Children of Destiny
Hey! I'm really sorry for the late(ish) update but shit's gonna get real from here on out so there's gonna be a bit of action & a few cameos! Now sit back and enjoy the ride!
Chapter 66: Revenge is Coming
Jay and Nya have been overseeing their latest project that was nearing completion. The couple worked so hard to protect the ones they care about and they had to make sure their invention will do as they intend it. Another good thing about their invention being done is that they'll get more than enough time to be with Sayuri to make up for all the lost time they've had. Normally, the inventive couple wouldn't have minding revealing their inventions shortly before releasing them to the public but this was a matter of life or death. They didn't want to attract the wrong sort of attention by exposing any information and even their employees were sworn to secrecy.
"Have you recalibrated the receptors?" Nya inspected the machine. There were some moments where something went wrong but everyone was quick to rectify the flaws. They can't afford to mess up such an important project.
Jay grew anxious with anticipation and hope that his invention will be successful when needed.
"Mr. Walker, shall we test the new machine?" One of the engineers asked.
Jay wanted to give his invention a test drive but he didn't want to get the Overlord's attention, wherever he may be.
"We'll do a quick run with one sector." The ninja turned inventor answered.
The scientists scrambled to get the test drive ready but were careful to not overdo it. Once the switches were on, everyone observed the machine work but it did as it was functioned to do for only a couple of seconds. They weren't sure if it was because of the short time or because there might still be some errors to correct.
"Should we examine the machine again, Mr. Walker?" They turned to the inventor for answers.
"Fine," Jay sighed, "This machine is too important to screw up but we better act fast."
"Understood."
While everyone paced around to do some maintenance checks, the former ninja grew anxious with every passing second.
'This has to work or else… The whole world is counting on it…'
The new generation of ninjas were hard at work deciphering whatever clues they managed to get from Pythor. From what they've learned, the Overlord's base was far more advanced than the Bounty or possibly any of Mr. Walker's inventions. Gathering what little evidence they had, the ninjas concluded that the dark lord's base might have functions that can conceal it from the naked eye and can move faster than the Bounty.
"Damn… The Overlord seems unstoppable already…" Kyle started to lose hope.
"Then we have to do something about it." Amy encouraged a more proactive approach to the rising issues.
"We need to stop dwelling on information over his base and figure out what he plans on doing next." Alex goaded the team.
"We already know he wants to get rid of our parents and finish what he started all those years ago." Forrest recapped what they know of the dark lord.
"But he never grasped that opportunity even if it was ripe for the taking. I don't know what you think but I feel that he's coming up with some other plan."
"And he's still not alone. Haven't you forgotten about those goons?"
The ninjas remembered that there were also those human servants and the nindroid army.
As if their timing couldn't be more perfect, the main computer's AI sensed an anomaly, or more specifically, several.
"What now?" Leon grew exasperated by the onslaught of events.
"Enemies detected." The feminine voice showed a radius over the map of Ninjago. There were a few dots scattered far apart from each other.
The Overlord's surviving zealots must've split up to search for the ones they sought vengeance on. Ronin probably wandered the mainland to hunt down Wu while Jacob had his sights set on Ignacia among others. Just as the ninjas suspected, the dots were moving towards where their parents were last seen.
"H-how did they figure it out!?" Alex summed up her teammates' emotions out loud.
"Do they even know where our parents are?" Amy added.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they found out. Remember what Pythor told us?" Chris responded.
"Now what are we gonna do?" Akira let out an aggravated sigh.
"The servants too far spread out. It'll take too long going after one at a time." Liana noticed the distance between each pinpoint.
It was only a matter of seconds before the ninjas knew they'll also have to divide their forces. It was nothing new for them but they knew they'll have to be aware that their strength will also divided if they split.
"Judging from their locations, we already know who's going after who and we'll need the right people to deal with each of them."
"But who's going to watch Pythor?"
"Leave him to me," Misako stepped up, "Your priorities are elsewhere."
"But will you be okay? Pythor can be… manipulative."
"Don't worry about me. I know what he's capable of. You're needed elsewhere."
As she saw off her students, Misako wished them luck… because they will really need it…
Things were eerily quiet in Ignacia and not just because only Kai and Aria lived there now.
