The Master of Nature

After the Final Battle

A few months passed since the Final Battle. Everything happened so fast that Hope barely had time to catch her breath.

Lloyd was spending as much time with his parents as possible. For the first time since he discovered that he was the Green Ninja, Lloyd was actually enjoying himself.

Lloyd almost burst into tears when Garmadon gave him the comic he missed out on for his eleventh (or sixteenth) birthday. He introduced Jay to the Starfarer comics, and it wasn't long before the lightning ninja was addicted.

Jay and Nya started dating, but their relationship progressed so fast that Nya asked Jay to take things easy. Jay agreed to it, and they kept mostly professional relationship.

Zane bonded with his father and Echo, that is, until Dr Julien passed away for a second time. Unlike the previous time, when Zane had his memory switch turned off, he was able to grieve naturally.

Echo went to live with Hope's parents, who had moved back into their old house. Hope had helped them bring the garden back to life, though she mostly used her powers for that.

Jeffrey and Olivia understood when Hope explained that she wouldn't be able to come home often, though she was always welcome. Hope stayed over at their place once a week. Alyssa sometimes joined her.

Alyssa told Hope that her parents weren't pleased with her for joining the ninja, but they couldn't really do anything about it.

In the rare times Hope bumped into her foster parents, they didn't say a word and just glared at her. Alyssa explained that it was because they knew that Hope could now tell her parents if she was mistreated.

One day, Hope was called over to her parents' house. She was a little worried that they may be in trouble, and went over at once.

Hope was in for the surprise of her life! She found out that the old porch swing was as good as new!

"How did you fix it?" asked Hope.

"Oh, your friends helped," said Olivia. "Mainly Kai and Cole. We just showed them a photo of what the swing used to look like and they did the rest."

Hope smiled. She was very happy that her friends cared enough to bring a piece of her childhood back to life.

Wu had bought Lloyd's old school and now the ninja were teachers in a school for aspiring young students. Some of them had been Lloyd's old classmates, which was partly the reason why Lloyd wasn't a teacher (the main reason was because he was too young).

Hope didn't enjoy being a teacher. She still felt nervous around new people, and the students took advantage of that to play pranks on her.

One day, after Brad Tudabone placed a piece on Hope's chair, she ended up having to go and change clothes.

As much as the students enjoyed playing pranks on Hope, she was pretty sure that they liked her because she never scolded them and gave them sweets every Friday (that was Lloyd's idea). She was also sure that they knew about her close relationship with Alyssa, because once Alyssa came in as a guest speaker and they were super nice all day.

Hope was a bit concerned about Alyssa, for she had fallen head over heels for a guy at her school called Jason Samson. She was constantly telling Hope about it.

"He's so cool," said Alyssa. "He rides a motorbike and has taken me on it! He treats me like a princess and gives me presents! Can you imagine someone more wonderful?"

Hope met Jason once. He did seem to like Alyssa, but he was awfully self-centred and kept boasting. Hope wasn't sure if she liked him or not.

Ninjago City had been rebuilt and was now known as New Ninjago City. Cyrus Borg had built a building at the same place the Final Battle had taken place.

Lloyd was pretty busy as well as he had to go around the city accepting awards. He sometimes went on the Ultra Dragon.

One day Lloyd returned without the Ultra Dragon and when questioned, he told the ninja that he let it go back home. "I'm sure Ultra might come back to visit sometimes," he said.

Unfortunately, nobody ever saw the Ultra Dragon again, and Lloyd regretted not seeing where it went.

One day, Alyssa asked Hope if she would be attending Junior Prom with her.

"Jason is going to be my date, but I'm sure I could ask the principal to let you come too."

Hope shook her head. She wasn't keen on socialising all night. "Besides, I know you will be staying up late, and we are planning a field trip the day after."

Alyssa looked disappointed. "Aww! I hardly see you anymore. Between Jason and you being a teacher, it's so difficult to spend time with you."

Hope smiled a little. "Don't worry, I might be able to see you on Sunday."

Alyssa perked up at that.