Lloyd bounded up the last few steps to the monastery and looked back at Wu, who followed only ten paces behind. The old master didn't seem to move very fast, but no matter how quickly Lloyd scaled the steps, the distance never grew between them. He took a second to catch his breath, heart pounding; less from the tedious climb and more from anticipation. While he'd been out frolicking in the rain, his comrades fought an Oni.
The article had been scarce on details. Apparently, the team had left in a hurry as soon as the fire had been put out. That wasn't like them. They would have stayed to see if anyone else needed help. What if one of them had gotten hurt? What if they'd been in serious trouble? Should he have been there? The questions were spinning in his head. He was afraid to open the door.
"Focus on today. Focus on right now," he murmured, over and over.
Wu drew up beside him. Lloyd took a deep breath, stepped up to the gate and was about to give it a firm knock when every hair on his body sprung upright. Something ominous lurked beyond the door, weighing on him with the icy pressure of an arctic sea. He pulled his hand back and turned to Wu. The master nodded slightly. He felt it too.
Lloyd swallowed and reached for the handle. The door swung up, revealing the entire courtyard of the Monastery and- they recoiled in surprise. Only a few metres away stood some kid they'd never seen before, hunched down and staring them down with a feral expression on her face. Lloyd could have sworn he saw the girl's back bristle like the fur of a wolf with flickering, shadowy flares. Wu and Loyd assumed defensive stances, grabbing their weapons. The child snarled and began to shake violently. Lloyd's jaw dropped as a black, foggy mass sprouted from the child's back, bursting outwards like pulsating veins, slithering across the courtyard, ensnaring the building's pillars and the roof behind her. The two masters' eyes widened. Lloyd's fears came creeping back.
"Where are the others?!" he demanded. The girl did not answer. "You're the Oni, aren't you? They brought you here! Where are they?!"
The child twitched. Thorns erupted from the dark growths on her back.
"Always going on and on about what I am and what I'm not," she wheezed. The thorns sharpened. "You don't know a thing about me, so don't pretend that you do!"
The next instant a rock wall emerged from the ground, separating Achlys from the two arrivals. Their heads collectively spun towards its source. Cole lifted his arms from the ground and let out a tiny puff of air.
"Achlys!" he yelled sharply. "They are not your enemies! No one's going to hurt you; so calm down!"
The girl seemed conflicted, torn by fear and pure survival instinct. Her head snapped back towards the two arrivals as if staring straight through the barrier of rock, then back to Cole. Her teeth gritted so hard they were close to cracking. Suddenly, she clasped her head and staggered backwards. Cole hurried forward and managed to catch her right before she hit the ground. The dark growths stiffened briefly before dispersing. Cole drew a deep sigh of relief.
"It should be alright now. You can come over," he croaked, mouth dry like sand. Lloyd's head popped up over the wall and looked down on them.
"What... was…. that?"
Cole looked apologetically at his friend.
"How about I fill you in over a hot cup?"
"An excellent suggestion," Wu said, sauntering around the wall. "We have quite a tale to share as well."
Wu sipped his tea thoughtfully, eyes hidden beneath his hat. Lloyd just sat there, mouth wide open while five ninja and one samurai finished their story.
"And she's been living here since?" he said, dumbstruck.
"Yeah. Four days now," Kai said. "-but it feels like a month."
"And she's okay with this?"
"She's not exactly enjoying herself," Nya remarked. "But she doesn't want to go back to the orphanage either. Not that they would be able to handle her."
Lloyd's eyes narrowed.
"Why? Did they treat her badly?"
"She hasn't told us anything."
"She barely tolerates me, Pixal, Cole and Nya," Kai said, rubbing his eyes. "She doesn't like Jay and Zane at all… and if there are more than three people in the same room, she either throws a fit or tucks in like a turtle. Most of us just stick around the hangar nowadays."
Lloyd leaned back. It was just too much to absorb at once.
"First the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu go missing, then we have to deal with fire snakes and save Zane, and now this?"
"Look, it's not the first time we've had an Oni housemate," Kai chuckled. "Compared to Garmadon, she's a saint."
Lloyd's shoulders dropped dejectedly at the name. Kai immediately realised his mistake, but Lloyd dismissed the comment with a wave, leaving only the awkward silence.
"Speaking of those golden weapons," Jay popped in, clearing his throat. "How'd your mission go?"
Multiple heads perked up at the comment. Expectant eyes were turned towards the two voyagers. Lloyd looked at Wu, but seeing as he still sat deep in thought, he took charge.
"Well, we did find a lead…"
"Really?!" the ninja said simultaneously, beaming with anticipation.
"Is it the sword?" Kai squeaked. "Please tell me it's the sword!"
