This one-shot was suggested by Guest: Jay's thoughts about Nya and Kai going after the Time Twins. Sorry it took me like forever to get this done - I could have seriously used the Pause and/or Reversal Blade for the past few weeks... And thank you so much for giving me the perfect excuse to re-watch Hands of Time (I ended up binge-watching the whole season over the weekend XD). Hope you'll enjoy this!
Warning: Contains spoilers for HoT.
Never again
It was already getting dark, when the Masters of Fire and Water returned to their home. If Nya wasn't so tired, she would certainly enjoy the beautiful vision of the sun going down right below the floating Temple of Airjitsu.
She was sitting behind Kai on his Fire Dragon, holding onto his waist and resting her head on his shoulders.
The siblings had spent the day helping their parents settle back into the Four Weapons. After staying with their children as well as their old and new friends for a couple of days, Ray and Maya had decided to move back to Ignacia. And although their children had tried to keep the shop in order even during their absence, there were still many things that needed to be done in their old home.
It had been a long and tiring day for the four of them, so Kai, being the ever-caring big brother, had offered to give his younger sister a lift back on his dragon. And Nya, being thoroughly exhausted, had gladly accepted his offer. Creating and controlling an Elemental Dragon – or half an Elemental Fusion Dragon – required a lot of strength that she just didn't have right now.
As they were approaching the floating island, Nya spotted a single figure sitting in the courtyard in front of the temple. He was sitting in a slouched position, looking at the ground, so she couldn't make out his face, but the auburn hair and the blue Ninja gi identified him as the Master of Lightning, her boyfriend Jay.
The Water Ninja smiled. She had called him just before the siblings left their parents' house, to let him know they were on their way. It was kind of cute that he come outside to wait there for their – her – arrival.
Nya called out his name and waved at him from above. Jay looked up and waved back, a small, almost relieved, smile on his face.
As the Fire Dragon was flying low over the courtyard, Nya gracefully jumped off, using her Spinjitsu to break the fall. She stopped right next to the now standing Blue Ninja, who immediately embraced her in a firm hug.
"I am so happy you are home." He mumbled into her black hair.
She pulled back and gave him a surprised look. "C'mon, I was only gone for the day." She told him, giving him a quick peck on his lips. "But I've missed you too."
"Yes, even one day is still a way too long time without you. And then there's also the dangerous journey… I was glad to see that Kai took you home on his dragon tonight."
Nya wriggled herself out of her boyfriend's arms. "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked in a very annoyed tone. Over the past few days, Jay had started to become more protective of her than Kai had ever been. "I am more than capable of flying myself. As you of all should know." The Water Ninja reminded the Lightning Master of that time when she saved him by piloting their Hybrid Dragon. "I was just tired, we had a long, exhausting day." She grasped his hand. "C'mon, let's go to bed."
But Jay didn't move. "Are you alright?" Nya enquired.
"I-I'm sorry, I really don't doubt your skills, I just don't like to see you riding that… thing, okay?" He told her.
Nya eyed him suspiciously. "What thing? Don't tell me you are talking about Kai and I's Fusion Dragon?"
Jay nodded. "I can't stand seeing you on it."
"So, that's what this is all about. You think our fusion dragon is less special now that my brother and I can create one as well?" She snapped at him. "And don't you think that I've noticed that you've been acting weird, ever since mum and dad returned. You have always had your wonderful parents around, so don't act like a jealous brat when I want to spend some time with mine now. That does not make you less important to me. And, by the way, they would love to spend time with my boyfriend and get to know him better. But you've done nothing but avoiding them, whereas even Dareth and Ronin helped us move their old equipment from the swamp to the blacksmith shop. Why can't you just be happy for us?" Jay could see angry tears glistening in her eyes. "You know what? I am going to my room now. And I'd suggest that you sleep in yours tonight." She turned on the spot and started walking towards the temple.
"Nya, wait." Jay called after his girlfriend. "It-it's not like you think. Please, let me explain."
Nya stopped, but she kept looking away from him. "Alright, but you'd better have a good explanation."
"I-I am happy for you, I really am." Jay started, his voice shaking. "And I know that you, Kai, and your parents have so much to catch up on." He slowly walked towards her. "And, well, as for your dragon… I would never doubt your abilities. You are the only elemental master, dead or alive, who has managed to successfully combine their powers with not one but two opposing elements. You have no idea how proud I am of you. It's just… whenever I see your parents or your and Kai's Fusion Dragon, it all reminds me of what happened. And of what could have happened…"
Flashback / Jay's POV
"What? Can this get any harder?" I yell.
