Children of Destiny
Hi guys! We're FINALLY gonna focus on Amy for the next couple of chapters! Being the kunoichi of earth, she's the type of person who tries to support the team but that may lead to some issues as we'll see here so read on!
Chapter 32: Bearing the Weight
"NINJA-GO!"
A brown tornado made of solid earth with small stones swirling around it spun across the deck, wiping out the obstacle course. Although she was now the only person left who has yet to find their true potential, that didn't stop Amy from doing whatever she can for her team or make no less than her best effort in everything she did.
"Amy, just like your teammates, the thing that is holding you back is within your heart, not from an outside source." Misako lectured the earth wielder.
"I understand…" She nodded.
"Are you having any problems lately?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. All I'm trying to do is fulfill my duties as a kunoichi. Just like the earth, I must stay solid so the ninjas can depend on me."
"Is there anything else you're feeling?"
"Nothing, really. I'm content just trying to be a responsible sister for the team. Sure, it can be a little stressful but that's part of being a ninja. As the kunoichi of earth, it's my duty to keep the team together. I'll be fine."
"Who are you telling this to, Amy? Me or you?"
The black kunoichi fell silent, something the wise old woman noticed.
Amy always convinced the others to confide with her but she hardly let anyone do so with her. The earth is strong and solid but it isn't almighty and the smallest things like drops of water and a light breeze can erode it over time until it finally falls apart. The earth may bring support and substance to the other elements but it needed them in return to maintain stability or else it will crumble from its own burdens…
Ever since the rescue mission became a success, Akira and Liana were hanging out more often. The red ninja considered himself lucky that Alex finally approved of him pursuing a relationship with the kunoichi of ice. Ever since they reconciled, they've been opening up to each other and the half-Japanese ninja wanted to do likewise with the white kunoichi.
Akira watched Liana fix up Haukka and trying to find ways to upgrade the avian robot.
"You said Haukka followed you on its own, correct?" Liana inquired the fire ninja.
"Yeah." The olive-skinned man nodded.
"I also wonder what Haukka would say if it were able to talk."
"That would be something…" Akira admitted.
"I also wonder what Father would think if I make some changes with his lifelong companion…"
"He'll be impressed. I can tell he really loves you and wants you to be happy."
Liana reminisced of the family life she left behind. She still had Forrest but without her parents, she felt a little defenseless. They often held and comforted her after a terrible day at school or when the other girls say mean things about her and if they accompanied her, they would stand up for her. She ended up taking her parents' devotion to her for granted and now that she was on her own, she finally realized how much they meant to her…
'Mother… Father…'
Her hands started to shake but Akira noticed and grabbed her hands. Liana was startled by the sudden warmth on her extremities and lifted her face to make eye contact with the fire wielder. Hot ambers met cool greyish-blue orbs.
"Liana, you were getting jittery. Are you alright?" Akira asked.
"I'm fine…" She sighed.
"So… as I mentioned earlier, I think your dad wouldn't mind if you upgraded Haukka."
"But I'm not sure if he'll welcome such a big change in a companion he knew all his life…"
"Even if Haukka will be able to speak, it'll still be the same falcon that accompanied and helped your dad and even us. Just because it'll sound different doesn't mean it'll completely change."
"I guess you're right, but only Haukka should decide if it wants to really communicate with us."
The robotic falcon stood on its legs and tilted its head in an expecting manner.
"Alright Haukka. Tell us if you want to talk. Squawk once for yes and twice for no." Akira said.
The large bird stood silent for a few moments before letting a single, albeit very loud, squawk.
"Well, there's your answer." Akira rubbed his ear to clear out the tinnitus plaguing his eardrum.
Liana gave a shy chuckle and began to work on the falcon.
For once, she was finally happy and hopeful that she may have found her place. Maybe things can work between her and Akira…
Tonight was Amy's turn to cook so the sisterly kunoichi of earth whipped up a luxurious boeuf bourguignon and even an apple tart for dessert to feed her hungry teammates. But her doting behavior didn't go unnoticed.
Melody knew her sister better than anyone else and also knew how stubborn she can be since even she was stubborn from time to time, thanks to their dad. That stubbornness drove Amy to work hard to be a good sister and peacekeeper of the team but that same attitude was causing her to drag herself down.