"We found the Sword…"
"Booyah!" The Red Ninja shot up like a spring-
"...of Destiny."
-and then dropped like an anvil.
"It was a wild goose chase. We did take down one of the Shogunate's Daimyo, but otherwise, this is all we got."
Lloyd rummaged in his satchel and presented two pieces of a broken blade.
"Ah, I recognise this artefact," Zane proclaimed, eyes beaming as he scanned the gold. "It is said to reveal the fortune of whoever is reflected in its edge."
"Really?" Kai sulked. "Eh… better than nothing. Can I have a look?"
"Go ahead. But I think I may have broken more than just the blade. My reflection is… weird."
Kai accepted the hilt, weighed it in his hand and slashed a few times in the air before holding it up to admire his reflection. The more he looked, however, the deeper his eyebrows furled, twisting, turning, tilting the trinket to take a better look.
"Jay, you thinking what I'm thinking?" he finally let out, tossing the blade to the Master of Lightning.
"Hey, don't just throw a sword at someone out of the blue," Jay exclaimed, catching it flawlessly. He looked into the gold and saw-
"Whoa…" he said, nodding his head slowly. "Yeah, I've seen this before, eyepatch and all."
The others stood up. Only Wu remained seated. Was he asleep?
"It's the same reflection we saw in the tomb of the first Spinjitzu master."
"The first-" Cole started, but quickly bit his lip as his scar flashed green.
"Wait, really? Let me try," Nya said as she drew up alongside Jay and leaned on his shoulder, trying to sneak a peek at her own premonition. The Blue ninja's eyes widened before allowing a small, knowing smile to emerge on his lips.
"I can't see very well even if I angle it," Nya hummed before picking up the other half of the blade. "And the tip of the sword… either I'll age really well, or this part doesn't show the future at all."
"Huh, you're right," Jay said, casually wiping his eye before piecing the two halves together. "Seems like only the half attached to the hilt works."
"Give it to me," Cole urged, flicking his fingers. "I need to check something."
Jay lightly tossed the weapon onwards, but Cole missed it, sending it clattering to the floor. He hastily picked it up again, squinted for a moment; turned it around, flipped it, breathed on it and rubbed it with his sleeve.
"Guys… we have a problem. I- I don't see anything."
Jay jumped on his back, leering into the metal.
"What are you, a vampire?" he said. "Look harder!"
"At what?! There's nothing here!"
"Whoa, slow down," Lloyd intervened. "If it's any consolation: like I said, my reflection is pretty weird too."
"Oh, come on. Like it could be any worse than this."
"No, really. Have a look."
He angled the blade towards himself. The layered image of darkness, gold and gray re-emerged. The others leaned closer.
"Holy cow, what is that?"
"I don't know," Lloyd said. "But it reminds me of what happened when I used the Sword of Sanctuary against the Omega. I thought I had him; I knew what he was going to do, but then… the premonition didn't come true. It was as if they didn't care about destiny or the future at all."
"So you're saying… the reason your reflection is weird is…"
"-I'm part Oni. Maybe our destiny is unclear. Maybe it's unwritten. I just don't know."
'The future is something you gain through effort.' His own words echoed faintly. But still, I'm the green ninja. Was that destiny, or did I carve this path myself?
Cole was still uneasy, fiddling with the sword, searching desperately for the smallest trace of an image.
"Fine," he said. "But you being an Oni still doesn't explain why I can't see anything. I'm not a ghost anymore! I can't turn invisible! I can't walk through walls, so where's my reflection?!"
"I propose we let Master Wu attempt it," Zane stated. "It should yield the same result as with Lloyd. If it does, it may confirm your hypothesis."
The others agreed. Cole quickly turned the broadside towards the master and indeed, the reflection brought a striking resemblance to that of Lloyd's. The next moment, the hilt was struck out of the ninja's hand, spinning rapidly, sending glistening sparkles in all directions before landing perfectly balanced on top of Wu's staff.
"It is impertinent to pry into another's future without their consent. Take that to heart, ninja."
The group was dumbstruck. Cole bowed down.
"I'm… sorry master. We were being hasty."
"You are forgiven. Sit down. We have a more urgent matter to attend to. Concerning that child." Wu gently placed the sword on the table. "Now that you have brought her here, what do you hope to achieve?"
"We've given it some thought," Nya said. "For now, we'd like to help her control her anger. Then, we think some physical-"
"You would like to? You think?" The master shook his head quietly. "In this matter, there is no room for fragile resolve. A Daimyo has fallen. To the Shogunate, this might as well be a declaration of war. We must not deal in thoughts, but in action."
Cole was reminded of the aura he felt from Yang. He nodded slowly as Wu continued.
