Chapter 9 - The Fall of Ninjago

In the moment, Garmadon didn't feel any different, but he trusted the wish had worked, due to the anguished expression planted upon his brother's face. The Djinn flew around to face him, but Garmadon waved him away.

"No more wishes for now. I've got bigger plans." Although the Djinn looked more than annoyed, it retreated into the teapot with a small, almost mocking bow. Garmadon strapped the teapot to his side, then looked back at the group before him. "So you've decided to turn your back on me huh, Cole? That's just fine. You can enjoy the company of these people until this island gets rid of you all."

"Dad?"

Startled, Garmadon looked down at his son, instantly regretting the threatening words. Lloyd, of course, knew Garmadon was a pirate, but there was no need for his son to have a front row view to the worst side of him.

He shook his head, stepping forward to take Lloyd's hand. "Come on, Lloyd. Let's get back to the ship."

"You're not going anywhere with that teapot, Garmadon." Wu pushed the others aside, standing before his brother with a defiant look. "You don't know what kind of power you are toying with."

"And how exactly are you going to stop me?" Garmadon unsheathed his sword. The sound echoed throughout the cave, a warning. "You don't have a weapon."

Cole almost face-palmed. Weapons! Why hadn't he thought of that? As it was, he was the only one with a sword by his side. They wouldn't be able to take the teapot from Garmadon. Not like this. Cole knew his skill with the sword was more than excellent, but he also knew he wouldn't actually stand a chance against his captain.

First of all, Cole couldn't imagine himself raising his own weapon to harm Garmadon. Second, Garmadon had taught him everything he knew. He would know exactly what to do to overpower Cole.

But there was someone who had a chance at stopping him. With heavy regret, Cole tossed his sword towards Wu, who caught it with a thankful nod.

Garmadon narrowed his eyes. "Even after all these years, this is the side you'll choose to fight on?"

"They're right, Captain. The teapot, it's dangerous. I do not want you to make a mistake. It isn't worth it."

"I'm not your captain." Garmadon scowled. "You've made your choice."

Cole flinched at the words, finally accepting that the life he'd known for years had truly come to an end. The weight of the truth was heavy, but for now, Cole did his best to stand his ground.

"So it comes to this then." Garmadon turned back towards Wu, who had stepped closer, anticipating the fight. Garmadon let go of Lloyd's hand, standing before him in a protective manner. "A battle between brothers."

Wu didn't answer. He simply swung his sword forward, knowing that he needed to finish the battle as soon as he could. Unlike Garmadon, Wu had spent the last ten years only directing and coordinating his army. He didn't have as much stamina as Garmadon did, and his skills were slightly rustier than he would have liked them to be.

Garmadon seemed to almost dance around his blows, a knowing, mocking smile tugging at his lips. "It's been a while since you've been in a real battle, hasn't it? You've grown slow, Wu."

"Fast blows aren't the only way to win a battle," Wu replied, as sweat began to grow upon his forehead.

"Perhaps not." Garmadon moved forward, expecting Wu to block his movements. And Wu did, but Garmadon kept pushing relentlessly and with increasing speed, until finally managing to slash a wound open upon his brother's chest. "But they surely do help."

Wu stumbled back, the stinging pain making his vision blur. He raised his sword to a defensive position once more. Trying his best to ignore the pain, Wu attacked again. Garmadon smiled, enjoying every bit of the battle. Wu was clever, and Garmadon admired some of his techniques.

Regardless of Wu's talents, Garmadon was better in every way. Experience and rage sharpened the pirate, and the aging admiral was pushed further away from victory with each swing of his sword.

"You're. . . making a mistake," Wu muttered weakly, fighting to keep his body standing.

"No, Wu. You made a mistake." Garmadon pressed on, placing a wound upon his brother's shaking leg next. Wu stumbled onto the ground, leaving prints of blood around him. "You made a mistake years ago, when you decided to take Misako from me."

Wu tried to reply, but forming words was far beyond him now.

"And now you're finally going to pay," Garmadon hissed, kicking Cole's sword out of his brother's hand. He then raised his own, his eyes and mind only focused upon his brother. Upon everything he'd done.

"Stop it," Lloyd said, pulling his father's arm back. Caught by surprise, Garmadon stumbled. "Don't. . . Don't kill him."

Seeing the fear clearly drawn upon his son's features, Garmadon felt guilt course through him. "Lloyd. . ."

"Please."

"I won't." Garmadon shook his head, turning back to face his brother and the others. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a ship to catch,"

Kai's hands turned into fists. Nya placed a hand upon his shoulder, doing her best to hold back her brother's anger. As much as she wanted to swing a punch at Garmadon, she knew they had no chance against him. At least, not now.

