This fic is going /so slow/, all I want to do is hit season 2 and yet! I keep dragging everything out. Maybe by October Lloyd will officially be adopted :P

Once again, thank you so much to everyone who took the time to review! Hopefully I can get to all my responses soon :'D

Chapter 6: Lloyd Makes a Decision, and Sensei Wu Gets an Uncomfortable Preview of the Impending Future

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Lloyd stares at the clock cross-eyed, watching it inch forward little by little. Maybe if he stares at it hard enough, it'll go faster. He's supposed to have powers, right? Go faster, stupid clock.

Lloyd yawns loudly. This is boring. Everyone else is down in the mountain getting to beat up snakes, and he's stuck here, hiding out in Nya's room.

Lloyd shakes off the brief feeling of anxiety. Technically, he's not not allowed to be in Nya's room. This is just Nya - it's not like he's sneaking into some random girl's room without permission. He's perfectly within his right to chill out in her room because she stole all the best pillows in the Bounty. He's not doing anything wrong.

…well, okay, maybe he'd been looking for some of Nya's hidden weapons he could swipe, but all he ended up finding was a bunch of books on engineering (boring) and a picture of Jay stashed behind her dresser (ew).

She did have a pretty cool knife hidden under her pillow, though. Lloyd traces the edges, careful not to cut his fingers on it. It's just a little knife, sharp and shiny with a red hilt. There's a fancy design on it, too, which looks familiar. He thinks he remembers having seen it on one of Kai's swords, actually, when he was trying to steal - uh, borrow - it the other day. Maybe it's their family crest, or something. Nya did say something about Kai being a blacksmith.

Lloyd flips the knife over, miming throwing it at the wall. He can't really throw it, of course - Nya would kill him if he left a hole in her wall. But it would be fun, even just for a minute.

Ugh. Lloyd flops back on the pillows, shoving the knife back in place. This is so boring. He wants to be a ninja now, so he can go kick snake butt and have adventures like everyone else. If he's the super powerful future Green Ninja, shouldn't he be down there fighting too? Maybe there's a special way to speed up his training, like the level-up potions he's always stealing from Jay when they play video games…

Lloyd sighs, pushing himself up from the bed. Maybe his dad will have an idea, or at least be less boring, he thinks, as he makes his way down the creaking halls of the Bounty. It's eerily quiet without the guys here to make noise, and Lloyd doesn't like it. He takes his time making his way around, being sure to hit all the extra creaky spots in the floorboards, kicking up as much noise as he can.

Huh. That one's just creaky enough that he bets he could pull it up. It would make a good place for stashing stuff, like the candy Uncle Wu won't buy him.

Hm, Lloyd thinks. Maybe since his dad is here, he'll buy him candy. It's not like dark lords of the underworld care that much about spoiling appetites, or giving yourself cavities. Ha! Lloyd's never even been to a dentist. If he plays it right, maybe he can convince his dad to-

Lloyd stops cold. Garmadon is in the control room, looking awfully suspicious. He's bent over the computer, eyebrows creased in concentration as he taps at it, not even noticing Lloyd. An uneasy ball of worry forms in Lloyd's gut at the look on his father's face. Surely, he's not going behind their backs already-

"Transferring Files" reads out clearly on the computer screen. Lloyd's stomach drops. He doesn't know much about computers, but he knows enough to know what that means.

"You're…stealing?"

Garmadon whips around at Lloyd's gasp, his eyes flying wide. Lloyd waits for him to explain, for his dad to tell him that there's nothing to worry about.

A horrible look of guilt crosses Garmadon's face, and Lloyd's stomach drops all the way to his feet.

"Dad! My friends are risking their lives to save Ninjago," Lloyd says, trying not to sound like the floor's been yanked out from under him. "And you go behind their backs to…gain an advantage?"

He stares at his dad, willing him to give him an excuse. To explain that Lloyd's just a silly little boy, and of course his father is still on his side.

"I'm sorry, Lloyd," Garmadon tells him, his eyes creased in regret. "But I can't help it. Ever since the Devourer bit me, evil runs through my blood."

There's the Great Devourer again, responsible for everything, Lloyd fumes. The stupid snake seems to come up a lot when his dad tries to explain things to him. Lloyd takes a breathe. "You left me for so long," he says, anxiously crumpling up the sleeve of his hoodie. "Where did you go?"

The guilty look on Garmadon's face twists to grief. "Son," he says, quietly. "There are places in this world void of any good. Dark places."

Lloyd feels a chill at his dad's tone. In the past, hearing about something like that might have excited him. Now it just makes him feel kinda sick. "Is that where Uncle Wu found you?"

"You know how I've always wanted those Golden Weapons," Garmadon says. Lloyd blinks. The sudden change in tone almost gives him whiplash - his dad sounds greedy. "Well, this place allowed me the power to possess them!"

"But…" Lloyd hesitates. "Why didn't you take me with you?"

Garmadon looks sad and guilty now, his eyes flicking down briefly.

"Every boy has a choice to grow up to be whoever they want to be," he finally says, gravely. "But I never had that choice - because I was bitten, evil runs through my veins."

