Children of Destiny
Woo-hoo! It's time to finally see some action! Will Amy & Melody have what it takes to defeat Skales? Be warned because there's going to be content that might be disturbing to some readers. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my latest chapter!
Chapter 45: Torn Asunder
The ninja, kunoichi, and even Cole and Luna stared at the transformed Hypnobrai in terror.
"Pitiful humanssss!" Skales' demonic voice boomed, "You shall kneel before me!"
The giant snake swung his tail and slammed it on the ground, causing powerful tremors.
"How was he able to do that!?" Liana asked but got no answer, which she was expecting in the first place.
"Who cares!?" Alex put her mask over the lower half of her face, "We have to stop him!"
"Alex, no!" The brother of wind tried to stop his impulsive sister but it was too late.
Skales swung his tail at the kunoichi of wind, sending her flying and as if the impact wasn't bad enough, some of his new spikes pierced through her clothes and sank themselves into her skin when his tail collided with her body.
"ALEX!" Akira and Liana rushed towards her once she crashed far from the group. Melody also approached her hot-blooded sister and used her water powers to heal any bleeding wounds.
"Are you alright!?" The purple kunoichi asked her teammate once she saw a glint of hot amber between her eyelids.
"…S-such strength…" The orange kunoichi managed to whisper in her pained daze.
"How are we going to defeat this overgrown freak?" Chris had the Nunchucks of Lighting at the ready but didn't have the courage to confront the changed snake.
"You will never defeat me!" Skales' voice boomed across the jungle, "I am all-powerful! Finally, I will claim what isssss rightfully mine!"
Cole felt his blood boil and he wasn't going to take any more of Skales' machinations. This was the last time he'll ever interfere with his life and his family's.
"Earth!"
With a loud battle cry, Cole unleashed the full power he hadn't used since the final battle with the Overlord years before. Thankfully, he never lost touch with his true might and lunged at the giant Serpentine. He was still quite small in comparison to Skales' transformed body but he was gifted with the strength of the earth and landed several painful blows to his mortal enemy. But Skales was stronger than ever before and the two were at it for a while until the Hypnobrai won the round by getting a hold on Cole's rock body and bit down hard, letting his venomous fangs dig deep into the stone. The earth ninja's painful shrieks sent chills down the ninjas' spines and left his wife and daughters beyond horrified when Skales' fangs cracked his stone body.
"NEIN! COLE!"
Luna screeched in horror seeing her husband being gruesomely maimed by Skales.
"Dad!" Amy and Melody were also devastated seeing their father being tormented.
The other ninjas were also disturbed by the torture Cole went through and they could even see hints of blood trickle from the cracks on his stone body.
Skales threw Cole and his body that was still comprised of stone and the moment he landed, a few shockwaves were felt by the ninjas. The ninja and kunoichi would've gone after him but the giant snake's cackles prevented them from aiding the veteran ninja because keeping him from attacking any more people was a bigger priority, especially Luna's.
"Water!"
Luna soon joined in on the battle with her body appearing to be made of pure water.
"You have gone too far, Skales! There is NO way I'll let you have my daughters!" The kunoichi of water's voice echoed and her eyes glowed with the raw power resonating in her liquid form.
"Why not think for a moment? Now that I want them, you wouldn't have to worry about me."
"Nein! You shall never have them! You're a greedy and bloodthirsty monster who tortured my husband more than enough times, tried to brainwash me into becoming your mate, and lusting after my daughters! I could go on for years on why I'll never surrender my children to you!"
"I like to sssssee you try." The giant snake sneered.
With a roar that was almost inhuman, Luna summoned a tsunami and immersed herself into it, her liquid body merging with the wave to fuel its power. The violent force of the typhoon sent the giant snake reeling but it apparently wasn't enough to defeat him. Skales spat a mound of venom at the wave but it was quickly dissolved by the water's healing abilities.
Then another plan formed in Skales' mind.
The giant snake emitted an extremely loud screech that would've broke glass miles away. The ninja and kunoichi attempted to cover their ears but still felt as if their eardrums already broke from the terrible echoes of the Serpentine's shrieks and even the tidal waves were affected by the intense sound waves. The ripples became uneven and the humans and the snake can make out streaks of purple moving erratically within the water and the typhoon came crashing down. A single mass of water remained in the middle of what remained of the whirlpool and gradually took a human shape.
