Heroes POV
Nya never thought she was going to die by being eaten by a giant snake, but what made the situation worse was her brother's betrayal. The fact that Kai had chosen to work with Master Chen cut deeper than any weapon. She clenched her fists as the massive serpent slithered closer, its jaws wide open, ready to consume her and Sensei Garmadon. The reality of their situation was suffocating.
She turned her head to look at Sensei Garmadon, who was also bound and awaiting the inevitable. He looked profoundly sad, and Nya suspected it wasn't just about their current predicament or Kai's betrayal.
"What is on your mind?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. "I know we're about to be eaten by a giant snake, but it's better if you let your burden go before we die."
Garmadon's eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of the great man behind the warrior. "You're right," he said with a sigh. "It's just… I feel like I failed Lloyd. No, I know I failed him a long time ago, and it's only now that I realized the depth of that failure."
Nya just nodded, that was an understatement. Lloyd's life must have been incredibly difficult, considering that he was abandoned because his mother chose Noah over him. Growing up in a school for bad kids, being bullied by almost every student, and being hated because of Sensei Garmadon's reputation- none of it was easy. She wasn't surprised that Lloyd had decided to work with Master Chen.
"I'm sure Lloyd will realize that you are trying to make amends," she decided to say. "It may take him a while, but eventually, he'll regret his actions."
Garmadon nodded, though the pain in his eyes didn't fade. "I still don't know if I should be angry at Misako for what she did. She ruined Lloyd's life by choosing Noah over him."
Nya's eyes softened with understanding. "It's complicated. Misako made choices that affected Lloyd deeply, but holding onto that anger won't change the past. It will only eat away at you. What matters now is how we move forward, how we can help Lloyd see the light and find his way back."
Garmadon sighed, looking down at the ground. "I just want him to know that he isn't alone. That he has a family that loves him, no matter what he's done or what path he's on now."
He couldn't help but close his eyes, haunted by the memory of Lloyd's face when he asked what was wrong. Lloyd had looked so hurt as if he had been through literal hell, yet he didn't bother to tell Garmadon what had happened. The pain of that moment lingered with Garmadon. Lloyd didn't want to bond with him or anyone; he preferred to be alone, a decision driven by his trauma. But what scared Garmadon the most was that he didn't know what Lloyd was thinking.
The sound of the door opening made him snap his eyes open. It was Lloyd, smiling eerily at the snake. "Hello, snake," he said, patting the snake's head. The snake looked at him in disgust but remained obedient. "Clouse allowed me to kill them, but you can eat their corpses."
Nya and Sensei Garmadon stared at Lloyd in fear. Lloyd summoned a sword and began walking towards them. "Don't take it personally, guys, but you don't know anything."
"Please, Lloyd, don't do this," Nya pleaded, her voice shaking. "I know we've only known each other for a short time, but do you want to kill us?"
"Listen to us, Lloyd," Sensei Garmadon joined in, his tone urgent but gentle. "This is not like you. You can still make the right choice."
Lloyd walked closer until he was only a few feet away. He scanned their faces, a smirk playing on his lips. "Like I said before, you don't know anything, but it's best if things stay that way."
He raised the sword, its blade gleaming ominously. "Let's hope things are better for you in the afterlife."
Nya and Sensei Garmadon closed their eyes, bracing for the fatal strike. Instead, they heard a dying squeal, but it wasn't theirs. When they opened their eyes, they were shocked to see the large snake with Lloyd's sword embedded in its skull. Lloyd glanced at the snake before looking away, as if it was an afterthought.
He laughed at the confusion on their faces. "Did you think I was going to kill you?" He wiped a tear from his eye and straightened himself. "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't make it painless."
Lloyd removed the sword from the snake's skull with a swift motion and used it to cut the chains binding them. Nya and Sensei Garmadon rubbed their sore wrists, still trying to process what had just happened.
"So, are you the good guy or the bad guy?" Nya asked, her voice tinged with frustration and confusion. "Because I don't know which one you are."
Lloyd shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe what you want if it makes you feel better, but I'm out to take a few people out."
Sensei Garmadon, still rubbing his wrists, looked at his son with a mixture of relief and concern. "Lloyd, if you aren't going to kill us, what are you planning to do?"
