The Serpentine War~
Clouse raised his hands, purple flickering into them. His eyes narrowed as he concentrated, gaze fixed on two people—Garmadon and Wu. The two brothers were talking in the campsite about what tactics they would use against the serpentine.
After telling his Master that he sensed something strange about them, some secret they were hiding, Chen had told him to find out what it was. So that was what he was doing. His magic could sense these things, pick out secrets.
Clouse currently hid behind a tent, peeking around the corner. No one noticed him, of course. These fools were oblivious. His magic flickered, and he closed his eyes.
Then he stiffened, eyebrow raising. He looked at Garmadon and Wu. "Interesting…" He smiled slightly, then turned, heading back for Master Chen's tent. He would want to hear about this.
"You're sure?"
"Yes, Master. They are half breeds."
Chen put a hand to his chin. "Hmm." His feet were up on a pillow, and he lay comfortably on fancy blankets. His tent was fancy as well, holding many valuable items. He had insisted upon it, even though they had a war on their hands.
"What should I do, Master? Reveal their treachery?"
"No. The alliance would be split, and we'd have no war. We can use this."
"How?"
"Blackmail. But I also had another idea." Chen grinned.
Current time~
The ninja walked into the room, Garmadon and Wu following. It was the same room they had entered upon arriving at the island, with Chen seated in his chair, and the contestants seated to face him. The largeness of the room reminded Zane uncomfortably of the Emperor's palace. He shivered, sitting between Cole and Jay. He was very glad he no longer had the Crypto chip inside of him. Though he wondered if Chen was just as treacherous and evil as the Emperor had been.
Which made him wonder, what would Chen do about Lloyd's absence? Would he find out what had happened? They had not been allowed to search the island, yet had done so anyway. They hadn't felt like they'd had a choice in the matter. Especially with their family members at stake.
However, it had also cost them Lloyd.
Zane glanced at his friends, watching them fidget nervously. Kai and Cole seemed the most stoic, Kai's arms crossed and Cole wearing a serious expression.
"We seem to be missing one contestant."
He looked up at Chen.
The tournament host had his chin rested on his hand, watching the ninja with a narrowed gaze. "Where is Lloyd Garmadon?"
Zane glanced at his friends, Wu and Garmadon also exchanging a look.
What were they supposed to do?
Wu opened his mouth, about to resort to what they'd decided on, to say that they didn't know where Lloyd was—
The doors slammed open.
They all turned—and then their eyes widened in shock.
Lloyd ran in, a bit ragged and muddy. He smiled nervously, pausing at the top of the stairs. "Hey. Sorry I'm late."
Lloyd swallowed at Chen's narrowed gaze.
"Where have you been? And why are you late?"
"I…uh…" Lloyd glanced at his friends, father, and uncle, then back at Chen. Their wide-eyed looks left him with a pit of guilt in his stomach. I can't tell Chen I've been looking for Mom. He'll kick me out. He bit his lip. "I went for a walk."
Chen tapped his chair's armrest. "I remember specifically telling everyone no one is allowed outside the palace without permission. Or anywhere without my permission."
Lloyd smiled nervously. "Sorry. I forgot. I always go for a walk in the morning." He most certainly did not, but Chen didn't need to know that.
"Hmm…" The tournament host's eyes narrowed for a second, watching him—then he sat back, waving a hand. "Fine. But it had better not happen again, or you'll be kicked out."
He didn't miss Chen's suspicious gaze as he hurriedly walked over to his friends. He took his seat next to his father, legs crossed, avoiding their questioning looks. None of them said anything, saving it for later so Chen wasn't even more suspicious, but the expressions of relief were still sent at him. They would definitely talk about this later.
Garmadon put a hand on Lloyd's shoulder though, squeezing once—he was glad he was okay.
He could tell his father had been really worried. Lloyd leaned just barely into the touch, whispering quietly, "I'm fine, Dad."
Garmadon didn't have time to respond, as the gong suddenly rang loudly with a metallic clang!
Lloyd jumped.
Chen grinned. "Now, on to the challenges of the day! First up, will be the Morro verses Jacob Pevsner!"
Morro? Lloyd straightened a little.
"Then, Zane Julien verses Basalt!"
Zane…
"Next, Jay Walker verses Papier Mâché!"
Jay blushed, sinking lower.
"Jay Walker? That's your full name?" Kai covered his mouth with a hand, trying to hold in his laughter.
"Wait, how come you never told me your last name?" Cole frowned.
Jay glared at Kai. "That's why." He still blushed bright red. Then he paled. "W-wait, I gotta fight someone?!"
Chen continued. "Krux verses Musoke! Ichor verses Nox! Shade verses Carver! Tox verses Bob! And then finally, Acronix verses Tsula!"
Everyone listened intently, murmurs starting to be heard.
"Oh! And, one final announcement!"
They all watched Chen.
What could the last announcement be? Lloyd frowned, stomach twisting in apprehension.
Chen grinned, a glint in his eyes. "Wu is a half breed." He gestured to Lloyd's uncle nonchalantly. "That is all!" His smile widened.
Lloyd's eyes widened. There was a collective quiet over the room, before every head turned to stare at Wu.
Wu blinked.
Garmadon glared at Chen.
Most of the contestants stood, outraged yells echoing in the room.
"A half breed?!"
"Another one?!"
"Get him!"
"He doesn't deserve be here!"
"Burn him!"
Wu quickly stood, along with Garmadon. Lloyd stumbled to his feet.
The elemental masters converged on them, shouting threats. Their powers sparked in their hands, on their bodies, or in their eyes.
