Hello darlings and welcome back to the newest installation of the M-And-Company series...Which is mostly just me, Mayhemb, with very slight and minor adjustments from the others.
Also, yes, that is Grace as the cover image for this story, or as close to her as I can make with a lego character maker from the Lego Movie website.
Before we begin, I'd like to tell you one thing.
Yes, we know that all of the characters are different, however this is for a reason.
We wanted to give you all something new. You've seen majority of just what our characters can do already, so we decided to take it in a new direction with everything.
I wanted to post this chapter and the next few, given that I don't plan on putting any romantic involvement in, not until the poll is all done and over with.
Speaking of, the polls are tied at the moment between Scenario One and Scenario Three, you all still have about nine days still to cast your vote.
So without further delay, I present to you the first (and almost always awkward) chapter of "A Warrior's Way".
A girl softly hummed as she swept the area of her family's Monastery, smiling to herself lightly.
She wore a white monastery robe, with a red apron atop it. Short platinum blonde hair kept rather roughly chopped, and careful blue eyes staring at the ground as she worked.
A voice inside her home was calling out to her. "Grace...? Grace..?"
"I'm outside, Father!"
A bearded man exited from the Monastery's doors, smiling at the girl as she worked. "Has anyone come to the Monastery yet?"
"No Father."
He hummed, nodding his head as he sat on the walk way of the building, deep in thought for a few moments... "..Grace?"
"Yes Father?"
"Come here for a moment.."
She blinked in surprise...Before nodding her head carefully, and going over carefully, sitting down beside him. "Yes Father?"
"I..Am going to leave the Monastery .."
"Oh, well, if you're going to the village then I can give you a list of what we need and-"
"It is not for groceries...I fear that darkness will be falling upon Ninjago...And I need to go and prepare."
"O-oh...I see..."
The two sat in silence for a few moments, waiting as the the wind brush against them.. "..I will be garnering a team to help defeat the darkness.."
"Well..Then perhaps I could help you and go- "
"No."
"But-"
"No Grace."
..Grace gave a soft sigh, frowning. "Yes Father..."
"Now, I shall be sending my students here. You are to help them get acquainted to the Monastery, and I shall give them training."
"Yes, Father..I'll go pack you some tea for your trip."
"Thank you, Grace."
Grace sighed as she carefully continued cleaning up the Monastery. The garbage was disposed of, the rooms were freshly set..Everything seemed to be in order, despite her...Oddity.
Already it felt like weeks since her father's departure from the Monastery, leaving her alone..It was worrisome, in all honesty.
She had never been alone in her home before. Never had she been the one to lock up the doors late at night. Plus, it was the first time she had to eat alone..
A sort of silence and pause fell over the home of peace.
Her moments of meditation was actually cut short though, when she heard two voices outside the gates.
"Do you think this is the place?"
"I don't know...But if it isn't...Then you can carry me down the mountain."
"Yeah yeah, just knock on the door...!"
There was a grumble from the second voice, before a knocking came to the thick door. "Uhm...Hello?"
Grace paused for a moment, waiting for her father to exit his room and open the-
Oh...Right..
Grace took a deep breath, and nodded her head, before carefully going to the door and pulling it open..And blinked in surprise at the two males on the other side.
The one who had been knocking blinked in surprise at her, his black hair slightly in his face. "Oh uh..Hello, miss."
"Helloooo in deed." The auburn haired male smiled, sliding on in.
"Jay, I thought you were exhausted."
"I was Cole! I was." The auburn male, Jay, hummed out, before shaking Grace's hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Jay, and you are?"
"Uhm..Grace."
"Well, Grace..." Cole coughed, cutting off Jay for a moment... "Do you happen to know if we are in the right place? Sensei Wu-"
"Oh! Oh, you're my Father's students!" The realization finally hit her, and she was smiling brightly, ushering the two inside. "Please, please come in! I am so sorry, I-Oh dear, I probably should have been at the base of the mountain waiting for you-I'm so sorry about that! But my Father didn't exactly tell me when you would be arriving..."
The two males looked around at the Monastery, surprised by it, before Cole spoke up. "Hey, it's no problem Grace. Besides, we found this place, so there's no need to worry..!"
"Man...We gonna be learning Spinjitsu here?" Jay questioned to the two of them, looking at the empty area.
The blonde bit the inside of her cheek, repressing the frown. Her father was teaching them Spinjitsu? Even though she...No, no Grace, you must not go against your Father's judgement..
"Please, don't let the look fool you, the Monastery is more than capable of teaching anyone Spinjitsu."
"Theeeen can you teach us?"
"I'm sorry Jay, my Father instructed me to simply help you get used to your new home. Do either of you have any bags?"
