Children of Destiny
Hello again everyone! I've said it before & I'll say it again, it feels great getting back to this story & here, we'll find some foreshadowing hints on what's in store for the ninjas!
Chapter 41: Coming Soon…
The small stage was booming with applause from the crowds at Luna's mini-concert.
"Danke schön! Thank you all so much!"
Luna was grateful for all the people that showed up at her mini-concert. Even after retiring, her music continued to top the charts and so many people were beyond ecstatic when she returned to the stage to sing in public again. As such, her concerts were sold out within minutes but what made it worth for the former idol was not the fame nor the fans.
She sang so the money would go to rebuilding the city and to bring the people's morals up. Ever since she first became a kunoichi, she was encouraged by Cole to realize her own strength and convince her to find her own way to help others. The aqua-eyed woman eventually found it by healing others and keeping them from being dragged down by bad situations.
One thing she believed in was that there was always that silver lining on every storm cloud.
But one thing she loved more than singing was to just be with her husband and their beautiful daughters and with the concert finished, she can finally go home.
While getting ready to leave, Luna could've sworn she saw something familiar.
Like seeing a face she hasn't seen in a long time…
"Luna, is something wrong?" One of the stagehands noticed the former kunoichi's uneasiness.
"I just thought I saw someone…"
"Who?" Another staff member asked.
"Nothing," The kunoichi diva dismissed her, "I was probably seeing things…"
But in the back of her mind, Luna knew it was NOT her eyes playing tricks on her. She knew that face since the day she first saw him and knew it was real, from the shadows obscuring parts of his face to that evil glint in his eyes.
She should've known the Overlord's forces weren't truly destroyed but never thought that they would come back so soon…
But the kunoichi of water knew there was no use delaying the inevitable.
The sooner she can alert her husband, the more time they might have to prepare for the return of darkness…
Today, the new generation had to sit out of repairing Ninjago City and for good reason.
"T-they… they were all over us…!" Akira shivered while Aria brushed his dirty blonde locks back in place.
The young ninja and kunoichi took refuge in the monastery that was nearly complete.
"Don't mind them," Kai scoffed, "They're just a bunch of desperate lonely brats who don't have anything better to do outside of worshipping the ground anyone who's at least half-attractive has walked on."
"You guys have powers and they don't. What's the big deal?" Alex asked.
"What's the big deal!?" Chris repeated his cousin's question, flabbergasted at her naïveté, "Do you have idea what those lunatics would've done if they caught us!? It would be a miracle if we even live after one hour of their screeching and groping!"
"Strange of you to say that. We defeated the Overlord of all people yet you act like wimps when it comes to fans?" The orange kunoichi raised an eyebrow at her eldest cousin.
"Don't blame us. Fangirls are scary." Kyle also shook in his seat.
"I hear ya," Jay patted his son's back sympathetically, "Even after I made it clear I only had eyes for your mom, those batshit crazy bitches still didn't know when to quit."
"I also know exactly how you feel." Zane too sympathized with the boys.
The kunoichi were also terrified of them albeit for different reasons.
"And I thought the girls back at school were harsh…" Liana shuddered.
"Yeah," Amy added, "They called me and the girls some pretty scary things."
"What did they say to you?" Cole asked in an ominous voice.
Knowing how protective their father can get, the Charbonneau sisters were reluctant to tell him about the frankly disturbing things the fangirls spewed out of their mouths.
"It's all in the past, Dad. You don't have to worry about us." The kunoichi of earth attempted to quell her father's provoked temper.
"If anyone talks to you and Melody like that, I'm gonna gouge their eyes out, rip off their limbs, and feed their entrails to Lorelei!" Cole slammed his fists on the table, destroying it though the aforementioned German Shepherd perked up when her master mentioned entrails…
"Geez, your dad sure is… protective…" Kyle whispered to Melody.
"I guess you could say that…" Even the raven-haired girl was a tad embarrassed by her father's graphic threats.
