Ray Smith played with the edges of their fluffy pajama pants, the singed edges not even registering.
"It was all kept in the kitchen, thankfully. Some home repair is all it needs," they shrunk in on themselves, hearing the whispers of the fire department and his parents. He could feel their eyes on them.
"Thank you.." Skylor Smith said in a hushed tone, "We'll take it from here."
Strong hands landed on their shoulders, giving them a little shake. "This seat taken, fueguito?"
Ray grimaced. "Isn't that nickname in bad taste now, dad?"
Kai Smith huffed a little laugh. He grabbed his son's hands and held them in his own, rubbing circles in the backs, over his birthmarks. "Keep it up and you won't be wearing anymore pants." Ray blushed, finally noticing the holes. "Breathe with me."
Kai began to take very animated and purposeful breaths in and out and in and out and in and out again. Ray eventually joined their father.
Ray slowly felt the heat bubbling in their body cool, their hands no longer felt close to ignition. "But they're still warm," they remarked.
"We're master's of fire," Kai blew on their palms, his breath hot, "We always run warm."
Ray wriggled their new and unfamiliar fingers.
"Why do you think I'm the world's greatest fireplace, huh?"
Ray couldn't help but laugh. Kai grinned in victory.
He was the world's greatest fireplace, in a sense. Back when they lived in Ninjago City, and the winters got colder and whiter and sneezier than would ever be possible in Ignacia, Ray and their big sister Nessa would take great pleasure in lounging in their father's arms. They could shield away from the white and the cold, and use his shirts as tissues without much flack from their favorite space heater. Well, depending on how pitiful the snow made them.
Ray wiped their tears, feeling more used to the bubbling heat just beneath his skin.
Kai clapped his shoulders. "Now, why don't we-"
"Kai."
Skylor appeared before two of her three boys, staring wearily in the direction of Ray. She had her hands in a white knuckle clutch over her cellphone. An unknown number. Finally she let her eyes look back at Kai. Ray watched as their parents had one of those silent conversations that they sometimes had, spoken in the language of subtly head movements and gaze. Skylor tilted her head forward. Kai seemed to understand whole heartedly.
"Do.. what, Dad?" Ray blurted quickly.
The parents blinked at each other.
"I was gonna say we go for ice cream!" Kai plastered on the signature smirk. Ray could tell it was fake, there was no dimple on his left cheek when it was fake. "Go wrestle up your siblings and get in the car."
"And find Grandma and Grandpa, too. They should be here," Skylor inserted, turning her head in all directions to find hide or hair of her in-laws. They lived a mere five minutes away, no doubt they saw the blinking lights and smoke from their home.
The teenager eyed them a little closer. Skylor was quick to kiss their cheek and shoo him away with the wave of her hand. Kai squeezed their shoulders again. "We'll be right there," their mother promised.
Ray's father's hands left their side...
His sun aged skin was decorated with tā moko, the strip down his chin and bottom lip as ingrained in Ray's memories as their own birthmark. Kai's hands were rough from work and age, his shoulders strong and wide enough for piggyback rides. Ray knew their father's arms well. They watched their sandpaper fingers type helplessly at the navigation system for their car.
"Dad, you just speak into it."
Kai blinked. "I know... Jamanakai Monorail," he spoke in that over announced way all old people speak into tech. The car error pinged in response. Kai grunted. "Jamanakai Monorail."
Ping.
"Ugh!" Kai gripped the wheel and threw his head back. He glared at the gas station store. "I'm buying a paper map."
"C'mon, Dad, they barely sell that stuff anymore!" Ray groaned. Kai was already stepping out and twisting his hip in the way he did when standing up after sitting for too long. "It makes my injury act up, the joints lock!" He'd always say.
Something never in the old posters and photographs was Kai's more recent bodily decor. His left leg cut off at the thigh and was capped by the worn matte metal ball joint that connected to the hooked peg prosthetic. The top of the flat foot was stamped by the family signature. If Kai Smith was gonna be an amputee, he was gonna make his own prosthetic. Ray remembers their father hammering late at night, supported by crutch and post surgery meds. Their mother had been so mad at his lack of preservation.
Kai returned a moment later, sulking in on himself. There was no paper map in his hand.
Ray leaned forward. "Jamanakai Monorail."
"Getting directions to Jamanakai Monorail!" came the computer's cheery voice. Kai glared daggers at his smart car. Ray threw their head back in a laugh.
Echo was careful as he molded the rice balls into cute little shapes, these movements ingrained in his systems for how often he did this over the years. He was going for a bear this time.
"Now, I remember telling you that you don't have to make us lunch," his brother Zane chastised him, coming up from behind to snatch an apple from the fruit basket. Echo turned to look at the master of ice, bronze hands still going with the movements. "I enjoy making bento boxes."
