Hello everybody! Here's with a new chapter!

First of all, thanks a lot to MightyShipper and GameCubeGirl1 for the reviews, especially the latter who made me notice I wasn't using the appropriate marks for the dialogues! I'll make sure to check every time this detail! Also thanks to the followers, I'm so happy to see this story is getting a response! No matter how little it is, every feedback is appreciated! ^ ^

So, nothing much to say, except I posted this story on the AO3 too, if someone's more comfortable with that kind of site. I love both 3

That's it! Enjoy :)


A dreamless sleep. Completely dark. Jay could feel the unconsciousness, being lightyears away from his body. But at the same time, he was looking right in that absolute black. All night long. Or day. Or whenever was now.

What time was it?

He opened one eye. The window was shining. He probably slept a lot, it didn't look like dawn. His room was clear and full of sunlight.

Even so it wasn't annoying. The blue ninja felt nicely rested. He yawned happily. His mind was still disconnected. He could barely remember yesterday's events. But at the moment he didn't want to concentrate. He felt good. He wanted to stay calm, for at least a moment. Pretending like that day was like every other, and the most significant event of the day was a challenge at Fist to Face 2.

The door opened. Nya looked surprised.

She had her arm bandaged. Yesterday came back full force into his mind.

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?" His voice was already on.

Bye to the quiet and calm awakening.

The master of water didn't pay attention to that outburst. She sat on the corner of the bed. She looked relieved, but also tired. Did she worry that much?

"How are you feeling?"

Jay blinked.

"… actually, really good." He smiled. "But I would feel better if I knew what in the name of the first Spinjitzu Master happened yesterday."

Nya sighed and lowered her gaze, rubbing her wounded arm.

"We asked Sensei. He has a theory, but he wanted to talk about it with Misako first… and apparently, he also has something going on with my brother." She was kinda pouting. Of course, she didn't like the situation, she liked to have everything under control. Besides, it was like saying the master didn't trust them.

Jay snickered, imagining the scene.

"Let me guess." He cleared his voice. "Pupils, there's something I should've told you a long time ago!" He tried his best Wu's impression, smoothing an imaginary beard.

Nya giggled.

"Cole said the same." His best friend, ladies and gentleman.

Jay stretched his arms up, sighing contently.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Since you passed out? Twelve hours." His jaw dropped. "Fortunately, the others arrived in that moment, so we managed anyway."

Jay darkened. It was coming back in pieces, he just remembered one of the worse of them.

"How about Cole's dad?"

Nya looked extremely uncomfortable. That wasn't a good sign.

"He didn't turn back to normal, so he's under observation at the Kriptarium. We couldn't do overwise, even with Cole's protests. Until we figure out what happened to him, we can't free him." It was rational, and she was a master in that. Even when her lips where trembling.

Jay could only feel bad. They needed to find a solution soon, for Cole, for everybody. And to do that, there couldn't be any disagreement.

He looked at her. She had been so nice with him, even after his rant.

"Listen Nya… I wasn't myself yesterday. I said some terrible things and acted like a real jerk! You just wanted to help me and I didn't let you. I'm really sorry."

Nya seemed surprised. She smiled.

"It's okay, it's also my fault. I should've known it wasn't a good moment, you probably had a bad time… about that, can you tell me what was that about? If you want, of course." She got closer to him, putting a hand on his.

The girl he used to be head over heels was sitting near him, on his bed, while he was barely in his pajama – he kinda wondered who changed it, anyway –; it was such a bizarre yet dreamy situation. But he wasn't feeling all that excitement. A little of nervousness, he was still near a really pretty girl, and that was just him being him. He matured? He was going insane?

Jay ignored that thought. Soon enough, the feelings of the day before came back, and the heaviness in his chest made impossible to think about anything else.

"You see, I found out something… about my parents."

"What about them?"

"… they are not my real parents." He laughed hysterically. "I kinda had a breakdown, and also felt like an idiot for not realizing sooner! It was… so obvious…" He took a look at his nightstand. He was starting to regret all those ripped off photos.

The master of water looked shocked. She tightened his hand round his.

"Oh Jay, I'm sorry!"

"It's not your…"

"It is! I knew something was wrong and yet, I decided to feel offended instead of helping you! I was unforgivable. I'm really sorry."

Jay took a little breath. Confessing wasn't as freeing as he thought it was going to be, it felt like the brick he let go just hit his head instead. But at least one was down.

"I wouldn't have accepted somebody's help easily. Thanks for trying anyway." He smiled a little. "You know, I found out who my father is yesterday. It might shock you." Focalizing on the good part of the situation. Positive thinking, as always.

Nya looked lost for a second.

"Uhm, who is it?"

"Cliff Gordon, alias Fritz Donegan!"

"Are you serious?" Nya laughed incredulous. "Your idol, Jay! It's incredible!"

"I know! We better not tell Lloyd about it!" Jay winked at her.

The master of water froze for a second but then nodded, laughing. She looked kinda red.

Or maybe it was just him. It was nice, laughing with her without feeling the constant need to appear cool and fascinating. It was like knowing her again, maybe for real.

Cole entered in that moment. He smiled, then looked a little confused.

"Did I… interrupt something?"

Oh. They were holding hands.

Jay giggled, a little embarrassed, retracting his hand.

"Just trying to fix my brain after yesterday." He went serious. "How are you?"

The master of earth sighed sadly. He didn't look good; his ghostly form was a little dull.

"It's not the first time someone's father is being corrupted by the forces of evil, I'll manage. And thank you." He gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You saved me, back there." A full pat, he really was getting better.

Jay shrugged.

"No idea how I did that. And you're a ghost anyway, pretty sure it would have just passed through you." He let the head fall on the pillow. "I just want to know how I did what I did, it didn't look normal, not like I've ever done something normal since the day I've gotten into this mess, but it was definitely not my lightning, besides it was transparent and pretty resilient, it took all that creature's attacks, it was like earth but way lighter and resistant and…"

Cole huffed.

"Jay, you're blabbering again."

The blue ninja stopped. Nya giggled.

"At least it means you're good. Sensei said you are exonerated from training, so you're free for the day. How about going to your dad? I can come, not every day you know something so famous." She looked genuinely interested. More than usual. She liked the movie, but that was pretty much it. Jay wasn't sure about the reason.

Cole blinked.

"She knows?"

"It couldn't stay a secret forever!"

"Cole knew?"

