A/N: I'm heading back down to Texas this morning, like right now actually so I'm not too certain you will be hearing from me any time soon unless I find some 'me time'. I was born and raised in Austin but I moved up to the midwest in December as of last year so I'm psyched up to visit home for two whole weeks!

Forgive and Forget

Wreathed in thick wisps of stratus cloud in the northernmost highlands of Ninjago ran an immeasurable system of mountain ranges known as the Mountains of Impossible Height. Atop a segmented region's summit perched the Monastery of Spinjitzu; a place of peace so remote, so hidden, so secluded that no man living had ever heard of it, let alone seen it. Somewhere along the dangerously steep mountainside ascended two blackened figures who habitually camouflaged with the indigo layers of nightfall. Although a much easier route pointed a direct staircase to the temple, the young Spinjitzu masters voluntarily went the extra mile at their own will.

Beneath tattered and bloodied hands crumbled boulders of every size that detached from the rocky crag as each ninja gained altitude up the pinnacle's face. Heedfully digging his tabi booted feet into the cliff, the slate grey defender passed a supercilious glance to his opposite naturally falling behind, "You alright there, little brother?"

"Never better." The one dripping in silver fizzed. Needless to say, he was irked off Garmadon's senseless ambition as to mask the unbearable amount of pain he endured just so he might appear bulletproof, which they both knew was far from the truth. Wu's exerted limbs trembled laboriously when he gave one last clamber to reach the crest of the mountain, for as the name indicates, you can only imagine the journey. There should have been a magnificent view from where he stood, but it had been blotted out by the encroaching darkness of twilight.

The heavy twin gates swelled and groaned as the brothers slipped through its awe-inspiring entrance and then began to limp their way across a sandstone courtyard. Open to a starless sky, the unroofed area provided an outdoor training facility with various underground devices that would spring up at just the click of a button. In addition, two wooden racks were supplied against each extremity for collective weaponry storage and training gear equipment.

Therefore, in order to test Wu and Garmadon's burgeoning strengths and capabilities, the courtyard had undergone several refinements over the past years; hence each of the modifications demonstrated the wishes and training philosophy of the First Spinjitzu Master. This course, where his sons were first exposed to the mysterious art of Spinjitzu, was said to be the most hazardous training layout in the history of Ninjago. Nevertheless, both of them mastered the treacherous obstacle gym at such an astounding young age of ten.

Most importantly, the monastery commanded attention on the yard's central axis where, erected upon a raised platform projecting in front of the temple's entry, the most powerful being known to man assumed his sons' arrival.

It was not only Ninjago's inhabitants who deeply revered the First Spinjitzu Master. Wu and Garmadon did as well, and they held an even higher regard of him as his students. This man never expected more of them than he gave himself, yet no daylight fell without demanding every ounce of their mortal beings and then a little bit more. He slammed purpose and dreams into their heads and drove them to train until their bones screamed, though what he gave in return was almost unthinkable to the mind, hard to describe really. Above all else, he was much more than a father figure to them, he was a hero. Regardless of what lurched beyond the other side, they would follow him anywhere, into any battle, no hesitation. But when the brother's swore an oath to defend Ninjago at all costs, their solemn promise became a whole lot heavier as their father withdrew from the responsibility and stepped aside, allowing his boys to supersede him.

Aslan, familiarly bathed in a kimono glowing of gold, strolled forth empty-handed to approach his proteges who, despite the extreme sense of enervation and fatigue, stiffened themselves militarily and stood at attention before their master. As soon as the masks were uncovered his rough fingertips naturally met the very bloodied, bruised and swollen face of his youngest. The ugly gashes caused him to sigh in disheartenment, "It seems I have underestimated Samukai...His army was far more troublesome than I ever imagined..."

"Why now suddenly, after so long?"

As if he needed to be reminded of the other's existence, the old man flicked his gaze to his slightly neglected oldest, "It was not an unpredicted ambush. Do not forget: one year in your sight is equivalent to a single night watch in the Underworld. Must I also remind you there will be everlasting shadow among us as long as the balance between good and evil is maintained." He then moved on to look over Garmadon's disturbing condition, "Still you must always prepare yourself for the impossible, my son, for evil never sleeps."

The brunette's head dipped with the chagrin he suffered after his battle, but more so to avoid his father's up-close inspection. Seeing his mortification, Aslan lifted his child's gory face with a strong hand, "Keep your chin up," and then spoke with a slow mix of softness and reassurance to both, "Tonight you have learned the greatest truth of the Ninja: that ultimate mastering comes not from the body, but from the mind. Together, there is nothing your two minds cannot accomplish. Help one another, draw upon each other, and always remember the power that binds you." The elderly man pulled back, facing each of them, "You both have made me proud tonight. I knew you would not fail." With that, he smiled. Maybe 'smile' wasn't the right word for it- on anyone else, it would be a grimace, at best. On this wizened face, however, it was a sign of bliss and gratification.