He puts a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, almost fervent. "But you still have a choice. You don't need to be like me, Lloyd. Your uncle has a plan for you, and even though it may be to stop me one day…we have to follow our own destiny." Garmadon lowers his eyes again. "And after I help the ninja stop Pythor, I'll need to leave again."

Lloyd blinks rapidly.

Leave. Again.

A swooping rush of panic floods him, almost leaving him dizzy. His dad is just…going to leave him? Again?

Lloyd's breath catches. It's like Darkley's all over again. It wasn't enough. He wasn't enough. His father still doesn't want him, just like his mom, and Lloyd is going to be abandoned again-

Anger bubbles up in Lloyd's chest, hot and painful. Fine. His dad wants to leave him, too? He didn't need his mom. He doesn't need his dad, either.

He wrenches away from Garmadon's hold, glaring hotly at him. "Why don't you just leave now!"

Garmadon flinches back. "Lloyd-"

"No, really!" Lloyd bursts out, fighting back the sting in his eyes and trying to stay angry instead. "Just - go back to whatever evil place you came from-"

The radio goes off with an ear-splitting screech of static, interrupting Lloyd's rant as they both turn to stare at it.

"Come in! Operation stealth was a total bust!" Nya's voice crackles through, tight and panicked. "We're gonna need reinforcements. Is anyone there?"

Lloyd's anger evaporates, taking a nosedive into fear. Garmadon moves forward, reaching for the radio, and something in Lloyd's chest tightens. He shoves him away fiercely, surprisingly able to force his father back.

"We don't want your help! And we don't need you here," Lloyd says, hotly. "Maybe it would've been better if you hadn't come back at all."

Garmadon takes a step back, his eyes widening in what looks like hurt. Lloyd doesn't feel guilty. He won't feel guilty.

"If that's the way you feel," Garmadon says, quietly. Lloyd doesn't say anything, not even looking back as his father retreats from the room.

Good. Lloyd can save his friends by himself, he doesn't need his help. And not from a father who doesn't even want him, that's for sure.

"I'm trying to help, Nya, just hold on!" he yelps into the radio, trying to sound in control. Lloyd fiddles with the buttons, trying to remember what Nya taught him. All he can remember is how to make the ship fly - what did she say about the weapons, again? It could be the blue switch there, but it might've been the red-

The controls swim in front of Lloyd's eyes, Nya's instructions blurring in the back of his head. Rats. This is what he gets for letting himself get distracted.

He bites his lip. Okay, the ship's not gonna help much, that's pretty clear. That's fine, he doesn't need the ship. He's got two legs, he can go down there just like the others did. Just like a ninja-

He glances at his black hoodie.

…well, he is the Green Ninja, right? So it's not really like he's stealing it, if it's gonna be his anyways.

Lloyd sprints down the hall, skidding into one of Uncle Wu's rooms. He pushes a chair up to the old dressers, sliding one of Nya's bobby pins he swiped out of his sleeve and quickly picking the lock to the drawer.

The lock clicks, and Lloyd gives a quiet yes! of victory. There it is, folded neatly just where he'd found it a couple weeks ago.

Lloyd lifts the green gi out reverently, running his fingers over the embossed silver on the neckline. This is the most important piece of clothing ever, he reminds himself. This is what all the ninja were so worked up about, one of Uncle Wu's greatest possessions.

And he's totally going to put it on. He's gotta get something good out of this Green Ninja deal, right?

Lloyd wrangles the gi over his head, the green fabric sliding over his arms easily. It's soft, kinda like the silk of Kai's gi, but it feels steady and durable. It smells like incense and old wood, and it feels warm - safe and comfortable.

It's also way, way too big.

Lloyd stares at the sleeves where they fall over his hands in consternation. It makes sense that it'd be too big, now that he's thinking about it, but really? He can't even walk in this thing!

Lloyd sighs. There's nothing for it. He bends down, rolling up the pant legs until they come up above his shoes. He does the same with his sleeves, bunching up the green fabric where it falls loose around his bony wrists. Wriggling a bit, he finally manages to get the gi to where it won't fall off him when he takes a step. With a grin of satisfaction, he turns to the mirror.

Lloyd immediately bites back a groan. He looks stupid, like a little kid playing dress-up. He doesn't look nearly as cool as the others do. What's the point of the dumb prophecy if it isn't even gonna bother to take the time to get his size right?

At least it's a new outfit, he tells himself, trying to look on the bright side. He hasn't had one of those in ages. And this one isn't too small, at least! Not that it being too big is much better, but at least it's comfy, like pajamas.

And he's wasting time on clothes now, Lloyd reminds himself. The others are in danger, who cares if the gi is too big! If he saves them, the ninja won't be able to make fun of him anyways.

Rushing out, Lloyd sprints back to the control room, kicking open the door. He already feels a bit like a ninja, now that he's wearing the clothes. The radio crackles again, and Lloyd makes a beeline for it.

"Lloyd! Garmadon! Is anyone there?" Nya sounds worried, but not too bad - more like she's irritated.

Lloyd hovers over the controls. "It's me Nya! I'm here! But my dad…left." Lloyd bites his lip, glancing back at the empty doorway. "How are you guys holding up?"

