Chapter 4: RSVP

Movie Ninjago

The responses to the invitation came back as quickly as they were sent out. Most answered yes to the Save the Date card, though there were an unfortunate few that answered no.

"Aw," sighed Koko, disappointed but not surprised. "The Serpentine Nobility won't be coming."

Garmadon looked up from where they were sorting through the RSVPs in his volcano living room. "What? But we just helped them out with Chen!" he complained. "The least they could do is come to our wedding!"

Koko shook her head. "Sorry, Garm, but it seems that our wedding date falls on a national Serpentine day of mourning, and they can't come due to those circumstances." She didn't bother to mention that what the Serpentine were mourning was the fact that she was once again marrying Garmadon. She knew it wouldn't go over well.

"Sucks to be them," said Garmadon, trying to look like he didn't care, but was failing. "Lil'Loyd's going to be disappointed his little snake friends won't show."

"On the bright side, Queen Selma promised to send a gift," said Koko, knowing that would cheer him up.

It did. "Presents! Awesome!" said Garmadon punching a fist in the air.

Koko chuckled and rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile, Garmadon looked at the next card in the pile, and said, "Markdown Fan 1 and Fan 2 as coming. They said yes."

Koko blinked and took the card from his hand. "Who are Fan 1 and Fan 2?" she asked, reading the names (or lack thereof) on the card.

Garmadon shrugged. "Eh, I dunno their names. These two kids about Luh-Loyd's age who show up every time when I'm doing community service asking for autographs. One time Luh-Loyd was there and they asked him for one too. Apparently, they're Green Ninja fans on top of being mine, so the kids have good taste."

Koko rolled her eyes. "Garm, didn't we agree to only invite people we know," she said tiredly.

"I do know them!" said Garmadon defensively. "I just said I see them all the time."

"Then what are their names?" asked Koko pointedly.

"How should I know, I don't remember that stuff," Garmadon replied. "Ask Luh-Loyd, he seemed to recognize them."

Koko sighed and added a post-it note to ask Lloyd just that. "Whatever the case, they answered yes, so we'll be seeing them then," she said. She then looked at the next card and smiled. "Oh good, Harumi can come too, I'm glad."

"Who the heck is Harumi?" asked Garmadon.

"The Mayor's daughter," said Koko.

"She has a daughter?" asked Garmadon, having never paid attention to that sort of thing.

"Yes, she's about Lloyd's age and a very nice girl," said Koko.

"Hmm," said Garmadon disinterestedly. "Doesn't ring a bell."

"She's always standing next to the Mayor in press conferences wearing mermaid accessories," said Koko dryly.

Garmadon's eyes lit up. "Ooooh, that kid! Good taste. Mermaids are vicious ocean predators."

"I'm sure that's not why she likes them," said Koko. "Anyway, I invited her, so you'll get to meet her there."

At that moment, Lloyd knocked on the door before letting himself in. "Mom, Dad, it's time for Game Night. You ready to go?"

"Freedom!" cheered Garmadon jumping away from the table and all the busywork spread across it.

Koko laughed at his antics but was ready for a break too. "We'll be right there, Lloyd. Let me just put all this where it won't catch fire easily."

"Excuse you, my volcano home is totally fireproof," said Garmadon with a huff. "Trust me, it has to be or we'd all die in, like, seconds." He then paused and thought for a moment. "Then again, I did fire the guy who checks for leaks…Hmm… Did I ever assign someone new to do that?"

Koko and Lloyd gave the room they were in a dubious look, then hurried to put the papers away faster, then speed-walked to the door.

Garmadon just looked at them cluelessly. "Was it something I said?"

Show Ninjago

Game night for their family was the same as ever. Koko and the Lloyds were dominating the games, Master Wu, Sensei Garmadon, and Morro were doing decently well, and Lord Garmadon's inability to play properly only ever let him beat Sensei Wu, who seemed to be even more distracted than usual.

It wasn't hard to guess why. Though he tried to hide it, Sensei Wu was always preoccupied during game nights by the presence of Morro, the counterpart of the adopted son he had lost a long time ago. It was clear, even now, that the grief was still present, and even when sitting across the table from the young man, Sensei Wu never interacted with him unless he absolutely had to.

They all knew it, but they also knew that Sensei Wu was grieving. It just didn't seem right to argue with him about it. Even so, it was clear his silent treatment was taking a toll on Morro. Sooner or later, something would have to give.

Finally, the last of the games wrapped up, and Sensei Garmadon took the opportunity to hand his counterpart their collection of RSVPs. "Everyone has said yes, and we are honored to be invited," he said.

"You're darn right you're honored," said Lord Garmadon as Koko politely took the cards from him.

