Author's note: This chapter's name was also too long apparently *fp*. I gotta work on that I guess XD. This chapter's name is "Back to the Outcast and...an Execution?".
On Saturday and Sunday, Lloyd trained all day long. Wu trained with him for half the day, but then had declared that he was too old for that much training. Lloyd had trained the other half of the day by himself. Soon, his father would be able to help train him, too, when his ankle was healed.
The next day, Monday, Lloyd walked into the kitchen for breakfast. Wu, Misako, and Garmadon seemed to be deep in conversation about something. They hadn't even noticed him. They were talking too quietly for Lloyd to hear, and so he walked over to the table. Noticing him now, they all immediately fell silent, glancing at each other uneasily.
Lloyd frowned, looking at them in confusion. He sat down, beginning to eat.
"Lloyd," Misako said, finally breaking the silence. She glanced at Wu and Garmadon, and then looked back at him.
Lloyd frowned, starting to get worried.
"You know that we came here because we were chased out of our home, and we had nowhere else to go."
Lloyd nodded, not liking where she was going with this.
"Well, we can't stay here, in human land. It's too dangerous. We can't risk getting found out about. It's no longer safe to live here."
"But why? We're up on a mountain in a very secluded area. How could anyone find out about us?" Lloyd was having a hard time understanding why they couldn't stay. He liked it here, and he didn't have to worry about getting attacked all the time. It was far more peaceful here than in the Outcast.
Misako sighed. "Eventually, someone is going to notice that this place is no longer vacant."
"But how would they find out in the first place, unless they were snooping around where they weren't supposed to?" Lloyd was starting to get angry. It wasn't fair that they had to leave the monastery because of a potential nosy person.
"We cannot control who does and does not go snooping around. Therefore, we must leave the monastery," Wu told him.
Lloyd tried to think of something he could say, something that would change their minds, but deep down, he knew that they were right. They had to leave. "Where will I train?"
"In the Outcast. It would be too long of a walk to travel here everyday," Wu replied.
Lloyd frowned. "Will we ever come back?" The monastery had started to feel like home to him, and he didn't want to leave it.
Wu shook his head, frowning. "I'm not sure. It would be risky to come back. But, perhaps someday."
"And if we're leaving, we're bringing the weapons and other supplies with us this time. I don't want to come back in another hundred years and find that we left a bunch of stuff here," Garmadon added.
"Okay," Lloyd agreed sadly. "When are we leaving?"
"When you get home from school," Misako said. "So be home by 4:30 today."
Lloyd nodded. "Alright. I gotta go to school now." He stood up, waving goodbye to them, and then headed off to school.
On the way to school, he suddenly remembered what had happened yesterday. He wondered if they even wanted to be friends anymore, and if they thought he was stupid for not knowing about obvious things. The longer he thought about it, the less sure of himself he became. He slowed his pace down, frowning. He was at the school entrance now, and he felt a foreboding feeling come over him. Well, he couldn't just not go to school. Sucking in a deep breath, he entered the building warily. He always felt anxious at school, afraid that someone would learn of his secret, but now he was anxious about two things. That, and that his friends hated him now. He had kinda walked off pretty fast yesterday…
Feeling even more apprehensive, he continued on to his class.
At lunch, Lloyd entered the cafeteria cautiously. He wasn't exactly sure if he would be allowed back at their table, but he decided to try it anyway, even if he was feeling very anxious about it. Kai, Cole, Nya, Jay, and Zane were sitting there, as usual. When he approached, they all fell silent, giving Lloyd the impression that they had been talking about him.
"Uh, hey Lloyd," Kai greeted him awkwardly.
"Um, hi," Lloyd replied. Kai scooted over for him, and so Lloyd assumed that he was still welcome. He sat down next to Kai, eyeing him cautiously.
Jay walked over, holding one of those square things that glowed and that resembled a game boy. "So on Friday, you said that you had no idea what a phone was."
Lloyd frowned apprehensively, but Jay didn't seem to be interrogating him.
"So today, I'm gonna show you one!" Jay held out the square thing cheerfully. "This is a phone."
Lloyd's eyebrows rose in surprise. "So that'swhat it's called…" he murmured. He had always wondered what in the world all of the other students had been carrying around.
"Uh, yup! I can show you how it works, if you want?" Jay offered.
