What a Riot | Ninjago

Interlude

The sky was dark but not gloomy. Quiet the opposite actually. A beautiful dark blue backdrop scattered with dots of bright colors. It would be futile to count how many stars were present. However, the brilliance of the night sky is not what you came here for. 

Pushing open the wooden door to the tavern, you relished in the warmth radiating from the open fireplace. You looked around, noticing how the tavern was empty except for one lone person behind the bar. You eye the black-haired person before making your decision. Your footsteps were light, almost non-existent, as you walked towards one of the seats. It was just as you sat down, that the bartender acknowledged your presence. They, no she, turned around with a slight glint in her eyes. 

"I've been expecting you, my dear reader."

You did not respond to her words, alternatively staring at her blankly. The girl shook her head with a slight sigh and a slight tilt of her head. She was slightly disappointed she didn't get a reaction out of you. Now that you were closer, you could see the blue color in her hair that was slightly peaking out from under the black.

"That's right. You did not come here to exchange pleasantries. You came here for a story. So let me tell you of one."

The bartender said, picking up a glass ball from the rack beside her. She began to clean the glass as she told her story.

"Long before time had a name," The girl started slowly before she paused with a small chuckle.

"Judging by the look on your face. You already know where this story is going. No?"

She stared at you, brown eyes glowing that same light in her eyes from before. However, before you could decipher it, it was gone. 

"Anyways. The First Spinjitzu Master created Ninjago using four elemental weapons. But when he passed, a dark presence sought out to collect them all: Lord Garmadon. So, Sensei Wu, his brother, sought out to find four ninja to collect them first."

The girl gave a small content sigh.

"A classic story is it not? There's not wrong with the classics. However, I can't help but feel as if there was always something missing." 

The way she worded it, gathered your interest, that had once dispersed. Missing? The story of 5 ninja has been told the same way consistently for hundreds of years. You could even remember your grandmother saying she and her mother heard the story the same way when she was little. So why did this person say she felt as if something was missing?

As if hearing your thoughts, the girl smiled yet again. Yet this time, there was something...off about it. Looking down at the ball covered in cloth, she gently removed it. She brought it up to her face and watched as the once-normal glass ball began to change. A dark purple mist clashes with flakes of gold, red, green, blue, white, and black. A mesmerizing sight to behold. You stared at the ball in confusion before looking back at the girl. 

"Like many classic stories, there are bits and pieces that go missing as it's told over and over and over again. The story of 5 ninja is no different."

The girl sounded almost desolate when she spoke. She shook her head, looking away from the ball and at you. This time, she didn't smile.

"So tell me, my dear,"

She leaned forward on the bar top, her gaze unwavering from your own. Something flashed in her eyes, and this time, you were able to properly understand what it was.

"Would you like to hear of what the stories have missed?"