Aaaand we're off! Thanks for joining me if you're coming from The Girl Who Played With Fire, and if you are new, welcome! I hope you are as excited as I am to start this, so without further ado, here's the REBOOT!

- Fell_and_Fallen -

[Disclaimer, all I own is original story/characters. Both are rather obvious, so there shouldn't be problems :) ]

"Feel your center. The warmth, the power."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, releasing it slowly as my stomach fills with a comfortable heat. My chest swells with warmth as my lungs expand, and doesn't diminish as I exhale.

"Now draw from it and let your familiar guide you."

I open my eyes and let my gaze fall from the translucent figure in front of me to the fiery dragon at my shoulder. He answers with a stream of smoke from his nostrils, spreading his wings and radiating warmth from my neck all the way into my fingertips. With a gentle push, the heat flows through my entire body, filling every pore and vein until my entire being hums with warmth.

"Good," Stella's transparent shape shines a bit brighter, gleaming in the still stone chamber that surrounds us. A smile touches her small face. "Now shape it."

I raise my arm and carefully let the heat out into the air, focusing it on the space in front of my outstretched hand. A faint circle of flames surrounds my hand like a target, slowly spreading and growing in power as I let out another breath. My heart skips a little faster with excitement, but I take another deep breath and concentrate even harder on the large circle before my palm. I let everything else fade into silence as my power hums and the circle continues to grow and-

"Hey Ash, you got a minute?"

The bubble of silence surrounding me bursts as a familiar voice spears through my consciousness. The room around me disappears as I blink out of my trance, the sharp smell of cold stone fading to the newer scent of varnish and paint. I clench my hand and the ring of flames disperse, much to Spitfire's annoyance as he slips back onto my arm with an irritated growl. I mutter a few comforting words to him as I look over my shoulder and squint against the light pooling in from the doorway.

"Oh, hello Kai," I greet the red ninja with a tired smile. Spitfire swirls in a lazy circle on my wrist, mirroring my own exhaustion as I rub my suddenly cold hands together. "What do you need?"

His auburn eyebrows come together in a scrutinizing look. "You've been meditating for three hours now," he says like I've just committed a crime. "And you haven't moved?"

"Well… no," I answer as I stretch my legs out in front of me. Even after changing into sweatpants, they're cramped from sitting cross-legged for so long and are filled with excruciating pins and needles. I try to ignore them with little success. "I was ah, meditating."

"Again? Didn't you meditate like, all day yesterday?"

"Well, yes," I purse my lips. "But that's not the point." I look up at him. "I know you've all been antsy since Garmadon ran off, and believe me, so have I. That's why I've been with my ancestors so much. I have a handle on my power, but my skills need to be honed, and as much as I know you guys want to help, this is something I have to do myself. It's-"

"Your duty as unofficial ancient Queen of Ninjago to be prepared to act as a guide at any moment, blah blah blah. Yeah, you've mentioned it a few times," he rolls his eyes but gives me a smile to show he's not serious. "You're starting to sound like Zane. Next thing you know you'll be spurting wisdom and making things freeze instead of burn."

I laugh. "If I start breathing ice, I'll make sure you know."

My head spins a little as I get to my feet, and every numbed muscle in my legs jitters with a thousand needles, but I manage to clear my head as I return Kai's look with my own. "So what did you need that was so important you interrupted me in the middle of a lesson?"

"Well, remember what you said this morning about affording the suite?"

"That it was completely impossible and you were idiots for accepting the offer?" I raise an eyebrow as my arms cross over my chest. "It rings a bell."

He gives me a pointed look. "Well, we decided if we worked, we might be able to scrape together the cash to pay it off," he says. "Given our skill set, I think we can get some pretty decent jobs."

I can't hold back an undignified snort. "Jobs? As what, male models?"

"Whatever we can find," he shrugs. "But modeling isn't such a bad idea. I heard they make pretty good money-"

"What makes you think we can earn enough money to play this suite off in just a few days?" I shake my head. "I still think we should find someplace else."

"There is nowhere else."

"You mean you guys just want a swanky place with good Wi-Fi."

He rolls his eyes. "Alright, so maybe we have certain tastes, but if we pull together, we can totally do this," he says. "We just need someone to stay with Lloyd while the rest of us work."

