Whitewash (Wintergreen AU)
Honestly, Lloyd wished the attack had just knocked him out. But it hadnâtâthe pain was too much to let him fall unconscious, but not enough to push him over the edge in spite of that.
Though what stung the most hadnât been the impact, or the biting cold in the air.
No, it was seeing ZaneâZane, his brotherâstaring down at him without recognition. Twisted by the scroll frozen to his hand.
It wasnât the icy blast itself, but who had fired it.
His head swimming, Lloyd tried to listen to the continuing conversation.
âSee, my Lord? We cannot trust this strangerâjust look at his treachery! One moment, speaking of friendshipâthe next, trying to steal your scepter!â
âI can see that, Vex,â Zaneâthe Ice Emperor, even now, Lloyd still couldnât accept itâreplied evenly.
âThen, allow me to destroy him-â
âNo.â
The other manâVex?âseemed stunned by the sharp retort. âButâbut my Lord, he is dangerous!â
âThat may be...but I believe I might have a use for this, what did you call him once? Yes, this âstranger in greenâ...â
The clang of metal on ice as Zane drew closer down the stairs seemed amplified by the pain the green ninja was feeling.
âI can feel something in you.â The nindroidâs voice was deep and cold, almost seeming to drop the roomâs temperature even lower. âA power I have never felt from anotherâa power like my own, even.â
Suddenly, Lloyd found the frozen point of the Scroll of Forbidden Spinjitzu resting right over his heart. Eyes widening in fear, he looked up and met the dark gaze of the Emperor.
âWhaâZane...Z-zane, please d-d-donâtâwhat are y-youââ he tried to ask, his teeth starting to chatter as the cold became more intense.
âThat is not my name!â the master of ice growled, the icy-blue flames flaring up slightly at his outburst. âYou will have to learn that, wonât you? I am NOT this âZaneâ!â
âP-please, no, youâyou are, Iââ
âThat is no way to address your Emperor, boy,â Vex cut in, then frowned slightly. âMy Lord, are you certain you wish to do this?â
âI cannot very well send him to the dungeons, can I? Like you said, he is too dangerous, too powerful.â
The Scrollâs light grew even brighter, so cold that frost was starting to cover the teenâs gi at the point of contact.
âBut if his power is under my commandâŚâ
Lloydâs breathing cut short. What had Zane just said?!
The nindroidâs eyes narrowed, but not angrilyâif anything, he seemed smug. âWell, then there is not much of a chance he could stand in my way if he stands at my side, is there? And after all, he needs to learn his place.â
The blonde wanted to run, get away from here, but the overwhelming pain and cold, and the blade at his chest, kept him from being able to move.
And thus, he could only watch in terror as the Forbidden Scrollâs glow became blinding, before the frigid energy was forced into him in a burst.
Cold. It felt so cold. So cold that his limbs were going numb, losing all feeling. Frost creeped across his clothes, his skin, coating it in a layer of smooth ice that seemed to penetrate into him. Strands of his hair froze together, stained white by the snowy material clinging to it.
But those were only the effects on the outside. Inside, in his chest, in his head, the cold overpowered him. Lloyd could feel his heartbeat slowing, unnaturally calmed by the chill engulfing him. And his mindâeverything was going numb, he couldnât think, he couldnât breathe, he was floundering. Like he was drowning, suffocating in the corruptive power of the ice.
It was all becoming so distant, so detached, his grip on his thoughts was slipping. He...he couldnât even tell where he was anymore, what was going on? ThisâŚ
This wasnât right.
He had to fight it.
Dredging up every ounce of strength he had left, Lloyd tried to focus on his element. If he could try to resist this overwhelming cold clouding his mind, he might be able to help Zane. His breathing heavy, he pushed back at the force trying to dominate him, and felt it give way some. Daring to let a smile cross his face, he relaxed slightlyâ
When he felt a tug at his power, causing his focus to shatter. Mentally reeling, he tried to figure out what in Ninjago had just happenedâ
Of course. Heâd forgotten. Ice was one of the elements of Creation.
And Lloyd was connected to those.
And Zane seemed to have just discovered that connection.
Trying to fight back with his element had been a terrible mistake.
The corruptive force came back, even stronger. This time anchored to the teenâs own power. Struggling, he tried to push it away, but it was futile.
He couldnât fight this.
...What was he even resisting for?
The numbness flooded his senses, and the force of it made him keel over, bringing him to the ground as he grasped at his chest at the spot where the spearâs point had rested.
His will was overtaken, and he finally gave in.
And his eyes shot open, glowing a bright, icy blue as the control fully took hold.
Looking up, he focused on the cold, regal gaze of the figure staring down at him.
âDo you see now? Do you understand who I am?â
The words rung clearly, even through the numbing fog in his head. And he nodded.
âYes, my Lord, I...I understand,â Lloyd replied, feeling out of breath and struggling to speak through the cold turning his lips blue.
âThen tell meâwho am I?â
âYou...youâre my Emperor.â And as he said the words, he knew they were true, especially as he was looking at the man in questionâhis rulerâhis master.
Slowly, almost jerkily, like a puppet on strings, he positioned himself into the stance of a bow.
âYouâre the Ice Emperor.â
