Children of Destiny
I'm really sorry this chapter was so late & worse, a short one. I've been busy for the past few days but I barely managed to complete this chapter. The original ninjas will show up, Garmadon will finally show up, & the new green ninja will have to make one of the toughest decisions he'll have to make. So please enjoy!
Chapter 72: It's all a Bad Dream
The end was fast approaching and the new generation steeled themselves for this moment they trained for since childhood. Leon knew his fears and uncertainties wouldn't go away instantly. In fact, he was still feeling apprehensive but thanks to his brethren, he had the resolve to push onward despite the anxiety deep in his heart.
However, the Overlord wasn't the only person the young ninjas should be worrying about…
"Something's bothering me…" Amy suddenly shivered, diverting everyone's attention.
"Yeah… This is the Overlord's chance to get rid of us but he's not taking it… Somehow, I'm not happy about it…" Akira muttered.
"No… Garmadon is also here and he hasn't really done anything either and it's unnerving." The kunoichi of water corrected him.
"We won't know for sure until we find him and knowing the Overlord, they're probably not too far from one another. Let's keep moving until we find them."
"I understand."
The group were aware of the former dark lord who also lurked deep in the base. It wasn't going to be pleasant for them to also confront him, especially for his grandchildren, who only saw him as a quiet and gentle old man and not the villainous tyrant he once was. Life wasn't always fair but that wasn't going to make the ninjas give up, not with so much at stake.
"Leon, are you sure you're ready for this?" Willow asked he sibling to make sure his resolve has not wavered since he steeled himself for the final battle.
"I'd be lying if I say I'm not scared… but I have you guys by my side and that gives me courage. We're going to end this together, just like we've always been since we were little." The young hero answered.
"Oui. We've grown up and found our true potential together. We will find a defeat the Overlord once and for all." Amy added.
"But what if he comes back? Sensei Lloyd and Misako told us that light and darkness can't exist without the other." Akira pointed out.
"Yeah… but they also said that they must maintain balance. And remember what Misako once said? Light and darkness will always coexist on opposite ends of the spectrum but she also said that there might be a way bring a permanent balance between the two." Kyle proposed.
"Is it really possible to make sure the Overlord will never come back this time?" Melody asked.
"We don't know… for now… If there is a way, then we will be the ones to find it." Alex answered with determination and marched on, followed by the other ninjas.
The group continued onward but every last corridor looked completely identical. The ninja and kunoichi can't even tell if they were going in circles or not and it started to wear their patience. The biggest problem the ninjas were facing was that they knew nothing about the layout of the Overlord's base and had absolutely no idea where to go.
"Shit! This is taking forever!" Forrest gritted his teeth.
"But we have to keep going." His sister goaded him.
"How are we going to find him if this place is so freakin' huge!? At this rate, the Overlord will be the one to find us!?" Kyle whisper-hissed.
"Then should we keep going or split up?" Alex suggested.
"I'd prefer dividing our groups but we don't know the layout of the base so it's too risky for us to be separated. Besides, like Kyle said, he'll eventually find us anyway." Liana said.
"So what do you want us to do? Wait around like a bunch of sitting ducks?" Chris retorted.
"We don't have much of a choice. We knew this won't be easy so this isn't the time to give up and run away like a bunch of cowards. Everyone's lives are at stake and we can't let them down or there will be consequences." Amy said.
Outside, the original ninja and kunoichi arrived on their elemental dragons. They always knew this day would come but they never expected it to happen so soon and wanted to be there for their children as parents. The sight of the Overlord's base hovering just above Ninjago City was all they needed to figure out what happened before they arrived.
"Are we too late?" Zane looked for his son and daughter but couldn't find them anywhere.
"Nya, are you okay!?" Kai called his sister after hearing what happened to the force field.
"We survived… albeit barely…" The sister of fire responded.
"And don't worry about the townspeople. We're evacuating them as we speak." Her husband joined in.
"But where are the kids!?" Aria asked from atop Breeze.
"They already found their way inside the base." Misako examined the stronghold.
"Dammit! We shouldn't have let them do it by themselves!" Cole quickly regretted making his young daughters go through the same turmoil he did years ago.
"This is their turn. Time will only march forward and our time is up. Let them answer their call to destiny." Lloyd said sternly.
"But they're still our children! We can't just let them throw themselves into the line of danger like this!" Heather protested.
"That doesn't matter! I'm going in!" Kai goaded Flame to approach the fortress but Iris stopped him before he can even get close to the fortress.
"Kai, this is not our battle. I also want to protect Leon and Willow but we have to let them grow up. This is something we must do as parents. We can no longer interfere with their battles." The former kunoichi gently reprimanded the perpetually hotheaded man.
"But if anything happens, we're going to help. I don't care if our time is up." Cole responded.
"The least we can do for now is to get Ninjago City's citizens out of the crossfire." Zane added, lowering Shard towards the ground.
The ninjas followed the former nindroid's example. If they can't help their children, they might as well uphold their duty to protect those who can't protect themselves.
The new generation searched for what felt like hours yet they refused to give up, not when the entirety of Ninjago and the lives of everyone they cherished were at stake. Even if things were not looking so good, they had the will to keep going.
