CHAPTER 9

HEADING HOME

NYA`S POV:

The next morning, I was released from Romensa's grasp. A guard led me out and went back inside the cave as I walked outside. I had almost forgotten that Mistoffs can't go outside in the sun. I was all on my own at this point. I had no idea where I was or where I was going, but I just decided to keep on going until I found my way home. I wish I could follow a trail of breadcrumbs to make my way home, but sometimes you just had to go one way to make it to point B. I was shivering with fear. My ankle was hurting really bad. I needed to rest, but I couldn't. I had to keep going. Let nature do whatever it wants. I can handle it. Keep moving forward and don't look ahead. Not really sure if that advice is useful for this, but I was taking it, anyway.

The crickets were chirping. The frogs were croaking. The animals were at the beginning phases of falling asleep. The stars began to form constellations in the sky. The moon's bright gleams were shining right next to them. The people of Ninjago would be falling asleep with wonderful dreams. What was I doing? Traveling on the trail to home in the woods. Oh, if only the trees and animals could talk. I would just love to sit down and have a nice conversation with them. That wasn't gonna happen, though. I had to keep going. I needed to keep following the light of the moon. A nice warm bed was calling me. My friends and family were calling me. Home was calling me.

I didn't know what time it was or where I was at this point. By the position the moon was in, it looked to be around midnight. I couldn't just keep walking forever. I needed to take a break. At this point, my leg was starting to throb and swell up. I sat against a tree and took a deep breath. After a moment of relaxing my body, I fell asleep peacefully in the woods.

A dream so beautiful entered my head. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. I was outside sitting against a tree, reading a book. I heard footsteps coming my way. Closing my novel, I was happy to see a familiar face walk up to me. The beautiful features of my dear mother.

She came and sat down next to me. "Hello, Nya dear. You look happy. Usually, you come home sitting on the bench in the garden. What are you doing out here?"

"Just doing the required reading for my English class," I said, "It's pretty interesting."

"What's it about?"

"It starts off with two sisters who love each other more than anything else. There's an oldest and a youngest. They ended up in a battle with an ancient tribe called the Mistoffs and the youngest ended up getting bit by one of them. The oldest had went out to search for her sister, but on that same day, she somehow was able to create the silver weapons of spinjitzu. With them, she was able to make the land beautiful. The youngest sister was consumed with evil and had escaped into the darkness. The oldest was known as the first spinjitzu mistress. When she passed away, her two daughters sworn to protect them. They both cared for each other just as their mother and her sister had. One day, they met a cousin they knew nothing about. They didn't even know they had an aunt. After battling her fir an entire night, she fled back to her home where the other Mistoffs lived. The two sisters hid the silver weapons and drew a map out so that only the four chosen mistresses of spinjitzu would be able to find them one day."

"That sounds very interesting. You know, when I was a girl, my parents couldn't afford to send me to school, so I had to go to my neighbor's home in order to receive an education."

"What did your neighbor teach you?"

"All kinds of things. Even more than what your teachers lecture you on. He went deep into all of Ninjago`s legends, fables, myths and so on and so forth. He even taught me that same story you're reading."

"Mom, if the silver weapons were created years ago, how come they haven't found the mistresses yet?"

"They tried to once, but it was never meant to be. You have to find four specific types of mistresses. The mistresses of water, animals, sound, and the wild. They existed long ago, but they just never came together."

"If I was chosen to become one of the mistesses, I'd be the mistress of water."

"Why, dear?"

"I don't know. For some reason, I've always been attracted to water. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, the water is calling me. Has that ever happened to you before?"

"Well, just in my youth years, but it's not an unusual feeling to have. Just remember this, sweetheart. When the past gives you a calling, the future will make sure you hear it."

I smiled. My mother was always the type of person to give me good advice. "I'll remember that, Mom."

"That's my girl. Come on inside and help me finish up dinner."

Gathering up my books, I followed my mother inside the house. It felt good just to talk to her again. Even if it was just a dream.

