Heya guys, I'm back! ^ ^
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! We managed to survive another season of Ninjago, aka another deadly rollecoaster of emotions! And let me tell you, I was having a heart-attack during Endings! Not gonna go into details for those that didn't see it, but damn, they really love play with my heart ^^"
So, quickly, thanks a lot NaninaDaPanda, MightyShipper and a guest (it says guest, sorry bud ^^") for leaving reviews! You guys have no idea how much it made my day just seeing the notification of your comments! And thanks my followers, my readers, and those confused people that came here for an accident and have no idea what is going on! Love you all 3
Alright, big angst for this one, not gonna lie. Hope you'll like it!
Enjoy! ^ ^
He was engulfed by darkness. No way to tell where he was or how he fell asleep. His body was shaking in his sleep, his heart was beating painfully fast against his chest. His sweat was cold, tracing his skin in drop on his jugular. A hiccup stopped his breathing, and under the eyelids he could feel his consciousness coming back. His right shoulder blade was feeling a cold breeze, right where the symbol of the real potential was. The darkness became purple, someone just turned the light on. Jay couldn't bring himself to open his eyes, he knew that what was waiting could destroy him.
He clenched his fists. Rumors of chains, pain over his shoulders. His eyes opened on their own.
Borg Tower. Thinking of how excited he was the first time he came to that place made him think of a different, happier place. He was chained on a wall, arms raised, while a couple of chimeras were wandering in the room with a lost look in their faces.
Cliff was there. His eyes were fixed on him, a mad glint in them.
"I didn't pay attention before. But the lightning looks really good on you. Like it's been made just for your persona. It suits you, Jason. It really does."
Jay felt the urge to cry. The slap of sadness. Not like this. He couldn't bare it.
"Dad, what's going on? Please tell me!"
Cliff gave him a curious look, like he wasn't sure what was the blue ninja talking about. He got closer, pushing a chimera out of his way like it was garbage.
"The truth? It's a little complicated, and I had a hard time decipher my feelings myself. To put things simply, one day I woke up, and apparently, I needed power. Truth to be told, I can hardly remember what came before this strong urge… and I gotta say, I care little about it. All I can tell is, I want the elements. So, yours as well. Which is not an unreasonable demand if you think about it. You're my son. Ergo, it's already mine."
The master of lightning was shaking. His shoulders hurt terribly, being stuck in that position for who knew how long. He didn't care.
"You want the lightning…?"
"Who wouldn't?" His father snorted, spinning around like a child. "Especially by looking how you use it, it's amazing! You're so talented and energetic, it's obvious that people want to get it! I'm not even the first, am I? What was the name? Chen?"
Jay paled. The comparison made him feel sick.
"No… please, no…"
"But he was insatiable, didn't know when to stop. Turning into Anacondrai? Seriously? He had a stuff full of elements, and he decided to give up all that for being a pathetic reptile that even got defeated?" Cliff shook his head. "Good plans need to be accomplished with simplicity and patience. And I waited, I waited for the lightning to be unlocked in its true form. The real potential truly is a great resource, something you discovered. You did great, son.-. He smiled. He was mad.
So mad.
The blue ninja felt his breathing accelerating. He shook his head. It didn't make sense. It couldn't make sense. Everything was too surreal.
"You didn't know I was gonna come back to you! It's impossible!"
"Oh, Jason, haven't you seen the little shrine I made for you? I took notice of everything, all of your achievements, it didn't matter when you were going to show up! The true potential, the powers without the golden weapon, spinjitzu, airjitzu! But never close enough. The real potential, this is your greatest step! I'm so proud of you!" He laughed. The air in the room got colder.
Jay swallowed to prevent himself to cry.
"S-so… you're the one behind the chimeras!"
Cliff hummed, looking at them, still wandering around like soulless being.
"To be honest, not exactly. Someone gave them to me a few weeks ago. They do what I want, but I really have no idea where they come from." He made a disgusted face. "Or why they are so hideous. It doesn't matter. They are powerful though. And useful as well."
Jay felt his fists tremble. Powerlessness, fear, anger, despair. Everything.
"Wait… wait! I wanted to find the real potential because my powers were getting weaker! You didn't know that! You couldn't have known that!" He thought about Cole's dad, the attack. All those troubles, all that pain for his best friend.
His father gave him a boring look. It was the first time he didn't look ecstatic to see him. He kneeled in front of him and put a hand on his chest. Jay tensed in fear. His father opened his gi. Jay's blood turned cold then the hand slipped inside.
Then, it came out with a handkerchief. Lynn's photo fell on the ground.
"I genuinely thought you were smarter than this, Jason. You really never thought I was a little off? Not even when that meddler of the master of earth adopted such a bashful behavior towards me?" Cliff showed him the tissue, from this close it looked like it was made of thousands of minuscules squares sewed together. "You know, this cloth is kind of special. I bought it from a merchant, one of the newest one. Really interesting stuff, vengestone items included. I studied something about it, remember the chains Chen used for trapping his competitors?"
Jay widened his eyes. The tears couldn't be stop know. Ronin talked about it. It made sense. It was awful, and yet it made sense.
"I-it can't be…"
"You had it under your gi for how much, five days? In this quantity it's not enough to enable all the power, but sure it weakened it!" Cliff laughed. "You kinda caught me off guard when you complained about your powers so freely. It was the plan, but I never would've thought you were going to keep an item given from someone you just met this close to the heart. The effect got even amplificated! You're so sentimental, Jason."
The blue ninja couldn't stop sobbing. He was cold, scared. Cliff was telling the truth but believing was terrible. He closed his eyes, praying it was just a horrible nightmare. Darkness.
Light. Cliff was near a machine. There was a big cage made of glass, connected by wires to a panel with a spot big enough to contain a person. There was a monitor connected, and everything was refined with golden bands and pointy decorations.
That thing was screaming Overlord.
Jay swallowed. In his mind, his stupidly quick mind, a horrible scenario was getting together.
"That thing…?"
His dad gave him a smile. He snapped his fingers, and three chimeras gulped.
"Take my son to his new room."
The chimeras got closer, roaring around the prisoner. They hit the chains without rationality with their claws until they broke. Jay feel forward. He couldn't feel his arms. The chimeras grabbed him with their tentacles, pushing him towards the cage. Jay tried to break free, kicking, trying to use spinjitzu or his element. But he was too weak, and the chain were made of vengestone. It was unfair. He screamed, rotating and hitting one of the creatures with a kick. The chimera roared, so loud Jay felt his ears whistling. He got hit whipped and pushed inside the cage.
Cliff closed it, giving him an affectionate smile.
The blue ninja felt his stomach contorting. He hit the glass, feeling the blood circulating again. No use. He was too weak to free himself on his own.
Useless once again. Despair filled him, so he hit again.
"Dad, please! I'm the master of lightning, stealing powers is against nature! You know how Chen ended up, it's against Ninjago itself! This is not right!" His punches made the cage resonating. "Please, you're still in time! I'm your son!" It was like screaming in an empty space. His father was looking at him, giving him his full attention. Yet, his eyes were emotionless. Nothing was shaking them. Did he ever listen to him? Just how good was he at acting?
He was in front of a console, enthusiastic, while looking at his plan getting together. So happy. Like a kid. Inside the body of a man who lost his mind.
"You know how the Overlord tried to steal the golden power from the green ninja, to becoming real from his digital form? Such a commendable work. Well, the scene will be similar, but I won't be connected to this. It's safer, we don't want me to explode for getting overcharged, now do we?" He snapped his fingers again.
Two chimeras dragged a closed suitcase made of metal and connected it to the console.
Jay punched the glass. Nothing. Weak. So weak.
"Dad, please, don't do this."
Again, Cliff smiled. Like he was having the time of his life watching him suffering.
"I know the green ninja didn't suffer. It was more like a slow decreasing of his strength that made him more and more tired. Alas, my project is not that perfect."
The blue ninja widened his eyes.
"W-what does that mean?"
The chimera left the room in hurry, roaring lowly. His father didn't answer, he was completely at ease. He put his hand on a level and pulled it down.
The pain came all together, filling his mind to the point Jay couldn't hear his own screams.
It felt like his lightning was getting ripped off from him with his skin. His blood was boiling in his veins. He wanted to vomit. Everything inside was rejecting him. He couldn't grab a thing, only lean against the glass, punching it weakly. His mind was empty. His voice was out of control, distorted in a way he did not recognize himself.
