Children of Destiny
Sorry this chapter's so short but we'll see a bit more of the original ninjas & hints of an upcoming showdown so please bear with me & read.
Chapter 63: Lingering Threats
Ignacia was eerily quiet now that everyone save a certain couple had left. Aria felt empty seeing the once bustling streets now barren and the buildings devoid of life. She told herself this was all to keep everyone safe but the stillness made her feel more than a little uneasy. Even the air was still and stagnant as if sensing a forthcoming doom…
But at least the kunoichi of wind wasn't alone.
Kai was adamant on staying behind so no one will pay the price for his actions. Aria didn't even bother to argue, knowing how stubborn he still is and that was a quirk she shared with him. She also didn't want to put her family in danger by running to them like a selfish coward who wants someone to take the fall for them.
Yet the thought of never seeing them again still hurt.
"Aria, is something on your mind?" The former ninja noticed his spouse's contemplative mood.
"Guess I can never hide anything from you…" The wind wielder chuckled dryly.
"Then tell me."
"I'm not staying here against my will but I still wish I could see my family one more time…" Aria got straight to the point with no sugarcoating.
"You don't have to stay if you don't want to. If you want to be with your family, I'm not going to stop you." The fire ninja relented, understanding how much his wife cared for her family.
"No. I would've liked to see them again but I still want to stay with you."
"Aria…"
"Kai, even if we die at this moment, I want you to know I have no regrets being with you. Even with all your flaws, you're still the only one I'll ever love." Aria cupped her husband's face in her graceful hands so he can see the sincerity in her sky blue eyes.
The fiery couple shared a quick kiss but soon found themselves embracing each other, sharing impassioned kisses and moans. They didn't care if their actions contradicted the situation they were in. They wanted to make the most of the precious few moments they have left.
For this moment of shared passion might be their last…
Lloyd and his family finally decided to head to Haruka's house in the mountains as a makeshift meeting ground until they can find a way to destroy whatever's annihilating the ninjas' homes.
"So it finally comes down to this…" Wu sighed.
Even his favorite tea failed to soothe him in such a dark hour.
"Perhaps we'll need the other ninjas' assistance but we don't even know where they are."
"I might be able to summon them with my space powers…" Iris suggested.
"But none of us have a clue where they are except Zane and Heather. They probably won't like it if I suddenly brought them here."
"And we also don't have a lot of time before the Overlord tries again.
"But what about our children? How will they know we survived the attack?"
"I know they will," Iris said, "I can feel it…"
"Iris, intuition alone won't be good enough for this situation." Lloyd retorted.
"But it's the least I can do. We can't be there for them forever so until then, I will support them and give them all the love they'll need." The former kunoichi remained steadfast in her faith.
"You haven't changed one bit…" The former hero shook his head but smiled anyway.
Seeing her son interact with his wife in such a loving way brought up bitter memories for poor Haruka. The bereft woman just never seemed to get a break. The old woman started weeping, concerning her son.
"Mother… I-I'm so sorry…" Lloyd realized what his moment with Iris had done to her. The green ninja supported his only parent left while she wept into his shoulder.
"I know how you feel," Wu added, "I'm also saddened by Garmadon's departure but the ninjas will find a way to save him. All we can do for him is hold on to that little ray of hope."
"Easier said than done." His nephew responded sardonically.
"But it's all we can do… for the moment."
As if from out of nowhere, Haukka flew in from the open window, perching himself in front of the green ninja.
"What brings you here?" Iris asked the robotic animal politely.
The falcon squawked before finally speaking.
"If you wish to give out a message, speak."
Lloyd looked at Iris for ideas but just one look from his family members made him know what to say to the ninjas, wherever they are.
"Everyone, if you remember where my mother's house is located, please come. There are very important matters to discuss. I'm aware of the danger of all of us being together in one location but with the way things are now, we don't have much time. Please hurry." He said briskly.
Once Haukka recorded Lloyd's message, the green ninja gave one last command.
"Please don't go to everyone at once. I wouldn't want to risk luring the Overlord." The former ninja requested and the falcon nodded before taking off as suddenly as he came.
With so little hope left, Lloyd was desperate to try anything.
With the hour of destiny drawing closer, the new generations no longer took their training for granted and spent nearly every waking hour honing their elements so they'll be ready. Leon in particular took his responsibilities much more seriously than he ever did. He was always aware of how powerful he can get but never knew how important he will be if not for the all the trials and tribulations he and the others went through. Finally accepting that he won't be perfect nor can he do it all alone, his powers were no longer restrained.
The Golden Dragon came to life again and this time, Leon was testing it on a ride and so far, the nigh legendary beast seemed willing to obey the new green ninja. It even performed a couple of tricks, showing how loyal it already was to the green ninja.
"How's that?" Leon asked a bit sheepishly once he set foot on the deck.
"So far so good." Amy offered her support.
All of a sudden, Willow shuddered, which wasn't a good sign…
"Sis…?" Leon noticed his sister's random reaction.
"I sense something…" She murmured, "I don't know if it's good or bad… or maybe it's both…"
"We've already been through a lot so I pretty much don't care about what it is anymore. Might as well bring it on." Akira said in a jaded tone.
"Do you feel anything else?" Kyle interrogated the youngest team member.
"I'm not sure… I just feel that something will happen… but it might not happen to us…" Willow continued, still feeling uneasy over her intuition.
"It seems like there's nothing we can do about it now so whatever happens, happens." Forrest shrugged nonchalantly.
"But what if it won't happen to us but our parents?" Melody brought up the possibilities.
"Your parents aren't of concern now. This may sound callous but training comes first." Misako reasoned with her students.
