Sup everyone! Apparently I'm still not over March of the Oni in the slightest, so on that note, here's a needlessly long fic about the trauma that is the march of the Oni and its drama. And honestly, people, it's march. You shoulda seen this coming.
If LEGO won't give me some closure with garmadon and Lloyd then I'll do it myself!
posted this without editing. Might regret it later... But today is not that day!
"Fall back! Everyone fall back now!" Lloyd demanded, grabbing his father by the arms and hauling him away from the army of Oni racing up the stairs. Once he was inside the Monastery, Kai and Jay quickly closed the double doors while the green ninja ran to get a beam to secure the gates.
"Cole! Help me!" Lloyd hollered at the earth ninja - wow. Lloyd thought he'd never be saying that again. He may love his older brothers and sister but he's sick and tired of morning family members that he'd assume dead and had more than enough evidence supporting the fact that they were dead, just to see them come back outta the blue on the backs of dragons at the absolute last freaking second to help him save the city from his evil father, and no. Lloyd is not going to ever let them live that one down. Ever.
Cole hurried over, powering up his lava arms and lifting the large beam up so it was barricading the gates of the monastery. The ninja stepped away from the gates as the Oni began to pound on it. The doors shuddered under all the force, and the ninja looked to one another, each of them ready to face the fact that this battle might be their last… But they were ready. Endings come, whether they want them to or not. But all they can do is fight to make them good ones. If the ninja are going down, they're going down as heros. They're going down as warriors. They're going down as protectors. They're gonna go down as a family. This is going to be a good ending.
It has to be.
"That's not going to last forever." Cole said, backing further away from the gates.
Cole's words seemed to stick in the lightning ninja's head. Echoing around in his brain as he peered over his shoulder at Nya. This Could be his last chance to ask her. This could be their last minutes together. Jay doesn't know how this final battle between good and evil will turn out. But he prefers to think positively. Maybe this isn't such a bad time to ask Nya to be his yang? Then again, this could be the absolute worst possible time to ask her to be his yang. And it's not really Jay's fault, either. He tried to ask Nya early but Garmadon - stupid Garmadon interupted him. So if anything, Jay blames Garmadon.
"Nya! I have to ask you something important!" Jay said, flipping off his mask.
"What? Now?" Nya asked, incredulous. What could Jay possibly be asking her now?
"Yes, now." Jay said, he came closer towards Nya and bent down on one knee, placing his golden nunchucks of lightning on the cobble stone floor next to him.
"Nya… You make me so happy everyday when we're not together it feels like a part of me is missing." Jay said rather hastily, reaching into the back pocket of his blue gi. Nya shook her head, was Jay doing what she thinks he is? While the other occupants of the monastery turned to stare at Jay and Nya in disbelief.
"Will you be my yang?" Jay asked, holding out one half of the yin yang medallion to the water ninja. Nya gasped, gingerly taking the yang half from Jay and holding it in front of her heart.
"Now you're asking?" Cole asked incredulously, popping up behind the starstruck water ninja. Of all the times Jay could've asked Nya to be his yang he chose now? In the middle of their life or death battle?
"We really gotta talk about your sense of timing, Jay!" Kai added.
Lloyd and Zane looked at one another. Silently asking if one of them had known about this. Zane just shook his head in amusement. He wasn't informed of Jay's decision to marry Nya, either. Lloyd signed, fondly. He was beyond happy for Jay and Nya, albeit a bit salty for being left out of the loop. He never liked being left out from things. But, alas, he's happy for them.
Oh well.
At least Zane didn't know either.
"There may not be another time." Jay said, standing up and looking at Nya with hopeful eyes.
Silence followed as the entire monastery waited in bated breath for Nya's answer. The ninja had practically waited years for this moment, having watched Jay and Nya's relationship evolve from their very first, terrible, absolutely terrible first date that ended in their first kiss and Jay unlocking his true potential to the tension between them when Cole was shoved into the mix.
"Yes!" Nya exclaimed, throwing her spear to the ground and launching herself into Jay's open arms. Nya buried her head into Jay's neck, hugging him tightly. "Of course! Yes yes yes!" She squealed in blissful joy.
"I taught him how to do that." Kai whispered to Cole, who sighed.
The moment was abruptly ruined by the splintering of the gates, tendrils of black smoke crept through the cracks in the doors, reminding the ninja of what was waiting for them right outside those gates.
