Jamanakai was a city in the sky, so to speak.
Clouds curled around the mountain cluster, brushing up against like waves on a wind sea. It was a major rumor that this was the birthplace of Ninjago and all of it's citizens very existence, and Jamanakai ran with that. The buildings alone gave some senses of truth to the idea. The closer into the center of town the older each piece of architecture became.
"I feel like I'm walking through a timeline diagram," Toni chuckled. He couldn't help but snap a photograph of a particularly gothic architecture, unabashed by the fact he looked like a tourist. Technically he was. For now, at least. The gargoyles were made to resemble oni. Everything in this town had a running theme of oni and dragon, and whatever wasn't was the next best in the occasional statues of the first spinjitzu master. And the single ultimate spinjitzu master statue in the center of town. The gold of Lloyd Garmadon flaked away into an appropriate green, grime building up wherever rain and snow might pool. Town folk and visitors stopped to shoot the savior a quick bow, and the devotees left an offering or two in the fountain surrounding the metal man.
Toni flicked a coin in as well.
"Really?" Phineas eyed him.
"What? It seems appropriate. Maybe it'll even give us good luck, being new ninjas and all."
Ray's eyes lit up. "That's actually a smart idea!" They dug around in their pockets for a cent or dollar to flick into the fountain.
Winnie handed the two remaining a coin each. "Come on, it won't hurt us."
Phineas tossed his in with the flick of his wrist. "I'm in agonizing pain."
Winnie glared at his blank expression.
Ray gave a pointed cough into their fist. "Alright, alright." They motioned to step between the two teenages, bowing down to lace up their high tops. "Let's save all that breath for the walk to the monastery," Ray stood up and pointed at the highest structure. Whatever buildings made their way up became fewer and far between, and Toni made out there was a good few stretches of just mountain between the last home and the monastery. A hairline of steps weaved around the entire landmark. Winnie and Phineas immediately stopped bickering and went white in the faces.
Surprisingly, the hardest part of the journey was the beginning. The townies beside the entrance were old and tradition-centric, and supposedly very superstitious when it came to the stairs. Only a show to Toni's super strength and Phineas making a frosted walkway allowed them through.
"Only elemental masters can pass," an old woman lectured Winnie as Ray worked to melt and dry up Phineas's ice. Wouldn't want to murder any locals with a slip. "On account of the spirits that guard the passage. It's the Garmadon family's final resting place, the gods don't want them disrupted!"
"That's nice.." Winnie decided not to mention that it was also where Wu currently lived (emphasis on the living.)
From there it was just walking. And walking and walking and walking and walking. The higher they went the lower the sun got.
"All this ninja and power training better be worth it," Phineas huffed.
The rest of the teenagers groaned in agreement. Toni sipped their water. "I don't know.. I think seeing Uncle Wu will be worth it enough," he smiled fondly.
Winnie gasped. "And Grandma Misako! We haven't seen them since the funeral."
Phineas shrugged, "Are old people really that worth it? I never even met them."
Ray nodded, "Right, 'cause Zane and Pixal didn't build you till after Uncle Lloyd?" they commented. The snowball connected with their birthmark, making them shiver.
"I wasn't built!" Phineas shouted.
The Smith boy immediately began to stumble over their tongue. "I-I'm sorry, I guess I just assumed-!" Their cousin came to a quick rescue.
"Ray didn't know! You don't have to yell at them!" she reprimanded.
"Well now they do!"
"Guys, please don't fight when we're on the side of a mountain!" Toni held onto Ray with a grip, his eyes constantly dotting to the fall just waiting for them.
"You should listen to Brookstone."
The calm voice broke the four apart. The flashlight to their eyes caught their attention.
In the dark it was hard to fully make out the person at the top of the turn. From the voice it was a man. A green pair of eyes glowed almost cartoonishly. He tilted the flashlight upwards, catching them all of guard. "Hey, kids. I've been expecting you," Lloyd Garmadon said.
