Chosen by Destiny
It's true. Ninjago is NOT premiering today. T_T Hey, at least I updated. Please enjoy this chapter while I go and take revenge on the world. *leaves with dynamite*
Chapter 34: All you Need is Love
The Bow of Hours was made from neither gold nor silver. It was made of platinum, possibly to represent the fact that its wielder was no ordinary ninja or kunoichi.
"Iris. I expect nothing exceptional for today, given that this is your first training session and that your control over time and space aren't quite developed yet."
Wu lifted the bow from the box and handed it over to Iris. When the pink kunoichi touched the metallic surface, she somehow felt as if this weapon was meant for her.
"Lloyd."
The green ninja looked up when his uncle called him.
"You will also resume training as the future savior of Ninjago, but first we must focus on Iris and teach her how to use her weapon."
The wise teacher also brought out a quiver full of arrows for Iris to practice with. It was a good thing the Destiny's Bounty was docked on the ground. If Iris missed, then the ninjas won't have to worry about losing any arrows within the depths of the seas, or have them fall into the skies. If she ended up shooting an arrow off the Bounty, they can just jump down and retrieve it from the surrounding earth.
A bunch of targets were strewn about the deck but Iris wasn't ready to shoot them with arrows just yet. First, she had to learn how to actually USE a bow.
"You hold the bow straight up, draw the string, and lock on your target."
Nya taught the pink kunoichi how to draw her bow but the inexperienced girl kept shaking.
"Iris, quit shaking. You'll end up hurting yourself." Aria gripped the newest kunoichi's wrists to in order to get her hands to stop trembling. If she would try to shoot an arrow with such shaky hands, then training would be a disaster.
"I-I-I'm sorry. It's just that t-this is all so new to me." Iris apologized.
"We understand." Heather consoled her, "Just remember, this is your first day, so don't expect to do very well for now."
"O-okay."
After Iris managed to stop shaking and can finally hold still when drawing her bow, which took quite some time, the real part of her training began.
"Alright. Now try to hit it right on the bulls-eye." Jay said.
Iris looked at the crude wooden snake-shaped target placed right above the railing. She set her violet eyes on the red bulls-eye in the center. She drew back her arrow, aimed the tip towards the dummy, let the projectile go, and…
She missed.
The arrow didn't even hit the dummy at all.
It struck the ground surrounding the Bounty. It was a good thing the ship wasn't on the ocean nor in the sky, or it would've been lost forever.
It was a bit upsetting, but this was her first day, so she and everyone expected it.
"You missed."
Leave it to Zane to state the obvious. But he said it as a fact rather than a criticism or an insult.
Cole jumped off the vessel to retrieve the arrow while Iris focused on her next target. This time, it was even further than the previous one.
"You must remember the effects of gravity, Iris." This time, Sensei Wu gave the Russian girl his own advice, "Gravity will pull all objects down, so if the enemy's far away from you, try aiming a little higher."
The pink kunoichi nodded and faced the distant dummy and drew her bow. Taking Wu's advice to heart, she aimed the tip of her second arrow slightly higher than she intended and let it fly.
Again, the arrow missed, but with his advanced optics, Zane could see that the arrow managed to graze the wooden figure just a tiny bit.
"You may have missed the target again, but you have made slight progress. If you keep working hard, then you will improve even more."
"Thank you, Zane."
As she continued training, Iris' skills improved, even if it was only just a tiny bit.
By the time her lesson has finished in the afternoon, she still missed a lot, but the arrows were a bit closer to their targets than when she started. It was a slow and steady process, but as the saying goes, 'slow and steady wins the race'.
"That's enough for now." Wu ended the session, "No one can be good at anything within their first try. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Sensei, I have a question." Iris spoke up.
"Go on." The ever patient teacher allowed his newest student to speak.
"Other than training with the Bow of Hours, when do I start learning about controlling time and space and how to do Spinjitzu?"
"In time, young one. But would you like to see it for yourself?"
"Sure."
"Would any of you mind showing Iris your Spinjitzu?" Wu turned to his other students.
"Nope." Jay answered for them.
"If you're curious, each of our Spinitzu look different, based on our elements. We'll show you." Nya said as she and the others prepared to do their signature move.
"NINJA-GO!"
In front of Iris were nine tornadoes and each of them looked different.