Lloyd had a sudden realization. Or maybe he was just facing the hard truth? This might not be a battle they can win… How could he have been so stupid!? Lloyd knew that they Oni were coming and he kept it to himself. He could've prepared his family for this battle - but would any amount of preparation be enough? Would his family ever be ready for such a big battle?
Would he ever be ready to lead them into that battle?
Lloyd didn't want to admit it, he couldn't admit it… But the green ninja was scared out of his mind! He wasn't ready to lose his family so soon! He just got them back! He just got them back. Lloyd just got them back from the first realm, battered and bruised but alive. First spinjitzu master Jay just asked Nya to be his yang and she said yes he's not ready to lose them yet!
He flipped off his mask, turning towards the murals on the right wall. He'd really led his team through a whole lot. He's led his family through a lot. He's gotten them through so much over the years, so maybe the FSM will let him have one last win? One last victory over evil? One last triumph over the darkness that's been threatening to devour his family?
The very first mural caught his eye, it was the first battle the ninja had with his father. Garmadon towered over the four ninja, the golden weapons held in his hands and a golden tornado spinning underneath him. Kai and the others told him about their first encounter with Garmadon as a team. He found the story entertaining. His brothers told him everything from how hot-headed Kai was when they'd first met him to them all dancing around a bonfire with all four golden weapons and Sensei doing some rather questionable dance moves.
(Of all the things they could've made, they just had to make a ferris wheel? So that's why Lloyd saw a ferris wheel in the underworld while he was having that little interdimensional battle with Morro!)
The gates of the monastery shuddered again and more black tentacles began to seep into the monastery. One by one the ninja pulled off their masks, trying to smile encouragingly at one another.
"Nya, Jay, it's been fun Guys." Cole said, stepping back and brandishing his scythe.
"It's been an honor." Zane added, inching closer to his family.
"Let's go out with a bang!" Jay exclaimed.
"Let's give 'em-" Kai started, but was cut off by Lloyd.
"A tornado!" Lloyd shouted, stepping back from the wall of murals. He knows exactly how to defeat the Oni! Why didn't he see it sooner?
Kai, who was ready to battle to the death, ran forward with a shout of, "Yeah! Let's give 'em a tornado!" The fire ninja, having realized what he'd just said, Dialed back. "Wait, what?" He asked.
"What's the opposite of destruction? Creation!" Lloyd sighed, taking in the blank expressions of his friends. "Ugh, don't you get it! Creation! The tornado of creation! It's the one thing that can defeat the Oni! The power of creation, but we all have to do it, or else it won't work." Lloyd said, rallying up his team.
"How do you know?" Jay asked.
"Yeah, it was a miracle it worked the first time!" Kai argued.
"Okay, I'm guessing. But what do we have to lose?" Lloyd said, he'll admit that they do have a lot on the line right now, Jay and Nya's new status, the whole city waiting inside the monastery, and even their own lives…
What do they have to lose again? It's not like their lives in the line along with the whole of Ninjago is anything new.
"Lloyd's right. We have nothing to lose." Zane stated, brandishing his shirkens.
"What the heck, I'm in!" Cole agreed.
"Well, I love crazy ideas. Let's do it!" Kai exclaimed. And Lloyd was a little miffed, this is by far one of his… Less crazy ideas. But Kai's one to talk, he's had way crazier ideas than this.
"We're one now, Nya. Care to join?" Jay said, Nya linked her hand in his, smiling.
But honestly, Lloyd was sure that convincing his team was the easy part, the hard part would be convincing his stupid father. "It has to be all of us." Lloyd stated, glaring at Garmadon, who looked down on him like Lloyd was gum on the bottom of his shoe.
"I am not one of you." Garmadon argued, placing his lower arms on his hips and his upper arms on top of his lower ones. The sight was almost comical.
"No. But you're just as much a part of the history of ninjago as the rest of us." Lloyd countered, lava orange and emerald green locked in a fiery glare, neither Lloyd nor Garmadon wan't to back down. But, surprisingly, the ladder was the one to break eye contact and strood away. Lloyd stared after him in shock. He could only hope that the tornado would work without him.
Bubble gum and a wish.
The monastery gates finally gave out, the Omega burst through the gates with a shout, followed by the army of Oni and wisps of black smoke and tendrils.
"Here goes nothing!" Cole announced.
"NINJA-GO!"
