Chapter 1: A Little Weird

Four multi-colored figures charged through a thick wood, their hearts and adrenaline racing almost as fast as their legs were. A fifth figure followed behind more slowly; he was breathing heavier than the others. At the head of the group, the red ninja took a flying leap over a log, stopping to make sure the remaining members got past before continuing himself. However he found himself waiting the longest for his black clothed comrade, who was beginning to fall behind.

"Cole!" Kai barked, his entire body itching to get moving. "You're gonna miss the Bounty if you don't hurry up!"

"Go on… without… me," Cole urged, his breaths turning into gasps. His limbs shook and his head swam, another wave of nausea threatening to take over. Cole keeled over, his vision clouded, and groaned lethargically.

"Cole?"

Kai's calls gone from impatient to worried caught the attention of the remaining ninja waiting on the other side of the incline. Annoyed and curious, but mostly annoyed, Jay climbed back up the hill and looked over the log. "What's the hold up?" He demanded, stiffening when he saw what Kai saw. However Kai was quicker to react and he was sliding down by his friend's side in an instant, kicking up dust in his wake.

"Cole? Hey, Cole, are you okay?" Kai shook the black ninja's shoulders, vaguely acknowledging the other three returning close behind. Cole blinked at Kai slowly, but his gaze appeared to be staring at nothing.

"Oh my gosh, what happened? He didn't get shot by one of those arrows, did he?" Jay exclaimed, throwing his hood off his face.

Zane briefly scanned the frame of Cole's at-the-moment unconscious body. "He has a minor laceration on his left side." He looked particularly at Lloyd, who already looked ready to burst into questions. "I suspect he refused to tell us for the sake of the mission."

Kai, being as action oriented as he was, instantly started giving out instructions. "Clearly, he's out for the count. Zane and Jay, you need to get him to the Bounty as fast as possible. Lloyd and I will hold off the rest of those pint-sized lunatics," he glanced at the green ninja, who merely nodded in agreement.

"Let's go." Lloyd stated before going back where they came from with the master of fire by his side. Meanwhile Jay and Zane did their best to lift the heavy weight-lifting, cake-loving beast of a friend.

Jay's voice was so strained it sounded like it could snap. "How're we gonna get Cole all the way up the mountain in time?" He asked between grunts, trying his hardest not to drop his best friend's legs.

The nindroid ignored the lightning master's worry and easily hooked Cole's arms with his own. "Just get moving!" He urged loudly, though he was not necessarily angry, and the two argulessly were off. They couldn't go at a fast pace by any means, but they made considerable ground when the situation was understood at full scale. With hundreds to thousands of minion-sized snake people on their sixes, it would have been a hard enough task without carrying the extra weight. Despite the odds, both Jay and Zane had reached the top of the mountain in good time, not having seen tail nor fang of a snake the whole trek up.

"We did it!" Jay laughed giddily, his grip on the earth ninja loosened so he could rest. "I guess Cole isn't the only one with super strength!"

"Well, logistics say- -" Zane started to explain, but Jay instantly cut him off with a hasty hand-wave.

"Don't spoil my victory, Zane," he hissed before just as quickly returning to his glorious mood. "Just wait till 'Big n' Strong' here learns it was our muscles who saved his hide this time."

As usual, the titanium ninja wasn't paying Jay's jokes much attention. Instead he focused on what was in the sky- - or rather, what wasn't. "But where are Nya and Master Wu? They said they would return over the mountain on the Bounty."

"Don't sweat it, snow-cone," Jay reassured before thinking for a second. "If nindroids even can sweat. But look!" He gestured a bit below where they stood, and sure enough the Destiny's Bounty appeared, only a minute late. Nya's voice came over the loudspeaker outside the deck.

"Sorry we're late! We had to avoid a rock slide. Now get in!"

Jay cupped both hands around his mouth. "You have to anchor us in, Nya- - Cole's hurt!"

"On it."

The anchor lowered to the ground steadily, and with great attention to Cole's injured side, Zane and Jay clambered over the metal with him secure in their grasps. As the three were hauled on the deck, Master Wu and Nya came running towards them- - well, Nya running and Wu going at a more brisk walk.

"What happened to him?" Nya asked upon seeing her once-crush's feeble condition.

Jay started blabbering out the whole story while Zane helped Master Wu carry Cole below deck. They weren't yet halfway there when the older man asked, "Where are the others?"

"Kai and Lloyd said they would fight off any of the remaining snake people while we brought Cole here." Zane debriefed punctually.

Master Wu raised an eyebrow. "Snake-people?"

Zane shrugged. "That is what Jay calls them."

Jay's voice shouted in the distance. "I knew it would catch on!"

The ninja master shook his head then turned to Nya, just about to disappear below deck. "Steer this ship back to Kai and my nephew. It is unwise for them to be alone with those 'snake-people' any longer than they need to be."