Skales used his tail to send mud flying in Luna's direction and the wet soil coated her, creating an outline that was painfully obvious. The cruel Hypnobrai spewed out poisonous mist from his mouth, smothering the former kunoichi. Luna screamed in pain as it hurt to even move due to the poison surrounding her until the noxious fog cleared.
Luna was back in her corporeal form but like her husband, she was also badly beaten. The blue snake slithered over to her with a look of contempt and perhaps slight pity.
"Oh, Luna…" Skales started in a sickeningly cloying voice, "If only you agreed to be my queen… You wouldn't have become the aged washed-up wench you are today…"
The Hypnobrai quickly shrunk down to his normal form to give Luna a proposition.
"But I can make that all change… IF you comply with my ultimatum…"
"What do you want from me?" The human woman's voice was frail but everyone can hear the hatred she bore towards the Serpentine.
"If you offer your daughtersssss to me and I can share the giftssss of the Overlord with you. You will be able to sssssee your grandchildren reclaim their ancessssstor'sssss home and live for all eternity. What do you sssssay?"
Luna used up all her strength to sit up and…
A small spitting sound left everyone with eyes wider than dinner plates.
The kunoichi of water spat on Skales' face where a tiny wad of saliva slid down and that was it for the Hypnobrai. She has denied him one too many times but he wasn't going to allow her to get away with it this time. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again.
The blue snake punched Luna with all his strength and seizing opportunity before it can escape from his reach, Skales grew back to his monstrous giant form, grabbed Luna and then Cole with his tail and lifted them towards his face but they were already beaten badly and can't even lift their heads to look at him.
"Issss that all?" Skales taunted the couple, "If you wanted ssssso badly to ssssssuffer, then have at it. Come at me and I'll show you what it really meansssss to live in pure agony."
The blue snake drew the humans closer to his face as his mouth widened into a malicious smile exposing his venomous fangs. He opened his mouth as if he was going to actually consume his unfortunate victims. Cole and Luna would've resisted but they were too weak to do anything at all, even moving the smallest muscle.
"He's gonna eat them!" Melody cried and clung to Amy, who also held her in fear.
"We can't just stand here! We need to help them!" Akira went into full potential mode to join the fray. His first move: sear the scales off the overgrown snake.
The Hypnobrai was ready to decapitate his victims when a sudden burning sensation where his torso met the base of his tail drew his attention away from the humans.
Skales' screech was loud enough for the whole continent to hear when the red ninja's flaming body made contact and some of his scales were burned off, revealing raw flesh underneath. He dropped Cole and Luna in the process of his pained writhing but their daughters caught them, although the swift momentum made them fall but at least they softened the landing.
"Mom! Dad!" Amy and Melody immediately tried to revive their parents.
"…Are… are you two…okay…?" Despite her condition, Luna still worried more for her daughters' wellbeing than her own.
"Forget about us! You're the ones who need help!" Melody tried to fight back her tears.
"This is all my fault!" Amy cried, "I shouldn't have let you fight my own battles!"
"My… daughters… don't worry… about us…" Cole gasped weakly, "It wasn't because you didn't fight… Even if you did… we'd still fight… by your side anyway…"
The Charbonneau sisters were completely shell-shocked by the events they've witnessed. Their parents were brutally beaten by Skales and they might not stand a chance.
"Amy! Melody! What are you standing there for!? Why won't you fight!?" Forrest complained.
The Charbonneau sisters turned to see their comrades fending off the gigantic snake, or at least try to. Skales merely swatted the tiny humans away like flies but like the pestilent insects, they just kept coming back. Amy and Melody started to feel another emotion consuming them.
It was guilt.
Guilt for their parents and the ninjas who were putting their lives on the line just to keep them away from Skales clutches. It wasn't fair for them to be tormented when all the enemy desired was them. They didn't want anyone else paying the price for their dilemmas and that was what made them finally make a stand.