Garmadon watched with a blank face as the ninja all spun into their spinjitzu. The colorful tondos all swarmed together, but they just wouldn't fully link with one another. He watched the ninja, his enemies, his younger brother, his enemies sensei, and his only son, his sworn destroyer, struggle to form the tornado of creation that could eradicate the Oni.
You are Oni, But only in form. In your heart, I sense uncertainty and doubt.
The Omega is wrong. Gamadon is an Oni! He is. Maybe if he says it enough, it'll make it true? But it was his son who came to help him. His son was the one who dragged him away from the battle and into the safety of the monastery-
Garmadon doesn't have a son… But if he doesn't have a son, why does Lloyd still call him father? You'd think that if one's father disowned them, beat them to the point where their own elemental power that was supposed to be protecting them, actually ended up hurting them, threw them through several walls, then almost killed their whole family in one go… You'd think that Lloyd would never speak his name. Yet here he is, calling Garmadon father…
The Omega asked Garmadon how he could be an Oni and still not be able to conquer Ninjago. The Omega asked him how he hadn't brought the city to its knees. And Garmadon technically did.
A true Oni would've destroyed this city already. A true Oni would've destroyed anything and anyone who stood in their way. But Garmadon hasn't killed the only person who's always stood in his way - but, honestly he did. If it wasn't for Mystaké and her stupid healing tea. And Garmadon doesn't know if he should be happy or angry about that.
Garmadons eyes drifted to the mural of him conquering the city with the women he'd called daughter… If he was capable of loving a daughter, then he wasn't an Oni. Oni care for nobody. Oni care for nothing. He isn't an Oni. Garmadon doesn't know what he is! He doesn't even know who he is anymore!
He's not an Oni.
He's not a sensei.
He's not the father of Harumi.
So who is he?
One of the black tentacles slithered over a small green figure in the mural, covering him completely, shadowing him in darkness. The reason Garmadon couldn't destroy ninjago was because he had things he cared about. He had people he won't admit he cared about.
He's a father.
And he's not going to watch his son get himself killed like the idiot that he is.
Garmadon sighed heavily before spinning into his violet spinjitzu, letting his element join the fray. The tornados soon came together, slowly but surely, the tornado of creation started off small, then grew bigger and bigger. The tornado grew taller than the monastery walls, the Oni stared at the huge, glowing gold tornado in horror.
The tornado of creation continued to grow in size until it was towering over the army of Oni, light blue lightning crackled from the spinning gold tornado, bringing up dust and the cobble stone floor of the monastery.
And with a blinding light, the Oni were gone.
Lloyd woke with a start, gasping for air and taking in his surroundings. His first thought was where the heck was he. Then he noticed the freaking dragon that was right in front of him. His second thought was where the heck was he and why is there a dragon here?
Kai's going to give him heck for walking up to a random dragon in the middle of nowhere and petting said dragon. But honestly, if you woke up in the middle of nowhere and your only company was a dragon, wouldn't you pet it? Lloyds always had an affinity for dragons…
"Hello, Lloyd." Came a rich, almost echoey voice. Lloyd stifled a yelp and turned around, straining to find the person that had spoken to him. A figure in a straw hat similar to his uncle Wu's hat walked up to him, his face was shadowed by the hat but Lloyd could make out a black robe and a shining gold accent that went across the strangers robes.
"Do you like my dragon?" The stranger asked, and Lloyd finally realized who exactly he was talking to. The green ninjago kneeled down in front of the first spinjitzu master, at a loss of what else to do or say besides that.
"Please, no kneeling. You have done so much for ninjago, if anyone should kneel, it should be I." The first spinjitzu master said, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. A third question formed in Lloyds' already packed head. Where in the heck was he, and why in the name of ninjago was he talking with the first spinjitzu master and his dragon?
"What is this place? What happened?" Lloyd asked, getting to his feet and staring after his grandfather. Oh man, Kai is never going to believe this!
"You faced destruction with dignity and courage. And you responded with creation and Love." Explained the first master, walking around and caressing his dragon's snout. "There is no greater response."
"But… Why am I here?" Lloyd asked again.
His grandfather kept walking, petting his dragon as he went. "I brought you here, to say thank you, for all you have done."
Lloyd chuckled, still trying to grasp who exactly he was talking to. This is the first spinjitzu master! The creator of spinjitzu, all of ninjago, and the golden weapons! And he called Lloyd - Lloyd of all people! To… Wherever he was, to tell him thank you? It's unimaginable!