"And I enjoy having them, they're better than yours." Pixal entered the kitchen next. Zane gaped at his partner. She pretended not to notice, instead focusing her attention on her father at the head of the table. Borg chuckled lightly, wishing his android daughter a good morning. "I enjoy them too."
It was no secret that the family that lived in the townhouse of main street in Ninjago City was a little queer, to say the least. Two romantically partnered androids and former protectors of the continent. A long lost brother that came straight from the depths of steampunk. A retired CEO super genius that was responsible for the creation of one android in the house.
"I bet Phineas enjoys my bento boxes more," Zane teased his brother, taking a seat. Echo whipped his head around, holding up the box with a rice ball bear using egg as a blanket. "Does he? I made this one special."
Zane faltered. "I'm simply joking, Echo. Phineas loves your creations."
Echo calmed. "Where is he? You both will be late if you do not leave soon."
The three at the table silenced. They would be late. Pixal was the first to respond. "Zane and Phineas will take the self-driving car prototype. It is fast, and does not need to stop for things such as gas or charging.. So, we are letting him sleep in." Borg smiled shakily. "Wonderful idea, Pixal. Test and family convinence. You are proving a more competent CEO than me by the day."
"Oh, father."
Zane did not pay attention to the attempt Borg made at switching gears, eyes focused solely on their stairs to the second floor.
Phineas was their son, of four years their teenager. Adjustments were still being made, and his outburst last week that iced out him and Pixal's lab was a set back. Not a day later, when they told him about his scheduled summer in Jamanakai with Sensei Wu.. a blizzard blew through their kithcen. Sleeping in, he was brooding. Not that Zane blamed him, really.
Phineas had eventually come downstairs, the hockey duffel filled to the brim and his backpack stressing at the stitches. Zane had carefully reminded him that he could keep a few clothes here when he visited. He bumped his shoulder on his way out in retaliation.
That's how they came to be, in the car silently eating lunch.
"So, when you get there, see if my name is still on one of the ceiling beams!" Seliel winked at her son from behind the phone screen. Antonio Brookstone laughed. "I can't believe Dad agreed to that!" he wheezed. Cole looked at his son from just outside their car, where he was charging their little electric ride, as if summoned by his name. Toni gave him a radiant grin right back.
"Dad's almost done, do you wanna say hi?" he positioned his phone out of the window. The former earth ninja focused on the station.
"Oh, oh no, sweetheart, that's alright," Seliel quickly answered, "I have to get back to work, anyway."
Toni brought his mother back. "Oh, um.. okay, Mom."
Seliel blew her youngest a kiss. "Have a fun summer, my little ninja."
"Bye, mom."
Cole came back into the driver seat not a moment later. He had specks from the Sea of Sands adding new color to his salt and pepper hair, and his bun was loose from the wind. He shot his son a look. "How was your mom?"
Toni fumbled with his seatbelt. "Good, busy though."
"Isn't she always?"
Toni was inclined to agree.
Cole and Seliel had a balance to their marriage. The former earth ninja retired young and took the role of a stay at home father, looking after their young three boys and teaching piano to neighborhood children. Seliel, on the other hand, became the breadwinner in politics. Currently she was apart of the council for Nom's government, and had announced her race for mayor. This left her rather busy, unfortunately too busy to be there with the two to drop Toni off.
Toni winces at the memory of the wall in their house, having a him-sized hole from the awakening of his powers. He hopes the repair isn't causing his mother too much trouble.
"Stop worrying about the wall," Cole smacked his son's stomach, making him gasp.
"I can't help it!"
Cole snorted. "That wasn't even your fault! All you got was spooked when your powers activated, it happens!"
Toni smack his father's arm back.
Cole gave a dramatic gasp and jutted himself to the side. "Ow!" he moaned, "Your super strength.. it's.. too much!"
"Dad!" Toni laughed.
Winnie Walker swung her legs silently on the bench out front of the monorail system that would take her to her summer. Her father was inside securing her ticket.
She spun her wheeled blue suitcase, twiddling her thumbs.
Normally her summers would be spent lounging around the pool at her family's vila, working part time at her mother's auto body shop, and taking trips to random teen hotspots with friends. But ever since she short circuited the vila and left her poor family without air conditioning for 48 hours, she was being sent off to Jamanakai. Winnie hadn't seen Sensei Wu in years, but she supposes that's to be expected.
It's not like the last time they were all together was the most pleasant of times. Winnie can't help but shudder as she remembers her turn sitting next to her Uncle Lloyd's urn as citizens across Ninjago dropped off offerings and condolences. She swears up and down it felt like someone was in that temple with her. Her brother told her to shut up when she tried to tell their parents.
