~....Not The Same....~

Chapter 8 ( final chapter )

Garmadon slowly slid open the door to the display room, and closed it behind him. He stood in front of the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu, and took in their beauty. No finer weapons had ever been crafted. They were made of solid gold from the Golden Peaks, but were the lightest weapons ever forged. Light shone off them as if they had created the light, and contained unfathomable powers. Garmadon knew he couldn't take them all into possession, for it would destroy him. He reached out to grab the sword of fire, and froze. What am I doing? He thought. Wu and I promised...Anger began to boil deep within him, and a scowl formed. Wu...Father's favorite.. Always the favored one...He got everything he always wanted from our father...The staff, a special robe...He took down the sword, and looked at his reflection. Its time I got my inheritance... Garmadon smiled, as the light glinted off of his red eyes. It's his fault my father was displeased with me...Because he was too scared to cross the temple wall! He shall pay for the agony he has made me endure!!

" I'm afraid those weapons are for display only..." A voice called from the door way. Garmadon turned around, and scowled at Wu. He stepped towards his brother, and chuckled.

" Tell me, then..." Garmadon began, his voice laced with anger. " What good is a weapon, if all it is used for is collecting dust?" He tightened his grip on the sword, until his knuckles turned white. Fear crossed Wu's face, but faded as soon as it appeared.

" Don't be a fool, Father said-" Wu began.

" Father was a fool!" Garmadon shouted over him. " You're a fool! It is your fault I was bitten by the Devourer! And now, I shall get what I want...I shall remake Ninjago in my own image!"

" How dare you!" Wu shouted back. " We made a promise....Those weapons shall not leave this monastery!"

" Then I will destroy it, and all who stand in my way!!" Garmadon shouted, raising the sword above his head.He brought the sword down, and a ball of fire hurdled through the air at Wu. He held up his staff, and the fireball ricocheted off, hitting the display. Garmadon ducked out of the way, as the Scythe of Quakes and the Shurikens of Ice flew across the room. He quickly picked up the Nunchucks of Lightning, as Wu picked up the other weapons. Wu threw one of the shurikens at his brother, and Garmadon defended himself with the sword, the shuriken returning to Wu. Garmadon tried to strike Wu with the sword, but Wu slammed the scythe into the floor, an earthquake knocking Garmadon through the wall, and out into the courtyard, gasping for breath.

" Put those weapons down..!" Wu shouted, pointing the scythe at his brother. Garmadon looked into his eyes, and saw Wu was not fighting out of anger. He was fighting to defend himself. He was fighting to help Garmadon. He cleared his mind, and got to his feet.

" You mean, like this?" He brother the nunchucks down on the scythe, and went to strike with the sword, but Wu defended with the Shurikens of Ice. The instant the weapons touched, the brothers were thrown back, losing their grip on the weapons, and the sky fell dark. Garmadon was the first to recover. He picked up the sword, and rose to his feet, hovering over his brother.

" So long, brother..." He breathed, raising the sword above his head.

" Garmadon, do not do this!" Wu plead. " Please! I can help you!"

" No you can't!" Garmadon shouted, tears stinging his eyes. " Don't you get it? I'll never be the good brother! I can never join you! Destiny has driven us apart....And, today...Only one shall remain.."

" Stop it, please!" Wu cried out, blocking his face with his arms, when there was a loud roll of thunder, and a bright flash of lightning. A sickening scream filled the air, and the sword fell to the stone ground.

Electricity surged through Garmadon, causing his head to spin. He cried out in pain, and stumbled backwards, leaning against post in the center. He looked down at his hands, as darkness began to consume them, turning his skin black. It had begun.

" Garmadon!" Wu cried out, trying to get to his feet, as the ground began shaking violently. The ground behind Garmadon began to crack, and soon, an abyss was forming. The Underworld. The ground beneath him began to crumble, and he lost his balance.

" Brother, take my hand!" Wu shouted, extending his hand towards his brother. Garmadon tried to grab it, but it was too late. The ground gave way, and he began to fall. He screamed, as the light faded, and all there was was darkness. Everywhere. Filling every whole, and crack...He had left Ninjago, and had entered the Underworld.

***

" No!!" Wu screamed, kneeling on the edge of the abyss, looking down into the darkness. " Garmadon, I'm so sorry...." He said, tears stinging his eyes. He covered his face with his hands. " It's all my fault..." He knelt at the edge, and cried for what could have been an eternity, until a voice shook him from his trance.

" Wu...What happened?" Misako asked, stepping out onto the deck. " Where's Garmadon?" He lifted his head, and met her eyes. He looked down, and saw the abyss was gone...It was as if it never existed. He wiped away a tear, and looked over at the Golden Weapons. And next to the Golden Weapons, was a silver chain. Wu reached out, and picked up the necklace.

" Garmadon..." He breathed, gingerly touching the precious stone. " My mother gave this to him....He never took it off..."

" Where is he?" Misako choked out, looking around frantically. " What happened to him?"

" He completed his transformation...He was banished to the Underworld...He'll never be the same..." He placed the necklace in Misako's hands. " Give this to Lloyd...Tell him of his father, and let him know what a brave warrior he was...And how much he loved him."

The End...For now..