So, Clouse is an absolute monster. Will he get what he deserves? I hope so. And I hope it sucks.
Bree wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a quick nap before Alana woke up. She wasn't sure she was going to get either with the way her morning was going. She felt like garbage for the way things at just worked out in the bogs. She didn't hurt those...people. But if her and Lloyd hadn't shown up they would still be alive. Enslaved and tortured but alive. She could understand the desires behind it. She would do all that and more to keep Alana safe. But the guilt was already eating at her. Bree could hear Cole on the stair case behind her and picked up the pace. She just could not handle Cole yelling at her right now. She made it into the apartment and then headed straight into the bathroom. She smelled like the toxic bogs. And immediately kicked off her boots and coat. Leaving the rest of her clothing on and soaping it in the shower water. A door slammed elsewhere and Bree knew Cole had kept following her in.
"Why did you lie to me?"Cole snapped at her.
"I didn't lie at all" Bree said back to him. Face and hair now full of suds. She stayed turned away from him to rinse herself.
"You sure didn't say shit to me last night" Cole once again snapped.
"I didn't. I did want to avoid you getting hurt. And that part at least I don't regret" Bree told him walking out of the bathroom with her soggy clothing.
A quick drying spell set her hair into a giant poof and she ground her teeth in disgust. Grabbing a comb and getting to combing then braiding.
"Why are you so worried about me getting hurt and not yourself or Lloyd?" Cole asked.
"Because I am the frigging elemental master of magic and Lloyd's the green ninja. Beyond that Lloyd and I have an understanding" she answered. Wincing as she tried to drag the comb through the curls before giving up and putting some leave in conditioner in first.
Cole crossed his arms and stared her down. She found him certainly less intimidating now. But he still towered over her sitting down or not.
"What? Like I am weak, small and pathetic? And what the hell kind of understanding?" he asked his voice low in anger.
Bree turned to look him up and down cocking her head to one side.
"You aren't any of those things and you know it" She replied softly. Tying off the end of her long braid.
Cole's anger dissipated slightly. But not enough for him to say so. But she could see some of the tension melt off his arms and neck.
"Then what do you mean by understanding?" Cole questioned again.
Bree sighed deeply and didn't look up to Cole standing over her.
"If Lloyd and I had caught this Clouse guy more off guard I would have killed him. And yes I know that's totally not how Wu brought you all up, its not what I'd like to do either. But he is simply too dangerous to be left alive. He has hurt so many people. He somehow figured out how to bounce back in time. My mom, Wu's mother days after he was born. And he has been trying to alter destiny and time itself. Even your mom and Slate would still be alive if he hadn't been messing with things. This sick asshole has a deep and personal vendetta to kill all of the elemental masters. Which makes shit for sense to me. I also didn't want you coming because I didn't want you to see me do that and think less of me" Bree told him finishing with a frown.
"I didn't know about Hana" Cole told her. Uncrossing his arms and sitting down beside Bree.
"I figured it out when I looked at the birth and death dates in the library. I mean yea women did and still sometimes do die in pregnancy and childbirth. But if her magic is anything like mine she probably would have been fine. I think killing her was planned for exactly when she would be weakest and Ryuu distracted with the boys. How Ryuu didn't go nuts I don't know" Bree said.
Cole didn't respond to her. But stared ahead his arms glowing in response to whatever he was thinking.
"What?" She queried.
"If he would do that to Hana what would he do to you or Alana. Or the other children here?" Cole asked her.
"What do you think? The only decent thing is he hasn't gotten himself a new human body yet. And that's going to be pretty difficult to do on his own" She answered.
Before Cole had a chance to say anything else she leaned into him and put her arms around him. Burying her face in his chest. It was rare for Bree to act like this. Cole loved when she was more open and vulnerable with him. But it also made him a little panicky because she didn't get like this for no reason.
"Lloyd and I going and raising hell indirectly got the rest of those adult kappa killed. I knew they weren't stupid. I didn't know they are...were, literate and capable of human speech and language... he kept them there for years turning their babies into undead monsters. Of all the things, even killing another human being outright. That is more sick and monstrous than I can imagine" Bree said shuddering.
"Promise me you aren't going to bug off and do something with out telling me ok" Cole asked before pulling her into his lap and wrapping his first in her long braid in the back.
"I promise we will talk about it, I can't promise we will always agree, ok" she responded softly.
Bree turned her face up from Coles chest and leaned in and kissed him softly. Smiling as he pulled her in tighter.
"But I also don't think it would be a good idea for Harumi or myself to leave the fortress alone until Clouse and Fenwick are both dead" Bree added.
Cole's body went still.
"Why?" he asked tensely. He sensed something that he had yet to put a finger on.
"Something Clouse said, plus he is still a ghost. A freaky looking one. But no body. Who else do you know that has brought a body and part of a soul back from the departed realm?" Bree answered.
"Harumi... and you could as well?" Cole asked again. "The only reason it worked for Rumi before is she is half Djin and never knew it. Me? Well a little part Djin and part master of magic. The freaky stuff as well as the wonderful is in our repertoire'' Bree said.
