I do not own Ninjago, it belongs to Lego and Cartoon Network.


Chapter Nine

Lloyd slept solid, which was definitely a first in a very long time.

He wondered what it was about Alyx. Being around her was just so comforting and relaxing. Her hugs were so warm and comfortable, and his body molded against hers like a perfect puzzle piece. She held him with protection, but he suspected that it wasn't because he was the Green Ninja. He wanted to know everything about her, but was hesitant of past events. What if something happened again? What if he couldn't protect her or himself or the others?

Lloyd stared at her sleeping face, taking in the scars and everything that made her Alyx. He looked at their intertwined hands. They fit so perfect. Her fingers were long and thin, but her hand strength was amazing. Her right hand was in his left, tan and fair skin. He smiled at their hands. Perhaps they would be able to do this without hiding it.

Lloyd shook the thought from his head. No, not after Harumi.

He hadn't meant to pull her into his bed. It was in the moment, and he didn't want her to leave. He wasn't quite in a deep sleep when he felt her pick him up, carry him to his room and then when she pulled away after tucking him in with gentleness, he panicked inwardly and grabbed her wrist without thinking. When she tried to pry his fingers away, he tightened. He didn't want her to leave. He didn't know why. He just felt safer when she was around him. When he felt her give up and lay next to him, he felt a wave of comfort wash over him.

He also felt bad since he technically forced her into doing so and he hoped she wouldn't be mad at him for it.

Alyx begin to stir.

Lloyd watched her take a breath before breathing it out through her nose, opening her eyes slowly. She processed his face before smiling.

"Morning..." She mumbled. Lloyd smiled.

"Morning..." She lifted her head to look around, then laid her head back down.

"Did we really sleep together?"

"'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" She covered his mouth, chuckling.

"If you slept well, then I don't mind. Just tell me that you want me to stay next time, okay?" He blushed and nodded, her hand pulling away. "What time is it?"

"I think it's around six." He rolled over and picked up his phone. 6:24. "Yeah, almost six-thirty."

"Oh, so we can sleep a bit more." He chuckled and nodded, scooting a bit closer. "How'd you sleep?"

"Better... Better than I have in a couple of years." Alyx smiled. "You?"

"Pretty good." She glanced at the covers. "I was a bit cold last night, though."

"O-Oh!" He quickly pulled the blankets up to cover her legs, making her stifle her laughter. He squeezed her hand, making her squeeze back.

"Let's hope Sensei doesn't decide to do Sunrise Exercise." Alyx snorted.

"What is that?"

"He makes us get up early and do stretches. It's so stupid because he usually does it around this time-"

The loud banging of a gong interrupted him. He groaned.

"I spoke too soon." Alyx looked panicked as they heard the doors of the other ninja open.

"How are you going to leave?" He whispered.

"I don't know!" They quickly untangled themselves, which they both seem disappointed at, and Lloyd jumped as he heard a knock.

"Lloyd, get up. Pretty sure Sensei's gonna try and torture us." Kai's groggy voice came through. Alyx looked at him, her eyes wide in panic. Not something Lloyd wanted him to see. She backed herself into a corner, then disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. His eyes widened, and heard another knock.

"Lloyd? Are you awake?" Lloyd straightened his clothes and then opened the door, seeing Kai looking at him with a raised eyebrow. His hair was still very fluffy, his clothes wrinkled from sleep.

"You okay?" He asked. Lloyd nodded, swallowing.

"Yeah." Another bang of the gong had them flinching.

"Ugh, please don't be Sunrise Exercise." Kai mumbled as he walked ahead. Lloyd looked back in his room, seeing no sign of Alyx and hoped she was able to get out.

"Good morning, students." Wu greeted as they gathered in the courtyard.

"It's too early, Sensei! The sun barely rose like ten minutes ago!" Jay complained.

"Three minutes, actually." Zane corrected. Jay turned his head to glare at the nindroid.

"Um... Why are we out so early? Alyx never even got us up this early." Camille asked. Alyx appeared behind her and slapped the back of her head, Lloyd feeling relieved that she got out.

Wu smiled.

"We are doing Sunrise Exercise." The ninja groaned.

"What's Sunrise Exercise?" Diana asked.

"You had to ask." Kai hissed.

"Change into your gis. We shall begin in fifteen minutes."


They lined up after taking a quick shower and changed into their gis.

"Don't we get breakfast?" Jay asked. "You can't stretch on an empty stomach, you know."

"Don't worry, Jay. Pixal and Misako are making breakfast as we speak." Wu turned around. "Now, Pinching Crab." The ninja took form immediately, and although it took the girls a second to process, they soon followed.

"This isn't so bad." Camille whispered. "Why do you hate this so much?"

"Just wait." Cole replied. "It gets worse."

As it went on, the stretches tested their flexibility and balance.

