Sorry for the delay on this one, writer's block was killer, but I finally got through it. We are quickly coming to the end of this prequel, and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Any and all reviews are warmly welcomed, especially since this is a departure from the original storyline, and thank you so so so much for your support and patience.

- Fell_and_Fallen -


The night is freezing cold, even through all their gear. Jay pulls his hood tighter around his face as he and the others struggle along, slowed by the fortress of thorns in their way. Kai hacks at them with his sword, each cut sounding like an explosion in the darkness.

"Guys, this isn't working," Jay whispers. "They're going to hear us coming from a mile away!"

"We're almost there," Cole says as he starts to help Kai with his scythe. "Just a few more-"

The bushes finally give way before them, opening a thin path to the clearing ahead. The ninja file through one by one with Sensei following close behind. They hold their weapons at the ready and stare up at the dark fortress ahead of them.

The moonless night casts dark shadows over the clearing, but the stone monolith ahead is lit by a ring of orange flames. Two shapes walk between the fire, looking like giants in the light.

"It doesn't look like they've heard us," Kai says as they crouch near the bushes, using the darkness to blur their shapes. "Zane, can you see anything?"

There's a flutter overhead as Zane's falcon flies toward the fire. A few gears whir to life in Zane's eyes as he connects with the bird.

"It's Ash and Hale," he says slowly as the bird circles the fortress. "But there's no sign of Desmond."

"He must be watching over Ash's parents," Sensei says. "He wouldn't risk leaving them alone."

"We have to find a way to draw him out and get Ash on our side," Cole says. "But how?"

"First thing's first, we should deal with Hale," Kai says. "Stop him from warning Desmond or hurting Ash."

"But how do we do that?" Jay asks. "We can't get close enough without Ash turning us to toast!"

"She's expecting us to attack," Zane says slowly as his eyes return to normal. "If we go after Hale, we're only proving her right."

"You're not saying we should just waltz in and announce ourselves, are you?" Cole asks.

"Zane does have a point," Sensei says. "It may buy us enough time to convince Ash of Desmond's treachery."

Kai shakes his head. "I'm not liking this plan. If she doesn't believe us, we're sitting ducks."

"It's the only shot we have of getting her out without a fight," Zane says as he watches the shapes that flicker in the firelight. "We have to try."

"Ash, take a deep breath."

She closes her eyes and inhales slowly, feeling the flames that crackle from her fingers calm as cooler air floods her lungs. She breathes out and the raging heat returns.

"I can't relax, Hale," she says to the archer in front of her. He holds his black longbow almost casually in one hand, enough to make her feel nauseous. "Not while they're still out there."

She shakes her head. "I can't believe I sent them off. I should've known they would come back to finish the job, I should've-"

"Killed them? I'm sorry, highness, but that's something I could never imagine you doing," Hale gives her a reassuring smile and touches her forearm with a few gentle fingers. "You did what you thought was right. Now, we're just going to make sure they get the message."

"If they even show up," she stares up at the dark night around them. "I expected them ages ago."

"They're probably wearing us out," Hale says as he follows her gaze. "Waiting until our attention slips or we start to nod off. I wouldn't be surprised if they were skulking around out there right now."

"Right," Ash can't hide the pain in her voice. She still struggles to imagine the people who were so nice to her as malicious assassins, but nonetheless here they were. She shakes her head and tries to toss the memories aside. Hale gives her a sideways glance.

"You're still thinking about him, aren't you?"

Ash blinks and stares up at him. "What?"

"Don't think I hadn't noticed," Hale lets out a breath. "You and him." His grip shifts on his bow. "You could do much better, you know."

He glances at Ash again and gently slides his hand into hers. "You deserve much better than a guy who supports the man who tried to kill your father."

Ash pulls her hand away. "Now isn't the time," she says in a quiet voice. "Right now what matters is keeping my father safe."

