The days began to become a blur for the group upon the bounty. The guys adapted quickly to their female companions, who in turn adapted to them just as fast. It made training a lot more interesting, since the girls liked to turn any activity into a game. Like when they were balancing on poles. The girls began jumping from one to the other, making it almost impossible for the others to keep balance without jumping themselves, making another jump and so on.

Wu was glad to see that all of his students were getting along. It seemed to help with the girls' personal problems as well. About three days after getting Storm, they told the ninja why they had returned to Sensei. All agreed to help the best they could. And they were, more than they had ever hoped.

With Zane's cooking, Soula rarely found herself skipping out on meals. Especially when she helped make them. The nindroid and she had come to an agreement that if she'd help cook it, she'd have to eat quite a bit of it. It helped her gain the weight she needed. In fact, she also needed Kyna's exercises to keep completely fit.

Kai and Lloyd found the easiest way for them to keep Kyna from cutting herself was to keep her busy. So they started doing exercises-from running to katas to kick boxing. You name it they did it. Not only did it keep her distracted, it kept her from the need to feel pain. The thrum that had been so constant was gone; vanished as if overnight. And slowly, she and Kai began to bond over their shared similarities.

Talynn was the only one they had problems with. Her insomnia happened almost every other night now. During those nights though, she and Cole would bond. They'd talk about what their lives were like before meeting Wu, the families they left behind. Even their childhood friends.

Which was tonight's discussion.

"Wait wait hold on." Cole said, looking at her curiously. "You're telling me that you and this…Ahuka girl actually got your adoptive parents together?"

Talynn laughed. "Okay, first off, her name's Asuka. And so what if we did? I wasn't gonna be raised by a guy alone."

"Well who took care of you before you got to them?" He asked curiously, leaning against the rail.

"I…I'm not sure." She said hesitantly, rubbing the back of her head. "Like I've told you before, I remember most things, just not everything. I was probably unconscious most of that trip."

"For two to three years?"

"Hey who knows? Maybe I was in a coma."

Cole's eyes widened. "Don't even joke about that."

"Who says I'm joking?" she said seriously, a yawn escaping her lips. "It's late. We should get to bed."

"A 'right." The black agreed. "'Sides, Sensei said there was going to be a surprise tomorrow."

"Any clues on what?"

"If I knew I wouldn't tell you."

"Cole, you are positively mal."

"I try."

When daylight came, the girls were surprised to see that they were over a large city. A city in Ninjago they'd never seen before.

"It's humungous." Kyna stated, pulling on a short sleeved t-shirt. "I can't believe Sensei's bringing us here."

"Yeah, I remember when he wouldn't let us out of the training yard." Soula said, tying her now shoulder length hair back. "It seems like a dying memory now."

"Yeah." Kyna walked over to the bathroom door. "Tal are you ready?" No response came. "Tal-"

"Shh. Listen." Soula whispered.

The redhead did, surprised by the humming of a familiar lullaby.

"It can't be…"

"What's all the ruckus about?" Lloyd asked, walking in with the other ninja and Nya.

Both girls hushed him, and made the sign language movements for them to listen. As the rest had been taught this by Wu, they stopped talking and started listening. What they heard was a gentle melody, playing in their ears.

"Who is that?" Jay asked quietly.

"It's Talynn." Cole replied not as shocked as the others. "I heard her singing the first night. The humming's new."

"Well then you go get her." Kai said, getting to his feet. "You said you wanted to show her around."

"Oh and I suppose you'll be showing me around eh hotshot?" Kyna asked sarcastically.

"Actually yeah." The fire ninja stated, putting the red head over his shoulder. "Come on we've got a long way to go."

"Hey you think this is funny?! Put me down!"

As Kyna was carried out, Talynn was in the bathroom humming and singing softly as she cleaned Storm's scales. It was discovered that he could breathe air just as easily as he could water, so he would be going on the outing too. But he'd be in Talynn's backpack since he wasn't used to walking about just yet.

As she rubbed the suds on his hard skin, she found herself at peace, allowing her to remember the song that all the girls' mothers had sung to them. It seemed Storm to like it too, so she began to sing; not knowing that she was being listened to.

