#original ending

“Do you miss it?” Shane asked.

Ilya shook his head. “There are times when things could be…”

“…less boring?” Shane hedged, jaw tightened.

Ilya’s bent knuckle caressed the freckles across Shane’s cheeks. “Boring is good. I like boring, but…maybe if I had learned to solve problems instead of making them, I would have liked being a CSIS officer, too.”

He didn’t miss his old life. He didn’t miss the gunfights or the drugs or his father and brother’s fists and threats, but sometimes, in the darkness of the night, he missed the adrenaline. He missed running from the American agents. He missed Shane smiling wild and alive as they had sex in Ilya’s orange Porsche outside of Scott Hunter’s burning apartment.

Shane didn’t leave Ilya’s lap and leaned down to kiss him in a slow, sensual way that explored all the crevasses of Ilya’s mouth. Ilya responded by arching up, hands running up Shane’s thighs and down his backside. Just as the heat started to stir in Ilya’s groin, Shane muttered against his cheek, “Hayden wants us to babysit this weekend.”

Ilya pulled away. “You want round two, yes? Then you need to stop mentioning Hayden.”

Shane at least had the decency to look apologetic, but the moment was ruined.

“Hayden wants us to drive two hours each way on our day off to take care of his little terrors.” Ilya sighed. “Really?”

Shane laughed, lips still inches from Ilya’s. “So I’ll tell him yes.”

“Of course you will tell him yes, but he better have his fridge stocked with coke this time.”

“I’ll remind him.”

“Cherry. I want cherry coke.” He added with a little smirk, “Ruby makes raptor noises when she drinks cherry coke. Large burps.”

“Oh, Hayd will love – ”

The doorbell rang unexpectedly. No one showed up to the Hollanov residence unexpectedly, and even if they did, they didn’t bypass the gate camera.

That meant whoever was at their door was a professional.

Ilya’s hand went under the back pillow. Shane reached underneath the couch. In tandem, they held pistols and cocked them. Then, Shane slid off Ilya’s lap and grabbed his phone off the coffee table. A few quick taps brought up the video doorbell’s feed.

“It’s Scott Hunter,” Shane said, flashing the screen toward Ilya. “Were you expecting Scott Hunter?”

“Yes, I invited him here for threesome. Anniversary surprise.”

Shane hit him on the shoulder and placed his pistol on the coffee table. He combed his fingers through his hair and eventually gave up on looking presentable. It was their first-meeting anniversary, and he looked debauched. There was no other word for it, and Ilya loved it.

Ilya sneaked into the foyer and rested against the stairwell, pistol behind his back, arms crossed, shirtless. He locked in his expression as “pissed.” Scott was interrupting, and Ilya was going to let him know it.

Shane welcomed Scott into their home with a quick handshake, but Scott was different this time. Ilya knew Special Agent Scott Hunter – suit, tie, long jacket, stupid face with a sexy serious stare. This Scott stood in Ilya’s home wearing jeans, a tight athletic shirt, and a navy blue bomber jacket.

After a quick greeting, to which Ilya simply nodded, Scott took inventory – the various clothing articles on the floor, Shane’s hair, Ilya’s lack of a shirt.

“You were in the middle of something,” he said with hesitation and some embarrassment.

“Yes, we were,” Ilya replied, pointed. “What do you want?”

“God, Ilya,” Shane huffed before motioning toward the living room. “Why don’t you take a seat, Scott? Would you like something to drink?”

Ilya swiped his nose. “I’d like him to leave.”

Shane hit him on the shoulder as he passed.

Scott ignored the various items and weapons that littered the coffee table as he took a seat in one of their chairs. Shane went back to the couch, and Ilya – being Ilya – took up residence on the couch’s arm next to Shane.

“What made you go with Hollanov?” Scott started with a tiny, teasing smile. “Why not Rozander?”

Shane put a hand to his forehead and warned, “Please do not get him started.”

Too late. “Rozander is better name. I bet we can change it, Shane.”

“Shut up. We are not changing our last names again.” He rested a hand on Ilya’s knee, which equally elated and surprised Ilya. Shane was being possessive and casual and affectionate in front of Scott Hunter. “What’s going on, Scott?”

Scott could not be deterred. He looked between shirtless Ilya and disheveled Shane and said, “You both look…happy.”

“Satisfied,” Ilya offered, his own hand coming to rest on the back of Shane’s neck and play with the tiny strands there. “Satiated, perhaps. Pleasured.”

“Okay, enough of that,” Shane admonished as Scott raised his voice, “Happy. I meant happy.”

“What do you want, Hunter?” Ilya demanded again.

The real reason for Ilya’s rejoinders – Scott Hunter just didn’t show up at someone’s doorstep at eight p.m. because he was in the neighborhood and wanted to hang out. Scott Hunter showed up at your door because something was wrong and he needed help. That help probably required a gun and C4.

