Chapter Text
Winter woke with a start. Over the last few weeks, their times of gasping awake after their dreams had long since passed. They still woke with some of a start, but it wasn’t like before. It was still odd as there was always an odd feeling of…coming back to themself? They suppose that is the best way to describe it.
They shook off their thoughts as they got up to get ready for the day. It was a hair wash day so they got out some products and placed them on the counter before turning the knobs in the shower to get it to a temperature they liked, leaving it to warm up while they went to pick out their clothes for the day.
The early September air was surprisingly chilly, so they got out a pair of leggings and a simple black shirt, leaving out some socks and their tennis shoes. They were going shopping today and wanted to be comfortable.
Winter took a quick shower, getting dressed and tying their hair up to dry for a bit while they ate breakfast. They headed upstairs, briefly looking at the deck where the ninja were doing their morning exercises before making their way to the kitchen. They knew Zane did his exercises earlier in the morning so as to prepare breakfast for everyone.
They nodded to him when they entered. Zane smiles at them, before taking a look at them and asking, “Pronouns?”
“They/them, thanks for asking. Anyway, is there anything more you’d like to add to the list before me and Nya get going, you’ve got maybe an hour to do so.” They replied, taking a seat at the island after gathering their breakfast. Today it was just a few pancakes that had chocolate chips, as they would be filling enough for the next few hours.
They watch Zane think while they ate, “No, I do not believe I have anything to add, though the others might. I’ll go ask them for you.” He wipes his hands with a towel before leaving the room. Garmadon passed him on his way into the room, he raised an eyebrow at them before going for his own food, taking a seat a few feet away from them.
They sigh to themselves, knowing they're going to have to ask him if he would like anything. They turn to him, “Nya and I will be heading to the store today. Do you have anything you’d like to add to the list? Zane went to ask everyone else if you were wondering.”
He turned to face them, a thoughtful look on his face, “Hm. Yes, would you mind stopping by Mistake’s tea shop for Lighten Tea? She will know what it is. Oh, and, err, would it be polite of me to ask for your pronouns?”
They were startled by his last question, huh, even with evil in his veins, he has manners, and probably isn’t a bigot. “Sure, we’ll stop by the tea place. And usually the pronouns are she/they, but today they/them specifically…thanks for asking.” They nod to him before turning back to their breakfast.
They finish just as Zane comes back into the room with Jay on his heels, “Alright, everyone had something to add, but I wrote it all down, as well as brands if they were specific about that.” Winter smiles at Jay, a nod of acknowledgement sent his way.
Jay returns the gesture before seeming to realize something and taking a look at them, “Pronouns today?” Though he seemed a bit tired when they looked closer at him.
”They/them. Also, you look tired, is something wrong?” They ask, which then begins some glances exchanged between the other three in the room. They notice, growing impatient quickly, “Alright, clearly something is going on, so out with it.”
“Well, Garmadon has a night time routine that involves magic, and it has kinda annoyed Kai a bit, so he yelled at him last night, delaying our sleep by a while, as Garmadon goes to bed pretty late,” Jay says, his hands together in a sheepish gesture.
They sigh and pinch the bridge of their nose, annoyed. Great, so clearly Kai will be having an issue with their current guest. “Alright then,” they drop their hand and face them. “Will his room be ready today? That should hopefully solve that issue. Anyway, I’m going to finish getting ready before I have to leave. Try to behave, please. I would prefer to not come back to a partially destroyed Bounty.” They say before leaving the room. They had already taken care of their dishes earlier and didn’t have to worry.
They walked back downstairs and to the bathroom they shared with Nya to finish getting ready. Taking their hair out of the towel it was tied in and combing it, before beginning to run some product through. They eventually finished it off using a diffuser attachment with the hair dryer, creating beautiful, soft curls as well as some waves.
Once they were finished, they grabbed their bag and headed out the door, meeting Nya on deck. They spoke, looking at the list in their hand, “Alright, so it looks like most of the usual, aside from Kai needing some hairspray. Cole is asking for a new record that just came out. And both Garmadon and Wu want us to stop by Mistake's tea shop. This is probably gonna be a full day trip. You ready?”
Nya responds with a nod and smile before they both get off the Bounty and head into the city. Winter themself was pretty excited, as they planned to get some things for their birthday in a few days. They were turning eighteen, that was a big deal, at least to them. Zane knew, and they wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to do something special for the occasion, however they also wanted to do something small, only including themself.
They had a smile on their face the whole day, thinking of what they were planning.
-*-*-*-
If Winter was being honest with herself, she had absolutely no idea what time it was. She had locked herself in the kitchen not long after the cleanup from dinner had finished, intent on testing some small variations or additions or the like of a few recipes.
Currently she was testing out a few changes to her Grandma Helma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe. She had seen someone put some interesting add-ins to a regular chocolate chip cookie recipe and watched to try so herself with her favorite recipe.
She had done her normal things, up until the straight up liquid ingredients step. After she added in her egg, she chose to drop a splash or two of cold brew she had been making. She did hesitate a moment before adding a quarter cup of sweetened coconut flakes. Later, after adding the dry ingredients, she carefully mixed in a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder, folding it to make a sort of swirled pattern. She then covered the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in the fridge to chill for two hours.
It was just as she was about to check on some bread she had left proofing, that the door to the kitchen opened. She turned around to find Garmadon there, seemingly frozen in the doorway.
”Well? Are you going to come in or not? Either way you will be closing that door, as I don’t want to alert the damn ninja about what I’m making.” Her words seemed to motivate him into finally actually stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.
“Err, what exactly are you making? Bread?” His last question held something hopeful in the tone.
Winter choked a laugh as she pulled open the oven door to check on the bread proofing, it would need only another half hour, then she could bake. She shook her head as she stood back up, stretching as she went, echoes of cracks and pops in the air in the dimly lit kitchen.
”Yes, Garmadon, I am making bread. However, that’s not all I’m doing. I’m doing some experiments, simply testing out how some things react as well as taste. I have a batch of cookies that I’m working on, it is chilling in the fridge, and before you even think about it, no you can’t have any, not yet at least. Same with the bread, I’m doing some testing with that as well, mostly in the garnishes, still. Though I do have something going that I’m hoping will work out well enough, but that comes later.” Throughout her explanation, she had been preparing what she would need for the next steps in her process, while Garmadon had seated himself at the island counter, watching her work.
After she was done she went to check on the injera liquid she was fermenting. She was planning to make some Ethiopian food soon. She was excited, as the time she had made it in her class had been good. She doesn’t intend to give it too much cayenne in the berbere seasoning, as she was unsure of the spice tolerance of those on the ship. Though Winter will admit that she was excited for one ‘Sensei’ Wu to try it, she was honestly hoping he had a really low spice tolerance just to make him suffer just a tiny bit.
He had honestly been getting on her nerves, what with his vague ‘wisdom’ and other shit. Honestly the way he treats the ninja pissed her off too. He was a dick to all of them, especially with his pushing them. For fucks sake, they were teenagers and he seems to just love putting the weight of the world on their shoulders. She truly could see how Garmadon was the better brother, even with literal evil in his veins, he still has far more consideration for others.
