Claws of Night

It had been about a month since the Day of the Departed and most of the ninja neglected their training and only trained three or sometimes four times a week. They had their own reasons, and since Lloyd was unable to get them to willingly practice as much as they should, they slacked off.

Lloyd was mid-thought when his mother interrupted, “Alright, what’s wrong?” She asked, sitting down at the table next to him, “You seem troubled, what’s on your mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you’re not training, you’ve been restlessly pouting with that look in your eyes, the ‘I need to do something’ look. For the last three weeks.” She informed him, “I’m worried.”

“Ninja don’t pout.” Lloyd joked, nervously trying to not reveal that his mom was one-hundred and ten percent right.

“Fine, you’re not pouting your moping. Still, what’s wrong?” Misako said.

Lloyd exhaled loudly, his mom always won when she got like this, “It’s just, well, my team doesn’t train as much as they should anymore. Usually just a couple times a week rather than every day. We’re not going to be prepared if something bad happens just like what happened with the Anacondrai Cultists, we were unprepared and would have lost if dad h—you know what I mean. We won’t be ready to defend Ninjago if we don’t sharpen our skills.” He explained, slowly, “One second we were fighting villains and getting better every day and now everyone’s always busy with un-ninja related things. Even Nya and she used to be more committed than me. What happened? Why is everyone so busy lately? I’m not busy so why are they?”

“I understand, you feel like you know what’s right, but no one will listen to you. Maybe, just maybe I know a way you can help change their minds.” She said, sympathetically. Misako wrapped her arms around her son in comforting hug, “I’ll talk to Wu but I want you to talk to the team. Invite them to a meal at a restaurant, you and your friends like that noodle place, Mister Chen’s, right? Or something like that, just somewhere you and the team can talk.”

She was right. She was always right. How did she do that? Lloyd’s mom had a solution for everything.

A playful breeze tousled the leaves of the cherry trees growing around the tea shop’s courtyard, scattering whitish-pink petals across the ground. As he walked across the dry earth to the gate, Lloyd wondered if his mom was right.

As he summoned up his Energy dragon, many thoughts spiraled through his mind. What was happening outside their tea farm? Who was coming? What does Hippopotomonstrasesquippedaliophobia mean? Who did his mom know at that weird museum? Would her plan work? Would it bring them together? Or tear them apart?

Lloyd cleared the thoughts from his mind as he silently soared over the bright lights and loud sounds of Ninjago City. He preferred the peace and quiet of their temple home but sometimes it was nice to visit the busy city. Except for his stupid fans.

After saving Ninjago six times, the ninja, mainly Kai since he adored his fans, had a lot of fans, mainly fangirls. Because of this, it was quite hard for Lloyd to walk through Ninjago City without being swarmed by irritating, swooning teenage girls. Lloyd did not like having screaming fangirls unlike Kai, who reveled in their attention.

Lloyd’s elemental dragon disappeared into glittering green dust as he dove toward the lively, bustling city and fell gracefully to the street. Lloyd began walking down the street, trying to blend in with the other inhabitants of Ninjago City.

If he wanted to avoid them, Lloyd would have to be—

“Omigosh! Is that the green ninja! Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh! He is!” An excited teenage girl with pink hair cried, pointing to Lloyd and squealing, “Can I get your autograph? Omigosh!” Her shrieking alerted practically all the girls on the block. She and her group of friends pushed past crowds of citizens, squealing and shrieking.

“Oh, brother.” Lloyd muttered. So much for avoiding them. Lloyd briskly made his way toward the museum across the street.

The girl, her friends and a multitude of screaming fangirls raced toward him each screeching his name or ‘Omigosh!’ or something of the like.