Everything was black. He didn't know if he had his eyes closed or the pain blinded him. Or the tears. He couldn't stop crying either. Jay was sobbing. Again, he heard a level being pulled down. The machine made an awful sound. Suddenly, the burning increased and he screamed until his throat got soared. He couldn't even swallow anymore.
"Please… s-stop…"
And that burst did stop. After that, the suffering was almost bearable.
At least he wasn't screaming anymore. But more tears came.
He was alone, stuck on his knees, his legs completely useless. The energy that was pulsing inside him was slowly fading. His electricity, as much as his own energy, was leaving him. He thought about Lloyd, how he handled the situation alone, as brave and strong as always. Jay wasn't the green ninja. His power had more limits.
How long until it left him completely?
Jay clenched his fists. He could barely do that.
"Po… posi… positive think… ing…"
The others were on their way. For sure. They didn't know what happened, but that never mattered! Maybe he being naïve again, the same attitude that put him in danger in the first place. But he knew, at least one of them could hear him. Just a feeling, a sense of uneasiness. His brothers. His team. They were coming for him, he knew it.
He needed to believe that. Repeating it until he felt sick, while his left eyes started to tic. Believing. Hoping. His last resort. If only his throat didn't hurt so much, he would had gone back to screaming. His right shoulder blade was burning. The mark was disappearing. The real potential was fading too.
Jay closed his eyes. Hoping. Praying.
Positive thinking. Positive thinking. Positive thinking.
It hurt so much.
"What do you mean he didn't come back?"
"I cannot find the signal of his receiver."
The tears were burning too.
"Why is Mr. Gordon not answering? What happened to them?"
"I had another vision, we have to go now, or else…!"
He wanted to go home so bad.
"I am not going to lose him! I can't. I won't."
… they weren't coming.
The machine was draining everything from him. His father was going nuts. He was in pain, breathing frantically. And they weren't coming. They weren't there to help him. Why there weren't here with him, while he was suffering? He needed them, all of them! Kai's determination. Lloyd's strength. Zane's support. Nya's resourcefulness. Sensei's wisdom. Misako's kindness.
Cole. Jay wanted him on his side so badly.
He screamed again. The mark was pulsing horribly. His skin was burning.
He thought about his life, his decisions. His brothers, his parents, his mom. The real one.
And cried more.
… Jay knew he was going crazy.
Because they were there, looking at him, one at the time, just how he hoped for. But they weren't real. Because the ninja weren't there to free him. Just to stare at him with contempt, like it was all his fault. Like he deserved all of it.
The blue ninja was starting to believe it.
Kai always scared him a little, it was a fact he accepted since he became part of the team. He was a great friend, a little too prideful but so incredibly caring. Simply the blue ninja wasn't completely comfortable around him sometimes. Because he was really menacing, with the marked face and the fire in his hands. Ever since he started to go out with Nya he feared his judgement. When they got closer, as teammates and brothers, he understood that making him mad was not a good idea.
That master of fire in front of him, on the other side of the cage, that was not Kai. Because unlike him, the fury in his eyes was silent like a mute storm.
"Good riddance. I'm sure you already knew I could hardly tolerate your presence before. At least this will teach you to watch your back. For a joke like you, it's a lesson I'm surprised you haven't learned by now." No smirk of amusement. No twitch on his face to let him just hope that it was all just a really bad played game.
Jay shook his head, scratching the glass because he was in no condition to do anything more.
"Kai… please, h-help me, plea-"
"Shut up for once! I'm not gonna tolerate your annoying blabber one second more. And it looks like I won't have to." The red ninja gave him his back. "We don't need weakling in our team. If the machine will make you disappear, let it happen. It would be a huge relief." He walked away, as silently as he appeared.
Jay sobbed, too tired to talk.
"Don't leave… me…"
Lloyd was a wild card. He was supposed to be a kid, but he was pretty much the most mature of all of them. He used to be their pupil, but he was the most powerful ninja of all Ninjago. Sometimes it was hard approaching him. Sometimes it was so natural it made him laugh. The way the green ninja saw things was unlike everybody else, but there were times when no one in this team could understand him better than the blond.
Right now, he was looking at the blue ninja with the same evil grin as his infamous father.
"Ironic, don't you think? The character you admired so much is taking everything from you. You gave him all of your admiration, and he used it to destroy you. But it's only fair. After all, you were only excited to have Fritz Donegan as you father, right?"
Jay swallowed, feeling needles down his throat.
"It's not… it's not true!"
"Please, if he wasn't such a wonderful figure for you, you would had ignored him from the start. Because it's what you do. When someone makes a mistake, they are dead to you. You divided the team once, remember? This is why you're alone now." His eyes were accusing him of everything. Of pushing away a teammate. Of leaving the team to crumble. Of ignoring every possible way of redemption until an underground fight forced him to.
The blue ninja leaned his forehead on the glass, feeling empty.
"I'm so sorry." He could barely feel the tears streaming anymore.
Lloyd shrugged, looking bored like a kid who didn't find this game funny anymore.
"Not like acknowledging what kind of person you are will save you." The green ninja started to fade. "And I won't either."
Zane was a robot, another obvious fact. On one side, he was the most interesting being he had ever met. On the other of course he couldn't ignore the fact the he was, in fact, inhuman. Sometimes, while hanging out with them like the silly and reckless teens that they were, it was hard to remember his body was artificial. Sometimes instead, during a meaningful mission or whenever the nindroid asked for help during manutention, it was so obvious Jay felt his inside turning cold. Because his brother's soul was in there, and yet he couldn't understand him.
His eyes were red like a corrupted droid. It wasn't him. Jay could at least understand that. But his heart for aching like mad.
"Your presence was unnecessary from the very beginning." His voice was unbelievably cold. "Your cancellation from the team was just a matter of time. This method, as unorthodox as it seems, it goes along my parameters. And my opinion on you. Your knowledge is not up to the needed. Your efforts into giving support are not welcomed. Every useless part must be eliminated. It's reality. It's life." He walked away.
The blue ninja was gasping for air, his lungs were burning.
"I am… needed… I am!" Positive thinking. Positive… thinking.
Even if all he could see was his team going on without him.
Nya simply terrified him. Not matter how much time he had spent admiring her beauty and strength, not matter how much she had changed his life in many unexpectedly pleasant ways, she was simply scary. Because she was a genius, as well as a warrior basically unstoppable. They had the same passion for engineering, but she was so much superior, to the point it looked like two different marks. They were both martial arts experts, but she was a pro. She was stronger, more determinate, smarter and more charismatic than him. Nya helped him becoming a better person, because Jay could only hope to get even a little closer to her pedestal.
Her greatness was cowing, in this moment more than ever before. She was in her samurai suit, helmet under her arm, looking like the mysterious hero that had saved them many times before.
"You really thought I ever had feelings for you? Please, take a look at yourself! You can't even stand on your feet! I can't believe I even let you near me. Ridiculous. Impossible. But it doesn't really matter, your power will disappear. It means that the master of lightning will be gone as well. We won't have a reason to have you in the team. Finally." She smiled with satisfaction.
Jay pushed himself against the cage. His skin was still pulsing.
"N-Nya, don't go! Don't leave me here, please!"
"Does it really change a thing? You're the expert at abandoning friends, after all." She disappeared.
The blue ninja screamed of pain and despair, punching the cage again and again with all the strength he had left. His knuckles were screaming.
He needed to get out of there. Now.
Wu was their great master, the sensei. It wasn't his righteousness that gave him the chills, that old man could be a serious party-pooper as much as a goofy dancer and funny old man in general. That he was used to. It was his figure. The good son of the first Spinjitzu Master. The sibling that saw his brother being banished into the Underworld. The one that choose the protectors of the realm he guarded himself during his many years as a hero. Maybe it was the sense of responsibility he gave to Jay that was scary.
… no. That wasn't right. It was his judgment.
And right now it was in his eyes. Disappointment. Anger. Disgust.
"I shouldn't have chosen you."
He disappeared like that, without saying anything else. He didn't have to.
Jay felt his chest breaking in half. He was seeing the moment he felt so special, so meaningful, disintegrate. He opened his mouth to talk. To say something, blabber over how horrible the situation was. A death rattle came out.
His master was gone.
The blue ninja knew Misako wasn't such a strong influence in his life. She was a kind woman, his little bro's mom, and in general a calming presence on the Bounty. Instead, he knew who she was bringing with her. Why she was here.
Right behind Lord Garmadon's wife, was Lynn. Silent, with an unreadable expression. Like a mere presence.
