Skillet - Hero

Just another family torn

(Falling from my faith today)

Just a step from the edge

Just another day in the world we live

—

A/N: A ''healthy'' amount of angst coming your way.

Pythor chittered in fear, staring at the beast's glowing eyes from within the pit. Wu turned his head to the group. ''You must do everything in your power to stop The Great Devourer. Go, ninja, go!'' He called out, Nya blasting off in her Samurai Suit. ''Yes!''

Lightning flashed and crackled in the skies above, the massive snake rising from the pit. The ninja backed away, attempting to remain out of sight, with Kai laying his hand on your shoulder as if to reassure you- or perhaps himself.

The Great Devourer lunged forward, and in the seconds that followed, the terrifying image of Pythor and Wu disappearing proved to be a moment you would not easily forget. Neither would it be something someone else would forget quickly, for that matter...

''Sensei,'' Kai mournfully whispered, staring at the spot where his mentor once was.

''No.'' Jay's hand reached out in despair. You felt the blood rush from your face when the giant snake looked your way. ''Oh, maybe if we stand perfectly still...'' Jay reasoned as the Devourer hissed.

''Whoever taught you that probably watched too many movies...'' Remo replied, frowning at the boy.

''Oh no, the instant ramen's been released! We need to go, NOW!'' You urged the group. Jay was the first to follow your command as he rushed away, the rest of the group following. You were able to wheel yourself away quite quickly, though Jay tripped when he was behind, screaming out.

''Wait! Wait for me!'' He hightailed with the Devourer behind him, the Destiny's Bounty ahead ready to escape.

''Fire up the engines,'' Nya commanded Lloyd who stared out the window. ''I said, fire up the engines!'' She finally got his attention, and the boy rushed to the monitor.

''There's no wind. And we only have reserved fuel.'' Lloyd replied in desperation.

''Use it.'' Nya urged. The ninja tumbled into the control room, with Jay once again being the last of the four. You wheeled in, clutching onto the table to prevent the wheelchair from sliding across the floorboards.

'It's too bad I can't control the wind at the moment...' As much as the voice's words surprised you, your face remained neutral for the sake of the situation.

''Uh, hate to tell you this, but objects in the mirror are closer than they appear!'' Jay's voice rose in pitch at the last word, pointing at the monitor as the Devourer approached, fast.

''Working on it. Blasters on full.'' Nya replied as the Bounty picked up its pace, just as the Devourer was about to bite the air where it just was.

''Whoo-hoo!'' Kai cheered, hopping down from the stool near the window. ''Take that, you stupid snake.''

You sucked in a breath as the Bounty turned, the Devourer breaking from the ground in front of the ship.

''Uh, I think it heard you.'' Ginja stared ahead. The Bounty swerved to avoid another hit from the GD.

Kai looked out the back window again, watching the Devourer behind the ship. ''Nya, we gotta go faster. That thing is gaining on us.'' Kai told his sister.

''We're going as fast as we can,'' Nya replied. ''I'll try to make it to Scattered Canyon.''

''Probability of us making it that far is less than 8 per cent,'' Zane informed.

''May the odds be ever in your favour.'' Remo hissed. Jay looked his way and then yours, blinking a few times. You shrugged.

''Never tell me the odds!'' Nya shouted. The little snake shrank back, so you patted his head.

''It's coming in for another attack. Port side.'' Cole informed, Nya turning the wheel and making the giant snake bite empty air.

''We're losing speed. We'll drop to the ground pretty soon.'' Lloyd said as he looked at the speed stats.

You muttered an 'oh goodness' under your breath.

''Throw everything overboard.'' Nya informed, glancing back at the group.

''What?'' You and the others questioned, staring at her in confusion.

''We need to lose some weight.'' She replied.

''Port side!'' Lloyd yelled, the Devourer snapping off most of a booster. You grabbed a few things, with the others throwing out items with a fridge included which Remo despaired at.

''My ham sandwiches! Nooo!'' He cried out, sniffling as he lay on your shoulders, watching as the Devourer ate the fridge whilst pursuing the ship.