No… something was going to happen and it wasn't going to be good…
With her trained ears, Aria heard faint footsteps approaching the nearly deserted town. Her sky blue eyes narrowed in contempt upon catching sight of the invader. She immediately conjured a fierce gale but the person stood his ground and trudged towards her. Hearing the commotion, Kai quickly ran to his wife's side and also recognized the enemy.
"Just give it up already, Jacob!" The former ninja grew exasperated by the man's grudge against his dead father.
The Overlord's servant continued his rampage and summoned a dark mass of energy
"My father is gone. What more do you want?" Kai grew exasperated by his grudge.
"I will never let it go! I won't rest until every last trace of him is gone!" Jacob, now consumed by jealousy and rage, lunged at the son of his rival with his sword.
Kai didn't come unequipped and countered the blow with his handmade katana. It may not be on par with the Sword of Flames but it was well-crafted and can hold its own against Jacob. Aria refused to just sit back and watch and also fought against him, using her wind element to deter him from causing any harm to her spouse.
Another powerful gust arrived seemingly out of nowhere and was followed by an inferno of raw fury. Jacob and the Pyrrhus couple were caught off guard by the interruption but two dragons flying overhead answered their unspoken questions.
A ninja and kunoichi who looked alike leapt from the beasts and landed before the couple, who immediately recognized them.
"Mom! Dad!" The Pyrrhus twins ran up to their parents.
"My children! Why are you here!?" Aria was overjoyed and displeased at the same time by her children's presence.
The twins would've answered but Jacob quickly ruined the reunion.
"You coward!" He snarled at Kai, "Come and fight me one on one!"
The grown ninja would've gladly obliged if it weren't for his family stopping him.
"Dad! You can't do this alone!" Akira pleaded.
"I don't want to drag you into my problems," Kai refused to back down, "It's me Jacob wants so it's just me he's going to get."
"But we're not letting him take you from us." Aria stood her ground.
Kai still didn't want to have others hurt because of him yet he was confident his family weren't weak and he knew they all had each other's backs.
"Looks like there's no stopping you." He said in a slightly bemused tone but yielded.
"Our generations have to unite to put an end to the Overlord's quest for revenge." The Pyrrhus family prepared for another battle to preserve their familial bonds.
"NINJA-GO!"
Four tornadoes surrounded Jacob but he had his advantages being a zealot of the Overlord.
Using his unnatural stamina, the corrupt man evaded his enemies' assault. The Pyrrhus family had the advantage in numbers but he was far stronger with sheer power alone. His master was generous enough to bestow him with his own dark powers for this mission.
This was going to be a long battle…
Liana and Forrest deduced that Ash and possibly Cryptor will hunt down their parents so rather than return to the ruins of Arbouria, they headed for Birchwood Forest. The thin pale trees all look alike but they always recognized a certain one that was important to their family.
"Mom, Dad. It's us." Forrest called to his parents whilst knocking on the concealed door of his grandfather's former home.
Their parents hesitated for a moment before finally opening the door to see their children.
The Julien couple didn't have to say anything to express their love and gratitude towards their children, whom they held in their arms. However, this wasn't the right time to get sentimental. The enemies could arrive any second.
"Is something on your mind?" Zane asked, quickly aware that if his children came to see him, it was for a very important reason.
"The Overlord isn't attacking… yet… but his henchmen will come any second. We know where we're needed and we're going to make sure they won't get away from us anymore." Liana said.
"We can still hold our own." Heather tried reasoning with her children.
"That doesn't mean we'll just let you take all the responsibility. We know you can still fight yet we couldn't bear the thought of leaving you fight by yourselves. We'll fight alongside you."
Zane knew this day would come. Ever since the rumors of the Overlord's return first spread, he was aware that his children will have to fight him. He dreaded this day ever since but if this was what destiny has planned for him and his family, then at least they'll face their trials together.
"My children," The former nindroid started, "This may be the hardest challenge you'll ever face. Your mother and I are so grateful you've grown so much ever since your powers awakened. We always dreaded when this day will arrive but being a ninja is to endure. We will face whatever it takes to make sure nothing will come in between us again."
"And we'll need each other now more than ever," Heather added, "So we'll come with you."
"A-are you sure…?" Liana asked.
"Of course."
The moment was quickly ruined by footsteps and murmurs approaching the hidden abode. The Julien family were prepared to face whatever comes their way.
The end was coming and they were going to live to see it.
One of the Overlord's subordinates was having less luck finding his target.
