Ninjago: The Flash in the Rain

Chapter Four

Flashback, 11 years earlier. Kai's POV

"We need to talk about what will happen if Bird or Aryssi happens to receive our powers,"  Skylor said. Jay and I shared a glance, knowing where she was going. We had all had the same conversations, just not out loud. "We need to know we will do and whether we will stay on the team or not. And we need to acknowledge now that they are born with their powers, and should they happen to have them, it is not their faults. I understand that we will all be upset at losing our elements, should we happen to, but the children are not to blame. Understand?" Lori asked.

Jay and I nodded. "If she gets your power," Jay asked Skylor, "would she still have the time limited thing or..?" 

"I don't know. I guess we'll find out, but Aryssi will be incredibly powerful if the connections to the elements don't fade." Lori replied. 

"There's also Nya's element. Bird could very well get that, couldn't he?" I asked. 

"Let's hope he does," Jay said, his usual happy glow suddenly gone from his face. "Otherwise the water element will be gone forever." The discussion carried on for another little while, and I didn't say much more. I couldn't stop thinking that as much as I love little Rissy, I really didn't want her to take my power.

Present time, Bird's POV

Aryssi cried for most of the night. I couldn't sleep that night, I felt awful. In no way was Rissy to blame, yet she was being punished for something that wasn't her fault. That morning, when she didn't show up for breakfast, I brought her some of Zane's Banana Muffins. She usually likes those.

"Rissy?" I knocked on the door of our bunk room. There was no response. I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Why I was tiptoeing around my own room, I don't know, but it felt right at the moment. I sat down on her bed. She was facing the wall and had her knees drawn up to her chest. "Here," I said, handing her the muffin, which was still steaming. 

I got up to go, but she stopped me. "Wait." She said. "Please, stay. I need you right now." She turned around and set the muffin on the floor, and stood up. She pulled me into a tight hug, her tears staining my shirt. I didn't mind, and I held her tightly.  "I didn't mean to, I don't even want it," She cried. "I never wanted to hurt my father and this feels worse than stabbing him with his own katana."

"Aryssi, he loves you. He's just been knocked down, he'll get over it." I was now saying the same thing to Aryssi that everyone has been saying to me my entire life.

"I need a break. I need to get out and away from everything for a while. Please come with me." I had to. There was no way I could let her wander around Ninjago in her current state.

"I'll come, just let me go tell-"

"No. No telling anyone where we're going." 

"Just Cole. Please Aryssi, I don't want anyone worrying about us."

"Fine, but make sure he swears not to tell anyone else. Especially not Dad." I nodded and ran downstairs. Several minutes later, we were waiting at the edge of the floating island, wondering how we were going to get down. 

"I see a flaw in your plans, Riss," I told her. She glared daggers at me and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped.

"I see a solution to your flawed plan, Aryssi," Cole said. He and Skylor were walking over to us.

"Bird! I thought I told you to ensure that he wouldn't tell anyone else!" Aryssi said.

"I did! Cole-"

"I realized you would need a ride, so here we are. Don't worry Aryssi, we told Kai we were going out for a while, not where we were going," Cole told her. "I think we should go to Ninjago City and make sure all the people are okay."