Happy Friday everyone, time for an update. This time again now it's Lucas in the present with the other ninja. So this may be a spoiler alert to those that are reading Kaitoukiwi's series. If you're reading them, you might want to wait until her third story is done, if not you can continue reading this. That's all I have to say. Enjoy.
Chapter 18: Things to Tell and Things to Not Tell
"You did what!?" Kai, Jay, and Cole shouted while jumping to their feet.
I looked at my brothers as I understood their outburst. What I done to myself in the past to forget them. But how do I remembered though was that when I was forced to drink Remembrance Tea, my memories came back. But when I said that saying that my father told me to the others, I began to have some guilt swell up and realized what I done. But the main reason why I forgot them was to protect them. Not in selfishness, but for protection. I sighed. "Yes." I replied quietly. "I erased my memories with you guys."
"Brother, why would you do such a thing?" Zane asked while kneeling next to me and place a hand on my shoulder. "Forgetting the memories you had with your elemental brethern and not join us instead of Garmadon?"
I shrugged his hand off my shoulder and sighed. "I did it for protection." I replied. "For all of you."
They all looked at me confused. Including Lloyd. "I don't get it." said Jay, confused.
Figures. They all wouldn't get it. "You see I knew all of you would be the other elemental ninjas." I explained. "Each Spinjitzu Master can sense other Spinjitzu Masters based from the power in their heart. Once I knew that you were the other ninjas, I didn't want to hurt my friends as Garmadon's apprentice. So I made the sacrifice to forget who you were so that I didn't act weak in front of my uncle. It was also so that my uncle doesn't make me kill you." I averted my gaze to my feet. "That's how."
They all looked at each other and slowly nodded as they understood. I'm glad I made the sacrifice to forget them. But glad they remembered me if my appearnce was different. It didn't matter though as my brothers and cousins were safe before anything happened to them. "Hold on." Lloyd spoke up. "If you forgot who they were because you wanted to, then how do you remember them and my sister?"
I looked at my little cousin as he gave me a slight glare with his arms crossed. Why should he be mad at me? All I did was to protect them. I noticed that the others were staring at me to know how. I sighed. "You see Lloyd, Remembrance Tea is very powerful stuff." I stated. "I may have forgotten who they were, but they weren't erased. They were locked deeply in my subconscious mind and they couldn't break free. But when we fought in the Underworld, I was forced to drink and everything broke free. I remembered who I was when I was with my dad when he started training me. How I hurt him in the past when I saw his memories. And when I said that saying to all of you, I realized what I done to him. But when I forgot about you all, it was like it never happened. That's how I remember. That tea is very powerful to consume if you wish to remember something."
Lloyd's eyebrows were rising up as he understood and nodded. I smiled as he understood and looked at the others as they kept turning to each other to see if they understood. It seems like they all do now. Cole leaned his arms on the back of the couch. "I just realized something, Lucas." he said. What? "When your friend Kuzca gave you your pouch with the coins, if they were valuable when he had them, why couldn't we turn them into the museum for display? We could've gotten a good deal with them to find a decent place to stay when we didn't have the Bounty." My head snapped up and I glared at him. "What?" he asked. "Was it something I said?"
Jerk! How could he say that? "Yes I could've used those coins to turn them in the museum because they're old as my friend were." I spat out. "But those coins are valuable to me. I may have used some of the coins for personal things like clothes and hygiene products, but I still have some leftover because they remind me of Kuzca. That's why I still have them and not on display."
They all fell silent to my outburst. What? They lead me to it. Mostly Cole. How could he say that though? I used those coins so I can survive in the Underworld, but now keep them in display in my pouch and heart. I caught Kai's brows furrowing. "Hold on." he stopped me. "Were? Reminds? Is there something you haven't told us, Lucas?"
I froze. They had me cornered now. There's got to be a way out of this. "Uh...Lloyd, it's bedtime now." I said quickly. He looked at me and nodded and climbed off my lap and left the room. I felt my bones popping into place as I slowly stood up and felt a tingling feeling in my legs as the blood flowed back into them for the small lack of circulation and quickly left them with my plastic mug in hand. I quickly tranversed down the hall and turned a corner to sigh. That was too close. I looked over the corner to see if I was followed, which no-one did, and went to my room where I shared with my brothers and Lloyd. As I entered our room, I found Lloyd walking out of the bathroom, assuming he brushed his teeth, and climbed into the bottom bunk of our bunk bed. "Ready Lloyd?" I asked him.
He smiled. "Ready Lucas." he said and threw the comforter over him.
I smiled and walked over to my dresser and pulled a drawer open. I reached in to pull out my flute. The same one I had for ten years now that my mother gave me when I turned eight with the silver-chained charm braclet with a raindrop around the wooden body. I removed the braclet from my flute and clasped it around my right wrist. It slowly reminded me of my mother. Stella Wu. The mother that knew I'd be the NInja of Water. She even knew before I ran away and told my father the night I did and was suppose to tell me the next day. But I was gone. But I found my destiny as I trained under my uncle and became the ninja I am today. But I still miss her after I died and came back to life to become Lloyd's guardian. But I know she's still in mine and my father's heart. As her son.
