Sisterly Support
In her room, in the newly rebuilt Monastery, Nya was folding and putting away her clothes, humming to herself a little. She then heard a knock at the door and turned to it, "It's open." She said as the door opened and Melissa walked in, "Oh, Melissa. Hey." She greeted.
"Hey, Nya," Melissa waved as she shuffled in and looked around, "Your room's looking great."
"Yup, Jay practically begged me to share a room with him but I'd rather not leave anyone with nightmares," Nya said with a chuckle.
"You're planning on sneaking into his room for some… late night fun?" Melissa asked teasingly.
"Maybe," Nya shrugged casually before shooting a teasing grin of her own, "But I'm sure a certain Green savior wouldn't mind you doing that for him."
Melissa flinched and moved back looking uncomfortable, "You'd be surprised," Melissa said, holding her arm.
Nya then noticed how uncomfortable she looked and sighed. "You didn't get back together with him yet, did you?" She asked.
Melissa gave a defeated sigh. "No. After we defeated Garmadon, I was going to but, I choked." She said in sadness. "I don't know what happened, the words were right on the tip of my tongue, but then, when I remembered the look on Lloyd's face when we broke up, it just…"
"Made your heart clench, put ice in your veins?" Nya questioned with a brow, leaning on the bed, "Felt like the boy you gave your heart to wouldn't want to get back together with the girl who smashed his heart over a completely dumbass move and went on being a total bitch about it?" She added before rubbing her chin in thought, "Gee, I seemed to remember someone telling me that kind of thinking was ridiculous, and it was pretty easy to get back with your man."
Melissa gave a cringe when Nya said that, knowing who she was referring to as she gave a small chuckle. "Heh, oh, how the tables turned." She said sheepishly.
"Learned from experiences." Nya said with a smile before she changed the topic. "You know, the boys are out on patrol, how about we take a girls day out, see how the rest of Ninjago is recovering?" She suggested, standing back up.
Melissa thought about it before sighing and nodding her head. "Yeah, I think I would like that." She said with a small smile. "Mister Chen's?" She suggested.
"My treat." Nya smiled as she went to her closet to get ready while Melissa did the same.
At Mister Chen's, which remarkably, was one of the few buildings still in good condition, Melissa and Nya sat at a table, laughing to themselves, "Hahaha, Seriously?!" Nya asked Melissa who was telling her about their time in the First Realm.
"Yeah, and I basically broke that quote unquote 'Video Game' out of his hands." Melissa said with a chuckle.
Nya gave another laugh. "I've seen Jay's freak outs, but that's a whole new level of him not freaking out, which is really funny." She said with a chuckle.
"Trust me, as your brother would say, him not freaking out was freaking me out!" Melissa laughed.
"Yeah, that sounds right." Nya said with a chuckle before remembering something. "Oh hey, I just remembered that Ultra is from the First Realm, did you get to see him?" She asked as Melissa's eyes widened at the mention of Ultra before her face turned sad and looked down, "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked in confusion
Melissa took a deep breath and gave Nya a sad look. "Nya, you know how I told you those Dragon Hunters killed a lot of dragons before we got there?" She asked.
"Yeah, why bring…" Nya trailed off as she saw the sad look in Melissa's eyes and realized what she was saying as she gasped in horror and covered her mouth, "Oh no." She whispered.
"The strongest, fastest, most powerful dragon in all of Ninjago, reduced to being a chair for a madman." Melissa said sadly.
"Oh Melissa, I'm so sorry." Nya said in sympathy.
"It's okay. None of us would've predicted it." Melissa said to her. "At least we avenged him when Iron Baron is gone, I hope that bastard burns in Hell." She said in anger.
"Did the others knew about Ultra back there?" Nya asked.
"After we escaped and when Firstbourne attacked. They took it the hardest since Ultra was their first dragons from the beginning." Melissa said to her. "Especially Cole for what happened to Rocky." She said while looking down, "Faith promised that she'd give Ultra and all the other dragons they've killed the burial they deserve."
"Did she when you left?" Nya asked.
"We didn't stick around when we returned to Ninjago for that, but knowing Faith, she probably has at this point." Melissa said. "Trust me, the First Realm was a complete wasteland, where the crazies and unthinkable occur on a daily basis." She said, looking forward in thought.
Nya then had another thought, "The First Realm, it wasn't just Lloyd's grandfather's home," She said, ringing her fingers.
