I've got an interesting trope for the short fic requests:
The ninja getting blasted in the face by the terrible damage Morro's possession did to Lloyd after they get him back
This one was a challenge to squash into 500 words tbh
âIf we never deal with another ghost, itâll be too soon.â Jay groaned as he flopped down in bed the very same night everything finally came to an end.
âWow.â Cole spoke flatly, half glaring at Jay where he hovered over his bed, no longer having the luxury of laying down or sleeping.
âYou know I didnât mean it like thatâŚâ Jay lamely recovered with a sheepish grin.
âIâm just glad we have our powers back. If only we can keep them for longer than a month or two at a time.â Kai spoke dryly as he cracked his back in a stretch then went to sit.
âIâd have to agree.â Zane spoke dryly. âAt least weâre all in one piece.â He offered as a bright side.
Cole gave him a blank look.
âWell- mostly.â Zane amended and Cole gave an exasperated sigh.
âTurning in early Lloyd?â Nya asked their green robed leader as he pulled his covers back while simultaneously taking off his shoes.
âUh- yeah. Tired.â Lloyd murmured, sliding into bed without even bothering to change and pulled the sheets over his head.
The group shared a look. Things have been even rougher on him lately⌠They all quietly followed his lead, turning the lights out and getting some well needed rest.
âHey Lloyd!â The green ninja did his best not to flinch at the sudden call before he glanced over to where his teammates were. âCome spar with us!â Cole called, waving him over and Lloyd hesitated to do so.
He didnât feel up for it, but at the same time⌠If he says no, heâll be suspicious⌠Heâs supposed to be the leader of the team, supposed to be the one urging them to train⌠He shouldnât be letting something like-
âLloyd?â Kai was he one to call this time, sounding worried and Lloyd went rigid.
âUh, yeah! Iâll train with you guys.â He told them as he ran over. âSorry, I was thinking⌠Strategy!â He lied, not smoothly but enough for them to believe him.
âYeah, you better. Weâll beat you this time for sure.â Jay grinned, holding his nunchucks firmly.
âKeep telling yourself that.â Lloyd huffed as he took a fighting position, all of them surrounding him.
He glanced around at all of them as they all shared a look. Zane charged first, swinging a kunai at him and he ducked, a blow to his stomach sending him skidding back. Jay yelled as he came in, swinging his nunchuck at him as Kai swung his sword down at him and he quickly dodged Kaiâs sword, sweeping his leg back to trip Jay while he was at it. Nya yelled as she jabbed at him with her sai but he spun out of her way, grasped her by the hand and threw her into Coleâs ghostly form, leaving her to yell as she knocked the scythe he finally figured out to hold out of his hands.
âAw man!â He yelled before quickly floating back, grabbing his scythe and launching forward with the others in a group attack.
A haze of green flashed across his vision, revealing his friends attacking him in Steep Wisdom uniform, a hauntingly familiar eerie laugh filling his ears and Lloyd stepped back, eyes wide. No! No! He was free! Morro was- was-! Suddenly, he had a large amount of pressure on him, forcing him under, forcing him to submit control as Morro took the reigns, took control of his mind, forced him- forced him- A scream ripped its way out of Lloydâs throat, his powers reacting to his distress, exploding outward and throwing the others off of him, sending them flying, crashing into the walls of the Monastery and the ground.
âLloyd!â Kai yelled as he picked himself up off his face, turning to where Lloyd was still curled up in a ball, his elemental energy creating a shield around him that hissed and crackled threateningly at them, warning them not to get close.
âLet me try to-â Coleâs attempt to approach was thwarted as a bolt of green energy struck him, leaving him to yell out in the surprising surge of pain where nothingness was, his yell enough to snap Lloyd out of his episode.
He looked around wide eyed, at his elemental power still on the defense, at the others gathered around where Cole was floating just an inch off the ground, sitting up slowly, tingling still with residue energy. Lloydâs eyes filled with tears as his friends looked at him, scared, confused⌠He was⌠He was no better than him...
âLloydâŚâ Nya tried and Lloyd only shook his head, summoning his elemental dragon, flinching violently once an image of his possessed dragon flashed over it, making it flicker out briefly, but not disappear.
âLloyd wait!â Kai yelled as he came running.
âStay back!â Lloydâs voice cracked at the warning as he got to his feet, shakily but determinedly mounting his dragon.
âYou canât leave! Letâs talk about this!â He yelled after him as he gripped the reigns of his dragon tightly.
âNo!â Was Lloydâs immediate response, wanting to protect his friends from him. âI⌠I can't. I have to go.â He whispered then raised the reins to urge his dragon to fly.
âBut why! Talk to us!â Zane yelled his protest before Kai could and Lloyd gritted his teeth, gripping the reins tightly.
âBecause Iâm no better than him!â Lloyd yelled back before quickly urging his dragon to fly off, his elemental shield going with him, leaving the others to stare for a moment.
It hit Cole though, remembering the brief flicker over his dragon.
â... Like Morro.â He whispered and they turned to him in horrorâŚ
But it made sense⌠They had a moment of grief, realising how deeply affected Lloyd was by the experience. They hadnât even considered that he would beâŚ
âIâm going after him.â Zane announced, summoning his own elemental dragon then taking off.
âWe all are.â Kai declared, he and the others following suit.
They had to be there for him this time...
As you can see, I failed with 1005 words. More than twice as much. Third timeâs the charm?