"Lavender's blue,
Dilly dilly,
Lavenders green,
When I am King,
Dilly dilly,
You shall be Queen.

Who told you so,
Dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
T'was my own heart,
Dilly dilly,
That told me so."

Storm began to splash her, as if telling her to continue. She wasn't going to argue with him. As she rubbed his neck, Cole peeked in to see how she was doing.

"Call up your men,
Dilly dilly,
Set them to work.
Some to the plow,
Dilly dilly,
Some to the fork.

Some to make hay,
Dilly dilly,
Some to cut corn.
While you and I,
Dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm.

Lavender's green,
Dilly dilly,
Lavender's blue.
If you love me,
Dilly dilly,
I will love you.

Let the birds sing,
Dilly dilly,
Let the lambs play.
We shall be safe,
Dilly dilly,
Out of harm's way.

I love to dance,
Dilly dilly,
I love to sing.
When I am Queen,
Dilly dilly,
You'll be my King.

Who told me so,
Dilly dilly,
Who told me so?
I told myself,
Dilly dilly,
I told me so."

Cole could listen to her all day if he could. But he had a full day planned, so they had to get going. He didn't know why Sensei had asked him to do this actually, but to spend time with the tannette besides at night, he wasn't complaining. He couldn't explain the natural pull between him and her. It was like they'd known each other all of their lives. Heck, she was even a scythe master like him. The only real difference between them were their powers. That, and Talynn's mysterious past.

But he couldn't think about that now. If he was going to show her all of New Ninjago City, they'd have to get going.

"You and Storm almost ready Talynn?" Cole asked, opening the door all the way.

"Almost." The tannette stated, wiping some of the suds off her hands. "I just gotta get him dried off before he decides to-"

But it was too late. In a matter of seconds, both were drenched in water and suds. Storm was making a sound that seemed a bit like laughing.

"Before he decides to do that?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yeah." She said wringing out her hair. "Storm likes things wet-which isn't surprising since he's part water dragon. But he's better than he was two weeks ago."

"Well now we're soaked and he's dry."

"I have a remedy for that." Talynn said pulling out a wooden flute from a pocket in her vest. "But you can't tell the others what this thing can do."

Cole nodded his agreement, unsure of what such a tiny thing could do against him. But he found as soon as a note was played, a gust of wind came from nowhere. More notes came from the little instrument, making more and more wind rise up. And a minute later, it was gone; and everything was dry.

"How did you-"

"This flute is called the Kaze no Furūto-the Flute of the Wind." She put the flute away. "It was a gift my dad made for my mom when they were dating."

"But I thought you said your dad was a Master of Shadows."

"He was." She stated, lifting Storm from the bathtub and into a backpack. "But he was good colleges with a Master of Wind and my mom was a Master of Earth, which made them mortal enemies. So Dad had the flute made to train my mom against the Wind Master."

"And you have it why?"

"It was my plaything when me and my brothers were young." she said, getting to her feet again. "I couldn't fight like they could, so it helped protect me."

"Wait? Protect you?" Cole looked at her curiously. Why would you need-"

"We can talk about this later." She said, pulling the bag with Storm in it on. "Don't you have a promise to keep?"

He'd almost forgotten that promise; the promise he intended to keep today.

"Then let's go."

"New Ninjago City isn't like any city I've seen." Soula said as she and Zane walked down the street with her camera in hand. "But then again, it is similar to where I grew up some of my childhood."

"And where did you grow up?" the nindroid asked, looking around. "You and the others never specified."

"Far away." She stated, snapping a picture of a couple sharing a dessert. "Where I'm from, people are even more terrified of the unknown." Soula lowered her camera. "Terrified of me."

Zane looked at her curiously. "Why would anyone be afraid of you? The only time I can think of you as truly terrifying is the day we met."

Soula cracked a crooked smile at the nindroid, playing with the neck strap of her camera. "Thanks Zane. But, there's a reason for the fear." She started walking down the street. "Not long after I lost my mom, I lost someone equally important to me, if not more."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "He was my protector; had been since the day I was born." A tear started welling in her eye. "Funny thing is, he's the whole reason I know Dark Ice-a power that has only been achieved by dragons themselves."

