The sound of chafing gears rusted through the monastery, training course in full swing. A golden streak swept through the obstacles. Over the planks. Dodge the swords... Here comes the dummy! Achlys ripped through the paper as if it was… well, paper… and rolled across the cobblestones while tearing the cutout to shreds.
"Achlys!" Cole yelled at her. "You're going overboard again! Keep your guard up! What would you do if someone came at you from behind?"
"Admire their guts! First figuratively, -then literally."
"You've made incredible progress, but you're too reckless! With a form like that, you wouldn't be able to hit a fly! Three more laps! And go fetch a new dummy. Skales! You're up!"
The Serpentine was loitering in the shade, staring up into the sky. He sighed and shuffled off towards the starting point, eyes wandering from the clouds to the spinning course of death, to the floor and then the clouds again.
"I don't mind going lassst this round..."
"You are last. While you were staring off into space, the others already went."
Another sigh. Skales assumed his starting position. The wooden poles rotated menacingly before him, their grinding resembling the growl of a wild beast, their swinging arms like striking scorpion tails, their surface hard as diamond, their-
"Just go already!" Achlys screamed at him.
Like a deep blue flash, he was off and for a split second, Skales seemed to disappear among the blur of poles.
Incredible, Cole thought. I can't even see him. Then his gaze sank, and his excitement with it. The Serpentine was slithering effortlessly across the ground between the obstacles; flat as a board, not even close to being hit. The rest of his run was a sad collection of crawling, dragging feet and a handful of casual jumps. It took ten whole minutes before he reached the end, boasting a smug grin.
"Howzzat, Teach?"
Cole rubbed a knuckle against his forehead. Stay positive! Just. Stay. Positive.
"It's better than when you rode the spinning sandbag all the way around. I am genuinely impressed by your creativity when it comes to chea- shortcuts."
"But?" the boy poked.
"But, there's no point to this exercise if you don't do it properly."
Skales' grin faded.
"You told us to pass through all the obstacles and reach the end without being hit. I did pass through and I didn't get hit, ssso what's the big difference? Why does it matter how I-?"
He blinked. One moment, Cole had stood in front of him and the next he was already halfway to the finish line. He was so fast, the obstacles might as well have been standing still; over, under, dodge and duck. At times, it even looked like he was phasing right through them.
"Here comes the dummy!"
The paper cutout was swallowed by Cole's Spinjitzu vortex and exploded into a cloud of origami birds, before he ground to a halt right where he started.
"Eleven point five. Not my best run." He turned back to his pupil. "Catch my drift?"
Skales let out a short whistle, but his expression remained bland and bored. Achlys shoved her way past and dove back into the fray.
"Wait," a voice whimpered from below. "It's my go…"
A battered Nelson was lying on the ground, sweating like a pig and gasping for air.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Cole hummed. "You gotta know your limits."
"Ninja never quit," the boy stammered, heaving himself off the ground. "Need to… train harder."
"It's barely been a week. The way you're going, you'll just hurt yourself again."
The boy stood up on shaky legs and leaned on Skales for support only to leave behind a large, wet blotch on his jacket.
"Oh, sssweet," the prince jollered. "I wasn't sweating enough myself anyway."
Nelson jolted backwards and started to apologise fervently. Skales just laughed and shook his head.
"Slithery ssslackjaws, this is worse than my old man's training. Isn't there a way to do this faster?"
"Hard work will always pay off in the end," Cole reassured him. "Results aren't everything."
"Ssseriously, there's got to be some kind of shortcut."
The Black Ninja scratched his chin and hummed.
"Well, we do have one thing… The scroll of Forbidden Spinjitzu; it's an ancient artefact that draws out a person's true potential in an instant."
The Serpentine's face lit up.
"…But don't get any ideas. We keep it locked up for a reason. It holds a terrible power that corrupts even the purest of hearts."
"Well good, 'cause I'm not pure-hearted." He extended a greedy hand. "Ssscroll please!"
"Hey chumps." Achlys popped up beside them. "I went three times already."
"You w- three?" Cole stuttered.
Achlys tore the stopwatch off her neck and glared at him. She was barely sweating at all.
"Three." She mimicked. "Next step. Now."
"I- um… Great job! Incredible, actually. I think we're done for today."
Skales threw his hands up in victory. Nelson sighed in disappointment, but had no energy to object. Achlys' face went red.
"That's it? That was nothing! You better not be holding me back because of them."
"Everyone progresses at their own pace," Cole said firmly. "Still, if you say so, I'll throw in an extra session after dinner."
