Disclaimer: I don't own Ninjago
After sleeping for three weeks straight, Cole needed time to get ready. As he went to shower and shave, everyone else docked the Bounty and went to the deck. They traveled down the ramp onto the temple's dock and met with an elderly woman. She had a kind face, brown hair with a few gray streaks, there were wrinkles that covered her face, but not as much as Wu. Wu smiled at her and she smiled back. This was Umiko, Wu's ex-wife.
"Hello, Wu." Umiko said as she opened her arms.
"Umiko." Wu smiled back, embracing her.
They hugged for a moment and pulled apart. Umiko was met with the smiling faces of the ninja and kunoichi.
"Greetings to you, young masters." Umiko bowed.
The Spinjitzu Masters bowed back.
"You received my letter?" Wu asked.
"I did. Your falcon is with Talia now." Umiko said. "You can find her in the center of the temple, at the fountain."
"Thank you." Wu said.
A water monk led the ninja and kunoichi through the temple. Umiko waited at the docks for Cole.
Talia sat down at the edge of the large fountain. She dipped her fingers in the water and moved them around. With her free hand, she was petting Zane's falcon. Talia's hair was longer now, going past her shoulders, but it was still curly and brown like her mother's. The sun shined its light into the water which reflected off her blue eyes and made them sparkle. There was small smile as she petted the bird.
Suddenly, the falcon turned his head and flew from the fountain and returned to the arm of Zane. Talia looked to her right to see her father, Jay and Zane, all smiling at her.
"Father!" She yelled happily.
Talia jumped from her seat and quickly ran over to her father, embracing him in a tight hug.
"My beautiful girl. How I have missed you so." Wu said with tears in his eyes.
"I've missed you too, father." She said.
She let go of Wu and looked at him, a wide smile on her face. Wu caressed her face as a single tear fell from his eye. Talia then looked at Zane and Jay, both waiting for their own hug. Talia laughed and hugged her friends.
"I missed you guys so much." Talia said.
"We missed you as well, Talia." Zane said.
"Yeah we did! Never leave us alone with Cole again!" Jay joked.
Talia laughed and let go of the closest things she has to brothers.
"It's so good to see you guys again. Zane! You're a Nindroid!" Talia said. "Me and Jay always said you were a little strange, but I never expected this."
"It came to shock to me as well, but I have accepted my new identity, has have my friends." Zane said.
"I have as well, Zane. No matter what you are, human, machine, animal, you still have the kindest heart of anyone I know, and I will always be your friend." Talia smiled.
"Thank you, Talia." Zane smiled back.
Soon, everyone else came from out of the doorway and walked over to Talia and the others.
"Talia, these are the new additions to the team." Wu started.
"This is Kai, Master of Fire and the guy who took over your room after you left the monastery." Jay introduced Kai.
"Nice to finally meet you, Kai." Talia shook his hands.
"Likewise. Even though I just found out about you like ten minutes ago." Kai joked.
"This is Kai's sister, and my girlfriend, Nya, the Master of Wind." Jay introduced Nya.
"It's so nice to meet you, Talia." Nya said.
"You as well, Nya. I hope Jay treats you right." Talia said.
"Hey!" Jay said.
Nya laughed.
"Yes, he does."
"Talia, this is Pixal, my girlfriend, the Master of Sound." Zane introduced Pixal.
"Nice to meet you, Pixal. Forgive me, but you are a nindroid as well?" Talia asked.
"Nice to meet you, Talia, and yes I am." Pixal smiled.
"I can sense a kind soul in you as well." Talia said.
"Finally, this is Ivy, my girl—my friend! My friend, the Master of Nature." Kai said.
"Smooth." Jay smirked.
"Ivy, a pleasure to meet you finally." Talia said.
"Same to you." Ivy said.
"Father has sent me numerous letters about you all, I feel like I've known you guys for years. I know I just met some of you, but I feel like we'll all be great friends." Talia said. "I'd be honored to fight alongside you all as the Kunoichi of Water."
"I'm honored just to have Wu's kid fight with us. You're probably the greatest fighter among us besides Wu himself." Kai said.
"Well not to brag, but I did end up beating both Zane and Jay year, blindfolded." Talia said.
"OK, one time that happened!" Jay said holding up a finger.
"Once I figure out how to delete that specific memory, I will." Zane said.
Everyone laughed. Talia stopped laughing and looked around her new friends.
"Something wrong, my dear?" Wu asked.
"Umm…I don't mean to be rude, but where's Cole? Is he still in a coma?" Talia asked.
"Not anymore." Wu smiled as he looked forward.
The ninja and kunoichi moved out of the direction of the doorway. Talia looked forward to see her mother standing there and Cole walk in from behind her. He stopped next to Umiko and when he saw Talia, he smiled. Talia had a look of awe on her face and began to walk towards Cole, who started walking again as well. Soon, Talia started to run the rest of the way and jumped into Cole's arms. Cole embraced her tightly and they both dropped to their knees, still hugging the other.
"I missed you so much, Cole." Talia whispered. "A day didn't go by when I didn't think of you."
"Same, Talia. I missed you too." Cole whispered back.
"Then father told me that you were stabbed in the chest, and I thought I would never see you again." Talia said as tears fell from her eyes.
"You're my best friend, Talia. I don't think you would've left me died without you seeing me again." Cole smiled.
