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

Chapter 25

Lloyd slipped through the doors to the courtyard, spotting Cole in the center of the yard with Jay. He hurried toward the black ninja, but paused when he saw the large scythe in his hands. Jay held nunchucks in his own hands, and Lloyd flinched as their weapons clashed together. His eyes rounded as the two fought with each other, ultimately ending with Jay on the ground and Cole holding up his scythe in triumph. Why... Why were they fighting? Why was Cole laughing as he helped Jay back to his feet?

    Lloyd didn't feel a sense of danger from them, so he continued to Cole's side and tapped his shoulder.

    The black ninja started and spun to face him. "Oh," he breathed in relief. "Hey, kid." He moved his hand to place it on Lloyd's shoulder, but something about the motion sent alarm through the green ninja and he flinched from the touch.

    Surprise lit Cole's gaze. "What's wrong?" he asked.

    Lloyd didn't know at first. There was something about the way he'd seen Cole charge at Jay, the way the black ninja threw blow after blow at the blue ninja, that triggered something in the green ninja's mind. He looked at Cole's fist and was immediately reminded of it pounding his face. He remembered being on the floor, with Cole punching him over and over again. He'd been bleeding, begging for the black ninja to stop, and he shuddered at the memory. "You hurt me," he blurted out. "You... punched me. Why?"

    Cole blinked in confusion, glancing at Jay. The blue ninja was gazing at Lloyd. "I think he means before Sleete captured him," he offered. "When you attacked him."

    "Oh..." Cole turned back to Lloyd, setting down his scythe. "About that... I'm sorry. I thought you hurt Kai, but you didn't. I was just angry, that's all."

    Lloyd blinked, his eyes traveling around as he thought. "You didn't listen to me," he recalled.

    Guilt nagged at Cole's chest. He half-wished Lloyd hadn't remembered the event. "I'm sorry," he repeated, turning away. Lloyd had begged him to stop, and he hadn't listened. He'd been ready to kill the green ninja, and now he felt horrible about it. Is this how Lloyd feels when he remembers hurting me? Cole wondered.

    A small smile crossed Lloyd's face. "That's okay," he assured him.

    "You forgive me?" Cole questioned in alarm.

    Lloyd seemed confused. "Of course," he said. "You said you were sorry."

    Somehow, that made Cole's guilt even worse. He looked at Jay, but the blue ninja turned his face away, bouncing his eyebrows up. They were thinking the same thing. Lloyd could forgive people so easily—and Cole couldn't.

    "What are you doing?" the green ninja wondered.

    "Just training," Cole replied. "Now that I think about it, maybe you should join us. We've gotta get you back into fighting again."

    Lloyd watched Jay walk over to a few weapons at the edge of the courtyard and pick up a sword. He came back over and passed it to Lloyd.

    The green ninja stared down at the sword. It felt right in his hand. Swords were his weapon. Yes, he used swords all the time. He remembered that.

    He looked up as Cole prepared to fight. "Alright, come at me," he told the green ninja.

    Lloyd frowned. "Why?" he questioned. "I don't want to hurt you."

    "We're just practicing," Cole pointed out. "Pretend I'm your enemy."

    "Okay..." Lloyd thought about it a moment longer, then rushed at the black ninja. He slashed his sword, but the black ninja swerved out of the way. He swung his scythe in turn, and Lloyd surprised himself as he instinctively rolled sideways. His body seemed to move on its own as he struck back at Cole, meeting the black ninja's weapon. Cole pushed back at him and took another swing. Lloyd leaped over the strike, spinning around to kick Cole's legs. The black ninja fell over and Lloyd swiped his scythe from his hands. He lunged to pin Cole, but the black ninja hit a fist into the ground and sent a wave flying at the green ninja.