Lloyd POV
The confines of my room felt suffocating as I paced back and forth, my footsteps echoing off the walls like a metronome counting down my remaining moments. The incident in the gym played on repeat in my mind, a relentless reminder of my impending doom. No matter how hard I tried to push the thoughts away, they clung to me like a second skin, refusing to be shed.
"I'm going to die soon," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. The words tasted bitter on my tongue, a harsh reality I couldn't swallow. "And there might be nothing I can do to prevent it."
The urge to bash my head against the wall grew stronger with each passing second. My fingers twitched at my sides, itching to lash out, to feel the pain of impact – anything to distract from the crushing weight of my fate. The futility of my situation bore down on me, crushing any semblance of hope I might have harbored.
"How can I go against Destiny?" I asked the empty room, my voice cracking with desperation. The silence that answered was deafening. "No matter what I do, it's going to happen anyway. One way or another. Either I'll be killed by someone or die a natural death. It's unavoidable."
I sank onto my bed, the springs creaking under my weight. My eyes wandered to the sleeping dragon curled up on my pillow. Eclipse looked so peaceful, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath, blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging within me. A wave of pity washed over me as I realized I'd have to give him away soon.
"It's funny," I said softly, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "I did everything to keep you out of Noah's hands, and now it looks like it was all for nothing." My fingers gently traced the scales on Eclipse's back, feeling the warmth radiating from his small body.
My gaze drifted to the floor, the weight of my thoughts pulling me down. "I guess I could give you to Melony," I mused, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. The thought of parting with Eclipse, even to someone I trusted, felt like another nail in my coffin.
The fear of being forgotten clawed at my insides, more terrifying than death itself. "I never wanted to be just some nobody," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Some obstacles for others to overcome. But maybe that's exactly what I am. Maybe I'm just a stepping stone for Noah's growth."
I closed my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing, but it felt like there was no oxygen reaching my lungs. Panic set in as I gasped for air, feeling like I was drowning in dry land. My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage as if trying to break free.
"When was the last time I felt like this?" I wondered aloud, covering my mouth and forcing myself to breathe through my nose. The memories of Darkly flooded back – the taunts, the jeers, the overwhelming sense of isolation. "Was it back to Darkly? When everyone was making fun of me for God knows what?"
After a few minutes of controlled breathing, I felt the suffocating feeling subside. But the sense of being trapped remained, intensified by the knowledge that I was locked in my room. The walls seemed to close in around me, a constant reminder of my confinement.
"They say they're protecting me," I scoffed, glaring at the door. "But I know damn well these people can't prevent what's going to happen. They just want to keep an eye on me."
My eyes wandered to the window, looking down at the courtyard where students were still taking their exams. A girl was demonstrating her ability to communicate with animals, calling a group of birds to her location. "Calling on animals isn't going to help in a fight," I muttered, a hint of bitterness in my voice. "Unless you're in a location with dangerous animals, it's useless."
Turning away from the window, I felt a sudden urge to visit Koko. The need to see her, to feel her comforting presence, even in her comatose state, overwhelmed me. I threw a blanket over Eclipse and approached the door, my heart pounding with anticipation and dread.
As I stuck my head through the door, I was met with the stern gazes of two female staff members. One had light pink hair, while the other was a vibrant blue. They stared at me with a mixture of confusion and wariness.
"Excuse me," I said, clearing my throat. "You don't mind if I could go to the infirmary to visit my adopted mother who is in a coma?"
The blue-haired staff member's eyes softened with pity, but the pink-haired one's face scrunched up in distaste. Her sharp yellow eyes scanned me from head to toe, and I could feel the weight of her judgment.
"No can do," she spat, her voice laced with disdain. "We were tasked with making sure you don't leave this room without permission or escort by a higher-level staff."
Confusion and anger bubbled up inside me. "Why can't one of you take me?" I questioned, my arms crossing over my chest in defiance.
"Our job isn't to babysit you, you know?" She retorted, her voice dripping with venom as she pointed her spear at me. The tip hovered inches from my face, and I fought the urge to smack it away. "We were told to make sure you don't leave this room and get yourself killed."
A frown etched itself onto my face as I realized they had been informed of my tendency to find trouble. My eyes flickered back to the spear, a dangerous thought forming in my mind. If I wasn't allowed to go to the infirmary, perhaps I could force their hand.
As I was about to act on this reckless impulse, the blue-haired teacher's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. "NO!" she cried, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Startled by her quick reaction, I snatched my hand back. "What the actual fuck...?" I muttered, confusion and frustration warring within me.