Back then, the new generation would've protested but they've grown over the course of their adventures and witnessing many things no ordinary teenager would, they've also grown wiser. They now understood that they can't have everything and sacrifices will have to be made.
"We understand…" Liana sighed in resignation.
Even if they didn't say it out loud, the ninjas still wondered how their parents were faring…
Zane and Heather finally reached the former's old home in the Birchwood Forest. They heard of Jay and Nya's plans to build up the defense of Ninjago City and wanted to help but first, they'll have to be well-suited before taking action.
"I can't believe it's come to this…" Heather sighed, staring at some of Dr. Julien's old pictures.
"In a way, it's unavoidable." Zane told her while he too, readjusted to life in the hollow tree.
The couple still felt lucky that they were able to escape with their lives intact. Who knows what would've happened if they weren't able to rescue the townspeople in time.
Several avian coos echoed from the entrance and Zane recognized the unique voice.
"Hello, my friend." The ice ninja greeted his lifelong companion once he landed in front of him.
Haukka opened his beak and played Lloyd's message, surprising the Julien couple.
"So he is alive…!" Heather wanted to believe the rumors of his death was false but that failed to make her any less astonished.
"And he wants us to meet and discuss any plans for a counterattack." Zane added.
"But we don't have enough resources and even if we did, we still have a clear agenda."
"That's why we must go and discuss the matters at hand."
"Even if it puts us at risk?"
"That's one of the many lessons we've learned as ninjas. We can't forget that."
"So what do you plan on doing?"
"It would be wiser to plan a strategy rather than running away. I wouldn't want to let Liana and Forrest do all the brunt work while we're cowering behind them. It makes me feel selfish."
"I feel the same."
"So it looks like you want to go too…"
"Of course." Heather gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek.
Even if it may put them in danger, this was their choice and they refused to back down.
The Overlord continued scoping for the ninjas' whereabouts. Much to his disappointment, the town of Meerheim where Cole and Luna were said to have dwelled was barren when the base reached the settlement. He considered going for Ninjago City but he was saving that for last. It would be the perfect seat of power once he fully recreates the world in his image.
"Master, if you have no objections, perhaps I can go seek out the young ninjas. I'll assure they won't interfere with your plans more than they already have." Pythor offered.
"Your kind have failed me more than enough times. What makes you think I'll simply hand over such a task to the likes of you?"
"Not all snakes are the same. Just like the humans you despise so, yet the rest of your surviving servants are also human, no?"
The Overlord was angered that the Anacondrai actually made a point for once. He still despised humans yet he took a few in because they weren't the same as those soft-hearted fools who do nothing but live is blissful ignorance. But the Serpentine weren't human and all who served him have failed. He also knew how much of a turncoat Pythor can be but with he had only a handful of servants left and his newest recruit wasn't exactly trustworthy…
"This will be your only chance to prove your worth as my minion." The Overlord relented.
"I will not fail you." Pythor bowed before the dark lord.
"If you fail, you know what will happen."
"I am quite aware of that."
"Then leave and you better not disappoint me."
"I vow not to return until I've fulfilled my duty."
The Overlord stared at the Anacondrai with judging eyes while he slithered away.
Garmadon remained silent during Pythor's persuasion to hunt down the ninjas.
'They're all fools. The cycle of balance will only continue, no matter what…'
The alarm of the Destiny's Bounty finally went off after such a long time of dormancy.
"What now?" Chris groaned once everyone gathered in the bridge.
"Hostile presence detected forty miles westward." The monitor explained in its usual monotone yet feminine voice.
"Could it be one of the Overlord's lackeys?" Amy pondered.
"Who knows? But we have to stop them, no matter what!" Kyle exclaimed.
"But what if this is what he wants?" Willow pointed out.
"You know, this could open the window of opportunity." Chris started.
"What!?" The ninjas stared at their eldest teammate in shock.
"If we manage to capture them, we could interrogate them into revealing the Overlord's base and what his plan exactly entails." The blue ninja explained.
After putting much thought into it, the team knew the lightning wielder had a point. This could be their one chance to finally gain an advantage against the enemies and it was better to grab even the smallest opportunity before they can leave as suddenly as they come.
"Let's just go and find out who it is. It's not like we have any other choice." Akira shrugged and the ninjas soon summoned their dragons and flew to their destination…
It wasn't long until the ninjas recognized the culprit even before they were caught.
"Pythor…" Leon's fists shook. He still hasn't forgiven him that deceitful snake for the atrocities he committed against his parents.
"What's he even doing here?" Melody whispered to her comrades though they too didn't know the answer.
"Should we confront him?" Liana still felt a foreboding aura just by looking at him.
"What if this is exactly what the Overlord wants?" Akira contemplated.
"Too late! He's spotted us!" Kyle pointed at the Anacondrai who was now looking up at them.
The ninjas had no choice but to land in front of the Serpentine. They knew how deceitful he was so they prepared themselves in case a confrontation was unavoidable.
"It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" The purple snake sneered.
"Easy for you to say." Leon growled.
"Enough small talk! Why are you here?" Akira snarled.
"My, my… you have such an uncanny lack of patience… just like your father."
"Don't mock our parents!" Alex was ready to beat Pythor to a pulp but was held back.
"All of you shut up! If it's a fight Pythor wants, then it's a fight he gets!" Leon exclaimed.
Pythor only smirked, expecting such a reaction from the young ninjas.
But they might be in for more than a simple brawl…
I'm sorry these last few chapters have been dragging on but I have some really big plans coming very soon. Again, I'm thankful for all the support I have & I plan to see this story through to the end. As usual, reviews are highly appreciated.