Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
AN ELECTRIC START!
1
I’m woken up by the noise of an alarm on my phone. I make it stop, and slowly open my eyes to be greeted with the empty grey ceiling. After closer inspection, it seems that it’s a sun filled day. ‘That should be cozy’ i think to myself. After a few more moments i slowly make my way from under the blankets. And i put on some looser fitting dark jeans, and lightweight purple hoodie that has a white tanktop underneath. I’m wearing dull black socks and put on my silly donut looking slippers. Entering the living room i see my best friend Jaden.
“hey sam, sleep well?” She asks me. “goodmorning. yeah i did, are you about to head out?” I say in return. Jaden is a little taller than me, i’m 1.78 cm and she’s 1.83. Jaden has ginger hair and freckles. And usually sports a stern serious look. Right now she’s wearing a combat ready outfit complete with armour on her shoulders and her knees, a katana, and a few straps for whatever she might carry. She's kind of a warrior.
“ever since the ninja left for Shintaro I've had to be out there more and more.” She sighs heavily. “at least i’ve got pixal to help me out though.” Jaden works together with the master of spinjitsu, protectors of the realm of ninjago. And currently the visitors of some magical kingdom. Jaden has been off more and more, which sucks because it means we don’t get to hang out as much.
“uuughhh that sucks. do you have to work tomorrow too?” I ask. “yeah, but i’m off from thursday til saturday.” Dope! i think. That almost exactly matches up with my schedule, i wonder if she did that on purpose. “i’ll make you pancakes before you leave tomorrow.” I say with a smile. “great, thanks!” she’s almost at the door now. “i’ll see you tonight, we’ll order in!” And with that said, the door slams shut.
Jaden might work for the ninja, but i have a boring job. I work at a restaurant. For the next hour, i prepare myself for my job. Preparing my lunch, making sure i have all my stuff in order, don’t want to forget anything of course. I’m so lucky that i basically just get to wear an apron and a hat. When i’m ready to leave, i make sure to grab my keys. Taking one final look and scan of the room to make sure i’ve got everything, and then i close the door.
2
AN ELECTRIC WORK DAY
Not having a bike or a car can be a big bummer from time to time. Luckily my work is only 7 streets from our apartment complex. When i reach the restaurant, i look at its sign. ‘chen’s noodle house’. Not anymore, chen’s daughter skylor runs this place now. I make my way to the back of the store, greeting some regulars as i do. “have a good morning?” Skylor asks me while i’m clocking in. “for sure. how about you?” I put on my hat and apron. We both make our way to the kitchen, me putting some knifes in their correct spots. “a little hectic, but nothing too bad honestly. not to be one of those people, but sometimes i really need a coffee before i’m approachable.” She answers. I laugh, and then she proceeds to tell me and the rest of my coworkers the specials of today. “the specials are duck noodles, the rainbow desert, and all the sushi on the menu. any of these will be 25% off today! so let’s get cooking!”
Skylor is an interesting character, her father ran this secret tournament way back when. Apparently the guy was really into snakes or something. He loved them so much that he wanted to become them, so much so he organised a fight club of sorts with a bunch of elemental masters, stealing their powers for his own spell. The ninja with the help of skylor defeated chen though, leaving all of the fortune and the restaurant to skylor. She saved most of it, put the rest into her restaurant, and sometimes donates money to the ninja for new vehicles. She also gives to the less fortunate. Seriously, i’ve never seen her let a homeless person leave without free food. and she really doesn’t do it for any praise. I guess going through what she went through with her father really just made her want to better herself.
Skylor has red hair and amber eyes, she’s 1.80 centimeters, so slightly taller than me. She has the elemental power to absorb other powers, which is pretty cool.
Me and the other cooks get busy with making the food for the customers. Sometimes it’s hard work, sweat will just be beading off your forehead, and your hands feel all clammy. Luckily it’s fall, because summer is hell, and that’s crazy considering we have air conditioning. I get an order for sushi with salmon, cucumber, rice, and seaweed. I prepare a large paper like sheet of seaweed and put a bunch of cooked rice on top of it, i cut the cucumber and salmon in a long horizontal way and carefully prepare them onto the rice. I then roll it up and cut it into small round sushi’s. After another 2.5 hours of cutting up vegetables, preparing noodles and various deserts, i am swamped. time for a break.
I’m making my way out to the alley. Apron and hat off, coat on. When i feel the cool autumn breeze on my skin, i realise that skylor and another colleague named madge are already there. Madge has cyan dyed hair, and an eyebrow slit. She’s a bit taller than me.
