Children of Destiny
Okay! I'm sure you're all still shocked by what happened in the last chapter but this one will pick up right where we left off! I can't believe how many reviews I got for this chapter & I can't thank you enough! So in this chapter, the drama continues as the ninjas have to find their missing sister, & one of the original ninjas will join them though I'm sure you all know by now who it is! XD Anywho, enjoy!
Chapter 17: Special Snowflake
Liana continued riding on Shard as it flew over the skies of Ninjago.
She had no particular destination but it didn't matter to her. She just wanted to run away from all the people who insult and judge her like the bullies back home or trick her like…
'No!' The kunoichi of ice shook her head, trying to forget about him, 'I won't go back! Not with that liar around.'
The first place the lonely girl visited was the Birchwood Forest, where her father lived, hoping to find repose in the underground chamber her grandfather made to escape from society. She found the tree her father told her about and ran down to the sanctuary and cried onto the old bed that belonged to her grandfather, her tears soaking up the dusty pillow. She remembered her father telling her that she was also quite similar to his father. If only the old scientist were here to guide her…
'I don't want to be here… I just want to disappear…'
The white kunoichi tried to find repose in her grandfather's isolated chamber but not even this empty place can console her.
If only she can just disappear…
The remaining ninja and kunoichi stared off into the horizon where Liana was last seen.
"LIANA!" Forrest still called out to his sister, not caring that she can't hear him anyway.
At the same time, Akira still felt the same pain he never felt before in his heart. It wasn't as bad as the cuts and bruises he got when training or fighting enemies but at the same time, it felt far worse than that.
"YOU DID THIS!" Akira glared at Alex and marched towards her. Each stomp felt like a miniature earthquake until he finally reached her.
The kunoichi of wind stood her ground as her brother targeted his rage on her.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER!?" He grabbed the collar of her orange top and lifted her so they were literally eye-to-eye.
"I wasn't trying to split you up!" The orange kunoichi shoved her brother off, "I only wanted her to be more cautious! It was either you dumping her or this!"
"Well it didn't work!"
"Akira! Stop it!" Misako scolded her student.
"But it Alex's fault Liana ran away!"
"No! I didn't intend for her to react like this!"
"None of you are at fault for Liana's actions," Misako spoke in a firm voice, "As harsh as it may be, there's no one and nothing to blame for Liana's choices and reactions but Liana herself. She chose to believe she doesn't belong here and leave."
"But what about the things I said to her earlier?"
"She could've chosen to confront Akira in a calmer manner or hear you out but chose not to."
The Pyrrhus twins weren't sure how to react to their teacher's painfully true words. They were at fault but so was Liana…
"Where do you think she could've gone…?" Melody asked, feeling sorry for Liana.
"I don't know," Misako confessed, "It will be a huge challenge to find her on time. The Overlord will most likely take advantage of this hindrance to further himself…"
"We have to find her!" Akira exclaimed with determination.
Misako knew the fire ninja was determined not solely because the team had to be united. She knew of these 'strange' feelings Akira had when Liana was around. She experienced those same feelings before ultimately choosing independence.
Meanwhile, Forrest didn't say a single word. He went into the bridge with mute determination and set the Bounty towards the one place where they can find answers.
The teal ninja started guiding the ship northwest towards his hometown.
"So Liana's in Arbouria?" Willow looked at the Bounty's moving icon on the map.
"She most likely won't be in Arbouria," Forrest started, "She wouldn't want to be back with the girls who've made fun of her over the years."
"I guess…"
"But I know someone there who can help us."
"Who?"
"Someone who knows what Liana's going through more than we do…"
DING DONG!
Heather was curious to why someone would pay her and her husband a visit all of a sudden but opened the door anyway only to be surprised at the sight of her son standing before her.
"Forrest! It's been such a long time!" The former kunoichi embraced him.
"Mom, you wouldn't mind if we all stay for a while, will you?" The teal ninja asked, motioning to the rest of the group accompanying him.
"Of course not! Why don't you all come in?" The English woman let them inside, "I'll get some Darjeeling tea ready."
After some quick introductions, Heather led them to the living room but when she tried to ask some questions on why they were here but she did notice something…
"By the way, where's Liana?" Heather asked.
Forrest felt terrible for lying to his mother but he wanted to wait until he was here.
"She's… guarding the Bounty…" The nature ninja said with much reluctance.
"Well, Liana has always been a bit of a loner…" The kunoichi turned florist pondered, "I can see why but make sure she does come here. I miss her so…"
The ninjas felt even worse knowing what really happened and didn't look forward to breaking the former kunoichi's heart because of what happened to her daughter. They really wanted to tell her now but Forrest kept hissing at them to stay quiet until the he arrives.
