At the fortress. End of this chapter earns its Mature rating. Don't like then skip. OR skip ahead if that's your thing. But you are definitely warned. Constructive criticism and reviews are always helpful. This is my first fan fic.
Trying to get everyone settled down was a nightmare. Bree finally gave up and blocked off the upper corridor that lead to the upper two most apartments and told the rest of them to figure it out. They were mostly all adults.
"Well whats scary or dangerous is up there then" Jay asked anxiously. Peering up the stairs and down the corridor that was now blocked off magically.
That's where I live Zippy. I don't care what you all do or where or with whom you sleep. Id just like some peace and quiet to put Alana down to sleep" Bree answered him.
They both heard a crash from an apartment on the same level as the training rooms. And then howls of laughter. Quieter than in the air temple. But something was still going on with that level of shenanigans. Bree turned Zippy directly towards the noise and gave him a shove forward.
"How in the hell do any one of you deal with him, or the dam noise?" Bree asked Cole.
"You get use to Jay, hes a little more high strung then the rest lol. I think part of the point in having such a huge fortress was being together, but also being able to get the hell away from each other" Cole replied.
I told Harumi to pick the apartment closer to ours. Morro is probably going to be in there with her" Bree said with an obvious grimace. "I can pick someplace else with Alana or... Do you still want to be living so close. And not go share with Lloyd or someone else." Bree asked. She wasn't looking him in the face. But fussing with some book and sounded anxious.
"Why would I want to go anywhere?" Cole asked.
"Cole...I just need to give you the option" Bree answered. And both of them knew she was talk about about more than where he lived.
Cole put his arms around her and went to lean down for a kiss when they were interrupted by Kai telling them that Wu had wanted Bree to take them down to the catacombs. Bree rolled her eyes at Kai and walked off. Going to grab Alana from Harumi on the way.
"Dude? Was that necessary? You did that on purpose" Cole huffed at Kai. Crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't dude me, You were about to kiss the purple witch" Kai snarked back at him. Highly amused that he had interrupted them.
Cole had uncrossed his arms and glared at Kai.
"What?" Kai asked. Not totally aware that he had really pissed Cole off.
"Say that again and Ill put you through a wall" Cole said his voice dropping lower.
"Oh chill its not like she heard" Kai laughed as he headed in the directing Bree had gone.
Cole spun Kai by the shoulder. Still glaring down at the other ninja. His arms glowing a lava orange before shoving Kai and heading down the corridor.
Kai watched in disbelief.
"What a dick" Kai said to Lloyd as he was join by the former and the female ninja.
"You are just pushing buttons you aught not push" Nya told him.
"Its not like once we get rid of all these kappa and whoever is controlling them like hes ever gonna see her or Harumi again. And good riddance" Kai told them sourly.
A blast of wind knocking him sideways into the wall and this time Morro pushed past him. Giving Kai both fingers as he followed Cole.
Skyler helped Kai up. Nya and Pixal decidedly did not.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Kai" Lloyd told him.
"Why? I mean whats changed?" Kai asked as they headed down into the catacombs.
"They have had a year to spend protecting each other and fixing this place up. I am pretty sure they feel the same way about each other as you feel about Skyler" Lloyd replied.
"We'll see how that goes" Kai said sourly. His face turning to anger as he he followed the others down.
The glow and swirls of colors down in the catacombs was so vastly different than before. Now it looked peaceful and serene. The elemental masters had come down with the ninja and Wu as well.
"So where are these long dead masters you speak of. I see the resting places." Wu asked Bree and Cole.
"They seem to come out?...back? Maybe when someone needs their advice. They are at rest and only come back for a short time, its not a permanent thing like a ghost" Cole answered.
"I have talked to the masters of magic and one of the masters of earth. I don't know if we need to be related to them or not for it to work. The first time I came down here I touched Elias's headstone and he appeared. I do know they need to be buried here for it to work though. I wanted to talk to my mom and Cole's and I... we could not" Bree added.
"I don't understand how your grandfather even came to be buried her Cole. Elias was a young man during the serpentine wars. He was born, raised a family and died long after this place came to be abandoned." Wu said.