"Phew!" The black kunoichi slumped on her chair in exhaustion, "Now I know why Mom doesn't make this dish often!"
"Why wouldn't she? This is delicious!" Willow chowed down on the fork-tender beef.
"It's good but it takes quite a bit of effort but hey, anything for you guys." Amy shrugged before helping herself to her portion that was noticeably a bit smaller than everyone else's, something that didn't go unnoticed by the sister of earth.
Melody was growing concerned that her sister was starting to push herself beyond her limit. No one was perfect or can do everything by themselves and Amy needed to realize that before it's too late. But even after everyone finished, Amy still made it her sole duty to clean up after her teammates, leaving no room for assistance.
"Sis, you don't have to push yourself so hard." The purple kunoichi offered to help her pick up and clean the dishes and silverware.
"Don't worry about me, Melody. I'm fine." The auburn-haired girl brushed her off.
"I know you're just trying to look out for us but it's not healthy to bear the burdens alone."
"But I'm your older sister. I have to look out for you and everyone else. I can't fail Dad after all he taught me."
"When Dad told you to look out for me, I'm pretty sure he didn't mean exhausting yourself and ignoring your own problems."
"I don't have any problems."
"Then why are you working harder than usual? You're always a caring person but you've been working much harder lately."
It was no secret to everyone else that Amy was something of an older sister to the whole team, a duty the kunoichi of earth took very seriously much like her father had been many years ago. She was always trying to support the ninjas and look after them despite not being the eldest of the group. It was a quirk she got from her father, who entrusted her to look after Melody since she was a little girl and that sense of responsibility extended to the whole team. But ever since Akira and Alex found their true potential, Amy's been working harder than ever and the purple kunoichi had a hunch that it may be deeper than that…
"Amy, you're not actually jealous are you?" The kunoichi of water asked all of a sudden.
"Me? Jealous? What are you talking about!?" Amy asked, taken aback by the accusation.
"Does this have to do with not finding your true potential yet?" Melody still questioned her.
"W-what…!? No…!" The black kunoichi stuttered and blushed, feeling embarrassed.
"I don't want you exhausting yourself because of me."
"It's not just for you."
"I know that," The raven-haired girl brushed her off, "But we're not kids and you have your own needs. You can't neglect your own wellbeing just for us. You're an important part of the team. If something happens to you, only the First Spinjitzu Master knows what will become of us."
"That's the point. I have to stay strong to keep the team together."
"And that's the real problem. You always go out of your way to help me and everyone else but you never let us help you. You can't carry the weight all by yourself. Amy, you're always such a good sister to me and now, I want to return the favor. Let us all return the favor. You have your own needs too."
"That's just being selfish! I don't need anything!" Amy exclaimed.
"No one's perfect! Not even you! You're always helping us but whenever we offer you help, all you do is brush us off! It's unhealthy!" The purple kunoichi protested.
"I can take care of my own needs!"
"And what is it? What do YOU need?"
Amy bit her lip, unsure how to answer because she didn't really think about her needs.
'What do I need…?'
"Melody, I- "
Much to Amy's surprise, her sister was gone but in a sense, it didn't make much of a difference.
She was always alone with the burden of carrying the team's weight…
"Alex! Take a look at this!" Liana beckoned the new sister of fire over.
"What is it?" The orange kunoichi asked once she was in the bridge with the kunoichi of ice.
"I decided to upgrade Haukka since he managed to rescue you and Akira. I grew curious to what it would've said if it were able to talk so I installed some voice chips into it. Check it out."
The white kunoichi had Haukka perched on her arm, looking the same as ever but the kunoichi of wind knew that looks can be deceiving.
"Haukka, what's the weather today?" Liana tested out its new vocal program.
"The weather is mostly sunny with some imminent clouds." The mechanical falcon's new voice sounded very artificial and somewhat garbled but it was pretty good for a first try.
"Wow! That's really neat!" The orange kunoichi stared at the robot bird in awe.
