Author's Note: Hey, I'm back people! I won't get into specifics about my new life, just know that I'm happy and that I finally found some time to write again. I don't know for sure what my posting schedule will be from now on, but I guess we'll find out later.
I have a little bad news, unfortunately. I don't think I'm allowed to write smut/explicit sex scenes anymore and I might have to take down certain chapters from Ninjalogy. I'm thinking about reposting this story and Ninjalogy on both DeviantArt and Archive of Our Own soon, but I don't know yet. Sorry guys, but I guess FFN's "M" rating doesn't mean much in regards to explicit content. It used to back in the day from what I've heard and seen, but oh well. Please enjoy the chapter!
Unexpected
By: Mad Betrayal
"Acquaintances we meet, enjoy, and can easily leave behind; but friendship grows deep roots…"— H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Chapter 33 ~ In Clouse I Won't Trust
The sky was incredibly beautiful. The powdered blue of the early winter morning was swathed in seas of iridescent viridian. The Mana Cetra were moving—steadily completing their task of covering Ninjago's surface with their mysterious golden essence.
But amidst the great beauty was undeniable destruction.
Overlooking New Ninjago City, atop a mountainous bluff dusted with snow, stood five distinct figures with their backs towards the sun. None gazed upon the destruction of the ruined city with its toppled buildings and plethora of wide craters. Instead, five pairs of eyes looked to the heavens with earnest…especially Morpheus'.
The youngest of the deities simply couldn't look away as he stretched his hand skyward, the sun's rays making his butterscotch-imbued skin glow and the silver bangles encircling his wrist twinkle. He watched the mass of sentient flora with wide, wonder-filled eyes. The dark indigo within his otherworldly orbs meshed against the violet and rims of amber, reflecting a sky in twilight.
Who will you choose…? Your minds are locked to me… Or is it…that you don't even know yourselves…?
Morpheus closed his eyes in comfort and peace, feeling the feather-like brush of the golden powder caress his face. He felt the need to open his eyes, however, when a touch lighted on his palm.
"Hey, looks like one of the doofers has decided to pay you a visit, seer."
Dionysus' playful accent confirmed the glowing plant's twirling appearance on Morpheus' hand, causing Athena to stride over to observe the happening. "It came to you on its own," she said quietly, but then frowned at it. "Do you want me to get rid of it, Morph? Is it bothering or hurting you?"
Morpheus smiled faintly at his sister's concern, though he kept his gaze on the dancing plant. "No, it's fine." He then felt it—a gentle prodding in his mind. His grin broadened a bit. "They just want to talk."
Morpheus opened his mind to allow the alien presence to enter, in which a high-pitched and happy chirp of a voice immediately greeted him.
(Oh wow! That was easy! You're super relaxed about all of this, aren't cha?)
Morpheus responded with congenial ease, grinning at the sprite. "And why wouldn't I be? I've been seeing you in my meditations for the past month. And with you, you've brought the possibility of new life…as well as death."
Athena looked from the Mana Cetra to her brother, curious but wary of his calm visage. The alien spore visibly deflated and stopped twirling.
(You…you know about that…? About the Darkness? We're—we're really, very sorry! We didn't mean to bring it here! It just latched on and—)
Morpheus gingerly touched the Mana Cetra's mushroom top-like crown in a comforting pet. "Shhhh…" he cooed. "It's alright. We'll simply have to win the fight…and we will…" The family seer turned to look behind him to spot Eros palming a Mana Cetra of his own, looking wide-eyed and ecstatic while the alien spore, no doubt, communicated telepathically with him.
However, the one Morpheus had focused on was the only other female member of their family. Persephone. Embodying the deadly sin of Greed, Persephone hailed sovereignty over the Nether realm. She peered down at the Mana Cetra cupped in Eros' hands, her pale, seemingly bloodless face unreadable. Long, dark lashes are even more emphasized by the neatly applied black eyeliner and eye shadow. Those dark curls fluttered as she lifted her gaze to meet the seer's. Silver and white. Persephone's eyes resembled the moon's peerless surface on a starless, summer night. Her black lips curled into a ghost of a smile as she nodded slowly and confidently at Morpheus, her long, straight black hair shimmering with the movement.
