Children of Destiny
Hi guys! These next few chapters are gonna focus on the original ninjas so expect a bit of family bonding time in this chapter! I still can't believe I'm getting close to the end of this story but as the saying goes, memento mori. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 61: Exodus
The ninja and kunoichi were back on the Bounty, planning their next move. It was clear that the Overlord was now targeting their hometowns to serve as a warning for them but the dark lord failed to see a glaring flaw in his plan. With their family's lives put on the line, the young ninjas were only more determined to stop him. But first, the group had to make sure everyone was in perfect shape to perform their duties.
Despite knowing their family and friends safe, Liana and Forrest were still badly shaken by the destruction of Arbouria.
"Are you guys alright?" Amy noticed the melancholy aura that kept following them since their visit with their parents.
It was understandable they were upset but they had to move on in order to keep such atrocities from happening again.
"I was just thinking…" Liana sighed.
"It's about your parents, isn't it?" Kyle correctly assumed.
The siblings only nodded but their teammates continued lecturing them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Julien said they'll be fine. All of our parents have been through some really scary things so they can handle it. They already placed all their faith in you so why not try to at least do the same for them?" Akira suggested.
"Kiitos, Akira. You always know how to make me feel better." The kunoichi of ice finally gave a small yet grateful smile.
"How are our parents doing?" Melody asked.
"I told them about the Overlord's plan and they're preparing themselves for it."
"But where will they go?"
"That's something you should worry about later. First, we have to get to your homes before the Overlord does."
"Looks like we'll have to split up again." Chris said dryly.
"Half of us should go to Meerheim and the other to Ignacia. Sounds good?" Leon suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Alex decided to just go for it. As long as it means keeping her parents safe, she was willing to try anything.
"We definitely know the sisters will head to Meerheim while the twins handle things in Ignacia but who's going to follow who?"
"We'll go with the sisters to Meerheim." Forrest volunteered for himself and his sister.
"But what about Ninjago City and the monastery?" Willow asked, "The Walkers and my parents are there too."
"The Overlord's probably saving the city for last because he will want the most populous city of Ninjago to serve as the center of power if he succeeds. As for the monastery, Lloyd and Iris may be able to defend it. After all, they have defeated him before." Misako answered.
"But they didn't do it alone. The ninjas were with them when they sealed him."
"Then should we go to them first? It's going to be time-consuming to evacuate the towns." Amy grew more and more anxious over the crises awaiting the ninjas.
"And that's why we'll go to the towns first. The sooner we save everyone, the better." Melody attempted to placate her sister.
"I understand..."
"Then we should get going." Chris hopped off the deck and summoned Wisp.
"Yeah!"
The other ninjas followed and they were soon off to evacuate everyone.
Crowds of people were pooling around the gates of Meerheim while Cole and Luna tried their best to keep order amongst the panicking civilians.
"Bitte! Don't panic! There's still time to grab whatever you need and leave one at a time!" Luna pleaded to keep whatever little peace remained in her hometown that was now a liability.
Cole also helped by using his unique strength to carry any heavy items the fleeing people may want to take with them and keeping them from crowding all over the gates. As the number of citizens dwindled down, so did the chaos until almost everyone had left and the first kunoichi of water chose to personally see her mother off.
"Mutter, I'm so sorry for constantly dragging you into my problems." The veteran kunoichi said.
"There's no need to apologize, you're only trying your best to help. You're in no way a burden." Luna's ever loving mother still did her best to comfort her only child.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Cole came in almost all of a sudden.
"Of course not." His wife greeted him with the usual kiss on the cheek.
The former ninja felt bad for separating Luna from her mother but some compromises must be made to ensure there won't be any innocent victims like his own mother.
"Everyone else left so you should get going." The black ninja suggested to his mother-in-law.
"Luna, just in case we won't see each other again for a long time, I'll always love you and your family. I never thought you would have so much impact on the world. I've told you many times before but I still want to say I'm proud of you and I also have faith that you and Cole will be able to succeed. Until then, please take care of yourselves." The old mother gave her only child her blessings before parting ways.
After Mrs. Hoffman and Lorelei left, the Charbonneau couple still lingered to be with their loved ones a little more before separating yet again.
"Do you think this will save everyone? The Overlord might end up following you and won't have any qualms of exterminating anyone who happens to be in the way." Melody pondered.
"Don't worry about us. We can take care of ourselves." Cole kissed her brow.
"It still feels like yesterday I held both of you for the first time when you were born. I still see a couple of infant children yet you've grown into fine young women sooner than I wanted." Luna was on the brink of tears as she had to part ways with her daughters yet again.
"They'll be fine," The black ninja consoled his wife, "You've done everything a good mother can and now it's their turn."
"Aber…"
"Mom, don't worry about us. Just stay safe." Amy embraced her.
The Charbonneau family all embraced, knowing that no matter what happens to them and no matter where they were, nothing can ever break the bonds that held them together.
The same scenarios went on in Ignacia with both generations of ninjas working together to get the innocent townspeople out of the potential crossfire. The defense forces offered to stay but the ninjas knew that the Overlord's weapon will be far too powerful for a small army of simple humans to withstand. It was only until everyone else had evacuated that the young ninjas took the Pyrrhus couple into consideration.
Once the town was empty save for the Pyrrhus family, they were finally able to have a moment.
"Looks like everyone's gone. You should get going too." Akira encouraged his parents to follow the citizens out of Ignacia.
"No." Kai replied with an austere tone he rarely used.
"WHAT!?"
"It's us the Overlord wants and if he's gonna attack us, then at least the innocent people won't pay the price for our actions." The ninja turned blacksmith vowed.
