Wind whipped at the sail of the Destiny's Bounty as it whisked across the sky, reflection cutting into the rough post-storm waves. The water was too violent to sail, no matter the size of the ship. It was a good thing they only needed the air.

The deck of the ship was empty, as it had been for the majority of the trip, spare for a single figure who stood port side, letting the eight knot wind dry his chilly hair, forearms digging into the parapet as he depended his weight upon it.

He stared over the edge, just watching as the view was constantly ripped away from him, white caps a blur on the cerulean ocean. They must be travelling as fast as they can to blur their surroundings to such an extent that he can hardly make it out. Maybe they missed their friends, or maybe they were just sick of the silence that hung between them all.

As Lloyd dragged his gaze away from the water, starting to feel a nauseating pool build in his stomach, he stared at the horizon in front of him instead. Faintly, he could see the sky ahead was freckled with clouds. Small, and hardly there, but there nonetheless.

He knew what that meant.

They weren't far.

Even closer than the clouds, a small lump formed where the sky met the sea. It grew larger the closer they got, the peaks of the island became taller. A tumbling waterfall cascaded down the pre-mentioned peak, straight into the luscious forest below. The water surrounding it was bright, shallow, and shaped the island in a crescent.

He recognised it as Dyer Island, but that did not matter to him.

What did matter was the mass of land that sat beyond it, greyed out by distance but still there. A long white cloud hovered above it, inviting them toward it.

They took the invitation in silence, drifting over the magnificent island until he had to crane his neck to his left to keep it in his vision.

The main land comes to them quickly, flat squalor on the horizon becoming lush and green, a grand volcano reaching to the sky just off the shore. Its peak surpassed the clouds and hid from his vision, but Lloyd could still see the ominous golden glow of the active volcano.

The Bounty continued past it, heading just north-east. After years of travelling the lands, he recognised the ranges of mountains in front of him as the alps that lead directly to Torchfire mountain, confirming his suspicions that they were going to destroy the spear. Why they didn't just destroy it at the Golden Peaks, he doesn't know. Maybe some cryptic and historical reason that Wu had spewed at the others: "The Golden Peaks are a place of creation, not destruction," or something rather. He could almost hear the old fool blabbering the words at them.

He feels his stomach drop a little as the Bounty gains altitude, rising to the height of some of the tallest peaks. Callused hands grip firmly at the parapet, holding him steady as the deck tilts below him. Again, years of travelling got him used to the vertigo a flying ship once gave him.

Lloyd zones out, just staring below the ship with shallow interest in the familiar lands, watching blurry trees and bland rocks whisk past. The mountains were made up of stoney-brown sandstone, resembling the colour of clay. They were so unlike the cliffs of Ninjagos sister island, which were as dark as deepstone.

There was nothing left to do but watch and wait intently, dreading what would happen yet hoping it wouldn't. He couldn't talk with his team, or his father, or his uncle, or anyone, not even the voice- it was silent, too hung up in suspense to talk. He was all alone.

Across a great teeming estuary on the port side of the bounty, Lloyd could see the ominous fog that coated Hiroshi's labyrinth. Its forests were sheltered by mountain ranges, great and impossible to climb. It set unpleasant memories in his mind that he tried to shake off.

His gaze returns to the bow as a second great volcano comes into view, dawning over the edge of the alps. It was far smaller than the golden peaks, its own peak barely reaching the height of the average building in Ninjago City, but what made it great wasn't its size, but its flame: It was Torchfire mountain. Molten lava drooled down its sides, the hottest source of magma across the sixteen dimensions (or so he'd been told). Its imminent danger was underestimated by all, a road built just beside it as blaring evidence.

The Bounty slowed cautiously as they approached it, halting just above its open mouth. Even so far as a football field above the active volcano, he could still feel its burning heat on his face, his surroundings luminated by an ominous orange glow.

He hears footsteps thump around behind him, and he turns to see Cole step towards the port side- near Lloyd, but not too close- waving his arm, directing Nya to the safest place to go stationary. The Bounty teetered just over the edge- far enough away from the center for them to escape if something went wrong, but just close enough so that they could hurtle that forsaken spear into the destructive volcanic mass below.

Lloyd stares at Cole from the corner of his eye. While one of his arms is directing Nya, the other is folded at his side, something long and wrapped in red fabric tucked under it.

The jet boosters angles down, ploughing downwards and keeping them upright as they become almost stationary above the crater of the volcano. The ship still bounded up and down, as if on waves. They were used to it.

Cole leans away from the port side, standing in front of the newly emerged Jay and Nya. Their faces were dire, Jay trying too hard not to stare at Lloyd with that anxiety riddled expression, to no avail. Nya stood beside him almost protectively, her taller figure acting as a shield. Lloyd had an idea as to what it was she was protecting him from, even despite the laceration at the bridge of her nose and the nasty purple bruise that adorned her careful face.

The silence between the four of them was broken by Cole, who sighed deeply. It grabbed the others attention, and they all looked toward him expectantly.

"We destroy the spear, and then we get back to the monastery."