By the time she had prepared everything she needed for the next steps in her process, as well as checked on the injera, her dough had finished proofing. She grabbed the bowl it was in, taking it out of the oven and placing it on the island counter. Garmadon simply watched as she worked, kneading the dough.
Though it was not like their normal stargazing nights, it was just as peaceful. Winter eventually finished up her two experiments, leaving her bread to cool before cleaning up and going to bed, Garmadon right behind her.
-*-*-*-
They were back at it a few nights later, though. This time around they had an actual conversation, one that had a topic that was quite…close to home.
”So,” Winter starts. “What is it with Wu and the ninja practically treating his word like the gospel?”
The man beside her huffs a laugh. “Ah, I was wondering when you would notice and ask. Well, Otis was the one to recruit them, make them a team. Not to mention he gave the little fire ninja a way to ‘save’ his sister when I kidnapped Nya. Don’t give me that look, I didn’t harm her nor had I ever intended to do so. She was well taken care of when I had her as a hostage.” He says when he sees the look on her face.
”Hmm. Yeah, that makes sense. I don’t understand it, how they can just do that with a person. I believe you should always take things with a grain of salt, especially if you don’t know the whole story. They don’t seem to truly do that with him. It’s unnerving. Also,” she laughs. “Otis? Is that seriously his first name? God, just hearing it pisses me off.”
He laughs alongside her at her comment. “Yes, it does seem like that. Though I mostly believe it purely has to do with the fact of his true self, underneath all of his pretty and ‘wise’ words he spews. My baby brother truly is a pin in the ass. I’ve heard the little story about the evil in me that he told the ninja. Yes, I do have it, however, I only got bitten a few centuries back, not as a child. Otis is nothing more than a fool.”
”Ah yes, I can see that. He seems to like being all ‘mysterious’ about how I got here, probably trying to manipulate me into thinking he knows something and wanting to make me get closer to him, desperate to find out what he knows.” She scoffs, “Not like I am going to do so in any case. Either he knows something or doesn’t, either way, he isn’t going to say anything to me. I’ve noticed how he didn’t even tell the ninja he was going to get you. Clearly he likes keeping his cards close to his chest, like an asshole.”
Her profanity causes him to laugh again, likely at her supposedly daring to call him such a thing while on the Bounty. ‘Yes, my brother does seem fond of manipulating anyone he can. How unfortunate that you are smarter than he ninja, and clearly far more experienced with people like him than them.”
He noticed that? Then again, with how she hadn’t fallen for Wu’s ‘wise old man’ act from the get go, it shouldn’t be surprising. She isn’t even shy about it, at least not to Garmadon himself, she wasn’t quite sure about the Ninja, or even Nya. They had been around Wu a lot longer than her, he’s had time to sink his claws into him.
“I mean, you’re right. I knew a few manipulative people back in my world, they sucked and I therefore don’t talk to them anymore because of it. Some were even…narcissists, huh. Could Wu be a narcissist?” She asks thoughtfully to herself.
They were both looking at the stars above then, so she couldn’t see his face, but he went quiet for a moment before he spoke, “You might actually be right. My brother has always been full of himself. He even changed his surname when he left the family after Father died. Well, more like he was kicked out.” He muttered that last sentence to himself.
”Whoa, wait, he changed his name solely to separate himself? Damn, why would he do that? Oh! Does this play into his little fantasy delusion about the fact that you were supposedly bitten when you were a child, thousands of years ago?”
“Perhaps, I lost any care I had to understand my brother a long time ago. And yes, he did, it was originally Garmadon, alongside the rest of the family. I suppose he chose his current one in an attempt to seem more important.” He replied, simply sounding tired. Understandable, Wu does seem like quite the piece of work. She herself already stayed away from him because he creeped her the fuck out.
A thought came to her, making her smirk, “Hey, what if I call Wu by his first name? Like to his face? Perhaps not now, but surely later on. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be here for a while, so might as well screw with that dick.”
Garmadon had to hold in a bark of laughter. Oh how amusing that would be. He knew how much his brother would hate such a thing. Not only would it undermine any so called respect he thinks he has the right to, but he also hated his name in general. It was one chosen by their Dad, after all. The one of their parents that was solely of the ‘darkness’ as Otis called it. He would love for her to do so, and he says as much to her.
They continue speaking for a while longer before they go quiet, choosing to simply stargaze and feel the breeze. About an hour later they agreed to head back soon enough, it was getting late.
Winter looks at her phone after stretching, checking the time, only to find it a little after one in the morning, on September 7th. She huffed a laugh to herself, surprised that they were talking so long that it went on into early the next day, her birthday to be specific.
He noticed her reaction after he himself had finished stretching out his extra limbs. “What is it? Some weird notification on social media?” He asked.
She shook her head, “No, uh, we talked so long that it's already one, in the morning.”
”Ah,” he replies before he turns away from her, looking back up at the stars. “Happy Birthday, then.”
She’s surprised for a moment before she throws him a smile, “Thanks.”
They sit in silence for another few minutes before they decide to pack it up and get to bed. As she was getting ready for bed, Winter couldn’t stop thinking about the warmth that grew in her chest at Garmadon doing something so kind, so sweet. Something very unlike how he acts around everyone else. It almost felt…parental, the way he acts with her.
No. He wouldn’t. She was just some stranger, someone from a whole other realm entirely. Besides that, he had a child. Said child was the entire reason why he was here in the first place.
She shook her head of those thoughts, intent on heading to bed and leaving them be. She couldn’t help it though, those thoughts stuck to her until she finally fell into yet another odd sleep, with unrememberable dreams.
-*-*-*-
They were out on that back balcony again, though Winter herself with significantly more coverage, as it was nearing late September and she would be the last to admit to having more than one pair of fluffy socks on.
This time around, they were discussing some of Ninjago’s history, mixed with some of Garmadon’s personal experiences during those times. Honestly, if someone had told her she would be here, in this position a few weeks ago, she might have laughed. She never would have thought that she would end up having an acquaintance with Garmadon. They usually have meetings such as these in secret, as everyone else on the ship is usually busy during that time. Training, preparing, or doing whatever the fuck it was Otis does in his spare time.
She could still remember the first time he had spoken to her during one of the stargazing nights, he had already been on the ship for a few days.
Winter was quietly reading a novel that had been in her bag for once, choosing not to read one of the history texts, on account of her interest in them currently being waned. She had a blanket carefully wrapped around her shoulders, with another one thrown over her legs, sock covered feet poking out to the side.
Garmadon had joined her an hour or so earlier, he himself covered in a robe, his helmet missing for once, as he sat a few feet away from her.
“Why do you come out here almost every night? You keep up the same routine every night. I’ll admit that I am curious as to just what draws you out here.”
She will admit hat she was somewhat startled to hear him speak. He rarely spoke a word to her aside from a few on that first day, as well as a few comments made during those pathetic “planning” meetings Wu gathers everyone uselessly for.
She shrugged, deciding it wouldn’t hurt to answer him, “I don’t know. I’ve always liked the stars but never got as many chances to stargaze as I have here. Too much light pollution in my neighborhood. There is something…soothing about the calm out here, on nights like these. No matter how cold they get. They are…comforting in a way. I’m unsure as to why, they simply are.”
