(REWRITE) The 17th Realm, The Maniac Trilogy - Book 1

Chapter 1 - The Return of The Darkness

LLOYD'S POV

I was sitting on the ledge of the bounty. My feet were dangling off the edge and my eyes were fixed on the sun which was setting over a small village we were flying over. There were kids still running about, enjoying the childhood I never had.

However, a few months ago I started going to a normal school. Junior year. Surprisingly, I knew more stuff than I thought. Ever since I became the green ninja, the others took turns tutoring me so that I still had some sort of education. I guess the tutoring payed off.

It was weird at first, considering I'm the green ninja and all. Everyone acted normally so that was a relief; I don't think they realised I'm the green ninja or whatever since I had an 'undercover name' to not draw attention and distract me or others from learning. That also meant I had to wear contact lenses so that people wouldn't recognise me from my eye colour and I couldn't wear green so that people wouldn't recognise me from that colour since I always wear it. I was only there a few months though, so I laid low and minded my own business. It surprisingly worked.

I was alone with my thoughts; the only thing accompanying me was the low hum of the engine and the gentle breeze lightly swaying my hair from side to side. My thoughts weren't necessarily pleasant. Some were more disturbing than others, but nothing threatening. Just the thoughts that my father disappeared again and that Ninjago didn't need the 'Great Protector' anymore and that being the green ninja seemed... well... pointless.

However, one thought kept returning to me.

Harumi.

She might've helped rebuild the monastery and have a change of heart, but after all she's done...

I've only learned that trust can easily be broken. And with broken trust comes a broken heart, and those wounds just never heal.

I've been having nightmares about her. It's been a year since I've last seen her, but my thoughts keep going back to her and what she put me through.

I haven't opened up to anyone about this. They're enjoying their time off and fighting low-level thugs. It gives them something to do, and I don't want to worry them. Especially that a few months back, Nya and Jay lost their daughter during birth.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a set of footsteps approach me. The wood creaked under every step, until that person stood next to me and leaned onto the ledge.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a certain brunette with spiky gelled hair glancing at me with a hint of concern. "You okay?" Kai asked.

"Yeah," I replied simply.

He sighed and looked into the horizon. "I can see that something is bothering you, squirt," he smiled, giving me a little playful nudge.

"It's nothing. I'm just relaxing," I stated with a shrug, trying to brush off the topic as soon as possible.

"Are you sure? You seem distracted," he kept pushing for an answer.

I raised my voice a little. "It's nothing," I snapped, hoping I didn't sound too harsh.

With a final sigh through the nose, he slowly let go of the ledge and went inside.

I looked at my feet and chewed the inside of my cheek. I turned my head around and was greeted by the empty and silent deck.

Seconds later, it wasn't that silent...

"YOU'LL NEVER BEAT ME, DIRTCLOD!"
"HA! YOU WISH, BLUEBELL!"
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU, I'M TRYING TO READ!"
"STOP SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER!"
"SAYS THE ONE WHO'S SHOUTING!"