Children of Destiny
Hi guys! Tonight, shit's about to get real as the ninjas start to find out what the Overlord is looking for. I know some of you think Garmadon's gone but who said that will be the last we'll see of him? But Leon & Willow may not be taking it very well so we'll see how they're faring after defeating him so expect some drama. Enjoy!
Chapter 74: One Sick Game
The ninjas, especially Leon and Willow, were still shaken by their hollow victory. They grew ever closer to their true destiny but the price may have been too great. The green ninja was forced to defeat his own grandfather in a battle he thought would never happen again since his father clashed with him. They weren't even sure if he survived or not but if he didn't… then the least they can do was to make sure his life wasn't wasted in vain. His final words towards the ninjas echoed in their psyche.
'Everything that you do will have consequences.'
Before now, the ninja and kunoichi never really thought about how their actions affected every little thing in their lives and if not, the whole world. And even their parents' choices in the past were the very reason why they were ninjas and even existed in the first place.
'I can't give up… Grandpa wouldn't have wanted it… not after he…'
The green ninja struggled to keep his mind set on the path before him. A ninja must overcome and endure every challenge thrown at them which gave meaning to their name. Ever since his powers awoke as a very young child, Leon was often told by his elders that along with his great powers, he will also carry many burdens and his will is the driving force behind the events that will happen later. He used to think they were being old-fashioned sticks in the mud but now he understood why they told him of all the burdens and trials he already faced.
"Leon, you're not looking so good…" Melody peered into his emerald orbs.
"Give him some space," Amy pulled her sister back, "He just fought his own grandfather so it's no surprise he's the way he is now. Let him cope a bit."
"D-don't worry about me… I can get through this…"
"How about you, Willow?" Liana turned her attention to Leon's sister.
The kunoichi of time remained silent with an expression that was grievous yet resolute. The ice wielder felt bad for her but heeded the black kunoichi's advice. After all, she knew what it was like to need some time to herself.
Willow herself had so many thoughts running in her head it hurt. She had visions of Garmadon betraying his family long before he did so but she hardly did anything to prevent it. She felt like she was to blame for just allowing it to happen despite Wu saying that he chose his path and his choice had nothing to do with her premonition. She really wanted to believe him but the guilt deep in her heart kept her from accepting her uncle's advice. But her elders also said that even ninjas make mistakes but they were also made to learn from them.
But this time, it felt like the price was too much for the lessons she learned…
'It's all my fault…'
"Willow!" Liana tapped her to get her attention.
"Don't touch me!" The pink kunoichi backed away in a frenzy.
The ninja and kunoichi were shocked by their youngest comrade's outburst.
"Willow, I know it's hard to accept the truth sometimes but we have to move on." Akira tried to convince her to keep going.
"It's not that! I had visions of everything happening ever since we defeated the Overlord for the first time but none of us did a single thing to prevent it, especially me!" She cried.
"No it's not. I know this may sound cruel but Garmadon did this to himself."
"That's not the point! I knew this was going to happen but I didn't do anything!"
"None of us can do absolutely everything! We can't win every single battle and none of us can fix everything in a snap! Fate can be cruel but you can overcome it by not giving in. Willow, we saw you grow up from a naïve girl into a capable kunoichi. You still have yet to awaken your full potential. There is still one thing you can do for your grandfather. He wanted you to walk down a path unlike his. Where do you plan to go from here, Willow?" Chris lectured sternly.
"I… I don't know…" The kunoichi of time curled up, trying to hide herself from the world.
"Then continue walking forward to find out. That's the only way." Alex too goaded her.
"But- "
"Don't worry about that now. Even then, we have each other's backs. I understand that you're still looking for answers but so do we and we'll help each other find out, okay?" Amy offered.
"…I'll try…"
The ninjas can tell Willow was still shaken by what happened to Garmadon but it was no use to dwell in the past. They still have their future and being the kunoichi of time, she'll no doubt play a big role.
However, their future wasn't the only problem they were facing…
"What is it that the Overlord is looking for?" Kyle racked his brain for answers but even with the clues he had as well as the feeling they were right under his nose, he just can't figure it out.