A turquoise glow swirled up from the catacombs. Standing before the group now was Elias and another one of the masters of magic. Several people backed up startled. Jay accidentally sending a zap of electricity at them in panic. The master of magic rolled her eyes at that.
"As our young people were saying yes we can come back temporarily. And no it does not need to be specific to a family member or element. Though we are each more apt to want to see our children and grandchildren" the women stated.
Wu couldn't speak. He didn't know the voice. But could see a little of his older brother in her face.
"As to how I got here. Well that was my Beverly and Rowena that were bringing other fallen masters back here. As to why, that's better for Hana here to explain" Elias said. Walking to Bree to ask to pick up and hold Alana.
"My daughter in law Rowena and Elias's Beverly were tasked with the job of returning the elemental masters and family here to their resting place" Hana explained.
"That means your Wu's mother? My and Bree's grandmother?" Lloyd asked. Certainly more curious and less creeped out than Wu was right now.
"Of course. And I am the one that tasked the girls with their job. And then their children with repairing this place." Hana said. Letting her eyes glow a brilliant purple like Bree's did when she didn't hide it.
"Why, for everything" Wu asked her.
"Because fate and destiny have been thrown out of wack for generations at this point. Starting with my death and as recently as my eldest son acting like a complete fool...repeatedly. Do you really think your father raised you alone on purpose? Or why all the elemental masters went their separate ways for nearly a thousand years. And its been nothing but curses, short lives, death and destruction for Ninjago. Ryuu and I should have had long, happy and peaceful lives here. Not him dieing alone and me being murdered before my sons could even walk" Hana stated anger dripping from her voice.
"So that's the big question, who has been doing this. No one person or entity in all the realms has that kind of power" Lloyd said.
Finding his voice Wu sighed and nodded as he agreed with Lloyd.
"We already know one of the fates of cloud kingdom, Fenwick is responsible. And a dark magician are responsible. But how would he have even been alive at the time of your death? That was a long time ago" Wu asked.
"I didn't know who in the cloud kingdom it was, but it was not just a dark magician. It was one of the other elemental masters of Magic, not my family, nor Rowena's. But the third family. And my husband Ryuu and the other elemental masters never did find out who. Because as we now know they had traveled through time in order to do so. Everyone took their family's and left this place because it was no longer safe. Rowena and Beverly made their way here generations later. Rowena had told me how she found destiny had been changed. And we did everything we could to fix it. Even to the point of making sure Cole and Bree would come back here. Whoever read the hearts desire spell is what set everything in motion" Hana explained.
"I sure as hell didn't read that one" Bree said snorting as she took Alana back and shifted her weight onto her hip. That was before Alana squirmed to get down. Bree let her. Cole had come down and repaired all the loose rock and added railings. Much to Bree's embarrassment.
"That might have been me. But I do not regret the outcome" Pixal answered smiling at Zane.
Hana looked over at Zane and Pixal Tiny Cyrus in her arms. And Hana started to speak, then stopped, looking at their metal skin, then paused again still watching the nindroid/humanoid family.
"So reconnaissance. We find out who has, or who has gained the ability to jump time. And we figure out how to stop them." Lloyd stated.
"Whoever can shapeshift would be the most easily concealed to go and do so" Hana replied.
At this Bree and Cole looked back and forth at each other. Cole kept his mouth shut. He wasn't going to out any of Bree's abilities unless she said it first. Rubbing her eyes with her free hand she spoke up.
"I can shapeshift, but I don't particularly like to. And aside from that I would really rather not leave Alana alone for that long" Bree answered.
"You could just up and leave like you wanted to how long ago and solve the problem" Kai said snarkily.
Bree and Hana both turned to glare at him. And then the turquoise glow brightened and several more former elemental masters of magic became visible. Also glaring. Apparently the attitude and looks were a common thing to the masters of magic. With Bree picking up traits and her looks from both Hana's line and Rowena's.
"I don't know what your problem is with Bree or Alana, or even Harumi at this point. But cut the shit Kai" Cole told the master of fire. Less aggressively than upstairs but still annoyed with Kai.
After the other masters of magic showed themselves more past masters started becoming visible. Seeing family and friends like that cut the tension rapidly. As happy family's got to see the impossible. Walking past Kai Neuro laughed and turned walking backwards.
