*Tsunami*

Out in the yard, blades clashed, and brows furrowed, one in triumph, the other in frustration. Sitting on the stairs with eyes wide in anticipation were Tsunami, and her 7-year-old daughter Nya. Kai and his father swung their swords simultaneously, Tsunami grinned, proud of her son's progress. Most eight-year-olds would have been flattened battling Hotaru, but Kai persevered. He's going to be a great warrior someday. Suddenly, the sharp rap of a door knocker sounded. Distracted, Kai lost his balance and cut a wide swathe in empty air. Seeing an opportunity, Hotaru lunged forward, poking Kai's chest with his sword.

"Dad!" Nya cheered, running to the panting opponents. Giving her husband a smile of congratulations, and ruffling Kai's hair on the way out, she made her way to the gates. She pushed them open and stifled as cheer when she saw who the visitor was.

She hadn't seen her best friend since Aria had left, searching for the legendary Cursed Realm, but before that they'd been inseparable. The two girls had met as children, and had bonded when Aria had punched a boy (Hotaru, in fact) for attempting to flirt with Tsunami. They had grown up together, and Aria was the bridesmaid at Tsunami and Hotarus' wedding. She'd been there when Kai was born, but eventually when Aria's mother had become fatally sick, she'd journeyed to the Cursed Realm to search for the mythical Haunted Asters to heal her.

It warmed Tsunami's heart to see Aria again, but something was wrong. Aria was thinner than before, and her belly was unexplainably swollen. But worst of all, there was something different about her eyes. Her dancing hazel eyes were haunted with something that Tsunami couldn't put her finger on, and had turned a dull, hollow, muddy colour.

"Come in," Tsunami said without hesitation. She was curious, but it wouldn't do to have her pained friend stand outside while she eagerly interrogated her. Aria nodded, and followed her, walking in staggering steps that pulled at Tsunami's heart. The two women walked past the blacksmith shop to their adjoining home, into a room that Tsunami had prepared for her best friend a long time ago.

As she'd expected, Aria collapsed immediately into an armchair which she'd put there herself. "Thank you, Nami." Tsunami smiled at the distraught woman, and brushed aside a lock of hair on Aria's forehead.

"Dinner will be ready in an hour," she said softly. "Get some rest." Tsunami left with her mind full of questions, but she shut the door as gently as if it had been Nya, and not a long-lost best friend.

*Aria*

When Tsunami had left, Aria closed her eyes with a sigh. She'd been right to come here, and she could tell Tsunami cared about her as much as ever. There had been a part of her that had wondered whether she would be welcome here after so long, when she had been rejected everywhere else.

You're not welcome here, her father had snarled. YOU brought this upon her. It is YOUR fault that your mother is dead, yours and your accursed ghost-child. Aria shook her head, trying to shove the memory out of her head. I'm safe now, she promised herself. She could easily imagine making a new life for herself here, helping out with Kai and household chores. She knew she'd be welcome here, as she and Hotaru had resolved their differences when the two had begun their courtship.

But somewhere deep inside, no matter how much she denied it, she was aware that she might not survive the year. Ghosts and humans weren't meant to be together, Morro had warned, but at the time, the sacrifice had seemed worth it. Now though, she had something to care for. She put a hand on her belly, and felt her child nudge her, as if sensing its mother's anxiety.

Her child was the reason Aria hadn't given up. When she'd gone home, clutching a fist full of Haunted Asters triumphantly, she'd been greeted with furious words, and bitter tears. She hadn't realised that her journey had been so long. In the two years that she had been away, her mother had passed, and her father had suffered alone. He had been quick to anger when he realised who the father of her child had been, and blamed them for her mother's death. She had spent long months wandering around Ninjago and being shunned by her old acquaintances, especially once her pregnancy had begun showing.

Now that she was here, perhaps things might turn for the better. Maybe her misfortune had come to an end.

"Dinner's ready," a small voice chirruped. A little girl came bounding into the room. With short black hair and sapphire eyes, she looked exactly like Nami had, in their brief, happy youth. "Hi, I'm Nya, who are you?"

"I'm Aria," she smiled at the bouncing little girl, who had taken her hand impulsively. Aria twitched. It had been a long time since anyone had touched her, and she missed human contact. Despite knowing exactly where the dining room was, she allowed herself to be led out.

That night, the house was filled with contentment and laughter, as Hotaru recounted the multitude of times Aria had beaten him in a fight, with her and Nami chiming in from time to time, remembering the shameless way in which he had continued courting Tsunami, despite her attempts to avoid him, and Aria as backup. Everyone slept soundly after dinner, their hearts and bellies warm with the events that had occurred that day.

*Hotaru*

Hotaru paced around the yard, Kai and Nya equally restless. A week had passed since Aria had appeared, and she had fit into the family like a glove. He smiled mentally, remembering their age-old, one-sided rivalry. To him, she had been but an obstacle in his way for Tsunami, and according to Nami, she had viewed him as a dangerous and unwanted threat to her shy friend.

They had made it up, though. When the Serpentine had struck, she'd insisted on coming to war, despite not having any elemental powers whatsoever. Nonetheless, she was skilled with a sword, and had proved useful in the war. Both of the Garmadon brothers respected her, as did the rest of their small army. But their victory wasn't why he remembered the war fondly. One night, in camp, Aria had snuck into his tent. I've realised why you don't go away, Aria had said, smiling. You really do love her, don't you? Hotaru had been speechless, especially when he realised she no longer opposed his attempts at courting. After the war, Tsunami wanted her as her bridesmaid, and Hotaru agreed without hesitation, to her surprise.

In the week which Aria spent with them, their acquaintance had blossomed into friendship. Which was why he was so worried.

She had been training with Kai, when she had suddenly gone into early labor. Promising to explain later, Tsunami had whisked her into their bedroom, and from the open window, he could clearly hear gasps and groans of pain. Nya whimpered in response, and Hotaru picked her up. Normally she would have wriggled and protested that seven-year-olds did not need to be carried. But today, she buried her head into his shoulder. Kai was glaring at the open windows, his fingers twitching for a sword. Hotaru understood the feeling, and placed a hand on his son's spiky hair. He bent down and murmured. "Some enemies can't be fought by a sword, and some battles have to be fought alone." Kai nodded, and kicked a boulder to relieve his feelings, an action after which he promptly gave a yelp.

Some hours later, Tsunami emerged, beckoning for Hotaru to come, but a look in her eyes warned him not to bring the children. "Go to bed," he suggested to Kai, and put down Nya. Neither of them complained about being sent to bed without dinner, which was usually a punishment. The two of them obediently went to their bedroom, and he followed Nami to their own room.

Aria sat on their bed, looking at a little girl with a loving gaze. But in her eyes was a sadness that he couldn't understand.

"Her name is Aster," Aria said quietly, her eyes still glued on the child. Suddenly, she turned to Hotaru and Tsunami. "Promise me you'll take care of her when I'm gone."

"That's it? You're taking off like that?" Hotaru spluttered in disbelief.

"No, Aria," Tsunami choked, her eyes filling with tears. Hotaru looked at the two women in confusion. "You said it was just a possibility… You said there was a chance."

"I was wrong," she whispered, holding the child closer to her. "Promise me…"

"We'll raise her as our own," Nami swore, the tears streaming now. Hotaru drew her close, and she buried her head in his shoulder as Nya had done only a few hours ago.

Aria looked at Hotaru, and he realised what she was talking about. "Aria-"

"Take care of her," she murmured. Lying back, she exhaled. And when the sun set, Aria disappeared with it.