"I'm staying too." Aria soon joined her husband.
"MOM!"
Akira and Alex were beyond shocked that their parents planned to stay despite the danger that awaits them.
"Do you have any idea what the Overlord can do now!? He freakin' DESTROYED Arbouria with just a couple of lasers! There's no way you'll be able to survive that!" Alex exclaimed.
"Believe me, we've been through much more than a massive death ray. Even if it means putting our lives on the line, we would gladly do it to protect you and everyone we care about."
"Dad…"
"Trust us. We'll be fine." The former kunoichi reassured her children.
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Of course. If there's one way we're going down, then we'll end it doing protecting the ones we love most and that is you." The fire ninja answered.
"But before you leave, we want you to know that we love you and we couldn't be any prouder to have you as our children. You have done so many great things since you've became ninjas. I know you'll continue to make an impact upon Ninjago and that's all we want." The kunoichi of wind held her two children to support them alongside her spouse.
No one, not even they can tell when they'll meet again or if they will at all.
But one thing was certain.
The Pyrrhus family will stand strong like the flames fueled by the tempest to the very end.
Lloyd and Iris heard about what happened to Arbouria from Zane and Heather and that there's a high risk of the ninjas' hometowns and even the monastery being burned down. The original ninjas also knew and already evacuated the townspeople. But the original couple who defeated the Overlord were still at risk of being attacked. Iris sensed that it won't be long until he makes his move on her.
Perhaps sooner than she initially thought...
"I feel like something isn't right…" She paused all of a sudden.
"How so?" Despite the seemingly peaceful air, Lloyd allowed his wife to explain.
The kunoichi of time closed her violet eyes, taking in her surroundings until she sensed it. There was an evil presence much closer than she thought…
"They're here…!" Iris exclaimed with baited breath.
"Nani?"
"The Overlord… No one has such a vile aura… I can feel it…"
Even if he doesn't share her intuition, Lloyd knew that when his wife sensed something amiss, then something is SERIOUSLY wrong…
"How do you know he's here?"
"I saw it. He's waiting for us. He's in plain sight but at the same time, he isn't."
"Iris, I know you have those unique powers of yours but can you please tell me everything?"
"He's right above us… but he's hiding himself."
"So he's… invisible…?"
"It's not impossible with the powers he may have acquired... but I can still feel his lust for vengeance... his rage..."
In the concealed fortress, the true machinator and his zealots could hear the former kunoichi's concerns and the former wasn't too pleased.
"That bitch ruined my plans to greet her," The Overlord grumbled, "Very well… If she wants us to get it over with… I wouldn't mind letting her have it her way for once."
"I'll fire the weapon." Garmadon spoke up all of a sudden.
"What makes you think you of all people should destroy the monastery?"
"What better way for me to cut off my ties than to destroy the place I once called home?" The former dark lord retorted with yet another question.
The evil being stared at Garmadon with scrutinizing eyes until he eventually relented.
"Perhaps you're smarter than I thought. Do what you will." He dismissed his human servant.
The Overlord continued to glare at him until he was out of sight and earshot.
"But perhaps you've become a little too smart…"
At the same time, Iris sensed his bloodthirst far below his invisible fortress.
"He's going to attack us the same way he did to Arbouria!" She alerted her husband.
Lloyd tried to summon his powers but his wife quickly objected.
"It's no use for us here! We alone can't stop him!"
Iris closed her eyes and concentrated on the space aspects of her powers and in an instant, she and everyone else in the monastery were no more.
What was once one of the most hallowed sights of Ninjago was now a burning ruin. This was what the Overlord dreamt of since the day he escaped his prison. What was once one of the most sacred places in Ninjago was destroyed and it was partial thanks to one of the men who called it home...
'Am I dead…?' Lloyd didn't feel any pain, but believed it was because his body was destroyed.
They were now in the middle of the fields of central Ninjago. Luckily, his family were also there. Iris most likely used her powers to teleport them away from the Overlord's wrath. It was times like these that he was grateful that he grew to love her.
"We definitely can't go back to the monastery and from what I've heard, neither Meerheim nor Ignacia will be a good option. The ninjas will also have nowhere to go."
"What about Villa Celestia?" Iris suggested, "Aria's parents still lives there and I'm sure they will be more than willing to take in their kin."
"But the Overlord will follow them and burn that place down and knowing him, he would."
"If you won't mind, you're always welcome at my house…" Haruka offered.
"Then how will we be able to strategize a counterattack against him?" Iris inquired.
"The ninjas have probably left by now but with no way to communicate, there's no way we can formulate a plan on time…" The green ninja sighed in aggravation.
"Don't forget that the new generation are aware of what's going on," Wu reminded his grown nephew, "They have matured since the embarked on their journey so we must have faith."
"But they're still so young… we shouldn't have made them atone for our actions." The Russian woman lamented letting her children head right into danger.
"This isn't the time to get emotional. We can only move forward." Lloyd sternly reminded her.
"First, we need to find shelter and the resources necessary to survive until we have a clear idea of what to do next." Wu added.
"Looks like we're going on yet another adventure…" Lloyd deadpanned.
The small group knew they had no choice but to set off to find refuge until they have the means to take the next course of action but that led to another problem.
Now that the ninjas were disorganized, it looks like the Overlord got everything he wanted…
Ah… looking back at my past stories now… it reminds me when Ninjago was actually good. I've seen the new episodes on YouTube but I won't put any spoilers & as I said before, do NOT put any spoilers in the reviews! All I can say is that the newer seasons have become nothing but an insufferable cesspool of wangst. That's all. For now, please review.