Heroes POV
Mr. Salvatore found himself once again amid a meditation session in his office, seeking solace in the tranquility of his thoughts. However, his peace was soon disrupted by the arrival of Sensei Wu, his expression etched with concern. Salvatore's brow furrowed in response – what could have prompted Wu's unexpected visit this time?
Sensei Wu settled onto the mat opposite Salvatore, his demeanor grave as he awaited his host's attention. Moments later, Misako joined them, her agitation evident as she took a seat beside her husband.
Breaking the silence, Sensei Wu interjected with a somber revelation. "My son, Noah, is not the chosen one," he disclosed, his fingers idly tracing the contours of his beard. "The golden weapons showed no reaction when he was near."
Salvatore couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation at being burdened with such news. "Why didn't you share this with Noah instead of me?" he queried, his tone tinged with exasperation. This was hardly the sort of revelation one expected to receive from a relative stranger.
"Because I fear for Noah's fate, Salvatore," Sensei Wu sighed wearily. "I don't want him to suffer the same fate as Morro." His words hung heavily in the air, conveying the weight of his apprehension.
Seeking to address the pressing issue at hand, Salvatore directed his attention to the matter at hand. "What exactly do you need from me?" he inquired, his fingers absently tracing the delicate contours of a flute resting nearby.
Sensei Wu's response was fraught with uncertainty. "We need your help to find the chosen one," he admitted. "Traditionally, it would be someone from the same bloodline, but given the circumstances, it could be anyone."
Misako's silence spoke volumes, her troubled expression betraying the weight of undisclosed concerns. Salvatore regarded her thoughtfully, sensing that she harbored knowledge that she was reluctant to divulge.
"Misako, do you possess any information that may aid us in our search?" Salvatore pressed gently, though he was met with a hesitant shake of the head. "He is not the person I once knew," she murmured cryptically, her gaze averted.
Salvatore's attention returned to the aged flute before him, a family heirloom passed down through generations. Despite his reluctance to involve himself in matters beyond his purview, he understood the gravity of the situation.
"What is your plan, then?" Salvatore inquired, his tone tinged with skepticism. "Without the golden weapons, how do you intend to locate this supposed chosen one?"
A heavy silence descended upon the room, punctuated only by the faint rustle of fabric. Salvatore's frustration mounted – it seemed they were ill-prepared to tackle the daunting task before them.
"You don't have a plan, do you?" Salvatore surmised, his irritation simmering beneath the surface. He glanced between Sensei Wu and Misako, a sense of incredulity coloring his gaze.
"We were hoping you might have some insight," Misako admitted quietly, her gaze downturned.
Salvatore heaved a resigned sigh, realizing the enormity of the challenge that lay ahead. With only a vague prophecy to guide them, their quest for the chosen one would undoubtedly prove arduous. Yet, despite his reservations, Salvatore knew he could not shirk his responsibility in the face of such uncertainty.
…
The atmosphere in the classroom was tense as the gang of six students found themselves faced with the daunting task of filling numerous whiteboards as part of their punishment for disobeying orders. They had risked their lives to defeat the Great Devourer, yet instead of gratitude, they were met with reprimand.
Frustration simmered beneath the surface as Kai expressed his exasperation, his actions punctuated by the forceful kick of a nearby desk. "Why are we being punished for doing nearly half of their job?" he grumbled, his frustration palpable.
Zane offered a rational perspective, reminding his comrades of the gravity of their actions. "We did cause quite a commotion when we led the Great Devourer into trapping itself," he reasoned. "Had our plan failed, the consequences would have been dire."
Jay, leaning casually against the wall, chimed in with a wry remark. "So, what you're saying is, we're the heroes that nobody appreciates?"
Cole, ever the voice of reason, acknowledged the significance of their achievement. "We should be grateful that our plan succeeded," he remarked. "But it's unfortunate that Garmadon managed to slip away with the Golden Weapons."
Nya paused in her writing, addressing the group with a solemn reminder of the staff's assurances. "The school is doing everything they can to recover the Golden Weapons and apprehend Garmadon," she reassured them, though her words were tinged with uncertainty.
However, the weight of recent events weighed heavily on Noah, evident in his brooding silence. His strained relationship with his uncle and the revelation of Garmadon's son had left him grappling with inner turmoil, and the mention of Abaddon's condition only served to deepen his unease.
Attempting to shift the focus away from Noah's troubled thoughts, Jay interjected with a change of subject. "I heard something happened to Abaddon's eyes," he remarked, seeking to divert attention.
Cole, having overheard snippets of conversation, provided insight into Abaddon's condition. "Ms. Asiya mentioned he experienced an overflow of ability, causing his eyes to become sensitive to light," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact as he resumed his task.
Zane, ever analytical, expressed concern for Noah's well-being. "Noah, please be cautious with your abilities," he urged, his voice tinged with genuine concern. "We've seen firsthand the toll it can take on someone's health."
