Sorry for the wait everyone. Hound of the Baskervilles may be a short book, but the papers on it never are ;-;.
So please, enjoy this little filler chapter, and the next one shall be going right back into the episodes.
Maybe.
We'll see. :3
Bunny gave a small smile towards Kim-Ly and Nya, both who were giving her dubious looks.. "..What?"
"Y-you two heard me...! We should..Ya know, take Grace out!"
"...Why?" Kim-Ly asked again, blinking at the City Girl.
"Well..Ya know, s-she's never been outside the Monastery I think so..."
"You wanna get some things from town too, don't you." Nya hummed out, giving an all-knowing look at the Nature Ninja...Who gave a sheepish grin. "Alright, alright..Let's go find Grace and talk to her about it."
"I don't know..She may not want to."
Kim-Ly was wrong.
Grace was bouncing up and down when she was informed she was being taken outside of the Monastery. The widest grin was on her face as the girl was happily giggling. "Oh my gosh! What are we going to do? Peruse the markets? Find new weapons? Get wood for the training course? Oh! Oh! Get new tatami mats for the bedrooms?!"
...Nya blinked at the excitement the girl seemed to have. "Uhm...Well...We can do all those things too..But I figured we can just go out and show you something new...Ya know, there's an amusement park that we can go to. It has a lot of rides, and you can explore.."
"...REALLY!?"
"Yea-"
"FATHER!" The girl rushed out of the room, going to her Father as he was meditating. He instantly jumped up, preparing to fight- "Father! Father, the girls are wishing to take me to an amusement park! May I go? Please? Please?"
Once the initial shock of being jump scared ended, Sensei Wu hummed.. "Grace, I-"
"I-I mean, I-I know I didn't do well the last time I went out.." She was captured by Skeletons... "B-But this time it's safer! I'll have the girls to watch my back, and-and I'll watch their's!"
...He sighed, before nodding his head. "Very well, but please, do not do anything too foolish..Or anything that would cause me to worry."
"Never, Father." She hugged the elder male lovingly, an act that he happily returned. Once the embrace ended, she ran out of the room. "SUIT UP THE DRAGON GIRLS!"
..What in the world had Wu just agreed to?
Grace grinned as she held onto Bunny's seat, the Nature Ninja flying her dragon towards . The other girls had figured it would be far enough from home for her to feel the true thrill of traveling...
That, and so that Sensei Wu couldn't immediately find them.
Each girl was happily in their own casual attire.
Bunny in a lovely jade green button down shirt, a white skirt, and some sandals. Kim-Ly in a purple shirt, black jacket, and orange work jeans. Grace wore a grey jacket plus some dark blue jeans that the Nature Ninja happily loaned to her.
"We'll just be here for a little bit, okay?" Nya stated to the others from Kim-Ly's dragon. "We shouldn't spend too much time here.."
"Hm." The Metal Ninja nodded her head, descended a bit outside of the village.
"B..But...But..."..Bunny sighed softly, and nodded her head as she had her Dragon land also. "Alright..."
Grace didn't wait for the reptile to stop. She jumped off of the dragon once it was at a good height, and grinned, gunning it through the entrance and racing inside.
"Grace, wait!" Nya yelled out...Before sighing, and face palming. "Great...Now we have to hunt for her.."
"Well, maybe we could help." Kai was heard from above as the other boys' dragons descended. "Sensei Wu wanted us to make sure you guys were alright."
"We can handle ourselves, Kai."
"Uh-huh, right Nya...Aaaand who exactly just lost Sensei Wu's daughter? Huh?"
"...Shut up."
"We will have a better chance at finding her if we were all to split up." Zane hummed out, looking at the group.
"Right!" Jay grinned as he flipped off his his dragon, hooking arms with Nya. "I'll go with Nya...!"
"Yeah, you guys have fun with that...I'm getting some cake." Cole chimed as he strutted into the park..Kim-Ly looked at the others.
