Sorry this one is late, got a little distracted by Crystalized and my Swap Au, which you can find on Ao3 and should check out.


Child's Play


Nya sighed as she stood by the others, like them, she had her gaze drawn to the edge of the Bounty where Lloyd happened to be watching something over the edge. "Lloyd?" She called once, then twice before realising that he was paying attention to her. She spoke louder on the third attempt, causing the young Garmadon to turn.

"It is paramount that you focus, Lloyd."

If Lloyd's expression was anything to go by, then he was most certainly not amused. Zane's statement only adding to the seemingly uninterested green ninja. "But we've been training all day."

"It's all to get you ready to face your father." Cole's hardened voice grew distant as he moved into his assigned training position. "Now, in position."

Nya followed the others, taking her place by Jay's side, Lloyd situated at the centre. Zane made the first move, rushing Lloyd as fast as he could, and, in response, Lloyd stepped to the side, holding back a yawn as he sent Zane flying to the ground.

She exchanged a brief glance with the Master of Lightning before the two of them took a step back. In sync, they pushed off the ground, leaping into the air as they made their attack. The young Garmadon followed they action, leaping into the air before a green tornado tossed her and Jay to the ground.

She rubbed the back of her head. "I'll be feeling that later." She muttered to herself, wondering just what in the name of The First Master Wu had planned for their lesson that night. She blinked once, then twice as Cole took Lloyd down, rather easily too, she might add.

"You're better than this." Jay started, it seemed he'd noticed how easily Lloyd had been taken down as well.

"You do seem unusually distracted today."

"Yeah, what's on your mind?"

Nya raised an eyebrow at how oblivious the others were, she truly did want to know why it was only now that they'd noticed Lloyd wasn't exactly himself today. "Well… the latest issue of Starfarer just came in at Doomsday Comix and it's a limited run, so if I Don't go out and get it, it's ging to sell out. Last they left off, intergalactic roque Fritz Donogan was surrounded by the Imperial Sludge, and if I don't find out if he gets out alright, I think I might have my own doomsday."

She was going to be honest, she'd been expecting something else to be eating away at the green ninja's thoughts. A few days ago, Lloyd had introduced her the world of Starfarer, it wasn't her thing, but she did recognise it as a big part of Lloyd's world and so, she'd snuck out earlier in the day to purchase said issue and surprise him with it after training.

"The fate of Ninjago rests on your shoulders. As the green ninja, you have a giant responsibility to hold." Nya lifted an eyebrow as Cole spoke. "I'm sorry, but you don't have time for such childish things." She turned her gaze to the Master of Earth, causing him to shrink in as he caught sight of her.

"Ninja, Lord Garmadon has been spotted at the Ninjago City Museum of History."

Nya blinked, moving to leap off the edge of the Bounty, she paused, glancing back at Lloyd. "Before we go, Lloyd, I left something for you on your bed." She winked at the young Garmadon before leaping down to her bike, eager to prevent her brother from helping Garmadon again.


Kai was not pleased, the Serpentine around him most certainly noticed his displeasure, if the distance they were keeping from him was anything to go by. The source of his current displeasure was currently a pile of bones. A Grundal, the one thing that would give the Ninja a quick death, that which he didn't want.

He tuned out Garmadon's speech, instead preferring to focus his attention on other matters, namely, the four ninja currently sneaking up above. He turned, taking his leave, he had a sister to take care off.

Sneaking up on them had been easy, the fools too focused on what Garmadon was doing to notice him leave the crowd of Serpentine. "Hello dear sister." He spoke, spear gripped tightly in hand as he lunged forward.

He wasn't surprised at how quickly she threw stealth out the window, how quickly she was to press the attack and strike him. Her movements were quicker than they'd been when they fought two weeks ago, when Garmadon sabotaged their efforts in destroying the dojo.

He leapt back, bringing his spear up as he parried one of Nya's blades, the strength behind her strikes impressed him, though they wouldn't be enough to beat him, he had always been the stronger of the two.

He angled his spear, driving it forward, forcing his sister back before holding out his crystalized hand, catching her second blade between its talon like claws. "Your hand?" Ah, so Nya had just now noticed it, strange considering he'd cut off his old hand shortly before the race.

