Lloyd POV
It seemed like everything was just as it had been before, perhaps even better, now that I was back and in charge. The base was flourishing, running smoothly as everyone diligently played their part. Despite the dim lighting casting a gloomy shadow over the place, the changes of the past few days were unmistakable.
Everyone was divided into their groups and sections, working hard. The best part was the absence of Noah and my father, which made the experience all the more satisfying. I loved my father when he was evil, but it always felt like he loved the idea of having a child to do his bidding more than he loved me. He taught me many things, but he neglected my feelings and expected perfection.
I guess that's one of the things I hated about him, but it's not like I need to worry about him anymore. Lost in thought, I realized I had never honored my father after his death. I had tried to avoid getting close to my family altogether. Maybe I wanted to ensure I wouldn't get attached or distracted. But it does get lonely sometimes.
I stared at the pile of new supplies that had finally arrived. I hadn't seen such an abundance in a long time. It looked like Mister Glasses made a good sponsor. If things kept running like this, it wouldn't take long for us to take over Ninjago.
Turning away from the supplies, I returned to my office. The paperwork that had once overwhelmed me was finally finished. Jacob had cleaned my office, replaced most of the furniture, and removed the graffiti that had once covered the walls. It felt like I was living in my past life once again.
I took a seat at my desk and flipped the hourglass once more. I had only one day left before I would die. I had spent the last three days wisely, and I hoped I could avoid dying again. If I didn't, at least I would go down fighting, proving that I wasn't pathetic.
A sudden knock on the door drew my attention away from the ticking hourglass. I walked over and opened it swiftly to reveal Pluto, who had changed drastically since I last saw him. He had grown taller, more muscular, and lean—just as he was in my last life. He wasn't the poor, timid boy who could do nothing but rely on me. I was glad my hard work in making him a man hadn't gone to waste.
"Did you find what I was looking for?" I asked, still admiring the change and how good he looked in the black military uniform. "I intend to keep my end of the deal."
Pluto nodded and led me to the torture room, where the stench of blood was palpable even from outside. He opened the door, allowing us to enter the room where the men who deserved to die were held. This was the only room that hadn't been upgraded. It looked the same as day one, and it kept getting worse.
Ignoring the awful stench, I made my way to the center of the room where five men, who looked like they had been through hell, were tied up. I took a good look, still unable to comprehend what was going on in their minds for them to rape and then kill a little girl. I wouldn't care if Laura decided to go after them herself, but her attempt to sacrifice children was out of hand.
"Do you know why you are here?" I asked, slipping on the smiling mask I hadn't worn since I embraced the persona of Abaddon. It felt foreign and familiar all at once, a reminder of the power I wielded.
The man in the middle, sporting a large orange beard, shouted, "No, we don't! Why are you doing this to us?!"
I stared at him, expressionless beneath the mask. This was why I hated people the most. They commit unspeakable acts, yet when confronted, they feign innocence as if they were never in the wrong. I wondered if this was how the people of Ninjago would react if I asked them to admit their wrongdoings against me. Would they act as if they hadn't tormented and hurt me?
"Are you sure about that?" I said, my voice low and menacing as I grabbed a large axe that felt heavy in my hands. "You better start talking before you end up with a couple of missing limbs."
The five men watched in terror as I began to circle them like a predator stalking its prey. The dim light of the room flickered ominously, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward them, amplifying their fear. I would love to kill them right on the spot, but I wanted them to understand the weight of their actions before I sent them to the devil to play with them.
"We… seriously… don't know…" stammered the man on the right, his eyes glued to the axe. "If we… offended you in some way… please forgive us…"
I couldn't help but release a bitter laugh. These people were truly speaking nonsense. With a swift motion, I swung the axe, chopping off the leg of the man who was begging for forgiveness. He screamed in agony, the sound echoing through the dark, filthy chamber, mingling with the metallic scent of blood that filled the air. Blood gushed from the wound, creating a crimson puddle that began to surround him.
The other four stared in horror at what had just happened to their friend. They had always caused trouble, yet they truly didn't recall ever messing with this strange group. They had never even seen me before, yet it seemed I was going to kill them.
"Are you really that stupid? Or do you genuinely not know what you did wrong?" I asked, squatting down to their level. "Let me remind you a bit: October 14, 2010."
The room fell into a dead silence, the air suddenly turning icy. October 14, 2010? They remembered getting drunk that day and causing a ruckus around a neighborhood near the bar they frequented. But they didn't recall messing with me or anyone in those black clothes that stood out so much.
"We still don't know…" the man in the middle began to wail, fear evident in his voice. "I'm… I'm sorry, but we don't know…"
My grip tightened on the axe. These people had truly forgotten about the crimes they had committed that night. Were they heartless, ignorant, or simply in denial? I raised my axe, ready to unleash my frustration on the middle one when suddenly, the man on the left began to scream.
