꧁𓊈𒆜"Chapter Eight"𒆜𓊉꧂
Blow up

We watched the volcano for a moment. I hadn't seen it before but it seemed a familiar sight for everyone else, my father and Kai especially.

One by one, they all jumped down to the entrance. I hesitated, being the last to jump off, but Lloyd was in there. I couldn't have faith in the First Spinjitzu Master that they'd get him out alive.

So I jumped down, landing next to Jay who flinched at my presence. I scoffed at the reaction. What happened to 'be ready for anything?'

"The Fire Temple," Cole muttered lowly, almost impressed at the size of it.

"The volcano seems to be on the verge of eruption, guys. All recent indicators tell me that this place is becoming increasingly fragile. Even the smallest rupture can make the whole thing go off," Nya warned, using Zane's robot Falcon bird as communication from the Bounty.

"I can retract the smoke, maybe it will relieve the pressure," I suggested again as my previous offer had been left ignored.

"It won't relieve the pressure inside, but use the gift when you must," Wu declined the offer, though turned to the rest of the Ninja, "We must not use our weapons,"

He motioned for them to put their golden weapons away, which three out of the four did. Kai hesitated, gripping onto his sword tightly, his gaze flickering between my Father and I

"Kai," His sister called.

He sighed heavy, sheathing the weapon.

"Yeah, yeah, no Fire Sword. But only because I wouldn't want anything to prevent us from getting that Fangblade," He finalised, walking alongside Cole.

"Or my son," Father reminded, his words about Lloyd knocked me from my thoughts.

We followed the path into the volcano, Uncle Wu taking the lead with Cole close behind. My father and I followed close behind, eager to find Lloyd.

The path grew elevated, we must be getting close to the core. The heat increased rapidly, I broke out in a sweat but continued forward.

Lloyd was in this mess somewhere, I wouldn't leave until he was found.

We walked through another opening, this time on the other side was a lot brighter then the tunnel we had just walked through.

"There," Wu whispered, pointing to the snakes who were working below, "The Serpentine are inside the inner core. From here on out, we travel by shadows,"

I'm frozen for a moment, not ever seeing beasts like the ones over the edge of the cliff. I knew the existed, but seeing them in person made me rethink all that I knew.

"It's the only way we know how," My father wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me out of my trance.

I smiled slightly, only hearing the end of the conversation.

Whatever.

We briskly walked down the path, our eyes focusing on the serpants digging into the wall of the volcano. Was it not obvious that the wrong move would make this whole place blow?

"There's Lloyd!" Jay whisper shouted.

"Son," Father gasped.

My looked over to where the Blue Ninja was fixated on and sighed from relief. He was OK, he looked unharmed, but his expression was worried.

But that's when I fully noticed him. He was wearing the outfit I had stolen for him the last time we met. He was wearing it. Did that mean he wasn't mad at me? Was I still his big brother in his eyes?

One of the snakes' tools sparked against the wall, getting the larger snakes attention.

"Huh? Out of my way, fool!" He shoved the working snake aside, pulling out the prize he was looking for, the third Fangblade is ours!"

The snakes cheered. I would've done the same if it meant I didn't have to work for some jackass.

"Ninja?" Everybody went rigid beside me, "Attack!"

"How did he see us?" I asked, my hand growing with the surrounding smoke as a protective measure.

"I'm not sure, but light as a leaf. Attack like there is no tomorrow," Uncle Wu advised, standing straighter.

The ninja jumped down, eager for battle and the capture of the fangblade.

I turned to my father, panicked.

"They're bad guys-- We're bad guys... how do we--"

"We have to get Lloyd, we'll make peace later," He grabbed my shoulders reassuringly, but ended up turning me to the side so his extra hand could push aside a snake.

Ok. It was obvious I wasn't going to do anything that changed the chances of getting my hands on my brother. So I fought.

I ran too, following on a path of ice that Zane made to get across the rocks with lava settled underneath. Using the smoke from the environment, I forcefully captured multiple Serpentine around me and pushed them off the sides of the paths so they landed in the lava.

