Yay! I'm so glad everyone seems to be okay with the whole different cultures and nationalities for the characters. This new feature will tweak my writing a little bit, but not much. I will be reposting the finalized ethnics for each character at the end of this chapter based off of your reviews and my own research (such as re-watching certain episodes and listening to the dialogue closely). By the way, thank you all very much for reading and reviewing! I really do appreciate your feedback; they are all considered small treasures to me! :D
Please read and enjoy!
Chapter 9
(Zane's POV)
As soon as Sylph's tornado dissipated we were hurled in a random direction.
Due to the increased velocity during out descent, our bodies had begun to levitate off the deck of the Bounty and into the open air.
"Zane!" Ayane screamed desperately as my body lifted from above hers.
"Ayane, grab my hand!" I yelled while reaching out to her.
She turned her body around quickly and stretched her arm out to reach me.
Her fingertips grazed mine, but I could not grab her. Her mystic irises widened in fear as the distance between us grew in length.
I repositioned my body into a dive to gain enough speed to bridge the gap and take hold of her hand. I pulled her body towards mine and encircle my arms around her lithe frame.
"Hold on to me, I have you," I whisper in her ear.
She nods her head against my shoulder and obliges to my wishes, her arms are around my middle squeezing tightly.
Hmm, she is quite strong for someone so malyy.
I sweep my gaze through the sky around me to try to locate my friends.
Cole and Sasha were not too far from me only a few feet away to my right.
They were pretty much in the same position as Ayane and I. I met my brother's gaze and he was pointing down below us during our freefall with one hand the other wrapped securely around Sasha.
I turned my attention down and saw the rest of my family holding on to the rails of the Bounty.
We were all safe, but not for long if we did not figure out a way to survive this…
I hope Nya is still alive.
*POWERFUL SHARP CRY OF BIRD OF PREY*
I only have time to register the mighty call before an immense royal purple gale surrounds the Bounty and stills its plummet.
However, the gale did nothing to stop our own descent…
I adjust Ayane and hastily turn my body to shield her from the hard impact of our landing that was sure to come.
I glance in my peripheral to see Cole do the same.
*SLAM! SLAM!*
"Oww…"
Cole…
"Uhh…"
Me…
"Zane, are you alright!?"
I hear Ayane's concerned voice, but my mind is dazed and the throbbing pain emitting from my back circuits keep me from answering right away.
I keep my eyes shut and use the cooling element within me to sooth the pain sensors in my back.
Ahhh…!
I am brought back from the recesses of my mind from Ayane's soft touch to my masked face.
"Zane!?"
I open my eyes quickly to meet her anxious enchanting orbs.
"Oh, thank Amaterasu," she sighed appreciatively, "when you didn't say anything I feared the worst."
I sit up slowly and Ayane wraps her arms around my neck, I return her relieved embrace.
"Thank you for protecting me Zane, but don't ever scare me like that again!" She reprimands lightly with a nervous chuckle.
"I am sorry Ayane, but I will scare you again without hesitation if it meant protecting you," I reply sincerely.
She pulls back and her eyes are wide with disbelief, but they slowly become hooded as she turns her head slightly to the side.
I feel this irrepressible urge shoot through me to pull her mask down.
I wish to see the entirety of her lovely face.
I wish to see the blush tinge her sun-kissed cheeks, the small happy smile on her full scarred lips.
I welcome the pleasurable heat that suddenly curses through me.
My gloved hand seems to rise on its own.
I place the side of my index finger underneath her chin and gently turn her head back to face me.
Her eyes are still shyly shifted away, but when I ascend my hand and place my fingers under the thin fabric of her mask they immediately lock with mine.
I gaze deeply into those bewitching mismatched irises of sky blue and mint green of hers and pull down the golden curtain to reveal her face.
Just as I imagined…
The light dusk of pink gracefully dances across her cheeks and the small blissful smile brightens her face magnificently.
"Ayane…"
My voice is muffled slightly because of my hood of course, but she soon rectifies the problem by pulling it back with care.
I am astutely aware of the intimate position we are in, with her sitting comfortably in my lap and her well-toned legs bent at the knee on either side of mine.
Nebo pomoch' mne…
"Yes…Zane?" Ayane whispers softly, her hands now at ease on my shoulders as she slowly leans forward…
My own eyes become hooded with desire as I focus on those tempting lips.
This time…I am ready…
"NYA!"
Completely unaware of my surroundings, I am swarmed with the conflicting emotions of mortification and disappointment as Ayane hastily detangles herself from my person, stands up and spins around.
Even with her back to me, I see her fumble with her mask and pull it back up.
The Bow of Divinity twinkles rapidly at me as if…winking?
I shake my head and stand up as well.
Must have been a…what did Jay say once that was completely out of context, but also quite humorous?
Ah yes, must have been a fig newton of my imagination.