There's an awful burst of static, and Lloyd winces, clapping his hands over his ears until it finally clears up. "We're fine," Nya says, and Lloyd exhales in relief. "But we're a little…held up at the moment. Our weapons have been taken, and we're locked in cages!"

Lloyd makes a face. Not cages again. Ugh, he's glad he didn't go now.

"And Pythor's returned with the fourth Fangblade!" Cole chimes in, sounding harried.

Zane cuts in before Lloyd can reply. "Lloyd, where did your father go?"

Lloyd winces. Why'd they have to bring him back up? "I…told him to leave," he says. "H-he was trying to steal secrets!"

"Ha! Big surprise there," Kai's voice filters in, smug. "I told you about that guy, and you guys wouldn't listen."

Lloyd steels himself, trying to sound as careless as Kai does. "My dad's going back to where he came from," he says, firmly. "But don't worry, I'll save you!"

"You're not ready, Lloyd," Uncle Wu jumps in, sounding a lot less calm than he usually does. "Your destiny is too great to risk."

Cole speaks back up. "I hate to break it to you Sensei, but if we don't get out of here before Pythor unleashes the Great Devourer, this could be the end of all our destinies."

Lloyd swallows. He needs to get down there now. They're running out of time.

"I'll get you out of there!" he promises, and swiftly cuts off the radio before Uncle Wu can tell him not to. He can totally do this - he's a ninja now! Lloyd puffs his chest out. He's ready for this.

…he's a little nervous too, now that he's thinking about it. He's about to run right back to Pythor, isn't he? He could get eaten. He could, like, die.

Lloyd shakes his head, steeling himself in determination. He can do this. He has to do this. The ninja didn't abandon him, even when Lloyd was a horrible brat. And Lloyd isn't going to be like his mother, or his father.

He is never going to abandon somebody like that, and certainly not his friends.

Nodding to himself, Lloyd wrenches open the weapons closet -

-and is promptly knocked to the floor by an avalanche of heavy, metal weapons. Lloyd groans, his head spinning as he lies on the floor.

Okay, this might be slightly harder than he'd been thinking.

Mission Impossible: Snake Busting Group Chat

Kai: for the record

Kai: this is all jay's fault

Nya: kai we are literally imprisoned right next to each other in mortal peril

Nya: get off your phone

Nya: and it is NOT

Kai changed the chat name to Everything Is Jay's Fault

Nya: KAI I SWEAR

Pythor's crossed a lot of lines in the short time Kai has suffered the burden of knowing him. He's put his family in danger, nearly killed Kai and Lloyd in a volcano, and he's just made himself a giant pain in the neck in general (bigger than Lord Garmadon, which is saying something).

But this is crossing a line. Stealing his hair gel? Unacceptable. And when Kai had been this close to proving to Nya that bringing it along wasn't a waste of pocket space, too. No, instead, Pythor had neatly thwarted his plans, and Kai had failed to obtain the "I told you so" to Nya that she deserved.

And he also failed to escape. That's…probably a lot more important right now.

"Don't worry, Sensei, I have faith in Lloyd!" Nya's telling them, still valiantly defending the kid.

Oh, important thing number two: they not only failed to escape, but Lloyd is their only backup. Kai wrenches uselessly at the cuff around his wrist again. Of all the stupid situations to get in-

"Nya, he has no training!" Jay hisses. "Kai has training and he still got his butt kicked into tomorrow!"

"I did not get my butt kicked, I just got caught," Kai sulks. But he has to side with Jay on this one - Lloyd can barely keep himself safe for five minutes on his own. How is he supposed to save them from an entire army of Serpentine?

"I bet you next week's laundry he does," Nya says, though her confidence is wavering. "Lloyd'll come through."

"He better not," Cole mutters, still tugging vainly at his own cuff. "He'll get himself killed."

"Cole," Zane says, glancing at Sensei Wu.

"We must have faith that my brother will not let his son come alone," Sensei Wu says, his normally peaceful voice slightly strained. There's a distinctly unspoken "my brother better not let his son come at all" in his voice.

"Oh, great," Kai huffs. "Our best bet is having faith in Lord Garmadon. Yeah, we're all gonna die."

"Would you stop being so pessimistic?" Nya snaps. "This is bad enough as it is!"

"It could be worse," Zane says. "They could be lowering us into the acid."

"Don't give Pythor any ideas," Cole grumbles. "We're scheduled to die pretty soon, right? Betcha anything it's gonna be death by acid."

"Not helping, Cole!" Jay says, tightly.

"I don't see you doing anything."

Sensei Wu sighs, looking a little like he wishes he could pitch himself into the acid.

"Look, does anyone have anything small and sharp?" Nya says. "Like a lockpick? If we can get out of these chains, then maybe we can…um…"

"I calculate our chances of reaching our weapons again are extremely low," Zane says, squinting at where the Golden Weapons hang from the ceiling. "Pythor will likely be on guard after Kai's failed attempt."

Kai bristles. "At least I actually did something!"