I plop myself down on two tires that are stacked onto each other and join in. “sooooooo, how’s the love life skylor?” Madge asks her. Skylor looks kind of embarrassed. “well.. kai still hasn’t really reached out to me. and i can’t lie, i think his sister digs me too?” She says. Madge puts her hand to her face and looks to the ground as an over the top disappointed look. I immediately jump in. “skylor, forget about him! you deserve way better! i feel like he’s leading you on or something…”
Skylor looks kind of unsure at me. Poor girl. Jaden has mentioned kai enough times for me to know that he should be a nice guy, but even nice guys break hearts. And skylor definitely deserves someone who puts her first. Maybe the sister she mentioned? “i don’t know.. it’s just kinda hard y’know?” I’m taking out my lunch from my lunchbox. a ham and cheese sandwich, simple yet effective. And a kinder chocolate egg that i TOTALLY didn’t steal from jaden. “no one’s forcing you, but maybe you guys should talk about this?” Madge says to her.
I take another bite of my lunch. Madge takes a drag of her cigarette i hadn’t even noticed this entire time, and speaks again. “and if that doesn’t work, kick his ass! besides, we’ve always got you babes.” I nod in confirmation that she too has my support. She laughs in an appreciative tone, looking a little flushed by madge’s statement.
“i’ll call him tonight.” She says. “if it doesn’t work, me and jaden are getting take out and you’ll be so invited to vent and rant.” I say with a smile. Skylor thanks me and goes back inside, her break is over. Madge takes another huff and looks at me. “did you hear about that new ice cream place down the block?” Madge asks. Taking the last bite from my sandwich, i nod before saying. “yeah, froyo dragon or something like that. why?”
She flicks her cigarette, and my eyes follow it til it’s on the ground. “well.. i went there a couple of days ago, and.. i know that it’s october, but their ice cream is to die for. it’s that good.” This conversation is getting so random so fast, but even i can’t deny that good ice cream is always good knowledge. “really? well, then i might just check it out soon.” I say. “let me know what you think!” She responds. Break time is over, and i make a sound that can only sound something like UUUUUGGHHHHH. I close up my lunchbox, and stand up. Me and madge go our separate ways, i put back on my apron and hat and get working.
3
AN EMPTY PROMISE?
When i’m off from work the streets are bustling. Everyone is making their way home, or making their way to something planned. I have my hands in my hoodie’s sack. My cheeks are a shade of dark purple because of the colder wind, but the warmth radiating off of the bodies of strangers keeps me mostly warm. I pass a crosswalk when i remember the fact we’re having take-out. for someone who works exclusively in a noodle restaurant, you’d think i would be done with seeing noodles and the likes. But i’m definitely not.
Sometimes skylor lets us eat some of the food that has to be thrown out in a couple of days. She’s very chill like that, and it scores her good boss points. A win win. I can see the apartment me and jaden share, and the light reflecting from the television. Jaden’s probably home already. I can’t describe the love i feel for her. She was my first ever friend, and she’s stood by me all these years. I cry on her shoulder when i’m sad, i laugh with her when i’m happy, she’s everything.
This is why i’m always excited to see her. We’re roomies after all, haha.
I stand in front of the entrance door. Fumbling around in my pocket looking for my tag. It’s this little green water droplet looking thing that opens the doors in our apartment complex. When i finally get hold of the little bastard, i open the front door. It makes a swooshing noise as it opens. I walk through and it makes another swooshing noise as it closes. Going up the smelly elevator is like trying to hold your breath under water. Someone apparently once dropped something fishy and they never fully got it out, so you have to hold your breath. The rest of the apartment complex is very clean though, they’ve got someone cleaning all the floors and stairs at least once a week. I’m not the most social person but i always make sure to greet them, and let them know what a great job they’re doing.
I run out of the elevator once the door opens and catch my breath. What a TERRIBLE smell. After a minute or two, i push a big grey button that opens another door. Another swoosh. Walking to our door, i’m imagining how good the food is going to be. I reach our front door and open it. “jaden i’m home!” I announce. But i don’t get any response. Maybe she’s sleeping? I step through our hallway, and past the kitchen. I’m staring at her navy colored door and knock. no response? is she sleeping?
I slowly open the door to find that she’s not there either. This feels off. My phone vibrates and i realise that the first thing i should’ve done was to try and text her. Sadly the vibration was a text from skylor, not jaden. I shoot her a text.
“hey! will you be long? do i need to order already?”
But ten minutes later i still don’t have a response. I’m in the living room now, on our orange couch. The television was still on because i forgot to turn it off before i left. I’m about to turn it off when something catches my eye. is that..? It’s her..
4
I’M SEEING PINK!
My eyes widen at the sight of jaden at a crossroad that’s littered with destruction. And who’s that floating in the midst of the chaos? Some kind of being made of stone? What’s going on? I reach for the remote, feeling the beads of sweat form on my forehead. I’m turning up the volume til my ears hurt, i watch and listen closely. “this is reporter gayle gossip of NGTV NEWS, and what you’re seeing here is some kind of villain destroying ninjago city! from the information we’ve gathered from witnesses and injured victims, the perpetrator is looking for a woman, and he won’t stop until he finds her.” These are the times where i wish i wouldn’t let jaden walk through that door. What am i thinking?! Letting her face all of those villains…
But i can’t have her stop doing it either can i? I don’t own her life, and i shouldn’t, it’s hers… Maybe i’m overreacting, she’s seen worse than some floating rock guy! But as i think those thoughts, gayle continues. “the ninja’s back up member jaden was just seen tossed across the street! and with the ninja nowhere to be found, we truly stand no chance!” My eyes widen in shock. I drop the remote, and fall to my knees. There’s a flicker of light in my eyes.
