Hey guys. I know this update is so soon after, but this chapter is fanfiction, but also remembering a terrorist attack that happened 20 years ago today (where I live, it is 9/11). Consider this my statement, but from Harumi's point of view. Remember that it is ok to cry, to scream, and to feel pain. This was not something light and not something that is easy to remember.
A couple of things before I get started:
1: This is not made to mock 9/11. That would be disgusting. This is made to remember it
2: Locations will be the same (New York, the United States, etc)
3: I do not hate Muslims. I just hate any terrorist, of any race or religion. Other than that, we accept everyone here. (more info at the end)
4: I am not celebrating 9/11, just remembering
5: I am not glorifying 9/11
6: This will be short, 1500 words or less
7: I would appreciate reviews condemning 9/11 and showing support for survivors and victims
8: If you need someone to talk to about it, or just vent about how you feel, I am here and listening
Also, any reviews mocking 9/11, making fun of 9/11, celebrating it, glorifying it, or spewing hate toward anyone based on beliefs, religion, sexuality, gender, or race will be deleted, exposed, and reported. We do not hate people for those reasons. As an American, 9/11 is never something to celebrate or mock. It was a violent terrorist attack that took the lives of almost 3,000 women, men, and children.
Harumi was going to be Empress in less than 6 months, and the people of Ninjago city still did not trust her. They kept calling her a villain and a terrorist.
Speaking of terrorists, Harumi realized that it would be 9/11 in 2 days. She was born about 2 and a half years after the terrorist attack, in February of 2003, but Cole had mentioned how he was born during the terrorist attack in New York City, about 2 miles from the twin towers. Cole was 19 now, and she is 17. She had to make the people of Ninjago city see she condemned any violence on September 11, 2001, and she isn't a terrorist.
Then it hit her. She was supposed to give a speech tomorrow near the completed palace with Nya about anything she wanted it to be on. She was originally going to address abortion laws and transgender rights, but realized that 9/11 would be a more appropriate subject to address.
Nya was going for one reason. Mike was not convicted, and Nya's request for a restraining order was denied, which meant he could come find her and cause her death. There was a photo of Nya sobbing in court, and another one of Mike right next to her, which was chilling.
Harumi sighed. He knows he did it, he knows she can prove it. She just didn't understand why. Why was a rape kit and abortion papers not enough? Why did the judge ask Nya what she was wearing? Why wasn't the proof Nya had enough?
So, Harumi had assigned 3 top-ranking SOGs to protect Nya and stay with her 24/7, 365, and protect her. One was Harumi herself, the leader, Killow, and Ultraviolet. The only time she was alone was when she was getting ready or was with Jay in their room. Any other time, she was with at least one.
Usually, Harumi would not trust a man to be alone with Nya, but she knew Jay and Killow. They would never assault Nya, she knew them too well. Harumi couldn't even imagine it.
Also, Harumi had asked Nya to be her personal guard, like everyone suspected. Nya accepted it, and now Harumi was showing her around the palace a lot. Actually, she was showing the whole team around, but everyone except for Lloyd, Kai (Kai is Lloyds personal guard), Jay, and Skylor was staying in the palace town, which is literally 1 minute from the palace, along with her servants and management.
Suddenly, Crystal started crying, and Harumi rushed over. Since Crystal was about 1.7 years old now, she didn't scream, but rather cried. All. The. Time. Harumi found it rather annoying, but Crystal was a kid, and kids cry.
As Harumi held Crystal, she thought of speech ideas. She needed to include something about how evil it was, and why she does not understand why someone would do something like that. She also needed to condemn any violence and say it's ok to cry and scream.
"Crystal, what do you think I should say in my speech today?" Harumi asked her daughter
Crystal looked at her with big brown eyes
"Dada."
Harumi sighed. The only words Crystal could say were "no", "stop", "momma", "dada", "buba", and "shut up."
Of course, Crystal wanted her dad. She hadn't exactly been the best mother anyway.
Harumi went downstairs to get Lloyd
"Crystal wants you."
Without any hesitation, Lloyd got up from the table and went upstairs to tend to Crystal
When Lloyd got upstairs, he held Crystal and asked Harumi if she was going to do a speech tomorrow
"Maybe. I want the people of Ninjago city to see that I'm not a terrorist, and that I truly do care. So I thought about doing it on 9/11, because the 19th anniversary of it is tomorrow." Harumi replied
"That does seem like a good idea. What will you say though?"
"Just saying how evil it was, how I do respect the victim's families and survivors, and how I condemn any violence that took place that day."
"That seems like a great idea. You better get started tho, you only have 12 hours left."
Without further ado, Harumi got on her laptop and started typing.
"We gather here this morning for a special purpose. I was originally going to talk about something different, but this is more important." Harumi addressed the crown of people
10,000 people were gathered outside the palace, including all of the Ninja. Nya was standing next to her in her ninja suit. They were all here for one purpose- to remember 9/11
"On this day, 19 years ago, 2996 people were killed, including children, and 19 of them were the hijackers. This was a great tragedy that changed the way we will view America forever."
Harumi put down her scripts
"Oh, what am I saying? I typed that last night. I'm just going to speak my mind."
Harumi took a deep sigh
"Why? That's the question we will ask ourselves for the rest of our lives every September 11th and beyond. And sadly, we will never have answers. We will never know why those 19 hijackers and the leader did what they did. I will never know."
"I don't pretend to know what was in the hearts of those who crashed planes carrying children into the twin towers, started a terrorist attack, and terrified every person in the world. And since then, we have only become more divided. We have more hate in our hearts, and security measures have been updated. It should not take a violent terrorist attack to have that happen. We need to come together, not discriminate."
"I know a lot of you see me as a terrorist, and think I will help coordinate the next 9/11, but I promise you that if I was, I would not be here giving this speech today. I condemn the violence we witnessed on September 11, 2001, and under my watch, it will never happen again."
"I want to let everyone know that I care about each and every one of you, and that like I said, I will never let this happen again. Lloyd and I will make sure of that. As far as the people who risked their lives to save people they didn't even know go, I want to say that was extremely brave and honorable. Although you are no longer with us, we still remember your courage on this day filled with sorrow and disbelief. To the survivors of 9/11, you too, are insanely strong and yes, honorable. Your stories and tales of survival are always so upsetting, but also amazing."
"And in the weeks and months to come, that was not easy, watching the world remember. You braved through that and you fought, and you are the reason why so many people are now speaking about it. And while it's not ok to generalize all Muslims, we need to hold the people who did 9/11 accountable, and that's a fact. Yes, it was a tragedy, and yes, I stand with every survivor. But generalizing all Muslims is not the way to go about this. We need to come together, not divide."
"I don't want to talk for too long, but just know that I will be thinking about it today, and thinking of you."
Harumi spoke for another 10 minutes about it, and by the end, half the crowd was crying and mourning. A moment of silence was held at 8:46 am, the time the first plane hit the north tower.
Once she was done, Harumi left the stage with Nya next to her.
Consider that my statement on 9/11.
Also, as Harumi said, we should not generalize all Muslims. We should just hold anyone accountable who did 9/11. Hate, bigotry, and discrimination will not get us anywhere. But love, acceptance, and open arms will. We should move forward, not backward. As an American, 9/11 was a great tragedy that terrified everyone in the world, and I understand why people are still terrified today. This is not an easy thing to forget, or even accept. But that is not an excuse to hate crime and judge someone simply because they don't have the same beliefs as you. Thank you.
#neverforget