You know, now that I've finished this, I realize that it might be a bit strange to call this an Autobiography. Most of these types of books cover someone's entire life. When I really think about it, I haven't covered a lot of time. I'm barely even an adult. But, somehow, I managed to get forty-something chapters out of it. Maybe that's just a sign of some kind. Well, one thing's for sure though: Even after writing all of this, I still stand by what I said in the beginning. I still think that Morro had a point.
Like I said in the last chapter, I want to end this book here. It's not along book, but this is what's important to me. This is where I think, it's smart to stop it. If I decided to keep writing now, I'd never finish it. I feel like, I've finally said it. I've said all of what I wanted to say. And now, it's time for me to go and finally finish what I started. It's time to end this book.
I'm never going to stop having adventures. I'm a ninja, and, well, we don't quit. Even if we maybe want to. Through all of my adventures, all of the time I've spent with my friends, I've learned that it's never enough to just want something to end. It's never enough to just want to make something happen. You have to do both. You have to want it, and work to make something happen. Through everything, I've always known that. I've known that I have to keep pushing.
At first, I think the only reason that I pushed was because I was the Green Ninja. I did it because that was just, what was expected of me. I had to be the savior of Ninjago. But that's not who I am now. Being the Green Ninja isn't about, being Ninjago's savior. I have to be the person that saves Ninjago. I have to be the person that will carry Ninjago forward. I have to do this, above anything else. I made a promise that I would protect this land. Being the Green Ninja is my symbol of that. People will remember the Green Ninja.
But I can't rely on that. I'll never be able to say that I'm strong because I'm the Green Ninja. All this time, I've thought about being strong because I have that title. Maybe that's why I had so many issues with finding who I was. I thought for so long that being the Green Ninja was it. That was what I had to be. That's what I should be. But, having that symbol stripped away by my father was enough to make me realize that, that's not all there is to me. I'm not the Green Ninja. I'm Lloyd Garmadon. I'm the son of Lord Garmadon, I'm a member of the ninja, and I help protect Ninjago. Those are what make up the Green Ninja. But I am not the Green Ninja. The Green Ninja, is me.
I thought, maybe I'd know more of what I wanted to say when I wrote this epilogue. I guess after reading all this, you must think I really don't want to protect Ninjago. I've complained a lot about how much I've lost. I've made a big deal about how many times I've been hurt, my father changed me, how the ninja changed me… how destiny pulled me around and threw me for a loop whenever I thought I finally had a grip on it. I know that, after all my freakouts you probably think that I hate being the Green Ninja. And, I can't exactly say that's, entirely untrue. There have been times I've hated it.
But that doesn't mean that I regret this. I don't regret my life. I don't look back and wish that I'd been someone else. Because I know that there was only one person who could be the Green Ninja. If I wasn't it, then Ninjago would have fallen. But more than that, I wouldn't have become the person I am today. I've hurt, a lot. I've gone through things that nobody else should have to. But at the end of the day, I know that I'm who I need to be. I'm Lloyd Garmadon. I'm the only one who can say that he is. And, that's what's important.
And I think, right now I want to take a moment to say something. Specifically, to the ninja. Kai, Cole, Jay, Zane, Nya… thank you. Thank you for every single day that you've helped me. Thank you for never abandoning me. Thank you for guiding me even when I thought I couldn't go on. Thanks for making me feel like I had to get better so I could lead you guys. Thank you for never turning your back on me. You all mean so much to me. I don't think I'd ever have done this without you. You guys give me the strength to do things that I'll never be able to.
Thank you, Master Wu. I know that I've spent a lot of time in this book kinda, railing you for things. And I know that I haven't said much good. But that doesn't mean I'm ungrateful. I know that you were doing what you thought was right. You guided me to becoming who I am. Even if you make mistakes, we're your ninja. We'll be here to help you. No matter what happens, you can always rely on us. You're our Master, and I can't ever forget that.