"Where is the child right now?"
"Over in the west wing, sleeping. Should probably go check on her," Cole said, sliding the door open, only to be met by Achlys' merciless glare. The Black Ninja let out a surprised yelp and jumped back.
"Who could sleep with all this noise?" she said, eyes judging every occupant. Her gaze hovered over Lloyd, who met it with defiance. Her knuckles cracked as she started to shiver.
"Some of us should leave," Jay blurted out, starting to get up.
"Sit down, chatterbox!" she screamed. The Blue Ninja dropped like a bolt.
"You people go on and on. 'Let's do this', 'she should learn that.' Have you ever stopped to wonder what I want? What I think?"
Dead silence.
"Then tell us," Lloyd scoffed. "We're listening now, aren't we?"
Achlys scowled at him and turned to Cole.
"You," she pointed. "I'm going to take you down for humiliating me!"
"Humiliating? What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. When we met, you called me sloppy and unrefined! You beat me around and dropped me into the ocean!"
"You did what?" Nya said.
"Hold on," Cole refuted. "This is all out of context. I said she had no technique is all."
"Then give it! I wanna learn how to fight."
A couple of eyebrows shot up. Cole's shot the highest.
"What's the matter? Got cold feet all of a sudden? Guess you're not so tough after all. Scared you'll lose to a child?"
"You know what? Yes," Lloyd snapped. "You're dangerous enough already. Why would we help you get stronger?"
Achlys ignored him and kept staring at Cole. The Master of Earth was deep in thought, glancing at the Sword of Destiny. Lloyd looked around the room at crossed arms and deep frowns.
"Why isn't anyone saying anything? Cole! You're not seriously considering this, are you? There's more to strength than just fighting. We're not some dojo, we are ninja!"
"Then we'll make her a ninja," Cole said.
Jaws dropped like flies at this point. No one knew how to react. Achlys' foot tapped the floor.
"Either way is fine by me." She shrugged. "I'll be outside once you're done gawking."
As soon as the door slid closed, Jay picked up his jaw from the floor.
"I spaced out. What'd I miss?"
"Achlys wants to be a ninja..."
"Oh good, I wasn't the only one."
"Cole, are you crazy?" Lloyd slammed his hand on the table, steaming like a freight train. "We can't train her!"
"What? Why not?"
"Why not? Why not? An hour ago, she nearly skewered me! We have no idea what her limits are and now she wants to get even stronger? She's up to something, I'm sure of it."
"Dude, she's like twelve," Jay pointed out. "What could she possibly be up to?"
"Did you even hear her? Kids don't talk like that. Kids don't act like that! It's not normal!"
"And raiding villages for candy is?"
Lloyd rolled his eyes.
"Very funny, Jay. She just… gives me a real bad vibe is all. I don't trust her."
"Look," Kai said. "She's already powerful, whether we like it or not. Not training her isn't going to change that; but if we do, we can teach her to control it. Maybe even use it for good."
"That's true." Nya rubbed her eyebrow. "But there's more to being a ninja than just power, and she's still so young. Call me a hypocrite, but I'm against it."
"I concur," Zane replied. "As long as she displays violent tendencies, Achlys' abilities are inconsequential. A ninja must seek to protect, not harm."
Nya turned to Jay, squirming in his seat. She put her hand on his arm reassuringly. It seemed to calm him down a bit. Still, a small stutter lingered when he spoke.
"Not gonna lie, she scares me, but somehow… I think she's more scared than anyone. I- I feel so bad. She didn't ask for any of this. I don't think she's had it easy… so maybe getting stronger and fighting is her way to cope. I get that. Maybe she was born with her powers. Maybe not. Either way… I don't want her to feel trapped by something she can't change." He looked up and met Cole's gaze. "Let's at least give her this."
All eyes fixated on Pixal.
"I am not a ninja. Therefore, I have no right to interfere."
"Nonsense," Zane asserted. "You are one of us."
Pixal smiled, but still shook her head.
"I have no strong feelings either way, but Achlys seems to trust me most of all. Whichever path she chooses, I shall support."
Cole turned to Wu. The master's face was concealed by his hat as he sipped his tea.
"Master?" he swallowed. "If you stop me… if you tell me 'no', then I'll listen; but I was the one who took her in. She's my responsibility. Let me do this!"
Wu ran his fingers through his beard. Finally, he rose, looking the ninja in the eye. Cole's scar shimmered a faint blue. His whole body clenched in anticipation.
"Very well," the Master whispered softly.
Cole nearly hit the roof with excitement.
"Yes! I'll go tell her right away!" He stormed out the door, slamming it hard behind him. Nya flinched at the crash, cursing to ten under her breath.