The Mana Cetra itself seemed to perk right back up at the sight of the ethereal young woman.
(Ohhhhhh… But, her power alone won't be enough to defeat the Darkness.)
Anticipating this rebuttal, Morpheus looked out towards the ruined metropolis. "Yes. Death must be balanced by life. And the one who controls the natural flow of life throughout this realm…" he grinned knowingly, "…he will come to our side eventually… So don't worry."
He began to lift his hand, cradling the little sprite, back up into the sky. "You should rejoin your kin. You have a long journey ahead of you, after all."
The Mana Cetra fluttered back up into the air at Morpheus' behest, but then came back down to his eye level almost immediately.
(Oh! But you're gonna be one! A male mother! A Marked One! And I—well… I like you! And I wanna stay with you until the alterations to your body are complete and you're healthy again! Me! Abayomi! I'm Abayomi! Hello!)
Though Morpheus knew of this too, he still didn't know how he should feel about it. For one, he had long-since acknowledged that he was the weakest among the deities physically. And as such, with such an overall weak constitution, the mark-acquiring and body-prepping for becoming a male mother wasn't going to be a walk in the park for him. No, he was going to suffer.
And two, well…the only person on Ninjago whom he would even consider having children with was being a complete and utter ass at the moment. So yeah, there was that.
Morpheus sighed as he tried to rid his thoughts of the masked deity, and returned his attention to Abayomi. He gave a small smile at the alien spore, watching it twirl hopefully in the air. He had to admit though, that despite their cuteness, this particular Mana Cetra was a bit of a scatter-brain.
The embodiment of Sloth giggled internally. Oh well… "As you wish," he said softly. "I would be honored to have you watch over me during the…process, Abayomi. I'm Morpheus."
Abayomi twirled with absolute glee, spraying golden powder everywhere, which in turn caused Athena to sneeze. They then shot up high into the sky with a shrill (Yippeee!), sailing off to reunite with their brethren. Abayomi's voice was still bouncing off the walls inside Morpheus' head when the Mana Cetra began to give him one final message.
(I'm so happy! Wow, I'm so happy! Okay! I won't let you down! I'll be back with you as soon as you get your mark! I promise! Take care until then! Bye! And be happy!)
Athena folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow at Morpheus while he waved goodbye to the Mana Cetra. "You do know you have some explaining to do, right?"
"Yeah, I know." Morpheus waved farewell a moment longer before lowering his hand and regarding his fellow born-dead sibling. "And I will. Not here, but at home where it's warm." Morpheus blew into his hands and ran them up and down his arms for emphasis, feeling a heavy nor'easter blow down through the crags of the bluff.
He missed the constant tropical weather on their island back home, and didn't like traveling to the super continents much other than to accomplish missions, collect sand from his favorite desert: The Sea of Sand, or on rare and private occasions, spend some time alone with Apollo. But now, even the thought of returning home didn't fill him with joy as it once did. Now, there was only dread. For instead of returning to a big house with a loving albeit very eccentric father waiting for them, there was only Clouse waiting within those walls. Chen's successor.
