Powerless

Before Power

*During the Serpentine Wars*

"We shall assemble the flutes to trap the Serpentine once and for all." Young Garmadon said as the original Elemental Masters assembled.

Garmadon continued,
"My brother has separated you all to find the flutes. In the Elemental Masters of Gravity and Ice, you shall go to the Rocky Mountains and find the first flute. In the Time Twins, you shall go find the second flute in the Dragons Nest. Elemental Masters of Shadow and Sound, you shall find the third flute on top of the wisdom tree, the tallest tree, of Ninjago. Lastly, the Elements Masters of Water and Fire, you shall go into the northern part of the Boiling Sea and find the fourth."

Wu, next to his brother, continued,
"The rest of us shall continue to fight with the Serpentine and keep them distracted. We must make sure this plan goes correctly."

All the Elementals did what they were told as they all went on their journeys. On their way, Maya and Ray headed toward the sea. By the time they reached the docks a man approached them. The man looked as enthusiastic as humanly possible, bright red and his mind moving so quickly you could almost hear his thought yelling at you through his eyes. He wasn't a day over 25, and he began to speak,

"Hello! My name is Emanuel, Emanuel Fest. I've been analyzing fire for longer than I can remember! It is the first thing created by man. It's... extraordinary. Then I saw you, master of fire! Ray... can I call you Ray? You are an entirely new way of looking at fire! You manifest it and manipulate it. It's a whole new way of looking at nature. With your power and my knowledge, we can create a new Ninjago! Running completely on it!"

Ray and Maya were flabbergasted. Ray was a little honored and found the young man amusing, but Maya immediately grew defensive.

"Thank you for the um... pitch, but my husband is not some human battery. We are on a very important mission and we do not have the time to be interrupted by power-hungry men like you-" she was interrupted.

"Maya calm down. Mr. Fest was it? I feel like I've seen you before... no couldn't be. We are tied up at the moment. Fighting a war is... well difficult. After we return, we shall find you and hopefully, I can assist with your research." Ray said.

"I see. May I ask where you are going?" Emanuel asked.

Ray began,

"Oh! We're traveling to the boiling see to-"

"Ray! Unfortunately, that is confidential. I'm sorry." Maya said glaring at her husband.

Soon the couple was on their way to retrieve the flute and Emanuel was left on the side of the street, deflated, but he had not given up. He met the elemental master of fire, the answer to all his problems.

Ray truly was going to find Emanuel when all was said and done, but soon everything fell apart. The serpentine has to be handled, something was happening between Wu and Garmadon, and The Time Twins rebelled. Soon Ray forgot about Emanuel.

*time skip*

Ray and Maya day there exhausted. They complete the four Time Blades and they could finally rest. Alas, the rest was not what they received. Instead, they received a young Emanuel Fest approaching them.

"Ah, Mr. and Ms. Smith! You never came to find me after you said you were, but I understand! You were fighting a war! I was wondering if you would like to discuss when you can come to my lab and we can discuss and possibly test your powers, Ray!" Emanuel chirped.

"I'm sorry Mr. Fest-"

"It's actually um, Doctor Fest now!"

"Excuse me, Dr. Fest, but I and my husband are tired. Please return another time." Maya request.

"I apologize Maya but I was asking your husband, not you," Emanuel said frustrated.

"My wife is right Doctor. We are tired. We just finished... never mind but we just need rest." Ray said sternly.

"I am sorry Ray but I cannot allow you to disappear again I need assistance with this and I cannot take no for an-"

"No means No Fest. We are tired and we need sleep! I will find you when I am well rested and you are worth my time!" Ray yelled.

Ray could no longer take it. He was tired and he could not handle the stress. Soon Emanuel managed to say a few words,

"Fine. If you won't help me I'll go find a 'battery', as you said it, Maya, on my own. I don't need your power to show me what true strength looks like."

Emanuel walked away and without knowing it, Ray and Maya made one of the largest mistakes of their lives. Not for them, but for their son.
________________________________
*With the Ninja in The Smith's House*

Ray finished telling the story of one of his biggest regrets and sat next to his wife. He couldn't help but feel guilty for what he did to Emanuel. And now when he looked and saw where his actions led, he felt even worse.

"So that's who has Kai huh," Said Cole.

"But what about what Sensei Wu said? About the 17 serpentines being burnt alive?" Zane asked.

"Ah. I knew I recognized Emanuel from somewhere, but didn't remember until much later. I guess that's what years of isolation get you. He was experimenting with my fire at the time unbeknownst to me and I blacked out. When I woke up I saw a building on fire and Garmadon asking what I have done. So I took responsibility for the incident. I should have seen the signs then."

"Emanuel Fest. Like from Fest Corp.?" Jay asked.

"I'm afraid so. He did exactly what he promised. He created a new way of protecting Ninjago, but ever since Borg Industries created the 'home defense P.I.X.A.L', his funding and ideas have dropped tremendously." Maya responded.

"And what about his idea of powering Ninjago with fire? What happened?" Zane asked.

"Since Emanuel could no longer have Ninjago, he resorted to weapons. He created weapons beyond what you could imagine, and with Kai's power who knows what he's capable of." Ray said.

"Well then, we know where we are going now don't we?" Nya said rhetorically.

"Fest Corp."

A/N: So I was writing this and forgot to save so half of it was deleted. I was pissed but ya know life happens. These chapters are really short but it's just because I don't have a lot of time on my schedule. I'm really sorry, and stay safe!