I brought myself back and walked back to my bunk. I sat cross-legged on the floor and brought the mouthpiece to my lips. I caught Lloyd smiling as he laid down and I smiled back as I placed my fingers in the right notes. I've been gone for a long time now and I'm sure he missed me playing to him. Time for a trip down memory lane. I closed my eyes and began to play my favorite melody. My favorite one. The same one I always play to Lloyd whenever he woke up from a nightmare and I would take him to the deck so I can play for him. I guess it's a small tradition we do now. I peeked an eye to see Lloyd closing his eyes with a smile on his face and I stopped. For four months, I believe that Lloyd was scared and lonely without me. But he had his sister with him while I was gone, but he sees me as a big brother to him than a cousin as I protect him from Serpentine and the pirates. But now that I'm back, I can protect him still, train him, and even be there for him. It's good to be back home.
After I put my flute down, I saw that Lloyd had fallen asleep and I moved bits of his blonde hair out of his face and he didn't even move or startled. I smiled as he slept and walked back to my dresser to put my flute away and kept my braclet on and grabbed my towel and headed for the bathroom for a shower. After I wrentched the faucet to turn it on to the hot water, I removed my clothes and stepped in to feel a sudden warmth and quickly adjusted to the water. I sighed as it felt great. Most of my time in a coma was getting a sponge bath and I could feel the water being cold all the time. But now that I woken up, and winning the Bounty back, it feels great. I reached up to the shelf for my bodywash that looked like melted silver and smelled of mint and drilled it into my tan skin. I gasp to the sudden chill of the soap and was relieved as it passed. After I cleaned myself by rinsing the soap and washing my hair with the large bottle of shampoo we share, and sitting on the floor to be like I was meditating for awhile, I turned the water off and stepped out to pick my towel up and pressed it into my face.
I began to rethink of what Cole said and I snapped at them. Why was that necessary to ask? They're my coins and I could do what I want with them. Kuzca even said so. He gave them to me for my birthday and I kept them ever since. I may have spent some for personal things, but still I have the rest with me. And I'll keep them forever. Sighing, I brought myself back and let gravity take my towel to the floor and held my hands in front of me. I felt the water that was dripping on my body being lifted off every inch from my body and hair into two orbs in my hands to become dry with my hair still clung together as it was wet and waved them into the shower drain and picked up my boxers and sweatpants and pulled them on. I picked up my tee shirt and before I pulled it on, I caught my reflection in the mirror in front of me and saw the small scar on top of my left shoulder and turned my back to look at the mirror with a slightly small frown.
The scars.
Before the Solstice Battle and Lloyd's birthday, I was Garmadon's...slave to look for the shards of an ancient mirror to unlock a gateway to the Dark Realm where my uncle wa able to grow his other arms. Even his four hidden ones on his chest where he's able to possess my sai's and Laurie golden staff. I still haven't told my cousins or brothers about that. But after I saved everyone from a hurricane and maelstrom my uncle created with my sai's, I was convicted of betrayal and was whipped. I was weak to heal myself and recieved these twelve scars. Even the scar on my lower left lung when I sacrificed my life to protect my father from a poisonous blade that was combined from the Serpentine's anti-venom of each tribe and the Great Devourer's venom. It had no cure. Not even my powers could heal against it. So in total I have thirteen on my back and the one on my left eyebrow from when I fought against my father in the Underworld. Just like the dream I had once. It's my destiny to have these scars to see my past and rethink of my mistakes I did. But with my scars on my back, I see them as lies from my uncle to make me weak. And everytime I look at them, I see them to make me stronger against my uncle. I am not weak. I am strong.
I turned my back away from the mirror to see my scar on my eyebrow and slipped my arms through the sleeves of my shirt to pull it on. I gasped and stopped as I felt an icy hand touching my back and tracing one of my scars. I gazed at the mirror to see red fiery hair and turned my head to see Laurie behind me. What does she want? "I never knew my father would do such a thing." she said quietly. How did she she managed to sneak up on me? "Even to his only nephew."
I sighed. "You're not the only one." I said and slipped my shirt on to hide the scars. "Never thought he would do it and I'm forever ridden with these scars." I picked my towel up and hung it on the hook where the others were to dry off. I sighed and gave her a small smile. "But there's an upside to them." She gave me a confused look while tucking strands of her hair behind her ear. "Everytime I look at them, I see how much I hate your father as much as you do. They make me stronger." and flicked the light off and left the bathroom with her behind me.
"If that's what you see, I see it too." my cousin agreed and knelt next to Lloyd to stroke her brother's hair. "I hate my father as much as you do too. He left me, my brother, and mother when I was young and hate him for that." I looked at the Ninja of Wind to sigh. I understand that when my uncle used the Reflective Pool when I trained under him, the three people were my cousins and aunt. I too wonder if they hate him. My aunt, I don't know. Laurie, yes. Lloyd, maybe scared to answer as his prophecy has to face him in the Final Battle. With our duty as the guardians to protect him till the end. I am ready. Till the end. I looked at my braclet and turned my head as I heard Laurie sigh. "I never knew you and I once met before." she said quietly and stood up to face me. "I never meant to harm you as you said I did. But I wish I would've remembered that. Do you forgive me?"
