#misako is a bad mom but not an awful one

[swampythesweetsketch]

I'm gonna be controversial and say it now-

Misako should've had a bigger role in S7 Hands of Time.

I know she got brushed to the side to take care of Wu, but she'd been a much more interesting character if she got a active support role for Kai and Nya when the plot of their parents came in.

Like you got a mom that purposely left their child behind with the futile hope of changing the fate her child ultimately fell into- With a pair of kids whose parents legit vanished into thin air one day and they never found anything to answer the questions why and where did they go?

Just give Wu babysitting duty to one of the Ninja for a hour or something, let Misako get her time.

[senseiwu]

Personally, I think that Misako is an okay mom in canon. Was sending her kid to Darkley’s the best descision in the world? Probably not, but considering the fact that there is only like 1 other school mentioned in Ninjago and orphanages don’t seem to be a thing, it’s probable she didn’t have many other options (since Wu probably would be mourning Garmadon and would struggle to care for Lloyd and she probably didn’t have contact with the other elemental masters due to not being one). She did get better in later seasons, and she does try to be a good mom for Lloyd.

However, I can sort of understand why people like to make her a bad mom in fanfic. She’s a convenient person to use as an antagonist, either with her being intentionally malicious or accidentally causing Lloyd pain. This is also true with Garmadon, especially later seasons. This feels especially true with alternate universes, excluding the movie. I don’t think you should be forced to accept that, but it’s what I have gathered after talking to some people who write bad!Misako fanfic.

I don’t want to tell you what you should take from this, but I think that it’s interesting how people are willing to twist a character to be very out of character for the sole purpose of making them an antagonist. Feel free to ignore this.

See i don't think it's right to twist a character to make them an antagonist

Even when making stuff for family au with Lar, Maya and Ray, I'm constantly asking myself "is this in character? Or is this too much? Is my hatred of him distorting how he would act?"

Even with Garmadon I'm like that. And he's a very convenient person to make an extreme antagonist.

But again.

I don't care what people think about her

I care about people coming onto others posts and being awful

I care about people tagging hate posts with the main tags. Not making any effort to hide it from search results

And im allowed to be upset that my favourite characters are often twisted and demonised and barely resemble themselves in fanworks. Not saying that's not what you're saying, but. I don't know.

[echo-lore]

More Firstbourne au thoughts cause that’s what I’m calling it

Kai went fucking crazy when he heard what Misako did to Lloyd, like full on was ready to demolish her. He was the one taking care of Garmadons side of the family when Lloyd was born so when he had the chance he immediately told Nya.

They both agreed that her actions were wrong. Not just wrong they were awful and fucking disgusting. So while a part of them still wanted to protect her (she was part of the family and both wu and Garmadon loved her and they knew that if Garmadon had a hold of his senses, he would never forgive them if they hurt Misako) they coundnt just forgive for what she done to Lloyd. Kai didn’t really care, he wasn’t gonna protect someone who would willingly leave their kid, for research purposes of all things. Nya also agreed, but if Garmadon was ever to come back she didn’t want him to hate them (Garmadon is her favorite, no you cannot change my mind).

So they made the compromise of just cutting her out, they wouldn’t actively protect her, but they wouldn’t actively try to murder her. Later on, when the gang find Lloyds mom in the museum, and she starts staying with them in the bounty, They go off.

They just wait still she is alone in her room and just explode on her. How could she leave Lloyd? For research? Could she have not just taken Lloyd with her? And if leaving Lloyd was absolutely necessary (which they were adamant that it wasn’t) why did she pick darkleys of all schools? If she really already knew he was the green ninja, why put him in a school of bad kids? Was she just lying? Or was she just so idiotic to believe he would be able to fit in with the kids at darkleys? Misako didn’t have answers, she thought it was the best thing she could have done at time and she greatly regrets it, but understands if they never forgive her.

Nya says it’s not them who have to forgive her, but Lloyd. They don’t tell her this but once she gets Lloyds forgiveness and actively tries to be better, then they’ll bring her under their protection again.

Also I think this would be the first time Misako sees them in their human form and not as a shapeshift person, mostly because they were asked by Wu and Garmadon to not oversee there life’s 24/7 after they became adults. But they are dragons, so they would still visit and have an eye on them quite regularly by shapeshifting into different people.

