the other side | ninjago

the fear he held deep

In moments of rest, Sadie was nice enough to let Lloyd into his consciousness when he did not need him. The same could not be said for Zane and Cole, who had remained under her control since the beginning. He was somewhat glad she favored him so he could have his mind, but she still had him at her will as long as he was near her.

He sat in a cage for a good portion of the day. The cold vines around him were the furthest thing from comforting. He had no idea where she went. Probably harassing his friends again or doing something evil. He missed his friends. He missed his family. For the first time in a while, he felt truly alone. He had to find a way out. He had fought worse. He could do this.

With all his power he grabbed two vines that made the cage in front of him and pulled as hard as he possibly could. They did not budge. He decided to try to pull two other vines and pulled even harder this time. He grabbed the two smallest vines. As he pulled they began to shift he finally began to feel some hope. They pulled apart just enough for him to be able to wiggle his body through them and free himself. As he pushed himself through the vines, he scrapped his arm on a thorn sticking from the cage. The thorn lodged itself in his arm. He attempted to pull it out as it began to stick multiple parts of his arm. It took all his might to rip it from his skin.

"Ouch!" he yelped quietly hoping not to alarm Sadie or anyone else.

As he got out he knew she would be close behind, so he ran. 

He had no idea where he was, but he ran to the closest populated town to try and contact his team before she found him. He knew she would not be far behind. He went into a small store and needed any form of contact with his team he could get.

"Hello, can I borrow your phone?" said Lloyd.

"You're the green ninja!" said the woman behind the cash register.

He had no time for this, but he wasn't going to be mean. "Hi, yes I am." He wanted to ask what gave it away, but it was not the time. 

"I need to use a phone and any pair of clothes you have laying around," He knew it would not be very helpful seeing as though she knew his identity, but it would keep him a bit more concealed than being a walking green light. 

She then handed him her phone and went to the back to try and find something he could wear. He called Nya in hopes that she would respond quickly.

"Nya?" he said.

"Lloyd? You're okay!" she said back. 

"Yes, I am! Where are you guys?" he said.

"Wait, how do we know you're not helping her," she asked.

"Would I be talking to you if I was?" he said.

"Well, I guess not," she said. "Meet us in Ninjago City by Chen's."

He hung up the phone, changed into the clothes, and made his way to Ninjago City.

Once he made it there he waited for them to arrive. Nya arrived first, but she remained cautious of him just in case it was a trap.

"Lloyd?" she said,

"Nya! We need to go," he said back.

She walked up to him and pinched his arm.

"Ouch!" he said, "What was that for?"

"Just making sure," she said, "Okay this way."

They made it back onto the bounty, feeling relieved to have some of the team back together. He did not feel so alone anymore. He knew she would be back soon.

"Guys!" said Lloyd, running to Jay and Kai as he arrived back on the bounty.

"Lloyd!" they both said, simultaneously going in his direction.

They all shared a moment before Jay ruined the moment again with another one of his comments.

"So we can't win in the whole normal girlfriend department, huh?"

Lloyd looked at him with a stern look on his face before he let out a slight chuckle. "No, not really," he replied, smiling on the outside but feeling the need to cry on the inside.

"Jay stop it. We are just glad to have you back," said Kai.

"Thanks, guys, but we need to go she's going to come soon. She wants power and will not stop until she has it," said Lloyd.

"Well what does she want with you?" asked Nya. 

"She wants me on her team," replied Lloyd.

"Oooo Lloyd has a girlfriend," said Jay taunting him yet again.

He tried hard not to punch Jay.

"Let's head on our way before she gets to us again," said Kai.

They all made it to the lower deck. Their moment of peace would not last long. Sensei Wu came down to see what was going on. He and Misako were working on an attempt to save Cole and Zane, so he had been hard at work.

"Lloyd! You're back! Did you figure out anything?" said Wu.

"I found out she controls them very easily, by the snap of a finger and it is all caused by a flower." 

"Must be the Tiger Rose, can subject anyone who smells it to the person closest. It's been destroyed in most places. She must be growing it herself." said Wu.

"Well she does have her place in a greenhouse so," he said back. 

The team made their way back to the upper deck to see where they were headed. In the long run, it probably was not the best idea for Lloyd to go to the upper deck. He hung around the side of the ship, which also was not the best idea. Before he knew it, he heard a slight noise come from behind him. It was too late; she had found him.

She somehow meandered herself just close enough to him to clap twice for him to be at her will again. She had this planned from the get-go again. She was always one step ahead.

His eyes glowed, and he was ready to destroy. His very fears became a reality. He had no control. It was now him versus his friend. Nya turned around to ask him a question and quickly realized what was going on.

"Uhh guys!" she said, panicking.

Kai and Jay turned around to see what she was seeing. He slowly approached the three of them. They knew he would show no mercy. They knew he did not mean it, but they had to take him down before things got out of hand.

"Let's get him," said Jay.

They all prepared to fight yet another friend. This time they knew they had it in for them.