He chuckled, “Ah, I used to have a friend who thought and felt similarly. She loved the stars, said they were a home when she had nothing.” A wistful sigh followed his comment.
They didn’t speak any more that night, Garmadon leaving her to her book before leaving a few hours later. Winter herself followed half an hour later.
A throat clearing brought her back to the present, she herself giving a bashful smile in apology. Garmadon flashed her a small smile before continuing at her gesture to do so.
”Where was I? Oh yes, I was speaking of half a millennia ago. Around then was quite the interesting generation of elemental masters, I’ll admit. So many of them were so skilled, unlike my brother Ninja. However, I was not very present, it was an era of peace around then, and I honestly had more important things going on personally. You see, my husband, Jasper was his name, had become quite ill. Myself and, well, my eldest child, my daughter Isobelle, were quite worried. It was sudden, and he only got worse with each day, eventually he passed. That was one of the last times I saw Isobelle in the recent centuries. A century or so after Jasper's death, I had been traveling Ninjago when I had gotten bitten by the Great Devourer. That was when evil was introduced into my veins. I kept myself from my loved ones for a long time after that. If it weren’t for Lloyds current predicament, I would never have come back. As much as I wish to be his father, I do not wish to harm him directly or indirectly because of the evil in my veins.” His voice only grew more full of mourning as he went on.
It must have been hard, being away from his loved ones for so long in fear of harming them, even by accident, and so soon after losing his husband too. Even if she could have only heard his voice during that time, she would have been able to tell that he had loved Jasper more than anything. If she was being honest, she wonders how he ever got together with Lloyds mother in the first place.
She shook her head of those thoughts as Garmadon began speaking again. They were for another day.
-*-*-*-
It was finally the day. Her injera was done fermenting and she had all of her ingredients as well as her recipe book. They were only preparing two stews, small batches. The first one was doro wat and the second was awaze tibs. Both had meat, one beef the other chicken, which Zane had been very kind in preparing.
From what Winter could remember when having tasted them, the doro wat had more of an initial kick with the spice, while the awaze tibs was more of an aftertaste based kick. Winter assigned Zane to work on the awaze tibs while she worked on the doro wat. She had her recipe book on the island counter behind them.
They had prepared all they could last night, thankfully making their jobs easier today. Thanks to their high altitude courtesy of the Bounty, they also didn’t need to worry about experimenting with teff flour to find a mixture that would work to properly make injera thanks, again, to the Bounty helping with the altitude problem.
Once Winter had begun removing the lid to the pot to occasionally stir, she nodded to Zane to work on the awaze tibs. They called Garmadon in at around halfway through the forty-five minute period to have him watch both stews for a few minutes so Winter could show Zane how to cook the injera. Once that was done she returned to the stove, watching both stews, and stirring the doro wat twice.
Eventually everything was done. Now, as much as Winter wanted to serve all of it communally, as is tradition, she knew the people she currently lived with and she knew a mess would be made in the worst of ways. Therefore everyone would have their own individual plates to serve what they wanted onto and they would eat from there. However, she would have a sample platter of sorts set out at first so the ship's inhabitants could have some of the experience. This had a small ladle of the doro wat and awaze tibs, a larger injera underneath, as well as some ayib, which was an Ethiopian fresh cheese that Winter had made the night before. She had also saved the whey and turned it into a sorbet for after dinner.
While Zane prepared the platters and bowls that would hold the stews, injera, and ayib, Winter carried the communal platter to the dining room. She set it at the front of the table, which was right in front of the entrance from outside. She then went back into the kitchen to help carry out the other platters with food.
Once the last wish was set down she had Zane ring the little bell in the room that would echo on the rest of the ship, it was meant to tell everyone else that it was meal time. It had actually been Winter’s suggestion to do so, so one of them wouldn’t have to wander the whole ship to find everyone for meals.
Better yet, Winter had also convinced Garmadon to not use his bug illusion just this once.
After everyone had gathered in the room, she began to speak, “So, this is Ethiopian food. Only some of it as we were not going to make a feast. It is typically spicy, at least in my experience. You don’t reach for, pass with, or eat food with your left hand, and you eat with your hands. Hopefully I remembered that correctly.” She gestures to the singular platter on the table. “You can try the food before deciding if you would like to eat it for dinner. I know spice is not for everyone. Now, how you eat the food is…” She proceeds to explain.
Kai, being the fire ninja and oh so brave, tries it first. She isn’t surprised, he occasionally ate spicy food, though she was pretty sure he hadn’t expected the after taste based kick from the awaze tibs. He chose to eat it for dinner, as he ended up liking it.
Cole was the next one to do so. He also ended up eating it for dinner. Then immediately afterwards dared Jay to try it next.
Jay did, though he coughed from the apparent spice level. He chose to eat some leftovers they had, he did say it was good, just that the spice was a bit much for him. The ayib felt really refreshing for him.
Garmadon tried it next. He loved it. He couldn’t seem to get enough of it. She did have to stop him so there would be enough for his brother to try.
Otis tried it last. He had zero spice tolerance, so it was hilarious for him to get a flushed face and bit of a runny nose just from a few bites. He gave good entertainment for the evening, even if he didn’t realize it. He also ended up eating leftovers, though he never commented on how the food itself tasted.
Zane didn’t try from the platter because had sampled some as soon as the food had finished cooking. He also loved it, and either thanks to having ice powers, or thanks to being a nindroid, he couldn’t feel much of the spice but still loved the taste nonetheless.
So the two of them brought out the larger platters to the dining room, bringing the other one back into the kitchen for later clean up. The night ends up having many laughs and smiles being passed around, though only small smirks from Garmadon. She was glad she could share a piece of her world with those in this new one. Even if it was not something she was a part of, culture wise, it can still be appreciated by anyone, and she was glad she could do that here.
-*-*-*-
She could hear -slithering?- coming towards her. She hadn’t even realized that her eyes were closed until she opened them to see what was moving. She looks up to see what she believes is serpentine, based on what Nya and Zane showed her. They had majority blue scales, with yellow accents on the head, and down the chest, where they were joined by some white scaled accents. Although different from what was apparently the serpentine in majority, he had a long tail, no legs.
From what Zane had told her about what he knew, the Anacondrai were the only ones among the serpentine tribe to have tails instead of legs. Otherwise, only the heads of each tribe had a tail and no legs. This one seems to be the leader of the Hypnobrai, Skales she remembers he was called.
He had something in his hand, a…bowl? There seemed to be steam coming from it. He had just gotten to her before passing her altogether, or rather, through her, sending shivers and a distinct tingly feeling through her body. She turned around to follow him, only to be met with quite the sight.
A blonde haired child, who couldn't be no more than eight years old, wearing a black hoodie with a skeleton like design on the chest, was curled up on a makeshift bedding. Truthfully, the bedding looked similarly to a nest. Did…did the serpentine build that for them? Perhaps her suspicions were truly correct, in that the serpentine were surely more than the ninja thought (or, rather, had been told) were.
As the child lifted their head, Winter realized that this was Lloyd, the ward of the ninja. Even with his baggy clothing, he seemed well cared for, if not more than, his face still held quite a bit of baby fat, and his skin was of a healthy hue, leading her to believe that even with him being likely majority underground, the serpentine still brought him somewhere to get him some sun. They are very intentionally keeping the child healthy.
