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Sleep don't visit, so I choke on sun
And the days blur into one
And the backs of my eyes hum with things I've never done
Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline
Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass
Was never much but we made the most
Welcome home (ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome, ho-o-ome...)
Weightlessness grew around Lloyd's body, feeling himself slowly leave consciousness. He was aware that he was falling asleep, something quite out of the ordinary. He was so used to passing out from exhaustion most nights. Whether it was training to fight an evil enemy or actually fighting the evil enemy, most nights Lloyd refused to sleep completely. Old scars and new scars lined his arms and legs, with little space between them. Some used to be horrible gashes, others could be mistaken for a paper cut. Each one had its own brutal history. They constantly reminded Lloyd of the horrifying things he had gone through, so many things in so little time. His skin was rough, dry, scratching at the palms of his hands as he rubbed his legs, remembering things he wished he could forget.
He hated his scars, though people always said they looked cool, that they made him look tough. The only thing Lloyd saw though, was a young boy, not strong enough to protect himself. A young boy who couldn't defend himself. A young boy who had been forced through so much pain that showed through the scabbing on the scrapes and cuts covering up what once was soft, clean skin. Lloyd never cared about his skin when he was younger, considering it a feeble defense to protect his internal vulnerability. If he tripped and fell on the hard rock path outside of Darkley's, he would earn a bright red scrape on his elbow or knee. This he would show off to everyone, claiming he earned it from fighting off a terrible monster, to which no one believe his tale. He took pride in the injuries he gained, admiring them like they represented something greater than a simple slip up.
But that was in the past. Lloyd would never show off the scars he has. If he wasn't wearing his bright green ninja gi, he was wearing long sleeves and pants. He wasn't even sure if his friends knew just how many scars he actually has. Sure, they had their fair share of battle marks. Kai had a small one on his face, and Cole had a few on his shoulders. Jay had quite a few, surprisingly, some on his arms, a few on his back, and one on his leg. But Lloyd might as well have had 10 times more than that. He tried so hard to forget how he got them, but failed time and time again. If someone asked him to name how he got each one of them, he could list them off like it was second nature. That was another reason why he never got enough sleep.
Lloyd opened his eyes, but not to the plain ceiling in his dark room, but complete pitch-blackness. Sudden dizziness hit him like a brick, and he flailed his arms for a moment, searching for something to grip and hold on to, to remind himself he wasn't falling to his death. He was floating though, he quickly realized as he slowed down his movements, turning his head to look at his surroundings. All he saw was darkness, in every direction, even above and below him. Like he was in some kind of inescapable void. He would've been more freaked out, but he had been in situations like this one way too many times. And he was asleep, he reminded himself. This was just a dream. A very realistic dream.
"Hello, Lloyd."
Lloyd snapped his head around, the force pushing his body in suit. A tall man, face somehow shadowed, though there was no light source to be shadowed from. He seemed to be standing on nothing, no visible ground, yet strode carefully towards Lloyd. His long white robe swished gently at his feet, and he held his hands behind his back, giving a warm and welcoming demeanor.
"The First Spinjitzu Master. U-uh, hi... again?" Lloyd said, questioning his own memory through his words. He had met the First Spinjitzu Master before, he recalled, still wide-eyed and on edge with the sudden change in gravity. On the day he died. Or almost died. The FSM said something about how he would forget, that he would believe it was just a dream, though it was all coming back to the front of Lloyd's mind in a blur.
"You remember the last time we met?" The FSM asked softly, as if he wasn't supposed to remember at all.
Lloyd nodded his head in agreement, holding his hands precariously out to his sides, as if to keep himself balanced while standing on a tightrope. But he felt absolutely nothing beneath him, and every sudden movement nudged him the wrong way. It felt like space, Lloyd reminded himself. He had done that before, hadn't he? He'll be fine.
"Well, then you must know I have visited you again for an important reason," The FSM said, lifting his head slightly, the physically impossible shadow remaining untouched on his face, "You have sacrificed a great many things for the realm I have created. I wish to ask upon you again to protect. There isn't much information I can let on, as our time here is limited. But I will give you this."
The FSM pulled a hand from behind his back, revealing his fingers curled up around a small crystal, hazy white, with glowing green and gold undertones. It had unique, irregular edges, and a smooth-looking texture, like it had been worn down over the years. The FSM held it up, reaching out for Lloyd to take it. Which he did, and stared curiously down at it, sitting in the palm of his hand. It was not bigger than his palm, and it felt cool against his skin. As soon as he touched it, he felt the power inside it. A very strong power, but unlike any he had ever felt before. It didn't quite feel like his elemental power, but something very pure instead.
"What does it do? Why do I need this?" Lloyd asked gently, almost whispering.
"You will find that out when the time comes. You've had your fair share of people tell you that, I'm sure you understand by now." The FSM chuckled to himself, making Lloyd grin faintly.
"Thank you. For the crystal. I just hope the time I need to use won't be for a long while. Everyone needs a break once and a while, huh?"
"Yes, that is true. Don't overwork yourself, young master. It only ends in frustration and exhaustion. I must go now, and you will wake up in your bed, just as how you were before."
"Bye."
"Goodbye, grandson."
Lloyd opened his eyes to bright orange sunlight peeking in through the windows behind his bed. He felt rested, for the first time in a long time. Lloyd smiled slightly at that. He watched the dust particles float through the rays of sun illuminating the room, before rubbing his eyes gently and sitting up. Then he opened his right hand. The crystal, sitting there expectantly, as if waiting to greet Lloyd again, and wish him good morning. Lloyd turned the crystal over in his hands repeatedly, feeling the rough but smooth edges against his calloused skin. The green and gold shimmered under layers of cloudy white, beautiful in its own, unique way.
Whatever was going to happen, he was going to be ready for it.