Is the ninjago fandom still active on here? I just finished Dragon Rising for the first time and I NEED to discuss Arin because angst gremlins in my brain are being FED rn.
season two had the buildup and i could SEE the breakdown coming, then season three had me clutching my pearls, bcuz arin my baby darling boi nooooooo!! :(
had me going so insane i Locked In on a fanart of the Casket of Bones episode
designed my version of Sora's prosthetic arm. i think this looks much better than what i've been doing so far!
it is very much inspired by Edward Elric's automail btw, specifically his winter automail bcuz the design of that one meshes with Sora's arm design better.
rough draft of my cloudpie oneshot is now complete! title: "Bright Eyes, Bright Smile"
its nearly 3k words, and probably will hit that mark after editing! :D
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For all that the Whispering Woods were creepy in the dark, Arin had to admit the woods were beautiful in daylight. Sunshine filtered through the upper levels of the canopy, not quite reaching the forest floor, yet illuminating motes of dust and pollen in the air. The leaves rustled with every gust, and unfamiliar animal sounds could be heard here and there.
Everywhere Arin looked, there was green. There were the massive trees, of course, but also moss, countless bushes, ferns, bamboo, grasses, and plants he didnt even know the names of. Even the dirt seemed to have a green tinge. Lloyd's gi, which to Arin had always seemed so bright and noticeable that he wondered how his teacher could hide so well, now blended into the scenery flawlessly. In fact, Arin kept nearly losing sight of Lloyd, only still following him by the bright blond of his hair and the glint of light off his armor. Zane's white gi and bright silver head walking right next to Lloyd didnt hurt, either.
Of course, Arin might have had an easier time keeping track of his teacher if he didnt keep getting distracted.
There was more plants here than Arin had ever seen in his life, and everything was so huge! How could he not be curious? Thus he found himself drifting to the sides of the path every few meters, taking a closer look at some giant leaf or unfamiliar tree.
He didnt keep all his observations to himself, however. Arin wasnt one to let the silence linger long when he was in good company, especially not when he had questions bubbling up in his mind. Lloyd was obviously stressed and Zane was preoccupied with trying to help him find the right direction, but luckily Arin had a friend his own age to hang out with instead!
He and Euphrasia chatted easily about whatever came to mind - sharing information about plants they recognized, speculating about ones they didnt, and occasionally telling stories of things that had happened since the last time they saw each other. The conversation came in short bursts for the most part, falling into silence as they observed the beauty of nature around them, then starting up again as one of them spotted something interesting.
It was during one of these quiet lulls that Arin was looking around and noticed that for all the plant life, there wasn't much in the way of colour besides green. A few small flowers could be found growing in clearer patches, but none of them were all that bright. They didnt stand out any more than the other plants.
It was for this reason that the flash of white caught Arin's eye so easily. Off the side of the path, a little ways away, a large beam of sunlight illuminated a patch of undergrowth. Pausing his steps, Arin glanced back at Lloyd and Zane. They weren't far ahead of the teens, and had in fact stopped with their heads bent together. Lloyd ran a hand through his hair as they talked, distractedly pulling a twig out from behind his horns.
Figuring they wouldnt be moving for a few minutes at least, Arin stepped off the path in the direction of the sunny patch. He glanced over his shoulder, checking that he could still see the others. The adult ninja were just barely in view, mostly thanks to Zane's bright gi, but he had a clear sightline to Euphrasia, who was crouched down on the other side of the path, apparently staring into the bushes.
Satisfied he wouldnt be separated, Arin turned his attention to the white flowers he'd found. They were small and clustered on tall stalks, with spiky leaves. The flowers themselves were sort of trumpet shaped, with the lower petals being longer. Thin purple stripes on the petals were joined by a yellow spot on the lower ones.
Arin tilted his head, trying to recall if he'd seen any of these in Ninjago, or even in shops in the Crossroads. Drawing a blank, he turned to call over his shoulder.
-----
"Hey, Euphrasia! Come look at these flowers!"
Euphrasia lifted her head from where she'd been watching a brightly patterned beetle. Arin was standing in the brush on the other side of the path, waving her over.
Euphrasia stood, sparing a glance at the adult ninja - still talking; Lloyd's shoulders dragging down, Zane gesturing encouragingly - then eagerly joined Arin, curious what he had found this time.
He smiled as she approached, gesturing for her to follow him as he stepped back into a puddle of sunlight. Euphrasia's breath caught in her throat, transfixed by the way the sun lit up Arin's brown eyes, turning them golden. The light gilded his dark skin and softened the messy frizz of his curls, forming a halo of sunshine. Arin's yellow gi seemed to glow, in clear constrast to the backdrop of dark forest behind him.
