The Shadows Behind City Lights (a Ninjago x-reader)

Chapter One: The City After Dark

Ninjago City; the capital of Ninjago, the largest and fastest growing city, the most technologically advanced city, and by far the  most threatened city in the world. It's nearly everyday some new evil comes along to destroy it! It's been destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again. So much has happened in this one zip code, but, the people stay. What keeps this population ever growing? What keeps people in Ninjago City? The vision is different for everyone but can be narrowed down to simply..

the super cool and powerful team of ninja actually protecting the area. 

And I suppose it's just the power of the people themselves; the strength and possessiveness of everyday Ninjago citizens. Ninjago has been destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again because the people are determined. They are stubborn and ambitious, key word is stubborn. After all, this is their home. And as long as there are those strong enough and ruled by a will to protect, Ninjago may fall again but it will always be rebuilt again, stronger. Ninjago never quits. But, despite what we like to think, as long as there is light, there will always be shadow;  shadows behind the city lights.

~

((??? POV))

"And remember you promised you'd come to your brother's play tomorrow."

"Yeah, of course, I'll be there!"

"And don't stay out too late tonight! It's dangerous in the city after dark."

"Don't worry! I've been perfectly fine on my own for a while now.."

Meili continued to stroll on her way to lunch, phone to her ear tucked behind her pink locks of hair. As her stomach rumbled it encouraged her to pick up the pace, walking down the crowded streets of the bustling city.

"Hey, I'm going to get lunch now, I'll text you tonight, ok?"

"You're not going to that kid's pizza place again are you? Meili, it's so unhealthy- You live right by a sandwich joint anywa-"

"Kay-love-you-mom  byyye!!" 

Meili hung up her phone, entering Buddy's Pizza Palace. She took off her sunglasses and tucked them away in her shoulder bag. Sitting in a booth closest to the windows, she began skimming the menu- even though she got the same thing every time. After placing her pretty basic-girl order, her eyes wondered and eventually gazed over at the several arcade game machines nestled into the back corner- 

And temptation took over. 

Usually this corner was conquered by eight-year old boys fighting over high scores, but today, it was all free  for the taking! An adorable pink bear plush caught her prescription-contact-lensed-eye in the claw machine.

 Everyone knew this particular machine was rigged, making the restaurant easy bucks off the frequent young consumers through such a classic and obvious scam that most patrons with common sense just avoid it- but Meili's obsessive determination took control as she plopped two silver coins in the machine slot! But, listen, there was a trick  to these cheating games. This was about strategy! Meili had spent years  training for moments like these; where the enemy is your only pawn and victory was in fate's hands alone! No woman had ever starred as intensely at a stuffed animal as Meili stared at that pink bear.. 

She was on her last two coins, after several attempts already this  was her final chance! A single drop of sweat dripped down her forehead as she slowly hovered the claw over her desperately desired prize.

Nerves kicked in as she clicked that big red button.

The crane lowered, the very tip hooking under the string of the ear tag..