''Man, he sure is hungry.'' Jay commented, looking out the back window. ''Does anyone else think the Devourer looks bigger than it did before?''

''The more it consumes, the bigger it gets. Don't throw anything else overboard.'' Cole informed but was too late to stop Kai as he threw Wu's teapot over the railing.

''Phew. We made it to Scattered Canyons. Hold on!'' Nya told the others, flying the Bounty through a few tight spaces while the Devourer followed, hungry and ready to consume. You gripped the table tighter, unsure of what else to do.

Cole searched the landscape for the giant snake. ''Ah, we lost him.'' Cole said before the Devourer appeared in front of the ship, striking it down with its spiked tail.

''Abandon ship!'' Nya yelled. The monitor fell and Cole had to grab the handlebars and pull you back just in time before you could get crushed. Inside, it was chaos, the ship's inhabitants being tossed around with Jay crashing through the front window and onto the deck.

Kai and Nya came to your aid with Nya grabbing you and Kai taking the wheelchair to fold it up, Lloyd jumping into the Samurai's mechs arms by your side as the ship was about to completely crash.

''Goodbye, old friend.'' Zane touched the wood of the former flying ship for what seemed to be the last time. The group escaped just as the Bounty crashed into the ground, laying on its side like a dying animal.

From a distance, and for a moment, you gazed at the Destiny's Bounty. A place that was like a second home for some, others perhaps the only home they had left. The Devourer rose from the ground once again, opening its maw as it looked at its next meal.

The group fled, finding shelter under the shade of a rock, watching as the GD took the flying ship in between its fangs, and threw it into the air, shattering it into splinters once it bit down with a sickening crunch.

''No!'' You all cried out in despair, hardly any pieces left that were recognisable. Finished with its meal, the beast retreated below ground.

Cole then turned away, walking deeper into the shade of the rock. ''Unh, it's gone.''

Kai lay down to rest on the sand with Zane beside him doing the same thing, taking his hood off. ''Oh, that was too intense. All that action makes you so thirsty.'' He panted.

''There's no time to rest. We need to warn people before it becomes bigger.'' Zane told them. In the distance, you watched a dune moving around in the sand, away from the group. Jay's eyes were also on it.

''Bigger?'' Jay leapt up, pulling his hood off. ''Bigger!? That thing in one big bite crushed our entire ship! We need to save as many as we can. Uh, uh, we'll find some kind of refuge, somewhere safe to hide. Ooh, the Serpentine Tombs. Yeah, they're underground. Sure, we'll be without sunlight for months, but they're perfect.'' Jay ranted as Cole walked over to him.

''And what? Just give up?'' The Earth Ninja questioned.

''You know as well as I do, we have no chance at stopping that thing!'' Jay fretfully answered.

Kai had to step in before things got worse by separating the two. ''Hey, stop it! Listen to yourselves. Is this what Sensei Wu would've wanted? Us fighting? Running and hiding? Giving up?'' He questioned them.

''But he's not here anymore.'' Lloyd pointed out, turning the mood sour again as the group mourned losing Wu.

''Lloyd, that's not helpful.'' You frowned, looking at the boy who muttered an apology, turning your eyes to Kai who you hoped to be able to cheer the group up. Porcupine blinked a few times before understanding what you wanted him to do.

''But his teachings live on.'' Kai continued, turning his back to the others, then turning to them. ''Sensei once told me it's not the size of a ninja in a fight, it's the size of the fight in the ninja. All this training, all of these battles we've had with skeletons and Serpentine. We've persevered through so much, we can't just give up now. A ninja never admits defeat. A ninja always pick himself up when he is down. Which is exactly what Sensei Wu would want us to do right now.'' Kai finished, placing his hands on Jay and Cole's backs.

'He's not so inclusive, is he? With a potential ninja within the group that he doesn't consider. So nice of him.' The voice dryly replied in your head. You lifted an eyebrow at this, looking over at Nya, who met your curious gaze with confusion.

''But how do we destroy a snake of that magnitude?'' Zane questioned with his hand on Lloyd's back.

