Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 100- And, they lived

3 MONTHS LATER

Spring arrived without asking permission.

Not that it needed to— most people were fed up with the snow and the biting wind and the general cold by now. So everyone was thankful when the sun started to rise that little bit earlier, painting the sky in beautiful oranges and pinks, and when the grass turned that little bit greener, so the cattle were let outside to graze, and when the trees finally adorned their bare limbs with beautiful flowers and leaves.

It crept in through the mountains slowly, cautiously, like a hand drifting over the world and turning everything back into life. Snow melted into little streams. The ground softened. Green returned first in stubborn patches, then in confident sweeps—grass pushing through earth that had been frozen for far too long, blossoms blooming where ice and solid ground once lingered.

The air smelt fresh.

The monastery stood quietly against it all, unchanged and yet entirely different. Its walls were warm now, no longer biting cold beneath the sun. They'd replaced the gates because the wood was decaying, and a new mural stood on the right wall. Wind chimes stirred lazily in the breeze, their pretty music carried down the mountain by a soft wind.

Down the winding mountain path, laughter echoed upward—bright, reckless, unmistakably recognisable.

The doors burst open.

"WE'RE HERE!"

Jay barely had time to turn before Rue collided with him.

"HI JAY I MISSED YOU—"

He yelped as he stumbled backward, arms flailing before instinct kicked in and he caught her. "—WOW—HI—HI—OKAY—HI—"

She laughed, breathless and bright, squeezing him far tighter than necessary. "It's been years. You all look so much healthier!"

Pan followed a few steps behind, shaking his head fondly, before hugging Lloyd and talking about something to do with the excessive amount of stairs the monastery has. Finn came sprinting in after him, slipping on the smooth stone and only barely avoiding a disaster when Cole grabbed the back of his shirt mid-skid.

"Whoa there," Cole laughed. "Careful, speed-demon!"

"I DIDN'T FALL," Finn announced proudly, even though he very clearly had.

Laughter exploded through the room.

Rue let go of Jay only to immediately fling herself at Lloyd, who yelped in surprise before hugging her back just as tightly.

"You came!" he said, voice soft with happiness.

"Obviously," she replied. "I promised we'd visit."

She hugged Nya next—longer, quieter—then Kai, grabbing his collar and pulling him into a messy hug.

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, cheeks warm. "Missed you too."

Finn tugged on Zane's sleeve shyly, holding out a small wooden carving—uneven, imperfect, lovingly made. It resembled something of a horse, apart from the fact that it only had three legs and was painted a bright blue.