Children of Destiny
Hi guys! We left off with the team splitting up & now, we're gonna see some more family moments but stick around for the big surprise towards the end of this chapter! This fic is gonna be one hell of a drama roller coaster so hang on tight & enjoy the ride!
Chapter 49: That Special Something
The first thing Willow did once she got off of Shard was run up the long winding stairs towards the monastery she called home. She reached the tall gates and ran straight into the courtyard without so much of a second thought.
(*) "MOM! DAD! TADAIMA!" Her voice echoed all across the monastery.
Lloyd and Iris came out and were surprised to see Willow rushing up to them.
"Willow!" The original green ninja scooped up his daughter into his arms.
Iris was hesitant to greet her daughter in her monstrous form but the younger kunoichi of time went up to hug her, knowing she was still her mother deep down.
"Willow? What are you doing here?" Lloyd was astonished to see his youngest child back home so soon but certainly wasn't complaining.
"It's a long story." She answered.
"You can tell usssss all about it." Iris said.
"The ninjas were thinking about what to do and since the Serpentine might come here, some of us had to go back to protect our moms."
"But why isssssn't Leon with you?" The original pink kunoichi noticed that her son was absent.
"He wanted to keep a balance between the teams and said I should go because of my element. They'll be checking for any signs of the other bad guys or the Overlord and said they'll maintain contact in case anything happens."
"I ssssssee…"
"That reminds me, Jay theorized that because you retain your time-based powers, you might be able to find a solution to all this."
"I-I-I'm not sure… I still have a long way to go with finding my true powers…"
"Elemental powers don't improve overnight," Lloyd lectured her, "But you don't have to put off to tomorrow what can be done today."
"Do I have to train now?"
"Not yet but before we do that, I need to ask you something."
"Nani?"
Lloyd bent down so he was at eye level with his young daughter before asking her an important question to testify her will.
"Willow, do you truly want to do this or are you only feeling obligated because of your title as the kunoichi of time and space?"
The young girl thought about her motives for several moments. There have been times where she felt like she was only saving Ninjago because it was the 'right thing' but now that she knew so much and gained experience, she realized how important she was to Ninjago's future.
"I really want to help Mom and the others," She answered earnestly, "I want to use my powers to help people and that's why I think Mom and I were blessed with them."
The former hero can hear the sincerity in her daughter's voice but also whatever innocence she had left after all she went through. She was growing up and even she knew it. It was sad to see her change from a sweet little girl into a seasoned warrior but this was something Lloyd had to face as a parent and he was prepared for it. He already went through a lot and knew that as her father, he should guide her towards adulthood.
"Very well…" He accepted Willow's answer.
…
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you ask me that question?"
Lloyd's emerald eyes gave off a knowing look, remembering his past experiences…
"You have a power like no other and even you know it's not something to be toyed with."
"Dad, why are you saying all this now?"
"Even the strongest people can be controlled by their own powers if they lack the will to control them. I wouldn't want you to go down that path." The green ninja warned his daughter because he knew a certain someone who ended up like that…
It took several moments for Willow to process everything her father told her and after seeing so many horrors in her short life, finally began to understand him.
"I won't." She promised.
Liana and Forrest stood for a few anxious minutes in front of their house, knowing that they'll have to face their transformed mother. The sight of her as a Serpentine was hard to see back in the Bone Forest and braced themselves to face the graphic visage for the next several days.
Forrest found the courage to took a deep breath and knock on the door.
Zane peeked out of the crack, not wanting his wife to be discovered but astonished nonetheless by his children's sudden arrival.
"Liana? Forrest? What brings you here?" He asked.
"We'll explain inside." Liana answered quickly.
Zane opened the door just wide enough for his children to enter before closing it.
"I'm sorry the house has suffered quite a bit since we were last together here…" The ice wielder was slightly ashamed of the rinky-dink state of the house's interior.
The Julien siblings quickly noticed that parts of the house were a mess but couldn't blame their parents. They heard from their father that he was fixing up the house himself so no one can see their mother nor does he have to hide her like some terrible secret. Speaking of which, Heather lingered close to her beloved garden when her children found her.
"Mom!" Liana and Forrest ran up to their mother, not caring what she looked like.
Heather wanted so badly to hug her children but her claws reminded her of what she was now but Liana and Forrest embraced her anyway. Like their father, they saw their mother for WHO she was, not WHAT she was.
"My babiessss…!" The changed woman lovingly nuzzled her children.
"How are you doing?" Liana peered at her mother's scaly face.
