Chapter 15
"This here is my lucky wrench. I've had it ever since I was a kid. My parents gave it to me, knowing that I had a talent for inventing... I haven't let go of it since," Jay explained, holding up a rusted old wrench.
Cole raised a brow. "Where are your parents?"
"Oh, they didn't believe I could open my own shop here in the village - so I ran away... Kinda. And I built Zane here. Then, Kai and Nya came along, and we became good friends. A few weeks later, Kai introduced me to Lloyd... We've been a group of friends for quite a while now."
Cole faked a smile.
"I visit my parents once in a while. Its not like I hate em. How about your parents?"
"I ran away from my dad. Ran away here and bumped into Dust... Which was a big mistake. I haven't really had anything my way with him. I never was able to think for myself - though, he taught me to stay strong, how to control myself. Sometimes I wished I never ran away, but then I wouldn't have met you and everyone else," Cole smiled wider.
There was a ding up front.
Jay stood up.
"Lloyd!"
"Just came to check up on you four," he grinned, patting his hip, the hook of his sword jingling.
Wu stepped out from behind. As did Garmadon.
"You two came too?" Jay asked, squinting his eyes. He set down his lucky wrench and fist bumped Lloyd.
Zane eyed Lloyd's sword. He felt a strange sensation creeping up.
Cole looked over at Zane curiously. Then, he turned his attention back to Jay and Lloyd.
"I misjudged you, Cole. Sorry bout that," Lloyd said, handing Cole the sword from his belt. "It's for you." Cole took it and stared...
"Thanks."
He quietly set it down by the wrench and shook Lloyd's hand.
"I will forget about yesterday, but if you lay another finger on my son -"
Lloyd cut his father off right there. "Heh, he's real protective."
"So, what'd you do with the Dragon's Eye?"
Wu stepped forward. "We hid it in a safe place... Do not worry. I have it safe with someone you'd least expect to have something powerful..."
Lloyd smirked. "Dareth."
Jay froze, then burst into a fit of laughter. "Great... Real smart, Lloyd! No one would ever think Dareth had it."
Cole pursed his lips. He had no clue who Dareth was.
Zane reached for the sword at the table. He felt as if he wasn't in control of his own body. Dark magic was holding him captive. He scanned the weapon - it was brand new. Looks like the new was just about to get dirty.
Jay kept laughing, he wiped his eyes and began to walk up to Lloyd. Then, he froze.
Lloyd blinked. "Jay?"
The inventor looked down at his blue shirt... It was turning red.
"Jay?" Lloyd cried once more.
Cole looked behind Jay. Zane stood there, with wide eyes, a bloody sword on the floor beside him. Cole's eyes widened. He had forgotten to pull Zane away from his mission to kill Jay.
Jay coughed and fell. Cole caught him, weakly, in his arms. "Jay?" His eyes scurried, "its spreading fast... Where did you hit him, Zane?" Cole yelled, tears beginning to fill in his eyes.
Zane stepped back. "I didn't know what came over me. His... I was aiming for his heart."
Cole panted wildly.
Lloyd knelt down beside him. "Don't worry Jay... We'll get help. Just wait."
"L - Lloyd.." He coughed, then began to cry. He tried to sit up. "I was going to see my parents tomorrow," he coughed between each word. "I wasn't ready for this..."
Lloyd hugged him. "Its okay, Jay... relax."
Cole's bottom lip quivered. "This is all my fault!" He cried, "I cast that spell on Zane... I sent him to kill Jay. But it wasn't supposed to happen - I -"
Wu walked over to Cole. "It wasn't your fault, Cole. You were under Dust's influence."
Cole stared at Jay. His face was turning pale.
"We have to do something!" Lloyd shouted. Garmadon walked outside of the booth and ran around the village to find Kai and Nya.
"Jay! Stay please! You can't die on us. Please, no, no, no!" Lloyd stared into Jay's eyes.
"Tell me a joke, Lloyd..." He heard Jay peep.
Lloyd gathered his thoughts. "No. Instead - once upon a time, there was a young inventor named Jay. He lived a great life... But it all changed when a certain sorcerer came into his life. A new friendship had begun... And... And... The days passed and they -"
He noticed Jay's eyes fluttering. "No! Don't shut your eyes! Don't you dare shut your eyes!"
Cole scooted backwards. Wu crept close to him. "Cole, relax..."
Kai approached the stall, his sister and Garmadon standing beside him. "Jay!" He yelled and knelt by Lloyd. "Jay!"
Nya hugged Jay's body tight. "Please Jay, I love you! Please stay! I won't feel complete without you. I need you!"
She planted a kiss on Jay's forehead. His eyes tried to keep open.
"Nya?" He said hoarsely, "I love you too, Nya... Kai will take care of you. Promise me you'll take good care of her, Kai?" The blacksmith nodded, tears streaming down his face.
"Where's Cole?" Jay asked.
Lloyd gasped. "Don't talk... The blood loss is massive..."
His eyes winced at the pool of blood underneath Jay's body.
Wu pushed Cole lightly over to Jay.
"Jay, I'm really sorry... I really am."
"I know you didn't mean it."
Cole tried his best to smile. But his lips disapproved.
"Take care of Zane and Pixal... Run the shop for me. And stop by at my parents... Please?"
Cole shook his head. "I can't, you have to! I have no experience with tools and tinkering... I don't even know where your parents live!"
"Zane knows. Trust me."
Dust shook his head at the scene.
"I really am sorry," he said softly, running his hand against the orb.
He could sense Cole's pain. How hard it was to loose a friend. In fact his first friend.
Dust floated over to Cole's room. He searched it for anything he thought Cole would've wanted to keep. When the one box was packed and set outside the door, Dust clicked his fingers and the whole room lit on fire.
He watched as it all slowly burned down. The sight was horrifying... When usually it would've been amusing.
"Guard!" Dust snapped.
A guard quickly approached his side. "Yes 'sir."
"I'll be leaving tomorrow... Just for a few hours. Prepare a meal for two before I come back. Understood?"
The guard nodded.
"Perfect."
Surprise! Dust changed! Did this surprise you? Well, if so, the next chapter will too.
And I'm sorry Jay that I killed you. I needed it to make this story work. Its a FF on friendship and family... I'm sorry, it was just the major part that was needed. Real badly.
Now, you guys get to tell me when to update! I only have two more chapters after this, so ya... If you want an update the next day, sure! I'll take whichever suggestion has the most "votes" on.