"That was not an insult to you," Zane says, quickly. "I was just saying-"

"Look, there's no point!" Jay cuts in, half-hysterically. "Garmadon's not coming, Lloyd's not coming, Ninjago's gonna get eaten by a giant snake, and we're all gonna die in here and never see the light of day again!"

Kai opens his mouth to reply, but he's interrupted by a sudden commotion from the cave opening. There's a few shouts of surprise from the Serpentine, and Kai spots a flash of green materialize in the midst of the snakes.

"That isn't - is it?"

Senesi Wu inhales sharply. Kai is highly aware of the other's open mouths, Nya's eyes wide as dinner plates.

The flash continues to somersault forward before falling flat on its face, muttering darkly.

"I really gotta grow into this thing," Lloyd groans, tugging at the green gi.

Sensei Wu makes a sound of utter distress. "Oh, FSM," Nya whispers.

Kai stares. He really should have been expecting this, in all honestly. It's not like Lloyd has proven himself all that great at following orders, and the kid is stubbornly loyal to a fault, when he wants to be. The fact that he's even come at all is actually kinda heartening, even if he did fall on his face just like Kai predicted.

In fact, this whole thing might be kind of hilarious, if Kai wasn't currently losing every last ounce of his sanity to panic right now.

"Kai, do something, Kai - Kai, do something," Nya hisses, pulling at her cuff desperately as she works herself into a frenzy of panic. "Kai, he's going to get himself killed-"

"Well, if we don't meet again, Pythor!" Lloyd calls, as he strikes a defensive position. A vague part of Kai notes that his form isn't half-bad.

The Serpentine burst into laughter, jeering wildly. Normally, Kai might actually find it pretty amusing too - or he'd just be plain angry at the Serpentine (which is his default mood at this point in his life, anyways).

Instead, Kai is too busy being transfixed by a dawning horror.

Lloyd is wearing the green gi, the familiar uniform unmistakable where it hangs loosely around his small frame. Kai's thought about what Lloyd being the Green Ninja means plenty of times since the truth was revealed, and he's known what that entails, but actually seeing it-

Tiny. Lloyd is tiny, practically drowning in the overlarge gi, swamped beneath the green fabric. The mask does nothing to disguise how young he is, a flash of blond hair just visible where he's tied it sloppily.

Lloyd is tiny, inexperienced and untrained and a child, and here he is, wearing the green gi and about to try and fight half the Serpentine to save them.

Oh, Kai thinks, in horror. This isn't just a prophecy anymore.

Lloyd is the Green Ninja, and they're going to send him to fight his father, at the height of all darkness, on his own, and he probably won't even make it that far because Pythor is going to kill him and wow, Kai's failed already-

Beside him, Jay seems to have come to the same realization. "Oh, my gosh," Jay says, faintly. "He's a kid. He's the Green Ninja and he's just a kid, what are we doing-"

Below them, the Serpentine are oblivious to the cage's occupants and their distress. Pythor is leering at Lloyd with amusement, the four Fangblades still held mockingly in his grasp.

"Unhand the ninja, or suffer humiliation against the Green Ninja!" Lloyd calls fiercely, glaring at Pythor.

"Oh yesss?" Pythor snickers, slithering closer to Lloyd. "You and what army?"

"Uhhh…" Lloyd falters, finally seeming to realize the situation he's in. "How about an army of my fists?"

Well, Kai thinks, half-hysterically. At least they can all die knowing that Lloyd would have fit right in with them. That sounds exactly like something Jay might say. Or himself, actually.

Nya groans, pulling harder at the cuff on her wrist.

There's more laughter from the Serpentine, loud and grating. Lloyd takes a step back, keeping his hands raised defensively. Kai is just considering the possibility of dislocating every bone in his wrist and forcing his way down there - when a powerful, commanding voice booms across the cavern, halting the Serpentine's laughter in its tracks.

"Or this army!"

Kai looks up, his mouth falling open. Garmadon stands at the top of the cave, weapons raised menacingly. What's more impressive, though, is the full-fledged army of skeletons he has at his side, lining the sloping ledge.

Sensei Wu practically collapses against the cage bars with a gasp of relief. He mutters something mostly unintelligible, though Kai catches "took you long enough" punctuated with some interesting words he hasn't heard from his Sensei before.

"Dad!" Lloyd sounds utterly surprised, but completely overjoyed.

"Lloyd!" Garmadon calls, his eyes on his son. "You helped me realize I do have a choice." His eyes narrow. "If there is anyone who's going to threaten Ninjago, it better well be me."

"Like for real, he can't even brush his teeth without being dramatic about it," Kai mutters. Nya elbows him, her eyes shining in relief.

"The skeleton army?!" Pythor exclaims in outraged surprise. "But why would they fight beside you? You betrayed them and Samukai long ago!"

Garmadon gives Pythor a malicious grin, his eyes glinting. "Because everybody hates snakes."

Pythor hisses in fury. "Attack!" he roars. "Attack!"

The skeletons charge forward with enthusiasm, rushing to attack the Serpentine and defend Lloyd. Any enmity they might have had against Garmadon or the ninja over the past seems to be just that - a thing of the past.

Apparently Lloyd is just inspiring people all over the place, Kai thinks. Great. He can take over as leader when Cole inevitably snaps from the stress that is keeping them all from dying horribly.

