Ninjago Pilots

Pilot #4: The Dragon Games

Those of you who know me from FanFiction.net might still recognise this book 🙂.

The Dragon Games was my first major project on that site; the story was about halfway done - 19 chapters with over 42,000 words, plus 2 one-shots - when I deleted it (pretty much for the same reasons why I moved my main account from FF over to wattpad). I had posted only the first 2 or 3 chapters here and took them down as well, because I didn't feel like continuing at that time.

But I am still kinda proud of this AU, and I would really like to re-write and finish it at some later stage.

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Chapter 1: Birthday Surprises

The mailman sighed in relief as the colourful lights of Ed & Edna's Scrap N Junk finally appeared in the distance.

Seriously, who would run a junkyard in the middle of the desert? He thought, wiping the sweat off his forehead. But, of course, this was just a rhetorical question, for he very well knew the answer himself.

The Walkers were a very friendly, albeit a bit eccentric, family. Whenever he made a delivery to them, they would always invite him to their home – an old, rusty, but cosy trailer – for some refreshments and a little chat (which with them could take up to a couple of hours). And usually, their mail would only consist of light letters or colourful postcards from their extended family living overseas.

But not today.

A large wooden crate labelled 'FRAGILE. HANDLE WITH CARE.' was sitting on the trailer attached to his bike. And while the box was not very heavy, it still made his journey through the Sea of Sands even more of a challenge than it already was at other times.

When he reached the brightly illuminated gate to the scrapyard, the door to the trailer flew open and a young boy with messy auburn hair shot out like a blue flash of light.

"The mail is here! Finally!" He shouted. "Whoohoo!"

The agitated child was immediately followed by his mother, Edna Walker, who exited the family's home still clutching onto a hairbrush with one hand. "Careful, honey. You don't want to trip over any junk lying around!" She called to her son.

Ignoring his mother's instructions, the boy sped across the yard and came to a stop right next to the mailman's bike.

"What took you so long?" He asked, his bright bright blue eyes glistening with excitement. "I've been waiting for you all morning. It's my birthday you know? I am twelve. Twelve. Years. Old. Today. Twelve. That's one more than eleven, you know?" He looked at his hand. "And... two more than my fingers. Yesterday, I was only eleven, but today I am already twelve. My mum says I am a biiiig boy now. How old are you?" Without waiting for an answer, he then pointed at the crate on the trailer. "Is that for me? I bet it's my special surprise Birthday Present. It's from my grandma Aileen. She sent it aaaall the way from Scotland. Do you know Scotland? Can we open it now?"

The female co-owner of Ed & Edna's Scrap N Junk had also reached the gate now. "Manners, Jay. Is this the way we welcome our guests?" She tried (but failed) to sound firm, while smiling fondly at her son. "The dear man has just cycled all the way from Ninjago City just to bring you your present, I think we should give him a little break. Why don't you get your father to help us with the box?"

The boy, Jay Walker, turned on the spot and ran back to the trailer. "Daaad. My present has arrived and we neeeed your help. Nooow." His voice could be heard all over the junkyard – and probably all over the desert as well.

Edna then eyed the mailman who was almost falling off his bike from exhaustion. "Please forgive my son's behaviour. It is his Birthday today, so he is a bit excited. And he might have had too much Birthday cake..." She said apologetically. "Why don't you come inside while my husband takes care of the box? And can I offer you some homemade lemonade and chocolate cake?" She asked. "As you can see, it gives a lot of energy..."