(A/N: *Deep breath* Well, here's the "special chapter" I've been making so much fuss about. I've never written from Morro's POV before so I hope you guys approve!)
I don't like going to the same place twice in a row.
I mean, what's the point? You were just there. Nothing is going to have changed— well, unless a store is carrying new merch, I guess, but still. I just don't get how some people can go to the same restaurant for weeks in a row, or have the same thing for breakfast every day, or always make cookies with the exact same recipe. (I guess I'm hungry.)
Anyway, that's why, when Dr. Julien and Garmadad— no, wait, scratch that nickname, that sounds like I'm calling him my dad— went back to Cash Street, I opted to go to the park instead. The park is pretty much my one exception when it comes to visiting places twice in a row, because there's always something new happening.
And something new did happen as I was making my usual rounds from tree to tree. The park seemed way emptier than normal— I guess everyone was out shopping for Dotted— but I slowly became aware of the feeling that I was being watched. I pretended not to notice, but when I spotted a blur of movement behind one of the trees, I flew at it at full speed. There was a yelp of alarm from behind it as the leaves shook from my impact and I knew I'd found my stalker.
"Hey!" I cried, as a little boy took off running from his previous hiding spot. "Come back here!" I caught up with him easily and nabbed him by the back of his shirt, preventing him from escaping.
"Turn around," I demanded. He slowly turned, his eyes full of fear (though I dunno why, I wasn't angry at him). I studied the little scamp carefully. His short black hair was a mess, like it hadn't been brushed in days, and the dark eyes behind his thin-rimmed glasses looked close to tears.
"What's your name?" I asked him, not letting go of his shirt. He didn't answer, just stared up like I was going to hurt him. I was kind of annoyed by that, which surprised me, because I used to not mind getting that look.
"If you don't tell me your name," I said, "I'm going to make one up for you." That oughta have done the trick, but the boy stayed silent.
"Fine," I huffed, "Then you're… four-eyes."
No response.
"Freckle-face?" I tried, realizing that he had light freckles scattered across his pale cheeks.
"How about elephant-ears?" I asked. That one had to get to him: his ears looked like the type kids would make fun of. And they turned light pink as I finally got an answer— well, sort of. He mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn't tell what.
"Kid, you gotta speak up," I sighed. "Look, I ain't gonna hurt you. I just want to know your name."
The boy adjusted his glasses nervously and cast his gaze aside. "…I don't got one," he muttered a little louder.
I cocked my head. "You don't have what? A name?"
He nodded in affirmation. "I died when I w's a baby," he said, looking ashamed of himself. His speech was pretty poor; some of his vowels were cut out, and he seemed to need time to think before everything he said.
"Ah," I said, letting him go. I could just catch him again if he ran away. "Well, that's nothing to be ashamed of. You should've just told me. You a waiting orphan?"
He shook his head. "I been dead a while. Don't get—" he hesitated. "Don't get lante'ns," he said carefully.
"Nobody sends you lanterns? Same here!" I said, putting on a grin and trying not to look threatening. The kid's eyes widened.
"You a… static o'phan too?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yup. Hey, can I ask why your speech is so bad? You look pretty old for the way you talk. Maybe seven or eight."
"Died when I w's a baby," he repeated. "The big bads got me some tea leaf when I a'ived, and I got big. Eight-big. But I can't talk too good cuz I lea'nd to talk by the othe' kids." He seemed to struggle a lot with such a long phrase.
"Oh, so that's why you don't talk much," I said. "And I'm guessing by 'big bads,' you mean the D.O., right?" He nodded. I paused.
"Hey, wait a minute," I said, realizing something, "weren't you one of the guys who joined my pirate game a few days ago?"
He smiled shyly. "Yea. You Mo-oh."
Normally I got mad when people got my name wrong, but this time I just stifled a laugh. "Morro. The name's Morro, Master of Wind. Try to get it right."
He hesitated. "…I can't say that."
"Why not?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Can't say my aw's."
"Your… aw's?" I asked. "Oh, your R's. Well, can't you at least try?"
"If I do," he said in a suddenly panicked voice, "It sounds funny. The othe' o'phans laugh at it."
"Well, it can't be any worse than Mo-oh," I coaxed. He sighed.
"Fine. Mowwow, Mastew of Wind," he said in an annoyed voice. I smirked.
"Okay, you were right, that was worse. But you'll learn. Anyway, why were you watching me?" I asked.
"Cuz you' cool!" he exclaimed. I smiled, pleasantly surprised.
"Well, you're right about that," I said with a grin. "Not everyone realizes it, sadly."
"The othe' o'phans do," he replied. "Alyssa wead— Alyssa saw a sc'oll about you in the lib'a'y. She's seen a lot of sc'olls and books and tells us 'bout them."
"Huh," I said, surprised at the new information but glad to hear that the youth was learning of my awesomeness. "So this Alyssa reads to the other orphans?"