"Shut up." Talia laughed.
They let go of each other and stood back up. Talia wiped her tears away and smiled at Cole, who smiled back.
"Good to see you awake again, Cole. And it is so great to see you again, little one." Hamato said.
"Hamato!" Talia said as she hugged Hamato.
"Hamato? Is it really you?" Umiko asked.
"Umiko. So good to see you, love. You look as lovely as ever." Hamato smiled.
"It's been so long. I haven't seen you since…I can't remember." Umiko said.
"It's been awhile, but I've been trying to make appearances again." Hamato said. "I'm here today, because I have a gift for your daughter. Ninja-Go!"
Hamato became a silver elemental tornado and engulfed Talia. Seconds passed by when he stopped, and Talia was wearing her new Kunoichi uniform.
Her ninja gi looked identical to Cole's. Talia was covered head to toe in an all-dark red kunoichi uniform with a mask. There was a light blue patch with the Water symbol over her left breast with three ropes wrapping around her and a kunai between them, a brown belt with a pouch was around her waist and above a silver sash. Talia also wore light blue kneecaps and the Japanese Symbol for Water was written in gold on her head. Talia twirled around in her new gi and laughed. Cole almost fell over, but Kai and Jay caught him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Kunoichi of Water." Hamato said. "Your cousin Lloyd says hello by the way and looks forward to seeing you yet again."
"Little Lloyd! Why didn't he come?" Talia asked.
Hamato rubbed the back of his head.
"He's currently busy at the moment but regrets not being here." Hamato said.
"Talia, why don't you go finish packing." Umiko said.
"Yes, mother. Do you guys mind helping me move some stuff on the bounty?" Talia asked.
"We'd love to help." Nya said with everyone else agreeing
"Great!" Talia said.
She grabbed Cole's hand and guided him to her room quickly and was followed by everyone else. Wu, Umiko, and Hamato were left near the fountain. Hamato chuckled.
"What is it?" Umiko asked.
"Oh nothing. I just saw a possible future and…well I think it's better that you see for yourself in due time." Hamato smiled before he vanished.
"He does that a lot." Wu chuckled.
"Same old Hamato." Umiko smiled. "This is some team you've put together, Wu."
"Thank you, Umiko. How are Talia's elemental abilities?" Wu asked.
"Well, like her mother…" Umiko began.
Taking the water from the fountain, Umiko shot the water into the air and moved it around the room. It transformed into the shape of a serpent and chare at Wu. At the last second, the water took a sharp turn around Wu and went back into the fountain.
"She's a natural." Umiko finished.
"That was funny the first fifty times you've done that." Wu said as he brushed himself off.
Umiko chuckled softly and then her smile faded.
"What's wrong?" Wu asked.
"Promise me, my daughter will stay safe. Promise me you'll always protect her." Umiko said.
Wu took her face in her hands.
"You have my word, Umiko. I will not lose her too." Wu said.
Umiko took one of Wu's hands and held it. She nodded at her former husband, a sign of trust. Wu slowly moved his head closer to hers and closed his eyes. Umiko stopped him before anything else happened.
"Let us go see If Talia is ready." Umiko whispered.
Umiko moved away from Wu and walked towards the exit.
"Alright." Wu said.
Back at the temple docks, everyone was helping Talia move her belonging onto the ship.
"Thanks again for your help, guys." Talia thanked her new friends.
"No thanks necessary, Talia, we did the same for when Ivy moved in." Zane said.
"Thankfully, there's no large luggage for you." Kai said.
"It wasn't that big." Ivy said.
"Speak for yourself." Cole joked.
"Which room is mine?" Talia asked.
"First one on the left, across from mine." Cole answered.
"Cozy." Jay whispered to Zane and Kai.
Cole looked back at him, annoyed. Everyone moved all her belongings inside her room. Once inside, she thanked everyone again before they left to go to the deck. Cole stayed with Talia in her room.
"A lot of luggage. Do you still remember Spinjitzu?" Cole asked.
Talia smirked at him. She became a water tornado and moved all around her room, even submerging Cole for a second. Once she stopped, her room was decorated to her liking and her items were put away. Cole chuckled.
"Guess that's a yes."
"That's how I was able to pin you down during our first match, remember?" Talia asked.
"You cheated. I remember." Cole said.
"Come on, tough guy. I want to say goodbye to my mom before I leave." Talia said as she walked out of her room.
Cole started to follow her out but stopped when he saw something in her mirror. Cole turned his head and saw that there was red lipstick on his cheek. Cole smiled and wiped it off before leaving Talia's room. Cole met everyone on the Bounty and saw that Talia was hugging her mother goodbye.
"Goodbye, my raindrop. Be careful, look after your father and your new friends." Umiko said.
"I will, mom." Talia said.
Umiko let go of her daughter and took a spear from behind her back. She handed it to her daughter. It was a long black staff with a silver blade at the end.
"The First Water master carved this spear from the scales of her elemental dragon. It carries the heart of all us here at the water temple. May you use it wisely on your journey." Umiko said.
Talia looked the blade over and bowed at her mother.
"I love you." Umiko said.
"I love you too, mom." Talia said.
With that, Umiko bid farewell to the other masters and to Wu. She stood on the docks of the temple and watched as the Destiny's Bounty sailed away with her family.
The Final Kunoichi has been found!
R&R