Heroes POV
Noah found himself suspended in an endless black void, the familiar ruins of apocalyptic Ninjago nowhere to be seen. The sudden shift in his surroundings left him disoriented and on edge. When was the last time he'd been in this place? The emptiness stretched infinitely in all directions, a stark contrast to the broken world he'd grown accustomed to navigating.
The silence was oppressive, almost tangible in its intensity. Noah felt as if he were floating in nothingness, untethered from reality. He tried to move, to gain some sense of direction, but his efforts seemed futile in this featureless expanse.
"Hello pet," an eerie voice echoed through the void, instantly recognizable as his worst enemy. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Noah's muscles tensed, adrenaline surging through his body as he whirled around, trying to locate the source of the voice. His eyes strained against the darkness, searching for any sign of movement or form.
Finally, he spotted it - the Shadowy Being. Its red orbs glowed brightly in the darkness, pulsing with otherworldly energy that sent chills down Noah's spine. The entity's form was indistinct, a writhing mass of shadows that seemed to absorb what little light existed in this place.
A wave of disgust and anger washed over Noah as memories of their last encounter flooded his mind. The pain, the fear, the helplessness - it all came rushing back in an instant. He didn't want to ever see this thing again, not after the last incident where it had tried to kill him.
"What do you want?" Noah growled, his voice laced with hostility. His fists clenched at his sides, body coiled and ready for a fight despite knowing how futile it would be against such a being. "I don't ever want to see you again considering how you wanted to kill me."
The Shadowy Being seemed to ripple, its form shifting in what might have been amusement or contemplation. "I'm sorry then," the entity replied, its tone surprisingly sincere. The genuineness in its voice was unsettling, a stark departure from its usual malevolence. "I won't ever do something like that again."
Noah's brow furrowed, caught off guard by the apology. It was enough to creep him out, this sudden change in demeanor. He remained silent, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"I'm just here to give you a warning so that you can prepare," the Shadowy Being continued, its red orbs fixed unblinkingly on Noah.
Skepticism evident in his expression, Noah raised a brow. "And what is that?" he asked, unable to keep the edge out of his voice.
The entity's form seemed to expand, filling more of the void as it spoke. "Someone precious to me is helping me get stronger so that I can take over all 16 realms," it explained, its red orbs seeming to pulse with excitement. The darkness around them thrummed with energy as if responding to the being's words. "You should train so that you can try to defeat me."
Noah frowned, not surprised by this revelation. It was just like the Shadowy Being's assistant to do something like that. Still, the implications were staggering. All 16 realms? The scope of the threat was almost beyond comprehension.
"I see," Noah replied, his mind already racing with possibilities and strategies. "Thanks for the warning. Now I can train even more to kick your ass."
A sound that might have been laughter emanated from the Shadowy Being, echoing through the void. "Well, only time will tell," it said before beginning to fade away. As the entity disappeared, the blackness around Noah began to crack, like reality itself was fracturing. Fissures of light spread through the void, growing brighter and more numerous with each passing second.
Noah braced himself, unsure of what would happen next. The cracks in reality widened, and he felt a sudden, dizzying sensation of falling...
"What happened?" N's voice cut through the darkness, causing Noah to open his eyes with a start. He found himself back in the familiar surroundings of the Infinity Vault, a space created by N's unique ability where time moved at a different speed. The metallic walls of this pocket dimension were a comforting sight after the endless void. "Did you go into a Dream Coma or not?"
Noah blinked, his mind still reeling from the abrupt transition. He looked at N, suddenly aware of how long they must have been training in this accelerated time-space. The older man's face was etched with concern, his eyes searching Noah's for any sign of distress.
It took Noah a moment to remember that N was his future self; it truly felt like N was more of an older brother to him now. The thought was both comforting and strange, a reminder of the bizarre circumstances that had brought them together.
"Nothing much," Noah replied, his mind still processing what had just occurred. He sat up slowly, feeling a lingering sense of disorientation. "The Shadowy Being just told me that his assistant is doing something to get the Shadowy Being stronger than he is now. He just reminds me to get stronger."
N nodded, gears visibly turning in his mind as he processed the information. His brow furrowed in concentration, no doubt considering the implications of this new development. "I see," he said after a moment, his voice grave. "Go back to reading books. We still need you to expand your creativity so that you can have a fighting chance."
