Chapter Twelve - The Dark One
For the second time, Lloyd woke into the new world.
This time, he did not shut them again. Did not blink. Did not fight. This time, the green ninja did nothing but sigh in defeat.
As the living room from the night before bloomed into shape, he wished it had all been a dream. Wished he was home. Home with his friends, his family- home with everything that made sense. Wished he wasn't in a world where rules and roles morphed into unrecognizable shapes. Wished he wasn't trapped in a world where death and evil were so unapologetically real.
Wishing did nothing. He was here. That- was that.
Lloyd sat up. Looked at his leg. The image of the wolf's teeth digging into his flesh made his stomach twist. He ran his fingers over the bandages, and felt a twinge of discomfort. Yep. Still there. Still real. Just as real as everything else.
"You're awake."
Lloyd turned to the voice. Sensei Wu stood by the door that opened out into the hall. There was a blue cup of tea in his hand. He watched Lloyd with interest that bordered on amusement.
Some things never changed.
"Hi." Lloyd said. He didn't know how to act. Bursting into tears and begging for home didn't feel like the right move. Tempting as it was.
"Hello."
Lloyd swallowed. "Um. Thank you. For- Thank you for your help."
"And thank you for arriving just in time. This world could use a few more heroes."
A chill traveled through Lloyd's spine. "You-"
"Know you don't belong here? Of course I do. To begin with, the fabric of your clothes is something this place hasn't seen in years- not since the Golden Master forced the regression of knowledge. Not to mention your shoes."
Golden Master? Lloyd felt sick. If The Overlord was here- no. Lloyd didn't want to think of it. Not now, when his powers were only a wisp of what they had been. He wouldn't stand a chance.
"R-regression?" Lloyd asked.
"Oh, yes. If those few books and scrolls that survived are to be believed- this kingdom was once a place much different from this one. Not much survived- but there are certain things from that time that have slipped into this one." Wu's gaze drifted past Lloyd, and through the open window. Lloyd followed it.
Zane stood just outside, watching the sunrise. Of course. Lloyd hadn't had enough time to think about it, but Zane was a piece of the medieval puzzle that didn't really fit. What place did an android have in a place that still used candles?
"But well- you don't want a history lesson, do you? No- I believe your interests lie elsewhere." Sensei Wu looked back toward Lloyd, and took a step forward. He set the tea cup down, and reached into the folds of his clothes. "Your hand."
"Huh?"
"Your hand." Wu repeated. After a few seconds of hesitation, Lloyd complied.
"These are made from the leaves of Traveler's Tea. A very, very special concoction. They are one of a kind- so do be careful." Wu pressed two small green pills into Lloyd's palm. "One for your body. One for your mind. They will take you home when you are ready. I will leave that moment up to your discretion ."
Lloyd stared at the pills.
"I will wake the others, then. I think it's time we discussed my plan."
Lloyd kept his eyes on the pills as Wu exited the room. Traveler's Tea. The way out, quite literally on the palm of his hand. The urge to swallow them made his fingertips prickle.
This wasn't his world. It wasn't his responsibility. He didn't owe anyone here anything- and staying might only end in tragedy. He'd had enough of that to last a lifetime. Why add more to the list?
This world could use a few more heroes.
Lloyd sighed. Tempting as leaving was, he knew he wouldn't. His conscience would never allow it. With a pout, Lloyd slid the pills into the inside pocket of his suit.
Jay was the first one to return to the living room. He looked more wired than usual, despite the obvious darkness pressed under his eyes. He moved to stand beside Lloyd, and bounced on his feet.
"What do you think the old man's great plan is?"
Lloyd shrugged. "No idea."
"I can't imagine how we could possibly manage to overthrow Pythor." Jay said. "I can't imagine how I could be of any help whatsoever, either. I could steal the crown, probably. But that's not going to do much, is it?"
Lloyd glanced up at Jay. Insecure and confident all at once. He thought of Jay now, his Jay in any case- in which ways had he grown? And how could Lloyd help this Jay become who he could be? With the proper guidance- maybe they really could defeat Pythor.
"I'm sure he's got a good plan." Lloyd said.
"You trust him, then?"
"Absolutely."
Jay tilted his head, and rubbed at his left eye. "Why? Didn't you just meet the guy? What exactly-"Nya stepped into the room, followed closely by a chatty Logan. Jay cut off his words, and pressed his lips together into a mask of annoyance. Nya laughed at something Lloyd couldn't hear, then took a seat as far from them as possible in the cramped quarters.
"You're awake! And feeling better?" Logan asked Lloyd. He brushed his blonde curls away from his face, and ran his eyes over Lloyd's body. "Lucky thing that Nya's brother wields fire. Would've been a lot worse to have open wounds. I should know. I almost bled out once- it's crazy how hard it is to keep your insides, well, inside."
"Yeah." Lloyd nodded. "Feeling much better."
"Like overthrow the king kind of better?"
Lloyd bit his lip. "Maybe."
