Cole opened his eyes. The smoke in front of him swirled into a distinct shape of an omen. He grabbed his staff and left the meditation room. He wondered how his brothers were doing. Even though they weren't related by blood, they had been through so much in saving Ninjago. They were very close friends, they were basically brothers in any other sense of the word. Sensei Wu had seen the most potential in Cole to become a sensei for the next generation, so he had been staying in the monastery after Sensei Wu's passing.
He gulped. What he just saw during his meditation had not settled well with him.
He knew his best friend, Jay, and his now wife, Nya, had a one-year-old boy named Brook. Cole agreed with them that Brook was a nice name for a future master of water. Maybe now would be a good time to tell Jay and Nya what he had been experiencing.
"Seliel!" Cole called. He heard footsteps, and saw a woman with dark brown locks with a few cyan locks mixed in standing in the doorway. She was rocking an infant- that appeared very much in likeness to his father- to sleep. Humming softly, her gaze lifted from the toddler to Cole. "Seth's sleeping, that's fine. I'd prefer if he was sleeping."
"Have you been having those smoke visions warning you again?" Seliel asked softly. Cole nodded his head as he ran a hand through his hair. "What's bothering you? You always run your hand through your hair when something is amidst."
"I fear one of my brothers won't be with us for much longer. I don't know how soon in the future those smoke visions are referring to, but I fear that Seth, alongside the rest of the next generation will have to face the brunt of it," Cole explained. He did his best to fight a shiver that wanted to run down his spine. Seliel placed Seth down in his crib and came over, sitting beside Cole on the floor.
"Whatever happens, know that I am with you all the way. I trust you to train our son and the others to protect the world from harm," Seliel softly said. She ran her fingers through Cole's hair. Cole closed his eyes, relaxing at Seliel's gentle touch. "I know Seth and the others will come to adore you and your teachings. Trust me on that, honey."
Cole closed his eyes and laid his head on Seliel's shoulder, letting her continue to stroke his hair. It was quiet in the monastery, aside from Seth's soft snores. Cole felt at peace here; he had his wife and child nearby, there was nothing more he could long for at the current moment. His thoughts drifted to how Zane and Pixal as well as Kai and Skylor were doing. He would occasionally hear from them. Last time he had heard, Skylor and Kai were expecting a daughter, while Zane and Pixal's own daughter was doing great. He turned his head towards Seth's crib.
"For Seth being a one-and-a-half year old, he sure sleeps a lot," Seliel commented. Cole looked up at his wife and nodded his head. Seliel got up and walked over to the crib. She peered at the boy sleeping and ran her hand through his short, thick black locks. "He looks just like you. He'll probably be the next elemental master of Earth."
"He shares looks with you," Cole responded. Seliel raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. Cole smiled back as he came over and stood beside her. "He has your beautiful eyes. They are practically crystals and sapphires put together."
Seliel chuckled quietly. Cole smiled again, but then he felt something calling him. Seliel looked at him, seeming to understand what was happening. She placed a hand on his shoulder and began to rub in circles. Cole closed his eyes, trying to relax. He stood up, offering Seliel his hand.
"I think it's time I visited Jay and the others. You can come if you want. I'm sure Brook and Paige will be glad to see Seth," Cole said. He went to the room he and Seliel shared and began to pack some clothing. Seliel watched him from the doorway and sighed softly.
"If you're going, I might as well go, too. It'd be nice to see Nya and the others again. The kids could have a playdate," Seliel commented. She grabbed a duffle bag and began packing. She put some of Seth's clothes in the bag and stretched. "When do we leave?"
Cole blinked. He wasn't even done packing, and Seliel had already packed both hers and Seth's clothes. Cole put his hood over his head and grabbed both his and Seliel's bags. He placed them at the front door of the monastery. He turned back, seeing Seliel in the kitchen preparing supper.