"Wait a second," I raise a finger. "You didn't come in here to ask me to help you guys get the money, you want someone to dump Lloyd on while you're out spending his training time looking for jobs to pay for a suite we could never afford in the first place-"

"It won't take us that long to make the money, I'm sure," Kai frowns. "We just need you to keep an eye on Lloyd until we do. It shouldn't take more than a few days. It'll even give you more time to meditate."

I massage my temples with a couple of fingers. "You realize how ridiculous this plan is?"

"Hey, if Sensei and Nya were here-"

"We'd be somewhere a lot more sensible," I give him a pointed look. "And you know it."

He rolls his eyes. "Look, this place has everything Lloyd needs. We have to at least try to buy it," he gives me his best pleading face. "Think of the kid."

I scowl. "Don't you dare pull that on me-"

"Ash, you care about Lloyd and his training probably as much as Sensei does, which is why you don't want us to leave," he says. "So why not give us a shot at giving him everything he needs to train without slumming it?"

"Because it's a stupid idea-" I let out a breath. "Alright. Fine. You want to try and buy this place, okay." I give him a look. "But I'm helping."

"What?"

"If you're going to find jobs, so am I," I step toward him. Kai is a good couple of inches taller than me, but still balks under my intense gaze. "I might've lived in the woods for four years, but I think I have a few more marketable skills than you. Employers will trust me more than some sketchy teenage guys showing up in pajamas."

He looks a little miffed at my pajama comment, but doesn't respond. "What about Lloyd?"

"He took care of himself for how long before we found him?" I raise an eyebrow. "I think he'll be fine by himself. Besides, he's been drained since his dad disappeared. A little personal time could be exactly what he needs."

Kai puffs out his cheeks a little in thought before answering. "Maybe you're right."

I grin. "Only always."

I start toward the door. "Now I'm going to bed, unless there's something else you have to tell me?"

"No?"

"Good, because meditation is exhausting," I yawn as Spitfire lets out a sleepy purr. "I'll see you in the morning."

"You realize there are only a couple of beds-"

"Yeah, and Cole called the couch earlier, didn't he?" I raise an eyebrow. "I'd hightail it before you get stuck with the tile."

Kai rolls his eyes but leaves anyway, allowing me a few seconds of silence before a shouted argument explodes from the living room.

I chuckle a little. "Boys."

"So where are you headed?" Cole asks as I tug a cardigan over the blouse Nya gave me a few days ago. She'd joked about getting it at a BOGO sale just down the street, but I suspected she was just sick of seeing me in ratty tees and sweaters. Not that I was complaining. My inner fashionista was very pleased with her selection.

"Wherever there's an opening, I guess," I answer as I divert my attention to the black ninja. The others are getting dressed nearby, tugging on casual clothes they'd bought since our ship was destroyed. Jay grumbles something about a favorite shirt being eaten, but the rest is lost as he pulls on a sweater.

"No offense, but I don't think there are a ton of employers who'll be cool with your um… you know," Cole glances to the dragon on my arm, who huffs an irritated poof of smoke.

"What, him?" I follow his gaze and he nods. "He can be a very convincing tattoo when he wants to be. Right, Spitfire?"

My dragon twirls happily in response, rising from my skin in a scatter of fire as he crawls to my shoulder in a light blaze of flames. He purrs and nuzzles his head into my hair as I coo another few loving words at him.

"Well I guess you could always say he's some weird breed of cat," Kai chuckles nearby as I scratch the little dragon under his chin.

"I'll be fine, Cole," I give the black ninja a reassuring smile as Spitfire returns to my arm, flattening his body against my skin until he swirls like an animated tattoo. His claws are like warm, painless pinpricks on my arms, and I give him another smile. "No one will think twice about Spitfire."

I catch Lloyd as he brings Zane a screwdriver to tighten a few screws in his elbow. My gaze softens on the blotched circles under his eyes and I reach out to smooth down a few wild strands of his white-blond hair. "You take care of yourself, alright kiddo? If you need anything, and I mean anything-"

"I call one of you," Lloyd rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I heard you the first eleven times. I'll be fine."

"Alright, smartass, just remember who you're dealing with," I ruffle his hair again, smirking as he shoves it back out of his face. "No wild parties and no eating anything you shouldn't. Remember when you tried to eat Cole's fruitcake because you thought it was a chocolate bar-?"

"I think he gets it," Kai laughs as Cole rolls his eyes. "He'll be fine, Ash."

"Right," something tugs at my core, a weird sense of dread that upsets my stomach. I chalk it up to maternal worry and shove it aside. I start toward the door, bumping Cole lightly with my shoulder as I pass.

