It's that time of year! Last year, I was just starting Fanfiction, but this year, I'm doing a Christmas story. This will be of the Ninja, up until News Years, hopefully. I hope you all enjoy and Have a Safe and Merry Christmas this year.
Through Ninjago, on one fine evening, kids played in the snow, and parents set up decorations. Families sat around the fireplace, huddled together with love and joy. Especially one family.
"So, when are we getting a tree?" Lloyd asked.
"When you get off your lazy butt and go get one," Cole told him, turning back to his book.
"Grinch," Lloyd muttered.
"I'll come with you, Lloyd," Nya said.
"Me too," Jay said. "I love Christmas. It's my favourite time of the year."
"Alright, I'll get lights and stuff out from storage," Kai said. "You wanna help Zane?"
"Ok," Zane said.
They all got up, except for Cole. Lloyd, Jay and Nya put on their snow gear and set out to find their perfect tree while Kai and Zane dug out the Christmas decorations.
"Here's a place," Jay said.
They landed at a Christmas Tree Farm. They walked around, and saw a fire going, with kids standing around, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. People were riding on wagons out to the tree fields.
"This is incredible," Nya said.
"This is where my parents always took me for our tree," Jay said. "It brings back memories."
"Well, where to?" Lloyd asked.
"We get on a wagon and go get a tree," Jay said. "Come on."
Jay lead Nya and Lloyd towards a wagon loading up. They got on and sat beside a family of four.
"Mom, I want to biggest tree there is," the little girl said.
"Yeah, and the snowiest one," the boy agreed.
"But then Santa can't fit any presents under it," their dad said.
"And the snow will make all the presents wet," their mother added.
"Then let's ask Santa to put the presents around it," the little girl said, standing up.
"Sit down," their father told her.
But it was too late, the wagon hit a bump and she lost her balance, falling into the railings. They snapped under her and sent her over. Lloyd jumped, pulling her close and rolling with her, through the snow.
"Lloyd!" Jay cried, jumping off the wagon as it stopped.
Lloyd pulled his arms away from the girl, and lifting her onto her feet.
"Are you alright?" her father ran to them.
"I'm Ok, daddy," the girl said.
"Thank you," her mother said.
"It's nothing," Lloyd replied.
"If everyone's alright back there, we've gotten to the tree fields," the driver said.
Lloyd looked around in, seeing all the trees.
"Go, enjoy your day," Nya smiled at the parents.
"There must be something we can do for you, though," their mother told her.
"We don't need anything back," Jay told them.
"He's right, we do things for what is right, not for rewards," Lloyd chimed in.
"Alright, thank you so much," she said again.
"It's honestly no problem, ma'am, now go and get your tree and have a safe and Merry Christmas," Lloyd told them.
They turned and walked towards the fields, looking at all the trees.
"How about this one?" Jay said. "Bushy, still bright green and should fit nicely on the Bounty."
"Alright, how do we cut it down?" Nya asked.
"I've got it," a worker said. "This one?"
"Yes," Jay said.
The man cut down the tree and dragged it through the field and put onto a flatbed trailer.
"It'll be back at the farm, shortly," the man said. "If you'd like, you can ride the wagon behind us."
Lloyd looked behind them and saw people climbing onto a new wagon. They climbed on the wagon and rode it back to the farm. Once back, they waited for their tree until something came loose and they all started to topple towards the worker unloading them.
"Back away!" someone yelled.
All three of them sprang into action. Lloyd and Jay each caught a tree while Nya grabbed the man in her spinjitzu and got him to safety. They carefully removed the trees so everyone was safe.
"The ninja," a kid said in awe.
"So cool," another said.
"Can I have your autograph," a little girl asked Nya.
Lloyd and Jay sighed in relief that everyone was fine while Nya was swarmed by little kids.
"Alright everyone, the water ninja needs some space," Jay called out, backing kids away. "You Ok, Nya?"
"Yes, thanks Jay," she smiled, kissing him on the cheek.
Everyone awed at them, thinking they were cute.
"We should get back to the Bounty, you guys," Lloyd said. "Sensei Wu will be home shortly and he'll get worried if we don't come back soon."
"Lloyd's right, let's go," Jay said.
They grabbed their tree and walked summoned their dragons, Lloyd's carrying the tree. They flew back to the Bounty, singing 1000 Bottles of Tea on the Wall the whole way. They landed and met Kai and Zane outside. They brought the tree inside and set it up in the gaming room, which was tidied up.
"Where's Cole?" Lloyd asked.
"In his room," Kai sighed. "Complaining that we're making too much noise."
"What's his deal?" Jay said. "He's acting like you on a normal day, Kai."
Jay got smacked by Kai for his comment.
"Jay has a point, Cole is not himself," Zane said. "For some reason, I sense he do not wish to celebrate Christmas."
"Why do you think that?" Nya asked him.
"Not certain," Zane replied. "Perhaps we could ask him."
"Students," Sensei said, walking in on them. "I ask you to leave Cole alone for the rest of the day."
"Is something wrong Sensei?" Lloyd asked.
"Cole is having…." Sensei paused, looking for the right words. "He's having a rough day."
"He seemed fine this morning," Jay said.
"All I asked is that you leave him to his quarters for the evening," Sensei told them. "That is all."
Sensei walked away with no further questions.
"So, that happened," Kai said.
"What is wrong with Cole?" Jay wondered.
"Let's just do as Sensei said," Lloyd told the others. "Cole clearly needs some space."
They all nodded, as they started decorating the tree.
Cole sat on his bed, looking at a photo, which haunted Cole his whole life. His mother, his father and him, all together around the Christmas tree. On the bottom of the picture, said December 24, 2003.
"Cole," Sensei's voice said in the doorway.
"Did you tell them?" Cole asked.
"Yes, they won't bother you for the rest of the day," Sensei replied. "Good night, then Cole."
The door closed and he listened to Sensei walking away. He looked back at the picture. The picture he was happy in.
"I miss you mom," he whispered.
His fingers ran over his mother's face as tears slipped down his cheeks. On the back of the picture, in blue cursive writing, said December 24, 2003 again, as well as Cole's fifth Christmas. Then, below it, read in black pen…...Cole's last Christmas.