Noah got back on his feet, determination setting in. The encounter with the Shadowy Being had left him shaken, but it had also reinforced the urgency of their training. "You don't need to tell me twice," he said, moving towards the vast library that occupied one corner of the Infinity Vault.
As he walked, Noah couldn't help but marvel at the space N had created. The Infinity Vault stretched impossibly far, defying the laws of physics as he understood them. Time moves differently here, allowing them to train for what felt like years while only days passed in the outside world.
Noah's hand traced the spines of the books as he searched for his next subject of study. Each tome represented a new skill, a new way of thinking that could give him an edge in the coming battle. He had to be ready to defeat this threat that loomed over Ninjago and all 16 realms. The fate of everything he knew might just rest on his shoulders, and Noah was determined not to let anyone down.
As he selected a book and settled in to read, Noah's mind drifted back to the Shadowy Being's warning. The entity's newfound politeness was almost more unsettling than its previous malevolence. What game was it playing? And who was this "precious" assistant working to make it stronger?
Noah shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the text before him. Questions could wait. For now, he had work to do. With renewed determination, he dove into his studies, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, grateful for the accelerated time in the Infinity Vault that allowed him to prepare more thoroughly than he ever could in the normal world.
…
Lloyd POV
I was jolted awake by a deluge of ice-cold water cascading over my body. Gasping for air, my eyes snapped open, frantically searching the dimly lit room. As my vision adjusted to the gloom, I found the butler and Lord Wu looming over me, their faces cast in eerie shadows by a single flickering bulb swinging overhead.
The chamber we were in could only be described as a torture room. The air hung heavy with the metallic stench of blood and the musty odor of fear. Rusty chains dangled from hooks on bare concrete walls, stained with ominous dark patches. A nearby table held an array of implements whose purpose I didn't want to contemplate.
"You are finally awake," Lord Wu stated, his voice as cold as the water dripping from my clothes. His eyes, usually a deep brown, now glowed with an otherworldly red tint. "Now it is time to interrogate you." He turned to the butler. "Arthur, go and get the tools."
With a silent nod, Arthur left the room, his footsteps echoing ominously. Left alone with Lord Wu, my mind raced, desperately seeking an escape from this nightmarish situation.
"What the hell are you bastards doing?!" I shouted, my voice hoarse and raw. I struggled against my bonds, finding myself tightly secured to a cold metal chair. "Why did you attack me and tie me up?!"
Lord Wu's eyes narrowed with disgust. He grabbed my face roughly, his fingers digging painfully into my cheeks. "Should I rip out that disgusting tongue of yours?" he hissed.
"I would advise against that, Master," Arthur interjected, returning with a tray. "We won't be able to get information if he doesn't have his tongue."
Lord Wu released me, leaving behind a stinging sensation. "Who are you truly?" he demanded. "If you say Abaddon one more time, I will kill you without hesitation."
"What are you talking about?!" I asked, genuinely confused by his behavior. "Why are you doing this?"
The heavy iron door creaked open, and a young woman in a crisp black suit entered. Despite her youth, she carried the same unsettling aura as the butler.
"Master, I have the torture devices ready!" she announced cheerfully, her voice instantly recognizable as my earlier attacker.
"You're the one who attacked me in the hallway," I stated, seeking confirmation.
She nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yes, it was me, but I was just following orders..."
"Of course you were," I muttered. Focusing on the more pressing issue, I asked, "I don't know what I've done to offend you, but why are you planning to torture me?"
"You dare to enter my house," Lord Wu snarled. "Are you truly this stupid, or are you just pretending not to know?"
"I don't know, okay?!" I shouted back, frustration and fear mixing in my voice. "I'm supposed to be a guest with a mission to complete tomorrow. I don't understand what's wrong with you people!"
"Perhaps I can jog your memory," Lord Wu said ominously. He held up his hand, which began to transform before my eyes. His skin darkened to an inky black, sharp claws sprouting from his fingertips. Before I could react, he grabbed my bound arm.
To my horror, I watched as my limb began to change, mirroring his transformation. The sensation was eerily familiar to when Eclipse had revealed my dragon side, but this felt different. Wrong. Evil.
"What are you doing to me?" I asked, my voice trembling as the transformation crept up to my shoulder and neck. "This feels... wrong."
"I should be the one asking questions," Lord Wu growled. "Why do you have both Oni and Dragon blood in you?"