Lloyd’s face had a sleepy look on it, indicating a nap or the like. Skales sits down on the rocky floor, seemingly unbothered, waiting for Lloyd to fully wake up. Once he had, he uncurled himself, sitting up proper.
Skales gave him a nod of -approval?-, handing him the bowl of what Winter had determined was broth. “I’m glad you are comfortable. I know that thisss circumssstance isss not the bessst.” There was a hiss to his words.
Lloyd took the bowl with a grin, nodding before beginning to drink the warm liquid inside. When he finished he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and smiled as he handed back the bowl. “Can we please continue with what we were talking about yesterday? I wanna know more, please.”
Skales seemed to stop and think for a moment before nodding and speaking. He spoke of the serpentine themselves, their nature, their culture, as well as some apparent details of their side of the serpentine war. Though it was not entirely of the serpentine, Skales persuaded Lloyd to speak of the modern world that the serpentine had yet to truly experience.
They had stayed like that for hours, until eventually Skales had to leave. He stood up, bidding Lloyd goodbye, before Winter was pulled back to herself, waking up. She realized in her next few moments after waking from her slumber that she remembered everything that she had dreamed of for once, and she also realized that every bit of that dream had to have been real.
-*-*-*-
They were pacing, they knew that, but they were fucking panicking, okay!?! Winter was finally able to remember their dreams while awake, which was enough on its own to bring them into a panic, seeing as what they are. But then when they were getting changed that morning, they realized that there were small, star-like patterns on their shoulders and upper arms, stopping halfway to her elbow. They also had a background of navy blue and black, as though creating a night sky.
They just fucking knew that their dreams had to be related to this shit. They had to be, as well as what exactly brought them to Ninjago in the first place. There wasn’t any way in hell that they weren’t all connected. Perhaps it had something to do with the blatant magic in the air in Ninjago? Their home realm was apparently lacking magic. Though that does not explain just why this was happening to them specifically. They weren’t exactly special, they were ordinary, unless being a petty bitch classified as otherwise.
They were so caught up in their own mind that they didn’t hear the footsteps approaching that back balcony of the ship until there was a hand on their shoulder, pulling them out of their own mind.
They look up to find Garmadon, looking -worried?-, his hand still on their shoulder. They practically deflated under his hand, their panic having quickly exhausted them. The worry, because that’s definitely what it was, in Garmadon’s eyes grew. He quickly led them over to their blanket, settling them down and pulling the usual blanket over their legs. He didn’t do the same for their shoulders as they were already wearing a sweater.
He didn’t talk, seemingly waiting for them to collect themself enough to speak on their own. It took a few moments, but they finally spoke. They were unsure as to why, but if they had to guess, it was because they can definitely tell that they can trust him more than Otis.
”I finally remembered my dreams this morning.” And wasn’t that something? Dreams that had been plaguing her for weeks, months in fact, that they could just never remember for some reason. Dreams that they now realizes are more than just simply fucking dreams.
”Ex…Except I don’t think they’re dreams. I think what I’ve been seeing while asleep was real. There is no other possible fucking explanation for it.” They stand and turn away from him, running their fingers through their hair before turning back, gripping the bottom of their sweater. “And then there was this when I woke up.” They pull their sweater off, revealing not only a tank top and sports bra underneath, but also the new small night sky painted on their upper body.
They fidgeted with the sweater in their arms, watching Garmadon as his face went through several emotions. Shock came first, then there was…realization, then finally ending with a split second of grief. A slight chilling breeze caused them to pull their sweater back over their shoulders before looking back at Garmadon.
They bit their lip, full of nerves, as they watched him, he appeared to be deep in thought. They were wondering what exactly he was thinking, and if it was bad. Did he know anything of what was happening to them? A sigh brought them from their thoughts as Garmadon beckoned them back over and gestured for them to return to their previous position.
It was after they were settled back down that he finally spoke. “This might be hard to understand, and for that I apologize, as I am not the best person to be your introduction, nor the one who should be explaining this. You have been chosen, I do not know when nor why as I do not know the requirements to be an option to be chosen. What have you been chosen for? Well, you are the next Elemental Master of the Stars. Your element differs from the others, ones that you could recognize even among the ninja on this ship. For the stars, people must be chosen, compared to the other elements, in which they are passed down through bloodline, for the most part at least. For example, Jay is the son of the Master of Lightning, Cole; Master of Earth; Kai; Master of Fire. Your ninjroid friend, Zane, was likely at least magically adopted by the previous Master of Ice. I will never understand why Otis chooses to keep his ninja in the dark of such things. Perhaps he thinks it will make them easier to control. I assure you, I have no such reservations.”
Once he had finished, though they were sure he had more to say, they simply sat, looking dumbfounded. It was not surprising, they knew nothing of such things prior, though they could guess some connection, after all, why were these specific people chosen to wield those oh so special golden weapons? There had to be a reason, something more than coincidence. Even if Otis had told the ninja of their Elemental Master status, they had no doubt that he would have kept secret the existence of other elements, because there had to be. Fire without Water? Lightning but no Wind? Or Ice without Water? Sure there was Ice for Fire, but what of Lightning and Earth? Otis likely is getting away with it by the fact that technically the ninja’s elements were those of ‘creation.’ Logically they also knew that they had technically known previously, unacknowledged though it may have been, but to have it pointed out? That was something else entirely.
And then to find out that they, Winter, the one from a non-magical realm, and them being who they are, are an Elemental Master themself? Fucking insane is what it was. Not to mention that their element wasn’t like the others, it wasn’t passed through blood, but you had to be chosen? Nope. No fucking way they would be chosen. For fucks sake, they were Winter! They were the one who was a fucking disaster even at the best of times, no matter how much they pretended otherwise. They were the one who had been drowning in mental health issues since their teens! Mostly caused by outside sources but still! They were the fuck up with a self harm addiction for hells sake, yes they might be clean, but no matter how clean you are, such things can come back to bite you in the ass when you have your guard down, they would know. And that didn’t even get into how they were when it came to their sense of humor. Half of it was mental health shit, and the other half was sexual as fuck. How did they get chosen when there are likely so many better options out there?
While they were going through their process and mini-spiral, that showed near zero effects, no labored breathing from panic, no facial expressions even. They were just still.
Eventually they came out of their own mind with a shaky breath, simply hugging themself with their arms and gesturing for Garmadon to continue. He did so after only a moment of observation and…consideration?
”I also knew the previous Master of the Stars, the one who came before you. She was a kind woman, but fierce. Willing to fight for her beliefs and for the innocent. She was very active during the Serpentine War. She was solely a neutral party, but still involved. She argued on both sides for peace, a truce, a treaty, anything just to simply stop the war and the harming of innocents on both sides. Though I’ll admit, Otis tested her patience and kindness on more than one occasion. I swear, she nearly stopped being neutral all together once quite a few truths came to light. I’d have even bet that she was halfway to murder, likely of my brother. You see, she was my best friend, however, she was also the best of friends with the leading general on the serpentine side of things. Her name was Margaret Ambros.” Recognition shot through her like lightning. It could just be a coincidence, but how could it? Because Margaret Ambros, or rather Margaret Ambros-Helma, was her Nan.
