Author's Note: Cool, some reviews! And thanks to you all who just took the time to read my work. Every little bit helps and I'm thankful to you.

Guest Review Responses:

Ryetheninja1- Thanks, I thought the simpler the better. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

Unexpected

By: Mad Betrayal

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity."—Khalil Gibran

Chapter 3 ~ Ed and Edna's Plight

The flight to the main continent was spent in, more or less, amicable silence. With Jay only opening his mouth to shout out progress reports on their flight patterns, or informing Cole of steadily brewing storm clouds and advising they increase altitude in order to get above it and out of harm's way. Jay could feel Cole's eyes on him most of the time, and however much he wished to reassure his friend, his mind kept replaying the tumultuous conversation he had with his mother. Ergo, stopping his tongue from spewing out would be lies.

Mom…what secret did you just had to tell Dad? And was it really so terrible that it caused him to…divorce you?

Overwhelming sadness gripped Jay's heart. It was all so unexpected and perplexing! But what was most distressing about his mother's call was that she had called him "Jason", a name he had not heard in years. Granted, "Jason" was his biological birth name, but his parents had nicknamed him "Jay" and called him by that name so often that "Jason" faded into obscurity.

Jay's mother had to be beyond emotional to call him by that name. Hold on Mom, Dad. I'm coming…and we'll work this out…

Jay closed his eyes and concentrated, the strong currents of wind buffeting the long blue tendrils of his hood every which way and that. The sky was dark and getting colder as he and Cole neared cooler climates for which late November seemed better fitted, and even though they outmaneuvered a few wayward thunderstorms so far, Jay knew he still had to remain vigilant. Their safety depended on it.

I don't sense anything, so maybe it's okay to drop to at least 1000 feet…

"Hey Jay!" The blue ninja blinked and turned his head. Cole was the only one up here with him that could talk, but the voice hadn't sounded like his friend's at all. In fact… Jay watched as Cole waved his arm to get his attention then pointed down. "Can we get lower?!" He yelled, the tenor of his voice reminiscent of the impeccably high-pitched squeak of a chipmunk. "The air's so thin up here!"

Jay bit his lip behind his hood to stifle his snort of laughter. They hadn't spoken while they were among the cirrus clouds and Jay forgot about the helium-like effects higher altitudes had when transitioning from one hemisphere to another.

But the fact that Cole had his bushy eyebrows furrowed together to display his trademark seriousness made the situation all the more hilarious. "Jay, did you hear me!?" Cole shouted/squeaked again and Jay, unable to contain his mirth any longer, broke into rambunctious laughter.

But when Jay noticed his voice was much more higher pitched than Cole's, he immediately stopped. He had just sounded like the girl chipmunks all wrapped into one! Cole stared wide-eyed for a moment before breaking into his own merry chortles which, in turn, caused Jay to laugh outright all over again.

The Master of Lightning shook his head, feeling the knotted tension in his chest unwind a little, and looked over at his fellow ninja. But Cole had already pulled on his reigns and directed his dragon into a dive. And with a short chuckle, Jay hastened to follow. Leaning ever so slightly forward and gripping his reigns tight, Jay accommodated his body to his dragon's increased velocity. With a challenging roar, the reformed "Wisp" folded his wings and spiraled eloquently into a dive.

The wind howled in Jay's ears as Cole's dragon's Earth-imbued tail inched closer and closer, and soon the two riders were neck-and-neck. Adrenaline as well as exhilaration pumped vigorously through Jay's veins at the thrill of the race, but as he met Cole's good-natured gaze from his peripheral, he knew right away of his friend's intentions.

What the hell…? What am I doing…?

His heart thundering in realization, Jay pulled hard on the reigns and forced Wisp to pull up and even out.

This is no time to playing around! So why did Cole bait me?! And why did I fall for it!? Shortly after Jay thought this, Cole saddled up next to him.

"Jay, I'm sorry!" He got out quickly. At the lower altitude and higher air density, Cole's voice had returned to normal. "I know this is very serious and I wasn't trying to make light of the situation at all, I just…" Jay eyed Cole's obvious vexation with wonder before the other huffed in frustration with himself. "Trust me, I do like it when you're quiet—cherish it even—I just don't like it when you're…too quiet…if that makes any sense…"

And it didn't to Jay. Not at all. But he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth either. He was, indeed, feeling especially tense since his mother's call, and Cole's good-willed antics did help him relax somewhat. So in the end, he was grateful and took Cole's concern and attempt at consolation at face-value.

