TW: mild sexual content
Garmadon stared in absolute bafflement as he watched the black paint of the prophecy on the cave wall shift and rearrange into something entirely new.
"This is impossible," Misako said in disbelief as she held the flickering flame of the torch higher. The moving prophecy towered above the group, so much so that snake and human alike had to crane their necks back to watch. The ink, slick and dancing from the illuminance of the fire, drew nothing but shock.
"Uchū, what are you doing?" Garmadon murmured to himself, taking in the large cave wall, jagged and dripping in wet ink. Everything here was acting without law, without reason. This was a powerful magic not capable of anyone else.
"He'sss changing the prophecy," Skales said grimly. "There mussst be sssomething terrible on the horizon."
"But that's impossible," Misako repeated, stress dripping from her words like hot tar. "Prophecies don't just change like this. It's not how it works!"
Garmadon narrowed his eyes as he read what was being written while the others fretted.
"Then explain what'sss happening!" Skalidor snapped.
"I don't know!"
"No," Garmadon shook his head as he raised his fingers to whisperingly touch the ink. The group silenced. The Sensei pulled his hand away and set his jaw as nothing short of fear shot straight through his chest. "This is no prophecy. This is a warning."
"A... a warning?" Fangtom echoed incredulously. "For what?" Fangtom's second head finished.
"As long as it's not a giant snake," Pythor muttered under his breath.
"A great evil will return," Garmadon murmured, catching eyes with his wife. "Like something we've never seen before."
"But why isss he changing the prophecy about-" Acidicus began.
"Because it concerns them the most," Misako cut in, brain working fast and eyes scaling the warning faster.
"How much time do we have?" Skales asked.
"Not as much as I would hope for," Garmadon murmured as he scanned the warning another four times to commit it to memory. "We should go. There are things that we need to discuss with Wu."
Misako nodded. "We will continue this meeting at a later date."
The drive back home was tense and silent.
Garmadon made a beeline for the dojo, where he could hear that his son and almost daughter-in-law were fooling around. Their snickers and laughs did nothing to quell his sudden anxiety, but it was nice to hear all the same.
"O- okay, okay," Y/n giggled, wringing her red hands as she and her boyfriend sat cross legged on the tatami flooring before each other. Training had yet to begin and they were wasting time while waiting for the others to arrive. She placed her palms out. "Another round!"
Lloyd shook his head with a snigger as held his hands above hers.
"You're not going to win," he said in amusement. "I'm a ninja and this game is literally called ninja."
"I'm optimistic!"
"You're stubborn."
"Same thing," Y/n sniffed. Garmadon leant against the doorframe, brows pulled tight. Lloyd slapped Y/n's hands before she could even think to move them. Her head was thrown back with a defeated groan. "Again!"
"You never give up, do you?" Lloyd said with a shake of his head.
"Ninja never quit," Y/n chimed. She went to slap Lloyd's hands but he was too quick, once again.
"You're not a ninja," Lloyd pointed out with an amused scoff.
"Yet," Y/n reminded.
Misako touched Garm's arm and they shared a look. Fear passed through them.
"You know that I will do anything to protect our children," Garmadon said in a whisper. "But destiny is something that I simply cannot fight."
"I know, sweetheart," Misako replied in a murmur. "Know that they are strong."
"But Y/n-"
"She is strong, too," Misako insisted as they glanced back at the two playing ninja in the dojo. "Much stronger than what even she may know."
Garmadon swallowed. He didn't want any of his kids to go through more pain and trouble than what they've already had to deal with. This warning all but promised more.
"We have to start her training," the Sensei declared quietly.
Lloyd glanced at his dad, having heard the exchange. Garmadon nodded at his son and Lloyd, weary, nodded back.