They won't run away anymore. They were going to confront their problems themselves.
"Amy! Melody!" Akira reached out to the sisters but the others stopped him.
This was their battle.
The kunoichi of earth was astonished to see her little sister standing tall and firm against Skales.
"Melody…?" Amy gasped.
"I can't let them do this anymore!" Melody stood up, firm as a rock, "If it's us Skales wants, it's us he's gonna get!"
"Melody, are you listening to what you're saying!?" Amy was flabbergasted by her little sister's words, "We can't surrender ourselves to him!"
"Not that way!" The kunoichi of water turned to her sister, "Skales is after us and we have to be the ones to show him that he's just having delusions of grandeur."
"Sis…" The kunoichi of earth got up.
"Yeah?" The water wielder can't help but think her sister will still think she's just being dramatic but
"I'm with you."
"But first, we have to get Mom and Dad out of here." Melody eyed their wounded parents.
"Leave them to us!" Akira and the others dragged Cole and Luna away from the battle, "You've got your own problems to deal with!"
The sisters nodded and turned to Skales, who recovered from his ordeal and was now back with a vengeance transcending his lifetimes.
"Ssssso you've finally complied." The Hypnobrai stared down at the Charbonneau sisters.
"No." They said firmly.
"What!?" The Serpentine snarled at the humans.
"No way, Skales. Not in a billion lifetimes."
Skales' temper flared at the sisters' rejection of his advances and was now more than willing to make the last moments of their lives one of pure agony but they won't let him do it that easily.
"YOU WILL NEVER HURT OUR FAMILY AGAIN!"
Amy and Melody's bodies glowed and the light healed their comrades.
"Didn't Amy and Melody already find their true potentials?" Liana whispered to the ninjas but even they didn't know the answer.
"What's going on?" Kyle asked but his brother shushed him.
Soon, it finally dawned on them what was happening to their sisters.
Could this be the 'true powers' Misako said would come only when the end seemed nigh?
The Charbonneau sisters never felt such a strong surge of power in their lives. Even the power that flowed through them upon unlocking their true potential for the first time couldn't hold a candle to the sensations running all over their bodies. Such power can overwhelm anyone with a weak mind or less-than-pure heart but that wasn't who Amy and Melody were. They wished only to protect those they treasured and that was all the motivation they needed to take on the most powerful enemies. They'll either save them or at least die trying.
The sister's bodies were comprised of the elements they controlled just like their parents'. Amy with her body of solid rock swiftly knocked down the Serpentine giant in one blow and Melody turned her liquid form into a large wave that pushed back the giant snake. Tall mountains burst forth from the earth and the waves violently crashed against the land. The earth was soon torn asunder and the raging waters filled in the chasms created by the intense earthquake, severing the tip of the Oase Peninsula from the mainland. Such was the true power that only those with a pure heart can ever control.
The other ninja and kunoichi didn't want to let their sisters do all the work. They're a team and they were more than eager to join the battle. They also summoned every last ounce of power they had to do their part. Their powers were just a small fraction compared to the sisters but it was enough to grab Skales' attention and the Charbonneau sisters took full advantage of their chance to take him down. The ninjas didn't hold back, taking on Skales with all they got until he lay motionless on the newly formed island.
"Is it over…?" Kyle stared at the seemingly lifeless body of Skales.
Skales got up, albeit with great difficulty, and his glare was filled with pure hatred.
"YOU!"
The ninjas were startled that he survived the assault but before Skales can resume his malicious designs, an outside force intervened.
"You disappoint me, Skales." The gravelly voice of the Overlord echoed as if out of nowhere.
"You're misssstaken! I WILL defeat the ninjasssss! I need sssssome more time!" The giant snake protested but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"You have failed me Skales! After I shared my powers with you, you still couldn't defeat a group of naïve children and my patience has run out!"
"No! It wasssss jusssst bad sssssircumssssstansssssessssss!"
"ENOUGH!"
Skales and even the ninja and kunoichi were blown back by the intense volume of the true dark lord's rage.
"You have proven yourself as a lost cause! I've lost my patience, Skales! Perhaps I was being too generous with you and I do not wish to waste any more time dealing with an overgrown pile of dead weight. You are of no use to me anymore… save for one purpose."
