*   *   *
“I think, us, being ninja, shouldn’t spend so much time on social media. After all, Kai’s Chirps almost caused Clouse to attack Ninjago again, and we still don’t know if he’s out there.”
His eyes suddenly widened. He turned the phone’s screen to face Andrew. “And apparently,” Lloyd said, “Jay shouldn’t either.”
There, on the screen, was an image of Andrew, Lloyd, and Nya sitting in the treehouse, with words saying: “What The Ninja Really Do Instead of Training.”
“Once we free Jay from the Departed Realm,” Lloyd said, “I’m going to get him.”

Chapter 19: Preparation
“Faster, faster!” Lloyd shouted enthusiastically to Andrew. “You’re so close!”
Andrew spun around the room dizzily. He was becoming frustrated with the numerous fails – and slightly nauseous, considering how the room spun. “I can’t!” Andrew said. “I’ve tried, and I’ve tried, and I’ve tried, but I just can’t do it! I give up!”
Lloyd ran over to Andrew. “Yes, you can.” He stated firmly.
Andrew rolled his eyes. “One of the biggest parts of being a ninja is perseverance.” Lloyd told him. “You have to pick yourself and keep trying. Imagine if Wu stopped trying to teach you – you wouldn’t have ever been able to use your powers. There’s nothing you can’t do if you keep trying.”
“I can’t fly no matter how many times I jump off a building, Lloyd.” Andrew smirked.
“You could.” Lloyd informed him.
Andrew arched his eyebrows in suspicious and confusion. “Airjitzu.” Lloyd explained.
Andrew rolled his eyes again. “I want you to try again.” Lloyd said. “Imagine you’re in battle, when it matters most.”
“That’d put too much pressure on me.” Andrew said.
“Like when the other ninja put so much pressure on you that you were able to become a tiger?”
Lloyd had a good point. “Fine, I’ll try one more time.” Andrew gave in.
He stood up, and walked to the center of the dojo, ready to try. “Remember,” Lloyd said helpfully, “you just jump up, kick back, whip around and-”
“I know, I know.” Andrew uttered, exasperated.
Lloyd watched with interest as Andrew spun around the room, still yet to acquire the skill of spinjitzu. He was becoming annoyed with Andrew’s rebellious attitude, but hoped he would be able to finally unlock the power of spinjitzu.
Andrew suddenly spun around, and a violent orange vortex twirled around him. He stopped suddenly and the vortex shrank away. “I can’t believe it!” He gasped. “I finally did it! I’m a spinjitzu master!”
“Yes!” Lloyd yelled excitedly. “You did it!”
Andrew spun into another spinjitzu vortex with excitement and joy bubbling in his eyes. He released a few whoops as he continued to rapidly create the tangerine tornadoes. The orange twister swirled around the room, suddenly getting a bit too close to the equipment, making several training pieces break upon the force of the spinjitzu and being thrown to the other end of the room. Andrew suddenly stopped. “Oops.” He said, looking at the damage. “I guess I should watch where I’m going next time.”
“That was great!” Lloyd complimented.
He suddenly grabbed a large piece of metal from beside him. “Hey, I realize you’ll also need this.”
He held up a large hunk of metal, then set it down upon Andrew’s hands. It sunk for a moment until Andrew realized the weight of the object and lifted it back up. He stared at it silently, showing little excitement.
“It’s Deepstone!” Lloyd explained. “To protect you against the ghosts.”
Noticing his solemn expression, Lloyd asked: “Hey, what’s wrong? You’ve unlocked spinjitzu, gotten a new suit and armor. Why the long face?”
Andrew paused, still staring at the armor. “It’s just – I don’t know.” He sighed. “I feel like a failure of a ninja. I’ve accomplished barely anything so far, and all my friends are disappearing. I’m one of the only left, and now there’s so much pressure to do well. Now I’m supposed to live up to the standards of you guys, and I don’t think I’m ready for it.
“This isn’t really what I expected at all. When I was going to become a ninja, I thought it’d be really epic, and I’d seem super cool doing all these amazing moves, and being fantasized by others for saving the city from minor threats. Now that I’m here, I realize it’s scary. There’s so much pressure to do your best, but I feel like my best isn’t enough. Everything I know is crumbling into pieces, and I don’t know if I can do anything about it. As it turns out, being a ninja just seems to be about worrying about hardships, and trying to be better than forces who are much stronger than you. You have to work your hardest and give your best.”
He looked up at Lloyd with watery eyes. “I think that’s a bit more mature than I’d ever care to be.” He said, voice cracking.
Lloyd put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew’s lip trembled slightly. “It’s okay if you cry.” Lloyd said.
“Ninja don’t cry.” Andrew sniffed.
“They do.” Lloyd comforted. “Kai cries when he remembers his parents. Nya cries when events get too tough. Cole cries when he misses Rocky. I cry when I contemplate on my father. Jay cries when Cole beats his high-score.”
Andrew chuckled lightly, but a light sob broke out simultaneously. Lloyd looked at Andrew. “The point is, you can still do it. We don’t expect you be a magical being who will save the world from all evil. You just have to try your best, and that’s good enough for us.
“It’s really hard, but I think you can make it. You’re strong. The only thing holding you back is fear, which is an enemy who is easily conquered. I know you can do it.”
Andrew wiped his nose and gave Lloyd a slight grin. “Thanks.” He said. “I think that helped.”
“You’re welcome.” Lloyd said. “Now, you think you’re ready for a bit more training?”
He nodded softly. “Mm hm.” He murmured. “I can do this.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Tiffany strolled down the busy street of Ninjago City. Shouts and the murmur of chatter merged into an overstimulating yet relaxing ambience. Advertisement was everywhere, whether it be a shop-owner announcing his fresh fish, or a large screen attempting convince all the viewers to purchase a can of Bricksy-Cola with a high-definition video of its consumption. Cars rolled by upon the busy street, sending the litter upon the sidewalks temporarily flying into the air. Loud jackhammering arose from another side of the street where construction commenced. A rank odor of garbage wafted through the air, yet all was natural. This was city life, and it was considered natural.
However, there was one thing happening in the city that didn’t seem normal. A large green dragon paraded through the streets; upon it sat two ninja. “Everybody evacuate the city!” The green one yelled. “Ghosts are coming! Everyone must evacuate!”
Some of the citizens ran suddenly, presumably to go to their cars to leave, but others just gaped. The mayor strode out of a large building and walked toward the dragon. “What do you mean, ‘evacuate?!’” She demanded. “Why must we leave, and who are you to demand such a thing?”
Lloyd hopped off of the dragon, and Andrew repeated accordingly. “Well, we can’t force everyone to leave, and don’t really mean to.” He said. “However, ghosts will be attacking the city soon like they did in Stixx. It’d be a lot safer is nobody was here. I mean, they could stay, but they’d be putting themselves in further danger.”
The mayor raised an eyebrow. “So it’s a suggestion and not a demand?” She asked.
“Yeah.” Lloyd said.
“And how do we know the ghosts will come for you and not us to wherever we evacuate?”
“Trust me; they’re here for us.” Andrew declared.
“Well, all right, then.” The mayor agreed. “I will warn all the citizens of the incoming danger, but none will be forced to leave.”
Lloyd nodded. “Okay.” He said. “Thank you.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“What now?” Andrew asked as he lay upon a cushy old chair in the back room of the temple.
“Now we wait and prepare for the incoming attack, whenever it may be.” Lloyd declared.
The two sat in silence for a few moments, until Andrew spoke up. “You wanna watch a movie or something?”
Lloyd shrugged. “I suppose. We don’t know when they’ll strike.”
A sudden buzz sounded from Lloyd’s pocket. He reached into it and pulled out a small Brickberry phone and turned it on. He scoffed. “Kai, who has been stuck in the Hospital for the last week, has been sending out ‘Chirps’ like a crazy person.”
“Like a crazy person?” Andrew joked. “Wasn’t he always one?”
“I think, us, being ninja, shouldn’t spend so much time on social media. After all, Kai’s Chirps almost caused Clouse to attack Ninjago again, and we still don’t know if he’s out there.”
His eyes suddenly widened. He turned the phone’s screen to face Andrew. “And apparently,” Lloyd said, “Jay shouldn’t either.”
There, on the screen, was an image of Andrew, Lloyd, and Nya sitting in the treehouse, with words saying: “What The Ninja Really Do Instead of Training.”
“Once we free Jay from the Departed Realm,” Lloyd said, “I’m going to get him.”

