Assorted amberphoenix thoughts
I've been doing a lot of sewing recently which has given me plenty of time to think about extremely important topics like Lego Ninjago shipping. Particularly Nya and Skylor together.
The last time I was semi-active in the ninjago fandom I didn't really care for this ship. I didn't hate it or anything, it just didn't interest me, but looking at it now... I think my thoughts have changed and I enjoy this ship during Hunted in particular and I wanted to ramble about it. :3
I like the idea of them getting together while Nya assumes Jay is dead, she's wracked with guilt and grief, and she needs some kind of stability in her life. She's just lost most of her family to something horrifying and out of her control, and I like the idea that she's putting on a brave face for Lloyd, Pixal, and Misako while internally consumed with horror and grief at the death of five of her closest friends. There's something appealing about Nya being able to find trust and vulnerability in Skylor in a way she can't with her other friends, because Nya doesn't have to be strong around Skylor. She can break down with Skylor, because Skylor can be her rock, her grounding method, someone she can rely on for security and help, who can shoulder her burden of needing to be strong for everyone and take a position as a leader.
I also love the way their personalities reflect; because of her status as a side character, Skylor is a very grounded and sure-of-herself person. She's coded as verrrrrry slightly older than the main ninja team, she has a very adult and organized job despite being a teenager, and she's good at organizing people because of her self-confidence.
She doesn't get a ton of character development post season 4, but I actually really enjoy that because it paints her as stable and level-headed in comparison to Nya's more reactive and hotheaded tendencies. Honestly I tend to pick up on something controlled about pre-crystalized Skylor. She hasn't been given her 'she needs to refill from an elemental master every once in a while' retcon by the narrative yet and as a result she's arguably the most powerful elemental master, she could rule the world, she just chooses not to and I find that idea really interesting. Nya, on the other hand, is a storm surge at the front of a hurricane. She is strong and powerful and says what she thinks when she thinks it, she takes control of situations herself and demands she be acknowledged. They contrast. It's fun!!
Amberphoenix happening during Hunted also adds Nya angst to Skylor being injured by Garmadon's powers, once again her rock has been ripped away from her and it's terrifying just like it was when her family all died. I like the angst with that situation, and you can add some whump/hurt-comfort scenes of Skylor healing from her illness with Nya being desperate to never lose her ever again but unable to articulate those feelings.
I also think that the two of them getting together under the assumption that Nya's boyfriend and Skylor's complicated situationship is dead could present interesting opportunities for Kai and Jay angst when they turn out to not be dead. Maybe Nya goes back to Jay and ends things on an amicable note with Skylor, but how does Jay feel about his girlfriend being with someone else while he was gone? Does he feel cheated on, and if he does is he repressing that feeling? Beating himself up over it and feeling like he's not "allowed" to feel betrayed because Nya genuinely believed he was dead? Maybe it digs up some residual love triangle baggage because of the fact Skylor is anchored in the same way Cole was. Does it make him feel inferior, does he get anxious about it, does he desperately miss Nya but feel betrayed at the same time? Much to think about :3
Also I think Kai coming back from a near-death experience in another realm only to discover his situationship got with his sister instead of him is intensely funny ngl.
Anyway this ended up kinda long bc apparently I had more thoughts on amberphoenix than I expected lol