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #836: Doing the Jack-O Challenge (Super Smash Bros Ultimate)

2:35 p.m. at Smash Mansion's Living Room......

Palutena: (Walks By the Living Room) Hey, Bayo, got any plans for- (Immediately Stops Walking While Her Eyes Widened at What's In Front of her) today?....

Bayonetta: (Happily Waves at her Girlfriend While in a Sort of Crouch like Position) Hello, my darling goddess!~ How's it going?~

Palutena: Uhh.....Bayo? What exactly are you doing right now?

Bayonetta: I'm doing the Jack-O Challenge.

Palutena: (Raised an Eyebrow into More Confusion) The Jack-O what now?

Bayonetta: Jack-O Challenge. It's the new trend on the internet where everyone is trying to imitate a woman doing a fairly unusual crouching position.

Palutena: Okay. So......why exactly are you doing it yourself?

Bayonetta: To see if I have what it takes to do it myself. I seem to be doing a fairly decent job at it, don't you think?

Palutena: (Trying her Hardest Not to Stare at Bayonetta's Butt for Too Long While Blushing) Yeah.....You are.... REALLY getting the hang of it so far....oh gosh......

Bayonetta: (Giggles Softly) Awwwww~ Am I making my beautiful goddess flustered back there?~

Palutena: (Immediately Glares at Bayonetta) N-NO! It's just.....The whole "Jack-O Challenge" or whatever the hell you're doing had just took me by surprise is all.

Bayonetta: Perhaps....(Starts Wiggling her Butt Left and Right in a Bit of a Seductive Manner) But you ARE enjoying the view, right?~

Palutena: (Facepalms Herself While Sighing in Defeat) I am....... Honestly, why do you always have to be a tease?

Bayonetta: It's just who I am, baby. (Starts Smirking Teasingly) That and and it's always amusing to see you blush like a cherry blossom~

Palutena: ('Sigh') Fair enough. Just try not to get yourself hurt, okay?

Bayonetta: I'll be fine, darling~ This is already feeling like a cakewalk already. (Turns to Palutena) Care to tag along?

Palutena: Wait. You....want me to do the challenge with you?

Bayonetta: (Smiles Brightly) Of course I do, dear~ It wouldn't be fun do this all alone. Plus, it could be good exercise for the both of us to endure together.

Palutena: It does seems to fit the role of an exercise......(Nodded in Agreement) Alright. I'll join you as soon as I get change. (Make Her Way Back Upstairs) Don't hurt yourself while I'm gone!

Bayonetta: 'Kay! ('Sigh Dreamily') I love that adorable goddess so much~

Few Minutes Later......

Dark Pit: (Walks in the Living Room With Misako and Kyoko) So you're telling us the whole big foot stories we're all false?

Misako: Yep. I mean seriously, who would be dumb enough to believe all of- (Eyes Widened at What is in Front of Her) That?.......

Kyoko: (Eyes Widened in Genuine Awe) Wooooah......

Dark Pit: What fresh hell am I looking at now?.....

Bayonetta: (Waves at Her Angel Son While Still Doing the Jack-O Crouch Along With Palutena) Hi, sweetie!~

Palutena: (Trying her Hardest to Keep her Balance in Check) H-Home so soon?

Pit: Yeah.....We were going to watch some TV in living room till we see you two here doing..... whatever this is.

Misako: Are you guys actually doing the Jack-O Challenge right now?

Bayonetta: Right on the money, my dear!~

Dark Pit: (Raised an Eyebrow in Confusion) The hell is the Jack-O Challenge?

Misako: (Turns to Dark Pit) You know that crouching animation Jack-O does in the game? Apparently it gotten popular enough that it became an actual challenge on the internet.

Kyoko: (Smiles Brightly) And Jack-O is one of the reincarnations of Sol Badguy's girlfriend.

Misako: Who was killed in some kind of freak accident or something....I think she first started off as Justice at one point....(Noticed Dark Pit Was About to Say Something Before She Continues) She become the first Gear that was hell-bent on causing chaos and destruction..... It's best not to ask.

Dark Pit: ..............Oooookay......(Turns Back to his Moms) Why are you two even doing this to begin with?

Bayonetta: Out of curiosity, of course.