"No, it was my father's too." Melissa said with a look. "And from what Faith told us, while the First Spinjitzu Master was connected to the dragons and the Firstbourne, my father was connected to The Oni, especially to one Oni called The Omega."
"Did you, learn anything else while you were there?" Nya asked carefully.
"I learned that before he became the total evil jerk I know he is, he was… a decent guy." Melissa said, waving her hand, "In the beginning he understood the Balance between destruction and creation was necessary and worked with the First Spinjitzu Master to try and end the war between the two sides but got jack-squat." She then frowned a bit solemnly, "I always said me and father were nothing alike but, maybe I was wrong."
"How can you say that?" Nya questioned with a brow.
"We were both best friends of a guy who was on the side of light but then when we thought they turned their back on us we went ahead and stabbed them in the back and went on doing whatever we wanted without caring at all how much we hurt them." Melissa said miserably.
"I think you're being too hard on yourself," Nya said sympathetically.
"Am I?" Melissa asked with a frown as she sighed, "Nya, how exactly was Lloyd doing after we got sent to the First Realm?" She asked
Nya was surprised to hear that before she looked away. "You… don't wanna know." She said before clearing her throat. "Uhh, how's your noodles?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"Nya, please, I know that Lloyd pretty much went through the worst day in his life because of me and I need to know how much he was hurting." Melissa told her firmly.
"Melissa, I don't think knowing will-" Nya tried to say.
"Nya… what happened?" Melissa asked firmly yet nervously.
Nya flinched a bit as she gave a sigh. "When you and the boys vanished to the First Realm, during the few weeks, we were mostly on the run, hiding and building up a resistance to stop Garmadon, but Lloyd, he was in an incredible turmoil, he tried to hide it but we knew it was there," Nya said, gripping her arms and looking down, "Some nights I'd see him having nightmares about what happened, in mornings he'd seemed to be hopeless, angry, sad, and when we trained, to him it wasn't training it was more as, punishing himself." She explained which surprised Melissa. "Some nights I hear him crying himself to sleep, blaming himself for what happened, begging for you to give him another chance. It was so painful to watch, but then, one night I saw Lloyd…"
"What? He what?" Melissa asked worriedly.
"Melissa, please don't make me tell you something you don't want to hear," Nya said with a worried frown.
"Nya, please, what did Lloyd do?" Melissa begged, tearing up a bit, "Please, I want to know."
Nya looked away before closing her eyes. "Lloyd tried to… kill himself." She revealed sadly.
Melissa's eyes widened in shock when she heard that as she leaned back in her seat. "H-He tried to what?" She whispered in shock as Nya stood silent while rubbing her arms.
"He went up to the roof, didn't realize I followed him and… was about to go over the edge," Nya revealed as Melissa's face turned to horror as she shakily brought her hands to her mouth, "I managed to grab him and pull him back, I was angry and sad that he would do something like this but he just yelled and screamed at me, saying that there was no point anymore, his father had full control, he didn't have his powers and… all he wanted was to see you again, even if you hated him he just wants you by his side." She said looking at Melissa with a sadden look, "We ended up getting into a big fight, a lot of things were said, but I managed to get through to him."
"How?" Melissa said, her voice breaking.
"I told him, I couldn't lose my little brother after I already lost my other three brothers, my Sensei, my boyfriend and the best little sister I've ever known." Nya said, giving Melissa a sad smile. "I asked him if I really meant that little to him, that his mother meant that little to him, if this is how you, Kai and the others would have wanted him to do? Lloyd then broke down in my arms and cried all night. After that scare, I stuck by Lloyd every second of every day, encouraging him to keep fighting, for your memory and it worked, a bit." She finished.
Melissa looked at Nya sadly as tears now ran down her eyes as she leaned back and took shallow breaths. "Th-This… Th-This is all my fault." She said, close to breaking down. "W-What have I done?! I'm such a fucking idiot!"
"Melissa…" Nya tried to comfort.
"Don't! Don't you dare say it!" Melissa snapped, her voice carrying only sadness and guilt and the only anger she had was directed at herself, "Don't say this isn't my fault! I let Harumi get to me! I trusted what she did over the boy who's been beside me literally since I was born! It was because of me she got the mask! It was because of me that Garmadon was turned into a monster! It was because of me that the boys and I got trapped in the First Realm! It was because of me, the Sons of Garmadon took over! It was because of me that Lloyd almost got killed!" She ranted.