-*-*-*-
After that, Garmadon realized that he and Winter would have to pause their conversation on this. They were practically frozen to the deck, ramrod straight and face blank, looking out into the clear sky visible behind him.
He slowly packed up their setup, before bringing the poor young adult to their feet. He guided them to their room, setting the things down on the chair before helping them with their slippers and tucking them into their bed. Telling them to get some rest and that they could continue their conversation when Winter themself was ready. With that, he took his own leave back to his room. Several thoughts plagued his mind, but one in particular stood out. The young eighteen year old he found less annoying than the others on this ship was his dear old friend's grandchild.
That thought alone was enough to keep him up half the night. Worries of perhaps accidentally harming or allowing harm to some to Margaret’s family all because of the evil in his veins.
-*-*-*-
It was only a few days later that they met up on the back balcony again, Winter having given him the signal to do so that very morning during breakfast.
She had taken a few days to calm down and process the information she learned. She was an Elemental Master, and one of the Stars at that, which one had to be chosen for. It was absolutely fucking insane. She honestly still wouldn’t believe it if not for the proof of her dreams (can she even call them that anymore?) and the…markings? That was now showing up on her body. They hadn’t gotten past her elbows, but she absolutely needed to wear long sleeves nowadays. Thankfully it was almost mid-november, so she could get away with long sleeves for a bit. At least until she could figure out something better.
Not much had happened in the last few days, the most eventful thing that did happen was a meeting on the bridge about some serpentine sightings. As well as Otis attempting to approach her after the meeting. She could only assume that he might have some suspicions about her. After all, if Garmadon can tell, then his brother might be able to as well. Which was a problem. She needed to get her shit together so he won’t catch on. Something tells her that she really won’t want him to know, no matter what. She already didn’t trust him, but something just makes her not trust him even more.
Perhaps it is related to the Stars? She has a feeling it might be. Which is why she was meeting with Garmadon tonight. So she can figure this shit out before it can cause problems, and before she gets caught. Something tells her that she’ll want to keep this secret for a while longer.
So, that brings them to now. On that back balcony again, Winter covered up, as they were still recovering from their experience in the tundra. Garmadon sitting a few feet away on a blanket he himself had brought, another one sitting loosely over his shoulders.
It was Winter who broke the silence first, “So. I have a few things that I’d like to say, now that I’ve processed. I’m going to start with the questions and we can move on from there. Firstly, Magic sensing, how does it work and could you teach me it? And is there any way that you know of to hide my new…markings? I don’t want to reveal them.”
He seemed a bit surprised by it, but answered nonetheless, “Well, if one is new to sensing magic, it is suggested that they begin with meditation and connect with themselves. I can give you a book on it if you’d like. I can also, however, teach you as well. Though I am curious as to why. As for the markings, a glamor spell can work, luckily I know a few. It can tie into the meditation and magic sensing lessons.”
She sighs, “Well, Otis seems to be suspicious of me. I think he might be able to sense something, or at least might suspect that something is going on. Anyway, next question, what can you tell me about my element?”
A look of anger crosses his face before it smooths out, probably directed towards his younger brother, “Ah, yes, Otis being…himself once again. I shall endeavor to help you with such things. As for the Stars, well, that is tricky. Not many know what being an Elemental Master for your element entails. Unless they are an Elemental Master for the Stars themselves, then it is unlikely, as the Stars themselves physically forbid the information to be let known. It is for their Chosen’s safety, as well as their own. I know that there are requirements to being chosen, one that you will no doubt be told sooner rather than later by them. However, I do not know much on how the element itself works. Aside from that I know it can involve astral projection. I know that much thanks to Aunt Estelle and Margaret.”
They sat quietly for a few moments as she processed what she just heard. So she was chosen, and she had to meet certain requirements that, while she didn’t know now, she would soon. She also knew not that she was practically completely on her own when it came to figuring out her powers. As that information is not shared and has likely never been recorded for safety reasons. Though even that is likely not commonly known either. Garmadon himself likely only knows because of those two people he mentioned. One she knew, as she was likely her Nan. That itself was to be processed another time. The other was one he had never mentioned before, and from the sounds of it, she was likely a Chosen of the Stars as well, and she was his aunt, apparently.
They let out a breath, gripping the blanket beneath them for a moment, “Alright, I suppose I’m on my own there then. Can you tell me who this ‘Estelle’ was?”
He nods, a smile unconsciously coming onto his face as he speaks, “Yes. Estelle was my aunt, my fathers older sister to be specific. And yes, I do mean the First Spinjitzu Master. Though his name was Sage. In any case, I do believe she is still alive, at least last I checked anyway. She was the Stars first chosen. She is the very beginning of this Legacy that you are now a part of. That is who she is. Perhaps you’ll meet her one day.”
She was shocked. Estelle was the Stars first chosen?! And Winter was a part of that Legacy? One that is also technically tied to the First Spinjitzu master, whose name was Sage? Holy fuck, she was certainly in for something.
Her next question she had been thinking about over the last couple days. It only makes sense for it to be true, but she wanted to confirm, “O-okay. Umm, next question. Do you…do you think the Stars were the ones to bring me to Ninjago?”
Garmadons head whipped to face her so fast it probably could’ve broken off. Shock and then realization flashed on his face, “Yes…yes it is quite the possibility. I believe that it is very true. It makes sense.”
She nods slowly at his words, fidgeting with the end of the blanket placed around her shoulders. “Last question. Do you think the Margaret Ambros you knew could be the Nan that I knew? Can…can we compare?”
Garmadon gives her a sad smile and they both begin with what they knew. In the end, they came to the conclusion that she was Margaret Ambros’ grandchild. Garmadon had revealed that he had taken a vow a long time ago to protect her and her family, and to ensure they didn’t come to harm if he could help it. They had focused on that possible connection, and that was how they found out the truth. They were connected through that vow, as Winter had her Nan’s blood.
By the end, it was past midnight and they were both quite emotionally rung out. For Garmadon, he just had confirmation of something he had already suspected, and it made him even more protective of the young adult. As well as more motivated to prove that he was not like his brother.
For Winter, she found out about a connection to her Nan that she hadn’t previously known about. An old friend of her Nan’s, as well as sharing something such as being a Chosen with her? Brings things to a whole other level. She barely even got to change into her pajamas before passing out barely underneath the covers.
-*-*-*-
She hears cackling distantly, along the thunder and rumbling from the storm outside. Unfortunately, the voice that was the source of cackling sounded familiar, as it was one belonging to someone she regularly interacts with.
Another clap of thunder encourages the voice to get louder for a moment. For fucks sake, what in the hell is he doing!? They make their way out of their room and into the hallway before heading down it. They hesitantly stand at the trapdoor that leads to the deck before moving up the temps and lightly lifting the trapdoor just enough to see outside.
Water splashes in, hitting them in the face and soaking their shirt before they wipe it and look out. And there is Garmadon, laying down on a pool chair, as though it was just any ordinary day. She shouts at him, “What in fucking hell are you doing!? Trying to die?” They knew he had his quirks, but come on! What the fuck was he doing? Making a bad choice from the looks of it.