0o0o0o0

Kai was starting to regret sending Jay and Zane away with Cole. The odds may have been against them when there were only five ninja, but now they might as well have written their final will and testaments as the multitude of crossbreeds centered on both boys from all sides. The slurps of snake-tongues echoed in their ears the closer they got, and impulsively both Kai and Lloyd lashed out at any of the slithers that got too close. The ninjas ended up back-to-back, their hands raised and ready to attack whenever the enemy chose to strike.

"Hold your ground," Lloyd warned, his voice steady yet tense, his feet digging deeply into the dirt.

"Ha!" Kai snorted humorlessly. "You know I never back down from a fight."

Just as the two were about to be submerged in scaly snake bodies, a large and heavy object plummeted into the ground right before their noses. Looking up, they recognized Nya and the Destiny's Bounty, a welcoming sight to their dire situation.

"Hurry up and get on!" Nya ordered. "We can't have them follow you up!"

Kai and Lloyd didn't need to be told twice. Obediently they took hold of the anchor and were reeled on deck, leaving behind the horde of mini reptilian warriors. As soon as they were on board, the Bounty veered away from the woods and took flight in open skies.

Finally able to take a breather, Kai looked at his sister and grinned. "Thanks for coming back for us."

Remembering their injured teammate, Lloyd caught Nya's eye next. "Is Cole okay?"

Nya frowned at the reminder. "Master Wu took him below deck. He said it wasn't serious; it should only take a few weeks until he fully recovers. But I guess the poison affects people differently, so Cole might be acting a little… weird at first."

Kai took a step closer. "What do you mean, 'a little weird'? What should we be expecting?"

"Hey, I'm only telling you what Master Wu told me," Nya replied in defense, her hands raised.

"Well, can we see him?"

At that moment, Jay came up from below deck, a particularly large smirk on his face as if he had been laughing. "Hey, guys!" He invited with a wave of his hand. "You have to come see Cole! He's all hyped up on that venom!" With one last snicker, Jay disappeared down the way again.

Kai, Lloyd, and Nya shared quick glances before going after Jay. They filed down the stairway and entered Master Wu's quarters, which was where Zane had been checking on Cole. At the moment the earth ninja was on the bed slouching against the headboard, a cup of unidentified warm liquid in his hands. He studied it as if he had never seen it before. Zane was standing beside Cole, watching him warily and expectantly. Master Wu wasn't in the room.

When the three entered, Cole's attention was caught and he looked up at Jay, his face deadpan. "Zap-trap!" He announced and sat up, suddenly very happy. He pointed at Jay with regard to Zane. "That's my very best friend."

It was almost like talking to a child. Zane nodded quickly in understanding, gently lowering Cole on his back again. "Yes, yes, so it is. Now please, lay back calmly..."

Jay snorted behind his hands. "See what I mean? He's totally vulnerable!"

Kai started to get in with the laughs. It was true, seeing Cole act this way was pretty funny. He took a few steps forward until he was right next to Cole. "Hey, buddy, how're you feeling?" He patronized cheerfully.

However the drugged up Cole didn't take any offense to it. He only grinned at the ceiling and put his arms in the air, the mug of liquid spilling onto the floor. Zane panicked to clean it up. "Like I can flyyy," his arms dropped to his sides suddenly and he looked at the fire ninja. "Can I fly, Kai?"

Kai quickly turned to Jay, both clearly enjoying the situation as they tried to control their laughter. "S-sure, Cole, of course you can fly… any master of earth knows that!"

Cole's eyebrows lowered in a scowl, his eyes back on the ceiling. "I knew it."

Lloyd and Nya faced the nindroid, both gaping. Zane blinked at them before shrugging. "Mood swings."

Shaking his head, the Green Ninja approached Cole with a sigh. "I should've been paying better attention. Maybe we could have avoided this."

"Don't you dare blame yourself," Kai demanded, his focus temporarily switching. "If anyone's at fault, it's those slimy reptiles."

"Yeah!" agreed Jay. "Cole can handle himself. He'll be fine! Right, Cole?"

The question didn't seem to process in Cole's mind right away. He had a face of concentration for several seconds, before finally smiling as if he found the right answer. "Lookit all those ducks," he giggled, pointing at nothing.

Lloyd and Nya stared at him while Kai and Jay fell to the floor. "O-kay," the water ninja said slowly, sure that the explanation made perfect sense in Cole's mind.

"Oh-oh, I got it," Jay gasped out, looking at Kai with a wild glint in his eyes, both still lying on the floor. "We should get him to talk about his deepest, juiciest secrets!"

Kai's jaw fell open. "Jay, you sly genius!"

"What!? That's not fair, guys!" Nya disapproved with her hands on her hips. "Cole can't help it- - the poison is influencing him."

"Which makes it even funnier!" Jay insisted, leaning against Kai so he wouldn't fall over again from laughing so hard. However the lightning and fire ninja froze when they suddenly heard Cole sigh, sounding almost melancholy. They looked at him expectantly, but he only laid there with his gaze still on the ceiling, sighing again several moments later.

