Querencia

S2 E10: The Last Voyage

Hidden on a coastal beach with high rocky walls were a majority of the people of Ninjago, and a few of the surrounding villages who'd seen the smoke rising from the city. The night had been peaceful, for the people, with the ninja cataloging the extensive damage done to the hull and engine of the Bounty. 

Nya had begun working on the engine as soon as she had a damage report, forcibly roping in as many ninja as she could. Zane and [M/n] escaped simply because Wu had requested for them to join him. 

"Hmmm, most peculiar. Yesterday there was just ocean, but now there is an island," Zane noted, passing the binoculars to Wu. 

"The Dark Island, Zane. And what I find more peculiar is yesterday Ninjago City was attacked by the Stone Army, and today they have vanished," Wu stated.

"They returned to their master," [M/n] mused.

"I fear that too. But what's most important is we have to find out what is on that island," Wu said, tucking the binoculars into the borrowed bag at his side.

"Perhaps my Falcon can have a look," Zane offered, already holding his arm out for the Falcon to perch on. Wu hesitated for a second, but nodded and Zane sent the Falcon on its way. 

All three watched the Falcon wing away, climbing higher into the sky until it was barely a dot. Unable to watch it any longer, the three headed back towards the Bounty, stopping beneath the engine where everyone was working. 

"Ugh, useless pile of junk," Jay spat, wiping oil from his face in disgust. 

"Oh, it's worse than I feared. The rotors on the starboard booster are completely destroyed. The port boosters are shot from the strain. Oh, sorry guys. She's not getting airborne anytime soon," Nya said, shaking her head. [M/n] could tell she was genuinely upset about that, having begun updating the Bounty as best she could, making it one of her 'babies'.

"So if the Stone Army attacks again, we're sitting ducks," Cole stated, running a hand over his hair. 

"Uh, ducks can fly, Cole. Weren't you listening?" Jay asked, rolling his eyes as Cole glared.

"We just got our tails handed to us and we couldn't even stop one of them. Ugh, I hate feeling helpless," Kai groaned, punching the Bounty's hull in anger.

"We mustn't give up hope, Kai," Wu stated, resting a hand on the young man's shoulders.

"But the Stone Army is indestructible. You saw it. At best, all our powers could do was slow them down," Lloyd reminded him, coming up to stand beside [M/n]. 

The older noticed how Lloyd kept glancing to him, nervous as if he was still worried about their argument. 

"That's not entirely true. There is a way to defeat them. And it is told within the scrolls," Misako corrected, gesturing for them to join her as she returned to the Bounty. Inside, she pulled her satchel from its place and revealed another scroll. "The prophecy reveals that the power to defeat the Stone Army lies within the Green Ninja and Silver Ninja." 

"I tried. I gave them everything I had," Lloyd said, nails digging into his skin as he clenched his hand. 

"I couldn't destroy them either," [M/n] added, noticing how Lloyd was edging closer. Shifting, he opened his stance more so he, Lloyd, could lean more firmly against him. 

"Yes, but you are stronger than you think. Look. The true power of the Green Ninja can only be unlocked when his four protectors find their own pure elemental powers," Misako stated, revealing a second scroll that she passed to [M/n]. 

Opening it he found the image he wore on his GI, the kitsune, at the very top of the page. Below it was the Tale of the Three Oni, much to his surprise, but it was a warning to those not to fall to those emotions.