Jay's eyes softened. "No, it's okay. I think you helped me a bit just now. I needed that… Thanks, Cole." At seeing his friend's relief, Jay had to smirk. "Although, I do feel like I should give you a swift kick in the shin when we land for saying you "cherish" the times when I'm quiet."

Cole chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, a-anyway…I'm glad I didn't overstep my bounds." Green eyes fixated on Jay with sincere concern. "I don't know why, but for some reason sometimes I really do hate seeing you stressed-out. And then was one of those times. I had to do something."

Despite cold arctic gales trying to seep through his suit and chill his bones, Jay felt blissful warmth enter his body and touch his soul, his cheeks dusting with rose in the process beneath his hood. He didn't trust his voice not to stutter, so instead of expressing his gratitude again, he returned his sights forward and tried to concentrate on not crashing in his state of shock.

The two ninja continued their journey further inland, the landscape below swathed with colors of autumn. Rolling hills and plateaus basked in gold instead of greens, and lustrous forests happily adapted to the change of season with their beautiful showings of reds, yellows, and browns. Jay banked a hard right and Cole followed, heading directly up and over the forest-filled mountains in sight. Jay mentally steeled himself for what was to come, for just pass the harsh terrain of gorges and craggy ravines was the Sea of Sand.

Pinks and purples painted the now cloudless sky as early evening set in, and the golden sands shimmered faintly under the sun's fading rays. With a bird's eye view of his homeland, Jay easily distinguished the subtle landmarks and familiarities of the sandy dunes and made a beeline for his childhood home.

Within an hour, Jay could see the many towering scraps of metal and iron in the distance, standing tall and firm like age-old monoliths against the cooling horizon. Everyone was well-aware of the fact that Jay was born and raised in a junkyard, his parents having made it clear for everyone when they showed up unannounced at the Destiny's Bounty years ago. And yes, while it was beyond embarrassing to say out loud, Jay had nothing but fond memories of his boyhood. He loved his parents dearly. They sparked his imagination, gave him confidence and drive to always succeed and excel in what he was good at. Ed and Edna had showered Jay with their love. And although the setting wasn't as glamorous as any city, the Sea of Sand had its own aesthetic beauty if you knew how to look for it. And Jay did.

"Dad!" Jay shouted, spotting his father putting numerous suitcases in the Walker homemade hover car. He hastily dispelled his dragon and let himself drop down, and Ed gave a start of surprise at seeing his son simply fall from the sky and land in front of him.

"Jay? What are you doing here?" The blue ninja rushed forward to envelope his father in a hug, causing the aging mechanic to drop the suitcase in his hand.

"Dad…" Jay held on tight to his father and Ed returned his son's affection enthusiastically.

"My word is this a surprise!" Ed said with jovial contentment, pulling back to scrutinize his only child. "Finally found time to visit, eh? And I believe you've grown an inch or two!" Ed's eyes were a lighter shade of blue than Jay's, but there's no doubt that they contained the same sparkle and depth. "So tell me Jay, how've ya been? What's new?"

Jay pulled back his hood and gave his father a wide-eyed, incredulous look. "Never mind me, Dad! What's going on here?!" He gestured a bewildered hand at the packed car and the suitcase at his feet. "What's happening between you and Mom?!"

Ed's lips lost its cheerful grin and the tired lines on his aging face became more apparent as his visage darkened with melancholy. "Oh…I see now… Your Ma must've called you…"

When his father turned away with a dispirited frown, Jay tried to swallow the apprehension that was slowly building in his throat. "Is… Is it true that…you and Mom are getting a…" Jay had to force the appalling word from his mouth. "…divorce…?"

Ed sighed heavily and faced his son. "You know how your Ma tends to overdramatize at times, Jay. I'm not divorcing her. I just need some time away to…rethink our relationship," he finished sadly.

"But why!?" Jay asked desperately. "You and Mom have been together for so long, Dad! What happened that was so bad that you would want to separate from her now?!"

