Ninjago: Amplified - [A Ninjago Fanfiction]

[13] - Unwelcoming

Aurora looked towards the clouds, staring at the same spot where her friends had once waved goodbye. It had only been a few minutes, and yet the young vigilante already felt a dull ache in her heart.

I'll go back soon. She reminded herself.

But that didn't make their parting any less painful.

She placed an elbow on the flying ship's railing, lazily propping her head up with her open palm. She tried to think of good things, but her mind kept wandering to her friends.

Aurora had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the figure that approached her.

"Head in the clouds?"

Aurora's head popped up, meeting the gaze of the green ninja. He mirrored her stature at her side, draping his arms over the side of the ship.

"Oh. It's you." She noted, turning back to the sky. "Like I said before, I didn't think I'd be seeing you again."

"The team doesn't know it was you," he lowered his voice. "Or your friends. They didn't make the connection yet."

"I see." Aurora replied plainly. "I assume my friends told you?"

Lloyd gave a brief nod. A short silence passed between them, neither saying a word.

"I'm impressed." The ninja suddenly complimented, making Aurora scoff.

"Yeah, I'm sure you are." She rolled her eyes. "A hero who isn't a ninja. Who knew?"

"Not that." Lloyd dismissed. "How you all have kept your work secret for so long. How you've gone on undetected and undiscovered all this time."

"You don't even know how long we've been at work." Aurora huffed.

"That's true." The green ninja admitted. "So, why not surprise me?"

Aurora paused, meeting his eye. Then, she laid her head back against her palm.

"That's for me to know." She frowned. "I know I'll be staying at the Monastery for a while, but that doesn't mean that I have to tell you anything more."

"After this ends," she concluded. "I'm going home and getting back to work. You will all have to forget you ever met me."

"Noted." There was a hint of disappointment in Lloyd's tone, yet he still respected the gap Aurora put between them. "Can you at least tell me your name?"

Seeing as Sensei Wu already knew her name, Aurora figured giving him that bit of information wouldn't do much more harm.

"Aurora." She revealed, saying nothing more.

Lloyd stayed there with her, watching the clouds move past them in silence. Aurora guessed he was trying to be friendly by providing support, but she didn't need his charity. She had plenty of support back at home.

When they finally landed, the green ninja offered to assist her back to the ground. Stubborn, Aurora refused his outstretched hand, instead jumping off the side of the landed ship herself. Her feet found the ground below with ease, and she cheered internally.

Take that, Greenie.

She followed Sensei Wu as he led her to an open gate between sturdy white walls. They walked through a courtyard and headed towards a massive building.

Aurora's eyes darted around her surroundings in amazement. The Monastery was just as beautiful as she'd imagined, with gorgeous white and red pillars lining the front entrance. Various forms of greenery decorated the edges of the structure, adding to its elegance. A large door stood tall before them, engraved with dragons and other unique designs.