"I'm regretting this." Camille mumbled as they took a form of a rather hard stretch. They had to do a one handed stand with their legs crossed, their other hand barely supporting them.

"See?" Kai grunted, then looked over at Alyx, who was performing the formation with her eyes closed, her body relaxed. She held herself up with her left hand, her right extended in perfect formation. "How is she doing that?"

"Alyx has been in tighter situations than you guys have ever been." Diana replied, sweat beading on her face. "She's been flexible ever since she was a kid."

"Showoff." Cole mumbled.

"Not a showoff, Cole." Zane replied. "I sense that Alyx has gone through more than we could ever imagine and-" Jay wobbled, and lost his balance. He yelped as he toppled into Zane, who toppled into Cole and caused a chain reaction. The only one who remained was Alyx, and at the sound of the loud crash, opened her eyes to see them all piled on top of each other. Wu broke his formation, seeing that she was the only one who remained in her position, and shook his head.

"Ah, yes, I present to you the greatest ninja in all of Ninjago." Alyx pointed to them with one hand, the other supporting her weight perfectly. Wu couldn't help but chuckle.

"You all have gotten much farther than normal. It goes to show how much you have improved since you first became my students." Everyone slowly untangled themselves and stood up.

"Yeah, well, when you've faced giant snakes, the Overlord twice, nindroids, Anacondrai, ghosts, an entire biker gang, dragon hunters and dragons, you tend to get some experience." Cole said.

"Just rub it in." Camille hissed at him.

"We've faced them, too, dummy." Ashe said, nudging her arm. Alyx flipped from her positon, landing smoothly and calmly. The ninja cast her glares, until Lloyd hit them all on the heads. He saw they were clearly jealous and he, to be honest, was quite jealous as well. Misako peaked out from the kitchen.

"Ah, so no muscles have been torn?" Kai rubbed his thigh.

"Not yet." She chuckled.

"Well, breakfast is ready." She disappeared back into the kitchen, making them all look at each other before they ran into the dining room like savages.

Alyx rolled her eyes, beginning to follow when she felt a staff tap her shoulder. She turned to see Wu.

"Oh, hello, Sensei." She greeted him and gave him a small bow. "What can I do for you?"

"I would like to speak with you after breakfast, if that's alright. I have a few questions for you."

A weight of dread settled in her stomach.

"Um, of course. Anything." Alyx watched him walk into the dining room, seeing Lloyd peak out to give her a look of curiosity. Alyx bowed her head and followed him in.


The ninja were warming up when Wu called Alyx into the Bridge. The doors shut behind them, and they looked at each other with worry.

"Uh, is she okay?" Cole asked. Camille and the girls shrugged.

"Maybe he just wants to ask her about her powers." Kai asked as he pulled on his hood. "If she has any." He added under his breath.

"Alyx must have powers if her energy levels match Lloyd's." Zane said. "But... It is strange that she hasn't found them. Perhaps she has a fear that is holding her back, like how we couldn't summon our power dragons."

"We still can't." Jay said, then turned to the girls. "Do you know why Alyx can't unlock her powers?" They gave each other hesitant looks, looking for the words to avoid the question.

Lloyd saved them.

"Whatever is holding her back, she needs to face her fear on her own." He said. "It's not our buisness."

"Okay, okay." Kai defensively. "Looks like the boyfriend is getting his panties in a ruffle." Lloyd growled at him.

"Kai, that's inappropriate." They turned to the doors, where Ray and Maya stood, their eyebrows raised disapprovingly. They both had backpacks and looked quite annoyed at his joke.

"H-Hey!" Kai greeted, trying to sound innocent. "I thought Sensei was going to meet you at Four Weapons." They shrugged, stepping in and taking in the new Monastery.

"We finished our projects a bit early, so we decided to drop by." Maya said, greeting Nya with a kiss on the forehead and greeting Kai with a kiss on the cheek.

"Mom!" He pouted.

"Projects?" Jay asked. "Did you guys create a new weapon?" His voice was teasing, but they simply chuckled and shook their heads.

"Where is Wu?"

"In the Bridge." Misako said as she came out from the living room. "It's good to see you both." Ray grinned then ruffled Kai's hair.

"Anything to see these two parasites." They laughed, before the couple noticed the three in the corner, very awkwardly standing there, unsure of what to do.

"And who might you be? Elemental masters?" Maya asked. The three looked panicked. Lloyd was doing everything he could to hide his before the doors to the Bridge opened. Wu stood in the doorway, and his eyes slightly widened at the sight of them.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting to see you until tomorrow." Wu said, clearly shocked.

"Why, who's here?" Alyx appeared next to him, adjusting her gloves before stopping cold as she saw them. The color drained from her face, and her eyes seemed to turn dark like storm clouds at the sight.

Ray dropped the case he'd been holding, Maya tearing up and choking.

They stared at each other before Maya stepped forward.

"Alyx? Is... Is that you?"