"He's more than a little jealous that Cole's got a wife and a baby. Aside from the fact that he thinks Bree is scary as hell" Neuro said still laughing as he turned to see his mother again.
"We are not married" Bree said wearily.
"Im not a baby" Alana complained rubbing her tired eyes. The large group of people and past elemental masters made the rooms and hallways crowded. Not something she was use to. And she turned and clung to her mother.
Bree was still standing with the elemental masters of magic, Cole with her. Wu and Lloyd as well. Instead of engaging in the conversations Bree subtly gestured. All around them people meet their family. Morro had sidled to the back of the room, Harumi after him. When two older past masters of Wind rushed to him and hugged him and then Harumi tightly. His grandparents. Then his mother burst out in a turquoise glow and embraced him. Apparently she had been orphaned young and then Morro himself orphaned as an infant.
Cole pointed to his left. Jay and his parents got to meet his birth mother for the first time. Kai and Nya meeting their grandparents. Which with Ray and Maya was one of the largest living family's. The previous master of Ice was a very human shock for Zane, But seeing his father Dr Julian, Ice's only son, as well was even more of a shock.
Wu and Lloyd both had so many questions they eagerly wanted to ask. Bree excused herself saying that it was past Alana's bedtime. And Cole followed after her. Both having already met and talking in length to their family's here.
"It stings for them both that their mothers put so much effort into laying other elemental masters to rest here and they will never get to come back and see them. Or their grandchildren" Hana said with a sigh turning to her younget son.
"I am glad that my other grandson can't come back right here and now. I know he wants to talk to Bree and I think she might find a way to kill a ghost" Elias said wryly.
Bree had stopped to pull something out of her pocket. Using a glow of purple magic she opened a large hole near the wall and placed a chunk of charred wood inside. With a wave she covered it and then carved an inscription into the rock. It glowed brightly and she smiled a little before heading upstairs out of the catacombs. On the way she stopped by Harumi and caught her by the wrist holding it up.
"What the hell Rumi" Bree said in annoyance.
"What?" Harumi answered innocently.
Still holding Harumis wrist Bree jiggled it a little. Making the ribbon tied around it dance.
"I can not freaking believe you" Bree ground out. Her eyes glowing purple with rage.
"Bree I know your surprised" Morro started to say before Bree stomped past him with Alana.
"Now I don't get it" Cole said.
"She's a little mad about this" Morro said holding his wrist out and showing him the matching ribbon on his wrist.
"Nobody else but Bree knows what that is Morro" Harumi said facepalming. "I think we need to give her a minute before I try and talk to her."
Cole shrugged and took off up the steps at a jog after Bree. He'd didn't think he would have to ask why Bree was mad at Harumi about. Bree was usually pretty dam vocal about what got on her nerves.
Cole heard Bree stomp all the way up the flights of stairs and slam the door to their apartment. Following her in Cole shut it more quietly. Bree had her back turned to him but with a wave of her hand and a glow of purple she magically locked the door behind them. And with a further push of magic Bree made the door look invisible like it was a part of the stone wall itself.
"Is that super necessary? Cole asked her.
Looking up Bree glared at him. Then kept getting Alana ready for bed.
"Want Cole" Alana said sleepily.
Cole walked up beside Bree and took the tired toddler. Patting her on the back before pushing the door open to the little ones room and walking in to lie her down to sleep in her tiny bed. Both adults watching her for a moment before backing out quietly. Bree waited to for the door to shut before breaking out in a rant.
"What the hell was Harumi thinking. Oh my god. We are gone for two weeks in their time. How can she jump into something like that. How can she be that freaking careless! And Morro. What the freaking fuck. And don't even get me started on the snarky ones attitude. I thought Lloyd was bad. I have done nothing but help Kai. Why can't he stand me now?" Bree ranted quickly.
"I don't understand why you are mad at Harumi. You have been wanting to see her again for a year" Cole tried to say soothingly.
"Oh hell I forgot Ninjago has your own traditions" Bree said rubbing her eyes in frustration.
"And...?" Cole said in a teasing tone of voice.