"I'm fine… though I've been having thessssse… habitsssss…" The kunoichi of nature looked back on the events this morning when she wrapped her tail around her husband like her prey.
"Ugh…" Forrest suddenly groaned, rubbing his forehead.
"Forrest, are you okay?" Zane noticed his son's distressed gesture.
"They're speaking…" He muttered and his family immediately knew what he meant.
Heather may no longer be able to communicate with plants but at least Forrest still can.
"Can you tell ussssss what they're saying?" His transformed mother asked.
The other family members fell silent so the teal ninja can tap into his connection with the forces of Mother Nature.
'What are you trying to say to me?' Forrest asked.
'…Help…'
'Help who? Or what?'
'…Help her…'
'I already am.'
'…Hurry…'
'What are you trying to say? I'm already doing what you're telling me to do.'
'…Listen… Feel… Think…'
'Wait… are you talking about someone else…?'
'…Help her…'
…
Forrest opened his eyes once he was sure the plants finished speaking to find his family staring at him with concerned expressions.
"Did the plants say anything?" Liana asked.
"The plants kept saying 'Help her'. I thought they were talking about Mom and the others who were transformed but the way they were saying it… I don't think it's any one of them."
"Who else could there be?" Zane pondered.
"Could they be talking about Misako or the kunoichi who weren't changed?" Liana suggested.
"Mrs. Charbonneau already went through plenty of troubles and Misako and Mrs. Walker can still hold their own…" Forrest mused.
"But that would leave…"
The Julien siblings remembered their first actual encounter with the Overlord and the details of that fateful battle really hit them.
"Forrest, do you actually think…?" Liana whispered anxiously.
"I'm still not sure… I don't think she will be able to handle it…" Forrest responded in an equally hushed voice.
"We can ssssstill hear you." Heather said flatly.
Even while whispering, the Julien siblings forgot that their parents were still within earshot.
"Mom, Dad… do you think that… perhaps…" The teal ninja trailed off.
"If you don't want to talk about it now, we undersssstand." Heather consoled him.
"I know there is the possibility and we can discuss this whenever you want." Zane said.
"I guess you're right," The nature ninja sighed, "I'm sure what they told me is what they've tried to tell Mom since… you know…"
A few tears leaked from Heather's snakelike eyes but Zane kissed them away. Forrest felt guilty for potentially adding insult to injury to his mother's situation but eventually, she started to feel a little better once she let out her pent up emotions.
"I-I'm sorry Mom… I was only trying to… well…"
"It'sssss alright… I'm jusssst glad you're here for me…"
"Mom…"
"If you really want to tell usssss, go ahead." Heather encouraged her son to tell the family what he think may happen.
"When the plants told me to 'help her', I'm starting to think they meant…"
The Pyrrhus twins also had a similar reunion with their parents in Ignacia. They took particular concern for their mother's condition and their father also had to make sure no one saw her. In the living room, they were greeted with the slightly unnerving sight of their mother covered in scales and a long snake tail in place of her legs but her looks mattered little to them.
"Akira! Alex! I'm ssssso happy to ssssssee you again!" Aria embraced her children, who saw her for who she still was inside.
"We were so worried about you!" Akira held his mother, not wanting to let go.
"You don't mind my appearanssssse?" Aria asked.
"Of course not. Even with the way you are now, we're glad to be home and we know you're still you." Alex comforted her changed parent.
"Did anyone spot you?" Akira asked.
"No."
The twins were relieved but their problems were far from over. The risk of being seen in public should be the least of Aria's concerns because there was the highly likely scenario that Acidicus will come to Ignacia and claim their mother as his queen.
"So what brought you here?" Kai finally asked.
"The Serpentine will very likely come here for you so we left the group to protect you from the dirty snakes in case they actually come." The kunoichi of wind answered.
"You didn't have to risssssk yourssssselvesssss for me…" Aria felt incredibly guilty for causing so much worry for her children who were still too young to handle such responsibilities.
"Even if things didn't turn out the way they have, we'll still come for you. You're our Mom and nothing will ever change that. You're stronger than this." The younger fire ninja said.
"T-thank you…"
"And don't forget, I'm here too and nothing will make me leave, not even what you look like." Kai added.
"Is there anything else we need to know?" The brunette twin asked.
"Unfortunately, Iris wasn't the only one who lost her element," Kai started, "Your mother and Heather also lost their powers so they're pretty much helpless unless we're there for them."
"I had a feeling we were needed here…" Alex muttered.
