Flames of the Past #4: A Tangle of Lies (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 24

 Excited chatter and laughter could be heard from inside the palace. Just outside, Lloyd stood on one of the palace balconies and gazed into the night sky. The other ninja were celebrating their victory; Clouse, the Mage, had been thrown into the dungeon.

The Sons of Darkness' reign of terror was over.

Although Lloyd was relieved they'd found out who was behind everything, he didn't think it felt right to celebrate. It didn't feel right celebrating anything without Kai. At least the red ninja wasn't going to be executed now that he'd disappeared, but Lloyd only wished he knew where his brother was.

He grunted as his wrist throbbed with pain. That was another reason he didn't want to join the party. His marking started to hurt not long after Clouse was arrested, and he didn't feel like showing that to everybody.

For a moment, the noises from inside grew louder as the balcony doors behind him opened. They shut again behind the newcomer, and Lloyd turned as Nya drew up beside him. "Hey," she began, "aren't you coming inside?"

Lloyd turned back to the distance as he shook his head. He rubbed his right wrist, wincing as he suppressed another grunt.

Nya glanced down at his wrist, realizing the problem. "Your marking is still bothering you?" she asked. "But we already caught the Sons of Darkness' leader."

"We don't know how Clouse was controlling it," Lloyd pointed out. "In fact, we don't even know if it's Clouse at all. I mean, what if my marking has nothing to do with our mission? What if it's not linked to the Sons of Darkness at all?"

Nya's eyes rounded. "What are you talking about?"

Lloyd went quiet for a few moments, gazing down at his gloved wrist. "I've been thinking about what you said," he murmured. "When you asked me if there was someone who knew more about the Overlord Crystal and the markings. And... there was someone."

Nya stared into his face. "Who?" she pushed.

Lloyd drew in a deep breath, fidgeting with his glove as he replied, "The Overlord has a daughter."

"Whoa, what?" Nya blurted in alarm. "The Overlord has a kid?"

"Yes," Lloyd answered. "I met her when I was a Baddie."

Nya's brows knotted together in thought. "Who's the mother?" she wondered.

"She was a human, but that's all I know. Anyway," Lloyd cleared his throat, "she told me that the Overlord wasn't technically the only person who could control the Baddie markings. The markings could also respond to the Overlord's kin."

Nya's brown eyes lit with realization. "So you think the Overlord's daughter is the one messing with your marking?" she breathed.

Lloyd nodded. "She could be doing it unintentionally, I don't know exactly how it works," he admitted. "That's why I need to talk to her."

"You know where she lives?" Nya smirked.

"Yeah, I know the place. It's all the way up in the mountains."

"Then that's where we'll go," Nya stated. "Now that we stopped the Sons of Darkness, we should be finishing up here in Trynia. After that, we'll focus on fixing your marking."

Lloyd blinked at her, smiling. "Thanks, Nya."

Nya dipped her head, smiling in turn. "So, do we need to prepare to fight?" she asked.

"Fight?"

"The Overlord's daughter," she reminded him.

"Chelsea?" Lloyd laughed at the question. "No, she wouldn't hurt a fly. She'll be on our side."