''Yeah, it's not like we have an extra Sacred Flute lying around to charm it. Or wait, haha, how about one of our awesome Dragons? Oh, I forgot. They took off and left us high and dry. Or, hey, what about our Golden Weapons? Which will do nothing against a snake that size. Heh, oh, we are so hooped.'' Jay ranted yet again, his shoulders slumping as he descended.

''Ah, Jay's right. We would need a weapon so big.'' Cole agreed with him.

''Or an idea that's even bigger! Ha! Jay, you're a genius! You thinking what I'm thinking?'' Kai asked looking down at the Lightning Ninja as he lay on his side, looking up at the group.

Jay shook his head, seeming bored. ''Probably not, but go ahead.''

''There's no time. I'll fill you guys in on the way.'' Kai informed backing away. He then turned, running away from the group.

''Wha—Where are we going?'' Jay questioned.

''We're going to destroy that snake once and for all,'' Porcupine replied with determination.

—

Upon reaching the Junkyard, the group prepared themselves for the coming battle ahead.

''Good idea, Kai. If the Devourer likes to consume, this place is a full-on buffet.'' Cole glanced at the surrounding piles of junk, briefly pointing to them.

Jay approached his parent's caravan and knocked on the door, sighing when there was no response. ''Looks like my parents are gone.''

''Good, better for us.'' Kai lay out a blueprint on the hood of an old car.

''It's so awesome.'' Jay's eyes lit up at the sight of it.

You grinned. ''That looks a like a cool vehicle.'' Remo nodded in agreement. Lloyd was struggling to see over everyone's shoulders since they were taller than him. You then looked at the boy, letting him sit on your lap. He happily gazed at the blueprint.

If you could feel your legs they would've hurt now with him on them. What did it matter, though?

''Zane, you still have a recording of the Sacred Flute in your memory bank?'' Kai questioned the nindroid.

''It might've been destroyed earlier, but I have its exact tone recorded and ready for playback.'' Zane answered, opening a panel in his arm to play the recording. Remo bristled in his place on your shoulder upon hearing it again.

''Good. And there should be enough spare parts around here to build this whopper. But we're gonna need to create our biggest Tornado of Creation yet. This is gonna be dangerous and we can't have anyone around.'' Kai explained to the group but was interrupted as a bike bell chime rang out.

You felt one of your ears twitch, hearing something big moving over the sand. Looking over at the others who were discussing something, it didn't exactly come from their direction.

'Hear that?' You questioned in your head and waited for a reply.

It came quicker than you thought it would. 'Yes, because I'm in your head, unfortunately.' The voice's words caused you to frown slightly at their tone. 'You have notably better hearing than them.'

Whatever it was, it was coming closer, and fast. You paused, lifting your gaze, jumping a bit in your wheelchair as you spotted the Great Devourer slithering towards the junkyard, with the Postman oblivious to the problem behind him.

When they noticed the Devourer, the ninja got into their battle stances while The Postman was still talking. ''I think I'll be leaving now 'cause whatever you guys are up to, I want no part of it.'' A hiss behind him alerted The Postman to the snake. He looked behind at the Great Devourer and then screamed. ''Aah! S-s-snake!'' He jumped into a nearby trashcan.

You rushed over to Nya and Lloyd (the latter of which had moved elsewhere while you were distracted), positioning yourself near a junk pile as the boys stared up at the Devourer.

''Hey! It's now or never, guys! Ninja, go! Fire!'' Kai shouted out, whirling into his fiery Spinjitzu. The other ninja promptly followed.

''Earth!''

''Lightning!''

''Ice!''

The Spinjitzu tornadoes merged into one, massive tornado that sucked in many pieces of scrap. Nya had to keep an iron grip on your wheelchair so you wouldn't be pulled in, with Lloyd attempting to help as well.

Once the Ultra Sonic Raider was formed, Kai yelled. ''Zane, now!'' The nindroid obeyed his command, pushing levers to fire a concentrated blast of the recording, which the Devourer easily dodged.