Euphrasia registered all this in the blink of an eye, yet the image of his brilliant smile was burned into her brain. She shook her head, tucking the image away and refocusing on what Arin was saying. He was talking about the flowering plant growing in the little clearing, gently reaching out to touch the white petals.
Euphrasia's eyes lit up as she recognized what she was looking at. "Oh! I know these flowers!"
"Really? Cool! I haven't seen them before. What are they?"
"They're called eyebrights, also known as eyewort. In some places, the plant is used to treat eye infections, and they grow all over the Merged Lands. We have a lot of them in the Cloud Kingdom! They're my favorite flower."
-----
Arin watched, captivated, as Euphrasia continued her passionate explanation. The breeze ruffled her hair, stray curls tickling her face. Her eyes sparkled, the warm sunlight turning the grey irises into burnished silver.
"There's over two hundred documented species in the genus," Euphrasia continued, "and new hybrids keep being discovered, especially since the Merge allowed the seeds to spread even farther. The seeds are carried on the wind, which is kinda ironic, actually!"
Arin tilted his head curiously. "How is it ironic?"
"Well, the name of the genus is 'Euphrasia' â I was named after these flowers! It's part of why they're my favorite."
"Ohhhhh! I didn't realize 'Euphrasia' was a flower name. That's really pretty!"
Euphrasia giggled, ducking her head slightly. "Thanks!"
"I guess that's why you know so much about these flowers, huh?"
"Yep! Like, you see that yellow spot on the lower petals? that's to guide pollinators! and the plant is hemiparisitic, which means it gets some of its nutrients from the plant it's attached to, usually grasses," she rustled the long grass they were kneeling in to demonstrate, "but they also photosynthesize on their own."
"Huh. That's pretty cool."
The two fell silent, admiring the flowers. After a moment, Arin reached out and began searching through the stems, plucking a few he deemed worthy.
Euphrasia tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
Arin flashed a smile at her, "the flowers are so pretty, i wanna take some home and preserve them!"
"Are you just going to keep them in your pocket until then? We don't know how long this ritual thing is going to take, or how we're even getting home."
Arin's hands stilled, smile dropping. "Oh, yeah... i guess the flowers would be pretty wilted by the time we get back..."
Euphrasia twisted her fingers, feeling bad for having killed the mood. "Uh, but, maybe when we get back I can help you find some around the Monastery? And I can show you how to press them, too!"
"Oh, yeah," Arin perked up, "that sounds like fun!"
"Great! ...uh, but what are you going to do with those now?" Euphrasia pointed at the flowers Arin had already picked, which he was still holding loosely.
Arin looked down, seemingly having forgotten he was holding the flowers. He held up a stem, twirling it in front of his face. He glanced between the flower and Euphrasia a few times. "Hmmm..."
"Arin? What are you..." She trailed off when Arin leaned over, reaching up to her hair with the flower. She felt the stem scrape her scalp as he tucked it into the mound of curls on top of her head. Euphrasia's face was warm.
Arin settled back on his heels, a shy smile gracing his features. "I, uh, didn't want to just drop them..." he rubbed the back of his head, glancing to the side sheepishly.
'Wha- he just- that was so sweet?!'
"Ah- thank you?" Euphrasia squeaked. "It's still going to wilt, though..."
"So?" Arin shrugged, "It looks prettier in your hair than on the ground."
Euphrasia.exe has stopped working. Please check for overheating and wait five minutes.
When Euphrasia failed to form a response, Arin stood, brushing himself off and looking for Lloyd and Zane. "We should probably check if Lloyd is ready to keep moving."
"Right, yeah- good idea," Euphrasia shook herself out of her flustered trance, accepting Arin's hand to help her up. She held on a moment longer, looking him in the eyes with a gentle smile. "Lloyd is lucky to have you as a student, Arin."
Arin flinched, doubt clouding his expression. "I..." he hesitated, staring down at their joined hands. After a moment, he sighed, and returned her smile, "Thanks, Euphrasia." he squeezed her hand once and let go, turning towards the path.
Euphrasia could tell he didn't believe her, but she wasnt sure what else she could say. 'Arin is brave, kind, attentive, and amazing at spinjitzu. If Lloyd doesnt see that, then he must be blind!'
She followed him out of the bushes, attempting to brush the dirt off her pants. It was a losing battle after nearly forty-eight hours of wandering in the forest, she had to admit. None of their clothes were very clean anymore, not even Zane's.
Speaking of which, Lloyd seemed to have calmed down, and he and Zane both looked over them when they emerged from the undergrowth.
The nindroid's eyes scanned their forms, analyzing their appearances, taking note of the extra dirt on their clothes, the grass stains on their knees, and the flowers in Euphrasia's hair. Zane's expression grew mischievious.
