Children of Destiny

This chapter was so much fun to write!

We'll see how the ninjas & kunoichi handle being parents! Get ready for some good ol' torture, mental breakdowns, & even a little drama! Also, free cookies to those who find the 'Tournament of the Elements' references! Enjoy!

Prologue Part 3: 'Joy' of Parenting

The sun shined in Ignacia and the warm rays shone through the window of Kai and Aria's room.

The blonde woman felt rejuvenated by the sunlight and turned over, expecting her husband to greet her by her side but he was gone.

Aria woke up to see the empty space where Kai usually slept. Her husband never returned since he left in the middle of the night to stop their babies from crying. She also became aware of the silence that hasn't blessed the house since they took the kids home.

Wasting no time in getting ready for the day, she went straight for the babies' room right next their parents'. Once the Mediterranean woman peeked in, she almost laughed out loud at the sight before her.

Sprawled out on the floor was none other than her husband surrounded by their babies' toys, snoring loudly while Akira and Alex were snuggled together, using his body as a pillow. But the new mother was just happy the twins have calmed down. Carefully putting them back in their cribs, she moved on to their father.

"Wake up." She whispered in a slightly teasing 'sing-song' voice.

With a loud snort, Kai got up, groggy and disheveled. His hair was sticking all over the place and drool was dribbling down his chin. Yeah, his face was the very definition of handsome.

"W-what… what do you want from me…?" He asked, still discombobulated.

"The kids have calmed down. Whatever you did last night worked." Aria said.

"It did…?"

Kai was still out of it but his wife managed to wake him up with a kiss on his cheek.

The couple looked down on their children with parental pride and in turn, the twins, having just woken up, looked up at their parents with wide-eyed curiosity.

Akira had fair hair that will most likely darken to match his mother's dirty blonde locks while his sister had brown hair like their father's but other than that, they were definitely twins. Both of them had the amber eyes of their father and the light olive skin of their mother.

"They're going to strong and healthy with parents like us." Kai boasted.

"They're just babies," Aria reminded him, "But at least they're our babies."

"That's why they're going to do great things in the future."

"Do you think we'll be able to guide them? What if something bad… happens…"

Aria was too fearful to finish her question but Kai would have none of it.

"I won't let anything happen to our kids," He vowed, "I love them as much as I love you."

The fire ninja wrapped his warm arms around his wife's figure and their faces inched closer to one another, their lips just millimeters apart…

But the moment was interrupted by the babies' whining. They already wanted to play.

Kai worked at home and it was only a few hours before Aria had to go to work so they had time to give their children plenty of TLC.

Interestingly, Akira and Alex's favorite game was whacking their dad with anything they can get their tiny hands on. Kai groaned while Alex hit his nose with a rattle while Akira pulled his dad's hair that had yet to be gelled.

"Ow!" Kai yelped when Akira yanked his bangs, "Akira! Daddy really doesn't like that!"

But his father's complaints only provoked the baby boy to keep pulling and even Alex joined in. Their mother chuckled over their antics but pulled them away before her husband suffers any more pain. They started whining again but this time, they were most likely hungry.

"Okay you two, time for breakfast."

Aria took both babies with her to the living room to satiate their appetites. Kai didn't have to be there but being the devoted husband and father he was, followed them anyway.

As the babies got their fill of milk, their mother can finally ready herself for work but before she left, she wanted a moment with Kai.

"I guess you're right." Aria said all of a sudden.

"Right about what?"

"About what you said back there. I feel like our children will grow to do some pretty big things. As parents, it's our responsibility to guide them. I also love our babies too much to let anything bad happen to them."

"I know how that feels. I've been like that even with Nya since my parents died."

"I thought you were just being hotheaded but now, I understand why you were so protective. I want to do the same for our kids."

"I know you will."

The fiery couple exchanged a passionate kiss before it was time for Aria to leave.

"Well, I better get going and you have to tend to your shop. Looks like you're on your own for the next several hours."

Aria's absence was always the worst for Kai.

Not only will it be a long time before he sees his wife again, but he'll have to deal with changing their babies' diapers and drying their tears on his own until she returns.

Yup, that's parenthood.

The students of Mr. Julien's science class can tell their teacher was out of it.

Even after a couple of months off on parental leave, Zane still had bouts of extreme exhaustion from being a first-time dad. Now he knew how his father felt raising him when he was a baby.