"But until that snake dares to come here, we'll help you." Her brother vowed.
"Hey! Don't think your old man's all washed up!" Kai bragged, "I still got it and you know it!"
The twins only gave their cocky father a quizzical look.
"Kai, I know you ssssstill have it in you and our children have grown ssssso much… I'm couldn't be any prouder of all of you… yet…" Aria tried to continue but the lump in her throat blocked all the words she had left to say and the despair of her situation finally got to her.
Akira and Alex felt their heartstrings being tugged watching their mother, one of the strongest women they've ever met, break down in tears over her dilemma. It was easy for her to tell her children that it was the heart that counts but now she couldn't even bear to look at herself. She was a monster and because of her new instincts, feared that even her heart and soul will soon become what she is on the outside…
"Aria, it's okay. No matter what you look like, nothing can change who you are inside." Kai held his wife in his warm arms.
Akira and Alex too comforted their mother until her eyes were dry.
"Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?" Kai offered.
"I noticed that there were a bunch of guards around town. What's the deal?" His son asked.
"Ever sssssince your battle with the Overlord, Ignassssia wanted to improve itsssss sssssecurity and becaussssse of that, your father hassss been very bussssy making weaponsssss for them." Aria answered.
"Just more proof that I'm still the stallion I was in my heyday!"
The twins and even Aria groaned over Kai's unnerving arrogance.
Looks like coming home has its own setbacks…
The Destiny's Bounty felt completely empty with half of the team gone. Leon kept worrying for his sister and the Walker brothers were concerned about their cousins. Even the Charbonneau sisters felt lonely with them gone and the eerie silence was becoming too much for them.
"We also have to deal with Cryptor and the Overlord's human lackeys in case they try and get in our way. Besides, it's the women the Serpentine want so don't start thinking the others got off scot free." Chris warned what was left of the team.
"But is it worth reducing our numbers in half?" Melody asked.
"We can't have everything in life," The eldest ninja went on with his 'tough love' again, "Some sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. Believe me, I'm also upset but we can't let the others' departure be in vain and we must remember that they're working hard too. So the least we can do is continue doing what we must do to ensure all our efforts don't go to waste."
"Yeah…" Amy felt unnerved but her emerald eyes still showed a hint of understanding.
"But Cryptor and the rest of the Overlord's servants are still a threat!" Kyle exclaimed.
"And that's why we're staying here," Leon replied, "We can't go to just one place at once, even as a whole team. The enemies have multiple targets so we also had to spread out."
"What about the Serpentine?" Melody reminded her group of the immediate threat.
"Knowing them, they're probably focusing on retrieving the kunoichi but with half our team at the places they're gonna go, we won't have to worry about them… much." Chris said.
"That's why we have no time to slack off. It's a good thing the Julien siblings left Haukka with us in case something happens…" Leon motioned at the robot animal.
The mechanical falcon nodded as if understanding the humans and took off to investigate.
"Now what?"
"Our only lead now is the cave in the Bone Forest and I doubt the Serpentine were there for a long time since the kunoichi were rescued. It may be tempting to go after them but we should just let them find out about the others the hard way. Let's go to their hideout and see if there's anything that could help the kunoichi or even us, it's there."
"Do you really think there could be some stuff left behind since the attack?" Melody asked.
"Honestly, I don't know but we have to take a risk and find out for ourselves." Chris answered.
"And just as bro said, the Serpentine probably wouldn't have lingered and it's the only lead we have now so it's a risk we'll have to take."
"We understand…"
The remaining ninja and kunoichi readied themselves for another trip to the Bone Forest. With no more than a whistle, the dragons were ready to take them back.
Jay's days at the office were busier than ever since not only did he have to handle his usual job as inventor of the P.I.X.A.L.'s but he was also hard at work doing research on the DNA samples of the Serpentine kunoichi. He studied the changes in the genetic makeup and conducted many experiments to see how the kunoichi would've reacted if they were exposed to the bitter cold or even if different vaccines and chemicals were injected into their bodies. Biology wasn't really his forte but he luckily had contact with some of the best scientists of Ninjago to help him.
Some of the test results did go as Jay expected. What he got so far was that the kunoichi, like all snakes, don't take well to the cold and have a particular taste for only meat, characteristics of the beasts they've become.
But as for finding anything that could reverse the transformation, Jay and the team just couldn't find anything that could cure the women without any consequences. They were well aware that some things come at a price but having every drop of blood in your body literally boil just isn't worth it.