"I - I don't understand…" Lloyd said, walking next to his grandfather. He's happy and all to see him… But why is he here? Like, besides the fact that the FSM wanted to tell him thank you for saving injao and all that. He's saved ninja plenty of times. So why is now so important? And where the heck is he and why are chunks of rock shaped like diamonds floating in the sky?
"Life is balanced. Endings are never really ending. Only new beginnings." The first master walked ahead of Lloyd towards a small group of beautiful yellow flowers, but when Lloyd walked closer, his grandfather had disappeared. Lloyd gaped, because what the actual heck?
"...And you have given us all a new beginning. The future is what we make of it, and you refused to let our future end in darkness." Lloyd turned to see the FSM in front of him, caressing a new patch of flowers. But, just as soon as Lloyd found his grandfather, he disappeared again and popped up behind him. A light breeze graced the First spinjitzu master and the green ninja, carrying a flurry of golden/yellow flower petals.
"Well done, Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon. Well done." The first freaking spinjitzu master then bowed in front of Lloyd, removing his straw hat in a gesture of respect. Lloyd was shocked. Here's the first. Spinjitzu. Master - kneeling - in front of him? No freaking way.
"Thanks." Lloyd breathed. "But… I - I really don't understand any of this." Lloyd said again. A voice that sounded eerily like Kai's echoed in the back of his head, "Who needs to understand? Lloyd, just take the freaking compliment and get back here." Said the voice, other voices that sounded like his family voiced their agreements, but that one little voice that sounded like Zane or Uncle Wu, told him that he should stay and try to understand all this. But then Lloyd vaguely questioned why and when did his subconscious sound like his friends?
Then out of literal thin air, his grandfather's dragon popped up and his grandfather climbed aboard the large beast. "You will soon, if you choose to come with me." The first spinjitzu master said.
"Come with you, where?" Lloyd asked.
"That, is a secret." The voices that sounded like, Cole, Nya, Kai, and Jay all voiced their disapproval.
"Don't go with him, Lloyd." A voice that sounded like Cole said.
"Why would you go with someone who won't tell you where they're taking you?" The voice that reminded Lloyd of Jay added.
"Yeah, Lloyd. I know he's your grandfather and all that, but I don't trust him." Kai's voice said.
"Listen to us, Lloyd. Don't go." Nya said, all of their voices were almost pleading with him not to leave. Lloyd hesitated, does he really want to trust his grandfather? His trust has really found a way to kick in the side lately.
"But you will be happy there." His grandfather continued, now he was full on his dragon. "Or, you could go back to your friends. And take up your duties as the green ninja again." Why did his grandfather say that like it was the wrong choice?
Was it the wrong choice?
"And - If I go home… Will I remember all his?" Lloyd asked, picking up a small handful of the golden petals and letting them blow away in the wind.
"You will think it was a dream. In time, you will forget all about it." Said the FSM, the dragon turned towards Lloyd, awaiting his answer.
Did Lloyd really want to go? He would be happy wherever his grandfather was taking him. Doesn't he deserve to be happy? He saved ninjago from the Oni, his friends were all okay… What was waiting for him bak in ninjago? A father who didn't love him? A city that kept getting into trouble? A role that he never wanted in the first place? A burden that was too much for him to carry? A title he can't fulfill?
"We're waiting for you!" The voices of his family argued in his head, Lloyd even heard Zane and Wu this time. He heard his mother, too. Calling to him, trying to get him to come back. But the voices were fainter than last time, almost like they were yelling at him from afar.
Nothing was waiting for him back in Ninjago.
He's completed his duties as the green ninja.
He can rest.
The first spinjitzu master reached his hand out to the green ninja, who took his hand. Loyd then felt a rush of adrenaline, almost like his whole body was buzzing with pure energy. It felt like when he'd had the golden power…
Lloyd Let the golden power flow through him, it touched every part of his soul and sang in his heart. Then the energy was directed somewhere. But, to where, Lloyd doesn't know. The power reached across all the realms, connecting Lloyd to them all. He felt more connected to himself than ever. He touched the souls of everyone in the realm, taking away all the darkness that plagued them. Lloyd felt at peace, like he had achieved everything that he needed to do and more.
Then Lloyd was looking over ninjago. He watched from the dragon's back as the clouds pared from the sky, revealing the sun that he missed so much. People all over the city were revived and freed from the dark clouds and rejoiced with their families. Then he was over the monastery, the glow of the golden weapons faded, now they were just ordinary weapons used by extraordinary people.