"He was there yesterday when my… the Walkers, told me." Jay smiled ironically at him. "You wanna come with us? Making sure I don't die? And only if you permit it, of course! You know, I wouldn't want to meet my long time lost biological father without my best friend's permission! That would be such a dishonor!" He mimicked a hara-kiri with an imaginary katana. He didn't even think about the former samurai nearby.

She laughed anyway.

The black ninja looked like a statue, especially his face. Usually it wasn't that hard to read, not for Jay at least. Today they were in an alternative universe.

"Very funny, but I already offered my help to Misako, I'll stay here studying her scrolls or something. Maybe we'll find out something about that weird power you used yesterday."

"In the name of Ninjago! You can read?" Jay laughed, even when the master of earth smacked him on the head. And wow, it hurt from him.

The master of water was smiling softly, even when Cole left them.

"You never change, you two."

"What time is it?"

"Half past midday. You're hungry?"

"A little." They got out, going for the kitchen.

Nya crossed her arms.

"Zane's not home though, apparently Cyrus is starting to make projects for Pixal's new body so he went to his tower. Lloyd went with him, I think. Kai is still with sensei, talking about who knows what! It's like everybody decided to just go without telling anything!" She was kinda babbling too, even if she was definitely not at his level. She probably had those thoughts in her mind for a while.

The master of lightning shrugged.

"Guess we are on our own, then. I can cook something."

"But Jay, you just woke up…"

Jay jumped in front of the shelves, grabbing a spatula.

"I feel great! Ready and charged like a bulb! Get ready, master of water, I could surprise you with something special today!" He extended the spatula to her like a mic. "What is you order today, madame?"

Nya, sat down at the table, couldn't stop laughing. It felt good. He wasn't even trying to impress her. Impress who anyway? She wasn't his girlfriend.

He really felt good today.

"Something… shocking, maybe?"

"Ooohhh!" Jay thumbed up at her. "This is someone you can talk with! It's on the house!"


They had dinner between puns and laughers.

Cliff was near the door, on a garden chair. As soon as he saw them he got up.

"You're back!" He walked towards him, without running. He looked like he was thinking deeply about every single movement, like in a photographic set. They could take it easy.

For the blue ninja's hysteric attitude, it was a real uplift.

He shook his hand.

"I didn't want to rush it, but I wanted to know more! Without pressure of course, I don't want to make us feel uncomfortable, I mean it shouldn't happen, we are grown up people, we can discuss without having an embarrassing silence after every single question and…"

Nya nudged at him.

"Jay, you're doing it again."

"Oh, yeah, right." The master of lightning scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, I do that a lot."

Cliff smiled pacifically. Then looked at Nya.

"My, I didn't expect you to present me your girlfriend this early. Not that I complain."

Jay laughed nervously. It was still kinda weird.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Ah, I see."

"I mean, she… she's a friend." He decided to leave it like that.

"… I see." Cliff extended his hand to the girl. "Sorry for jumping into conclusions. As you might know I'm Cliff Gordon. You can call me Cliff. It's a pleasure to meet you." He had a gentle touch, it was evident just by looking. Like he was going to kiss the back of her hand any moment. How from that ladies' man came out Jay, the blue ninja had no idea.

Nya went quiet for a while. Then she just shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Nya."

"Very well. Come inside, please, make yourselves at home. For one of you it is." Hard to tell if it was a joke. Maybe it was. It would explain his discussible humor.

Really, how come he never realized his improper relatives?

They sat in the same elegant living room, but it was way different with Nya. Jay felt a little more nervous. He was in front of his dad, with a beautiful girl by his side. He didn't really blame himself that much.

Cliff sat on the armchair, then suddenly got up.

"Can I offer you something, guys? A tea, maybe some hot chocolate…"

Jay looked at Nya, who nodded.

"I would go for a tea, thanks."

"Me too."

"Alright then, wait a second. I'll be back in a few." He left them alone, but the blue ninja could imagine what an amazing modern kitchen he had. The kettle was probably going to take less heating up the water than Zane reading a dictionary.

Jay looked around, patting on his own knees. It was still weird thinking that everything there belonged to his family. To himself. On the other way, Nya didn't seem fazed at all. She really was weird, so lost in thoughts and not fully determinate.

He got closer.

"Something's wrong?"

Nya gulped.

"What? No! Absolutely not! Everything's perfect, don't worry!" She laughed a little. And it was also weird, because he realized she was as bad as his brother at lying. Another obvious relation.

Jay softened his eyes.

"I know it's not true. Wanna talk? You know I'm a master in that!"

"… you think I'm a good ninja?"

That was not a question he was expecting. A bunch of hypotheses behind that insecurity floated in his brain. Until he realized he spaced out again.

He tried to smile.

"Of course you're a good ninja. I mean, you mastered your element and discovered you true potential in days! Do you know how long it took for all of us?"

Nya lowered her gaze.

"Is it really enough? You didn't even have control over your elements at the beginning…"

"That is… true… but you're still an amazing fighter and our official engineer! I mean, why would you think you're not enough? It's crazy!" From his point of view, she was the total package. Strong, smart, determinate, beautiful and independent. She was a constant, a guarantee. How could she not feel all that?

The master of water looked doubtful but smiled anyway.

"Thanks Jay. I just need to understand a thing…"

Before he could ask Cliff came back with a tray. There were three cups of tea and a plate with chocolate, cinnamon and marmalade cookies.

If only Cole came with them…

Cliff took his cup and sat on the armchair.

"So, where were we?"

Nya started drinking as well.

"Maybe you want to be left alone? It looks pretty serious…"

"Nonsense, my dear, I'm sure you're very important for Jay. Also, it's nothing I would keep for myself, not anymore." Cliff smiled calmly at her.

Jay felt relieved. And confused. Of course, he looked like he has a soft spot for girls, but was that the only reason? He seemed a little more hostile towards Cole yesterday. It was weird. And annoying, a little. Or maybe he was just making a fuss about nothing.

The blue ninja grabbed a chocolate cookie.

"You told me about mom, why she left." He started to munch it.

"Yeah, it's true."

"What was her job?"

Cliff smiled.

"You might like this one. Libber was a cryptographer, she used to study secret messages and the way to code them to keep their meanings. She was an expert of puzzles, and had a deep passion for mazes."

Jay smiled with enthusiasm.

"I love mazes too!"

"I'm sure she would be proud to hear that. It was almost an obsession for her, to every date she used to prepare a special path with many obstacles and enigmas, and only if I succeeded she would had left me decide where to go." Cliff shrugged. "Never won."