Toni, Ray, Winnie and Phineas were all on the edges of their seats, listening to the whine of tea on batted breath. Lloyd had taken them all up the mountain a back way, far from public eye. The monastery atop the slope was still populated, contrary to the belief. Ray cast sad eyes at the old uncle they hadn't seen in years, Sensei Wu's head dipped down and silent. Their father had always told such fond stories of the man who trained and practically raised him. Seeing him like this..
Lloyd re-entered the room with a tray of stacked tea cups. In this light they could all get a better look at the man who was supposed to be cremated and stuffed in a temple somewhere. His blonde hair was dirtier, long enough to begin curling at the ends. He had unkempt scruff hiding his jawline, interrupted by the occasional scar across his skin. There were bags under his eyes. "Here, Uncle," Lloyd whispered, setting the only full cup in front of Wu. There was an unnatural dip to one of his shoulders, the skin on his arms twisting and swirling with former injuries. It was a rode map to the strange way his hand held half a scar, an abrupt change into shiny metal halfway across his palm. A whistle ushered him away.
Winnie leaned forward almost immediately afterwards.
"Okay, anyone wanna talk about what in the underworld is going on?"
Toni helplessly shrugged.
"He's dead, we were all at the funeral," Ray gave an answer. Nobody seemed to believe them, not even themself.
Lloyd finally entered the room with a pot that held the great smell of chamomile. He set it in the center and ushered them all to take some. Toni rolled his thumb over the intricate detailing and painting on the cup. He pat Wu on the shoulder, taking his seat beside the older sensei. "Misako's in town, she'll be back soon. I just know she can't wait to see you all."
"How are you alive?" Ray blurted. Phineas smacked their arm.
Lloyd reeled his head back in laughter.
"I mean, technically, I'm still dead," he finally settled with a shrug, "Let me explain."
"If you haven't already guessed; I faked my death four years ago. Wasn't something I planned to do, but it's still something that happened." Lloyd blew the steam from his tea before taking a sip. "The Sons of Garmadon were making an.. ambitious comeback. Most of your parents had already retired, leaving just me and your father, Ray, to deal with the problem." Ray shot their head up at the mention, and winced when they remembered where this story was going. They pushed the tea away. The image of their father's leg bent in a way that didn't seem natural always made them sick.
"We were outnumbered and suffered a few loses, to.. say the least." Lloyd's fingers brushed the long scar crossing his neck. The hand he used housed the prosthetic. "The ring leader claimed the carnage wouldn't end unless they had proof I was dead and mangled. So.. that's what we gave them." He swallowed hard, before reaching across the table to rest a hand on the shoulders of Toni and Ray, the closest to him. "Kai helped me take off and tear up the gi, before making me a john doe in the dead. Sure enough it ended.. Better than we thought it would."
"Why weren't we told you were alive?" Winnie insisted. Her puffed cheeks were stained with old tears.
"I wanted them to not tell you, we all agreed it was safer if for the time you all thought the same. Less people know the better." Lloyd frowned.
"I'm so sorry."
Footsteps on the outdoor cobblestone had Lloyd's eyes downcast again. "And I'm sorry for the other secret I've been keeping.."
The sliding paper door opened, revealing a pair of teenagers their age. The taller girl wasn't the reeling surprise they thought this secret was, and she clearly knew that as she blew air and quickly looked at the wall, coming inside and to the side to reveal the real reason for gasp. She looked similar to Lloyd, with the same flat nose and defined cupid's bow. The slightly bucked teeth and monolid eyes seemed belong to a different side of the family. She was shorter, but built like a ninja should be. Her hair was cut short and layered messy, the longest strand was braided and gently touching her shoulder. It was dyed an emerald green. "Uh.. dad?" she blinked.
"Dad?" Toni whipped his head at Lloyd.
The former green ninja stood to address her. "Min, come meet your ninja."