-speaking of dying horribly, which may actually be happening pretty soon, Kai realizes, as the cage abruptly starts moving down.

"Hey, we're moving!" Jay says, his voice raised over the loud hissing and clashing of swords from the chaos unfolding below them.

"Yeah, the wrong way!" Cole yelps. "What kind of stupid - at least don't kill us like a coward, Pythor!"

"I don't think he cares," Zane remarks weakly, as they all dissolve into panic, the bubbling acid growing closer beneath them. Kai can smell the acrid liquid from here, feel the uncanny heat - the bad kind, bad heat, bad, bad, bad-

Nya hops up on the bars, balancing herself with her feet as the rest of them follow suit. She gives Kai a panicked look, her eyes wide. Kai's chest constricts. This feels way too familiar - why does he keep getting into these hopeless situations? Does karma hate him this much? Where's he gonna get a miracle from this time-

Nya isn't looking at him anymore. "Lloyd!" she cries, looking across the battle raging around them.

Kai follows her gaze, spotting the short flash of green in the battling Serpentine and skeletons. He watches, almost incredulously, as Lloyd ducks beneath the chaos, neatly dodging his way to the cage's controls. Sliding forward, Lloyd quickly yanks the lever in the opposite direction, the mechanisms above them suddenly groaning.

The cage screeches to a halt, and the cuffs keeping them chained snap open. Kai rubs his wrist as he watches Lloyd wrench the lever back for their weapons as well, the chains lowering them with a steady creaking.

"Told you I'd save you!" Lloyd calls to them, brightly.

Kai stares at him, unable to stop the smile that spreads across his face. Huh. Maybe Nya's got a solid point about them underestimating Lloyd.

"Go ninja, go," Kai says, grinning brightly himself.

"You owe me a week of laundry," Nya says, triumphantly.

Their weapons drop free just as the cage springs open, and Kai doesn't hesitate. He springs forward with the others, hurling himself into the familiar sensation of Spinjitzu, his own bright red sparks mixing with the blue, black and white.

The Serpentine don't stand a chance.

Yells of panic erupt from the unfortunate snakes as Kai barrels into them, fire sparking dangerously around his hands, in his lungs, powerful and unstoppable.

Cole is the first to stumble out of his Spinjitzu, and Kai follows suit with the others as they form a defensive circle, Golden Weapons flashing as they battle back the Serpentine. Cole gives a sudden grunt of surprise, and Kai turns.

A smirk spreads across his face. Pythor is cringing in front of them, Fangblades in hand.

"Goin' somewhere?" Cole says, viciously amused.

"Oh dear." Pythor's voice is dry as the desert. Kai rushes forward, but Cole beats him to it, wrestling the Fangblades from the Anacondrai with ease.

Pythor gives a hiss of fury, shooting Cole one last glare before going invisible, vanishing into thin air.

"Where'd he go?" Cole yelps, whirling around.

"Who cares?" Kai says, already backing his way toward the exit. "We have the Fangblades. Let's get out of here!"

He's not about to get caught in any death cave again - he learned his lesson the last time around.

With a muttered curse of irritation, Cole nods at the others, and they pull back into their Spinjitzu, clearing the way up the sloping path toward the cave exit. Nya follows behind them, clanking loudly in the Samurai X mech as Sensei Wu sips tea serenely from his spot on her shoulder, unflappable as ever.

Kai glances back at the skeletons, where they're holding off the Serpentine below. He gives a brief salute of thanks for the skeleton army - something he definitely hadn't been planning on feeling today.

One of them waves cheerily, calling after them. "Go, ninja-go!"

Kai gives a huff of laughter. And to think, not that long ago he wouldn't have hesitated to light these skeletons on fire before they tried to kill him. Now they're helping them escape a hoard of manic Serpentine. Maybe Sensei Wu does have a point about the whole "make your enemies your friends" thing.

Well, Kai thinks, glaring at Garmadon where he leads the escape. He probably shouldn't get too ahead of himself. Lloyd was one thing, his dad and his various assorted armies of darkness are another.

Speaking of-

Kai glances behind, making sure the others are following. He almost goes into cardiac arrest as he catches sight of Lloyd, a small green blur where he's doubling back down the slope, heading back for the vicious battle.

"Lloyd, get back here!" he barks, sprinting after him.

"No!" Lloyd yells. "I gotta get to Pythor! I owe him for locking me- ack!"

Before Lloyd can move another inch, Kai grabs him by the waist and yanks him up, tossing him over his shoulder and running for it.

Lloyd flails in wild indignation where he's held tightly against Kai's shoulder. "Kai! Lemme go, you big dumb-"

"Demon spawn," Kai pants. "That's what you are, a demon spawn with no sense of self-preservation-"

Garmadon suddenly comes doubling back down toward them, obviously having realized the lack of his son at his side. His eyebrows shoot up as Kai sprints past him, Lloyd still flailing where he's flung over his shoulder.

"Keep up, old man!" Kai yells as he passes, cackling.

"Dad! Save me!" Lloyd yelps.

Garmadon stares at him in bewilderment, before following after them.