Jay snickered. She liked his mom so far.

Nya looked interested as well.

"Do you remember one of those mazes?"

"No, but I have something better. Everybody has their secrets, in this house. I have my room, she has a little something as well. This is how we used to live here." Cliff got up, approaching on of the wall, near the giant television.

The blue ninja was ecstatic.

"You have a secret room? Awesome!".

Cliff winked. He put a hand on one of the pictures hanging at the wall near the big television. He pushed on a particular spot, and it moved in. A part of the wall went back and scrolled on the side, revealing a shelf. It was full of puzzles, made of woods, with special locks, with crossed metal circles. Jay never saw something like that, he felt instantly enchanted.

He got closer, looking at his dad who nodded. He grabbed one. It was a lacquer box, made of blocks that apparently were supposed to be moved to form the entrance of a key.

"Amazing…"

"She travelled all the country to find them. That one was in a temple."

"What temple?"

"Ah, I can happen to remember, sorry. She just liked to find new places."

Another puzzle, made of metal. Two metal threads crossed that needed to be set free. He saw many of those things around, but that material… heavy and dark…

He widened his eyes.

"Deepstone!"

"You know it? Wow, you're really accultured!" Cliff smiled at him. "I think this one was from a stand at Stiix." Cliff grabbed a specific one. "Wanna try to resolve one? I know you are a mechanic expert." It was some kind of little mechanism, made of gears. A little bottom put in motion a little gear in the middle, and apparently the others needed to be put together to be all in movement.

The master of lightning nodded excited. He sat on the sofa, to have Nya's look too on the little thing. It was better with two engineers on it.

The master of water was amazed.

"They are really unique."

"Lynn wanted them to be. Don't be afraid, always risk, then you'll live completely free. This was her believe." Cliff smiled, closing his eyes. Sometimes it looked like he wasn't completely awake. Then he would just get back his composure.

Jay was captivated by that object. His fingers were moving on their own, trying to get the gears to touch each other and moving. Once in a while Nya would point at one part, correcting the step to make him move forward. But there was always that gear unmoving, too far away.

He pouted.

"There's always this one, even when the others are always moving!"

Nya furrowed her eyebrow.

"Maybe we're missing something…"

"It would be easier if I could just take it away!… can't I?" Jay tried to pull a little the last gear. It came off easily with a pop sound, like it was just a decoration. Then, the little hole left by the gear closed by his own, and the remained gears were almost singing working together.

Nya smiled a little.

"Wasn't expecting that."

"Risk and live free, I guess."

As soon as Jay said that, the puzzle opened. A little door opened on the other side, something come out and feel between his legs. He grabbed it: it was a little blue velvet box, with a heart made of little sapphires on the top.

Nya looked sadly at Cliff.

"Was that for…?"

Cliff nodded.

"That's the only puzzle I made myself, or to be specific, I commissioned myself. Never managed to opened it by my own, so it's been a while since I last saw it. May I take a look?" Jay immediately gave it to him, Cliff took a peek inside. "It's way lavisher than I remembered, even a little tacky." He closed it, like he couldn't bare staring at it for long.

The master of water shook her head.

"I'm sure it's marvelous, especially if it has been made with the heart."

Cliff gave her a weak smile.

"Thanks for giving it to me, guys. It's nice, to have something so important back." Cliff clenched his fist with the box, closing his eyes. Like he was trying to remember, to forget, or something else.

Jay really didn't know. Maybe didn't even want to know.

"You're welcome."

"Now, I know you're here for me, but I'd like to know more about you too."

"Me?"

"Of course. I know you're a ninja, the master of lightning. I know you lived in a junkyard, and that you are quite the inventor."

Jay laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"I manage, yes."

"At least until something explode…"

"Nya!"

The girl couldn't help but laugh.

"Just want your dad to know that you're a genius, but still a human that makes mistakes! We should bring the others one day, they know more about your adventures. It would be like a family reunion, wouldn't that be nice?"

Cliff smiled.

"I would like that."

"Nya, no! Your brother would bring up all the embarrassing stories!"

"That's not… okay, he totally would, but you kinda deserve that for keeping this from us! Now don't let mister Gordon wait, you master engineer!" She was definitely enjoying herself. Apparently lately she really had a hard time baring secrets in general.

Jay huffed loudly. If not Kai, definitely Cole or Lloyd would come up with something. He needed to make the best of this moment to show his not-cringy part of his life.

"Okay, something about me… well, sensei Wu found me while I was testing my mechanical wings by jumping off from a building." Both Nya and Cliff gave him shocked looks. "What are those faces? Of course I had a parachute! Come on!" They sighed in relief.

Cliff looked a little less lost. He was slowly slurping his tea.

"So this is how you met the other ninja?"

"Kind of. Cole was the first to arrive at the monastery."

"Ah." His eyes went dark for a second. "What else?"

Jay noticed. But he was way into his own words, like he liked to be.

"It was just he and me, then Zane came a little while after and we started training together. After, like, a month, sensei asked us to fight an intruder of the monastery." He laughed. "Then we found out it was Kai, and we were his opponents for his final test. At that point we formed our quartet, and our first mission was to retrieve the four golden weapons! And while we were at it, saving one particular damsel in distress…-" Nya gave him a playful elbow.

Cliff nodded while following the conversation. He looked really into it.

"How about Lloyd Garmadon?"

"Oh, that's a story! You see he is, like you probably know, Lord Garmadon's son, but sensei G wasn't always a bad guy! In fact, when he was little…" A beep sound made him stop.

Nya jumped a little, looking at her receiver.

"Sorry! Be right back!" She quickly got up, running out of the room.

Cliff never stopped smiling. Then looked at him with knowing eyes.

"Are you sure it's over between you two?"

"W-What?! How do you…?" Jay sighed, not like he had ever fooled anyone. "Well, yeah, it is. Life goes on, I guess."

"I'm just saying, she's really an amazing girl. She's got beauty, smarts and manners. And you two look really nice together. May I ask what didn't work out between you two?"

Jay swallowed, looking at the direction she left. He didn't want to talk about it. But he didn't want to hide it either.

"… it's stupid. Really stupid."

Cliff giggled.

"Love makes stupid."