Lloyd sheathed his sword and gave his father a cold, calculating look. "I have my agenda, and it doesn't involve mindlessly following anyone's orders. Not Chen's, not yours, not anyone's. I do what I need to do."
Lloyd looked away and started to walk off. "I'm going to save quite a lot of people, and don't worry about Kai, he's going to be just fine. So, toddles."
Nya and Sensei Garmadon exchanged a glance, their minds racing with questions. What was going on behind the scenes?
"Lloyd," Sensei Garmadon finally spoke up, his voice thick with emotion. "Before you go, just know that I care about you deeply."
Lloyd froze in his tracks, his back still turned to them. He didn't move for a moment, the silence stretching out. "I know that, so let's spend a day together and tell stories about our past," he said softly. "But now is not the time."
Nya stepped forward, reaching out a hand as if to bridge the distance between them. "Lloyd, we don't have to do this alone. Whatever you're planning, we can be there with you. We're stronger together."
Lloyd shook his head, still not turning around. "You don't understand. This isn't something that can be solved with teamwork or friendship. This is something I have to handle my way."
The urgency in his voice was palpable, and it sent a shiver down Nya's spine. She could see the conflict within him, the burden he was carrying was alone.
"Lloyd, please," Sensei Garmadon implored, taking a step closer. "We've lost so much time already. Don't push us away now. We can help you."
Lloyd's shoulders tensed as if he was wrestling with himself. Finally, he turned halfway. Just enough for them to see the pain etched in his face. "I appreciate it, I do. But this isn't about you or the team. It's about making things right in a way only I can."
Nya's eyes filled with desperation. "Then promise us you'll come back. Promise you'll be okay."
A ghost of a smile touched Lloyd's lips. "I'll do my best. But I can't make promises in a war like this."
With those words, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Nya and Sensei Garmadon standing in the dimly lit corridor, grappling with fear, sorrow, and hope.
…
Noah couldn't help but stare at the dead body that lay in front of him, the blood already staining his shoes. The gruesome scene seemed surreal as if he was trapped in a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. He never thought that people would heed Master Chen's brutal orders, but the reality was splattered in red around him. He barely moved out of the way when a sword thrust dangerously close to his face, he wondered if he truly had to kill someone to survive.
As he sidestepped another attack, his foot caught on a corpse, and he stumbled backward. Just as he was about to hit the ground, a strong hand grabbed him, pulling him back to his feet. Noah looked up, his eyes meeting those of a handsome guy with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He didn't recall seeing someone like this before, yet there was something familiar about him.
"Are you okay, Noah?" a familiar voice asked, filled with concern.
Noah's eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Pale? Is that you?"
The man's face flushed as he rubbed his neck, an awkward smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I'm surprised you recognized me considering I'm always invisible."
Noah nodded, barely suppressing an eye roll. No shit, Sherlock, he thought. In his mind, he always imagined Mr. Pale to be someone plain or even ugly, given his tendency to remain unseen. But here he was, undeniably handsome. His eyes wandered to the sword Mr. Pale was holding, glinting menacingly in the low light. Sensing Noah's unease, Mr. Pale quickly clarified.
"I'm not planning on hurting anyone. I'm just using this to defend myself," he said, his voice tinged with nervousness. "And you should do the same."
He gave Noah a small wave before wandering off into the chaos. Noah stood there momentarily, looking at the ground before picking up an ugly-looking dagger. It was crude and worn, but it was a weapon. The reality sank in he might have to hurt someone to survive this ordeal.
The shining gleam of a sword caught Noah's eye, and he jumped back just in time to avoid a strike. A familiar voice echoed through the chaos, chilling him to the bone.
"So, you can dodge?" the voice sneered. "It looks like this fight is going to be interesting."
Noah stared at Elijah, who was covered in blood, making this already filthy uniform even more dirty. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mingling with the acrid stench of sweat and fear. Noah's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to steady his trembling hands. Unfazed by the carnage around them, Elijah locked eyes with him, a sinister gleam in his gaze.
"Noah, you can't hesitate," Elijah taunted, circling him like a predator. "If you do, you'll be dead."
Noah gripped the dagger tighter, his knuckles turning white. "I don't want to fight you, Elijah," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. He could feel the cold sweat trickling down his back, each drops a reminder of the dire situation he was in.