"You like it?" He hissed, snapping her blade in half with ease. "I forged this hand with my corrupted powers."

He watched her toss the now broken blade aside and readjust her grip upon the still intact katana. "I hate it." She replied, her eyes hardened with determination. He smirked, racing forward as they began a deadly dance, weapons clashing as they moved atop the balcony, completely ignorant of the threat below them.

The first they knew of the threat was the growl, then the roar as they turned their heads. Kai felt his eyes widened slightly, the Grundal, in its full resurrected glory, stood, eyeing not just Nya, but him as well.

He silently cursed Garmadon for his foolishness. He'd been a ninja so it only made sense that the Grundal would hunger for him as well. The prehistoric creatures lunged, Nya moved, crashing into him and sending them tumbling to the ground.

Getting to his feet, he felt Nya tug at his hand, pulling him away from the ancient hunter. "What are you doing?" He barely had time to hiss out the question before his sister had dragged him into an adjacent room, the door small enough to keep the Grundal out for the time being.

"Saving your sorry rear end." His sister huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms as she studied the room she so kindly pulled them into. "Or would you rather I leave you become the Grundal's midnight snack?"

He huffed as he dusted himself off, reforming his spear as he took a single glance around the room, crates of what he assumed were priceless artifacts, a single window sat at the end of the room, the moonlight glimmering of several sets of ancient samurai and Serpentine armour.

Dust fell from the ceiling as a crack appeared by the door, the Grundal's growls may be muffled, but they were loud enough to remind him that the creature was still hunting them. "Help me get this window open."

Nya sat at the window, attempting to ever so kindly not break the glass. "Why should I help you?" He leaned upon his spear, raising an eyebrow as his sister turned to face him.

"Why?" She questioned, and like a shower that could swiftly turn into a storm without warning, so too, did her annoyance turn to anger. "I'm trying to save our lives! Now get your ungrateful rear end over here and help me get this window open."

He huffed mockingly, a ball of fire forming as he approached the window. He'd help her, not because she was mad, but because he had no other option, that and he really disliked the idea of becoming some prehistoric creatures midnight snack.

An explosion rocked the window, glass flying all over the place. He smirked as he watched Nya's expression go through several emotions. "Really?"

He shrugged his shoulders, looking out into the city. "You wanted the window open, you never mentioned how you wanted it open."

Nya groaned, no doubt fed up with his antics. She pushed past him, leaping out the window and to the ground below. Raising his left hand, he watched the crystalized talons glow as a staircase formed before him. If one had to describe his descent down the elemental stairs, it would be one word; overdramatic. Nya would most certainly say such a thing, if her anger fading back to annoyance was anything to go off.

"Come on, we need to find the others."

He rolled his eyes, the staircase fading as he reached the bottom. "And why should I help you find them, what's stopping me from running off?" He questioned, tilting his head as he leaned on his spear slightly.

His sister raised an eyebrow, as if the answer to his question should be as obvious as the massive hole in the side of the museum. "Why must you be so insufferable, Kai."

He chuckled in response, pushing past her as he marched onwards. He paused, glancing over his shoulder when he realised she wasn't following him. "Well, are you coming or do you wish to be a prehistoric snack?"


Kai hated the fact Nya insisted on returning to the museum. And the suit she made him wear as well, it was uncomfortable and he'd have much preferred to wear something a little better suited to battle, but she'd insisted his samurai getup wasn't suitable to their current objective.

Three de-aged ninja, all sat on a bench with two officers by their side. It was amusing to see his former comrades all looking like children, all innocent and unthreatening. "Ah, Ma'am." The officer had noticed them, no doubt the fact that they made a direct beeline for them helped the police men realise they were here for the ninja children.

"Don't 'Ma'am' me officer, I'm not in the mood." Nya most certainly looked like she meant business in the dress she'd picked up, the eloquent curves of the golden birds matched the crimson red fabric. "Now, where have you three been? I've been worried sick." If Kai was right, and he usually was when it came to Nya, the glare she had currently focused on the three de-aged ninja could mean only one thing, don't ruin her cover story.