Palutena: (Still Trying her Hardest to Hold Still) Your....mother.... asked me...to....do this....with her.....so I figured....."Sure!"...."Why...noTTT! (Finally Fell Down on her Face)

'Thud'

Palutena: (Winces a Bit in Pain) Uggh..... Damnit....

Misako: You're alright, Mrs. P?

Palutena: (Sighs While Sitting Up) Yeah..... I'll be fine, kiddos. This challenge is getting tougher than I thought it would be.....(Turns to Bayonetta) How were you able to do this so perfectly?

Bayonetta: Simple: I've been stretching my body for centuries now that I might have perfected the arts of flexibility at this point. (Gives her Girlfriend a Reassuring Smile) But there's shouldn't fret though. You were doing great so far.

Palutena: (Smiles Back) Thanks.....Been a long time since I've done some...(Starts Stretching her Upper Body) Actually stretches!......('Sigh a Bit Heavily'') I'm still rusty....(Turns to the Kids) Sorry. Did you three still wanna use the living room? Cause we can get out of your hair if you-

Dark Pit: Nah. I think we're good. You two were obviously here first, so we might as well go back to town to do something else.....(Turns to his Two Girlfriends) If it's already with you guys.

Misako: (Shrugs) I'm down.

Kyoko: (Happily Raises her Hand) Ooh! Can we get some ice-cream first?~

Dark Pit: .....Sure. (Turns Back to Palutena Before Heading Towards the Door) Try not to hurt yourself next time, okay mom?

Palutena: I try....You three be careful out there in the streets, okay?

Bayonetta: And you two girls be sure to take good care of our precious angel boy while you're out there!~

Dark Pit: I can take care of myself, Witch Mo-

Misako: (Waves Goodbye at The Ilder Couple) Don't worry, Mrs. B & P! You're baby boy is already in good hands.

Dark Pit: (Gives Misako ba Deadpinned Look While Opening the Door) Really?

Misako: (Smirks Playfully at Dark Pit While Walking Out With Him) Really.

Kyoko: (Happily Waves Goodbye to the Couple) Bye, Mrs. B & P!~ Good luck on the exercise!~

Bayonetta: Thank you, darling!~

Palutena: Have a good and safe time!~

'Door Close'

Dark Pit: (Walks Out of the Mansion's Porch With his Girlfriends Following Along) Well, that was something.

Misako: Tell me about it. Didn't know your moms would try and do that sort of stuff.

Dark Pit: Neither did I. Hell, I didn't know that whole Jack-O Challenge meme was even a thing until now.

Misako: Oh, it been around for a while. It just wasn't as popular then until now.

Kyoko: You know, I've been thinking..... Maybe we should give it a try too. As a training exercise

Dark Pit/Misako: (Turns to Kyoko) Training exercise?

Kyoko: (Happily Nodded) Yeah. It could help our back and leg muscles to get more stronger and flexible by each minute.

Misako: That's.... actually not a bad idea, Kyoko.

Dark Pit: Yeah. I mean, I'll doubt we'll be able to last that long do, but.... it's worth a try. Good thinking, babe.

Kyoko: Is it good enough to buy your cute girlfriend a Triple Decker Sundae?~

Dark Pit/Misako: No.

Kyoko: Damnit!

@keyenuta

@caleb13frede

@ma-lemons

@cyber-wildcat

@mariah2014

@illyrilex

@cyber-wildcat

[baja-blasph3my]

The Unsung Ninja

Guys! I finally finished it after 10000 years! Here's the product of the beautiful Ninjago Twins AU by @stanrandomthings!

Summery: The ninja are sent on a mission to retrieve ancient artifacts. It goes well and they return to the Bounty. Unfortunately, a mishap caused one of the artifacts, a scroll in cased in glass, to shatter. That wasn't the worst of it, the old paper inside holds a bombshell and Misako has a lot to explain.

Warnings: slight language

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"ooh man, that was awesome!" Jay cheered as he carried one of the artifacts, a scroll incased in beautifully crafted glass, onto the Bounty. The mission had gone as planned. The night sky was shrouded in clouds, casting a dark shadow over the temple. With this, the roaring of the waterfall, and the humming of the forest, the enemies never heard or saw them coming. Just what ninja need to work their magic.