I pull my hood over my head once more and glance around to see Cole and Sasha staring pointedly at Ayane and me.
The knowing look in the Brazilian red-head's soft rain eyes shifts from me to Ayane, but my brother's emerald gaze steadily remains on me.
…?
His thick eyebrows rise up in question and it dawns on me what that question is.
Did you tell her yet?
I quickly break eye contact with the black ninja and instead focus my attention on the scene in front of me.
Nya, she is alive and well but…
My eyes widen at the mere girth and muscle of the colossal eagle she is perched upon.
The eagle's wing span had to be close to the length of our home, but not quite meeting that of Nagendra's, its body encased in silver plumage with the exception of its flight and tail feathers which were the color of Nya's element. It's massive and deadly sharp talons were heavily armored and reinforced by pearl white battle claw attachments and sitting upon its warrior brow, an intricately crafted helmet of the same flawless white.
The Yin and Yang medallion around its powerful neck completed the mighty eagle's visage.
It calmly looked down upon us with its sharp flaring silver eyes as it held the ship easily within its power.
With each flap of its majestic wings I could see gales form from the downward motion.
"Nya!" Jay called again, but Nya did not answer.
"Master Nya is receiving final instructions telepathically from the wind goddess Sylph and is not to be disturbed," the eagle's deep alto bass voice resounded all around us with the force of typhoon.
I peered up at Nya and a cumulative gasp left everyone's mouth.
Nya had the same striking complex glowing markings coming from her now flaring royal purple eyes.
The same as Sasha did a month ago after her pacification with Leviathan.
The Prophecy of Phoenix, Sasha and Nya's ascension…
Does this mean…Ayane is next?
My eyes fall upon the destined Kunoichi of Light, her eyes wide with wonderment and intrigue as she stared at Nya and the eagle.
What does the Prophecy entail exactly?
I do not like being kept in the dark about such significant matters, but I know I must be patient.
I sense that all will be revealed once the last Elemental Master is found.
…?
I could feel a light stirring within me.
My shurikens!
I summoned my Shurikens of Ice and was astonished to find them glowing brightly.
"Whoa!"
"Ittai nani ga!?"
"Quello che sta succedendo!?"
It seems mine are not the only ones either.
"Your golden weapons have been blessed by Sylph's power, an added attribute to your Spinjitsu vehicles. I advise testing them out when the next opportunity presents itself," the warrior eagle advised sagely.
"Well I guess this makes up for almost killing us," Kai mutters, obviously still irritated from Sylph's assault, "but who are you and what is Sylph telling my sister!?"
"Hmph, same fiery temperament as Ifrit I see, although I suppose I can introduce myself while we wait for the conclusion of Master Nya's dialogue with Sylph. My name is Valefor kin to the goddess Sylph and I pledged to serve Master Nya as her adjutant and guardian," the now proclaimed Valefor voiced strongly with a formal nod.
"Okay, nice to meet ya Valefor now what about my sister!?" Kai exploded impatiently.
Valefor came closer and leaned its glorious helmed head down to peer closely at Kai.
"That information is confidential kin to my master and may I remind you that my element is wind, appropriate for one who puts out fires," Valefor threatened dangerously to my flame-wielding brother.
Kai stepped forward bravely and growled at Valefor just as seriously.
"And let me remind YOU kin to Sylph that wind can also feed fires."
Valefor threw back his head and gave a great rambunctious laugh, but was careful not to rouse Nya with his abrupt movement.
"It is good to see such a strong-willed mortal especially one who is relative to my master. Do not fret young ember, the time of revelation will come once your flames illuminates through the shrouding darkness," Valefor says cryptically.
"What the hell does that mean!?" Kai yelled at the warrior eagle.
Valefor said nothing more as Nya gave a soft moan and closed her eyes.
The mysterious glowing marks faded and when she reopened them the soft chocolate orbs were once again shone.
"Nya, are you okay!?" Jay asked urgently running closer to Valefor as the eagle lowered himself more for Nya to slide off his back.
"Yes, I-I'm fine," she said shakily, but as soon her feet touched the deck her legs wobbled and she fell back against Jay.
"Nya!" We all shouted with worry and gathered around the fallen kunoichi.
I could feel the ship descend as Valefor lowered us with his power. Soon there was a small dip and the ship rocked a bit, I knew then he had placed us on water.
"Master Nya, you must rest now and do not forget what Sylph has told you. Remember, I am yours summon me whenever you wish and I shall be by your side."
With those final words Valefor opened his beak and bellowed a valiant cry swiftly dematerializing into multiple wisps of royal purple gales.
We returned our focus on Nya and saw the tiredness and fatigue on her face.
"Um, does this sort of thing happen often?" Ayane asks suddenly looking at Nya with concern.
Nya chuckles tiredly from her downed position in Jay's arms and replies.
"Yeah, but you'll get used to it."