"I'll go make sure he doesn't get lost in there." With that, the monotone girl left the group's side and went after the Earth Ninja. Nya giggled as she and Jay followed after her, going in a different direction than the other two.
"Well...I guess it just leaves-"
"Shall we go in, Bunny?"
The Nature Ninja blinked in surprise at her Ice counterpart...Before smiling and nodding her head, the two entering also. Leaving Kai outside...
"...Wow...Rude. Just leaving me behind and-"... "...I hate Karma."
Jay rubbed the back of his neck as he walked alongside Nya, trying to sort things out in his head. This would be the first time they were alone from the others. Alone from Kai..
Should he start up the conversations? Or maybe just let her start? She was pretty confident and-
"Ugh, where is she?" Nya sighed out, frowning as she continued to look around. "I mean, one girl can't run that fast in a few minutes, right?"
"R-right! Right, yeah..."
"...Are..You okay?"
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm great! Just great, yeah..And you?"
"Uhm..I'm doing okay..Thanks."
"No problem...!"
The two fell into a small silence as they continue to look around.
"..Sooo..Uhm..What do you like to do?" Yeah, that's it. Start off simple Jay.
"Well..I like helping out my brother, I guess..Ya know, when he's not putting me in some kind of danger." Nya softly laughed. "Other than that...I guess I kinda like to build things."
And that was when Jay knew he had found his true love.
Kim-Ly blinked as she watched Cole peruse the cake selection that one of the stalls of the amusement park had, murmuring to himself. "Hm...Vanilla is alright, but there's chocolate..But I haven't had red velvet in a while..Oh-oh, but there's marble too...Maybe I should get more than one?"
The Metal Ninja waited for another ten minutes or so as the Earth male continued to debate with himself..Before she sighed, and went to the vendor, pushing Cole back a bit. "Do you have a sampling tray?"
"Oh! Yes m'am, we do! We have many sample trays and-"
The vendor was cut off when the female put down some money. "Give me the largest one you have that fits this range of money, please."
The male nodded, quickly getting the tray and handing Kim-Ly her change. "Thank you! Please, come again!"
Kim-Ly hummed, also purchasing a cup of milk plus a cup of coffee from another vendor, before sitting down with Cole. The Earth Ninja gave a happy laugh, before he started to taste some of the food. "mm-mm-mmm! Kim-Ly, you GOTTA try this!"
"I'm not fond of sweets."
"Oh come on, everyone has a sweet tooth!"
"Perhaps. But perhaps mine fell out."
He laughed at the joke..Only to realize that she wasn't laughing, and stopped... "...Wait right here."
"Alright."
Cole put the cake on the table between them, and went back to the cake vendor. Kim-Ly watched him communicate with the male, taking a sip of her black coffee and keeping an eye out for Grace. "Hey! I'm back!"
The Metal Ninja looked to the male, and was a bit surprised when a cake was put in front of her..Though, she also wasn't. It was kind of obvious that it was going to happen. She stared down at the dark brown cake with a lighter shade of icing. "...What flavor is this?"
"Mocha."
"..Mocha?"
"Well, yeah. I figured since you obviously like coffee, that it would be a good kind of cake for you to try...Buuut just in case you don't like it, it would be a flavor that I'd happily finish."
"Clever." She hummed as she cautiously looked at the cake..Before sighing as she felt Cole's stare on her. Now or never, she supposed...
Carefully she picked up the plastic fork that came with the cake, and took a bit of the corner off. She glanced up at her male companion, who gave her a grin...Before sighing, and eating the piece of cake.
She paused as she tasted it for a moment, allowing the flavor to envelop her tongue.
It was smooth and dark for the first moment. The coffee was an almost overwhelming flavor it felt like..Yet then it slowly dissipated across her tongue, and a sweet flavor was left..
...
"Well?" Cole hummed out, smiling at her.
"Hmm..." Kim-Ly paused to take a sip of coffee... "I'll finish it."
"So ya liked it...!"
"I didn't say that."