"Ninjago has your ying yang promise correct? Well Caladonia has something called handfasting. Its somewhere between a marriage, a ying yang promise and a modern engagement. However being that Harumi is Djin making any kind of promise to her is pretty permanent and a dire consequence in breaking it" Bree explained to him sourly.
"They got engaged... or married? For real?" Cole stuttered. This was a surprise. Not just that they barely knew each other. Or the fact that nobody was even sure what Morro's sexuality was. But not waiting for Harumi's only living family.
"Yes. And without even waiting till we all found each other again. I know I've seen these things in her future. But this is bullshit." Bree said stomping off in the direction of the bathroom. Muttering "two weeks" to herself.
Cole watched her go. Then busied himself putting more wood on the fire in all three rooms up here that they currently were using. Bree disliked being cold and Cole always made sure she didn't have to go hunting for firewood or a cozy blanket. He had noticed that her magic seemed to be working again. And then wondered if she had used it to heal her ribs or ankle fully. She might not have, and if she keeps stomping around she might injure it further. She hadn't came back from the bathroom yet. While Cole could hear the very faintest of sounds from down below he suspected no one had come up the hallway yet. Or that possibly when Bree had hidden the door she also soundproofed it. He worried now that she might have tripped or needed his help. He headed in the bathroom after her.
"Bree" Cole called softly. He didn't see her at first.
"I swear unless Alana woke up and needs me I just want to take a hot bath. I don't wanna talk to Rumi right now" Bree replied.
"Oh sorry" Cole told her.
Cole turned and sat on the bench facing away from her. He could hear her move in the water. She came closer and was leaning against the side of the large pool.
"Whats getting at you now? "Bree asked him.
"I was worried you had tripped again" Cole told her. He hear her huff and it made him smile.
"I know your mad at Harumi and Morro. Harumi said you were the only other one that knew what the ribbons meant. So I would guess they haven't said anything to the rest of the ninja or Wu for that matter" Cole mused.
"I would guess that as well" Bree said with a sigh. "I can't even figure what would posses them to do that, and so quickly".
"Well maybe they just fell for each other and couldn't wait" Cole said meaning to highlight their own relationship. He could tell she was rolling her eyes at that.
"Then why use a custom from where I spent a bunch of time growing up. Why not something from Ninjago. Unless they didn't want to tell the others" Bree said.
"Maybe. Wait do Djin have any customs?" Cole asked.
"Um no, not like that. Djin have traditional engagements and weddings. Not handfastings. But in all technicality if I was going with the thousand year old no longer used custom I would have to ask her for permission" Bree told him.
"Why" Cole asked with a laugh. The idea of Bree asking someone else for permission for anything was funny. It just wasn't her at all.
"You really never picked up on that did you?" Bree asked.
"Picked up on what?" Cole asked leaning and stretching. He turned a little to look at Bree. She had her arms crossed and was leaning on the side of the pool. So he couldn't see anything past her neck and shoulders.
"If the Djin and Djinjago still existed Harumi out ranks me. She is the next in line crown princess. Then it would have been my mother, myself and then Alana." Bree explained.
"You're actually a princess?" Cole said snorting with laughter.
"Hard to be a princess with no kingdom or people to protect" Bree answered sourly.
Cole was giggling now. "I'm sorry, I've called you princess in jest so many times. I didn't think you actually were" Cole laughed out loud.
"Very funny Cole" Bree said rolling her eyes. And when he didn't stop she hauled back and splashed him.
"Hey! Come on I was only teasing you" Cole said. Bree didn't reply but growled at him.
Kneeling down and bending Cole cupped the back of her head and leaned to kiss her. Hearing her sigh he knew she was still angry and frustrated.
"I'm sorry, I know you don't like being teased" Cole told her kissing her again.
Bree held on to his hand on her cheek and blushed a bit.
"Let me go get dressed a minute" She told him.
"What? you're fine the way you are. Everything is just finnnneee" Cole answered drawing the last part out. Bree's face only getting redder.
"Haha Cole" She said now rolling her eyes. Cole went to stand and turn. Slipping on the water she had splashed at him. He frantically tried to grab at the side of the pool. Only to scramble for a few seconds before falling in. He came up sputtering water. And Bree laughed for real this time.
"So what was all that about me being clumsy and falling?" Bree teased him.