"Stealing my own child," Garmadon mutters from behind Kai. "Typical Wu's student."

Everything Is Jay's Fault Group Chat

Kai: this is getting humiliating

Kai: if i have to get saved by garmadon again im gonna lose it

Nya: yeah because dying would've been much better then saving your ego

Kai: hmph

Nya: we were all gonna die without him and you know it

Kai: nuh uh

Kai: lloyd was gonna save us

Nya: HE ALMOST DIED KAI

Nya: this is your fault

Kai: how is it my fault?!

Nya: you're a terrible role model

Nya: a corrupting influence of recklessness

Kai: ur so rude

Kai: why does jay love you so much

Nya: i'll kill you

Nya: …did he actually say he loves me

Nya: did he

Kai: yeah im out bye

Nya: kai

Nya: kai!

Nya: stupid spike head

Lloyd gets the lecture of a lifetime when they get back to the Bounty. Worse than the post-unleashing-the-Serpentine lecture, which is saying something.

It's totally not fair, either, Lloyd pouts, as Uncle Wu goes on about "destiny" and "safety" and "why can't any of my students possess a single ounce of common sense for once". Lloyd saved their butts back there, and all he gets is a lecture on why he shouldn't have come?

…okay, well, maybe it was mostly his dad doing the saving, but Lloyd was part of it! He deserves some credit. Even Nya was against him in the end, telling him that if he ever pulls a stunt like that again, she'll rat out where his candy stash is hidden to Jay.

Lloyd huffs, kicking half-heartedly at his mattress as he trudges back into his room. At least Kai didn't try to lecture him. Kai rushes off into danger recklessly all the time, and he doesn't get big embarrassing lectures like that.

With another long-suffering sigh, Lloyd finally pulls his old clothes back out, tugging the green gi over his head. Regretfully, Lloyd folds the uniform up, careful to smooth out the creases and brush off the dirt he got on it.

It was nice having something so cool to wear, even if it is too big. He likes the way he feels wearing it - he doesn't feel like loser Lloyd Garmadon, wannabe villain in his worn Darkley's clothes. He feels like Lloyd Garmadon, one of the ninja.

But he did technically steal it, Lloyd reminds himself. His uncle didn't really give it to him, after all. And Lloyd is trying to better, so he'd better go ahead and give it back.

Dragging himself down the hall, Lloyd knocks on his uncle's door, shifting from leg to leg nervously. His uncle opens it, looking tired but a lot more at peace than he did earlier. He smiles at Lloyd.

"Lloyd, I was-"

Lloyd beats him to it, shoving the green bundle he's holding at his uncle.

"Here," he says, a little breathlessly. "I - I took it, earlier. I probably shouldn't have, but I - I needed it, so I did. But you can have it back, now. Um, sorry."

Uncle Wu blinks, looking from Lloyd to the gi, then back to Lloyd again. He doesn't take it back yet.

"That's…that is alright, Lloyd," he says, a bit quietly. "I suppose it is yours, after all."

Lloyd swallows. "Yeah, but it - not yet, right?" He pushes the gi against his uncle again, a little more insistently. "I've still gotta grow into it."

An odd mix of expressions crosses Uncle Wu's face as he looks from Lloyd to the gi. His eyes are almost sad as he gazes at it. His fingers finally close over the gi - only to push it back into Lloyd's hands.

"Keep it, Lloyd," he says, gently. "You don't have to wear it, but I believe you should have it."

Lloyd blinks. "For real?"

Uncle Wu nods, the sad expression fading a bit as he looks at him. "For real."

Lloyd stares at his uncle for a minute, then looks back down at the gi. Slowly, he pulls it to his chest, hugging it tightly against him.

"Thanks," he whispers, looking down at the floor.

Uncle Wu smiles at him, ruffling his hair, and Lloyd almost unconsciously leans into the touch before reminding himself to jerk away, scowling as he tries to fix his hair back in place.

"I believe the others are planning to throw a party," Uncle Wu says, as Lloyd makes to leave. "To celebrate the successful capture of the Fangblades," he clarifies, at Lloyd's confused look.

Lloyd brightens. Maybe it won't just be boring lectures all day, then.

"Perhaps you could lend them a hand, if possible." Uncle Wu's eyes roll up briefly. "Their enthusiasm, while appreciated, can get…a bit out of hand, at times."

Lloyd shrugs. "Sure," he says. "I'll, uh…I'll just put this away, then see." With that, he clutches the gi tighter against his chest, scurrying back down the hallways.

He pauses by the control room on his way back, drawn by a sudden yelp from Jay. He pokes his head in the room, frowning as Jay ducks away from Kai's reaching hands, grabbing at his hair.

"Get back, you're just gonna make it worse-"

"I'm trying to help!" Kai says, irritated. "It's not my fault you managed to get gum in your hair, geez."

Jay's expression turns murderous. "Oh yeah, because I was the one who tried to stick balloons up with it, even though I told you it was a stupid idea, but no, you never listen to anyone-"

"I wasn't the one who forgot to pick up tape!"

"We have tape, Nya just left it in the engine room again, but you had the brilliant idea to try-"

Lloyd can't help but giggle at the scene, catching Nya's attention where she's standing off to the side, her half-inflated balloon forgotten.