"Did you see me?!" He continued to bounce around in pride.

"I didn't quite see what you did but it must have been spectacular" Zane assured the blue ninja while placing another artifact on the deck.

"Yeah! I went like this! Then like this! I ran right past this guy and he didn't even see me! Just like a real proper ninj-" Right when he began to finish the exaggerated sentence, he threw his hands up and jumped back. Unfortunately, Nya had been right behind. Anyone could guess what happened next. With a scream, thud, crash, and a few ows, the two fell into a tangled mess on the floor. The scroll went flying out of Jay's hand and crashed on the deck. It’s crystal capsule shattering and the fragile paper roll unfurled.

Recovering from the fall, Jay realized what just happened. In his blind excitement he ran over Nya and destroyed the artifact.

“Sorry Nya…” he shamefully wheezed out. Great job Jay. Act like a kid, trample the love of your life and destroy a priceless piece of history.

As the Master of Lightning scolded himself, the female ninja forgave and walked over to inspect the damage. This was gonna be hell and a half to clean up all this glass. The scrap of yellowed paper layed shriveled upside-down. Out of curiosity, she gently lifted and turned it over. Looking at the exposed side, there was something wrong about it.

"uh guys? You might wanna see this..." Nya waved the others over as she was pouring over the unraveled scroll on the floor. Judging by the confusion and worry on her face, it was serious.

"What is it?" The team said in almost unison as they gathered around the scroll, looking at it's sprawled out interior. It was tattered and faded from age. The yellowed paper was also ingrained with millions of crinkles. Most of the writing in a language ancient and unknown, only a few symbols were recognizable. From just this, someone would have had brushed it off and deemed it just senseless chicken scratch. But the drawings depicted on the bottom were more than that. There, two figures were pictured in failing colors. The one on the right in faded green. The other in dull gold. Their forms were unmistakably ninja, seeming to be channeling energy at one another. Where it met, the colors intertwined to form a dragon. Within the dragons jaw, there was a bleeding black figure.

"Woah..." most of them whispered in awe. The others may have been fascinated, but the ancient scroll deeply unsettled Lloyd. He knew that green figure was supposed to be him, the Green Ninja. The problem lied with the other figure. Who was this? Who is this supposed to be? From the depiction, it seemed these people were connected somehow. Who was Lloyd supposed to be tied to? Was it him and his golden power? Could it be the First Spinjitzu Master? All this was making his head spin. The mangled figure was equally disturbing, that was his father. Just looking at it would make these assumptions worse and worse. The real meaning was hidden in the text.

"Zane, do you think you can translate it?" Lloyd asked the nindroid. It may be a dead language but he was a walking computer. There's countless other artifacts like this, from them Ninjago found it's history. There had to have been a translation.

“I can try, but there’s no guarantee it’ll be accurate or translatable.” The nindroid stated, casting a blue glow upon the paper as he scanned it. After completing, it took a few moments to receive an answer.

“Translation successful, reading it out now….”

"Born of son and woman, two descendants are to be birthed. A son of green, a daughter of gold. Blessed are they by the first, for they are to inherit his power and destined to protect his creation from their dark father."

"Holy sh!t", Most of them breathed.

"It is best that you watch your language." Wu stated from behind them. Twisting around, they saw the old master making his way over the deck.

"Good, maybe he could tell us one of the million things he never did," Kai growled, snatching up the scroll and storming to meet his master halfway.

“Wu!” He shoved the scroll in his face, “Why did you never tell us about a Gold Ninja!?”

"What? I.....I honestly did not know of this," the old master breathed in bafflement, taking and closely examining the scroll to make sure it wasn't mistranslated or forged. "Perhaps it is a false prophecy."

"No. I'm afraid it's true." Misako solemnly stood on the deck. All of them turned to face her sudden presence. "Forgive me what I'm about to tell you. I'm a fool for hiding it too long. Bring the scroll and come inside. It's about time I get this off my chest." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Again, I'm sorry for not saying this earlier. I thought I would never have to."

"Lloyd," Misako said softly, settling her hands on the ones of her son. "You weren't an only child. You were a twin..."

