꧁𓊈𒆜"Chapter Sixteen"𒆜𓊉꧂
Nothing left.

Finding my father with a bunch of Serpentine was not something I figured I'd come across upon finding him.

After two days if searching, it was a little hard to not notice the exact replica of The Destiny's Bounty but in all black and purple instead of red and brown.

I quickly learned that he had given them a share of his power over Ninjago in return for their loyalty.

Upon finding my Father, I was accepted beside him easily. He got me better clothes, sorted out a room for me, and had ordered the Serpentine make a throne similar to his for me to sit beside him on.

For the first few days the only thing on my mind was guilt. All I could think about was how Lloyd would've woken up to the biggest surprise in his life.

But it had to be done.

The more he hated me, the easier him fighting me would be.

I was treated like some sort of Royalty and I loved it.

Admittedly, it was stroking my ego a little too much, but I couldn't help it.

When people looked up to you and addressed you as 'My Lord' constantly, it gets into your head.

"Your Eminence," A snake by the name of Memzo called upon my father, "Excuse my ignorance, but why is it we fly in the opposite direction of the Ninja, when you have the Golden Weapons in your possession?"

That was another thing that made me confident within my power.

After my Father had the final hit on the Great Devourer, he took off with the Ninja's Golden Weapons. How genius!

"Because they have my son, and it is written that he will one day defeat me. What good would turning Ninjago into my own image be when that victory would be fleeting?" He bared his teeth.

"Then we destroy Lloyd!" Another snake jumped up at the suggestion.

I almost leapt out of my chair, but my Father beat me to it.

"Lock him in the brig!" He hissed, "No one will touch my son," He glared, watching the snake get dragged away, "But by getting rid of Sensei Wu and those insufferable Ninja, Lloyd will never reach his full potential. The prophecy will never be fulfilled, and Ninjago will be mine...ours,"

Father looked at me and offered me a small smile.

For the first time in a while, I returned it.

His plan worked.

I didn't know Uncle Wu that well to care for him massively, so getting him out of the picture didn't do much to me.

The Ninja? Sure, they might be a problem, but if my Father and I kept growing then what good would they be without a master? And Lloyd would never become strong enough to fight us, therefore a fight would never happen and we'd never have to hurt him.

My Father was evil, but he put the genius in Evil Genius.

"Uh, but why are we flying in away?" One asked again.

"We are flying to the Golden Peaks, birthplace of the Golden Weapons. Even they have secrets yet to be unlocked. And once I uncover their full potential, nothing will stand in our way," He explained thoughtfully, glancing over to the door locked thoroughly with the weapons inside.

"We'll be powerful, right Father?" I added, enjoying the way he turned to me with a glimmer in his eye.

"More so then we already are,"

...

"Ashton,"

I turned around, glancing at my father with a small frown on my face.

Staring at the terrain below us was something I did often as the days on this ship passed, more so at night.

It was strange for my Father to interrupt my thoughts.

"Why have you kept that Gi?" He glowered.

My stomach dropped.

Had he been through my things?

That duffle bad had been shoved under my bed. I never wanted to see it again.

So why did you bring it with you?

"I'm-- I'm not sure Father," I admitted truthfully, "I think I wanted to destroy it,"

"Then why was it hidden from me?" He demanded, standing next to me, seemingly looking out to the sky, but I knew him too well to think he was actually paying attention to it.

I thought hard, trying to come up with something... but nothing came.

Luckily, he spoke before me.

"I fear you have become soft Asher," He glanced at me, then away, "Once I merge those weapons, the first thing I will do with them is toughen you up again,"

"How?" I asked quietly.

What the hell did that mean?

"I'll find a way," He shook his head, frowning, "You're better then this Son. I can't have you worrying about Lloyd or second guessing your actions. I need the Asher I made back or there will be no Garmadon and Ashton: Rulers of Ninjago,"

The threat struck deeper then any insult I had ever received in my life.

He was going to take away the thing I've been working for my whole life if I didn't sort myself out?

"Yes Father," I nodded quietly, "I accept the change you wish to create,"

"It wasn't negotiable," But then he sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder, "I need you beside me Ash. You're my Son,"

And that was another reason I needed to put up with it.

I would not become a disappointment.

...

We arrived at the Golden Peaks a few days later.

It was built like a volcano, except instead of Lava, it was filled with a golden mist that glimmered the exact same as the Weapons he held in his four arms.

I didn't want to follow him and the Serpentine up the Mountain, so I stayed back on the ship, watching from afar.

I couldn't see much, but I could hear the echos of my Father's excited voice rumbling down the rocks to the ship.

"Yes, it's working!" He yelled gleefully.

But then we're was a loud pause, then a sound of pain.

My fingers clenched around the wood of the ship harshly.

There was another silence, it put me on edge, but of course it was my Father who broke it oncemore.

"I've never felt more powerful!" He laughed with a sinister hitch in it.

I feared I wouldn't be myself for much longer.

...

"I wish..."

I clenched my jaw tightly.

As expected, my Father hadn't waited long at all to change me into what he wanted.