"How do you know all this Soula?"

"Because, he was a dragon."

She snapped a picture of his startled face.

"Seriously?! You were trained by a dragon?!"

Kyna covered Kai's mouth. "Would you keep it down hotshot? Somebody could hear you."

But in actuality, nobody was listening. They were in one of the busier sections of the city, so no one paid attention to anyone else.

Kai licked her hand.

"Ew!" She snatched her hand away. "What was that for?"

"Covering my mouth is reason enough." Kai stated, getting back on his feet. "So what happened to him?"

Kyna looked away from Kai, staring at a large building. Could she tell him? She'd already told too much. But…they were a team now right?

"Well?" Kai asked, getting impatient.

"…He died." She finally replied, looking at him with somber eyes. "He died in the same fire that took away my mother."

Kai finally got it. But once he did, he wasn't sure if he was hearing right.

"But I thought you said-"

"You've got a bit to learn about dragons before we talk about this again." Kyna stated, running away from him. "In fact, you have a lot to learn before you speak to me again!"

"Kyna!"

"Come on Cole." Talynn said pulling Cole down the street. "Quit being a lambin and hurry up."

Cole could only chuckle as Talynn pulled him along. She was such a child when she wanted to be. But then again, she probably hadn't had much of a childhood. Losing her family, having to start all over with a new one, discovering her powers, the list went on and on. It was moments like this; moments that she was free of her past, that Cole seemed to like the most.

He had to agree that he hadn't had much of a childhood either. With his mom leaving when he was young, Lou put a lot of pressure on the boy to make sure he didn't turn out like her. But he ended up hurting him anyway when he ran away and lied. That made him no better than the woman who brought him into this world.

"Cole?" Talynn asked, slowing down and turning to face him. "Are you okay? Your aura…it's bouncing back that you're upset."

"It's nothing." The black ninja stated, looking away from her and walking ahead.

"Don't 'It's nothing' me." the tannette said, pulling him back. "I've used that way more than I care to state." She put her hand under his chin, making him meet her eyes as the other removed her shades. "You're comparing yourself to your mom again aren't you?"

He didn't answer her.

"How many times do I have to say it? You are not like her. Just like I'm not a shadow-wielding evil maniac like my dad was at my age."

"…Maybe."

"'Maybe?' Are you saying I'm evil?"

"In some senses yes." He teased. "Though I can't decide which is more evil. Your powers, or your smirk."

"Oh why you-" she yelled as he ran away. "Come back here and say that to my face!"

He led her on a chase thru the city streets, keeping a good seven feet ahead of her. He knew the smirk joke would draw her in like bees to honey. Her smirk was the only thing about her that deemed her evil. The rest of her was purely and undoubtedly good. Even if there were things about her that made him-

'Wait. Where'd that thought come from?' he wondered, turning the corner. 'I shouldn't be thinking like that. She's my friend.'

Cole was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice the shadow racing next to him until it blobbed out and released Talynn; startling him enough to skid to a halt.

"When- how-"

I told you before," Talynn stated, dusting off her jeans. "There's more to being a Shadow Master than what meets the eye. And becoming a shadow is one of them. That-" she placed her shades back over her eyes. "And since I haven't reached my full potential, I'm always discovering something new."

"Don't you worry that you'll discover something that you're scared of?"

She gave him a straight look. "The only thing you have to fear of the shadows is your imagination and how far it takes you into it."

"I don't get it."

"I'll explain it to you later." She said, grabbing his hand with her gloved one. "Right now I wanna see what it is you and Sensei promised to show me."

Cole gave her a teasing look. "Did I really promise you something?"

"Cole!"

He laughed at her. "Okay okay you win." He took his hand from her grip and hooked it around her waist. "Let's go see your surprise."

Cole was so busy looking ahead though, that he didn't notice all the looks they were getting from the people around them.

Or the blush that dusted Talynn's cheeks.

Soula had been silent for a while after their discussion of her protector. Zane didn't know what he'd said wrong afterwards-in fact he'd said nothing. He just didn't understand Soulika at all.

