Ninjago Dragons Rising - OC Insert

The Blood Moon

Lord Ras stalked through the jungle of the Wyldness with Jordana behind him, slashing through vines in his way as he led her to their destination. "I can't believe all this is here," Jordana told him, looking around nervously, "In Imperium, we were always taught the Wyldness was nothing but lava pools... and gross melons." "The Lava Wastes are but one region of my land," Ras informed her, slicing apart another vine as they came to a brief stop, "There are many others. Diamond Glaciers, the Forever Rock, Boiling Beach, and here, the Forest of Spirits." Ras continued on as Jordana looked around nervously, scoffing in disgust. "You self-obsessed Imperiums never thought you'd have to deal with anything beyond your own borders. But now, after the Merge, no one can ignore what's right outside their door." Ras sliced through the final vines, smirking as a large dojo with a wolf shaped face jutting out over the door came into view. 

"What is that?" Jordana asked him nervously as Ras stabbed the sword he had been using into the ground. "Our destination," Ras replied, pleased as the two walked over to the entrance of the building, climbing the steps  to an implacement in the ground. Kneeling, Ras hummed, observing it before standing. "Give it to me," Ras ordered, holding out his hand for the vial of Source Dragon energy Jordana had succeeded in draining, opening it as the energy shot into the sky before entering the implacement, yellow energy travelling through the lines from it into the door, opening it. "According to the ancients of my land, these doors were sealed long ago, intended to never be opened," Ras told Jordana, "Except by the power of a Source Dragon." "That's why you had me keep some of that Source Dragon Energy," Jordana realised. "Exactly," Ras confirmed with a nod, "Imperium has crumbled, but my ultimate plan has not. And now I will accomplish what no one has for centuries. I shall harness the forbidden secrets of this temple." Ras quickly walked inside, Jordana pausing to activate a lamp. "Hold on. Not all of us have your natural night vision," She reminded him as she followed him up the stairs into the Temple, looking around to see Wolf Masks hanging from the top edges of the walls as Ras jumped into a raised podium, coming to a stop before a large gong hanging from a golden chain within the mouth of a wolf. "Behold, the key to unlock the dark powers of a lost age," Ras said, clearly happy, "When the Blood Moon arrives we shall gather the most powerful beings in the Merged Lands. Then no one will be able to stop us." Ras held up one of the wolf masks as Jordana stared at him, nervous. 

"Sure, the ninja are back from the Merge, some of them. But where are the others? Master Wu? Cole? Jay? Pixal? Still lost in the Merge? No one's asking these smart brave questions, except me, Intelligent George," Intelligent George said on the TV as Arin watched him inside the ninja's vehicle hangar, "But first, quick shout-out to the sponsor of today's video, Borg's Sufficient Nutrient Wafers. Enough nutrition to suffice, no distracting taste. Not just for pet turtles anymore." The screen suddenly began crackling with static as the image vanished. "What's going on? Bad connection?" Arin questioned, confused before music began playing from the speakers, Ryu beginning to dance around Arin, "What the- Sora?" Sora laughed in confirmation, coming up the steps with her hand glowing pink. "Just practising my Elemental Tech powers," Sora explained, "Now that I can do them without Ryu's help this is a whole new world for me." The screens returned to normal as Arin got out of his seat, sighing sadly. 

"Must be nice," Arin replied, clearly slightly jealous. "Look, Arin. Just because you don't have Elemental Powers doesn't mean you aren't-" Sora encouraged. "Vital to the team," Arin finished with a sigh, clearly used to hearing this, "I know, I know. Lloyd tells me and Tarim all the time." "And your brother's situation is even worse, Arin," Sora reminded, "Sure, he's a great fighter, but we both can't do spinjitzu. There's nothing he can do that's unique to him, and, sure, it irritates him, but he's handling it." "Yeah, but he's patient," Arin replied glumly, looking down, "He's always had to be the mature one, he practically raised me after the Merge. Besides, he's been so busy recently, studying all those old scrolls. We don't spend anywhere near as much time together." "You know, you shouldn't be watching that so-called Intelligent George guy anyway," Sora told Arin, changing the clearly depressing subject for him, "Everything he says is made up." "Yeah, you're right," Arin accepted with a sigh, "But, sometimes, he talks about people missing in the Merge, like my parents are. Bro and I have to find them, but there's no information anywhere. That's why he's so busy researching about the old Coalescence. And sometimes I get so desperate, I watch Intelligent George, a man who insists the moon is made of donut." "I have no doubt we'll find yours and Tarim's parents some day," Sora assured him, hand on his shoulder, "But you need a break. Obsessing like this isn't good for your mental health. How about we hit the courtyard and flex those ninja skills. And Ryu can try flying again." "I always like how you think, Sora," Arin agreed, gaining a smile as Ryu hopped in front of them, lowering his back so they could get on.