"I hope we didn't just made a huge mistake."
"Only time will tell," Wu mused, finishing his tea.
Lloyd quietly rose and left the room.
Cole felt like he was sweating bullets as he shuffled down the corridor. His eyebrows furrowed deeper than a canyon. His head swirled with countless ideas and his stomach was about to turn upside down. He had never felt so nervous in his life. So why, he thought. Why can't I help but smile? The rift on his forehead flared up again and he straightened his back. This was something he had to do, -something only he could do. The others hadn't noticed. They couldn't see what he saw. The true darkness.
"As iron sharpens iron, sensei sharpens student," he mumbled. "Brother sharpens brother. Trees grow taller together…"
If Achlys were to grow, only him wouldn't be enough.
"I need a team."
He threw up the door to the courtyard. Achlys was standing in its centre with her back toward him. She slowly turned and he met her gaze. It was those same eyes as back then. He clenched his fist and swore a silent oath.
"I accept."
The building walls were a dull brick brown that seemed to dust at the slightest breeze. The sign outside was worn and cracked, the only part which remained from the original establishment. "Grand Sensei Dareth's Mojo Dojo" was plastered on it with large, yellow- and cream coloured letters. Cole looked up at the sign, then beyond it, into the sky. It was a nice morning, tinted slightly with a salty ocean breeze.
He glanced at the note Wu had given him, listing a few names and locations of interest. The old master would also "get in touch with some contacts", whatever that meant.
Most of the entries had already been crossed off since yesterday. So far, none of the candidates had shown much promise and now only two entries remained. The last name in particular stood out among the others, highlighted with purple marker.
The Black Ninja stepped into the dojo, feeling the texture of tatami under his feet. As expected, the Saturday morning lesson was underway. Dareth was standing in front of a small group of youngsters, flailing his arms in a flashy display.
"Not like that! Move your feet more. Ho! Haa! Feel the groove!"
"Hey, Dareth," Cole called out, amused. "I'm looking for the brown ninja. Seen him around?"
The grand Sensei shone up like a light. He hurried over to the ninja.
"Well, I believe you've found 'im. What can I do for you, my fellow ninja."
"I called yesterday, remember?" Cole shoke his hand firmly. "Told you I'd swing by today?"
"Ooh~, right, right~. No worries. Ahem. Everyone! Eyes and ears this way, please!"
"Wait what?" Cole blurted out.
"My good pal Cole here, -i'm sure you've heard of him, he's the Black Ninja after all…"
"Dareth, what are you-"
"...has graced us with his magnificent presence today to take someone under his wing! Let's give him peak performance!"
An audible gasp rang through the heap of students. A truckload of adrenaline and cortisol flooded the room, scrubbing it clean from the slightest smidge of focus and composure.
"See?" Dareth said, complacent. "They're getting all fired up."
"Dareth, I specifically asked for this to be kept low profile," Cole hissed between his teeth. "I'm 'just passing by', that was the plan."
"Oh, please. Look how excited they are!"
Some twelve children barely into their teens stood shaking like chihuahuas from exhilaration, nerves and anxiety. Cole slapped his face hard. He had to salvage this somehow.
"May I?"
"Sure, sure~. Take the floor."
Cole stepped up front. He looked every student in the eye with a warm smile.
"What the Grand Sensei was trying to say…" -his smile wavered in annoyance- "was that I'll be in charge of today's lesson. Just for today, you're all under my wing. I've got a feeling we'll do great together."
The atmosphere immediately lightened a bit. With the 'misunderstanding' cleared up, the kids drew a sigh of relief. Cole crossed his arms with a relaxed smile.
A few seconds passed like this.
Then a few more.
…
OH CRAP! Cole screamed internally. NOW I ACTUALLY HAVE TO TEACH THEM SOMETHING! WHAT DO I DO?!
"Master Cole! Master Cole!"
It was one of the older girls, waving her hand fervently above her head. A question? Already? Whatever, just roll with it.
"Ah. Please don't call me master yet," he said, despite growing all fuzzy on the inside at the honorific. "Just Cole is fine. What's on your mind?"
"Can you teach us Spinjitzu?"
Cole let out a short laugh.
"I'm afraid we don't have quite that much time on our hands. Appreciate the eagerness, though. What's your name?"
"Elin."
"Elin," Cole mimicked. "That's a nice name, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Dream big, but start small as I always say. Everyone, assume your basic stance."
The children complied.
"Alright. Find your center of mass. Guard up. You on the left, remember to keep your thumb outside the fist, otherwise you'll hurt yourself. What's your name? Nelson? Awesome. Let's do this."