He perks up as soon as he hears her shout, looking around before seeing them just barely looking out from below deck. He yells back, laughing with a wild grin on his face, “Sunbathing!” Before he lays back down, closing his eyes and seems to relax, all while that grin stays completely in place.
She stands there in shock for a moment, before saying fuck it. She didn’t care enough, nor was she getting paid enough, as she wasn’t getting paid at all, for this bullshit. They leave, heading back into their room to dry off and get changed, cozying back up in their bed with their recipe book and laptop in hand.
-*-*-*-
“Winter!” A certain blue ninja shouts as he makes his way into her room, closing the door behind him.
She startles where she was curled up on the chair in the corner closest to the door, dropping her phone in the process. It clatters to the floor as she sighs to herself before bending down to pick it up. She could hear the song change to Girl With One Eye by Florence the Machine, she pauses it before looking up at Jay.
”What, Jay? I was kinda busy if you didn’t realize, ya know, reading, cause that's my favorite pastime,” she says to him, resting bitch face in full view.
He gulps before shaking his head and speaking, “I know, and I’m sorry. But-but you should see what he’s doing! He isn’t even playing the game right! All he’s doing is shooting and destroying! He doesn’t even follow the game directive! And he uses both sets of arms to use two controllers! And it's creepy because Zane is now fascinated and that's weird and freaking me out!” He was getting pretty frantic towards the end.
Honestly, she couldn’t blame his freak out, she assumes this is about Garmadon, as there was a reference to someone with four arms. However, she assumes that he has mostly been avoiding Garmadon, and that is why he is freaking out, as he hasn’t seen the more friendly version of the man that appears often, usually when he isn’t around Kai. Which is most of the time.
She and Cole had spoken just the week previous about it. The man truly wasn’t that bad when he was in control or was able to resist the evil in his veins. Which he was able to do most of the time while he was here, unless he was being antagonized, that is. Which is why he and Kai truly don’t get along. Garmadon had explained this to her when they were talking about Otis. Thanks to the fact that he isn’t currently being antagonized, for the most part at least, he in turn isn’t a complete dick, or rather the evil in his veins is dormant, in a sense. It isn’t irritated and lets him just be, therefore he can mostly resist any temptations it might whisper to him about. Though he is mostly that way around people who are technically meant to fight against him. Otis, as well as the ninja.
She pulls herself from her thoughts to find Jay having slightly calmed from his panic, or simply made it more quiet. She sighs and gets up, bringing him to sit on her bed and rubs his back.
”If it really freaks you out that much, then you can stay in here for a bit to calm down, and simply enjoy the quiet. As for Garmadon, perhaps you should have some constructive conversations about him with Zane and Cole, they have really good perspectives. We’ve talked about the man before and seeing a different side to him, I know you’ve been avoiding him so you don’t see it, but just talk to them, ok?” She suggests.
He takes a couple of deep breaths before nodding to her. She smiles and gets up, moving back to her chair and resuming the place she left off on with her book, resuming her music when she did so.
-*-*-*-
Everyone was called to the bridge, including Winter.
Nya was speaking just as she walked in. “-Pythor is at the Fire Temple.” The screen was blown up with an image of a volcano with a building, resembling a temple, in front of it.
Kai jumps in, “That means the Fangblade is there.”
”And my son.” Garmadon had piped up from where he was in the back of the room, close to the door.
“Wait, isn’t that the same Fire temple where Kai and Garmadon first faced off?” Jay asked.
”Yeah. If memory serves me correctly, I’d say one of us cheated back when we fought last.” Kai glares at Garmadon, though the man completely ignores him, speaking immediately after Kai does.
”And I remember someone needing their Sensei to save them.” He threw a glare at Otis, a touch of disgust in his tone when calling Otis a sensei.
”C’mon guys! For the sake of the damned Fangblade and Lloyd, can we please just get along? Those two things are really the only ones that actually matter right now,” Cole shouts at both of them.
Nya waits a moment for everyone to quiet down or shut the fuck up before continuing. “Since the last time we’ve been there, it looks like the volcano has grown unstable. The place is a power keg just waiting to blow up. This will be a highly combustible environment. That means, Kai, no using powers unless you have to, or unless you are Zane.” Her brother's name came out hissed and pointed, though quiet and near unnoticeable all the same. Though Winter is pretty sure she pointed him out specifically because he was the one with the fire sword that was usually strapped to his back.
Jay speaks with a panicked complaint, “Oh great! Just what I like. Fighting armed and deadly snakes in a highly combustible environment about to blow up!” His voice was a near shout at the end.
”Ya done?” Winter chimes in.
He takes a deep breath. “Yes, thank you Winter.”
Otis speaks in that obnoxious ‘old guy wisdom’ voice. “We will do what we must. Start preparing for the battle ahead.” Damn, he was actually practically speaking as though they were going into a war zone, like World War II level.
”Yes, Sensei. But where are our weapons?” Zane asks.
Kai looks around before muttering to himself and walking out the door. Winter just caught the end of his sentence. “-Garmadon not here?”
Otis calls after him. “Kai!”
Everyone chases after him, aside from Winter. She could absolutely tell this was a part of Kai’s paranoia and seeming obsession with hating Garmadon specifically. Honestly she fucking knew why he didn’t like the man, but still, that doesn’t mean he should simply hate the man forever. Especially when his true self can shine through, past the damning evil in his veins.
So, Winter chose to take a seat on the table in the corner and read one of her downloaded books on her phone, waiting for everyone to come back. She occasionally looked up, watched the screen which held a map as well as their own location on it and how the Bounty was getting closer to this ‘Fire Temple’ where the serpentine were, before she quickly looked back down again.
It had been ten minutes at most before everyone came back, though Nya was holding Garmadon. Apparently, Kai, with his overblown ego, thought that he was destined to be the Green Ninja, the one who would be fighting Garmadon in the future. He had also thought that Garmadon was going to steal the golden weapons that Otis had asked him to retrieve. They ended up fighting, with Garmadon allowing Kai to ‘defeat’ him; Kai had also thought that doing so would allow him his true potential. Though Winter does believe it suspicious that Otis asked Garmadon to get the golden weapons, as though he was half wanting him to simply steal them outright and the journey to a ‘final battle’ to begin.
As this was being explained to her, Cole had been checking the map on screen and the estimated arrival time.
He clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, so it looks like we will be arriving at the Fire Temple in an hour or so. We should be thankful that the Bounty is always traveling and that we ended up being pretty close to the Temple or we never would have gotten this chance. We will go in there and stop Pythor and the serpentine from getting the Fangblade, as well as hopefully retrieve Lloyd. I say that if we have to choose, we choose the kid. There would still be one more after this, but the kid is a top priority.” Everyone, even Kai who had been sulking in the corner nodded their heads in agreement. Though they all knew that Winter and Nya would be staying on board. Winter thanks to her lack of experience, and Nya because this was an unstable volcano and it would be unwise to show up in her Samurai X mech suit.
After that they all dispersed to do their own things and get ready before they arrive at their destination.