"We have to go talk to the others don't we. And get Alana. Shes probably awake and we don't have time to..." Cole said with a sigh as he didn't finish his sentence.
With a snort Bree went to get off Cole's lap. Only for him to keep holding on to her and stand up himself with her in his arms.
"You can not carry me down like this" Bree told him. Smiling but embarrassed.
"Why not?" Cole asked swinging her gently in his arms.
"Because we haven't exactly told anyone else about us, well Rumi might have guessed but I didn't tell her. And its going to be enough of a shock for Lloyd and the rest of them when they find out that Morro and Harumi got married and are trying to have a baby" She answered him.
"What?!" Cole stuttered nearly dropping Bree. "Already?"
Rolling her eyes she groaned and huffed. "Hasn't happened yet but apparently its been going on the whole time we were gone".
Setting Bree down Cole glared ahead as they walked out of the apartment. "I need to have a talk with him" He grumbled.
Bree looked up at him in question as she walked along beside him. Closed enough for their clothing to brush as they walked. Cole put an arm around her waist then.
"We've been here more than a year and we waited... I waited till you decided and were ready. And they... and hes so old compared to her" Cole again grumbled.
Bree broke out in rancorous laughter. Possibly waking people but she didn't care.
"Not really, he died very young and spent most of that time as a ghost. Plus if destiny had never been changed they likely wouldn't have met till later in Dinjago. And she might have even been the older one then" Bree explained.
Meeting them in the hallway Harumi held Alana. Who immediately scrambled to get down and ran to Cole. Much to Bree's annoyance. Begging to be picked up and giving him a hug. Cole squeezing her snugly in his strong arms. Alana then leaning back and down asking for Bree to carry her. Morro walked out into the hallway behind Harumi. And Bree broke out laughing again.
"What?" Morro asked.
"And your so old!" Bree said still laughing as she headed down to the kitchens.
Morro and Harumi looked back and forth at each other in confusion. Before catching Cole glaring at Morro. Morro picked up exactly what Bree was talking about.
"Mama I need waffles" Alana told her mother as they walked into the kitchen.
Just as much to herself as to her daughter Bree said "and mama needs coffee".
The other ninja, Wu and Misako and some of the elemental masters were already down in the kitchen. Lloyd wordlessly handing Bree a cup of coffee.
"Now that the rest of you are down here. We need to discuss the plan and strategy for how we are going to defeat Close and Fenwick now" Wu said giving Bree somewhat of a glare.
"He has somehow gotten Ghosts out of the departed realm and is using them to control and make the new Kappa. Well he was doing that. We kinda put a stop to any new ones being made." Lloyd aid sheepishly.
"That being said Clouse is going to be really pissed about that. And now he can't make any more so therefore he is going to have to use up whatever he has left before they rot or dehydrate. Plus something he said while we were there. Clouse can't see us in here or what happens here. Probably has something to the fortress itself kicking him out. But if he can't see us here then that means he probably also can't have Fenwick try and rewrite our fates. Nor can he apparently see into the future enough to know that Lloyd and I were coming." Bree told everyone.
"Last time were were in cloud kingdom it was a mess. I mean Rumi and I snuck right in and out easily. Would it be a terrible idea to see if Fenwick is still even in charge there?" Morro asked.
"I can't imagine that those two would work together for long. Evil jackasses are not well know for working well in a group or listening to authority" Lloyd answered. Taking the rest of the coffee from the pot. Kai looked disgruntled at that.
"It would be strategic to send the ninja to cloud kingdom first and then back to the bogs for more surveillance, without getting caught and causing a train wreck this time" Wu stated, glaring at Bree and Lloyd.
"If Clouse can't see us here then he is going to be looking for us as soon as anyone leaves. They aren't going to be able to go sneak out and do that... But maybe we don't need them to sneak around. Maybe we want him to be be able to see them" Bree said.
"Why the hell would we want him to see us? Like that makes no sense" Jay asked in confusion.
"If he wants to kill all the ninja and elemental masters then why give him what he wants. Why not send out multiple groups to innocuous places and have him chase them around. I mean you have dragons that can go faster than an airship right? And if he is so busy doing that he won't be looking for the ones actually sneaking around doing surveillance. Then each groups swings around and goes several places before coming back. So he can't even locate the general vicinity of the fortress" Bree explained.
The group in the kitchen just stopped and stared at her. More elemental masters and family had gotten up and were getting food for breakfast. While Bree was thrilled the kitchen was large enough for people to help themselves, but the store of food would run low with such a large group instead of the three of them.
"Where did you learn surveillance and battle tactics?" Zane asked thoughtfully. He was very happily helping Pixal feed little Cyrus.
"I was raised in Dinjago and Caladonia remember. All members of the..." Bree mumbled over that part. "Are educated in that, food raising and prep, medical training, history and figures, politics. Basically everything"
"Members of the what?" Kai said.
Wu rolled his eyes. He knew Bree was avoiding mentioning her Djin family out of embarrassment for some reason.
"Aside from that we should only be sending out people that I am absolutely positive survive" Bree said hastily.
"WHAAT?!" you mean some of us are going to die?!" Jay squeaked shrilly.
