Empty Without You

This chapter is VERY VERY DEPRESSING.
Also, YAS THE NINJA HAVE POCKETS!!
#givetheninjapockets

1 week after Wojira's defeat

Maya POV

Gone.
My only daughter had sacrificed herself for Ninjago.
I still couldn't wrap my mind around it.
Tears fell softly down my face, but I didn't notice them. The last time I saw Nya, I was being the overprotective mom I've always been. 

I used to use being separated from Kai and Nya their whole life as an excuse, but they're both practically adults now. Kai was 21, for heavens sake.
All Nya wanted was to be able to be in control of her own life.
But I took it over.
And she probably left thinking that was who I was, her overprotective mom who never trusted in her.
More hot tears fell as the thoughts flew through my mind.

Then I heard sniffling.
I walked around the corner of the monastery hallway and saw Jay.

He was crying as he stared at a picture all of us knew well. It was of him and Nya, taken after they had defeated the Sons of Garmadon. They were holding hands and smiling with Nya's head resting on Jay's shoulder.

Now, I don't know most of the ninja very well, but besides Kai, I know Jay the best. I mean, he is Nya's Yin.
I know he's the ninja that's prone to overreact, but I've never seen him cry.
The sight of him sent another fresh bubble of tears streaming down my face. 

His eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying, and the neck of his gi was wet with tears. His face was tear-stained, and upon seeing me he quickly shoved his half of the Yin-Yang medallion into his pocket. 

"Jay?" I asked. "Are you okay?"

"Oh. H-hi, Maya. Yeah, I was just... doing a little dusting." He sniffed and wiped his palm over his eyes. "Got some dust in my eyes, I think."

"It's okay."
I laid my hand on his shoulder.
"I miss her, too."

Jay's shoulders shook, and his voice broke as he said, never tearing his eyes from the picture, "I didn't even get to say goodbye."

I bit my lip and stared at my feet as tears pricked at the back of my eyes. 
"Neither did I."

"Oh." Jay looked up. "S-she said to tell you something. Something about... cookies."

I looked at him, confused. "Cookies?"

"Oh, yeah. She said, 'Tell my mom, that's the way the cookie crumbles.'"

I gasped. "She... she said that?"

"Yeah. Why?"

My eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were happy. Nya did over me, as overprotective as I sometimes was.
"Oh, just something between us," I laughed softly.

"Hey there," a familiar voice behind us said.

Kai and Cole walked up and stood with us.

Jay and I looked at each other and nodded.

Kai and I left to go be with Ray, and Jay and Cole walked off together.

Jay POV

I tried to compose myself and look like a person as I walked away with Cole. We both held urns filled with water for Nya's memorial. I couldn't think of anything to say. My heart was shattered. If Nya wasn't here, what was there to live for?
I finally mumbled lamely, "I wonder if Skylor and Darreth got the news. You think they'll come?"

"I think so," Cole responded, trying to be encouraging.

"I hope so."

I'm so glad Cole is my best friend. Sometimes, I don't know what I'd do without him. 
I used to think that about Nya.
And now I really am without her.

I tried as well as I could to shake those thoughts from my head. 
And failed.

"I hope everyone knows what Nya did for them," I continued.
They better.

As we continued to walk to the monastery door, I went on, "The least they can do is show up and pay..."
I stopped short.

The monastery courtyard was flooded with people. My parents, Princess Vania and some Shintarans, Benthomaar and the Merlopians, Geckles, Munce, Unagami, Milton Dyer, Okino, and other people from Prime Empire. Nelson and the Paper Kids, Clutch Powers, Misako, Ray and Maya, and what looked like everyone in Ninjago. The crowd continued down the steep stairs of the monastery, the bane of my existence.
Cole and I stood and stared in awe before taking our place beside our fellow ninja. 

"We are gathered here today in memory of Nya," Master Wu began as one by one, we began to pour our water into the large decorative urn in the middle.

"Inventor, Samurai X, Ninja, Master of Water... and our dearest friend."

I almost couldn't bring myself to do it, but I did. For Nya. Slowly, I lifted my jar of water and poured it into the urn. I looked up at the picture of Nya above it. The one I remember. 

Master Wu was talking again, but I didn't hear him. 
I looked at Nya's picture. My Nya. She looked so happy.

I felt fresh tears spring up from my eyes, and then I felt Cole's hand on my shoulder. He too, was unsuccessfully trying not to cry. We bowed our heads in solemn respect as Master Wu finished speaking. 

"Wherever she is now... she is in our hearts."

She is my heart.
I'll find you one day, Nya.

And when I do, I'll hold you and never let you go again.

Sooooo yeah...

That was depressing.

I warned you in the intro.
I PROMISE, though, it has a happy ending. :) See you for ch 3