A/n- The ninja somewhat treat Lloyd like he's a nuisance until after he's rescued from the Serpentine. Between that and the next episode they've formed more of the sibling bond that is then seen in the rest of the show. I wanted to see how that started developing as well as all involved process that Lloyd is green ninja.

If I wanted to be technical this could be considered "Sliding Scales 2" since it starts right after, but this goes a different trajectory so i gets its own title an isn't 100% necessary to (re)read that chapter.

The Golden Weapons fell with a clank. The room went silent as a look of horror came over Lloyd's face.

Wu took a step forward, "Lloyd-" but the young boy turned and sprinted out the door.

"You know I shouldn't even be surprised." Garmadon pinched the bridge of his nose

Before anyone could respond another thud came from the back of the room. Everyone turned to see Kai sprawled on the ground. Nya ran over to him.

"What happened?!"

The other ninja were decidedly less concerned.

"He just unlocked his true potential." Cole shrugged. "It kinda knocks the wind out of you, but he'll be fine."

"He won't be if he gives himself a concussion. Get over here and help me!"

Meekly Cole joined Nya and together they propped Kai, who was already starting to open his eyes, upright.

"Anyone get the number of the bus that hit me?"

"Just your true potential." Jay called from the other side of the room. "Congrats on joining the club."

Kai opened his mouth to respond but a puzzled look crossed his face as he looked around the room. "Where'd Lloyd go?"

"The news that he's to be the green ninja seemed a bit much for him." Frowning with concern, Wu made a step toward the door. "I was about to go look for him."

Garmadon growled something but it went ignored by everyone else.

Shaking his head, Kai used Cole to pull himself to his feet. "Please, let me. He needs to know I have his back."

Understanding gleamed in Wu's eyes and he nodded, continuing to ignore Garmadon's indistinct muttering. Without another word Kai hurried, unsteadily, from the room.

Wu sighed and turned to his brother. The Dark Lord was staring stonily at the door. Anyone who haven't known him for centuries wouldn't have been able to tell what he was thinking, but Wu could see the worry, confusion- and even fear- swirling within his older brother.

"He'll be okay." Wu spoke softly.

Garmadon let out a scoffing sound but didn't reply beyond that. They remained waiting quietly for several minutes until Kai re-entered the bridge, leading the newly named green ninja. Lloyd's gaze was downcast and tear treks were visible on his cheeks.

Gently Kai put an arm over Lloyd's shoulders. He leaned over and whispered something in the younger boy's ear. Lloyd glanced up at Garmadon before quickly looking away again. With a final squeeze on his shoulder, Kai nudged Lloyd toward Garmadon.

"D-do you hate me now?"

At that question the ninja, and samurai, all seemed to remember different tasks they needed to be doing. They quickly stole out of the room, leaving Wu, Garmadon and Lloyd alone.

"Oh Lloyd, no." Garmadon squatted down so he could look his son in the eye- not that Lloyd was meeting his gaze at the moment. "I never have, and I never could hate you (*laughs maniacally in seasons 8 and 9*). If anything I'm proud of you. You're growing into an amazing young man despite all you've had to endure."

"R-really?" Lloyd finally looked up, his eyes glossy.

"Really." Lurching forward Lloyd threw himself in Garmadon's arms- all four of them.

Wu watched, his own heart breaking for his brother and nephew. Now that he was watching it play out before his eyes it made sense the green ninja would be descended from the First Spinjitzu Master. However, it was a particularly cruel twist of fate.

"It seems our family has only become more divided. No longer is it just brother against brother, but son against father."

Garmadon shot Wu an irritated glare over Lloyd's head. He didn't need the reminder.

"I don't get it, Dad. Why me? And- and why us?"

"I don't know, son." For a brief moment the red in Garmadon's eyes dulled. "I don't know."

Nya houndlingly tracked Kai with her eyes as he walked around the kitchen. After a minute he let out a frustrated sigh.

"I'm not gonna faint again ya'know. That was a one time thing and I feel fine now."

"You might have hit your head in the fall. The last thing you need is more brain damage."

Kai gave his sister a deadpan glare. "My brain is just fine, thank you."

"Oh really, because who freaks out when the hair gel runs out to the point that three other people on board think there's a Serpentine attack?"

"That was one time! One. Time."

"Or what about when you saw dancing elves and gingerbread-"

"-There was acid involved!"

"You are not helping yourself."

"Ny-ya!"

She laughed. "Okay, okay." Her smile faded, "Even though you've been a ninja for a while now I still can't help but worry about you."

Kai sighed. "I know." Pouring two glasses of water he handed one to Nya and sat next to her at the counter.

"You really are okay?"

"Tired but yeah, I am."

Nya cautiously looked over at Kai. "How'd you, well, how'd you know Lloyd was the green ninja?"

"I... it's hard to explain." He frowned in thought. "When we first learned about the green ninja we could only make out that one ninja would rise above the others. Later Wu told us- me, Jay, Cole and Zane- that our destinies would be intertwined with the green ninja's. When I went back for Lloyd in the volcano something inside me just- just knew. And that's when I knew I had to let go of wanting to be the green ninja." Kai snorted. "Ironic is how pushing myself too hard was the thing holding me back."