In hindsight, Cole couldn't comprehend what had happened; whether he had been dragged along in the students' pace or they in his. His anxiousness fueled him as he showed the young minds correct form and technique. Right foot forward. Knees slightly inwards. Keep your back straight when -remember to breathe- you do push-ups. Only when Dareth lightly tapped his shoulder did he become aware of his surroundings again.
"Sorry to say it, pal. You're doing awesome here, but the old folks would like to get their kids back."
Cole looked around, confused. The corner of the room was filled with parents, amused by the display of starry-eyed juveniles twirling around, trying to do spinjitzu. Half of them cursed Dareth under their breaths for stepping in.
Can't be every day your kid's taught by one of us, Cole thought, once again suppressing a smug grin.
Dareth, oblivious to these hostilities, continued in the same casual tone.
"Thank you, thank you, everybody. Been an amazing time, this has. Give a big hand to the Black Ninja! Yeah, that's the stuff! Does the man in question have any closing statements?"
With even more eyes locked on him than before, the nervousness started creeping back, but Cole couldn't let it show. With a broad smile, he faced the students proudly; their bright faces filled with admiration was something he wouldn't soon forget.
"I don't know about you guys, but I had a blast! Each and everyone of you has incredible potential. It might not be visible at first glance; could take some time to find just what it is, too; but I know each of you can find what's special about yourselves and take hold of it. As long as you're ready to work hard, there's nothing that'll hold you back. Got that?"
The children cheered excitedly.
"Alright then. Everyone together now Ninja~?"
"Go!"
Finally, a break. The parents were steadily leaving with their kids, holding each other's hands, talking about the lesson. Cole was reminded that he hadn't written to his dad in a while.
"Great job out there, man," Dareth encouraged with a lax smile. "The li'l firecrackers almost like you more than they like me! I had to help Liz' mom tear her daughter off the doorframe."
"I saw that. Was the crowbar really necessary?"
"Li'l rascal's got a grip like iron. By the way; anyone in particular catch your eye?"
"Only one. We're meeting up after this. Even so, I'm not so sure… Your class -they're all great kids, but that's the thing. They should get to be kids. Being a ninja is incredibly tough. Your body, mind and heart needs to be the sharpest as can be. I can't just deprive them of their childhood unless they're ready to devote themselves wholeheartedly."
"Hey, hey, don't be like that, man. Wholeheartedly is just a word people use when they can't see the bigger picture. You can't train all the time, you need to sleep and eat too; enjoy the little things in life, you know? There's no such thing as a polished diamond in the rough, but everyone can learn to shine."
"That… may have sounded inspiring coming from literally anyone else."
"I know. I make it sound so much more, don't I? But who says you've gotta deprive them? Throw in a bit of leisure now and then. Speaking of which, I've got a hot spa session with my name on it."
"I don't remember asking…"
"See ya, dude."
"Um. Yeah, thanks Dareth. Seriously, you've been a great help."
The Brown Ninja disappeared through the bead curtain with a rattle. Cole nodded to himself. Regardless of how things turned out, it had already been a good day. He turned around to leave and nearly walked straight into a person. A woman was standing in the doorway. How long had she been there?
Must be one of the parents, Cole thought; but she doesn't look that old. He glanced around the room. All of the kids had already gone.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
The woman turned towards him, but their eyes did not meet. Her gaze seemed to pierce straight through him with a cold, dead stare.
"No, you can't. You really can't."
Her voice was surprisingly mellow, not at all matching her cold expression. Still, her phrasing was unusual. In fact, the more he looked, the more Cole found odd about the stranger. She was quite tall, wearing a long, gray trench coat and black gloves, despite the blistering summer heat. The way she moved was a bit off… -rigid- and her hands seemed to twitch ever so slightly at times. Something metallic poked out from behind her ears, covered by long, chestnut coloured hair. Hearing aids?
"So why are you here, then?" Cole pried warily. The woman's expression darkened. Only her eyes remained dead.
"I heard a commotion from inside. I got curious, so I let myself in. Of course I wouldn't have touched it with a ten metre pole, if I'd known you'd be spouting so much nonsense."
Cole was affronted. Nonsense? His training?
"What are you talking abou-"
"When I entered, you were going off about those kids and all their potential. Gross, really. And they believed you, too -sucked it up like flies! They just don't know any better."
At this point, Cole wouldn't care if it was Garmadon himself standing in front of him. His pride, grossly inflated by the lesson, was at stake.
"And what's so wrong with that? Doesn't hurt to dream! If you just work hard-"
"No, that's enough," the woman dismissed as she turned on her heel. This time, Cole was certain he saw her finger twitch the wrong way. As she reached the exit, she spoke again without facing him.