Finally, the person Forrest wanted to speak with was home.
Zane returned from work, expecting a 'welcome home' kiss from his wife. Instead, the ice ninja got the new generation at his house.
"Dad!" Forrest also greeted his father with a hug.
"Forrest!" The ninja teacher was astonished by his son's sudden presence but nonetheless, he was happy to see him after such a long time apart.
The others felt a little homesick but knew the reunion will all too quickly turn unpleasant.
Zane was initially pleased to see his son again but he felt like something was amiss.
"Forrest, where is your sister? Where's Liana…?" Zane's already alabaster face became slightly whiter when he noticed that all of the ninjas were at his home but his daughter was nowhere to be seen. He also noticed the gloomy expressions on the ninjas' face and he can tell something serious must've happened to her…
"Where is she?" He asked yet again, "Where is my daughter?"
"That's pretty much the reason why we came here…" The tall ninja was sure his parents won't take it well… "Liana… ran away."
CRASH!
The tray of teacups Heather carried plummeted to the ground once she heard what happened to her daughter. The antique teacups splintered into tiny pieces and the carpet was soaked with hot tea.
"Y-you said she was guarding the Bounty…!" The poor mother can't believe her daughter went missing and that her son lied to her.
The teal ninja still felt bad for lying to his mother but he wanted his father to be there as well.
"I wanted to tell you when we came here but I think this is something Dad should hear." Forrest rubbed his hands nervously.
Zane understood his daughter's pain over her lack of acceptance and sense of isolation but she never did anything so drastic until now.
"But why would Liana run away…?" Heather was already sobbing uncontrollably, having to be held by her husband lest she collapses in shock.
"She felt like she didn't belong with us," Akira spoke but looked down in guilt, "I tried to get her to open up but she felt like I only saw her for her looks and powers and fooled her into thinking she had her place among us."
Finally, the fire wielder looked up to face the music. He gulped when Zane gave him a look that was calm yet obviously faked. He can tell the former ninja was very angry at him for hurting his daughter and didn't even want to imagine what sort of punishment Liana's father could inflict on him for hurting her.
"What have you done?" Zane's voice was quiet but at the same time, low and ominous.
The olive-skinned youth was at a loss of words...
"Don't blame Akira alone," Alex spoke up, "It's also my fault for telling Liana these things."
"Alex…" The fire ninja was surprised yet again that his sister was willing to defend him despite the things she said about him earlier.
"I knew Liana would be devastated if she had her heart broken and I tried to warn her before it can happen but… she didn't take it well…" The orange kunoichi also feared the ice ninja will also punish her for saying hurtful things to his daughter but told herself it was part of karma.
Instead, Zane gave an understanding look towards the Pyrrhus twins but they can still see hints of disapproval in his crystalline eyes but Heather's reaction was more outspoken.
"How could you say those things to my daughter!?" The bereft mother wailed, "Don't you two have any idea what you've done!? My daughter's missing and it's because of you!"
The poor woman broke down in hysterical sobs and Zane had to support her. It was not a pretty sight for the ninjas to see a mother cry over her child who could be missing or worse, which was something they all avoided thinking about.
"I'm sorry," Alex apologized again, "I didn't want Liana's heart to break because of Akira."
"I understand that you meant well but sometimes, the things we say and do can only cause the opposite of what we intended to happen. It's part of what makes us human. I'm still truthfully very upset with what you've said but nothing should ever be done out of anger. Violence won't resolve anything." The ice ninja said coolly.
After Heather finally calmed down, Zane was retold on how it all happened. What surprised the ninjas was that he didn't seem as surprised as they thought he would be.
"Liana was very timid all her life and as a result, she's very sensitive and doesn't take rejection very well," Zane gazed out the window into the vast world where his daughter now lurked, "Her circumstances today are very much like my own. I also felt isolated from my own kin even when I stood next to them but they and my father helped me embrace what made me unique but at the same time, an integral part of the team but that wasn't it. I also found acceptance for who I am and I want Liana to find her place but she isn't as optimistic as I was."
"I apologize for rushing but we have to find Liana." Misako got up and summoned her students to do likewise.
"I won't let Liana doom herself by her inner demons," The ice ninja stood up too, "I'll help you search for my daughter."
"The love a parent has for their child is truly a powerful thing," The scholar mused, "Perhaps it's stronger than even the First Spinjitzu Master himself."
"Zane, will you be alright out there?" Heather asked, "The Overlord and his agents may be after you or even Liana and your body and abilities may not be what they used to be."