"Eh, might as well hand these over too while I'm here," Morro said, pulling his and his friends' cards are of his pocket and handing them back as well. "And same, everyone said they'd come, and Neuro will make sure we look presentable."

"Thank you, Morro," Koko said as she took the cards from him. "We're glad you'll make it."

"Awww," groaned Lord Garmadon at his brother's son coming, but didn't complain further after Koko elbowed him in the gut.

No one noticed Sensei Wu looked slightly pained and shifted a little in his spot next to Koko.

"I feel it's best I give you my acceptance here as well," said Master Wu, handing his own card to Koko. "I worried that if I sent it, it would somehow get lost in the mail."

They all knew he meant Lord Garmadon would hide the card and pretend they didn't get it if given the chance. He probably would have still let Master Wu come to the wedding... eventually. Nothing thrilled Lord Garmadon like making life difficult for his little brother.

Case and point, the former warlord groaned dramatically even as Koko added the card to the growing pile. "Aw man, why does Wu have to come," he groaned.

"He's your brother, Garm, and I said so," Koko responded, knowing that it would do little to dissuade Lord Garmadon from whining if he wanted to, but still needing to put her foot down in a way he couldn't talk her out of.

"But he's such a butt!" Lord Garmadon complained dramatically, but all he did was earn himself several eye-rolls.

"Well, his butt is going to be in a seat for our wedding," said Koko firmly.

This lighthearted bickering went back and forth for a bit, not at all helped by Master Wu bringing up his flute to play Baby's Got Back whenever Lord Garmadon complained about Wu's butt (which was a lot).

The rest all couldn't help but watch the display in amusement. It was far too entertaining to interrupt.

Finally, the argument wound down with Koko's inevitable victory and Lord Garmadon's incoherent grumblings.

Seeing that he could now get a word in edgewise, Sensei Wu held up the last card to be returned. "If you are so against my counterpart going, then I suppose you would be happy to hear that I regretfully decline."

With that, he handed Koko his RSVP with a check next to the word 'No'.

There was a long silence as everyone absorbed that information.

Ironically, Lord Garmadon was anything but happy to hear that. "WHAT?!" he roared, looking insulted. "Is my wedding not good enough for you or something? Why wouldn't you want to go?"

At any other time, everyone would have laughed at Lord Garmadon's abrupt heel turn, but right now they were too busy looking at Sensei Wu to comment on it.

Sensei Wu, at least, looked startled by this sudden change. "It is nothing against you, and I'll still send a gift. I simply did not want to cause any discomfort on your special occasion," he said.

That was the last straw.

Morro, whose expression had darkened the second he saw the card, gave a very rude snort. "Discomfort for us?" he asked snidely. "Or for you?"

The Lloyds gasped, and everyone exchanged worried looks as Morro finally addressed the elephant in the room.

Sensei Wu looked perfectly willing to leave that particular elephant ignored. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," he said, standing from the game table to leave. "Excuse me."

The others watched him go, but Morro stood too and followed him. "No!" he said firmly as they stepped out into Steep Wisdom's courtyard. Moving fast enough to block Sensei Wu's way, he stood his ground and looked the Ninja Master directly in the eye. "This has gone on long enough!"

Sensei Wu looked away.

"Look at me!" Morro said angrily.

Sensei Wu refused to and looked like he was planning a ninja escape.

Seeing that anger wasn't going to help, Morro forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down. "Look, I get it," he tried again in a more even tone. "Your Morro is gone. Something bad happened to him, and you don't want to see it happen again."

Sensei Wu froze.

Seeing he was on the right track, Morro continued. "That's why you've been avoiding me, isn't it? You don't want to get hurt again. You don't want to see me get hurt again."

Sensei Wu still wouldn't meet his eyes, but he looked more like he was lost in memories than planning an escape. "I don't know if he was hurt," he said softly, speaking more to himself than anyone else. "I never found out what happened to him. He was just… gone."

Morro sighed sympathetically. "Sensei Wu, I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly. "My college campus is as far as I go, and I still visit every chance I get. I'm not going to disappear."

Sensei Wu was quiet, but at least he seemed to be listening.

"Look at me," Morro said again in a softer tone.

Painstakingly slowly, Sensei Wu lifted his head so he could see Morro from beneath the brim of his hat.

"I'm not him," Morro said, gesturing at himself. "I'm not the teenager that left and never came back. Just like Luh-Loyd isn't the overpowered squirt that Lil'Loyd is. History isn't going to repeat itself. Not here. Not with me."

"You don't know that," said Sensei Wu, sounding tired. "You may be older than my Morro was, but the future is forever uncertain."