Nya nods, slight and shallow. She doesn't believe in the plan.

Jay mumbles an agreement. He doesn't believe it either.

Lloyd glares at the latter, trying to warn him of what was bound to happen despite Cole's plan. The stare remains unreciprocated as Jay stands near the center of the bounty, away from the waiting danger at the edge.

Nya places a hand silently on his shoulder, squeezing ever so slightly. The comfort would seem odd if Lloyd didn't know what was up.

An air of silence settles stagnantly between them. Cole seizes the moment as his chance to let the spear slide down from under his arm into his shaky grip. He takes a step forward, closer to the edge, but Lloyd quickly meets him halfway, jutting an arm out across the earth ninjas chest to stop him.

Cole flinches, halting in his movement and staring at Lloyd. His startled expression gave way to his defensive stare, his posture going tense and his fists clenching at his sides.

Lloyd doesn't miss the way Nyas foot shuffles toward him in a similar motion: An attack position.

They're scared of him, he realises.

It confirms his suspicion.

Jay told them.

A pit builds in his stomach.

He knows what has to be done now.

He meets the earth ninjas scrutinising gaze and mutters, almost under his breath: "I want to destroy the spear."

Cole's gaze falters, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion as his tense posture loosens. Lloyd ignores the hesitation, not waiting for his permission as he all but snatched the concealed weapon from his hand.

It feels heavy in his hands, as he knew it to be, but it also felt cold, even through the wrapping, despite the blistering heat of the volcano. It reminded him so dearly of his powers.

He took the edges of the fabric wrapping into his hand, peeling it from the surfaces of the weapon. It slowly unravelled for them to see, almost teasing, layer upon layer of red coming off it until a familiar golden shine blessed his eyes.

Intricate swirls and dancing dragons ran up the body of the spear, running to the point that Lloyd recognised from when it stuck out from his abdomen, only to be ripped from his view.

The head of the spear was patterned so carefully, so beautifully. The master who curated such a gloriful weapon must have loved it so dearly.

But the beauty was interrupted by a stark, dirty colour that sunk into the grooves of the patterns, staining it like rivers yet further highlighting the patterns for all to see. He knew where most of the dirty dried blood had come from- a bleak reminder of what had happened to him- but the flecks of newer red that lined its sharp edge served as a reminder of not what happened to him- no. It served as a reminder of what happened to Wu.

What was bound to happen again.

Lloyd waits, watching the spear head, for anyone to speak up. But no one does.

So he turns around, his back to his friends as he steps in a fluid motion toward the edge of the bounty.

Waves of heat rushed at his face, stinging his eyes in a way that almost made them water.

He approaches the parapet, and as he does he stares down below them, at the magnificent sight. The lava bubbled in a horrific frenzy, begging to be fed. It licked at the edges of thick grey rock and cooled magma, fueled by the need to destroy.

Just destroy the spear, Lloyd, he convinced himself. Get it over with while you still can.

Lloyd tightens his grip on the spear, grabbing at it with both hands and holding it over the edge, preparing to drop it, to finish it-

"Wait."

Lloyd nearly flinches at the severity in Coles tone. He can feel his friend's eyes shift to stare at him, most likely confused, maybe even upset at the interruption. Lloyd doesn't turn around. He can't.

His arms drag back in front of him, hovering over the safety of the parapet, just at the edge, but his hands still held the spear, ready to throw it if Cole just stayed silent.

Lloyd stares down, ignoring what he knew was a cautious stare as he heard the familiar sound of a slight shuffle away from him. Cole's voice was steady as he spoke, but he could hear the control it took to not make it shake. "Has anyone seen Master Wu?"

The world seemed to go silent, the air stagnant and hot above the steaming volcano. No birds chirped, no leaves rustled. The mechanical roar of the Bounties motor even seemed to quiet down to a simmering hum as they all shuddered under the realisation that no, no one had seen Wu.

They all racked their brains, trying not to let the fear creep onto their faces as the dots connected.

Lloyd had seen him last.

The spear returns to his side.

He swallows deeply, and dryly, trying to drown the frog in his throat as a bitter concoction of pride, guilt, and resentment washes over him.

He sharply breathes out of his nose, turning his back to the malevolent volcano behind him. It cast him in a glowering flaming light as his brow furrowed.

His nose twitched into a scrunch.

The three before him just stared, standing almost shoulder to shoulder. Jay had that expression on his face- the one that he'd made on the Dark Island, under the bounty. The one he poorly hid whenever he so much as looked at him. Even now he tried to mask the fear in front of the others, but Lloyd knew. He knew too much for anyone's good.

His voice is hardly audible, coming out as barely a murmur, but the stagnant air seems to amplify it.

"You finally realised."

He purses his lips when they take a step back, away from the danger. Away from him.

It sets a feeling of loss in his stomach.

The corner of his mouth twitches as he becomes the one who steps forward, finally the one to initiate the sick dance between sides.

As much as he would regret this, he knew what had to be done. He knew the plan from here.

The spear swings down, sharp edge tapping starkly against the wooden ground as his grip tightens.

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