"Well…"

"Don't you 'well' me Gordon, you and your brothers managed to escape the house without me even noticing, so I spend the entire night worry about your disappearance only to your uncle in the morning that you've stolen something from the museum." Kai didn't know how to feel when he was referred to as the uncle, though he wasn't going to speak up, at least, he wasn't when they had unwanted guests. "Sometimes I wonder if you want to more like your uncle then me sometimes."

Kai wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh at the expressions upon their faces or take his leave, there wasn't anything keeping him here and he did have better things to do.

"Ma'am, are you the mother of these kids?"

Nya turned fast, her irritated gaze falling to officer. "Yes, now if you excuse me, I have to get them home." Kai decided to remain silent as they left, his gaze going anywhere but the group of the ninja behind him. This entire situation was starting to make him uncomfortable, having suddenly found himself being the uncle of the three de-aged ninja was certainly not good for him.

Once they'd gotten somewhere isolated, Kai turned to Nya. "Uncle? Really Dear Sister?" He hissed, making his displeasure known to the group.

"Would you rather be the father and make this awkward for the both of us?"

His silence answered her question, the way his gaze averted hers only further reinforced his silent no.

"Now, we need to get in contact with the Bounty and inform them of the situation, hopefully Master Wu has a solution."

Kai growled silently, he would not step foot upon that ship again, not if he could help it. Something smashed to the ground and faster than a frog could eat a fly, he was face to face with Lasha, the Venomari scout smiled slightly in embarrassment, his single eye moving away from the trash can resting at his feet. "Lasha." He greeted, somewhat glad the Venomari had managed to find him.

"Fallen One, Lord Garmadon was concerned at your sudden disappearance."

He grumbled to himself, glancing back at the ninja. "Yes, our gracious Lord didn't think his plan through and now I have a prehistoric beast looking to make a snack out of my corpse."

The serpents head only nodded before he set his sights on the ninja. "And them?"

"For now, we are… allies, at least until the Grundal had been dealt with."

"Speaking of which, we should get back to the Bounty, or at least get in contact with Wu." Nya wouldn't take no for an answer, Kai knew that well, she could be quite stubborn when the situation called for it.

So, with a hesitant nod, they made their way for the closest phone box.


Lloyd had been sure that when Nya said she'd left something for him on his bed, it was bound to be a new game or something. So when he'd entered his room and found the latest issue of Starfarer, well, his surprise and excitement was bound to have been heard by Wu.

That was yesterday, the others had yet to return, so Wu had gone to search the city, leaving him alone with his comic. It was the seventh time reading the latest issue and he couldn't exactly get over it. He'd memorised every bit of information he could.

He turned his head when the phone rang, moving from his place, he grabs it. "Destiny's Bounty."

"Lloyd, it's Nya, I need to speak with Master Wu."

Lloyd blinked, it had certainly taken her a while to make contact. "Nya, where are you?" Uncle Wu's been out looking for you."

"We've got a problem, can you meet us in an alleyway out behind Buddy's Pizza in ten minutes, and bring my spare katana with you."

Lloyd turned when the call ended, raising an eyebrow as he turned. "Spare katana?" He muttered to himself, making his way for Nya's room.


Nya wasn't sure why, but her brother's presence unnerved her, she didn't trust Lasha the same way he did, though she knew that if was double crossing them, Wu would be able to take down the Venomari scout without trouble. It had been ten minutes since she'd gotten in contact with Lloyd, and they were waiting out the back Buddy's Pizza, waiting for the young Garmadon to show.

"Well, Dear Sister, it's been ten minutes and Garmadon's brat hasn't shown, perhaps we should move on before the Grundal finds us." Nya glanced over her shoulder, her brother, antagonistic as usual, was leaning against his spear, fashioned from his own corrupted element from what she understood.

"Will you stop being antagonistic for even a few seconds, I swear to the First Master, I'll drown you if you keep this up." She hissed, carefully making sure the three de-aged ninja weren't anywhere near her fallen brother.

"Nya!"

She turned, Lloyd was making his way over to them now, just on time as well. "I brought your sword." She took the blade in hand before sheathing it on her back. She was suddenly tackled by the young Garmadon, the green ninja had both arms wrapped tightly around her. "Thanks for buying me the latest Starfare issue."