"We have no idea. But one way or another, we will find out…" Alex answered.
"But then again, the cycle of order and chaos will never end. I know it sounds bitter but I think I'm starting to understand why Garmadon did what he had just done." Forrest said.
"Forrest…!" Liana was astonished by her brother's sudden attitude.
"Think about it. Our parents defeated the Overlord because they wanted him gone for good but he ended up coming back and if we do it again, the cycle will just continue forever. I'm starting to think there's no way to break it." The plant wielder responded almost bitterly.
"Don't say things like that! We didn't get to this point just to call it quits! We can't give up and I know we'll find a way to break the cycle!" Akira tried to convince the teal ninja otherwise.
"Now you're being too idealistic!" Chris retorted.
"Guys! Stop fighting! This is exactly what the Overlord wants from us and we can't let him have that!" Amy split up the arguing ninjas before their fight can ultimately harm them.
The ninjas realized how easily they can devolve into a state of chaos even when they were close to the end. It was ironic how they eagerly worked together in the beginning but now, even the smallest argument can easily fragment the team.
"There was a very important reason why the First Spinjitzu Master kept his secrets, even from his own family but that doesn't mean he planned on hiding them forever. He probably hid it so it can only be found when the time is right." Melody spoke.
"And even if we don't know what the Overlord is looking for in Ninjago City, we know for sure that we can't let him take it, no matter what so stop fighting like children." Liana scolded them.
The ninjas let go of their argument, knowing how much the Overlord strives for chaos and they didn't want him to have that either.
"Willow?" Alex noticed the youngest kunoichi's suddenly quiet demeanor.
"He's close…" Willow felt a sense of hatred like no other.
The ninja and kunoichi were already in a 'do or die' situation so it was far too late to turn back.
"Well, it's not like we have any other choice. We might as well face our fate with our chins held high." Amy stood resolute, embracing her duty and destiny.
"Leon… You think you can handle this?" Chris was eager to end the ninjas' quest but wanted to make sure the green ninja was up for the greatest challenge they'll ever face.
Leon thought back to his grandfather's parting words again. He was responsible for his actions and he was the only one who can decide his destiny. He wanted to make his family proud and he was sure the other ninjas and his sister planned to forge their own paths too.
"I still don't know if we'll win… but at least I have you guys…" Leon looked up to his allies.
"Of course you have us! We'd never leave you or anyone behind!" Akira boasted.
"Anyway, can you sense where the Overlord is?" Forrest asked Willow.
"He's… I can sense him… below us…" The kunoichi of time answered.
The ninjas descended downwards, seeking a way to their adversary. It felt like hours of fruitless searching but they refused to give up and their persistence finally paid off when they stood in front of a large door decorated with arcane symbols and the center one gave off an eerie glow.
"I must say I'm surprised at how persistent you are." The Overlord's grating voice echoed across the sealed entrance, "You have at least managed to keep me entertained and even bought me some time."
"You bastard!" The bolt of lightning connecting the Nunchucks of Lightning grew even brighter, as if mirroring Chris' anger at the dark lord.
"I'm astonished that you had the audacity to beat up your own grandfather.
"SHUT UP!"
The dark lord was silent, somewhat taken aback by the green ninja's audacity to back talk him.
"You used my family and tortured Grandpa for far too long and I'm going to break you hold on them and everyone else!"
"Go ahead. Try." The Overlord encouraged his enemy in a mocking tone.
"NINJA-GO!"
Ten elemental tornadoes charged at the doors but the material didn't have a single scratch. The ninjas still didn't give up and relied on their true potential but that still wasn't enough.
"Damn! This guy just never lets up, does he!?" Melody complained.
"Language!" Amy scolded her sister.
"Let me handle this." Leon shooed back the others and summoned the Golden Dragon again.
The ethereal creature roared and a mighty beam burst from its body towards the seal. The ninja and kunoichi joined in the assault, hitting the target with everything they've got with their true potential. They held nothing back and attacked at full force until the seal broke. The large door crumbled away and the ninjas remained in their true potential mode as they barged in to finally face the Overlord since their previous encounter.
