Inner Secrets (Ninjago)

Chapter 1

It was a cold, windy day in Ninjago. The wind whipped the streets as the rain poured down onto the citizens who were rushing into their houses to take cover.

Soon enough the streets were empty. Apart from one person, who appeared to be wandering aimlessly through the rows of shops and houses. Lloyd Garmadon was his name. The legendary Green Ninja. One of the great protectors of the city.

Sighing, he pulled his dark green hood up, covering his blond, wet hair. His scuffed trainers trudged along the path, and his black ripped jeans were practically soaked though. The weather seemed to be reflecting his mood.

Lately, he had been starting to distance himself from the others. He may have defeated his father (or rather the reincarnated version of him) and the Sons of Garmadon, but the heavy weight in his chest had yet to lift.

Harumi. He was still guilty about her. Her death, and all the way back to the time of the great devourer, which ultimately brought his trail of thought back to when he opened the tombs. Yes, this may have been years ago now, but that didn't stop him from wondering- what if I was better? But the thing is, by 'better' he meant 'worse'.

What if he had behaved just as badly as the other Darkley's kids? Then maybe he wouldn't have been kicked out. Although who's to say he wouldn't have still found away to open them? He had caused hundreds- probably even more- deaths when the great devourer had made its way to Ninjago City. He doesn't know- no, doesn't want to know how many families he tore apart that day.

He was definitely aware of one family though. If he had never unleashed the devourer, Harumi's parents would never have been killed, and she would never have become the jade princess, would never have turned evil, would never have brought back Lord Garmadon from the cursed realm, would never have caused Lloyd to suffer a broken heart.

Her betrayal had hit harder than he thought the others had realised, but really they knew their little brother better than Lloyd thinks, and knew really how bad it was affecting him.

The other ninja had yet to notice that he had left the bounty, seeing as Kai and Cole were trying to beat eachother in a 'Fist To Face' game, Jay was tinkering in his room, Zane was cooking dinner and Nya was repairing some of the faulty machinery in the control room.

Lloyd kicked a piece of rubble off the path, wincing at the pain it brought to his foot. He looked up at the threatening clouds above him and groaned. There was a storm coming and be couldn't have been any further away from the bounty.

Airjitzu (or cyclon-do as Jay still to this day insists on calling it) would be useless anyway. The flying ship was say to high up for him to be able to get up there. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, unlocked it, and tapped on Kai's contact.

Lloyd- Hey

Kai- Sorry shortstack can't talk now. Cole is about to beat his own highscore.

Lloyd- oh nvm then.

Kai looked up from his phone and glanced at the tv screen in front of him. Suddenly he felt guilty for ignoring his best friend over a video game.

Kai- wait no tell me what's wrong. Where are u?

Lloyd- that's kinda why I messaged you. Can u come and pick me up please. There may or may not be a storm outside that I'm standing in the middle of.

Kai paled considerably.

Kai- when did you even leave? I thought you were on the bounty.
You're meant to be on the bounty-

Lloyd just smiled bitterly at his phone as he replied.

Lloyd- haven't been there for the past 3 hours.

Kai- Fsm
I'm so sorry Lloyd we should have checked up on you.

Lloyd- why?
There's no need
I'm fine by myself.

Kai- No
No ur not
Where abouts are you?

Kai frowned. Cole glanced at his friend and paused the game.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Lloyd."

Cole stood up, accidentally knocking the controller to the ground. 

"Is he ok? Where is he? Do we need to go rescue him?"

Kai dragged his hand across his face tiredly.

"He just texted me saying he's in the storm outside and needs a lift back to here."

His phone pinged.

Lloyd- near the arcade
The one you abandoned me at

Kai- That was years ago now-
And we said we were sorry-
What about your dragon?

Lloyd- ...
I can't summon it. 
Haven't been able to for a while

Kai- ok we're on our way

Lloyd- what do you mean we-

Suddenly he heard the sound of giant wings flapping in the gusts of wind.

It was Cole and Kai on their dragons.

"Thanks guys" he walked over to Kai's dragon and climbed on behind him, looking away.

The ninjas looked at each other and sighed before they flew off into the cloudy distance, rain soaking their hair.