"Wait…! I think I can finally sense something…" Amy finally began to feel vibrations through the black walls. She utilized her earth powers to figure out the direction of the faint tremors.
"Can you tell where it's coming from?" Liana asked.
The auburn-haired girl concentrated for several moments
"It's coming from the left." The black kunoichi pointed in the general direction.
"Then lead the way."
Before they can even take one step, Willow suddenly shrieked and clutched her skull, alarming the ninja and kunoichi.
"What's wrong!?" Leon's brotherly instincts kicked in as he knelt to his sister's level.
"Willow! Get hold of yourself!" Melody held the youngest kunoichi for support.
"I can feel him! He's close!" The kunoichi of time and space cried.
"The Overlord…?" Alex gasped.
"I can't guarantee it'll be so simple but we can't give up. We've come too far to be bested now. This is time to do or die." Liana remained determined.
Grating chuckles echoed seeming out of nowhere as if to mock the young ninjas.
"You just never know when to give up, don't you?" The Overlord's gravelly voice echoed.
"Nope." Akira retorted dryly.
"Perhaps that is why you've at least managed to amuse me since the beginning. You may have been a bother since day one but you at least gave me something to do before I can gather the strength to get rid of you for good." The dark lord taunted the humans.
"Not if we get to you first!" Chris barked back.
"You think you have a chance at finding me? How arrogant. Have you already forgotten about the one person you're also seeking?"
Leon and Willow felt their hearts stop by the dark lord's implication.
"There's a certain someone I'm sure you're just aching to see."
"Grandpa…!"
The Overlord cackled maniacally, further taunting his enemies until his evil laughter faded into an echo and then silence took over once more.
"Come one! We have to find him!"
The Garmadon siblings raced onward with the elemental ninjas not far behind. Amy still relied on the vibrations only she can detect to give directions. The ninjas were still wary of the lack of reinforcements or retaliation from the Overlord. Something was up but fretting over it wasn't going to make much of a difference.
Finally, the group made it into what they assumed to be the main room of the base.
Everything from the walls to the ceiling was black and several large windows gave them a view of Ninjago City far below.
But more importantly, Leon and Willow found whom they were looking for.
Garmadon looked slightly surprised at his grandchildren's arrival but then again, he expected it with them being ninjas and all.
"Grandpa, we're gonna get you out of here!" Leon stepped forward but Garmadon flinched, as if he never wanted to be rescued.
"Stay back," He firmly resisted his grandchildren's attempt to free him, "Perhaps it's better this way… dwelling in the dark…"
"Nani…?"
"I was simply never meant to dwell in the light you have grown up with."
"No! You do belong with us! We're a family! The Great Devourer's influence is long gone so why back out on us!?" Willow pleaded.
"I didn't want our last meeting to be this way…" Garmadon sorrowfully sighed.
"Last meeting…?"
"I am becoming an increasing danger to you even as we speak. The days I have spent with you, no matter how much I cherish it, are now nothing but mere delusions that belong in the past. I have moved past that."
"This isn't the type of 'moving on' your son told me about! We must move on to build a better future! Don't you want to be happy with us!?" Leon begged.
"Your future, not mine. I was never meant to be in the light…"
"No! We came here not just for the people outside but for you too! Please! Don't do this!" The young kunoichi of time pleaded.
"I'm sorry… but you give us no choice…" Leon summoned his powers and the large mass of pure energy lit up the whole chamber.
The ninjas were nearly blinded by the new green ninja's powers but Garmadon wasn't new to the powers of the green ninja. The former despot summoned a small shockwave made of pure darkness, negating the powers of light. There was no doubt this was only a mere fraction of the powers bestowed to him upon betraying his family…
"Grandpa! Please stop! You're stronger than this!" Leon refused to give up on his grandfather.
"Leave me. Light and darkness may coexist but they can never truly be together." The old man kept his head lowered, refusing to see his family in the eye, knowing they'll be disappointed.
"That's not true! Have you already forgotten us!? What about Grandma when she chose to give you a chance back when you had the venom in you! Being evil is not who you are, at least not anymore! Please come back to us!" The pink kunoichi begged.
The guilt in Garmadon's heart rose up. He saw images of his lover and the pleasant moments he had with her prior to the fateful night they slept together. He even remembered when he had something special with Misako and the bond he shared with Wu before the Great Devourer bit him. He couldn't deny how delighted he was when Leon and Willow were born but those simple times can only be in the past where they belong.
"I'm sorry I was such a horrible grandfather. I don't even deserve your forgiveness after all the deeds I committed, then and now. Now leave before I make you."
Leon felt his world shatter.
He never thought the final battle will involve him having to fight his own family. His father told him countless times that things will never be what he'll expect and those words really hit home for him. There was so much he wanted to do. He wanted to run, scream, or cry but something within him was stronger than that. Part of him hoped this was some terrible nightmare and he'll soon be woken up yet this was reality. But he was going to get himself out of this nightmare.
"Grandpa, I swear… I will get you out of here… even if it means fighting you…!"
Leon stood his ground, ready to do battle with his own kin.
This wasn't going to be easy but there's no turning back…
Oh yeah! Get ready for some drama in the next chapter! Again, I'm sorry this chapter was on the short side but I'll try to make up for it with a dramatic finale. In the meantime, tell me what you think & review!