A Second Chance

Part 85 - Where it all began

The next couple days, I figured that I just didn't wanna sit around in my mansion doing nothing. It would be better to get busy. 

And, nothing can make you more busy than taking a trip down memory lane. 

I took the scenic route up the mountain roads toward Jamanakai Village early the next morning. Jamanakai village was where our first real mission as a team was. The crisp air whipped past my motorcycle helmet and cleared the heavy thoughts right out of my head. 

Man... it's been years since I last visited the place where we first met the Hypnobrai. The winding path looked a lot more maintained now, but the jagged peaks still felt incredibly familiar.

I parked my bike near the village entrance and put on my sunglasses. Walking down the main street brought back a massive wave of intense nostalgia. I remembered running around these exact dirt paths while chasing down a very tiny and angry Lloyd Garmadon. 

The village was completely peaceful today, with locals happily setting up their colorful market stalls in the bright sun.

There seemed to be robots too, and a couple of high-rises. Looks like this place has modernized somewhat since I last left.

I kept my head down and wandered through the bustling square to soak in the calm atmosphere. It felt really nice to see the people just living their normal lives without any major threats hanging over them. Especially considering this village was the heart of many attacks back in my days of a ninja. 

Near the edge of the market, an older shopkeeper was yelling loudly about a tipped-over wooden cart. A huge pile of fresh green cabbages had spilled all over the cobblestone street.

"Damn, this rusty axle just gave out on me, and I have absolutely no way to fix it," the old man muttered to himself. I walked over casually and knelt down right next to the splintered wooden wheel. 

"Hey, man! I've got a little experience with mechanics, so let me see what I can do," I offered with a friendly nod.

I pulled a small wrench and some strong wire from my heavy jacket pocket.

I worked quickly to realign the metal axle and secured it tightly with the heavy-duty wire. 

My hands moved on pure muscle memory while the shopkeeper gathered up his scattered produce. It honestly felt great to use my inventing skills for something simple and ordinary. I gave the wooden wheel a solid spin to make sure it was securely locked in place.

"There you go, that should definitely hold up until you can get a proper replacement," I told him. 

"Thank you so much, young man, please let me give you a bag of produce for your trouble!" he insisted with a warm smile. "No need for payment, I'm just happy to help out a neighbor," I replied while stepping back into the shadow of a nearby awning. 

I gave him a quick wave and melted right back into the moving crowd before he could even ask for my name.

I made my way back to my motorcycle and climbed onto the cool leather seat. 

Looking back at the lively village one last time made my chest feel just a little bit lighter. I might be a ghost in Ninjago right now, but I can clearly still do some good from the shadows. 

I kicked the engine into gear and headed back down the mountain road to figure out my next move.

...

I took a short detour before leaving the village completely.