"But you didn't deny it either!"
"Believe what you will. I simply don't want the cake to go to waste."
"Well hey, then I can finish it off for you-"
When Cole teasingly reached out for the piece, Kim-Ly pulled it away...And looked at the cocky smirk on the Earth Ninja's face.. "...Go back to your cake, Cole."
"Alright~"
"Hm.." With that, Kim-Ly finished off her cake piece in the time Cole took eating his entire sample tray with a grin. "...So...Shall we continue our search?"
"Huh?"
"...For Grace."
"Oh! Oh, yeah, c'mon." He smiled, nodding his head as he hopped up. Kim-Ly calmly stood, and put their trash in the trash can, before following the male. "Where d'ya wanna look?"
"I don't have a preference."
"Hmm...Oh! The Ghost Train'll be a good laugh."
"We're here to find Grace."
"Aaaand we're here to relax a bit...! C'mon Kim-Ly, Grace is a big girl! She knows how to take care of herself." Cole gave her a smile, taking her hand and pulling her to the attraction.
Bunny frowned as she looked around with a sigh. "I don't know if we'll ever find Grace.."
"We mustn't give up hope, Bunny."
"But Zane, we've been searching forever..!"
"It has been simply thirty minutes."
"...We've been searching forever..!"
Zane hummed, before carefully re-directing Bunny so that the two of them were now sitting at one of the benches. "Perhaps a little break will help cease the feeling of eternity..."
She sighed as she sat down on the bench, taking a deep breath in... "Ugh, I shouldn't have asked the others to go out.."
"Why?"
"W-well, then, we wouldn't have come..A-and if we didn't come, then-then we wouldn't have lost Grace..And then we all wouldn't be looking for her.."
"But Grace also wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience the outside world. You have given her a wonderful gift, Bunny. One which you shouldn't regret."
... The green eyed girl smiled up at Zane. "Thank you, Zane..That..That means a lot, actually."
"It was no problem." The Ice ninja carefully stood back up. "Now, shall we continue our search?"
"Oh, uh...Yes." She nods, smiling as she got up and walked along with him.
For a while, the two of them meandered through the park, in a rather comfortable silence. That is, until Bunny paused when she saw a little game booth that was going on. A little darts game that gave out little prizes for those who hit the targets..
One of which was an artist set, for anyone who got three darts in one of the smallest target..
"Uhm...Zane?"
"Yes?"
"Would uh..Would it be alright if I..."
"Would you like to compete in the activity?"..Bunny gave a little nod, which Zane smiled softly at. "Of course."
"Thanks." She carefully paid, and threw the darts...Yet frowning when she missed and lost..Bunny sighed as she returned to the Ice Ninja, who frowned at her.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't win the game.."
"Oh...Perhaps I can try."
"Huh?"
The Nature Ninja watched as the blonde male went to the little game station, and paid with a bit of his own money. He fared far better than she did. He managed to hit the targets. He returned to her, presenting her with a stuffed white bunny with a green bow. "Here you go. I figured you would enjoy a little bunny."
...While her name may have pointed to her loving bunnies, she actually didn't..But her mother taught her to never reject a gift given. That was just rude. So she smiled softly, and nodded, taking the bunny. "Thank you, Zane."
"Of course." He gave a smile in return, nodding. "Shall we get you a few more?"
"Uhmm...N-no, no, I'm okay..Really."
"Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah.." She nods, giving him a straight face.
"Very well...Shall we continue our search then?"
"Sure." Bunny carefully followed him around the park, smiling a bit at the bright lights and stopping every once and a while.
Kim-Ly blinked as Cole was happily yelling, the two of them riding through the roller coaster at the Amusement Park.
She remembered vaguely how these sort of things would entertain her brothers. Back when dad was healthy, and they had a bit of money to spare..Whey they were able to actually leave the business for a day or two..
Those were good days, in all honesty.
Where all that mattered was being with the family, and making sure they were all happy. That laughter was filling the air around them...