Noah remained silent, his thoughts consumed by inner turmoil as he continued to fill the whiteboard with a sense of detachment. With each stroke of the marker, they inched closer to completing their punishment, though the weight of their recent experiences lingered heavily in the air.
…
Lloyd POV
I sat cross-legged on the cool tiles of the bathroom floor, the orb of Poison cradled delicately in my hands. The fluorescent light overhead cast a sterile glow, illuminating the crimson hue of my eyes. It was a stark contrast to the verdant green they once were, a testament to the burgeoning power coursing within me. Since removing the bandages, I had become a magnet for curiosity and concern, with everyone hovering around me like anxious moths drawn to a flame.
Gazing at the orb, I contemplated its enigmatic properties. For years, its function remained shrouded in mystery, a relic of a bygone era when the Great Devourer roamed free. Now, it rested in my possession, a tantalizing source of power and peril.
Placing the orb gently on the tiled floor, I assumed a meditative posture, my focus singular and unwavering. Absorbing the orb was a delicate task fraught with risk; failure could result in my transformation into toxic sludge, a fate I was keen to avoid. I knew little of the process, having never attempted such a feat in my past life. Yet, I remained undeterred, determined to harness the orb's power to my advantage.
Before commencing, I reached for a weathered book resting nearby, its pages worn with age and wisdom. Sending Pluto to the library to procure it had been a stroke of intuition; perhaps within its yellowed pages lay the key to unlocking the orb's secrets.
As I delved into the tome, seeking solace in its ancient wisdom, a faint knock sounded at the door. I hastily stashed the orb in a nearby cabinet, concealing it from prying eyes, before inviting my unexpected visitor inside.
Elijah stood before me, his expression inscrutable, his presence both unexpected and intriguing. Despite our past interactions during the Elemental Games, there was an air of curiosity about him, a sense of purpose that piqued my interest.
"What brings you here, Elijah?" I inquired, motioning for him to take a seat. "Shouldn't you be at lunch?"
Unfurling a crystal ball the size of a snow globe, Elijah revealed the true nature of his visit—a lie detector, designed to ferret out the truth. Placing my hand upon its smooth surface, I braced myself for the interrogation that followed.
"What is your real name?" His gaze bore into mine with unwavering intensity, his inquiry catching me off guard.
I hesitated, momentarily thrown by his probing question. "Abaddon is not my birth name," I admitted, the weight of truth settling heavily upon me. "I named myself after being abandoned at birth."
As the crystal remained unchanged, Elijah rose from his seat, retrieving the orb and bidding me farewell with a cryptic remark. "Red eyes suits you," he remarked enigmatically before departing, leaving me to ponder his words long after he had gone.
Alone once more, I resumed my solitary vigil, the book's weathered pages offering scant guidance in my quest for mastery over the orb. Yet, as I pored over its contents, a revelation struck—a hidden compartment concealed within its spine.
With trembling fingers, I extracted a small key nestled within, its presence a tantalizing invitation to unlock the mysteries that lay beyond. With a newfound sense of purpose, I resolved to embark on a journey of discovery, guided by the ancient wisdom contained within the book's pages.
…
Heroes POV
Misako's room felt stifling as she paced back and forth, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The weight of her past decisions bore down on her like a heavy burden, threatening to crush her beneath their weight. She glanced at the photograph resting on her nightstand, a bittersweet reminder of a time long gone.
In the image, she stood between Wu and Garmadon, their smiles frozen in time, a stark contrast to the tumultuous path their lives had taken since. Garmadon's handsome features stirred memories of a love that had once burned bright before the darkness consumed his heart. She couldn't help but wonder what might have been if things had turned out differently.
Setting the photograph back in its place, Misako felt a pang of regret gnaw at her heart. She had loved them both, but in the end, she had been forced to choose. Now, faced with the consequences of her decision, she grappled with feelings of guilt and longing, haunted by the specter of her past.
Noah's presence only served as a constant reminder of the choices she had made. His resemblance to his father was uncanny, a daily testament to the love they had shared and the pain it had wrought. Even Abaddon, with his piercing gaze reminiscent of Garmadon's, stirred feelings of unease within her.
Sinking onto her bed, Misako felt the weight of her dilemma pressing down upon her. What if Noah's twin, the child she had abandoned out of fear, held the key to Ninjago's salvation? The mere thought sent shivers down her spine, filling her with a sense of dread.
Yet, the prospect of revealing the truth to Wu filled her with a different kind of fear. How could she confess to him that she had forsaken her flesh and blood out of cowardice? The thought of his reaction, his anger and disappointment, sent a cold chill coursing through her veins.
But there was more at stake than just her guilt and shame. If the child wanted nothing to do with the prophecy, if he rejected his role as the chosen one, then Ninjago would be doomed to a grim fate. The weight of that responsibility pressed heavily upon her, threatening to crush her spirit.
Running a trembling hand through her hair, Misako knew that she couldn't delay the inevitable forever. Someday, she would have to face the consequences of her actions, confront the ghosts of her past, and seek redemption for the sins she had committed. But for now, she could only wait and hope that when the time came, she would find the strength to do what was necessary.