"When they were born. I knew that both of them, Lloyd and his sister, would be destined to fight their father. The boy would become the Green Ninja, Master of Power. The girl would be the Gold Ninja, Master of the Golden Power. I had read it in several scrolls and other ancient writings. I refused the idea of my children being forced to live with all of Ninjago on their shoulders. So I spoke to their grandfather, The First Spinjitzu Master."

"I begged him if I could change the scrolls and never let them become ninja. It took some convincing, but he finally agreed. I could rewrite the legends to only speak of the Green Ninja, the Gold Ninja was erased from existence." Misako glanced at the scroll in front of her with sad and defeated eyes. "Or so I thought."

"I left Lloyd at Darkly's and continued to prevent him from becoming the Green Ninja. While I took his twin far away. Far away from her father, Wu, you guys, and her destiny."

All hell broke loose now. The ninja were uproarious with frustration. Why had she kept this from them for so long. This wasn’t some little secret like taking the last donut. This was world changing truth. A Gold Ninja? The Master of the Golden Power? Lloyd had already became the Gold Ninja but now they were told he was never supposed to and someone else was to naturally hold it? Lloyd had a twin sister literally no one else knew about? A sister? First she totally abandons her son and now she tells him that he had a sister all along? How could she? All these years and now a single peep? They sure could of really used a Gold Ninja all those times they almost got killed.

"ENOUGH!" Wu shouted at the top of his lungs, slamming his staff on the table. All at once the ninja quieted, stopping mid sentence and quickly closed their mouths. Sitting back down in fear of what their Sensei could do next.

"I have had it with your hateful hollerings! If anyone should be screaming, it should be me! Look what you have done to her!" He scolded his students, gesturing over to Misako. At this point, the poor elder woman was barely holding on to herself. The harsh words of the ninja left her a wreck. Covering her head on the table, the muffled weeping shook her old frame.

They begrudgingly apologized, still heated and unfazed at what damage they caused. Then taking a deep breath, he turned to Misako and calmly asked, "Why haven't you said anything all these years?"

“One of my children was already destined to have a dangerous path that could lead him to death! I wasn’t going to curse my other child to the same fate!” She screamed, choking on sobs.

At this moment, Lloyd felt like a mountain had fallen on him. Did his mother just say she threw this all on him to protect his sister so she would have to go through anything? He's being put in the grinder for her? Talk about Mother of the Year. Cursing one kid to save the other. If she know this was going to happen, why did she even have them? Hell, why did she even get with his father in the first place. If Garmadon hadn't faked Wu's letter for his own, none of this would have happened. Sure he wouldn’t exist but after all this he kind of wanted that. To just disappear, so he wouldn't have to deal with this bombshell.

“Go outside and don’t come back in until you realize what you've done.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You know what? Sensei's right. We shouldn't take this all out on her. She just wanted to protect her kids." Cole decided, kicking a glass shard off the deck.

“yeah,” Jay agreed, “I feel really bad for yelling at her now.”

“yes, we took the situation to an extreme. It was a bombshell for sure but to hurt Misako like that was unnecessary.”

“Agreed, we don’t have the right. If anyone should be angry, it should be Lloyd.”

“I just,” Lloyd started then sighed heavily, “I’m just so tired of not being told things, lied to, and thrown under the bus. My mom just said she left me to be the Green Ninja alone. Just so my sister didn’t have to suffer too.”

“But think about it Lloyd," Kai put his hand on the young man's shoulder, "if you didn't become the Green Ninja, Ninjago would be dead meat. Without you, the Overlord could of took over, or Garmadon, or a million other bad things would of happened.”

Kai was right. Without him as the Green Ninja, everything would have been long gone. Maybe Misako didn’t through this all on him just because she never loved him. She did it to protect Ninjago, because if no one protected it, there would be no safe place for his sister or him.

“well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go find her.”

Lmao I didn't really proof read this so sorry if there's mistakes

[princesskeda]

Heart of the Oni

After the supposed deaths of their friends and family, Nya, Lloyd, Pixal, and Misako cope with the aftermath of Harumi’s rein and try to move on with the help of some old friends. But not everyone grieves the same way. Meanwhile in the First Realm, the ninja are trying to survive and find a way home. Post S8, this started out as a speculative fiction about S9 but its so much more.

