Children of Destiny
Finally! We're gonna see some action as well as one of the original couples!
Things are warming up as we're getting closer to the big climax & I hope you all stick around to the very end! Read on!
Chapter 60: A Grim Reminder
The Destiny's Bounty was caught in a pretty bad storm that was eerily apt with the foreboding feelings the ninjas were having as of late. It won't be long until the true final battle commences and they knew all too well how fast time can fly. The hour of destiny drew closer
Chris usually felt at home with his element but thoughts of the future made him feel more than a little apprehensive out in the rain.
"Bro! What are you doing!?" Kyle called to him from the entrance.
"Just being in my element." The eldest ninja answered.
"You're out here in the rain about to get struck by lightning!" The metal ninja exclaimed.
"We all do crazy things, sometimes." Chris merely shrugged off his brother's concerns.
"Is something bothering you?"
"Kyle… you ever get that feeling something's going to happen…?"
"Every once in a while," He answered bluntly, "What exactly do you think will happen?"
"I don't know if it's good or bad but it's… something will happen… I can feel it…"
The metal ninja felt unnerved by his brother's sudden attitude. Chris was always very blunt and like Kyle, preferred to think in a logical perspective but seeing him so confused was somewhat disturbing for him.
"Chris, you always said our actions will determine our fate. We've been through so much and it would all be for nothing if we back out now. There's no turning back."
"I know that…" The blue ninja gritted his teeth.
"Whether something happens or not, we can still do something about it, right?" Kyle pleaded.
"Maybe… but all these ideals of being able to do something just won't cut it."
"I understand what you're saying… but that doesn't mean we should just sit back and let things happen just like that. We're ninjas and we should take action."
"Everyone's been saying that a thousand times." Chris growled in frustration.
"And that's why it's so important. Stop fretting over what hasn't happened yet and concentrate on what we can do at the moment."
"I wish I could… but I can't get rid of this gut feeling…"
"You should probably get some rest."
"Might as well." Not caring that he was soaking wet, Chris returned to the halls.
But even after a nice hot shower, it wasn't easy to get rid of the tension.
'I don't usually believe these things but… why does part of me wish I'll be wrong…?'
Arbouria was as peaceful as ever with the locals going about with their daily lives, protected by the forests surrounding their quaint little town… making it an excellent target for the Overlord. The fortress' cloaking device kept it from being discovered as it hovered high above the town. The stronghold was installed with weapons unheard of to everyone else and the abode of one of the original ninjas will be the perfect testing ground for its most powerful weapon.
"Shall we activate the weapon, my lord?" Ash turned to the Overlord for answers.
"Not directly at the town," The true dark lord commanded, "They'll still be able to escape."
"I'm so glad you're feeling better." Ivy embraced Heather, whom she hasn't seen since she was supposedly ill.
Heather and Zane felt bad for hiding the truth but they had to move on with their lives.
As if out of nowhere, a group of columns made of pure light descended from the heavens and engulfed the forest. The resulting shockwave made it hard for the inhabitants to stand on their own feet and several buildings were damaged from the sudden assault. Schools were cancelled and every working citizen had to leave their offices. No one knew what was going on, not even the Julien couple but whatever was going on, they had to get to the bottom of it.
"What's happening…?" Heather was scared but tried to stay strong for everyone's sake.
Just as sudden as the first, another group of beams rained down around the town, causing yet more panic for its civilians.
"This can't be good…" Zane had a bad feeling this was just the beginning…
…and he was right.
Everyone in Arbouria were in a state of panic once they saw strange pillars of light surrounding their humble town. As if things couldn't get any worse, the forests were caught ablaze, blocking off any exits. But luckily, they had the ninja of ice with them.
The former ninja summoned his full power, turning his whole body into pure ice in the process, and created a flurry of ice and snow to serve as a barrier between the inferno and the citizens.
The screams of the burning plants were almost too much for Heather to bear. The painful cries and moans almost made her pass out but the hazards around her kept her aware. She whistled for Leaf and Shard, commanding them to take her family and as many people they can carry at a time and to not stop until everyone was evacuated.
Garmadon felt a slight sense of relief noticing the ex-nindroid trying to make a stand, even if it will most likely be in vain.
'And yet people still cling to hope…'
But it was a different story for the Overlord.
"Will those incessant humans stop at nothing to deny what is mine!?" The evil being's gravelly voice boomed across the main chamber.
"What should we do, Master?" Karl asked.
