Ninjago Dragons Rising - OC Insert

We Are All Dragons

"Okay, so Larow got our Core, but hopefully the Empress won't have managed to get the others," I said as Cole, Nya, Sora and I sat on a cliff near the Rookery with Zanth and Jiro were the Hoarder was defeated, "For now, we have to find a way into Imperium. And security will have increased since our last uninvited entrance." "Exactly, and there's still that huge energy barrier around the city," Nya agreed, "Flying in on dragons isn't an option." "Or... maybe it is," Sora replied, getting up and walking over to a pile of Imperium tech with Ryu, looking over the pieces, "If I can just... Maybe... hmm..." "Uh, Sora?" Cole asked, confused. "Hmm? Oh!" Sora turned to see our confused expressions, unsure what she was doing, "I might be able to use this stuff to build some weaponized armour for Jiro. Something that'll amplify his natural energy enough to blast through the energy barrier." "Will that work?" Nya asked, surprised. "Maybe," Sora replied hesitantly, uncertain, "Uh, if you have a better idea, I'm all for it." "I don't think we have the time to figure out another plan," I told the others, "The longer that Core stays in Imperium, the more chance the Empress has to use it for something dangerous." "Build that armour, Sora," Nya agreed grimly, causing her to grin, walking back over to the pile as Ryu provided her the energy to activate her powers. "Thanks Ryu. A little elemental power-up should do the trick," Sora thanked as she began lifting up the pieces, covered in pinkish-purple energy as they fitted together. "Wow, you're getting really good at this," I told her, impressed, Nya and Cole nodding in agreement. "I appreciate the compliment," Sora replied, straining as the pieces collapsed to the ground, still unused to using her powers, "But I gotta focus here." We nodded our understanding as Sora finished fitting the pieces together. "Almost there," Sora strained, placing the completed armour onto Jiro's back, fitting perfectly over his head and on his back, causing Jiro to roar, pleased with the extra firepower. "There! What do you think, Jiro?" Sora asked the dragon hopefully as it leaned down to her, purring happily. "Looks like Jiro likes it," Cole pointed out, chuckling at seeing this. "Alright!" Sora cheered, running over to Zanth and jumping on her back as I looked at Cole, sharing a grin nod.

"Nya, there's something we gotta tell you," Cole started. "Can it wait until we're in the air? Time is running out here, Cole," Nya reminded him. "That's just it. We think it's running out everywhere," I replied darkly, Cole nodding in agreement. "What do you mean?" Nya asked seriously, seeing our concern. "Remember how I told you I could hear the ground 'screaming'?" Cole reminded her, "Like something was terribly wrong?" "Yeah. Little unnerving," Nya admitted, worried. "Totally," Cole and I agreed. "But last night, when everyone was asleep, I heard a voice," Cole continued, "Calling out to me from the edge of the valley. A voice I haven't heard in a long time." "Master Wu," Nya finished. "How'd you know?" Cole asked, turning to her in surprise. "I once followed his voice in the Cloud Kingdom," Nya explained, "He led me to Kai, and we ended up saving Lloyd and the others." "He was calling me to follow him," Cole added, "Tarim thinks I should go, but..." "And he's right," Nya cut in, "Things have gotten really strange and unpredictable since the Merge, but one thing I do know, if you hear Master Wu's voice, you follow." "I was hoping you would say that," Cole admitted, smiling to her, "Now go. Stop the Mergequakes. It looks like my journey is going to take me somewhere else." Nya gave him a quick hug before the pair of us jumped onto Jiro and Zanth respectively, flying off towards Imperium.

"For as rotten as this Kingdom is, it sure looks perfect from the outside," Nya admitted as we flew towards Imperium on Zanth and Jiro's backs, hoods up and ready for battle. "Exactly why I always thought it was rotten," I replied grimly, Sora nodding her agreement as she remembered how distrustful I had always been of Imperium, "There's no such thing as 'perfection'. And those who promise it... they always demand something terrible in return." "And in this case, that's the lives of innocent dragons," Sora finished glumly, Zanth and Jiro growling angrily at the reminder, "But the citizens still think it is perfect. Just ask my parents." "Maybe after all of this is over, we can talk to them," I offered her hopefully, "Convince them that-" "No!" Sora replied resolutely, "My parents believe in Imperium more than anything. More than they believe in their own- huh, there's no talking to them." "Well even if there isn't, you're part of our family now," I reminded her with a smile which was shakily returned, "And we'll accept you whatever you do, even if they won't." "Thanks, Tarim," Sora replied, slightly more cheerful.