"I see you two found a way to occupy yourselves while Lloyd and I were busy. It's good that you came back when you did, or I may have had to interrupt something." The teasing lilt to Zane's voice was completely wasted on both Arin and Lloyd. Euphrasia caught the tone, and laughed reflexively, not quite sure what the ice ninja was getting at.
Arin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "We were just looking at some flowers. Sorry if we kinda disappeared, I know we need to be sticking together."
"I see," Zane's eyes twinkled, "the flora in this place is indeed fascinating, though I imagine an interest in botany is not the only allure of sneaking away from adult supervision."
The teens looked confused, Euphrasia narrowing her eyes as she tried to predict Zane's train of thought, and Arin tilted his head, "Huh? What else would we be doing?"
"My databanks indicate that there are numerous exciting activities two teenagers might sneak off into the bushes for." Zane emphasized his statement with a pointed wiggle of his eyebrows. The humour he found in the situation was clear through his tone.
Both the teenagers' eyes widened as they finally grasped his meaning, matching dark blushes overtaking their faces. They instantly burst into spluttering denial, words overlapping and cutting each other off.
"Wait- we weren't- !"
"I would never-!"
"I'm a Cloud Monk, I couldn't do that!"
"It was just to look at the flowers, honest!"
Their frantic voices were cut off by a snort from the side, quickly followed by only slightly hysterical laughter. All three shut their mouths, and slowly turned to look at Lloyd, who was nearly bent over double, wiping his eyes and trying to reign in his chuckling.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm not laughing at you, I just- you reminded me of this one time Jay and Nya showed up late to a mission from a date at the arcade, and Cole decided to start teasing them, and they both went redder than Kai's gi!" Lloyd snickered once more at the memory, finally getting himself under control with a sigh.
"Ah, yes, I remember that incident as well! By the time they arrived at our location, the mission was already complete! Their reactions were quite amusing," Zane noted fondly.
Arin and Euphrasia laughed at the story, relieved to realize Zane was only teasing them... though neither of them missed how Lloyd had compared them to an established couple making excuses for alone time together.
As their little adventuring party continued their quest, Arin found himself sneaking glances at Euphrasia every so often. He was well aware Zane had been implying that he and Euphrasia were hiding in the bushes to make out - and the ice ninja was obviously not serious about it, he knew it wasn't like that, and besides that, they were on a serious mission!
However, the idea had been planted in his brain, and now it wouldn't leave him alone, so. Arin was maybe staring a bit. The eyebright flowers were still in Euphrasia's hair, drawing his eye. 'Placing flowers in your friend's hair is a totally normal and platonic thing to do, right?'
The girl herself appeared lost in thought. She absently worried at her lower lip, staring off into the distance. Arin snapped his gaze away, cheeks heating alarmingly.
This was so not helping anything! They needed to find the Temple of Unrooting, why was Arin thinking about kissing?! He frantically forced himself to think of something, anything else, resolutely keeping his gaze on the leafy canopy high above.
In his desperation to avoid his own awkward thoughts, Arin completely missed Euphrasia's own stare drifting to him a second after he looked away.
-----
Euphrasia, for her part, was replaying the past half hour in her mind, wondering if Zane was right about the not-so-platonic nature of her friendship with Arin. She figured the nindroid was teasing them in an attempt to lighten the mood and cheer up Lloyd, who was noticably less stressed now than before. But that didn't mean his observations weren't accurate.
Memories of previous interactions floated to the forefront of Euphrasia's mind; the way she'd felt when she came through the portal gate and saw Arin, heard his voice, for the first time in months; when her powers gave out on her and Arin easily caught her in his arms; Euphrasia reassuring Arin and holding his hand while Lloyd was talking to the Life Dragon; Arin standing protectively in front of her when they encountered the mutation monsters last night; him leaning in so close she could see the sunlight refracting through his bright brown eyes.
Thinking on these instances, Euphrasia's heart beat faster, a strangely giddy feeling rising up in her chest. 'Do I have a crush on Arin??' she wondered, 'but why now?! We've been friends for years and I never felt this way before.'
Though, it occured to Euphrasia that despite their long-standing friendship, they had never spent this much consecutive time together. She had visited Arin and Sora at the monastery several times between the Merge Storm and the Blood Moon, and vice versa, thanks to the ease of travel offered by the portal gates and the relative lack of threats for the ninja to face. But after the Blood Moon, their visits had dwindled, and she hadn't seen Arin again until the Tournament. Even then, they hardly had time to talk. Arin had, apparently, ran away immediately after, and Euphrasia hadn't seen any of the ninja for months, until her powers started acting up.
Now, she had spent two, nearly three, entire days in close proximity with Arin, with no other companion their age.