Hale frowns slightly as Ash shifts her gaze back to the shadowed forest. Her body suddenly tenses as she catches movement in the bushes, and the fire rages to life around her.

"They're coming," she says as her voice darkens and her eyes flash crimson in the burning flames. She strides forward to meet the group of shapes with Hale following close behind, his bow drawn and ready. Something stirs deep in Ash's diaphragm as she stares at the blur of figures ahead of her, a furious blaze of heat that snaps in her chest like an angry serpent. She struggles to keep it contained as she faces the oncoming group.

"I told you what would happen if you ever showed your faces again," she calls out in a powerful voice.

"We're here to talk," a familiar voice says as the ninja emerge from the gloom. Sensei Wu leads the way, and the sight of him makes her chest burn.

Ash raises an arm and the fire rages away from the fortress and toward her outstretched hand, scorching a path in the swaying grass before coming to a halt just past her fingertips. Her eyes narrow. "There's nothing you can say that will fix what you've done."

"Ash, Sensei is innocent," Cole says, and the serpent in Ash's chest coils into a smoldering rock. "Your father knew that, and he tried to warn you of the people who are really trying to hurt him."

"Right," Hale snorts. "And who would that be?"

Cole meets his eyes with a glare. "Why don't you tell her, Hale?"

"You expect me to believe that Hale tried to kill my father?" Ash lets out a derisive laugh. "How desperate are you?"

"Not just Hale," Kai says. "Desmond's behind all of this. Think about it, Ash. He blames your parents for his wife's death, he was gone the first time someone tried to kill your dad, he was the one who found the magical cure that sent off everyone else. He was probably just waiting around for someone else to blame!"

"Enough!" A violent burst of fire explodes from Ash as she glares at the ninja, her eyes aflame with rage. "I've heard enough of your lies!" Her blazing eyes focus on Sensei, bright and red as the fire that coils around her. "You had your chance, and now I want you dead!"

"Ash, listen-"

Kai shoves Sensei out of the way as Ash lets loose a cannon of smoldering fire. The ground blackens to soot and fills the air with burning smoke as he turns back to face the blazing girl. She lunges forward, her hands lost in crackling flames. She swings and he raises his sword, scattering her fire in an explosion of heat and light. Sensei retreats, shouting something that's drowned out by the roar of Ash's fire.

Hale lets loose one arrow, then another, scattering the other ninja in different directions. Kai huddles close to Sensei, holding his sword protectively in front of them as the ground erupts in another blast of screaming flames. He and Sensei stagger back. Kai slashes at the fire with his sword, struggling to swipe them away as Ash closes in. She rushes forward, her eyes dark and focused on Sensei as she shoves Kai aside and raises a burning hand.

Zane tackles her from nowhere and together they slam to the ground in a burst of wild fire. Ash swipes at Zane and he struggles to avoid her burning thrashes.

"Ash, you must listen to us!" he says in a pleading voice. "We are not your enemies-"

The white ninja flinches as an arrow thuds into his arm with a crackle of flying electricity. He recoils and reaches to tug it out as Ash sends him flying back with a sharp kick. Zane lands with a thud, smacking his head enough to scramble his gears and leave him wide open to the archer standing just a few feet away.

Hale starts to raise his bow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he nocks an arrow and aims at the nindroid's head. Cole rushes at Hale before he can fire, grabbing the other boy and grappling him to the ground. Hale's bow flies from his hands but he continues to fight furiously, slamming his elbow into Cole's face with enough force to make him see stars. Hale shifts his weight and shoves the black ninja under him, wrapping his hands around his throat before knocking his head a dozen times into the ground. Cole fights the blackness that clouds his vision and wildly jabs at Hale's face. The archer recoils as Cole lands a solid blow on his eye, and the black ninja uses the shift in weight to shove himself back on top.

Staring down at this boy, this archer, this monster that nearly killed Ash's father makes Cole want to do more than just beat him senseless. But as he stares down at his hands near Hale's throat, he just… can't.

