Music to the Max

3 - "It's the Hard-Knock Life"

The SNF (Secret Ninja Force) returned to their HQ a few minutes after Lloyd's conversation with his father. Leah had flipped the switch to autopilot for the return journey while mulling over what Lord Garmadon had said. And that was when I made the decision to go away and live my life! His words echoed in her head. Did he really not care about us? Does he still not at all? She landed her jet in the abandoned warehouse and got out. Nya instantly swooped over, "Hey, that must've been hard for you. Are you okay?"

The daughter of Garmadon pulled her headphones over her ears, "I don't know." To be honest, she definitely wasn't. Tears pricked the edge of her vision and Nya bear-hugged her, "Oh hey, it's gonna be okay. You don't need your father; you don't need to care about him. You've got Lloyd, you've got your mom, and you've got your friends. You can ignore everyone else in the world."

"It's just that I-I've always thought that may-maybe he still cared a-about us," Leah burst into tears, burying her face into Nya's shoulder. Everything about that moment made Leah want to kill herself- everything except for the arms around her and the soft murmuring of Nya's familiar voice. Nya whispered in her ear, "How about you stay at my house tonight? I'll text your mom. You just sit down- you know what, I'll sit with you."

The two of them sat down on the nearby double-decker couch, Leah continuing to cry. Her music was so terribly sad; it was Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1). While Nya texted Koko, Leah muttered over and over again, "Just kill me, just kill me, just kill me..."

When Nya sent the text she cradled Leah close to her. "Don't say that. Leah, there are still things to live for. Don't give up. Things will get better, I promise you." The Water Ninja then stood up, speaking to the others. "Guys, Leah and I are gonna go to Kai's and my house. See ya later."

The other ninja called out their goodbyes as the pair went to the bathroom to change out of their ninja gis. Then they headed out to the bus, which they rode all the way to Nya's house. Leah drowned herself in music the whole way there. I Went Too Far, Under the Water, Churchyard, and Winter Bird were only a few examples of the songs she listened to. And during all this she kept saying, "Just kill me, just kill me, just kill me..."

When they finally reached their destination, Nya escorted Leah to her room where they settled on the bed. Leah tried to grab a nearby pocket knife but Nya held her fast. "Leah, you are not going to die today. Stop it. Listen to me- Leah, look at me."

Leah, still crying, turned her head to Nya. "Nobody loves me. Not even my own father."

"Your mom and Lloyd love you," Nya placed a gentle hand on her cheek, "And you know what you need to do about all the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of this world?" She plucked Leah's IPod out of her pocket and picked Shake It Off, taking the headphones' plug out to let the music shout out. And then Nya actually started singing along, "I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain, that's what people say. That's what people say. I go on too many dates, but I can't make them stay, at least that's what people say. That's what people say."

The Music Ninja joined in with her best friend, "But I keep cruising, can't stop won't stop moving, it's like I got this music in my mind saying it's gonna be all right. 'Cause the player's gonna play, play, play, play, play, and the hater's gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake it off, shake it off! Breaker's gonna break, break, break, break, break, and the baker's gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake, baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake it off, shake it off!

"I never miss a beat, I'm lightning on my feet, and that's what they don't see. That's what they don't see. I'm dancing on my own, I make the moves up as I go, and that's what they don't know. That's what they don't know. But I keep cruising, can't stop won't stop grooving, it's like I got this music in my mind saying it's gonna be all right. 'Cause the player's gonna play, play, play, play, play, and the hater's gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake it off, shake it off! Breaker's gonna break, break, break, break, break, and the baker's gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake, baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake it off, shake it off! Shake it off, shake it off, off, off, shake it off, shake it off, off, off, shake it off, shake it off, off, off, shake it off, shake it off!"