Suddenly, Euphrasia remembered offering to go flower picking with Arin after this was over. Did that count as asking him out on a date?!? More importantly, did Arin think it counted as a date? Neither of them had suggested inviting any of their other friends, so technically, it was planned for just the two of them.
Euphrasia glanced sideways at the boy who occupied her thoughts, and imagined spending several hours alone with him. No missions, no threats to keep an eye out for, no one else nearby to tease them. They could go hiking in the mountains of Ninjago, looking for eyebrights and other flowers to press. If they got tired of walking, they could just stop and rest.
The idea sounded... really nice, actually. Euphrasia hadn't realized it, but she hadn't had a proper break in months. A casual date â if it even was one â would be an excellent time to relax.
Of course, first they had to all make it through this adventure alive and uninjured, and she knew the ninja's missions could get pretty chaotic â Arin might forget about the suggested hangout/date by the time everything settled down.
Euphrasia supposed the idea would have to wait, either way. After the situation with these mutation monsters was resolved, she would think about asking him again. Whether that meant asking him out, or simply inviting him to hangout, she could decide that later.
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the end.... for now ;3
i may have an idea for making this into a two-shot, but i have other things to draw and write before that
@the-real-pink-ninja @cultured-spaghetti since u asked so nicely, here u go!
-----
For all that the Whispering Woods were creepy in the dark, Arin had to admit the woods were beautiful in daylight. Sunshine filtered through the upper levels of the canopy, not quite reaching the forest floor, yet illuminating motes of dust and pollen in the air. The leaves rustled with every gust, and unfamiliar animal sounds could be heard here and there.
Everywhere Arin looked, there was green. There were the massive trees, of course, but also moss, countless bushes, ferns, bamboo, grasses, and plants he didnt even know the names of. Even the dirt seemed to have a green tinge. Lloyd's gi, which to Arin had always seemed so bright and noticeable that he wondered how his teacher could hide so well, now blended into the scenery flawlessly. In fact, Arin kept nearly losing sight of Lloyd, only still following him by the bright blond of his hair and the glint of light off his armor. Zane's white gi and bright silver head walking right next to Lloyd didnt hurt, either.
Of course, Arin might have had an easier time keeping track of his teacher if he didnt keep getting distracted.
There was more plants here than Arin had ever seen in his life, and everything was so huge! How could he not be curious? Thus he found himself drifting to the sides of the path every few meters, taking a closer look at some giant leaf or unfamiliar tree.
He didnt keep all his observations to himself, however. Arin wasnt one to let the silence linger long when he was in good company, especially not when he had questions bubbling up in his mind. Lloyd was obviously stressed and Zane was preoccupied with trying to help him find the right direction, but luckily Arin had a friend his own age to hang out with instead!
He and Euphrasia chatted easily about whatever came to mind - sharing information about plants they recognized, speculating about ones they didnt, and occasionally telling stories of things that had happened since the last time they saw each other. The conversation came in short bursts for the most part, falling into silence as they observed the beauty of nature around them, then starting up again as one of them spotted something interesting.
It was during one of these quiet lulls that Arin was looking around and noticed that for all the plant life, there wasn't much in the way of colour besides green. A few small flowers could be found growing in clearer patches, but none of them were all that bright. They didnt stand out any more than the other plants.
It was for this reason that the flash of white caught Arin's eye so easily. Off the side of the path, a little ways away, a large beam of sunlight illuminated a patch of undergrowth. Pausing his steps, Arin glanced back at Lloyd and Zane. They weren't far ahead of the teens, and had in fact stopped with their heads bent together. Lloyd ran a hand through his hair as they talked, distractedly pulling a twig out from behind his horns.
Figuring they wouldnt be moving for a few minutes at least, Arin stepped off the path in the direction of the sunny patch. He glanced over his shoulder, checking that he could still see the others. The adult ninja were just barely in view, mostly thanks to Zane's bright gi, but he had a clear sightline to Euphrasia, who was crouched down on the other side of the path, apparently staring into the bushes.
Satisfied he wouldnt be separated, Arin turned his attention to the white flowers he'd found. They were small and clustered on tall stalks, with spiky leaves. The flowers themselves were sort of trumpet shaped, with the lower petals being longer. Thin purple stripes on the petals were joined by a yellow spot on the lower ones.
Arin tilted his head, trying to recall if he'd seen any of these in Ninjago, or even in shops in the Crossroads. Drawing a blank, he turned to call over his shoulder.
-----
"Hey, Euphrasia! Come look at these flowers!"
Euphrasia lifted her head from where she'd been watching a brightly patterned beetle. Arin was standing in the brush on the other side of the path, waving her over.
Euphrasia stood, sparing a glance at the adult ninja - still talking; Lloyd's shoulders dragging down, Zane gesturing encouragingly - then eagerly joined Arin, curious what he had found this time.