“The FBI has limitations. There are some things we can’t do, and there are some things we shouldn’t do. Sometimes, the things we can’t do and the things we shouldn’t do – aren’t the same.” Scott looked directly at Shane when he spoke, “You taught me that. Being compromised – it doesn’t mean you can’t still be effective in the field. Sometimes, it just means you need a little help to get done what needs to get done.”

Shane’s hand instinctively found Ilya’s and squeezed.

“I’m putting together a team of people who aren’t afraid to work outside the lines. I know I shouldn’t be the one making decisions on what needs to be done, but maybe – together – we can figure out how best to stop some bad guys and save some people.”

“What do you mean?” Shane said softly. “Like – freelance spies but without the paycheck?”

Scott let out a quick, measured sigh. “Yeah. Essentially. Think of it as a hobby. Like stamp collecting. And Rozanov here can use his toxin knowledge and tactical skills.”

“Things we can do with other couples?” Ilya hedged. “Instead of cooking classes, we take down…what? Drug lords? Human trafficking rings? Ponzi schemes?”

“Maybe.” Scott pulled out his cell phone and placed it on the coffee table, next to Shane’s pistol and the empty ice cream container. “You know this guy?”

Shane shook his head; Ilya’s stomach turned to ice. “Yes. His name is Dubek. He was a contact of my brother’s in Moscow.”

The hand in Ilya’s tightened.

“Word is he’s coming to North America. Going to take over the Bears’ organization. We need to stop him before he restarts what we dismantled. You in?”

Ilya had more than six thousand hours of apprenticeship left before he could get his automotive service technician license. Shane needed to be at the arena tomorrow at eight a.m. to meet with the goaltenders and goalie coach.

Ilya took solace in the feel of Shane’s wedding ring against his skin. “I still have not learned how to play pickleball.”

This time, they would be working on the same team and could help save some people.

Never letting go of Ilya’s hand, Shane nodded. “We’re in.”

Fin

The cure-them-all denouement at the climax of New Earth was originally quite different...

"Anyway, as Phil wept like a grown man about the budget, Russell H Gardner (for decency's sake, I'm conflating the Welsh) guided me towards a simpler story. Julie would keep asking me to change my set descriptions from "stunningly vast" to "stunningly compact", and Helen [Raynor] would tactfully suggest that explaining the plot at some point would be a positive, and Russell would enthuse away Welshly, demanding more death and destruction, like Neddy Seagoon in a fit of blood-lust. (The RTD philosophy: "Become a writer. Create interesting characters. And melt them!!!")" -- Excerpt from Steven Moffat's introduction for The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances script in Doctor Who: The Shooting Scripts.

Request from ao3!!

Part1

Lloyd overpowers Overlord but struggles with his oni form. NOTE: Nya wasn't saved fron the water yet in the original scripts

"You’ll pay for what you’ve done!" Lloyd screamed as he struck the beast. "Once and for all!"

"You are not strong enough!" Overlord panted as he tried to attack Lloyd back.

"You are wrong!" Lloyd finally used the blast to still the Overlord.

"It’s over," Lloyd looked at the Overlord and then at his arms, surprised. "This easy, just with my Oni form. This is brilli—"

Lloyd fell to the ground. For a few seconds he wasn’t aware of what had happened.

"You thought you’d defeat me that easily, child!" Overlord smiled, a blast of doubt flickering in his eyes. "I’m going to destroy your family once and for all! Then I’ll finally get what I deserve— all of Ninjago! All of it as my kingdom of destruction!"

"You won’t!" Lloyd got up in a heartbeat. "You’ll do neither of that!"

"I already did half!" Overlord moaned as their powers met, both trying to overpower the other. "I already destroyed your family."

"Aghh!" Lloyd screamed and shook as the new power rushed through him.

It was the Overlord who possessed his dad.

It was the Overlord who took his parents away.

It was the Overlord who destroyed his childhood.

It was the Overlord who took his father from him again and again!

"It ends now!" Overlord groaned as he tried to overpower Lloyd.

"You are right!" Lloyd’s eyes gleamed. "This ends now— for you!"

With a new wave of anger, Lloyd’s powers became too much for the Overlord. Lloyd finally overpowered him and a blast passed through all of Ninjago.

"Ah!" Lloyd panted as he tried to get up, still not seeing anything.

"It’s over..." He trembled as his vision started to clear. "It’s finally over..."

"Lloyd!" Harumi ran toward him. "Destroy the crystal—"

"You!" Lloyd glared at her. Her eyes widened.

He looked at his reflection and understood why. His skin was still golden; he had four arms, horns, wings and purple eyes.