As it turns out, their Uncle Lloyd had been living an entire secret life right behind the backs of everyone in Ninjago. Even more had happened to this man upon dying than any dead guy they had ever met.
"My daddy says you got powers. Can I see?" little Theo Wu swung his arms as he stared intently at the four shell-shocked kids on the family couch. He was five, and all of his s's were more like sh's and he had a nasally breath between each syllable. He had a cleft lip and palate, so instead of the bow the rest of his family had, he had an upturned arrow for an upper lip.
"Theodore, don't bother them. I'm sure it's been a really long day for them." Mrs Kendall reprimanded her young son, snapping her fingers just above his head. She was Lloyd's secret love of his secret life.
Theo Wu blew a raspberry and scurried off, proclaiming that he would go help his father. The man in question was deeper inside the monastery with Min and the other girl, Charlie they learned her name was, setting up their beds for a comfortable night. "I better follow him," Kendall breathed.
She disappeared around the corner.
"Alright, fuck this."
Phineas rocketed to his feet, leaving a trail of frost from his stomping feet. Ray whipped their head around in a double take, "W-where are you going?" they panicked. Toni scrambled after.
"I never met this Lloyd guy, but what I've seen it enough to tell me I don't like him," the Julien boy threw his hands in the air, "Where's the damn exit?"
"You can't leave! We're supposed to be the new ninja!" Toni grabbed at his arm desperately.
To his surprise, there was another kid that wasn't having it. "Not all of us! I came here to be trained and sent home, not get wrapped up in some family drama, destiny.. bullshit!" Winnie said.
Phineas blinked his blue eyes at her, before smirking. "She cusses!"
"Shut up!"
Winnie stormed out of the room, followed by Phineas who wrestled with Toni out of the door. Ray stumbled. "Guys!"
The view of the sun from the monastery was beautiful. A sight to behold on many rises and downs, as it painted the sky in a mix of hues. The clouds themselves reminded of strokes from a brush.
Wu could never get over this view.
The old man breathed deep, letting his old and nimble fingers graze across the ornate teacup. The smell of oolong filled his nostrils and filled his head with happy memories of golden ages.
Wu maybe getting old, but he wasn't getting stupid. His bones grew brittle by the day, his eyes grew cloudy by the hour. He hated having his nephew and Misako have to guide him around his own monastery. He hated having his grandniece be the one to help him up and down. Wu shook his head.
Maybe if he hadn't spent decades using his powers to such an extent. Or just retired the first time he tried, instead of the sixth. Garmadon always said he was too stubborn for his own good.
Wu couldn't help the stinging in his eyes. He missed his brother.
"Uncle Wu?"
He looked up to find the four teenagers, all standing over him. They were tussled in an argument he wasn't listening to, but clearly knew what was about. Call it an old man's intuition. Wu smiled up at them.
"Toni, son, run into the kitchen and grab more teacups."
The Brookstone boy's eyes widened, pointing at himself. He slowly turned and headed inside. "The shelf closest to the fridge," Wu called further instructions after him.
The old sensei gestured to be helped up. Ray quickly came to his aid, with a squeak. Phineas let go of Winnie's backpack.
"Grab more mats boy, and use that heat of yours on the teapot. We can't have cold drinks now," Wu pointed out what he needed done.
Ray pulled down the sitting mats, and gulped. "Ugh, I'm not very g-good with my powers yet-" Wu cut them off.
"Rub your hands and touch the pot. Use that nervous energy you have."
Ray looked completely flabbergasted, but obeyed. They carefully rubbed their hands together before placing them on the intricately detailed pot. Their thumb touched the dragon head. Ray yelped when it whistled, their amber eyes going wide.
Toni returned with the teacups, and nudged Ray's shoulder with a grin when he saw the sight. The boy blushed, squishing their hands under their armpits.
"Wu? What are we-?" Phineas was shushed by the old man.