Speaking of. Jay Walker walked out squinting at the sun with his one eye. An eyepatch blocked his other, yes that and his beard kinda makes him look like a pirate, he has heard all of the jokes. His eyes landed on her and he grinned.
"There's my little lightnin' bug!" he lumbered over to engulf her in a bear hug, "Ready for a fun summer?"
Winnie pouted. "But I'm gonna miss home.. can't you just train me, pa?"
Jay huffed. "You know I can't, hun." He turned to smack an exposed pipe with his hand. She glared at the back of his head. Usually that worked. "All these powers are good for now are cheap shocks and kick-starting your mom's phone when she forgets to charge it."
If Nya were here, she'd smack him in mock hurt. But her three little brothers decided fevers were excellent ideas this morning. Though the alternative was being squished between all three for a few hours on the drive..
Yeah, she doesn't miss her mom that much.
The sliding door to the skytram slid open. "Winnie?" Ray couldn't help the words on their tongue. Luckily the redhead in the doorway beamed, and charged over with the squeak of her sneakers and jingle of her backpack. It was his cousin- what a relief. Ray collided with their cousin.
"Ray!" Winnie bounced on her tip toes, finally pulling away for them to breath. "I haven't seen you since your family came by for Hanukkah! How was your Christmas? Did Dante like the roller skates I got him? He was who I pulled in the family secret santa. Oh- Tell your mom I loved my earrings-!"
She gasped, "I love your locs! They're new!" The Smith boy blushed, tugging on one of the braided brown pieces that made up their spiked-up hairstyle. "Heh, yeah, I wanted to try something new this summer.."
The sliding door opened again. The boy in the Nom High School sweater dropped his duffel, handsome grin splitting his cheeks as he spread his massive arms. "Winnie! Ray!"
Winnie gasped. "Toni! I hardly recognized you!" she leapt into his outstretched arms.
Toni pulled Ray into their group hug. He was certainly bigger than when they last saw him, with a swoopy head of black hair and a gorgeous pimpled and baby goatee face. Ray racked their brain to figure out what sport he was in, trying to remember the passing comments their parents made.
"Can you guys believe it?" Toni finally dropped them. They both came to his chest. "We're gonna be ninja together! Dibs on earth," he joked with a wink.
Winnie giggled. "It's just a training run for the summer, Toni. I'm likely just doing what JJ did- learn control then heading off to college," she referenced her older brother and the eldest Walker. He rode this same skytram 2 and a half years ago, when he became the master of water. Ultimately the junior Jason decided a degree and his garage band was more his speed than the life of a Ninjago superhero.
"Not me, I wanna be a ninja!" Toni looked proud.
The two turned to Ray expectantly, who just sputtered.
They were saved by the clattering of their bag. Well, the carrier beside.
"Who is that?" Winnie gushed, peeking over the seat. Ray hid a shy smile in their collar, pulling out the little chinese water dragon.
"This is Falkor," Toni gasped, leaning close to stare at the lizard face with glee. Winnie pat his head once given the go from his owner. "My dad said Uncle Wu said it was okay to bring him."
The door slid open for the fourth time that day. The three immediately shot up to stare at who was there. Depending on the current trend, they could only guess.
Wearing denim over a white hoodie, the hood pulled tight over his head. The color, or lack thereof, popped against his dark complexion. Piercing blues stared straight back.
Finally breaking the stare, he threw his backpack onto the seat next to him, and dropped down beside it.
Toni grinned at the cousins before bounding over. He threw himself in the seat behind the white-clad boy, thankful his duffel was already warming the cushions. "Hey, bro! Lemme guess," he held himself up and over to stare, "You're going to the monastery too?"
He didn't respond.
"I'm Antonio Brookstone, everybody calls me Toni though," he placed a hand to his chest, grinning proud. He moved the same hand to point towards the others. "The redhead there is Winnie Walker, and here's Ray Smith, and their lizard Falkor," Toni took the pleasure of introducing all his new best friends.
He scanned the group with a critical eye.
"...Phineas Julien.."
Toni exclaimed loudly, making them all jump. "You're Uncle Zane's kid! That's so cool, I didn't know he had one!"
Phineas didn't let Toni get any further than that statement, shooting an indifferent glare before shoving them into a book.
Winnie stuck her nose to the sky. "Rude.." she grimaced to herself. A static mumble erupted from the speaker, gibberish instructing the four passengers to their seats.
"You better put your lizard away, Ray, it looks like it's gonna be a looong summer."
Ray silently tucked their companion away. They cast their eyes to Jamanakai, and couldn't miss the thumping in their heart.