Cole was about to climb out and excuse himself after he slipped and fell. But stopped to look at her and grinned. Bree saw the idea cross his mind before he moved. Squealing as Cole wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tightly to his body. So much so that to kiss her he had to lift her up in the water. His arms glowed a dull orange at the contact with her soft smooth skin. Pulling her head back a little Bree gasped before she spoke.
"I'm not dressed you goof" Bree said in embarrassment.
"I don't see the problem with that" Cole answered. Leaning to kiss her again. As he did so he backed her to the side of the pool. Running his hands down her body he pulled her legs up so they wrapped on either side of his hips. Ever so gently he rocked against her. Bree had her arms around him, but she used one to wrap into his hair and pull him up so she could look into his face as she spoke to him.
"Cole" Bree started unsteadily. Her breath coming unevenly.
"What sweetheart?" Cole asked softly.
"We...are you sure? I love you. But I don't want you to feel like we have to... I want you to have the option to choose what you want. Or who. And not just me because destiny pushed us in the same direction. I can't deal with it if we go down this road and you leave. I just can't." Bree told him her voice going to a higher pitch at the end.
Cole leaned down and kissed her again both pulling her more tightly against him and pushing into her hips with his.
"I love you. I'm not leaving you or Alana ever. But right now I just can't keep myself away from you anymore" Cole told her raggedly as he kissed the side of her neck.
Bree leaned her head back a little as he kissed his way down her neck and back up to her mouth. Jumping in his arms as he used one arm to squeeze one breast and roll her small pink nipple between his fingers before doing the same to the other. She ran her hands down his chest and pushed his shirt off his shoulders. Cole shrugging out of his shirt before reaching for her body again. This time wrapping one arm around the small of her back and the other sliding down over her hip and then between her legs. Rubbing small circles on her. She gasped and then squirmed beneath him. She reached down to push his pants off impatiently. Cole having to pause to help her. She reached to trail her hands down his belly when he stopped her.
"Why the hell can't I touch you" Bree asked him in frustration.
"Because I am not going to last very long as it is. And if you touch me right now I'll.." Cole trailed off his cheeks red and from being embarrassed as well as from being over heated.
"So?" Bree asking him as she kissed and then nibbled on his ear.
Cole didn't answer her but slide his hand between her legs again. This time gently sliding two fingers inside of her while his thumb continued to rub circles on the sensitive spot outside. Bree jumped at the contact before he felt her body relax for a little while before it started to tense up. Her body tightening on his fingers was almost unbearable.
"Cole" She said breathlessly. Pulling him in by his hips indicating what she wanted.
He paused momentarily. Then kissed her before opening his eyes. Again embarrassed.
"I don't have anything on me" Cole stammered out.
"Oh that. I made a tea and have been taking that for a while" Bree explained.
"Oh long is a while?" Cole managed to stammer.
Bree scrunched her face before answering. Cole still touching her made it difficult to think.
"Day after that night on the living room floor" Bree explained.
"Women you're killing me" Cole ground out.
Cole moved his hand and picked up one of her legs higher. Pushing himself just to the point where his length pushed at the entrance to her body.
"Are you sure?" He asked her. Shuddering as he stopped himself from just pushing inside and taking her for himself.
She nodded yes and she put one of her hands at the small of his back and pulled him forward. Causing them both to gasp in surprise.
"Just go slow" She whispered to him.
He picked up her other leg and pushed his hips foreword slowly. His hands digging in with the effort not to just roughly ram into her. She felt incredible around him but too tight for her comfort. He slowly eased back and forth waiting for her to relax and stretch around him not pushing more than an inch or two inside her. Aside from the fact that he thought if she touched him he would explode he was uncomfortable with the size of his own body. His body was proportionate and Bree was much much smaller than him in every way. He absolutely didn't want to cause her discomfort. He had girlfriends in the past that took one look at him naked and dumped him. A fact that caused the other male Ninja to howl with laughter when he confided in them about it.
He reached down again to touch her. Rubbing small circles. Her head falling back and panting as he felt her come beneath him. Feeling her legs and body relax more he pushed all the way inside her. Causing her to moan again and pull him closer. A few strokes and Cole came right away. Dropping his head to her chest as they held each other.