Skales was too terrified to say anything but the Overlord continued.
"I will not stop at reclaiming the powers I've bestowed to you. Your soul filled with grudges and hatred will become my bread. Every last ounce of your being, both body and soul, belongs only to me!"
The scene that was about to unfold will stay in the ninjas' minds forever.
Skales' body was shrunk down to its normal size but the Overlord's punishment wasn't over. His scales started to melt to expose his muscles and organs that also started to dissolve once they were exposed to the elements until only his skeleton remained and that too soon crumbled to dust and scattered into the wind. As for his soul, it was too wiped out from the face of Ninjago, becoming food for the Overlord's nigh insatiable appetite for revenge so there was no way he'll be able to call back Skales' soul.
The ninjas were speechless from the grotesque scene that just happened in front of them.
Was Skales truly dead?
"Is he really gone…?" Melody finally asked once her voice returned to her.
"I hope so…" Chris stared at the empty space where the Hypnobrai used to be.
"But Skales was but one in a bunch of bad guys we have to worry about." Forrest reminded the group of the Overlord's remaining zealots.
"Who cares about them!?" Melody cried, "Mom and Dad are still hurt!"
The Charbonneau sisters rushed to their parents. They were bleeding and pale, which wasn't a good sign. It was already bad enough that they were found lying motionless
"Mom, Dad… are you okay?" Amy shook them gently to revive them.
A very quiet moan escaped from Luna's lips and Cole's fingers twitched ever so slightly.
"M… Meine Töchters…" The original kunoichi of water's voice was feeble but audible.
"You're alive! We were so worried about you!" The sisters embraced their parents.
"That doesn't matter. All we care about is your wellbeing." Cole raised a shaky hand to cup his daughter's face but he was still very weak.
"But you're hurt because of us! What if you… What if…" Amy started to get choked up and can't swallow the lump in her throat.
"Don't worry… about us…" Her father stroked her auburn hair, "You're safe… that matters to us more… more than life itself…"
"We… we're so proud… of you…" Luna weakly smiled before her consciousness slipped away as did her husband's.
"Mom! Dad! A-are they dead!?" Melody panicked until Liana checked their vitals.
"They're still alive, albeit extremely weak. They'll need medical help and stat." The kunoichi of ice explained Cole and Luna's conditions.
"Let's get them to the Bounty. Willow might be able to help." Akira suggested.
"Yeah…"
Though they couldn't wait to tell Misako of the results of their battle, Cole and Luna's lives were hanging by a thread and was their priority of getting back to their base…
Thanks to Willow's time-based powers, Cole and Luna's wounds were alleviated but they'll still need some medical attention from a professional, thus they took a trip to Ninjago City to bring them to the Ninjago national hospital to receive treatment. Thankfully, the doctors confirmed they'll live but it'll be some time before they can go home. These last several weeks have been rough for Cole and Luna but no one can deny the lengths they'll go for their children.
Knowing their parents are in capable hands, Amy and Melody were finally able to rest easy but their ordeals were far from over…
"I can't believe it… I always hoped this day would come but in the end… I have no idea what to even think…" Alex said, "It's just… I don't know…"
"We all feel that way." Chris expressed his understanding of how his cousin felt.
"But saying it's a shocker would be an understatement…" Forrest mused.
"Yeah. And the fact that the Overlord would throw away his own servant just proves how much of a monster he really is." Liana muttered.
"But Skales isn't the only one. What if the Serpentine also have those powers?" Leon shuddered just trying to imagine three more giant mutated snakes.
"Will we ever be able to take them down?" Even Liana grew nervous at the idea.
"We didn't go back to being ninjas just to quit right now. It's better to die trying than not trying at all." Akira said.
"I know it sounds idiotic but I too believe it's better to make an effort than just sit around and mope." Kyle agreed with his cousin.
"However, that battle with Skales is only a taste of what's to come…"
"Do you think the Overlord may have granted similar powers to the Serpentine leaders or even his human underlings?" Alex pondered aloud.
"Probably," Chris paused to let his teammates get all the gasps out of their system, "But where there's a will, there's a way."