"I apologize ahead of time if I find a better job than you," I grin at him over my shoulder. "I can't help being so charismatic."

"Sure," Cole lets out a snort of barely contained laughter as I slip out the door and head for the elevator.

As I begin my descent, the anxiety that had started as a speck in my abdomen has grown into a solid pebble. I don't understand why I feel so nervous, especially with what we've had to deal with over the past few months.

I blink and the memories wash over me: of learning my past; facing Desmond, the man who had ruined my life; fighting the Great Devourer. I shake my head. Worrying over something as trivial as finding a job feels silly now. Chances are my nerves just haven't settled into the sudden monotony of life.

The elevator dings overhead and opens with a pleasant chime onto the small lobby. I head out the doors and into the chilly morning air, bundling my cardigan tighter around me as I start down the street toward whatever today holds. The dark feeling shadows my every step, and I try to push it out of my mind.

The bell above the door twinkles cheerfully as I step into the pleasantly cool weapons store. The day had turned out to be warm after all, and being high noon the sun was blistering, even for me. I'd walked for a long while, stepping in and out of stores and restaurants that were either not hiring or weren't interested in an anonymous girl from the street. I'd entertained the idea of calling it a day and heading back to the suite when I caught sight of the tiny and slightly worn down weapons shop with a Help-Wanted sign plastered to the window. I'd decided to make it my last stop and stepped inside.

The door closes softly behind me, blowing a puff of wind against my neck that sends strands of dark hair flying into my face. I swat at it when my elbow knocks violently against something and throws a fragile case of merchandise onto the ground with a loud clatter. I cringe as the case bursts open, spilling its contents onto the tile. I fall to my knees and scramble to pick up the various handheld weapons that are rolling across the floor, hearing someone let out a gasp as they scramble over to me.

"I'm so sorry!" I cringe as a pair of rough, calloused hands joins mine. Screaming heat floods my face, and I do everything I can to not make eye contact with the likely furious store keeper. "I really didn't mean to-"

"It's alright, it was only an accident," a young voice chuckles next to my face. It sounds excruciatingly familiar, and my hands go still as I slowly raise my eyes. I scramble to my feet as I meet an all-too-familiar stormy grey gaze.

"Hale?" I stagger back in the direction of the door as he calmly stands up in front of me. Spitfire hisses a blister of fire that flares to life in my hand as I stare down the man that awakens a storm of dark memories.

"Hello, Ash," he says, offering me an apologetic smile that stands in stark contrast to the sneer that still haunts my nightmares. He looks the same as I remember, tall, lean, and well-muscled, but his outline is softer and he doesn't look to be armed. I don't balk as the memories flicker behind my irises. This is a weapon's shop, after all, and this is the man who helped my "father" in an attempt to use me to destroy Ninjago.

"-idn't expect to see you here," he crosses his arms over his well-muscled chest. I blink and realize I've missed most of what he's said, lost in the memories tainted with our past. He meets my eyes easily, but the way his shoulders are set mirrors my own tension. His gaze flicks down my body, then back up. I hold back a shiver as his eyes focus on the fire in my hand. "I thought you didn't need weapons anymore?"

"I don't," my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as it suddenly goes dry. I lick my lips and clench my hand, stifling the flames as I struggle to keep my cool. "That's not why I'm here. I, uh, came for the job."

He laughs in a friendly way, though I can't hold back a flinch as I remember his sneering cackle. "You? Queen of Fire and one of the saviors of Ninjago City?" he smiles without a hint of contempt. "Why would someone like that need a job? Especially here of all places?"

"Just looking for extra money," I lie. He doesn't need to know just how much I need this job. "I've been looking around for a while now and this is the most promising one I've seen, but-"

"I'm here," his eyes darken and his own memories flicker in his irises. "What, are you going to kill me now? I heard what you did to Desmond."

I clench my teeth. "I didn't kill him. I sent him on an extended vacation to the Underworld."

He raises an eyebrow. "Really?" he snorts derisively. "Pity. If anyone deserved to die, it was that bastard."

"Do you forget who helped him?"

He pauses, then speaks slowly. "I understand why you don't trust me," he shakes his head. "And honestly, I don't blame you. If I were you, I'd never have let me live in the first place. I would've wiped myself off the face of the planet."