"Yeah, me and Jay left them outside, just in case we weren't at the right place."
"Oh! I can help you with those..!" She grins, practically running outside of the gate to get one of the bags...Only for the usual occurrence to happen.
As soon as she enters the door, her leg freezes up it seems, and falls to the ground with a gasp. The bag catchers her other hand as it clenches up, the zipper flying back as she tried to grasp it and-yep, the contents of the bag was spilled out.
Like usual...
"Oh my gosh I-I'm so sorry!" Grace panicked, trying to help Jay pick up this things and put them back in the bag. "Oh geez, this always happens. I'm so sorry, really I am! I mean, these things just happen and-"
"Hey, it's okay Grace." Jay cut her off, raising a hand. "Things happen...! Honest, you just gotta learn from your screw ups."
While this did subside part of the guilt that she felt, she also couldn't help but realize how wrong that was. Majority of her screw ups and trips just left her with a huge mess...That usually she'd just increase as she tried to fix it, resulting in her dad having to help her with his Spinjitsu...
Honestly, if he would just teach her how to do that then maybe-
No..No Grace, enough.
She took a deep breath and nodded her head, smiling softly at Jay. "Alright then...I-I'll just show you boys to your room."
Cole smiled, easily coming to them with all of the bags. "That would be great, thanks."
Within a mining tunnel deep within the ground, the sound of workers are heard pounding away at the metals. Yelling can be heard as they are all fussing over where to dig and for how long..
"Enough." A monotone voice interrupted the entire argument. A girl carefully dressed in muffled orange overalls and a grey shirt came over, a hard hat atop her head to keep her shoulder-length black hair out of her face. Hazel eyes fell over the map as her lips pursed, and she pulled out a marker, carefully "X"ing over a few locations. "We'll dig here, here, and here. Give an hour or two in succession between blasts. No sloppy work in here people, and be sure everyone knows when the explosions go off. We'll start facing north, go clockwise, and after that we can call it a day."
The men grumbled as they were soon put to work.
"That girl.." One of the older males started, looking to his companion. "Ever since her dad got hurt, she thinks she runs this place...!"
"Well hey, do you think you can do better?"
"I bet I could..!"
"Then why don't you?" The two men jumped, turning around to see the commanding woman right behind them. "I can call back all of the men right now if you'd like, and you can be responsible for their injuries, if they get any.."
The man who had been complaining grumbled... "You think you're so frickin' smart, huh Kim-Ly...?"
"Smarter than you, now, get back to work."
~X~Time Skip~X~
Kim-Ly sighed as she wiped off the sweat on her forehead, frowning as she almost limped back to her home. While the mine had been plentiful in the spots she had picked out, it never seemed to get easier.
A support beam in one of the lower levels, meaning and entire section of it had been cut for now. She'd have to put in extra time to clean it up properly, and ensure to get a better beam this time.
Carefully she pushed open the curtain that was their front door. Most likely the younger kids were fast asleep, now that the sun had fully set. Heck, she didn't even know if her mom would be up and-
"Oh, Kim-Ly.." Oh, never mind. Carefully she took off the overalls, folding them up so that any debris on it wouldn't get everywhere, and entered the 'living room'. It wasn't much, a plain room with a single table and a window to see outside.
At times she could find her mother in there, sewing up holes in her clothes, or making bread for the next day.
Her mother, in a word, was beautifully frail. She had warm skin and gentle hazel eyes, with black hair carefully fishtailed with a rather jumbled copper metal hairpin keeping it all together. Kim-Ly never remembered where the stupid thing came from, but her mother was determined to never tell her.
Her mother was wearing a tattered silver kimono at the moment, and was sitting across from a bearded man sipping tea.
"Kim-Ly, sweetie, sit down for a moment. This nice man has been waiting all day to talk to you."
"Just a second mom." She went to a side room and put her work clothes in a hamper. Once it was stored away, she returned to the living room and took a seat. "If you don't mind sir, can this be quick? I need to go see my dad and-"
"Kim-Ly!" The eldest daughter of the Thuy household got a sharp look. "Your father can wait, now please, be respectful."
"...I'm sorry."
"Do not apologize, it is alright." The bearded man hummed out, sipping his tea. "Your devotion to your family is stronger than the metals you mine, I see...Yet even metal can be sharpened and hardened further."
Kim-Ly blinked a bit in confusion, though the rest of her face didn't display this.. "Thank you, I suppose.."
"How rude of me..I am Sensei Wu, and I wish to teach you the ways of the Spinjitsu Master."