"The weapon… Aim it directly at the town." The dark lord commanded.
"As you wish." Ronin bowed before returning to operate the fortress' mechanics.
Another pillar of light appeared out of nowhere but this time, it struck the center of Arbouria, causing yet more destruction to the burning settlement. People were running and sobbing in a state of frenzied panic but Zane and Heather did what they could to save everyone. The flames were too much for the former android to put out by himself but what he can do was guide the people to safety.
"Everyone! Go this way!" Zane used his cold powers to put out the flames in a small part of the outskirts of Arbouria to ensure safe passage for the inhabitants to escape and they didn't need to be told twice to evacuate the town. The Julien couple remained in Arbouria, refusing to stop until every last citizen, men and women, children and the elderly, were gone.
With everyone else evacuated, the couple finally focused on their own safety. Heather yelped when some hot embers came in contact with her light brown locks but her husband was quick to put them out though it left her hair with blackened uneven ends. It was but a small price to pay to keep themselves from burning down with Arbouria.
Zane and Heather barely made it out before their town was burned to the ground. The former citizens watched in austere silence as their home was consumed by the raging inferno. No one knew who or what was responsible for this wanton destruction, having no idea that the one to blame still lingered above them.
The Overlord and his remaining minions watched the destruction from their concealed hideout. The evil mastermind cackled with sadistic glee while all but one of his servants stared in awe at the capabilities of their new base.
Garmadon remained solemn while observing the carnage.
He was not new to such levels of destruction and his numbed heart and soul felt neither joy nor remorse at the inferno below him.
Arbouria's destruction now served as a grim warning to those who dare think that the ninja and kunoichi will be able to defeat the reborn Overlord.
But this was only the beginning of the end…
The dragons flew as fast as they could, carrying the ninja and kunoichi with them once they got word of Arbouria being burned down by a sudden mysterious force. From what they heard, the people were barely able to escape thanks to Zane's ice powers and they set up a refugee camp not far from what remained of the forests they once knew and loved.
Liana and Forrest were understandably outraged over the destruction of their hometown and their teammates knew to give them some space. Once they landed, the siblings started looking for their parents and it wasn't long until they found them trying to console the inhabitants.
"Mom! Dad!" The Julien siblings made a beeline towards their parents.
"My babies!" Heather greeted her children with open arms.
"It eases me to see you doing well." Zane also welcomed his children.
"Are you injured?" Forrest immediately made a fuss over their condition, checking for wounds.
Luckily, the couple escaped with only a few minor burns and Heather's once burnt hair was now cut around the shoulders but all that mattered was that they were safe.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" Liana made no effort to contain her tears while hugging them.
"What happened?" The teal ninja already wanted an explanation of what went on.
"It's a lengthy story but if you want the full details, I'll go ahead." Zane
It took several minutes for the ninja to explain everything but it was soon clear to the ice ninja and kunoichi of nature who was behind all this once the puzzle pieces were put together.
"So the Overlord's making his move, huh?" Heather gritted her teeth. Even if he'll be destroyed for good, if possible, she'll never forgive him for destroying her lifelong home and nearly killing her loved ones.
"Now that he has his hands on powers and technology beyond our reach, we'll have to pull out all the stops to defeat him for good." Melody said.
"You won't do it alone. We'll fight too. I won't let him get away with this." Heather vowed.
"But you just went through so much. No one in Arbouria has a home anymore. They need you here much more than we do." Forrest objected.
"Our son is right," Zane added, "Your friends and family are still here and need all the support only you can give."
The former kunoichi still had a guilty look in her greyish blue eyes but her husband, always the understanding man he was, sympathized with her conflicting thoughts. Just one look at him and she felt reassured by his perpetual consideration for her.
"I know the Overlord's on the move now but we still need time to plan our next move. For now, we should stay here and help out the locals." Amy suggested.
The others agreed, knowing that as ninjas, they were meant to not only fight but to protect too.
While everyone else were busy with the locals, Liana (with some help from Akira) finally gained the courage to tell her parents of her new relationship.
"Mom, Dad… there's also something I really want to tell you." Liana shyly started once she and her lover were alone with just her parents.
"Go on," Zane encouraged her, "We'll understand."
The kunoichi of ice was still a little apprehensive but the reassuring looks she received from her parents gave her the courage to tell the truth.
"After going through so much together… Akira and I… Well… do you remember the time I kinda went crazy and ran away for a while?"
"Yes…?" Heather tilted her head in curiosity.