I had never killed anyone before.

I realised I would kill anyone if it meant my brother was safe.

But then the ground shook behind us, the ice became unsteady, I leaped to a rock, standing with Cole who had just pushed a snake to the side. The lava under us rose incredibly, the snakes started to race to the exit.

"Kai, the weapon is compromising our safety!" Nya hissed from the Falcon flying above him.

I looked over, mortified that he had decided to danger us all.

"I will do what I must," He huffed, knocking several snakes back.

I turned around, looking for familiar blonde hair. It was then I realised the snakes had taken the cage that my brother was in with them on their escape.

"Let's get out of here! But not before we leave them with a parting gift," The large purple snake announced, turning to smaller black snakes, "Boys?"

They nodded, understanding his silent command and started to drill into the volcano.

We were shaking before, but the whole place started to rumble.

"They're making the volcano unstable!" Zane realised, pushing Wu and Jay gently to the side of the Volcano before coming back to myself and my Father.

"Any minute, this place is gonna blow. We have to get out of here," Jay told, looking worried.

"Not without my son!" Garmadon yelled, racing back through the rocks.

It didn't take more then a second for me to follow after him, despite Uncle Wu calling out my name.

"Dad! Ash!" Lloyd cried, his hands tight on the bars that captured him.

The Serpentine didn't hold back, the marched down the steps, trying to stop myself and my father from getting Lloyd back. Their attacks were minimal, we held them off, pushing past them, suffocating them, throwing them off the side.

"Argh, lose the boy!" The leader yelled, making two others lift the cage over the side and have it dangle between a stone and the side of the cliff.

Lloyd was sinking in the lava.

"Dad!" He cried, the floor of the cage melting out from under him.

"Father!" I hissed, pushing a snake away from me.

"Go!" He pushed me forward in return now that the path was clear.

He didn't have to tell me twice.

I raced up the path then leant over the cliff, grabbing the cage, then with every muscle I had, I pulled him up on the ledge, groaning at the force I had to use.

"Ash," He smiled, his light eyes shining from the tears that threatened to fall.

I was about to assure him when our father pushed me aside to pull apart the bars and free him.

"Lloyd!" He captured his younger son in a hug.

"Dad," Lloyd nestled against his father.

I watched both of them for a moment, my heart stinging, but I couldn't focus on my emotion for long.

Kai was sprinting up the path, not wasting a second to glance our way as he went after the purple snake.

"The Fangblade's mine!" He grunted, stupidly warning the snake of his arrival.

"Come back! It's too dangerous. The whole place is going to explode!" Cole shouted from across the volcano.

I wanted to watch, I wanted to teach that son of a bitch a lesson for taking my brother and turning against him... but I followed my father and Lloyd across the lava instead, knowing this would be safer.

"Then I better be quick!" He took his fire sword out of the sheath and threw it, the power knocking the Fangblade out of the snakes hand.

We watched, amazed at his determination. Did he not see the lava rising? Did he not feel the immense heat that pooled through this whole cavern?

He leaped down to the stone that Lloyd's cage had been welded between to grab the Fangblade, but it was stuck in the stone too deep.

"Leave it, Kai! It's not worth your life!" Jay yelled from beside me.

He didn't seem to hear, I turned around to all of them.

"We need to leave, the sulfur dioxide in this smoke is bordering dangerous," I looked to Wu, hoping he would see sense in my words.

"But what about Kai?" Lloyd’s words made me turn to look at him, "Kai!"

He stepped closer to the edge, hoping the Ninja in red would hear him, but his weight wasn't expected for the rock below.

It cracked, then almost as if it were happening in slow motion, he sank into the lava, the rock being the only thing holding him up.

"No!" I cried, attempting to reach out but it was too late.

"Lloyd!" My father appeared beside me, looking down.

"I--I'm sinking!" Lloyd panicked, backing up to the wall, away from the side of the rock filling with lava.

