If this was your first time reading this story, I hope you have enjoyed it! If it's not your first time... I hope you have enjoyed it! I'll look forward to seeing you all in future stories (at the time of this revision, Darkness in Chima is still in progress).
Enjoy the final chapter of Rise of the Guardians!
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
Part Three: The Armies of Light and Shadow
Chapter XV
After the Overlord was banished, the Guardians helped the Serpentine gather their dead; around forty of their warriors fell. The injured were lifted to the Destiny's Bounty, Skalidor the most gravely injured among them.
On the deck of the Bounty, Fangtom and Acidicus slowly slithered up to Mack, who stood talking with Zee, Morro, and Kai.
"Elders," Mack nodded in respect to the generals.
"Skales will recover," Fangtom's right head said. "But…" the other head started before trailing off.
"Skalidor is gone," Acidicus rasped. "Our healers, as well as the wife of Lord Garmadon, did everything they could."
Mack sighed. "I'm so sorry."
"And we are sorry," Fangtom bowed his right head. "... for the loss of your comrade," the left head finished.
The Serpentine elders decided that they would bury their dead right there in the Sea of Sand, and they also decided to build a monument to the battle. The Destiny's Bounty departed from the desert to allow the Serpentine to perform their burial rites. There was nothing but respect left between the Guardians and the Serpentine.
It was late at night, and the ninja were back home in their living room.
Everyone sat around, talking about the events of the battle. Wu, Garmadon, and Misako shared what their perspective was like from the Bounty, including their fear when they saw the Overlord taking shape above the spot where Rikayla was destroyed.
They also wondered what came next.
"I'm not sure where we go from here," Mack said, "but for now, let's sleep. In the morning, I will return to Earth. I have to tell Danny's mother and sister what happened to him."
There wasn't a response for almost a minute before Morro broke the silence.
"You know, I wouldn't mind staying in the Elemental Temple for a while longer."
"Yeah," Kai agreed, "at least while we decide what to do now that the war is over."
Mack smiled. "I guess y'all didn't mind Billingsley too much, then?"
"Nah," Jay replied. "Your family is pretty cool."
"So are your friends," Cole added.
"And in addition to all that," Lloyd said in a serious tone, standing up…
"Wherever you go, Mack, we'll follow you."
Mack nodded, appreciating the loyalty that was being displayed but also understanding the responsibility that it carried.
It was decided that everyone would stay on Earth through Christmas and then celebrate New Year's in Ninjago. From there, they would figure out their next steps together.
County Road 40; Autauga County
Earth
Thursday November 22, 2018…
On a crisp Thanksgiving morning, Mack walked up to Danny's house. He stopped several yards from the porch and prepared himself for what was coming.
Mack took a deep breath, walked up the steps to the porch, and knocked on the door, dreading the conversation he knew was coming. The door opened, and Danny's mother's face lit up when she saw Mack standing there.
"Mack, you're back!" she beamed.
Her face fell, however, when she saw Mack's miserable expression. "Where's…"
Mack fought to keep the tears filling his eyes from falling; Danny's mother teared up as well.
"No, it can't be." She covered her mouth with her hand.
Emily walked up behind the grieved woman. "Where's my bubba?" she asked innocently.
The mother didn't turn, not wanting the girl to see her tears. "Emily, honey, I need to talk with Mack for a minute, okay? Go to your room and play."
"But—"
"Please, baby," the woman fought to control her voice. "Be a big girl for Mommy."
Emily stood there for another moment before running up the stairs.
The mother then walked out onto the porch and shut the door.
"Mack… how did he—"
"Like a hero," Mack spared her the pain of finishing the question.
Danny's mother lost control at that point, collapsing into Mack's arms and sobbing.
After many minutes of attempting to console Danny's mother, Mack made the hike up the stairs in the house to talk with Emily. He knocked on a white door with Emily's name on it.
"Mommy?" a light voice came from the other side of the door.
"It's Mack."
A pause. "Come in."
Mack opened the door and Emily simply asked, "Did Danny die?"
After a deep sigh, Mack sat on the bed next to Emily.
"Yes," Mack replied. "Danny gave everything to protect you."
"He was a hero…" Emily wiped at her eyes, trying not to cry after her mom asked her to be a big girl.
Mack smiled sadly. "Yeah, he was. And he was a good friend. And he loved you. I held onto your brother's hand when he—"
His voice caught, and he took a breath before continuing. "… when he died. He asked me to look after you."
The little girl couldn't hold it anymore; she hugged Mack as she began to cry.
"I miss my bubba," she sobbed. "He's my hero."
Before Mack left, he spoke to Danny's mother again. An undertaker in Ninjago did the work of preparing Danny's body for burial, and the Guardians brought him back to Earth to be given to his mother to bury.
She decided that he would be buried at their church in a private funeral, so that he could be honored for his valor and bravery while keeping the Guardians' secret from the public.
Billingsley
The next people Mack needed to see was his family. His mother and father were beside themselves with relief upon seeing their eldest son safe. Mack also spoke to his brother and grandmother before driving to Anna's house.
When he knocked on her door, she flung it open and hugged him, nearly knocking him down. She was crying.
"It's okay," Mack soothed his girlfriend.
"You're here," Anna said through her tears.
"Yes… I'm here."
Danny's grieving mother and sister accepted Mack's family's invitation to join them for Thanksgiving dinner along with the Guardians, the other ninja, the senseis and Misako, Anna, and Mack's friends Kayla and Pete.
It was a grand feast, indeed. As the family and friends ate together, spirits were lifted and souls were refreshed.
After dinner, the Guardians returned to the Hut. Mack sat at the table in the common area, and Garmadon came to sit with him.
"So," Garmadon said. "You did it."
Mack cracked a smile. "Wedid it—all of us."
Garmadon nodded. "From the moment I met you, I knew you would stop her."
"And because of your training, I did. Thank you, Sensei."
With a smile, Garmadon firmly grasped Mack's hand.
Location and Realm Unknown
A dark chasm in the ground, and a cave within.
A dark creature, injured.
The ones who lived in the chasm were aware of the outsider. They had approached him, but he proved to be dangerous, driving them away before they could investigate the suit of armor he appeared to be guarding.
Instead of sending scouts again, their leader went to confront him. Their leader was able to convince the outsider to trust the ones who lived in the chasm, and the ones who lived in the chasm learned to trust the outsider.
Both parties learned from each other of war.
Defeat.
Humiliation.
And both parties learned of power. Their powers were strange to each other, but they wondered if the powers could be combined to form something truly great.
Unstoppable.
A dark plot for revenge was born among the dark creatures in that dark chasm.
THE END