"I remember! I remember! We raped and killed a girl!" he confessed, tears streaming down his face. "We were drunk, and she was just trying to go to a convenience store to buy some snacks…"
"Silence!" I raised my hand, cutting him off. "I'm well aware of the story already." I placed the axe back onto the table filled with various weapons, each one a reminder of the power I wielded. "I just wanted you to confess your sins and understand what you did wrong."
"Was she your sister?" the man between the one on the right and the middle finally spoke up, his voice trembling. "We turned ourselves into the police."
The rest of them began to chime in, babbling about how they were going to confess their crimes and go to prison. Their voices sounded like birds chirping early in the morning, but a hundred times more annoying. My head felt like it was splitting just from their incessant talking.
"Shut the fuck up!" I shouted, startling the men into silence. I was not going to hear any more of their bullshit. "I am not here to force you to turn yourselves in." I pulled out a camera and showed it to them. "I am here to execute you."
Before any of them could even react, I used my ability, Destruction, to make their heads explode, creating a shower of blood that covered the entire room. Blood dripped onto me like rain, but I felt nothing. It seemed I was becoming immune to the feeling of taking someone's life. I knew that wasn't a good thing, but it was too late to change careers. Every story needs a villain, and I was destined to be it.
I started to take photos of the crime I had committed. This should be enough for Laura, right? I truly hoped that her sister was at peace. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was one thing I wished I could change, but I had gone back in time two months after the incident.
I looked at Pluto, who appeared unfazed. I had half-expected him to get emotional like Cameron, but instead, he kept his composure. I was impressed, but deep inside, I felt a tinge of disappointment. I had been looking forward to teasing him, but it seemed he truly wasn't the Pluto I once knew.
"Ask someone to clean up this mess," I ordered, taking off the smiling mask, now stained red. "I have another appointment to make."
"Sure thing, Leader," Pluto replied, taking the coat away from me. "Is there anything else you want me to do?"
I scanned Pluto before handing over the photos. "Send these to Laura as soon as possible. I think she'll be pleased that my end of the deal is completed."
"Of course," Pluto said, accepting the photos. "I will make sure that she sees this."
"Thank you, Pluto. I knew I could count on you," I commented before walking away. I only had one day left to complete the second examination, so I didn't have time to waste.
I exited the torture room and into a more suitable-smelling environment. I could feel eyes on me, but that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted them to know that I wasn't the Lloyd Garmadon who needed his father, but rather Lloyd Garmadon who could pull his weight.
I looked at my uniform, removing the large coat, hat, and mask, which seemed to have the most blood on them. I still had some blood on me, but since my clothing was all black, it wasn't that noticeable unless you caught the faint smell. I knew I made the right choice when I asked for our uniforms to be all black.
I touched my blonde hair, which miraculously hadn't been touched by the blood. My hand froze for a moment. I always hated my blonde hair, and I still do. Maybe because it was the same color as Noah's or the fact that it stood out too much. But I think it's because everyone knew me because of it. Should I just go back to dyeing my hair black again?
"Your ride is ready, Leader," a man in a suit said, waiting for me at the entrance of the subway. "Please follow me."
I nodded, following the man to the same black car that Cameron and I took to Krytraium Prison. I took a seat in the back, making myself comfortable. I enjoyed the treatment I was getting, and I wished it could stay just like this, but I knew that was not possible.
I felt a groan rising in my throat, stifled only by the weight of frustration. Why wouldn't Mister Glasses just let me drop out of his father's school? He had already discovered that I was the person from the future, which was the only reason he became a teacher there. Yet, even after finding me, I still had to continue being a student. It felt like a colossal waste of time. I had stopped going to school in the third grade, and look how well I was doing. I didn't need to learn anything.
My eyes drifted to the window as we passed by the bustling shops. I watched the people living their ordinary lives, a normalcy that even ability users experienced, but one I had never known. A strange thought crossed my mind: what if I wasn't an ability user? How would my life be? Probably awful. I'd be surprised if I hadn't already succumbed to despair.
The thought only deepened my gloom. I wished Koko were here to comfort me. She was the only person who genuinely cared about me and my well-being. I wondered if she would ever wake up. Before I could dwell on it further, someone caught my eye.
"Stop the car this instant," I commanded, and the driver obeyed immediately. "Wait here for a moment; there's someone I need to chat with."
I climbed out of the car and walked over to the boba tea café. If I was correct, this was the period when she would manifest her ability, and I planned to prevent that. I entered the shop and took a seat across from her.
