I recently found out that Arcturus is an Anacondrai general (Season 4!). In this story Arcturus is a human, as is Devon and Thornia.

Serpent Island is inhabited by humans and serpentine.

Just clearing that up for people who may have been a bit confused.

Cole's POV

(Flashback)

I tried to find a way out. The daggers that had been plunged through each shoulder ate into my concentration, blurring everything into an indiscernible mess. I looked past Devon; my brother… Whom I had lost to the darkness of the devourer venom, to the huge expanse of the sea that stretched out for miles on end.

I had heard about other islands on the ocean, but it seems as though I wouldn't even make it through the night.

I wrestled with the daggers, biting my lip to prevent myself from screaming. The blade twisted and cut a wider gash into my shoulder as I tried to pry it out. Devon was still talking, not paying attention to my vain attempts to get free from the blades. "I will not allow… you, to take my chance away from me again-" His speech was cut short, the dagger came out of my blood drenched arm with a sickening ripping noise. I lunged at my brother and stabbed the blade into his chest. He screamed, the noise pierced the night.

Reaching over to my right side, I pulled the second dagger out and reached for my scythe that was lain on the floor not far from where I stood.

I turned swiftly around and struck my brother in the stomach with the flat of the weapon. He stumbled back towards the cliff, and went over the edge.

His screams of rage faded as he fell towards the icy cold, unforgiving sea.

I stepped back from the cliff as my eyes watered.

I hadn't wanted to do it, but he had left me with no choice...

(Present)

Kai was clicking his finger under my nose, trying to get me back to reality.

"Cole, you there?" He said.

I shook myself out of my past. "Oh… uh, yeah. What is it?"

Kai looked at me incredulously, "What were you thinking about?"

I looked down to the floor, "Nothing much." I said with a small smile, attempting to get Kai to stop interrogating me about something that was none of his business.

Kai sighed as I shut down the conversation. He went back to messing around with his newly acquired fire powers.

Once the Overlord had been defeated in the final battle, Lloyd decided that he wanted to split his golden power between the team. I gained my element of Earth, Zane gained the element of Ice, Jay got lightning and Kai got Fire.

Since then, we have been using our elements to the best of our abilities. Even if we messed around with them from time to time.

Who wouldn't?

But that wasn't the biggest problem I had.

In the final battle, where Garmadon had been freed of the Devourer venom, had got me thinking.

If Devon hadn't died, could Lloyd's golden power also have saved him?

I sighed as I walked to the exit of Garmadon's monastery, which doubled as our temporary base.

Leaving through the front door, I needed some time to myself.

Walking for a few minutes I came to the edge of the forest that bordered the monastery. Traveling through the dense woodland, I came to a clearing, which ended with a steep drop to the ocean below.

It looked so much like the place I had fought my brother.

And lost him…

That night, I had left the island behind. I took an old wooden boat from the docks and made my way away from what had happened.

At the time, I hadn't cared about what I found on the open ocean, I had never left Serpent Island before. I never knew what new place I would find.

But I had kept rowing.

After rowing for the entire night, the burning glare of Serpent Island had long since faded into the distance. I came across the island of Ninjago.

It was an amazing place full of things I had never seen before.

I found a small town, each home had a warm embrace of a fire that kept the cool chill of the weather at bay.

I found out that this place was called Jamanakai village. I stayed around that village for a while, everyone was welcoming.

I got a few strange glances, but to be honest, I was a young boy walking around in tattered, burnt, black clothes. So a few second looks were to be expected.

I smiled at the memory, I had barely been in Ninjago for a few days before I found Sensei Wu, or he found me.

(Flashback)

Near Jamanakai village, there was a huge mountain. Nothing like anything on Serpent Island. It was so steep, and had many vertical inclines that would challenge the most skilled of climbers.

And it could probably challenge me. Probably.

In fact, there was a few people climbing the mountain, they were about half way up, and kitted out with good quality climbing gear.

But I was never one for ropes and harnesses.

So I just started climbing.

I didn't even hesitate when it came to a new handhold or foothold. I had scaled half of the mountain before the climbing group had even reached the top.

They seemed to be struggling on a fairly steep incline.

But I didn't slow down.

I climbed easily past the group as they gaped at my bravery and stupidity for climbing without ropes, but I could tell that they were in awe of the speed at which I completed that tricky part of the climb.

I didn't pay attention though, I just focused on which route I would take next.

And eventually, I reached the near peak of the mountain.

I jumped up with relief of the temporary rest, "Ha ha!" I said with triumph.

Then to my amazement, an elderly man sat on the ledge as well.

He wore a cone straw hat and a white robe that I could only assume was to indicate that he was a ninja of some kind.

He was drinking tea from a small blue cup, beside him sat a blue china tea pot to go with the cup and a bowl of sugar.

"Hello Nicolas." He said in a wise voice.

I was taken aback by his immediate knowledge of who I was.

"Uh, I don't suppose I know you…" I answered slightly dumbly.

"No, no. You don't know me, but I know you. Heir to the throne of Serpent Island, I hear. Well done." He said in a comforting voice.

Though I was anything but comforted.

"I no longer live on that island." I stated honestly.

He gave me a forlorn look, "News does not travel fast enough these days, tell me what happened."

I gave in to his calming tone and let the story come flooding out.

The more I spoke, the quieter my voice got, until it was barely audible.

I started to explain how my brother died, but my voice caught in my throat.

I sighed, wiping away a stray tear that streaked my cheek. "But I have moved on, that is all in the past, I have to look to the future."

A sombre smile flashed across the elderly man's face. "Spoken very wisely. But to the point of this meeting: I am Sensei Wu, and I am forming a team of ninjas to fight against my brother, Lord Garmadon. And I would like you, Nicolas BrookStone, to be the first member of my team."

I thought for a moment.

Me, a ninja?

That was a crazy idea.

But what else could I do?

I had no home, no family…

This Sensei Wu seemed to know me, and I was sure I had heard of him before.

I came to a decision, "I will join the team, on one condition."

The Sensei stood up and brushed off his gi, "And what would that be?"

"Please don't call me Nicolas."

He looked to me, "What name would you prefer?"

I thought for a moment, "Cole?"

"It suits you, Cole." He said with a sincere smile.

I stepped to the edge of the rocky outcrop, I pulled off my torn robes that was the last link to my family, and threw it off the side of the mountain.

I would move forward from now on.