Still without a vessel to control, the Overlord was still just a ball of dark energy but he still had a menacing aura that can make even the most seasoned warrior quiver in terror. The ninjas can't shake off the sense of dread in their minds they were also filled with determination.
"No small talk! Tell us what you're looking for!" Leon snarled.
"Where's the fun in revealing everything?" The Overlord instead answered with mockery.
The Overlord was half-annoyed but half-impressed by how… entertaining… his enemies' naïve children were. As malicious as he was, he always liked a good challenge…
"How about we make a deal?" He proposed.
The ninjas were suspicious but didn't say anything, allowing him to continue.
"How about we play a little game? What I'm looking for is somewhere deep within the city and if you find it, I'll let you keep it. But if I get to it first, then I'll never show it to you." The sadistic entity attempted to provoke them.
The ninjas knew better than to think the Overlord will stay true to his words but the only option they had was to play along with his twisted game. They can only pray that when Lady Luck rolls the dice, it'll be in their favor…
"You're on." Leon stepped forward, accepting the dark lord's challenge.
The ninjas stood firmly by his side, ready just as he is.
The Overlord floated silently, staring at the green ninja with his menacingly glowing eyes before he literally faded away before his very eyes, leaving them with his eerie cackles that echoed in his wake. Before the ninjas can make their next move, the floor right below their feet seemingly disappeared, revealing itself to be a trapdoor. The young heroes nearly panicked but they were quick to rescue themselves from an untimely end. Using Spinjitzu, they managed to land safely on their own feet.
With the population of Ninjago City evacuated, the only people on the surface to greet the new generation were their parents.
"My babies! I was so worried about you!" Iris threw herself over his children.
The ninjas' parents also surrounded them, offering to heal their wounds and such.
Lloyd can already tell what sort of fate his father met just by looking into his son's forlorn eyes.
"It looks like none of us were able to save him…" He sighed.
"I'm sorry I failed you…" Leon was ashamed and already awaited his punishment.
"We don't have time to mourn over our losses. Tell us why you're here." He said.
"We have to find the reason the First Spinjitzu Master made this place Ninjago's capital before the Overlord can." Leon answered bluntly.
The original ninjas were aware of the true reason the Overlord returned to Ninjago City. It was only a matter of time before he'll actually try to look for it.
"Sensei, what do you know of the earliest days of Ninjago City?" Cole turned to his teacher.
"Unfortunately, there were very little records and now, most of them have been lost to time." Wu answered somberly.
"Iris, if you can see the future, can you also see the past?" Aria suggested.
"Yes. But unfortunately, these visions can't be summoned by my will. They would only come up at random times." Iris replied, feeling remorseful for being unable to help.
"Great! We're back where we started!" Kai tossed up his arms.
"The museum." Misako spoke up all of a sudden.
"How is that place going to help us?" Nya asked.
"While I was working at the museum, there have been rumors that it had its secrets, especially on why it was built. Some spoke of it hiding something too important to reveal so openly." The former scholar said.
"I see. In a way, it is apt that the one place to learn about Ninjago's history holds its secrets…" Zane concluded.
"I'm not sure if the Overlord's aware of these rumors but if he isn't, then at least we have some sort of head start." Jay added.
The ninjas reached the deserted building that looked more ominous than it really was thanks to the city being deserted. The desolate interior with all its artifacts as testaments to the hardships that had befallen the world felt much more eerie than a typical trip to the museum.
"Misako, is there a way to get underneath the building?" Heather asked.
"Unfortunately, I was never told of any secret passages or rooms. We'll have to turn more than a few stones and perhaps even multiple times." Misako responded.
Everyone scrambled to find anything the slightest bit suspicious. They were now caught in a rat race against the Overlord with an unsure time limit.
This was a game they can't lose.
It's a race against time!
Who do you think will win?
What is it that might decide the fate of Ninjago?
Find out as this finale draws near! For now, please review & if you have a chance, check out my poll for my anniversary story! See you later!