''Zane, what was that? This isn't target practice. You're supposed to hit him, not give him a haircut.'' Cole said as he looked at him.

''May I remind you we just magically whipped up this heap of junk?'' Zane inquired.

''Well, I hope one of us created a reverse feature because...reverse!'' Kai shouted as the Devourer lunged for the vehicle.

''How's this for reverse?'' Cole asked, making the vehicle reverse into a pile of tyres, then driving forward as the GD attempted to bash it with its head, dodging each time. Firing another concentrated blast, the Devourer evaded it, hissing. Speeding forward, the vehicle used a pile of tyres as a ramp, going over the wall.

''I need your help holding him in place.'' Zane requested.

''How's this?'' Jay pressed a button to make a grappling hook shoot out and imbed itself into the Devourer's scales. He pressed another button, making a second grappling hook shoot out and do the same as the first. ''Got him!''

The Ultra Sonic Raider drove under the Devourer's head, breaking through the walls and back into the junkyard as the snake fell. ''Before it gets away! Now, Zane. now! Take the shot.'' Kai exclaimed.

''Charm your way out of this.'' He shot the concentrated blasts of sound at the Devourer while it was getting up, the giant snake getting hit in the head and falling over again. It continued being blasted with the music, writhing and hissing in protest.

''It's working!'' Cole yelled.

''It's got a weak spot.'' Kai pointed to a small glowing green spot at the base of the Devourer's head.

''What?'' Cole asked. Your eyes widened as the spiked tail of the Devourer came up from behind the Ultra Sonic Raider, Kai too distracted by his discovery.

''On its forehead. It's got a—'' The spiked tail struck Zane's cockpit from behind, interrupting Kai. Blood rushed to your face as the others were worried about Zane, lifting your hands, as one of them emitted a steady stream of orange wisps, the other, emitting sparks.

''No one hurts Zane, you hear me?!'' You yelled at The Devourer, firing a bolt of electricity at its head with one hand, the beast howling and fleeing as it nearly hit its weak spot. Panting, you let the illusion melt, your body aching all over, sweat making your (h/c) hair stick to your face.

''Is everybody okay?'' Cole questioned, his eyes briefly landing on you. Nya came up from behind you but you wheeled over to the others before she could ask.

''Where's Zane?'' Lloyd worriedly rushed over.

''Right here.'' The nindroid emerged from the broken cockpit, now missing the left side of his face, showing the robotics underneath. ''That was close.''

''Too close,'' Kai replied as the other ninja hopped out of their spots from the Ultra Sonic Raider. While the others were talking, Lloyd looked over at you with a smile. He knew.

''...It has a weak spot.'' Kai pointed out.

''Oh, great, let me make a note of that. Giant snake has wee, itty-bitty weak spot,'' Jay pretended to write down notes on an imaginary piece of paper. He then raised his voice. ''that'll be totally impossible to get at because the thing is too ridiculously huge to do anything to stop it!''

''Are you done?'' Nya questioned.

Jay's shoulders slumped before straightening as he took a deep breath. ''Ah, yes.''

''Because things just got worse. Look.'' Nya pointed to the Devourer as it slithered away.

''It's heading toward Ninjago City.'' Zane realised, pointing as well.

''That's where my parents are,'' Jay replied, stepping forward.

'Well, you better hurry on up, Motormouth, otherwise your parents will be snake food.' Spoke the voice in your head.

''If you were a physical person, I'd make you into snake food.'' You hissed under your breath. The others stopped talking, staring at you as if you were crazy.

''Make who into food?" Lloyd echoed in confusion. The others eyed you weirdly for a moment before continuing to talk.

''So is everybody else,'' Cole added, looking away from you.

''If it consumes the biggest city in all of Ninjago, there will be no stopping it.'' Kai finished.

—

While the others were busy fixing up what they could of the Ultra Sonic Raider, Remo played with a tyre, twirling it like a hula hoop. He then tossed it into the air and attempted to leap through it but hit his head on the rubber.

''Ow.'' He hissed, his tail touching his head. You came over and scooped him up as best as you could.

