NOTE: No time stamps for the events in this chapter. These events simply occur over the course of a few weeks following the previous chapter.

WAR OF DARKNESS CHRONICLES

Book One: Changes

Part Two: Redemption
Chapter V: The Tie that Bonds

"Come on, Morro. It's just a game."

Jay was trying to instruct Morro in the art of videogaming, which would have been more fruitful if not for Morro being absolutely freaked out by the concept of images moving on a screen, to say nothing of actually controlling the on-screen images.

Sensei Wu was adamant that the ninja include Morro in their activities and make him feel at home. Not that they had to be compelled to do this—they were more than willing to make Morro their brother and bring him into their family. Still, Wu felt it necessary to stress how important this was to him.

Morro appreciated their efforts and wanted to reciprocate them, but this was a little ridiculous.

"No," Morro argued, eyeing the television set with suspicion, "a 'game' is sitting around a table with cards or checkers. This is sorcery—clearly dark magic."

"Just give it a chance," Jay prodded. "What's the worst that can happen?"

Morro opened his mouth to respond but realized there was not much he could say to answer that. What was the worst that could happen?

"There's no way I'll be any good at this," was Morro's last effort at escaping this activity.

"Hey, we all had to play it the first time at some point. Think back to your training—did you learn how to be a ninja overnight?"

Morro balked at Jay's sudden show of wisdom. It was shocking, but Morro understood that Jay was offering (insisting?) to lead him into learning something new. Jay was asking Morro to trust him.

"Alright," Morro relented. "Show me how to play this witchcraft machine."

Morro could act like he was indifferent about learning how to play the videogame, but Jay also understood. Morro relented to receive the instruction because he saw that Jay was offering an opportunity to bond together, and because he trusted Jay to teach him something new.

It was a profound moment. And learning the game from Jay turned out to be some of the best fun Morro ever had.

Morro walked into the kitchen to see Cole sitting alone at the table, appearing deep in thought. His hands were clasped together on the table and he was staring at them.

"What's up?" Morro greeted casually.

Cole looked up and sighed, "Oh, you know. Just thinking."

There was a profound sadness in Cole's voice. His eyes returned to his hands. Even Morro, as socially deficient as he was, could tell Cole was distressed. But what could he do?

"Hm, well…" the Master of Wind reached desperately for something to say. He settled with, "don't think too hard."

Well, that was lame. Morro, forgetting why he had originally come into the kitchen, turned away and made to leave the room.

"Hey, Morro?" Cole called before Morro was out of the doorway completely.

"Yeah?" Morro turned back into the kitchen.

"How do you… you know…"

Morro sat at the table beside Cole. "How do I what?"

"How do you cope with being a ghost?" Cole asked. "I can't feel anything, can't enjoy food the same; everything about this existence is miserable."

Morro thought. I don't want to make him feel even worse…

"You know, I made a lot of mistakes before I met you all. After I left Sensei Wu, I was alone by my own choice for so long that I thought I didn't need anyone. So, I didn't trust anyone.

"For years—before and after waking up in the Cursed Realm the first time—I had no one to hold me accountable for my actions, no one to relate my troubles to, no one to tell me I was loved… until I found this family."

Cole looked up, as if an epiphany had dawned on him.

"It doesn't necessarily make being a ghost any easier," Morro continued, "but now that I have those things, I know that even as a ghost, I have a life worth living."

"And so do I, because of my family," Cole replied. "Thank you, Morro. I needed to hear that."

Morro shook Cole's shoulder with his hand. "Don't mention it."

"Morro, thank you for joining me."

Sensei Wu had asked Morro to join him for a session of meditation.

"Of course, Sensei. What are we meditating on today?"

Wu stroked his beard. "I thought we could clear our minds and see what comes to us."

"Alright," Morro said, standing across from Wu.

"Let's begin," Wu began.

Student and sensei closed their eyes and, after doing some stretches to loosen up, sat down on pillows across from each other on the floor.

After several minutes of sitting in meditative silence, Wu suddenly spoke up.

"I sense something is weighing on you," he said. "Is everything alright, Morro?"

Morro opened his eyes and was surprised not only that Wu interrupted the meditation, but also to see the usually stoic sensei looking at him in clear concern.

"I'm fine," Morro replied.

"Are you sure?"

"I thought you wanted to meditate," Morro said, sounding slightly agitated.

"And we did. However," Wu insisted, "with my mind clear, I could sense something bothering you."