"Kai!" I screamed, determined to get him to hear me.

My voice startled him, he dropped the Fangblade onto another stone, it flew out of his hand.

No.

"We have to get out of here, or else none of us will get out of here!" Uncle Wu exclaimed, pulling me by the cuff of my shirt.

"But my son!" Garmadon pushed against the hold of Zane and Jay.

"Get off me!" I yelled, "Lloyd!"

There was no way I was leaving him here. He would die! No! Not Lloyd. Not my brother. Not him!! Anyone but him!

"Asher!" Cole tugged at my shoulders, tackling me away before the ceiling fell down, blocking me from entering if I tried again.

"No!" I cried out, "You're the master of Earth and we're surrounded by rock! Move it Cole! Let me get to him!"

"Asher, this place is gonna blow!" He ignored me, pulling me down the path and futher away from the person I needed to save.

"Lloyd! Lloyd!" Father cried, the same emotions of yearning to go back to save his son.

"He's gonna die!" I thrashed in his hold, but even I was no match for Cole and his muscles.

We were being forced outside. I hated it. Never in my life had I hated the Ninja more then what I felt in that moment.

But I hated how I was also acting. Crying in the face of my enemies? Who was I? Where did I put Ash Garmadon?

I was forcefully thrown onto the Bounty, Cole knew too well if they got on first, I would make a run for it back to the volcano.

Nya blasted the engine on and the ship came to life. I watched the volcano, the smoke was pouring out of it.

"Maybe Kai got the fangblade and is coming out with Lloyd now," Jay suggested, gripping the wooded edge of the ship, "Maybe he's coming out now--"

The volcano exploded.

"Kai!" Nya cried, holding her hands close to her chest.

"Son," Father whispered brokenly.

I stared at the wreckage blankly before the anger set in. I clenched my jaw and turned to Wu.

"This is your fault," I growled, walking towards him, "You're supposed to protect people! Save them! You didn't even look after your own Nephew! If you had of just checked in on him, kept contact, he wouldn't have gone off to the Serpentine! This is your fault Wu!"

"It's not his fault," Jay defended his master.

I didn't want to hear it, I hissed out a curse and with my fist tight, I lifted it with a storm of smoke in the lightning Ninja's direction. His eyes widened in fear, but someone grabbed me forcefully.

I thrashed in the hold before realizing who it was.

My father.

I hated how he comforted me in front of our enemies, but having his arm around me and his hand caressing my head softly had my eyes filling up and my hands clenching around his Gi.

"Wait," Nya mumbled softly, her word fading out.

"It's Kai!" Jay yelled ecstatically, "He's found his True Potential!"

I ripped myself away from my father's grasp and stared at what could only be described as a ball of fire, Lloyd gripping to Kai in the centre of it.

I let out a sound of relief, almost toppling over at the rapid change of emotion I felt. Lloyd was safe, he was alive.

The two landed and I immediately gripped my brother in a tight hold. Luckily, Lloyd gripped me back in the same desperate manner. Another sign that he wasn't mad at me. I was so relieved, I didn't know how to express it.

Kai removed his mask and looked over to us, but settled on giving his Sensei a smile.

Lloyd looked up from my hold to turn his focus on our father. There was so much I wanted to say to him, but I was afraid we didn't have enough time.

"Dad? Is it really you?" He wondered, letting me go to walk over to him.

That made my heart sting, but I remained emotionless as I stared at them. Lloyd hadn't witnessed his father change. He just knew stories.

"It is, son," Father nodded, opening them for Lloyd to hug him.

"Dad?" He questioned, pausing for a moment, "Why do you have four arms?"

Cole laughed and my brothers bluntness. I swallowed thickly, their reunion something I hadn't expected to hit me so hard.

"Thank you, Kai," Garmadon mumbled slightly, but the passion in his words was bright.

Oh yeah.

I looked at Kai who was still silently recovering from the amount of energy he lost from using his True Potential for the first time.