"Come on irmã," Sasha says coming over to kneel beside Jay and Nya, "let's get you to bed."
Ayane steps forward as well and they both help Nya to her feet and guide her to the cabin door leading to the ship's interior.
Once the kunoichi are inside, Jay stands up as well and turns to Sensei Wu with a stern expression.
"Sensei, when will you tell us about the Prophecy of Phoenix? Something this crucial can't be kept from us forever," Jay says arguably.
"Patience is a virtue Jay, I promise to tell you all what I know once the final Master of Spinjitsu is found," Sensei says remotely.
I thought so…
"Now all of you present your golden weapons to Lloyd."
My brothers and I form a semicircle around the young Garmadon and do what our sensei instructs.
Our weapons levitate around the black-clad boy connected by crackling green power.
"That proves it then, Lloyd is the Legendary Green Ninja," Cole says while removing his hood.
"This means I get to learn Spinjitsu right!?" Lloyd questions excitedly, "But, how come I wasn't blessed by Sylph? Does she not like me or something?"
Kai snorts derisively and replies, "With the way she was flinging us around earlier, it's hard to say she likes US."
"Yeah," Jay pipes up, "why couldn't Sylph be more like Leviathan? Sure he caused a hell of a lot of rain and hurricane vortexes, but afterwards he just showered us with holy water and disappeared."
"Come now nephew, the green ninja suit is in my chambers let us see how it fits and I shall also share with you a tale about your father," Sensei says while leading Lloyd to the door as well.
We grab our weapons before they can follow the youngster and sheath them once again.
"Sigh, man things are getting hot and heavy aren't they?" Jay comments dryly.
"Yeah and with the Serpentine one Fang Blade away from unleashing the Great Devourer, we may not even have time to find the last master," Kai retorts bitterly.
"We're not out of the game yet guys," Cole says stepping forward then turning around to face the three of us, "We can only take one day at a time and even if they do manage to procure the last one we can still stop them from actually releasing that can of worms."
"What if they do manage to summon the Great Devourer Cole?" I inquire to our bold leader.
"Then we simply find a way to destroy it," Cole states with determination shifting his emerald gaze to me.
My brother's eyes linger on me for a moment and I sense he is about say something I will dread.
"Zane, when do you plan on telling Ayane you're android?" Cole asks giving me the same pointed look as before.
Kai and Jay immediately snap their attention to me as well.
"You mean you haven't told her yet Zane!?" Jay exclaims sounding incredulous, "By the way, you mean a nindroid Cole."
"I-I will I am just wait—"
"Waiting for what Zane, the planets to align!? This isn't something you can just blow off and wait till your ready," Kai interrupts giving me a concerned look.
"I understand I just…" I drift off and bow my head avoiding the eyes of my brothers, "I am afraid I will lose her," I end meekly.
"Ayane is here with us now Zane, she will find out eventually and if it doesn't come from you then you WILL lose her without question," Cole says lowly.
I close my eyes tight and clench my fists.
I know they are correct, before anything serious can happen between us she has to know and it has to come from me.
I cannot procrastinate any longer.
"I will tell her…" I open my eyes and lift my head, "tonight."
My brothers circle me and pat me on my shoulders.
"Do you want us to be there with you when you tell her," Kai asks with a smile, "ya know for morale support?"
"Yeah, Charles Xzavier has the X-men, so we can be your Z-men," Jay says happily.
I shake my head negative and reply.
"I think it is best if I tell her alone, I do not want her to feel pressured. Also, they were called the X-men because Xzavier is Charles' surname, my surname is Chernov, so coincidently you all would be my C-men," I correct easily.
My brothers are silent at my logic and their once happy faces revert into frowns of obvious discontent of the team name I gave for them.
Did I say something wrong?
"I would like a moment for rebuttal," Cole states sardonically.
LOL! This was fun to write! Next chapter will be in Ayane's POV and Zane's confession of him being a nindroid. How will this scenario turn out? I will try to post the next chapter a bit more quickly than this one. Oh and I updated my profile friends, please take a gander at it I need a little bit of help with something. If you wish to contribute your ideas for this matter feel free to PM me! Until next time my friends!
Please read and review! :D
Cole: Italian/Japanese
Jay: Caucasian/Norwegian
Kai: Japanese/Chinese
Zane: Russian/Caucasian/Japanese (Major dispute about Zane, but I think this is the best match.)
Lloyd: Caucasian/Japanese
Nya: Japanese/Chinese
Sasha: Portuguese/African American
Ayane: Japanese/French (Ayane looks are actually based off of one of my dearest friends and she is part French, so she threw a croissant at my head when she saw the first edition and demanded I change it.)
Ebony: Japanese/(Shhhh…)
Dialogue Translation:
Malyy-petite
Nebo pomoch' mne-Heaven help me
Ittai nani ga-What the hell
Quello che sta succedendo-What's happening