"Yeah, but I'm not even sure if it's really the case. I got into this mess because I couldn't bare losing her, or anyone really, while at the end… we broke up, and she is still with me. So, I acted like a total jerk with my best friend for no reason, this is how dumb I was." Jay sighed. "The classic story, jealousy can be really heavy on friendship. To be short, you know Cole?"

Cliff stiffened.

"Yeah?"

But at that point the blue ninja could not ignore that anymore.

"Why do you always make that expression when I talk about him?"

Cliff cleared his voice.

"What expression?"

"The one! The "don't say that name" face! The "I don't wanna hear it" face! The "there's something I don't like about my son's best friend" face!" The master of lightning didn't want to sound accusing. But he couldn't really help it. Nobody judged his friend.

Cliff gulped. He sighed.

"It's not… I… I'm sorry. It's automatic for someone like him."

"Someone like…" Jay widened his eyes. "Because he's a ghost?!"

"Jay, I…"

"How can you accuse him for something like that? It's not a good reason for…!"

"Jay!" Nya came in that moment. "We need to go! Right now!"

The blue ninja stopped. He felt the anger burning from his chest to his throat, pushing for going out. His father was looking at him with concerned eyes, like he wanted to speak but didn't want to make things worse.

"What's going on?"

"Kai called to ask where we were, but then he started screaming for help! He said he was having an awful headache, he could barely talk! I know my brother, he would never beg if he wasn't in real pain!" She looked really scared. And she was right: if that hothead really pushed away his proudness for this, it was serious. They needed to go.

Cliff got up, trying to grab his wrist.

"Jay, it's not what you think…"

"I don't have time now." Jay didn't look at him. He just followed Nya outside the villa. Cliff didn't follow them. It was both a relief and frustrating.

The blue ninja decided he didn't care at the moment. He summoned his dragon.

Nya climbed behind him, hugging his abdomen. She still couldn't summon hers.

"Something happened?"

Jay sighed.

"Please, this time listen to me. I don't wanna talk about it."

Nya nodded against his back.

They soared, wind whipping against their faces. For a moment, Jay closed his eyes. He didn't need to look anyway. The dragon was a part of his element. A part of himself. It was like being bigger and stronger. He liked it. It made him feel less weak. And more upbeat. He would have loved to just let go and reach the highest speeds imaginable.

But he had a bounty to reach.

The fresh air made him good. The anger was gone, he felt lighter.

"Is there anybody at home to take care of Kai?"

Nya moved again and shook his head against his back. It kinda tingled.

"Zane and Lloyd are probably still at Borg, while Wu and Misako went to the library of Domu to make some researches." She sighed deeply. "The fact alone that he stayed home by himself should had given me at least a clue."

Jay nodded. Then he furrowed his forehead.

"What about Cole? He should be home studying the scrolls."

"Oh yeah, he said that… wait a minute, Misako took all her work with her, I saw her while you were asleep. He can't be working on anything. And he can't be home, or he would be the one taking care of Kai."

Jay went quiet. He lied? And he wasn't even at the bounty? That was beyond suspicious, it was abnormal. He was way too much dependable to say a thing and doing another, especially knowing there was just one ninja left at the headquarter. And what was the point into pretending to do something at home? Unless…

Jay stopped. They arrived without him realizing.

Nya jumped down immediately.

"… Jay?" He was still on his dragon.

"Sorry Nya, I have to go." And then he left.

Whipping wind. Fresh air. Fused with his elemental dragon. Reaching speeds that made him feel free. Risk and live, like his mother used to say. He really liked that.


"Here comes another ninja! Would you look at that!" The guard seemed surprised, even if he was telling that for the third time. "Not to be rude, but having two big names of justice here is not good for the mental stability of our, uhm, "guests". As we probably said before, here we try to foster an environment of encouragement!" Sure, because the sophisticated security system at the entrance was definitely a sign "we believe in you" as big as a camion. "Go on, it's nearby the cage we used to hold Pythor in. You can't miss, and since everybody kinda hate you guys here, you probably shouldn't."

Jay nodded. That place was something, even without that guard annoying commentary. It wasn't more frustrating than all those guys insults behind him, though.

"Uta ka ta ninja!"

"Like he said! Screw you, pajama-man!"

"At least let us insult a decent ninja!"

They were their historical enemies. They were simply bad and never got reformed, the last kind of people he should had listened to. But the ear was on them. That void inside his chest was back. It felt upsetting, like something was missing.

He reached the cell. It was made of some special transparent material, soundproof and resistant, so the constant whips against those walls produced just a rumbling sound.

In front of that creature, Cole.

He looked incredibly fragile. It was best to just roll with it.

"It became a touristic place, you know?" The master of earth gave him a surprised look. "I mean, it's the second time we come here. We could start writing reviews, organize school trips here. It sure is educational."

Cole kept looking at him, like he wasn't sure about his presence. He wiped away some tears, even if they seemed more like wisps of white mist. Ghost tears? Hard to tell.

"How did you find me?"

"Wasn't that hard."

"I could've been everywhere."

Jay smiled at the irony of the situation.

"I couldn't be called your friend I couldn't find you." He went near him, looking at that monster vent against the wall, like a beast trying desperately to break free from his cage. There was still the appearance of the man that so determinately tried to teach them how to dance, and that felt even worse. Like some sort of parasite took control over him.

Cole put his hand against the glass.

"We usually know what or who we have to face, you know? We just need to do what we have to. Garmadon is back? Find the golden weapons. The Overlord awakens? Train the green ninja. Ghosts want to curse this world? Find the tomb of the first Spinjitzu Master while trying not to be killed by the master of wind!" He punched the glass. "It's not easy, but at least it's clear! We just need to go on! But now… I have no idea where to go. What to do. How to manage." Another punch. "And it's my dad in there, Jay! Why do I have to feel so powerless while it's about my father? And I couldn't even be sincere with him! I didn't even tell him how I ended up like! What kind of person I am? What kind of son I am?" Another punch. Way weaker than his usual fists of doom. He kept his eyes shut, like he was trying to erase everything around him.

Jay saddened his gaze. But he wasn't here to feel discourage by his friend's condition. They didn't spend all that time together for nothing. He got closer.

"You're the ninja that hold the Scythe of Earthquake. The one that trained the green ninja with us. The one that never stop reminding us how special we all are. The one that always put the others before himself." He finally found his eyes, lucid and tired. "The one that sacrificed his own body in order to help us learning airjitzu… or ciclon-do." He feared it was too early.

It wasn't. Cole cracked a little laugh.

"It's not as catchy as you think."