Cole's was brown and was surrounded by rocks and looked like it was actually made from earth itself, Kai became a scorching twister that emitted flames, Jay's was as blue as his ninja suit and gave off electric sparks like lightning bolts in the sky, and a cold flurry of fresh snow surrounded Zane in his pale wintery cyclone.
The kunoichi also had their own unique aura with their Spinjitzu.
Nya's golden cyclone was surrounded by tiny glints of light, leaves swept around Heather's teal twister, Aria, whose element was the wind itself, was a powerful orange tornado surrounded by strong visible gusts of wind, and Luna's seemed to be actually made of water, even as it emitted a purple aura to match her kunoichi uniform.
That also brought Iris to none other than the green ninja.
Lloyd's tornado was of a brilliant green hue that seemed to give a life-giving glow.
Once the pink kunoichi got a good look, the ninjas and kunoichi stopped spinning.
"Alright, now that you've seen us do it, why don't you give it a little spin?" Jay smirked, earning himself a strange look from everyone, including Iris, Nya, and even Sensei Wu.
"Did you stay up all night thinking of that pun or did you just say that completely by accident?" Heather raised an eyebrow at the lightning ninja.
Aria turned to Nya with an expression that said, 'What the hell do you even see in this guy?'
"Quit being such a dumbass Jay!" Kai shoved his sister's boyfriend aside, "Iris won't be able to do Spinjitzu and all this time control crap in a day!"
"I wouldn't put it as harshly as Kai, but he is correct," Wu nodded, "It will take a lot of training for you before you can perform Spinjitzu or even develop the slightest control of time."
"I think I understand." Iris said.
"That is good to hear. I'll let you have a break before Lloyd starts his training."
With that, Wu left to have his afternoon cup of tea, also allowing all his students to have some time for themselves.
As soon as the old teacher left, the ninjas went to pretty much anywhere else within the Bounty to use up the spare time they had before Lloyd can resume training.
Seeing that they had some free time, Iris wanted to seek the kunoichi's advice for a completely different subject…
"You want love advice!?" Nya asked incredulously while Iris responded with a nod.
"Love advice? For what?" Jay asked as well, being the only other person in the control room.
The kunoichi of metal sighed at her boyfriend's frivolity. It was CLEARLY obvious that Iris was in love with Lloyd, but the green ninja wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.
"Don't you get it? Iris likes Lloyd. A lot." The Japanese girl reminded her lover.
"O-oh! Right!" Jay replied, remembering the pink kunoichi's crush.
Clearing his throat, the lightning ninja attempting to give off a pretentious air as he approached the Russian girl.
"It's a good thing you've come to me Iris. I'm not one to toot my own horn, but some know me as the Love Master." He proclaimed in an exaggerated tone, putting a lot of emphasis on 'love'.
Both Nya and Iris were bemused by Jay's antics.
"Jay, I don't think- "
"Nya, please. We've been together longer than the rest of the couples have. I know way more about love than them. Especially Kai." The Scandinavian ninja bragged.
Nya couldn't help but chuckle when her lover mentioned her brash brother. None of the ninjas and kunoichi would ever forget the day he and Aria met. The sister of fire still couldn't believe that Kai had subjected himself to the torture he brought upon himself that fateful day.
But she still had to remind Jay that his advice might not work for Iris.
"Jay, I'm not sure if a guy should give love advice to a girl."
"W-why not!?"
"It's nothing against you. I just think it's kind of awkward for a guy to tell a girl how to win over another guy, if you know what I mean."
It took Jay a moment to see the logic in his girlfriend's words.
"Uh… yeah. I guess you're right." He rubbed the back of his head in a flustered manner before he went back to looking over some blueprints for his latest ideas in gadgetry while Nya turned to look at Iris and offer some true advice.
"Okay. Listen up, Iris. We all know Lloyd doesn't like girls at all, but I'm more than happy to help you change his mind."
The two girls went to the furthest corner of the control room away so they won't bother Jay as much as possible with romantic gossip.
"I actually talked to Sensei Wu before," Iris started, "he said that I just have to be persistent."
"Hmmm, not a bad idea." Nya mused, "But you may need a little more than that when dealing with the green ninja himself."
"What else do I need?"
"You need to find something you both have in common. That's how Jay and I got together."
