The True Green Ninja

Thirty-Four

Nya's POV

I'm still kinda tired, so Jay offers to carry me back to the bounty.

"No way!" I say.

"Come on, I insist."

I shake my head. "I can walk."

"But you need to rest! Look, Kai's carrying Lloyd—you won't be the only one not on your feet."

"That's cuz he nearly died! I'm alright, Jay."

"Please? Why can't I take care of my girlfriend?"

"Well, when you put it like that..."

He smiles, and picks me up. "See, it's not that bad. I've got you."

"Don't you dare drop me, Jay Walker."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Argh, can you two lovebirds quit with the sweet talk and just kiss already?!" Morro groans, covering his ears. "Y/n won't shut up about it."

"Uh... shouldn't you let y/n go?" Jay asks. "I think you've possessed that kid long enough."

"But—"

"No buts."

"Fine," he huffs, leaving y/n's body.

"Hey..." y/n says, staring at Morro, who's now in ghost form. "You actually let me go!"

"I kinda had to... I think your friends would kill me if I didn't."

"No they wouldn't; you're already dead," y/n says, arms folded. "I think you still have a heart, deep down, and you care for all of us."

"What? Pffft, no..." Morro says, but not very believably.

————-Jay's POV————

Nya looks up at me, and I smile.

"It looks like Morro's warmed up to us," I say.

"Yeah," Nya agrees. "I think we just found ourselves a new member of the team."

We eventually make it to the bounty, and the others all head inside. I set Nya down in front of the door that leads below deck, and lean towards her. She kisses me, and we stay like that for a few moments.

"I love you," we both mumble after we break away.

"Jinx," she says with a giggle.

I laugh, then sweep her off her feet again. I push open the door, and carry her inside to celebrate our victory.

————-y/n's POV————-

"Hey, look what I've got!" Cole says, holding up two bags of chips. "I think we deserve to spoil ourselves."

"Since when have we had those?" Kai asks. "It's been ages since we been allowed to have junk food."

"They were in Sensei's room," Cole shrugs.

"Huh, go figure," Kai mutters as he gently sets Lloyd down on the couch. He then goes to grab a bowl to pour the chips into.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Lloyd, sitting down next to him.

"I'm alive," he laughs, but looks like it causes him pain. "My chest hurts like hell, but that's the worst of it."

"It's common for CPR to cause the ribs to break," Zane says. "Take it easy so you can heal."

"Don't worry Zane, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," I assure him.

Lloyd sticks his tongue out at me. "I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm not your babysitter, I'm your best friend," I say with a smile. "I'm serious, though—don't do anything dumb."

"Can I get you anything, Lloyd?" Garmadon asks from the kitchen. I'm glad he doesn't look so terrifying anymore, but it's going take some time before I get used to his new look.

"Uh, maybe just some water, please?"

"Coming right up!"

"Oh, my poor baby," Misako says, sitting on the side of the couch. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll be fine."

I notice Lloyd hesitates slightly to call Misako 'mom.' I don't blame him; she's been absent for the majority of his life, but I'm sure it'll become more natural to use that label in the future.

"Here you are, son," Garmadon says, handing Lloyd a small glass of water.

"Thanks, Dad."

I slowly get off the couch so I can leave the family to themselves. Now that the final battle is over, the three of them can get to know each other better as parents and child.

I pull out a chair at the dinner table, where Sensei and the rest of the team (except Nya, who's asleep in her bedroom) are talking and eating. I grab a couple of chips from the bowl to munch on while I figure out what my teammates are talking about.

"It can't stay here; we should hide it somewhere on the island," Jay says. "This place is really hard to find, so I doubt anyone would come across it."

"No, it's better to destroy it," Kai says. "That way, there's no chance of it being discovered."

"I agree," Zane says. "It's safer if the chest and the scroll are demolished."

What chest? I think. The one with the alternate destiny scroll inside it?

"I fear that is easier said than done," Sensei says. "I've already tried to open the container—several times, might I add—but it's no use. It's sealed shut."

"Didn't you say that only an elemental master of darkness can unlock it?" I ask. They all seem surprised to see me sitting here.

"Yeah, but Garmadon's powers have been drained," Cole says.

"Were you not paying attention during the final battle?" I ask, shaking my head. "Lloyd inherited his father's abilities. That's why the overlord was able to use him as a host."

"Are you guys talking about me?"

We all turn to see Lloyd standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing?!" I demand. "You should be resting."

"My parents went above deck to get reacquainted with each other, so I came over here. Sitting by myself is boring," he explains. "So, what's this about destroying a chest?"

Sensei pulls the trunk out from under the table, and slides it down towards Lloyd. "Remember this?"

"Yeah, it's the chest me and y/n found in the caves."

"Well, we need to destroy what's inside, and only you can open it."

"Me?"

"Yes nephew, you."

Lloyd seems to realize what he needs to do. He places his hands on either side of the box, and closes his eyes. We all watch as his palms create a small amount of dark purple magic—it's not a lot, but it's enough. Something within the chest clicks, and the lid pops open.

"Kai, you wanna do the honours?" Lloyd asks, taking the rolled-up manuscript out of the container and handing it to him.

Kai lights the parchment on fire, and in no time, the scroll is reduced to a pile of ash. We all stare at the dust, not knowing what to say.

"Well... that's the end of that," Cole says, finally breaking the silence. "So, who wants to help me bake a cake?"

My hand shoots straight up. "Me!"

Everyone laughs, and I join in. I'm so grateful I got to go on this adventure with all of them.