Darkness from Within #1: Twisted Paths (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

Garmadon stood on the balcony, gazing at the sunrise. His stomach churned with concern for his son. He didn't shift his gaze as he heard footsteps approach him.

"Brother, what's troubling you?" came Wu's voice.

"I'm just thinking," Garmadon murmured.

Wu came to stand beside him. "About Lloyd?"

Garmadon gave an exasperated sigh. "What else would I be thinking about?" he growled angrily.

"Calm down, Brother." Wu rested his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Everything will be okay."

"No!" Garmadon pushed Wu's hand away. "Everything won't be okay! When will you realize that?" he roared. Then he scoffed and shook his head. "You don't understand because you've never had a son. But don't you see? My son is dying!"

"I may not have a son, but I do have a brother," Wu said calmly. "And all the same, I feel I'm losing him."

Garmadon didn't reply as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"You're letting your fear control you," Wu went on. "You know as well as I do where fear can take you."

Garmadon slammed his fist on the balcony railing. "But what if my fear comes true?" he retorted. "Then what? What if you're wrong?" He sighed. "What if I never see Lloyd again?"

Wu gazed at him. "But what if you do?" he pressed. "What if Lloyd does wake up? What if everything will be okay?"

"Then we'd be living in a fantasy," Garmadon muttered. He stared into the sunrise and for a long moment they stood in silence. Then he took a pace back. "I'm going to find Misako."

"Misako?" Wu asked with surprise. "Why?"

Garmadon returned his brother's gaze. "Lloyd is her son, too. She deserves to know what happened to him."

Wu turned as Garmadon started to walk back inside. "But what if Lloyd wakes up while you're gone?" he warned. "He'll want to see you."

While Wu was still talking, Garmadon whipped around, eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you get it?" he shouted fiercely. "It's been five days, Wu. Five days!" He clenched his fists. "If Lloyd hasn't waken up since then, he never will." His voice got a notch louder as he cried, "Lloyd isn't waking up!"

* * *

Jay and Zane glanced at each other from where they were standing near the doors to the balcony. They quickly hid behind a plant as Garmadon stalked back inside. As his footsteps faded into the distance, they came out again.

"But I thought Lloyd was doing fine," Jay murmured.

Zane shook his head helplessly. "What Garmadon said was true," he said. "Lloyd has been out for five days now. It's highly unlikely he'll ever come to his senses again."

Grief hit Jay like a blow to his chest. He drew in a shaky breath and gazed at Zane desperately. "So Lloyd..." His voice trailed off.

Zane met his friend's gaze with the same grief reflecting in his own eyes. "Lloyd isn't going to wake up."

* * *

Pixal gazed down at Lloyd sorrowfully. She felt so helpless. She had done all she could, but it just wasn't enough. Lloyd gave no sign of waking up anytime soon, and she was beginning to lose hope.

Footsteps sounded from behind her, and she turned her head as Zane walked up beside her. "Hey, Pixal," he began. Then he frowned as he noticed the expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

Pixal sighed. "Everyone is depending on me to save Lloyd," she murmured. "But I don't know what else to do."

Zane put his arm around her. "You're doing the best you can," he told her. "And we're all grateful for it."

Pixal grabbed the hand over her shoulder, still not shifting her gaze from Lloyd. "But it's not enough," she sighed. "Lloyd's only getting worse."

"It's not your fault," Zane reassured her. "These are stressful times. But don't worry, things will turn out alright in the end."

Pixal didn't reply.

Zane suppressed a sigh. He had practically already lost all hope, but he couldn't tell Pixal that. His heart heavied with grief as he gazed down at his helpless friend, who was shivering as if he was still in the mountains. When will these stressful times end? he wondered glumly.

But little did he know, these "stressful times" would one day be looked back upon as the "good old days".