'Come on, Jay. You gotta figure this out.' The ninja turned inventor racked his brain to come up with an antidote.
The inventor felt a little bad for not being with his wife and daughter as much as they've wished but through his experiences as a ninja, some sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. He certainly didn't want the same unfortunate fate to befall his beloved wife nor their sweet little princess. Jay worked hard to find a solution to the kunoichi's dilemma but everything in life was always easier said than done.
But Jay was also one of the most optimistic ninjas ever and as such, he wasn't planning to back down until he can find a way to help his former teammates even in the slightest.
It's one of those times where positive thinking will be crucial…
Back home, a certain little girl was also having a hard time.
Poor Sayuri was bored out of her mind with her father gone longer than usual. He and her mom said that something terrible happened and they were trying to find a way to get rid of it but she knew what they meant. She wasn't like most nine-year-old's because she was already aware of what went on in her world and was smarter than the average grade schooler. Something went horribly wrong with the kunoichi and her dad was trying to find a way to change them back.
Sayuri was still envious of her brothers yet learned her lesson after the first Overlord incident. However, that didn't stop her from wondering what could've been.
'When will I get to do something special?'
The little girl huffed impatiently while trying to channel surf while hanging upside-down, which only resulted in a headache. She considered playing with the toys she already had but despite the ample amount of dolls, ponies, and plushies in her collection, she played with them enough times to now find them boring and that included all the video games her father brought for her and he already had an excellent taste in video games. Sure, she was really smart for her age but deep down, she was still just a child and had the tastes of one to boot.
"Sayuri? Sweetie?" Edna knocked on her granddaughter's door.
It's been a while since the little girl locked herself in her room and she was growing concerned. The mother of lightning remembered that Jay became very difficult whenever he got bored and that undesirable quirk may have been passed down to his daughter…
"Sayuri, can I come in?" The old woman asked again.
…
"…Fine…" She can barely hear her granddaughter mumble behind the door.
Edna found Sayuri was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression.
"Sayuri? Is something bothering you? You can tell Granny all about it." She sat next to her and stroked her strawberry blonde hair.
"Everything's fine and that's that! There's nothing to do! I'm SO bored!" The youngest Walker child complained.
"Why?" Ed quickly joined in, "You got plenty of neat stuff here."
"But I'm tired of them!" Sayuri groaned, "I want something new!"
"How about we go for a drive?" Her grandfather offered, "We can show you the ol' junkyard."
"What about Mommy and Daddy?"
"Don't worry. We'll be back before they do."
"Okay…" Sayuri relented, hoping the change of atmosphere can curb her boredom.
The old Walker couple still kept the car they built since even before Jay was born and because of their knowledge with machinery, it still worked just as it did when it was first built.
"Ed, make sure everything is safe before showing them to Sayuri, okay?" Edna instructed him before retreating into the trailer.
Sayuri wandered around the junkyard and since the weather was fairly cool, the mountains of tires weren't too hot to play around in them while her grandparents showed her all of the neat gadgets they've made since they got married.
"And this baby here is the 'Twisty Under-Over Mega Ultra Super Top Net'!" Ed held up a strange machine that vaguely resembled a cross between a cannon and the steering wheel of a boat.
"Does it work?" Sayuri asked.
"Of course! Everything your grandma and I make are guaranteed to never fail!"
The very moment Ed finished his boast… the quirky contraption fell apart in his hands, covering his face in ash. Sayuri couldn't help but laugh but at least seeing her smile was enough to make Ed happy, even if one of his inventions did blow up in his face.
"Just wait right here. I gotta get cleaned up." Ed scurried off to wash his face.
Sayuri held the outlandish contraption in her hands, wondering how it must've worked and why her grandparents even invented it in the first place but that was the advantage of being related to them. They were always so quirky and full of life even in their old age but that made them so fun to be with and that was probably why their grandchildren loved them despite their slightly embarrassing antics. Sayuri smiled to herself, staring at the rinky-dink invention in her hands.
'It must be nice… being able to make some pretty neat things…'
The little girl unknowingly began to concentrate on the machine and fueled by her thoughts of doing special things like her family or just finding her own special spark that made her stand out from everyone else. As if responding to her lifelong wish, the invention started buzzing to life in spite of its dilapidated condition.
Sayuri dropped the machinery with a loud gasp but it stopped whirring once she let go…
'Did I really do that…?'
The little girl cautiously picked up the machine, this time trying to control electricity and metal like her family. Tiny sparks danced around the contraption without harming her and the metal started to bend and move in tandem with her mind. When she imagined it curling up, it did.