"Bring it!" Nelson yelled before collapsing again.
"Dangit," Skales yelled, following suit with a thud. "You've doomed usss all, Goldilocks."
The girl rolled her eyes. The Serpentine answered with a mischievous smile.
"By the way, teach, how come she can jump around on all fours, but when I ssslither through, suddenly it's the end of the world?"
Achlys threw the stopwatch at him. He squinted at it.
"Fifteen ssseconds sharp?!"
"Wow!" Nelson exclaimed. "That's just five seconds away from master Cole!"
"Three and a half," Achlys corrected. "I'll let you do the maths, snake. Or you can just keep crawling in the dirt for all I care. Slacker."
"Hey, stop that," Cole snapped, replacing the dragon statue. The training course rattled for a moment, then slowly sunk beneath the cobblestones. "Skales has a point. No need for names."
"Eh. That'sss alright. I get that a lot."
Cole took the stopwatch and studied it. Incredible, he thought, shaking his head. Incredible and… terrifying. He watched the three of them as they squabbled. Achlys growled and glared at the doorway. Skales kept staring. Nelson laughed nervously. This kid. Just what will she become?
The door to the training grounds slid open. A figure stepped into the courtyard, covered head to toe with sludge. Three heads turned his way. Eight eyes stared.
"Jay? Is that you?"
"Sure is! I'm actually surprised you can tell."
"Is… is that motor oil?"
"Motor oil, fertilizer and raspberry sprinkles to be exact. It was one heck of a mission. Did you know helis can do barrel rolls? It's pretty sick! Oh, and the Shuricopter is toast."
Cole approached his friend, only to pinch his nose in revulsion.
"...Could someone get the hose, please?"
"Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh!" Nelson squealed, revitalized. "It's the Blue Ninja!"
Jay raised a greasy eyebrow.
"Now here's a face I haven't seen in a while. Cole, you got yourself a team?"
The Black Ninja threw him a smug grin.
"I believe that's master Cole to you now, sir. Don't like it? Maybe you should get your own squad?"
"Oh, wow, your ego grew too. With a tone like that, maybe I shouldn't tell you abou-"
A powerful jet of water washed over the two ninja as Skales released the unbridled power of the hose. Despite their desperate pleas for mercy, the serpentine's ravaging onslaught continued until their very bones were soaked. When all hope seemed gone, Skales showed a smidge of pity and turned the crank, letting the two poor souls splash to the ground like rags.
"Why me too?!" Cole demanded, wiping a litre of liquid from his eyebrows.
"That was payback for the sssewer incident. Now we're even."
Jay rubbed his eyes, neck reaching forward like a Bohrok.
"Skales Junior?!"
The prince gave him another burst of water.
"-And don't call me Junior, blue boy."
Jay sputtered something unintelligible, wiped his face and stood up. The next moment, he twisted his torso and sent a curtain of water right back at the boy. Skales squealed in discomfort, trying to shield himself. They looked at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Whoa, I'm soaked," the Blue Ninja chuckled. "Guess even ninja robes have their limits. This kid is awesome!"
Cole gave the prince a stern look, but couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from twitching. Before long, everyone was laughing along.
Everyone but Achlys.
"Good one, snake. Next time, wash'em off the mountain." she sneered, crossing her arms. "Hey, chatterbox! That scrapyard freak isn't with you, is he?"
Jay's smile vanished.
"His name is Zane," he grumbled. "He's downstairs getting repairs."
"Good. Tell him to stay down."
The Blue Ninja stared daggers at her as she walked away. Cole let out a resigned sigh and gestured for the kids to start stretching. Jay let his outer robe drop to the ground. A black trail of oil seeped from it and down the drain.
"Cole, you sure about this? A team already? Aren't you moving a bit too fast?"
The Master of Earth remained silent, wringing his clothes. Jay kept pressing.
"Does Wu know?"
Cole stiffened, but kept wringing.
"I… uh… did tell him I was planning on getting more students in the future. He gave me some contacts."
"Yeah. The future as in… two days!? Face it, rocky boy, you can barely handle Achlys as it is. Why all the rush?"
Cole looked absently at his students. His scar shimmered a dull green. Jay eyed him for a while, then popped open his satchel and pulled out a letter, crisp and dry. Cole raised an eyebrow. Jay gestured for him to take it.
"Look, Cole. If you're gonna do this, you've gotta do it right." He made sure Cole had a firm grip of the paper before letting go. "You can't just tell them what it means to be a ninja. You have to show them, too."