"It totally is, but that's not the point. The point is… you're in the most secured, full of bad guys, most dangerous prison in all of Ninjago, without the others knowing it, just to be with your father!" Jay smiled at him. "You're asking what kind of son you are? The out of mind kinda type. The kind that would do anything to keep his family safe. The best kind, for me." He waited. The black ninja didn't have his quick reactions, and it just made him worried. He did good? He understood what he was saying?

Yes. Cole looked wasted, but he was smiling.

"Doesn't sound bad."

The master of lightning patted his back. It was usually a little cold, especially when the hand went through him. This time it felt solid, and warm. Like he was still human. He was trembling a little. But he looked way more relaxed than before. Their eyes met.

Yeah, he looked better.

Cole smiled, then widened his eyes. He was looking over Jay's shoulder.

"Ehm, Jay?"

"Not now, Cole."

"But Jay…"

"You're ruining the moment."

"It happened again."

Jay diverted his gave from him.

"What happened agaWHAT THE HECK?"

Again, that barrier. It was on both of them, a perfect transparent dome. It looked even more glassy from this close, almost crystallin. The blue ninja put a hand on it. It was cold. No, warm. He wasn't sure. It was full of little but complex sensations. Even so, he could feel it interacting with the void inside his own chest. He was sure to be the one generating it.

Cole was shocked. But he wasn't looking at the dome anymore.

"I didn't imagine the first time, your eyes…"

Jay blinked.

"My what?"

"They're shining! Your eyes are blue and they are shining!"

The blue ninja gulped, looking at the dome. Like it heard his thoughts it reflected his face sharply. He really had two shining light blue eyes, globes of pure lightning. They were scary, like they were possessed. But weren't that bad, he looked good.

"WHY MY EYES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GONNA SHOOT LASERS?"

Not enough to prevent a panic attack, but still.

"Breath, Zaptrap, I'm sure it's nothing."

"WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A BARRIER I CREATED WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING, WHAT KIND OF NOTHING IS THIS?"

"We're not suffocating and we're not in danger, calm down." Cole tried to touch the barrier, surprisingly making it. "I can touch it, and I don't even have to concentrate! It could be very useful, so there's no need to be scared." He seemed calm. The horrific version of his father was still near, but he was better.

Jay couldn't stop admiring his strength.

"Okay, but… how do I make it stop? Uhm, hey? Power I didn't know I had? Can you please let us free before one of us starts to feel claustrophobic?" He wasn't, but you never know. "This won't work, we need toOUCH! Are you crazy?" He grabbed the arm that had been pinched. But the dome fell apart, broken in many pieces like a surface made of glass.

Cole snickered.

"I was trying to deconcentrate you!… hey, they're not disappearing." He grabbed one of the shards.

Jay looked curiously at it.

"Pretty sure I don't have the control now."

"Yeah, your eyes are back to normal."

"Then why they are still like this?" He took it from Cole's hands. "It looks like glass, but way more resistant. Never seen something like this, maybe Zane could scan it and tell us more? It would be more useful than sensei's weird suppositions." He still needed to apologize to Nya for getting away without explanations. In that period, it felt like he was doing nothing but trying to resolve problems. Like with his dad. And Ed and Edna. And Cliff.

Cole nodded.

"What are we waiting for? The sooner we analyze it, the better will be for us."

"You wanna go now?"

"Yeah. I'm getting nothing standing here." He gave a last sad look at his dad.

The blue ninja put an arm around Cole's shoulders. It wasn't hard touching him, he didn't know if the ghost was concentrating. He didn't want to think about it. He just kept going, surrounded by the enemies from a life spent defending Ninjago. This time, he didn't even hear their insults.

The guard brought them outside. It was really hot in the Sea of Sand.

And the reception was horrible, especially in the Kryptarium.

Jay noticed more than one missing call on his receiver. One from Nya, one from Kai, three from Cliff. He ignored them all, sighing.

Cole gave him a worried look.

"It's everything fine?" Jay didn't answer.

He concentrated on the last missing call. It was painful reading "mom and dad". He called them back. Not even two seconds and Ed was already on.

-"Jay, so… I mean, we were looking for you!"-.

It was really frustrating feeling them so distant.

"I'm sorry, I was with Cole. I know we have to talk and everything but…"

-"We do need to talk, but about the uninvited guest at our house right now!"-. Edna suddenly intervened. -"He said he's your real father! Is this true?"-.

Jay widened his eyes.

"Cliff is there?"

-"He knows him, so it must be true. Put the rolling pin down, Edna."-. On the background there were the upset noises of the woman. -"He said he needed to talk to you and didn't know how to find the bounty. We hadn't told him, we didn't know if he was… well, happy to have resolved!"-. He laughed nervously. And it was the fakest laugh he have ever heard from him. It was painful. Especially after realizing how much they still cared about him.

Jay lowered his gaze. He didn't let Cliff explain, but even if he was wrong what was the reason behind his behavior? He really didn't want to talk to him.

But he was with the Walkers. He couldn't leave this burden to them.

"I'm on my way."

-"Splendid, so… uhm… Jay. We'll wait."-.

The call ended. The silence afterword was upsetting.

Cole seemed extremely concerned. He still had the shard of "glass" in his hands. It was important. And he didn't need more of his family drama.

"Can you go talk to Zane without me? I need to go to my par… to… the Walkers."

The master of earth nodded.

"No problem. Jay, you know we've got you if you need, right?"

Jay smiled gratefully, while the elemental dragon of earth was summoned.

"I know."


The atmosphere was surreal.

Not only because he couldn't recognize himself in the place he grew up in, but for the people at that table. Surrounded by a silence that could be defined embarrassing just for hiding a silent storm. When Jay entered all three of them looked at him. It was like standing between two worlds. On one side the always affectionate but distant looks of Ed and Edna, with a little of nervousness from the latter. On the other Cliff, that seemed on the verge of getting on his knees and beg for forgiveness.

He almost started, but Edna anticipated him.

"Jay, is this man really your "father"?" She spit poison on that word. Truly, the blue ninja never heard so much hate from that woman.

"Yeah, he's… he's my real father." Jay sat near him. "Look, I'm sorry I left so suddenly, but did you really had to come here just to talk? I would've just contact you again, I just needed some time." It was half true. He needed time, but probably not just a little. It was his problem, everything was too fast around him and he had to rethink about actions and words to understand his mistakes.

It took a really long time with Cole, after all.