"Sure. Keep filling their heads with those dreams of yours, but keep in mind: not everyone can work hard… Not everyone can reach their dreams. No amount of wishful thinking is going to change that. You're not fit to be a teacher."
The words cut deep and for a while Cole couldn't move a muscle. By the time he'd gotten a hold of himself and rushed outside, she was already gone. He wanted to chase after her. He wanted to tell her she was wrong. But that wasn't his style. He didn't fight with words. He fought with action.
"Just watch me," he grumbled as he hurried down the street.
"Oh, we will," the woman whispered, unheard. "We will."
The sun had dipped beneath the clouds as Cole slouched into the monastery. He was exhausted, not so much physically as mentally. Pixal stepped out onto the courtyard and greeted him warmly.
"You look tired. Any luck today?"
"I think so. If we're lucky we'll get an answer by tonight. Though I really hope there won't be any more parent-teacher conferences in the future."
"Please elaborate."
"I'd rather not get into it," Cole said, stretching his neck as if to loosen his brain cells. "We don't even know if they're on board yet. How are things on your front? She treating you well?"
Pixal took a deep, mechanical sigh, the light of her eyes flickering briefly.
"I've gone over the material with her; textbooks for the most part. I can tell she is intelligent, but she lacks motivation. Physical training is fine, however. I would go so far as to call it extraordinary."
"Glad to hear that. Where's the rest of the team?"
"Based on information extracted from the Daimyo, Saru, it seems the Shogunate is hiding something significant in the volcanic wastelands. Kai and Nya have been sent to investigate. As for Jay… I failed to understand what he was on about. Something about Troika? He rambled incoherently, grabbed Zane, took the Shuricopter and stormed off."
"That's good. Plenty of silence for Achlys to focus."
"Then there's Wu and Lloyd. I thought they would like to rest after their trip, but they insisted…"
"Ah…" Cole grimaced. The android hummed.
"I fail to understand Lloyd's aversion towards her. Perhaps it is due to his dragon heritage?"
"Maybe…" he murmured, "but if you ask me, I think she reminds him a little too much of… a certain someone. I'm sure he'll come around."
"I… I should go check on her."
"Sounds good. I'll be there in a bit."
Cole watched her as she went. The sound of a helicopter resounded in the distance; a steady beating noise. Cole's head kept churning. Living quarters… food supply… study materials. What about weapons and robes? Wait no, it was still too early. Besides, that would mean visiting Troika again. Gosh, he wasn't looking forward to that.
The first lesson? What topic should he pick? Right, teamwork…
The sound grew stronger, chop, chop, chopping inside his skull. He felt like his head was going to burst. He covered his ears in frustration as the wind picked up, and only when a leaf gently whipped past him did he take notice of the rotating blades of an aircraft flashing beyond the monastery wall, gradually slowing down.
"That news channel…" he muttered to himself. A firm knock came from the door. He was tempted not to answer, but knowing their persistence, he knew it was pointless. He put on a soulless expression, straightened his collar and opened the door.
"How many times have we told you, we won't answer any more questions… regarding…"
He was met by a bright pattern of yellow and white, enshrouded by deep blue. It ran like a river upwards, broader and broader until his eyes locked with the glowing red pupils of a Serpentine.
"Skales?" he stuttered.
"Cole," the king answered. "Or would that be 'master Cole' now, sssince you're taking on pupilsss."
"No, no, I'm no master," he laughed humbly before his brow furrowed. "Hang on, how'd you know that?"
The Serpentine's head leaned sideways in confusion.
"You mean to tell me you're unaware? We received notice yesterday from a good friend of oursss. He'd been in touch with your master, looking for sssuitable candidates to train. Surely it was no mere joke?"
"No," Cole blurted out. "No, of course not."
"Oh, what a relief. That isss why I am here, after all."
Cole was still befuddled.
"Uhm… sorry, but the application is between the age of twelve and fifteen," he coughed, knowing the mental image of the humongous king doing schoolwork and playing soccer would plague his dreams for months. Skales just laughed heartily.
"Rest assured that I have no sssuch ambition. You can come out now, junior."
The boy that had leaned against the outer wall quietly stepped forward.
Skales Junior had grown quite a bit since Cole had last seen him. He was taller and his once gray scales had turned a light blue, although the ashy hue still lingered on his arms and around the pattern on his chest, sticking out from under his baggy turquoise hoodie. Speaking of hoods, the cobra hood protruding from his head had grown stronger, adorned with gray spirals, like a crown running down his neck ending in a little tail with a small rattle resting on his shoulder. He was the spitting image of his father, or at least what he had once looked like.
"Let's talk inside," Cole said.
"Tea?" Cole asked. The king accepted the cup gratefully. Cole waited for him to finish his first sip.