''You really like doing that, huh?'' You inquired, rubbing the spot where it hurt. Remo nodded, gazing at the tyres that lay in a small pile.

The little snake sighed in disappointment. ''First time I tried it, the tyre hit my jaw when I was using it as a hula hoop.'' He scrunched his face up at that.

''Don't worry, you'll improve.'' You reassured him as you brought him up to your shoulder. ''You should know it takes time.''

'If you ask me, that was pretty terrible.' The voice in your head spoke. You ignored it while you massaged Remo's head, the snake leaning into your touch. Exhaustion caught up to the little snake who then closed his eyes and soon he was fast asleep.

'... The ''voice in my head'' isn't the best name for someone like you.' You thought while grumbling.

'What do you mean? It fits perfectly..' The voice replied with a hint of smugness. You decided to be silent until you were answered.

'Fine, my name's Bond, James Bond.' They grumpily replied.

'Is it really?' You questioned with a slight frown.

'No.' The voice quickly replied. 'It's Morro. And I'm a he, thank you...'

—

Two men sat at a desk, with one observing the train tracks from a computer while the other sat leaning back in his seat.

''Huh. That's strange. The system is saying there's a train entering the city on Track 9.'' The first one informed the other.

''Uh, we don't have any trains entering on Track 9.'' The second one replied nonchalantly.

''Well, there's something big coming our way.'' The first man spoke, the second sitting up straight in his seat as the first pointed at the screen.

Moments later, The Great Devourer burst out of the Ninjago Metro, while civilians scattered at the sight of it. The GD lay eyes on Jay's parents, approaching the jalopy while Ed tried to start it up but to no avail.

''Oh, boy. Oh, gosh. Oh, golly. Oh, gosh.'' Ed muttered as he attempted to turn the engine on as the Devourer towered over them.

The Ultra Sonic Raider pulled up and Jay spotted his parents in trouble.''Mum? Dad? Leave my parents alone! Lightning!'' He shouted as he used his Nunchucks to fire lightning at the Devourer. The Devourer groaned and roared, turning away from him.

Kai jumped on a few of the cars and then in front of the giant snake to use his Sword. ''Fire!''

''Are you getting this?'' A brown-haired man questioned the cameraman.

''Roll camera.'' The cameraman answered, getting a shot of the Devourer's spiked tail moving around. Though something else got in the way.

Cole lifted the NGTV van. ''Mind if I borrow this?'' He asked before throwing it at the head of the Devourer.

''Go, ninja, go!'' The reporter cheered. The ninja screamed as the tail of Devourer approached.

''Ice!'' Zane shouted, blasting his Element at the tail with his Shurikens, freezing it over. It was like that for a bit before cracking and breaking apart entirely, crushing the NGTV van when it landed.

''Uh, I think we only made it mad,'' Jay told the others nervously.

The reporter launched into describing the ninja's battle against the Devourer and the situation at hand while holding a microphone. ''And I am here live, caught in the middle of an epic ninja versus snake battle. People, I have never seen bravery like this before. But I fear the ninja are no match for a beast this size. People are recommended to flee or run away, waving their arms wildly while screaming like little children.''

Nya set you down on a nearby rooftop. ''I promise to be back quick!'' She then zoomed off in the Samurai Mech to save the others as the ninja were scattered on the ground, the Devourer lunging at them. It was stopped just in time as Nya lodged a lamppost in the giant snake's mouth.

''Samurai to the rescue. Again.'' Jay swung his Nunchucks around.

''Its breath smells worse than Cole's chilli!'' You heard Lloyd's comment.

''Hey!'' Cole exclaimed, offended.

The Devourer hit its head against the side of a building while attempting to get the Samurai Mech out of its mouth, glass shards falling as it did.''Get out of there, sis!'' Kai shouted to his sister.

''I can't! I'm stuck!'' Nya panicked as the Samurai Mech held on tight to the lamppost. Out of nowhere, a massive white four-headed dragon appeared, slamming into the Devourer, thus rescuing Nya and Lloyd.