"Don't do that!" she pleaded, pushing the spear away from my face. "I know you want to see your mother, but don't hurt yourself just to do it. I apologize, but you really can't visit your mother until you have consent from a higher-up staff member. Please understand that we're not in a position to do much."
Defeated and angry, I turned on my heel and stormed back into my room, slamming the door behind me. The sound reverberated through the space, a physical manifestation of my frustration. I stared at the spot where the blue-haired woman had grabbed me, my thoughts inexplicably drifting to Noah. I had dealt with him already, hadn't I? He was supposed to be useless and harmless to me now, but doubt niggled at the back of my mind.
With a heavy sigh, I threw myself back onto the bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. "What am I supposed to do now?" I asked the empty room, my voice barely above a whisper.
A rustling sound caught my attention, and I turned to see the blanket covering Eclipse moving. I reached out and pulled it off, revealing the small dragon stretching and looking at me with what seemed like an annoyance in his eyes.
"Why are you so gloomy?" Eclipse asked, his tiny voice filled with curiosity as he jumped onto my lap. "Are you unhappy because you can't leave?"
I looked down at the dragon, then at my feet, unable to meet his gaze. "Well, that's one of the many reasons why I'm not happy," I admitted, my voice heavy with the weight of my thoughts.
A jolt of realization struck me like lightning. Dragons and their magical prowess – how could I have forgotten? Eclipse wasn't just some scaly pet; he was a powerhouse of untapped potential. My heart raced as I scooped him up, eyes wide with newfound hope.
"You're serious? You can help me?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
Eclipse's eyes flashed with annoyance as he wriggled free from my grasp, hovering before me with an air of indignation. "Of course, I can," he huffed, his tiny chest puffing out. "I'm a dragon. Power is our specialty."
As he settled on my desk, a grin spread across my face. This was it – my chance at freedom, maybe even a shot at outmaneuvering that pesky "death by destiny" thing. Eclipse approached, touching my leg, and suddenly my skin erupted in a dazzling array of scales. I stared at my transformed hands, mesmerized by their otherworldly shimmer.
"Okay, what's the game plan?" I asked, carefully lifting Eclipse once more. "And please tell me it doesn't end with me in handcuffs."
Eclipse nestled into my palms, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Listen up, half-dragon. You've got more power than you realize. We're talking portal-creation levels of awesome. Think you can handle it?"
My mind reeled at the possibilities. I'd known about my draconic heritage, sure, but this? This was uncharted territory. With a deep breath, I approached the wall, channeling my energy just as I had in the gym. But this time, instead of tearing into another dimension, I focused on a simpler goal – the infirmary.
The air crackled and warped, reality-bending to my will. In a heartbeat, a swirling vortex of light tore open before me, offering a tantalizing glimpse of my destination. Without hesitation, I plunged through, emerging in the sterile confines of the infirmary.
My eyes immediately found Koko's bed, her peaceful expression a stark contrast to the turmoil in my heart. As I stood there, an insidious thought crept into my mind. Wouldn't it be easier if she had died? No more guilt, no more responsibility. I shook my head violently, disgusted by my selfishness. Hadn't I vowed to make amends, to be the son she deserved?
Yet as I stood there, torn between love and self-preservation, I couldn't help but wonder: Had I changed at all? Or was I still that same selfish kid, always looking out for number one?
The room felt suffocating as shame and guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave. Tears, long suppressed, finally broke free, cascading down my cheeks in hot, salty rivulets. I jammed my fingers into my mouth, desperately trying to muffle the sobs that threatened to tear me apart from the inside out. The bitter taste of injustice coated my tongue.
"It's not fair," I choked out between ragged breaths. "Sure, I've done bad things, but I never wanted to die like that. Not again. I did everything I could to change history, and yet here we are, repeating the same damn cycle."
"This is the second time I've caught you crying," a familiar voice cut through my anguish. I looked up to see Mister Glasses, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic solemnity.
As I removed my fingers from my mouth, the metallic tang of blood filled my senses. To my horror, I realized I'd been gnawing at my flesh, exposing bone in my mindless desperation. The numbness that enveloped me was a small mercy, shielding me from what would surely be excruciating pain.
"Stop crying, it doesn't suit you," Mister Glasses said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as he knelt beside me, carefully bandaging my self-inflicted wounds. "You are not going to die."
A hysterical laugh bubbled up from my chest, mingling with the tears and snot that streaked my face. "What the fuck are you talking about? That... thing told everyone I'm going to die!"
