Note: Welcome to my Ninjago drabble series. Be aware that I will change canon to fit the own story I built around Ninjago. Plus, I haven't been in the fandom long enough to know EVERYTHING, so if I make a mistake, tell me about it. (Plus, call me out on grammar, if there are mistakes, I need to correct them). Enjoy.

Story Content: Family, Death - suggested reader: K+

1: Still Here

I held my wife's hand in my own. For what she was about to go through, she needed comfort. Our family had been making our way back home and she all of a sudden keeled over in pain and cried. She was about to have our second child. I panicked as I rushed her and my son, Kai, to shelter. There was no house in sight, so I had to make due with a cave near a stream. I left Kai to stay with Reiko as I searched for help or a better place to stay. No one was in sight. Her cries made me rush back to the cave in a hurry.

Reiko had sat Kai beside her as she gripped her stomach and screamed. Our little boy had the most terrified expression I ever saw. I knew Reiko wouldn't be able walk any further, so she had to deliver here. I whipped my bandana off and soaked it in the stream, placing the rag on her forehead. Kai, being the 2 year old he is, had flung his shirt off and handed it to me. I was confused for a second, but ignored that thought and placed the shirt under Reiko's head and got her into position.

I had not done anything like this before. All I knew was Reiko had to push and I had to gently pull the baby out. I told Kai grab a rock for his mother to grip as I helped the baby out. Reiko paced her breathing and pushed as hard as she could. And then, I saw the baby's head. I practically squealed with anxiety and ordered my wife to push more. Kai looked away, but only to hug his mother's arm in comfort.

Reiko did not look healthy at this point, her face was growing paler by the second. Despite my worries, I kept on helping our baby on the way. A few seconds later, our baby came out! Reiko gave a loud sigh and slammed the rock on the ground in relief. Kai stared in disgust at the little, screeching blob in my arms, but I looked tenderly. I sat cross legged and set the baby in my lap, taking my shirt of and using it to wipe the child down. After cutting the cord, I crawled to my wife to show off our child. But, my expression fell. Her heavy breathing became a wheeze and her face had become pale beyond compare.

I maneuvered my way under her and sat Reiko's head on my right arm. I laid our new child right in front of her, Kai inspecting his sibling. "It's a girl." I told my dearest.

"Oh… She is… so… beautiful…" Reiko responded, softly caressing the baby's cheek.

"Momma?" Kai whined. "You 'kay?"

Reiko slowly turned her head to Kai and smiled, "It's going… to… be okay… I… I love you all… I love… her..."

"Her name, Reiko… Do you know what it should be?" I pleaded from her.

She looked at me tenderly, "You and… Kai… decide…"

Reiko closed her eyes and started to breathe slower and slower… and slower… slower… Her hand fell from the babies face. Kai looked over his mother and shook her. "Momma?" He looked at me with desperate eyes and whimpered, "Momma is uh-sleep?"

I couldn't respond. My tears were on the verge of dropping from my face. I shouldn't let Kai see myself like this. Quickly, I recovered and shook my head. "Mommy is… she's gone… but she's still here."

I didn't know how to put it any other way. Kai still looked confused as ever. "Hey." I say to him. "You want to name your sister?"

The boy looked over at the baby girl and squinted. "Nyah." He said.

"Nya?"

"Wha?"

"Nya it is then…"

I looked over at little Nya. I saw her mother's face. She looked like she was destined for greatness, and Kai would be there to protect her. Turning again, I look over at Reiko and sigh. Why did it have to be like this? The rest of the night, I cradled Nya in my arms, Kai curled up by my chest; Reiko's body was beside mine. It looked like she was sleeping. There was no way I'd get our family out of this cave alone. Hell, I just feel so hopeless right now. I have my child in my arms, Kai doesn't understand, and my wife is… dead. This time, I let the tears roll down my face.

I whimpered uncontrollably and turned my head away from her. I just can't bare to look at her anymore. The memories start flooding into my mind. There was the time I first met her; I was fourteen and a foolish boy at that age. Then there was the time when we got married. Our ceremony had been wonderful. And then it was when we first had Kai. We were in a much more suitable area and Kai came out as healthy as could be; Reiko had walked away alive from that, as well as I. And now… I just don't want to do anything…

I looked up at the cavern ceiling and saw a light glinting on it's surface. I sit up and saw men shining lanterns from the cave entrance. They looked at me with shock and approached me slowly. "Do you need help?" He said.

I nod my head slightly. He nodded back and walked to me a bit faster than before. "We have a cart, so your wife and children can sit." He offered kindly.

This is when I broke. I lowered my head into my hand and began to sob. At first the man didn't understand my sorrow, but when he looked over at Reiko, he gasped. "I am so sorry… I didn't…" He whispered.

"N-No… I-I… I-I shouldn't b-be like thi-is."

He patted my back and said, "We will have a burial for her."

We all stood there, beholding the hole in the ground. They gently set down my wife, wrapped in a large blanket. I held my sleeping children in my arms, hoping they would not wake up to see this. The men turned to me, seeing if I had any words to say. Clearing my throat, I began to speak, "My love for Reiko started way before I met her; fate had made sure of that. She had always been there at my side, supporting me in my good decisions and scolding me for my bad decisions. She was a wonderful mother, blessing our family with Kai and now Nya."

I just wish Reiko could have been here for much longer. But yet again, fate made sure the events were set in place. This will affect me dearly, but this will affect my children even greater. I wonder what my two children would do without a mother, but I need to tell myself that they'll do fine. Reiko loves us dearly, and we love her. May she watch over us as she crosses into the afterlife. She is still here. She is still here…"

I've always wondered what actually happened to Kai's mother. Of course, it might not be relevant to the story now, but it's always interesting to look into things or make up your own stuff. So, this is what I made. A pretty tragic beginning to my series, but now you know how serious I'm going to be with my writing. And with that, you all have a nice day.