Harumi wanted to express her excitement, but sure wasn't quite sure how.
As Garmadon drove through the vast cityscapes and beyond, Harumi gazed out the window at the stunning sights. While she would miss Ninjago City, she knew it wouldn't be long until she would bear witness to the stunning lights that were inside it.
Garmadon was surprised at the amount of questions the young girl had. She was quite inquisitive for her age, and loved asking about his time as Ninjagos boogeyman. While Garmadon wasn't exactly proud of his past, especially since it indirectly led to the death of his son, he wanted to make sure history stayed as it was, and that people would always be able to learn from his mistakes.
Garmadon had just been wrapping up a short story about his leadership over The Skulkin, which interested Harumi, as she began to ask more questions. "Why didn't General Samukai know the weapons would destroy him and open the vortex?"
"A very simple reason, my child." Garmadon said, keeping his eyes on the road. "Samukai made the mistake of cashing out too early. He assumed he had won, and attempted to use the weapons to betray me, and end The Ninja. If there is one lesson to take away from that story, it would be to never celebrate a victory so recently won. Had Samukai given me the weapons, or even fled The Underworld without channeling their elemental energy, I may not be here today."
Harumi's smile started to morph into a frown. "Why does every story have a lesson? Didn't you like being Lord Garmadon?"
"Back then perhaps. But that man is a far cry from what I once was, and are now. The power itself though? I often wish I had some of it still. If only for the ability to use it for good."
"But if you don't have your powers anymore, how do you stop people from getting hurt? Like when you used your strength to destroy The Devourer?"
"That strength came from a place of corruption. Ironically, were it not for The Devourer, I'd have grown up a better man. Let's just say I wouldn't have.. Uh- Nevermind." Garmadon stopped himself. Despite loving Misako, he felt extreme guilt over the letter he had stolen from his brother. And he wasn't quite sure when he would be ready to tell either of them. But he figured having Harumi around would keep his logical thinking in check. And that it would mean his confession would come sooner, rather than later.
"Perhaps you would find better lessons in the stories of times before his time as Lord Garmadon? He's lived for a great number of years, and has many other fascinating stories." Misako asked. Usually she rode up in the front with her husband, but she wanted to make Harumi feel welcomed into their family, so she chose to sit in the back beside her.
"Well, ok. What other stories do you have Mr, Garmadon?"
"Please. Garmadon or any variation of Father is alright. And yes actually! I have fought many battles alongside my brother and beloved Misako. Just as my father had when he was our age. Though none were bloodier than The Serpentine War."
"Err- Honey, don't you think that one's a bit too important, and violent, to paraphrase?" Misako reasoned.
"You let me tell the one about The Dark Island. Please, just one battle?"
"Oh alright. But don't get too descriptive!"
Harumi had not heard much about The Serpentine War. She was only in fourth grade when The Devourer came. On top of destroying her family, her school was also claimed by the rampaging beast. And she was never able to catch up well in the orphanage. The most she had heard of The Serpentine Wars were brief visits to The Ninjago City Museum on days where her family wanted to go do something fun with the little money they could waste. But she was more drawn to other exhibits. Plus, she never really liked many of the staff. Especially the ever offputting Dr, Saunders. "What was The Serpentine War about?"
"Long ago, snake and man didn't agree on how fairly the other treated them. And so, fighting between Ninjago and The Five Serpentine Tribes broke out. Before we had an effective way of countering their hordes, we had to rely on our Elemental Abilities. Even back then, when The Devourers venom hadn't fully corrupted me, I had developed an over-reliance on my innate destructive side."
"Was it enough to win the fights?"
"Sometimes. More often though, The Anacondrai, the toughest of their kind, would shield the weaker units from harm. They were very strong, and very durable. Even our Elemental Abilities couldn't do much against them. Once we were tired enough, the other four tribes would swarm us, using their own abilities to push us back."
"What was the worst battle?"
"Hard to say. But there is still something to be learned through the story. Regardless of how many times we were defeated, The Alliance persevered. Which eventually paid off, when we discovered The Sacred Flutes. Fight until you can fight no more, and eventually, you'll be able to find a creative solution."
"Last time you told the story, you said the moral was to never forget the power of a musical instrument." Misako joked, as Harumi laughed. She had taken a liking to Misako. While she wasn't what she would have ever envisioned as a mother before, she was proving that she was great at supporting her.
"Hah! Last time I told that story was almost 40 years ago."
"Where are we going Mr- I mean Dad?" Harumi asked. The countryside had turned into a small forest, as the road became little more than a dirt path. There was a large wooden structure off in the distance.
"While my brother runs the Darkleys Boarding School, and teaching all of their previous students, I take on those who wish to train in the ways of The Ninja."
"Don't you have to have element powers to be a ninja?"
"The idea of ninjas existed long before The Elemental Alliance even existed. Ancient warriors of the past, who served the upper class. One only needs to uphold the virtues of The First Spinjitzu Master, in order to train under my roof. All are welcome. And from what I hear, I may be getting a mix of both Human and Serpentine students. Besides, It is very likely you have an Elemental Power as well. Which you can harness, and master."
"Can I train with the other students too?"
"Of course! They'll all love you Harumi. As much as I hope you'll love the monastery as your new home." As soon as Garmadon finished his sentence, the car pulled up to Harumi's new home. The large schoolhouse had enough room for almost a dozen large bedrooms and living spaces. The best of which Harumi would be gifted. As she was led into her room, she admired the lovely orange light that illuminated the halls and rooms. Better than the dreariness of the fluorescent lighting of The Orphanage.