Even when he was younger, Morpheus had always feared Clouse and never wanted to be alone with him. He himself never understood the feeling he got when around the serpent-like man, only that Clouse seemed to exude a very dangerous and dark aura. An aura that was filled with ambition and ulterior motive. He had tried telling someone. But neither his father nor any of his siblings seemed to understand his caution around the sorcerer. Not even Apollo would listen, and had repeatedly told him to just trust in their father's judgment. It wasn't until much later—when Zelus had arrived—that Morpheus had tried relinquishing his woes again. But this time, onto the usually standoffish and obstinate deity…and had surprisingly…been heard. Though Zelus had not said or expressed much on the matter, those dark green pools of poison had narrowed in circumspection before saying:
"Just stay away from him if you're that scared. And don't take his word over the ones you do trust. Hmph…you're the Family Seer, but it seems no one wants to listen to you when it involves either Clouse or challenging Chen… Tch! Family… more like a totalitarian society…"
Though it had been a blatant jab at the family's hierarchy, Morpheus had still been grateful to at least be listened to without hearing false reassurances and platitudes. Zelus was a prickly and difficult snob at times, but Morpheus knew that both he and Athena would make great Clan Heads one day. And if not Clan Heads then—
"I'M GOING TO BE A MARKED ONE! YES! YES! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!"
Both Morpheus and Athena both turned to see Eros shouting happily up at the sky while frolicking in a circle. He looked positively euphoric as he pranced about, and the Mana Cetra twirled just as frenetically around his dancing frame. Persephone rolled her eyes at the excessively exuberant display, but that ghost of a smile still played upon her black lips.
When Eros finally stopped twirling, he clapped his hands together and regarded his gathered family with a wide, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes. "You all know what this means, right?! This is the chance I've been waiting for!"
"Oh yeah?" Dionysus smirked as he popped a few grapes into his mouth. Seems he was able to snatch a few bushels from an abandoned market back in the city before they had made their escape. "And what exactly are you so chuffed about? Already got a poor sop in mind to knock you up?"
Eros gave a derisive snort and lifted his chin indignantly, the Mana Cetra coming down to perch upon his blond crown for a prolonged moment before shooting off into the sky to reunite with its kin and their moving mass of green. "Hmph! Not even your boorish attitude is enough to deter me from my high, Dionysus." He flicked his jeweled wrist for emphasis, as if shooing away Dionysus' negativity. But his excited demeanor immediately rekindled as he returned his focus on the women and Morpheus.
"But of course I'll have to wait for my mark to appear before I can present myself properly to my beloved. But no matter! I shall utilize that time wisely and make myself even more fetching for him!" Eros spun in an elegant and graceful circle before striking a seductive pose, his long, golden ponytail swaying in the breeze as he cast his lustful, amethyst stare towards the distant horizon.
"Though it may prove difficult to improve upon perfection, I must be at my absolute best!" He then pointed at Athena and Persephone and peered at them from his peripheral. "So dear sisters, please keep your schedules free of triviality next week, as I would like you two to come shopping with me for a new ensemble and make-up."
Persephone sighed and placed a hand on her jutted, leather-clad hip. She then scratched the bridge of her nose with a black fingernail, careful of her nose piercing. "It would be wise of you not to lose perspective, Eros," she said, her voice low and sultry. "Our primary objective remains: To procure the Master of Mana, Brad Tudabone. Once we return to Lord Clouse, no doubt he'll debrief us on how to deal with the Ninja."
Eros' face promptly scrunched up with disgust at the mention of Clouse's presumed "wife" and he gave a haughty sniff. "Yes, whatever." He waved away Persephone's words with another flick of his wrist and continued to pontificate about his looks and how he wanted Morpheus to be available to do his hair when he needed. And she stood there staring, studying him. Athena too was giving the Deity of Lust a thorough and withering once over.
A sudden insurmountable chill crept up Morpheus spine just then. One that had absolutely nothing to do with the cold. A terrible throb behind his eyes started, and he winced at the abrupt onslaught of pain, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Oy! Seer!"
Dionysus' shout was shortly followed by an agonized scream from Morpheus as he collapsed onto his knees, gripping his head tight. Athena rushed to kneel beside him, calling his name and grabbing his shoulders. But Morpheus heard none of the concerned cries produced by reality.
He knew what was happening to him. What was coming.
Memories sent through dreams. Past, present and future. Another waking one, though? Those were the most painful. But Morpheus knew he had little choice but to grin and bear it. Thus… His sight left him completely, thrusting him into black…then white…and then…
*~XxX~*
"But my lord, I don't understand! Why do you still need that…that Mana experiment?!"