Min's eyes blinked away the neon lights in front of her face. The cultural memorabilia behind shiny glass showed her reflection, where the green of her irises glowed as brightly. She couldn't help but tilt her head at the high ponytail, the gold bow droopy. She finally noticed the jukebox in front of her, already geared up with some song she couldn't quite place the name of. She pressed play.
Generic classic rock filled the air, of the diner, she now realized.
A boy at a booth waved her over. He wore a letterman and had the most inviting smile. "This song again? Should'a known when we sent you to the jukebox," he teased.
Min shrugged, "What can I say?"
She had no idea what this song was. She had no idea who he was. Min had been suffering from these dreams for as long as she could remember. Though, she could never really remember what happened when she finally woke up. Yet she always knew when falling asleep she'd be taken somewhere that made little sense. It was like she was in a play without a script. Min learned to play along, as no matter what the characters would finish their parts.
The bell at the diner door jingled as a couple strolled in, giggling and windblown from the cherry red cruiser parked outside. The girl had a poodle skirt. The boy had a leather jacket. "'Right, who let Garmadon pick the tunes?" The boy grinned, an arm slung around poodle skirt.
She rolled her eyes and smacked his chest. "Oh, hush, girl's got taste!"
Another boy rushed over with a tray of pink and white whipped milkshakes, dressed like the other diner workers she couldn't see the faces of. "Order up!"
They sat with them and jostled with letterman.
"So? We goin' to the drive in tonight?" Diner boy grinned after a long sip of their milkshake.
"My old man said I could have the cruiser today?" Leather jacket dangled the keys on his fingers. So the cherry red wasn't exactly his. Interesting development. Min's eyes scanned the place, sipping mindlessly on the shake that never seemed to go down or have any taste.
"So long as you boys don't take us to something too scary! I couldn't sleep for weeks after that stupid wax house murder movie!"
"Don't worry, baby, I'll protect ya."
Letterman suddenly shouted, making leather jump about two feet in the air. He blushed while poodle skirt rolled her eyes.
The four began jostling and howling with laughter and banter. Min's eyes finally saw something out of place.
"I'll be back, gang," she told the group. They briefly paused to say goodbye.
Sticking out like a sore thumb against the saturated colors of this 50's dream scape, was a man in traditional ninjagian robes. They were white, black, and gold. With intricate detailing and fine lettering. He dawned a straw hat and greyed beard, braided perfectly.
Min took a seat at the table beside him, and he followed. Instantaneously milkshakes and a boat of fries appeared.
The First Spinjitzu Master took a fry, assessing the scene.
"You and your father watched.. Grease last night?"
Min giggled and shook her head. "Charlie was feeling down, so him and Kendall made milkshakes."
The FSM dipped the fry in his milkshake, and frowned in confusion at the lack of taste. Min waited patiently for what certainly was to come next.
"What cryptic thing are you telling me this time tài yé?" she rested her chin on her hands, staring up at him.
The FSM frowned at her, but his eyes clearly showed amusement. He took a long sigh, "You can feel.. the changing in the winds, can you not?"
Min sipped her milkshake, "Heh.. yeah, I can. What does it mean?"
"You know I can't tell you that."
"Dad's barely sleeping. I think he's having nightmares again."
"I wouldn't be surprised."
The music over the jukebox began to repeat the loop of a guitar riff. The FSM leaned his hat back. A pair of gold eyes stared straight forward. "Old wounds are bleeding, into the turning of the tides. Do you feel that building?"
Min tilted her head.
The FSM turned to the previous table. The four's voices had faded without her, animately shoving and soundless in their laughter. "Do you recognize them?"
"Should I?"
He huffed. "Just don't fight them when you see them this time." He winked...
"I don't like that look in your eyes, Min."
The girl with the green hair gave a side eye to her best friend, before turning her gaze back onto the Jamanakai skyline. Charlie blew out of her lips, leaning over the side of the shingle roof they both sat on to stare into the abyss below the monastery.
"Brooding on the roof. You're boring," she rolled her eyes.
Min glared. "I'm not brooding."
Charlie snapped her head back up, "You are!"
The two girls hit each other on their shoulders. Min had to grab Charlie before she tumbled over the side.
"Look! The monorail's up!" Charlie pointed out, as Min worked to shove her back onto the roof and not in a dangle.
She huffed. "Probably just means tourist season is starting again."
Jamanakai could boast being the temporary home of the greatest ninja, and the birthplace of their savior. This mountain town had become the world's greatest tourist trap.
Charlie kicked her legs. "Or, something is finally happening here."
"Please, whatever happens here?"
Charlie turned up to glare. "You're kidding, right?"
Min snorted.
Sorry there was so much jumping around this chapter. There's a good amount of characters here and I want to give them all their 15 minutes of fame.