Heyaaa, how are you?? I had been writing this one shot for months now... I think since December? January? Before this? I don't really remember, but I know it was a long time. Well, when I started this, let's say I was feeling very sad, maybe I was depressed, I don't know... but for me this story is sad, and kinda deep and I feel like it's one of the best that I've written, and there are lots of references to songs (try to guess them XD) Oh, and its based on the lyrics of the song "The Kids Aren't Alright", by the Offspring.
I only finished it yesterday, because I didn't know how to end it, but I guess it was good. I hope you like it!
Challenge: The kids aren't alright
For: CreggsAndBacon (I don't know if you're still reading these...)
Pairing: OppositeShipping (Zane x Kai), mentions Jaya
Settled: it's in the Beggining of the story
See you down there!

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[Zane's P.O.V.]

Time passes for everyone. But I guess sometimes, not good things come with it. People grow up, and some change. Some fiscally and/or psychologically. Some to better or to worse. But I never thought that people I used to know so well, could become complete strangers for me.

We used to be a very united team, now it is nothing more than long lost memories...

It's been years since we defeated the Hands of Time, and Wu's lost in time. After some time of searching, it wasn't working anymore. We argued too much. There was so much disorder without our old, wise Master, that even Lloyd couldn't help but give up.

Everybody was so stressed, that we couldn't keep up a simple conversation without shouting with one another. But instead of just taking a break, each one went on their own way, believing it would be better. Not coming back.

I saw they getting lost in themselves, but nothing I did helped. And I myself was getting lost too. I may be a Nindroid, but that does not mean I am perfect, that I do not make mistakes. My father made me to protect those who cannot protect themselves, but he made me part human too, I have feelings... And if I can't even make me better, how am I supposed to do that for the others?

I remember when we were young, full of dreams, questions and determination. Master Wu found us, and put us together to work as a team. We might have been strangers at first, but that was what we did, for years, never quitting, even in the hardest wars. He gave us a reason to fight for the good side; not because of the fame, but because there are people who need.

We became friends, very close, like brothers.

We had big potentials, and when we were together nobody could drag us down.
We had a bright future, a path to follow that Destiny wrote, and we all were proud of what we had done.
We didn't have perfect pasts, but it wasn't necessary.
We didn't have much in common, but it didn't matter.
Our differences united us, just as our passion for what we did did too.

But now... Now there isn't an "us" anymore.
It is as if our Destiny was broken.

After PIXAL disappeared, I felt like there was a piece missing from me. Eventually, I learnt to live without it... But when our team begun to crack, I felt it again. But this time, way worse. They were like family to me. And a part of me went with them.

And what's the point of continue living, when something so important for you is not there?

Now, our lives are torn apart.
How could a little event, which happened in so little time, swallow this all, destroying everything?

We no longer see or talk to each other.
We no longer fight the evil.
We no longer use our powers.
We no longer want to save and protect the others.

We just... pretend to be normal.
Pretend to be who we are not.

Like as if doing this, life could be good. But we all know this is not true.

"Never quit"... But we did it.
"Never leave one behind"... But we did it too.
"Never this, never that"... But how could a never arrive? How could we be so egoist? How could our promises be broken? Were they always this empty? We really didn't mean what we said? Or was it just the time which erased the signification?

Well, no matter what reason was, because the consequence would be the same: all of our chances, now thrown. But nothing is free, so now we pay the price... Maybe in another life, things would be different. We would try and hold up for a bit longer, we would be better...
However, we cannot change the past. And if this really was the most we could do, why am I feeling so bad about it?

Cole, the fearless, the calm one, who went against his father to be a Ninja... is now living under a new identity, in some small town, working as whatever.
We lost contact. He isolated himself until a point that we do not - not even his best friend, or should I say his once best friend, Jay -  know how he's doing.

Jay and Nya, the positive ones, the ones who were in love, got married some time ago. This does not mean they are much happier than any of us. They moved to the city, and are working as mechanics. Nobody knows who they really are, and we only have news from them because Nya and Kai talk.

Well... sometimes. For the overprotective brother he once was, this is nothing. They hardly ever call each other. And talking about Kai, he had honor, and wouldn't give up, not after what happened after my almost death... But once he saw that even his best friend had lost hope, he fell too.

Since I mentioned him: Lloyd, the legendary Green Ninja, who gave up his childhood, who had to fight his own dad, who saw his dad die, everything with heads up... is now gone.
He was always happy and cheerful, like nothing could put him down... But he couldn't stand all the pain anymore. Loosing a father, more than once, then loosing his uncle, and his mother too, because she went searching for him and never came back, and with all this, his team, the closer friends he had, were all arguing more than helping...
And the piece of sunshine, which seemed to never die, died.
He first become depressed, but we were all too busy with our own problems to notice. Not much after, his body was found...

I, even being a robot, wasn't better than anyone. I saw all of this, and couldn't help. All of this was affecting me too... I tried, but swimming against the flow is difficult. And being stronger than it, on my weakest moment, was more than I could take.

I guess Kai and I were the last to keep standing, but no one can keep balance for too long on a tightrope, without help. So how long would we last?

The fans that we once had, all forgot who we are. The people who said would stick with us until the end, now pretend to not know us. But who can blame them, if even the team itself couldn't resist?

There isn't an "I" in group... But now, there isn't a group anymore.
Yet, the "I" still does not exist, because we are all teared down, we are not our full selves.
We are not complete.
And we will never be complete again, because what was once broken, will keep being that way forever, no matter how much glue you put to fix it. The damage was made, and it will not be equal to what it was before. Never.

And living with a shattered soul, can really be considered living?

Kai and I tried not to fall even further into this dark hole we were thrown into, catching each other and trying to pull us out. But it seemed as if everything - our memories, our past, our thoughts, our feelings - were pushing us down, and the walls are made of polished metal, making them be slippery and almost impossible to climb. But because of that, we became inseparable. We couldn't be without the other, because we needed one another to stay alive. At least, the parts that were not already dead. And this small conscience we still had, wanted to continue that way.

We were, little by little, loosing our minds. We kept holding on, but was it true love or we just needed someone to feel we were alright, not alone again?
Without any friends, maybe we were just scared to be lonely...

I do not know what is real anymore.
Are we living a lie? Or better, are we surviving on a lie? Basing our hopes - if they really exist - in something that our imagination created to make us feel a bit better?

However, I do not want to know this answers.

I fear they will only worsen everything.
I fear what we really are.

The most difficult thing, psychologically, is understanding and accepting what we are going trough, and I think neither Kai or I are prepared for it.
It is easier to see just what we want, so this is what we do.
Looking at the mirror and seeing more than only a reflection of yourself, demands too much courage. And despite once having been ninjas, we do not have it.

We give good advices to other people, yet we do not use them ourselves.
It is like we are going closer to the pain each second...
But we do nothing about it.

It is obvious to anybody who sees us, that we are not who we used to be.
The kids who once were the saviours of this world, are clearly not alright.
And nobody can do anything to change it.
It is just how it is now, forever affected and broken.

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So, how was it? I was writing with my heart and what I felt in most parts, that's why it's basically only thoughts and feels... XD
Well... I don't think I have much to say, only that this book is not abandoned, I just need a little more time, because I already have some of the other stories planned.
If you liked it, please vote, and leave a comment with your opinion, I love reading them, they really make my day!
Thank you for reading, love you all,

NinjaTurqueza