He smiled as she approached, gesturing for her to follow him as he stepped back into a puddle of sunlight. Euphrasia's breath caught in her throat, transfixed by the way the sun lit up Arin's brown eyes, turning them golden. The light gilded his dark skin and softened the messy frizz of his curls, forming a halo of sunshine. Arin's yellow gi seemed to glow, in clear constrast to the backdrop of dark forest behind him.
Euphrasia registered all this in the blink of an eye, yet the image of his brilliant smile was burned into her brain. She shook her head, tucking the image away and refocusing on what Arin was saying. He was talking about the flowering plant growing in the little clearing, gently reaching out to touch the white petals.
Euphrasia's eyes lit up as she recognized what she was looking at. "Oh! I know these flowers!"
Euphrasia's eyes lit up as she recognized what she was looking at. "Oh! I know these flowers!"
"Really? Cool! I haven't seen them before. What are they?"
"They're called eyebrights, also known as eyewort. In some places, the plant is used to treat eye infections, and they grow all over the Merged Lands. We have a lot of them in the Cloud Kingdom! They're my favorite flower."
-----
Arin watched, captivated, as Euphrasia continued her passionate explanation. The breeze ruffled her hair, stray curls tickling her face. Her eyes sparkled, the warm sunlight turning the grey irises into burnished silver.
"There's over two hundred documented species in the genus," Euphrasia continued, "and new hybrids keep being discovered, especially since the Merge allowed the seeds to spread even farther. The seeds are carried on the wind, which is kinda ironic, actually!"
Arin tilted his head curiously. "How is it ironic?"
"Well, the name of the genus is 'Euphrasia' â I was named after these flowers! It's part of why they're my favorite."
"Ohhhhh! I didn't realize 'Euphrasia' was a flower name. That's really pretty!"
Euphrasia giggled, ducking her head slightly. "Thanks!"
"I guess that's why you know so much about these flowers, huh?"
"Yep! Like, you see that yellow spot on the lower petals? that's to guide pollinators! and the plant is hemiparisitic, which means it gets some of its nutrients from the plant it's attached to, usually grasses," she rustled the long grass they were kneeling in to demonstrate, "but they also photosynthesize on their own."
"Huh. That's pretty cool."
The two fell silent, admiring the flowers. After a moment, Arin reached out and began searching through the stems, plucking a few he deemed worthy.
Euphrasia tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
Arin flashed a smile at her, "the flowers are so pretty, i wanna take some home and preserve them!"
"Are you just going to keep them in your pocket until then? We don't know how long this ritual thing is going to take, or how we're even getting home."
Arin's hands stilled, smile dropping. "Oh, yeah... i guess the flowers would be pretty wilted by the time we get back..."
Euphrasia twisted her fingers, feeling bad for having killed the mood. "Uh, but, maybe when we get back I can help you find some around the Monastery? And I can show you how to press them, too!"
"Oh, yeah," Arin perked up, "that sounds like fun!"
"Great! ...uh, but what are you going to do with those now?" Euphrasia pointed at the flowers Arin had already picked, which he was still holding loosely.
Arin looked down, seemingly having forgotten he was holding them. He held up a stem, twirling it in front of his face. He glanced between the flower and Euphrasia a few times. "Hmmm..."
"Arin? What are you..." She trailed off when Arin leaned over, reaching up to her hair with the flower. She felt the stem scrape her scalp as he tucked it into the mound of curls on top of her head. Euphrasia's face felt warm.
Arin settled back on his heels, a shy smile gracing his features. "I, uh, didn't want to just drop them..." he rubbed the back of his head, glancing to the side sheepishly.
"Ah- thank you?" Euphrasia squeaked. "It's still going to wilt, though..."
"So?" Arin shrugged, "It looks prettier in your hair than on the ground."
Euphrasia.exe has stopped working. Please check for overheating and wait five minutes.
When Euphrasia failed to form a response, Arin stood, brushing himself off and looking for Lloyd and Zane. "We should probably check if Lloyd is ready to keep moving."
"Right, yeah- good idea," Euphrasia shook herself out of her flustered trance, accepting Arin's hand to help her up. She held on a moment longer, looking him in the eyes with a gentle smile. "Lloyd is lucky to have you as a student, Arin."
Arin flinched, doubt clouding his expression. "I..." he hesitated, staring down at their joined hands. After a moment, he sighed, and returned her smile, "Thanks, Euphrasia." he squeezed her hand once and let go, turning towards the path.
Euphrasia could tell he didn't believe her, but she wasnt sure what else she could say. 'Arin is brave, kind, attentive, and amazing at spinjitzu. If Lloyd doesnt see that, then he must be blind!'