"Tomorrow at dawn, we depart," Cole replied. Seliel set a plate of rice with some bread in front of him. She placed some silverware down, and Cole picked at the carrots and peas in the rice. Seliel clicked her tongue and sighed, getting Seth some puffs from the cupboard. "I just can't seem to get that warning out of my head. It was like sirens going off in my head, Seliel. What if that vision is closer than we think?"
"It might be, but what if there are no more what ifs?" She responded, sitting across from Cole and beginning to eat. Cole looked up, still picking at the carrots and peas absentmindedly. "Look. I know becoming a Sensei is stressful; you have to train the next generation to be prepared for anything. With that role comes greater responsibilities than that of a ninja leader. It takes time to adjust, trust me, I know. With time comes adjustment, and with adjustment comes bumps that need to be tweaked. Just relax, and see where fate takes you."
Cole woke up before the roosters in the valley did. He got up and went to shower, hoping the warm water would relax him and wake him up before Seliel, Seth, and he started on their journey to Ignacia. Both Jay and Nya, alongside Kai and Skylor, had moved to Ignacia since it was Nya and Kai's hometown, and they wanted their kids to experience the life of a rural countryside like they did.
He shut the door. He tied his belt around his gi, looping it through and making a knot. He let the strings hang on his left side; they went down to his thigh. Running a hand through his damp hair, he found some cereal to eat. Cole sat down with his sketchbook and pencil, waiting for Seliel and Seth to get up so they could begin their journey south.
Cole pulled his head up from his sketchbook when he heard Seth whining. Getting up, he carefully placed the tattered sketchbook and small pencil on the coffee table and went to the bedroom. Cole picked Seth up, rocking him gently and humming softly. Seth looked at his father with his crystal eyes, cooing. He reached one of his hands up and grabbed a piece of Cole's hair. Even though it hurt, Cole didn't say anything because he could see the smile on his son's face.
"Shh, let Mommy get some more sleep. You've been waking her up earlier lately. Come hang out with Daddy some," Cole whispered. He barely moved his head, afraid to due to Seth's vice-like grip. Cole carried Seth to the living room and sat on the couch, rocking Seth back and forth. "Let go of my hair, son. Man, you are going to be the next elemental master of earth…"
Seth eventually let go and ate some of his puffs. He wobbled over to the table and placed one of his hands on it to steady himself. He cooed and squealed happily, bringing a smile to Cole's face. Cole continued to doodle until he heard heel clicks on the hardwood floor. Turning his head, he saw Seliel, her fuchsia and cyan locks up in a messy braid as she poured herself a bowl of cereal.
After Seliel finished her breakfast and changed, Cole grabbed the bags that were waiting. Seth was watching, and then ran to Seliel when she called him. Scooping up the child, the three started towards the train station.
The three stepped out of the train onto the rocky platform. The cool air that they were used to in the city was replaced with a warm, humid breeze. Seth was walking, holding Seliel's hand. Cole was in the lead, the bags over his shoulder. He believed he knew where he was going, but then again, Jay had never been that good with directions.
"How much more?" Seth complained. Seliel picked him up, rocking him as they walked. Seliel tapped Cole on the shoulder, but Cole already knew what she was wanting to say. Cole pointed to the house on the hill; Jay's house. He knew the electric-blue color anywhere. "We're here."
Seth ran up the dirt hill, calling out Brook's name. A boy with black hair, sapphire eyes, and freckles galore laughed upon hearing his friend's voice. Cole and Seliel followed soon, seeing Jay and Nya, alongside Pixal and Zane, and Kai and Skylor, sitting on the porch. Cole placed their bags on the steps, and then Seliel and he sat on the stairs.
"It has been a while," Zane commented. Cole and the other ninja nodded. Even though it hadn't been that long, in their minds, it had seemed like forever. Nya cleared her throat as her gaze wandered to where the three children were playing. "I believe Paige, Brook, and Seth are enjoying themselves."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Well, make that four in a couple of months," he smiled. Skylor also smiled, placing a hand on her round belly. Cole wanted to bring up what he had seen, but he decided to wait and enjoy the time with the team.