Chapter Text
It has been years since The Merge happened. About 3 years to be exact. He remembers it all too well, they were saving people from getting sucked in but in the end, he and his family got sucked in too. The Merge, a weird and sudden event where all 16 realms merged together as one, including Ninjago.
When he woke up, he was back at the Monastery of Spinjitzu but it didn't feel like home, it felt familiar but not exactly. He was alone too. Lloyd woke up from the floor of the training yard and got himself a cup of coffee as he sat on the platform of the monastery.
He has no idea what happened to his family, nor to the world. He is a little afraid to go down and see the whole world he once knew change in a flash of light. But a part of him wants to, wants to find his family while the voice in his head tells him not to, urging him to stay for some reason. He decided to listen to that voice.
And 3 years had passed, he had not moved his butt from the monastery. He had made himself comfortable, putting up portraits of his family outside near the training yard, just so he hoped to see them again. Lloyd promises himself to take care of his new home like how Master Wu did, even though he was alone, accompanied by the voices in his head.
A lot has happened during the last few years. Apparently, merge-quakes have started to appear and he has found out that elemental powers are the only thing able to close them. But as each day goes by, the merge-quakes have become more frequent and powerful, Lloyd doesn’t think he can close them all by himself.
But one fine day, Lloyd was sipping on his tea on top of the rooftop when he spotted their old Destiny's Bounty and Lloyd had hopes of seeing any one of his family. He hopped onto the ship, looking around for anyone.
He caught a blur of red flashing by him and on instinct, he attacked the figure and pinned him onto the floor, making the stranger- no, Kai; remove his hood so Lloyd could recognise him. He had sighed in relief and hugged his brother tightly, afraid that he would go missing and that it was all a dream. He had asked him if he had seen anyone else but to his dismay, his brother shook his head sadly.
That happened about a year ago, but a few months ago, Kai had already left on an adventure to explore all the realms that were merged together. Thanks to him, he found out that Ninjago was merged with the Crossroads. He was a little curious to see what Ninjago looks like now.
Now, Lloyd is currently cleaning the training yard as he hums to himself, racking all the leaves that have fallen. But as he did, a little bang was heard from outside the door. Lloyd’s flight or fight instinct activated, he wasn’t expecting people to know where the monastery is now due to the Merge. He walks towards the door and peeks through it, unexpectedly finding a baby dragon down on the stairs of his home, panting lightly as it laid down, seemingly injured.
He frowns and opens the door bigger, looking around if there were any threats before poking the dragon softly. “Hey little guy, are you lost?” Lloyd spoke to it in a soft voice but when the dragon didn’t respond to him, he quickly brought it inside. He doesn’t know much about how to take care of a dragon as his last dragons were made up of elemental powers, but he gave it a shot anyway and took care of the little guy.
He took him into his room and laid it there to rest, grabbing a first aid kit to see if there were any injuries on him but found nothing. Lloyd frowns to himself and covers the dragon with a blanket. He wondered what happened to him and how he managed to find the monastery so high up in the mountains. Lloyd just leaves it alone to rest.
Lloyd was eating when suddenly the dragon joined him in eating. Lloyd was a little startled but let it be, assuming that it might be starving. He smiles a little as he watches it munch his food, patting its head. “Well, at least I’m not alone now,” Lloyd mumbles, making the dragon roar softly. Lloyd giggles and before he could do anything else, there was a loud knock on the door. He looked at the dragon confusedly when it started to whimper and hide behind him.
“Stay here, I’ll check it out,” he assured the dragon and took his sword as a precaution, and opened the door slightly, peeking out of the door. There was someone with guards around him. “Can I help you?” he didn’t bother to open the door fully, unsure he can trust those guys with his real identity. “I heard there was a dragon here? If there is, please kindly hand it to us or we have to take it forcefully,” the guy said, trying to take a peek inside.
Lloyd frowns and secretly glances back at where he had left the dragon. “Nope, no dragons here. If there was, I don’t think it’ll be able to fit in my home,” Lloyd shrugged, hoping the stranger would buy his lie. The stranger hums before turning away from his home. “Well, if you see any dragons, big or small, give Rapton a call.” And with that, they left.
Lloyd sighed in relief before scratching his head. “Why do bad guys like to mention themselves in third person,” he asked in no one in particular but the dragon made a small sound to let him know that he was listening, which made him smile. “What do they want with you, little fella? Where did you come from, where is your family? You look like you’re far from them.” Lloyd squats down and looks at the dragon, giving it a head pat.