"It'll be fine." Drake said as he stepped into the room just behind Zane. "If the Night Angel believes in this man, it's for a reason."
After a few minutes, Sensei Wu returned to the living room followed by Misako. He set a tray of buttery biscuits on the tea table, and Misako set a teapot down just beside it. Wu refilled his cup of tea, then poured one for Misako.
"Now then-" Sensei Wu took a sip. "The plan."
Zane nodded. He stood behind his team, leaning forward with sharp interest. Beside Lloyd, Jay leaned forward to pocket a few of the biscuits, before finally taking one up to his mouth.
"As it stands, Pythor holds too much power to defeat. Even if you all managed to break through his barrage of soldiers, he has learned enough dark magic to be a formidable foe on his own. I have no doubts that he could kill all of you in the blink of an eye."
"Inspiring." Logan sighed, earning a flick to the back of his head from Drake.
"You have all borne witness to the things his power can accomplish." Wu continued. Jay and Nya both looked down. Lloyd ran his hand over his bandages. Images of Kai flashed through his mind. Pythor was responsible for that? How? The rules of this world only continued to tangle upon themselves. The pills hidden in his suit felt heavier.
This is not your world. Not your responsibility.
"The first thing we need to do is obtain power to rival that of Pythor."
"Is it possible?" Zane frowned. "Maybe. . ."
Zane's hand wandered over to his belt. His pale fingers ran over the cold golden metal of his shurikens.
Sensei Wu smiled. "Yes, Zane. The weapons you hold are the key to everything."
As Zane took the golden shurikens from his belt, Jay's eyes sparked with recognition. "That's just- that's just like the nunchucks! The things I found in Pythor's treasury that- . . . the guard. . . took from . . . me. Right. I forgot."
Sensei Wu chuckled softly. "Yes, Jay. Those nunchucks are part of the puzzle. Along with a scythe, which should be locked up in the treasury as well. And a sword- hidden within Pythor's own chambers."
Nya's shoulders stiffened. Lloyd wondered if the sword was the reason Kai was- well, whatever he was.
"That is why we need you, Jay." Sensei Wu said. He stepped forward, and placed his hand on Jay's shoulder. "You will help everyone sneak into the castle. As you've done it before, I'm sure you can do it again?"
"Makes sense. Since you're such good friends with the king, I'm sure you know all his secrets." Nya scoffed lightly.
Lloyd felt Jay bristle beside him, but he didn't respond to Nya's odd taunt. Instead, he kept his eyes low, and gave a small nod. "Sure. Yeah. I can- do that."
"And perhaps pick up a new ally along the way?" Wu gave Jay a light pat along with the question.
Lloyd thought of Cole. His discomfort at following Pythor's orders had been obvious. Jay perked up some, and smiled. "Yeah. Maybe."
Sensei Wu looked back up at the rest of them. "Once you have the weapons, return here."
"Thank you for your guidance. We will do as you say."Zane gave Wu a light bow. Then, he turned to his team. "Let us go, then."
With a nod, Nya and the others followed Zane outside. Jay helped Lloyd to his feet, then snagged another biscuit. Lloyd raised his eyebrows. Jay took a bite. "What? For the road."
Lloyd chuckled. "You're a comfort in every world. I'm glad you make sense."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Let's- get going?"
Jay shrugged. As they headed out of the living room, Misako reached out, her fingers only just missing the edge of Lloyd's sleeve. Lloyd paused and looked at her. He felt a pang of guilt at the way her features twisted into a combination of love and relief. I'm not your son. Not really.
"Please- be careful."
"Of course. Don't worry." Lloyd said.
Misako laughed. Her hand reached for Lloyd's face tentatively, fingers seeing what her eyes could not. "You were only just returned to me. Of course I will worry."
Lloyd was glad she couldn't see his grimace. "Right."
Cole was not a fan of darkness.
To be fair, though, he supposed he simply just wasn't a fan of many things. Dragons, for instance. He loathed the things. Not that he'd seen one but- they were out there, and they were most definitely not to be trusted.
He also didn't like small spaces much. He'd had one too many dreams about being buried under rock. Fighting to get out- only to discover his arms were made out of rock, too. Rock that crumbled under pressure.
Which probably said something about his current situation. But Cole wasn't one to ponder on things like that.
No- Cole, was a man of action. Even when that action included heading down to the king's treasury, the least welcoming room in the palace.
His steps echoed as he trudged down. The darkness deepened, and the torches lined against the walls seemed to shrink on purpose. A cold breeze trickled past his neck. Cole gritted his teeth.
"Not haunted. This place is absolutely not haunted. So could you please just drop off these stupid nunchucks and head back to your post?" Cole chided himself.
"Yeah but- what if?" Cole asked. "What if it is haunted? How many people have died in the castle? Impossible for there not to be at least one ghost."
Ghosts. Another thing he was not a fan of. He'd never seen one of those either but- he was sure they were out there, too. Wouldn't even surprise him if they were in cahoots with the dragons.
"Ghosts riding dragons." Cole sighed. He reached the bottom of the stairs, and moved further into the treasury. "I really need to get more sleep."