A little part of me was excited, I had wanted to return to my previous self, before I had been involved with the Ninja, before I worried too much about my future... before I lost a bit of my confidence.

I had been so certain of who I was before those weapons reacted to me, it messed with my brain. I didn't want that anymore.

But I was also worried about how drastic the change would be.

My father stated how he didn't want me worrying about Lloyd anymore.

Would that mean I'd lose care for him completely?

"I wish my Son were more like me, I wish he were confident and evil. I wish he proudly stood beside me," With every wish he spoke of, the weaker he got, "I wish he were strong and knew how to fight exactly as I do. I wish Ashton Garmadon all the power I possess,"

I wish you accepted me for who I was.

The merged Golden Weapon lit up with light in my Father's hands, he pointed it at me.

I shut my eyes and angled my face to the ground.

When I opened my eyes again, my Father was leaning on the weapon for support, energy being pulled out of him to power the wish he had asked for.

"Asher," He smiled at me, "How do you feel?"

"Fantastic," I grinned back at him.

...

This was incredible.

I thought I could fight well before, but that was nothing compared to now.

And Spinjitzu.

I could do Spinjitzu too!

I had never been more powerful in my life and I loved it. I could feel it inside of me. I could feel every fibre of strength I didn't possess before and it felt good.

I felt unstoppable.

My father used his power again the next day, he had wished for the Ninja's Bounty to break.

He was ripping their power away from them bit by bit. I liked it.

We'd agreed on a couple things.

First of all, I was to stand by him no matter what, which was stupid because like I was going to go off with anyone else.

Second, I would study the Ninja and their interaction everytime I was able to. The more dirt I could get from them, the more dirt I could use against them.

And thirdly, I would wear a purple Gi.

Father wanted me to reclaim the colour. Wu had intended it to be a colour of sanctuary for all the people of Ninjago if I had become good.

But that wasn't going to happen.

Father thought of it as a way of mocking them. Mocking Wu.

I was all for it, so my Father ordered the Serpentine to find someone to make it for me.

I was looking at myself in the mirror, shamelessly enjoying the view of myself.

It was a different type of people Wu had given me, this one was a deeper indigo. It felt right, it was like the sky of the Underworld.

It screamed evil.

But suddenly, the whole ship tipped and I ended up having to steady myself on the wall.

What the hell had caused that.

I flipped my hood over my face and made my way through the ship, a look of determination on my face.

I swear, if those snakes had caused another problem with the sails there were going to be serious actions to pay.

But when I got on deck, there were people?

People I didn't recognise.

"I still don't see how you got on our ship!" Spitta, one of the second in command snakes squared up in one of the intruders faces.

"Your ship? We built 'er! So why don't you slither yourself off the plank?" He replied with a gruff voice.

"Who do you think you are threatening my men?" I glowered, making myself known with my fists filled with smoke.

He turned to me, his face looking like he was ready to fight.

"Stop this," My father called, walking out of his office with another Pirate looking man, "I finally have a crew I can be proud of. Batten down the hatches, fellas!

"Who you calling “fellas”, Four Arms?" The man next to my Father scoffed.

Who did he think he was?

"My name is Lord Garmadon. I created you, Fool. I am your captain now," He spoke confidently.

"Created me?" The newcomer seemed shocked, but he smiled a little, my Father's confidence seeming to amuse him, "I be Captain Soto, stealer of the seas. Raise your weapon!"

Then one of the snakes muttered to another, and it was the truth. And the truth worried me only slightly.

"The Mega Weapon must've created them, but now Garmadon's too weak to use it,"

It only worried me slightly because I knew that I had my father's strength. I knew I could take them if I needed to.

"Take it from him," Captain Soto waved his hand to one of his men.

"No!" My Father hissed.

I clenched my jaw and rushed over, nudging the Pirate harshly away from the weapon yielded in my Father's grip.

His friends seemed to not like my intrusion.

They took out their swords and involved themselves.

I didn't have a weapon, but I had my Elemental Power.

I turned into smoke just as one of them attempted to stab me, then reappeared behind him, kicking him in the back of his knees so he fell on them.

"You didn't need to bow," I smirked patronisingly.

I grunted and twisted around, catching my legs with his, making me slip to the floor.

My head smacked onto the floor making my vision blur for a moment.

"Asher, the weapon!" My father reminded.

I span on my foot and pushed my arms inward to my chest to start off my Spinjitzu, making me get to the Golden fused weapon quicker then any of the other mugs trying to retrieve it.

My hands latched into the gold but as soon as they did, a massive burst of pain shot up my whole body.

"Ah!" I yelled, retracting my hands forcefully.

But then I was grabbed my two people, securing me tightly. They had my arms locked behind my back and had bent down to shackle my feet together.

How dare they? How dare they tie me up and hold me captive.

Did they not know who I was?

They were stopping me from helping my father! No!

I struggled with all I could but it rendered useless.

"It may have drained my powers for now, but when my strength returns, I'll deal with you," My father threatened Captain Soto who had nudged it away with his hook hand.