"I'd duck out if I were you," she says, in a loud whisper. "They're gonna be at this for a while."

Jay gives her a look of wounded betrayal. "C'mon, Nya, you're the only one I trust near my hair."

"What, you don't trust me?" Kai looks scandalized.

Lloyd watches as Jay moves closer to Cole, who looks completely unconcerned by the entire affair, still peacefully inflating balloons.

"Y'know you can just use peanut butter to get it out, right?" Lloyd says. They look at him. "It works really well, I promise! No tricks this time."

"Alright, Mr. Hair Expert," Kai grins.

Lloyd rolls his eyes, like he's seen Kai do. "I just know how to get gum out, that's all. These kids at Darkley's used to stick gum in my hair during class all the time. It hurt too much to yank out and I didn't wanna cut it anymore, so me an' Brad figured it out."

Kai blinks. "Oh," he says, his voice a little funny. "That's…good for you."

"Or you could just shave all Jay's hair off," Lloyd says.

Cole looks up at him, grinning. "Now there's an idea."

"No!" Jay yelps, edging away from Cole. "Back, you monster-"

"I'll get it out," Nya says, shaking her head. "Lloyd, do me a favor grab that extension cord that's in you guys' room, okay? I wanna hook up these speakers over here."

Lloyd nods, leaving the room with one last amused grin. The grin fades quickly as he makes his way back down the hall, his heart sinking with every step.

He hasn't forgotten what he said to his dad, earlier.

Lloyd bites his lip. He should probably find him. He hasn't seen Garmadon since they got back from the mountain, even when Uncle Wu congratulated them all on their success. His dad was the one who did most of the work, after all. Lloyd needs to thank him for that.

…and he probably needs to apologize, too. Lloyd doesn't have any place calling out his dad like he did. He knows Garmadon is trying his best, and he knows…he knows his dad cares about him. Even if it's a little hard to see sometimes.

Lloyd trots back to the room he's sharing with the guys, shifting the now-crumpled green bundle in his arms. He nudges the door open with his elbow-

-and for the second time that day, comes to a halt in front of his father.

He doesn't need to ask this time, but he does anyways.

"You're leaving?" he says, his voice embarrassingly small.

Garmadon turns. "Now that you're safe, and the ninja have the Fangblades, there is nothing else I am needed for," he says, quietly.

"I need you," Lloyd mumbles, biting his lip.

His dad's face turns sad, something that's becoming way too familiar on him.

Lloyd steels himself. "Can….can you at least promise me something?"

Garmadon looks at him, his expression surprised and somewhat apprehensive.

Lloyd swallows. "The - the final battle, and everything," he says, and Garmadon's jaw tightens. Lloyd continues. "It's between you and me, right? Just you and me. So it…it doesn't have anything to do with the other ninja, in the end."

Garmadon's expression crumples into something softer.

Lloyd takes another breath, and he looks up at his father, resolved. "So I just want to ask you if you can - if you can try - " Lloyd stutters, and he bites his lip, angry at himself. "If you can leave them alone, when the final battle comes?"

His dad looks down at him with an agonized expression on his face. Lloyd almost thinks he sees a hint of pride, though.

"I cannot...I cannot make you any promises, Lloyd," his father says, his eyes downcast. "I wish I could. Desperately, I wish I could. But the venom in my blood...I can't even trust myself, Lloyd, do you understand this?"

Lloyd doesn't, not really, but he wants to, so he nods, trying not to let his dumb eyes water up.

"I can't promise you anything," Garmadon repeats, quietly. "But I will try, Lloyd. For you, I will try."

Lloyd nods again. He guesses that's the best he can ask for, right now. Also, he really doesn't want to press his luck any further. It's not like Lloyd can actually make his dad do anything.

He just hopes Garmadon understands how much the ninja kind of mean to him now, even if they are all sworn to defeat him, and stuff.

Lloyd takes deep breath. "I know you have to leave," he says. He squares his shoulders, jaw upturned. "But know this. When we meet again, I'm gonna do everything in my power to defeat you."

Lloyd's feeling pretty impressed with himself, until Garmadon smiles and pats his head, fluffing up his hair like Lloyd might with a really cute puppy.

Lloyd makes a face. Why does everyone do that? It's ruining his image, here.

Garmadon laughs, a little sad, a little tired. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Lloyd stares at him, watching as he makes his way out. Just as he reaches the doorway, Garmadon halts, turning back to him.

"Oh, and…son?"

Lloyd looks up at him, expectantly.

Garmadon's eyes soften. "You're a good boy. Soon, you'll be a great man. Although we are now on opposite sides, I'm still very proud of you."

Lloyd inhales very, very slowly, and just a little shakily.

"W-wait!" he yelps, before his father can go any further. "I can get you one of Jay's gliders." He gives a little laugh, digging through the storage cabinet. "You probably don't need it, but it-"

Lloyd trails off, blinking at the empty doorway. His arms lower, and he feels his shoulders drop.

"…might help." He sighs. "So long, dad."