CHAPTER 4

4

Cole went to close off the entrance to cave.  For lack of any better options, he had spent the better part of their last hour of sunlight blasting a cavity into the side of one of the rock formations. It wasn’t pretty, but it would hopefully keep them safe for the night.

              “Don’t close it off, boulder brain!  How the heck are we supposed to breath?” Jay complained, stopping his friend.

              “Like this” It was Kai who answered him, using his fire to blast a smaller hole near the top of the cave and out into the night air.

              Jay looked at the hole and then back at Cole, who shrugged and closed off the opening.  Soon they were huddled together in the cramped, dark space.  The only light was weak and blue, emanating from Zane.

              “Oh…I wish we had a fire or something.  I hate cramped spaces…” Jay complained, wrapping his arms around his knees.   Kai lit up his hand in reply.

              “But I can’t do this all night.  Too bad there aren’t more plants around or we could have a real fire.”

              “Oh…I can think of a few things to burn…” Jay replied, eyeing Wu and his little stick of pain. Wu caught his glare and hid behind Cole, poking his head out and waving his stick.

              “Bad Jay…bad bad Jay!”

              “Would you guys cut it out?” Cole asked, exasperated.  He was exhausted after the last hour and didn’t feel like listening to fighting all night. He pulled Wu into his lap, trying to calm him down.

              “Sorry…Mom.” Jay muttered.  Cole rolled his eyes.  Silence ensued for a few more moments.  As usual, Jay broke it.

              “Wait…do you think our parents know what happened to us? Or Lloyd…or Nya??”

              The other Ninja looked up.  Zane frowned in concentration.

              “It’s hard to say whether anyone witnessed the Colossi destroy our ship, or if anyone witnessed us escaping off of it.  With no witnesses our friends may have just uncovered the destroyed bounty.  But perhaps they will think that we escaped.”

              “No chance.” Cole cut in. “Garmadon and Harumi will tell everyone we’re dead.  It’s the best way to ensure fear in the populace.  And we aren’t exactly around to prove them wrong.”

              “Great.  So now everyone thinks we died.” Kai punched the wall in frustration.  “We don’t even know if everyone else made it out ok. Last we saw Lloyd was stuck on that tram with Harumi.”

              “Oh my gosh!  What if Lloyd saw us? Maybe he saw us use the traveler’s tea…” Jay cut in.

              “By my calculations, the angle that Lloyd would be watching from would more likely give off the impression that we were crushed by the colossi.”

              “Uhhhgh, then everyone really does think we’re dead.”  Jay leaned back on the wall, and then sat back up. “My parents!  This is going to kill them!”

              Kai groaned and put his head in his hands. “I’m such an idiot.  The last thing I said to my sister was that Ninja don’t last forever.  I just hope that she can pull through this.  She’s never lost anyone when I’m not around to help her…”

              “Nya!  This is gonna kill her too!” Jay agreed, seeming to get more panicked by the minute. Then after a moment: “Who do you think she will miss more?”

              Zane smacked him across the back of the head.

              “OooOW! OKAY…maybe not the most sensitive question…”

But Zane wasn’t listening, already lost in his own thoughts.  

              “P.I.X.A.L and I were just reunited…and now we have been separated all over again.  I wonder what she will think of all of this.”

              Jay patted his back. “I’m sure your robot girlfriend will be fine.”  Zane just shook his head.  

              “I am afraid she will blame herself.  She wasn’t fighting the Collosi anymore when we were taken or she would have been there to help.  She must have gone to assist Lloyd or the others.”

              “Speaking of just being reunited…we just found our parents.  At the moment they’re off in who knows where.  I wonder when they will even know I’m missing…” Kai added.

              “I wonder if Cliff Gordon misses me.” Jay said wistfully.

              “Who?” Kai asked, confused.

              “They guy who plays Fritz Donnagon!”

              “And why would that guy miss you Jay?”

              Once again, Jay went a shade of red. “Because…because I’m his biggest fan, of course.” he finished lamely.  Kai shook his head.

              “I doubt he even knows you were ever born Jay, let alone that that you’re dead.”

              “You’d be surprised…” Jay muttered to himself.  

Only Cole wasn’t joining in on the conversation.  He just seemed to be staring off into space, inadvertently pulling Wu closer to him.  The toddler had fallen asleep and was snoring softly.