Cliff lowered his head apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rush you. I just feared that it would had been your last visit, and I wanted to made things clear. But I didn't know where to find your ship, so I came here." He bowed his head to the Walkers. "I know it was really disrespectful towards you."

Edna huffed.

"You don't say."

Ed tried to cover it with a fake cough.

"Don't mind! You were worried for Jay, we understand perfectly! Besides, we wanted to meet our s… I mean, the father of the boy we adopted, so you just saved us time and effort!" He was smiling. Still, he never searched for physic contact, like with a pat or something, a thing that was always normal with him. He was keeping the distance.

It was the coldest he ever acted.

Jay felt like he knew nothing about those people. He inhaled deeply to calm down.

"You wanna talk? Go on."

"Now?"

"Now. I need to know what you meant about Cole."

Edna almost jumped on her feet.

"What did he say about such an amazing boy?"

"Edna, calm down." Ed smiled at her. That was it. No cheesy line, no sweet pet names. Not even a caress. He was serious. Too serious.

Cliff sighed, his eyes went dark.

"See, I have the reaction I have towards your friend, not because he's a ghost… but because he's a master of earth." Jay looked at him surprised. "You surely already know about the first serpentine war, how in the alliance of the elements some members betrayed their comrades. It was Chen's fault, of course, but that fact remains. One of Lynn's best friends was the master of earth. He was the one that lead the rebels against her. They were mates, in life and in battle. Yet, he betrayed her trust!" Cliff stopped for a second, like he was trying to recollect himself. "This is why I feel hostile. It's not about your friend. But I can't stop thinking about how he has the same blood of the traitor that hurt my love. And I don't wanna risk it. I can't trust someone like this." He looked way more tired than before. Like avoiding an explosion by walking carefully around the mine.

But it exploded anyway. In the sound of a slap.

Jay was speechless. Because it was Edna who raised her hand on him.

Ed grabbed her from her arms.

"Edna! Are you nuts?"

"Did you hear him? Have you heard that? He's judging such a golden boy like Cole because of someone else's mistake! He classified him as a menace, after all he has done for us and for all of Ninjago! How can a person think like this?" Edna was out of it, her face was red and her voice raspy. "How did someone like him had a marvelous boy like Jay? How can he define himself as his father! He wasn't there during his most important moments! We were!"

Cliff got up, clearly concerned.

"Mrs. Walker, I don't…!"

"Why? Why should you have this honor?" Edna had tears in her eyes. "You didn't even try to find him! You just left him! Why did you abandon him? He didn't deserve this! Why did you do that?" He raised her hand again. But no hit. She just fell on her knees, sobbing, while her husband hugged her from behind.

Jay didn't know what to think anymore. Where was he? Was he really in his foster parents' house? But that one was full of warmness, blabbering and love. Now there were tears, anger and confusion. Just yesterday they were laughing thinking about Cole's dad's affection.

He grabbed Cliff's attention.

"Can you wait outside?"

The man nodded, getting out quickly.

The blue ninja took a long breath before lowering on the couple, that was still on the floor. Ed probably noticed his steps, but he didn't react. That was the same man that got him out of a failed invention many times, telling him cheerfully that there's always a way.

He looked so lost right now.

Edna was still crying, holding tight his husband's dungarees.

"It's not fair… it's not… f-fair…"

Jay put a hand on her back.

"Uhm, Mrs. Walker?" No answer. "Edna?" Nothing. "… mom?" Suddenly her surprised gaze was on himself. "Are you alright?"

Edna looked at him in disbelief. Her eyes were red.

"… oh dear… oh dear, what did I say?" She put her hand on her cheeks, visibly dismayed. His husband guided her on a chair.

The blue ninja wanted grab her hand. He didn't.

He didn't know what to do. He grew up with those people, but that was too much. Too different from his usual life. Did he really know them? How did he have to act with them now? He knew his real dad. Was that even enough?

Ed read his eyes. At least that was a constant. He leaded him towards the door, whispering.

"Listen so… Jay. You're probably trying to know more about this Cliff Gordon, and I'm happy about it." He didn't look like it. "You'll be busy, we'll be busy. So maybe… you shouldn't come here for a while."

It felt like being stabbed. It was rational.

It hurt madly.

"… okay. It's fair. If you need anything, you can still call me, okay?" Jay didn't want it to feel like a goodbye.

Ed smiled, nodding.

"You will be the first we'll call." He didn't move. He just waved at him, then closed the door.

Jay stared at the closed door of the caravan. He wanted to go back in and hug them, telling how he was grateful about all the time they spent taking care of him. He didn't, walking away. After a few steps the regret was already stinging inside him.

But he didn't have the courage to go back. He felt like a coward.

Cliff was a little far away, looking lost and emotionless. When he saw him he reached him immediately, looking worried.

"How did it go?"

Jay sighed.

"They need time. I'll leave them be, for a while."

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"I don't think there's an easy way to deal with the situation. We're all trying to handle it. But it's not your fault, the situation just got out of hand. We'll fix everything, eventually." Talking felt wrong. Nothing sounded sincere. He wanted to scream, hurting his vocal cords. Vent at the wind everything he felt inside.

He didn't. Instead, in his head like a mantra.

Positive thinking. Positive thinking. Positive thinking.

Cliff nodded. He grabbed a clothed handkerchief from his pocket, one of the hundreds elegant details of his suit. He gave it to him.

"Here."

Jay didn't understand. Then, a little drop fell on his hand. He wondered when he started crying, if out of the caravan, when he arrived or when Edna started.

He wiped his eyes. He could see more clearly.

"Thanks." He tried to give it back.

Cliff smiled at him.

"Take it. Hopefully you won't need it anymore, though." He was caring, and kind. Always showing the best of himself, at least to him.

He could had been his dad. He was his dad.

Why it didn't make him feel better?

The sun was still up, but Jay felt tired. He needed to come back to reality. Away from his family drama. Where he was a ninja, the master of lightning, an engineer, maybe also a joker and just one of the many members of a very unique family.

He needed to go home, but from how he felt his elemental dragon was hardly going to appear.

"How did you come here?"

Cliff took a key out of his pocket. He pushed a bottom, and outside the junkyard something responded. Jay ran to it and was amazed by the view. It was a beautiful sport car in a metallic navy blue that was reflecting the sunlight, with white wheels and silver rims. It looked like it just got out of a magazine.

Cliff pointed at the driver seat.

"Whenever I feel down, a drive always makes me feel better. Wanna try?"