"You two are together because you like the same thing?"
"It's not just because of that but that was how our relationship started."
The Japanese girl's boyfriend gave a knowing smile in their direction before resuming his work.
"What do you and Jay have in common that convinced you two to be together?"
"When I first met Jay, he asked if blue was my favorite color, and it was."
Nya smiled back at that memory. Even though they were in a not-so-romantic atmosphere with Ninjago at stake, it was still a pleasant memory.
"But the things we have in common go beyond that."
"What else do you have in common?"
"For starters, we both have a penchant for technology and we love inventing."
"Really?"
"Yup. You should try to find out what you and Lloyd have in common then you'll have a better chance to be with him."
"But what about- "
"Iris, remember what Sensei Wu said. You have to be persistent and don't give up."
"Alright then. Thank you Nya."
"No problem."
With that, Iris left to seek the other kunoichi's advice. She knew she could trust Nya, who was a kunoichi before the rest of the girls, but she wanted to hear what the others had to say…
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
Aria was caught off guard by Iris' words out on the deck.
"Y-you want love advice from ME!?" The olive-skinned girl exclaimed towards the pink kunoichi, who did little more than nod.
"Look, I'm no expert on this subject, maybe you should ask someone else."
"I'm not looking for just advice. I also want to know how you and Kai work as a couple."
The orange kunoichi gave a moment of thought before she relented.
"Fine. I guess I can give a word or two."
After a quick 'thanks' from Iris, Aria looked back to when she and Kai finally got along after the latter looked down on her on their disastrous first meeting. Sure, the fire wielder can be a jerk sometimes, but all relationships had their ups and downs, and the ninjas and kunoichi were no exception to this aspect of life.
"When Kai and I first met, we couldn't stand each other's guts. Kai was a sexist pig who always put me down just because I wasn't a dude."
Iris pouted her lips, wondering how Aria and Kai managed to look beyond that and hook up.
"Like most relationships, it took quite some time before we finally came to an understanding of one another and we've been getting along ever since. All I wanted from Kai was for him to see me as an equal rather than a weak damsel in distress, and I now know that he wants to protect his sister and everyone, myself included, because he truly cares. That convinced me to give him another chance and I haven't looked back."
The Mediterranean girl finished with a slight blush on her sun-kissed face, remembering when her spitfire of a boyfriend told her everything about his past and why he became a ninja.
"So at least try to come to an understanding with Lloyd before you try and get into a romantic relationship with him."
"I'm sorry if I sound rude, but what do you see in Kai that convinced you to be with him?"
Aria sighed, allowing the gentle breeze caress her face and blow through her short dirty blonde hair before she answered.
"It's because he's like no other guy I've ever met before and after I became a kunoichi."
"How so?"
"For starters Kai isn't an overly sensitive sap who cries over every little thing. Personally, I can't stand guys like that. He still says some pretty inconsiderate things and acts like a moron once in a while, but nobody's perfect. Personally, I think being stuck with some perfect knight in shining armor would be pretty boring. I prefer to have some 'zing' in a relationship and that's why I like Kai. He's not ALWAYS a jerk and he finally knows that I'm capable of defending myself."
Iris took in everything Aria said before the latter continued.
"Iris, nothing is ever easy. ESPECIALLY love. Take this from me, you and Lloyd won't hook up in a snap. That kid probably hates girls more than Kai ever did. It's gonna take a miracle if you plan to win him over, but I'm open to miracles happening, like how Jay's STILL with Nya."
The two girls giggled because it WAS a miracle Nya was able to put up with Jay all the time.
"I guess that's all I have to say. I hope my advice helped you."
"It did. Thanks Aria, I'll be heading off now."
Once Iris left, the kunoichi of wind wished her luck.
"Good luck, Iris. You're really gonna need it…"
As Iris walked down the hall, she heard an incredibly beautiful voice echoing across the wooden walls of the Bounty's interior parts. She followed the melodious song down the hall towards the source behind the living room door, which was open slightly ajar.
She should've known the moment she heard that voice who it belonged to.
The kunoichi of water was singing to herself as she read a Holly Patter book she borrowed from Cole, not noticing a certain girl in pink approaching her.
"Luna?"
The German girl gasped and almost dropped her book as she turned to look at Iris.
"I-I-Iris!? Y-you startled me!" Luna exclaimed, taking deep breaths.