Lloyd looked down at his uncle, wounded and pale. Seeing the truth of what his father had become terrified him, and he found himself frozen to the spot. He didn't believe Garmadon would actually harm him, but he didn't want to witness anything like that again, either.

"Lloyd." Garmadon pushed past the others as they moved towards Wu, half turning to look at his son. "Come on."

For a moment, Lloyd considered staying. He definitely enjoyed Jay's company. He didn't know much about Kai, but Lloyd decided he liked him too. And the others didn't seem to be half bad. Would it be better to stay, rather than risk seeing the darker side of his father once again?

No. Lloyd looked at the teapot strapped against his father's waist. He couldn't stay. If anyone would have a chance at stopping Garmadon before he wound up wishing himself out of existence, it would be Lloyd himself.

So he stepped forward, slowly at first, growing more and more determined with each step. Yes, his father sometimes made all the wrong choices, but Lloyd believed, no he knew, Garmadon could do better. His father was worth saving, and Lloyd would do his best to make sure it got done.

With shaking fingers, he told hold of his father's open hand.

Cole watched the ship sail away, his heart heavier than ever.

Nya and Kai had quickly worked to build a fire, using the flames to seal Wu's wounds shut. The old man had bled a surprising amount of blood, but he would live. At least for now. But there were still dangers on the island, and although the cave seemed to be safe, they couldn't allow themselves to let their guard down.

Cole wondered if he'd truly made the right choice. He'd once again found himself without a home, except now there truly was no one else to turn to. The others didn't trust him. Not that Cole could blame them.

"Hey."

Oh. Right. Someone trusted him.

Cole didn't turn, holding to the image of his former home as it grew smaller against the horizon. He felt Jay plop down onto the ground beside him. "Sorry about. . . Well, everything. You'd been part of their crew for forever, right?"

"Ten years," Cole responded.

"Dang," Jay said. "That's a pretty long time. Who knows, maybe the kid will bring Garmadon back to his senses, and they'll come pick us up."

"Maybe."

"Or maybe we'll be stuck here forever. . ." Jay shivered.

"Maybe."

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"Well excuse me if I don't really feel like talking," Cole sighed. "I'm just. . . trying to come to terms with everything. I know being a pirate isn't exactly what you'd call paradise, but. . . As annoying as they were, that crew was my family. And Garmadon? He's one of the best people I know."

"You must not know that many people," Jay mentioned, then quickly covered his mouth in regret. "Sorry! I'm sure he was. . . something. I just haven't really seen the best side of him, if I'm being honest."

"It's fine. You've got good reasons to feel the way you do."

"I do, I do." Jay nodded. "I'm sure you have good reasons to feel the way you do."

Cole smiled. "I do."

"Care to share?"

"You're not going to stop trying to talk to me, are you?"

"Probably not. Kai and Nya are too busy fussing over Wu to pay me much mind. You're the only one that's actually responded to me. So now you're stuck."

"They've got the right idea. Maybe I should have ignored you too."

Jay's mouth dropped open. "Rude."

"I'm joking." Cole finally looked away from the ship, turning to look at Jay's offended expression. He chuckled. "For the most part."

Jay crossed his arms.

"But I guess it can't hurt to tell you about Garmadon." Cole turned back to face the sea, but the ship had finally faded away. "He'll probably need more than me and Lloyd to defend him once this is all over."

"Well," Jay looked at Cole, then followed the man's gaze towards the sea. "I'm listening."

Garmadon marched straight to his brother's former mansion, allowing his crew to run around the island, doing as they pleased.

They'd returned to the island in record time. His crew had been more than ecstatic when they realized that their captain had not, in fact, gone insane. The prospect of having Ninjago for themselves fueled them, and even the wind blew ceaselessly to rush their arrival.

Once docked upon the island, none of the guards made any move to stop them. They all shared the same faraway look, just as they all mindlessly obeyed each of Garmadon's words. The citizens of Ninjago quickly learned that there was nothing to protect them from the pirates spilling upon the shore.

But Garmadon didn't join their crew in the random pillaging. Instead, he stuck by Lloyd's side as they began their trip towards the mansion. Towards the place where he would finally see Misako.

Although Lloyd would refuse to admit it aloud, he couldn't help but feel a large wave of fear crash through him as he watched the island he'd grown up on slowly fall apart. Lloyd had always thought that maybe, becoming a pirate like his father and breaking every rule he could think of was the life he was destined to lead. But now, now he wasn't so sure.

He held on tightly to his father's hand, forcing himself to focus on something other than Ninjago's downfall. He began wondering what it would take to convince Garmadon to rid himself of the teapot. "So. . . what's going to happen to Ninjago?"

Garmadon stopped walking, looked down at his son's small frown. A bit of guilt created a light pressure against his chest. With a shake of his head, he took Lloyd into his arms. "Don't worry too much. Things will be fine. The only difference is, now me and you will be in charge."

