Just to let you know I've made a little change to the timeline: As the pilots first aired in early 2011, I've moved everything forward by two years. So the events of Rebooted now happened in autumn 2012 (in this AU), and the main story began in October 2018 (which is when I actually started writing it 😉).

This is a pretty short filler, the flashback is actually almost as long as the chapter itself (and it takes place about two months after the one from chapter 13, and after Hands of Time).

For the next chapter, which POV (Lloyd, Katherine, Jay or Nya) would you like to read?

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Chapter 34 (Katherine)

One and a half years ago (June 2017), Ninjago 'Elementary Masters' Primary School

I arrive a few minutes late for our 'lunch date', so I am not surprised to find my always punctual friend is already there. It's a beautiful day, so Jay is waiting for me at one of the small tables outside the sandwich shop, as are two glasses of homemade iced tea.

"Sorry, I'm late." I apologise as I plop into the chair opposite him. "Mrs Johnson and I had to discuss a couple of things after class."

"No problem." He slides one of the glasses across the table, and I gratefully accept it. "I've already ordered and taken care of the bill, hope you don't mind Cobb Salad." He smirks, well aware that I love it and always get the same here.

"Thanks." I return the smile. "But you really have to stop paying for me."

"Hey, that's what friends do for each other." He flashes me one of his trademark grins. "Besides, I'm the one with a proper job while you're still a poor student."

"Only for three more weeks." I remind him of my upcoming graduation. And not only will I soon be a fully qualified teacher, but after my graduation, I'm also going to take over the kindergarten class at the 'Elementary Masters' Primary School when Mrs Johnson retires at the end of this school year.

I would have never expected that when I started my final placement here two and a half months ago. And neither did I expect to meet such a great friend. Over the last two months, Jay Gordon has become almost like a brother to me.

And while my boyfriend is quite suspicious of his intentions - he is a rather jealous and sometimes a bit overly possessive person - I am absolutely certain that friendship is all that Jay expects and wants from me.

"And then it will be my turn to pay for our lunch." I nonetheless tell him.

He pouts playfully. "And what am I supposed to spend my father's money on?"

It came as quite a surprise when Jay told me that he is the biological son of the late Cliff Gordon, one of the biggest movie stars Ninjago's ever had. And I somehow feel that this wasn't his only secret.

Like this mysterious ex-girlfriend of his. He doesn't really like to talk about her; I don't even know her name or how they met. Maybe she is a celebrity...

"Gordon to Dashner." Jay's voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and only then do I notice that our food has arrived.

"Everything alright?" Jay wants to know. "You just looked like you were lost in space."

"Just in thoughts." I reply. "But it sounds like you have some experience with getting lost in space." I tease, but for some reason Jay doesn't catch on the joke.

"Uhm..." He awkwardly clears his throat. "So, how's Mrs Johnson?" He asks, obviously eager to switch topics.

And I decide to go with it. "Quite emotional." I say, hoping that one day he'll trust me enough to share all his secrets with me.

"Well, that's quite understandable." Jay nods. "How long has she worked here?"

"36 years at the same school." I inform him. "And to make things worse, this is the first year that she won't be able to take her class to the Ninjago Museum of History for the end-of-year field trip."

"And why's that?" Jay wonders.

"It's still closed." I explain. "Remember, the old curator was somehow involved with those weird snakes and just disappeared with them. They haven't found a replacement for him, and apparently, there was also quite a lot of damage done to the building."

"I see." He nods. "But I'd assume the kids won't mind as much, I honestly can't see a bunch of six year olds to be all that interested in a trip to the Museum of History..."

"I wouldn't say that." I protest. "I went there during my first year of college, it was great fun."

When I moved from my small hometown to Ninjago City, I took the opportunity to visit every single museum and art gallery that our capital has to offer. And I still remember this as one of the best.

"Our country has a fascinating history." I continue. "For example, there's an interactive story of the First Spinjitzu Master. They even have life-size replica of the Golden Weapons, and you can have your picture taken with one of them."

"The Golden Weapons, really?" That seems to have Jay's interest piqued. "Which one did you pick?"

"The Scythe of Quakes."

"Of course, what else?" He mutters. "Everyone prefers him..."

"What's wrong with that one?" I question. "Which weapon would you choose?"

"I like the Nunchucks of Lightning." Jay states.

"Yeah, they would fit you." I agree. He is fast, agile and energetic. "We'll definitely have to go there when the museum reopens."

"Sure." He smiles. "And what else do they have?"

"The Ninja exhibition is very popular."

"They have an exhibition just about the Ninja?"

"Don't look so surprised." I chide him. "They totally deserve it, considering how many times they've saved our butts."

"I guess so." Jay shrugs, still unimpressed.

"And of course, there's also this big mystery about them that makes them even more fascinating to the public. I mean, since the sacrifice of the White Ninja, none of them have made many public appearances, and we don't even know all of their identities. Only the original ones - but who are the orange Ninja, the Water Ninja, the Titanium Ninja, the Phantom Ninja, and the new Samurai X. And nobody knows what happened to the Blue Ninja and the first Samurai X..."

