This is some one-shot I slapped together inspired by my watching The Jade Princess last night, so some spoilers. I love Cole; he's probably my favorite, and I'm so glad they decided to expand his character in this. We finally got some answers fans were dying to hear, like me, and I now love Cole more than ever! Thanks, Ninjago creators, for doing this for us! I don't own Ninjago or its characters. I hope you enjoy! (PS I'm working on a Jaya oneshot currently, so that'll be coming soon)

The news came that night while Cole was getting ready for bed. The 15-year old picked up the phone and began crying uncontrollably when he heard the news. His parents had been in the car driving home from work when the car had been hit from the passenger side by a driver too drunk to notice. His dad was at the hospital, getting treated, but his mother had been killed instantly.

The neighbors came and tried to calm Cole down, but they didn't know how. How are you supposed to calm someone who's just lost their own mother? The young man had only been able to pull up his knees in the corner and sob as his whole life was shattered in an instant.

The day of her funeral had hit Cole the hardest. His father was there, his arm in a sling, his face devoid of any emotion, simply staring at that coffin in the front of the church. Cole tugged at his bowtie, angry at the formal clothes that just didn't fit this situation, angry at the beautiful flowers near that casket that bloomed in life while his cold and still mother lay inside. Angry at his father for not being upset, not being angry, not being anything. His mom was the only one who could understand him, the one who hugged him when he tried and tried to sing and dance like his dad did, but never could. She knew just how to make him feel better, how to love him.

And now she was gone. Never to return. He was told she was in a better place, and he believed that, but he couldn't believe she could be there while he was stuck, still breathing and unable to cope with her leaving. Nothing could have prepared him for this, and nothing could make him feel better. He knew that.

Time passed, but nothing changed. Cole continued to go to school, while his father did what he always did: singing and dancing. Cole was home from school one day when he heard the door creak open. The sound of his father's whistling struck his ears like a hammer. Not a single word came from his mouth. Cole couldn't talk to his dad, no matter how hard he tried. Anything he said would just make the rift larger. He trembled with anger, not daring to look at his father. If he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to handle himself.

The whistling continued. It wasn't pleasant anymore, more like a shrill siren from some distant land out in the middle of nowhere. "Dad, stop," Cole said loud enough for his father to hear him.

"What's wrong, son?" Lou asked his son. He sounded completely surprised.

Cole scoffed and turned to his dad to look him in the eye, almost ready to explode. "What's wrong? What's wrong?! Mom's gone! What do you mean what's wrong?"

Lou sighed. He wanted to reach his son, but how he had no idea. "I know it's hard, son," he replied calmly.

"Is it?" Cole spat back right at him. "It sure doesn't look that way. All you do is sing and dance! Do you even realize that she's gone forever?" Cole blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over if he wasn't careful.

"I loved your mother too, Cole-" Lou said. "No you didn't!" Cole interrupted. "You never loved her! That's all I can see!" He jumped off the couch and ran out the back door. He heard his father whisper his name, but he didn't stop. Not for him. Not for anyone. He didn't bother to watch the house grow smaller and smaller as he ran off. The tears blurred his vision. He didn't stop, even after his lungs were burning and his body screamed at him to stop.

The mountain came in view. Cole didn't hesitate and began to climb despite how tired he was. For some reason, being on the mountain, where one fall could mean certain death, he never felt more alive. It gave him something else to focus on. He lost track of time as he thought only of surviving. The sun was low in the sky by the time he reached the top. Then, he saw the most interesting thing he would see in a while. There was a single old man with a long white beard on the top of the mountain. A steaming cup of tea was in his hand. A fire had already been stoked to give some warmth as the sun began to set.

Cole was confused. How was this old man on top of the mountain that didn't have any trails? "How did you get up here?" he asked.

The man sipped his tea and looked at Cole. "Don't bother with me," he said. "May I ask a question?" He didn't wait for the answer. "Why did you climb this mountain?"

Cole thought about answering the old man. He didn't know this person. Why should he tell him anything? But something about him told Cole that he would listen to his problems and not judge. So he told him everything, about how he had lost his mother, and that he felt like his father didn't care. Then the old man said something that Cole would never forget. That Cole climbed to escape his problems, to deal with them. How did this old man know him so well even though this was the first time he had met him?

Nothing was for certain anymore. The old man told him about his formation of a ninja team, and Cole accepted. He didn't really know why. Was it because he was tired of being with his father, or was it because he was being pulled in that direction by his own desires to help those who were in need? Only time would tell.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate it! Let me know if you're enjoying Season 8 so far, because I know I am!