"Right." Lloyd nodded slowly as his father picked him up, then continued to follow the path. "So now that we're in charge, you won't need any more wishes!"

Garmadon refrained himself from rolling his eyes. Why was everyone so intent in keeping him from the wishes that were so rightfully his? Garmadon was not an idiot, unlike the others who'd stumbled upon the teapot. He was going to get exactly what he wanted, and nothing more. "There are still a couple of things that need fixing . . ."

"I read all about it in mom's library. It's dangerous."

"Oh, come on, what's life without a bit of danger?" Garmadon smiled, but Lloyd did not return the gesture.

"I just found you," he replied, instead. "I don't want to lose you again."

"Lloyd, I will never leave you again. I promise."

Lloyd leaned against his father's chest, wishing he could believe his words, but Lloyd knew the creature within the teapot had skillfully tricked hundreds of people, and there was nothing to say his father wouldn't wind up playing straight into the Djinn's hands.

No, Lloyd couldn't simply trust and relax. If he was going to save his father, he'd have to take matters into his own hands. Lloyd would steal and hide the teapot, and make sure his father, or anyone else for that matter, never found it again.

The kid closed his eyes and began to formulate a plan to achieve his goals. His ideas continued to spin, slowly transforming into a dream.

Misako sat upon her son's small bed, her thoughts twisted into a turmoil that shut out the rest of the world. There were thick shadows hanging from her eyes, where lack of sleep had left its mark.

How had she not seen that, of course, her son would still try to escape? She shouldn't have left him alone. She should have known, but she hadn't.

And now, the amount of things she didn't know continued to increase. She didn't know if Lloyd had reached his father. She didn't know if her son was unharmed. She didn't know where exactly he could be. She didn't know if she was ever going to see him again.

As the unknown facts continued to pile on upon her mind, she stumbled upon the heaviest one of all.

She didn't know how to be a good mother.

Misako rested her tired face against her hands, but before she could allow tears to roll for the hundredth time, the door to Lloyd's room was pushed open.

Her heart dropped, and suddenly, Misako found that it was very hard to breathe. She blinked a couple of times, trying to decide whether the sight before her was real, or simply another waking dream.

Garmadon stood by the door, with Lloyd's sleeping body cradled in his arms. Misako stepped forward slowly, and he allowed her to take hold of their son. She held Lloyd against her, careful not to wake him, but barely refraining herself from squeezing him too tight.

"Better to let him rest," Garmadon pointed out, without meeting Misako's eyes. "I think me and you need to talk."

Misako nodded. She couldn't think of any words. She was, of course, more than glad to have her son safely back at home. But why was Garmadon here? And where was Wu?

She set her son down slowly, scared of the answers she would have to face when she turned back towards Garmadon.

Together, they stepped outside of Lloyd's room. Misako noticed Zane standing close by. She allowed herself to relax. The guard wouldn't let Garmadon approach her if he was a threat. Wu must have ordered them to let Garmadon inside. But why?

"So you decided to finally come back," Misako said, trying to find words to use. But how were you supposed to talk to someone you hadn't seen in years? Someone you'd begun to learn to live without?

"Finally come back?" Garmadon forced a laugh. "You make it sound like I was the one who decided to leave you."

"That's because you did."

"Did I really, Misako?" Garmadon shook his head. "Or did you decide to toss me aside first?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw you. You and Wu. Years ago. When he returned from his little expedition to find the Teapot of Thyran. I saw how warmly you welcomed him." Garmadon stepped back, turning away from Misako. "You know, I never thought you'd betray me. I thought you loved me. I really did. But I guess I didn't really mean much to you."

"What?" Misako shook her head, before the memories slowly fell into place. She looked down. "Garmadon I did love you. But you . . You were never there."

"You could have said something. You could have told me, and I would have stayed. For you, I would have done anything." The pirate shook his head, then finally turned back around. "But guess what? I'm finally going to be here. Oh yes. I'm not going to go anywhere. Not when Ninjago was oh so welcoming. I think I'll enjoy things finally going my way in this place."

"What are you talking about?" Misako stepped towards Zane, but the man gave absolutely no sign that he noticed her presence. It wasn't until now that she noticed the strange, faraway look in his eyes. "Garmadon, what did you do?"

"Me?" Garmadon smiled. "All I did was make a little wish."

"Where's Wu?"

Garmadon shrugged. "He doesn't matter. I'm the one that's here now."

"What did you do to him!?"

"You there." Garmadon nodded towards Zane. "Take her to her room. And make sure she doesn't go anywhere."

"Zane, wait." Misako shook her head, as the once loyal soldier gripped her arm. "Zane don't."

But Garmadon's orders were the only thing Zane could hear.