"She's the Water Ninja." Jay interrupts me harshly.

"Huh?" What is he trying to say here?

"The first Samurai X, she's now the Water Ninja."

I have to admit that's an interesting idea. But... "Why do you think that?"

"Just look at her movements when she fights. So graceful, yet powerful at the same time. So... beautiful..." His voice trails off.

I can't recall having ever seen the Samurai X fight without her mech. But apparently Jay can. And not only that. "And of course, they have the same eyes."

"Okay, now I know you're kidding." I laugh. "The Samurai was always wearing a mask."

"Not always." He says. "She has the most stunning chocolate brown eyes."

His voice is laced with so many different emotions – hurt, anger, and... affection? - it almost takes my breath away.

I lean across the table. "How did you know her?" I whisper.

"I didn't just know her." Jay answers, his eyes glistening with tears. "Nya was my girlfriend – when I was the Blue Ninja."

Present Day (mid-December 2018), Joey's Burgers

"Wha-what?" Lloyd gasps, his eyes wide open in surprise, and I once again struggle to suppress a laugh. It's really funny to see a grown man - and even a man who has defeated some of Ninjago's greatest enemies - rendered speechless by a five year old. And it's actually really cute.

Okay, I probably wouldn't go that far. Or... maybe I would.

"Daddy always sleeps in Mummy's room when we're there." Abby repeats. "But my Mummy likes to sleep long, so my Daddy gets up early and goes for a run. But I'm alweady awake when he leaves her room..."

"I see." Lloyd mumbles. "A-and..."

"Abby." I turn to the girl, interrupting him. "Could you do me a huuuge favour and ask the nice lady for some more ketchup, please?"

"Sure." She nods and disappears under the table, only to reappear at the other end a few seconds later.

I wait until I see her talking to the waitress behind the counter before I lean across the table.

"Lloyd." I say in a low voice. "As you've probably guessed already, Jay and Nya are back together. But they haven't told a lot of people yet, not even Abby, so please don't say anything to her when she comes back."

"O-okay." He agrees. "And wow... I-I mean, that's great, like really great. B-but h-how long?"

"Since that weekend that we went to the Christmas Market." I inform him. "So it's only been about two and a half weeks."

"Still quite an achievement to have kept it a secret from the rest of us for so long." He sighs. "Seems like even a five-year old is more observant than a group of highly skilled Ninja and Samurai... her parents are just lucky that Abby is still too young to draw any conclusions from what she's seen."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." I retort. "I'd think that she has her suspicions but is just too afraid to be wrong about them."

"Well, either way we'll need to tell Nya and Jay when they get here." Lloyd has finally recovered and is back to being a leader.

"And then they will have to talk to their daughter." I add, grinning.

"Yeah, better them than me." Lloyd agrees.

He then looks at me. "So... you don't mind them being a couple then?"

"No." I reply, rather perplexed by his question. "Why should I?"

He blushes. "I-I thought that you and Jay... I mean the two of you seem to be rather close, and..." His voice trails off.

"We are very close, but I'm not in love with him." I say. "He's more like a brother to me than anything else, if you understand what I mean."

Lloyd nods. "Better than you think. I feel pretty much the same about Nya; she and Kai kinda adopted me as their little brother when I joined the team." He smiles. "I'm really happy for her and Jay, especially after all they've been trough. A-And I'm sorry I thought that you..."

I shake my head. "Don't be." I tell him. "It could have easily been true; and you're not the only one who's made that mistake. Like Nya herself was rather suspicious of me as well - especially when I confronted her about her feelings for Jay at the Christmas Market."

"You did what?" Lloyd looks shocked and impressed at the same time. "You must be a very brave person, Katherine Dashner."

"I did nothing brave at all. "I shrug. "I just knew how Jay felt about her, and I didn't want him to end up disappointed. So I simply asked Nya if she was in love with him as well. And when she admitted it, I told her to listen to her heart."

"I wish someone would have been there six years ago to give her that kind of advice..." Lloyd says. "I'm really glad that Jay has found such a wonderful friend."

"Thanks." I blush. "But he has done a lot more for me."

"Really?" Lloyd narrows his eyes. "What hap-"

"Here's your ketchup, Miss Kathy." We are interrupted by Abby's returning to the table. "The nice lady said that I should give it to my Mummy an' Daddy, but I told her that my Mummy an' Daddy are buying new fu'niture for my Dad because he doesn't like his room, and that's why I'm having dinner with Uncle Lloyd and Miss Katherine, an' then she said it's fine and I can give it to you instead of them, so here you are." She proudly hands me a full bottle of ketchup.

"That's great, thank you so much, Abby." I say to the girl as I accept the bottle from her.

"You're welcome, Miss Kathy." She grins at me, then she climbs over me back to her seat.