Thank you, people of Ninjago. I know you haven't always been the kindest to us, and I guess sometimes I take you for granted too. But I know that you guys care. You showed us that with how you celebrated everything we've done for you after we took back the city from my father. Thank you Skylor, Griffin, Shade, Tox, Neuro, Paleman, for coming to help us when we had nothing left. Thank you, Mystake, for guiding me. Thank you, Ronin, Commissioner, Mother Doomsday, Pixal, you all have given us so much even if we probably don't deserve it. Even you, Morro. Thank you for showing me parts of myself I didn't know I had. You helped me grow in ways that I don't think you know you did.
Thank you, Dareth. Never let anyone say you're not the greatest ninja out there. You stuck by me when everyone else was too scared to. You saved my life by taking control of the freaking Stone Army. You gave me a place to train, and a friend to rely on. I know that if I need help from someone one day, you'll be at the top of the list.
Thank you, Mom. I know that you did what you did for my sake. Even if I don't agree with it, I know that you loved me no matter what. You left me behind… but you did come back. And you've tried to be there for me. I appreciate that. Just please stop flirting with Wu.
And finally… thank you, dad. I know right now, if you're reading this, you won't get why I'm thanking you. But I want you to hear this. Out of everyone in Ninjago, you're the one that pushed me to become who I am. You believed in me more than anyone. You loved me, guided me, fought evil itself and came back from it all so you could help me. We didn't have each other for a long time. I'm going to grow up most of my life without you. But every day we spent together, is one that I can't forget. I'll never be able to forget what you said to me in the Cursed realm. I'll never forget that you gave me your robes and told me to become the Sensei that I was meant to be. I… I'm so thankful that you were there. You… you were always there for me. You were trying to save me, even when you were fighting me. You weren't able to destroy me, even when your own blood was telling you to. And you loved me. You loved me more than anyone else. I'm… I'm just so glad that I got to meet you like that. I'm so glad I got to have you in my life like you were. I love you, dad. I love you so much. If whatever parts of you Harumi left behind can hear me… please, don't ever forget that. I love you so much, dad.
…
And I think that's everything. That's, all I had to say. I'm going to keep going on adventures. Maybe one day, I'll write another book, a sequel to this one. But right now, I don't think I will. I'm going to go out and keep growing. One day, I'll be a Sensei, just like my father. One day, I'll live up to what he wanted for me. But until that day, I'm going to keep protecting Ninjago. I'm going to protect all of you that are reading this book. I'll be the Green Ninja. That's who I'll be. And no matter what, I'll never stop fighting.
Because ninja never quit.
~~~~~~~~~AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A LEGEND~~~~~~~~~
"...Because ninja never quit," Lloyd finished, putting the finished book down on the table.
Lloyd was in his normal chair, but today he wasn't recording. Today, he was reading. For the last three days, he'd done nothing but read the book to his friends. Squished into and around the couch that they normally sat in were all of the ninja. Kai and Cole were fighting for space, while Jay was half sitting on the back of the couch, half on their shoulder.s Zane and Nya had opted to stand behind the couch, with Nya leaning over it by Jay. All of them had spent hours letting him finish out the book.
Lloyd looked down at the table. In front of him was the book. It was completely green all around, with a glossy finish around it. The words AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A LEGEND were printed across the cover, with the subtitle The Story by and of the Green Ninja underneath it. On the cover was a picture of him in the first Green Ninja outfit he'd ever put on, posing with his hands on his hips and a golden sun behind him. In the sunlight around him was the ninja on dragons, Wu, Misako, Pixal and (specifically Lloyd's request) Dareth wearing the Helmet of Shadows. In the shadow the sun cast around his feet, the figures of Garmadon, Chen, Morro, the Time Twins, Harumi and the glowing eyes of the Overlord could be seen. After all this time, the book was finally finished.
"And… that's that," Lloyd sighed, reaching out to pick up a bottle of water to soothe his throat after talking for so long, "This is the draft that they're going to send out to be printed. I uh… I left in, everything but anytime I said something dirty. I… I wanted to get yours guys' opinion on it, before I give them the go ahead."
For a few moments, nobody said anything. Lloyd felt a small wave of anxiousness rise up inside of him. He looked to Zane, who had on his happy neutral expression as he always did. Kai and Cole were still settling in, even after all this time. Jay looked somewhat lost in thought. Nya was looking down at them expectantly. After a few moments of tense silence, Cole finally broke it.