Lloyd watched in bated breath as one by one his friends got up from the ruble. Nya and Jay were hugging each other tightly, Jay's lips were moving but to Lloyd, no sound was heard. Then Cole got up, the earth ninja rushed over to Kai, helping him up, Zane came over next, and he could see sensei Wu helping up… His father? Garmadon reluctantly took Wu's outstretched hand and stood.
Lloyd watched as Wu, Nya, and his brothers all shared in a small victory, slapping each other on the back and congratulating the new couple. Surprisingly,even his father gave Nya and Jay a small half smile. Lloyd cheered for them, too. Smiling brightly down on his family.
Sure, he might never actually see Nya and Jay get married. Sure he might never know if Kai will propose to Skylor, he won't see Zane or Pixal, either. Sure he might never see the future generation of ninja that will protect ninjago just as those who came before them…
Then, ever so slowly, his friends and family were drifting further and further from him. Their happy faces blurred and far. The voices inside Lloyd's head were just that of a small whisper in his subconscious.
And then Lloyd realized exactly what he was leaving behind.
He'll miss all the weddings and he'll miss all the smiles. He'll miss all the laughs and he'll miss all the tears. He's going to miss it all. The voices in his head finally managed to get his attention, reality came crashing down on him.
His family gathered around something, but they weren't cheering. They were together but not smiling. Nya was crying and he didn't know why. Kai was shaking his head in disbelief but Lloyd didn't know what he wasn't believing in. Wu was looking down on something, and Zane was staring into the heavens.
Why were they so sad? Ninjago is safe and the Oni are gone. So why are his friends crying?
Then Lloyd realized he couldn't be at peace while his family looked like someone had just died. But they were all standing right next to each other, so why do they look like somebodys just died?
"I need to go back…" Lloyd said. He was still on the back of his grandfather's dragon. "I need to go back." Lloyd continued, a little louder. The first spinjitzu master slowly tuned so he was facing Lloyd.
"Somethings not right." Lloyd explained. "They're supposed to be happy, but they're all sad. I need to go back." Lloyd stated, he gestured to the monastery. The FSM looked down at the monastery, taking in his friends and family and their sorrowful expressions. The first master looked back at Lloyd, his face was still concealed by his straw hat, Lloyd pleaded with his eyes, hoping that his grandfather understood that he could never be happy until his family were happy.
His grandfather finally nodded, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. Lloyd flung himself at his grandfather, hugging him tightly. The first spinjitzu master slowly wrapped his arms around the blond, whispering something into his ear. Lloyd laughed a bit and pulled back, smiling brighter than the stars.
"Thank you, grandfather."
"No, grandson. Thank you for looking after my land. Take care."
Then, just as fast as Lloyd arrived, in a flash of golden petals and light, Lloyd was gone.
People often wonder: Why the best of us die… The answer is quite simple, really.
When you're in a garden, which flowers do you pick? You'd pick the most beautiful one's.
Nya thinks that Lloyd was that flower. He was too good for this world and they all knew it. Putting everything on the line for this job that she knows he never really wanted.
She wanted him to be at her wedding.
But now she stands here, while he doesn't. And Nya just wants to see those emerald eyes one last time. Lloyd asked her what else could they possibly lose. She should've spoken up and said "YOU!"
What is she supposed to do without her bratty little brother to keep her up until midnight? When she'd just saved him from death? Nya could see Kai standing next to Wu. Both grieving the loss of such an awesome ninja. She knows that Kai can only think of how he failed him. After all, he did promise to look after Lloyd. But everyone knows that's an impossible task.
Bad luck followed that kid everywhere. Maybe this time… Lloyd just couldn't out run it.
A single gold petal floated over Lloyds still, lifeless body. Not that Nya was really paying attention to one flower petal. Her eyes were clouded with tears. She thought for a moment that they should move Lloyds body out from under the shade and into the sun. He was never really one for the cold…
But then somebody gasped.
And everyone froze.
Nya's head shot up, or rather downwards towards Lloyd. Everyone was silent. Waiting. Then his arm moved just the slightest and took another breath. The breath turned to a cough and then those emerald eyes opened.
And the ninja went wild.
Laughing and crying and shouting and smiling, Nya barreled into Jay, hugging him tightly and crying tears of joy because he's alive he's alive he's alive! Zane helped Lloyd to his feet, the green ninja took in the battered monastery and let out a soft chuckle that turned into a bright laugh that crescendoed to a crying mess. They were sad because of him, they really do love him.
