Kyra and William cuddled together, Kyra softly sleeping beside William. Life had been almost back to normal now that the Overlord was gone. School's had reopened and families reunited with each other. It was almost as if nothing had happened to some. But for William, that was a completely different story. He had learned so much, not only about him, but the ones he was surrounded by. Like the fact that Kyra and him weren't actually related. He looked at her, snoozing softly beside him on the couch.
"So, now what?" Jason asked.
"I don't know," Brock replied. "I mean, we went through a lot for Ninjago. Maybe we should take a break for a while."
"I wouldn't mind going and spending the holiday's with my parents," Jason smiled.
"Yes, that would be great," Sam agreed.
"I am so excited for Christmas," Brock cheered. "I can't believe it's already December though, can anyone else?"
"Well, taking down the Overlord took almost a month," William noted. "That craziness is something I never want to live through again."
"Yeah, but you have to admit that we wouldn't be as close as we are now if it weren't for that disaster," Brock replied.
"You have a point," William nodded, looking at Kyra. "But I'm sure somethings could have gone differently."
Sam saw what he meant. He knew the many things William was talking about. Alex, Zack, Tylor, even his father were all gone forever. Sam got up and walked over to William. He placed a hand on William's shoulder.
"We all are going to have a rough time getting through this," Sam said. "Lloyd was like a father to all of us, some more than other." He looked around, getting nods from the others. "But we're a team. A family."
"And you know what," Brock said, standing up. "Somethings happen for a reason, William. I'm sure something will happen in the future that will fix everything that's happened."
William smiled.
"Something has already happened," he whispered. "We're alive, are we. And all the other masters. I'm sure..No, I know we can do this, as long as we work as a team."
"Because we will never leave another ninja behind," Sam joined in.
"Nor will we ever forget a ninja," Jason added.
"And we will never give in to evil," Brock cheered.
"Um," Jason looked around worried. "Does an angry teacher count as evil?"
"What did you do, Jason?" Brock asked.
Jason rummaged through his backpack from the school day they had just finished. He gulped.
"I forgot the geography assignment in my locker, at school," Jason said.
"The final assignment?" Brock asked.
"No, the one that's due tomorrow," Jason said. "And I…...might have…..nothing done on it."
"Jason!" they all yelled.
"The teacher is going to be so mad," Brock said. "You're done for."
"Brock, please help me," Jason begged. "Can I borrow you layout? Please?"
Brock laughed. "Yeah, come on. It's in my room."
Jason jumped with joy and followed Brock upstairs to his bedroom.
"I best go and check on Ella, see how her training is going," Sam said, walking towards the basement.
William nodded. We waited until her heard Sam walking down into the basement before nudging Kyra awake. She moaned, pushing him away and falling onto the couch. SHe looked up at him and glared.
"You just had to do that, didn't you," she said.
William smirked and shrugged.
"What can I say?" he said cheerfully. "Being a troublemaker runs in the family."
Kyra playfully pushed him. William laughed, getting off the couch. Kyra sprawled out like a cat, stretching her arms and legs the length of the couch. William scooped her up, holding her bridal style.
"What do you think you're doing?" she said, laughing.
William carried her through the kitchen and out the back door. She jumped down, running out onto the grass. William ran after her as they ran for the tree.
"Give me a boost, Will," Kyra said.
William cupped his hands, and boosted Kyra up into the tree. He pulled himself up and followed after her. He smiled, remembering everything from when he was a kid again. He remembered hanging out with Kyra, sometimes it was literally hanging upside down in this very tree, laughing. Kyra stood on a branch, a couple higher from where William was, looking out at Jamanikai Village surrounding them.
"I missed this view," Kyra said.
William joined her on a branch a bit lower and on the opposite side of the tree from hers. He looked out at the Village, which was almost a city now. William motioned to go higher. They climbed up the tree until they reached an opening where there were fewer branches.
"What are we doing up here, Will?" Kyra asked.
"Do you trust me?" he asked, answering with a question.
"Of course," Kyra said. "Why is that a question?"
"Then take my hand," William said.