She couldn't help but miss the feeling, in all honesty...It was something that she had felt so fondly towards. Yet it was also something that just..Didn't find its place in her world now a days.
Usually back home her day was filled with work to get money, and a few hours of sleep. That was it.
It was what she was used to...
So...
Was it bad that...That she preferred being beside the laughing Cole, then back home mining?
She glanced sideways at the male as he laughed, the wind whipping against their heads...Before she simply turned back towards the front of the ride and closed her eyes.
Even if it was bad, she couldn't help it.
Cole had a rather nice laugh.
Once the ride stopped, Cole was wobbling as he walked off of the coaster, laughing. Kim-Ly carefully walked out, following him and taking his hand to steady him. "That...Was GREAT! We should go again I think...!"
"Perhaps we shouldn't...We should rekindle with the group, and see if they have found Grace or not."
Once the Earth Ninja finally regained his balance, he nodded.
As they walked along, he paused at the little picture board of the coaster...And smiling as he purchased a picture from the machine. "Heh, look at us."
...Kim-Ly glanced a bit at the picture, and blinked a bit in surprise.
It was at one of the high points, where Cole had his hands up and a big laughing grin on. Beside him, Kim-Ly had her eyes closed, she had been blinking and thinking about what they were doing..
Yet...
Well, it..It looked like she was smiling...
"I think it's a keeper."
"...Get rid of it."
"What?" Cole laughed, looking at Kim-Ly.
"Get rid of it."
"No way...!"
"Yes."
"Nah."
"Burn it."
"Nope. This, I'm keeping." He laughed, keeping the photo out of her reach. "Now come on, let's go get the others."
"I hate you so much right now." Her mono-toned voice sighed out, giving him a look, which Cole just chuckled at.
Bunny smiled as she sat with Zane, the two of them eating for a moment. They figured a bit of food would do them both some good.
The little stuffed animal was perched on Bunny's lap as she sipped a bit of tea. Her sandwich was long eaten already as her companion had some soup.
They had gotten on the oddest conversation really, after seeing two boys near them play a little game..
"I believe I have found the meaning of rock, paper, scissors."
"Oh?" The Ninjago City girl blinked up at him, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Uhm...Please, tell me.."
"Well..Paper can be properly correlated to words, which co-insides with the brain. Rock symbolizes brawn. Brain over brawn."
...She blinked in surprise at the revaluation.. "Oh...Well..What of uh..Scissors?"
"Scissors of course cuts paper. However, scissors are simply tempered rock, technically. It's thinner, and would be a bit less than durable when pelted by the earth."
"Heh.."...Bunny started to giggle. "Just don't tell Kim-Ly that..."
"Hm? And why not?"
"Oh, uh.." The female paused her giggles for a moment.. "Well..Kim-Ly's metal...So..Ya know, she might take it kind of personally...Since that would mean she's weaker than Cole..."
"Oh...But would she take it personally? Or would she simply understand?" Bunny quirked an eyebrow in confusion. "Well..Kim-Ly seems to simply watch then take action...She understands weakness and strength...So perhaps she knows where she falls with the others.."
"Oh.."... "In..In all honesty...I kind of..Look up to her..."
"Why?"
"Why?" She blinked up at him. "Why not? She's confident. She knows what she wants. She's quick in a battle, and she...She...She's useful as a ninja..."
"And you are not?"
"No...I froze up so many times during our trips and fights...I..I don't even know why I'm here...I should be back home, making dresses.."
...
...
"Perhaps.." Zane reached over, and gently laid his hand atop Bunny's. "Perhaps fate had bigger plans for you, than being a dress maker."
The little girl blushed at the touch, feeling the tip of her ears heat up. Oh geez..She looked away from him, trying to hide her pink face.
"...Bunny?"
"Y-yes?"
"...Are you alright? Do you have a fever?"
"H-huh?"
"Well...Your face seems to have warmed up.."
"O-oh! I-it's nothing! Nothing at all! Don't worry!"