The ex-nindroid frequently yawned during his lectures, his usually neat handwriting was sloppy, and even his appearance said it all. His normally neat hair was messy and a few locks were out of place and he had dark bags under his bloodshot eyes that were obvious on his alabaster skin.

Zane tried to concentrate on his job but raising Liana practically sucked the life out of him. The baby girl had quite a set of lungs and made sure her parents knew it. She cried over every little thing, from needing a diaper change to just craving attention.

Even in the teacher's lounge, Zane was still tired.

Mr. Turner, the P.E. teacher, noticed that his fellow teacher was quiet.

Well, more than usual…

"Mr. Julien?" The brunette man noticed the pale man was as still as a statue on his seat, "A-are you okay…?"

He gently tapped Zane on the back, resulting in the former robot to keel over onto the table.

"…Oops…"

Mr. Turner and the other teachers in the lounge stared at the knocked out man who began to snore lightly on the table, oblivious to his lunch sticking to his face.

But all that mattered to the teachers was that they also had some markers on hand…

Heather's job allowed her to spend plenty of hours at home but things were no better for her. Along with tending to her flowers, she also had to take care of Liana by herself until Zane comes home. Being a mother was definitely more difficult than being a kunoichi but in a strange way, raising Liana made her… happy.

'I guess this is the joy of motherhood those books described…' She mused to herself while she arranged a bouquet of violets for her shop.

Right now, Liana was napping so Heather made the most of her moment of peace by tending to her beloved flowers until Zane finally came home. She went up to greet him but he didn't have the energy to even say 'I'm home'. Understanding how exhausted he was, she gave him some space. All Zane wanted was a moment of peace and quiet. He had a very bad day at work when the other teachers in the school drew on his face when he nodded off during their lunch break, but now, he's finally home and can treat himself to a well-earned nap.

But no sooner had he 'face-planted' himself onto the couch did Liana start crying.

Groaning, the ice ninja got up but Heather made him stay put.

"Zane, you've had a rough day. I can do this myself." The kunoichi turned florist quickly soothed her tired husband before going to Liana's room.

Scooping her daughter into her arms, Heather gently shushed her.

"Don't cry my little Liana, mommy's here."

The plant wielder took in her daughter's features. Liana was truly her father's daughter, having snowy white skin and pale blonde hair like the ice wielder himself. Heather hoped she'd have at least a little bit of her mother's features but no matter how she'll look when she's older, she'll still love her unconditionally, much like how she loves her husband, regardless if he remained a nindroid or not. She learned to love people for who they really are, deep down.

Turns out Liana needed another diaper change. As unpleasant as the ordeal was, Heather didn't mind since this was all part of being a mother and she loved her daughter very much and Zane also loved Liana just as much. She was the reason why they always got up in the morning, even if it was extremely early, because she was living proof that their love was unconditional as was the love they had for her.

Once Liana was content, Heather took her to their bedroom to see her father.

"Zane, someone wants to see you." She gently nudged her husband awake.

Zane got up, feeling some of his exhaustion fade away upon seeing his daughter.

"Hello my baby girl." He greeted his child, kissing her brow like he did when he first held her.

The family felt complete being with one another. It was almost as if it was…

"It's almost like a miracle that we're here now, after going through so much." Heather said.

"I agree," Zane nodded, "I never thought I would never find my significant other or even have a family until I met you."

"But you do now."

"Yes. I love you both so much."

The couple who once thought they can never be together basked in their love for each other as well as for their child.

It was all even better than they could ever want.

Luna was a little surprised that she was still very popular even after having a child.

Her songs still topped the charts but she still prioritized being a mother above singing. As much as she loved to sing, she wanted to be there for her daughter like every mother should and she didn't want Cole to be burdened by parenthood all by himself.

"Okay Luna, we're ready." The staff at the studio was prepared to record another masterpiece from the kunoichi diva herself.

Luna was just about to sing when her husband came barging in.

The aqua-eyed singer gasped at the sight of her frazzled husband with a crying Amy in his arms and immediately forgot about her recording session upon seeing her distressed child.

"Luna!" He complained, "I don't know what's wrong! She had her diaper changed minutes ago and I tried feeding her but she doesn't want any food! I don't know what to do!"

"I'm sorry sir, but Luna is in the middle of recording her songs." The manager of the studio tried to shoo off the earth wielder but made no effort to hide his annoyance.

