Ninjago:Rising

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Lloyd's eyes fluttered open, and a bright, sterile light filled his vision. He blinked a few times, the blurriness fading to reveal a plain white ceiling. It took a moment for him to recognize the steady beeping of a heart monitor next to him, the soft murmur of voices in the hallway, and the distinct smell of antiseptics. He tried to move but felt a sharp sting in his arms, bringing his attention to the heavy bandages wrapped around them.

Groggy and disoriented, he looked down at his body, which was covered in even more bandages. Every muscle ached, his mind still reeling from everything he had been through. Memories came flooding back, one after another: the battle, the Overlord's sneer, the final moments with Lyra. Her face, her words. Thank you, Lloyd... for bringing me home.

The weight of it all crashed over him, and before he could stop it, tears slipped down his face. He let out a soft, broken laugh, more out of disbelief than anything else, feeling a mixture of pain, relief, and sorrow. He had survived. But at what cost?

Through his quiet tears, he heard the muffled sound of shouting just outside his room. He couldn't make out all the words, but there was an unmistakable urgency in the voices, followed by a loud, insistent voice that broke through the cacophony.

"The hell with that—I'm going in there!"

The door burst open, and Lloyd's eyes widened as he saw a group of familiar faces stumble in, all bandaged up and looking just as worn down as he felt. Zane, Cole, Jay, Nya, and Harumi filled the room, each one of them battered but alive, with various cuts, bruises, and slings marking their own ordeals. They were alive. They had all survived.

A laugh bubbled up in Lloyd's chest, a strange, almost hysterical sound as relief washed over him. "You guys look terrible," he managed to joke, wiping the lingering tears from his eyes.

Cole let out a snort, crossing his arms despite the bandages covering his left shoulder. "Speak for yourself. We didn't get tossed around like a rag doll out there."

Jay grinned, despite the cut on his lip and the bruises lining his face. "Yeah, you look like a mummy, dude. I think you've got us beat."

Lloyd shook his head, a laugh escaping him. It was incredible, seeing them here, knowing they had all made it through, even after the battles they'd fought on their own. He felt a swell of gratitude and relief so overwhelming that he couldn't stop himself from laughing harder, despite the soreness in his ribs.

The others joined in, the tension breaking as they shared that moment together. For a while, it was just laughter, filling the hospital room like a balm, easing the weight of everything they had endured. Harumi, standing near the foot of his bed, let out a soft laugh of her own, her eyes lingering on him, relief clear in her expression.

"We were all so worried," she said, her voice quiet, almost lost in the laughter around them. "You just... you wouldn't wake up. And after everything..."

Lloyd caught her gaze, offering her a reassuring smile, though it was tinged with sadness. He could still feel the ache in his chest, the loss of Lyra's final goodbye. But here, with his friends, he felt grounded, like he could find a way forward.

Before anyone could speak further, the door opened once again, this time to reveal a tall, poised woman in a tailored suit. Her hair was pulled back tightly, and she walked with a dignified authority that quieted the group's laughter almost immediately. It was the mayor.

She surveyed the group with a small smile, her eyes lingering on Lloyd before she took a few steps into the room. "Lloyd," she said, her voice warm but commanding. "It's good to see you awake. I hope you're feeling up to visitors."

Lloyd nodded, still a bit taken aback by her presence. "I... I'm feeling better, thank you."

The mayor's expression softened, and she looked around at each of them, as if taking in the sight of these young heroes who had saved the city. "I owe each of you a great deal of thanks," she began. "Ninjago owes you everything. You saved us, each one of you, and we are forever in your debt."