'Things were easier with Pixal.' The nindroid thought to himself. 'She was programmed with certain emotions and thoughts. Soula has so many that she changes quite quickly. I do not understand her. But then…how do I understand the child that acts so much like her in my dreams as Zandor?'

He looked over at Soula, who was now at a fountain sitting beside a mother and young daughter. The daughter was being fussy and the mother was constantly apologizing.

Soula only gave a small smile and began weaving her white gloved hands in a way that seemed to be magical. It enchanted the girl so much that she didn't even flinch when the snow white particles began sticking to her hair and clothes. Zane could only watch as the whirling white made both child and young woman smile and laugh. Once the white was gone, the girl was remade into a miniature Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen.

Both mother and child thanked her as they left, the child giving her an extra hug. As they walked away, Zane approached her curiously.

"How did you do that?"

Soula blew at her bangs. "It's an old Dark Ice trick my dragon taught me. You focus your thoughts into making the object. But instead of making it out regular ice, it makes out of a cloth-like ice." She stuffed her hands into her jacket. "It's nothing important."

"I disagree." The titanium ninja said, making his icy blue eyes meet her ruby red ones. "I think it is a wonderful talent. One that can come in handy at any moment."

Zane wasn't sure if he saw it. But for a moment, Soula's eyes were a rich emerald green.

The same emerald green he'd seen on the child in his dream.

Talynn was a bit confused when they arrived a rundown building called 'Grand Sensei Dareth's Mojo Dojo'. She thought Cole was playing a trick on her. Especially when they walked inside.

"You here Dareth?" the black ninja called out, looking around.

A few noises came from the back of the building then a man with glossy brown hair wearing a brown gi came up front. His eyes immediately locked on Talynn. Cole stepped in front of her quickly, bringing the other man's attention back to him.

"Oh hey Cole." The man said, trying to look around him. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Talynn." He stated quickly. "You have what I asked?"

"Up on the roof." Dareth replied quickly. "Now about-"

Before he could finish though, Cole was already dragging Talynn up the stairs to the roof. The tannette didn't even struggle, as she wanted to get away from those eyes that were staring at her like a prize.

Once at the top of the stairs, Cole got behind Talynn and covered her eyes with one hand and opened the door with the other.

"You ready for your surprise?" He asked teasingly.

"Yes now hurry. You're smudging my specs."

Cole knew she was joking, but he quickly removed his hands to show her the surprise. Her eyes opened and her mouth dropped immediately.

Standing before her was the Ultra Dragon. And her favorite dragon was looking directly at her.

"Rocky!" She exclaimed, taking off her pack with Storm in it. She quickly ran over to the dragon head and hugged it, causing the dragon to roar in approval. The other heads began to look at her curiously. She laughed and began to approach them one by one. "I haven't forgotten you guys don't worry."

Cole watched from the doorway at her childlike ways. It was as if she was reuniting with an old friend-or friends as the case may be. She seemed…like Tallie.

The little girl in his dreams still came at night. But there'd been no bad dreams like the first time he had them. In fact…they were all calm and happy memories. But he felt that that was the calm before the storm. Speaking of which…

He scooped up Storm from his bag and went over to the head of his dragon, who immediately reacted to the sight of his owner.

"Hey boy." The black ninja said, putting a hand on his forehead, receiving a lick in response. "Yeah I missed you too. Hey look what Talynn and I found."

When the Ultra Dragon saw Storm, it was more than a bit curious. After all, it'd been so long since a baby dragon had been born. Let alone one that appeared to be a hybrid. The head that was originally Rocky sniffed at him first, then Flame, Shard, and Wisp began to as well. Storm became squirmy and ran behind Talynn's feet. The tannette just smiled and kneeled down to the small blue dragon.

"It's okay Storm. These dragons are nice. See?" She put a hand out. "Wisp. Come here Wisp."

The Lightening dragon head immediately reacted to the girl's call and went over to her. He let her put a hand on him, then brought his head down lower so his touched Storm, who felt a rush of electricity rush though him when they touched. The small dragon quickly brightened up and began circling the larger one. Who in turn began chasing the baby dragon.