"Is something wrong?" Cole noticed his younger daughter's whispers.
"Nothing!" The kunoichi of water smiled as if nothing was wrong.
"I'm home!" A mature yet beautiful voice echoed from the foyer of the mostly rebuilt building.
"Mom!" Amy and Melody rushed up to greet their mother.
"How was the concert?" Cole asked after he and his wife separated from their deep kiss.
"It was fine…" The former ninja noticed the way Luna's voice trailed off. He dragged her off to an isolated corner of the hall to have a private talk with her.
"Luna, don't lie to me. Did something happen at the concert?" The earth wielder immediately grew firm with her.
"Nothing went wrong at the concert itself… It's just that I saw… him…" The aqua-eyed woman whispered ominously.
Cole immediately knew what Luna meant and his blood already boiled as he imagined wringing the neck of that sick bastard…
"That slimy creep…" The earth wielder shook his fists, "If I ever see him again…"
"Cole, please," Luna cupped his face in one hand, "We should've known this day would come."
"But that doesn't make me any less angry…"
"There's no use getting angry about it and that could make things worse."
"I… I'm sorry…"
"I know… And I understand how you feel."
The two shared a quick kiss before returning to their kids.
"What were you talking about?" Amy immediately asked her parents.
"Just grown-up stuff." Cole patted her auburn locks.
"Is that all?"
The couple felt awful for hiding the truth yet they didn't want their daughters to get all worked up when there's still so much work to do.
"We'll tell you more when the time is right…"
Melody and Kyle decided to pass the time during the TV commercials trying to get to know each other. They both didn't know why but their differences attracted one another…
"Do you enjoy singing?" Kyle asked, trying to spark a conversation between him and Melody.
"Yeah," The water wielder answered, "Grandpa says we're both good at singing and dancing… but Amy is usually better at the former and the same goes for me with the latter…"
"Does he and your parents play favorites?"
"No. They love us equally for our differences and support us, no matter what we do, even if we don't plan on pursuing a career focusing on music."
"But do you ever wish you were more like your sister or vice versa?"
"Honestly, we do have our moments but we can't be the exact same, even in personality. Amy always thinks with her head while I lean towards thinking with my heart."
"Really? I'm pretty much like Amy then…"
"Then why do even talk with me in the first place?"
"Well, it's a little boring talking with only people similar to you. Even I like to hang out with guys with different interests every now and then. Just because we aren't the same doesn't make one better than the other nor is it an excuse to have vendettas against each other."
"I can see why…"
"What are you two doing?" A third voice joined the conversation.
"Sis!" Melody greeted Amy, who stared down at her and Kyle with genuine curiosity.
"We were talking about your parents." Kyle answered the earth wielder's question.
"What about them?"
"I noticed that they, especially your dad, seems… protective of you."
"Yeah, I have to admit our parents doted on us a lot since we were born." Amy shrugged.
"It does get a little embarrassing but we know they just love us very much." Melody added.
"Me too," Kyle admitted, "My parents care for me and my siblings, even when they're busy at their jobs. But because of Chris and my elements, Sayuri often feels left out."
"By the way, where is she?" Melody asked.
"She's playing with Willow in her room. It's nice seeing her getting along. Sometimes, Chris and I have trouble relating with her because of our gender and age difference…"
"But don't you have at least one thing in common with her?" Amy asked.
"Well for starters, Sayuri's actually very smart for her age and she does have an interest with all sorts of gadgets…"
"Do your parents know?"
"Of course. They encourage all of us to be what we want to be but it's not easy giving us equal attention when two of your kids have powers and the other doesn't."
"Maybe there's a reason she doesn't have any powers… yet…" Melody started.
"What do you mean?" Kyle asked.
"Sensei Lloyd always told us that everything happens for a reason and maybe destiny may have different plans for her…"
"Such as…?"