The ninja all wrapped their youngest brother in a tight embrace, they clung to Lloyd like if they let go, he'd be lying on the cobble stone ground again. Nya really didn't know why Lloyd was crying, but what the heck? She's pretty sure that they're all crying right now.
"It's open!"
Wu gingerly opened the door to his nephews room, tea pot in hand. Lloyd smiled softly at his uncle and patted the spot next to him on the bed. Wu placed the tea pot on Lloyd's desk and took up the seat next to him.
"So, nephew, how are you feeling?" Wu asked, Lloyd shifted a bit, averting his eyes.
"I've… Been better." Lloyd replied with a laugh, running a hand through his tangled blond locks. Wu let out a soft chuckle.
"Uncle, there's something I need to tell you."
"Go on, Lloyd."
The blond sucked in a breath, furrowing his eyebrows. The FSM was not kidding when he said that if Lloyd came back, he'd think that meeting him was all a dream. Because Lloyd can never remember his stupid dreams. But did he really want to open up that can of worms? Might save his uncle (And probably the whole team), a few gray hairs. The last thing that Lloyd needs are his brothers chiding him about his terrible self preservation skills.
"You're - You're not going to understand how I know this but really don't ask me how I do… But, um, your father… The first spinjitzu master, he… He told me that he's proud of you, and that you did an awesome job training his chosen."
Wu stared at his nephew with large eyes. His lips curled into a sad smile and he placed a hand on Lloyds shoulder. "So you saw him…" Wu concluded.
"...Yes."
Wu just nodded again. He gave Lloyd's shoulder a little squeeze before grabbing the tea cup and pot from the desktop. Wu poured his nephew a cup of green tea before exiting the room.
"Oh, and don't forget to let me know who you would like to attend this evening's ceremony." Wu reminded his student before leaving Lloyd to his thoughts and tea.
Nya strood down the hallways of the monastery before she stops at his room. She thought for a brief second if she should knock, but honestly, who knocks in the monastery anymore? Maybe Wu or Misako, but certainly not the ninja.
"Hey, Lloyd." Nya said, bargaining into his younger brother's room. Lloyd jumped slightly, almost spilling the green tea that Nya knows is in that tea cup.
"N-Nya, hey." Lloyd said, steadying the tea cup. Nya came and plopped down next to Lloyd, ignoring the sputtering Lloyd as more of his tea was spilled on the bed sheets. "...I was gonna say congrats but you just spilt like, half of my tea."
Nya rolled her eyes and pointed at the teapot on Lloyds dresser. "Oh hush, there's more tea in there." Nya repiled, standing up and pouring more tea into Lloyds cup. Lloyd smiled and gratefully sipped at the green tea, lost in thought.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Nya said bluntly, leaning her head on Lloyds shoulder. Lloyd hesitated, because he's pretty sure that he wasn't.
"...I - I don't think I was, Nya."
"What do you mean?"
Lloyd bit his lip, does he really, really want to open up that can of worms? Nya got up once more to close the bedroom door, she knows how nosy her brothers can get sometimes. After a beat of silence, Lloyd finally sighed, it's no use lying to Nya.
"After we did the tornado, I woke up and saw my grandfather… He told me that he could take me somewhere where I would be happy…" Lloyd whispered, side eyeing Nya, who was frowning as the implications of what Lloyd just said registered to her.
"So… You're saying that… You aren't happy? With us? That you were willing to… Leave us?" Nya said, filling in the blanks.
"No! No - It's… Not that I wasn't happy here with you guys. It felt like I had completed my role as a ninja. I thought I was done…" Lloyd finished in a whisper. Nya was openly gaping at him, her expression was unreadable - which was really starting to get on Lloyd's nerves.
"So he took you? He had no right to just take you from us!" Nya said, standing up. And Lloyd thought Kai was the over-protective one. Lloyd's subconsciously grateful that this is not a conversation he's having with Kai. Because Kai probably would have searched the sixteen realms until he found the first spinjitzu master, then would've given his grandfather a piece of his mind and the FSM might just smite the master of fire down on the spot.
Then Lloyd realized that he might just do that to Nya if she kept bashing him.
"-Does he have any idea what you've done for Ninjago and he rewards you - the absolute greatest ninja and bratty little brother with death?" Nya continued in her rant, Lloyd just sat quietly on his bed, sipping hesitantly at his green tea. He'll beg to differ with that great ninja part. Bratty little brother, though… Lloyd's definitely lived up to that term quite well, if he'll say so himself.