Lloyd, Cole and I are on the ground, fighting what feels like millions of Vermillions, while Zane, Cyrus and our new ally Samurai 2.0 – I still think that's a really smart nickname I came up with. But I really need to find out their true identity before this question drives me crazy! – are up on the scaffold surrounding the Iron Doom, having to enter 'just a few hundred more digits' of the secret backdoor self-destruct code into the Time Apparatus. I mean, I've always admired Cyrus Borg, but this 1300-digit sequence was not one of his brightest ideas…
Especially as this means the three of us need to keep these pesky snakes busy for a bit longer. I just wish Nya and Kai were here to support us. Okay, mainly Nya…
"Oh, you didn't just ask that, did you?" Cole complains, rudely snapping me out of my thoughts about my amazingly wonderful girlfriend. "You've just totally jinxed us." Of course, my best friend has to be Mr Negative Thinking again.
"C'mon. that's not how life works." I try to cheer him up.
Unfortunately, at that very moment the roof of the Vermillion Dome opens and a flying ship with the Time Twins and their Commanders on board appears over us.
Argh, I hate it when Cole is right. And this is also a teeny bit embarrassing. Right now, I'm rather glad that Nya is not here. "Not saying another word." I mutter.
The ship slowly descends into the dome. As it passes the level with the control panel, Krux and Acronix jump onto the platform, shouting something I can't understand from my current position. All of a sudden, the Vermillions drop their swords and start moving into the direction of the Iron Doom. Hehe, just like slithering lemmings… but why are they doing this? What exactly is going on here?
"Why did they stop fighting?" Lloyd asks.
"What's going on?" Cole wonders.
Thanks guys, I was thinking exactly the same, BUT I COULDN'T SAY IT!
"And so, Operation Return and Repeat begins." Raggmunk says. Ooh, I have to admit that's a pretty good name they got there…
"Good name, too." Blunck remarks. Seriously? Can everyone here suddenly read my mind?
Lloyd, Cole and I can only watch from below as Krux and Acronix freeze our friends with the Pause Blade and then arm the Iron Doom with the complete set of Time Blades. Hey, how did they get the Reversal Blade, we've never felt that one appearing?
But no one else seems to have noticed this and I am really struggling to keep my mouth shut about it. But if I speak now, Cole will never let me hear the end of it.
But when the Hands of Time push our frozen friends off the structure, that's it. I can't hold it in any longer.
"Nooooo." I scream. "Yeah, I talked." I give Cole the 'Alright, you won.' look, but that really doesn't matter right now, we have to save our friends. "C'mon."
"Ninja-gooo." Lloyd, Cole and I use our Airjitsu to catch them mid-air. Unfortunately, Zane's Titanium body is really heavy and I don't have enough strength to carry him up again, so we have to settle for landing safely on the ground.
This is what the Time Twins must have counted on. By the time, we have caught our breath, the Iron Doom is already at its full power. It creates a Time Vortex - ugh, I can't look, this spiralling thingy makes me feel dizzy! - and gets ready to take off.
Nope, this is not looking good at all (and that means a lot coming from me). I mean, we've had our share of desperate situations and somehow always managed to come out on top. But if we can't stop this thing HERE and especially NOW, then Krux and Acronix can travel wherever – or rather whenever - they want to. Oh, this reminds me of a funny video game I used to play on this ancient computer my parents found in the junk – Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? it was called. I am wondering if they still have that machine…
Focus, Jay, focus. This is not a game. The is no save option and there will be no replay. Well, at least not for us, because the only ones who have that power are those two bad guys we are fighting! And
who knows what they are going to do with it?
I remember what Sensei Wu once told us: If you change anything, you change everything. [Yes, he already said that in Wrong Time, Wrong Place!]
So, if Krux and Acronix succeed, there could be no more computers and video games at all. And… there might even be no more us. Which would also mean that I will never get to see my Nya again.
Nya…
Dang it, where is Nya?
I haven't seen her since we all split up earlier. Kai and her have just taken off, the FSM knows where to. But apparently NOT to find Krux and Acronix like they were told to do, for those two are here with us now. Ugh, we really are the worst team ever. Lloyd keeps trying to lead us and make us work together, and all we do is make fun of our 'temporary Master in training'. I swear, if we somehow get out of this situation, I will fully respect him as our leader. Although my parents have always told me not to swear, it's a sign of weak verbal skills.
But… what is that?
We all watch in awe as a two-headed dragon dives down straight into Vermillion Warrior Central. Wow, this creature is stunning. It looks so majestic and powerful. It looks like… Fire and Water combined.