Hale notices the hesitation in the black ninja's eyes. "What, lost your nerve?" the archer coughs as a trail of blood trickles from the gash above his eye. Something dark flashes in his grey irises. "I knew you wouldn't have it in you. None of you do. You aren't willing to get your hands dirty to get what you want."

His eyes flicker briefly to Ash, who struggles against Kai, and something shifts in Cole's chest. "Why, you bast-"

Hale slams a fist into the side of Cole's head, knocking him to the side and giving him enough purchase to stand. Cole regains his wit and gets to his feet. He faces the archer that glares at him through the screen of blood that falls down his face. His chest heaves as he tries to regain his breath. Cole starts forward to attack Hale, to make him pay, to tear apart the smug grin that touches his lips, but then he realizes everything's gone silent. He looks up and sees Ash standing just a few feet away, still and blank as a statue. She stares at Hale with an empty gaze.

"Where did you get that?" she asks in a small voice.

What? Cole watches her outstretched hand, following her finger to where Cole had ripped a part of Hale's shirt during their struggle. The archer's skin is puckered and mangled, like it had been hit a dozen times, shredded, or burned.

Hale looks up at Ash, who still hasn't moved. "What are you talking about?"

"Those scars," the light returns to Ash's eyes as she moves forward. "Where did you get them? Hale, explain. Now."

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Don't lie to me!" Ash's voice rises to a scream as she shoves Hale. "I burned the man that came after my father, I made sure of it!" Her body slumps. "What have you done?"

Hale's face shatters. "Ash, please, you don't understand-"

"I don't need to," her voice falls to a low growl. Her hands clench at her sides, tight enough that her knuckles are bright white. "You've made yourself very clear."

"Ash-"

A feral scream rips away from Ash's lips, loud enough to almost send the ninja reeling. She strikes hard and fast, slashing at Hale with an arc of searing white flame. The sky fills with the new color as Hale is engulfed in the screaming fire. The ninja stagger back a dozen steps. Cole can smell the edges of his hair and clothes burning as Hale lets out a wail of agony. His brilliant shape staggers back one step, two, and then he's running into the forest followed by streaming blue flames. Ash's hands fall back to her sides as she takes a trembling breath, watching with barely hidden satisfaction as Hale disappears like a comet. There are a few seconds of silence as Hale's screams finally fade to nothing, then something snaps within Ash.

Her eyes widen. "Mom," She turns wildly, completely ignoring the ninja around her as her gaze focuses back on the fortress. "Dad."

She takes off in a blaze of searing footsteps. The ninja have barely a second to exchange glances before they follow her, the sudden urgency of their mission pushing them until they've nearly caught up with the terrified girl.

The fortress is eerily empty as Ash leads them down hallway after hallway, maneuvering around corners even faster than the ninja can. Kai slows until he's in line with Sensei.

"We're going to make it, aren't we?" he says in a low voice nearly masked by their pounding footsteps. "There's no way Desmond knows."

Sensei's expression is grim. "I cannot know for sure," his gaze shifts to the girl leading them. "But you must remember what I said. I made a promise to Lindell. We must protect Ash at all costs."

Kai's jaw tightens but he says nothing else. The next few seconds are filled with the terrified sound of footsteps before Ash comes to a screeching halt in front of them. Cole nearly slams into her, barely regaining his balance before he sees Ash has completely frozen. Her hand slowly covers her mouth as he takes in the open door before of them and the mangled room beyond.

It looks like a hurricane ripped through and tore apart everything in the room- from the ruptured bed to the broken glass, the strewn books, and-

"Oh no," Kai breathes as Ash rushes into the room. She stands above a twisted shape lying just in the shadow of a ruined bookcase, and as they watch her entire being shatters.

