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It had been over 2 months. 2 months since Ninjago city was under water. 2 months since Kalmar was swallowed by the giant serpent. 2 months since Wojira was defeated. 2 months since the city lost its Master of Water.
Everyone in the city had gathered, and beyond the city, had gathered in the monastery to pay tribute to their beloved Water Ninja. She saved them countless of times alongside the boys despite their insults when she initially joined the team as an Elemental Master. Now, in order to save the city, she decided to sacrifice herself.
If the citizens were handling the news pretty hard, how were the Ninja doing? the people who were always by her side- Nya's family.
There was one particular ninja who just could not help but feel like this was all a bad nightmare and he just couldn't wait to get up. Nya was his little sister. He promised from the day she was born that he would do whatever it took to protect her. But he failed. She was gone and so was any hope of bringing her back, Benthomaar made that pretty clear. Still, he couldn't feel like he should have done something. He should have helped, he should have stopped. But she wouldn't listen to him, she never did. Why would she start now?
It was the constant guilt gnawing at his insides that led him here. He never really liked water much, but knowing that she was there, he didn't care if he even drowned. That was why Kai was now seen sitting on the edge of the dock overlooking the ocean during a sunrise.
"Couldn't sleep?", a voice called out from behind him. It was a female's voice and Kai didn't need to turn around to see who it was.
"I just feel like all of this is my fault. Like I should have tried harder to stop her from leaving, but I just stood there trying to piece together what was going on. I feel like I let her down.", Kai said as he broke into soft sobs, Eyes still fixed on the horizon.
Maya's heart broke for her son. She couldn't bare to see her child like this. She reached over his shoulders and gently pulled him in for a hug.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye.", he finally managed.
"Neither did I", she said, trying her level best not to cry when her kid needed her to be strong right now.
Kai didn't lend a deaf ear to her sniffling. He knew this was a sensitive subject for his family. Nya was his sister, and her parents' daughter. They had dropped everything and come to the monastery so Maya could help Nya regain control of her powers.
"I'm sorry mom. I shouldn't have reminded you about what just happened. I just miss her so much", Kai hugged his mom tight and let the tears run free.
"So do I, sweetie, so do I. You didn't remind me Kai. It's just hard to forget she's really gone. I just wish there was a way we could bring her back." Now it was Maya's turn to cry.
"I still remember the way you held her the first time you 2 met. It was the most adorable sight." She giggled. "The way you cuddled her and promised to always protect her no matter what. You are the best brother she could ever ask for, Kai. And you're the best son that we could ever ask for. I couldn't be more proud of what you and your sister have accomplished over the years." she hugged her son tight hoping he wouldn't leave her either.
Kai hugged back and smiled through teray eyes. "Nya was the reason I got this far in the first place. I became a ninja so that I could save her from Garmadon's skeleton army, and then I continued in the same path in the hopes that I would be able to protect her from all the world's dangers. But I failed- as a ninja and as her brother." Kai could help but cry at the thought. "I didn't fight hard enough and now she is never coming back.", he sobbed. How could he have let this happen? He didn't deserve his elemental powers.
"Nonsense", a low male voice spoke from behind. His father approached him and wrapped an arm around his shaking shoulders. "You did everything you could, but the choice was hers to make. Nya decided to merge with the sea and you of all people know that there was nothing we could do to change her mind. I know you miss her, son, we all do. But don't ever think that you don't deserve these powers. You and your friends are the best team of Ninjago's protectors we have ever seen.", Maya nodded in agreement with her husband.
"Kai, we can't begin to explain how proud we are of you both. I already told Nya this, but you are the best Fire Ninja I have ever seen. You are even better than your father.", Maya said, beaming.
"Hey!", Ray explained, taken aback by her comment. They all burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting the reason why they were at the docks in the first place. Once the laughter died down, Ray Looked down at Kai and said, "But it's true, son. You are better than me. And we are proud of both of you." Ray smiled as he leaned in and hugged his family.
They all stayed like that for a few minutes silently listening to the waves crash against rocks as they tried to connect with each other and the ocean. Now that Nya was a part of it, the Smith family prayed that wherever she was, she was happy and thinking of them. Because it would take a miracle to make them forget her.
As Kai opened his eyes to watch the sunrise, his eyes fell on a glowing blue figure hovering over the water and smiling back at him.
"Nya?"