==IM IN LONDON! Today has been an exhausting day of touring and walking and purchasing :P My legs are killing me but it's been a good day, even if I almost fainted from dehydration :D Since I haven't gone to bed yet, I'm going to post this chapter that needs major tweaking. Sorry…but I've been too caught up to revise and edit, so expect this chapter to be altered in a minor way. I hope everyone who's a fan of this story has the ability to watch the New Year's Day parade this Friday :) I'm going to be in it, after all!==

Yellow Claw - "Good Day" feat. DJ Snake & Elliphant

It was a good day. Oh, what a good day. But it is long gone now when all the stars fell down. It was a good day. Oh, what a good day. That day you broke my heart, I loved you way too hard…

Haunted: Collapse into Caliginosity

Chapter 21:

Hands Off

No matter how many times I told myself it was illogical, I continued to weep. With her gift dangling around my neck, it was impossible to keep my thoughts focused on what was most important. At the Monastery of Spinjitzu, everyone was up and about, and that meant my absence was obvious. Someone was bound to also find Shard missing from the rest of the dragons. Sensei Wu was going to be angry with me, but I could handle my first punishment, even though the real punishment seemed to be the separation between Macca and me.

I knew it was going to happen, but I just couldn't understand why I was reacting like I was. I've never shed so many tears. As I held the aluminum tags in one hand and held Shard's reins with the other, I wallowed in my emotions. I had told her she would always be a part of me, but it seemed that part escaped with her. When I gave her the final hug, I struggled to keep my voice clear. When I looked through the window and into her eyes, I could feel tears brimming. When I hid on the roof, I watched her search for me. When she disappeared inside the vehicle, I raced to get to Shard. When I flew Shard along the side of the mountain, I stayed parallel to the vehicle as it traveled downwards. When I turned and flew to return home, I wept, and I couldn't find the will to stop.

There was no real reason as to why I felt so badly about going our separate ways, but at the same time, I did not desire to be around my brothers once more. I felt free from bondage while I was with her. She did not mock me, nor give me a hard time. It was enjoyable. I suppose that was why I was grieving. I continued to prolong my stay because I wanted to be with her. I wanted to feel welcomed.

Shard and I ventured away from the packed cluster of mountains. Although it was at close location to Jamanakai Village, its exact location was hidden away out in the open. There was one particular mountain that was a member of the Mountains of Impossible Height, but it was away from the rest. That was where the Monastery of Spinjitzu lay.

Down below, the Sea of Sand met a steep cliff, where it ended. At first, the cliff held no life upon it, but as I flew more, green began to appear. Rocks and boulders also appeared, ranging in bigger sizes as I approached my destination. I could see the Wildwood Forest up ahead, and that indicated I could go no further. The mountain was clearly in view before me, and I went to it. Up in the clouds was the ancient Monastery of Spinjitzu.

As I began to fly Shard around for him to enter the dragon keep, I spotted a blue figure on the stone steps, eyeing me. Jay opened the large gate for Shard to land. I made sure I hid away Macca's gift in my palm so nobody could get a clue as to where I've been. Everyone – Sensei Wu, Nya, Kai, Cole, and now Jay – was waiting for me.

"It's about time you got back," Cole said as I hopped off Shard. His shaggy black hair dangled loosely all over his head, and his muscular build only complemented it. "Where've you been?"

"Nowhere important," I lied. "I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to fly around Ninjago a little bit."

"Zane," Kai began, his brown hair spiked up like usual, "we've been looking for you since three in the morning. Where were you?"

"I...don't know."

Nya narrowed her amber eyes, not seeming to believe my fibbing. Then I noticed she was eyeing my clenched fist. "What do you have?" she inquired.

I moved it behind my back. "N-Nothing," my voice accidentally stuttered.

The tags were snatched from my hand. I turned around to find Jay holding them up and looking at the engravings. "Who's Mac-" he started.

"Nobody!" I yelped when I grabbed them back.

He gasped. "Kai! Kai loves Macca Soxx!" he chanted, stretching for them as I held them out of his reach.

"M-Macca Soxx?" Kai unbelievingly repeated, eyeing the tags. "Are those her dog tags?!"

"No, I found them," I lied once more.

Kai suddenly collided against me. "Let me see!" he demanded as I tried to defend myself.

"Get off!" I commanded, shoving him away. "They're mine!"

He stared at me from the dusty ground, betrayal covering his face. Before he could do anything else, I left the dragons' keep in a hurry and went up to the monastery, where I kept out of sight for the rest of the day so I could grieve her absence and protect what was mine.

Okay I fixed it :P Shoutout to Kai4Ever and thearomanticninja for leaving a review for the previous chapter! :)