It was like she can control them…
"Sorry to keep ya waiting!" Ed came back, initially oblivious to what was going on, "Living in the middle of a junkyard does have its downsides such as… being…"
The old inventor lost track of his own words seeing something he once thought impossible.
"Edna, you might want to check this out!" Ed called nervously for his wife.
"Ed, I told you not to show Sayuri anything… that…" Edna trailed off when she saw what Sayuri was doing with one of their inventions.
Sayuri was speechless and not even her mind can come up with the right word to describe how she felt upon finally doing what she yearned to do for such a long time.
"Sayuri…! You have actual powers…!" Ed was astonished at his granddaughter's new ability.
"We gotta tell Jay and Nya!" Edna was immediately beyond ecstatic.
Ed too shared his wife's excitement and they rushed to make a very special call…
Jay's ringtone kept going in the middle of work, embarrassing him. When he finally picked it up, he was initially bewildered when his parents yelled nonstop from his phone but hailing from a family of chatterboxes, he was soon able to understand them.
"Mom! Dad! Get to the point!" The ninja turned inventor quickly grew tired of their ramblings.
"Sayuri finally has powers! You gotta see it to believe it!" His mother finally broke it to him.
"WHAT!? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?"
One part of Jay was hoping this wasn't true because Sayuri was still so young and naïve but the other half was proud of her for finally finding her own talent.
"Dead serious!" Ed responded, "Come on! You don't wanna miss it!"
Once work was done, Jay and Nya drove straight for the ol' junkyard where Ed and Edna were waiting for them. The old Walker couple pulled them over to their daughter in an instant. Just as they've stated, Sayuri was demonstrating control over both lightning and metal on some of their gadgets.
"Sayuri! How were you able to do that!?" Nay asked once she finally regained her voice.
"I was just thinking and then I got to do what Chris and Kyle do!" Sayuri gave a bright smile now that she can finally be on par with her brothers.
"H-how did she do that…?" Jay was still too shocked to say much.
"No doubt she inherited it from us…" His wife observed the little lightning bolts and the edges of the metal twitching and curling.
"But how is that even possible!?" The lightning ninja shouted in aggravation.
"It's unheard of for any person other than the green ninja and the kunoichi of time and space to control more than one element. But there's always a first for everything and we might have to arrange a meeting with Wu over this." Nya sighed. It was bad enough for the veteran kunoichi to have been turned to Serpentine but Sayuri's newfound abilities has complicated things.
"But Sayuri's still too young to be a kunoichi!" Jay retorted, "She won't be able to handle all the responsibilities of a ninja, much less fighting!"
"But the only thing that matters is that Sayuri must learn how to control her powers. Chris and Kyle were already aware of their powers since they were little and with proper guidance, she'll be able to share more common ground with them." The former kunoichi responded.
"I'm not sure if I really want that for her…"
"Why not?"
"At first, I wanted her to have powers so she wouldn't feel left out but now that she does… I'm starting to fear for her because she's still so young and had so much ahead of her…"
"You… don't like my powers…?" Sayuri looked up at her father with tears in her innocent eyes.
"N-n-no…. I mean… I-I don't know…" Jay stuttered, not wanting to make his daughter sad.
"What your father is trying to say is that you have a very special gift and we wouldn't want you to underestimate them. Sayuri, you're still young yet you have so much potential but it's for the best that we take precaution before you can fully master your powers." Nya answered.
"So do I get to join Chris and Kyle?" The naïve girl
"That's another question Sensei Wu will have to answer as well as your brand new powers and how you can control them but there's one thing that will never change." Jay said.
"And what's that?" His daughter asked.
"Even if this never happened, you're still our precious little girl and there's nothing in this world that can ever change that. Never forget that." Jay and Nya held their daughter lovingly.
Despite all the trials and tribulations they faced as parents, they loved their sons and daughter equally and unconditionally. Life as a parent was never easy and in a way, much more difficult than being a ninja but they would gladly go to the Underworld and back for them.
Now, Sayuri was starting to truly grow up and Jay and Nya were intent on being there to guide her down the path to her own destiny and they all looked forward to it…
(*) Tadaima = I'm home (Japanese)
See. I told you I was gonna do something special with Sayuri. I was inspired during my early days planning out this story with the possibility of the ninjas' children having BOTH elements & decided to do that with Sayuri.
So how will Sayuri be able to handle all this? How will Chris & Kyle react?
Find out in the next chapter & as always, reviews are appreciated!