"Drink first."
Once the cups were poured, he ushered them all to sit on the mats surrounding and take a sip. They did so.
Wu breathed deep in the fumes of boiled tea leaves, liking the way the steam felt against his nostrils. It was always so calming.
The way these children in front of him were slumping their shoulders made it clear they felt similar.
"Can I tell you children a story?"
Phineas' glowed eyes squinted. His shoulders squared to make him more guarded. "About what?" he demanded.
Wu huffed. "For that question to be answered, I'd have to begin my tale." Ray's fingers brushed against their birthmark cheek in a soothing motion. "Tell us, Uncle Wu, please?"
Wu smiled. "Gather, for this tale is all the relevance to you young ones." The teens hesitantly settled closer at the beckoning of his fingers.
"Long before time had a name.." Wu couldn't help but laugh at the collective grown that followed. He faked a stern glare, and they all shut up. "The First Spinjitzu Master created Ninjago with the four golden weapons. When he passed, a dark presence sought to collect them all, and reap what my father sewed. So I found four ninja to collect them first.. But you all know that part of the story, so let us skip ahead.
Years after, they were masters at their craft. Under their belts were an impressive array of elemental skills, fighting techniques, and the complete knowledge of spinjitzu. I couldn't have been prouder.. it was like.. was like watching my own children blossom." Wu paused to a wipe a tear from his clouded eyes.
"My wards were no longer mine, but adults of their own. They all settled and continued the elemental line with a new generation. You all."
He could see each of their parents in their faces. Wu would never utter these words to these children, unsure of how to truly use his tongue to say them. Maybe he was too old to even will his mind to say them.
Antonio Brookstone, the never-so-little little Toni. His fresh enthusiasm was so reminiscent of his father's. Rounded features and that welcoming aura that amplified when he smiled. As a toddler, when they were all still so close, he was always there for a helping hand. Or just good tea drinking company. Wu wondered if Toni still would sit by him on early mornings, slurping tea while begging for fun stories.
Winnie Walker was already established in her smarts. She had both of her parents know-it-all mouth and buzzing personality. From the time she could read, Winnie knew just about everything and wasn't afraid to let you know it. She was a leader in her own right, similar to her mother. She was a gifted motormouth, similar to her father.
Ray looked so similar to their father, in the spikes of their braided locs and the fire of their amber eyes. They held a quiet sort of fierceness. Passion in the little things they did, unabashed in their quirks. Wu is happy, and slightly amused, to see Ray now chewing on the sensory necklace instead of their clothes. He remembers how often Kai and Skylor complained about the boy's freying sleeves and wet zippers.
Wu never had the pleasure of meeting Phineas, though he's heard few things about his unusual introduction to the family. Despite, to him, Phineas Julien was definitely Zane and Pixal's son. Behind that hard exterior was a childlike curiosity. A yearning to take in knowledge of everything around him. Even now, his blue eyes scanned the teacup patterns with interest.
"There are somethings I cannot tell you, for I do not know.."
Winnie tilted her head. "Why lie to us? I.. I thought Uncle Lloyd was dead.. we all did.." she frowned at the old man.
Wu sighed. ".. Your parents all agreed it was too heavy a burden, and should be something to be revealed with the passage of time."
Phineas tore his eyes from the teacup. The steam of heat was gone and began to frost over like a lake in winter. "Why are we all here to be ninja? What if we don't even fucking want to be?"
Wu chose to ignore his harsh tone and cursing. Winnie didn't, and turned to smack him. Toni shushed them.
"I.. I don't know what it is Lloyd saw.." Wu dipped his head.
Ray leaned forward. "Uncle Lloyd saw something..?" they whispered.
"It is ultimately your choice, lately fate is a path that's easy to stray from. I just ask you all to think of this old man," Wu couldn't hide the tears as he placed a hand on his chest, "Who is proud of you all, whatever you choose.."