Flames of the Past #7: Seeds of Deceit (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

Sleete watched Lloyd from behind glass. The green ninja lay still on the metal bed; he was out cold. Exhilaration swarmed through the Dark Lord. Everything was going smoothly. The machine had been going on for a while, and was finally powering down. Lloyd's power had cooperated just as Clouse had planned, and Sleete grinned as he gazed down at his human form. At last, he thought. I'll have nothing holding me back! I'll be more powerful than my father ever was!

He turned as Clouse stepped out of the lab and walked over to him. "It is done," he reported. "The green ninja's energy is ours. When you're ready, I will start the procedure to take your human form away."

Sleete let out an excited giggle. "Perfect," he purred. "And the green ninja?"

Clouse looked through the glass at their unconscious prisoner. "He is powerless at the moment," he answered. "But his energy will resurface inside of him eventually. One has yet to figure out how to vanquish an elemental master's power completely. I will dispose of him immediately."

"No, no, no!" Sleete scolded, stopping the Mage in his tracks. "I don't want to dispose him!"

Clouse stared at him. "But my lord, he is no longer of use to you," he pointed out. "He is the green ninja. It's dangerous to let him go."

"We aren't going to let him go," Sleete said. "He is dangerous, and that's exactly why I want him. I want him to fight on our side."

Clouse blinked thoughtfully. "He won't be easily persuaded," he croaked.

"You were able to brainwash those kids, weren't you?" Sleete pushed in excitement. "Can't you do something like that to Lloyd?"

Clouse's blue eyes glowed underneath his cloak. He thought for a moment as he gazed back at the green ninja. "I will see what I can do," he murmured.

* * *

A groan slipped through Lloyd's lips as he groped into consciousness. His head was pounding and his body felt heavy. It took a massive amount of strength to lift his head and rest it against the back of the chair. He was sitting up again, still bolted to the metal chair. He blinked to clear his vision, panting to catch his breath. He noticed small dots of blood lining his arms and open chest, most likely from the needles. He was freed from them now, but his skin throbbed as if they hadn't disappeared.

"Have a nice nap?" Sleete cooed as he stepped into the room.

Clouse followed him, and Lloyd forced his eyes to focus on them. He felt too tired to reply, so he waited in silence as Sleete walked over to him. "I have to thank you," the Dark Lord smiled. "Thanks to you, I will become fully Overlord. See?" He gestured to two large canisters attached to the machine; green liquid bubbled inside of them, brightening its surroundings with its intense glow.

Lloyd gasped as he stared at the canisters. My energy, he recognized. He looked down at himself, realizing he didn't feel any sort of power in his veins or buzz in his fingers. He scoffed, determined to keep face. "Your father took my golden power, and now you take my elemental power?" He glared up at the Dark Lord. "What did I ever do to you?"

Roughly, Sleete grabbed Lloyd's chin. "I'll tell you what you did," he hissed. "You took my place. I was supposed to rule the Bend, I was supposed to be the Overlord's second, but my father chose you over me. And you completely disrespected that honor by destroying him!" He sighed and released the green ninja, his fury dissipating as quickly as it had surfaced. "But it isn't your fault you have this much power inside of you. You were cursed with it, and sadly, a lot of people want it for themselves." He let out a hysterical laugh. "And now it's mine!"