Misako gave him all the despise she had, for both of them.
"Do you realize what's in your blood? Your father is mad, your mother is a liar. This should be the end of you all! But you will pay for them. You know why? Because it's destiny. They are your real parents. You'll end up just like them. If you don't like the idea, you should stop struggling and let yourself go. It's my only advice." She left on her own.
Lynn was still, beautiful and ethereal like a fairy.
Jay punched harder the glass. It was slippery. Blood was tripping over his knuckles.
"Mom…!"
Lynn gave him a plain look. She shook her head.
She left, leaving the sobs of her son behind.
Distant quakes were shaking his mind, hurt and confused. His body was almost an empty shell. Jay couldn't tell if it was his imagination, or reality was trying to bring him to his senses. He was too lost anyway. He tried to concentrate on those sounds, closing his eyes, escape from that prison. But it was all in his mind. It was like having his eyes wide open.
His brain couldn't switch off just because he wanted to.
So he waited, clenching his fists. Seeing the blood dripping on the glass.
Only one person left.
Cole was the most comforting person he knew… and the most terrifying one at the same time. And the reason for that was deep into him, where no one, not even himself could look. The black ninja wasn't particularly scary looking, really; he wasn't apathic, he didn't have such an unusual past behind him and in a matter of strength, his manpower was so characteristic of him it wasn't even something to be jealous about. He was powerful, brave, kind, altruistic, smart and understanding, the perfect companion. Maybe a little silly sometimes, a little too serious some other times, but it was him.
So beautifully him.
Everybody would had wanted to be his friend.
And Jay, after all the time passed together, after all the hate, the distance, the hard time trying to be close again, couldn't understand why. Why Cole was still his friend? Why, when Jay was himself?
So horribly himself.
That was scary, no, horrifying for him. The room was colder now.
The master of earth was looking at him. Jay felt his breathing accelerating. Once again they were far away from each other. He didn't want this.
"Go away… go away! I don't wanna hear you!" He put his hands on his ears.
Cole raised an eyebrow, dead serious.
"Why?"
"You're my best friend! Why aren't you helping me?"
He smirked. And it was over.
"Me, your friend? You know yourself, deep down, that it's not true. That I could never be close to someone as despicable as you are. You're a horrible friend, you're arrogant, jealous and prickly. Maybe we got separated because of a girl, but it was just an excuse! Because it's enough you being you to make me want to leave this instant!"
The blue ninja cried, shaking his head, grabbing his own hair strongly and probably leaving some red spots behind.
"You… w-would never… say this…!"
The black ninja gave him a glare.
"You're right. This just prove how much you disgust me, to the point I can't help myself. But maybe you don't believe it, even after we left you here on purpose! So, let me ask you Zaptrap, who decided to throw away our friendship because of a girl?"
Jay lowered his head. That was it.
"Me."
"Who decided it was better leave the team than face the situation, even if you knew without Zane and our connection everything was going to fail?"
"M-me."
"Tell me, who." Cole got closer, in all his ghostly form. -Who killed me, Jay?"
"W-what?" The blue ninja widened his eyes. He let his arms fall weakly on his sides. Too deep in his heart. Something he was so afraid to bring out he hid from himself as well.
The future of his best friend.
"You guys left me behind in Yang's Haunted Temple. But there was someone, tied up right in front of me, that didn't even realize I was gone, too busy saving himself instead! And this is what happened because of your mistake!" Cole punched that glass. "You didn't think twice, did you? You left me, as you did before! You haven't change at all!" His figure was so menacing it couldn't be recognized. But it was him. So him.
Jay felt his chest splitting in halp, he wanted to scream but he didn't want to crumble once and for all. Not on him. He clenched his fingers around the cloth over his heart.
"Stop."
"Who killed me, Jay?"
"Stop!"
"Who doomed me, since I couldn't see my reflection in the Tomb?"
"Stop, please! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"You really think that's enough? You're a disappointment, an awful friend! You don't deserve me. And because of you, I'm doomed.-. Cole gave him one, last glare. And then he disappeared. In his mind, forever.
Jay felt himself falling. He wanted to let go. It was too much. His mind was playing with his psyche. Pushing him to the limit. To quit, finally. Letting the man that generated him take what he wanted. He couldn't bare anything more.
… but he couldn't give up. He just couldn't help it, it was out of his control. Jay closed his eyes, hearing his friends' words over and over again. Hoping the pain wasn't going to last forever.
Praying that what he saw really was just madness.
… was he screaming unconsciously again?
He could swear he heard something.
"… y!"
No, it wasn't his voice. It was further, but not by much. Powerful, and a little faded, like it had its own echo. Maybe he heard wrong.
His mind was so light right now.
"… ay!"
He wasn't wrong. It wasn't a fantasy. But it was outside. His eyes were closed. He didn't want to see other bad things. Finally, he could rest a little. If it was important then the voice was going to be back again, after a little nap. His breath was still frantic. But at least he was alive.
"… ay! Jay!"
His name. It was calling his name.
The blue ninja realized the quakes were closer, more powerful. Or just nearby. They were shaking his body, still in contact with the glass. His mind was waking up from his numbness. So close.
Like something was bumping against the cage.
… he really didn't want to open his eyes. Suffering again.
"Come on, Zaptrap, open your eyes!"
But he couldn't deny Cole a little favor.
Jay slowly opened his eyelids. His vision was blurry, but only because his face was right on the glass. And there he was. Fists pressed on the other side, his eyes wide and scared. But as soon as they crossed his, a smile of relief moved his face.
He came for him. He really did.
The master of earth took a little running start, charging with his right punch. The glass fell immediately. The sound woke Jay's mind from its torpor. But his arm wasn't responding. Legs were unmoving as well. The cage had stopped draining his power, it was spent. But Jay could still feel the halo of that burn, a constant presence all other his skin. It made him shiver.
Cole entered and grabbed him for the shoulders, hands shaking. He dragged him out, making sure Jay didn't get hurt with the broken glass.
"You're bleeding! I should've come sooner, I'm so sorry! Stay still, don't push yourself! I've got you, Jay!" He looked incredibly tired, but also totally focused. His body was solid, most of it.
Jay could still feel his throat hurting. But he wanted to talk so badly. Everything was overwhelming, his strength, his gentleness, the way he said his name. No hate, no despise, just genuine concern and affection. Cole was real. So real.
Jay grabbed his gi, holding it with all his remaining strength.
"A-are we still friends? We are best friends, r-right?!" The tears came back. It surprised him that he still could cry. He melted in those warm drops, sobbing without control.
Cole gave him a surprised look. Then, he hugged him.
"You dummy, of course we are! You really think me and the others went straight in a fight against a bunch of chimeras because we despite you?" He tightened his hold. "When we got the message we didn't know what to do! We were going crazy! Thanks to the first Spinjitzu Master you're really here. I'm so glad you're safe, Jay." It seemed that he too needed a confirmation. He was warm today, nothing of his usual cold ghostly form was left. It was just care.
Jay choked the last sobs against the others' shoulder, careful to not let those darn tears hitting him. He was so real it made him wanna cry even more, but there was no time for that.
"… you got a message?"
Cole let him go, nodding weakly. He gave him a sad look.
"I never thought he would…"
"That makes the two of us." Jay made a bitter smile. "You were right, I was naïve. I trusted him too much too early. You have such an incredible instinct, how do you do that?" He wanted to go back to his tendency to defuse. Because he felt so heavy he feared he couldn't get up.
Cole shook his head.
"You're not to blame if you decided to trust your father." He put Jay's arm around his neck, helping him to get up. "Come on, we're leaving. The others are distracting the chimeras, we should have enough time." His body was completely solid. He never focused this much before.
Jay used him as support. Slowly he was gaining sensibility again. He breathed. His body still pinched, here and there, but he was okay. He was safe. Everything was okay.
Then, it hit him. He looked at his suit.
The deepstone suit. No sight of the lightning one.
"… he took it. He took the lightning. I don't have my powers anymore!"
The black ninja widened his eyes.
In that moment the elevator opened. The fury of a storm came in, a figure completely ingulfed into lightnings. Cliff had unblinking eyes and a constant smile of satisfaction on his face. But all other his body there were burning marks, and his clothes had been destroyed.
He raised his eyes. He looked mildly upset.