Morro sighed, knowing he could not escape Wu's concerned scrutiny.

"I can't help but think I… don't deserve this."

"Don't deserve what, Morro?"

"This time with you, this home, this…" Morro hesitated and closed his eyes. "This family."

Wu nodded his head and stroked his beard. For a long time, he sat and thought, not saying a word.

Finally, Wu spoke.

"Morro, I fear you will never understand the truth of this unless I continue to impress it upon you. It is not a matter of deserving family, none of us deserve family because you can't earn family.

"You are here because you trusted us, and you are part of this family because the trust was returned. Because your family loves you, Morro."

Morro slowly nodded his head. "I… I understand, Sensei. This is my family, my home—not because I earned it, but because my family loves me."

After a deep breath, Morro repeated, "I understand."

Sensei Wu grinned widely and nodded deeply. "I think that's enough for this session."

At Morro's confused look, Wu added, "The purpose of meditation is to reveal deep truths; I would say we accomplished that, wouldn't you?"

Morro flashed his signature half grin, but with a softness rarely seen on the Wind Master's face.

"Yeah," he said. "I would say that."

Sensei Wu and Morro both stood up, and Morro suddenly embraced Wu in a tight hug.

"I love you," Morro whispered. "Thank you for this."

"I love you, too," Wu managed to say, stunned at Morro's sudden show of affection.

Had Morro ever said the words to Wu? He could not remember a time that he did before today.

They stood there like that for a few more seconds, then Morro left Wu's chambers feeling that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Morro learned to read much later than most, due to his early childhood as a street orphan. But he did learn after Sensei Wu took him in, and he absolutely loved it. He considered learning to read one of the greatest gifts Wu ever gave to him.

On this quiet Saturday, he was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to his bed facing the open door reading his favorite book, a particularly compelling one, the kind that deserves complete concentration in order to properly enjoy, when Nya burst into his room.

"Hey, Morro—oh, I'm sorry to disturb you," she apologized upon seeing the book in Morro's lap. Everyone knew Morro loved to read.

"It's alright," Morro smiled. "What's up?"

"Well, can you give me a hand fixing the van? Jay and Zane usually help me, but they're out in town this morning."

Shortly after Morro joined the team, the ninja decided to get a big van that they could use to travel together—it didn't do to fly into town on energy dragons for groceries.

Morro blinked. "How can I help? I don't know anything about machines."

"That's okay," Nya waved her hand, dismissing Morro's doubt that he could actually be helpful. "I just need another pair of hands more than anything."

Morro nodded his head and closed the book. No need for a bookmark, he would surely have to start all over if he were to get the full experience of this book.

"Sure," he said. "I'd be glad to help."

Nya smiled in gratitude, and she and Morro made for the garage.

"What were you reading?" she asked when they reached the garage door.

"The Book of Ezekiel," Morro responded. "Defiance, destruction, despair… but then, a promise of restoration. It really touches me."

"Ezekiel—the Bible?"

"Yeah, one of the books that's said to have come into our Realm from another one."

"Hmm…" Nya pondered. "Do you believe that?"

"Do you?"

"I believe much crazier things than that, like the stories that are actually in the Bible."

Morro nodded slowly. "I think there must be some truth to it. Despite everything I've done, somehow, I'm here surrounded by family in a home where I truly feel I belong…

"I didn't earn this; I don't deserve it. It's a gift. Whether it's a gift from the people who forgave me or a gift from 'God' is what I'm not sure about."

Nya took Morro's hand. "I understand," she said.

But then Morro scoffed and smirked. "But I definitely don't think the book itself came from another world."

"Oh, come on," Nya laughed. "How do you explain the fact that none of the locations in the Bible even closely resemble any places in Ninjago?"

Morro and Nya light-heartedly debated those little details as they entered the garage, and as Morro handed Nya the tools she requested while she worked on the van.

There are plenty of reasons to love Saturdays, not least of which being that Saturday is Zane's night to cook.

And tonight, Zane felt like making his favorite dish: blackened shrimp and cheese ravioli alfredo.

He and Jay acquired the ingredients in town this morning (it was unfortunate that the van was out of order; their dragons scared the daylights out of some townsfolk at the market) so they would be fresh. Now he had to bring them together to create his masterpiece.

The titanium nindroid had donned his pink apron and was just getting into the zone when Cole bounded into the kitchen.

Oh dear, Zane thought. Not again, not my alfredo…

"Zane! You getting ready to cook? Let me wash my hands and we'll get to it!"