The ninja all stood.
"You're a half breed?" Cole gaped.
"He's also a half breed?! How many half breed people are there?!" Jay threw his hands in the air dramatically.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Nya asked.
"Yeah, Master Wu." Kai scoffed.
"W-wait, guys!" Lloyd stepped between them and his uncle, hands raised. "I asked him to keep it a secret!"
"What?!"
"Wait, why?" Nya frowned.
Lloyd cringed at their betrayed expressions. I did it again, didn't I? Would they leave him now? Was it a good idea to keep this a secret in the first place? "I…I'm sorry…"
Nya watched him, then glanced at Wu and the angry crowd growing around them. Her eyes widened in understanding. "It's okay…I forgive you." She smiled a little at him.
He blinked. "R-really?"
"I forgive you both as well. Though you did not have to keep it secret from us," Zane said.
Kai scowled. "We were being trained by a half breed this entire time and you guys aren't the least bit angry about it?!"
"Kai, Lloyd's a half breed too." Nya shook her head. "It's no different. You know Master Wu. He's not evil."
Cole looked at Wu, eyes narrowed.
Jay fiddled with his hands nervously, swallowing.
What a mess. That I caused. Lloyd bit his lip. Idiot.
"This is ridiculous! Who else is secretly a half breed?!" Kai growled, fists clenched. He glared at Wu. "Are all of you half breeds liars?"
Wu frowned. "No."
"Kai, I asked him to—"
"Yeah, I know Lloyd!"
Lloyd flinched.
"Hey, Chen is just trying to split us up and turn us against each other!" Garmadon stepped forward.
"You're a liar too!" Kai snapped. "So how about you stay out of this?!"
"I get Lloyd not telling us at first, but why would you keep it a secret?!" Cole glared at Wu.
"Hey, guys, stop!" Nya raised her hands, quickly stepping between them, Lloyd, and Wu. "Remember why Lloyd didn't tell anyone what he was? Because he was afraid of our reactions. And what we might do to him. I'm sure it's the same thing here. He didn't want us turning against Wu too—we still don't trust his dad—and so he was trying to protect him."
Cole and Kai exchanged looks, quieting. Jay fiddled anxiously.
"We should expose his treachery to the city!" someone in the crowd said.
"Yeah!" another in the crowd agreed. "I'm sure he's been under the radar this whole time! The new Emperor may have let in half breeds, but the people haven't. They'll turn against him!"
The ninja turned to the elementals. The crowd still converged on them, yelling and threatening.
Kai glared at them. "Hey! Back off!"
Dareth came out of the crowd, stumbling awkwardly, and stood by the ninja. "Yeah, I'm with you guys, don't worry!"
The ninja stared at him. Kai yelled at the crowd, ignoring Dareth.
Lloyd cringed, biting his lip. He's messed up badly, again. His friends may have forgiven him last time, but would they really truly forgive him this time? Nya and Zane said they did…but did everyone else? And could he believe they actually did forgive him?
Would they leave him?
He sucked in a breath. No. No, he couldn't lose his only friends. He'd be alone again—
He couldn't be alone again. Not like he was in the Outcast. He may have had his uncle, father, and mother, but…no one of his age. No real friends.
The crowd backed off after a few minutes, though some contestants vowed to kill Wu or beat him in the tournament. And they made sure to threaten Lloyd and Garmadon too.
Kai continued to yell at them, forcing them to back off.
Dareth stayed by the ninja, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yeesh…"
Zane looked at Wu. "Master…how did Chen know you were a half breed?"
Wu frowned, glancing at Garmadon. "It's…a long story. One that we don't have time for. You and Jay must prepare for your one on one battles."
Jay bit his lip. "Oh, yeah…"
Zane nodded.
"But now that this secret is out, I'm just going to throw another one out before Chen blurts it." Garmadon patted Wu's shoulder. "Wu and I are brothers. And I'm kinda sick of hiding it, so now you all know."
The ninja blinked.
"Wait, what? You're Lloyd's uncle?!" Jay gaped at Wu.
Wu frowned, then nodded. "I am."
The ninja looked from Lloyd, to Wu, to Lloyd again.
Lloyd swallowed, shifting awkwardly.
"I am so confused right now…" Cole blinked.
"Any other secrets someone would like to share?" Kai crossed his arms.
"Nope. That's it," Garmadon said.
Kai narrowed his eyes at him. "Right…"
"So, that whole time Lloyd, your uncle has been training us and not some random old guy?" Jay asked.
Lloyd swallowed again. "Yup…"
There were more stares.
"Heh, guess we didn't have to worry about Master Wu turning you in then that one time, right?" Jay rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah…I told you guys I trusted him." Lloyd shifted. "And, well, that I've known him for a while…"
They exchanged looks.
"That is honestly really weird to think about." Kai shook his head.
"Anyway…" Wu tapped his staff on the ground. "Jay and Zane, you two must prepare. No more dillydallying."
They both nodded.
Kai looked at Dareth. "Hey, why are you still here?"
Dareth shrugged. "I was helping." He smiled. "Don't worry, I don't mind half breeds. Like I said, I'm on your side."
He rolled his eyes. "Sure…"
"We should make our way over to where this fight will be held," Garmadon said.
They all nodded in agreement.
Lloyd bit his lip, a pit of guilt still in his stomach. Why had he lied? Would his friends ever trust him again? Just one more mistake…and they were sure to leave. He always made mistakes, so it was just a matter of time, right?
Besides, he couldn't erase what he was. It would still stain him. It was only a matter of time before his friends finally left him.