"Oh! Oh, Kimmy, that would be wonderful for you. A chance to step out of the mines and-"
"Thank you, sir...But I will have to decline." The teen cut off her mother, gaze not breaking with the male. "As you said, my devotion to my family is strong..And they need me right now."
"Kim-Ly-"
"She won't change her mind yet, Miss Thuy." Sensei Wu hummed out, standing up swiftly. "So I shall return another time..Please, have a good night, both of you."
"You also, Sensei Wu." Kim-Ly nodded as her elder gave the two woman a bow, before leaving with his tea.
"Kim-Ly Thuy, how dare you not at least listen to the man and-"
"The doctor's is only open only for a bit today mom, so I need to go." The teen sighed, getting up carefully and getting a bag. "I'll be back soon."
..Her mother sighed, frowning... "Alright just...Be safe.."
"I will."
~X~Time Skip~X~
Kim-Ly sighed as she carefully walked through the Doctor's office building in their little village, having paid for this week's bills. As the doctor lead her in ,she looked at the elder male. "Is his condition improving?"
"Yes, slowly. His leg is healing..However..."
"I know, sir..."
"I'm sorry, Miss Thuy. We are doing everything we can."
"I understand, sir." She nods, face calm and collected as she's shown her father's room.
Her father, Thomas, was carefully situated in his bed, broken leg elevated in it's cast. Thomas had jutting brown hair and jade green eyes, with a small "x" mark on his right cheek. Usually he'd be wearing his brown overalls and red shirt, plus his safety goggles and helmet..But now, he was in the little hospital gown his doctor gave him, a few IV's dripping into him.
"Kimmy, c'mon over." Her father smiled, waving at the girl. "Give your ol' Pops a hug."
Kim-Ly forced a smile onto her face, and went over, hugging the man carefully. "Hi dad.."
"How's my favorite girl?"
"I'm not your favorite."
"Alright, how's my favorite Kimmy?"
"I'm fine, dad.."
...He pulled away, and looked her over... "What happened?"
"Hm?"
"You seem colder than usual...Did something happen at the mine?"
"Well..Yes, but.."
"But?"
"..A man visited our house..."
"...Tell me everything."
~X~Time Skip~X~
"I see..." Thomas hummed, having listened to his daughter's day... "..I think you should go with the man."
"What? But dad, the mine-"
"Your brother can look after it...Look, Kimmy." He shifted, and Kim-Ly carefully helped him sit up. "..Your mother and I have been in this town all of our lives...And I don't want that for you, sweetie...So if this guy says that you can learn something new, something that could give you a new life...Well, then don't let us hold you back..."
"But dad..."
He gave her a calm smile, and grasped her hand. "..Promise me, Kimmy..That the next time he comes, you agree, and you learn..."
"...Alright dad...I will.."
"Good, and be sure to send us all sorts of letters and stuff. The kids and your mother will love it."
"Alright dad..."
"Good..I love you, sweetie."
..Carefully she hugged the male, giving a soft sigh.. "I love you too, Dad.."
Ninjago City was in full swing, like every day since it's first appearance on the map. People quick to get where they needed to be, and to get what they wanted quickly.
A specific shop near the edge of the city was a carefully kept boutique. Family run, and family oriented.
A white and black interior, with green and gold highlights. Clothing and jewelry carefully kept on racks and manikins.
In the back of the shop, there sat a girl carefully working.
Curly blonde hair with dark brown highlights that was usually down was kept in a bun right now. Bright green eyes carefully scanning over the fabric in her hands. She wore a jade green button down shirt, and black slacks. Black rimmed glasses rested on
From the front of the store, the bell chimed, and the girl spoke up. "O-oh, uhm...J-Just a minute!"
She quickly put the needle she was using in a pin cushion, and ran to the front, undoing her bun and taking off her glasses. Already looking around was a male with a long white beard, and an odd straw hat on...
Odd, very odd...
Bunny, the young girl, blink in surprise at the male. She hadn't seen him in the store, or around town before... "Uhm...Excuse me? Sir? Is there anything I can help you wish?"
The male turned and gave her a small smile, and shook his head. "No, not yet..But thank you, though."
She gave a small nod, before quickly going over and helping the other customers as they soon came in. She maneuvered quickly through them, free flowing it seemed as she kept her pace.
This was where she felt most secure, in the glass walls of her family boutique. It was safe, sound, and familiar..
It was then nearing closing time, with the last few customers trickling out..All except the bearded man as he was sitting on the couch within the store, sipping tea.
Her family had all tried to help him throughout the day, yet he didn't even talk to any of them..Yet finally, Bunny returned to him, looking at him with a calm look.
"Sir? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes, actually...Please, sit, and allow an old man to tell you a tale, if you will.."