Eros stood anxiously before a black-robed Clouse in the Clan Head's dark quarters. Having finally received his mark and getting over that terrible illness that seemed to accompany it, he had went through painstaking meticulousness to make himself perfect before he presented himself to his beloved. But now here he was—prim, pressed, proper and looking absolutely fetching with his body adorned in a white, silk dress kimono with lilac and lavender print. And hearing some utter nonsense from the one he loved most, about the one he loathed most.
Clouse peered down impassively at the blond, a lit kiseru balanced betwixt his fingers. He exhaled slowly, a nicotine smoke stream escaping his lips. "Don't be daft, Eros. I need Brad for the same exact reason why you're here now."
Eros sputtered incredulously. "Wh-What? But all you wanted was for someone special to bear your children, right? I…I-I mean…" Eros then stopped and tried to calm himself. He then smiled coyly and stepped closer to the sorcerer, his violet and manicured fingertips ghosting over the exposed flesh of Clouse's chest.
"I know you prefer men, my lord. And I know you want children of your own to raise—to create your own family. Not just adopt Father's. Not just adopt us. And I can give that to you. Me alone. See?"
Eros pulled back slightly to peel back the folds of his kimono to reveal his creamy chest. And branded over his heart was the mark of all male mothers: the star of creation encircled by a pair of beautiful angel wings.
Hopeful violet pools looked back up to meet a hard and sallow gaze. "I am more than willing to give you everything that you desire, my lord. Because I…I…" a deep blush suddenly filled Eros' cheeks, but he pushed on bravely, "…I love you. I have for a very long time…ever since you saved me from falling from that cliff when I was ten. So please… I promise to do everything in my power to retrieve that brat for you, and you can do anything you want to him. Just—just not this. I don't want to be on equal footing with anyone in your heart. I want to be above them! I want to be your one and only! Please…I don't want to share you."
Eros pressed up against Clouse as much as he could and buried his face into the other man's chest. He took in his lord's musky scent of smoke and fine wine and breathed deeply, feeling a milky warmth begin to pool in his lower body. Yes, he loved this man so much.
However, a heavy hand suddenly lighted on his shoulder, gripped, and pushed gently to detach his body from the solid wall of muscle and magic. Still blushing, Eros swallowed and canted his head back to peer up into Clouse's eyes once more. The older man's countenance had changed slightly. The stoic visage had dissipated and was now replaced with a more…indiscernible look.
"I will admit, you are very beautiful, Eros…always have been." Eros smiled genuinely at the praise, flattered. And he felt his heart lift when Clouse's hand moved to cup his jaw line, his callous thumb stroking his cheek. "And rest assured that I welcome you into my bed. But my dear…"
Clouse suddenly inched closer so that his mouth was right next to Eros' pierced ear. "…you will never be enough. This isn't about love…never has been. All I do, I do in pursuit of absolute power and control."
How quickly did the wings uplifting Eros' heart get so brutally torn away. His heart plummeted down into his stomach, shattering upon impact and settled into something cold. Meanwhile, Clouse slinked away, stepping around the heartbroken deity and went to stand beside his dark bed, the black canopy drawn and draping it in a sheen of pitch black miasma.
The sorcerer took another drag and exhaled the puff while he spoke. "The Marked Ones with elemental affinities must all be mine. But who's to say, Eros…" he smirked wickedly, "…perhaps you'll be my favorite amongst the harem, hmm? You'll be more compliant. Definitely more so than…the Family Seer…"
Eros turned around at that, confused and frowning. "What are you—"
The room was so eerily dark. And the blinds cocooning Clouse's bed seemed so unnatural. There was a clicking…and then a slithering sound surrounding the bed. And then…of their own accord…the miasma parted.