"This isn’t you, Lloyd." Harumi took a few steps back. "You a-are—"

"What do you know about me!" Lloyd clenched his fists. "You seduced me only to leave me and use me to make my father evil again! You awakened the Overlord and that’s why my father is dead again..."

"Lloyd..." Harumi trembled. "Please—"

"I pleaded with you many times!" Lloyd blasted her with his powers. "Enough is enough!"

He had no idea where she went after that, or if she was still alive. A little voice in his head begged him to stop, to go back to his ordinary self.

Lloyd looked at his reflection in the large crystal. Monster. He was a monster… Part of him wanted to go back and be human again.

"I don’t want to be weak..." he whispered as he tried to touch his reflection. "I don’t want to suffer again."

Lloyd looked around him. A crystal throne that could be his. He could erase all the bad things that happened to him or anyone else.

He had already lost everything, so why not?

The last pieces of awareness evaporated

from his brain as he sat on the throne.

"Ah!" he panted. "Ah... ahhh!"

With the pain, he lost all of his goodness.

......

What once was the hero of Ninjago was now its worst enemy.

"Nya!" she screamed. "I’m Nya, water ninja!"

Nya shook her watery head as things began to clear in her mind again. She was still part of the water, but she knew everything— her brother, friends, training, the sacrifice she made to defeat Wojira and save Jay...

Nya had no idea how long it had been since she was gone. She had no idea how the ninja were, or if Jay had found another girl...

"Lloyd!" she screamed as the vision formed in her mind. She had no idea how she knew, but that was Lloyd!

Not the little brother she remembered, but the monster.

"What!" She tried to find an answer in the dark sea around her but couldn’t find anything.

Nya didn’t know how, but she knew she needed to do something. Gathering all of her will, she managed to reach Lloyd...

"Lloyd!" Nya called as she struggled to keep her water form at the top of Crystal Island.

"Nya!" The voice that came from his mouth wasn’t his. "It’s not possible..."

"Come to me, Lloyd!" Nya tried to pull him off the throne; it spiraled with awful energy.

Lloyd hesitated.

"Please help me!" Nya desperately pleaded. "Help me and save me from the water!"

"Why have you come, Nya!" Lloyd’s voice echoed through the sky. "You know I can’t help you."

"But I can help you, my brother." Nya managed to form her legs. "Get off that destructive throne!"

"I’m not your brother." Lloyd frowned and looked at himself.

"You are!" Nya found the strength to approach him. "You are my younger brother, you’re my family. You are the Green Ninja, the savior—"

"No!" Lloyd stood up, his eyes glowing. "I’m no longer a ninja! I’m not the Green Ninja, I never wanted to be! I’m the Crystal King! I—"

Nya watched in disbelief as the ground trembled.

"What have they done to you!" she breathed. Lloyd— the soul of their team, of their family! Lloyd, always so bright and compassionate— now was the cold, heartless villain.

"I’m who I was always meant to be." Lloyd started walking toward her.

"No!" Nya screamed and water burst from inside her. "You are Lloyd! You are our brother, you’re the Green Ninja! You’re a good guy!"

Lloyd stood shocked at her first few blasts. He started shooting at Nya as soon as he recovered.

"Please!" Nya begged as she avoided the destructive blast. "Come back to us!"

Lloyd roared and Nya found herself unable to avoid another blast. She prepared for the worst—

"Nya!" Lightning blocked the destruction. "You’re—"

"Jay!" Nya gasped. "Kai, Zane, Cole! You’re gold… and you have wings… and golden weapons!"

"Nya!" Kai tried to run toward her but Lloyd forced him to the ground.

"Lloyd!" Kai shook his head.

"No—" Cole’s eyes widened. "It can’t be!"

"What happened!" Zane demanded answers as the four of them tried to overpower Lloyd.

"His Oni form and the Crystal throne corrupted him!" Nya blasted Lloyd with water as he tried to attack Jay. "He doesn’t want to talk or— Take cover!"

Lloyd lifted the crystals and tried to crush them.

"Lloyd, please!" A few tears dropped from Kai’s eyes. "Come back to us!"

"Anger empowers him!" Zane iced his leg. "Soon he’ll overpower all of us!"

"We can’t fight him this way!" Nya mumbled as Lloyd broke free from Zane’s trap.

"You’re right!" Kai smiled. "I know what to do!"

"How on the whole of Ninjago do you know what to do!" Jay screamed as Lloyd took a big crystal.

"I always know the solution!" Kai raised an eyebrow.

"Just tell us!" Cole groaned, catching the crystal Lloyd threw at them.

"Remember the prophecy!" Kai shot Lloyd with fire. "We need to give up something to save Ninjago!"

"What do we give?" Jay looked at him.