"Melissa," Nya tried to say.
"It was because of me that… That…" Melissa tried to hold it in before she buried her face in her hands, "LLOYD HATES ME!!!" She screamed before sobbing loudly.
Nya frowned sympathetically at Melissa before she moved over to her and hugged her close, "Shhh, it's okay Melissa. It's okay." She soothed as the girl cried into her shoulder, clinging to the jacket she was wearing.
"He hates me. He hates me. He hates me." Melissa repeated between her sobs.
"No, he doesn't." Nya told her, running a hand through her hair.
"Yes he does." Melissa sobbed as she gave crying hiccups. "I refused to listen to him when he just wanted to explain himself for what happened. I was so blinded by rage and anger that, I didn't even care about what he had to say. The guys told me what actually happened and it made me realize that I broke his heart over a complete misunderstanding!" She cried, hating herself for being so foolish, "Why didn't I listen?! Why did I think he'd betray me?! Lloyd felt like he had nothing left to live for and it's all my fault! I'm sorry, Lloyd. I'm so sorry!" She yelled out as she burst out crying again.
Nya looked at Melissa in sympathy as she kept her held in a comforting hug while Melissa kept sobbing her eyes out. "It's alright, Melissa. It's alright. It's all over now." She said to her softly. After a few minutes Melissa began to quiet down as her sobbing eventually turned to quick and quiet whimpers as Nya pulled her back and saw the tear streaks on her cheeks, "Got all that out of your system?" She asked with a sympathetic smile as Melissa gave a sniffle and nodded, "Getting all those tears out is often the first part to recovery."
"Lloyd will never forgive me, let alone want to get back with me," Melissa said hopelessly.
"How can you tell?" Nya asked.
"He hasn't talked to me since we took Garmadon down, whenever we bump into each other he can't even look me in the eye." Melissa said glumly. "He doesn't go on patrol with me anymore, he always sticks me with you… no offense."
"Non taken." Nya assured.
"And when we do talk, it's mostly just when you and the boys are around and it's about training." Melissa finished, "I shouldn't be surprised. After what I did, it's the least of what I deserve. I consider this my punishment."
"It hurts doesn't it? Putting the sweetest guy you've ever known through so much hassle all because you trusted something you saw over him," Nya said, remembering her own lapse in foolish judgement with her relationship with Jay. "And when you finally get your head on straight, you're too afraid to face him again."
"I swear, I will never tease you about that 'Perfect Match' thing ever again," Melissa said sadly.
"That I appreciate," Nya said with a small smile. "But, give it time. You and Lloyd will work things out."
"How do you know?" Melissa asked unconvinced.
"Firstly, do you want to be together with Lloyd again?" Nya asked her.
"More than anything." Melissa said strongly.
"So what do you think is stopping you? The thought that Lloyd will reject you?" Nya asked as Melissa looked down and nodded, "Well, I can confidently tell you that's not gonna happen. Honestly, Lloyd's been wanting to get back together with you since you got back."
"But he…" Melissa tried to say.
"It's because he wants to be with you that he's avoiding you," Nya explained as Melissa looked confused, "He thinks you might still be mad at him, so he feels like if he just acts professional, gives your space and keep the communication to minimum, he'll at least be on safe ground with you."
Melissa looked with circle shaped eyes and her mouth closed, "...Oh." She said in realization as she looked down, "So, he's not gonna do anything…"
"Unless you want him to," Nya finished with a smile. "Lloyd doesn't wanna get back together with you unless you say that you wanna get back together, and he's waiting for when you say so, he even said that if you just want to be friends again that's enough for him, that's the kind of man he wants you to see him as."
Melissa was stunned silent by how patient and respectful Lloyd was being to her despite how childish and unfair she had been to him and was even willing to at least stay friends with her if she desired. Melissa then gave a slight smile and chuckle, "I don't deserve that boy," She said, shaking her head before looking down again. "I really don't."
"And I don't deserve Jay after I cheated on him," Nya said with a smile of her own, "But that doesn't stop him from loving me and I'd be an even worse girlfriend if I didn't do the same. I made the mistake of trying to deny his feelings and my own because I was afraid of being rejected, which is why I know you'll make things right with Lloyd, because your love for him is stronger than your fear," She told Melissa.