When after a few moments, i have collected myself, i begin preparing. My hoodie stays on but will now be accompanied by a brown belt that crosses my torso and back, meeting into a belt right above my waist that goes all around. The back of the belt has a sheath for a katana, which is exactly the weapon i shove into it. I find dark grey kneepads that i secure around my darker grey jeans, i’m ready. When i open the front door of our apartment i hesitate. Am i actually able to do this? i don’t have any combat experience, i could be crushed in a second.
But i have something better. I have my powers, and the love for my friend. No one is taking away my friend.
Again i make my way down to the bottom of our building. And while the streets aren’t empty, they feel barren. And the further i go the worse it gets. After a few streets i start to notice damage to the structures around me, but this is nothing like i saw on the television which means i can’t be too far. The feelings of anxiety and fear are slowly seeping into me more and more the closer i get, i’m still not sure what i will do once i arrive there, but i can’t lose jaden.
One street further, there’s cracks in the buildings and small pieces of debris on the ground. Another two streets further, cracks have turned into small ravine-like cracks and the small pieces of debris have turned into the size of my hands. Four streets from where its started is where i sense that i’m getting closer. Debris the size of smaller boulders, cars flipped with their alarms sounding, and buildings unstable. In the distance i can hear the one who’s causing all the chaos, all the destruction.
5
THE KEY
When i arrive, i hide silently behind a car. The villain looks more like diamond than stone from up close, his eyes a possessed green. He’s floating above the ground, his cloak flowing in the wind. It’s only once i see a piece of jadens armor on the ground, that i remember that i’m here to save her. Luckily the villain is more occupied with the destruction of the street than anything else. Arrogant prick.
Shakely, i make my way through piles of rubble. And with every stone i turn i get hotter and sweatier. I can’t find her. I can’t find my best friend, my light. Is she lost forever? No, she has to be around here somewhere. After another 5 piles of hopelessness and fear, i finally see something. Ginger hair. I make my way to where i see it, and when i see her i almost break down. Thank the first spinjitsu master. She’s here, she’s right here.
But she isn’t awake, so i try to wake her. “jaden?” I say unsure if she will respond. “jaden??” I shake her softly, so as not to break her. I feel my heart beating faster, which reminds me to check her vitals. When i put my ears to her chest i hear her heart beat. A sigh of relief escapes me, but this isn’t over yet. If jaden isn’t waking up, then i’ll have to carry her. So i get to carrying.
Unlike jaden, i don’t and have never had any training. So when i say that she’s the heaviest thing i’ve ever carried, i mean it. And.. we’re not even out of the first street before i’m spotted.
“you.. girl! reveal yourself..” The character calls out. Girl? I’m a grown woman an- That’s not the point. I try to continue but he shoots the orb at me. I do the best thing i can do which is throw jaden off of me, and jump away myself. It barely misses us and i turn around to face him.
The villain is shocked. “samantha… what a pleasure..” Pleasure? That’s not the first word that comes to my mind.
“how the hell do you know my name?!!” I yell, but it doesn’t matter. Because everyone involved knows where this is going. “You’re the key of course, the key to a place of darkness. And once i have you in my grasp i will rid this world of all its light.” Without warning he shoots his sphere at me again. This time i jump over it. The situation is making me see red, and without hesitation i’m feeling my hands shock and sputter. When i clap my hands together and release them, purple energy flows off of them. A purple lightning.
I shoot two bolts of it at the villain who blocks them with ease. “you look just like her. well, before…” He bursts out in laughter but i’m not laughing. So instead of a response i run towards a boulder sized chunk of what used to be a wall and use that to make my way upwards. My palms, forehead, and armpits are soaked with sweat and i feel my heart’s pace quicken. Is it the fear? Or am i that out of shape? It doesn’t matter because when i reach the end of the ‘wall’ i jump up with my right fist loaded with energy. And with a single punch against the villain, i release so much power
that he shoots backwards and crashes into a wall.
I spit on the ground. “take that you cuck!” But no time for celebrations. I make my way back to jaden who’s half awake now, but is too weak to walk on her own. We get out of the streets and make our way back to the apartment before the villain manages to wake up. Between the worry i carry for jaden, and the fear for the villain. I can’t stop thinking about it. Who was that? What does he want? Does he want me? A key? He said i was a key. For what? And how? I have so many questions, and only one place that might be able to answer them.