"Perhaps she'll be able to contribute to the team in her own way…"
"But she's nine!"
"And we were younger when our powers awoken. As you said, she's a smart girl and sooner or later, she'll have to grow up."
"I understand… but I hope that time comes when she's old enough to comprehend it…"
"We'll have to wait and see. As Misako said, that's the beauty of it. Life is full of surprises."
"Yeah!" Melody agreed with her sister.
During the conversation, Amy also observed that Kyle and Melody took plenty of time getting to know each other and can even sense there was a growing attraction between them…
'They'll be just fine…'
Out in the garden behind the monastery, another couple shared a moment with one another.
"It's been a while since we last heard from the Overlord…" Akira tried talking to Liana.
"Time sure flies when we're not thinking about it…" The white kunoichi responded.
"What kind of challenges do you think we'll be facing next?" Akira asked.
"I don't know," Liana sighed, "But I have a pretty good hunch that whatever happens next will make everything we already went through feel like a cakewalk."
"Such as…?"
"Possibly the Overlord and his goons. I still haven't forgotten what they said…"
'When the time comes for me to fight you myself, you won't be so lucky!'
The dark lord's final words before disappearing was still fresh in the couple's minds. Liana soon let out an involuntary shiver, which was strange considering she was the kunoichi of ice.
"Are you okay?" The red ninja noticed her movement.
"Y-yeah… I was just thinking about the future…"
"Hey, we defeated the Overlord and we can defeat him again!"
"But no matter what we do, he'll come back. Light can't exist without darkness…"
"I guess so… but that doesn't mean we won't find a way to balance it! Sure, he's the other side of the same coin but what if there's a way to keep both sides in balance forever?"
"Do you really think such a thing is possible…?"
"Actually, I'm not sure either," Akira shrugged and chuckled nervously, "I probably sound like a dork even thinking that…"
"No. You were just expressing your wishes."
"What?"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to take matters into one's own hands. There's also times I would like to find some way to seal up the Overlord forever, even if it might throw the world off balance."
"What do you think it'll take to accomplish something like that?"
"I don't know…" The ice wielder confessed, "I still have no idea if such a feat is possible…"
"We'll figure it out somehow," The fire ninja goaded her, "As my dad always said, when there's a will, there's a way."
Liana attempted to smile but couldn't form any expression than one of melancholy.
"Sometimes, I get jealous of your optimism…" She confessed.
"Liana…"
"I'm not trying to imply anything negative about you but I sincerely wish I can understand your optimistic views…"
"What? You don't think we'll ever be good enough?"
"N-no…! Not at all!" The pale girl got all flustered, "It's just that… I don't know how to say it…"
"Just let it out. It's not healthy bottling up your emotions."
"Sometimes, I wonder why we're ninjas in the first place… There's nothing special about us… at least not me…"
"I thought we went over this!" Akira tossed up his arms in frustration, "No one's ever the same! We all have our own unique traits and quirks! We all told you a billion times that you're just as unique as all of us and you STILL think you're a special snowflake!?"
Liana instinctively curled up, fearing Akira will start treating her like her classmates.
"Listen, I'm sorry if I scared you but you need to get over your fears. If you keep running away, they'll only consume you. That's what my mom and aunt learned when they were kunoichi."
"Life isn't easy, no matter what path we take. Even if Dad never became a ninja and stuck with being a blacksmith, he still would've gone through a lot of hardships."
"I'm sorry…"
"No need to apologize. Old habits are hard to break."
"You seem to always know what to say to cheer me up…"
"That's what I do," Akira chuckled half-heartedly, "I just can't stand seeing any of my friends or family look so gloomy."
This time, Liana did give a genuine smile.
'He thinks of me as a friend…'
Akira blushed at the sight of Liana smiling. She really was beautiful when she smiled…
Another couple of days have passed and the ninjas finally reached their goal to rebuild Ninjago City and the monastery and what kind of achievement's complete without a party?
