Epilogue
The monastery's children slowly awoke, rubbing their eyes and stretching their arms from under their covers. Sunlight twinkled in through the crack of the curtains as the older children rose from their beds and walked over to pull the curtains apart, letting the sunshine spill across the floors and walls. One by one, they got up and stretched while others made their beds and filed out of the room to begin their day.
A boy with chestnut-colored hair, one of the younger children of the monastery, was the last to get ready for the day. He sat up in his bed and rustled the mess of his hair off of his eyes then slipped out of bed with a heavy sigh. The beaded bracelet with his favorite comic book character shone in the rays of light coming from the window behind his nightstand. He looks up and takes the bracelet in his hand then secures it onto his tiny wrist with one fell pull of the bracelet's twine.
Now out of his pajamas and into his training gi, the boy makes his way down the hallway tracing his fingers on the wood as he gets closer to reaching the warmup room. He notices that the door to the guest room where the ninja had been staying is open. Out of curiosity, he stops in front of the doorway and peeks inside. The beds are barren, the curtains on the windows still drawn shut. The boy looks around and then takes a step back into the hallway.
Wandering down the corridor and through the monastery patio, he finds himself outside staring at the empty courtyard. He knew he should have long since made it to the training area for his daily exercises, yet he couldn't help but wonder where the ninja had gone.
"Tobias!" a voice shouted.
"Yes, Sensei Garmadon!" the boy, startled by the sudden sound of his master's voice.
"You're not where you're supposed to be," the master replied.
"Hey, you're back early?" Tobias asked.
"Tobias," Master Garmadon lowered his tone, "this is the first time I've seen you out of place".
"Um–" Tobias blankly stared past his Sensei.
"You are confused, child," Garmadon replied. "What is on your mind?"
"I–" Tobias began, "I wanted to tell someone something, but I can't now because they're gone".
"Oh?" said the Master. "Was it something important?"
Tobias thought for a moment but struggled to find the right words.
"I don't know".
The master put a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Your destiny will reveal what your mind does not in the moment you are most at peace," Garmadon cooed, "and when the moment comes you will least expect it".
#
The villains that are the hardest to conquer are the ones that exist within our own being. In our journey of trials, there are no battles to be won or lost. In the surge of anger, our only ally is strength. There is no hero or criminal. There is no solitude or comfort. Reckless chaos is a diversion to sanity, and in our own minds, we are held prisoner. To the end of time, we fight. To the end of time, we ride on the journey's wings.