What happened..? You were looking for Lloyd, and.. you forgot everything after that. Wincing at the hand tugging your blindfold off, you squinted in the bright light. "Hmgh?" Your arms and legs were bound by chains around a chair.
In front of you, was the Oni himself. Garmadon. Maybe Lloyd really had sold you out, maybe this entire thing was to kidnap you. Maybe he never was your.. no, he wasn't like that.. you had faith it was just a coincidence.
"So. Y/n L/n, how are you? Pull up a chair, stay for awhile. Let's just talk, big evil Oni versus the soulmate of the Green Ninja. How's that?" He grinned a wild, and toothy smile. Sitting on a stool in front of you, Garmadon chuckled under his breath. "I want you.. to tell me all you know about him."
Your breath hitched. How did he know?
The Oni laughed again, illuminated by the big lights behind him. This room was unbearably hot. "Right, you're probably wondering: How did I know? Well, it's simple. I have some... Let's call them.. watchmen. I have some watchmen, who spotted the Green Ninja dropping by the same apartment day after day, maybe not even going in sometimes, but sometimes he'd go in. And a few times, you went out. I may be evil, but I'm not stupid."
Tugging at the chains binding your wrists, you tried to keep yourself from hyperventilating. "I barely know anything about him- I only know his age, hair color, the fact he was part of some prophecy, and his favorite food- I swear-"
"Alright. Then tell me them already."
Swallowing, you nodded. "Uhm.. He's sixteen, he has blond hair, his powers are because of a prophecy, and he likes sloppy joes.. I swear on the Master's name I know nothing else."
Garmadon shook his head, standing up, and kicked the stool he was sat on over. "Swearing on my own father's name? I am unsure if you are brave, or foolish, child. You swear to my father, to my, to my brother, to my son's name that this is all you know?"
"Why- why is... Lloyd included in this?"
He smirked, pacing back and forth. "So the rumors are true then. You are acquaintances with my son.. And his name is pronounced 'La-loyd.' My son is included because you care for him. If I find out you are lying, then I will not hesitate to hurt him on your behalf."
You took a shaking breath, quickly nodding your head. "This is all I know- he's been smart enough and planned for this exact situation." Just stall. The Ninja had to be here soon, they would be.
Turning around, Garmadon began flicking with a console in front of you. "Now, I've gotten all that I've needed from you. If you're so confident your precious Green Ninja will be smart and get you, then I'm sure he can save you before you die in a burning, horrible death."
"What-"
The floor around your chair opened, leaving you on an island.. which was suspended above lava. Oh. You were actually going to die. You had hope he wouldn't, but this was Garmadon, of course he'd hurt you.
You were in a giant volcano. Huh. If you weren't about to die you would've laughed at how ridiculous this was.
And if he didn't think you were telling the truth, he'd hurt his own son alongside your death. The thought of Lloyd being hurt scared you more than death itself.
Shutting your eyes tight, you tried to ignore the burning air brushing against you. Your knees burned first.
You cried out in pain, but Garmadon's grin only grew. "Yes, wail in pain, fill the air with your screams. It will prove helpful against your Green." A soft, purple glow grew around his double-armed form.
Biting your tongue, you kept yourself from yelling more. Tasting the iron seep through your teeth, you whimpered in pain. Shaking with a sob, your skin began to burn more. You shut your eyes again, tilting your head up, and away from the boiling rock. Your throat was so dry.
"Please don't make this any harder for me, Y/n. Keep yelling for him, it'll make his downfall faster- hah. Right on time."
Green was already here? He'd- he'd save you. And hopefully soon, you didn't know how much of this you could bare.
The sinking platform jerked to a stop, pausing it's descension. Peering out one eye, you saw a singular green figure, and sparks flying out of Garmadon's console.
He had come for you. He was fighting Garmadon for you.
But you were never the end goal. You were bait.
Craning your neck up higher, you tried to meet his gaze. "..Green.." A small groan sunk to the floor, unheard during the chaos.
Swinging his katana in a circle, Lloyd barred his teeth, mocking his dad. "Let her go."
Garmadon sucked his teeth, shaking his head. "Oooo, sorry Ninja. Can't do that. She seems nice though."
"I'm here, so let her go. Fight like a real man." He snapped back, knowing he lost the thought of his dad as a real man years ago.
Pulling a sword off of the stone wall, the Oni smirked. "Awe, but I would love to see you suffer even more as you see her burned through like a tenderloin."
It took a lot to not scoff at his metaphors. "Stop trying to be good with words, you sound dumb."
Garmadon ran forward, swinging the silver blade towards him. Yelling curses, as an attempt to lower his moral.
But Lloyd was a bullied kid with anxiety, he had heard enough insults to make up for any Garmadon could say to him. He lifted up his own sword, the gold reflecting against the silver, clashing into the iron. Taking a step back, he pushed Garmadon two forwards in return.
With a second to spare, he grabbed a star from his sash, tossing it at the Oni. It slit his neck, a small stream of purple blood began to sputter out. "Hmm. Maybe we could make a deal, Green Ninja." He laughed, pressing a black finger to the purple.
Lloyd bit his cheek, watching Garmadon's movements. "What do you want." It was more a demand than a question.
"Your identity for the girl. I finally learn who you are, and the girl lives. Easy, am I right?"
Taking a shallow breath, he paused. Y/n would die if he didn't reveal himself. But.. what would his dad think? He could deal with someone he didn't even see as family, but he'd tell everyone. Was he ready for that? Was he ready for his mom, his teachers, the world, to know? Was he ready for Y/n to know?
He could find a way to prevent both.
Blocking another attack, he swung around, hitting forehand. Lifting up his arm, he ducked under Garmadon's swing, putting his foot out as a means of tripping him. And shot out a ball of green energy from his palms.
But instead of being tripped, the Oni swiftly reached down, and flipped his leg into the air, turning to walk back to the lowered platform.
Lloyd groaned as his head hit the ground, yet quickly got back up. When he swung his sword out, he was met with eyes pleading him to stop.
Y/n.
Garmadon grinned, picking up Y/n by her throat and holding her above the lava. "I mean it, Green Ninja. The hood is off or she falls."
He could find a way out of this. He had to find a way out of this. Lloyd looked back up to her, seeing her claw at his hand, gasping for breathless air.
He couldn't find a way to prevent both.
Breath shaking, he grabbed the bottom of his hood. "Fine! Let her go first though."
Garmadon's brow raised, tossing her to the side like a simple piece of paper. "Alright." He smirked, walking up and towards Lloyd. "Let me see who you really are."
Taking another trembling breath, he slowly lifted the Green fabric up.
Seeing Garmadon's face turn to grief and shock, he threw it to the floor, the hotness if the room brushing his hair.
"..This is what you wanted, isn't it?"