Multiple Strikes | Ninjago Movie AU

Chapter Seven - Forget the Reality Hole & Go Shopping

The hole emitted sounds like chimes in the wind, times one thousand. It looked like space, with occasional glowing sky-blue tunnels traversing through what the Jays could make out from. The hole itself wasn't too big, perhaps a small margin wider than the Realm Crystal. The marginally-sized rug lied squashed up and frayed where the hole was. Though there wasn't that much time for them to register it in their minds as a door slowly started to creak open behind them.

The Jay taken out of a world which was convicting him of thievery was pounced on by his future self. They hastily rolled under the bed as they plunged forward, getting entangled in the hanging blue blankets and knocking over the pillows. TUJ looked back to see two, graying, wrinkled faces looking at him befuddled. His parents.

"Jay, honey! Are you okay? What was going on? Why was so much light in your room?" questioned TUJ's mother hoarsely. This was here where Jay for once saw the parents which his alternate had been raised by. His mother maintained less wrinkles than Jay's mom did, with braided graying brunette hair that stopped at higher mid back. She wore pink pajamas with an array of seashells ranging from sand dollars to lightning whelks comprised of saturated colors. She wore brow-line glasses.

"And all during... an earthquake? Everything was rumbling!" piped TUJ's father, whose hairline had faced a whole war apparently. It was so very far back to the point it almost looked like the drear auburn hair zagging other ways funnily could become unbalanced and all tumble down. He resembled Adam Sandler in the aspect of clothes, sporting basketball shorts and a big baggy shirt. He almost looked shorter than his wife as he hunched a little.

TUJ acted quickly and turned over the rug to cover up the tear in the entire universe's fabric. "O-oh I'm fine! Absolutely! There was this whole malfunction with the uh, lights." He shuffled over next to his lamp on the shaken up bedside table, the books and his orange scarf lying on the floor now instead of the piece of furniture. "And yeah, yeah I guess that was an earthquake. Maybe the Earth Ninja's having some sort of anxious breakdown. I dunno. But it's all good. No problems here."

His father puckered a brow. "Wow, you sure seem to readjust quickly then, huh? A natural disaster happens and you act as if you didn't even wince." He retorted, primarily in a playful manner mixed with curiosity and slight annoyance.

TUJ laughed nervously. "Ahaha, nope. No. Just uhh, natural phenomenon." He affirmed, his voice shaking slightly. He rested his sweating hand on the bedside table, trying to look relaxed.

"Ya sure there ain't nothin' ya wanna tell us?" his father retorted, but his expression drifted away from playful to solemn. "Anything you wanna ask us, either?" He side eyed his wife, whose lips parted to show gritted teeth.

"No. It's fine. It's all fine and there's nothing wrong and you don't need to worry at all."

"You've just been a bit distant, too." His eyes —wrinkled, subtle bags hanging under — narrowed.

"It's really fine. You can go now."

"Ya know, sometimes I get a little fed up with your attitude. I get that you're anxious, and there's school, and there were all of Garmadon's attacks which I'm sure you're a little traumatized after but-"

"PLEASE?!" TUJ shouted, his voice hoarse a cracking. He seethed out his gritted mouth, his gaze quickly softening as he watched wearily of his parents flinching. His hands shook and went from clenched to loose, and his "fingers" pressing onto his palms.

His father tensed a bit, and his mother put an hand on his shoulder. "Cmon hon, he's tired. It late." She told him before tugging him in the direction of the door.

TUJ had a look of regret practically powering this face like the blood the heart was pumping. Clearly this wasn't a common conundrum in this Walker household. He sniffed, "I'm sorry I shouted, Dad. That was wrong." He admitted.