Ronin complained to himself, still angered that Garmadon failed to kill Wu and his family when he had the chance. He still hated the older son of the First Spinjitzu Master but now that he was working for the Overlord, he can't take his vengeance out on him unless he has a death wish.
'Where the hell are they?'
The renegade searched tirelessly for any hints of Wu's whereabouts. He wanted to find him and get it over with not just out of fear of the Overlord but to finally have the satisfaction of letting karma get to the old man for rejecting him all those years ago.
In front of Ronin were Leon and Willow.
Ronin may not know where their parents were yet they intend to keep it that way.
"Get out of my way." The cobalt-eyed man growled.
"Over my dead body." Leon stared back with a steely glare.
The former reject lunged at the green ninja but Willow sped up time around herself and Leon, allowing them to evade his attack.
Ronin was quick to catch up with the young ninjas with his advanced stamina.
If he's going to have to fight his way to get what he wants, so be it.
Amy and Melody searched far and wide for their parents over the Great Ocean. The zealot they assume to be Karl was heading for the largest body of water in Ninjago so they decided to head there and find their mother before he does.
"Sis, our parents could be anywhere by now and so is Karl. It'll take years to find them." Melody complained after her patience had worn out.
"We have to keep trying. It's not going to be easy but we can't give up." Amy, being the kindly big sister she is, encouraged her.
"Ja…"
The sisters eventually found Karl piloting an aircraft like no other, obviously searching for their parents. The aircraft looked pretty big for one meant to be piloted by one person and it looked like a cross between a helicopter and a dragon. All that extra space would probably be for Luna once he claims her for himself.
Too bad her daughters are going to cut his plans short.
Before the kunoichi can even make their move, Karl spotted them and he was NOT in the mood for idle chatter.
(*) "ACHTUNG!"
Melody quickly heeded her big sister's warning and barely dodged a huge beam coming straight from the evil aircraft.
'How in the world…?' The sisters were shocked by such a fearsome power and it shouldn't have come to a surprise for them, given who Karl was working for.
But instead of theorizing over him, the kunoichi of earth and water fought back. The younger of the two conjured a tower of water to rise from the seas below but the former producer moved the aircraft out of the way.
Without any of her natural element around her, Amy was nowhere near as strong as she would be if they were on land but that didn't stop her from doing her part in any battle, even if above the ocean.
"Earth!"
With her true potential, Amy sent a stream of earth from her hands to blind Karl to buy time for Melody to defeat him herself but he recovered quickly.
"You both may have your mother's beauty but too bad you also have to be so stubborn like that brute who doesn't deserve her." Karl growled once he got the dirt out of his eyes.
"We won't let you talk of our father that way anymore!" The purple kunoichi raised another jet of water towards Karl.
A storm raged around the sisters and their enemies to match the conflict between them…
Finally, the Walker brothers were heading for Ninjago City. They heard of their parents' newest invention that might help defend the capital from the Overlord's conquest and they had to stop the person heading for the city.
Even from atop their dragons, the brothers were able to spot their enemy.
Just as they assumed, Clouse returned to his former residence to get his revenge but Chris and Kyle were going to make sure he won't interfere with their parents' efforts to protect the city. If it weren't for him working for the Overlord, they would've felt some sympathy towards Clouse but he made his choice to give in to his inner darkness a long time ago.
"NINJA-GO!"
Two tornadoes descended from the dragons and landed in front of the ex-cop at the very edge of Ninjago City.
"You're even more of a hindrance than I presumed. Get out of the way." Clouse said coldly.
The brothers continued to stare him down with icy stares. Clouse chose to be the way he is now and at this point, there's no turning back.
"What a pitiful man," Chris stared at him with contempt, "It was one thing to feel jealous but to stoop so low as to become the very thing you were meant to stop. You don't deserve mercy."
"You have NO right to say that!" Clouse exploded, "I would've had everything! My life would've been perfect if you and your parents hadn't ruined everything!"
"Hey, you see other cops in the city and none of them are betraying their cause just to get back at the ninjas." Kyle retorted.
"SHUT UP!"
The corrupt man, now completely driven mad with jealousy, attacked the young ninjas but they didn't come unprepared. They had to defeat him or at least buy some time for their parents to defend the city from the real threat…
(*) Achtung = Look out (German)
Looks like the human goons are finally gonna get some attention! With the end coming soon, it's natural that there's gonna be plenty of action! See you in the next update & as always, please review!