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

Chapter 20

"Stay with me, buddy," came Kai's voice from the distance. "Come on!"

Lloyd groaned in reply, still shaking and coughing on the ground. The other ninja were crouched around him, struggling to bring him back to his senses. Chelsea was among them, perhaps more desperate than Kai.

"Lloyd, please," she pleaded, shaking the green ninja's arm.

Lloyd seemed to try and wave her away, grunting and gasping for breath. Golden shivers still wracked his body as Beech's magic snuffed out the dark magic Sleete had forced into him. The Dark Lord had gotten away with the Energy Crystal only minutes before, and the Guardians were straggling together to observe their broken Temple.

Stepping out of what was left of the Temple's gates, Phil stared at Lloyd and the ninja. He titled his head in confusion, unsure what was going on. Hadn't Lloyd turned on them, and joined Sleete? Why did he look like he was suffering? Growing concerned, Phil turned to Beech as she limped toward him. "Chief," he began, "what happened to Lloyd?"

Beech halted beside him, glancing back toward the green ninja. "According to Wu, Sleete has been keeping him as a hostage all these weeks," she said. "The Lloyd that stole the Lightning Crystal had been one of Clouse's clones."

Phil's eyes rounded in surprise. "You mean, Lloyd wasn't staying with Sleete willingly?"

"No," Beech sighed. "They don't know how exactly, but Cole said he's been tortured. Then Sleete brainwashed him and sent him here to kill us. But I managed to take the dark magic out of him."

Phil watched as Lloyd ripped jittery hands through his hair and mumbled to himself under his breath. "If you got the dark magic out of him, why is he acting like that?" he inquired.

Beech shrugged. "I don't feel any more magic in him," she admitted. "Whatever's making him do that isn't magic, just trauma."

Phil stiffened, and Beech swept past him without another word. The Guardian glanced back at Lloyd, finding his gaze falling on Chelsea. Tears stained the girl's cheeks as she begged Lloyd to respond to her, and Phil had to look away. Pain etched into his heart, although he couldn't ignore the guilt he felt because of it. Lloyd was obviously suffering immensely because of what Sleete had done to him. The Dark Lord had captured him solely to steal his power and mess with his head, all because he had that power and influence in the first place. Because he was the green ninja.

Phil swallowed, forcing himself to look at his friend again. It seemed as if Lloyd was always the one targeted. Had it really been fair... to tell the green ninja he had it easier? To disregard the trauma he'd gone through, because of the heroic life he'd had to go back to?

Gazing at Chelsea, Phil felt his bitterness shift into sadness. Chelsea seemed to really care about Lloyd, as messed up as the green ninja was, and Phil realized he'd never had a chance in the first place. He turned away. Maybe Lloyd would be better for her, if they truly loved each other. It was pointless to try and win her back, for he knew she would never like him in that way. He thought about approaching them—he did want to know if Lloyd was okay—but it would only be awkward. Heaving a sigh, Phil left to find his father.

At last, Beech's golden magic sank completely into Lloyd's skin and stopped tormenting him. Yet he still seemed to be in agony as he wildly scanned his surroundings, shaking and sweating as he struggled away from the crowding ninja.

"Lloyd!" Kai exclaimed, grabbing the green ninja's hand.

With a shriek, Lloyd yanked out of his grip and scrabbled backward. His breathing came in panicky gasps as his eyes darted around, struggling to process what was going on around him.