"But you did let it go and got both of you out of there."

"Barely."

Nya jabbed her elbow in Kai's side. "Don't sell yourself short. That took a lot of courage."

Giving Nya a small smile, Kai shook his head. "Thanks." He ran his finger around the rim of the cup.

Nya watched, her eyes narrowing. "What is it?"

Sighing Kai leaned back in his chair. "Just thinking about Lloyd. You saw the look on his face. The rest of us were making it a competition to be the one that would take down Garmadon, and he has to be the one now to fight his dad. Talk about feeling like the jerk of the year thinking how great it'd be to be that person."

"I don't think any of us have been as considerate of him as we could- or should- have been."

Kai laughed humorlessly. "I told him as much when I found him. He's just a kid and we've been treating him like a total nuisance- even if he's got his twerp moments."

"It's not too late to change it. He's definitely going to need the support now."

"And I want to do it without him thinking it's out of pity or guilt. This whole thing has shown me how much he needs- well, he needs a family."

"We can start small. Just inviting him to be with us as we do things. It doesn't sound like he's ever had anyone stick it out with him." Nya squeezed Kai's hand. "While I can't say our road's been easy, at least we've had each other."

"And now Lloyd needs to know that he has us."

Later that night Lloyd stared out his porthole window. Garmadon had said goodnight over an hour ago but Lloyd still couldn't fall asleep. Not because he wasn't tired. If anything he wanted nothing more than to collapse and sleep for a week. But his mind wouldn't settle.

'What am I supposed to do now? I barely remember my dad and I get to see him again just to have to fight him?!' Wrapping his arms around his knees, Lloyd began to rock back and forth. 'Why should I be surprised any more? It's always me.' Tears trickled down Lloyd's cheeks and soon quiet sobs poured forth from his body.

A knock at his door startled him. Hastily he wiped his face and tried to quiet his breathing.

"Lloyd," Uncle Wu's voice came from the other side of the wall, "Can I come in?"

He debated on pretending he was asleep, but ended up doubting that Wu would fall for that. "I guess."

The older man opened the door and joined Lloyd on his bed. "I had hoped you'd be asleep by now. You've had quite the ordeal over the last month."

"Not tired." Lloyd mumbled.

"Hmm not tired or too tired?"

Lloyd scrunched his eyebrows and looked up at his uncle. "What?"

"There are times when we can be too tired to sleep." He gently took Lloyd's hand, forcing the younger boy to let go of his knees. "Usually those are times when the mind doesn't know how to respond to what's going on around us."

"Maybe... maybe you could say that."

"I'm sorry Lloyd. I honestly never considered the possibility of you being the green ninja so I feel I've failed in preparing you as I could have."

Lloyd snorted. "I don't think it would have made it any easier. Thanks though." He went quiet, realizing this was the first time he'd been alone with his uncle since before he was captured. "Thanks for- thanks for letting me stay here. And for going to get Dad for- for me."

Though Lloyd wasn't sure what that must have entailed, given that Garmadon was still banished before this point meant it must have been difficult. The fact anyone would go to such lengths for him boggled Lloyd's mind.

"I wish it hadn't taken so long. The Serpentine aren't known to be kind to their prisoners- much less the human ones." Lloyd shrugged, but internally he shuddered at the thought of the dark tunnels. "Zane's scans show with rest and food your body will recover just fine, but what all happened when you were with the Serpentine?"

"They didn't hurt me, I mean- yeah not really-"

"What do you mean 'not really'?" Wu interrupted gently.

"They just didn't feed me much and kept me in a dark cage." Lloyd fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "But, uh, but when they took me to the desert to find- find the Fang Blade they c-chained me up. I-I had to get through traps and then the blade wasn't even there. Then on the way back I, well I passed out. They kinda dragged me for a while."

"Lloyd I'm so sorry." Wu wrapped him in a hug.

He shrugged but leaned into Wu's hug. "Wasn't any worse than school." He felt Wu suddenly stiffen and realized he shouldn't have said that out loud.

"What happened at school?"

Lloyd muttered incoherently.

"Lloyd?"

Sighing Lloyd pulled back a little. "They don't call it Darkley's School for Bad Boys for nothing."

"Lloyd..."

"What was dad like before the- evil? I don't remember much before he- he left."

Wu studied him but allowed the change of subject. Late into the night Wu told Lloyd stories of the Garmadon he knew years before the venom stole the man from his family.

It was almost noon two days later when a sleepy Lloyd trailed into the dinning room. The ninja were all seated, eating together. Lloyd cringed when the talking stopped and everyone looked at him. He grabbed a piece of toast off the counter and was about to leave when Kai called to him.

"Morning Lloyd." He stood up and walked over to the newest ninja. "I have to make a delivery in town for Master Wu. Do you want to join me? I've got the okay from your dad and uncle."

The younger boy looked up hesitantly. "Yeah, sure."

"Cool. As soon as you're ready we can head out."

In a little bit of a daze Lloyd hurried, which in his still recovering state meant a brisk walk, to his room and threw on a clean shirt and a pair of shoes. He made it back to the bridge within five minutes. Kai saw him come in and pulled his sword from the weapons rack.