"Are you sure the kid shouldn't be in here with us? It's about him after all."
"I'd like a word in private firssst. After all, thisss concerns more than just his future, -or mine for that matter. It concerns our entire clan."
Cole nodded for him to continue, relieved he had asked Pixal to take the little Oni eavesdropper outside in advance.
"Are you aware of the functioningsss of our clan, Cole? The order of succession?"
"Whoever holds the scepter holds the title of chief?"
"Yes, well, that is no longer the case. As resssidents of Ninjago city, we abide by your laws. We hold councils, we plan ahead; all while honouring the weight of our traditionsss, but now…" He paused, pained to continue. "I fear that sssome are too deeply ingrained in our ancient warrior culture. 'Battle prowess rules sssupreme'. 'Might makes right'." Another pause. He stared into the reflection in his tea. "Recent… events, have convinced me: Thisss mindset is once again brooding within our ranks."
"You fear for a coup d'uhtee?"
"A coup d'état, yes." Skales corrected him. "I'm sure you realise what calamitous consequences a rebellion would cause."
Cole shuddered at the thought, nodding slightly.
"Still, I don't get what your son's got to do with it?"
Skales looked towards the door.
"That boy isss the future of the Serpentine. The next in line to the crown." He turned back to Cole with a stern expression. "But life outside the tombs has made him sssoft. Overcome by lethargy, he refuses to accept his responsibility! As my first child, I admit to having ssspoiled him, but I never once neglected my teachings. I cannot allow him to ssstay idle any longer. If he is to become king, he mussst learn to wield power!" He slammed his fist upon the table. "Power and respect!"
Cole sipped his tea, or at least he would have if he had remembered to pour himself some. He smacked his lips.
"So you want him to walk the path of a ninja?"
"I want him to walk the path of a leader. A protector!"
"I don't know..." Cole shifted in his seat.
"The corridor of eldersss… the Vermillion's nest… Aspheera. We have aided you again and again, ninja," he hissed. "It is high time you repay the favour."
"Really? Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused us in the past? The problems we had to sweep up? I say you still owe us big time!"
"Owe you?" Skales said, venom in his voice. "For what? Letting usss live in the sewers like ratsss?"
"You chose that life yourself, didn't you? Besides, you've had it worse-" Cole bit his tongue. The serpent's eyes widened, looming over him like a dark, towering storm cloud, slowly pulling him into a spiraling red vortex. He couldn't look away. The room lost its shape around him as he was drawn deeper and deeper...
The king's head snapped back. Their eyes remained locked, but now without tension. It suddenly occurred to Cole just how tired the mighty Serpentine looked. Eyelids heavy from long sleepless nights. Shoulders sagging with a terrible burden. Now, Skales succumbed to it, forcing him to bow down.
"I- I'm sorry Skales," Cole said. "I stepped out of line..."
"Please..." the Serpentine whispered meekly. "A rebellion isss brewing, ninja. My own kinsmen are turning against each other. There is no one else I can trust. No other place is sssafe. I am begging you..."
"Whoa. Pull yourself together. A king shouldn't lower his head so easily."
"There isss no length to which I would not go. For my people… and for my son."
Cole put a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, I didn't mean it like that. Of course we'll help you. Not because we owe you, but because it's what we do."
"You… will?"
"Sure thing. And if things ever get rough on your end, don't hesitate to call us either."
"I pray it shall never come to that. The moment weaponsss are raised, we have already lossst."
The two remained silent for a moment.
"Should I call him?"
"Please do."
Cole exited the room and looked outside. Skales Jr. sat with his phone at the edge of the courtyard, back turned towards him.
"No reception up here, I'm afraid," Cole said as he stepped out. The boy turned, surprised. "We've met before, but let's make this our formal introduction. My name is Cole. I'm going to be your teacher for some time to come. Looking forward to it."
The father appeared in the doorway behind the ninja, urging the son on with a nod. Junior flung a glance his way before shaking the hand firmly.
"The honour is all mine," he exclaimed in the most pompous voice imaginable. "I yield my deepest and most sssincere gratitude for your endeavour in undertaking this task, o great Earthen Master of spinjitzu." He guided his arms in a wide arch before him and bowed down, allowing his forehead to mingle with his feet. "I've heard of your valour and ssskill, rivaled only by your peerless judgement. I am utterly humbled by your mere presence."
As he rose, the boy threw a defiant look at his father, who rolled his eyes in response. There wasn't a soul in the fourteen realms dumb enough to fall for such outrageous flattery.
"No, no, you are too kind," Cole sung with rosy cheeks, slurping up every honeyed word. "Guess I really am a master now, it's got a nice ring to it. But I couldn't say I'm all that great, really."
