1. The Dark Side of Destiny: Beginnings

Chapter 20 - Welcome Home

A/N: I forgot it's Tuesday!!! I'm so sorry, my schedule's all scrambled from having an day off, and I nearly forgot to post this! Here you go, hope you like:

. . . 

The time was drawing near, Wu could sense it. His students were getting fed up with their lives and were nearly ready to turn and accept everything he could offer them. He just needed their unwavering loyalty and the first part of his plan would finally be complete. If he could get all of them under his control, there would be nothing to stop him from stealing back the golden Weapons of Spinjitzu.

He had known it wouldn't be easy; convincing them to leave their lives behind wasn't a simple task. But at every chance, any sign of dissatisfaction in their lives, he had been planting seeds of doubt and resentment. Soon they would surely devote themselves to their master.

. . . 

It had started out as a regular day for Jay. Eight hours of school where he only half listened to lectures while he sketched and planned out ideas for inventions in his notebook. Nothing much happened because, for the most part, Jay would sit with himself and his thoughts, planning for the after-school hours, which he would either tinker or train away. This day was no different. That is, until his parents came onto the scene.

School had just ended when Jay's parents arrived in their rickety old jalopy. Jay was in front of the school's entrance, just about to start his long walk home when they arrived. He heard the thing well before he could see it, so he knew everyone else's attention would be drawn to it as well.

And indeed, as the old car puttered up along the drive, all heads turned to stare. Jay ducked his own head in embarrassment. What are they doing here?! he wondered. Normally he would walk home for the express reason of not giving them a chance to embarrass him in front of his peers.

His mother was waving to him as his father turned the engine off. Jay tried to manage a smile. "Hey Mom. Dad. What are you guys doing here?"

"We thought we would surprise you!" his mother announced as she approached him.

"You didn't have to do that," Jay said flatly.

"Goodness, that bag looks so heavy!" his mother exclaimed. "Let me help you carry it."

Jay adjusted the strap on his shoulder and shifted away so she couldn't pull it away. "Ma, please. I'm fine!" Jay glanced around nervously, acutely aware of the many eyes that were focused on him and his parents. He swore he could hear whispers behind him.

Thankfully, his mother backed up at his request. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I just wanted to help."

His father chuckled. "Now Edna, Jay's a big, strong boy, I'm sure he can handle it."

"So, ah, why did you guys decide to surprise me?" Jay asked, hoping they had a legitimate reason.

"Well, we were out," his mom began, "and we had just finished up some grocery shopping when I realized that you were going to get out of school soon. And I know that you always have to walk so far to get home, so I told your father, I said, wouldn't it be a nice idea to pick you up from school, and then we could all head back to the junkyard together!"

Jay's cheeks burned with embarrassment at the mention of his home. Now there was definitely some chuckling coming from behind. "Mom!" He'd asked his parents time and time again not to talk about where they lived.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear." His mother looked sincere, but that didn't undo the damage she had already caused.

Jay heaved a sigh. He knew he shouldn't get so angry with them. It's not like they were trying to embarrass him. They just didn't know when to stop. It was days like this that made him wish he was someone else.