Ninjago: The Cursed Crystal King (4)

Chapter 39: Confrontation

Aaron flew around on his hover-shield and rode all over the Samurai X base and his dragon, Draco, played along with him. When Aaron performed some tricks, Draco did the same.

Aaron did a spin and the night fury, did the same. The boy laughed and landed.

- You're doing pretty well, Draco. - He praised, patting the dragon on the head.

The dragon murmured happily and smiled, wagging his tail. Clay looked on disapprovingly and approached.

- Aaron, you should train with us. We must be prepared to fight.

- Chill out, Clayman. It's not like, we're suddenly going to be attacked by some monster out of the blue.

At that moment, they both heard a bang and looked in the direction from which it came. Garmadon and Lloyd ,"trained with each other". Mainly Garmadon was shooting black power projectiles at Lloyd, and he had to dodge them and make quick attacks in his direction.

Nevertheless, Garmadon had an advantage over his son. With satisfied he strike with power, giving no time Lloyd to defend himself.

- Stop taking my punches! Get up and fight! - ordered Garmadon.

Lloyd get up from the ground with a groan and looked at his father angry.

- It's you in return, give me some time to defend myself!

- Would the Crystal King give you mercy, when you fight with him?

Lloyd clenched his hands into fists and growled. His father was right.

- He didn't.

-  That's right! And now... Fight!!! - he shouted and fired a power projectile at Lloyd.

The boy quickly jumped away and leapt between rocks and crates of parts, avoiding the attacks. Garmadon fired a power shot at the crate and dust spread. The evil lord coughed, when the thick dust reached him and received a projectile of energy in his back, causing him to fall to the ground.

He quickly looked over his shoulder and rolled on the floor, avoiding a leg strike from Lloyd. He lifted himself up and black energy appeared in his hands. It ran up and hit his side, pushing him back. Lloyd regained his footing and defended himself from the power beam. He quickly ran up and delivered several blows to his father's face and kicked him in the stomach.

Garmadon laughed under his breath and struck, with an energy-charged fist to Lloyd's chin, followed  a punch to the face. Finally, he hit his stomach hard with his foot. When Lloyd winced, Garmadon hit him with a right hook. Lloyd fell to the ground and scowled in pain. 

Lloyd coughed up blood and looked at his father with burning hatred, then closed his eyes and moaned in pain.

Garmadon came closer and leaned into his face.

- You are limiting yourself boy. Did I raise you like this!? Such a wimp!? They were just little pokes! 

Kai and Jay ran up to Lloyd and pulled him away from Garmadon, giving him a nasty look.

They leaned the blond boy's head against a small pillow and looked at him.

- Are you all right, Lloyd? - Jay asked.

Lloyd muttered something under his breath and nothing else. Kai reached for a cloth and water. He soaked it with water and wiped the blood off his face.

- Wow, he beat you up hard, dude. - said, walking in on Aaron and looking at him worriedly.

- Is he all right? - Jestro asked.

- I don't know. He's... stunned? - Kai said uncertainly. 

Master Wu, observing all this, approached Garmadon, looking daggers at him.

- I told you he was not ready for this.

- But what do you mean? I didn't even scratch him.

- Did you scratch him? You could have killed him. You shot, like you were possessed. You want a replay so badly? Just like in Cryptarium Prison?

Garmadon rolled his eyes. - He needs to learn to take bigger hits, not like you.... avoid pain. Without pain there can be no victory. Without sacrifice there is nothing. You raised him really perfectly... You made him a crying coward, who has daddy issues. 

- He may be sensitive, but not like you. Besides, I brought him up!? You abandoned him like an unwanted toy and now expect him to do everything you say? Ignoring his health?

- He is an adult, Wu. He's not some kid with problems anymore. He is a grown-up boy. Born of and dragon as well as Oni. Hybrid. Just like our father. His potential is waiting to be unleashed, and you're just wasting his true potential as an Oni. Just a dragon and a dragon.

- You want to make him a demon.

- And you want to make him into some guardian, who only hold the ideals of dragon power. Oni are also important to him. That, will give him the power he deserves. 

- I won't let you do that. I won't let you hurt him or my students.

- No matter what. And so he will do, as he is supposed to do. You will see, when the time comes, you yourself will come and agree with my plan. That's what's best for me, for them and for everyone else.

Garmadon whispered this in his ear then went his way. Wu shook his head with a sigh and looked at Lloyd. 

- What you're getting into Lloyd?