"Are you-"
"Hey...! W-we should go and meet up with the others! M-maybe they found Grace...!"
Zane could only blink in confusion as Bunny bolted away from the scene... "...Was it something I said?"
Kai grumbled as he waited at the front gate of the amusement park, Grace right beside him. "I can't believe you had me chase you around every single ride today."
"I'm so sorry...But it was too much fun..!" She laughed out, grinning at him. "You should learn how to live a little!"
"I know how to live, but I know how not to be a pain in the a-"
"Kai..!" Cole grinned as he came over. "You found Grace...!"
"Yeah, no thanks to you guys." The Fire Ninja grumbled under his breath, rolling his eyes as both the Metal and Earth Ninja came over. "Where's everyone else?"
"Well, Jay and I are here." Nya giggled out as she and the Walker male came over, both eating cotton candy.
"And we had a BLAST! How about you guys?"
"I hated it." Kai stated, giving Grace a glare. The girl was laying on the ground, smiling in her exhaustion. "...For the most part, I guess."
"Geez, what's got you burning up?" Nya gave Jay's pun a little laugh. Either it was to make him better, or because she thought it was funny...Eh, the group didn't know.
"So, now we're just waiting for-"
"W-we're here...!" Kim-Ly was cut off as Bunny raced in, with Zane a bit behind her. "S-sorry...We're...Late.."
"Well..Not that we are all here...Shall we go home?" The Ice Ninja asked, smiling at the group.
"Yeah, we all deserve a bit of rest after today." Cole hummed out, nodding his head. "Let's go gang."
Sensei Wu chuckled as he took the dozing off Grace from Kai, who sighed out. "You know...I feel like she's more of a kid than Jay."
"Perhaps...But perhaps we should all look to a new and exciting day, as she does.."
The bearded male hummed as he took Grace to her room and tucked her in, kissing the top of her head. "Mmn...I had a good day today, Father.."
"I'm sure you did.."
"I got you some cotton candy...Kai's got it."
"That's my girl.." The Sensei smiled, patting her hair before standing up and starting to walk out. "Goodnight Grace.
"G'night, Father..."
Bunny hummed as she carefully sat down in front of a piece of paper, and started to write to her family.
Dear everyone back home,
You're all probably glad that things have been slow over here. No more skeletons. No more Lord Garmadon. We've been relaxing for a bit.
Today we took Grace out actually and brought her to an Amusement Park. She had so much fun. She ran around so much that we couldn't even keep up with her.
Other than that, nothing else really exciting happened...
So I suppose I'll end my letter here. I love you all, and I hope the shop is doing well.
Love,
Bunny.
The Nature Ninja paused a bit as she read over the letter..And blinked.
Odd...
Usually she put the shop question before anything else.
The shop was always before everything else.
So why did...
...
She sighed, shaking her head. She was probably just tired, yeah.
The City Girl nodded to herself as she folded up the letter and got up to get ready for bed. As she stood though, she heard something just bump onto the floor..
Glancing down, she couldn't help but smile a bit at the stuffed bunny that she had been toting around..Before taking it gently into her arms, and continuing on her late night routine.
Kim-Ly sighed as she carefully set up her little letter, writing down her address, and making sure everything was proper...
Hello family.
Everything over here is doing well. I am still going strong, and I haven't been doing anything bad. In fact, everything is rather slow, in all honesty.
No fights.
Not worries.
Just...Relaxing..
It's really odd, and it's not what I was expecting.
It's kind of saddening...
Yet I suppose this is also good..I've never had this long of a break before, so I don't know what to do with my time.
Any ideas?
If so, write back.
I'll see you all eventually.
Goodbye,
Kim-Ly.
She nods at the letter...Before carefully writing as she thoughts of something.
P.S. Mom, you were right. Some cakes are pretty good.
Thus ends another chapter of A Warrior's Way. I hope you have all enjoyed, and I'll be back as soon as I can with another chapter.
Love you all! And see you next time.