"Do we actually have what it takes to defeat them?" Forrest shuddered.
"We still have powers we have yet to realize but it may not be a good idea to put all your hopes into them. As Misako said, our true might will only show when it's really needed." Liana said.
"True…"
"But did they really get unlock their full powers already?" Akira asked Misako, "You told us that our true powers will only reveal themselves when we really need it and that's not until the final battle, right?"
"The scrolls said nothing of exactly when," The wise old woman corrected the fire wielder, "The final battle is far from being the only occasion you'll need your full power. When someone you love or even your home is in danger, you will risk everything for them, no?"
"I… think I get it…" The fire ninja processed everything his teacher said.
Without a doubt, he would've done the same if it were his parents that were in danger.
"Amy and Melody love their parents more than anything and it was because of that bond that they were able to reach a new level in their elemental prowess. Such a powerful bond like the one amongst family can never be broken, not even by the lord of all things evil."
"So we don't have to wait until the final battle?" Liana asked.
"Not exactly but you can't wait for miracles to happen. Sometimes, you have to make it happen yourself and these things often come when you least expect it. Did Amy and Melody expect to reach new levels with their powers during that battle?"
"To be honest, we didn't," Amy answered, "All we thought about was saving our parents."
"And it's because of your desire to protect the ones you hold dear that you have realized your true powers. You all have that potential deep down to save not only those that are precious to you but the entire world and whether you'll find it is up to you." The wise scholar concluded.
"That battle with Skales was already hard enough. I don't even want to think about how tough the real battle with the Overlord will be…" The metal ninja still shivered.
"Don't give up," Chris encouraged him, "We've still come a long way compared to when we first discovered our powers. It may not be easy but the least we can do is have courage."
"Thanks bro…"
"But we're not done yet. Not only are there more Serpentine to fight but we also have to keep training and preparing ourselves for the final battle."
"Yeah…"
"But we must also cherish any moments of peace we have, no matter how fleeting they are. We only live once so we might as well live life to the fullest." Melody finished the conversation.
The team stared at into the twilight, steeling themselves for the challenges that await them…
Elsewhere in Ninjago, a different group were not too pleased with the results of the battle.
The rest of the Serpentine leaders saw what happened to their fellow tribal leader through the visions the Overlord showed them and they knew this definitely wasn't the way they would like to go and that it was for the best to not cross the dark lord.
"Skales' arrogance led to his downfall…" The Overlord's small form floated over to the surviving Serpentine, "I have shown you the price of underestimating the ninjas and taking advantage of my gifts. I gave them to you without a care but I can just as quickly take them away from you."
"W-we won't fail you! Honest!" Skalidor shook like a coward but Fangtom and Acidicus couldn't really blame him. The Overlord IS the master of all evil…
"You better not make the same mistake Skales did."
"We promissssse."
"Then I expect you to stay true to your vow. I could do the same to you if you are met with the same results." The Overlord turned to his human cohorts, "You have also learned from Skales' failure, have you not?"
"O-o-of course…!" Jacob refused to show fear to keep his position as the Overlord's servant.
"W-we promise, my lord…" Ronin shivered, remembering how his master granted him powers to get his revenge and now it was obvious just how quickly he can take it away.
"Unlike Sssskalesssss, we will not take your giftssss for granted." Fangtom bowed both heads in submission to his master.
"You better not." The Overlord's voice gave off an ominously low echo, "You are fully aware of what will come to pass shall you fail, no?"
"Our plan will not be a failure. Unlike our haughty brethren, we are prepared for the event the ninjassss will try to ssssstop us and our latessssst plan…" Acidicus explained.
The Serpentine inspected their newest tool for their new scheme.
They've been waiting for two lifetimes for their plan to come to fruition and this could be their lucky day.
But only if they will be able to NOT incur the Overlord's cruel wrath…
Phew! It's been such a long time since I wrote a fight scene… I understand if didn't really enjoy it so I don't blame you if you didn't think it was that great. But I'm not gonna leave you guys hanging nor will I abandon this story. I promise I'll finish it alive even if it kills me so as always, please review!