Lloyd nodded eagerly. Jay then started showing him different games you could play, and the camera and the search engine. He told Lloyd that on something called Facebook was where they had heard about the Green Ninja. He showed Lloyd the blurry picture.
Lloyd felt another burst of pride.
Jay continued to show him things on the phone, and he even let Lloyd try some of the games. Eventually though, they all had to get back to class.
When Lloyd arrived at the monastery, he immediately helped his parents and Wu pack up their things. Garmadon's ankle was now almost completely healed, and so now he could walk on it again.
Wu had suggested that they leave some of their supplies here, in case someone stole all of their belongings. Then they would have what they needed until they could regain their things, or obtain new supplies.
After they were done packing they stood in the courtyard, looking at the monastery one last time.
"We have to visit it again someday," Lloyd said.
"One day…" Wu agreed.
They all turned to leave, Lloyd glancing back one last time.
An hour later they reached the Outcast. They all made sure to walk silently, all of them on edge. Lloyd glanced around every few seconds, expecting an attack. He realized that they had all grown accustomed to the monastery, and had felt a lot safer there than they ever had in the Outcast. He wished that it could have stayed that way, but he knew that his kind was not welcomed there. One day, they would have been found out. Lloyd knew that he would still go to school, but eventually… What would he do after that? He would still be an Outcast, living on the edges of society. He would never actually be a part of it. He knew that he would live his life in the Outcast, and that he would probably die in the Outcast. Unless of course, he was executed…
A little later they came upon a spot that was covered in thorns and vines. After Wu hacked at it for a few minutes with Lloyd's sword, inside they saw that it was a clearing.
"We can live here," Misako declared, already walking in to stand next to Wu. Garmadon and Lloyd followed her in.
Looking up, Lloyd saw that the thorns and vines created a nice covering above their heads. If they patched up the few holes, then it would be waterproof. They could hang vines and long leaves in the entrance so that it was camouflaged. It would make a very nice home, at least for now until they could build another cabin.
When they had set up everything it was night time, about 11:30. After supper, they all lied down to go to bed.
Misako spoke up suddenly. "I know that we have money in the bank to pay for school, but that money isn't going to last."
Garmadon sat up, as did Wu and Lloyd. Misako did too.
"So what do you propose?" Garmadon asked.
"I was thinking about getting a job in Ninjago City," Misako replied. "That way, we can be sure that we won't run out of money."
"But what if you're found out?"
"Lloyd goes to school. The risk is just as big as this one."
Lloyd looked to Garmadon and then Misako, wondering what would happen.
"I guess," Garmadon finally relented. "But now Wu and I will have to do all of the foraging."
"I can help when I get home," Lloyd offered.
"I can too," Misako agreed.
"Then it's settled," Wu said. "Where will you work?"
"The museum, probably," Misako replied, a gleam in her eyes.
"Why does that not surprise me?" Garmadon asked, amused.
Zane climbed the vines, swinging himself over the palace wall, and landed silently on the ground. He saw P.I.X.A.L waiting in the shadows for him, and hurried over.
P.I.X.A.L turned, noticing him. "Thank goodness you came!"
"I came as fast as I could as soon as I got your message," Zane replied, worried. "What is so urgent? The guards almost caught me. We were supposed to wait until two weeks had passed."
P.I.X.A.L nodded, frowning. "I know, but this is important. The Emperor is planning the execution of a half breed."
Zane's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Some of the guards caught a half breed sneaking around the city three days ago. I had the chance to speak to him briefly, and he's not evil like everyone thinks. And now, I'm not even sure if I believe that any hybrids are evil. Well, I do know that some are, but not all of them… The Emperor isn't only persecuting nindroids. He's persecuting half breeds as well! They have no right to murder him! He's just like us, Zane. We must help him somehow!"
Zane nodded, sighing. "I agree we should help him, but how?"
P.I.X.A.L shook her head sadly. "I don't know. There's nothing I can do…"
"The Emperor must be stopped…" Zane shook his head angrily. "This cannot go on. Someone must do something, and no one will. It is up to us."
P.I.X.A.L nodded in glum agreement. "But what shall we do?"
"I'll… I'll figure something out…"
The next day, Tuesday, Lloyd went to school. Halfway there his mother had walked with him, but then had turned down another street. She had been headed to the museum to see if she could get a job there.