Jay widened his eyes. He piloted many jets and vehicles.

But that car looked more expensive than all of those.

"I don't wanna scratch it…"

"I drove it through the desert, that's really the least of my worries. What kind of car is it if you can't drive it? Come on, I know you're a good driver!" Cliff opened the door.

Great, the seats were covered in leather. Where were the photographers?

Jay approached cautiously. He lowered his head more than the needed to enter. It looked even more expensive on the inside. The seat back was a little too close to the steering wheel, but he didn't dare adjust it. Only when he was seated, Cliff turned around and positioned on the passenger seat.

The blue ninja breathed deeply.

"How much did it cost?"

"I prefer not making you uncomfortable."

"Whatever, that answer it's enough for my anxiety." He put his hands on the steering wheel. "Are you kidding me? Is this velvet I'm touching? No, aside everything, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to this car!"

Cliff snickered.

"Why are you assuming we're gonna crash?"

"I'm used to that kind of drive that could force me to jump over a gorge in order to complete a mission! And I doubt this vehicle has a jet mode!" Even so, his father still looked amused. "Really, Cliff, it's okay. I can deal with a little bad mood, it wouldn't be the first time."

Cliff changed his expression. He left himself fall against the seat back. His eyes were lost again, a little different from before. Like he was really, really talking.

"… I don't know about you, but for my experience, sadness doesn't just go away. You can pretend it's not there, even forget about it, but it won't disappear. You know the worst part? Every time memory comes back, it's like a slap, because you are not expecting it. It's like living that sadness all over again. Mind tries to forget, tries to feel better. This is why remembering it's so painful, sometimes." His hand went on his chest. He had the ring chained around his neck, it was a circle of white gold with one precious blue sapphire and two little diamond on the sides.

The master of lightning swallowed.

Everything outside the car disappeared.

Ignoring his parents, the Walkers, because having them so far away made him suffer. Ignoring how Nya was slowly drifting away from him. Ignoring how he was voluntarily pushing away his best friend. Ignoring the atrocious feeling of losing Zane. Ignoring how powerless and pathetic he felt, when Cole became a ghost. Ignoring everything, because it hurt. So much.

But every time, it came back. Worse than ever.

Jay clenched his hands around the steering wheel. His throat was burning again. It was so clear and disappointing, realizing that he just made the same mistakes over and over.

"… trying to face the problem is scary."

"Very true. Most of people prefer suffering."

He swallowed.

"You know… we don't have much time for ourselves. It's like we could be called for an emergency any minute, it's frustrating. And we can't keep up with many important things in that way." He sighed. "I don't know, sometimes I just wish everything was good outside our battles, our cyclic fight against the evilness. In that way, at least we'd have a safe place to look at, even when we… when I, am really scared not to make it." He was the one that talk. And he loved the sensation afterword, a complete feeling of relief. It felt better. And his dad was listening.

Cliff gave him a soft smile. It felt like something changed.

"You sure you don't wanna take a drive?"

Jay looked at the desert in front of him. He had a bounty to come back to. A group of friends he still felt safe with. But also full of people he needed to explain things. And be on the open for those slaps of sadness.

He wasn't going to avoid the problem.

But it could wait. At least for a few kilometers.

"… just one." He turned on the engine. It roared inside his head.

Cliff nodded satisfied.

"I hope you like high speed. This car is a lightning."

Jay felt a shiver. Pure adrenaline.

"That makes the two of us!" He stopped thinking, pushing on the accelerator.


"Two hours later, look who's back!" One bedded Kai gave him a fake hurtful look. "You abandoned my sister at the door, and then flew away without telling a word! Even worse, all before saying hello to your recovered brother! Didn't you hear my heart breaking, whenever you went?" He was seated, with two pillows on his back. He didn't look like a sick man, more like a convalescent forced in bed without his consent.

Nya gave his brother a stern look.

"Yeah, keep joking around, I found you on the ground!"

"A headache, Nya! Like a brain cramp! I wasn't that desperate, I was fine!… but it's always interesting seeing your motherly side." She gave him the thermometer on his head. "Ouch! What the heck, mom!" And another just in case.

Jay laughed. He felt great.

"And here I even brought some chicken soup." He put the box from the market on the nightstand.

Kai raised his eyebrow.

"That's for the flu, you know that?"

"Kai, don't be ungrateful."

"I don't even like soup."

"Kai!"

The red ninja smirked.

"What? I don't have to agree on everything, I'm not his boyfriend!" He managed to startled his sister, for his amusement. "… whoa, Jay! Did you fly in a tornado? What happened to your hair?"

The master of lightning touched his head. It had been probably that moment when, in an instant of enthusiasm, he opened the windows, tasting the wind. They basically devoured the Sea of Sand, then drove all over Ninjago City without precautious. It was a miracle that they didn't get any fines. Not that his father didn't have the money anyway. It kinda made him want to try and get himself caught. Not today though.

It had been enough. It had been incredible.

Jay grinned.

"Took a drive with windows down, nothing much."

Nya furrowed her eyebrows.

"What car?"

"Cliff's car."

"Who's Cliff?" Kai gave them a perplex look. "Did I miss something?"

Before an answer could come the door opened. Lloyd sneaked in slowly, looking at the master of fire.

"How's your head? Is it okay if we come in all together?"

The red ninja pointed at him, looking at Jay.

"See? This is how to deal with sick people!"

Jay rolled his eyes, while the other ninja came in. Zane looked a little distant. More than a zen nindroid already was. At least in his opinion.

Cole reached the blue ninja immediately.

"How did it go with Gordon and the Walkers?"

Jay gulped. There it was, the slap.

"Not… good. Not completely bad though, at least at the end, but not enough to make me feel okay with it. I don't feel like talking, but I know you'll take it out of me, one way or another." I wasn't that bad after all. With him it was absurdly easy to vent.

Cole smiled at him.

"That's true, but for now we have something else to talk about. Apparently, Misako found something about your power… and my dad's situation. She wants us in her room to discuss." He looked less stressed. Still, his ghostly figure was blander and a little grey. Like he was going to throw up.

The blue ninja let him go on. He didn't want to push, and while the masters of water and energy were trying to help their hotheaded brother – "I'm not invalid, I can walk!" –, he went to the silent robot, that still was doing even less noise than the usual.

They really did live together for a long time.

"Hey, Zane."

"Problems, Jay?"

