of a child.

A demon child, he quickly amended. Yup. He's definitely going to blame Lloyd for this. 'Cause that was unfortunately the best he could do.

"We'll sort this out soon though," Lloyd then spoke, and Kai opened his eyes once more. The boy was trying to smile, a smile that was undeniably as fake as Dareth's trophies. "We've been through much worse, I think."

"You think?" Kai asked incredulously, staring at him in disbelief. Lloyd flinched at that, biting into his lip. Kai rubbed his forehead. "Worse is an understatement."

"We could talk later tonight if you want," Lloyd suggested, red eyes lighting up in determination. Red, not green, Kai thought, flooded with burst of nostalgia. Here, Lloyd was just kid, not even the Green Ninja yet. "We'll meet up after everyone else is asleep and…" he winched. "figure this out," he said, looking at Kai.

But Kai's mind was already elsewhere.

Not even the Green Ninja, he thought once again, a pit forming in his stomach. Lloyd was just a kid.

He was just a kid.

He was supposed to be just a kid.

"Oh look, Cole's coming," Lloyd said, cutting through his train of thought. Kai blinked at that, before also noticing the past self of his friend approaching them, the Scythe of Quakes still resting on his back.

FSM, Cole's eyebrows had been bushier than he'd thought.

"Sensei wants us all in the control room," Cole informed them. Kai's heart skipped a beat, and sank. "Just to talk. Not some serious meeting or anything," he added.

Kai swallowed uncomfortably, the pit in his stomach suddenly feeling bigger. "Let's get going, Lloyd," he told him, getting up.

"Okay," Lloyd answered, his voice oddly small. It then hit Kai that he was probably thinking the same thing too, already well-aware that what would happen next would change his life forever. Soon, Lloyd rose to his feet as well. "We can't keep them waiting."

They wasted no time making their way to the control room, where everyone else was already gathered. With years of constantly having to rebuild the bounty, seeing the original design once again hit him with a pang of nostalgia, before Kai was abruptly reminded of what that had transpired here. Of what that would transpire here.

Upon seeing Lloyd, Garmadon immediately pulled him into an embrace, four arms locking around him protectively. Kai couldn't stop himself from feeling a spike of fear at the sight. Because those hands had hurt Lloyd, torn his little brother apart in the worst way possible. At that, the fear instantly seared into anger, into fury and FSM, how he wanted to pull Lloyd away —

"Thank you, Kai."

Kai blinked, realizing that Garmadon was speaking to him. There was an odd expression plastered on his face, a soft one, something that actually seemed human…

Gratitude.

Right. He'd saved Lloyd. Garmadon was thanking him.

Avoiding his red gaze, Kai allowed his head to dip into an awkward nod, wanting nothing more than to be as far away as possible.

Garmadon's lips stretched slightly at that, before he turned to his son, who Kai was praying he could actually prevent himself from kidnapping.

It was truly fortunate that Zane had decided to speak, really. He owed him.

"But how did you survive?" he asked, eyes wide with curiosity. "How did you discover the secret to unlocking your True Potential?"

I...

Kai resisted the urge to squeeze his eyes shut.

"I knew I had to make a choice," he said, his gaze helplessly flickering to Lloyd, who swallowed. Kai's heart dropped. "I wanted the Fangblade so badly to prove I was good enough to be the Green Ninja…"

He was just a kid.

"…but then I figured it out," Kai continued, feeling like he was coughing out bile. For FSM's sake, he couldn't do this to him. Not again — Lloyd was just a kid.

He…he couldn't.

Guilt was burning Kai more than anything at this point.

"All my training in preparation to become the best ninja wasn't to be the Green Ninja," Kai carried on, his voice strained. "it was…"

Other kids get to play and have fun. All I ever do is train.

The fate of Ninjago rests on your shoulders. As the Green Ninja, you have a giant responsibility to hold.

The battle lines have been drawn brother. Sadly our family has only become more divided. Brother versus brother and now, son versus —

I have no son.

"…to protect those I never knew I could," Kai finished. Lloyd's eyes went wide, his jaw on the verge of dropping open. But what had been done had been done. There was no going back.

"I had to choose between proving myself and saving the son of my worst enemy," he said, this time looking at Garmadon, dead in the eye. "I hated you. I hated everything you did. I — I even hated Lloyd the first time we met because of you. He was your son, and at that time, that...was all he ever was."

Kai paused briefly to take in a breath, and continued, only to be surprised at the amount of strength his voice now possessed. "But then I lost him at the arcade. It was my fault — I might've seemed like I was only thinking about the Fangblade but…" his voice cracked. "I was also thinking of finding my brother."

For a moment, the room was silent — so deathly silent that he could've sworn he could hear everyone's breathing. He stared blankly at them, just about to register the realization of what he'd done —

But then…there came a clap.

A clap that very quickly became applause.

"Well done, Kai," Wu praised, something akin to pride filling his tone. Kai's lips pulled upwards in a hesitant smile.

"Thanks Sensei," Oh, if only he knew what he was doing.

And then Kai froze, it finally hitting him like an icy slap.

Just what had he done?

"I trust that this shall be a lesson to you all," Wu continued turning his gaze to the other ninja, who Kai was surprised to see that they were all looking at him with...was that respect? "Make your enemy into your friend. See through your hatred, see through what is really there. Perhaps even they will be surprised," he said, something twinkling in his eye.