She followed him out of the bushes, attempting to brush the dirt off her pants. It was a losing battle after nearly forty-eight hours of wandering in the forest, she had to admit. None of their clothes were very clean anymore, not even Zane's.
Speaking of which, Lloyd seemed to have calmed down, and he and Zane both looked over them when they emerged from the undergrowth.
The nindroid's eyes scanned their forms, analyzing their appearances, taking note of the extra dirt on their clothes, the grass stains on their knees, and the flowers in Euphrasia's hair. Zane's expression grew mischievious.
"I see you two found a way to occupy yourselves while Lloyd and I were busy. It's good that you came back when you did, or I may have had to interrupt something." The teasing lilt to Zane's voice was completely wasted on both Arin and Lloyd. Euphrasia caught the tone, and laughed reflexively, not quite sure what the ice ninja was getting at.
Arin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "We were just looking at some flowers. Sorry if we kinda disappeared, I know we need to be sticking together."
"I see," Zane's eyes twinkled, "the flora in this place is indeed fascinating, though I imagine an interest in botany is not the only allure of sneaking away from adult supervision."
The teens looked confused, Euphrasia narrowing her eyes as she tried to predict Zane's train of thought, and Arin tilted his head, "Huh? What else would we be doing?"
"My databanks indicate that there are numerous exciting activities two teenagers might sneak off into the bushes for." Zane emphasized his statement with a pointed wiggle of his eyebrows. The humour he found in the situation was clear through his tone.
Both the teenagers' eyes widened as they finally grasped his meaning, matching dark blushes overtaking their faces. They instantly burst into spluttering denial, words overlapping and cutting each other off.
"Wait- we weren't- !"
"I would never-!"
"I'm a Cloud Monk, I couldn't do that!"
"It was just to look at the flowers, honest!"
Their frantic voices were cut off by a snort from the side, quickly followed by only slightly hysterical laughter. All three shut their mouths, and slowly turned to look at Lloyd, who was nearly bent over double, wiping his eyes and trying to reign in his chuckling.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm not laughing at you, I just- you reminded me of this one time Jay and Nya showed up late to a mission from a date at the arcade, and Cole decided to start teasing them, and they both went redder than Kai's gi!" Lloyd snickered once more at the memory, finally getting himself under control with a sigh.
"Ah, yes, I remember that incident as well! By the time they arrived at our location, the mission was already complete! Their reactions were quite amusing," Zane noted fondly.
Arin and Euphrasia laughed at the story, relieved to realize Zane was only teasing them... though neither of them missed how Lloyd had compared them to an established couple making excuses for alone time together.
As their little adventuring party continued their quest, Arin found himself sneaking glances at Euphrasia every so often. He was well aware Zane had been implying that he and Euphrasia were hiding in the bushes to make out - and the ice ninja was obviously not serious about it, he knew it wasn't like that, and besides that, they were on a serious mission!
However, the idea had been planted in his brain, and now it wouldn't leave him alone, so. Arin was maybe staring a bit. The eyebright flowers were still in Euphrasia's hair, drawing his eye. 'Placing flowers in your friend's hair is a totally normal and platonic thing to do, right?'
The girl herself appeared lost in thought. She absently worried at her lower lip, staring off into the distance. Arin snapped his gaze away, cheeks heating alarmingly. He completely missed Euphrasia's own stare drifting to him a second later.
One of the best things about being a writer is thinking of something small you can add to your work thatâs just. Devastating. Like youâre sitting there going. Oh. That would be diabolical. People would get really riled up about that. Exquisite. Letâs do it.
there should be a term for characters you personally don't care about but you defend them anyways because the way people treat them is really uncomfortable. like ok this is a very middle-of-the-road character for me but the fandom's either been super misogynistic, racist, etc. about them or harassed innocent people who try to genuinely explore that character warts and all, and i find that more annoying than the actual character.
the term should by 'my client', like you're a lawyer defending your client that you are completely indifferent to but you are obligated by your job (or your morals) to defend
In which we have accidental kidnapping, Rose crashouts, Drama, Morro POV, a cameo, and Lloyd entering Survival Mode: Sass Edition.
Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: LEGO Ninjago (Cartoon 2011-2022)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Cole (Ninjago)/Original Character(s), Morro (Ninjago)/Original Character(s), Cole & Lloyd Garmadon & Kai & Nya & Jay Walker & Zane & Original Female Character(s), Cole & Lloyd Garmadon & Kai & Nya & Jay Walker & Zane, Sensei Wu (Ninjago) & Original Female Character(s)
Characters: Original Characters, Original Female Character(s), Cole (Ninjago), Morro (Ninjago), Lloyd Garmadon, Kai (Ninjago), Nya (Ninjago), Jay Walker (Ninjago), Zane (Ninjago), Sensei Wu (Ninjago), Misako (Ninjago), Ronin (Ninjago), Preeminent (Ninjago)
Additional Tags: Original Character(s), Major Original Character(s), Found Family, Christian Ninja, Christianity, Christian Themes, Christian Character, Author is Christian, Ninja Team as Family (Ninjago), Adopted Cousins, Temporary Character Death, donât worry about the major character death tag guys, We all know how it goes, Family Drama, Ninja Team Being Idiots (Ninjago), Ninja Team Needs Therapy (Ninjago), Ninja Team Friendship (Ninjago), Ninja Team Needs a Hug (Ninjago), because they all. need hugs. all of them, Love Triangle(???), itâs complicated - Freeform, Possession, on multiple fronts, cole is trying his best, Rose is trying her best, Sensei Wu Tries (Ninjago), Ghost Cole (Ninjago), Ghost Morro (Ninjago), Morro is Also Trying His Best, like i said itâs Complicated, Confused Lloyd Garmadon, how is that an actual tag, Lloyd Garmadon is a Menace, because whatâs the point of being possessed if you canât drive the ghost in your brain crazy, Christmas, because in this version of Ninjago WE GET TO HAVE CHRISTMAS, Sure itâs mildly ruined but they GeT cHrIsTmAs, did I miss any tags-
Series: Part 6 of Daughter of Darkness
Summary:
The team has been brought back together stronger than before, the love square has been resolved and Rose feels like maybe, just maybe, things can go back to normal now. But when Garmadon was banished to the Cursed Realm, an old friend from her past escaped it, and Roseâs world is about to be turned upside down all over again.
@the-real-pink-ninja @cultured-spaghetti since u asked so nicely, here u go!
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For all that the Whispering Woods were creepy in the dark, Arin had to admit the woods were beautiful in daylight. Sunshine filtered through the upper levels of the canopy, not quite reaching the forest floor, yet illuminating motes of dust and pollen in the air. The leaves rustled with every gust, and unfamiliar animal sounds could be heard here and there.
Everywhere Arin looked, there was green. There were the massive trees, of course, but also moss, countless bushes, ferns, bamboo, grasses, and plants he didnt even know the names of. Even the dirt seemed to have a green tinge. Lloyd's gi, which to Arin had always seemed so bright and noticeable that he wondered how his teacher could hide so well, now blended into the scenery flawlessly. In fact, Arin kept nearly losing sight of Lloyd, only still following him by the bright blond of his hair and the glint of light off his armor. Zane's white gi and bright silver head walking right next to Lloyd didnt hurt, either.
Of course, Arin might have had an easier time keeping track of his teacher if he didnt keep getting distracted.
There was more plants here than Arin had ever seen in his life, and everything was so huge! How could he not be curious? Thus he found himself drifting to the sides of the path every few meters, taking a closer look at some giant leaf or unfamiliar tree.
He didnt keep all his observations to himself, however. Arin wasnt one to let the silence linger long when he was in good company, especially not when he had questions bubbling up in his mind. Lloyd was obviously stressed and Zane was preoccupied with trying to help him find the right direction, but luckily Arin had a friend his own age to hang out with instead!
He and Euphrasia chatted easily about whatever came to mind - sharing information about plants they recognized, speculating about ones they didnt, and occasionally telling stories of things that had happened since the last time they saw each other. The conversation came in short bursts for the most part, falling into silence as they observed the beauty of nature around them, then starting up again as one of them spotted something interesting.
It was during one of these quiet lulls that Arin was looking around and noticed that for all the plant life, there wasn't much in the way of colour besides green. A few small flowers could be found growing in clearer patches, but none of them were all that bright. They didnt stand out any more than the other plants.
It was for this reason that the flash of white caught Arin's eye so easily. Off the side of the path, a little ways away, a large beam of sunlight illuminated a patch of undergrowth. Pausing his steps, Arin glanced back at Lloyd and Zane. They weren't far ahead of the teens, and had in fact stopped with their heads bent together. Lloyd ran a hand through his hair as they talked, distractedly pulling a twig out from behind his horns.
Figuring they wouldnt be moving for a few minutes at least, Arin stepped off the path in the direction of the sunny patch. He glanced over his shoulder, checking that he could still see the others. The adult ninja were just barely in view, mostly thanks to Zane's bright gi, but he had a clear sightline to Euphrasia, who was crouched down on the other side of the path, apparently staring into the bushes.
Satisfied he wouldnt be separated, Arin turned his attention to the white flowers he'd found. They were small and clustered on tall stalks, with spiky leaves. The flowers themselves were sort of trumpet shaped, with the lower petals being longer. Thin purple stripes on the petals were joined by a yellow spot on the lower ones.