"Uhh… what's wrong, Cole?" Jay asked nervously.

"I miss Rocky," Cole shifted on the bed uncomfortably as he spoke. Zane's eyes widened and he moved Cole back in the position he was in moments ago, ignoring his protests.

"Please Cole, you must refrain from moving. Your wound must not be stretched, or you risk opening it up again."

Cole's half-lidded eyes were so zoned out, no one was sure if he had even heard Zane. "Am I ever gonna see him again?"

Zane's luminescent blue eyes could only stare back at Cole's empty black ones. "I… am sorry, but I do not know." He momentarily looked Lloyd's way. "At least, not in the form you are used to."

"It-it's those snakes' fault," Cole choked angrily, clearly in the stage of another mood swing.

Kai was nearing panic upon his friend's distress. "O-okay Cole, calm down," he stressed, awkwardly putting a hand on the disoriented ninja's shoulder as if thinking that would help. "I'm sorry for laughing earlier. Just... uh, breath."

Cole looked like he was close to sobbing at that suggestion, as if Kai had told him Jay ate all of his birthday cake. He shook his head and shut his eyes. "No, why?"

Jay, Zane, Kai, Lloyd and Nya stared at Cole, a few awkward coughs emitting in the background. When it was clear no one was confident enough to take the initiative, Zane stepped forward to face the others, speaking in a soft tone to not disturb the already upset black ninja.

"Perhaps we should leave him alone for now," he suggested logically. "It is possible for him to sleep the poison away, right?"

"On the contrary, Zane. But I like the thought behind it."

The five jumped in surprise when Master Wu walked in from behind them, his hands behind his back and expression grim. Instantly his students bowed their heads respectfully and parted to let him through, waiting for him to continue speaking.

Master Wu walked to Cole's supposed sleeping form, gently shaking him back awake. "He must not slip into unconsciousness," the elderly man warned quietly, locking eyes with his tired student. "It will leave his body vulnerable to the poison that is already running through his blood." Cole chuckled at Wu's beard and started to stroke it. "Only the leaves of a surefire rose can fight against it."

"Alright, where can we find one of those?" Kai asked earnestly, willing to take immediate action.

Wu narrowed his eyes, holding his beard away from Cole's reach. "You will not be finding one. I will go after the surefire rose. You five need to stay here and watch over your fallen teammate- - make sure he never falls asleep."

The five recoiled in surprise, all looking ready to argue. "But, Sensei- -"

"You can't go by yourself."

"It doesn't take more than one of us to watch Cole!"

"If you let us go, we'll have more of a chance at finding it- - bigger numbers, right?"

Their master groaned and threw his arm forward. "Enough!" His students shut up instantly. "I will go alone, because I am the only one who knows where the surefire rose is, and it will be faster travel for one. Also, I happen to like the peace and quiet." He gave Cole one last look before retreating to the deck above. "I should be back within the next twenty-four hours."

His students snapped at that news. Jay threw his hands in the air, bewildered. "Should be back in the next twenty-four hours?! We can't be having all-nighters here!"

Master Wu rolled his eyes. "Then take shifts." He smiled suddenly, "Good-bye!" and he shut the door.

"I swear I heard him laughing at us." Kai grumbled when they were sure he was gone.

The ninja remained quiet for a few moments longer, not sure how they would continue with the steadily incoming nighttime. It wasn't until Cole started to pick lint off of the bed sheet that the five returned to the grasps of reality.

"Okay…" Lloyd stated hesitantly, deciding to take charge since no one else would speak up. "So, shifts?"

"We could draw straws." Jay suggested. "Shortest one has to watch him first."

Kai started to leave the room. "I'll go grab some."

However Nya intercepted the conversation before he could exit. "Oh, c'mon, guys. Cole's our friend, not a project." She smiled, bringing up her own idea. "Why don't we all stay up with him together? It could be fun. Call it a sleepover in Master Wu's room!" Nya thereafter frowned. "...Does that sound weird?"

"Yeah, a little bit…" Lloyd started, but nodded thereafter. "But you're right. We're a team; we win together, and we lose together."

"Affirmative!" said Zane with an eager smile. "And, a sleepover sounds most enjoyable, Nya."

Jay tapped his chin. "Sure, an all-nighter can be fun and all- - but not without pillows, blankets, and junk food!"

Kai's energy was on overdrive. "I'll go grab some!" he dashed out the door before anyone could stop him.

Lloyd laughed. "Then it's settled. We'll do this- - as a team."

The Ninjas all agreed and began to move furniture around, determining to set up a fort. It wasn't until Kai had returned with exuberant piles of bedding and sustenance that Jay realized the very reason of their compromise was no longer in the room with them. His simple question cut their celebration short.

"Uh… where's Cole?"

A/N: To be continued...