He saved my brother. A guy who had hated the Garmadon bloodline since my father's goons kidnapped his sister ages ago saved a Garmadon.

I didn't know what to think of that.

"How did you survive? How did you discover the key to unlocking your powers?" Zane asked, intrigued by the sudden change.

"I knew when I had to make a choice. I wanted the Fangblade so badly, to prove I was good enough to become the Green Ninja... But then I figured it out," His gaze flickered to Lloyd, "All of my training to become the best ninja wasn't in preparation to become the Green Ninja. It was... to protect him,"

Jay stopped mumbling to Cole then. A deep silence choked everyone.

He couldn't mean--.

"What? What is everybody looking at me for?" Lloyd asked innocently.

"That means..." Nya breathed out, shocked.

Cole grabbed his Sythe Of Quakes and Zane's Shurikens Of Ice just as Nya and Kai grabbed the Nunchucks Of lightning and the Sword Of Fire. The three placed them in front of Lloyd and a reaction occurred.

They shook for a moment before a bright green lightning sizzled up around him. I'd never seen anything like is before.

"Lloyd is the Green Ninja. I had thought it would be one of you, but it was him the whole time. It all makes sense. Not only have you four been chosen to protect the Golden Weapons, but also to protect the Chosen One," Wu awed proudly.

The weapons clattered to the floor. I frowned.

Lloyd was a Ninja?

"Wait. What is the Green Ninja? What does that mean?" I demanded, looking to my Uncle.

"The Green Ninja is someone who is prophesied to protect good from evil. Lloyd is the prophecy," Wu explained, but my father gasped.

"That means..."

What? What did that mean? Because as far as I had heard, it meant my brother and I were no longer on the same side, and that had to be a joke.

"The battle lines have been drawn, brother. Sadly, our family has only become more divided," Wu spoke sadly, "Brother versus brother, and now, son versus Father and Brother,"

What?

Lloyd was destined to fight us?

I stared at him in shock, his confused eyes stared back at me. What were we going to do? That was my brother!

I clenched my jaw angrily and glared at Wu. He had to of had something to do with this. Prophesy my ass!

I nudged past him angrily, my aim to walk out. I couldn't deal with this, it was crazy! Lloyd was evil! That was all he wanted to do!

But something stopped me from reaching the door. A faint sizzle and a tickling sensation by my legs.

A couple gasps reacted to what I saw when I looked down. I couldn't believe it. This wasn't possible.

The weapons were reacting, but instead of green, it was purple. I looked up and the first face I spotted was my father who's face looked just as horrified as mine.

"Impossible," Wu mumbled to himself, "The Purple Ninja is only supposed to be legend,"

"Purple Ninja," I whispered, "I'm not a Purple Ninja. I don't save people," My voice became louder, "I hurt them, I'm evil, I'm like my Dad, I don't-- I'm not--"

I felt nauseous. I stepped away from the weapons.

What did that even mean? What was the Purple Ninja? Why was it a legend? If that were true, why was it apparently me!?

"I stand corrected," Wu announced, looking to his brother apologetically, "Sons versus father,"

Impossible!

I had to fight my father alongside Lloyd? No. That wouldn't happen.

I was evil. I was the son of Lord Garmadon! I wasn't born to help people I was born to make them suffer much like he!

"Good luck getting me to fight alongside you!" I hissed, my eyes crazed on my Uncle, "I don't know what you've done to cause this Wu, but you better find a way to undo it,"

"You cannot change Prophesy," Zane told, a gently frown on his face.

"I don't care!" I yelled, Lloyd flinched, "Find a way to! I'm not a Ninja!"

They all looked at me like I was crazy, all but my father who was staring at the ground with an unreadable expression.

I wasn't a Ninja.

I would never be a Ninja.

Never.

Right?

Jeez. Asher is having an identity crisis now and I honestly can't blame him.

There's so much going on with his little family of three. He doesn't know how to feel.

That's the last draft I have so no more updates for a while due to personal reasons!! Hope you liked this extra long one!