"Hey, Nya," I greeted her casually. "What brings you here?"
Nya stopped slurping her drink abruptly, almost choking on a piece of boba. "Lloyd, what are you doing here?"
My smile tightened slightly. I had asked her that question first. "I was heading to my appointment, but then I saw you here and decided to check up on you." For once, I was telling the truth. "I heard what happened to Noah."
Nya's anger dissipated as she looked down. "Yeah, my brother and his friends are trying to save him."
I nodded, already knowing that. The same incident had happened in my past life, but instead of Morro possessing Noah, he possessed me. No one noticed my absence or what Morro was doing until he stole Sensei Wu's staff and attempted whatever he was planning. I changed my fate this time by forcing Morro to possess Noah instead.
"Aren't you usually with them, helping from a distance?" I asked, wanting to confirm something. "You're usually there to guide them in the right direction."
"I would have been if Sensei Wu wasn't trying to help me manifest my ability," she confessed.
I feigned surprise as if I didn't already know. "You have an ability? I thought only Kai did."
"I thought so too until Sensei Wu and Misako told me my mother was the Master of Water." Nya sighed. "Sensei Wu is trying to teach me, but I can't do it no matter how many times I try. I don't think I'm an ability user. Should I give up?"
"Of course," I said without hesitation. "Just because your parents are ability users doesn't mean you are too. Besides, what's the point of focusing on something you're not good at instead of perfecting what you are?"
Nya looked at me, her eyebrows furrowed. She must have expected comfort and encouragement, but I didn't want her to manifest her ability now or ever. Nya played a crucial role in my downfall, so it was best to keep her from becoming a threat.
"I shouldn't expect anything from you," she muttered, realizing that Lloyd was like his father in some ways—caring only for himself. "Is this your way of making me feel better?"
I nodded, crossing my arms. "Yes, think about it. I used to be bullied and harassed by almost everyone around me. But instead of trying to change their opinions, I decided to become so strong that no one could look down on me."
I continued, "What's the point of trying to manifest your ability, Water? It's weak, in my opinion, unless you figure out how to control people with it. You should focus on being Samurai X and grow stronger in that role so you can continue saving the day as you are, instead of being a weak ability user."
Nya considered my words. What I said made sense in a way. Water wasn't the strongest ability—what could she do with it, splash people? She had helped people and her friends as Samurai X and could continue to do so. She was lacking in some areas, but if she improved, Samurai X wouldn't lose to anyone.
"Thank you, Lloyd. You cleared my thoughts," she said, finishing her boba tea. "I should take your advice."
A smile formed on my face. "Of course, and you should check out the boy who's good with machines from the support class. He might help you with your mech or weapons."
Nya took that in before throwing her empty cup in the trash. "Will do," she replied, a newfound determination in her voice.
I watched as she jumped into a cab, heading back to the school. The encounter had been much easier than I expected. I had anticipated resistance, maybe even anger, and a determination to prove me wrong. Instead, she embraced my suggestion almost too readily. As I stood there, I felt a warm breath against my ear.
"Why did you tell her she might not be an ability user?" Eclipse murmured, perched comfortably on my shoulder. "She was a water user and a pretty good one."
Eclipse was right. Nya was a talented ability user, but I preferred her to remain without powers. "Do you remember that 'move' that killed me? Her ability is crucial for that move to work. If she never manifests her ability, then she and her friends are harmless against me."
Eclipse nodded thoughtfully. "I see, but what makes you think your uncle will allow her to give up so easily?"
"Because, unlike my father, Sensei Wu doesn't force people into doing things they don't want to do," I replied confidently. "Think about it. Noah would be a lot stronger if Sensei Wu pressured him more, but he doesn't. So what makes you think he'll pressure Nya into manifesting her ability?"
Eclipse fell silent, pondering my words. I stood up and returned to the car, knowing I still had an appointment to make.
As I settled back into the seat, my mind wandered to the conversation with Nya. Her willingness to accept my suggestion had been unexpected, yet it played perfectly into my plans. I needed to ensure that the pieces on the board remained in my favor, and keeping Nya from realizing her full potential was a crucial part of that strategy.
The car moved smoothly through the city streets, and I watched the world outside with a detached curiosity. People went about their lives, blissfully unaware of the intricate web of plans and counterplans that surrounded them. It was a world I had never truly been a part of, even with my abilities. A world where normalcy was the norm, and I was an outlier.
As we approached my destination, I felt a sense of determination settle over me. I had come too far and sacrificed too much to let anything derail my path now. With each step I took, I was closer to ensuring that my fate would not be dictated by others, but by my own choices.
The car came to a gentle stop, and I stepped out, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. I was Lloyd Garmadon, and I would forge my destiny, no matter the cost.