Things were different now.
The people of Ninjago were shaken to say the least, and though the city hadn't been demolished as it had been during the Devouror's rampage, there was still a certain amount of cleaning up that needed to be done. The task fell into the hands of Cyrus Borg, a genius confined to a wheelchair, who began a new era in Ninjago— an era of technology. The ninja melted into the background, glad for an excuse to disappear from the spotlight— Lexi's death and Garmadon change had given them lots to discuss, and there was a recovery period for all of them.
Kai's leg wound was healing nicely, and the ninja (especially Nya) were getting over the mental torment of having being possessed by Overlord. The Bounty was a wreck, but it had been salvaged from the island and Nya, Jay and Zane had already begun working on it, eager to revamp their beloved ship to make it blast-proof. They were using Lexi's powers as a test— if she could blow a hole through it, it wasn't strong enough and it was back to the drawing board.
Despite all this activity, there seemed to be a certain something that was lacking, and a source of tension somewhere. No one wanted to be the one to address it, and nobody really knew where it came from, but it was like a bad smell that followed them around. For weeks, they went about their days half-asleep, willfully blind to the rising tension among them, until the day finally came when someone decided enough was enough.
"I think it would be best if I left," Garmadon said one night at dinner. He'd spoken so suddenly that everyone seemed confused as to if he'd even spoken at all, or if they'd just imagined it. Then they saw the solemn look on his face, and he was met with a roar of disapproval.
"You can't leave, you just got here!" Lloyd cried, which wasn't exactly accurate, but it got his point across. Misako was glaring at him, waving her spoon and she scolded him, like a grandmother. Lexi was shaking her head fiercely, and the ninja were speaking with varying degrees of enthusiasm and disapproval.
"Enough," Wu said suddenly, holding up a hand. "Let him speak."
"Uncle!" Lloyd whined, but Wu silenced him with a single harsh look. "Listen," he ordered.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you," Garmadon said, launching right into his speech, "but I've been thinking about this a while, and if I'm honest with myself... I'm happy here, with all of you— but it isn't right that I stay."
"Why on earth wouldn't it be right?" Misako demanded, narrowing her eyes. "Have people been talking? If they have, I swear to the Oni themselves—"
"Misako," Garmadon said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder, "this isn't about what people have been saying. This is about what I think is best."
"Why would you think it's best that you go, then?" Misako asked. "Why would you think we'd be happier with you gone— after we just got you back, we're finally a family again and now you want to leave?"
Garmadon bowed his head. "I know it's horrible," he said, "but... I've spent the past twelve years a demon, hurting people, hurting you... I left you once, and now that I'm back I'm just causing more pain and more anger for everyone. It's better for us all that I'm not around."
"No it isn't." Lexi's voice was surprisingly strong, in stark contrast to her usual soft tone. "Father, I gave my life for this— for us to be together— and you're honestly willing to just throw it all away because you think you make us uncomfortable?" She shook her head. "People can learn to love someone, and you can grow into a family. Time will wear on and draw us closer, and eventually we'll be as happy as we always should have been— but you can never outgrow heartbreak. Losing someone... it's like losing an organ, or a limb. You will always feel it's gone, and you will never stop missing your life before it was taken."
Garmadon eyes were filling with tears. "Lexi, my child," he said, "I... I know. I know you'll miss me— and I don't want to go. I want to be with you, but I shouldn't stay here, in Ninjago—"
"Maybe we should all go," Lloyd said suddenly, and everyone turned to him. He was sitting up straight, his eyes wide and his mouth open. "Maybe it would be best if none of us stayed in Ninjago."
"But we're ninja," Kai said in disbelief. "We... we have to stay here. It's literally in the name— Ninjago!"
"You'll stay," Misako said, catching on, "you are ninja, and your place is here..." she turned to her husband, taking his hand in his. "But ours isn't. Our place is together, and far from here."
"Where will you go?" Zane asked. He was looking at Misako, but Lexi could tell he wanted to look at her. She wondered if robots could cry, and then decided that Zane could, even if robots couldn't.
"Algaria," Misako said, "the woods will be our home— Lexi and I grew up there, and it's high time Lloyd learned of our heritage."
"But— but we need you guys!" Nya said. She voiced what everyone else felt. "You're part of this family, and you can't just run off and leave us alone—"
"Yeah," Jay agreed, "we'd miss you just as much as you'd miss each other."
"We're a team," Kai said with finality. "We have to stay that way."
"We won't go forever," Lexi said, "maybe... maybe what we need is time. Time to heal, and time to think... we haven't been together like this, ever." She glanced at her parents, looking like a portrait. A portrait of two people she'd never met before. "We're a family, and we need to be able to feel like one."
"It seems that nothing will change your mind," Zane said. He spoke calmly, though his eyes were glittering. "We cannot forced you to stay, and what you say makes sense." He turned to the other ninja, who were staring at him in disbelief. "I believe that if the Garmadon family wishes to leave, they must. It is what the need to heal."