The king sighed and put a hand to his forehead.
"Oh dear."
The doors to the monastery swung open, admitting Pixal. She waved to the trio just as the large Serpentine handed over a large duffel bag and a very long list of "necessities". Their heads swiveled towards her.
"Pix?" Cole said as he took the bag, wavering slightly at the unexpected weight. "Has it been a full hour already?"
"Negative. However, we met a certain someone on the way. I thought it best to accompany him on his way up."
Li'l Nelson stepped out from behind the Samurai, followed by Achlys, contempt frozen on her face. The brown-haired boy was wearing a purple sweater with a spider logo on the back. A large duffel bag hung at his side. He looked around in disbelief, a broad, gaping smile running from one ear to the other.
"Pinch me, I'm dreaming," he whispered, shaking his head.
"With pleasure," Achlys hissed, cracking her knuckles.
Cole, Skales and Junior watched with worried eyes as the android had to step between the two youngsters.
"Those are the othersss?" the king queried. Cole smirked and nodded. "Quite the lively lot. Think you can handle it?"
"I have to. And I will."
At this point, Achlys was chasing Nelson in circles around Pixal. The samurai grabbed her firmly by the collar and hoisted her up, leaving her flailing in the air.
"Well, good luck. Junior, let us go introduce ourssselves."
The Serpentine boy had been dumbstruck, showing interest in something for the first time since he had arrived at the temple. He flinched, and quickly followed the two men.
"I see you've met Nelson," Cole said to the flailing bundle of anger. "Can't see why you're chasing him, though."
"He's ticking me off. Never stops talking! Just like that blue dolt."
"It's his first day. Since you've already lived here a while, you're actually their senior, so why not set a positive example? Show'em the ropes?"
Achlys went quiet. Still hanging, she crossed her arms and pouted.
"Senior? I guess it could be worse."
"Then perhaps it is time for introductions?" Pixal said as she put the girl down.
Nelson stiffened in fear. His eyes went from Achlys to the towering snake king and lastly Skales Junior, whose eyes were a glowing crimson hue. They seemed to draw him in like quicksand, though they weren't fixed on him, but on her.
"Alright. Rule one: I like peace and quiet. You like to have teeth. Let's keep it that way."
Nelson swallowed. Junior kept staring in awe.
"Oh, for the sake of-" Cole started, but Skales held him back with a smirk. Achlys turned to the snake prince.
"What are you looking at?" she snarled, grabbing his hoodie at the collar. The boy's rattle started to shake with a steady, grainy sound. Achlys smiled mockingly.
"Huh? Now, you're getting scared, you sna-"
Suddenly, the ground seemed to heave beneath her, as if the entire mountain was about to fall over. Achlys gasped and stumbled backwards. The cobblestones drifted apart beneath her. Walls lost their shape and wobbled like jelly. The rattling grew louder and louder, hammering on the inside of her skull. The next instant, a wall of rock rushed towards her! She held her arms up in defence at the impact, trying -and failing- to push away. At this point, the sound echoed like jackhammers, an incessant hacking, churning, grinding noise. Achlys flailed about with her fists, but found no target. Her legs tried to brace, but stepped on nothing but air. The world spun around her.
Silence.
She regained some of her senses. Quivering, she put her hand on the "pushing wall".
It was the ground. A voice cut through the haze.
"Whoa, ssseems like that worked a little too well. You okay?"
Achlys' face reddened with rage and embarrassment. She tried to stand up, but failed miserably, sprawling sideways with strained grunts. Her stomach convulsed and it took all she had to keep it in check.
The Serpentine king chuckled at the display, as well as the two teacher's faces.
"This rattle ain't just for show," Junior explained, straightening his hoodie. "It's hypnotic -causes nausea and messes with your balance. Though I've never ssseen anyone as weak to it as you."
Achlys' face darkened at the insult, eyes burning in frustration. She yelled hoarsely, forcing herself up on all fours. Nelson hurried forward to help her.
"Don't touch me!" she spat. He recoiled and, feeling a bit woozy himself, stumbled backwards. The Serpentine king caught the boy with his tail.
"Apologies, youngster. We cannot control who hearsss and who does not. Least of all ourssselves."
With monstrous effort, Achlys pushed herself up on shaky legs. The Serpentine boy raised an arm in a greeting gesture.
"They said you were Achlys, right? I'm Skales Junior but… just call me Skales."
"I'll get you for this…"
The prince shrugged.
"That'sss alright. I get that a lot."
He turned towards Nelson.
"Yo. Nice to meetcha'. I'm Skales."
"Um. Hi, I'm… Nelson."
"See?" The Serpentine king boasted. "They're getting along nicely already."