Good Enough - Ninjago Dragons Rising.

Chapter 1 - Masked

"ARIN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Lloyd screams, trying to escape the strong grasp of the wolf mask warriors that hold him in place. Arin stares at the mask, his eyes slightly widened.

"I could make you powerful," Ras had told him, "I could make you feel wanted."

The offer felt tempting, it tingled his fingertips. If he put on the mask, he wouldn't be powerless. Lord Ras stood behind him, hammer on his back as he lets out a snarl of encouragement, yet it had an undertone of bitterness. He was about to do it, however, he hears another voice.

"ARIN, DON'T YOU SEE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW?!" Sora says, punching a wolf warrior in the face as she looks back at him, brown eyes pleading for him to drop the mask. 

Drop the mask, and he goes back to his friends, but then he will always remain useless. But, if he wears it, then he will lose his friends, but at least he wouldn't be a burden anymore. He was so close to dropping the mask, but then he remembers. Her powers, everyone's power. The ones he never had. The ones he wanted since he was a child, the ones that make him feel out cast amongst the team.

A green flame of envy forms in his stomach as he lets out a short, sharp breath of anger. He hated how they had it easy. Sure, he could do spinjitzu, but even Egalt had told him that it wasn't good enough. One of the best dragon masters out there told him he wasn't good enough.

"You could be something special," Ras' voice echoes in his head. He can still feel him gripping his throat from that night, even though he was stood behind him. "Too bad the ninja hold you back."

The ninja. Their powers. His jealousy. They hold him back. They are the things keeping him away. Arin watches the bright pink powers of Sora, jealousy now becoming evident in his eyes, burning like the growing flame of rage. He grips the mast tighter. He could feel Ras. Ras, the tiger-man he hates. But...maybe he has a point.

Maybe he should put it on.

Lloyd was still screaming, yet he blocked out his words. No matter how many times he reassured him, he would never be good enough. No matter how many words were told to him.

Maybe he needed new guidance. He lifts the mask to his face, hovering it from inches away. He shuts his eyes, hearing Sora scream even louder. Kai was gone, and it was his fault. He was the one that let the spell get into Ras' hands. He doesn't deserve to be a ninja.

He moves it even closer, he can feel his breath against its hard shell as he keeps it close to his face. His friend's screams seem to drown out even more as he does so. he can feel its warmth, its comfort, despite how cruel it may seem to him.

He takes one last look at them fighting, jealousy spiking up to form a hot rage in his throat, a lump that acts as a reminder that he won't be good enough, unless he puts it on.

He then slams the mask into his face,as he hears Sora yell out, as well as Lloyd, and a few other voices that seem to be calling out to him. Ras lets out a chuckle of amusement, he is the clearest voice right now, and he then hears metal hit metal. The gong has been struck.

He felt pieces of his very soul crumble, the good parts. He had a lot of good parts inside of him, he could barely even tell the difference between a lie and the trust. But that didn't matter anymore. He rises up into the air for a moment, red and black energy cackling around him like a wicked electricity.

Sora steps back, looking at Lloyd with a very panic-stricken look on his face. Lloyd looks a little calmer, but he was still just as shocked. Ain. Why Arin of all people? He was the least likely to turn evil. He was just a kid after all. Arin lands on his feet, the energy still crackling around him. 

"What...what's happened to him?" Nya says, her voice shaking slightly, as Arin steps forward, the mask still on his face. His last attempt to try to be good enough for the ninja. And now he didn't feel like a ninja anymore. He felt...better. Stronger, as he looks at his electrified hand, and then back at his old friends.

"Go on then," Ras gestures towards them, and Arin seems to have little hesitation as he dashes forward to tackle Sora to the floor.

"What are you doing?!" Sora yells as she tries to push him off, however Arin stands up and grabs her neck, tossing her to the side and then delivering a punch to the jaw. He goes for Nya next before she can activate Rising Dragon, kicking her swiftly in the stomach as she gasps for air. He felt even stronger as he watches her fall to the floor. He stares over to Lloyd, who hesitantly draws his sword. Before he can do so, Arin yells and lunges at him too, knocking his sword to the floor and tackling him, rolling over and throwing his body to a nearby tree.

Lloyd feels his back hit the tree, feeling pain shoot up his spine. He falls to the floor, trying to get up. His vision blurs as he watches Arin walk over to Ras.

"Good job, child." Ras puts a paw on his shoulder as Arin bows his head slightly.

"Thank you, Lord Ras." he lets out a small chuckle as he looks down at his friends. Sora was trying to crawl towards him, but he looks away. Ras gives him a nod of approval.The thing he seeked. Arin felt a small weight lift off his shoulders as Ras gestures him to follow.

Arin reluctantly follows, taking off the mask for a moment as Ras opens a portal. He steps inside, not looking back to see his friends screaming out for help, except for one of them, Lloyd, on the verge of being unconscious.