"Uh-huh," the boy said. "She's one of the olde' kids. I am too. Most of the static membe's a' maybe five o' six."
"Static members?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. The boy glanced back and forth to make sure nobody was within earshot, then whispered in a quiet voice,
"Yeah. We got a club! The static o'phans soso— sosy— soci—" He frowned and bit his lip, quitting on the word. I guess he had trouble with more than just his R's.
"Society?" I asked, and he nodded.
"Yea. We have meetin's and eve'ything! Sometimes we buy stuff, too, but not a lot 'cuz none of us got a lot of c'edit."
I frowned and crossed my arms, starting to walk down one of the paths as I talked. The boy obediently followed me. "Why don't you guys have a lot of credit?" I asked.
"We died too young," he replied, "so we can't get jobs, even us who gotta get aged up by tea leaves. We got some c'edit, to live on, but not a lot. The big bads don't seem to like us ve'y much."
"The D.O. don't like me, either," I said, scowling. "Just 'cuz I escaped once back to Ninjago."
"I know about that!" the boy exclaimed, beaming. "Alyssa told us 'bout how you foughted with the othe' ninjas!"
"Ah, hah, yea…" I said. I was still proud of sneaking out of the Departed Realm, but not incredibly proud of what had transpired afterwards. "Anyway, how often does this 'Alyssa' tell you guys stories? Specifically about me."
"She tells us a sto'y eve'y time we get togethe'. But not always a new one. She gets kicked outta the booksto' if she stays too long, she says. So we listen to you' sto'y a lot."
"Awesome," I replied, grinning.
"And the one about the g'een ninja!" he added eagerly. My eyes narrowed.
"…not so awesome. But, whatever," I sighed. We walked a little bit while I decided what question to ask next. I was rather liking this kid so far.
"So, where do you and the other static orphans sleep?" I asked. "Do you have houses of your own, or share them, or what?"
Suddenly, the boy looked pained. He looked down at his feet. "… we 'aven't got houses. None of us," he said. "When it 'ains, we gotta go hide to the fo'est."
I frowned, ignoring his slight speech blunder. "That's not fair. You guys haven't done anything wrong."
He shrugged. "We 'aven't done anything 'ight, eithe'. That's what the big bads say, anyway."
I crossed my arms as anger overtook me. "What? That's ridiculous! That's— that's just stupid!" I cried.
"Yeah," he mumbled, "but we can't say anything." His overly young way of speech suddenly seemed completely overshadowed by an air of solemn frustration, gained through a long many years of being underestimated. It was unbearably familiar.
"That's it," I snarled, "We gotta get back at the D.O. for this. And I thought it was bad that my house was late…" Remembering my situation, I suddenly got an idea.
"Hey, I know," I said, "How about you stay at my house? I could use someone who appreciates my awesomeness."
The boy's jaw dropped. "Weally?" (He then covered up his mouth in embarrassment.)
"Sure," I said. "Well, actually, I'm staying at someone else's house right now, so it might be a little crowded— you might have to sleep on the floor, actually— but it'd still be better than sleeping outside." A small, annoying voice in the back of my mind said I should probably ask Doctor Julien first, but I persuaded it away. He took me and Sensei in, he would definitely want to help someone else, right?
"That'd— that'd be amazing!" the kid cried. I smiled.
"Good. It's settled, then. Come on, I'll show you the way home and we can introduce you to the others when they get there." I internally wondered if Garmadon had been mentioned in any of the stories Alyssa told. If she read scrolls about me, he'd most likely come up in her reading material.
"Oh—" I said, realizing something, "—but you need a name. I can't really introduce you without one. Do static orphans ever name themselves?"
The boy shrugged. "Sometimes. They don't usually catch on, though… o' they change a lot."
"Hmm… then I'll just have to name you," I said, satisfied. "How about Morro Jr.?" I was partially joking, but it would also be awesome to have an official mini-me.
The boy shook his head. "You' name's cool, but I can't say it, 'member? I gotta be able to say my own name."
"Oh. True," I said. "Well… it should at least sound like mine, 'cuz I want people to know you're my fan."
"That'd be good," the boy agreed. I mused for several minutes. Finally, I nodded to myself and said,
"Well… you owe me one for letting you stay with me, so how about… Owen?
The orphan smiled shyly.
"I like that name."
"It's settled, then." I smiled, then reached out and shook the boy's hand firmly. "Nice to meet you, Owen."
(A/N: I SWEAR I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE THIS FIC HAVE SO MANY OC'S I'M SORRY— X'D But tbh, I've had Owen planned out pretty much since I realized SDLPC was going to continue. [That's before I knew Agamya was going to exist!] I really hope his intro doesn't feel forced, but even if it does, don't worry, the focus will still be on the main three characters. Feedback/thoughts/constructive criticism would be appreciated!) (CanyoutellI'mnervouslol)