However, Luna was quick to be by her daughter's side.

"Awww, does Amy miss her mommy?" She cooed and hummed a lullaby to comfort her baby.

Amy seemed to have inherited her mother's looks from her fair skin to her auburn hair but she had her father's emerald eyes. It seemed like she wanted her mother's attention now that she finally calmed down. Content in her mother's arms, Amy cooed and her mother left the halls for a moment between her and her baby.

But the staff weren't happy and wanted to get her back in the recording room.

"Luna, you have work to do!" Karl, Luna's producer, called after her but was stopped by Cole.

"Sir, my wife is busy. You'll have to wait." He sternly reminded his wife's boss.

"But the industry needs her!" Karl argued back, "Without her, the company will suffer!"

The earth ninja can feel his blood boil. This man was acting like Luna was his property and not as another human being with her own needs.

"Don't you dare speak of her that way! She's my wife and she's a human just like you!" The new father stared him down.

"But she's the one who's keeping the industry alive! She has to keep singing!"

"She's not singing for you or anyone! She didn't get into this job for fame or money! She sings because she loves it and that's all she wants as well as being a mother! If you can't respect her wishes, then you shouldn't even be working with her at all!"

Not waiting for Karl to respond, Cole stormed out of the room.

Outside, he was approached by Luna, who had a worried expression on her face.

"C-Cole what happened back there? I heard shouting…" Luna asked in concern.

"It's nothing." Cole tried to dismiss his wife's concerns, "The recording session's cancelled."

"Was? Why would Karl cancel it all of a sudden?"

"Luna, do you really want to keep working with that guy?"

Now that Luna thought about it, Karl seemed more concerned with money and she also began to notice the way he looked at her, almost as if he wanted her for more than just her voice. He would even give Cole and Amy a really dirty look whenever he thought she wasn't looking…

"I-I have to admit, I don't trust Karl as much as I used to… I'll have to talk with him later…"

"Not if I get to him first…" Cole clenched his fist.

"Cole, please! This is an era of peace! I can deal with Karl myself." Luna quelled her husband's growing temper, not wanting him to frighten their daughter.

"I know, but I don't like the idea of leaving you along with… that guy…"

"I'm not the helpless damsel I used to be. I can handle it."

Cole can see the determination in his wife's aquamarine eyes and knew she was right. Luna was not a coward anymore and had grown over the course of their journey years ago. But he loved her too much to get herself in trouble, even if she can get out of it on her own. He trusted her but he still had his protective instincts.

"Luna… I trust you…"

"Danke schön… I know you care for me and our daughter and that's why I love you."

The two exchanged a heartfelt kiss as they left the studio.

After all they've been through, their bond for each other and their baby was unbreakable.

Jay was busy sketching out details for his first P.I.X.A.L. but the L no longer stood for 'lifeform'. Now, it stood for 'link' as these machines will be a link for the disabled to connect with the rest of the world. He scrapped the idea of making more robots because of all the complications that came with trying to create a humanlike AI as well as the lightning ninja not used to being out of his 'comfort zone' of seemingly wacky gadgets. He was still interested in building androids but Zane began to express discomfort of having robots made in his image. He was uncomfortable of the idea of living amongst machines after he revoked his inhumanity and Jay wanted to respect his figurative brother's wishes. Besides, he was sure this was his final plan for his P.I.X.A.L. line.

'Just a little more…' Jay was almost done with the final details.

At last, he was almost done with his design until…

"WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

The sudden cries of his baby caused Jay to mar his intricate design with a big jagged line of ink. He already knew what was going on with Chris. His son has been teething over the last several months and the emerging teeth was obviously painful for him. He was in his son's room faster than Cole can down a whole cake but Nya beat him to it.

"What now?" Jay asked in slight exasperation.

"His molar's coming in…" Nya took a peek at her son's mouth and saw a pale bump on his gum.

Since they had no control over something like teeth coming in, the inventive couple can do little more than wait until all of Chris' teeth come in. For now, the one-year-old baby had about half of his teeth. They also had to get him started on baby food since Nya began complaining about it being more painful feeding him. But Chris was getting hungry because he started to grab his mother's shirt, wanting to nurse. The Japanese woman sighed, no longer able to stand feeding her son while getting bit by his developing teeth.