"Just to be clear here, I survived because I fell through a building where the darkness hadn't gotten into yet," Cole declared slightly smugly, "And Lloyd's seen how tough I am. You'd have to drop me from three of those things before I even felt a thing."
"Oh what?!" Kai turned to Cole fiercely, "No way! I'd survive at least four of those! I'd just use my fire to slow down before I hit the ground!"
"I do not believe you could generate enough thrust in the opposite direction to avoid a collision," Zane informed Kai, "Factoring in your terminal velocity, you would likely hit the ground before you could overcome gravity's effects and avoid a lethal impact. Cole likely survived by hitting floors on the way down to reduce the final impact."
"Ugh, boys!" Nya turned to Lloyd, "We're not talking about that now! What about his book?"
"His book?" Jay blinked, "I think it's great!" Lloyd felt the tightness in his chest unwind.
"I mean, I already heard part of it," Kai smirked, "So I knew that it had to be good from what you guys told me."
"I mean, hearing all of that is like… a lot," Cole shook his head, "But yeah, it's great! Bestseller!"
"Really…?" Lloyd blinked, "You guys mean that? You… don't think it's too like… angry?"
"How many times have we told you?" Nya smirked, "It's your life. You tell the people what you want to tell them."
"Yeah!" Kai chimed in, "I mean, you finished an entire book! That's bigger than anything I've ever written."
"You never even write!" Jay protested.
"Which means it's obviously longer!" Kai grinned, "See, Jay?"
"I believe Jay was attempting to insult your writing skills," Zane chuckled.
"I got that!" Kai snapped, "And don't you worry. After seeing him do his, I've already started on my autobiography."
"Let me guess, you've just got done talking about how you single handedly saved Ninjago from Lord Garmadon?" Cole rolled his eyes.
"Uh, for the record, I'm already talking about the stuff with the Devourer! And I just started a month ago! So I think I'm doing really well!" Kai shot back at Cole.
As the group bickered amongst themselves, Lloyd couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest. Part of him had thought they'd criticize him. They'd each heard parts of it, but not the whole thing. He'd just spent all this time reading it to them, just so they could hear it. Even after all this time of them assuring him that it'd be perfect, that he'd be fine, he thought maybe, just maybe, they'd say something now that it was done. Seeing them arguing like this wasn't what he expected, but for some reason, it took a weight off his chest.
"So, when does it go into print?" Nya asked.
"Well, this is the test book," Lloyd lifted it up, "I'm keeping this copy. I pulled some strings and I should have it on store shelves next printing cycle, or something like that. Zane was the one that took care of setting the deal up."
"The company was happy to be given the privilege to print a book by the Green Ninja," Zane informed them, "They were willing to give him the creative liberties as well to publish it as he initially envisioned it."
"Wow, that's awesome, Lloyd!" Nya turned to face Lloyd again, "I'll make sure to buy a copy once it hits the shelves!"
"Same here!" Jay chimed in.
"I'll buy one before you!" Cole countered.
"Just order it online!" Kai patted his chest, "Like I'm going to."
"I will make sure to place an order once available." Zane nodded.
"You… you guys will?" Lloyd felt that tightness in his chest return, only this one wasn't from anxiety, "I… I mean, I thought you'd just want to read it, but…"
"Hold that thought!" Cole leapt up, "We got something for you!"
"What?" Lloyd blinked. Cole just smiled and left the room. When he came back a minute later, he was wheeling a massive cake on a small cart. Once he pulled it over the lip to the door, the others quickly stood up from the couch so Cole could wheel it up and onto the table. The cake was white with green frosting, with a crudely drawn image of him in his Green Ninja suit in the middle. Lloyd stared at it in total disbelief until Kai came up from behind him and threw his arm around Lloyd's shoulder.
"Congrats on finishing this thing, man," Kai gestured to the cake, "Finishing a book is no small deal. You worked hard on this thing."
"So… you got me a cake?" Lloyd asked in shock.
"Well, that's not all," Cole waved his hand, "Come on, show it to him!"