She smiled, returning the hug. "You're welcome, now come one, we need to figure out a way to take down the Grundal."

"Oh, I think I know just the guy to help us."

Kai raised an eyebrow as he followed the group. "This'll be amusing."


"A comic book store?" Kai had been about to voice the same question Cole just did, why in all of Ninjago did they come to a comic book store, they wanted to know more about the Grundal, a historian would've been able to provide that information.

"Trust me, if there's anyone who knows how to defeat a monster that doesn't exist, he's here."

He moved, following the group into the store, their entrance certainty drew a few eyes, if the way several gaze fell upon him and Nya was anything to go by. "Now is the time I wished I paid more attention to Garmadon when he was ranting on about the Grundal." He grumbled, to say he was pleased would be an understatement, he was downright bored of the place, this wasn't a place for a samurai of darkness, this was a place for children.

"Fellas, meet Rufus McCallister, aka Mother Doomsday."

Kai raised an eyebrow as he eyed the store owner, in his opinion, this man looked like he knew nothing about a Grundal.

"Well, if it isn't Lloyd Hemorrhoid Garmadon. Sorry if you came looking for the latest Starfarer, I'm all sold out."

Kai groaned, this was a waste of time. They'd have had better luck returning to the museum and asking one of them.

"I already got my copy, besides, we need help."

He turned his gaze over the store, comic book posters covered the walls and windows, the shelves, befitting a store set on selling comic books, were filled with them, though there were some filled with graphic novels.

"Well, colour me intrigued."

Kai glanced at Nya, it seemed as though Nya had already met the man if the way she stepped forward was any indication. "Lord Garmadon resurrected a Grundal for the sole purpose of hunting ninja, any information on how to defeat it would be greatly beneficial." The side eye she gave him seemed to be a jab at his part in its resurrection, not that he wanted the beast resurrected in the first place.

"Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus, although extinct, there has been a plethora of film, television and comics exploring the mythology around the prehistoric predator." Kai raised an eyebrow, this wasn't helpful information. "Supposedly, they always get their prey."

"Cut the chatter and get down to its strengths and weaknesses." He growled, his impatience showing with every second that. "Or am I going to get that information out you the hard way?"

"Kai!" Nya was coming to his defence. "Will you please keep your mouth shut and let Rufus speak."

Rufus seemed to take the hint, if his gulp was anything to go by. "First thing you need to know is its thick shell-like hide is invincible to swords and spears, so your weapons will do nothing to slow it down."

Kai chuckled. "My spear is elemental energy, not metal."

"Not helping." Nya hissed

"Second, it's nocturnal and will only hunt at night." Well, that explained why they hadn't seen it all day and why it was so focused on getting through that wall last night.

"And the only way to defeat it is with light. Like a vampire, with enough of it, it could potentially destroy him."

Kai watched the man move, curious as to way he reaching over to some coloured sticks. "If I had my weapon of choice, may I recommend the Illuma-Sword, these are authentic replicas that would come in handy were you to live long enough to actually face a Grundal."

"Right, so how do we get these swords?" Nya questioned.

"You need to win the Fritz Donogan Trivia Battle Royale, you have what it takes to be the best?"

Kai watched Nya smirk, her gaze falling to Lloyd. "Its your time to shine, Lloyd."

"Sign me up."


Kai stood silently, his gaze focused on the windows, darkness was starting to fall and they were waiting for Lloyd to win swords that didn't even look like they'd do any damage, like, who in their right mind would give a child a sharp weapon?

"It's down to the final two, this question is for Lloyd."

Kai tilted his head, for as boring as this was, it was also a learning experience. "What is Fritz Donogan's famous catchphrase?"

"Fair? Fair is not a word where I come from."

"Correct! We're all tied up."

Kai felt his gut twist with unease, the Grundel will soon be upon them, he could feel it in his gut, though the dark voice at the back of his mind warning him of the creatures approach helped as well. "The Grundal will be upon us soon, Dear Sister."

"How do you know this?"

"A feeling." He wasn't going to reveal the dark voice to her, least he sound like he was going insane.