"I'm sorry." The kunoichi of time apologized.
"It's alright. I guess I'm a pretty jumpy girl. By the way, what brings you here?"
"A couple of reasons. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on love and if you can teach me a thing or two about singing."
"I don't see why not. We've got plenty of time."
Setting her book on the table, the German girl shifted on the sofa, allowing for Iris to sit next to her so she can give her own lecture.
"So what do should I teach you first? Love or singing?"
"I already got some advice from Nya and Aria. How about teaching me how to sing."
"It'll be my pleasure."
The pink and purple kunoichi spent many minutes filling the living room with different melodies as the latter taught the former everything she knew about singing, which was a lot, from using a different tone of voice for certain songs, to pouring her emotions into her voice.
"Now try singing Iris." Luna suggested after giving all the advice she had for the Russian girl.
"Okay. Here I go…"
Taking a deep breath, Iris stood up and began to sing…
Isn't it wonderful
Being together, walking alone hand-in-hand
And I want to go to your city
To your home, into your arms
To feel your face
The touch of a memory
And now that I awake
As if from a dream
"How's that?" Iris asked once she finished.
Upon hearing the lyrics, it was now clear to Luna how much Iris truly wanted to be with Lloyd.
That and the pink kunoichi also had a great singing voice.
"You were fantastic." Luna applauded her, inciting a blush from the newest kunoichi.
"R-really? I mean, this IS my first time singing since I've grown older."
"Was? Did you sing before?"
(*) "Da. But it was more of a hobby than something I wanted to do as a profession."
"I see."
"What now?"
"You said you were also looking for advice, and I'm willing to help."
Iris sat down again as Luna began to speak. The German girl was one of those girls who thought with their hearts, but it was nice to get different kinds of advice on one subject.
"Iris, let me tell you about the time the ninjas found me and why I became a kunoichi."
The kunoichi of water reminisced on that fateful day she and Cole found each other…
"Before I met the ninjas, I was at the Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts. The ninjas and Nya already recruited Heather and Aria. Guided by the Whip of Oceans, my destined Silver Weapon, Cole found his way there. I was auditioning for 'The Little Mermaid' when he first saw me, but I didn't see him. Unfortunately, the Serpentine followed the ninjas and tried to attack them. Thankfully, they defeated the snakes but they took me to the Bounty, where met Cole for the very first time. I didn't know at the time, but I started to fall in love with him, and it wasn't because of his looks alone."
"What else is there to him?" Iris asked in her well-meaning way.
"He is such a brave young man. He's just like my stone fortress to protect me from all enemies. When I was told I was a kunoichi, I actually refused. It's been my lifelong dream to be a singer, but all I could think about was how that was all taken away from me."
"Like my childhood…" Iris thought out loud sadly. Luna knew what it was like to lose something very important. She hugged the aged girl to show her sympathy before she continued.
"By the way, what made you change your mind?" The pink kunoichi asked.
Luna remembered when she found out she loved Cole ever since he first comforted her.
(*) "Liebe."
Not knowing German, Iris just sat there looking confused.
"Love." The purple kunoichi translated for her.
"Love?" The Russian girl tilted her head.
"Ja, but I don't mean just the romantic love. It's because of my love for singing and my dreams of being a singer, my love for my family and friends, and my love… for Cole… that I accepted my destiny, so I can protect everything I hold dear. Cole was always there for me and once I knew more of his past, I decided that I want to be there for him, too."
Iris thought about Luna's reasons to accept her destiny and fight alongside the ninjas. She had a better understanding about the kunoichi of water's resolve to protect those she cherished, but will she find a reason other than being chosen by fate to be the kunoichi of time and space?
"This also brings us back to love advice."
A pair of violets met two aquamarine pools.
"I'm sure you and Lloyd are meant for each other, but he doesn't seem to want anything to do with you. You must let him know how you feel towards him."
"How?"
"Iris, I'm sure you and Lloyd are meant for each other, but right now, he doesn't want to accept it. Just listen to your heart and let him know how you feel. Also, try to spend time together and maybe he'll finally see your inner beauty."
Iris was happy to have someone as sweet as Luna to count on.
"Luna, thank you." Showing her gratitude with a quick hug, the pink kunoichi left the room and Luna resumed her reading and humming, hoping for the best for the young couple.