He extended his hand and she took it. William looked down, knowing what he was doing. He jumped, pulling Kyra with him. She screamed, her eyes closed tightly until the air around her slowed. She opened her eyes to find herself flying through the night sky on the back of William's dragon. They were away from Jamanikai Village, in an area where the sky was lit up with thousands upon thousands of stars.
"Well, what do you think?" William asked.
"It's…...incredible," Kyra said, speechless.
William smiled as his dragon landed on the sandy ground of the desert. He slid off, Kyra close behind.
"My father would always take me here when I felt down, and it would cheer me up," William smiled. "And I wanted to come here, where I would always go with him. I just didn't want to be alone."
William turned to see Kyra looking up at the sky, the reflection of the stars shimmering in her eyes.
"I understand why," Kyra smiled. "This is amazing, William. I've never seen anything like it before in my life."
William smiled. He wrapped his arms around Kyra and hugged her tightly. She returned it, no second thoughts. They pulled away from each other, looking into each other's eyes.
"Oh," William said in realization.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out Kyra's necklace. It's golden chain was untouched by all the dirt and ash from the last month.
"My necklace," Kyra gasped. "I…..I can't believe you still have it."
"It's your's, Kyra," William smiled.
He gently unclasped it, placing it around her neck. Kyra's hand fell over it, grasping it and smiling.
"Thank you, William," she said.
"I made a promise that I would get it back to you," William smiled. "One way or another."
Kyra blushed in the moonlight. William knew this was the moment he had been waiting for all night. He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek. Kyra blushed even harder.
"William," she murmured.
William blushed bright red.
"I'm….." William started, looking down at his feet.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Kyra's eyes, shining a bright amber. She smiled at him.
"Thank you for this," she said, her voice filled with mixed emotions. "It's all I needed. My parents are gone, and…"
"We all know that Adam will come back," William said. "He just needs time, Kyra."
"But what if he doesn't," Kyra asked. "I mean, what if he can't stand to look at me, after everything that's happened?"
"I'm sure it won't happen," William told her. "And if he doesn't return, it's not your fault. It's him choosing his path in life and sometimes, that leads you away from your family."
Kyra nodded.
"I just….." she paused, turning away. "He's the only true family I have left, and he's not even my true brother."
Kyra looked up at the sky, thinking. William followed her gaze, which was locked onto a twinkling star, all alone in the night sky.
"I want to find my birth mother, William," Kyra said. "I want to know if she's actually alive you there. If I have any other siblings besides Adam."
"Are you sure?" William asked her.
"Positive," Kyra turned to him. She looked into his eyes, biting her lip. "In two weeks, we start Christmas Break, William. And In two weeks, I want to set out on my own for a while." She looked back up into the sky. "I want to discover who I actually am. Who my mother is? Why she gave me away to my father? All these questions without answers. You understand, right?"
William took Kyra's hands, nodding.
"I understand, Kyra," he said. "All I want to know…." He went silent, thinking about it, then looking back at her. "All I want to know is if you'll come back to me."
"Of course, William," she said. "I will come back before school comes back in the new year. I promise."
William and Kyra hugged again, their eyes closed as they embraced that moment.
"Should we go home now?" Kyra asked.
"I guess," William sighed.
He shot one last glance at the star covered sky, thinking about his father. Then his father's voice filled his mind. I'm always with you, he said. As long as you never forget me in your memories. William looked at Kyra, who waited for him. He summoned his elemental dragon and Kyra climbed on. They flew back to their home in silence, landing in the backyard. Kyra walked towards the door, turning back to see William looking at the sky again.
"William? Are you coming?" she asked.
He snapped out of his thoughts, looking at her.
"I'll come in a few minutes, alright," he said.
"Alright," she said, walking inside.
William lied down on the grass, looking at the sky. Then he saw a shooting star fly across the sky. He closed his eyes, making a wish. I wish I could see my father one last time, he thought. He looked up at the sky, hoping it would come true, even though he was sure it never would. He slowly climbed to his feet and walked inside, unaware of what was going to happen later that night.