Eros' mouth shakily fell open with a silent and strained gasp. For upon the black satin lining Clouse's mattress…was the tragic sight of a still body. A body imbued in creamy butterscotch, with a head full of pure white plaits. Tearstains sheen his face, while bloodstains sheen the lower half of his naked body.
"Mo—Morpheus…? Morpheus!"
Eros rushed over to the seer's bedside and looked over him desperately, but was too afraid to touch him. Instead, he whirled on the sorcerer. "How could you do this?! How could you!? …!"
The room was so black, so devoid of light. How could he see? But he could see… Two menacing, sallow eyes stared at him from the abyss. And slowly…more eyes joined…each pair white, glowing and narrowed.
Eros couldn't breathe…
Eros couldn't speak…
"You WILL be more compliant, yes…?"
Clouse's sinister cadence seemed to echo from all around, rooting the blond deity to the spot and ensnaring him in overwhelming fear.
He then felt…a small, trembling hand encircle his wrist. And with it…a feeble voice of warning.
"…Remi…haa…run…"
*~XxX~*
So Morpheus was right… There was something in this mountain… Not that I didn't believe him, but still…
Apollo pulled on the reins of his griffin, Rhapsody, in order to slow him down and allow Zelus' dragon, Typhoon, to keep pace with him. Not that Zelus appeared to care. For ever since he had exited that strange ship, he'd been smirking up a storm. The masked deity glanced over at the grinning wind master curiously as they made their way back towards the mouth of the hollow mountain.
When they had last reunited after Zelus and Athena had opted to remain behind in the doomed city, it had been quite a comical sight to see the Wrathful Queen shell-shocked and draped in the arms of the Deity of Envy, her facial scar white and her chocolaty cheeks alight with a blush. Still aloft, Zelus had swiftly ordered everyone to mount up and return home.
However, along the way, Apollo had started to notice Morpheus lagging behind. While his temper had somewhat quelled during their previous argument over the Family Seer's interference in his quest for vengeance against the Blue Bastard, he had still been bitter at the younger and had asked gruffly what the hold-up was.
But instead of answering, Morpheus had abruptly broken away from the pack and had sent his griffin, Pyra, into a dive. Alarmed, Apollo had immediately followed, and so had the other deities. When Apollo and the others had caught up with Morpheus, the seer had been hovering before a gargantuan opening along the side of a mountain.
Morpheus had then declared that something of great importance lurked inside the cave and had wanted to investigate. But knowing that the other wasn't at full strength due to his recent development of insomnia, Apollo had volunteered to go in his stead. And Zelus, curious, had volunteered also. But that's when Athena had suddenly snapped out of whatever trance she'd been in and demanded Zelus put her down. And declared that she would watch over the rest of the clan (mainly Morpheus) while the two of them explored the deep hollow.
Though they had been told to hurry by the Wrathful Queen, it had taken some time for Apollo and Zelus to find the assumed object of "great importance"—a ship. A very large and well-kept ship had been docked deep in the cavern. Intrigued by the golden dragon head mounted at the bow, Zelus had rallied the notion to venture further and investigate the interior. Apollo, however, had thought otherwise and opted to remain on lookout from the outside. Zelus hadn't cared one way or the other and briskly left him to his own devices.
When in truth, though, Apollo had felt something odd within him when he'd first laid eyes on the ship—like a mixture of dread and longing. It had readily confused him, and he had just wanted to leave. But now with Zelus' return and him smirking the way he was despite the bitter cold of the cave, had him feeling a bit eager to learn what the other deity had found within.
"Well…?" He prompted, but Zelus just chuckled darkly.
"Should've came in yourself," he said snidely. Apollo was just about to launch a snarky retort when Zelus laughed again. "I'll tell you when we've reunited with the others. I don't feel like repeating myself."
Apollo rolled his eyes, but held back his tongue. The mouth of the cavern was just in sight, the sun's rays filtering through the hole and the crevices between the hanging stalactites and the stalagmites, giving the opening the intimidating appearance of a fanged beast. Apollo's one visible blue eye adjusted quickly to the brightness as he and Zelus soared through and into the open air. They veered upward towards the peak where the others were surely waiting.
