Promises (Ninjago's Kai x Reader)

Episode 14 - Like A Prayer

I get booed, but those apposed are in the minority. The rest of the crew, mainly Tiger Sharks, scream and cheer their support, moved by my speech. They're on our side; The tides have turned.

"All hail, Empress Garmadon," Michael announces, and the battalion echoes. He dismounts from his bike, a smirk plastered on his face. "You just keep getting more and more impressive, bub."

"Thanks," I say, accepting a quick peck on the cheek.

Jaxson raises a perplexed eyebrow, as if to say, "when did this happen?" but my attention is drawn to Lloyd, who wears a sullen look on his face. I can practically read his thoughts: "He's barely been gone a year? How could you have found someone else?" And I wish I had a chance to answer all their questions, a chance to make things clear to Michael as well, but there's little time to deliberate in the midst of a battle that might end the war.

A fight breaks out. Those who decided not to join the rebellion are now attacking the Tiger Sharks, despite being outnumbered. The enemy is ferocious, fueled by an intense loyalty to my father and a deep hatred for my brother. It takes a moment for the rebels to realize what's going on, and that moment is all the loyalists needed to gain the upper hand. Blood is shed on both sides. I barley manage to take control over the situation, scrambling to come up with a defensive strategy and retaliation plan.

I propel myself a few feet in the air and open my mouth to bellow orders, but a flashing blue light halts the fray. The light shines so bright, I have to shield my eyes. I barely register the five winged creatures that dart from the gaping hole which has appeared amongst the sky's diamonds.

A portal opened up, illuminating us along with the setting sun, and those winged creatures are dragons. Each dragon is bound to an element, one for each of the ninja, and the fifth is the largest: their leader.

A lump crawls into my throat: this must be a gift from those watching in the afterlife. My fiancé, my best friend, my chosen brothers, and even Uncle Wu. It's a sign that they're still by our side, supporting us as we face the biggest battle of our lives.

They close in on the loyalists, who have come to their senses faster than the rest of us, being the ones in immanent danger here, and begin to fall back. The first dragon, for Zane, attacks with ice, freezing five that try to flee. The next two, for Jay and Cole, use lightning and earth to push away a group that attempts to continue the assault. And the third one-- my heart stops as it uses fire to draw a barricade between us and the enemy. For Kai.

Cheers erupt amongst the rebels, but I can't bring myself to celebrate. As amazing as it was to have these guardian angles save us, it's not the same as--

"The ninja are back!" Dareth shouts, startling the tears out of me.

They're not back. I almost shout it out loud. They're dead and it's all my fault. These dragons are just more ghosts to remind me.

"We did it!" Lloyd cheers. "We held out!"

I let them have their moment of joy, keeping my eyes trained on the dragons that soar up above. It's almost like they're taunting me, teasing what I want so desperately, but cannot have. They begin to close in, lowering, preparing to land--

"Tasha!" I hear him call my name before the dragon even touches ground.

But no, it cant be. He is dead. I saw it, felt it for nearly a year. This is a hallucination, probably from the drugs.

His voice rings out again, clear as day, and I'm completely frozen, except for my heart that beats a gazillion times a second. It has to be a trick on my mind. A cruel game that someone is playing, exploiting my only weakness.