I froze, my eyes darting to Arthur and the woman, who had also transformed into horned, black creatures with massive teeth. Oni. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
My mind raced. How could I possibly have both Oni and Dragon blood? It explained Eclipse's warning about a darker side when I learned of my dragon blood, but that knowledge wasn't going to help me escape this situation.
"What do you want me to confess?" I asked, feeling my teeth growing larger. "I don't want to be tortured."
Lord Wu released me and sat down, his red eyes never leaving mine. "Tell me who you truly are," he demanded. "The only person with Dragon and Oni blood is my father, and he is not here anymore. I am already aware of the location of the rest of my family, so tell me your identity and where you came from." He pulled out a pair of scissors. "If you don't, I will start by cutting off one of your fingers."
I stared at the scissors, my heart pounding. If I told the truth – that I was Lloyd Garmadon from another universe – I might never get the Dark Artifacts. But if I lied, they might kill me or worse. How was I ever going to get out of this situation?
As the seconds ticked by, I realized I was truly caught between a rock and a hard place, with no clear path to safety. The weight of my decision pressed down on me like a physical force. Whatever I said next would change everything, and there was no going back.
The air in the room grew thick with tension as I carefully considered my next words. The weight of my predicament pressed down on me, each second feeling like an eternity under Lord Wu's scrutinizing gaze.
"To tell you the truth," I began, my voice steadier than I felt, "I only learned of my heritage recently. I always thought I was a normal person, but it seems that wasn't the case." The half-truth rolled off my tongue with practiced ease, a skill honed from months of deception.
Lord Wu's eyes narrowed his expression a mixture of suspicion and contempt. "Only a fool would believe that," he interrupted, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "I know everything about every single person in Ninjago. You'd be wise to consider your next words carefully."
The threat in his tone was unmistakable. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. The lies I'd been living by since my return to the past had become a second skin, and I saw no reason to shed it now. With my heart racing, I plunged ahead.
"I'm not from here," I confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm from another universe, and I was sent here to solve the mystery on the mountain."
As I spoke, I carefully crafted my tale, revealing just enough to hopefully spare myself, but not so much that I'd jeopardize my chances of obtaining the Dark Artifacts. The delicate balance of truth and fiction danced on the edge of a knife.
"In my universe, I'm Lloyd Garmadon, and everything there is the opposite of what's going on here. I truly didn't know about my mixed blood. I came here to investigate the mountain." I paused, then added details I hoped would lend credibility to my story. "I'm also naturally blonde and just have hair dye. My ability is Destruction, and I have Energy Manipulation since I was the chosen one back in my world."
Lord Wu stared at me for what felt like an eternity, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, broken only by the sound of my heartbeat thundering in my ears. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and commanding. "Go get me some bleach."
Arthur turned to the woman, his movements crisp and efficient. "Go get some bleach, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's frown was barely perceptible as she hurried off to fetch the bleach. A glimmer of hope sparked within me. It seemed they were going to test if I was telling the truth. Maybe, just maybe, if I could prove I wasn't a threat, they would let me go. The possibility of escaping this nightmare without further injury dangled tantalizingly before me.
When Elizabeth returned with the bleach, Arthur wasted no time. He poured it over my head, the acrid smell burning my nostrils as it stripped away the black dye, revealing my natural blonde hair beneath. I knew the harsh chemicals would likely leave my hair a sickly yellow-white, but it seemed a small price to pay for my freedom.
"It appears the boy is telling the truth," Arthur announced after removing most of the dye, his tone neutral but tinged with surprise.
Let me go, I thought, struggling to keep the triumphant smirk from my face. It seemed I had managed to navigate this treacherous situation without losing much. But as the seconds ticked by and Lord Wu remained silent, a seed of doubt began to take root.
"If you are telling the truth," Lord Wu began, his voice measured and deliberate, "you won't mind telling me more about your world."
My face fell, the brief flicker of hope extinguished as quickly as it had ignited. This wasn't how it was supposed to play out. I had given them what they wanted, hadn't I? As I struggled to formulate a response, the full weight of my predicament crashed down upon me. Lord Wu's piercing gaze told me that he was far from satisfied, and I had a sinking feeling that my ordeal was far from over.
The room seemed to close in around me, the air growing thicker with each passing moment. I realized, with a growing sense of dread, that I had merely traded one dangerous situation for another. As Lord Wu waited expectantly for my response, I knew that my next words could either be my salvation or my downfall. The game of deception I had been playing since my arrival at this time was about to become infinitely more complex, and I wasn't sure if I was prepared for what lay ahead.