But then Nya's anger was turned on him and Lloyd was not ready for the turn of the tables.
"And you!" Nya yelled, jabbing a finger in Lloyd's face. "What have we said about self preservation? So you're just gonna leave us at the drop of a hat? Do you know how much that would've broken us? How much that would've broken me? I Thought that after Harumi you wouldn't decide to run off with strangers!"
Lloyd looked stricken, he'd known that one of them would be angry at him - it was either going to be Kai or Nya - but he hadn't expected it to be Nya. She's usually the calmer of the two. But with the way she's yelling, he might as well tell the whole monastery. Which is really something he's trying to avoid. He already got his fill of lectures after Harumi, and Lloyd's not looking for another reason to get another one. His image as a leader has been thoroughly trashed this year.
"Listen, Nya. I didn't mean to leave! Okay? I thought you guys we're fine!" Lloyd said, putting his tea cup down.
"No, Lloyd. We were definitely not fine." Nya whispered before storming from his room. Lloyd sighed, sinking back onto his bed and reminiscing over the past few hours - but reminiscing is thinking about happy memories and these last few hours have been the exact opposite of happy.
About thirty minutes later leaves Lloyd in a conversation that he did not want to have.
His brothers and Nya, all crammed into his room with facial expressions ranging from sympathy and curiosity. But, in all honesty, this was still a position that Lloyd did not want to be in. Explaining to one's siblings why he wanted to basically die is not a conversation that one really wants to have.
But in Lloyd's defense, he really didn't know he was dead… Huh, the irony is ridiculous. Lloyd thought that his older brothers were dead and now they thought he was dead. Maybe he can finally pull ahead of Cole in the ninja death count-
"Okay, Lloyd. Spill. Now." Cole said, eyeing Lloyd, who shifted under his gaze.
Lloyd, having resigned himself to his fate being squished in between all his siblings, he sighed and tried to think of the best way to explain what happened with his grandfather in a way that won't put them through anymore Garmadon-family drama.
"I saw the first spinjitzu master." Lloyd whispered, bluntly. Nya, who already knew, watched Lloyd intently while the others realized what exactly those words meant.
"So you were - You weren't just unconscious - Sensei really didn't feel a pulse…" Jay concluded, eyes raking over Lloyd.
"I mean...maybe? I dunno. He just told me he wanted to thank me and all that. But then he said he could take me with him, he said that I would be happy wherever he was going to take me…"
Everyone was silent as that sunk in. Nobody wanted to think about how different things would be right now if Lloyd had actually - if he had - if he never-
"Did you want to go with him?" Cole asked, looking Lloyd dead in the eye. "Did you consider going with your grandfather?" The group turned their curious eyes on Lloyd, who bit his lip hard and looked away, but he'd answered Cole's question wordlessly.
"You did." Zane breathed, looking at Lloyd with heartbroken eyes.
"I - I was actually there…" Lloyd continued, sounding ashamed.
"What do you mean 'you were there?!'" Kai asked, eyes blazing with a protective fire. Lloyd cast his eyes downwards again, not wanting to face his terrible decision. But instead of Kai blowing up at him - which Lloyd really expected, because honestly, going with his grandfather was one of the worst decisions he's almost made. Ever. Definitely up there, along with trusting Harumi - in the end Kai just gave him a look before wrapping him in a hug.
"Oh, Lloyd, your gonna be the death of me. You know that, right?" Kai said, somewhat wetly. Lloyd felt like a rock in Kai's embrace, but soon Nya had joined in, and after her came Jay, then Cole and Zane, and Lloyd was thoroughly sandwiched between them all.
"Yeah, I know." Lloyd replied, finally relaxing into the hug.
The group stayed like that for a good while, and Lloyd was aware that he never did let his uncle know who he wanted to invite to the ceremony. But - Oh. Lloyd is painfully aware how much he would've broken his family if he'd left. They really do care for him. Lloyd might never understand how the whole older sibling love works, but he knows how the little sibling love works. Gosh darn it he's going to make sure Nya and Kai and Cole and Zane and Jay know that.
"I love you guys, And I wouldn't leave you for the world, promise." Lloyd whispered, his brothers and sister tightened their embrace in response.
"Ninja never quit, so don't you go quitting on us, either."