[MODS: I did not refer to any external sites in this post. In Season 6 of Ninjago, the characters refer to a site called “Chirper,” in which Kai makes a couple “Chirps.” This parody of an external site was both created and endorsed by Lego.]

Welp, we're all caught up!
. . . man, this story is really predictable, isn't it?! Clearly I either need to come up with an interesting plot twist, or continue down the storyline path I've all ready chosen and make the next fan-fiction better.

Has it really been that long?... I remember when you were just first talking about this story. It can't end! I will miss Andrew too much!!! I've grown quite found of the little guy. When you write another story, PLEASE INCLUDE ANDREW!! 

Way to go, Jay.   

“This isn’t really what I expected at all. When I was going to become a ninja, I thought it’d be really epic, and I’d seem super cool doing all these amazing moves, and being fantasized by others for saving the city from minor threats. Now that I’m here, I realize it’s scary. There’s so much pressure to do your best, but I feel like my best isn’t enough. Everything I know is crumbling into pieces, and I don’t know if I can do anything about it. As it turns out, being a ninja just seems to be about worrying about hardships, and trying to be better than forces who are much stronger than you. You have to work your hardest and give your best.”
He looked up at Lloyd with watery eyes. “I think that’s a bit more mature than I’d ever care to be.” He said, voice cracking.
Lloyd put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew’s lip trembled slightly. “It’s okay if you cry.” Lloyd said.
“Ninja don’t cry.” Andrew sniffed.
“They do.” Lloyd comforted. “Kai cries when he remembers his parents. Nya cries when events get too tough. Cole cries when he misses Rocky. I cry when I contemplate on my father. Jay cries when Cole beats his high-score.”

I admire your ability to create a touching moment between Andrew and Lloyd while at the same time slipping in a little joke poking at Jay.