"Not good, you were the bait, Jason. How am I supposed to convince the master of earth, that already doesn't appreciate my persona, to give up his element? Things got complicated, that's unfortunate." He gave his son an affectionate smile. "But it's not your fault, I kinda opted for a fragile cage. I just figured you weren't going to get out. Such a flawless idea, since you had one heavy lifter in your team! I'm not doing a very good job as a villain, now am I?-. He snickered. Then laughed. So loud, turning around while the lightnings danced without control.
Jay bit his lip. He was so different from the person he met a week ago.
"That power is not yours!" Cole took out his scythe. "You had no right to take it, and sure thing you have no right to keep it! You better give it back, Gordon!" He was already in position, anchored to the ground. His eyes were dark and fixed on his opponent.
Cliff gave him a perplex look. A superior one.
"Hopefully you don't have just pebbles to throw at me." He extended his hands on his side. Immediately two whips made of thunders appeared, sparkling and charged.
So strong.
Jay shivered. That was his power indeed. He never got weaker, that was what his element was capable of. No, even more, after unlocking the real potential. If that was only part of it…
He grabbed Cole's shoulder.
"Don't face him."
The master of earth looked at him.
"Look, I know it's your dad, but…"
"This is not a training against me, he really wants to hurt you! I couldn't bare it. Not with my element. Not you… not again." Jay clenched his fist around the black gi. "I don't want you to get hurt.-. His hold didn't last long. He was awake only for the adrenaline. Why? After battling his best friend at the tournament, why destiny forced the lightning against the earth once again?
Cole seemed conflicted. He sighed.
"I understand. Really." He pushed gently Jay behind him. "But it's the same for me."
There was no time to protest. As soon as an electrical whip went for them, a rock wall appeared in between. There was a thumb, one after the other. The barrier was accusing the hits, crumbling piece after piece. The black ninja raised a hand to create a second wall, but everything got destroyed before him. A sudden thunder made him step back.
Cliff shouted as well. A lightning had escaped his control and zapped him in the face. Now there was a burn on his cheek, between the others. But he was still smiling.
"A man can survive an earthquake. A man can survive an avalanche. A man can survive after being set on fire. Of course, you can survive a fulmination as well, if the voltage is low. But I just need the perfect hit, strong enough, in the head or in the heart… and it's over." He laughed. "Even with all your training, if your opponent is too fast for you, you can't hit him. After a few minutes I'll get used to this power. I read too much to not know how to do it."
Lynn's diaries. Jay widened his eyes. He knew about the real potential before starting to read. He knew that the symbol of the void was blue, he definitely knew about the complement too. He read all of it way before and tricked him just in order to look caring.
He couldn't believe he didn't notice the signals before.
Cole glared at him.
"Read? You think that will be enough?"
"Let's find out, shall we?"
Jay felt dragged away. The lightning missed him for an inch. Cole's strong arms were holding him close, the master of earth had grabbed him and jumped as soon as he had seen the attack. He felt so solid they both forgot he was a ghost. He wasn't hesitating. He wasn't scared. He got up, picked his weapon from the floor and charged, angry, his eyes so focused they weren't blinking.
Cliff laughed madly, throwing as many lightnings as he could create. He looked ecstatic by the easiness of his power. No hesitation. Not even when Cole dodged them all, like he trained for this exact moment. Zigzagging like when they were practicing, without putting his eyes away from the target, he started to create a rock over his head. It was getting bigger and bigger, but the black ninja wasn't affected by it, still running fast and light.
Then he threw it. Cliff snickered and destroyed it. But the stone crumbled turning into a fall of sand, that threw him off making him lose focus. The lightning whips disappeared. Just a second of distraction. For a ninja, a lifetime.
The master of earth pointed his weapon on the other's throat, glaring at him.
"You need at least ten years to get on our level, grandpa."
Cliff clenched his teeth.
"How dare you…"
"How I dare? You're the one that took something that doesn't belong to you. And you made the unforgivable mistake to take it from my best friend. So you better give it back, or face the consequences. You should have half of an idea what I'm capable of." Cole was serious. Dead serious. His voice was low and menacing.
But Cliff huffed.
"You would really hurt me? The protector of this realm, killing a citizen?" He looked pleased by the look of indecision in the master of earth's eyes. "But you're are not mistaken, I'm not an opponent worthy of your skills. So, maybe, we should make it even? I'm pretty sure fairness is something you love." He snapped his fingers.
The door was crashed, one after the other chimeras irrupted, roaring madly.
Jay gulped and got in position, back against Cole's. He felt the tension surrounding him, like the air was going to slow every movement. It wasn't the first time he was without powers. Darn it, it was like a recurrent gag lately! But he never felt weaker.
His father was looking at them like they were meaningless. He wanted to be angry so much, to feel frustration and rage towards that man. Instead, he was on the verge of crying again.
Cole exhalated nervously, leaning towards him.
"If we have company, it means the others should have less to worry about so they won't take long. We need to resist until they arrive!" In his eyes there was still deep concern. "Think you can fight?"
Jay swallowed. One of the chimeras threw a claw at him, but he dodged, kicking the tentacle back so it hit the chimera instead. His body was working better, the numbness was fading away.
Smiling he nodded.
"I'll manage." Jay faced one part of the chimeras, Cole's the other. They had each other's back, like they had eyes on the back of their head. Jay wasn't at his best conditions. But as soon as the creatures attacked, he immediately got to action. It wasn't something new after all, battling even if every part of his body was tired and hurt. It was part of the job. He was unarmed and the chimeras were strong.
He had faced way, way worse.
"Ninja-go!" His tornado was white. Not light blue like Zane's, it was completely colorless. He could almost see through it. The chimeras got quashed anyway.
They immediately got up though. It was like fighting against the Anacondrai army of Chen, they were too resistant for them. Even worse, they were clearly citizens of Ninjago, those ripped off clothes and barely human faces. Every will to hurt them was inexistent. They were ninja, meant to protect them.
He almost got hit by a lightning. The shock made him shiver, his immunity was gone.
Cliff gave him a soft smile. Any expression on him now was painfully fake.
"Jason, there's an easy way to stop this, really. Just tell your friend to give me the earth, and I'll ask my, huh, companions to stop. Nobody will get hurt. Everybody will have exactly what they want. Included you." He made a step towards him. "You're still my son, blood of my blood. I won't leave you behind, I promise." A tempting hand was extended towards him.
Jay felt sick. It would had been so wrong to choose his side, to agree on something so insane. And yet, he wanted nothing but to be in good terms with him again.
He felt pathetic.
"I can't. This is not right, dad."
Cliff's smile dropped. His eyes were screaming.
"Then you decided to be doomed." Another lightning, more powerful than before.
Jay widened his eyes. But his senses were up, the decision was taken, and finally his emotions were under control. He raised his elbow, and a shield made of void appeared in front of him. The force of the lightning got him off his feet, and he flew against the wall, near the glass cage. He accused the hit, slowly getting up. He needed to use everything he had left, without his element. At least until the other came as well. They needed to resist.
Cole was using all of his might, fully concentrated, but also quick to change into inconsistent as soon as another hit went against him. Strong and clever as always. Most of the chimeras were concentrated on him, on the other side of the room. While the others were roaring softly at Jay's position, but without moving an inch further towards him.
Like they were… afraid of him?
Jay frowned. He moved towards them, and after a few feet the closest of the chimera charged. He quickly created another dome, but it broke easily, his body was still recovering. He went backwards, trying to summon a shield, a barrier, anything. Nothing came.
Still, the creatures didn't move. What could possibly be so scary to the point even those horrendous creatures were on their guards? It was only the cage of glass. And it was broken. A machine, something that made him feel so bad, that gave him a painful slap every time he looked at it. Nothing else.
Maybe he didn't need an answer. Not now. He just knew they didn't like it. It was a mechanism, turned off. He touched it, holding back the urge to retract the hand. It was kinda warm. Thinking about it, the chimeras left before it was on.
Was maybe the fact that it was active?
Cole ran towards him. He was visibly tired, he was fighting against something he couldn't hurt completely.
"You know, I would like to have some backup!"
Jay looked at him straight in the eyes.
"I think I know how to force the chimeras to run away, but I can't have dad watching, or he'll might figure out what I have in mind."
The master of earth was clearly a little lost. He looked at Cliff, who was watching them, charging energy to prepare another attack.
"You want me to keep him busy?"
"For as long as you can. Up to the task?"
"Who are you talking to?" He smirked, then gave him a pat. "Be careful." The next moment he was launching himself on Cliff.
After that, all the room was full of lightning roars and earthquakes.
