Chapter Text
One of Arin's favorite events since the Merge was the Crossroads Carnival. He loved all the different games, rides, the delicious smell of all kinds of food ever-present in the air. He and Frak used to go to Ninjago carnivals before the Merge, but they could never compare to the Crossroads. The Merge had brought so many new people and cultures to Ninjago, it only made sense events would become grander to reflect that.
Last year, though, he hadn't been able to enjoy the carnival as much, on account of a deranged magician and his giant puppet trying to kill him, Sora, and Riyu.
So this year, Arin wanted to enjoy the Carnival to its fullest. With everyone.
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“Woah,” Lloyd breathed. He had only been to the carnival one other time, and he hadn't really been able to enjoy it then. But now, he could see just how big this event was.
They were all standing just outside the fairgrounds, on the rough dirt path leading up to the ticket booth. Arin, Sora and Frak had rounded everyone up in the monastery that morning and announced a new “team building exercise” (which Lloyd knew was just an excuse for the carnival), and that they wanted everyone to participate.
Now he was admiring the various games and rides dotted around the fairgrounds. Stalls with vibrant patterns draped over them, brightly lit signs and arrows pointing to ring tosses, dart games, High Strikers, as well as some other games he didn't recognize. Paper lanterns were strung across the rooftops, illuminating the evening sky. Vendors were selling funnel cake, cotton candy, and popcorn as the smell carried across the air. And sitting in the middle of it all was a towering ferris wheel, slowly turning and twinkling against the sky.
Kai whistled next to Lloyd. “So this is what y'all were so excited about this morning.”
“Yep!” Arin nodded. He and Sora were at the front of the group excitedly passing out blue and white- striped wristbands.
“Sora and I thought we could all use a day off, especially since we're all back together now.”
“Yeah, and no one's cursed, or missing, or trapped in another dimension.” Sora listed off sarcastically.
“Yeah, Kai.” Wyldfyre shot an accusatory glance at him.
Kai spluttered. “Wha- I- that wasn't my fault! I didn't choose to get stuck in the Nether-Space!”
Wyldfyre pouted. She was obviously still a bit upset that Kai had been gone for so long. She quickly forgot about her little grudge, though, when she heard the familiar sound of a hoverboard coming to a stop nearby.
“Wyfy!”
Wyldfyre turned around with a grin on her face. “Roby!”
Roby was making his way across the parking lot as Wyldfyre bounded over and scooped him up, rubbing her face to his and growling playfully. Roby chuckled and returned the gesture.
Sora giggled at the sight while Kai gagged.
Nya chuckled watching them. It reminded her of when she and Jay used to be that sappy, which – ok, maybe sometimes they still were, but who could blame her? She had just got him back, memories and all. She had missed him. She felt she was allowed to be a little cheesy. As a treat.
“OK!” Arin announced once they had settled down, “Now I know we're all excited, and I really, really want you all to see how awesome this place is–” he punctuated his sentence by outstretching his arms – “but I also really want everyone to be there when they judge the baking competition. So I say everyone go do their own thing, have fun, and meet back up at the baking stand in… an hour?”
Everybody nodded in agreement.
Wyldfyre immediately sprinted off in search of the arcade she'd been promised, tugging Roby along with her and giggling maniacally.
Lloyd huffed. “Kai, can you go after them and make sure Wyldfyre doesn't set anything– or anyone– on fire.”
Kai chuckled. “If you insist, but I think you should give her more credit. She's gotten less impulsive since we've started training her-”
He was immediately interrupted by the distant sound of Wyldfyre in a very heated argument with a kid over who was in line first. Literally, as she was brandishing a very-on-fire fist at him.
Lloyd turned back to Kai and frowned.
“-- but yeah I'll stick with them.” Kai ran to catch up to them and to hopefully stop Wyldfyre from barbecuing said kid.
Nya and Jay wandered off soon after, as did Zane and Pixal, and Cole very confidently announced his intention to try his hand at all the games he could, right before racing Spitz and Fritz to the entrance, Geo and Bonzle trailing behind them.
Pretty soon the group dwindled to just Lloyd, Arin, Sora, Frak, and Riyu.
Huh. That was fast.
He felt a sudden tug at his sleeve as Riyu started pulling him in the direction of the baking stand. Arin and Frak had run ahead, and Sora was just a few steps ahead of Lloyd and Riyu.
Lloyd smiled fondly at them. While he wasn't particularly a fan of big events like this – the noise and lights were a bit much at times – he was glad to see his students relaxed and excited and for once not getting into any trouble-
Wyldfyre's shouts were getting louder in the distance, as well as her flames.
Lloyd walked a little faster.