Why Now?

Prologue pt.1

(blueDaCommie is the main writer I'm just the co-author)
Warning : this book is very dark, and if you're sensitive to the following subjects please don't read. This book contains R@p3/N0n-c0n, Manipulation, Underage s3x and other dark subject matter. Again, if you're sensitive to those things please DO NOT read. This book is not following the Lego Ninjago canon. Morro is 19 in this story while Kai is 15. The other Ninja's ages can be found in the desc. Also don't worry, there will be comfort. This book was also inspired by a book on Wattpad:Old Winds, it is not complete however but give it a read, I promise it's good (cross posted on Ao3)

-----
°+•A few years ago•+°

Koli was busy forging some weapons. She recently reopened her old man's weapon store due to being tight on money. Business had been good, despite being only 8 years old and a few bigoted men telling her to bE a GiRl and stop forging weapons. But what choice did she have at the time? She couldn't think of anything else that'll work to help put food on both her and Nya's plate. She liked her job anyway, it was a good way of exercise and to kill time.

Koli never really felt like a female, she despised her name and after she cut her hair, she felt happy, the people thought she was a male. But of course, the ones who stayed there long enough to remember her beforehand gave her the displeasure of informing everyone that she was otherwise.

The only person she had trusted with her feelings was her best friend Jay Walker. Nya was far too young for her to be telling her these sorts of things. She couldn't understand. Jay, on the other hand, he may not understand as much either, but he's a great listener and an even better support. She told him almost all of how she felt, and he's basically the next Gretchen Wieners with all of the secrets she tells him.

It was a good thing she met him, he was such a good friend, which is not what you'd expect from someone you've met while they were searching for scraps inside your shop. But despite his incessant yammering and blabbermouth, he's kept every secret, was extremely friendly, never pryd too much into any touchy subject that she talked about, and had very loving parents that loved both her and Nya immediately.

Koli thought of Jay as her brother, and Jay did so too. They were inseparable when Koli wasn't working, and many first-time customers mistook Koli, Jay and Nya as siblings. Why wouldn't they? Jay and Koli were very close.

Jay's parents even offered for her and Nya to stay with them instead of working all day despite being so young, but Koli politely declined as she felt as though they would be imposing into their life.

•+°

Little did she know that would have been one of the worst decisions that she'd ever make.

°+•

Both Jay and his parents were also especially kind and friendly with Nya and helps Koli take care of her while she's busy forging weapons and they're not busy finding scraps for their junkyard inventions.

There was one time though that they'd offer to help babysit Nya for a few days because Nya was begging to have a sleepover with Jay. She of course allowed it since, 'what could go wrong while you're with Jay?' After all, she could finally have some alone time instead of having to worry about Nya touching anything sharp for those few days, not to mention Nya was finally 7, and Koli herself 10. Koli agreed, much to Nya's delight, and the two were on their way.

.

.

.

That was when she met Morro.
--

Koli was just finishing up the last of her weapons for the day and almost finished putting them away. She then heard multiple rustling noises coming from outside the shop. Koli narrowed her eyes and grabbed a random sword from the wall. The rustling noises still continued, making Koli more paranoid each second ticked by.

She then heard the sound of metal clanging onto the floor. She figured those were her weapons that she had on display outside and went to check it out. Tightening the grip on her sword, she carefully made her way to the location of the sound. She turned around from the door to the direction of the noise, and sure enough she found the weapons and armour that she had crafted on the ground and cluttered almost everywhere. But one thing stuck out in the pile, for some reason, it was a huge pile. From what she remembers, she didn't put that much armour and weapons outside. She lifted some of the weapons up and found some poor boy being nearly crushed by heavy metal.

She lifted off all the heavy armour and weapons away from him and helped him up. Taking the boy, by the arm, she rushed into the shop and grabbed the first aid kit. She tended to any scrapes and injuries that he could have gotten from the metal. In the meantime, they decided to get to know each other a little bit better.

"Who are you?" She questioned him. "Who are you?" The boy shot back while giggling a little. Koli rolled her eyes, this kid was obviously trying to play around despite looking one or two years older than her. "I asked youu first." She insisted, while emphasizing the 'you'.

"Well I am Morro. Now you. What's your name?" Morro compiled while smiling like a mischievous little scamp. "... My name... is Kai"
_______

A few days have passed and Jay dropped off Nya back at the shop. But before he could say goodbye to them, Kai had to spill more secrets to him.

Kai grabbed Jay and dragged him into a separate room after he made sure Nya was safely in her room, far away from the sharp objects. "Whoa slow down man, what's up?" Jay asked, tumbling after Kai. Kai pulled the two of them down, took a deep breath and spoke. "Ok, so you know how when you left with Nya for a sleepover and and you know how I've been talking to you for a while about how I was feeling about myself and also you know how I kept on saying I wish I had more friends than just you?" Kai explained with basically word vomit coming out at this point. "Yes, yes and ow, but yes. Why?" "Weeell I found someone being accidentally crushed on all if my stuff outside and he's reeeally nice and is basically my friend now, and I introduced myself as Kai." Jay blinked, and Kai felt scared. "YOU TOLD SOMEONE ELSE THAT ISN'T ME WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE REFERRED TO FIRST?!?!" Jay yelled with mock offence lacing his tone. "Okokokok, I get that ur kinda mad but STILL who else was I supposed to talk to at the moment? God???" "Why actually, y e s," Jay responded, before the two burst into laughter.

The laughter lingered for a bit before eventually stopping. There was a tiny bit of silence before Jay decided to speak up again. "So.. Kai huh." He sounded as though he was teasing Kai. "Well, no duh, it's the one thing that sounds close to my birth name, and plus, it sounds nice." Kai explained himself. Jay grinned. "The name suits you, Kai. Now with that out of the way, how are we gonna explain this to Nya?" "Uhhh, magic? She'll believe in it." Jay shrugged, nodding his head. "Well, shall we go tell her? Or do you wanna do it?" Jay asked, getting up from his seat."... I'll do it." Kai responded. "Alright," Jay hummed. "Now excuse me as I raid your fridge" Jay grinned, rushing out of the room. Kai laughed at his friend's antics and went to find Nya.

Things went surprisingly well with Nya. After all, now for all she knew, she had a magical older brother now. And her being only 8 years old, she believed it, which made things so much easier for both Kai and Jay. The customers were harder to tell, but due to the closeness of everyone in their village, the new change was very welcome. Of course not all people were first keen on the idea, but after a little convincing, they were open to the change as well.