"I'm with metalhead," Kai said dejectedly. "I think you're all idiots, but you're a family of idiots."
Nya smiled sadly, placing a hand on Kai's arm. "If Kai and I had just gotten each other back after years of separation, I'd want to be alone for a while," she said. Jay nodded along, gripping Nya's free hand. "I'm with them," he said.
Lexi didn't want to look at Cole, but she made herself. He'd remained silent for all of dinner— he'd remained silent for weeks, ever since the Overlord's defeat. Lexi had noticed that he'd spent a lot of time away from the Bounty, and she'd assumed he'd been visiting his father. She'd also heard him confusing with Jay about a picture that had been lost, but that was all she knew.
"Zane's right," Cole said dully, "we can't stop you." He didn't say it, but it was clear that he could have added 'even if we want to.'
It was strange, really. Though Lexi knew she would miss the ninja, and though the could already imagine sleepless nights and drawn out days when she longed for Zane's kindness or Nya's confidence or Jay's wit, she felt freer knowing that she was leaving. It was as if it was what she'd wanted all along, and now that she had her wish, she was about to find a world where happiness awaited her around every corner.
It did not occur to her, or anyone else, until much later, that Wu had never said that he was going too. He had not ever intended to go with them, for his family was with his ninja, and not his brother.
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"You have to forgive him."
It was the morning of the departure, and Lexi had risen early to watch the sunrise. She knew she'd miss it, even if the sun rose in Algaria, too.
Wu frowned. "I have, Lexi. I forgave my brother everything."
Lexi crossed her arms. "Then why aren't you coming? What's so important that you can't be with your family?"
She hadn't exactly meant to speak with Wu, but he'd been out on the deck as well, and Lexi knew it was now or never. She'd spent the past three days wondering what his intentions were, and although she wasn't exactly itching to spend the next months living with her uncle, she did wish he'd come along for Garmadon's sake.
"Just as you know it's best for you to leave, I know it's best if I remain here." Wu's elegance with words was quite unwelcome today, and Lexi rolled her eyes.
"Tell me the real reason. There's something scaring you off."
Wu furrowed his brow, as if he didn't know the answer and was trying to solve the puzzle. "'Scaring' is not the term I'd use," he said, "but you're right. Something is keeping me away."
Lexi stiffened. "Just say it," she said. "Say it and I'll leave you alone."
Wu smiled. "You deserve your father," he said. "Lloyd deserves his, and Misako deserves her husband." He shook his head. "I had my brother for years before he turned. It's time he got the rest of his family."
Lexi frowned. "You think if you're around, he'll be too distracted by you?"
Wu pursed his lips. "I think Garmadon will try too hard to mend our relationship when there is nothing to mend. I have already forgiven him, and all that is left is for him to forgive himself. That can only be done with your help, and not mine."
It made sense. Lexi bit her lip, staring out across the horizon, to where the sun filtered through the treetops and painted the sky with beauty. The ninja would awaken soon, and then it would be time to leave.
"I didn't die for the world," she blurted. Wu turned to her in surprise.
"I didn't make the sacrifice to defeat Overlord," Lexi went on. She still wasn't looking at Wu. "I did it for my father."
She didn't see, but Wu was smiling. "Of course you knew it would change him. And of course you had a plan." He chuckled. "Garmadon always did, when he was young."
Lexi shook her head. "But I didn't think I'd live," she said. "I don't know how I did."
Wu placed a hand over Lexi's, and she was suddenly reminded of her mother— not Misako, but Catherine, who's raised her and loved her more than she'd ever thought capable. "Look at the people down there," she'd say, and she and Lexi stood on the balcony and watched the parade, "they are just like us, and we are just like them."
"Lexi Garmadon," Wu said, "you are a marvel."
He didn't say anything more, but it was all the farewell that was needed.
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Their departure was a bittersweet affair. Garmadon and Misako held hands and kept close to each other, sitting atop the wagon piled high with luggage. Lexi his farewell to the ninja as calmly as she could, trying to avoid hugging and tears, although it proved to be difficult for both sides. Lloyd dismissed all pleasantries, hugging everyone and crying openly, although he was smiling through his tears.
"I'll see you later, then," Cole said as he helped Lexi climb atop the wagon. His touch still sent shivers down her spine, and she smiled.
"I'm looking forward to it," she said. She would have to write a poem about the way his eyes sparkled.
It didn't really matter what was said, because words could not encompass what transpired, but let it be said twice that the departure of the Garmadon family was a bittersweet affair, and a beautiful one. It was sad, and there were tears, but there was laughter as well, and smiles. Everyone seemed to understand how important it was, and no one was angry. Thought it seemed wrong to imagine, it was very right it very many ways, and it was, all in all, not a bad way to end a story.