"We have to start giving him some real food." She handed Chris to his father while getting a jar of baby food.

"Don't worry, Nya. I got it under control." Jay said, confident that he'll be a capable father…

"Open up Chris! Here comes the choo-choo train!"

Jay kept making 'train noises' and moved the spoon of pureed food around to get his son to eat it but Chris just kept turning his head away. The lightning ninja tried to convince his son that the mushy stuff was tasty by taking a bite himself. Turns out baby food is surprisingly good because Jay ended up downing the tiny jar.

"Jay, that's the seventh time this happened. Chris needs to eat or he won't grow to be big and strong like his daddy." Nya chastised and teased her husband at the same time.

"Why is parenting SO hard?" Jay whined like a child.

"Life isn't easy," His ever supportive wife reminded him, "Parenthood is no different but we'll get through it. After all, we did help save Ninjago."

"Yeah…"

The ninjas and kunoichi may have had experience but parenthood was a different matter.

The next several years will definitely be a living hell…

The monastery was silent… for now.

Leon finally stopped crying just minutes ago and now rested in Lloyd's arms. The young father couldn't be more relieved but he was REALLY annoyed that his uncle and even his parents, who decided to stay and help raise Leon for a while, didn't involve themselves as much as he hoped. He could've just left Leon in his room but the Iris and Haruka were cleaning the mattress for the crib after it was soiled this morning, leaving Lloyd stuck with his son. Garmadon and Wu stayed with the new father but they just stood there. To make matters worse, Lloyd felt like he had to cough due to the scratchy feeling in his throat but he didn't want to wake Leon.

"Dad! You should be helping me!" Lloyd hissed at his father in a hoarse voice.

"You're a father now, Lloyd. You have to be the one to guide your child." Garmadon reminded his son of his new responsibilities.

"But- !"

"No buts." The reformed man sternly stopped him, "You're an adult so start acting like one."

"Uncle! Do something!" Lloyd begged Wu to help him but even the bearded man won't have it.

"Your father is right," Even Wu took his brother's side, "As a father, it's your responsibility to be there for your son and dry his tears, not ours."

They may seem heartless but Wu and Garmadon really wanted to help Lloyd but he was now a grown man and part of being an adult was taking responsibility. They did help out but only for 'emergencies' such as Leon getting hurt or if Lloyd and Iris had no idea why he was crying.

Lloyd still can't get rid of the dry scratchy feeling in his throat but he didn't want to wake Leon. He tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling but it kept clawing at him like a pesky fly. He really tried not to make any noise but his efforts were all for naught. Lloyd cleared his throat, making a loud coughing sound in the process and Leon started bawling. The hero of Ninjago can't take it anymore and even he began screaming and crying.

"Lloyd! Leon! What's wrong?" The young mother rushed to her wailing husband and son.

Even the kunoichi of time never felt so burned out in her life. All the times she had to keep Leon well-fed left her with a sore bosom. She was still happy being a mother but it was so exhausting at the same time. Not waiting for an explanation, she scooped up Leon into her arms, caressing him with kisses and gently shushing him.

"There, there. Mommy's here now." Iris tried to quell her son's crying.

As for Lloyd, he had his father and uncle.

"Lloyd, I know the next few years will be difficult but you've been through much more difficult trials," Garmadon lectured his own son, "I know you can do this."

"How do you know!?" Lloyd asked between sobs.

"Lloyd, you're the hero who saved Ninjago from the Overlord. Parenthood may be a completely different trial but you're a strong adult. I know you'll be there for Leon… more than I have when you were a child…"

Garmadon still felt guilty for all the things he did as the dark lord but his biggest regret was not being there for his son when he was just a boy. Even if they were divided by destiny at the time, the least he could've done was be there for him when he was a child.

"Brother…" Wu looked on with sympathy.

For a short while, he raised his nephew before leaving him at Darkley's.

"The past can't be changed," Lloyd said, "But we can always decide our future. That's what I've learned through my experiences."

"You're right," The green ninja's father nodded, "I'm proud of you… son."

Both sons of the First Spinjitzu Master knew that time can only move forward. The children still have yet to show any signs of having elemental powers but they were patient.

Only time will tell what will happen to Ninjago and what fate will have in store for it…

If any of you are wondering what will happen, more hints on what's to come in the actual story will show up in the next part of the prologue!

Anyway, did any of you find the references?

…

Good! Now review!