When she got to her room, she was surprised to see a somewhat large room with a bed, several dressers and cabinets, a couple unique paintings, and a bathroom all to herself. Garmadon put a hand on her shoulder. "We were going to give you a room closer to ours, but all of those were a bit too small. I hope that's-"
"I love it! It's so giant! My old room wasnt this big at all!" Harumi yelled excitedly, leaping onto the couch, landing softly onto the cushions as Garmadon and Misako watched with a happiness in their faces that they had not felt in a long time.
"I am glad you like it. Take as much time as you need to unpack and enjoy your new room. A bit later though I'd like to take you to meet my brother and his students. If that's alright with you, my child?"
"Mhm!" Harumi said, hugging one of the pillows. Garmadon smiled as he closed the door. Harumi loved her new room almost as much as she loved her new family. While she knew training under Garmadon might be a challenge later on, she was glad she finally had time to enjoy something she didn't have to share with ten others, without having to hide it, like her drawings in The Orphanage. She made sure to keep her favorites on her wall. While a lot of them were only simple stick figures with minimal detail, she was slowly getting better and recently started to try out shading in her art, which amused her to no end.
Once she was ready, she put her shoes back on and slowly retraced her steps back downstairs. As she walked out the door, she found Garmadon adjusting one of the doors, which had been blown off of its hinges after a recent storm. "Oh hello Harumi. Are you already done with the room?"
"Yup. I didn't have much to unpack anyways. Just some of my drawings."
"I'm excited to see them. Oh, and a bit of a warning when it comes to The Ninja, well, boys can be boys. All four of them are nice, but could use a lesson every now and then when it comes to maturity. You know their names already, right?"
"Hm.." Harumi thought. She had been one of The Ninja's earlier fans, back when they were mostly known for stopping a Skulkin invasion of a rural village, and small pockets of Serpentine attacks. She lost all of her Ninja toys in her apartment's destruction, but she didn't mind. She knew all she needed to know about them. "Kai, Jay, Cole, and Zane. Right?"
"Very good Harumi. I've already told them we were coming. It'll be a bit of a ride though."
"Is mom coming?"
"Sadly, she had to return to work. The Museum just got a strange shipment of artifacts sent in from a seller all the way in Stix, and they need as many hands as they can get."
"Where are the sticks?"
"Stix, with an X, Harumi. Not sticks."
Harumi looked down, almost feeling as if she had done something wrong by making the mistake. Garmadon placed a hand on her shoulder once more. "Do not worry Harumi. I will always be there to guide you. Even when I pass, you'll always have my teachings. And mistakes often make teaching easier. You have nothing to fear."
Harumi's smile brightened, and the two went back into the car, and started to drive to Wu's new school. Meanwhile, at the location itself, Wu was telling The Ninja about Garmadon's iminent visit.
"Now. I know each of you are very busy with preparing your classrooms and schedules. But I only ask that you take a couple minutes to introduce yourself to Harumi." Wu said, pacing back and forth in front of his students. Kai in particular was rather unhappy with the whole discussion. To him, it felt as if Garmadon was just replacing Lloyd with someone else. Nobody had told him that Harumi had an element. But truthfully, it probably would've made him angrier then he was already.
"Why should we go out there and pretend like that kid he picked up is Lloyd? Lloyds gone. He was irreplaceable. Doesn't matter how long it's been, I'm not letting him get forgotten."
"None of us are forgetting Lloyd. Garmadon is simply trying to give to another what he wished he could to Lloyd. And while he will always be remembered fondly, he wouldn't want us to never move on-"
"Yea! He probably wouldn't want us moving on this quickly! Ever think of that!?" Kai yelled. But, after his outburst, he quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I Just feel like we could have done something to save him. He didn't have to leave."
Sensei looked down, as did everyone else. "I know.. It isn't your fault Kai. I have seen much loss in my long years. But nothing hurt more than when a family member was lost. My father before The Serpentine War started, Garmadon's betrayal, and Lloyds sacrifice. But time marches on. Please, all of you, be kind to Harumi." Wu finished, walking out of the room. The moment he walked out, Jay started to chastise his outburst.
"Great going Kai! Now Sensei Wus is in a bad mood. And you know how he gets when he's that cranky."
"Don't act like you weren't thinking about it too."
"About what? Cranky Wu?"
"No you bolt-head! About Lloyd."
Nya sighed, as she prepared to get her bags ready to take to her office. "Well Kai, you need to consider where this child is coming from. She lost her parents to The Devourer almost a year ago."
Kais mind completely changed. He couldn't be petty to someone who lost their parents in something they failed to stop. "Alright alright. But where's Zane and Cole? Why didn't they have to get the lecture?"
"I was here the whole time. Cole just dropped Sensei's lesson plan down the vent, and he needed my flexible arm to carefully retrieve it." Zane said, holding up the book, which Cole quickly snatched back.
"Shh! Wu could still be close! If he hears his plans fall into the dust vents, I'm not gonna hear the end of it?"
"Heheh! Wouldn't expect anything less, Master Of Rock And Dust!" Jay joked, as Coles anger grew.
"Woah woah! Where did that come from?! And at least I don't accidently zap the wattage on the razor whenever I use it! I've been electrocuted every time I try to even touch the handle!"
"Ugh, would you two calm down?" Nya said, as she walked out. One by one, each of The Ninja left, until it was only Kai. Kai looked at the wall, seeing a large picture of them with Lloyd, still young and carefree.
"Alright buddy. For you, I'll do it."
(Sorry about the super long wait. I wont have these out as fast as before, but that likely means they'll turn out a bit better . Thanks for reading!)