The Master of Earth carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a thin cream-coloured paper, clumsily written with ink and brush.
Nelson took notice and limped over.
"What is it? What is it?" he said, trying to sneak a peek as Cole skimmed through the papers.
"It's from some place called Inaka village; they've had a series of landslides in the area and are asking for help protecting the town."
"I thought it might be right up your alley," Jay sputtered, shaking the water out of his ear, "...but I can see you've got your hands full. Maybe it's better to let Nya handle it when she and Kai get back?"
Cole tapped his chin, re-reading the letter.
"No… this is good. Perfect, actually. Everyone, grab your travelling gear." He looked up, forehead gleaming. "We just got a mission."
The Destiny's Shadow soared silently through the woods, mere millimetres above the river surface. Trees littered with curious eyes of woodland creatures blurred past them; a curtain of leaves and bark. Somewhere over the treetops, the evening sun began to fade behind dark clouds.
"Did we really have to leave right away?" Jay groaned, slouching over the helm like a shirt out to dry. "I barely got to catch my breath."
"Want me to take over?" Cole chuckled, curling up his sleeves and rubbing his hands, itching for something to do. Unlike its larger sibling, Destiny's Shadow had little in the way of recreational equipment, spare for the mini-fridge that had long since been cleared out.
"Nu-uh, pal. Last time you stood behind the wheel, you smacked us right into an iceberg!"
Cole snorted and gestured into the woods.
"See any icebergs out here?"
"No, but somehow, I think you'd still manage to hit one. Lloyd just got this thing remodeled, too."
"Then stop complaining and steer," he said, leaning out over the side. "You're the one who insisted on coming along." His eyebrows furrowed as he looked down, met by a blur of foaming white torrents. "How long are we supposed to follow this river anyway? Where's the road?"
"This is a flying Schooner! Why would we need a road? Whoever drew that map didn't really add an 'airship' route. Go figure."
Cole's eyes narrowed and glared at his companion, who just shrugged in response.
"Relax, it's a shortcut. As long as we've got the sun on our backs, we're on the right track," Jay reassured him, looking up. "Speaking of which, it's getting late. Looks like rain, too. We should set up camp."
The Black Ninja was about to object, but the quake of the vessel skimming the water surface shut him up quicker than he could say "cake". Instead, he muttered in frustration and braced as the Blue Ninja veered the Shadow sideways, up onto the edge of the riverbank. Before they even landed, however, Nelson jumped the gunwale and hit the ground rolling, letting out a shriek of pain. The Black Ninja's face went white as snow.
"Nelson?! You alright?"
The boy responded with a gleeful grimace and a thumbs up covered in sand. Cole released a tiny groan from the back of his throat.
"What were you thinking? You're like a mini-Kai for crying out loud!"
"You think?" the boy gasped. "Guys, did you hear that? He says I'm like the Red Ninja!"
The master shook his head lightly.
"We'll be right down. Skales, could you get the first aid kit?"
The prince complied, though he did so with a large serving of complaining and the finest of whine, oozing at a snail's pace toward the helm. Meanwhile, a green-faced Achlys staggered out onto the deck before folding herself double over the starboard side to throw up. The Master of Earth pressed his face against this bag.
"I'm starting to understand what Master Wu's been through all these years. How did he stay sane?"
Jay patted him lightly on the back.
"Chamomile, Cole. Lots and lots of chamomile."
Skales emerged back onto the deck with the bright red case in his arms. Cole popped it open, rummaged for a bit and pulled out a dull brown glass bottle. He closed the lid and handed the first aid kit to Jay, who hopped down to help Nelson. Achlys was still retching over the side when Cole walked up beside her, though not too close. He shook the bottle and popped it down on the railing.
"Drink it," he said. "It'll make you feel better. Trust me, I've been there."
Achlys threw it a sideways glance.
"I'm not seasick," she coughed,
Cole raised a doubtful eyebrow at her. Her defiant eyes met his, before widening again as her cheeks swelled up. She gripped the wood until it shattered, folded over and hurled once more into the dusk, though there was nothing left to throw up. Cole leaned back and closed his eyes for a while. It was like an enormous wall stood between them; an insurmountable divide. He laughed at himself. Me, the Master of Earth, who can break through anything, can't even get through to a single little girl.
A few minutes passed before he raised the bottle to her ear and gave it another shake. Achlys' eyes blazed velvet as she lashed out with her claws.