-*-*-*-
Winter and Nya had holed up on the bridge. They were both on coms and watching the screens which could only show the front of the temple, as they could not have any inside visuals thanks to the heat.
They could hear Coles muttered words as the group entered. “The Fire Temple. Not excited to be back here again.”
Nya watches the screen, split between the temple visuals from the Zane’s Falcon and some sort of measurements? Statistics? “The volcano seems to be on the verge of eruption, guys. All recent indicators tell me that this place is becoming increasingly fragile. Even the smallest rupture can make the whole thing go off.”
Winter speaks up, “That means, no using your weapons. I know it would be difficult, but I would hate to see you blown up. That especially goes for you, Kai. I would hate to have to comfort Nya because her brother chose to be an idiot and get himself blown up. You hear? I need confirmation from all of you kids. I know the old ones probably know better.”
Everyone swiftly looked in the direction of the Falcon and nodded before putting their weapons away and giving verbal confirmation. Kai even did so, with some hesitation.
Though, he did have complaints. “Yeah, yeah. Fine, no Fire Sword. But only because I wouldn’t want anything to prevent us from getting that Fangblade.”
Garmadon crosses his upper arms and glares at him. “Or my son.”
Otis interrupts before the two could get into yet another argument. “There. The serpentine must be inside the inner core. From here on out, we travel by shadow.”
They head further inside, the Falcon unable to follow them anymore without possible damage from the heat.
Garmadon says, “It’s the only way I know how.”
Luckily they still had coms for the moment. So they hear Jay when he whispers shouts, “There’s Lloyd.” Likely pointing at the blonde.
Garmadon gasps, “Son.”
They can hear clangs in the background, likely digging, before a much louder one rang out. “Huh?” The voice was faraway, and kind of screechy? One of the serpentine likely. “The third Fangblade isss oursss!” Ah, likely the one in charge. What was his name again, Plinth? No no, that’s not right. Oh, Pythor. “Ninja? Attack!” And there goes the group's stealth.
Otis says some words before heading, presumably, into battle. “Light as a leaf. Attack like there is no tomorrow.”
”Lightning!” Jay shouts, him likely using his powers.
”Ice!” And Zane follows.
They watch on the screen as the volcano suddenly rumbles. Nya hurriedly looks at the statistics on the screen. “Kai! You better not have used your sword! Because you just compromised your own fucking safety!”
”I will do what I must,” Was Kai’s only response.
They hear Pythor shout distantly, “Let’s get out of here! But not before we leave them with a parting gift. Boysss?”
Zane shouts, “They’re making the volcano unstable.”
“Any minute, this place is gonna blow. We have to get out of here.” Jay, he sounds worried.
”Not without my son.” Garmadon was…actually growling. She didn’t blame him, Lloyd was such a small kid too.
”Dad!” There was a familiar voice, though she’s never heard it in the waking world. It was the kid, Lloyd.
There was another clang and another shout. “Dad!” Lloyd again, sounding more desperate.
”Lloyd!” Garmadon, sounding just as desperate as his son.
”Dad.” This time it was said softly, likely couldn’t have been heard unless he was near a com. Which meant he saved him. The kid was safe. Nya and Winter high five, celebrating Lloyds safety.
”Son.” Garmadon. Perhaps they were having a small reunion hug. Too bad she had to interrupt.
”You guys might want to get a move on! That volcano is pretty fuckin’ close to erupting on you, with you in it! Get a move on! I wanna see all of you here in the next ten minutes!”
All of a sudden Kai shouts. “The Fangblade’s mine.” They hear another clang.
Son of a bitch. She will not punch Kai once he is back on the ship, if he survives, she will not.
Cole shouts after, presumably, Kai’s idiocy, “Come back. It’s too dangerous. The whole place is going to explode!”
Kai, with his moronic overblown ego, simply responds, “Then I better be quick!”
A voice she recognized shouts, likely at Pythor, “Hurry, we mussst leave here at once!”
”Damn it, Kai! Leave it! It’s not worth your life!” Jay shouts, and…Winter detects worry in his tone. If she had to guess it was over worry for his honorary brother.
”Not without that Fangblade!” She really was going to have to do some serious talking down, for herself. Because Kai’s seeming need to get himself and perhaps even his loved ones killed all over a fucking object is purely fucking ridiculous. Honestly, she understands that they would be in deep shit if the Great Devourer was released. However, that didn’t matter if they weren’t around to see it!
”But…but what about Kai? Kai!” Lloyd says as they hear a crack and…break? Shit! The inside is crumbling isn’t it? That fucking kid better be okay at the end of this is she will punt Kai’s ass off of the ship from several thousand feet high, without his fire sword to make that vehicle.
”NOOOOO! Lloyd!” Garmadon shouts.
Lloyds voice was distant but they could still hear him, “Dad! Dad! I’m sinking!” And fuck. They were separated. She was going to kill Kai for this.
”It, unh, won’t budge,” Kai gets out in between grunts. Ah, so the fucking Fangblade that he was risking everyone for was stuck! He was so fucking dead.
Otis actually shouts something logical but wholly unhelpful overall as it was very obvious. “We have to get out of here, or else none of us will get out of here!”
”But my son!” Garmadon shouts, desperate, and she understands. He had intentionally separated himself from his family for their own protection from him. And then when he comes back to help his family, they end up in this situation.
”Come on, why won’t my power unlock?” Kai sounds frustrated, sucks to be him.
”Kai! Please help me!” Lloyd could be heard through Kai’s earpiece.
”Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Ah, he was finally using his brain, hopefully he was with the kid and would get out of there soon.
”But the Fangblade…”
”Forget it. This place is coming apart. Ninja go!”
It was at that moment that the rest made their way onto the Bounty. Cole comes in and moves the Bounty into full motion, moving them away from the erupting volcano.
Winter walks over to him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?! Kai and the kid are still in there?”
Cole opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Garmadon shouting.
”Lloyd! Lloyd!” He…he looked wrecked. They were leaving behind his son, and he hadn’t been able to save him.
”Kai!” Nya joined in.
”Son.” The man spoke, softly, voice full of grief and mourning.
However, they saw a ball of fire blast out of the volcano, and it was heading towards the Bounty. Just when she was about to panic, she noticed that it wasn’t simply fire or a bit of molten rock covered in lava. It was magic. She had been growing in sensing magic and that ball of fire was entirely such. It was the damned idiot and the kid.
”It’s Kai! He’s found his True Potential!” Jay shouts the obvious. Or…rather what was obvious to her at least, not like the rest of them would know.
Kai lands his ball of fire on the Bounty, miraculously managing to not set anything on fire. Before he takes his hood off and ushers the kid onto the bridge. They all followed him to the bridge, and watched Garmadon and his son’s reunion.
Lloyd looks up at his father, “Dad? Is it really you?”
Garmadon nodded, “It is, son.”
The boy looked confused and tired, “Dad? Why do you have four arms?”
”Ya know…” Cole starts, “I think he’s gonna be okay.” His words inspiring cheers from the ninja.
Garmadon pulled himself slightly away from the hug he was sharing with his son to say, “Thank you, Kai.” Before he went back to holding his son in quite the protective embrace, as though he would never see him again.