Melissa smiled as she gave a sob mixed with a laugh and cleared her eyes, "Thank you for protecting him." She said graciously.
"Anything for my sister." Nya said with a smile as she raised a glass to her, "To us bitches."
"To us bitches." Melissa said with a chuckle as they tapped their glasses as they laughed and drinked.
The two girls then walked back up to the Monastery, "Thanks again, for the day out Nya, I really needed that." Melissa said, feeling very relaxed.
"Don't mention it," Nya told her with a smile, "So you feel more confident now."
"Oh yeah, totally," Melissa assured as she went up to the gates, "First chance I get, I'm gonna go up to Lloyd, face him and this time I will-"
Right when she said that, the doors opened and her face was inches away from Lloyd. The two blinked in surprise before yelping and leaping back, "Oh, uh, Hi Melissa." Lloyd said with an awkward smile.
"Oh, hey Lloyd." Melissa said with a toothy smile and wave, "W-What a surprise. I mean, not really a surprise to see you here, I mean you live here, with me and the others, so I shouldn't be surprised to see you at the door, here, at the Monastery." She rambled.
Nya sighed as she placed a hand on her face. "Real smooth, Melissa." She muttered.
"Uh, yes, that's right. So uh, where have you been?" Lloyd asked before quickly raising his hands, "Not asking in a nosy sort of way, just in a leader checking in on his fellow Ninja who just got back from another world, where have you been, so where have you been?" He asked with a nervous smile.
"Oh you know, here, there, nowhere, everywhere," Melissa said vaguely as she chuckled and shuffled her feet, "Uh, where were you going?" She asked.
Lloyd's face then turned serious, "To see my father." He answered as the two girls looked surprised.
"Garmadon?" Nya asked in surprise.
"Why?" Melissa asked.
"There are some things I have to ask him." Lloyd told them, "Things about what he said that night, I need to know."
Melissa bit her lips before speaking. "Do you want me to go with you? Y-You know for… some… encouragement and some… backup?" She asked nervously, holding her hands together.
Lloyd looked surprised by this, "Oh, o-oh, uh well, I," He said rubbing the back of his head, "I was gonna go by myself, but, are you sure?" He asked.
"Oh yeah, totally, it's cool." Melissa assured, "But if you don't want me to go."
"Yes! I-I-I mean no, no, no! I mean," Lloyd then took a breath and calmed down, "I appreciate the offer, really, but, I feel like my father will only talk to me, so it might be best if I go alone."
"O-Oh, okay then." Melissa said, a bit disappointed.
"Well, I guess I better get going," Lloyd said, walking past Melissa as she closed her eyes for a minute.
"Lloyd!" Melissa blurted out as Lloyd turned to her curiously as she opened her mouth but no words came out, "I….There's something… I need you to know that…" She tried to say before Lloyd put a hand on her and gave her a gentle smile. "I… I… I l-l-l…" She struggled to say as Nya gave an encouraging look and gestured for her to say, "I L-L-L-L-Like your new Gi!" She gestured to Lloyd's Gi.
Lloyd blinked and looked at his Gi, "Oh, uh, thanks?" He said with a brow as Nya facepalmed herself.
Melissa gave a toothy grin while in her mind she was screaming, 'YOU ARE A FUCKING IDIOOOOOOTTTT!!!!' She yelled out.
"Well, I'll see you around." Lloyd said with a smile and a nod as the two looked at each other before Lloyd walked off as Melissa watched him go.
"Y-Yeah, see ya around, Greenie Boy!" Melissa called out awkwardly with a chuckle and once Lloyd was out of sight she groaned and double-facepalmed herself. "Greenie Boy? New Gi? Seriously? Ugh! I blew it, AGAIN!" She groaned as Nya walked up to her.
"Give it time. There's still hope for you yet, Melissa." Nya said with a smirk. "If you don't stop chickening out, that is." She added with a sheepish look while Melissa gave a groan with her head back.
"I'm doomed." Melissa muttered while Nya giggled at her reaction, seeing that she is a long way to telling Lloyd.
A/N: And that was Sisterly Bond, and Melissa has a long way to go to try and speak with Lloyd and get back together with him, but we all know that someday she'll speak with him… eventually. I hope you all enjoy reading this short, leave a review and tell me what you think.
Here's the Cast List.
Sam Vincent as Lloyd; Tara Strong as Melissa; Kelly Metzger as Nya.