I take a closer look at the people sitting on its back. And indeed, it is Kai and Nya who are flying it. Wow. This dragon really is Fire and Water. But… How is that even possible? I mean, no matter how you twist and turn it, fire and water will never mix. And that just makes their achievement even more impressing.
And they well know it. Kai is wearing his usual smirk, that little show-off! But Nya... I've never seen her look so strong. So confident. So beautiful. And, most of all, so happy. I am wondering where they were and what has happened to them.
Sensei Wu is with them. He looks… well… let's just say he looks less good. I hope there is still a way to save him! And then, there are two more people at the back, a man and a woman. I don't think I've seen them before, although they do look kinda familiar, but I can't really put a finger on it now. I'll find out later – if there is a later. Right now, I need to focus my attention back on the Water Ninja in front.
The dragon is still descending. And the closer it gets, the more I can feel the power of positive thinking return to me.
Even though the Iron Doom is now slowly approaching the Time Vortex, I know it's gonna be alright.
No matter what will happen next, our team is back together now. The love of my life is here now. And together, we will find a way to save the day…
But then, everything just happens so fast.
When the dragon has almost reached the ground, the woman suddenly jumps off, holding tight onto the man. And the very next moment, this stupid monster takes off again and follows the Iron Doom to, well, whenever it goes.
"Nya." I call, my eyes still fixed on that now closed point in the sky.
The others are talking, but I can't see or hear anything what is happening around me.
All I think is.
I have lost her.
Again.
Nya looked at Jay in shock, in the twighlight she could see the tears streaming down his face.
"N-Nya, I am so proud of what you and Kai have achieved." He stammered. "Y-you've saved Ninjago. You've saved all of us. I mean, the-they were going to destroy our parents, so neither of us would be here without you… And I would never ever underestimate your strength. You are a lot stronger than me. And in your very own way even stronger than Cole – please don't tell him I've said that. But that doesn't mean I don't want to protect you. I am way too scared of losing you. I have already lost you far too many times. The Dark Matter. The Perfect Match Machine. The Tiger Widow Venom. And now the Time Vortex. I can't happen again."
Nya suddenly realised that they were standing at the very same spot on the courtyard where she had died in the other timeline. The same spot where Jay had sat earlier and waited for her to come home.
She took his hands into hers and looked him in the eyes. "I-I never knew you felt that way." She said softly. "But think positive. No matter what has happened, I've always come back to you."
"I know. B-but every time, it breaks another piece of my heart. I love y-you so m-much and I just don't think I c-can go through this pain even j-just one more time." He sobbed.
The Water Ninja gently placed her hands on her boyfriend's face and, using her thumbs, tried to wipe the tears off his freckled cheeks. She looked into his glistening blue eyes.
"Jay Walker. I love you too. More than you can imagine." She said in a serious voice. "And I promise you here and now. You will never ever lose me again."
I have to say that I was very tempted to extend this story to the 'Jay meets Ray and Maya' part, but that would have deviated from both the request and the plot that was shown on the show. Maybe, I'll still do that later…
And here's the detailed list of Jay's costumes from the previous story:
- The dinner suit Jay wears in the first part is based off Daniel Craig's outfit in Casino Royale
- Fritz Donnegan, but he also used Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase (from Toy Story)
- Loki specifically asked to NOT use Robin's outfit from the Lego Batman Movie XD
- Captain America was requested by MNC (in the very first draft, parts of that scene were written for Superman, but I think it worked out even better this way)
- The Hulk (Bruce Banner) was a suggestion from WillowJulien. Btw, Jay's comment about the costume's colour is exactly how I feel when I try wearing something green…
- Belle from Beauty and the Beast. FanOfJay's request was a princess, and for some reason I immediately had to think of this one. No idea why.
- Aladdin. For me. And for several reasons:
1) It's one of my favourite Disney Movies (maybe even THE favourite one).
2) I think the role fits Jay very well. If I had more time, I'd love to write a Ninjago adaptation!
3) Yeah, there's obviously the Skybound reference.
- Ken from TS3. It was technically not a request, but I need to give credit to Loki for the idea. And this is where I got the story title from: I went on YouTube to watch the clip of Ken's Fashion Show, just to get the outfit description and the words right (we have the DVD at home but I was too lazy to look for it) and the video was called Ken's Closet.
- Luke Skywalker was suggested by BeatitudeGirl. I was really, really happy about the request, because I wanted to use one Star Wars character and just couldn't decide which one…
- Stuart from Despicable Me/Minions. I needed to have one 'bulky' cartoon character costume that would get stuck; it was a tight decision between him (or a different minion) and Spongebob. I went for this one because, well, banana!
- Jay's ZX gi. From the first moment I started working on this story, I knew that it would have to end with this one!