''Holy...'' You gazed up at the dragon while it flew, releasing a roar.

''Rocky! Our Dragons are back.'' Cole said as he looked up.

''It appears Dragons go through a metamorphosis when they reach adulthood. They too have found their True Potential.'' Zane observed.

''Ha! They couldn't have come at a better time. Go get them, Rocky! Go!'' Cole cheered his dragon on.

Shard's head blasted the Devourer with Ice breath, freezing up its neck. ''Ice!'' Zane shouted, pointing a Shuriken forward.

The dragon paused for a moment while it was above the Devourer. Flame's head then released a breath of fire on it, melting the ice. ''Fire!'' Kai yelled.

Again, the dragon flew by, Wisp's head shocking the Devourer while it was down. ''Lightning!''

Rocky's head then slammed the Devourer head-on, making the GD release the Samurai Mech and then grab it before it could hit the ground. ''Earth! Can Dragons get any cooler? Seriously.''

The Devourer began coiling itself around a building, causing cracks to appear in its side and some windows to shatter. Upon hearing screams and panicked cries, you looked around with a frown, confused as you did not immediately spot danger.

Your gaze then landed on the building the Devourer coiled around. Your blood ran cold.

''Where are the stairs?'' A little girl's voice cried out in despair.

''There's no room. Take the next one.'' A man's voice spoke. Then, the sound of elevator doors sliding shut. Something stopped them.

''Please, take her,'' Another replied.

''No! I want to stay with you.'' The little girl fretfully pleaded. ''Please! I want to stay. Mamma!''

''We'll-we'll see you when we get down... I promise.'' A woman softly spoke, seemingly on the verge of tears. A ding and the elevator doors shut, a rumble following. The screams were silenced.

You sat there in silence, everything else distant as the scene replayed in your mind. Could you have helped? Were you of any use? These questions swirled within your troubled mind, while on the ground the situation became dire...

The dragon was struck by the Devourer's tail and knocked to the ground, the snake itself slithering away while the others worried about the dragon. Lloyd turned to see his father, who stood at a distance.

''You came back!'' Lloyd shouted in surprise.

''Give me the weapons,'' Fourarmadon ordered. ''I am the only one who can handle the power of all four weapons at once. It's the only thing that'll defeat the Devourer.''

Jay glanced at the others. ''Uh, I thought we were supposed to do everything in our power not to let him possess the weapons.''

''I've ran every other scenario through my servers. It appears to be the only way.'' Zane informed the others.

''Give me the weapons,'' Garmadon repeated himself.

Zane looked over at Kai, the latter deep in thought. ''Kai?''

''Only I can destroy it. Or prepare to watch—'' The Captain of Chaos said.

''Quit your yammering and just do it.'' Kai interrupted, throwing his Sword of Fire over to him. ''When you have a chance to make the blow, it has a weak spot near his forehead.'' The others did the same, Jay being the last to hand his Weapon over.

Jay gave his Nunchucks to Garmadon. ''Uh, I don't think this needs to be said, but we're gonna need these back.''

Garmadon looked at each individual Weapon, chuckling. ''I'll do my part. You just make sure he stays in one spot.'' He laughed and then ran away with the Weapons in each hand.

''Stays in one spot?'' Jay questioned.''Stays in one spot!? How are we supposed to do that?''

''Don't forget: we're ninja.'' Kai reminded him.

The ninja began luring The Great Devourer through the city, taking turns. While sliding down their very nIce escape that Zane had graciously created while waiting for Jay, the two found their joy turned to horror when there was nowhere else to go, screaming.

Unexpectedly, the Ultra Dragon (as Lloyd dubbed it), caught them, with you at the reins, the other boys sitting on the saddle. A grin was on your face, but the dragon wasn't too happy with you at the reins, Flame's head emitting a short puff of smoke.

''You think it's working?'' Jay questioned.

''We're about to find out,'' Kai answered. The group spotted the Devourer below, biting its own tail. A cheer went out from the group.

