NINJAGO: The Beastmaster

CHAPTER TWO - Future Fates

A month came and went, and as it did, so did Ryo.

With her suitcase carrying what little belongings she had, she said goodbye to the ninja and others before she'd depart for her new life in Ninjago City. They all stood at the Bounty's side watching as Ryo receded into the distance.

"What appears to be the matter, Lloyd?" Zane asked as he looked over at him, noticing his downdraught posture and frown.

"I just..." Lloyd sighed. "I feel like I did something wrong."

Zane furrowed his eyebrows with confusion.

"You weren't the fault of Ryo's powers disappearing, and you trained her with some of the lessons we taught you in her time here. You did everything you could do, Lloyd, that does not make you wrong," said Zane. "Why do you feel that way?"

Lloyd shrugged and shook his head. He wasn't sure.

"I'm worried, I guess," he admitted, walking over to a crate and grabbing a cup of tea. "I've just been thinking back on what happened with Master Wu when he was training Morro, how his zealousness to become the Green Ninja consumed all that was good in him--

Lloyd blew on the tea and took a sip, then lowered his eyes as he looked at the Bounty's floorboards.

"--I'm afraid I gave her false hope by making her believe she had what it took to be a ninja. And after all of that, I wonder if she'll even believe in having hope ever again."

Zane processed that as he walked over to Lloyd.

"Master Wu was careful in his process of allowing Ryo to join us, just as careful as he was when he chose everyone else. Even you," Zane replied. "I do not believe that Wu would be willing to risk making such a mistake again in your path of becoming a Sensei. But I do believe that destiny is braided and unpredictable, and even the greatest minds are prone to misjudgement in new things."

Lloyd just sighed again as he set down his empty tea cup.

"And that just proves that I could be right. Ryo could become something worse than Morro--and if that happens, what'll be done about it?" remarked Lloyd.

Zane hesitated and Lloyd started walking away from him and for the Bounty quarters.

"We have not ventured far enough to know yet, Master Lloyd," Zane stated as he turned toward Lloyd.

"Please--don't call me that," Lloyd asked as he set his hand on the door frame. "I don't think I am one yet."

Zane looked down at the ground, then back over at where Lloyd once was and wondered if Lloyd was right. Would Ryo grow and become someone worse than Morro himself? Or would she become someone better like Zane had hoped for?

It was just too early to know if these concerns would be real.

ᬏࠃᰛ〞

Evening time in Ninjago City this time of year was quite warm. Warm enough that the ninja decided to have dinner on the outer Bounty deck, rather than inside like they normally did.

"I made wontons!" Zane announced as he carried with him several dishes alongside the wonton tray, then set them all out on the table with skill only a nindroid would possess.

Jay gasped with excitement.

"Wontons?! I love wontons!" he shouted, but then he frowned. "Aww... but Ryo loved wontons, too. I wonder what she's eating for dinner tonight--because it isn't Zane's perfect wontons."

Lloyd frowned with disappointment as he grabbed a few meals for his plate, but he stared at the food for a moment before he actually took a bite. It was really good, but there was a bitter taste of something else on his mind.