The girl was a bit worried. Her mother had warned her many times to not listen to the ramblings of another..It was often contagious in the most unpleasant of ways, and she would fall victim to it..But there was something about this old man, a kind of wisdom that he held...It was probably from the beard.
She ended up sitting across from him, and carefully sipped the tea he had given her.
For the next half an hour, she was fully entangled in the story of the first Spinjitsu master. How her fair Ninjago had been created, and how the two sons had battled for the six golden weapons..
"That...That was amazing.." Bunny breathed out, smiling as she held her empty tea cup. "But..Why did you tell me?"
"Because, Bunny..I know that deep within you, a blossom awaits to fully bloom."
The blonde blinked in surprise.. "W-well..I-I know that I am a bit of a wall flower but..."
"Please, Bunny. Allow me to train you in the art of Spinjitsu."
"Bunny?" Her mother's voice came from the back room as she entered. Her mother was, in a word, beautiful in her eyes.
Bleach blonde hair in a bob cut with pale green eyes, and light pink lips. A white cardigan with an off white shirt beneath, and a lovely deep green skirt to show off her legs.
"Y-yes mom?"
"It's time to close up the shop, dear."
"Oh, alright..I-I'm sorry, Mister Wu, but I-" When Bunny had turned to look back at the male, he was already gone..
"Bunny? Who were you talking to?"
"Oh uh...No one, I guess..."
"Well...Alright dear..."
~X~Time Skip~X~
Bunny sighed as her mother, Chanel, helped her work in the back room...
"Bun-Bun, what's wrong?"
"It's..Complicated, mom.."
"Oh come now sweetie, I bet it isn't anything that a little trip to the mall won't fix!"
She frowned.. "Mom I...Do you know that guy who was sitting on the couch today?"
"Oh, you mean the hobo in the bathrobe?"
"Uhm...Yeah..?"
"Well I don't know him know him, but I saw him. Yes."
"Well he...He's a Sensei..W-who trains people to fight and-"
"Bunny...You can't possibly be thinking about going out and fighting...!"
"Well, I-"
"With your allergies and your heart, you can't even handle lifting a forty pound box..! Let alone-"
"I get it mom.."
Chanel frowned, going over to her daughter and hugging her.. "You know that I'm just looking out for you, right sweetie? Besides, if he really needed someone to fight, I'm sure he could find someone else more...Suited, for it...!"
.. "I know mom." She sighed, hugging the woman.
"Good, now go on upstairs, Charlotte's probably waiting for you."
"Yes mom.."
~X~Time Skip~X~
Her sister Charlotte was almost Bunny's perfect image...Omit the fact that her hair was straight, and not curly. She wore a light pink set of pajamas, along with a little sleeping mask around her neck.
She was waiting in her bed for her sister, with expecting eyes.
"Sorry I'm late Charlotte, I had to help mom-"
"Why didn't you go?"
Bunny blinked, looking at her sister... "What?"
"Why didn't you go and learn from that old guy?"
"What are you-Charlotte..! Were you ease dropping?.!"
"It's not ease dropping if it's our family shop, dummy." She stuck her tongue out at her older sister, who gave a weak sigh.. "But why didn't you go...?!"
"Charlotte...It's..It's big kid problems, okay?"
"I'mma big kid...!"
"Bigger kid problems, then.."
"But Bunny, you'll never get this chance again I bet...!" Charlotte huffed out, crossing her arms. "I don't want you to get stuck in this place for eeeever! Your stinky skeleton'll make this place yucky!"
She sighed, rolling her eyes a bit. This kid.. "Look, Charlotte, it's more complicated then-"
"I bet Dad would have let you go..."
"...Charlotte, you are going to bed this instant." Bunny huffed, turning around and closing the door behind her.
~X~Time Skip~X~
Late that night, Bunny was tossing and turning in her bed...Maybe she should have just gone with the man..Maybe she..She could have-
Her bedroom door opened up, and Charlotte quietly came in.. "Bunny?"
"...Yeah?"
"..Can I talk to you?"
"..Sure thing, c'mon in."
Her sister wiggled up and under her bed sheets, and nuzzled into her.. "..I don't want you to leave, and neither does mom...But you aren't gonna stay this young forever, that's what dad always told us, right?"
"Right..."
"Well..Then use that time while you can."
"...Go to bed, Charlotte..."
"Alright...Night Bunny."
"Goodnight.."
Grace smiled as she opened the doors for her father and a boy with pale blonde hair.
"Welcome home, Father."
"Hello to you too, Grace. Please, if you will, prepare the training course..It is time for these three to start their training."
Mayhemb; There we go! First chapter all done, with the characters all set up.
I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, and I can't wait to hear your responses.
Love you all, and see you next time.