I stood in front of her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Well of course I forgive her. She's family. "You're alright." I told her. "You were training under them and had to fight me by orders. But I was glad to get you and Zane out of there before we perished in that monastery fire. You're my cousin, Laurie. I forgive you." and removed my hand. "Also the reason why Garmadon left you and Lloyd was because he was banished as he tried to steal the weapons and lost. That's why he was gone."
Laurie looked at me and nodded. "So did they come after you for revenge?" she asked. I shooked my head. When I was in the Underworld, the only way in was through the gates and they were sealed off from any spelunkers or archeologists. So there was no way they could get in. And before I fell to the coma, I've spent some free time on the watch to search in case they were hiding. But nothing. Laurie sighed again while tucking her hair again. "So you kind off stuttered to get out of the living room, right?" she inquired. I sighed and rolled my eyes. Crap. "Is there something you're not telling us?"
I sighed and leaned against the wall by mine and Lloyd's bunk. "There is though." I replied quickly. Almost distant like a whisper. I started to shake and my lips were quivering a little. I looked at my cousin to take a deep breath. "There are some things I would like to tell to everyone." Like my reason to run away, my training, Storm, and meeting the others before. "But there are some things that I don't wish to tell as they...bring pain to me." Like my mother's death and other things dear to me. "There are some things that are personal to me and wish not to tell. Can you understand that?" I asked her.
The Ninja of Wind looked at me and nodded. "Of course." she whispered to not disturb Lloyd. She walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. I was surprised by her embrace of affection. But why? She pulled away to give me a small smile. "I'm sorry." she apologized with slight hint of laughter. "Lloyd did the same thing to me when I asked him on how he healed himself and wouldn't tell me about you until we were on Ninjago City Tower. He just told me your name and not the rest until we visited you. He looked and sounded sad when he almost said your name and didn't want to talk about it. But Lucas, if there's something you don't want to tell us, let the others know instead of running off. I'm sure they'll understand and will respect your choice. But if it's something you want to tell us, then tell us instead of feeling trapped and escape from it. It's your choice and you can tell us about it. I'll let the others know what you don't want to tell them. Unless you want to do it."
I looked at her and nodded that I understood. "Tell the others that I don't want to tell it as it's personal to me." I told her. "Right now I'm tired and don't want to face them. I'll think about it if I want to tell them or not."
The orange ninja nodded. "Alright I'll let them know." she said and headed for the door and stopped at the doorway. "Goodnight Luke." she said with a sly smile and left.
I couldn't help but stifle a chuckle as she was using my alias name as a joke. I got nothing against it or anything. Luke was my hidden name so my identity would be hidden from the outside world of the Underworld. No-one knew that Lucas Wu existed on this earth until after seven years I finally encounter my father on the Bounty to kidnap Lloyd for my uncle. From then on, Lucas Wu existed. The son of Wu that ran away from rage blinding him. Now a ninja for his father and brothers and a guardian to protect his cousin.
I looked down at the Green Ninja as his silent snores kept me in peace as he was in peace. He shifted around to lie on his right shoulder, the very one where I struck my sai's into his shoulder and left a scar there. But my sai's never meant actual harm to him. They were meant to protect people, never to harm innocent lives. I brought myself back and smiled as I was happy to be with my cousin again. During my coma I couldn't do anything at all. I couldn't see. Talk. Move. All I could do was think. Talk to myself. I almost went crazy until I heard a familiar voice and woke up. And I was happy to the first person I saw with my own eyes. Lloyd. There's a thing between me and my cousin. Not that we're family or I'm his guardian. But there's a bond between us and it never can be severed now. And that would be the promise I made to him. The promise to never leave him so we can remain as family forever.
I brushed Lloyd's blonde hair out of his face to see a smile on his face and kissed the top of his head goodnight. "Goodnight Lloyd." I whispered. I heard him mumble something to me and knew he meant 'Goodnight Lucas' to me and I climbed up to my bed above his. As I laid on top of my comforter with my head resting on my pillow, I began thinking of my outburst as I couldn't sleep. I've been asleep for four months and I don't think I need it. Like a vampire. Not that Twilight crap, but regular vampires. It's my choice if I want to tell them or not like Laurie said, but it's painful to tell. I reached into the back of my pillow to grab something and pulled out my pouch. I sighed as it reminded me of my first and oldest friend I had in the Underworld. I used this pouch to hold my smoke bombs and Knock-out Leaves as it has a use for it. Not just being my wallet or money pouch, but as a need of service when needed as a ninja. But it slowly brought memories of the blind skeleton that was the gatekeeper. I brought the pouch to my chest as I closed my eyes to remember the skeleton. "Kuzca..."
I hoped you like this week's chapter. Kaitoukiwi, again I thank you for letting me use Laurie in my story as you have Lucas in yours. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed it and I'll see you all next week for more of Lucas' adventures. Have a wonderful weekend and see you all next week. :)