Ed bent down wordlessly to retrieve his suitcase from the ground and moved around Jay to put it in the back seat of his car with the others. "Love isn't as black and white as you think, Jay."

Complete and utter confusion assaulted Jay's mind, and he stood rooted to the spot as his father climbed into the driver's seat. At the roar of the ignition, however, Jay quickly broke out of his befuddlement and ran to the side of the car.

"Wait, Dad! What do you mean?! What are you talking about?!" Jay's hands gripped the top of the car door tight, wanting nothing more than to tear the thing from its hinges and pull his father out.

With his hands braced on the steering wheel, Ed turned knowing eyes to his son. "You're not a little boy anymore, Jay. You're a grown, autonomous young man," he began, wearing a small, proud smile. "And one day, you are going to want to share your life with someone special." The warm radiance within Ed's light blue orbs suddenly dimmed, and his smile dissipated as he regarded his son solemnly. "But before you do, before you give your heart and soul to that person, make sure they reciprocate. Make sure their love for you is just as strong as your love for them."

Jay searched his father's eyes, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words. But it was like trying to reach for a star in the night sky, for the answer deftly eluded him. "Dad…I don't understand…"

"You will one day, son." Ed smiled faintly. "I have faith that you will…" And as an afterthought he added, "Please remember to go inside and say hello to your Ma before you leave, ya hear?"

Jay was suddenly struck with a severe sense of panic as the glass window began to rise, and the convertible top creaked and lifted to connect with the front windshield. His palms were now flat on the glass that separated him from his father. "Dad! Wait!"

A strong hand gripped Jay's shoulder from behind and gently eased him back and away from the hover car as it too began to lift slightly in the air. A fleeting glimpse of his father's face was all Jay saw before the vehicle lurched forward and sped out of the junkyard, leaving nothing but pillowing sand clouds in its wake.

Jay stood motionless, watching as his father's car became smaller and smaller as the distance between them lengthened. Ed's espoused wisdom before he left was important, Jay was sure, and it most likely held some connection between his parents' withering relationship.

"Jay? Let's go see how your Mom's doing, okay?"

Cole's soft alto reached through the recesses of Jay's shell-shocked mind, and he nodded numbly while once again taking the lead and heading for the quaint yet high-tech three-story house nestled on the far end of the junkyard. Even from the outside, the sturdy domicile looked as if it housed a family of imaginative inventors: Instead of a standard wooden or brick structure, the Walker residence was outlined in various metal plating and alloys. Flickering gadget lights lined the windows, and pipes hissing out steam snaked along the sides and roofs. But what was most impressive as well as curious, was the magnificent dome-like structure that made up the third story of the house.

With trembling hands, Jay removed his spare set of house keys, remembering when his parents had told him he could keep them when he had set off on his own years prior. Recalling the distant memory, he had been so anxious to leave this house and his parents back then, but now, after failing to stop his father and knowing that his mother was alone in this big, empty house, he was just as anxious to get back inside.

Six special keys were needed to unlock each articulately-designed security measure that armed and safeguarded the Walker home. And when Jay turned the final key and heard "LASER CANNON DISARMED" said by a feminine, computerized voice, he turned the knob and pushed open the door to his childhood home.

"Wow," Jay heard Cole mutter from behind him. "I feel sorry for whoever wants to break into this place…"

"Mom…?" Jay called out gently after crossing over the threshold. He snapped his fingers once and the darkened foyer lit up like a jewel.

Cole closed the door. "Huh…I've heard of a "clapper" before, but a "snapper"?"

"Yeah," Jay breathed, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "Dad came up with the idea and had it installed for Mom when I was little. You see, Mom always thought that light switches were an "inconvenience" for people who were constantly on the move like she was. And "clappers", while they provided a quick solution, Mom didn't like the abrupt loudness needed to activate it and preferred the more…"pleasant acoustic" of finger-snapping. So now the entire house is programmed to accept only the sound of snapping fingers in order to produce light. Nifty for the picky, I always say."

