After Destiny

Hi guys! I missed you so much & it's finally time to end my hiatus with the sequel of Children of Destiny, making this 'Destiny' series a bit of a trilogy. But there's no third generation taking their parents' place because that'll be a little too repetitive. Instead, this story will focus on the changes the ninjas face in this new era. While many stories start on a peaceful note, I'm doing something different for this prologue just to prove how much of a bitch I am. As always, here's the disclaimer: Lego owns Ninjago, not me. Okay! Let's get this fic on a roll!

Prologue: Dearly Departed

Years have passed and as time continues moving forward, Ninjago moves on, facing changes as it greets a new era. Life goes on and just like life itself, there were both good and bad aspects.

"…Grandma…?" Leon held Haruka's hand as the frail old woman laid upon her bed.

It was only a couple of years since Wu and Garmadon's sacrifice and all the emotional strain the green ninja's mother faced eventually took its toll on her. She just didn't find any reason to stay in this world anymore. She still loved her son and his family but they have shown they can take care of themselves. There was no other place for her to go and her health rapidly deteriorated.

"…Misako…" Haruka beckoned to her lifelong friend.

"I'm here. We're all here. You don't have to worry anymore." Misako solemnly held her hand. Deep down, she was very heartbroken to not only lose the two men she loved but also her best friend she had known since they were little girls.

"I know I won't be forgotten… I will finally be at peace… but I will always watch over you…"

"…Mother…" Lloyd felt himself tongue-tied and loathed himself for being unable to tell her how he truly felt for the very last time.

"…You don't have to say anything…" She gently shushed her child as if trying to soothe him.

"But- "

"…Your eyes say more… than any word could…" Haruka barely managed to let out a tiny smile, despite knowing that her end was fast approaching.

"...Being with you… one last time… is all I need… to finally be at peace…"

"Grandma… are you…?" Willow asked but didn't want to finish.

"…At last… it's time for me… to join your father and uncle…"

Seeing her loved ones surrounding her, the old woman knew she can finally rest in peace.

"…We will always… watch over you… from the stars…"

With one final breath, Haruka was gone.

"Goodbye… Haruka…" Misako grasped her friend's hand and silently wept.

Iris and her children looked on in silence, praying that their deceased relative's afterlife will be better than the life she had in the mortal realm.

Meanwhile, Lloyd was too shaken to do anything right now. It was all too much to take in. Not only was his father gone but now, his mother left too. Without uttering a single word, he slowly got up and left the room. The former green ninja barely made it out the door when he fell to his hands and knees and let out his tears. Even as a middle-aged man, it still pained him to lose his own mother, especially after he found her upon growing from a childhood without her.

Even in the most peaceful of times, life can still be extremely cruel.

The funeral was a quiet affair like Haruka and Garmadon's marriage. Only Lloyd, his family, and the ninjas attended to pay their final respects. Like Wu and Garmadon, a small monument was planned to be built in her memory at the site of the original monastery where it all started.

"I can't believe it. She's really gone…" Iris lamented after the quiet service, feeling bad for her spouse for losing both of his parents so soon.

Lloyd remained as silent as ever, only staring at the plaque on his mother's final resting place. His mother had a way of knowing how he felt without him saying anything so he only looked on and said nothing, not even when his brothers gave their sympathies.

"It's never easy losing someone you love, especially your own mother." Cole sighed, reminiscing the loss of his own mother and the effects it had on him.

"I know what it's like," Kai started, "Nya and I lost our parents when we were young."

"I too have lost both of my parents. Take your time to mourn but you'll eventually have to keep moving forward. Our parents would've wanted that…" Zane also expressed his sympathy.

"Sensei… are you going to be okay…?" Melody placed a hand on her mentor's shoulder.

"Don't worry. We all must move on at some point. I just need some time." Misako said.

"What are you going to do now?" Liana asked.

"That is for me to figure out. We have our own lives to live and part of moving on is finding out what lies ahead of us. Perhaps I'll go on my own personal journey. I'll have to find out myself."

"How long do you think it'll take?" Kyle pondered.

"Who knows? It could take months or even years. But never forget the experiences you have all shared and the lessons you have learned. Only we can decide our future and forge our paths."

The new generation contemplated their teacher's words and even now, a couple of years since the Overlord was destroyed forever, they still had no idea what else destiny holds for them.

"But how will we figure out what other purpose we have?" Kyle asked.

"Don't worry about it. The answers will come eventually. The thing is… the answer has a funny way of not showing up until you least expect it. That's why you should just take your time and let fate run its course." Jay answered his son.

Lloyd silently gazed up at the clouds, believing his parents and uncle were somewhere deep in the invisible world of the deceased, still guiding and watching over this world.

'Mom… Dad… even now… I will still watch over this world you vowed to protect… Until the end of my days… I will be with you again someday… just not today…'

Iris stood by her husband's side, understanding his resolve to continue protecting Ninjago and soon, their teammates who've had each other's backs joined the couple.

The original ninja and kunoichi looked on with pride.

They knew their children and the new generation were able to defeat the Overlord for good. If evil ever shows its face again, whenever that will be, they had faith that as long as there will be ninjas protecting this world, anyone and anything that threatens the balance will be defeated.

The future may be uncertain but despite that as well as all the sacrifices made, the ninjas, both old and new, looked forward to the next chapter in their lives…

*sigh* I'll confess. I'm a bit of a sadist. I really enjoy making my readers cry. Yeah, their tears are yummy but at least it fuels my stories. But hey, the sad part's over. We're gonna see a bit more of the ninjas interacting & they still got some growing up to do.

It's great to be back on writing stories again & as always, please review!