"I have to admit this is a pretty big feat for me. However, the voice chips are simple so Haukka can only say a bunch of one-word sentences and simple phrases but I'll try to improve it. I hope Father wouldn't mind."
"Liana, don't let other people's opinions override your own." Alex still encouraged the shy girl to be true to her real self.
"But Haukka has been this way for as long as my father knew it. I'm not sure if he'll accept such a big change in his lifelong companion…"
"Why don't you just talk to him? He seems like the guy who at least tries to understand things. I love my own dad but you should consider yourself very lucky to have him."
"He's also probably busy with work but I can try talking to him on the weekend…"
"That's the spirit! There's nothing wrong with being more assertive with your ideas."
"Even if it's bad…?"
"As much as everyone has good ideas, they also have some pretty crappy ones, such as the time I tried pork chops with grape jam."
"Now that's a bad idea…" The usually reticent girl shuddered.
"Hey, at least I learned something from that." Alex shrugged.
"And that is…?"
"Never trust grape-flavored anything!"
The two kunoichi shared a hearty laugh.
This may be the beginning of a new friendship…
Back at the factory in the tiny island, there was a secret the Overlord had that the ever pestilent ninjas have yet to know. The building was very much the tip of the iceberg and it had a medley of secrets. Connected by the escape route Ash destroyed was a larger underground facility for making nindroids and having enough room for the revived Serpentine to get used to having real bodies again but there was still plenty of space for the Overlord's sinister plans.
Ash oversaw the construction of more nindroids, Clouse was doing target practice with photos of the ninja and kunoichi as targets, and the Serpentine plotted just like they had done before they were killed off the first time.
"The transformation failed. What should we do now?" Jacob questioned his master.
"We'll still test it out. We just won't have any humans to try it out on…" The Overlord replied.
"But what can we get in this island? We're pretty much the only civilization here," Karl pouted, "Besides, the results might not be the same."
"Just find any creature you can get your hands on and bring them here!" The epitome of all evil raised his voice, knowing he always got the same fearful response he relished so much.
"U-understood!" His underling relented and scurried off with Clouse and Ronin in tow.
"Masssster…" Skales slithered towards his higher-up with an expectant expression, "When will you plan to sssstrike… The ninjasssss aren't getting any weaker…"
"Those brats are not the only target… We still have to get them out of the way…" The Overlord hissed and hovered towards the few scrolls his minions were able to salvage.
"Yes," Pythor joined in, "We also sided with you because if things go as originally planned, your army will increase."
"It will take time but patience is key…"
"Try ssssaying that to thosssse humansssss." Acidicus pointed at the Overlord's human minions who remained in the underground chamber.
"Humans are detestable creatures but these men are an exception. They'll stay here."
The Serpentine still disliked working with the same beings that imprisoned and killed them but as much as they hated to admit it, the Overlord was king and anything he says goes. Until they have enough power, they'll obey his orders…
"Earth!"
As part of her elemental training, Amy stood upon the earth next to the docked Bounty to hone her earthen powers. She slammed both palms of her hand onto the ground and cracks issuing from her hands split the earth and large rock formations burst from the fissures. Even the ninja and kunoichi had trouble standing against the powerful tremors. Amy was still in touch with her powers but they didn't seem to be improving…
"How are you doing?" Misako checked on the black kunoichi.
"My true potential hasn't come yet… I don't know what's going on…" She sighed.
"Amy, training alone won't unlock your true potential. You have to look deep within. Be honest with me, are you having any doubts and uncertainties?"
"I am a little upset for being the only one left who hasn't found their true potential but I know I can't be the center of everything…"
"Earth is a central element. Man has depended on the earth for so many things such as the soil fertile enough to grow food and large stones to build houses, but the earth alone can't defend man from the other elements or provide for them forever. It's at the center but not necessarily the strongest. Each and every element coexist to balance each other out."
The kunoichi of earth was slightly exasperated with all the advice given to her. She heard those same words from her father when he entrusted her to be there for her sister.
"Hey Amy, why don't you take a break? You already worked so hard today." Leon offered.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." The black kunoichi dismissed her teammate.
"You need to take a break," Alex added, "If something happens to you now, the whole team will fall apart. You're too important for us to lose."