Lloyd's head droops. The room is painfully quiet with his father gone, but his last words echo loudly in Lloyd's head.

I'm still very proud of you.

Lloyd looks down at his hoodie, tracing the white lines he's painted on so long ago with an unsteady finger. He'd wanted so badly - so badly, to be just like his dad. To be evil just like him, so he could make him proud.

Maybe…he's had it backwards this whole time?

Lloyd looks at green gi, where it rests innocently on the dresser. He glances back at his hoodie.

It's time to stop pretending, Lloyd tells himself.

His dad thinks he's gonna be a great man some day. Lloyd's got a lot of ground to make up for, then.

Kai changed the chat name to RIP In Pieces Pythor

Nya: not gonna lie i was waiting for a comment about garmadon leaving

Kai: nah

Kai: lloyd's too sad about it for me to gloat

Kai: poor little demon spawn

Kai: stuck with a demon as a dad

Nya: at least he cares about him

Kai: at least lloyd knows it

Nya: kai

Kai: yeah

Nya: i miss them too

Kai: who needs parents anyways

Kai: he's better off with us

Lloyd's never been to a party before, but it's kinda fun.

Nya's rigged the overhead lights, flashing neon colors around the control room to the point where Lloyd almost doesn't recognize it. The ninja seem to have gone all out, brightly-colored balloons and streamers everywhere. It's going to take forever to clean up - Lloyd makes a mental reminder to conveniently disappear when it comes time for that.

Lloyd stands off to the side, one hand tightly clutching the punch Nya handed him earlier. His other hand plays nervously with the ties of the green gi, and he watches the way the dull silver on his gi glints in the multi-colored lights. He puffs his cheeks up, letting out a breathe slowly as he looks up at the others.

It's kind of crazy, to think that it wasn't that long ago he was living on the streets. The long days spent trying to find his dad, plotting evil schemes while trying not to go hungry - they feel like ages ago.

Everything before the ninja feels like forever ago, actually. The Serpentine, Pythor, all his ambition (or lack of it) to be a villain – it feels like a different life. Like sure, Lloyd remembers why he did it, but everything is so different now.

It's kinda weird, too, because Lloyd can't imagine making the same choices as the Lloyd who opened the Serpentine tomb. Not when he knows who the ninja are, now. Not when he knows what happens to the people on the other side of evil plans.

Not when he knows what it's like to feel like he actually might have a chance at belonging somewhere.

Lloyd chews on his lip, twisting a handful of fabric up. He doesn't really care much about being "the chosen one" or whatever. He hates that this means fighting his father. But…

He glances back up, watching where the ninja are still partying, kicking up balloons and dancing. Jay is twirling Nya around, her hair flying as she laughs brightly. It's kind of gross, how they keep looking at each other, but Nya looks super happy, so Lloyd will put up with it.

Across the floor, Kai and Cole are trying to teach Zane this weird dance Cole keeps claiming his dad won some championship with (Lloyd doesn't really get that one – is Cole's dad some dance-fighter, or something?). They're failing miserably, but they look just as happy.

No one trips anyone, or tells them what they could've done better. No one tries to sneak off with the Fangblades by themselves while the others are distracted. No one stabs each other in the back. It's nothing like Darkley's, or anything else Lloyd's ever known.

They're just…good. They're good, and they care. Lloyd thinks he gets it, maybe.

They fight for good and all, for Ninjago too - but they're also fighting for each other, to protect this group of people who make each other happy.

Lloyd doesn't know a lot about families, but this is a good one, he thinks.

And he wants to be part of that. He wants to be part of it so badly it hurts.

Lloyd looks down, watching the lights dance across the punch in his cup. He knows he doesn't belong. He's the son of Garmadon, where is he ever gonna belong? All he's done is make himself a pain in the neck, really.

But…Lloyd Garmadon is a pain in the neck. If he's the Green Ninja…

He has a chance. A chance to be someone - somebody more than just Lloyd Garmadon. Maybe, maybe - Lloyd has the chance to be part of this family.

Mind made up, Lloyd straightens the green gi, rolling back a sleeve that's come loose and flopped over his hand again. He carefully picks his way across the dance floor, walking over to where his uncle is leaning against a wall.

"Uncle Wu?" he says, his voice almost drowned out by the pounding music.

His uncle glances at him, giving him an easy smile. "Lloyd. I've been meaning to-"

"I'm ready," Lloyd cuts in, forgetting that it's rude to interrupt Uncle Wu. "To be the Green Ninja."

Uncle Wu gives him a long look. His eyes look conflicted, but there's something deeper there, something that makes Lloyd's chest tight. "You're still young, Lloyd," he says, quietly.

"I know," Lloyd says. "But I've seen what bad guys can do. I saw why the ninja need to be there to protect them. I wanna be part of that, Uncle Wu. I want to protect them."

He wants to protect the ninja and Nya, these people who gave him a home.

Uncle Wu hesitates, his expression going tight before finally falling in concession.

"Alright," he says. "Once we have destroyed the Fangblades, I will see to it that we begin your training as a ninja."

He looks up, watching where the Fangblades glitter innocently on the table in the lights. "Hopefully," Uncle Wu sighs. "It won't take long."