Thanks to RubyRed883 for requesting this update 😊. It's only a short filler but hope you'll enjoy it nonetheless!

This ⬆️ is the jumper mentioned in the chapter, and there will be a little explanation for the (rather unusual) pairing that is introduced here at the end ⬇️.

Question for this chapter: Do you want the Christmas holidays arc to be longer or shorter? It will be a couple more chapters either way, but I could skip over a few less important bits (for example when everyone arrives) and just cover the main events so it won't drag on forever 😉.

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Chapter 43 (Lloyd)

Six years ago, December 2012, Chen's Island

Things never turn out to be as straightforward as they seem when we plan them.

After learning from Skylor of her father's evil scheme, Zane immediately made contact with his girlfriend back at headquarters. PIXAL is currently on her way here in the DB Express. As soon as the ferry lands on the island, Skylor will help Nya get out of the palace, and we'll all be out of here.

In the meantime, us Ninja have one job, and one job only – to stay in the Tournament, at any costs – and we're failing miserably at it.

In our defence, it wasn't entirely our fault. Chen must have gotten suspicious, so he decided to step things up a notch by pitting two of us against each other, meaning that we would be down one team member, no matter what. In the end, Zane chose to sacrifice himself in order to prevent us from losing both him and Cole – he was the most logical choice, for the Nindroid's abilities might help him find out more about what's going on behind the scenes – or rather below them in the dungeons. And, of course, a way out of them.

But... I could really use his help right now.

It's me competing against the Master of Form – and pretty much everyone else. Only Kai and Cole are on my team, but neither of them is of much use here, to be honest.

Argh, of all possible kinds of races, why does it have to be roller skates?

Holding onto my Jade Blade, I'm skating as fast as I can – or rather as fast as I can get past all those obstacles that Chen and the other Masters are putting into my way. But I won't be able to even keep that up for much longer; I may be the Master of Energy, yet I feel myself getting tired.

And I am lagging behind by a couple of laps already, so if things don't start improving very soon – and I have no idea how they possibly could – my time in this tournament will soon be over.

"Ouch." I feel someone giving me a push from behind. I briefly turn my head to find Kai, surprisingly on his feet rather than his butt, using his powers to propel us around the course.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I question, not keen on ending my skating career in one of the barriers.

"Trust me," comes the answer in a female voice – it's actually the Master of Amber using both Form and Fire to help me. "I won't be able to keep this up for long though." She says apologetically. "Using two elements at once isn't easy."

"Don't worry." I reply. "I really appreciate it."

But, as much as I can use any help I can get, it's also way more important for Skylor to not raise any suspicions; after all, she's the only one who has access to Nya.

And luckily, she's managed to convince her father not to take the baby's powers right away but to 'wait for a few more days and let them get stronger'.

As we are steadily closing the gap on Chamille's lead, I also feel a bit of my own strength returning. Maybe this will work out after all. But Chen, of course, is not too happy about this new development. From the corner of my eye, I can see him frantically pushing some buttons, and-

"Lloyd!" Hearing Skylor's yell, I quickly shift my focus back onto the racetrack, where a ramp has just shot up from the floor right in front of us. She gives me a final push up the ramp before she stops and collapses to the floor.

I have no idea how, but I manage not only to keep my balance but to even perform a backflip off the edge.

As I land on my feet, skating backwards, I can see the real Kai crashing into her once more.

I sigh.

——-

Present Day (23rd December 2018), Temple of Airjitzu

Following a quick lunch, everyone's once again gathered in our sitting room.

Well, not everyone. Zane and PIXAL are cleaning up the kitchen, claiming that parents, parents-to-be, guests and children (which, in everyone else's mind, still includes me) should get some rest after the meal. And Jay is in the office with my mum, helping her set up the online fundraiser.

Most of the adults (yes, this now includes me) are scattered across our sofas and armchairs, while the children have taken over the floor.

The twins are snuggled together in the cosy corner, half asleep. Although tired, they refused to go upstairs to their room for their afternoon nap while everyone else is down here. Instead, they begged 'Aunt Kathy' (as Sylvie has decided to call her new favourite person) to join them in the kids corner, and read them another story.

Abby's in her favourite position – lying on the floor on her tummy – drawing a Christmas card for Ed and Edna while also listening to Kath's soft voice.

She's amazing – Katherine, I mean. She's not even been here for two hours, and she's already won everyone's hearts – Luke and Sylvie, their parents who've had the chance to get a break themselves, my Mum...  and all that even despite her own disappointment.

I may have only had my first real Christmas (that I remember) when I was twelve, but now I just can't imagine not being able to spend the holidays without my extended family.

"Lloyd, you alright?" Nya's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"S-sure, why?" I blush.

"You seemed a bit... absent." She explains.

Kai smirks. "No, I think I know exactly where he was."

"I had no idea that you are the Master of Mind now." I retort.

"Oh, I'm the Master of many things." My big brother grins. "Ask Skylor."

"No, please don't." Cole protests. "There are children present in this room. And-" He places a hand on his stomach. "I just had food..."

"If you're feeling sick, that's simply because you've had too much pizza." Kai teases him.

"There's no such thing as too much pizza." Cole retorts

"Very true. Same about not needing to hear about your special abilities." Seliel agrees with her husband. "But speaking of Elemental powers, I got a message from Ash, he's received our card."