"And that's why I must keep going."
The auburn-haired girl would've continued her training but fate had other plans for her.
The kunoichi of earth suddenly fell to her knees, causing much concern from the others but she didn't want help as long as they needed her to keep the team glued together.
"Amy! You need to get some rest!" Melody pleaded.
"I-I have to keep training… or else I'll fail you…"
"Fail me!? Sis! Stop overworking yourself!"
"Stop nagging me!" Amy finally lost her temper and lashed out, much to her sister's shock.
The water wielder was taken aback by her sister's temper but held her tongue. The kunoichi of earth tried to get up again but her legs won't stop shaking and her consciousness slipped away as suddenly as these weak sensations came.
"AMY!"
The ninjas gathered around their unconscious teammate laying in a heap on the ground.
"W-what's wrong with her!?" Alex was disturbed by the black kunoichi's sudden ailment.
Kyle grabbed the fainted girl's wrist and sensed her pulse through the iron in her blood.
"Her heart rate's normal. It's most likely she was just overworking herself." He answered.
"We need to help her before she deteriorates any further!" Liana helped carry her back to the Bounty and get treated.
Misako was concerned for the earth wielder but can't hide her disappointment.
She was such a sweet girl but she can be so stubborn, no surprise knowing her father. The earth may give others stability but sometimes, it needed its own support for its own stability.
Amy couldn't see or feel anything nor can she remember what happened.
'Amy…!'
Several voices called out her name multiple times before the earth wielder can finally feel her body again and have the energy to even lift her eyelids. The black kunoichi opened her emerald eyes groggily to meet the ceiling and the concerned faces of her sister and the other ninja and kunoichi in her room.
"What… what happened…?" Amy turned over to find herself lying on her bed. Even her gentle melodious voice was nothing but a feeble whisper.
"You fainted." Forrest answered.
"…Q-q-quoi…?"
The auburn-haired girl groggily got up but her skull felt like it would burst in an instant. Crying out in pain, she fell back down onto the pillow, clutching her aching cranium.
"Amy, don't push yourself." Misako placed a warm compress on her head.
"We were really worried about you!" Melody cried.
"Really…? I-I must've caused quite a scare back there…" She sighed.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard." Akira pointed out.
"I-I'm so sorry for making you worry so much…" The ailing girl lamented but this only agitated her little sister.
"This is the problem, Amy! You're always helping us but you never let us return the favor!" The sister of earth complained.
"B-but how…?"
"Amy, I understand how much it means for you to provide for your team but that doesn't mean you should neglect your own wellbeing. As much as you thrive to take care of others, you also have to be able to take care of yourself." Misako lectured the sisterly kunoichi.
"But I don't want to weigh you down…"
"And you are by exhausting yourself and not letting us help you," Melody retorted, "If you keep pushing yourself and ignore us whenever we try to help you, not even I know what will happen and none of us would want to know. Amy, you've done so much for me since we were little and now, give us a chance to return it."
"But I'm the one who should look out for you- "
"Listen to your sister, Amy," Misako cut off the earth wielder, taking her sister's side, "Because she is right."
"I just don't want to be selfish…"
"There's nothing wrong with accepting help from others or prioritizing your own needs. No one can do everything by themselves, not even Lloyd during his final battle. In order to take care of the ones you love, you must know how to take care of yourself."
"I need to be alone..." Amy sighed.
"Very well." The understanding Misako shooed everyone else away to give the black kunoichi some space to recover.
The kunoichi of earth still rested in her room when someone came in.
"Chris…!" Amy was surprised to see the lightning ninja standing before her.
"Amy, are you alright?" Chris decided to check in on the earth wielder.
Amy can only give a weak mumble and the blue ninja can tell she was still unwell.
"I know what it's like being the older sibling. Ever since Kyle was born, my parents told me I had to look out for him and it can be pretty tough. I've had plenty of moments where I just want to give up and walk out but that is real selfishness. Not catering to your own needs."
"I just don't want to let Melody or my father down…"
The blue ninja mutely looked at her in a manner similar to a detective staring at someone after they say something shady.
"What's your father like?"
"Didn't your father already tell you about him?"