"I decided revenge wasn't the answer," I grimace, blinking away the memories that threaten to overtake me. "You were used, just like I was. Granted you nearly killed me and my friends at least a dozen times, but you weren't all to blame. You were Desmond's son."

I haven't said that name in a long time now, and just the thought of it slams me with dark memories.

He killed my parents, the former monarchs and guides of Ninjago, for his wife's death. Then kidnapped and raised me to use as a weapon against the land they'd sworn to protect. In that respect, I'm just the same as Hale. Both of us were used, tugged under his spell until we became monsters. I strangle the fire that threatens to flare in my hand.

"I'm nothing like you," Hale growls. He doesn't look me in the eye. "I knew better, I could've stopped, but I didn't because I was selfish and thought I could save you myself." He shakes his head. "You can't imagine how much I hate myself for what I've done. I almost killed you because he asked, and I let him poison me with his magic."

He lets out a heavy breath and turns back to me, his grey eyes clouded with pain. "I've been trying to figure out for months how I could ever redeem myself for what I've done, how I could ever earn your forgiveness for…" He lets out another growl and his hands clench into furious fists, a movement all too similar to my own.

"I can't forgive you," I watch his tight fingers carefully, very aware of the power they hold, and struggle to relax my own with little success. "What you did- forcing me to almost murder my friends, trying to convince me to become a monster, then telling me that you did it because you-" I cut myself off, taking a deep breath before I continue. "Hale, I can never forgive that."

His shoulders slump in defeat, and suddenly he looks much younger- like the wide-eyed kid I remember growing up in the village with me, the kid who came to my father, begging for lessons, the kid who always offered me a bright, warm smile… Suddenly I remember the village, of the people who'd let me go when they could have- should have condemned me for destroying their lives. I clench my eyes shut, then force myself to relax as I open them again.

"But," I start and Hale lifts his head. "I've done things I regret too. Things I know will never be forgiven, like burning down our village and almost going through with that contract. I've been given a second chance, and I…" My teeth clench as I struggle to form the words that tug on my lips. "I'm willing to offer you one too, Hale."

His eyes light up with surprise and he opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. He shakes his head and finally splutters out, "You're serious?"

"Yes," I nod slowly. I give him a steely look. "But this is the only chance I'm giving you. If you so much as step a toe out of line, well. You know the consequences."

"Ash, I- This is amazing-" he grasps my arms and I pull away without thinking. His hand brushes against the gold bracelet at my wrist, and he looks down at it with eyes filled with sudden hesitation.

"Is that from… him?" he asks, gaze fixed on gleaming, coiled dragon. I trace my fingers over it subconsciously, feeling the cool metal under my fingertips as I answer.

"Yeah," I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A faint memory echoes in my mind, of some of Hale's last words before he disappeared over the side of the Bounty, words that have haunted me for months. You were always out of my league, even before you became a Queen of Ninjago, but that never really stopped me from being completely in love with you.

I look up into Hale's grey eyes filled with the shadow of pain, swallowing the sand paper that suddenly fills it. "I-uh- I told them you were dead."

He blinks, then shakes his head. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he sighs. "It's probably for the best that they don't know I'm alive. Or around, for that matter. I'd hate to die before I redeemed myself to you."

He offers me a careful smile. "So do you still want this job?"

"I don't-"

"The others don't have to know," he says softly. His hand twitches, and I can tell he wants to offer a reassuring touch. "If you really need this job, I'd love to have you around. You don't have to tell them until you're ready."

I bite my lip and mull over my other options, my eyes glancing over the mess of various pocket knives and brass knuckles at our feet that still glints in the dim window-light. I don't trust Hale any farther than I can throw him, and for good reason, but if he's really changed... We need this money, and this is the only job I've managed to scrounge up. I can't let it slip through my fingers, even if it means lying to the others. For now. I let out a breath.

"Alright, deal," I agree before I can change my mind.

Hale smiles and I try to return it. "Great. You can start now," he gestures to the floor.

I roll my eyes, making him laugh. "I'm already regretting this."

"It's all part of the job, your highness," he grins. "The guy who owned this before me would've fired you already. Not that I'm much better, but you'll do fine."

I mutter a rather rude response as I stoop down and start to pick up the spilled merchandise. Hale's gaze lingers on me a few seconds longer than necessary before he finally relaxes and moves back behind the counter. I glance up as he adjusts the bow he has hanging over the counter, and a small chill creeps down my spine as I recognize it.

"What did we get ourselves into, Spitfire?"