Cole casually stepped back and let the flimsy strike pass.
"Well, sorry for trying to be nice," he sighed, slipping the flask into his pocket. "Just a 'no thanks' would've been fine."
The girl wobbled and went down on all fours, snarling.
"You're pitying me, aren't you? I never asked for your help. Don't treat me like a weakling!"
"I'm your teacher, Achlys. That's what you asked me to be."
"No," the girl pointed, her spine cracking back up, one bone at a time. "You're a stepping stone. A whetrock to make me sharper. Nothing more. Nothing less."
She crept closer, a floating pair of eyes glimmering in the dim forest dark. Cole felt a shiver trickle down his spine as she slithered up mere millimetres from him.
"Don't forget. The instant you let your guard down, I'll be at your throat."
Cole said nothing. Achlys let out a puff of air from her nose.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" She started wagging back and forth, dancing around him where he stood, rigid like a totem pole. "Are you finally getting scared?" she cackled, stepping on his toes. "Don't like it? Just call it quits and turn tail. Easy as that." She jumped in front again, staring him down, cheeks tightening into a toothy grimace. "In the end, they all do."
Cole didn't budge. She backed off a smidge and eyed him with unease.
"What's the matter with you? At least yell a little at me! Come on! I'm right here!"
Nothing. Achlys grit her teeth and turned away.
"You're no fun. Fine, but don't think you're off the hook. I'll save you for last." She shuffled toward the gangplank. "Maybe I'll play with those other ninja first."
A wall of earth smashed into the bottom of the ship, sending it keeling to the side. Achlys yelped in surprise, losing her balance, falling back into the boat. A large hand grabbed her by the back of her collar, locking her upright. Cole's scar illuminated his calm face like a deep red flame.
"You can threaten me all you want. Step on my toes… spit in my face… that's alright." Achlys' breath became shallow. "But don't you ever -and I mean ever- threaten my family. If you so much as lay a finger on them, you will regret it."
The boat rolled back onto its belly, rocking gently. Cole released his grip and tapped her shoulder with a dull smile.
"And don't you worry about me. I'm not giving up on you."
Achlys' mouth hung open for a moment, before turning into a flustered scowl.
"That's- you're crazy!"
She stumbled backwards, then rushed off the ship. As her head dropped out of sight, Cole slammed his hands over his face.
You just threatened your own student, genius, he groaned inwardly, staring up into the sky as the dark, gray clouds came rolling in, rumbling ominously. You're the worst teacher ever.
He hurried down the gangplank. Achlys was already halfway to the forest edge and showed no sign of stopping. Jay was in the middle of bandaging Nelson's foot, while Skales stood off to the side, unpacking a mountain of snacks. All eyes were locked on the girl.
"Achlys, wait," Cole called out, but his voice lacked conviction. What was he even supposed to do? Apologise? No way! He'd rather drink venom than swallow those words; nothing he could think of felt right.
By now, Achlys had taken her first step onto the forest moss, heading straight for the nearest tree. Her fist rammed into it with an ear-shattering crack, sending splinters flying everywhere as she ground through the bark, all the way through. A moment passed, filled only by the rippling sound of falling grains, before she dislodged her fist, spat at the trunk and kept walking, unyielding to the undergrowth.
Nelson's jaw had dropped to the ground, eyes wide as dinner plates as he stared after the girl.
"What just- Did you…?" he sputtered, head swiveling back and forth, searching the ninja's faces for an answer. "How'd she do that?!"
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean-" he started, then bit his tongue. Nelson studied him curiously, but Jay averted his gaze and swiftly finished wrapping the boy's foot.
"There," he blurted out, chucking the tools back into the kit before slamming it shut. "Don't put too much weight on it and you should be good by tomorrow."
Cole was staring off into the woods as Achlys' contour grew dimmer by the second. He clenched his fist when the Blue Ninja suddenly grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the shadows behind the boat.
"Ow! Jay, what are you doing? I can't just let her wander off-"
"Do they know," Jay hissed, grabbing his collar. Cole's lips clasped together like a clam..
"Know what?" he murmured, instantly feeling the grip tighten.
"Oh please, your poker face is even stinkier than mine. Did you tell them she's an Oni?"
"Technically we're not sure if-"
"She could be the First Spinjitzu Master himself for all I care! Do they know!?"
Cole went silent for a moment, looking his friend dead in the eye.
"They don't," he mumbled.
"The parents," Jay lashed out, a drop of sweat forming on his temple. "Did you tell the parents?!"
