Red lit lanterns lined up the rooftop and temples of the great city of Ninjago that cast a warm glow over the people who walked underneath them. Children dressed in costumes, photos of people decorated with their favorite food and incense, and the music played in the air as the nearby group of singers, The Royal Blacksmiths, played their hit song for this special occasion.

Today was the first of the three days of the Day of the Departed. A time of remembrance, from ancestors to paying debts in both spirit and heart. For the next three days, when the full moon was high and bright in the night sky, the people of Ninjago lit their lanterns and released them in the sky in hopes that their ancestors would follow their pathway to return home.

The Ninjas celebrated together in their new monastery after their previous encounter with Master Yang, the last time they celebrated the Day of the Departed. They each shared stories of their departed loved ones, from Master Wu to Kai and Nya's parents, to Zane's father, and even the time when Zane had once thought to be dead. They told the stories around a campfire with each of them lighting a lantern before they let it descend into the air.

But this year, Lloyd celebrated alone.

The young man carried a single lantern, the gentle flicker of fire inside reflected from his green eyes. His steps were quiet and steady as he moved through the rocky pathway surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This pathway led down to a sacred location that only he and one other person knew. For this person has long since departed from this realm.

Deep in the middle of the cherry blossom grove, there stood a tall and strong willow- one planted long ago in honor of you.

Like Lloyd and the other Ninjas, you were a protector of Ninjago. Brave and selfless, a fighter and a healer like none other, you always stood by Lloyd's side for as long as he could remember. But then that light was snuffed out by the darkness, as you had sacrificed yourself to save Lloyd and, most importantly, the realm of Ninjago itself.

He would never forget your sacrifice. He could never forget you.

So, as the first night of the full moon stood at its highest and brightest, Lloyd knelt before the stone statue that sat underneath the willow tree. Incense burned from their stands, and fallen cherry blossoms decorated your lap as he laid the lantern on top of them.

"They say that tonight the spirits will come back," Lloyd murmured as he kneeled in front of your smiling statue. "Just for a while. I don't know if you'll come back, but... I'll be waiting."