"Ready Freddy?"

Lloyd looked around the room. "Who's Freddy?"

Kai laughed and clapped a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Just an expression."

Together they roped down the Bounty and Kai ignited his Blade Cycle. "Hold on!"

Lloyd couldn't contain a smile as the wind whipped past them. The drive went for about fifteen minutes until Kai pulled up in front of the post office. In a flash of red the motorcycle disappeared. Kai sheathed the blade and opened the door.

Inside Kai handed a large package and several letters to the clerk. She smiled and rang up the price.

When she'd finished Kai asked. "Do we have anything to pick up?"

While the Ninjago City mailman was one of the most dedicated any of the ninja had ever met, they tried to spare him some trips to their residence. Though it'd been theorized the mailman enjoyed using his ultra light Jay had made for him, it was not easy catching up to a flying ship.

"Just two letters. I'll grab them for you."

After exiting the building Lloyd expected Kai to summon his cycle for their return home, but instead Kai gestured toward a nearby shopping center.

"While we're here we can get you some new clothes. Wu wanted to do it a while ago but when you were, uh, not here, he figured we should wait until you can try stuff on."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "You offered to bring me shopping?"

Smirking Kai directed Lloyd into the nearest clothing store. "Trust me when I say you wouldn't want anyone else. I'm the only one with any sense of fashion on the Bounty."

Lloyd brought up mental images of the ninja- and samurai- in their casual clothes and had to admit the fire ninja wasn't wrong. Although 'best' rather than 'any' might have been a better term.

Eagerly Lloyd started looking at different articles of clothing. He'd only been searching for a few minutes when his legs began to ache. Holding in a frustrated groan, Lloyd tried to see if there was anywhere to sit. A bench rested near the shoe racks and Lloyd made his way over to it. He sat down and gently began to massage his fatigued muscles. 'This is so stupid! It's already been a couple days, why can't they work normally?' Taking in several deep breaths Lloyd slowly felt his irritation fade. 'Just gotta use them more. That's all it is.'

"You okay Lloyd?"

Lloyd jerked his head up to see Kai standing over him, pulling a shopping cart overflowing with clothes- almost all of which sported one shade of green or another.

"Yeah, totally."

Cocking an eyebrow Kai sat next to the younger boy. "Oh really? That's why you're over here sitting on a bench when you were super excited to come in?"

"Y-yes." Lloyd stared down at his hands. Great now Kai was going to think he was ungrateful and wouldn't offer to bring him again.

"You know Lloyd, it's okay to say if something's wrong. I'm not sure how it's been for you in the past, but if something's bothering you I want to know about it. You don't have to face things by yourself anymore."

Lloyd snuck a glance up at Kai. The older teen was staring at him, concern visible on his face. Swallowing past a sudden lump in his throat Lloyd coaxed out, "W-well my legs are h-hurting."

Kai's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry! I should have realized you'd tire out easily. This is completely on me. I didn't exaaaaactly give your uncle the full plan when I asked if you could join me. I wanted to surprise both of you. Oops."

Being apologized to this many times- so many Lloyd had lost track- in the last couple days was becoming overwhelming. Or maybe it was the fact others were caring about their impact on him that was overwhelming...

"It's okay-"

"No," Kai interrupted, "when something has a negative impact on you like this it's not okay. Though that might have been what you experienced in the past that's not the way it should be. You matter Lloyd, just because you're Lloyd, not because of who's kid you are or what you've done or anything." Kai grinned cheekily. "And you can be sure I'm gonna hammer that lesson in."

"T-thanks."

"So how bout this, you look through what I have and see what you like. Then I'll go ahead and buy them and you can try everything on at the Bounty? Then someone can bring back what doesn't fit."

Lloyd looked at the cart. "All of that is for- for me?"

Kai laughed, but there was a brittle quality to it. "Kid you've got two shirts and a pair of Jay's old pjs. You need a whole wardrobe."

"Why are they all green?"

"Eh, kinda figured you wanted to keep with the theme. The rest of us do, but I guess you don't have to if you don't want to."

"No I-I like it."

When they'd finished sorting through Kai's choices- most of which met with Lloyd's approval- the red ninja went to checkout, leaving Lloyd to rest on the bench. A warm fuzzy feeling wrapped around Lloyd. For having been a prisoner just a few days ago this felt like some sort of dream. One that, with a growing surety, Lloyd knew he wasn't going to wake up from.

Kai returned with several bags looped around his arms. "Ready to head out?"

Lloyd nodded and carefully stood up. His legs twinged momentarily but held.

"Oh also," Kai dug through one of the bags and pulled out a small, brightly colored package, "these were by the register and thought you might want some."

He handed over the bag and Lloyd saw they were sour gummy worms. "Oo thank you!"

"Glad you like them." Smiling Kai gestured to the door. "Let's head home then. I think- if you're up for it- Cole mentioned something about having a proper Fist to Fist and Citar Legend tournament."

"I'd- I'd like that."

On the ride back Lloyd though his heart might burst. For the first time in... well, ever he really felt like he was going home.