Cole's enthusiasm made it difficult to keep making excuses to dodge giving him cooking lessons; and, frankly, Zane was starting to run out of those excuses.

Luckily, Morro wandered into the kitchen at that exact moment.

"Uh—I'm sorry, Cole; I didn't realize you wanted to help tonight. I already asked Morro to help. Right, Morro?"

Morro's eyes were wide. When Cole turned around to see that Morro was, indeed, in the kitchen doorway, Zane mouthed please help me.

Morro might not have been in on everything that goes on between the ninja, but he had (unfortunately) experienced Cole's cooking; so he understood why Zane was desperately seeking his help right now.

"Oh, yeah," Morro lied smoothly. "I've been looking forward to this since Wednesday."

"Ah…" Cole sighed. But then he lightened up. "Well, next time!"

Then Cole walked out of the kitchen and went about his business.

"Now what?" Morro asked.

"Now," Zane whispered, "you have to actually help me in case Cole comes back. You didn't have any plans, did you?"

"Nope. So, what are we cooking?"

Zane smirked. "Well, before we get to that, you'll need one of these."

The nindroid went to the pantry and pulled out a tan apron that read in big red letters: GOOD LOOKING IS COOKING.

"It's Kai's," Zane explained at Morro's horrified look. "I had to bury Cole's after he spilled some of his chili on it."

Morro nodded in response. "'Good looking is cooking?' Yeah, that sounds like Kai's style."

"Indeed," Zane said. "Now, shall we get started?"

"Should I wash my hands first?" Morro snickered.

Zane blinked. "Why would you do that? It would harm you."

"That's the joke… 'cause I'm a ghost…"

Zane was not catching on.

"Never mind," Morro gave up trying to explain the joke. "Let's just get started."

"Excellent," Zane clapped his hands.

Later at dinner, the unanimous decision was that this was the best meal Zane had ever prepared.

"Well," Zane said, "I couldn't have done it without some help from Morro."

"Hmm," Wu stroked his beard. "Perhaps we should add Morro to the meal schedule."

Kai had to add, "The magic is in the apron!"

While Morro had been participating in all the ninja's regular training, he had not made any move to join in for the one-on-one sparring sessions the ninja participated in at the end of training every day.

It came as a surprise to Morro and everyone else, therefore, when at the start of the sparring sessions Kai invited/challenged Morro to a spar.

"A spar? With me?" Morro questioned. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, come on," Kai encouraged. "You do all the other training with us so it shouldn't be a big deal—unless you're not comfortable with the sparring, of course."

Momentarily pausing his preparation for his spar with Cole, Lloyd added, "That's why I haven't said anything about you joining the sparring sessions, Morro. I figured you weren't comfortable with sparring if you weren't joining us or asking to—I didn't want to push you into it."

Morro was sincerely touched that the ninja had seemingly put so much thought into his comfort level, but he decided not to let it show.

"Well, yeah," Morro said. "At first I didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea of me wanting to fight you all or anything, then after a while I just thought it would be awkward to bring it up."

"Hey, I get it." Kai placed his hand on Morro's shoulder. "But remember you're one of us. Anything we do, you're always welcome to participate."

"No invitations needed," Lloyd added.

Morro grinned. "Alright then, let's have some fun."

They absolutely had some fun.

Kai and Morro sparred with blunted swords in a match filled with impassioned strikes, which were always blocked and usually accompanied by a good-natured taunt from the blocking party, who would then unleash their own strike.

The Master of Fire was no less of a master of the sword, but Morro was no slouch. His influence over the very air could slow down Kai's strikes so he could counter. It was a well-pitched duel that ended in a draw.

And, Morro had to admit, it was rather thrilling.

Morro never thought he would be taking a walk in the park with Lloyd's parents, but that is exactly what was happening today.

Lloyd was at the arcade with Kai. Morro had walked in on Garmadon and Misako getting their picnic ready, and the next thing he knew the old couple had packed a third sandwich in their basket and whisked him away.

So, strange as Morro found it, now the trio walked through the park that sat near the center of Ninjago City. Some of the people in the park gave Morro dirty looks, but he ignored them.

"How are you adjusting to life with the rowdy ninja crew?" Misako asked as they were setting out their lunch under a shade tree.