Jay breathed out, feeling tired, numb and unfocused. But he had less than his brain to count on, he couldn't let even that wasted. Most of the computers were in bad shapes, but the main one looked mostly intact. He got to the keyboard and turned on the screen. There was little time and he wasn't a hacker. But nor was his father, just a kid good at acting. They had the same blood. It didn't feel good, but he needed to count on that.
A few white codes slid towards the screen, turning into purple and getting faster. Then, a little window with two words. Insert password.
He was speechless. That was it? Cliff was as easygoing as him.
Jay screamed, holding his shoulder. One of the chimera had tried an attack. They were understanding that nothing was going to hurt them. His hand was wet and red. He wanted to use the void, but he was in pain, unfocused, and a few feet from him his best friend and his father fighting. Mentally apologizing to Borg he knocked down one of the already broken screen, using it as a protection. The attacks were erratic, but deep and precise. He was running out of time, the machine was getting colder and without that, the madness of those creatures was going to find a helpless ex-master of lightning with nothing but glass to defend himself.
He turned on the computer, the black screen lightened up.
Jay started to breath, faster, like the oxygen wasn't there, feeling the pression getting heavier, choking him. It was outside his control. Trapped. In cage. In prison. Alone. He brought a hand to his mouth. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
Then he looked up. The screen had something different. A little icon, a purple ideogram made to be clicked. Pixal. Of course, she was still into Borg's system! The fact that she could barely appear was the proof how hard the system had been hit. When his dad had attacked Borg's tower while Zane was there, he must've installed some advanced virus.
But that guy had a password to protect an energy draining machine. That didn't sound right, but also didn't look like the right moment to talk about that.
Jay used the other hand to click.
"… 'legendary soulmate'?". Was that a hint? If it was, it was very vague, maybe she couldn't do better in her situation.
Jay tightened his grip on his shoulder. It hurt. The chimeras were getting more and more violent against the screen, it was starting to break. He was scared. He watched the hint, then the space for the password. There needed to be seven letters. Legendary soulmates. He knew nothing about history! Why Pix thought he could resolve that? He wasn't an archeologist like Misako, he wasn't a cryptographer like his mother, he wasn't…!
Wait. His mom and Misako.
The memory made him gulp. The astral realm of the lightning, all those visions. They talked about a cavern, two lovers, from an old fable.
How could that be the answer? How did his father even know?
A sting made his heart ache, his eyes pinched. That's what she wanted. That's what they talked about at the phone. Lynn made him propose there. In the cavern, full of magic and light. The place that saw real love.
Ichizu and Tai Sho.
Both six letters. But if Tai Sho had a space…
His hand was shaking, but he forced himself. He tripped a few times, so he was forced to cancel and try again. He heard rumors of cracking. But he was concentrating. Fully concentrating.
When the screen broke, he summoned the void. Then hit enter.
The machine roared, and all the hits stopped. The cage lightened up, but without someone inside and with the broken glass, it just emitted an uncomfortable aura. The chimeras screamed loudly and ran away from the room. Jay got further from that thing, sighing in relief. He took his head in his hands. Warm, but not in an alarming way. He almost hoped the fever was back and he was delirious. A thunder shook him up: it was incredibly loud and strong. Jay never tried to use that much force, not even against Cole who was the most resistant of them. Inhuman. Deadly dangerous.
"Reboot completed. Primary functions restored. Hello, Jay." Pixal was on the main screen, with a few open windows with running codes.
The blue ninja sighed in relief, smiling for the first time in what felt like ages.
"Pixal, we're in big troubles!"
"I am aware. I'll immediately reactivate the defensive nindroids so they can help you." She looked at him intensely. "I think you should know that while I was offline, someone tried to hack into the system remotely."
"If you mean Cliff then…"
"No, someone else. And they tried to turn off the mechanism. They didn't manage, since the only engine activated of the entire building was the drainer, but I think they were trying to help you."
Jay gulped. Someone tried to help him? And remotely? The only time he saw something like that was when they entered the Digiverse using Zane's digital abilities. It was too much of a bad signal, combined with a not defined new figure.
He sighed, shaking his head.
"It doesn't matter right now, go! And tell the others to hurry if you can!"
"Understood. Be careful." She disappeared, and the screen was black again.
Jay trembled on his feet. The adrenaline was melting away, he felt like letting go and jump into unconsciousness. But something brushed against his ankle. With all the chaos, the attacks and the natural cataclysms nearby, the photo flew to him. Jay kneeled down and grabbed it. It was a little burned on the corners, maybe because of the lightnings.
Jay tightened his fingers around it.
"Are you different from him, or was this the reason why you two were together? Are you even around?" He caressed his mother's hair. "Huh, why are families so difficult to deal with?" He smiled sadly. It was such a truth in his and all his friends' lives. Just another reason why their connection came before his bloodline.
A scream of anger echoed through all the room. Jay shivered at that voice, turning back to reality. Cole needed his help. Even if he could only fight physically, with nothing more than a weak void to protect him. It never stopped him before, it wasn't going to now.
Jay smiled and got up.
He moved to put the photo back under his gi.
He never got to do that.
A big light messed up his entire world. Jay was tired, absolutely exhausted. So suddenly his mind was dizzy and blank. His body gave up on him all together, making him fly like there was no gravity. He could hear a weird buzzing in his ears. So light. It hurt. A little. Maybe he was too unsensitive to feel it. It was kinda nice. He felt like breathing, feeling that unusual peace corrupting his lungs. But he moved nothing. He decided he didn't care.
There was some kind of mist in front of him. He was lied down? Hard to tell. He was comfy, that was for sure. More than he had ever been in his life. He was falling backwards, even if he could clearly feel the floor under his back. Falling. Far away. His vision was fading.
Cole came into his sight. Jay never saw him like this, on the edge of despair. He was crying, screaming without voice, horror making his eyes shaking like the earthquakes he could control. He was shaking something. His body? Jay was still too far away, he couldn't feel it. All that was left was an annoying heaviness into his heart. He closed his eyes, his best friend's horrified gaze was gone. It felt better and worse, but it disappeared right after.
It felt like the perfect moment for a nap. He was really tired, he deserved one, right?
He felt a smile coming up, but he found in himself no strength left to make it happen. A nap.
It really sounded like a good idea at the moment.
Like when the Ice passed sacrificing for his family, every single ninja, all the people close felt it.
That painful crack into the chest. Like losing an arm. A piece of heart. Unbearable.
Every one of them felt it annihilating their peace.
Even before the soul-broken scream of master of earth teared up the sky.
Jay felt all the sweat under his suit making his movements less smooth. But since the first time in that monastery, his resistance had increased greatly. Jump, dodge, hit, backflip. Darn it, he could do backflips now! There was no competition against the boy from the junkyard that entered the first time. He could see the end, and his sensei taking the sugar. He barely had the time to breath.
Cole noticed, of course he did, and gave Zane a little elbow. Their new, cold friend, as new as could be someone that joined weeks ago, nodded slightly. He kneeled near the master.
"May I offer you some tea, sensei?" Without waiting for the response, he took the teapot and, with such a slow-motion movement that didn't seem real, he went to pour the drink in the cup.
Wu frowned at Cole.
"Losing time? I expected something better from you."
"Like trying to get your pressing glare off Jay, who is a bundle of anxiety that walks?"
"Hey! Not my fault I'm faster when people don't look at me!"
"Whatever, you just finished in time."
Jay landed in that moment, a little startled. He was fast, another ability he gained from all that training. The fastest there, and yeah, it felt pretty good.
He giggled.
"Guess it worked."
"Of course it worked, it was my plan!"
"Actually, simply reclaiming the possess over a machination does not determine the success of it." Zane looked at lost eyes. "… but it worked. I'm assuming this is the most important part." He had his own way to see the world. A little weird. Maybe really weird. But he was a teammate, in one way or another you learn to get used to.
Sensei Wu finished his tea and got up. He bumped his stuff on the ground.
"Pupils, I am satisfied with your progresses and I think it's time for you to get to the next level. But before that, I need to tell you something."
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"Like why recently we have been forced to train only after the sunset?"
Jay nodded.
"Or why we can't enter the training ground in the morning at all?"
Zane scratched his chin.
"Or why, lately, several bottle of hair gels appeared in our bathroom? Accompanied to a brush that surely does not belong to any of us." With Zane's flawless style, Cole's emo natural look and Jay's genuine cut, with the fact that he had no one to look nice for, nobody really lost time in front of the mirror. Those items were like mysterious objects from another dimension.