              “Cole? Are you alright?” Zane asked, pulling his friend from his thoughts.  

              “Huh? Me? Yeah, I’m fine” Cole said, trying to pull off a lighthearted laugh.  

              “It’s ok if you’re worried about your father, Cole.” Zane said kindly. Cole’s fists seemed to clench on their own.

              “Nah…no need to worry about him.  As long as Garmadon hasn’t shut down his performing group I’m sure he will be just fine.” he said.  He shifted Wu’s position in his arms.

              “I’m sure that…”

              “I said I’m fine.” Cole said again, in a tone that let Zane know that he was done talking about it.  The other ninja made eye contact, eyebrows raised.   It appeared they had encroached on a sensitive topic.  The truth was, Cole wasn’t even sure his father was mourning his loss.  He figured he should feel better knowing that his father wouldn’t be sad or angry or distraught…but somehow the thought of him continuing on with his life just as he always had made Cole feel very alone.   He had seen it before, when his mother had died.  Wu had said that singing and dancing was just Lou’s way of dealing with grief, but to Cole it felt like it was his father’s way of dealing with everything.  

All that would come of my loss will be a new hit single.

Cole thought bitterly. As the silence after Cole’s snap stretched longer, it seemed like a good time for the Ninja to try to get some sleep.

              Ronin stared up at the sign in front of the junkyard. Usually it was lit up with blinking neon…but the sign had been dark for the last couple of days.  He sighed and willed himself to approach the little trailer in the junkyard’s center.   He really hadn’t wanted to take this one, but Nya seemed more adamant against doing it than he did.  Something about a dinner date that she and Jay had never got to have with them, or something.  And now they never would.

              After he knocked, he could hear a little scuffling inside.  

              “Oh, Ed…do you suppose that’s him?  Maybe he escaped after all and has come home.”

              “Now, Edna…I told you not to get your hopes up.” But the hope in his own voice betrayed Ed’s true feelings.  The door swung open, and Ronin tried not to cringe at the crushing disappointment in the eyes of the junkyard owners.

              “Ah… Mr. Ronin…what an unexpected…er..surprise…” Ed said, trying his best to still be polite.  

              “Look, I didn’t mean to intrude on your afternoon…but I needed to share some information with you. Can I come in?” He winced inwardly as the hope seemed to light back in their eyes.  He had expected to find the couple mourning the loss of their only son. Instead, he found them clinging onto a hope that he was still out there…and he decided that the latter was harder to watch.  

              “You’re in luck, Mr. Ronin.  I just finished up another one of my famous crumb cakes.” Edna said as he took a seat on their couch.

              “Ah…thanks Mrs. Walker.   But I don’t mean to…”

              “Is our son alright Mr. Ronin? That’s why you came…right?  Because it’s too gosh darn dangerous for him to make his way to the junkyard on his own. That would be too obvious…”

              How the heck am I supposed to do this? Ronin thought.  I signed up to tell them about a funeral, not break it to them that Jay really is dead.  Better to just rip it off…like a bandage.

              “Actually, Mr. Walker, I came to invite you to the funeral.”

              The home fell into immediate silence, which was broken by the crashing sound of a plate of crumb cake hitting the ground.

              Ok…maybe that wasn’t the best course of action after all.

              “What I mean is…we wanted to do something to commemorate the loss of the Ninja…you know…”

              “But Mr. Ronin, our Jay is not lost” Edna cut in, her voice chillier than normal.   “Just because no one has seen him and because Lord Garmadon says he is dead….well, gee willikers, that don’t mean nothing to us.”

              “Now…Edna…” Ed’s voice was suddenly heavier.  He actually was getting on in years, Ronin realized.  He was always so perky and cheerful that it was hard to remember.  But in moments like this it was easy to see the years weighing down on him.

              “It’s tonight.  I know it’s not much notice, but we don’t really have the luxury of drawn out party plans.” He said, standing.  He had to get out of here…Edna had come behind her husband and they were holding hands.  No doubt that tears were en route, and Ronin and seen enough of those recently to last him a lifetime.  

              “The place to meet.” He finished, handing them a card. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you…we need you to be as discreet as possible.”  And with that, the thief hurried from the Walker’s home.