No time for the luxury, though. Not today, in any case. He had to get back to his post, then go to his father's performance in the courtyard. How the man could dance while the kingdom fell apart, Cole couldn't understand. Then again, maybe his father had the right idea.
The king's most prized possessions were situated at the back of the treasury, behind a locked glass cabinet. Cole unlocked it with the set of keys strapped to his waist, and placed the golden nunchucks inside. Right beside-
-another golden weapon.
Cole frowned. He'd never really noticed it before. It was a scythe, just like the one he'd goofed around with as a child when attempting to help in the farm. He'd never managed to cut any crops with it, but he had managed to give himself a nasty scar.
He stared at the golden metal as memory engulfed him. Better times. Better days. When laughter came easy and the world was full of possibilities. That version of himself had never dreamed about being crushed beneath the weight of the earth.
You can count on me.
His own voice came back to him again. Cole ran his fingers over the golden surface of the scythe, an inexplicable pull making him ache.
"I want to change things. I want to be brave." Cole told no one. Or maybe, he told his reflection- the surface of the scythe twisting his features into those of a child. "Please. Please let me be brave."
"What?"
Nya cringed at the sharp and indignant tone of her voice. But she couldn't help herself. Couldn't help her rage- rage that drowned her. Rage that was not the persistent pulse of flames- but the suffocating grasp of the ocean.
"It would be best." Zane explained. Calm as always. Calm as she could never be. "We can not risk bringing the prince into the castle. And he could do with a few lessons on how to wield a weapon."
"So why not Drake? Even Logan could manage- something."
"I resent that. I could manage more than 'something'." Logan pouted. Nya ignored him, her eyes trained on the Night Angel.
"Nya. Please. Will you not trust me?"
Yes, she trusted him. And yes, it would be for the best. But she hated the way the Night Angel tip toed around the real reason why he wanted her to stay behind.
She glanced back at said reason, who had not ceased to blabber to the poor green-eyed prince.
"We all know that if we bring you along, you'll cut that thief back there to pieces the moment he breathes too loud." Logan said. He gave her a light nudge as they moved through the forest, back to their hideout. "Spare us the need to clean up a body? It's my least favorite part of the job."
Nya scoffed. The sound was soft, but the small smile at the edge of her lips was hard to miss. "Shut up."
"It's a good idea to give the prince some training, all in all." Logan continued. "Don't you think?"
Nya sighed. Yes, it was. Of course it was. It was the Night Angel's idea, how could it not be?
"Fine. Training it is. But I'm not happy about it."
"Atta girl!" Logan laughed, unmoved by her sharp tone.
"Now please- give her some space before you become the training dummy." Drake piped in, and shoved Logan aside. The man laughed again.
"She wouldn't."
"She would." Drake said.
"I would." Nya said, at the same time.
Sometimes, Drake reminded Nya of Kai. Logan definitely didn't- but all the same, they'd both fit perfectly into the sharp emptiness Jay had left her with. They had kept the pain from cutting her open. They still did.
Brothers.
Family.
Even the Night Angel, aloof as he was, had granted Nya a much needed sense of protection. Of guidance. She gave Jay another brief glance.
No, the Night Angel was right. She could not work with him. She didn't hate Jay, not really, if anything, every twisted emotion inside her was borne from the very opposite of hate.
"Wait."
The Night Angel's voice cut through them. Silence descended. Nya became aware of each of her breaths. Against the cold morning air, the soft exhales turned into steam.
She couldn't hear anything. There was nothing to hear. Nya strained her ears. Her mind. But nothing came. She glanced at the forest around them. Was her brother watching, ready to attack again? Would he stop again, if she called out?
Would he hurt her?
No.
Not Kai, not ever.
All at once, the shape of a man grew from the surrounding shadows. Bright red eyes grazed over Nya's own. She felt her body freeze with terror.
"Please tell me that's not who I think it is." Jay said.
"That's-" The prince's voice faltered. Drake and Logan finished the sentence for him in unison.
"The Dark One."
"Zane."
The voice of the Dark One was not what Nya would have expected. It was- soothing in a way she couldn't explain. A voice full of anguish- not bloodlust.
Zane stepped forward. The Dark One held a hand up- a warning.
"The King. He does not know of our connection but- he . . . he's sent me after Lloyd." The Dark One laughed. Again- there was nothing but pain in the sound. Nya, who'd only heard nightmarish rumors about the creature before him, could not understand. "That snake- Kill the Night Angel's blonde companion. I can not fight his words, Zane. But please- do not let me harm my child. Not again."
Child!?
"Whoa- what!? The prince- what? So that means-" Jay's words tripped over one another, along with Nya's thoughts. They reached the natural conclusion in unison. "King Garmadon!?"
The body of the king, the true king, stood straigter. A sword of shadows manifested itself onto the palm of his hand. He held the weapon out, ready to fight. Unable to do anything else, despite the pain in his eyes.
"Please, Zane." The Dark One begged. "Kill me."