Zane bent down and reached under the couch, dragging something up. In his hand was a sword. It was the same curved style he'd taken up after Wu's disappearance. The sword, however, was not just a simple one. Along the hilt were letters etched in green that spelled out Lloyd Garmadon. Along the length of the blade were more letters. Lloyd picked the sword up, feeling that it was as premium of a blade as it could be. When he looked down to read the letters, however, he spoke them with disbelief.
"'Ninja Never Quit,'" Lloyd blinked, "You guys… made me this?"
"Well, you lost your sword when you fought the Oni, right?" Kai nodded, "We were gonna save it for your birthday, but since your book is all about being the Green Ninja… well you can't be that without a sword!"
"I still say we should've saved it for his birthday!" Jay hissed to Cole, "How are we going to top that?"
"We'll figure it out when that comes around, Jay!" Cole hissed back to him, giving him a hard thump.
"I will cut the cake if we are all ready," Zane informed them, producing a cake knife from under the table. The room quickly gave affirmation.
"You… you guys…." Lloyd inhaled, "You… you really liked the book? I… I mean, I thought maybe it was, well…"
"Lloyd," Zane turned to him, "Your book is what you want it to be. All of us agreed to help you because we knew this meant something to you. Now that you've finished it, we wish to show you that we know how much it took for you to make it. You thanked us, now let us thank you."
"Guys!" Jay quickly gasped, "Group picture!"
All at once, the room lit up in affirmations. Lloyd found himself squished up with his friends by his side. Kai pulled Lloyd's arms up to hold the sword so the inscription on it could be read. Kai and Jay both took spots by his side, while Zane, Nya and Cole all got behind him. Kai pulled out his phone and raised it into the air, setting it to take a selfie. As they all got together for the picture, all Lloyd could feel was a warm happiness inside him.
"Alright, everyone!" Lloyd nodded, "On the count of three!" Everyone squished in close to be seen in the picture, "One! Two! Three!" All of them took a breath.
"NINJA-GO!"
Kai snapped the picture. Instantly, they all crowded around to see what was on the screen. The picture was as perfect as it could be in Lloyd's eyes. As they all looked at the screen, the book that Lloyd had finished sat on the table in front of them. As they all celebrated its finish, the book stood there with them. As Lloyd found himself laughing and eating cake with his friends, the final chapter in it was finished. The Autobiography of a Legend had come to its close.
Final Author's Note:
So, almost fourteen months later, we finally bring this story to a close.
When I first started this one, I meant it only as a side project. I was writing Ninjaverse, my other ongoing fic, full time and thought I wanted to have something for other readers that had a lower barrier to entry, so to speak. This was always meant to be just a one shot with the prologue, maybe a few extra chapters after that, and just going until I finally got bored of it. Instead, I ended up finding a strange affection for the fic, and I'd take nights I set aside to write NV to instead write this one. I let myself take hiatuses and breaks with this one as well, even if I wanted to post consistently. I could have done this all in one year if I hadn't taken time off. But now, the fic is done. Well, and truly, done.
My plan right now is to let the fic lie. Ninjago is on the cusp of S14 right now, and just about to celebrate 10 years of exiting. That, to me, is incredible. But S10 always felt like he place to stop, and so I have. I'm going to let the fic lie for a long while. Maybe, maybe, one day I might come back and write more epilogues, but I don't think so. I want my story to end, not go on without a clear point.
I want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to read this story. It means a lot to me that this silly fic ended up becoming nearly as popular as my main one. Thank you in particular to calumTraveler, who has been commenting on each and every chapter from the very start. It's support like that which really helped on nights that I didn't quite know where to go with the story, or times I didn't understand what I wanted to do with it. Everyone who read the fic, though, thank you. Thank you for your time and support.
It's now that I ask if you're interested in it, to please check out my other two main fics: The Furthest Realm and Enter the Ninjaverse. The former looks into what would happen if Lloyd truly fell for Akita in S11, wheras the later is a multi-universe spanning action thriller about attempting to stop the Time Twins from destroying of them mean a lot to me, and I would appreciate your time. But if this is the last time you read my story, just knowing you've read this far is more than enough to make me happy.
Thank you all for reading, and NINJAAAAAAAAA-GO!