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[falconfriend]

Ninjago holiday episodes:

Ninjagan New Year: episode comes out to honor Chinese New Year, and the weird blend of Japanese and Chinese culture that Ninjago is based on. It’s probably actually pretty respectful.

Father’s Day: a set of mini-episodes. I still don’t know what’s up with Maya and Ray, but I’m sure someone who’s up to date in the series can deal with that.

Jay tries to take his dad on a “guys’ night out,” but then the trailer’s plumbing breaks and they gotta fix it, and on the way into town the bus they’re riding breaks down and Ed gets his nice outfit all covered in oil helping repair it, and when they finally get to their stop Ed lingers on the bus to talk to a robot because he didn’t know they were everywhere in the city by now! And you said you’re a barista? And they miss their stop, and when they get there the restaurant is closed. When Jay finally blows up because he’s frustrated and today was supposed to be perfect, and he can’t make anything go right - Ed stops him right there and explains that this is the most fun he’s ever had. He really just wanted a good night with his son, and they’ve spent it doing all the things he loves!

Cole spends days trying to put together something his dad will like. There’s a song and dance number, just as a concession to him, there’s a card, and he’s gonna make a nice, family dinner, just the two of them. Except then he spots a bank robbery on the way over to his dad’s house, and of COURSE none of the others are answering their phones, so he’ll just have to take this. And he does- but then when he gets home the card in his pocket is ruined, and his dad’s been waiting, and Cole explains himself but Lou’s like son it’s okay, I know you’re a ninja first, and Cole has some schmoopy “no, I’m your son first” and they hug and eat Cole’s terrible chili that they pretend to like for, like, two bites, before Cole suggests maybe ordering takeout instead.

We start out with Lloyd talking with Misako in the morning, a one-sided conversation, before Zane picks him up and they spend the day together. Little memorial services, each of them saying a couple kind words about the other’s dad, going out to get ice cream. There’s a conversation about how Wu was a father figure to Zane but never really to Lloyd but that was okay, because Lloyd got four older brothers and a sister instead, and that’s all he could ask for.

Wu has a very small moment at the end, visiting what remains of the old monastery. Misako is there, probably, not in a Wusako sense but just to quietly put a hand on his shoulder.

Mother’s Day: Jay doesn’t know what to get his mom, because he’s done every DIY gift in the book. Clay potpourri bowl? Check. Decoupage jar vase? Check. Small Rube Goldberg machine to make her breakfast in bed? Did that twice, failed miserably, she loved it anyway.

Jay is super embarrassed by his mom’s insistence on inviting everyone over for dinner and showing off all the embarrassingly bad gifts he’s made her, ugh she’s just so overbearing, moms, amirite-?

Cole, Kai and Lloyd put him in his place real fast and the moral of the story is that Jay learns to appreciate his mom!

Zane Saves Winter (aka The Not-Christmas Special): An ancient, magical volcano has emerged in the middle of New Ninjago City overnight, somehow, bringing with it an army of Magmen Warriors and probably Samukai again! Turns out there’s something Wu hasn’t told you, again. Can the ninja defeat the weird volcano and banish it to some other volcano realm?

Probably! But Zane gets distracted by a little girl whose snowman is melting and helps her rebuild it- and then by a couple who was trying to have the perfect winter wedding, and remakes their ice sculpture five times as large- and no matter how many times one of the others annoyedly shouts “come on, Zane!” he just keeps being sidetracked!

But it turns out Sensei is ashamed of everyone else and proudest of Zane, who saw the chance not to save Ninjago’s day but to save its citizens’ days, and the other ninja area little upset because Sensei we just defeated an entire volcano did you SEE that but also they were being flashy and show-offy and were shown sending volcano-bits flying into snow forts and piloting their vehicles through sled-races so technically Wu’s not wrong.

Then everything was melty and awful but Zane makes it snow the end.

Hanukkah: I know we’re not getting religious winter holiday episodes and I’m not even Jewish I just want this episode so badly because…. Juliens.

This one’s a flashback to pre-Rebooted, the Juliens have invited everyone over for a meal and everything is great. Dr. Julien’s got presents for all the kids even though they’re like 17 or something now. Maybe there’s a brief goofy Treehorn attack to give us some Ninjago-style miniepisode conflict. That is all.