But it wasn't just Ed doing things for Edna. It worked vice versa too. Jay's parents' marriage was based on more than just love, but equality as well. Brilliant minds often thought alike and what benefited one usually helped the other too. Jay couldn't recall a time where there was actually tension in the house between his parents. Everyday seemed like their anniversary and speaking of which, Jay knew that on December 28th his mother and father were to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary—their Silver Anniversary.

God-willing… Jay thought miserably.

"Jason…?" Jay turned quickly in the direction the meek voice came from and stepped hurriedly into the neighboring living room.

Cole blinked and mouthed the name in question silently to himself in bewilderment before following after him. Jay found his mother, Edna, seated on a couch in the living room. Her glasses gone and her hazel eyes wet with tears, she stood up and called softly to her son once more. "Jason…"

Jay walked the few paces it took to reach his mother and embraced her just as he did his father. "It's okay, Mom. I'm here…"

"Oh Jason…" Edna sniffed and leaned back. "Did you say hello to your Pa?" She asked, smiling and Jay nodded, biting his bottom lip.

"Uh, yeah…I did…" He looked worriedly at her, Edna's hair was out of its usual bun and thus, her long silvery, salt and pepper locks tumbled down her back and over her shoulders. She still adorned her work overalls, but where were her glasses? Jay then spotted them hanging from a thin chain around her neck. "But Mom…"

"Oh!? Now who's this behind you?" Edna asked, looking over her son's shoulder at Cole.

Jay sighed—derailed—but turned to gesture at Cole. "Don't you remember, Mom? You've met him before back at the Destiny's Bounty."

"Oh yes! That's right!" Edna wiped her eyes quickly and lifted her glasses back onto her face. "So nice to see you again, Kai."

Jay face-palmed while Cole smiled hesitantly. "Uh, no ma'am. I'm Cole."

"Oh! My apologies, dearie!" Edna reached down and clasped both her hands around Cole's much larger one. "I always seem to get you and Kai mixed up! You two look so much alike!" She had peered up at him with such sincerity and earnest that Cole actually felt the need to go look in a mirror to see if maybe he did resemble Kai.

Jay's hand slid hopelessly down his face. "No they don't, Mom…" he grumbled, but Edna simply carried on with a smile and patted Cole's hand before letting it go.

"I bet you haven't seen our lovely abode yet, have you dearie? Jason, why don't you show Cole around while I start on dinner, hmm?"

Jay ran a hand through his hair. His mother always had a rather off-putting personality, but this was just a little too much right now. "Mom, that's not important—"

"Oh and I see bags! Does that mean you two are staying for a few nights, Jason?!" Edna exclaimed. Her eyes were wet with enough tears again that she looked like she was going to cry at any given moment. Jay hadn't seen his mother this upset since Uncle Edward died a year ago. But nevertheless, he tried again to reach her—to get her to tell him what happened.

"Yes Mom, that's the plan, but—" Edna suddenly enveloped her son in another hug and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Jason…" she whispered, her voice frail and heavy with emotion. "I really need you here with me right now."

"Mom…" Jay's arms came slowly around his mother's waist and he hugged her close. If only she would just tell him. How was he supposed to help if he was kept in the dark about the situation? When Edna released Jay, tears were freely rolling down her cheeks. But in spite of her sorrow, she still smiled lovingly at her son. She turned to regard Cole.

"Do you like spaghetti, dearie?" She asked him softly and Cole inclined his head.

"Yes ma'am, very much."

"Good," Edna breathed. "I'll go get started on that then." Her eyes landed on Jay and she touched his cheek. "Go show your friend our home, Jason. Dinner will be ready in an hour."

Jay frowned despondently, but nodded his understanding. "Alright, Mom…" he said, defeated.

Soon, Edna left the two ninja alone and disappeared into the kitchen. Cole silently approached Jay and rested his hand on his shoulder. "She's probably just…in a state of shock or something," he reasoned tentatively. "Give her a little time and I'm sure she'll come around."

Jay sighed again—he seemed to be doing that a lot lately—and looked at his friend. "Yeah, maybe you're right." He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag on his shoulder and nodded towards a grand, twisted metal staircase. "C'mon, I'll show you the place."

Author's Note: Unfortunately, there aren't many episodes with Ed and Edna present, so I did the best I could from the ones they're in. How did I do? Please leave me your thoughts!