"No, no, just… it's been a while since we talked, right?" He really had no idea how to start the conversation. "Uhm, between smart pals, you know? If there's something you want to talk about… if you want! Like I said, time passed, it could be like old times! Me and you, lightning and ice, inventor and… well, invented." He snickered a little, but he felt alone in it. No comment, not even on his blabber. Not that weird, it was still hard to crack that nindroid's sense of humor, but those eyes were completely disinterested.

Even a little irritated.

"You said it. It has been a while. You may go back counting." He kept walking.

Jay furrowed his forehead. That was unpolite. Way too much for someone like him. He followed his footsteps, noticing that he was trying to hurry. Like he wanted to finish whatever discussion they needed to have and then run away. Maybe he had something to do. One thing for sure, he did not want to talk about it. And he didn't need more pressure.

The blue ninja scratched the back of his head.

"I don't really get it, but… you know you can call if you need, right?"

The nindroid stopped. He sighed.

"Understood." Then he went on. It felt like a whisper. And incredibly grateful one.

Jay sighed. He probably couldn't do more than that.

"Don't feel bad, I tried too." Lloyd was on his side. "I have no idea what's happening to him, he doesn't want to talk since we came home. At least he knows he can ask for help."

The blue ninja nodded.

Inside her room, Misako already disposed all the scrolls on the table, with Wu on his side. As soon as they entered the master looked up and seemed relief to see Kai as well. He must had been really worried.

"Are we all here?" Nya nodded, closing the door. "Very well. Misako worked hard on her researches, and we think she might had discovered something concerning the events of the latest days." He waved towards her.

Misako put a hand on a scroll in particular.

"I thought it was only a legend…"

"Just another day in Ninjago!" Everybody looked at Jay. "… couldn't help it, sorry."

At least he wasn't out of his favorite lines.

"As I was saying, it's about one of the many legends I studied in the past, trying to find information about the first battle between the forces of evil and good. Between the first Spinjitzu Master and the Overlord." Everybody felt a shiver, it was automatic with that name. "As you know, at the end the master managed to separate Ninjago from the Dark Island…"

"Since we are all aware of the legend, could you please get to the point?" Surprisingly, Zane was the one that interrupted. He really looked in a hurry.

Misako, a little confused, kept going.

"Well, about that famous battle, there's something that always left me a little perplex. When we fought the Overlord, that incredible power turned most of the citizens into his slaves." Cole and Jay looked at each other, remembering those scary moments. "At the end all of Ninjago was purified… but how? The golden power is not known to have this capability, or Wu would've been able to do it from the start, since he has some of it."

Lloyd nodded.

"I don't remember using the golden power to do that."

"Exactly. This is why I assumed the existence of another power, that somehow can purify and defeat the evil inside people. And then, I found this." Misako pointed at one scroll. It was a triangle, with two symbols on every angle. But the angle on the right was ruined, it looked like really old paper. The remaining ones were red and green, blue and orange.

Nya looked curious, just like the others.

"What do they mean?"

"This is the problem. I studied many different and ancient languages in these years, but these symbols are different. They are fusions of alphabets and ideograms." Misako put her finger on the blue symbol, near the orange one. "The only one I found some meanings of is this one. It can be translated as "space", "glass", and "void"." She looked at Jay. "My conclusion is that this is the power that you used."

Jay widened his eyes.

"I have another element? How?"

"The only thing we know is that this is not a common material." Nya intervened. "Zane scanned the shard Cole brought back, and I did a little research myself. It's impossible to find its composition, its components, it's like glass from another dimension!" She looked oddly excited about it. Maybe because she wanted to build a new car with that as windows? Maybe she wanted to go back and be a blacksmith with that material?

Hard to say, no idea. She was looking at him a lot lately…

Misako sighed.

"We have very few information about it. We also don't know how you unlocked it, or why it manifested just now. I'm not even sure if this could be called an element. The scripts in these scrolls are… complex. Projected to test whoever read them." Misako went on another scroll, full of nothing but ancient language. "The only part I translated correctly is this one "in the chimera's heart, pure one moment, will appear the power of the complement"."

Cole furrowed his forehead.

"The complement? What's that?"

"The purifying power. The one I assume the first Spinjitzu Master used to free the citizens from the evilness, and also the one Lloyd unconsciously used to save Ninjago. Sadly, we're still not sure on many things, especially about how the "void" and the complement are related. Maybe Lloyd's case was a one-time thing, and until I figure out what it's needed to use this power, we'll be on the dark." She looked at Cole. "So, I can't say if this is what we need… to save your father."

The master of earth sighed sadly.

"Figures."

Jay put a hand on his shoulder.

"So, all we can do is wait?"

"That, and pay attention whenever your "void" manifests." Wu gave him a serious look. "It could be very important, so you need to tell us every time, Jay."

The blue ninja nodded.

Wu hit the ground with his stuff.

"It's all. We'll keep you updated, and as soon as we find out something we'll tell you." He looked at Cole. "We'll do anything in our power. I can promise you this." His old eyes were incredibly determinate. He was the warrior that defended this realm way before them, after all.

The black ninja smiled. But Jay could read him miles away, and probably wasn't the only one. But Zane was already gone, Nya helped Kai back in his room and Lloyd went to Misako to discuss. There was just the two of them left. But talking meant confessing everything that happened that day. He didn't have any force left for that.

The master of lightning went to his room. He wasn't hungry. He didn't feel like talking. He looked at his nightstand. Two days ago, there was a photo with himself, Ed and Edna, smiling in front of a shining Jalopy. It was like a jewel that day.

Now there was only a frame. Jay liked to watch his parents before going to sleep. But now he didn't know who to put in it. Cliff? The Walkers? Maybe even his real mother, Lynn.

He didn't have an answer.

Luckily, it wasn't the only photo on the nightstand.

But the frame was pretty cheap and it fell constantly, a little souvenir from Stiix. It was that photo, the one they did after the Overlord was defeated for the first time. They looked so silly and peaceful. They had no idea that was just the beginning.

Jay smiled. Because his brothers were all there, and they were going to stay there.

Whoever was going to appear in that other frame.

It was dinner time, but he didn't feel like eating. His stomach was closed. For a moment, he just wanted to forget about everything. About the family he didn't really know, about his best friend's terrific father, about the upcoming menace he was going to play an important role in.

For now, he just wanted to sleep.

He closed his eyes, and dreamed about driving a car, so fast to not touch the ground. Towards the sky. Towards the void.