"Final question, the first person to answer this will win. In the latest issue of Starfarer, how did Fritz Donogan escape the imperial sludge?"

"He reverses the polarity of the ships gravity transducer." Lloyd announced proudly, smiling to himself.

Kai couldn't help but scoff at how Garmadon's brat held himself in high regard, one day the child would find life crumbling around him as he tore them all apart. The lights flickered before giving out. He glanced around, the grip upon his spear tightened ever so slightly.

"Who shut off the power?"

A crash echoed outside the store front before a growl echoed through the glass. "The Grundal has come." Kai announced, watching as the glass gave way, allowing the prehistoric creature to drop down.

He and Nya were in front of the crowd, weapons at ready as they faced the prehistoric creature. "We're doomed!" Kai ignored his former comrades scream of fear, his crystallized hand glowing as he readied to fight.

"Doomed as Britts Subskian in Phoenix War page 15."

Kai leapt first, his spear scratching the Grundal's thick hide, though not enough to draw blood. However, his glowing hand did force it back. The Grundal spun fast, its tail sending him slamming into Nya, the two of them collapsing to the ground.

He looked up, watching as the three de-aged ninja engaged the beast, not that it did them much good. He slowly got to his feet, turning his attention towards the Grundal once more, the door was blown open and Lasha raced to his side. "Fallen One, Garmadon's brother has arrived with a way to deal with the Grundal."

Kai nodded, turning his attention to the scout. "Then let us leave, we have no reason to stick around."

"That's it, you just turn tail and run?" Nya stood before him, he growled as he narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't have to stick around, Dear Sister, but I did, if only to ensure you and your de-aged friends weren't eaten, after all, how else would I get my revenge if you all died a quick death."

Nya let them pass without a fight, no doubt saving her strength for the Grundal.


She wasn't sure why she let her brother leave without a fight, perhaps it was the fact that she had more urgent matter to attend to. Now that the door was open, she glanced back at the crowd. "Everyone, out!" She screamed, making sure she was position in-between them and the prehistoric beast.

"Use this, it'll turn forward the hands of time, turning you old and reducing the Grundal back to dust and bones."

She and Rufus followed the crowd, stopping by Wu's side. She couldn't hear what the others were saying, but the longer they hesitated to use what ever it was Wu had brought, the greater the chance they died grew.

She closed her eyes, not wanting to watch as her friends were eaten alive. A scream echoed across the store, causing her to open her eyes. Whatever it was Wu had passed over to the ninja, it was working.

Seconds pass by the Grundal is nothing more but a pile of bones and her de-aged friends now their proper age. "What happened, we're not kids anymore."

She glanced over the group, whatever Wu had given them, it worked. "It worked."

"They are the real ninja."

"But what about Lloyd?"

Nya blinked as Lloyd stood up behind the ninja, he was older and she wasn't sure how to approach this. "I'm older." His voice had gotten deeper as well. She took a tentative step forward before turning around and booked it, she couldn't face her little brother, not when destiny had taken his childhood from him.


Lloyd knocked on Nya's door, he wouldn't admit it, but he had enjoyed having an older sister, so for her to run, it had confused him greatly. "Nya, it's me, Lloyd." He wanted to know if she was upset with him, if he'd done something wrong. "Can I come in?"

Upon confirmation that he could inside, he noted that the room hadn't changed since he'd been here earlier in the day. Scraps of metal and technology still littered the workbenches, her bed still unmade, though katana were now fixed to wall.

"Why did you run away?" He questioned, watching Nya stare at the ceiling. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No."

He raised an eyebrow, sitting at the end of her bed. "What is it then?"

"Why must destiny be so cruel?" Now that he was closer, it looked like Nya had been crying. "It took Kai's childhood from him, barely gave me a childhood and now it's taken yours."

So that was why she ran earlier, the Tomorrows Tea, She was upset because he could no longer be a child, experience what it was like being a child. "Nya…" He didn't know what to say, usually, someone else was comforting him, not the other way around.

So he did the only thing he could do, he pulled her into a hug, and in silence, they remained like that until Wu fetched them for dinner.


These are the names Nya would've given the others: Brookstone for Cole and Julien for Zane