Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago, the characters of Ninjago, nor do I own Catching Fire. I also do not own "Tomorrow Will be Kinder"
A/N Congratulations to the first person to figure out who I modeled Paula after! Congratulations Animals Music and Ninjago for figuring it out first!
Chapter 7: Waters Quarters
Acciala's POV
How far is the Waters Quarters from the All-Elements Quarters? I always thought they were closer; close enough to run to within about a day or two. But, then again, that's what Faolan, and he's very fast. Yet still, the west coast of Ninjago can't be that far away from the mid-west. I thought as I looked out the window with Cole and Lloyd. Lloyd seemed to be amazed at this new world, probably because he never saw a meadow in real life, just meadows in pictures or what he thought they looked like as far as his little young mind knew. A few hours later, Hannah called us to dinner.
"Come! Come! Now, where isss Paula? Sssstill in the bar, I would think." Hannah sighed and shook her head. Suddenly, Paula came stumbling into the dinning car.
"I miss supper?" She slurred, and then passed out on the floor again.
Hannah sighed, and then said, "Guards! Take care of her." Hannah pointed to the passed out Paula. The guards picked Paula up and carried her off to her room. "Now that that iss taken care of, time to eat."
After we ate, we watched an hour or two hour long movie on the history of Ninjago, that is, the way the Serpentine want it. I've always compared the Holocaust with current Ninjago. Pythor pretty much like Hitler, the Keepers of Peace like the Nazis, and the Serpentine like the people of Nazi Germany, those who had no idea of what was really happening to the Jewish people. I just hope Pythor ends sooner than Hitler. It seems like the humans were all in concentration camps and ghettos. Then those who are picked to go in the Games were practically like the 'selections' done once prisoners were brought to camp. Except, no one with any special talent could escape. And then the Landscapes of the Games were practically like extermination or death camps. Only one could escape. Maybe one day, in the Landscape, there will be another "escape from Sobibor" I thought. I have always respected and honored those brave souls who attempted to escape. Only half escaped alive, the other half perished. God bless their souls!
After that long, boring movie, we were all going to bed when suddenly, Paula came stumbling back into the room.
"Well? I miss supper?" She slurred. Then she threw up and passed out, yet again.
"Guardsss!" Hannah called. "You know what to do."
After she was taken care of, we all went to bed. Lloyd followed me until we came to the doorway of my room.
"Lloyd, you know where you sleep." I said, turning to face him. Lloyd grabbed my arm.
"But I don't want to leave you! I'm not letting go!" Lloyd said, clearly determined not to let go.
"If you don't let go, I'll have Paula talk to you." I told him, trying to get him to release his grip.
"Fine, but only tonight." Lloyd finally let go of my arm. Lloyd then walked back to his room and didn't close the door. I sighed, then walked over to his room and closed his door for him.
The next day, we finally arrived at the Waters Quarters. I was surprised to see some of the residents looking like farmers.
"They make rice, Lloyd. That's why you see farmers. They also fish, they catch the best fish anyone ever could." I heard Hannah tell Lloyd.
"What kind of fish do they catch?" Lloyd asked, curiosity filling his little voice.
"More than I could ever count!" Hannah said.
We then saw some fishermen heading to the center of their town to see our arrival. Some seemed angry; some were crying so much they needed to be guided by their friends and family. Some of the people were whispering. Though they seemed to stop when they saw our train. I felt so guilty about them. About Aquia's family. I felt like crying when I remembered the little five-year-old who reminded me so much of Lloyd. Then I remembered Titon. He was by far the largest and most muscular fighter in the Landscape. Yet he was silent. I heard after the Games that he was hiding in rice fields. I thought that that was why no one went after him. He knew the land as his home. He was at an outrageous advantage in the fields.
As our train rolled into the station, everyone seemed quiet. It seemed as if the town was a living ghost town. Silent yet still holding life.
"Hey, Acciala. What are you going to do for a talent? I'm going to paint." Lloyd asked.
"I don't know. But I'll think of something." I told him. "I hope." I then muttered.
"You should sing." Lloyd offered.
"Yeah, I think I'll sing." I said. Yet, what good is singing without meaning? I thought. I had been working on a song for a while, a song to show Pythor he could take away some hope, yet he could never take it all away. After walking to the center of town, we were welcomed, and our talents were to be shown. Lloyd was first. He walked up in front of the audience and held up a picture he drew. I gasped. It was a picture of a sky, yet the sky was the same as it was in the Landscape. This must be when he was laying there in the dirt and mud, slowly dying. After the audience clapped, Cole went next. He dance, and was really good too. Then it was my turn. I took a deep breath as I walked up to the microphone.
"Black clouds are behind me, I now can see ahead.
Often I wonder why I try, hoping for an end.
Sorrow weighs my shoulders down, and trouble haunts my mind.
But I know the present will not last, and tomorrow will be kinder.
Tomorrow will be kinder. It's true; I've seen it before.
A brighter day is coming my way, yes, tomorrow will be kinder.
Today I've cried a many tear and pain is in my heart.
Around me lies a somber scene; I don't know where to start.
But I feel warmth on my skin, the stars have all aligned.
The wind has blown but now I know, that tomorrow will be kinder.
Tomorrow will be kinder; I know I've seen it before.
A brighter day is coming my way, yes tomorrow will be kinder.
A brighter day is coming my way, yes tomorrow will be kinder."
I finished singing. I looked out at the crowds, tears in their eyes, and they began to clap. When they finished clapping, I heard one man whistle the howl I taught to Aquia. After that, we were lead away from the stage. I looked back in time to catch Aquia and Titon's family's eyes. "I'm so sorry!" I mouthed at them. They smiled back at me. "Thank you." A large, teenage girl mouthed back. She must have been Titon's sister. After walking back stage, we heard some Keepers of Peace yelling orders and bringing someone on stage. After a few minutes, they shot him and he fell off the stage, dead. I gasped and swore that I would avenge him, and everyone else the snakes have taken away from me.
"What happened?" Lloyd asked when he heard the gun shot. "What happened, Acciala?"
"I'll tell you later, Lloyd. Come on, let's get back to the train." I took his hand in mine and led him to the train and Cole with Hannah. They were talking about something, and stopped and turned to face Lloyd and I.
"There you two are! We've been waiting for you two to show up! It'sss time to go. We have to start heading to the Air Quartersss next! Now let'ssss go! We have a busy, busy, busy a head of usss day tomorrow!" Hannah practically shoved us all into the train.
That night, I dreamed of Aquia and Titon. And of how their families and friends reacted to their deaths. Poor Aquia. Poor Titon. I hope their families and friends can heal from the great loss. Possibly even help other families of fighters somehow. I thought as I fell asleep.
A/N How is it? PLEASE REVIEW!
