Return of Doom (Ninjago in the future)

Part 16: Awakening

We sat in comfortable silence, Ben's arm around my shoulder and my head resting on the wall.

I sighed deeply, suddenly tired. I mentally smacked myself. I'd just slept for two days straight; I couldn't afford to be tired now. Not when Lloyd and all of Ninjago needed me.

The door suddenly slammed open and Sparky rushed in, panting with excitement. "Come on!" He cried eagerly. "You need to see this!"

He froze, taking in the scene. "Uh...sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt. I didn't see anything!" He covered his eyes with his hands and began backing away, but bumped into the doorframe.

I giggled and stood, pulling Ben up with me. "It's fine, Sparky. What is it?"

He led us through the Monastery to the courtyard. "Zane just pulled us away from the game to show us this and I thought you wouldn't want to miss it."

I gaped in shock at the scene. Where there was once a tiled courtyard now stood a crazy and complex obstacle course, circling around the gold dragon statue in the middle. There were wooden dummies, swinging axes, spiked logs, and moving agility exercises. It was incredible, and made me giddy thinking it was the same place the Ninja trained.

"What is this?" Ben gasped.

"This is the training course where you will improve your skills," Zane explained as he approached, effortlessly dodging the obstacles without even looking at them.

Excitement bubbled inside me and I grinned, running forward. "So cool!" I grinned, instantly hopping onto a spinning platform with several wooden dummies swinging at me.

My enthusiasm faded when Summer burst out of the Monastery, her expression dead serious. "Luna, I need you!"

I frowned and hopped down, my heart pounding from the little sprint. Summer's tone chilled me. "What is it?"

She didn't reply, instead grabbing my hand and running inside. I glanced over my shoulder at Ben as Summer dragged me past. He smiled and shrugged helplessly.

To my surprise, Summer led me to Lloyd's room. "I was walking past when he started yelling," she panted, her eyes wide with fright.

My eyes landed on the Green Ninja, who thrashed violently in his sleep and randomly let out startled cries. Green light shone from his hands and tendrils of power shot out of them, hitting the walls in an unorganized pattern, leaving scorch marks. I ducked as one flew over my head, striking the doorframe and instantly burning it.

I grit my teeth and slowly approached Lloyd, holding my hand out in front of my face. "Lloyd!" I cried, crouching underneath his energy blasts.

I grabbed the Ninja's arm and he immediately yelped. A blast of power exploded from his hand and struck my stomach. I gasped and fell backwards, pressing my hand to the burn.

"Luna!" Summer's voice was slurred and muffled. My eyes locked on Lloyd and I huffed irritably. I slipped into my dream form and held my hands in front of me, shooting a blast of my own energy at Lloyd.

It surrounded the Ninja in a spiraling pattern, never actually touching him. It began swirling faster, and as it did, a black smoke drifted out of Lloyd's head.

It's pulling out his nightmare, I realized with a jolt. I pressed harder, and the magic swirled faster, sucking out more and more smoke.

When the smoke stopped pouring off of Lloyd, the power exploded. I jerked backwards, leaving my dream state before I hit the ground. I groaned, drained of energy, but managed to prop myself to my elbows.

Summer rushed over to me and helped me stand. I leaned on her as I stared expectantly at Lloyd.

He groaned and his green eyes fluttered open.