The two black ninjas watched them for a while, letting their young charge get some time with one of his own kind. Then, Talynn felt a strong aura coming up the stairs. A strong, fiery aura. An aura that seemed scared.

"Kai's coming." She said, getting to her feet in a hurry. "Something's wrong."

(Kai's P.O.V.)

I can't believe I chased Kyna off. Usually when we fight, she and I just have a yelling match until one of the others came and tore us apart. But this time…this time seemed different. But what was so different about today?

I couldn't track down Zane and Soula, so I went to see if Cole and Talynn were still with the Ultra Dragon. And it was my lucky day that they were, or I wouldn't know what to do.

"Kai?" Cole asked as soon as he saw me. "What's wrong?"

"Kyna." I huffed out, trying to catch my breath.

"What about Kyna?" Talynn asked, looking at me harshly. "What did you say to her?"

"I dunno." I looked her in the eye. "One minute, we were talking about her dragon and the next-"

"You brought her dragon up?!" Talynn exclaimed. She immediately began circling me. "That is by far the worst thing you've done to her!"

"Whoa Tal!" Cole grabbed her from behind. "Take it easy!"

"Lemme go Cole! He's had this coming for days!"

"Not until you tell me what's so important about her dragon!"

"He died sixteen years ago today!"

Cole and I stared at her in shock, not sure whether or not to believe her. She started breathing harder, then broke down into tears. If what she said was true…then why didn't they tell us? Why didn't Sensei?

Cole asked the same question.

Talynn removed her shades to wipe away the tears. "We never told Sensei when it happened. But I guess he caught on after a few years. That's my guess on why he asked you guys to bring us out today. And we never talk about it because it just gets us all upset."

She looked away from us. "When you brought up what happened to him, it must've made her flashback to the fire; the one and only memory she has about her dragon aside from what he taught her."

"I get that. But what I don't get is why he's so important to her?"

Talynn met my eyes with harsh black ones. That's when I knew I was dead. Cole put an arm on her shoulder to make her meet his eyes quickly. We don't know why, but for some reason Cole can bring Talynn out of what we call 'the dark zone'. It took a minute, but she calmed down enough to give me a piece of paper.

"Read this. Then find her. She's your responsibility."

I left there as soon as I could, not stopping until I was at a bus stop a few blocks away. I could hear Talynn's screams behind me; screams that she usually used for when she did her medicine.

I looked down at the paper she'd handed me. It was Kyna's hand writing. It looked like she'd written this a while ago. It was called 'Just Me'.

If I could see him again,
I know I'd be truly happy.
Because with him,
I was never alone.
With him, I am me.
Just me.

Not the person my father wants me to be,
Not the person my mother was,
Not the person people expect me to be,
Just me.

The girl who loves music,
The girl who loves books,
The girl who loves writing,
The girl he loves,
Just me.

With him I don't have to be the person my father wants me to be,
With him I don't have to be the person my mother was,
With him I don't have to be the person people want me to be,
With him I can be me.
Just me.

I didn't know Kyna felt this way; that she felt lost without her dragon. I knew the feeling a little too well. And not from the Kashton flashes.

When I lost my dad, I was pretty much lost without him. But Nya, the guys, they brought me back. Now Kyna needed bringing back, just like the others girls did.

And I had a feeling I knew where she went.

(Cole's P.O.V.)

I wasn't mad at Talynn for not telling me this; that today was an anniversary that she'd rather forget. But I was a little shocked. I was the one she confided everything else to. So what stopped her from telling me this?

"Don't look at me like that."

I gave her a confused look. "Like what?"

"Like you understand the pain I feel." She slipped out of my grip. "Because you don't."

"I'm not trying to make it-"

"Yes you are!"

"Talynn." I removed her shades and met her eyes. "I understand you better than you think."

I don't know for sure if I was hallucinating after that. But I know I saw Talynn's eyes change color.

They were blue. The same shade of blue as Tallie's.

A/N: Man oh man oh man am I late with this! Sorry for the wait! College is a lot harder than I thought. Anywho, the song doesn't belong to me, but the poem does. See you when I can!