A Deadly Fate

Stress Free

Chapter 15

Gayle's arm shook and the camera picked up the tremor. She was shocked from Lloyd Garmadon taking off his mask then explaining that he was having a bad day.

Gayle pulled her arm down and spoke into the microphone. "Uhh.. Lloyd Garmadon... can you explain why you had a bad day?" She stretched her arm out again to Lloyd.

The blonde boy wearing green continued to stare at the floor and he gathered his thoughts. "I started off the day at my best friend's funeral..." Lloyd's eyes watered and he rubbed his sleeve over his dripping eyes.

Before Lloyd could continue Gayle rested her hand on Lloyd's knee. "I'm sorry for your loss Lloyd Garmadon."

Lloyd had his hands over his eyes and he laughed at the statement. "I've heard that so many times." His laughs slowly started to turn back to crying.

"I'm so sorry if I made you cry Lloyd Garmadon-"

"No no!" Lloyd sat up finally and his hands left his eyes. "It wasn't you.. it's just this while situation is just so stressful. You know? Everything will be alright though. I know it.."

Lloyd noticed her aching arm and her awkward position against the stage. He reached his arm down to her and she grabbed his hand. Lloyd pulled her up with almost with no effort. Gayle now sat at the edge of the stage next to Lloyd in the frame of the camera.

Gayle gulped and her cheeks went red. She whispered, "Thank you." She cleared her throat trying to get back on track. "You have so much hope after everything that has happened. What makes you so hopeful?"

Lloyd tried to run his fingers through his sweat crusted hair but his fingers got stuck and he had to give up on the movement. Embarrassed Lloyd looked to Gayle. "My friends.. they give me hope." Lloyd shifted in thought. "I guess I'm going to say everything now. I was going to wait till we give a statement but it feels better doing it this way."

Gayle moved the microphone back and forward between them. "Is this about the mission you left on during the memorial or you ninja being at the hospital? I noticed there is a ninja missing here."

The camera scanned across the stage to show the scattered activity of the other ninja and sound guys. They were setting up the stage for a statement but it was clear the number of ninja was lessened. Kai was obviously not there but the ninja that is known for wearing black was not present.

"I'm going to answer all of the questions you have. You guys want the truth but the truth isn't all glamorous like people think it is." Lloyd turned around to glanced at his friends for a moment. They all looked busy and focused on what they were doing.

Lloyd sighed and his eyes found the floor of the stage he sat cross legged on. "The truth is that we found Kai. And he's alive." Lloyd smiled but Gayle was visually stunned.

Gayle acted upon herself instead of the news personal she put on. "What?! That's amazing!" She waved the microphone around in shock. Lloyd let it sink in for a moment and his composure wasn't as excited as expected. Gayle saw how he wasn't as excited as her. "There's a catch.."

Lloyd nodded and brushed away the threatening tears. "Y-yea.." his voice faltered. "He was the reason we were at the hospital."

Lloyd didn't bother with wiping away the tears anymore. It was like he held in all of his tears for this moment. The truth and tears came out now.

Gayle didn't move the microphone back and forward anymore. Her hand that held the microphone rested on her knee now. The voices were still clear through the TV proving that the microphone could still pick up their voices.

"What about Cole Brookstone? Is he at the hospital watching over him?" Gayle asked genuinely worried for the ninja.

Lloyd sniffed and paused his crying. "Cole is at the hospital but in his own room." Lloyd's bottom lip quivered and he continued crying.

"Are you allowed to share their conditions? It seems that this has really affected you." Gayle rubbed her hand on Lloyd's shoulder to comfort him.

Lloyd shook his head, "I can't share their conditions but I can say it's not looking good but everything can only go up from this point on."

Gayle paused for a moment and moved her microphone to Lloyd. "Is there anything that we, the citizens, can do to help?"

Lloyd looked up to Gayle surprised. It was the first time the people of Ninjago asked to help the ninja. He was shocked but it was a good feeling. He turned his head to the camera and it was like he could see every face staring at him through their screen.

"Everyone has to have some hope. I say hope a lot because even if you don't believe in it, there is always a way that hope finds a way to make things better. When things look bad, have hope, smile and everything already looks better. A few kinds words go a long way. A smile can make someone's day. Even if you don't feel happy, a smile can make everyone else's day brighter. I would love for everyone to be kind and believe everything will be okay. A positive community can make our healing process a lot more stress free." Lloyd gave a small smile to the camera and it was like he could feel thousands of smiles radiate from the camera and the atmosphere around him.

Gayle put her hand on Lloyd's shoulder again to grab his attention. "Thank you so much Lloyd for answering some questions. Ninjago now can understand the ninja aren't invincible and are human too."

At that moment Jay came over and crouched next the Lloyd. "Geez you look like a mess." Jay said from behind his mask concealing his own tear stained face. "Ready for your statement?"

Lloyd looked back at Jay and shook his head. "Actually I alright made my statement."

Jay looked to Lloyd, Gayle, Lloyd again and finally to the camera. He stood up and sighed.

"Alright guys time to pack it up!" Jay shouted upset. All of the work the other ninja did was now useless. Lloyd eyed Gayle and shrugged innocently.

"I believe that is my que to go." Gayle said and jumped down from the stage and onto the grass. She stood out of the camera's frame and Lloyd stood up. "Thank you again Lloyd Garmadon."

Lloyd smiled and waved to the camera and Gayle. "It's no problem. Thank you for talking to me. Bye!" Lloyd said and jogged to his friends. They regrouped and boarded the Destiny's Bounty using Airjitzu. The Bounty was then set on a course to the hospital without any other word.

///

Hi! Sorry I posted at night instead of morning. I was sick and it was hard to write or anything at all today. Hopefully you guys enjoyed! Shoutout to Reema_bear and Ninjauniversefan34 for being such amazing people. :)