Every year, we take a picture of the whole team dressed up in ugly Christmas jumpers and send this as our 'Seasons Greetings' to family and friends, including everyone from the new Elemental Alliance, of course.

"My cousin says thank you and also wishes us a 'Merry Whatever'." Sel adds, referring to the 'Grinch'-style jumper that Abby has picked for me this year.

"How d'ya spell 'whateva'?" Abby suddenly asks loudly, she must have listened to our conversation. Only then do I notice that Kath has finished reading her story - apparently successfully as the twins are now fast asleep.

"Shh, Abby." Nya reprimands her daughter while Kath sits down on the floor again, this time to help her little student write her message. "You don't want to wake up Sylvie and Luke."

"Oh, you should know by now that there's no need to worry about that." Sel laughs. "Once you get them to sleep – thank you so much, Katherine, you're a star – you can have a party in the same room."

Cole nods in agreement. "They got that from their mother."

"As long as they don't snore like their father..." I remark, causing both Kai and Zane to groan in agreement. Cole's snoring is one thing we still remember – and certainly don't miss – from all of us sharing a room.

"I've finished my card for G'anny and Gwampa." Abby announces proudly as she jumps up from the floor, as usually leaving a mess of crayons and paper behind. She climbs onto the sofa that Nya occupies and hands her mother the finished masterpiece. "Look, mummy."

"Well done, sweetie," Nya smiles at her daughter. "Edna and Ed will absolutely love it."

"I know." Abby boasts. "When are they coming?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, darling." Nya brushes her hand through her daughter's hair. "Like your other grandparents." Also Lou, Seliel's Dad Aiden, and Cyrus Borg.

Abby's eyes light up. "An' Uncle Ronin?"

"Yes." Nya sighs. "And Uncle Ronin."

"More people?" Katherine, who has also joined Nya and Abby on the sofa, pales.

"Ronin is as good as family." We assure her.

We met the mercenary about five and a half years years ago when we were fighting an army of cursed ghosts - well, I wasn't actually fighting them at that time, being too busy to be possessed by their leader.

Anyway, Abby was just a newborn and Nya was struggling to be a new mother and an Elemental Master, and Ronin somehow developed a soft spot for the two. He became Nya's mentor and an honorary grandfather to her daughter.

Abby's probably the only person who can get anything she wants from him, and even for free.

"And there's Uncle Dareth, he's funny." Abby says. "He thinks he can talk to animals."

"I think I've heard that name before." Katherine remarks.

I nod. "Jay might have mentioned him, we've known him for a long time. He'll also come tomorrow."

Abby scrunches her nose. "An' his girlfwied. I don't like her."

"Me neither." I agree. Chamille is a rather... difficult person.

Kai grins. "I'm not surprised about that, considering she's eliminated the mighty Green Ninja during the Tournament of Elements."

I feel my face heat up. "Well, if you or Cole hadn't been so awful at roller skating..."

"Roller skating?" Comes Jay's voice from the door. "I love roller skating." He sits down with us, between Nya and Katherine. 

Jay then turns to his girlfriend. "Did I ever mention I once placed first in the mother-son skate-off?"

Even though I've never heard about this before, Nya's eye rolling suggests that he has done so multiple times. And knowing Edna, she's probably seen all the pictures as well.

"Did we ever tell you how Lloyd placed last in Thunderblade?" Kai asks back.

"Hey. I came second." I protest. "Just... out of two."

"Aw, shame I've missed that one." Jay bursts out laughing.

"Hey." Nya gives him a not-so-gentle nudge. "I hope you mean that not just because of the roller skating."

"Of course not." Jay gently tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "If I'd known that you and Abby were in such danger... I-I really should ha-"

"Don't," Nya interrupts him, smiling. "Remember, no regrets. It's all turned out alright in the end." She lightly brushes her lips against his. "We're all here now." 

I'm glad we are, I don't think I have seen Nya this happy in a long time.

"I'm here too." Abby climbs over Nya onto her father's lap.

"Of course you are." Jay tickles her. "All my three favourite girls are here with me." He then leans back and wraps his arms around Nya and Kath's shoulders, pulling them both towards him.

It's very cute to watch, yet when Kath places her head on his shoulder, my smile automatically turns into a frown. I just... don't like seeing them like this.

I tell myself that I'm probably just concerned for my big sister, but ... that makes no sense whatsoever.

I've been assured many times – even by Kath herself – that she and Jay consider each other as honorary siblings - not unlike me and Nya or Kai, actually - and that she has even helped him and Nya admit their feelings for each other. And speaking about feelings, it couldn't be more obvious that Jay is very much in love with Nya, not with Kath.

So, there really is no need to worry about him cheating on my big sister with his best friend.

But then, for what other reason could this bother me?

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If you are wondering about the Dareth x Chamille pairing...

I got into Ninjago and fanfiction in 2015, so around the time of ToE (where both characters play a role). I wouldn't start writing my own stories until about a year later, but I was toying with some story ideas which luckily never got written ;).

But, as mentioned a few times, most of my Next Gen characters still come from my very first and very crappy story idea (present Ninja meet their future selves and future kids). And one of those characters was Lizzie, Dareth's and Chamille's daughter (remember, this was just after ToE), new Master of Form and girlfriend of Robbie (Jay and Nya's second child). I really like her, so I've decided to keep the pairing.