The master smiled in a mischievous way. Like he couldn't wait to see how destiny was going to act regarding them. He moved to the door.
"The mission is simple. There's a person inside the monastery. You'll have to face them. From this upcoming battle, your future will be decided." He disappeared inside.
Jay blinked. He slowly turned to Cole.
"It's just me or…"
"That was definitely a fortune cookie."
"Ah, good! Okay!" He pouted. "Shouldn't he teach us spinjitzu before facing someone? Sounds a little early, you think it's early? For me it's too early…"
Zane shook his head.
"It's almost nine o'clock, it's far for being early."
"Thanks, Zane."
"If he thinks we can, then we can." Cole clapped once. "Come on team, let's go change. We'll meet here. With a good plan, we'll show sensei how much we improved!" He had a strong spirit and a lot of will, definitely a good combo for a leader.
But he was also lucky, he was head of the typical placid type and a not too confident guy.
One minute later they were out. To be honest, Jay didn't like too much the ninja suits. They were all black, identical. He wanted to show himself to others, his differences, his originality. Under that, all that disappeared. He knew they needed to blend in, being essentially walking shadows. But he didn't like it.
And black wasn't really his color.
They suited up quickly. Cole was first, of course. Such a top of the class.
"So, while I was changing I went looking for…"
"You were walking commando in a monastery?"
"Jay, please. I heard some noises from the bathroom, I think our target is in there. If we pass through the scaffolding of the ceiling, we can take him by surprise!"
Zane nodded.
"Sounds like a simple but thoughtful plan, that will give us the upper hand."
Jay stared at him confused. It wasn't hard to understand, maybe it was that tone, so zen and over the clouds that threw him off. He thought he was pretty smart, then Zane came. Whatever.
"Fine by me, but is anybody concerned about having another stranger?"
"Jay…"
"I'm serious! It's getting smaller here, now we'll be forced to breathe in each other's face while we're sleeping! And not for you Zane, you're basically an unicorn, but the big guy right there has too much of an unbalanced diet to make me feel okay with it!" And another glare from his leader, great. "Don't look at me like that, you know I'm right!" It was already hard enough to live in a room with three other people after passing a lifetime as an only child. Hard… but gradually nicer.
It was nice to have company, after all.
Cole rolled his eyes. He jumped on the roof, the other two followed him.
"If we complete the mission, will you stop complaining for once?"
"Depends on how many turns at Fist to Face III I get."
"Seriously?" Jay kept the stare. "… five?" He nodded satisfied. "You're so weird, be grateful you're not that bad as a ninja. Not as good as me, but not bad." Cole smirked, before putting on the ninja mask.
Zane did the same.
"I also happen to find your abilities quite acceptable."
Jay huffed loudly, hiding his face as well.
"Geez, guys, thanks. Being adequate is what every person wishes to hear. Let's just go and finish this thing!" He followed his leader and his teammate, frowning under the disguise just for the sake of it. He wasn't that upset. They were bizarre, and really different from him. Maybe one was morbidly letteral, maybe the other was annoyingly serious, but they were his friends.
He had friends.
"It can't… don't you…! Please just…! Wake… wake… up!"
He wasn't cut out for physical activity. At all. There was a reason why, besides the embarrassment, Jay really liked his home. It was a junkyard, yeah, but an extremely provided one. If you knew how to build and fix things, you didn't need anything else. No useless walks or, worse, runs towards the closest city – that was still far away anyway, thanks for being in the Sea of Sand – to get supplies. Just the essential, old junks putted together with broken screws and charged with slippers rubbed on a carpet.
Sweet, sweet home. And he left it for a full free climb towards a never seen before monastery, one of his latest bright ideas.
Sensei Wu was giving him a disappointed glare, while climbing like the mountain was plain.
"We'll have a lot of work to do, starting from the basics… or even the basics' basics."
Jay sighed in frustration, trying to get up with all the strength he had left. He was a sweaty mess. His shirt was one with his skin.
"Wu… sensei… whatever it is, can I, huh, ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"Why, in the name of the monastery we are looking for that I really hope exist, are we climbing from here when it's obvious that such a steep climb has a more regular side behind?" The master gave him a surprise look. "What's that face?! I might be sweaty and out of shape, but I'm not dumb!" Enough to follow a complete stranger just because, but not that much… right?
Jay sighed. He really needed to reevaluate himself.
Sensei Wu got to the top and hand him the stuff, smiling.
"Maybe there is something worth working on."
Jay gave him a skeptical look. Then decided he was way too tired to be bashful. He grabbed the stuff, and Wu pulled him up like he weighted nothing.
Finally, the top. And as expected, a long and convenient staircase on the other side.
"I feel like I should laugh."
"Come on, let's get in. There's a lot to talk about."
"Are there also a lot of showers? I feel like I'm turning into a sausage here."
There were noises from the inside, familiar ones that made him feel less anxious. The door was opened, and the junkyard kid was left mouth-opened. It was a complex system of obstacles and rotating blades, perfectly assembled in a circular ground. Hanging targets fixed on a rotating machine, platforms raising and lowering, pointy spikes shining under the sun. A mechanical wonder. It was almost worth all the trouble.
A battle cry distracted him: a black-haired guy was in the middle, doing all the exercises with precision and punching the dummy so hard Jay was convinced he heard that thing wince for the pain. He was focused and serious, forcing a regular breathing.
Sensei Wu cleared his voice. The guy distracted turned to him and got hit by a bag, tripping on the ground. The master sighed, getting closer and giving him a hand.
"Never let your concentration be taken away, Cole."
The guy, Cole, accepted the help. But he was frowning, from the top of his big eyebrows.
"… who is he, sensei?"
Jay stirred. Passing the old master, because there was no way he could start his big adventure without the "oh wise one". But meeting other people outside the junkyard was still weird. And that Cole didn't look too friendly – not from the haircut, at least.
He got closer, extending timidly his hand.
"Huh, Jay Walker, nice to meet you! Apparently I wasn't the only one that followed a creepy old man that came out from nowhere! What a relief!" Ah, not even two seconds and he was always on the verge of jumping from the steeper side of the mountain.
Cole blinked, looking at the sensei. He snickered.
With a smile he looked way less menacing.
"So it seems." He shook his hand, wow that was a grip. "I'm Cole. I guess we're gonna be teammates from now on!" He was studying him. He looked strong enough to move a mountain just by breathing on it. But closer, Jay could see some kind of observative skills.
Wu moved to the door again, bumping his stuff on the ground.
"We'll start the training with this new add. Cole, show him how to use the training engine. I need to go out and take care of something."
Cole stared at him.
"Sensei, you said the exact same thing this morning and you came back with a new pupil. Isn't this going to be just the same?" He had probably been there for a while, he looked pretty at ease at referring to the old master.
Who smiled quizzically, probably having the time of his life at playing his part.
"Have a good day, you two." One blink later, he was gone and the door was closed.
Jay closed his own jaw. Super strength, super speed, how old was that man? He peaked at Cole. He didn't look less startled.
"Happens often?"
Cole huffed.
"You never get used to. Come on, I'll show you how it works."
"It's a rotating mechanism, probably with an electric or vapor engine designed to sustain the heaviness of all the components." He gave Jay the most confused look he had ever saw. "… oohh, how it works, as it how you train with it? Eheh, my bad." Jay scratched the back of his neck.
Cole blinked. He made an amused smile.
"You sure are original, Jay Walker."
Jay smiled. That was definitely his thing.
"Please… work! I can't… him… like this! Please…!"
He came in while they were having another conversation. Jay was confident that even with a blindfold, with his arms tied behind his back – just to add the movie touch, as much as not necessary –, he would easily recognize his own home by the noises coming from the house. Between his mom's screwdriver and his dad's drill, it really was a wonder how they could communicate so well. His main theory was telepathy.
"Dear, if we add another fusible, the dishwasher will give up on us!"
"But the dish of the stew needs to be cleaned at full power, honey!"
Even so they knew Jay had sensible ears. As soon as he closed the door, a little hard so they could hear it, the work was done.
Edna immediately got up. Her jacket was dripping with oil.
"Sweetie, you're back!" She hugged him close, leaving bit spots on his jacket. "I started the hug, I'll wash this. Duty is duty, after all!-. She almost ripped it off of his chest by taking it, throwing the cloth in the washing machine in one hit.
Her husband raised his arms in victory. He put the drill back in his tools box.
"Tell me everything, champ! How did it go with the wings?"
Jay scratched the back of his head. With one hand. The other was holding his broken invention.