He sighs. "I'm far away from my family too and I have no clue where any of them are... I just hope they are still alive," he looks down sadly.
The dragon bumps its head against him before going to a bunch of rocks, assembling it. Lloyd looks at it with confusion before a thought comes to his mind. “You’re showing me where you live!” he gasped before looking at the rock structure, a familiar feeling. “I think Kai sent me something that looks like that,” he mumbles before running to the study room where Master Wu would keep his scrolls.
He manages to find what he was looking for with the help of his new friend and they head off to their location with the new bounty. It was the first time he had been outside and even when he was outside, he tried to conceal his identity by hiding among people, shadows and climbing from rooftops to rooftops.
He knows that the world thinks that the ninja are dead, he wasn’t sure if the others were still… with him but he knows that he is pretty much alive, just very alone with hopes to find his family. Maybe after he dropped off his new friend to his family, he could go back home, pack his things and go on a search for his own family.
He steers the bounty and lets down the anchor, looking up at the dragons that were flying past them. They seem to be attacking something? Lloyd jumped off the bounty with the help of Spinjitzu to let him fall gently before running to where a herd of dragons were defending themselves, his new friend in tow.
He covers his face with his hood and shoots an energy ball at whatever they were attacking, making them fall onto the ground. He looks closely at the attacker before realising it was the same guy that had asked him about the dragon, Rapton.
Lloyd unsheathed his sword and pointed at him. “What are you doing to the dragons, what do you want from them?!” Lloyd glares at him, making him chuckle. “And who are you to get into people’s business!” Lloyd scoffs. “You kidnap dragons and do whatever you do with them so it is my business now,” Lloyd shoots another energy ball at him which he sadly dodged out of the way. He looked around to see his guards holding the biggest dragon of them all, making Lloyd pissed. Who were they?!
“Let go of them!” “Why should I?” Rapton laughs. “They are needed so we can drain their powers and use it for our city, our beautiful Imperium City!” Lloyd frowns. He has never heard of it and it is technically his fault for not moving his ass from the monastery. Lloyd charges at him and surprisingly, his little friend helps. “Hey little guy, mind helping me distract them while I help your leader?” the dragon nodded in response, shooting some kind of energy balls at them while Lloyd ran to the trapped dragon. But before he could help it, he was surrounded by guards with the dragon behind him.
“Your Majesty, I’m here to help,” he whispers to it and raises his hands, showing the dragon that he means no harm. “You're a fool to come here,” a voice in his head said, making him glance at the dragon. Was she talking to him telepathically? “Listen, I had encounters with dragons myself and I get that some people kidnap you and want to use you for power but I swear to you, I can help you,” Lloyd bites his lips, hoping she would let him help. He sighed in relief when she agreed to it.
“I have something in mind but I am not sure it would work, I’m an elemental master of energy and I heard that dragons could help boost our powers?” Lloyd shoots his energy balls at the incoming guards, protecting himself, his new friend and the matriarch. “Yes, it can. But I am not sure if it is safe.” “Please, I need a boost here or I can’t get you out,” Lloyd begged and the dragon seemed to think about it before hitting him with an energy, making his powers get stronger.
He blasted his powers at the enemies but before he could catch Rapton, he had fled. Lloyd turns to look at the matriarch, removing his hood as he gets rid of the restraints. “Thank you Green Ninja. I am glad Riyu has a friend like you, especially since you are the Legendary Green Ninja.” Lloyd blushed, rubbing his neck. “Riyu? Is that your name, little guy?” Riyu nodded and screeched happily, running around him. “You’re home now, Riyu,” Lloyd smiles at him as he squats down to his level. But Riyu paid him no attention as he picked up his sword and ran around with it.
“It looks like Riyu is not ready to leave his newfound friend.” Lloyd looks at the matriarch, tilting his head. “Riyu can stay with you. In the meantime, we shall relocate our home for safety reasons. If there is any need for you to find us, he will know where we will be,” the matriarch bows her head at her and flies off with all the other dragons, leaving him and Riyu.
Lloyd smiles as he watches them go before looking at Riyu, grabbing his sword away from him which made him whine. “Nuh uh, this is dangerous. You don't want to accidentally hurt yourself or me, do you?” If dragons could pout, Riyu would definitely be pouting right now. Lloyd chuckles and jerks his head to the direction of the bounty. “C’mon, let's get back home and try to find my family.” Riyu screeched loudly hearing that, excited to know that he has another adventure coming up.