Elijah laughed, a harsh sound that echoed off the walls. "You don't have a choice, Noah. It's kill or be killed. Master Chen made sure of that."
Noah's mind raced as he tried to think of a way out. Suddenly, Elijah lunged, aiming for Noah's chest. The movement was swift, almost a blur. Noah sidestepped, using the dagger to deflect the blow. The force of the impact sent him stumbling backward, and he tripped over another body, falling hard to the ground. Pain shot through his back as he landed, and for a moment, the world spun around him.
Elijah loomed over him, his sword raised high for the killing blow. Noah knew he couldn't dodge this. It looked like this time was up, and it wasn't how he expected to die. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable pain. In his final moments, he hoped that one of his friends would make it out of there alive.
The expected pain never came. Instead, he heard the clash of metal on metal, echoing through the chaos. He opened his eyes to find something he didn't expect.
Standing above him was Lloyd, his face a mask of determination. He had intercepted Elijah's strike, his sword locked against Elijah's. The two were engaged in a fierce struggle, their weapons sparking as they clashed.
"Lloyd?" Noah's voice was barely a whisper, a mixture of relief and confusion.
"Get up, Noah," Lloyd commanded, his voice tense and unwavering. "We're not done yet."
Noah stared at Lloyd, who he thought had betrayed him. Why had he come back? Even Elijah looked confused by Lloyd's presence.
"You came here to save your weak brother," Elijah spat. "I guess one of us is going to die."
Lloyd looked at Elijah, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to figure something out. "Did Master Chen threaten you sister, Elijah?" he asked, his voice calm but with a hint of urgency.
Elijah's expression faltered for a moment before hardening again. "What are you talking about?" he snapped. "This has nothing to do with her."
Noah, still holding his dagger, took a step forward. "Elijah answered him. Is your sister in danger?"
Elijah's eyes flickered with uncertainty before she sneered. "You think you know everything, Lloyd? Master Chen has everyone under his thumb. There's no escape, no hope. Fighting is the only way out."
Lloyd shook his head. "That's where you're wrong Elijah. There is always hope. Master Chen wants us to believe we're powerless but can fight back together. We can save your sister, and we can end this madness."
"Don't listen to him, Elijah," Noah interjected. "We don't have to fight each other. We can work together and find a way out."
Elijah's grip on his sword tightened, his eyes darting between Noah and Lloyd. "You don't understand," he hissed. "Master Chen has my sister. If I don't win, she'll die."
Noah felt a pang of sympathy and stepped closer. "Elijah, we can save her. But we need to stop fighting each other first."
Lloyd nodded, his gaze steady. "We can take down Master Chen, but we need to trust each other, Fighting only makes him stronger."
Elijah's resolve wavered, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions. "You think we can stop him?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lloyd stepped forward, his expression earnest. "I know we can. But we have to do it together. No more killing. No more playing by his rules."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then, with a deep breath, Elijah lowered his sword. "Fine," he muttered. "But if this goes wrong, it's on you, Lloyd."
Lloyd nodded. "I'll take that risk. Let's save your sister and get everyone out of here."
Noah let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Thank you, Elijah," he said quietly. "We'll get through this together."
Elijah glanced at Noah, his expression softening slightly. "Just don't make me regret this," he replied.
Lloyd turned to lead the way, his determination unwavering. "Let's move. We have a lot of work to do, and Master Chen won't know what hit him."
A sudden burst of laughter filled the air, drawing everyone's attention to Master Chen, who stood on the stage he had been on earlier. "Lloyd, you like playing both sides," Master Chen commented, his voice dripping with amusement.
Lloyd shrugged nonchalantly. "I only choose sides that benefit me," he replied coolly. "But I can't let you kill Noah."
Master Chen laughed again, a mocking, sinister sound that echoed through the chamber. "Well, let's see if they will stay by your side if they know who you are."
Noah and Elijah exchanged confused glances, their eyes flickering between Master Chen and Lloyd. What was Master Chen talking about?
"I guess he didn't tell you," Master Chen continued, his tone gleeful, "but Abaddon and Lloyd are the same person."
The revelation hit like a thunderclap. Everyone froze, the shock palpable. The chamber fell into a deadly silence as the words sank in. Noah's mind raced, trying to process the information. How could Lloyd, his brother who had come to save him, be the same person as the feared Abaddon?