"It worked pretty well… until I kinda bumped into a billboard. I guess I'll have to make it more resistant, or just avoid commercialism when I wanna fly." He shrugged. It was kinda one of his best success anyway.
Edna clapped.
"This is my baby! Took everything from his father!"
Ed got her close, kissing her cheek.
"I can't take all the credit, sugar!" They rubbed their noses together, giggling softly.
Jay rolled his eyes. Who said marriage extinguished the passion?
"Uhm, mom? Dad? I need to tell you something… it happened right after I went against the billboard, it's pretty important."
For a miracle they stopped being all lovey-dovey.
Edna gave him a perplex look. Then gulped.
"Dear, are you hitting on someone?"
Jay blushed.
"Mom!"
"It's okay Jay, there is a time in your life when hormones…"
"It's not about that, come one! Can you please just listen, it's important!" He inhaled deeply. "I met this man, he said his name is Wu. It's a little weird, but he said he's the son of the first Spinjitzu Master, who is supposed to be the creator of all Ninjago. Nice fairy tale, huh? Anyway, he talked to me about his monastery, he said he's recrewing some special people and he offered me to become a ninja! Yeah I know what you're thinking, it's not for me, I'm better with screws and bolts, physical exercise it's not my forte, just a few years ago I was convinced martial arts were extraterrestrial sciences, and why the heck I should be a ninja when I can… uh…" Jay blinked. "… you haven't interrupt me yet." That was a record.
Edna had her hands on her cheeks, in awe, while Ed was smiling so hard it looked painful.
"Son, it's been so long since you have looked this ecstatic at the thought of trying something!"
"You are an enthusiastic boy, but you have such a cute colored face right now! Adorable! Now you really should go and try to find a sweet soulmate for you!"
Jay reddened again.
"Mom, stop it!"
Ed snickered. Then gave him a soft smile.
"Do you wanna be a ninja?" No mischief, no interrogation. Just will to understand.
Jay sighed.
"More than that, I wanna be helpful. Not only by inventing something that will change the world… even if that's still on the list." His parents nodded satisfied. "But I also want to do more! This Wu said I have something special in me, that I really can make the difference. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't trust a stranger… but I wanna see if it's true. See if I can leave the mark. Of course, that implies I'll have to stay to this monastery for a while. This is why I wanted to know if you agree for me to go…" He smiled uncertainly. "Do you agree?"
His parents exchanged a look between each other. Again, no way to tell how they could communicate with such intensity without a word.
Edna embraced his son as hard as she could.
"You have to call! Every day! Well, maybe not, but often! Okay, honey?"
Jay looked at them in disbelief. Then smiled.
"You're really letting me go?"
"If our son has a dream and a path, we're definitely not going to be the ones that will prevent him to follow it." His father joined as well. "In your life you'll find yourself having to make decisions many times. But we know what you can do. You'll be a great person, and by extent, a great ninja. And if you'll feel like it's not for you, you can come back anytime."
Jay let himself go, hugging them with all he had. These were the exact words he needed. They knew it. They always knew how to deal with him. He felt strong. Ready.
They let go, but their hands were still jointed.
Edna gave him the sweetest look.
"Don't you ever doubt, Jay. You can become an inventor, a ninja, or anything else. You'll always be our special boy." That day, he left for becoming a ninja. But in his heart, Jay was always at home.
"Come… back, Jay! P-please! PLEASE!"
Like seeing the light for the first time. Not only the sunlight, everything. The shining glass of the windows. The candid covers of the bed. The wallpapers with little clouds. The ceiling.
The smile, tired but radiant, of his mom.
Lynn had tears in her eyes. She was holding him close to her chest.
"Hey, sparkle. I'm your mom. What a surprise, huh?" She laughed, more tears fell. "Look at you, you're so small. Just a little sweet bundle. Who would think you will grow up and become a strong and brave ninja? Well, I do and I know. But it's the fact that I know that got you in trouble, right?" She gently caressed his cheek. Delicate. Lovely. He wanted to grab her hand.
He did. His hand was tiny. He could only hold her index.
Lynn giggled. She cried.
A nice breeze came from the open window. It didn't look like a hospital. Neither a normal place. Maybe it wasn't even Ninjago. It didn't matter.
It was just them.
His mother gave him a kiss on the forehead. It was soft and warm.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to give you the family you deserve. But things don't always go as planned, and I promise I'll make you'll live a serene life until the moment comes." She beamed at him. "But just for now, you're here, healthy and alive. You're the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. And I love you. I love you, my sweet baby."
Something grabbed him. He was falling backwards again.
Lynn's picture was getting further. Until it was just a glimpse of her fairy beauty.
"My little sparkle."
"Wake up! Wake up, Jay!"
Air came back to him. The blue ninja felt like the eternity passed since he took a breath. Freshness filled his lungs. He felt good. Unbelievably good. He slowly opened his eyes. The ceiling of Borg's laboratory. Where was he? What happened? His mind was misty and unfocused. He tried to move his arm. A little numb, but it was moving. Like his shoulder. And leg. The rest of his body. Everything was okay.
He tried to sit and managed almost too quickly, feeling dizzy.
Not enough to not recognize the coughs near him.
Kai was kneeled on his right, hands on the ground, catching desperately his breath. He was sweating terribly, like he did the worst of the effort. He slowly raised his look. As soon as they crossed their eyes, he froze.
He grabbed his shoulders.
"… I… I did it?" He was whispering, almost inaudible. "J-Jay?"
Jay looked at him, a little weirded out. He was still trying to catch his thoughts.
"What's going on? What happened to the othe…?"
"You're back!" Kai laughed, but his eyes were full of tears. "I can't believe I… you were just on the ground, I didn't know what… I thought I… for Ninjago, I'm so glad… I can't believe it really worked, thank goodness." He sobbed leaning his head against the other's shoulder. He was shaking horribly, tired and desperate.
And scared. Kai was scared.
Jay could barely move. The reality was slowly coming to pieces in his mind. His father, the kidnapping, Cole's rescue, and then… all his life before him.
Something hit him.
"Kai… K-Kai, what happened?" He knew. But he couldn't accept it if it didn't came from someone he trusted. The master of fire sniffed, his eyes dark.
"We… we came here as fast as we could. We split up for covering the city, since the chimeras started attacking all over. Then Borg's nindroids came to help, so I came to check on you guys and…" His breath became more frantic. "I thought you fainted or something, and Cole wasn't here but you weren't… Jay, your heart stopped. You…"
It felt like he crashed a vase against his head. The blue ninja felt the sound of it echoing again and again in his head, refusing to be fully integrated. Something so immediate, so fast.
A lightning.
Jay didn't have tears anymore.
"… how could he…?" He tightened his lips together.
Kai took a long breath. He looked ill and incredibly bad shape, tired and beaten up, and on his shoulder a dark red spot could be seen.
He covered it with his hand.
"I guess you had this it on you. I just… I guess I panicked, and I did the only thing that came into my mind. I kinda understand better how you all felt with me."
Jay widened his eyes. Of course, Kai's new power! The wound was the same he got with the chimeras while he was trying to guess the password. All the pieces were coming together. So much happened while he wasn't conscious, so much he still couldn't grasp.
One thing was certain thought. His brother almost died to save him.
It was crazy. But in the face of what happened, Jay smiled widely and hugged close the master of fire. It was so confusing right now, and maybe in another occasion he would had freaked out like never before. But right now he was alive. They were both alive. Nothing mattered more than that.
"Thank you, Kai."
The red ninja slowly hugged back, a deep warm embraced the both of them.
"We came here to rescue you, dumdum. No need to thank." But from his voice, he was definitely smiling. "… do you know where Cole went?"
Jay shook his head and bit his lip. He hoped with all his heart his father didn't hurt him.
Or worse. Now he knew that man was perfectly capable of doing everything.
"We need to find him, and my dad too! The lightning is too dangerous in his hands!"
Kai let go and looked at him in disbelief.
"Are you saying that he did this? He has your powers?" Jay nodded slowly, Kai gave him a full look. "Wait, he did… this is why… oh." His eyes were burning with rage. "He definitely won't get away with this." His fists burned with fire, red and bright.
Jay couldn't find the voice to tell him not to.
"Where do you think they could b…?" A loud explosion came from the outside, shaking the all building. "… never mind." They were back.
It felt like coming back to his life. Outside Borg's Tower the air was freezing, it made him widen his eyes. Every step was a pinch that made him realize how strong the oppression felt inside that building. His eyes were dry. No more tears left. He could see the digital clock from a far tower, the one of Ninjago Times. Jay could barely acknowledge just a day had passed.
