A Ninja's (Poke)Journey [Complete]

Family Bonding

Hey! So this book has probably like two or tree chapters left. Again, I've already said that this going to be a short story. So yeah!

By the way, if anyone has edits/suggestions for a new cover, let me know!

Third POV

"So you're saying he just disappeared like that?" Jay questioned Lloyd, making a 'poof' sound effect and throwing his arms in the air.

"Yeah," he told the others. "He was just standing near Nadakhan's ship and then he was gone."

"Still hate that guy," Kai said as everyone nodded along.

Lloyd smiled. "Oh, come on, don't be so mean to him. He even gave me his Pokemon."

"Knowing him, it'll probably be a Magikarp or something."

As they continued walking along the streets of Ninjago City, more and more people started gathering around the large stadium.

It was hard to navigate their way through the crowd, but they eventually made their way to the stadium's entrance, only to be pushed away yet again when the door suddenly opened.

Two Nindroids burst through the door, followed by a purple Serpentine.

"Let me go you lunatics!" Pythor hissed before he was thrown out.

All of a sudden, another man came into view. It was non other than Cliff Gordon himself, his arms behind his back and his gaze stern.

"I thought I could trust you. Clearly I was wrong," he said and everyone around him gasped.

As Pythor tried to walk away, every camera turned to him and Cliff. While Cliff ignored the cameras probably for the first time ever, while Pythor stayed and tried to excuse himself.

The others tried to approach him, but he was the one who noticed them first, specifically one of them.

"Jay?" Cliff said, waving at him with a smile.

Jay's awkward chuckle turned into a groan when he approached them, pushing away the journalists and directing them to Pythor.

"Let's go talk somewhere else."

Once they were finally hidden deep in the ground, far away from any passing journalists and news reporters, they finally went back where they came from, standing right outside a Pokemon Center.

As he looked at all his friends, a smile formed on his lips. "Haven't seen you three in a while," he told the Smith siblings and Cole. "How have things been?"

Nya didn't dare to look at him without a glare, Kai tried to comfort her and Cole just stood there with a sheepish smile.

He raised an eyebrow but continued to move on. "And who are you?"

"This is Zane, Dr. Julien's son," Jay said. "And this is Lloyd. He's competing in the league."

"Oh, that's amazing! The finals start tomorrow, I'm assuming you already have six badges?"

Lloyd gulped.

"I thought you needed at least seven?" Cole asked.

"Well, Pythor is out of the picture for now," he said behind gritted teeth. "Serves him well. That cheater..."

"Cheater?"

"Long story. Let's just say he's sneakier than his Arbok." Everyone knew Cliff Gordon hated everything even vaguely resembling a serpent, and that wasn't the exception.

He turned to Lloyd. "So, do you have the badges?"

Lloyd gulped again, stumbling upon his words. He cleared his throat. "Well, um—"

"He has them," Nya finished for him, showing the four badges clinging like pins on the inside of his green jacket.

She reached into her backpack, pulling two more out. They were shaped like a small flame and a water drop.

"Nya!" Kai told her, but she put her hand over his mouth. He pushed her hand away, "we don't even qualify as Gym Leaders anymore!"

"Actually, you do," Cliff said, catching everyone off-guard. "Now that Pythor is disqualified, we'll need some more Gym Leaders. We can't just have four Gym Leaders in the entirety of Ninjago, now can we?"

"Wait, really? Like, actually really?" Kai said.

"I think his sentences were quite clear," Zane added.

"If it means having more Gym Leaders," Cliff said. "Jay, weren't you supposed to be helping Professor Wu?"

He blushed. "Oh, well, he actually needed me to assist Lloyd on his... journey," he said. "But I'll start my training soon, I promise."

"Training?" Cole smirked. "What is this double life we don't know about?"

"I'm just helping Wu with his professor duties, that's all," he sighed. "Can we stay with you till the match starts?" he turned to his father.

"Of course. Let's just go to our hotel." He started walking, shoving his hands in his pockets. It didn't take long for everyone to follow.

"Why did you do that? You know I'm not experienced enough!" Lloyd whispered to Nya.

She crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "Oh, relax. We'll train you."

Luckily, the hotel was quite close to the Pokemon Center, being just a few streets ahead. The large, five-star hotel, mainly known by the name of 'Dareth's Dojo' was also, well, a training Dojo.

A plump, brown-haired man waited behind the counter. "Welcome back Cliff. Gonna throw a party in your room again?"

He chuckled. "Not this time, Dareth. We just need rooms for..." he looked at all of them, "about four people."

Jay tapped his shoulder. "Uh, dad? We're more than four."

"We have three beds in our room. I think we can fit one more person."

A goofy smile formed on his face. He looked at Nya, but before he could open his mouth, Kai cut him off.

"He'll stay with Lloyd."

Nya gave Kai a glare, but all Jay could do was nod. He went with Lloyd towards the elevator, his dad dragging them both along.

As they rode up the elevator, all the way up to the top floor, they looked at each other from time to time.

When they finally arrived, he led them all the way to the last room, right at the end of the hall. Once he opened the door, they were both surprised to see a whole apartment on the other side.

"This is my room. The kitchen is over there. And over there are your rooms," Cliff kept pointing to each door.

They nodded, heading inside their room, only to find a Pokemon on the other side. It was asleep, but once it opened its eyes, it welcomed its owner with a smile, jumping into Jay's arms.

The small, brown Pokemon was like a teddy bear, with a small moon pattern on its big head.

Jay blushed, clearing his throat. "Meet Mr. Cuddlywump."

Lloyd laughed. "Mr. Cuddlywump?"

Suddenly, Cliff opened the door, soon joining in the laughter. "He's had him since he was a baby," he said. "I'm sure Nya would be delighted to meet him," he winked at Jay.

"Dad..." Jay moaned, burrying his face in his hands.

Once Cliff finally left, Jay and Lloyd were finally alone. As he was setting down his stuff, Jay put his hand on Lloyd's shoulder.

Lloyd raised an eyebrow.

"Good luck at the tournament," Jay told him.

He patted his hand, returning the smile. "I'll try."