"That is of little importance to me as long as I can find our daughter," The ex-nindroid kissed his wife's face which was damp with her tears, "I'll return once we find Liana."
"Please, bring our daughter back…" The English woman embraced her husband.
"I will," Zane whispered to her, "I promise."
The ninjas were back in the Bounty to search for Liana but this time, Zane accompanied them. He knew what Liana was going through better than everyone else because he went through the same thing. Before he met the ninjas, he was something of an outsider, even when he thought he was human. The people of the village he happened upon before meeting Sensei Wu thought of him as 'strange' and even whispered unsavory things about him behind his back. Whenever he had a vision that soon came true, the villagers instead blamed him and even thought he was insane. The mean words thrown at him really hurt him and he was tempted to run away but it was thanks to Sensei Wu and the ninjas that Zane finally found acceptance for who he was. He wanted the same for Liana but she made it more difficult for her to feel accepted by imposing the idea that she's only liked for her looks and powers alone and not for her real self.
At the same time, he was hit by a wave of nostalgia traveling through Ninjago again.
'This is just like old times…' Zane gazed at the lands far below, the rolling hills cast shadows, the trees looked like dots, and the clouds flew around him, not above him. Yet the memories failed to lure him away from his mission to find his daughter.
"Mr. Julien?"
The ex-nindroid's thoughts were interrupted by Kyle.
"Is there something you need to ask of me?" Zane allowed the young man to question him.
"We're meeting at the bridge," The metal ninja started, "Are you coming?"
"Yes."
At the bridge, Zane immediately planned out how to find Liana.
"We'll have a hard time finding Liana," The runaway kunoichi's father decided not to sugarcoat the truth, "She could be just about anywhere."
"At this rate, we'll never find her!" Leon huffed in frustration.
"There may be a couple of places Liana could go," Zane suggested, "First, there's that one place that started it all for me…"
Forrest knew what his father was talking about. While telling his children of his true origins, the ice ninja took them to the cold forest where his second life began and where their grandfather spent the rest of his days in solitude, back to where it all began…
The Birchwood Forest was the same as ever, covered in perpetual snow and solitude. The trees all looked the same but there was one Zane still recognized after all these years. He felt for the tiny latch and the indiscernible door opened.
"This is where my life as a nindroid began and where the body I dwell in now was made." Zane's memories played in his head like an old movie, "Liana is similar not just to me but to my father as well. Like Liana, my father had enough of the cruelties of society and ran away, even if he'll be alone and it was in his loneliness that my father brought me back to life after my first life as a human ended."
The ninjas' footsteps echoed in the hollowed out chamber as they walked down the old winding stairs and wandered around the small sanctuary. Haukka too flew in and scanned the chamber for any signs of recent human activity.
"Someone must've been here." Zane observed some of the objects that have been moved since his last visit. The only people he ever told of this place were the ninjas and his family.
"Liana was here."
Haukka ran a quick scan of the fingerprints on the moved objects and it too matched Liana. The ninja and kunoichi knew they were on her unseen trail.
"This place would be too obvious for us to find her but there's that one other place where she may still go." Zane also remembered a certain place that matched his daughter's cold nature.
The ninja and kunoichi were all ears, eager to find their missing sister.
"Very few people would want to make the voyage there and it will be the perfect place for her to be alone away from judging eyes. I have been there a few times myself and it was from that place I knew I was destined to be a ninja. I still know how to get there."
With Zane temporarily joining the ninjas, they felt confident that they'll find their missing sister. Many years have passed by but the former ninja still kept his wisdom that was invaluable to his team before and he still used it to find his daughter as they followed him out of the woods.
But what the group didn't know was that there was someone else who followed them into the Birchwood Forest, watching every single move.
"So that's where he had gone…" The mysterious being mused to itself as it observed the ninjas and the veteran leave the seemingly ordinary tree.
Just like the way it arrived, the enigmatic figure left the scene, unseen by the ninjas…
In the far north of Ninjago where it was cold year round, the ninja and kunoichi continued the search for their missing sister. The Bounty now sailed deep into the Glacial Barrens, the coldest place in all of Ninjago. Even long after the Shurikens of Ice was removed from this place, it was still extremely cold.
Zane remembered the day he and his brothers first ventured here, searching for the Shurikens of Ice his daughter now possessed. While everyone shivered from the bitter cold, Zane wasn't bothered one bit. Being the ninja of ice, he was immune to the cold and this quirk was another trait he passed down to his daughter. Haukka, who flew ahead to find clues, came back with a loud caw, as if trying to point the ninjas to the right direction. Although he was now human, the ice ninja can still understand his robot companion.