The dream vanished and I felt as though I was no longer in a sitting position. I felt my back was on a comfortable cotton ball and my head was even more comfortable than that. As much as I didn't want to, I opened my eyes out of curiosity and looked at my surroundings.

I was back in my bedroom. Everything was still in place just how I left it. I looked to see that I was lying in bed in the most comfortable position I've ever felt. My leg was propped up on a pillow and I felt a bandage covering up the cut on my cheek. My head was throbbing like crazy. My whole body felt sore. My stomach growled as I felt as though I could eat an entire buffet in a matter of seconds.

I had the feeling my question was answered when the door to my room opened. Garmadon came in with a tray in his hands that contained two bowls and a couple of towels. He smiled. "Nya, you're awake. We're glad you've regained consciousness."

"What's going on?" I asked, "How did I get back to the monastery?"

"It was merely a surprise, actually." Garmadon set the tray down on the nightstand. "Lloyd and I were on our way to the river to collect some water from the well to make some tea when we discovered something lightly breathing close by. We weren't hoping it would be you. Lloyd and I carried you back here a few hours ago. I thought it might be time to help the swelling go down in your ankle. You weren't in very good shape."

"I do apologize for all of this." I had realized something. "Wait. Where's the rest of the team? And Misako?"

"They went out to search for you. Don't worry, though. They should be back by tonight. Lloyd called them and said that you've been found."

"That was very nice of you." That's when I remembered that I had no idea what day it was. "Garmadon, how long have I been gone?"

"About four days. Do you remember what happened?"

"Not really. My memories are kind of fuzzy." I looked to see Garmadon place some ice in a cold damp cloth. "What are you doing?"

"This is suppose to help keep the swelling down in your ankle. I did it before when we first brought you here. We need to ice it once every two to four hours. I think now is the best time to cool it off. Hold still, though. It'll only sting a bit."

When Garmadon placed the cloth gently on my ankle, I could hardly feel any stinging. The only thing I could feel was relief. I felt relaxed. "I have no idea how that was supposed to hurt, but that actually felt good."

"I suppose you haven't felt a gentle touch in a while. Don't worry, Nya. Those Mistoffs won't lay a hand on you again."

I gasped. "The Mistoffs?! Where?" I turned my head from one place to another. Those villains were messing with my head. "Don't take me again. I'll do what you say. I promise." I distinctly remembered something from my time with the Mistoffs. It was making me freak out.

Garmadon placed his hands on my shoulders, placing me gently back on the pillow. "Easy, Nya, easy. You've been through a lot. I can understand that. Calm down. The Mistoffs are not here. Not only have they banged you up. They've been messing with your mind."

I knew I shouldn't tell him, but the memory was eating me alive. I had to tell somebody and Garmadon was just the guy. I needed to calm down first. "Garmadon, there's something that you need to know, but only you need to know for the time being. Do you mind making me some tea, though? I really need to calm down."

"Are you starting to remember what you forgot?"

"Yes, actually."

"Well, then, I'd be happy to." Garmadon walked away from the bed and opened the door. He was greeted by Lloyd, who was smiling.

"Hey, Dad," Lloyd said, "I just got a call from Mom. She and the others may not be home until tomorrow morning. They had to..." He paused to see that I was awake. "Oh, hey, Nya. Glad to see you're awake."

"Hey, Lloyd," I greeted.

"Lloyd, why don't you be a gentleman to Nya and fetch her a cup of tea?" Garmadon said.

"Oh, okay," Lloyd said, "Be right back." Lloyd walked away as Garmadon closed the door.

The master pulled up my desk chair and sat down next to me. "Tell me, Nya. What happened after you regained consciousness in the Mistoffs dungeons."

I went off to tell my story about my uncomfortable stay with the Mistoffs and Romensa. I didn't miss anything. Not even the part about promising Romensa the map.

HERE'S A CHAPTER OF MY NINJAGO STORY. DON'T WORRY. I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON THIS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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