Announcer voice: Today, on Way of the Dragon: The Final Battle has been won and Ninjago is at peace. However, Jinlong has yet to face her greatest challenge: saying goodbye.
Jinlong voice: Chapter 27: Enter the Dragon
There was a massive explosion high above them, sparkling and bright gold. Jin closed her eyes, grinning up at the sky, imagining the golden sparks raining down on her.
"It's a lot cooler with your eyes open, you know."
The dragon-girl opened her eyes and smiled at Nya, who was sitting next to her on the grass, smirking.
"Yeah," Was all Jin could really say. Words had been hard that night, although she wasn't sure why. The Dark Lord was vanquished, Garmadon was good, everyone was alive, but- she was happy, but words just weren't working with her, leading her to have spent most of the evening as a dragon, entertaining little kids.
Maybe it was because she was so happy, or maybe it was because she knew she'd never see Kigana again. Maybe because her older brother was dead. Maybe because she knew, after tonight, she'd go with her people into the mountains, and have to leave the ninja. Whatever the reason, her throat closed up and her eyes watered whenever the dragon-girl tried to speak.
"Jinlong," Senshe the Forest Snake Dragon, one of her best friends from Huan, cried, running up from behind her. "We are about to begin Breaking the City Gates. Come and join!"
"It will be fun with so many people," Yinlian the Silver-Faced Dragon, her other friend, added.
"I- yeah," The Gold Dragon nodded, standing up, before helping Nya to her feet.
"Is everything alright?" Yinlian asked. "You've been very quiet all evening."
"Yeah, I'm good, it's just-" Her throat constricted and her eyes stung. "I'm just a little- I dunno. I'm good."
They didn't seem to buy it, but thankfully, the game was about to begin, so they let her off the hook.
Yinlian was right- it was fun with more people. Granted, all the ninja were on one team, so it was a little unfair, and when Maolong called Lloyd over, of course, everyone on their team went toppling over.
"City Gates did not break!" Maolong cried triumphantly, standing up. "We all fell, but the City Gates did not break!"
"Yes they did," Kai called from the other line. "I saw, you let go of Jin's hand!"
"I did not!"
"It's not worth fighting over," Lloyd laughed. "It's fine, I'll join their team."
Before he could, however, a news anchor came over the PH system, and all throughout the hidden speakers in the park, his voice was heard.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, humans and dragons," He called enthusiastically. "We'd like to thank you once more for coming to our celebration. One week ago, the Golden Ninja, Lloyd Garmadon, defeated the Overlord and saved our city!"
A near-deafening cheer rose up, and the blond boy's cheeks turned pink.
"And so, to honor him, we'd like to present our finest firework display ever, courtesy of Dr. Julien: The Golden Ninja!"
And then started something that didn't even look possible(then again, what did Jin know about physics?). A single firework launched up, bursting into the green shape of a boy. Another, far larger, one went next, in the likeness of a massive, purple dragon. And then they started moving. The dragon's wings flapped, the boy's arms moved, and they appeared to be fighting.
Then, the green one fizzled out. She heard some of the little kids gasp as the dragon swelled in size, but then, an impossibly bright firework exploded from within it, showering the smoky night sky with gold, and she could vaguely make out the shape of a ninja.
"Wow," Lloyd breathed. "Did I really look that cool?"
"Nah," Jin bumped his shoulder playfully. "Less explosions."
He chuckled, and suddenly there were tears running down the dragon-girl's freckled cheeks. She was sobbing, openly, loudly, desperately trying to wipe the tears from her eyes and quiet down. This was Lloyd's night, and she would not ruin it.
"Jin! What's wrong?"
"I-I don't know," She managed to get out between sobs.
"Is it about your brother?" Lloyd asked quietly. Jin had told him just yesterday, when he'd asked if all her family was safe.
"Maybe," She sniffled, finally quieting. "I've- I...I am happy, but I can't seem to speak and- and…"
"Is it because you're leaving?"
Slowly, Jin nodded. "I- I think so. We're dragons, we have to, we can't live in the city, but I don't want to! I want to stay with you all, but I also want to be with my people!"
He smiled. "I- oh, gosh, I feel so stupid. I want to help you, because you always helped me, but I really don't know how. But we will see each other again, Jin. We can visit, and go out to get milkshakes, or watch a movie or whatever."
"With the whole team?"
"Oh, yeah," He grinned. "And my dad, and Wu, and my mom. Everyone."
"We're gonna get kicked out," She laughed, wiping her eyes.
"Extra points if we do."
"Jinlong?"
The dragon-girl turned to see her mother and father. "Y-yeah?"
"We must go soon, darling," Her mother said softly. "We want to reach the mountains by sunrise."
"Alright," Jinlong nodded. "I'll meet up with you in a second."
She turned back to Lloyd, and pulled something out of her pocket.
"I had to go back to the Bounty on the Dark Island to get this," She told him. "I've been working on it for a while, and I hope you like it."
She held out a long knitted scarf, bright gold in color, the yarn shimmering in the glow of the fairy lights above them.
"Aw, thanks!" Lloyd cried, taking it and wrapping it around his neck. "This is great!"
"You'd better wear it," Jin grinned, then turned around to see the rest of the ninja+co.
"Didn't think you could sneak off without saying goodbye, didja?" Cole chuckled.
A wide smile spread across the dragon-girl's face.
"You guys…" She took a deep breath. "You guys are the best! You're like family to me."
She hugged Jay, Nya, Kai, Zane, Cole, Misako, Wu, and Garmadon.
"Thanks for the yarn, Jay. Thanks for the boots, Nya. Thanks for the bantering, Kai. Thanks for the cooking lessons, Zane. Thanks for the dragon talks, Cole. Thanks for your son, Misako. Thanks for accepting me, Wu. And, uh, Garmadon. I never really got to know you, but I'm sure I will. I look forward to it."
She stepped back, wiped her eyes, and took off towards the group of dragons. She stopped, though, and turned back to face her found family, illuminated by the lamps above them, strung between the trees.
"And don't think you can get rid of me so easily," She called. "I'll be seeing you all again! I promise!"
And then, with all that was left of her people, she shifted into a dragon, and flew off into the night.
Thanks so much for reading this! KitKat, I'm sorry I butchered it so badly. I might write a good version someday.