Querencia

S2 E7: Wrong Time, Wrong Place*

The days following came with a new training regime to better fit Lloyd's growing power and changed physique.

On this particular morning Lloyd was set to fight against Kai, Jay, Zane, and Cole - in a similar fashion to the day he had been aged up. Instead of fighting on the deck, it was decided they would fight in one of the smaller training rooms in order to make it more difficult for him to maneuver. It also made it a challenge for Lloyd, forcing him to practice control over his own body.

[M/n] and Wu were standing back against the wall, Wu giving out instructions, "Your new body is a fighting instrument. Listen to it."

The four moved in sync, attacking one after the other. Lloyd twisted out of their reach, stumbling slightly before correcting his stance to throw Cole and Jay around. He, unfortunately, overextended several times, but managed to correct himself as needed – a good start.

Zane threw his, dulled, practice, shurikens at Lloyd, the young man bending backwards to avoid them, only for the shurikens to pass over him and slam into the watermelon Nya was holding. She gasped, turning a steely gaze on Zane, who winced, quickly apologizing.

Joining Wu and [M/n] by the wall, she leaned back against it, "Seems he's learning faster, now that he's grown."

"But will it be enough to challenge Lord Garmadon? Only time will tell," Sensei mused, voice lowered.

Kai drew his practice sword after Lloyd threw Zane into the other two, knocking the three out of the fight. Swinging the blade downwards, Lloyd managed to catch it between his palms, struggling to keep it still. He stepped back, lowering the blade to chest level as Kai began to push forward. Beginning to summon his energy, Lloyd began pushing back until Kai yanked it out of his grip, Lloyd losing his balance. Alarmed, he barely managed to catch himself with his hands, grunting at the impact.

Taking the given opportunity, Kai pressed the flat of the sword against Lloyd's throat in demonstration, "Hahaha, you're getting pretty good, but that move you fell for was basic 101." Kai pulled the blade away, offering Lloyd a hand.

"Yeah, if I had focused more when I was little, I would've seen that coming," Lloyd admitted, laughing at himself. Kai patted him on the back.

"We cannot change the past, but we can improve for the future. Again, and this time, do not hold back," Wu ordered, but before they could begin, Zane straightened eyes glowing brighter.

"The Falcon has returned . . . with troubling news. We must go to the Bridge, I worry about the news they have brought back," Zane said, turning to leave the room.

As Lloyd passed [M/n], he was gently patted on the shoulder, "You're getting better. "

Lloyd grinned, head ducking slightly, "Thanks, [M/n]."

The group headed up to the Bridge, Zane pausing on the deck to allow the Falcon to land on his arm, carrying him up the rest of the way. Inside, he plugged the Falcon up to show what he had seen. "What did you see, my mechanical-feathered friend?"

The screen changed, the Falcon flying over Ourobourus, showing the Serpentine working at building vehicles and weapons.

"That's the Lost City of Ourobourus," Nya realized.

"Why did Garmadon return to the Serpentine? Why did they let him?" Kai asked, pointing out Lord Garmadon standing in the center of the city, barking out orders.

"They're preparing for the Final Battle. Nya, change course. We'll head straight for them," Wu ordered, eyes flashing gold. [M/n] was silent, incredibly calm.

He knew this was not the Final Battle, knew deep in his soul that this was just one of many clashes they would continue to have.

While the others steeled themselves, sharpened their weapons for, what they perceived as, the Final Battle, [M/n] was calmly preparing himself for a simple clash. Lloyd noticed, as he always did, how calm [M/n] was - even as he loaded multiple knives into the numerous sheaths across his entire body.