Zane turns to Kai and begins questioning him, “But how did you survive? How did you discover the key to unlocking your powers?”
A small smile covered Kai’s face, “I knew when I had to make a choice. I wanted the Fangblade so badly, to prove I was good enough to become the Green Ninja. But then I figured it out. All of my training to become the best ninja wasn’t in preparation to become the Green Ninja. It was…to protect him.” He looks at the boy bundled in his arms, everyone following his gaze and catching on.
Winter felt her breath catch in her throat. Oh fuck. Holy shit, no no no, that kid can’t have such a destiny. He’s only a child for fucks sake! He shouldn’t have to worry about destiny, much less a supposed destiny of his to fight his mother fucking father!
Likely feeling the heavy gazes of everyone in the room, the father son duo split apart some for Lloyd to ask, “What? What is everybody looking at me for?”
Nya seems to have been brought out of her shock, “That means…” The ninja simultaneously bring the golden weapons close to Lloyd, who was being held protectively by Garmadon. Once they were near enough, the weapons had a mind of their own, floating out of the boy's hands to levitate around the father and son, and begin emitting green lightning.
“Fuck…” Winter exhales softly. She might not have been in this realm that long, but she was in no way dumb, nor oblivious to some of the shit going on here. That kid…he has been chosen by supposed fucking fate to fight his own father. Damn it all! He was only a kid, eight or so, why couldn’t he have a normal childhood? Why should he have to deal with all of this shit?
Otis starts speaking, drawing her attention out of her thoughts and to him, her hands were halfway to running through her hair when she turned slightly to gaze at him. “Lloyd is the Green Ninja. I had thought it would be one of you, but it was him the whole time. It all makes sense. Not only have you four been chosen to protect the Golden Weapons, but also to protect the Chosen One.” She didn’t like that look in his eye. No one bit, that man was planning something. She didn’t trust him with the kid. She had to get him out of here, and fast. She might not be able to leave yet, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t separate him from the rest of this conversation.
The clatter of the weapons falling to the floor brought her back to the present.
”That means…” The father gazed sadly at his son.
Otis nods, “The battle lines have been drawn, brother. Sadly our family has only become more divided.” Something in Garmadon seems to become enraged at that. “Brother versus brother, and now, son versus father.” She was going to kill him. How dare he. How fucking dare he say such things immediately after such a reveal. Was he truly being such a dick so as to rub salt in the wound? She isn’t surprised, honestly, just pissed off.
It was quiet for a moment before Jay spoke, “Hehe, this is heavy and all, but whatever happened to the Fangblade!?” He was practically freaking out by the end.
And that was her cue to take the kid out, she motioned to Garmadon to leave before turning back to everyone else. “Right, well this is great and all, but I think I’m done here. Have fun discussing this, I am going to the kitchen and then bed if anyone needs me.”
She wasn’t all that subtle about it, but did she care? Abso-fucking-lutly not.
She swiftly left the bridge, meeting Garmadon and the kid outside and optioning for him to follow her as she took her com out of her ear.
They got to the kitchen, Winter leading them way inside, and heading over to the fridge. Garmadon closed the door behind them and set Lloyd on a stool at the island. Poor kid was looking around confused and looked as though he had just noticed her. She wasn’t surprised, she kept quiet a lot of the time, and he had just been through quite the ordeal. He looked pretty tired too, so she should probably hurry up.
She looked back and forth between the fridge and the kid before sighing and turning to the blonde. “Hey kid,” her voice soft. “Do you know the last time you ate? And can you tell me how hungry you are? Preferably I would like some food in your stomach before you get to bed. Don’t argue with me, I can see you’re tired after everything today.” She said when he opened his mouth and looked like he was going to argue.
He quickly closed it before glancing at his dad, probably seeing if he should trust her. Smart kid. Then again, even though it probably wasn’t the same, the serpentine still kept him up with some kind of education while he was in their care.
At his fathers nod, he finally spoke, “Um, I think my last meal was a-around midday? It was pretty filling, but I’m kinda hungry right now.”
She nodded at that before pulling out a container. It was some fried rice she had made for a small midnight snack. She dished out a small portion before warming it up and serving it to him. “It’s just some fried rice. There is some garlic, carrot, egg, and cubed turkey lunch meat in it. I would suggest eating up, it’s getting late and I think your dad wants you in bed sooner rather than later.” Garmadon nodded at this then motioned for his son to eat.
By the time he finished the whole bowl he was close to falling asleep in his seat. Winter was about to take the bowl before Garmadon stopped her and smiled. “Let me. Would you mind taking him down so he could sleep?” She nodded in response.
”Come on. Let’s get you to bed kid.” She tapped his arm, smiling at him when he looked up with half-lidded eyes. She brought him out of the sleep and brought him downstairs with an arm around his shoulders. The kid simply leaned into her side. She would even swear that it was like he was cuddling into it, as though seeking out warmth even after having been in a volcano just an hour prior.
As she didn’t know where Garmadon wished his son to stay, she brought the kid to her room. She had him pull off his shoes and get under the covers. She even gave him one of the several stuffed animals that were in her bag for him to hold on to. She sat beside him, slowly stroking his hair as he burrowed into her side once more. That was around when the muttering began, it was honestly adorable.
”You’re pretty. I-i like the purple in your hair…and the food…thank you…” She smiled, he was just adorable when he was sleepy like this.
”Thank you, but I think you should get some sleep.” She responded, still stroking his hair.
It was quiet for only a moment before he spoke again, “You…you know they didn’t mean to drop me right? The serpentine only held me hostage to show off power, or something. They…they never meant harm to me.” And how that made her heart break. Because she did know. She knew because she had seen it. Perhaps not truly with her eyes, in the living, waking world, but she had.
”I know. Maybe don’t tell anyone but me and your dad though, okay? The ninja are good people, but they won’t understand.” He looked up, clearly sleepy, and watched her face before nodding and burrowing back into her side.
Garmadon came back in then, for a moment he simply stood in the doorway, leaning on it, all while smiling at the sight of his son and his best friend's granddaughter so close. He peeked his head out, seeing something that turned his smile into a frown, before motioning to her. Swiftly taking her place at his son’s side.
She left her room, closing the door behind her, only to come face to face with Kai. Huh, well, she supposes someone did somehow notice how much she wanted to strangle him. She looked down the hallway past him and, before he could even realize it, punched him in the face.
She hit him in the cheek, painful for him, but not too painful for her either way. Thank fuck Nya and Zane were teaching her shit like this. His head had whipped to the side and he slowly turned back, his hand coming up to touch his cheek while he looked at her with shock written on his face. Clearly he wasn’t expecting a punishment for his stupidity.
Her hand might hurt like a bitch, but she wasn’t done, she gripped the front of his Gi and pushed him up against the wall opposite the one that had her room on the other side. She got close to his face, her voice a mere hiss, “You pull shit like that again, shit that puts people you care about and even a child in danger all because of a need to prove yourself, and I will punt you off this ship before you can even say Ninjago. Got it?” The fire ninja swiftly nods his head, actual fear in his eyes.
She backs off, letting go of his Gi from where it was crumpled in her hands before turning back around and heading back into her room, but not before throwing a glare over her shoulder at the already terrified ninja.