Chapter Text
Lloyd blinked against the darkness, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The air was thick and damp, carrying the metallic scent of something ancient. Shadows danced along jagged walls lit by a faint, eerie glow that pulsed as if the caves themselves were alive. Thunder rumbled overhead, though no sky was visible.
“Where... am I?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
A deep, growling voice echoed through the crystals around him: *Welcome to the Oni realm, Garmadon’s son.*
The crystals warped into a false image of Skylor with darkened eyes. Lloyd gasped. “H-how?!”
The vision chuckled. *I thought you knew this whole time... guess I was wrong.*
“Oni...” Lloyd growled. The false Skylor smirked before shifting into its true form.
*Enjoy living in the Oni realm. After we take over Ninjago, you’ll have nowhere left to go.* The voice grinned wickedly. *Now excuse me... I have a wedding to attend.*
“NO! WAIT!!” Lloyd shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern.
His eyes then caught a shimmer ahead—a faint outline of a figure trapped within a translucent barrier. Skylor. Her hands pressed against the magical walls, eyes wide with fear. She looked weak, her energy fading.
“Skylor!” Lloyd ran forward.
“Lloyd!” she cried, her voice muffled through the barrier.
He stopped short, realizing the enchantment was powerful. He pounded his fists against it, but the glowing wall remained unbroken.
From the shadows, dozens of Oni emerged, their growls shaking the cavern. Lloyd’s heart raced. He wasn’t stronger than them, but he couldn’t back down.
He tried to extend his power toward the barrier, but nothing happened. The barrier was forged of Oni magic, and just like the Oni, it was immune to normal powers.
Lloyd fought, dodging their claws, striking back with all he had, but every hit seemed useless. A massive blow sent him flying into the wall. He collapsed, vision fading.
---
When he opened his eyes again, everything was silent. He was no longer in the cave, but inside his own mind. Voices filled the void—
Disapproval.
*“Forget being my best man, Lloyd! You ruin everything!”*
Hurt.
*“You’re a horrible person. I can’t believe you.”*
Accusations.
*“This is all Lloyd’s fault! He’s so unnecessarily paranoid.”*
Doubt.
*“I don’t think I can even trust Lloyd.”*
Each one of them cut deeper than the last. His chest tightened. He clenched his fists. “No... I... but I WAS RIGHT! I WAS RIGHT! Why didn’t you trust me?!”
His throat closed. He couldn’t breathe properly. It felt like the air was gone as he fell to his knees, gasping. The floor beneath him began to sink, pulling him down into darkness.
And that’s when he felt it.
A guttural growl escaped his throat. His body burned with power, hurt and anger flooding every vein. In a burst of light and shadow, his form shifted—four arms, purple flames, his golden Oni form.
The cavern trembled as Lloyd rose, eyes glowing with fury. He unleashed a roar, his new strength shaking the Oni to their core. They charged him, but this time his Oni energy overwhelmed them. Blasts of raw power sent them crashing into the walls. His movements were faster, heavier, unstoppable.
Finally, Lloyd gathered all of his rage into one colossal sphere of golden-purple energy. With a furious growl, he hurled it forward, obliterating the Oni in a blinding explosion. The cavern went silent, smoke swirling around him.
---
Lloyd turned to the barrier. His Oni and elemental powers combined as he pressed his hands against it, forcing the magic to unravel. Skylor screamed inside, pounding on the walls. “Lloyd, stop! You’re hurting yourself!” But he couldn’t hear her. His growls drowned out everything.
With one last surge, the barrier shattered. Skylor stumbled out, only to freeze at the sight of him. Lloyd stood tall, monstrous, his four arms crackling with dark golden power.
“L-Lloyd...” she whispered, staring in shock. She had never seen him like this.
The Oni in him snarled, stepping closer. He lifted her effortlessly off the ground, his eyes wild. Skylor’s breath caught in her throat. But then... his gaze softened. His true self broke through the rage. He set her down carefully, stumbling back as if afraid of himself.
“No... not her... never her...” he muttered, shaking, fighting to suppress the transformation. With a shudder, his body finally reverted. Panting, exhausted, he looked at Skylor with tear-filled eyes.
She rushed to him. “Are you okay? What happened to you?”
Lloyd didn’t answer—he just pulled her into a desperate hug. “I knew\... I knew that wasn’t you. I knew something was wrong all along.”
She hugged him back tightly, relief washing over her. But her strength was failing fast—the Oni realm’s air was suffocating her. Skylor swayed, her legs giving out.
“Skylor! No, stay with me!” Lloyd panicked, catching her in his arms. Without hesitation, he sprinted through the caves, carrying her. The Oni weren’t gone—more shadows stirred, chasing him. His heart pounded, desperation fueling every step.
Then, ahead, a massive crystal glowed with swirling energy—a portal. “Hold on!” Lloyd shouted. Oni closed in, but he didn’t stop. He dove straight into the portal with Skylor in his arms.
The Oni screeched, but the crystal sealed before they could follow.
---
Light engulfed them. When Lloyd opened his eyes, he was back—back in the monastery’s underground chambers. Skylor lay weak but alive in his arms. The Oni realm was nowhere to be seen... for now.