"That's too bad. I'd love to see yee 'dealing with I' from the brig! Lock them up! And their reptilian friends!"

...

I could've escaped hours ago if it wasn't for my Father.

I wasn't sure why it took being locked up for me to think of it, but when I was captured, I could've just fused into smoke and vanished from their grip.

But I guess I was just too focused on trying to help my Father to think about that.

"You have to wait for the right moment Ashton," He coached, looking up from between the bars, "When they least expect it,"

That made sense, we'd have more power with the element of surprise.

The sun breached our captive spot, but from a certain angle, big and wide buildings with clear windows were spotted from either side of the ship.

We were back in Ninjago.

We had to be.

It didn't take long for the intruders to do what we should've been doing.

The screams started quickly, along with massive clashes after a rumble of the ship. They must've been using the cannons.

"Ugh, it’s not fair!" I clenched my fists, "We should he destroying the city. We should be making them scream!"

"Our time will come Son, we have to wait for the right moment," Father assured me, but Captain Soto's actions still pissed me off big time.

"Heeyah!" The sound startled all of us held captive, "Surrender, or face the Brown Ninja!"

I turned to my Father with a puzzled look on my face.

"They found a replacement that quick?" I mused, unimpressed at the way this 'Brown Ninja' conducted himself.

"Get him!" Soto cried to his army.

The Brown Ninja howled wildly, I stopped pacing. Then then announced he was a wolf, then a hippo, starting to snort like the animal.

What the actual fuck?

Clearly this guy wasn't cut out for any actual fighting because within seconds he was crying out for help.

I kinda wished I had the pleasure of doing that to him, but oh well. At least someone stopped him.

"How about we have him walk the plank?" Soto asked his people, earning loud cheers.

"You're making a big mistake!" The so called Brown Ninja warned, "Don't make me call upon the Dragon!"

Okay. Who was this guy?

"Who here wants to see him go splat?" The captain asked, another roar of pirates agreed.

I must admit, I did cheer with them.

My father shook his head grimly.

"Who here wants to see him live?"

The voice had replies of excited cheers but they died down quickly from confusion.

Soto clearly didn't care for it as he disregarded the voice.

"Woo-hoo!" A voice cried along with a loud crash.

The Brown Ninja celebrated for a moment before more common erupted.

"Ninja, go!"

My father turned to me quickly.

We shared the same expression.

A fight clearly broke out, loud slams and grunts came from on top of us.

I tapped on the wood next to me impatiently. I wanted to get out there. I wanted to join in. I wanted to free us and fight too!

"Lloyd! You're not supposed to be here!"

I gasped suddenly.

"Lloyd is here," I stared at my Father, eyes wide.

"Don’t think about him. Think about freeing us!" Father shook my shoulder harshly.

He was right.

I didn't need to focus on Lloyd, what I needed to worry about was that we were all still currently trapped down here!

"Go Ashton, free us whilst they're still busy!" Father ordered, then it was if he had snapped a band within me.

I flipped my mask back on and instantly turned into thick smoke.

I easily wavered through the bars and then became solid, opening the hatch and freeing all of the Serpentine and my Father.

He patted my shoulder as a thanks, then we both turned to a familiar voice.

"Whoa, Spinjitzu! I just did Spinjitzu for the first time!"

"My son. He's growing stronger," Father mumbled, both of us staring at the boy in the Green Gi.

Then suddenly, he pushed his hands close together and a small, growing, flickering orb of gold appeared.

"Lloyd! Don't! Your powers are too uncontrollable!" Kai grunted from afar, clearly struggling with his opponent.

I stepped away from my father, blocking Lloyd’s view from Captain Soto, who I wanted to take on personally.

"Aah!" Lloyd cried, startled by my appearance.

"Hey Little Bro," I snickered, turning my back on him to get to Soto, only to be interrupted by a massive Mech.

"Who wins between pirates and ninja? It's Samurai!" Jay cheered, grinning at the sight.

Samurai?

The Samurai shoved the Pirates off board, the Ninja following behind to make sure they stayed put.

They were pushed to multiple police trucks and vehicles.

Damn it.

I really wanted a fight.

"Uh, that your ship?" An officer asked the Ninja.

"It is, it just looks a little different," Jay shrugged, not having noticed the presence of the two most powerful people out there.

"Sorry, it's ours now," I called out, taking my mask off.

"Ash," Kai mumbled, his face plastered hurt and disgust.

What an odd mixture.

"Dad!" Lloyd yelled, "Asher!"

"You're becoming stronger, Son, but you'll never be strong enough to defeat us. Give up, before it's too late," Father offered, looking as if Lloyd would take it.

But the boy in the Green Gi turned to his friends then looked back to us.

He proudly took a step back towards them.

"You're choosing wrong Lloyd. But have it your way," I glowered, "You'll regret it soon enough,"

How dare he pick them over his own flesh and blood?

How dare he pick them at all...

Heyyyy

So this is Asher's suit Colour, if anyone was wondering

I love it.

Also lowkey love Asher's confidence 🤭