Apollo reached the summit first. And upon doing so, peered down onto the bluff where his family was suspiciously crouched and huddled together. His brow creasing behind the mask, he quickly swooped down and dismounted from Rhapsody.
"What's going on?" He asked, striding towards them. Dionysus and Persephone rose and turned around to face him. Apollo's brow furrowed more at the sight of the bare, toned arms of the Deity of Gluttony. "Where's your jacket?"
Dionysus nodded his head to gesture over his shoulder, the usual drunken haze over his dark hazel eyes nonexistent. His expression was now uncharacteristically grim. "Seer."
Apollo hurriedly stepped between the two and looked down. "Morpheus!"
The youngest deity lay cradled in Athena's arms with Dionysus' white jacket draped over his upper body. Eros was crouched by his side as well, looking thoroughly confused as he held onto Morpheus' hand. Athena snapped her head up at Apollo, her steel blues fretful and frantic.
"He had another waking dream! But he passed out! He—he's never passed out before! And now he's so cold… We have to get him home! We have to get out of here!"
Apollo moved to kneel beside Eros. "He…reached for me…" Apollo regarded Eros at the other's whispered words and discomfited frown. "…But why…? And who's "Remi"…?"
"That doesn't matter now," Apollo said tersely, shouldering Eros aside so that he could position himself better to lift the unconscious deity. "Athena, give him to me. We're leaving."
Rising to his feet with Morpheus now in his arms, Apollo was able to clearly ascertain just how cold Morpheus was despite the presence of Dionysus' jacket. He felt near frozen! Was he suffering from hypothermia?
Why didn't you dress more warmly, goddammit! Did you really think a sleeveless hoodie would ward off the cold?
Never mind the fact that Morpheus had went to visit the Sea of Sand before meeting up with them in New Ninjago City. He still should've had a change of clothes or something! But he did look fine earlier. Tired but fine. Apollo shook his head roughly and turned to move.
"But will we make it?" Persephone suddenly questioned, and Apollo looked at her. Truthfully, none of them were dressed appropriately for the cold. But their bodies had been conditioned so harshly during their years of training that differentiating weather wasn't really a problem. Well, all of them except Morpheus. "Though our summons are swift, it would still take hours to leave this hemisphere and return home. Morpheus may not make the flight, since he'll still be exposed to the elements."
"Ha! Then that's perfect."
Everyone whirled on Zelus incredulously. Apollo's body started to crackle with sparks of crimson lightning when he abruptly gave pause at the other deity's knowing and pointed look.
"Clouse can wait. The seer comes first, right?"
"Of course he does!" Athena spat viciously, but the raven-haired man dismissed her outburst with a conniving smirk.
He briskly showed his back and began to make his way back to his dragon. "Then get your asses in gear and follow me," he commanded, although Apollo could hear the glee in his voice. "We're going back to the object of "great importance" that Apollo and I found in the mountain."
While the others looked on curiously, Apollo ambled over to Rhapsody and saddled up, wrapping the jacket a little tighter around Morpheus. The other deities then quickly followed suit.
"What did you two find?" Athena asked, summoning her griffin, Star, and leaping onto the saddle.
A gust of wind tousled Zelus' hair, causing a black fringe to obscure his profile briefly. "A ship…" he said smoothly. "…A ship called…the Destiny's Bounty…" The laugh that followed Zelus' words was loud and boisterous, and Typhoon took flight with a roar just as thunderous.
Apollo was the next to follow with the others at Rhapsody's wingtips. He didn't care anymore about his inhibitions about the ship. Morpheus was all that mattered.
Author's Note: I'm thinking about teaming up with VelvetPersona and utilizing her connection with an artist on DA named MysteriousHaru to get some pics drawn about this story. I think it would be lovely to see the Seven Deities and some scenes with the Ninja portrayed in her style. Please leave your thoughts!