"I do know that because I won't let it!" Morro vowed. "And even if the worst should happen, no matter where I go I have plenty of friends to bring me back."

That seemed to give Sensei Wu pause. "Friends?" he asked.

Morro blinked, not sure why that was so surprising, but shrugged. "Yeah. I've got six great friends with me in college, and they've been watching my back since I was a kid." He then smirked. "And besides that, do you really think Lloyd would sit back and let me vanish on him? Heck no! He'd drag both ninja teams to the ends of every Ninjago in existence to get me home, and I'd do the same for him."

Sensei Wu was looking like he was having an epiphany. "Friends…" he said more to himself than to Morro. "My Morro was alone. He felt he had so much to prove that he pushed everyone away."

Morro rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, maybe we are a bit alike," he confessed. "I was kinda that way too when I was young, but I've outgrown it." He paused and thought about it, before admitting, "Well, mostly. I do love a chance to show off, but I know I can't do everything by myself, no matter how cool I'd look if I could."

Sensei Wu nodded, but still seemed lost in his own head. "So then if you were to seek the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master, you wouldn't go alone."

Morro blinked at that seemingly random comment. "Why would I need to seek it out? It's a big monument in the middle of Ninjago City. Everyone knows where it is."

Sensei Wu looked at him sharply when he heard that. Then frowned. "And if anyone were to offer you the chance to be the Green Ninja?" he asked.

Morro only felt more confused. What did his cousin's call sign have to do with this? "Why would I want that?" he asked, before ticking off the reasons it wouldn't work. "Lloyd's got it covered, I don't get along that great with the rest of his team, and as far as most people know, green is just a color." He smirked then tossed his hair to show off the pink streak running through it. "Besides, I have my own signature color, and green would clash. I'm fine just being me."

Sensei Wu released a strangled gasp hearing that and was staring at Morro like he was seeing him for the first time. Which, given how he'd avoided looking at him for long, it very possibly was.

Or, at least, it may be the first time Sensei Wu was seeing him without the shadow of his own Morro hiding him from view.

Then, to Morro's concern, Sensei Wu swayed on the spot, and the biker had to grab his arm to keep him from falling over, and carefully led him to a rock for the old master to sit down, which Sensei Wu did almost bonelessly.

"You're not him," Sensei Wu finally said once he wasn't in danger of falling over anymore. "You're not him," he said again, relief and sadness both palpable in his tone.

"No, I'm not," said Morro softly. "Just like you're not my Wu. We're different people, but… I've wanted to get to know you better since hearing about this world." He then held out a hand for Master Wu to shake. "We could start now if you like?"

Sensei Wu looked up at him for a long moment, then slowly reached out to shake his hand. "I think I would like that, young man."

Morro grinned.

At that moment, the door to Steep Wisdom slowly opened, and Luh-Loyd slowly poked his head out it while everyone else was peering out around him. "Everything okay out here?" he asked in concern.

Morro sent his cousin a grin. "I think we're good here," he said, glancing back at Sensei Wu. "Right, Sensei?"

Sensei Wu let out a shaky laugh. "Yes, Luh-Loyd, things are fine," he said, rising back to his feet. "Though I'm afraid I will have to change my RSVP notice. It seems I will be able to come after all."

Luh-Loyd whooped hearing that, and behind him, the rest of the family gave their own approving sounds (Though Lord Garmadon's sounded very confused, wasn't he supposed to be against this?).

Morro helped Sensei Wu back into the building, feeling light as a feather.

It was a good night for new beginnings.

A/N For anyone who's curious. Fan 1 and Fan 2 are Movie Brad and Gene. As said before, they're open Garmadon fanboys and love coming to get selfies and autographs from Lord Garmadon whenever he's doing community service. Lord Garmadon loves the attention and always obliges, though he never bothered to learn their names. Nor does he know Harumi's, poor girl. Little does Koko know Garmadon's exactly right on why she likes mermaids.

Anywho, on to the family drama. Movie Morro finally got fed up with Sensei Wu avoiding him thanks to his Show Morro grief. Sensei Wu can finally start seeing Morro as his own person rather than a regret from his past. Hearing how different this Morro certainly helps, though it probably still stings seeing who he could have been. It's not an instant fix, but it's a start and probably healthier for both of them in the long run.

Massive thanks for Kay Hau beta reading and giving ideas for this chapter. Brad and Gene being known to Lord Garmadon as Fan 1 and Fan 2 was her idea, and she was a big help in hammering out the ideas for Morro and Wu's confrontation.

Next Time: Preparing for the wedding of the year is hard... and it's made harder when people are actively sabotaging it.