"If it would save Lloyd, I’m willing to give my own life." Kai clenched his fist.

"Then we have a deal!" Cole squeezed his mouth shut. "Nya, take care of Lloyd while we do something."

"Easier said than done!" A blast passed next to Nya’s head.

"You can do this!" Kai screamed. "Now let’s go—

Jump up!

Kick back!

Whip around!

And spin!!"

The Golden Ultra Dragon formed from their powers and faced Lloyd!

"You!" Lloyd gasped. "You were our friend!"

Lloyd just stared in disbelief as the Ultra Dragon charged at him. His whole life flashed in the dragon’s eyes... He was the Green Ninja.

"I’m Lloyd!" he breathed. "I’m Lloyd, I’m the Green Ninja..."

"I’m Lloyd!" he repeated louder. "I’m the Green Ninja! I’m the savior of Ninjago— I’m a good guy!"

The Golden Dragon passed through his soul as he felt himself being stripped clean.

"Good job!" He could see his grandfather and Sensei Garmadon smiling at him.

"You did a good job, son! I’m proud of you!"

"Lloyd!" Lloyd slowly opened his eyes and looked at his friends.

"Why are you smiling?" Lloyd coughed and looked at his arm. "I’m..."

"You’re back, pal!" Kai hugged him. "We’ll never lose you again! We should’ve..."

"I’m sorry..." A few tears rolled down Lloyd’s face as his whole body started to shake.

"Not your fault." Cole put a hand on his shoulder. "We should’ve gone with you..."

"Where is Nya!" Jay panicked and all of them started rushing through the broken crystals.

"Nya!" Lloyd called, a terrible knot in his gut. "Nya, please!"

"Here she is!" Zane exhaled. "You must—"

"Nya, you’re back!" Jay cried, hugging the half-conscious Nya.

"I..." She looked at herself and then at Lloyd. "We’re back."

"Yes, we are." Lloyd knelt beside her. "I’m sorry... You came for me?"

"Of course," Nya hugged him tightly. "I meant it when I said you’re my little brother. Our brother."

"I love you and I’m sorry..." Lloyd started trembling and all the ninja joined the embrace, trying to soothe him.

"It’s not your fault." Cole sighed. "You lost your father and were alone..."

"I wasn’t alone!" Lloyd got up in horror. "For the First Spinjitzu Master— don’t tell me I actually killed—"

"I believe Harumi is fine." Zane tried to calm Lloyd down. "We caught her… She was a little dizzy—"

"I need to fix this!" Lloyd groaned. "Let’s go—"

The ground rumbled.

"We don’t have powers." Jay looked at his hands.

"You—" Lloyd opened his mouth. "No, not because—"

"Not because of you but because of the Overlord. It was meant to happen anyway." Cole objected. "Nya?"

"Let me..." Nya groaned but nothing happened. "Ah!"

"We need to find a way to go down!" Jay panicked, holding Nya closer. "We’re losing ground!"

"Need a lift!" Pixal came with the mechs. "Nya?!"

"No time to explain!" Kai climbed into the mech. "Just— let’s get going!"

They all climbed into the mech and drove to their allies.

"How is she?" Lloyd looked at Harumi.

"Still not waking up." Misako sighed. "But her condition seems stable."

"I... I feel so bad, Mum." Lloyd put his head in his hands. "I know I should be celebrating with everyone, but I almost killed someone— and not to mention how I— how I became a monster."

"Lloyd," Misako whispered gently and hugged him. "You’re not to blame, my sweetheart."

"But I feel responsible." Lloyd laid his head on her shoulder.

"You have the right to," Misako kissed him on the forehead, tracing her fingers through his hair. "But it will pass. Talk about it and give it time to heal."

"I feel..." Lloyd gulped. "I’m glad you didn’t see me in my Oni form."

"You’re my child." Misako smiled. "I love you in any form."

Lloyd smiled at those words.

"You’re sure Harumi is alright?"

"Yes, she just needs a long sleep."

"Mum, about—"

"I’m sorry that Garmadon—"

"Yeah." Lloyd closed his eyes.

"He is finally at peace." Misako said in a hoarse voice. "Soon the celebration for those who sacrificed their lives to defeat the Overlord will be held."

Lloyd took a long breath. "I think I’ll be fine."

"I hope you will be." Misako caressed his cheek.

"Lloyd!" Nya called and the ninja joined them. "We came to be with you."

"Yeah, after everything, we thought you needed company." Kai smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"I love you all!" Lloyd smiled at his friends and family. Maybe his dad was gone, but at least he had a wonderful mum, uncle, and friends. He’d be fine— he knew that. They’d all be fine.

The battle with the Overlord finally ended after thousands of years.

Did you know Night at the Museum 3 almost had a different ending?