While everyone celebrated at the rebuilt monastery, a certain old man took a break from all of the festivities for a reprieve of solitude.
Garmadon meditated at the mountaintop not far from the monastery. He still had yet to tell his loved ones of the nightmares he's been having as of late. In every vision in his realm of dreams, the Overlord peered at him with those evil glowing eyes and those words he hear every night.
The most disturbing part was that the temptation of those words have touched his heart.
All he wanted to do now was move on and atone for his dark deeds but that was just one part of him. The other still yearned for the forbidden powers his evil persona craved and both sides have been playing tug-of-war as of late with his mind as the rope.
"Grandpa!" A childlike voice brought the solemn man back to reality.
"What brings you here, Willow?" The former dark lord looked up at his granddaughter.
"I had a bad dream…" The kunoichi of time whispered shyly.
"Are you sure it was a dream and not a vision?" Her grandfather inquired.
"It was more than that… I've been having nightmares recently…"
"Will you not mind telling me about them?" Garmadon shifted so his granddaughter can have some space to sit next to him.
"I had a vision that the Overlord was talking with his henchmen but that's not all…"
"What else is there? Your fears will only consume you unless you let them out."
"I…I've been having some really scary visions, such as this morning…"
"You can tell me everything."
"This morning, I saw a big egg and it hatched but inside were a bunch of Serpentine and as far as the original ninjas know, the Serpentine leaders are the only ones alive…"
Garmadon was put off by his grandchild's visions but he had to learn more.
"Was there anything else in your vision?"
"When I looked at the snakes… they had the same eyes…"
"Of who?"
"Their eyes… Their eyes were like… the kunoichi's…"
"The ones you regard as sisters or the ones who accompanied your mother?"
"They looked like Mrs. Walker's… and the original kunoichi…"
Garmadon already knew this was an ill omen. If the Serpentine leaders successfully propagate with the kunoichi, then stopping them from tainting the humans will be a top priority…
"Is there anything else you saw in your dreams?" Garmadon continued his interrogation.
"The night before, I saw the team fighting. I still don't know what it was about but after that, I saw each of them leave one another… What if the team splits up?" Willow asked worriedly.
"It's only a part of human nature that even they will have their disagreements. Even before the day I was bitten by the Great Devourer, even my brother and I had our fair share of disputes."
"But what if it's so bad we all separate or even if some of the ninjas turn evil?"
Garmadon felt pained by his naïve granddaughter's words. They reminded him too much of his corruption and the bond with his brother that was severed by that tragic event. He knew there were people who will deliberately stray from the right path because he had done such…
"Humans are responsible for choosing their paths but no misdeed is without consequences…" He said cryptically.
"Still… that's not all… There's one more vision… but…"
"Willow, I'm your grandfather. You can tell me anything that's bothering you and I'll be there to guide you."
"But what if you get mad?"
"I've been bitten by the Great Devourer as a child, estranged myself from my family, and even attempted to cover Ninjago in darkness. Do you think your nightmares can anger me?"
The kunoichi of time peered into her grandfather's old grey eyes and can see only pure sincerity in them. She still wasn't sure if he'll take it well but her parents have ingrained honesty in her.
"I saw the Overlord and his henchmen again but there was another man with them. He wore a helmet like the Stone Warriors and a black cape. I didn't see his face until the very end until he turned around… and…"
The pink kunoichi curled up and shook like a leaf, not wanting to give any more bad news.
"What else? You have to talk about your problems to find a way to get rid of them."
"I don't want to say it!" Willow shook her head, her voice getting choked up.
"Willow, listen to me. These events have yet to pass but we can still shape our own destiny. Tell me, who was that man in your vision?" Garmadon's voice was calm but firm.
"That man… that man was you…"
Le gasp!
What could Willow's dreams mean? And will Liana & Akira ever confess to each other?
Stick around to find out!