Mister Glasses finished tending to my fingers and offered me a pristine handkerchief. "Did you already forget our promise?" he asked, rising to his feet and smoothing out his impeccable suit. "I promised I'd protect you. Why are you acting like I've already failed when we haven't even begun?"
His words sparked a flicker of defiance within me. "What are you going to do, huh?" I challenged, wiping my nose. "Are you going to fight Destiny?"
A slow grin spread across Mister Glasses' face, a glimpse of his usual self shining through. "Isn't that what you're doing right now? Besides, I promised my mother I'd help you. If you're going to fight Destiny, why don't we fight it together?"
His words acted like a balm on my battered spirit. The tears finally ceased their relentless flow as a newfound determination took root in my chest. Mister Glasses was right – I'd changed my destiny before, so why not do it again?
As I stood, wiping away the last traces of my breakdown, a frown creased my brow as I remembered the looming second exam. But Mister Glasses, ever the enigma, had one more surprise up his sleeve.
"If you're worried about the second exam, I've got you covered," he said, circling me like a shark. "I'm pretty sure you're busy with your group and trying not to die, so I'll help you out here."
For once, it seemed Mister Glasses might be useful. But my hopes were quickly dashed when he revealed he couldn't simply let me skip the exam. However, his alternative proposition piqued my interest – a mission involving Laura, my old friend turned enemy.
"Do you remember Laura, your old friend?" Mister Glasses asked, his tone suddenly serious.
I nodded, my hand unconsciously moving to my back where the phantom pain of Laura's betrayal still lingered. "Yeah, what about her?"
"The group she was a part of is acting up. Why don't you deal with them for your final exam?" Mister Glasses suggested a glint in his eye. "Besides, I'm sure you were planning on dealing with them later."
As the implications of his words sank in, a familiar fire ignited within me. This was my chance to tie up loose ends, to face a part of my past I'd never encountered before. The Outcasts would rise again, and I would ensure my survival, no matter the cost.
With a quick wave to Mister Glasses, I set off, my mind already racing with plans and strategies. Destiny may have marked me for death, but I was about to show it that I wasn't going down without one hell of a fight.
…
Heroes POV
The shimmering portal winked out of existence, leaving Brian alone in the suddenly quiet room. His smile faded as he lowered his hand, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. With a weary sigh, he adjusted his glasses, muttering under his breath, "This is going to be troublesome."
Brian's hand moved to his pocket, fingers wrapping around the hilt of his sword. As he pulled it out, the fluorescent lights glinted off the broken blade, a stark reminder of the power they had faced. The weapon, forged specifically for him, now lay in two pieces, rendered useless by whatever entity they had encountered.
"Damn," he whispered, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and fear. "I've never seen anything like it." His mind raced with the implications, each thought more unsettling than the last. "We're strong, but can we protect Ninjago from everything?"
The weight of his promise to Lloyd hung heavy in the air. Brian's jaw clenched, frustration evident in every line of his body. "I hate making empty promises," he muttered, "but protecting Lloyd from this... it might be beyond even me." A rueful smile tugged at his lips. "He'll figure it out on his own. He always has."
Suddenly, Brian's posture straightened, his senses alert. His voice cut through the silence, a hint of amusement coloring his tone. "You can come out now, Sensei Wu. You may have hidden your presence from Lloyd, but you can't hide it from me."
The old man emerged from behind the door, his expression grave. Brian's eyes narrowed as he studied Wu, noting the tension in the sensei's stance. "What can I do for you?" Brian asked, his tone deceptively light.
Wu's response was blunt, catching Brian off guard. "You should not have favorites, especially with someone like Lloyd."
Brian tilted his head, a sardonic smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I don't usually have favorites, but Lloyd is a special case." He eyed Wu warily, the animosity between them palpable. "I assume you didn't come all the way here to tell me just that, did you?"
Sensei Wu sighed, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Sadly, no. We're having an emergency staff meeting. The remaining untested students will have to finish a bit late."
As Wu turned to leave, Brian couldn't resist a parting shot. "You should pay attention to your son," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Considering how he didn't even bother to come to his finals."
Brian quickened his pace, eager to put distance between himself and Wu. As they walked, he could feel the old man's questioning gaze boring into his back. The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife, a stark reminder of why Brian hated being a teacher in the first place.
With each step, Brian's mind raced, grappling with the implications of Lloyd's abilities, the looming threat, and the complex web of relationships that threatened to entangle them all. One thing was certain – the coming days would test them all in ways they could scarcely imagine.