Arin tilted his head, trying to recall if he'd seen any of these in Ninjago, or even in shops in the Crossroads. Drawing a blank, he turned to call over his shoulder.
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"Hey, Euphrasia! Come look at these flowers!"
Euphrasia lifted her head from where she'd been watching a brightly patterned beetle. Arin was standing in the brush on the other side of the path, waving her over.
Euphrasia stood, sparing a glance at the adult ninja - still talking; Lloyd's shoulders dragging down, Zane gesturing encouragingly - then eagerly joined Arin, curious what he had found this time.
He smiled as she approached, gesturing for her to follow him as he stepped back into a puddle of sunlight. Euphrasia's breath caught in her throat, transfixed by the way the sun lit up Arin's brown eyes, turning them golden. The light gilded his dark skin and softened the messy frizz of his curls, forming a halo of sunshine. Arin's yellow gi seemed to glow, in clear constrast to the backdrop of dark forest behind him.
Euphrasia registered all this in the blink of an eye, yet the image of his brilliant smile was burned into her brain. She shook her head, tucking the image away and refocusing on what Arin was saying. He was talking about the flowering plant growing in the little clearing, gently reaching out to touch the white petals.
Euphrasia's eyes lit up as she recognized what she was looking at. "Oh! I know these flowers!"
Euphrasia's eyes lit up as she recognized what she was looking at. "Oh! I know these flowers!"
"Really? Cool! I haven't seen them before. What are they?"
"They're called eyebrights, also known as eyewort. In some places, the plant is used to treat eye infections, and they grow all over the Merged Lands. We have a lot of them in the Cloud Kingdom! They're my favorite flower."
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Arin watched, captivated, as Euphrasia continued her passionate explanation. The breeze ruffled her hair, stray curls tickling her face. Her eyes sparkled, the warm sunlight turning the grey irises into burnished silver.
"There's over two hundred documented species in the genus," Euphrasia continued, "and new hybrids keep being discovered, especially since the Merge allowed the seeds to spread even farther. The seeds are carried on the wind, which is kinda ironic, actually!"
Arin tilted his head curiously. "How is it ironic?"
"Well, the name of the genus is 'Euphrasia' â I was named after these flowers! It's part of why they're my favorite."
"Ohhhhh! I didn't realize 'Euphrasia' was a flower name. That's really pretty!"
Euphrasia giggled, ducking her head slightly. "Thanks!"
"I guess that's why you know so much about these flowers, huh?"
"Yep! Like, you see that yellow spot on the lower petals? that's to guide pollinators! and the plant is hemiparisitic, which means it gets some of its nutrients from the plant it's attached to, usually grasses," she rustled the long grass they were kneeling in to demonstrate, "but they also photosynthesize on their own."
"Huh. That's pretty cool."
The two fell silent, admiring the flowers. After a moment, Arin reached out and began searching through the stems, plucking a few he deemed worthy.
Euphrasia tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
Arin flashed a smile at her, "the flowers are so pretty, i wanna take some home and preserve them!"
"Are you just going to keep them in your pocket until then? We don't know how long this ritual thing is going to take, or how we're even getting home."
Arin's hands stilled, smile dropping. "Oh, yeah... i guess the flowers would be pretty wilted by the time we get back..."
Euphrasia twisted her fingers, feeling bad for having killed the mood. "Uh, but, maybe when we get back I can help you find some around the Monastery? And I can show you how to press them, too!"
"Oh, yeah," Arin perked up, "that sounds like fun!"
"Great! ...uh, but what are you going to do with those now?" Euphrasia pointed at the flowers Arin had already picked, which he was still holding loosely.
Arin looked down, seemingly having forgotten he was holding them. He held up a stem, twirling it in front of his face. He glanced between the flower and Euphrasia a few times. "Hmmm..."
"Arin? What are you..." She trailed off when Arin leaned over, reaching up to her hair with the flower. She felt the stem scrape her scalp as he tucked it into the mound of curls on top of her head. Euphrasia's face felt warm.
Arin settled back on his heels, a shy smile gracing his features. "I, uh, didn't want to just drop them..." he rubbed the back of his head, glancing to the side sheepishly.
So if Jay and Nya are the sole memory carriers of Skybound, then at one point they are each the only one who remembers it, because they both have a memory wipe arc respectively. Now my new theory is that even though they're both restored now, they have no memory of it at all. Somehow when they get their memories back, Skybound wasn't included because it isn't a part of the current 'timeline' if that makes sense. The memories that were restored where only what they were "supposed" to remember, meaning that it's an event that is truly lost to the sands of time.
But this is also prolly just my way of coping from Nya not being the least bit wary of arrakore or jay not having any s6 scenes play in the DR memory recall scene.
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