Enola awakened to find that, for once, she had woken up at a normal time, around 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning. Yawning, she rearranged her hair before hearing Nya yell.
Bolting out of her room, still in her pajamas, Enola found Nya's face covered with some sort of brown substance that looked like syrup. Enola began almost giggling, to her surprise.
"Don't. You. Dare. Laugh." Nya hissed, and lucky Enola managed to not. "The boys pulled a prank on me... Again. This is the third time in a month."
"So why don't you prank them back?" Enola asked.
"Because every time I try, it ALWAYS backfires. They manage to find some way to make it fail. And they laugh at me." Nya groaned, but Enola allowed herself a small smile.
"Need help? When I was younger my friends and I used to have an annual prank war." Enola said, as thinking about her past was less painful than before. "All I need is a couple of materials..."
An hour later...
"LLOYD!" The other ninja yelled. Nya and Enola, who were hiding out in Enola's room, smiled at each other.
The two found Lloyd pinned to the wall by the other ninja, covered with white baking soda, all having the same expression of extreme anger. Nya snickered, but Enola did something she hadn't done in years- she laughed. The boys were stunned for a moment, but recovered and looked at them. "Can one of you help us kill Lloyd?"
Nya was about to say they did it, but Enola stopped her, as there was one last part of the prank. "Why do you think it was Lloyd?"
"Because he did it last time!" Kai said, annoyed.
"Would he be able to do something this elaborate?" Enola said with a sly smile.
"Wha-" Jay asked, and behind her back Enola pressed a small trigger, and from the ceiling a wave of vinegar came down, reacting with the baking soda and soon the ninja, excluding Lloyd, were covered in bubbling foam. At this point, the girls and Lloyd doubled over, laughing.
"THAT was us!" Nya exclaimed, trying to not choke on her laughter. "I think Lloyd's just laughing because this is hilarious, though."
"But- what- HOW?!" Cole asked.
"That would be me. I have more experience in pranks than most girls." Enola continued to smile. "And if there's one thing I learned best was a multi-stage prank."
The boys grumbled but Enola turned on her heel and left the room, Nya following. However, when Nya went back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up breakfast Enola checked her arm to find a surprise; a tiny, barely noticeable patch of skin, which had been black the night before, was skin-white again. What's going on? She wondered. All she knew was this meant a possible chance at normalcy.
But elsewhere, this was terrible. Lord Garmadon sat on his throne above the Stone Warriors, cursing to himself. "What troubles you?" The Overlord asked.
"The link I spoke of, the girl, who could be the downfall of the ninja, continues to resist. She has found a way to reverse her change. This could spell disaster for our plans." Lord Garmadon was furious- when he had found out his destiny, he hadn't tried to change it, so why did this girl try to go against destiny?
"Perhaps I could speak to her. Convince her." The Overlord suggested.
"Try, but do not expect any results." Lord Garmadon muttered.
Back on Destiny's Bounty...
Enola stretched out on her bed. Closing her eyes, she couldn't help but think about her family. She hadn't seen them for years now, and even though her parents had abandoned her, she couldn't help but think about her younger brother and sister. Finally, thinking about it wasn't enough, and she went to the control room, where Nya was monitoring the systems.
"Hey Nya?" She turned to face Enola. "I know I said I don't have a family... But can I check if they're still alive?"
Nya shrugged. "Sure. I just need your last name."
"Hafford." Enola answered.
"Okay, I'll enter it into the system." As Nya typed, Enola's mind faded back to when she had last seen her family...
Flashback
Enola was strapped into a chair, her arms in a straightjacket while her family looked at her though glass.
"Clear." A guard called. He undid her restraints and let Enola's family in, but before he left, the guard muttered into Enola's father's ear, "I'll be right outside, with a tranquilizer and shotgun if necessary."
The outside door closed, leaving Enola alone with her family. Her father looked at her. "Enola, how could you? Do you know what this will mean for the rest of us?"
Enola kept her head down. She knew her father was an important businessman going into the government, and having a daughter in an asylum wouldn't help his career.
"Your father's right. What you did was irresponsible." Her mother chided.