'An Ouroboros, which signifies infinity and the cycle of birth and death.' Morro mused in your mind. You stilled a bit at his words, the others too caught up in celebration to notice.

''We did it!'' Cole cheered and you landed Ultra on a rooftop as the others got off. ''Now, where's Garmadon? He's not gonna hold on for much longer.'' The Earth Ninja questioned.

Nya helped you down into your wheelchair, a grin on her face as well.

''Look!'' Lloyd pointed upward as he shouted. The skies grew dark, engulfed with clouds while at the top of a skyscraper, Garmadon stood. ''Dad!''

''You are the reason evil runs through my blood.'' Garmadon proclaimed as purple energy streamed out from him. ''You bit me once. Now feel what it's like to be bitten back!'' The energy continued to be unleashed as he fell.

''Go get him, Dad,'' Lloyd whispered as he watched his father.

''Vengeance will be mine!'' The Lord of Darkness shouted. The purple light then disappeared as Garmadon hit the Devourer's weak spot, causing the snake to disappear as its venom spread through the city. The people of the city cheered.

''He did it.'' Jay looked out at the city, listening to the cheers.

''No, we did it!'' Cole happily replied, gazing at the others with a smile. His eyes met yours and his smile grew.

—

You sat in your wheelchair, looking from the roof at the building you heard the cries come from, which was now damaged beyond repair. Anytime you tried listening for someone, only silence returned, ringing in your head, a weight now on your shoulders with the knowledge you held.

''Hmm. So much for the ninja.'' Spoke a female voice. You perked up, listening intently.

A man sighed. ''Did you see that thing? Lord Garmadon single-handedly destroyed it. He's the real hero.''

''Brave little girl you are. Where are your parents, child?'' The female voice inquired. ''Do you have a name?''

''Hey, what're you doing?" A voice called from behind. You yelped, turning your head to spot Kai sauntering over with a smile on his face.

''Geez, no need to sneak up on me.'' You lightheartedly joked to keep him from worrying. The Fire Ninja seemed to become shy as he rubbed the back of his neck, meeting your gaze.

''Sorry.'' He smiled a bit.

''It's alright, just stop sneaking up on people.'' You chuckled.

''I'm a ninja.'' He winked at you. ''It comes naturally.''

You rolled your eyes, your smile becoming genuine as you thought of something. ''I always wondered where you got your ego from, Flamebrain.''

Kai's face lit up in mock offence. ''I'll have you know my father was a great man!'' He went still at the word for a moment before continuing. ''Maybe from my father.''

''Like father like son?" You questioned, then nodded to yourself. ''Seems legit.''

Remo appeared on your shoulders as he opened his eyes, looking around in confusion as he yawned tiredly. ''Man, that was a great nap. Got any ham sandwiches? I'm hungry.'' Kai's eyes were wide as he stared at the snake.

''Sorry, Remo, no ham sandwiches.'' You told the little snake, who 'awwed' in disappointment, then looked at Kai as he kept staring. ''Kai, take a photo, it'll last longer.''

Kai closed his mouth, clearing his throat. ''With all the chaos happening, I forgot he was there- wait, didn't he sleep on my pillow!?" You laughed along with Remo once the Fire Ninja had realised, staring at you with disbelief.

''Before you ask, he wanted to do it. I didn't put him there.'' You told him honestly.

Remo finished laughing, looking at Kai with a snort. ''Great job, Porcupine. You get a gold star.''

''Uh, you two have fun looking at the city, I guess,'' Kai told the two of you, turning and walking away.

'I can tell this will be more than just a friendship.' Morro grumbled.

''Be quiet, Morro.'' You mumbled under your breath. Morro was then quiet.

''Well, aren't you the Quiet One?"

If we ever get to Season 8, that'd be wicked. We did it on the first try, so if we're lucky (and I don't get screwed over), there will be a lot of things in store. Until then, I have some pret-ty interesting plots coming up in the near future. :)

Don't forget to vote, go wild with your comments and share this story if you love it. ♥️

Without further ado,

See ya, Bookworms.

WriterAgreste, over & out!