Thorns

Chapter One: Pricked by a Thorn

In light of their recent, yet still epic, victory, the ninjas have taken up teaching at Sensei Wu's academy as a sort of retirement from fighting. Lloyd, on the other hand, has been visiting the entire land of Ninjago, on a sort of a victory run so it's just been Misako, Garmadon, and their daughter Thorn.

The other ninjas didn't even know about Thorn until Misako and Garmadon mentioned that they should bring her home from boarding school so they could all be together again. They've met her every now and then, never really talking, only one of the ninjas even got along with her well enough to hold up a conversation. Other than that, Thorn didn't seem very interested in the nationwide famous ninjas. It was a bit of a culture shock for the ninjas, now used to the constant praise among the citizens.

Thorn has been difficult according to Misako. She hasn't been coming home till late most nights and when she is home she's locked in her room or out on the hills where no one could come to her. Misako and Garmadon have constantly tried to get her to talk but she's shut everyone out and only gotten worse. But you couldn't really blame her.

Her whole life has been in the shadow of her brother, her mother dumping her off at boarding school for him, her once younger brother was now about the same age and the famed green ninja, her whole life moved across the city for her father's new dojo just after him miraculously turning good, and most of her life has been dictated around Lloyd's life. It was hard not to be mad at Lloyd, he didn't ask for this life but it doesn't help that he gets treated like the golden child. Which is, in part, true. It sucks to be the sister of the golden ninja and with no power to her own name.

It doesn't help that she had a bad accident less than a month ago. No one knows much about how it happened, what they do know is that one night Thorn was found in the bathroom bleeding out from some wound. She was delirious according to Misako as she kept saying something to herself underneath her breath the whole time she drove her to the hospital. Even there, Thorn didn't allow anyone in the room with her for a whole day or two and Misako was only able to get information from the doctor who said someone attacked her with a knife twice; once in the shoulder and once in the abdomen. The real problem was after the accident. Thorn was just more irritated and on edge, like she was always looking over her shoulder according to Misako and Garmadon. They've tried to get her to talk but it was like pulling out teeth.

One day, Lloyd happened to be in town and he was called by his mother.

"Why do I need to pick her up? Doesn't she usually walk back by herself?" Lloyd asked.

"Not right away, she's been staying out late and I worry about her," Misako explained," I don't like her to be alone after dark."

They both thought back to the incident and Lloyd agreed. He put on his green hoodie and jeans, so as to not bring a crowd when the famous golden ninja shows up at some random book shop. He stood at the front of the shop, Blair's Books and Brewery, an old book shop and cafe that Thorn worked at since she moved home. The owner was the friend of the last coffee shop Thorn worked so they were kind enough to hire Thorn on. Lloyd walked in and the smell of old books and coffee surrounded him with the radio playing soft indie music in the back. He turned to the left and found the café and check out counter where Thorn sat, waiting for a customer while reading an old brown book.

She had on a black top, plaid pants, and a denim jacket. The top of her pale blonde hair was pulled back and her black streaks were starting to grow out so her roots showed. Her right forearm had a tattoo that went around her wrist and up to her elbow with thorns and roses. Lloyd remembers how outraged their parents were when they first saw it but they got over it within a week. Maybe two. However, her shoulder where her scar was shown a bit was the new focal point of concern and Lloyd knew it wouldn't go away for a long time.