Chapter 1 - Duck Duck Goose
There had been rumors going around, rumors that people at random were receiving letters and going missing the day of. She had watched her best friend go a week or so ago, carrying the mysterious wax-sealed letter when he left. She didn't even get to say goodbye… but nevermind that. Her life as a weaver was too busy to get caught up on the small details, as soon as he was gone, she had forgotten him.
Her father had stepped inside after a long day at work, a large goat pulled over his shoulder with a chicken in hand. "There's my little silk spider," he cracked a smile, ruffling her hair while setting the goat down, "Look." Her gaze slowly moved towards the neatly folded piece of paper with her name written on it in blue. Taking the letter, she knew exactly what it was, and what was going to happen.
She had to sit down, her legs were killing her. 'Whoever thought of building a monastery on top of a tall mountain was crazy' she thought to herself, wheezing. She had only climbed up the first 200, estimating about 700 more. Shaking her head, She began to climb up the stairs on all fours.
"Are you okay, little girl?" a kind voice asked her. She picked up her head towards the man with the long braid and straw hat. He helped her stand as she coughed.
"The stairs are a little too much for me," She panted, holding up the letter, "but I was supposed to meet someone at the top of them." She squinted her eyes, shielding them from the sun.
The mysterious man laughed, "Well, we can't have you all tired out! Come, let's take a shortcut." Her confusion turned to surprise as she felt the ground below her lift and carry her up to the gate of the monastery. The same Mysterious man pulled open the doors for her with a bright smile on his face. "Come in, Come in! You're probably parched. Here, let's get you some water and food, hmm?" She cautiously followed after him eyeing around at the various other supernatural people there, each of which displaying their own powers. The kitchen doors flew open, an array of delicious smells that sent her stomach rumbling. "Don't just feast your eyes, dear! Enjoy whatever you want of this, the chef wouldn't be cooking it if it wasn't for eating."
Around the table, multiple different people sat and talked and ate, some laughing or joking. The straw-hatted man had taken a seat next to her, enjoying some of the food himself. She had never had anything so well testing in her life. "I'm going to have to apologize to my dad, his cooking was never near as good as this." She remarked, smiling. The man laughed, but it didn't last. He looked away, frowning.
"I'm sorry my dear, but.. Your father won't be seeing you anymore." She had slowed down her chewing.
"What do you mean?"
"Dear, You are here because you are going to be receiving a very special gift by a very special being. Your life is going to change forever, and there is no going back. Your old life as a weaver is over, it's time you turn a new leaf. I am sorry you do not have a choice in the matter, but this being had been watching you for awhile, and has chosen you." He shook his head, standing up and offering his hand. She hesitated, but took it and was gently lead outside and down a flight of stairs to the back. There, a pair of bright blue eyes stared at her. The scaly beast lifted its head, stretching its paws and wings. She was nudged forward, "Don't be scared she won't bite you dear, she's been waiting."
The girl lifted her hand and gently ran it down the Dragon's snout. The beast leaned into her touch, closing her eyes and purring. The dragon began to glow and fizzle into dust which encircled around her. The girl gasped and screamed, the light blinding her followed by a loud pop that rang through her ears.
The wind gracefully pushed the sea of grass in waves, the blades tickling the side of her. She grunted, opening her bright blue eyes. Sitting upright, she rubbed her face and ran a hand through her hair and down some sort of sharp shell-like object sticking out of head. "What the hec-" Her eyes widened, this wasn't her voice. Scrambling to her feet, she ran both hands through her hair, feeling not one but two horns that jutted out. She screamed, but it came out a strong whimpering roar. Feathered wings flapped as she flopped back into the field disgruntled, "What the heck am I?!" she curled up, shaking in fear as her wings curled around her. She cried in gentle whimpers, covering her face with her hands.
A small 'peep' interrupted her fear, as she gently opened an eye to see a small little duckling curiously investigating her. Lifting her wing, she found that quite a few had been walking all over her, the parents close by. Gently sitting up, the little birds fluttered their wings and slid off, peeping away at one another.
"Ohh, I'm so sorry-!" She looked around at the tanned boy standing in overalls. "My little ducklings love to explore, I didn't mean for them to interrupt your nap-" The boy looked somewhat frightened at her. "Uhm- Sorry for not introducing myself, my name is Aushi. What's your name?" He gently pulled at the straps. She took a moment to think, she couldn't remember her name…. Looking at the little chicks, she scooped one up.
"Duck. My name's Duck."
The doors pushed open to many different elementals, some sitting, some standing, all facing towards the doors inside the building. Duck had flown in from the skies, landing with a gentle flutter. It had been many years since she had set foot in the monastery, and she had gotten the hang of her new self and abilities with ease since then. Fitting in with the crowd, she waited with the rest of them.
The first Spinjitzu master emerged from the paper doors, hand in hand behind it back. "People. Elementals, I have gathered you all here for a very important and concerning matter. Quite a few of you have brushed shoulders with them, these dark creatures that are made of stone, and there are many, many more than the few that you have interacted with.
Every day, the overlord's army grows. Every day, the stone army's threat increases ten fold. The time is now, elementals. The time for war is closing in, and Ninjago needs you all in this time of need to fight for the people you care for, for each other, and for this land." He jabbed his staff into the wood, "Suit up. Prepare yourselves."
Duck had found herself being fitted. She had yet to meet a Stone Warrior, lest seeing one either, but she had heard stories of their doings. In waves, they would attack a village and attempt to claim it as their own. As the years went on, she heard more and more encounter stories, each with more gruesome detail. Duck did not want to fight, but she rationed that it would be rude of her not to give back to the man who gave her power in the first place.
Even so, her mind wondered. Looking at her gauntlets, she wondered what she would do after the battle is won and the Overlord was defeated. Perhaps some newfound fame would
land her in a palace, a rightful ruler of a small village?
"Dragon lady, come! The journey ahead is long and we're running short on time!" One of the elementals called, which pulled her from her thoughts.
"I have a name, you know. 'Dragon lady', hmph!" She trailed after, marching along with the other suited elementals. "For the record, dirt-face, it's 'Duck'."
The earth elemental squinted at her, "Duck, huh? What kind of name is that? Does it mean anything in Dragon or somethin?" Duck shook her head.
"Nah, just like the bird, duck. Thought they were cute, so I go by that name." It wasn't too long until they all had found themselves along the great sea of sand. Across the wasteland, dark purple clouds grumbled and roared. A deep rhythm echoed in the distance, the stone soldiers marched in the beat of the war drums. The first spinjitzu master drew his sword and pointed, the battle had just begun.
Blood spilled, stone and skin shredded and scrapped amongst the clashing sky. Elements blasted and bashed amongst the sea of demonic beings, ever pressing. Duck had found herself being thrown across the sand, staggering up and grabbing ahold of a stone warriors sword and melding it to its shield before shoving it away. She waked her wing into another punching and kicking as they enclose around. It wasn't much longer until she realized she was separated from the main group. In an attempt to get back she opened her wings and took a graceful leap-
Slamming against the ground, she felt her foot being yanked out of place. She screamed as the earth began to shake and separate. Rushing water filled in the gaping crevice, ramming the warriors and dragging them and her into the open sea. She gasped and choked on the saltwater, flailing her limbs against the current and wearing herself out. Duck felt the her blood go cold, as the deep blue water slowly faded to black...