Lloyd entered the school as he usually did, which was cautiously and with a little bit of anxiety. His anxiety about being found out had lessened somewhat over the past weeks he had been coming here, but he knew that he had to stay alert. One misstep could spell doom for him. As he walked, he saw that all of the other students were on their "phones". He smiled triumphantly, glad that he finally knew what the things were and that he no longer had to call them glowing box things. As he reached his locker, his friends came up to him. Zane was in the back, frowning, and seemed to be staring off into space.
"Hey Lloyd, I'm guessing you haven't heard the news yet?" Kai said, holding his phone and staring at it, having not even glanced up at Lloyd.
"Um, what news?" Lloyd asked, frowning in confusion.
"There's gonna be an execution later today," Cole informed him. He had a determined look on his face.
Lloyd's eyes widened in shock. "What?"
"The last execution was, like, six years ago? I guess the half breeds didn't learn their lesson the last time," Nya added.
"Yeah, almost the whole city's gonna be there," Kai said.
Lloyd felt a sense of dread. "Um, who's the half breed?"
Kai shrugged. "Dunno." He looked up at Lloyd. "Does it matter?"
"Uh… um, no, I guess not…" Lloyd mumbled. He suddenly felt very anxious, knowing that another half breed was getting executed. It could have been him… From now on, Lloyd had to be very cautious and 100% alert at all times.
"Are you going?" Cole asked.
"No," Lloyd immediately replied. "I, uh, have stuff to do after school…" Lloyd felt Zane watching him closely. He cast a glance at him. He seemed to be studying him. Feeling even more nervous, Lloyd stuffed his hands into his sweater pockets.
"Well, Cole, Nya, and I are going," Kai said. "Jay's too chicken to go, and Zane I guess just doesn't want to."
"It isn't right," Zane told them.
Cole shrugged, then growled, "If you ask me, they're just getting what they deserve." Cole turned and left, walking stiffly.
"Eh, don't mind him," Kai said. He lowered his voice. "Cole's mom was murdered by half breeds in one of the attacks a few years back. He still hasn't gotten over it, and I think that he blames all half breeds now…"
Lloyd nodded, swallowing. If his friends ever found out that he was a half breed, then he would be as good as dead…
Zane turned then, leaving. Lloyd watched him go. He walked stiffly like Cole, but Lloyd thought that it was probably for a different reason. Zane had said that it wasn't right… and Lloyd agreed with him. He was actually relieved that someone thought that it wasn't right, someone who was human, and not just another half breed.
Later that day, Misako picked up Lloyd from school, since she was already in the city anyway.
"We need to hurry out of here," Misako informed him. "There's going to be an execution later today, and I don't want to be here for it."
Lloyd nodded sadly. "Yeah, I heard about it…"
Misako cast him a worried glance, and then headed for home, Lloyd following her.
On the way home, the city was eerily quiet. That was because everyone had gone to watch the execution. Lloyd shivered, but not from cold. He felt almost betrayed by his friends. He had known all along that they were humans, but he had never wanted to accept the fact that they hated half breeds as much as everyone else. Of course, he wasn't sure about Zane. Zane seemed to think that the execution was unfair.
Zane sighed, climbing the stairs to his shared bedroom. He got to the top, crossed a short hallway, and then turned to his room. He sat down on his white sheeted bed. He had not expected the execution to happen so soon. And now that it was happening right now, he knew that there was nothing he could do. Poor P.I.X.A.L… she had wanted so much to help the hybrid. She would be crestfallen.
One of Zane's roommates poked his head through the door just then. He was sixteen, Zane's age. He had been at the orphanage since Zane could remember.
"Hey, we're watching the execution," he said. "Wanna watch with us?"
Zane shook his head, suddenly feeling angry. "Of course not! How can you all stand to watch that? And especially with the younger ones! They should not be watching something so gruesome at that age! And neither should you!"
"Sheesh, you don't have to get so angry about it… Chill, dude." He left, muttering to himself.
Zane shook his head again, a feeling of despair coming over him. Even if P.I.X.A.L and him somehow managed to overthrow the Emperor, the people themselves would not accept change. They would still want to enslave nindroids, and they would still want to murder hybrids. Zane sighed miserably. What were they going to do?