"No Jay" Bree told him with a soft roll of her eyes. "In my random future visions I've seen myself, Harumi, Nya, Skyler and Pixal in this kitchen, several years in the future. Many of our children running through. I am only sure of a few of their parents. Pixal and Zane for example I do not see having more children, so in theory Zane is not necessarily alive five or ten years from not. I can't be positive he is alive or dead based on that. And I can only guess that Nya and Skyer have children with their current partners."
"We can't possibly all stay back" Lloyd said grumpily, his head down on the table.
"Clouse wanted me alive and you dead remember?" Bree retorted. She huffed and then continued. "As I told Cole Rumi and I can't go out alone now either. I suspect the reason he wanted me was because we are the only ones capable of bringing back a body for him. But I am not sure he knows Harumi is alive or that she is capable because shes part Djin".
"Eww" Was Lloyds response from the end of the table. Still head down and hadn't bothered to pick it up.
Wu slapped Lloyd on the back as he walked past to grab a tea pot.
"You know he was married to a part Djin, his daughter and granddaughter are part as well" Cole told Lloyd laughing.
Bree scowled at him. Wu noticed. He didn't know why but he was going to ask Cole about that later.
"So we pick out groups, some of us go raise some hell, some of us go to the grocery store" Cole said with a smile to Alana. He picked Alana up from her high chair ignoring her messy face. "Zane stays here so he doesn't die. Bree stays here because I said so".
"Haha haha haha no" Bree told him. Picking up Alana from his arms. Cole and Bree looked like they were joking but once again Wu picked up on the tension. The rest of the ninja and most of the elemental masters decided to get their things together and regroup in the library. With the exception of Lloyd who had fallen asleep facedown on the large table.
Walking out of the kitchen Wu gave Lloyd a shove waking him up. Lloyd grumbled something and followed out behind Kai and Nya. Before Cole and Bree walked out Wu stopped them.
Bree spoke before Wu could address them.
"You need to stop being so hard on Lloyd. It doesn't matter if he physically looks like an adult like the rest of us. He is still chronologically a child. A young one at that." Bree said evenly. She could sense that whatever Wu had to say she might not like.
"Since when did you become the expert on child raising?" Wu asked her sternly.
Bree didn't reply but giggled Alana in her arms. Raising an eyebrow referencing that it was a odd question to begin with.
"Having one very young child hardly makes you an expert" Wu retorted in frustration.
"You raised Morro and he was a idiot for years. And all the ninja helped you raise Lloyd. Do we really want to talk parenting skills here" Bree responded icily.
Cole would have choked if he had food in his mouth. Shots fired indeed. Moving to stand ever so slightly between Bree and Wu. He had no idea where this was going. But it was not going swimmingly.
"I planned on talking to you about how you are raising Alana. And whatever is going on between the two of you." Wu said with just as much frigidity to his voice as Bree had in hers.
"One not a conversation for when Alana is right here. And two absolutely none of your business" Bree spat back. Now really pissed.
"Really? And you don't think whomever is living with my Granddaughter and Daughter is my business? Cole is not her father and..." Wu said only to be cut off mid sentence.
"No. Its Bree's business and her decision. And has been for a while" Cole answered. His arms changing color to a tinge of orange.
Bree pushed at Cole quickly. His temper cooling and the orange of his elemental powers disappearing.
"Can you take her out to the library for a second?" Bree asked Cole. Eyes wide in surprise that Cole would have such an angry reaction with Wu. Bree and Cole looked back and forth to each other. A few muttered words and Cole picked up Alana up with a swing and headed after the rest of the ninja.
"I plan on staying here with her, but I want to know where the rest of you plan on going". Bree said to him. Touching him slightly on the arm and to her amusement his powered glowing up dully again.
"Attempt not to lay into him too badly" Cole said over his shoulder.
"Absolutely zero promises on that one" She answered turning to Wu to continue the conversation.
Kicking the kitchen door closed Cole and Alana listened for a second. And when they heard no screaming or crashes behind them Cole breathed a sigh of relief.
"Cole?" Alana started in a tiny voice.
"Yes pumpkin?" He answered.
"I don't have a daddy" She said quietly.
Cole looked up at the ceiling for a second. He was thinking of marching back into the kitchen and trading off with Bree. Alana was two pushing three now. And her understanding of her life and their little family was expanding. Being back with the rest of the ninja and their families was only going to highlight the differences to her. Cole could just about kill Wu because Alana looked like she was going to cry. Cole wrapped his hand around the back of her little head and held her close under his chin.
"I have a Cole" Alana said muffled into his chest. He wasn't sure if she meant it as a statement or a question.
Cole swallowed thickly. He was glad no one else was out in the hallway right now.
"Yes you do pumpkin, you will always have a Cole. I love you and mommy very much" he said to her.
Bree shoved open the door to the kitchen. And saw Cole snuggling Alana tightly. She cocked her head asking what was going on.
"I'll tell you later" Cole said softly.
"And another thing Brianna" Wu said walking out of the kitchen, door swinging open. Looking at the three of them standing together. "Oh now what?" He asked.
"I will at some point talk to you about that" Bree said rolling her eyes. "Right now we have plans to make".
