Phoenix Fading

The Ghost of Doubt

Morro had disappeared soon after Nadakhan did. The one thing he did before that made Lloyd's heart break - he stared at him with a completely blank look. No love, no recognition, nothing.

Of the group of Masters and Elementalists, Lloyd, Tamine, Jay, Cole, and Clouse remained. The former was sitting numbly in the forest, his back to a tree and tears long gone. Morro was gone. He was gone because Lloyd hadn't been able to protect him. A glint of moonlight shone off of something, but without looking he knew what it was. The engagement ring Morro had given him several months ago. It was a simple silver band with a pure, clear diamond as the main center. Morro later admitted he'd had to ask for a small loan from the others of the Squad; everyone aside from Lloyd had been in on it.

Lloyd was twisting the ring around his finger endlessly when someone sat next to him. Lloyd's gaze flickered briefly to him, then to his other side as another person sat there.

"Figured you might want some company," Jay said quietly. "Trust me, it's not good to be alone in times like these. You get... thoughts."

Lloyd's gaze flickered forward again. He said nothing.

"We all wish we could've been there to help Morro." This was Cole. He rested a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Running to stop him, waking up when he left, something. It's tough. But we're tougher. We'll get him back, Lloyd. I promise. His wishes won't be in vain."

For the first time in hours, Lloyd spoke. His throat was dry from crying so much and speaking little after screaming. "It already is. Khan is winning. He knows how to target us. One by one. Attack our weaknesses. For Morro, it was protecting everyone." He bowed his head. A quiet sniffle made Cole and Jay share worried glances. "I was right there, Cole. I could've... I should've tried...."

"See, this is what's wrong with society." Both Cole and Lloyd looked over at Jay in surprise. He had a frown on his face. "It's always about could or couldn't. Try or don't try." He shook his head. "Everyone's obsessed with how they are on the outside. How smart, strong, fast, or good-looking they are. They're obsessed with gaining power. But many already have it, to some degree. It doesn't matter about could, couldn't, try, don't try, should, shouldn't. It matters about doing." He turned his gaze to Lloyd. "You couldn't do anything. Morro made his wish before you could stop him. Even if you should have, you weren't able to do it. No matter how much power you have, if you don't know when to use it, it's worthless.

"You think I never doubted myself? Sure, I always thought I'd never be able to accomplish something, and with that mindset I never tried. I did and saw what happened. I programmed. I hacked. I did something. But that's because it was the right time to do it. Tonight was not the right time to fight Nadakhan. Morro did not realize this, and it is a sore loss that he didn't. But you did, even if it took Tamine to remind you." Jay flicked his bangs from his face. "Morro, in trying to protect everyone, forgot that we were all what he lived for. You especially, Lloyd. Wishing you out of here was only going to delay that problem. He realized that right at his last wish. He knew that he would only delay your battle with Khan. So he tried to find a way to help you. He did. Khan, however, twisted his words."

"Me? Twisting words? What a silly thing."

The three jumped up and spun. Behind them stood - floated - Nadakhan, Morro, and a whole host of other people dressed as pirates. Instinctively, Cole and Jay shifted closer together, hiding Lloyd behind them.

"I merely interpret words in my own way. Shame me if it's not how they're intended to be interpreted, but my mindset, I believe, is quite different from yours."