"Mr. Julien, are you sure Liana would be here?" Chris asked through clattering teeth, "Because I'm pretty sure no human would survive here for long, let alone live here!"
"Zane, do you remember the geography of this location?" Misako asked.
"Yes. I may be human now but my memories never left me."
The former nindroid even recognized the exact same spot where the original ninjas first docked to find the Shurikens of Ice and commanded the team to drop anchor there. Once the Destiny's Bounty was docked, the ice ninja led the young successors through the icy terrain. He too was clad in his former simple gi to combat the harsh environment and in case Liana lashes out. They didn't get far when he was greeted by a familiar creature he also met for the first time here.
"Shard…!"
The ice dragon rested on its belly upon the ice, all four limbs neatly folded and wings tucked in the sides of its pale torso. The former nindroid had little time to wonder how the Ultra Dragon was able to separate into the four original dragons. If the ice dragon was here, then Liana may not be far.
"Shard, can you reveal my daughter's location?" The ice ninja stroked the creature's snout just like the way he did way back before he even met Lloyd.
Although the large beast remembered Zane, it was loyal to its new mistress and refused to give a single clue to her whereabouts no matter how many times its former rider begged it to reveal his daughter's location.
"I know you're loyal to Liana now but can you please follow us?" The former ninja asked.
Finally, the ice dragon relented and briefly nuzzled Zane, showing he remembered him. It can't forget its mistress but also can't forget her father and finally walked alongside him.
The group continued their search for Liana but it wasn't easy in such a cold and harsh terrain.
"Liana!" The kunoichi's name echoed across the ice and snow she can control but whether she was here or not, there was no answer.
Finally, Haukka spotted her and led the humans to the white kunoichi.
Like her father, Liana's element made her immune to the cold. The ninja and kunoichi found her laying on the ice with her back facing them. The slight shaking of her shoulders made the ninjas know she still wept. The white kunoichi heard them but she was in no mood to see them.
"Liana…"
It pained the former nindroid to see his daughter in such emotional turmoil but he still sought to help her but she didn't want anyone coming near her, not even her own father.
"Go away!" She curled up even tighter and if possible, the air grew colder.
Just like she had done to Akira, the kunoichi of ice summoned a barrier of icicles threatening to pierce the ninjas' bodies. The winds began to pick up and the snow obscured the others' sight but they can still see their sister.
"Liana! Come back!" Forrest pleaded, "We need you!"
"Why!? All you'll ever do is hurt me!"
"We would NEVER do that!" Melody shouted through the blizzard, "We're all different but that never stopped us from working together! Our differences are what binds us as a team!"
For one moment, Liana seemed to believe the water wielder but the bitter memories held her back like psychological chains.
"ALL YOU EVER DO IS TRICK ME INTO THINKING I'M ONE OF YOU WHEN I'M NOT!"
"That's not true!" Akira melted the ice with the Sword of Fire, "We accept you for who you are! It's not about your ice powers or your looks! You belong with us!"
(*) "VALEHTELIJA!"
Another barrier of sharp icicles burst from the ground, keeping the ninjas and Zane from getting close to Liana.
"THAT'S ALL EVERYONE EVER DOES TO ME! YOU ALL KEEP SAYING I FIT IN BUT I JUST CAN'T! I'M NOTHING BUT A FREAK!"
"Liana! Please listen to them!" Zane also pleaded to his daughter, "I know the pain you're going through but if you keep running away, you'll never find true acceptance!"
"IT'S STILL BETTER THAN BEING SHUNNED!"
"Is this really what you want? I found acceptance because I took the chance to be myself to the ninjas back then! Not everyone is the same but you'll never be accepted if you can give them at least one chance!"
"SO THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT!? YOU THINK I'M JUST A NAÏVE LITTLE GIRL!"
"No!" Zane felt hurt that his daughter who was like him in so many ways now doubted him, "All I want is for you to find the acceptance I felt amongst the ninjas!"
"I'm not gonna end up like you!" Liana cried, "Just because you were accepted doesn't mean I will! I'm too different!"
"But after going through so much together, after telling me to show everyone my true self, why do you keep shutting yourself out!?" Kyle understood Liana's plight and tried to help her in the same way she did for him, "What makes you so different even from US!? We all have elemental powers and we all have our differences! What makes you so special!?"
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE!? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PRETEND BEING SOMETHING YOU AREN'T AND STILL GET ROCKS THROWN AT YOU FOR IT!? DO YOU!?"