He saw his entire life in there.
Kai was holding onto him. After using his power, the red ninja could barely stand up.
Trying to look around, in the devastation that the chimeras had left, they saw the green ninja running towards them. Happy and relief, but as soon as he was near them his expression changed.
"Jay, what happened to you?"
What it really so evident?
Jay didn't answer. He tried to give him the master of fire to hold. He felt mostly okay, but inside there was a mess that was making every little step a little harder. Luckily, Lloyd immediately understand and went for it, taking an arm around his neck.
Kai winced in pain.
"I feel like I did spinjitzu twenty times in a row."
Lloyd gave him a sympathetic look.
"Don't worry, mom and uncle Wu are taking care of the citizens, and the chimeras left a while ago, though not sure why… but I think something happened to Cole."
Jay felt his blood go cold.
"Please tell me my dad didn't hurt him! I would never forgive myself!" His heartbeat was going crazy. No, not him, not like this.
Lloyd shook his head.
"I would be more concerned about Cliff Gordon."
"What?"
"Something happened, Jay. I saw him and Cole breaking the window and falling on the other side of the building. And… he was completely out of himself, blinded with fury. I tried to call him, but he ignored me and kept chasing your dad. What happened up there?" His eyes were fixed and questioning.
But he already knew. Jay was crazy enough to think that every close friend, every piece of his fragmentary family felt what happened.
"… one of dad's lightnings hit me. And since I lost my powers, I wasn't lightning proof."
Lloyd stiffened. He inhaled deeply, doing his best to calm himself. It wasn't the first time the green ninja was forced to toughen up after losing a brother.
"That was definitely the same pain."
A strong earthquake caught them off guard. Pieces of building fell on them. Kai tried to use his fire, but he was too weak. Lloyd destroyed one fragment but couldn't do them all at the same time.
Jay stayed still. He closed his eyes and extended one hand.
Right now, he didn't have time to think how bad he was at focusing.
The barrier appeared so naturally he barely noticed. The pieces crushed against it, breaking in more parts and getting on the ground. He could feel the weight over his void, but he knew he could handle it. He didn't have anything else.
Nothing but nothing.
He made a gesture. The void disappeared.
Kai and Lloyd were speechless. Jay didn't have the time or the mood to brag.
"We need to find Cole!"
All three of them started running. It was impossible not hear the quakes that were shaking all the city, and it was easy localize the origin, they lived together too long for not knowing how. Getting closer, they could see the road getting worse, all destroyed. Little stones were flying everywhere. It was like running towards the center of a cataclysm. Then, the roars of lightning were added. For every thunder, a deep quake managed to get stronger every time.
The blue ninja speeded up. He knew he was letting the others behind, especially Kai. Right now, though, he couldn't wait. His mind was creating all the possible scenarios in his head, all the worst ends for his best friend. He felt like flying he was running that anxiously.
When Jay saw him, the world stopped. He knew him. His best friend, part of his family. Being together for so long he was convinced he saw him in his best and worst.
But never, never at this limit.
So focused he was more human than ghost. Rocks kept breaking and reforming around him. His fists were so clenched that even from that distance Jay could see his white knuckles. But his face was another thing. Almost possessed. Every tract of him was tensed. He was gritting his teeth like an animal. His eyes were firm, focused, in a bright orange pulsing of energy. His cheeks were socked with tears. Real, human tears.
Cliff was not far, looking at his opponent with superiority. Even so he was covered with bruises and scratches everywhere. His appearance of an elegant man was completely gone.
"I thought you were attacking me, not your beloved city."
Cole roared. The piece of rock near Cliff exploded.
"You don't deserve that power." His voice was husky, didn't sound like him. "You don't deserve to be here. You… you don't deserve to be alive instead of him!" Another powerful earthquake.
Cliff lost his balance. He hit the ground with his elbow, already dirty. Without losing his smile he got up, like he couldn't feel anything else but pride.
"Why wasting this power? The original owner is gone. I didn't expect that destiny for Jason. But now that he's no more, I have every intention to keep my powers. So, about the earth…" He shot a lightning. The fastest, most powerful Jay had ever seen. Faster than his. He got better, too much. Too soon.
Cole didn't blink. He raised a hand. His orange eyes pulsed. The lightning was destroyed before reaching him. For the first time, Cliff looked startled. Jay couldn't blame him.
The master of earth gave him a stern look.
"Ten years, Gordon. You're not even halfway there."
He summoned a giant rock with an unbelievable speed. Like a piece of mountain. In a scream, Cole threw it, and again his eyes shined. The rock crushed on itself, and the thousands of fragments covered entirely Cliff. The actor shouted, getting buried alive.
Cole didn't stop. He walked towards him, every step was a quake.
He wanted to finish him.
Jay gulped. He spent too much time doing nothing. That was wrong, he wasn't himself right now. killing him? Cole was going to regret it horribly.
Jay didn't think, he just let the void work for him. Again, so naturally, a transparent wall appeared between the black ninja and Cliff. Cole bumped on it. He gulped, but his vision was blinded by anger. He roared, punching it with all his strength. He wasn't trying to understand, all that he wanted was to go on. Vent his anger. His hits were powerful, but Jay held on tight, his hands tingling slightly.
The master of earth charged screaming. He even bumped his head against it, again and again, desperate but getting weaker at every hit. The last scream, the most heartbreaking one, being so close to the barrier let a few tears dropping on it. Jay could feel them, somehow. Warm. Sad.
Cole fell on his knees, fists on the wall, sobbing desperately.
"Why… it's not f-fair…!" Another punch, the last one. "… sorry… p-please, Jay, forgive me!"
Jay felt a lung in his throat. He let the wall down. Cole didn't realize it, keep venting on himself, slowly getting back to his ghostly form.
Jay got closer, lowering near him. He put a hand on his shoulder.
Cole didn't move.
"Did I scare the mighty Cole?"
Cole gasped, his all body shivering. He turned his head towards the voice. Slowly. His eyes were wide open. Not orange anymore. Unbelieving. His forehead was bleeding. His cheeks were still human. So were his tears. As soon as they crossed looks, he gulped. His hands were shaking.
"J… Jay…?"
The blue ninja smiled softly at him.
"Who else if not…?" Being hold with such a strength felt like incredibly reassuring. Like he was a treasure, someone special to protect. They were wrecked, fighting for their lives, in the middle of the ruins of their city once again. And yet, it was like hiding against a warm blanket to avoid nightmares. So caring tears were silently coming back.
Cole was shaking badly, his sobs loud from his throat.
"You're an idiot! A g-gigantic idiot! I… I…" He tightened his embrace. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Jay! It's my fault! I-I promised to watch your back, but I lost you instead! It's all my fault! It's always my fault!" He pressed his face against the other's shoulder, trying to catch his breath. "But you're here… you're really are here. You're here with me, Jay, thank goodness." He sniffed, physically unable to let go.
Jay closed his eyes, hugging back, taking on himself every shivering of his broken soul. He never wanted to make him feel this way. It was reassuring. He was alive.
Everything was good now.
Kai and Lloyd reached them, as soon as Cole managed to let go. He was back into ghost form, his face was tired but relaxed. Freed from the anger that possessed him before.
Jay sighed in relief.
"… you made quite the mess." The area around Borg's Tower was completely crashed.
Cole lowered his gaze.
"I don't know how. I mean, I know how to control earthquakes, but this much? I just… wanted to make him pay." He looked at his own hands, like he didn't recognize them.
The red ninja let go of the green one, managing to walk on his own even if slowly. He put a hand on the master of earth's shoulder.
"Let's solve this situation first." He looked at the pile of ground nearby. "He's still there. We can't leave him be."
Jay lowered his gaze, ashamed.
Suddenly, the roar of a dragon caught their attention. The titanium dragon landed after finding a good spot. Zane jumped on the ground, looking visibly anxious.
"I may have found a solution. But it might not be pleasant."
A powerful lightning pushed away the ground. Cliff got up, so charged even his hair were up and electrified. His eyes were shining, he wasn't trying to hide himself anymore. His sick smile got wider, seeing all the four main ninja and the green one in front of him. On his hands there were light burns. The power was too much, especially for himself.
Jay felt himself trapped. His chest hurt. His brothers were with him. But he knew, looking at his dad's mad eyes, this couldn't end well.
In that moment the clock ringed the midnight.