"No," Ash collapses onto her knees as she takes a few curls of her mother's hair in her hands. Her whole body starts to shake. "No, mom, please. No. Not like this. Not like-" Her voice breaks as she buries her face in her mother's still form. "No. Please don't go. Please-"

No more words come from Ash's mouth, just a feral scream that rips through the empty fortress and echoes out into the forest. The floor turns black around her as she burns the place she sits, grasping at her mother's body as the ninja watch her trembling shape. Sensei takes a slow step back and the others follow.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Kai asks. He struggles to get the image of the room out of his head.

"We must keep her safe," Sensei says. His hands are clenched tightly on his walking stick. "We do as Lindell said and take Ash with us."

"But Sensei," Zane stares back at Ash's shaking body. "There must be something we can do."

"We do what we must," Sensei drops his gaze. "What we promised."

"He's not here."

It takes the ninja a second before they realize the small voice came from within the room, from the trembling girl that slowly gets to her feet. Her hands clench tightly at her sides as she turns toward them. Her crimson eyes are framed by a different redness now, and they look wild, determined, dangerous.

Her voice is almost a growl. "My mother fought. She held off Desmond to let my father escape to the one room in this godforsaken place he would be safe," she shoves past the others and starts down the hall. "The Sanctuary."

"No," Sensei says in a firm voice, and she stops. "It is too dangerous. Desmond is powerful, Ash, you cannot face him yourself. Let us handle this. You must stay safe."

The white fire explodes around Ash again as she whirls around to face Sensei, her eyes blazing and feral. "I'll rip him apart for what he's done to me and my family!" her voice is tremulous and powerful, enough to shove the ninja back a step. "He killed my mother! I'll see him roasted over a spit before I let you get in my way!"

"Ash-"

"You've done your job, now get out! This is my battle now, and I'll make him pay even if it kills me!"

Ash whirls in a rage of fire and takes off down the hall, leaving the ninja and Sensei with singed clothes and the smell of smoke. They're just clearing it away when Sensei starts running after her.

"We cannot let her face Desmond!" he shouts as the sound of crackling flame and footsteps fills the echoing halls. "We must protect her!"

The ninja follow at a rapid pace, feet pounding as they struggle to keep up with the blazing white light ahead of them. Cole stumbles over a crackle of fire that explodes at his feet, regaining his footing before he realizes more are starting to appear in the hall in front of them. He turns to others, who struggle to keep up through the bursts of fire.

"She's trying to slow us down!" Kai shouts as Jay narrowly avoids a blaze of flames to the face. "We have to go faster!"

The hall starts to widen in front of them as Ash approaches a large stone door set with spiraling runes, slightly ajar to let a cloud of darkness spill out onto the stone.

Something clicks in Cole's mind. "Wait, the door-"

Ash flies through before he can finish his warning, and the door suddenly slams shut behind her. The ninja come to a skidding halt in front of it, nearly smacking against its surface as they're left in darkness. Kai grasps at the edges of the door to try and force it open. Cole reaches in to help him, but their combined strength does nothing.

"We can't get in," Kai says as he steps back with a labored breath.

"Not without a ruler's permission," Sensei shakes his head.

"What are we supposed to do?" Jay asks. "We can't just sit here!"

"We have to find another way," Cole says. "Sensei, there has to be another way!"

The old man's face darkens as he takes in the looming stone door. "I'm afraid there is no other way. Unless Ash or Lindell decides to let us in, we cannot help."

"Sensei, Ash cannot face Desmond herself," Zane says. "We must help her!"

Sensei's hands clench tightly on his walking stick. "Our hands are tied, ninja. All we can do is hope Ash can fight him off."

"Sensei, you saw what Desmond did to her mother," Cole says. "He'll kill her."

"I-" Sensei's voice dies as he remembers the voice of his friend, of his promise to save his daughter. He takes a staggered step back. "I know."

His eyes return to the door, and he hopes beyond all else that Ash has the strength to fight off the man her parents couldn't.

Or that he can get to her before she shares her parent's fate.