"It was because I thought Akira was playing with my feelings but our feelings were genuine. We did get to interact and know more about each other quite a bit before we knew we were in love with each other and now… we're a couple."
This was something the Julien couple were NOT expecting. In fact, none of them knew what to think of their once timid daughter now in a serious relationship, especially with her teammate. She and Akira may have known each other since they were very little but it was nothing short of a miracle that they of all people ended up falling for each other.
But they knew better than anyone else that miracles CAN happen.
"You… don't approve…?" Liana shook out of fear once she noticed her parents' silence.
'I knew it. Not even they will accept my choices…'
"So you've finally found the one…" Zane grasped her shoulder in a supportive manner.
"Liana, no matter who you're with, you'll always be our daughter and all we could ever want for you is to be happy. I can't guarantee there won't be any issues but seeing you grow from a shy little girl into a brilliant young woman with your own special someone, I couldn't be more proud as a father. You and Akira have my blessings."
"What about you, Mom?"
"Mistakes will be made and believe me, I've made a lot before Zane and I were truly a couple. But we don't make mistakes because of failure but so we can learn from them. It's better to be wrong for the right reasons than being right for the wrong reasons. Every relationship will have its ups and downs but that is part of growing up and I want you to have those experiences. You and Akira still have some growing up to do and all I want for you is to make your relationship a great experience." Heather's words also bore the wisdom she gained when she and Zane were building their relationship.
Liana felt truly lucky to have such kind and understanding parents and Akira felt a large weight being lifted off his chest. Now that both his and Liana's parents don't mind him and Liana being together, he no longer had to worry about her being judged or her parents freezing or feeding him to a giant Venus fly trap.
After finally getting some closure over their relationship, the young couple rejoined the rest of the ninjas in planning their next move.
"So what are we going to do now?" Willow complained.
"But where will you go? Arbouria's destroyed and we don't have a lot of space at the Bounty." Leon asked the Julien couple.
"We'll stay in my father's home in the Birchwood Forest." The former nindroid answered.
"But we still don't have a clear idea what to do next."
"If Arbouria was attacked to get rid of us, then Ignacia, Meerheim, and anywhere your parents are will be at risk too. We'll have to warn the others and get those people to evacuate." The ice ninja said.
"But why would he do such a thing?" Amy couldn't even stand the thought of her parents and loved ones in danger.
"He probably attacked Arbouria as a warning against us. He's trying to demotivate us by killing off our loved ones." Chris knew his hunch of something happening was true.
"This is unforgivable!" Forrest growled, "If he wanted to threaten us, he shouldn't have gotten you involved in his dirty schemes!"
"Hey, at least it's doing the opposite…" The eldest ninja said sardonically.
"This isn't the time to get snarky," Alex halted the argument, "We have a very serious situation in our hands and we don't have much time before the Overlord does it again. I know it sounds harsh but we have to leave now."
"But what about- ?" Liana would've also objected if not for her mother.
"Alex is right," Heather agreed with the kunoichi of wind, "Actions always have consequences. Your choices will determine what will happen next and the Overlord is on the move even as we speak. You should go. Your father and I will stay here a little longer to support the townsfolk so don't worry about us."
"Mom, Dad. We'll do our best." Liana and Forrest promised.
"That's all we'll ever want from you."
Before Akira can follow the others back to the Bounty, Zane summoned him.
"Akira, there's something I must tell you." The former ninja beckoned the fire ninja.
"W-w-what is it…?" Akira grew nervous, knowing how overprotective many fathers can get over their teenage daughters dating.
"My daughter… please take care of her." Zane started.
"W-why are you saying this…?" Akira gulped nervously, knowing he'll regret it.
"Liana is undeniably content being with you and I genuinely approve of your relationship but… if you ever cause any harm to my daughter… this conversation may be the last we'll ever have."
And just like that, the red ninja regretted asking in the first place.
Akira gulped nervously, seeing the sweet-natured man stare him down coldly. It was even more unsettling when the ninja turned teacher went back to his gentle self as if those suddenly eerie words were never uttered in the first place.
And people keep saying 'hell hath no fury like a scorned woman'…
Yes, Akira. Even Zane's a total papa wolf anyone messes with his kids.
Anyway, expect more original ninja cameos & maybe a couple of jabs at the new season of Ninjago. I don't want any readers who hasn't seen it yet to be spoiled so…DO NOT PUT ANY SPOILERS IN THE REVIEWS!
As always, review!