Iris found Heather petting a large falcon in the girls' shared bedroom.
"Hi, Heather." She greeted the plant wielder.
Both the human girl and the robotic bird turned to face her.
"Oh, hello Iris. Can I help you with something?"
"Um, do you think you teach me about love?"
Heather's grayish-blue eyes widened a little bit at the question.
When it comes to romantic relationships, she could be considered a unique case. While the rest of the kunoichi were in a relationship with actual people, she was in love with a nindroid. But it was Zane's pure and kindly personality that made her fall in love with him, regardless if he was man or machine.
"Are you sure you want my advice? I-I mean my boyfriend IS a robot…"
"Exactly. I want to know why you love Zane and if I can learn from you."
After giving a moment's thought, the nature-loving girl thought it wouldn't hurt to tell Iris how she and Zane worked as a couple. Releasing the nindroid's falcon out of the room, Iris received another tale of how each of the couples met.
"Before I met Zane, I was just a normal girl from a town called Arbouria far from Ninjago City."
Heather gazed heavenward as she recollected how she became a kunoichi.
"I wasn't sure what to think when I found out I was a kunoichi. I often wondered what life away from Arbouria was like, but I never imagined it would turn out like this. But when I met Zane, I felt like I could trust him. He was such a wonderful and sweet person."
The English girl's eyes darkened when she also remembered a certain memory…
"But when I found out he was not human, I… rejected him. I considered myself a fool for falling in love with a cold machine. I even called him a thing. He may not have a physical heart like us, but he was hurt by those awful things I said about him."
The teal kunoichi sighed sadly, thinking about how terrible she had been to Zane.
"I returned to Arbouria, heartbroken that the one I thought I loved wasn't a human. But he still went to prove that although his body was a machine, his mind was no different than the rest of us and that he had his own free will and a mind of his own. Zane may be a robot, but he is still one of us. From that moment on, I realized that I loved him for who he was, not WHAT he was. Whether or not he was human, I couldn't deny the feelings I had for him. I finally began to see him for his personality and not for his origins or what his body was made of."
The kunoichi of time pondered over how Heather and Zane's relationship worked.
A human and a robot being together would seem farfetched to anyone, but with the way they interacted with one another, they may have proven otherwise.
"In a way, Zane and I are opposites. As I said before, he's a nindroid and he sometimes told me about how he sometimes feels left out because he's not a human. As for me, I love nature and all sorts of flowers and plants. It's actually pretty ironic that me, the kunoichi of nature who can control trees and communicate with all sorts of plants, have fallen for a 'cold lifeless machine' who manipulates the ice that smothers the earth in winter."
"Then how do you two work things out as a couple?"
"Iris, Zane was built and designed by his creator and father to be no different from us humans other than his physical body on the inside. He has emotions and feelings just like the rest of us. I also had to learn that before we got back together. As I said before, we're like opposites. Zane's a robot and I, on the other hand, have an affinity for nature."
'Opposites…' Iris thought about how that word can even apply to herself and Lloyd.
"I guess the same can be said for you and Lloyd."
"You think so?"
"Yes. From what I heard from Sensei Wu, Lloyd didn't have such a happy life before he became the green ninja. You, on the other hand, seemed to have had a much happier childhood."
"I guess I did…" The pink kunoichi thought back to everything she had before she grew up.
"No need to get all sad, Iris." Heather brushed aside the kunoichi of time's wavy bangs, "From what I learned from my relationship with Zane, opposites CAN attract."
"Really?"
"Of course. Try looking past your differences like I did with Zane, and eventually, I'm sure you'll love each other for who you truly are. Iris, all you need to do is just be yourself."
Heather finished, giving Iris a heartfelt smile.
The pink kunoichi couldn't be more grateful to have the kunoichi giving her advice. They were truly like the sisters she never had.
After thanking the English girl, Iris went searching for Lloyd.
She was positive that the kunoichi's advice will definitely work…
(*) Da = Yes (Russian)
(*) Liebe = Love (German)
*comes back as a mess* Phew! Nothing like blowing up my house to let it all out!
If you're curious, the song Iris sang is Suteki da ne (Isn't it wonderful) from Final Fantasy X, which is owned by Square Enix, not me. Hope you liked this chapter & please review.