"Yes Sensei," the three of them chorused.

FSM...this wasn't supposed to happen —

"Once again," Garmadon spoke over this thoughts. Kai blinked as he met his gaze, unsure of what to make of the odd wide smile on his face. A smile that shouldn't have even been there to begin with. "I cannot thank you enough," the dark lord said softly.

One of his four hands was resting on Lloyd's shoulder, keeping him close — Lloyd who was staring at Kai in horror.

If you change anything, you change everything, Wu had warned him not so long ago, his voice as clear as day in his mind at the moment. Kai tried his best not to sweat at that.

But what would this change?

"Uh," Jay suddenly said, sounding somewhat nervous. "I really hate to kill the joy and all but — "

Cole rolled his eyes. "Just spit it out, bluebell."

Jay gave him a dirty look, huffing. "Fine but is it just me but what the heck happened to the Fangblade again?"

Then, as if a lever had been been pushed, the room abruptly fell silent.

It took a while for Kai to realize that they were all looking at him.

"Um," he managed out, desperately hoping that his nervousness wasn't leaking into his voice. He lowered his gaze in shame, deciding to try and act as his past self. "I'm sorry but I didn't get it."

"No one's blaming you Kai," Nya said firmly.

"I know," Kai sighed, his shoulders falling in defeat. "That doesn't mean I couldn't have gotten it though."

"And what?" Cole scoffed incredulously. His arms were crossed, just like they always were whenever Kai or Jay proposed an idea. Kai fought back a huff at that — lack of faith was rude by the way. "Spend the rest of your days as a cooked human?"

"Which could've killed Lloyd by the way, since you wouldn't be there to save him," Jay pointed out, heavily scandalized at Kai's response. He shot the Master of Fire a scowl. "As an idiot myself, I don't claim you."

"Very wise," Zane muttered dryly, earning a scowl as well, along with a shove.

"Yeah, yeah," Kai then relented, heaving out another sigh but inside, his heart was racing. Just what had he done? "I guess you guys are right."

Nya raised an eyebrow, offended. "You guess?"

"Um, excuse me?" Cole and Jay managed out at the same time, before then whirling on each other, in surprise. Zane, on the other hand, had chosen to only look at him with a frown.

"As much as I admire your efforts to prevent the Devourer's awakening, there is still a 99.87% percent certainty that the Fangblade could have resulted in your deaths," he protested, visibly unamused by Kai's answer. "Considering the fatal rising temperatures of the Fire Temple — are...are you alright Lloyd?" he then asked, worriedly.

At that, all eyes had immediately turned to look at the blonde, who was suddenly as pale as a sheet.

He made no move to answer.

Zane decided to try again. "Lloyd —"

"I'm fine," the blonde said, his voice nothing more than a croak. Kai didn't dare to believe him — instead he was already making a mental note to corner him once the opportunity arose.

And as always, Zane just had to be a nindroid.

"Are you sure?" the Master of Ice asked him, a hint of hesitation on each word. His brows furrowed. "I apologize, but you have been behaving strangely ever since the events of the Fire Temple."

"I'm just tired," Lloyd lied, clearly wishing he could be literally anywhere else. Meanwhile Kai was just wondering just what in FSM's name had been going through Lloyd's head when he picked that for an excuse, of all things.

Zane seemed like he wanted to question Lloyd further, but just as he was about to open his mouth, Garmadon decided to speak.

"Then perhaps it would be wise for my son to get some rest," he said, giving Lloyd a pointed look. The boy stiffened. "You've had a long day, son," he reminded him firmly.

"I know," Lloyd replied weakly, sounding like he very much regretted his choice of words. "But I'm not that tired, dad. It can wait."

"Wait for what?" Nya asked. She eyed Lloyd curiously, and Kai could sense that even she wasn't buying his lie. "It's not like we're talking about anything important."

"She has a point, y'know," Jay said, bitting his lip. "Not that it's 'cause we don't want you here or anything," he added quickly. "But we're really not doing much right now. So go ahead and rest if you want."

Lloyd's eyes helplessly met Kai's, who — mind you, was doing the exact same thing. Though, Kai supposed that it would be alright. They could still talk about this mess much later after all, just like Lloyd had suggested.

Or maybe talk in this sense would just involve Lloyd yelling at him for changing the past and his life. Kai grimaced. Sure, Lloyd was no Sensei Wu, but still...it wasn't like Kai would be surprised if Wu's teachings had rubbed off him in some way either. If there was already a like father, like son, he couldn't see why there couldn't be a like sensei, like student.

But nevermind. The first thing that was going to happen was Kai confronting Lloyd about what had happened earlier with Zane, instead of being chewed out like he was supposed to be.

And only after that could Lloyd yell at him about damaging the future and everything. Or whatever else Wu had ingrained into their heads. There. Now that settled it. Sort of, but it would do.

"I..." Lloyd's voice faltered, as if desperately searching for a way out that wasn't even there. And it wasn't long until that realization hit him.

"Fine," he then relented, arms falling to his sides reluctantly. His bit his lip. "I'll go."

"If you need anything, I will be right here," Garmadon said, patting his shoulder. But Lloyd didn't reply, and gently got himself out of his grasp without further due, before eventually making his way to the door.

The room was oddly silent for the first few seconds he was out of sight, every single occupant sharing a look. And just when Kai was about to question why, Cole's voice decided to cut the air.

"What's up with the kid?"