The Ones That Got Away [Complete]

Reunion (Part 2)

I am so so so sorry this chapter took me this long. The last few weeks were just really crazy, and I had a few 'high priority updates' (i.e. Birthday presents for some wattpad friends).

But I am really happy to have this chapter done before all my theories will get busted when 'Hunted' starts airing tomorrow 😉.

Reunion (Part 2)

"Now, tell me." Lloyd requested, already having recounted his – Ninjago's – side of the story as well as having more or less accurately memorised all those little (or not so little in certain cases) messages for the Ninja's (girl)friends and families. "What's been going on with you for the past couple of days?"

The young Master still couldn't believe it had been merely week since they had been separated. While his brothers and uncle had been gone and believed dead, those few days had felt like an eternity to him. On the other hand, it now was just as if they had never been apart at all.

His glance fell on the two purple-clad Ninja. "And what happened to your gi?" He asked Jay and Kai.

"Wu happened." The formerly red Ninja replied dryly. "He put Jay and I's laundry together in the washer, and we don't have any dye remover or even enough detergent here to rewash our clothes."

"You see, little Sensei here's been having a bit of a naughty phase." Cole affectionately ruffled the short boy's golden hair. "And he still remembers all the pranks you used to play on us when you were about this age."

"Oh, I see." Lloyd blushed. "Even the..."

"Yes, even the one with the cling film on the toilet seat." Zane confirmed. "It was a rather unpleasant exp..."

"Can we please not talk about that one?" Jay interrupted him. "I mean, Lloyd doesn't have that much time and he needs to know what we've been up to in this Realm rather than what Wu's been up to with us, right?" He stated, obviously eager to switch topics.

"Jay is right." Lloyd agreed, feeling slightly responsible for his uncle's pranks. "So, what's been going on?"

"Remember that story Mystake told us about the Oni and the Dragon?" Jay asked.

"Sure." The Green Ninja nodded. How could I forget my own heritage?

"Well, we were able to learn a little bit more about the whole situation here." Cole explained. "For many years following the First Spinjitzu Master's departure from this Realm, the Oni and the Dragon had some kind of a truce. But as said before, Ninjago and the First Realm are connected, so everything that happens back home has an impact on here. And ever since the Mask of Vengeance had been stolen, the balance of powers was shifted: The stronger the Sons of Garmadon became, so did the Oni. Thus, they broke the truce and started hunting down the Dragons."

Lloyd understood. "So that's why..."

"Yes, we believe that is why we have lost control of our Elemental Dragons." Zane confirmed. And Jay continued: "And it's only getting worse. The more the Dragons get suppressed by the Oni, the more control Garmadon gains over Ninjago. And in turn, the more power Garmadon gets, the more the Oni will do too. And that will make Garmadon even more stronger, and then the Oni..."

"Thank you, Jay." Cole interrupted his best friend's rant. "Anyway, in order to stop – or at least to slow down – this downslide, we've decided to join in the fight here; we're fighting with and for the Dragons, trying to free them and to bring back peace to this Realm."

"But what about Ninjago?" Lloyd wanted to know. "We need you there. And... we miss you."

"We miss you too." His friends agreed. "But the Dragons have helped us so many times, now it's our turn to support them. We just can't come home until the balance here has been restored."