Not without carefully gathering all four Golden Weapons would he part. "I cannot ask any more of you. Given what you have done, I believe you earned the right to enjoy your retirement for the night...Tomorrow is a new day. My advice is to get some sleep."

Wu and Garmadon gave a perfunctory nod as Aslan turned, started up the monastery's floating platforms and left the sliding shoji doors ajar in his wake. The golden haired boy waited until Aslan's shadow was lost before he elbowed his brother, "You know what that means."

The older's mouth twitched, and Wu was pretty sure he was fighting off a guilty smile. "We did leave quite a mess down there, didn't we?"

"We always do," He imitated Garmadon's manner in which he spins out of his suit, and then followed him a step behind. "Who knows how long it will take to restore everything back to the way it was. Most of the city is in ruin, if not all of it."

"Could take weeks, could take months," the brunette mumbled, shrugging off the thought. He was more concerned that he could barely mount the entryway steps without toppling over. With each footfall the pain amplified to force a more pronounced limp.

Five uneasy strides and the brothers were stumbling down the main hall arrayed with few antique furnishings positioned in nestled arrangements. A dark, tangled maze of rooms and chambers branched off on either side of the corridors which lead to the living quarters in the monastery's secondary elements. Aslan would remind them that the less important complexes were originally designed to be minimalist, in which they offered nothing other than their essential needs. The meaning behind this was to retain the idea that they were to live a simple acetic life, rather than obtaining the unnecessary earthly comforts and possessions to live. This way his sons would focus on fully dedicating their lives to overlook the land of Ninjago with watchful eyes.

While Garmadon steered left into the first chamber, Wu wearily took a direct right and found his way into the washroom. Loaded down with medicines, antibiotics, towels and bandages, he crossed into the decrepit sitting room where his brother lay on his back, slumped over an elmwood black leather sofa.

"Oh-h-h," Garmadon groaned in exhaustion and stretched out, lazily kicking his bare feet up on the hooked end.

"You look like hell," Wu cautioned as he neared.

The opposite waved him off dismissively, and closed his tired eyes, "I'm alright."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." He slapped a cold compress onto Garmadon's head, "leave this on," and then nearly collapsed into an armchair adjacent to the occupied sofa.

The brunette reared and propped himself against the cushions using one arm, the other secured his head cloth, "This smell is repugnant."

"It can't be any worse than your stench. I can smell you from-" A thrown pillow nailed the blonde's face before he could even finish. Quietly snickering, he tossed the rolled cushion aside and began sifting through the cleansing supplies, "But really, you're making me gag."

Garmadon sat up straight, looking very irritated and unamused. The equipment piled onto Wu's lap caught his eye, "Mm, look who's the doctor now. What else do you have for me?"

Wu handed him a sewing needle and wire, "I would worry about that above anything." He gestured with his head to the blood-soaked laceration where a sword made its oppressive mark on the right bicep. "Stitch yourself up."

A small silence fell over the two as they busied themselves dabbing at their grisly cuts, slashes and wounds, as well as tending to either a seriously broken nose, a black eye or sprained limb. Eventually patched up in bandage strips of assorted sizes and wrapped up in rolls of elastic rap, the boys silently sprawled out in recovery. Wu's life-drained blue eye that wasn't hidden beneath a leaking ice pack was fixed on Garmadon, who concentrated on smoothing his last bandage around the side of his discolored abdomen. He watched as his older brother slumped back and collected himself, vacant eyes staring into space. The shallowness of his breathing told Wu that something deep inside this man has been used up.

A moment later Garmadon suddenly rose to his feet, dropped the now warmed rag behind him, staggered past Wu, and said with a stifled yawn, "I think I'll turn it in for the night." He had a foot planted on each side of the doorway when he was disinclined to glance over his shoulder, "Hey." This snagged Wu's curiosity. The younger male looked up. "Thanks for saving my ass. You did well." Garmadon did not wait for his reply, he whipped around as if he hadn't said anything, leaving Wu with the slightest trace of a grin creeping across his mouth.

Garmadon popped his head back around the corner, "I didn't mean any of that, you know."

Wu rolled his eyes, he knew that was coming at some point. "Get out of here."

A/N: Rushed ending, no need to remind me. Used some bits from Little Miracles but doesn't matter, I'm rewriting it anyways. Alright, I gotta go, everyones yelling at me. See you in a few weeks!