Balling her fists, Enola could barely contain her rage. She had been in the same room as a man who had murdered all of her classmates and teacher, and they thought defending herself was IRRESPONSIBLE?!
"Enola, listen to us! Now, we have contacts, and might be able to cover up the incident, but you have to work with your therapists"
"SHUT UP!" Enola shouted, cutting him off. "You don't get it! I was going to be killed! Was the RESPONSIBLE thing to die so people would sympathize with you and elect you? The damned therapists you've hired are all idiots who are trying to get information convicting me of murder! You care more about you IMAGE and JOB than you do for your daughter's well-being and life!"
Her parents were shocked, and Enola's baby brother began to cry from the shouting. "I never would have believed you would be so mean to your own family." Her father said coldly, turning around. "Cassie, we're leaving." Enola's parents walked out the door, but six year-old Cassie hesitated.
"Sis, is that true?" Cassie asked.
Enola sighed. "Yes, it's true." Cassie began to cry along with their little brother, James.
"But why? Why are mommy and daddy being so mean?" Cassie asked.
"Because they want to have more, and I'll hold them back. Promise me you'll take care of Jamie." Normally, it was Enola's job, but Cassie nodded. She shifted their crying brother into Enola's arms. After a moment Jamie quieted and opened his eyes, looking at his older sister. He gave her a small, baby smile, and Enola smiled in return before the door opened again.
"Catherine! Get James away from Enola! Who knows what she'll do?!" Her mother screamed, grabbing the baby away from Enola, but in the moment Jamie left Enola's arms he began to brawl. "Hush." Enola's mother crooned, but Jamie began to wail.
"I think we're done here." Her father spat, and he grasped Cassie's arm tightly, pulling her away with his wife while Enola was restrained again.
"Bye sis..." Cassie murmured, tears running down her cheeks.
End of Flashback
"Hello? Enola, are you listening?" Enola snapped out of her memories by Nya's voice. "There are no known records. I'm sorry."
Enola bit her lip. She couldn't, no, she wouldn't believe that. How could Cassie and Jamie be dead? They had been just six and a year old! But how- Of course. Enola thought bitterly. They changed their last name so no one could find out about me. "Thanks anyway." Enola told Nya, exiting the room.
"Are you alright?" Enola was in such a daze she didn't notice Kai in the hallway. "You look pale."
"I'm fine." Enola murmured, putting a hand to her head. "Just a headache."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're not a very good liar."
Despite herself, Enola allowed herself a small smile. "Haven't needed to for a long time."
"Then why are you trying to?" Kai asked.
"Why are you being nice all of a sudden?" Enola countered. "I know for a fact Nya didn't tell you to apologize."
Kai sighed. "I know I was a real jerk, even if it was out of protectiveness for my sister. But when I kept on doing it, Nya told me you lost your family. But you lied to her- your parents didn't treat you badly before the accident, did they?"
Enola looked down. "No. I guess they were always insensitive, but it was never clear until after. I left my little brother and sister behind, and the fact that's there's no living record of them isn't reassuring."
Gently, Kai took Enola's hand. "Listen, you're not alone, even if you think you are." He said quietly before walking away.
Strangely, when Kai had held Enola's hand, her heart fluttered and when it had left, she felt herself longing to have his palm resting on hers. More interestingly, her black skin began to ripple, turning a full centimeter down white.
Twice today. It never happened before... Enola wondered.
Yes, and it must stop. A sly, slithering *Sorry that's only word I could think of to describe the Overlord's voice.* voice told her.
Who's there now?! Enola was terrified- unlike the others, this voice was pure darkness.
I am the one who controls your destiny. Come to me, and I will show you your fate as the Queen of Shadows. The voice whispered.
Why should I do anything you say? Enola asked, trying desperately to remain in control of the situation.
Because I can see the future, and yours is as black as mine. The voice answered.
Leave her alone! The shadows commanded. Hers is the choice.
Surprisingly, the voice faded, and the shadows began speaking to Enola. Ignore that voice, and the one of Lord Garmadon. They cannot, and will not control you.
Why are you defending me? Enola asked. But the shadows remained silent on the answer. Enola groaned. "Who can I trust?" She murmured to herself.