"What about Mom and Dad!?" Forrest still tried to reach out to his sister, "They did nothing but try helping you but you're the one rejecting them!"
For one second, Liana seemed to have some sense knocked into her. She knew her parents did everything they could to help her find acceptance but the bitter memories of being bullied and insulted was too strong for her to escape. The kunoichi of ice only let out a bloodcurdling wail of agony, making the blizzard grow stronger to keep herself away from the ninjas.
"THERE'S NOTHING ANY OF YOU CAN DO! I'LL NEVER BE ACCEPTED AND THAT'S MY DESTINY! TO BE ALONE AND SHUNNED FOR THE REST OF THIS MISERABLE LIFE I NEVER ASKED FOR!"
"Will you shut up already!?"
Everyone, even Zane and Misako, were shocked by the person calling out Liana.
"You're not being accepted because society isn't the problem! It's YOU!" Unlike his comrades, Chris chose to be blunt with Liana, "YOU are the one pushing us away before giving us even one chance! YOU are the one who keeps imposing this idea that you're some special snowflake brat who thinks the world's out to get you! Society's not accepting you because of this 'too different from the other girls' bullshit! It's because YOU are not taking the chance! You whine about not being accepted but all you do is keep up this 'woe is me' attitude! That's YOUR problem!"
"Chris…!" Willow was flabbergasted by the lightning ninja's sudden audacity.
The blue ninja didn't care if he'll get in trouble for calling Liana a brat in front of her father. The kunoichi of ice was much more stubborn than she seemed and if there was any way to snap her out of her special snowflake syndrome, someone would have to tell her the harsh truth.
Liana let out yet another sorrowful cry over but the storms didn't die down.
"Liana, we'll help you find acceptance," Forrest tried one more time to appeal to his sister, "You have to give us a chance. Not everyone will like you but that's okay. There are also others such as us who see you for who you are. If only you can see that."
"I understand how you feel. I went through the same dilemma and despair," Zane too reached out to her, "If you keep holding onto the bad memories, you'll never be able to move on. Let us accept you. Show us the real you."
'I want to stay as me.'
The kunoichi of ice remembered the kindness the ninjas, especially Akira, showed her. Despite all the encouragement they gave her, she only repaid them with coldness and complaints. She considered rejoining them but still remembering what Alex told her, she wasn't sure if she can do it without risking having her heart broken.
The poor girl finally broke down, unsure of what to do anymore.
Liana finally collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably over her emotional pain. The terrible snowstorm also dissolved alongside her rage. Zane felt terrible seeing his child in such pain, much like the one he felt so many years ago.
The former nindroid cradled his daughter as if she was still a child and in his eyes, she was still his little girl.
"Is… she gonna be okay…?" Forrest crept closer to check on his sister.
"…I want to go home…" Liana whispered.
"You are home… with us…" Akira held out his hand to caress her pale skin but she squirmed in her father's arm away from him, leaving the fire ninja with a terrible feeling within his heart.
"No…" The pale girl still looked away from him, burying her face in her father's clothes, "I want to be alone…"
"Don't cry," Zane stroked his daughter's hair that was similar to his, "I'll take you home."
"But what does she mean by 'home'…?" Leon asked.
"She still has emotional wounds that need to heal," Misako spoke softly, "The life of a kunoichi is no longer for her, at least over the next few days."
"Are you saying she's gonna quit!?" Amy was flabbergasted by her teacher's suggestion for her teammate to leave, "We can't be a team unless Liana's with us!"
"Liana's been through a lot of pain," The shrewd woman replied, "Sometimes, we must leave to mend our wounds. She needs some time to heal… away from us. That's why she must go home to her parents, the only people she believes accepts her for who she is. Zane, are you willing to take your daughter back?"
The former ninja didn't give a direct answer. He wordlessly lifted his vulnerable daughter in his arms and carried back towards the Bounty with Forrest and Haukka not far behind. The others stepped aside, giving him some space as he made his way back.
The ninjas weren't sure if their mission was accomplished.
They had Liana but at the same time, they didn't…
(*) Valehtelija = Liar (Finnish)
Oh man. Even though the ninjas & Zane found Liana, she's still not truly reunited with them.
Will she slip back into her depression or will she be able to fight again? And who was that mysterious figure that stalked the ninjas at Birchwood Forest?
We might find out later but first, I want to thank you all not just for your wonderful reviews but also for voting on my poll. The results are finally in and… the Lloyd/Iris special will be about their first date! But with a couple of stories in the works right now, it may take a long time before I can publish it so please be patient!
As always, please review!