"It's weird," Morro said. "In some ways, it feels like it did a long time ago—the training, the routine, things like that…"

Morro paused and spoke now in a softer, restrained voice, "But in some ways, it's like nowhere I've ever been, and the people I'm around are like no one I've ever been around before."

Garmadon smiled. "They are a special bunch, aren't they?"

Morro also smiled, but it disappeared quickly. "It takes a 'special bunch' to accept me after everything I've done. I will always be grateful for their—your forgiveness."

"We're all very glad you came back to Ninjago," Misako said warmly.

"And I am very glad that you then came back to the Cursed Realm," Garmadon smirked.

Misako took her husband's hand as they sat down around their picnic basket. "So am I," she said, a small sparkle in her eye.

For lunch, they brought peanut butter sandwiches with Misako's homemade jam (she refused to disclose the combination of fruits she used).

"Morro," Misako said, "I hope you know how glad we all really are that you are part of our family. I don't say this because we owe you for helping us save Garmadon, or for any other reason than we care about you and we love having you around."

"And the ninja are actually being challenged in combat training these days," Garmadon added with a smirk.

Morro did not answer right away—he was unsure how he could.

But he finally closed his eyes and replied, "All my life, I've wondered if I belong anywhere. But now, I understand that I belong here, with my family, and nowhere else."

Garmadon's face returned to a more sincere state. "Don't ever forget it, Morro."

Lloyd and Morro had been civil with each other; Lloyd forgave Morro for his past and Morro never mentioned Lloyd's hallway rant. But there was a tension boiling beneath a delicately placed cap that Lloyd felt was about to blow.

As Lloyd and Kai returned to the house from the arcade, they saw Misako, Garmadon, and Morro going into the house, all laughing together with picnic supplies in hand.

Something about the sight did not sit right with the Green Ninja. Something snapped.

"Lloyd?" Kai waved his face in front of Lloyd's blank face. "Earth to Lloyd, you good?"

"Yeah, Kai," Lloyd waved Kai away. "Just need to talk to Morro, see you later."

Lloyd rushed into the house leaving Kai concerned. You can be part of this family, but you can't have them all to yourself.

Morro decided to get in a little bit of sword practice after his relaxing lunch with Garmadon and Misako. He did some stretches and began some practice swings with a blunted training sword in the sparring ring.

"Hey"

The voice made Morro jump. He looked toward the door and saw that it was Lloyd who was the source of the voice.

"Hey, Lloyd." Morro returned. Lloyd looked flustered. "Have fun at the arcade?"

"You could say that."

Lloyd grabbed another training sword. "Mind if I join you?"

Morro made an inviting gesture toward the ring. Lloyd made his way up and immediately swung at Morro; the ghost barely blocked the blow.

"Lloyd! I thought—"

Morro blocked a powerful over-handed strike.

"I was only practicing forms—"

Another blow blocked by Morro. Lloyd was growling with every swing.

"No one is supposed to spar unsupervised!"

Morro tried to reason with Lloyd, but the blows kept coming.

"We're not sparring," Lloyd snarled, connecting a kick to Morro's chest and knocking the Master of Wind back.

Morro retaliated by blasting Lloyd with a gust of wind to buy himself time to regain his footing.

"Lloyd, what the hell is the matter with you?" Morro shouted, catching Lloyd's attention.

Lloyd took a deep breath and looked around, as if just now discovering where he was and what he was doing. "I don't know," he finally said.

"Well, whatever it is," Morro responded. "I'm not going to fight you."

"I…" Lloyd was utterly ashamed of himself. He dropped the training sword. "I'm sorry. After we took you in, forgave you, brought you into the family, that should've been it. But I guess there are things we never talked about, air we never cleared… I saw you with my parents, and I guess felt like you were trying to take them away from me. It's stupid."

Morro sighed deeply. "They invited me to join them for a picnic. We talked about how I truly feel I belong here. With my family."

"And you're right… I don't know why I flipped out like that."

"Because I did try to take everything away from you. Your family, the people you defend, your world, your very body… You and I have a lot more healing ahead of us, it seems."

"Yeah," Lloyd huffed. "I guess we do."

"But maybe next time," Morro smirked. "Let's find a way to 'heal' without you coming at me with a sword?"

Lloyd let out a small laugh and he and Morro left the training room to sit down somewhere private and finally clear the air.

They sat alone in the yard under a tree and talked for three hours. Nobody ever knew what they talked about (they never mentioned it, and nobody ever asked), but after that talk, things were different between them. They became inseparable.

That day, they truly became brothers.