"But only in his words. What's he really like?"
"Well, he always doted on me, Melody, and even our mother. Outside of that, he's a gentle yet hard-working man, but Mom and even a bunch of people who know him say he's stubborn…"
"I can definitely see how you're related. You're being stubborn as hell." Chris said bluntly.
"Me? Stubborn?"
Amy knew how 'raw' Chris can get and readied herself for an earful from the blunt ninja.
"I know you're a strong girl but there's a difference between being selfless and ignorant."
"Are you saying I'm ignorant?"
"Yes." Chris said in a firm matter-of-fact tone that struck Amy's heart like a lightning bolt.
"How am I being ignorant?" The black kunoichi was honestly a little hurt by Chris' words.
"You act like you can do everything by yourself and that you never have any problems, not even when they're right in front of you. You're essentially ignoring your own issues and focusing on ours and that's another problem with you, you keep coddling us. We have our problems so we can fix them, not have someone else do it for them. If that's the way you're going to treat your sister, she will never be able to really grow up. I look out for Kyle and Sayuri and help them out when they really need me but I still let them mature and figure out their own way to solve their issues. I may be the eldest but I know I can't bear all of your burdens on my shoulders and that I can't be good at everything or do it on my own."
"What does that have to do with ignorance?"
"I do what I can to help my siblings but I don't ignore my own needs either and I prioritize them when I can. People are naturally selfish and we can't escape from it. It's only really bad if you're going to blatantly ignore anything that doesn't concern you or only make decisions or do deeds solely for your own self-interest. You obviously can't do everything by yourself and now, you're too weak to even do anything."
Amy felt hurt but she also felt a sense of realization but she didn't want to face it now.
"I need some time to think…"
"Fine."
The raven-haired ninja left Amy's room. So many thoughts swam in her head her brain started to ache again. Thinking she can sleep it off this time, the black kunoichi sank into her covers and let herself be swept away from reality for now…
Amy can feel nothing, not even her own body. She didn't even have the energy to open her eyes.
'What happened…?'
The calming scent of fresh flowers tickled Amy's nostrils before she opened her jade eyes. Once she had to energy to even move her eyelids, she awoke to see a cloudless spring sky smile down on her. Once her sense of touch returned, she could feel the soft grass beneath her body. Finally, the kunoichi of earth got up and found herself no longer wearing her trademark black uniform but a simple white dress. Surrounding were was a myriad of flowers dancing in the breeze and some of their petals danced through the air. Amy finally took in her surroundings.
The green-eyed girl saw what could be the one and only true manifestation of paradise.
The field was beautiful and idyllic, looking even more lush than the Valley of Plenty not far from her hometown of Meerheim.
The grassy hills were green and she can see the light ripples created by the breeze. The river that ran through the valley sparkled under the sunlight and the mountains on the horizon gave Amy a sense of comfort and security.
But as suddenly as she found herself here, the skies was smothered in dark storm clouds and the ominous sound of thunder shook the whole land.
'No!'
Amy felt a strong determination to preserve the land she hardly knew.
Just as suddenly as the storm came, the kunoichi of earth felt an extremely heavy weight on her shoulders. Her spine bent down and her knees buckled but she refused to cave in. Yet the heavy burden still bombarded her until her arm faltered. Part of the earth split at that moment and the crack left a very ugly blemish on the once pristine valley.
Despite the terrible weight she carried, Amy didn't want to valley to crumble because of her. She couldn't bear the thought of something terrible happening because of her faltering. Yet she only felt weaker and fell to her knees. More fissures appeared across the valley and the mountains in the horizon started to crumble.
Finally, her body can't take it anymore and she collapsed…
Amy suddenly woke with a startle.
She stared at her clock that showed her it was late afternoon.
The earth wielder thought of what happened in her dream and what she felt.
'What's wrong with me…?' The black kunoichi sunk her face in her hands and wept.
She was so busy guiding the others she lost her own sense of direction.
'Where will I go from here…?"
I'm sorry if this seems slow but I don't want to rush the last true potential. Like Liana, I don't plan of having Amy's true potential happen during a battle since the true potential is supposed to be found by fulfilling inner peace. For now, please review!