The Black Ninja shivered. It was unusual to see Jay this hostile.
"I did. Gave them everything we know. Not that it's a lot."
Jay took a deep breath and released his grip. He stepped back, rubbing his forehead as if to dispel a migraine.
"Cripes, Cole… just what's going on in that thick skull of yours? Just cuz you're a master doesn't mean you can do whatever."
"I know but- I'm begging you…" Cole urged, placing his hands on the Blue Ninja's shoulders. "I need you to trust me on this one. Achlys is not a monster. She's a kid, just like them! I don't want them to see her as one before giving her a chance."
Jay looked puzzled for a second, before slowly shaking his head.
"I trust you, Cole, I really do, but this is too much. She threatened us, didn't she? That's why you exploded just now: she said she was going to attack us and you stopped her? I don't think anything else would make you so mad."
Cole couldn't stop himself from swallowing. Why did he have to be so perceptive now of all times?
"I knew it…" the Blue ninja grunted. "Threatening us ninja is one thing… comes with the job… but those boys? Skales? No. Just no. I'm drawing the line here."
"She wouldn't do that," Cole sputtered, flickering violet. "She knows what would happen if she did."
"Do you even hear yourself? You mean with us gone, she'd toss'em in the river without a second thought? Those two are your students too! If you don't even see that, then I'm rescinding my vote!"
The Black Ninja's eyes widened.
"You can't!" he said, louder than intended. "There's gotta be some other way! I'll do anything!"
"It's not about you, Cole," Jay hissed. "This is about her. I need to know she's not too far gone; that she can change… even a little bit… from what we saw in Stiix; that she can smile without tormenting someone else -without insulting Zane. Show me that and I might mull it over."
Cole's heart sank and the glow on his head petered out.
"Got it," was all he could muster.
Jay's expression softened a bit. He tapped the Black Ninja's shoulder as he stepped back into the light.
"She looked pretty mad at you… I'll make sure she doesn't wander off too far. Get some rest, pal."
As Jay set off toward the woods, the trees shuddered in the wind that grew stronger by the minute. Two drops of rain fell upon Cole's hair.
There was a storm brewing.
Lloyd watched the clouds roll in from the northwest, trampling the distant mountains in an impenetrable veil; a surefire sign of summer's end. He tossed aside another piece of driftwood and moved on to the next pile.
The northern docks of Stiix were still a blackened wreck after the incident. At every corner there were people roaming about, searching for anything worth saving from their old homes. Lloyd's consciousness felt like a knot in the chest as he watched them, cursing himself for not having been there to help during the fire. That said, what could he have done? Right now, it was easier to just let Borg Industries handle reconstruction. He had more important things to do.
The creak of strained metal wires stirred his hopes for the thousandth time as the crane once again reached into the dark waters. As it emerged, Melissa rode up with it, clad in bright yellow scuba gear, directing the net as it moved to the dropoff. At the last moment before touchdown, she leapt off and landed beside Lloyd, followed by a crash as the debris was released across the pier.
"Green Ninja, sir! We believe that's the last of it. Still nothing out of the ordinary, technological, magical or otherwise."
"That can't be…" Lloyd sighed, kicking away another piece of driftwood.
"Sir, I've been working here since the night of the incident. We set up a blockade to prevent any pieces of the structure from floating away. No unauthorised personnel was ever allowed near …not that anyone tried to get near in the first place; but for us to have overlooked something… I find it highly unlikely!"
Another sigh. What had he expected? An Oni-making machine? A spellbook of some kind? He had no clue, but after a week of searching he hated the thought of having nothing to show for it.
A familiar creak of steps approached them from behind, giving Lloyd an irresistible urge to roll his eyes. He asked Melissa for a full report of the latest haul, hoping with all his might that the visitor would have enough sense to see that they were busy. His effort proved fruitless, however, as the man in question cleared his throat and stomped his foot on the wooden planks. At first, Lloyd pretended not to notice, but when a second, louder harkle rasped through the air, there was nowhere left to run. The Ninja turned around with feigned surprise plastered loosely across his face.
"Oh? That you, Harst? Are you well? I didn't see you."
It wasn't a lie, per se, though he would much rather not have seen the head caretaker at all, but there he was; pompous and bloated, blonde hair reeking of cheap cologne, pungent from afar, lethal up close. Lloyd couldn't help himself and took a step back, upon which Harst immediately closed in again.
"Well? Well?! Far from it," the man hoarked, scratching his back with long nails. "Spit it out, how much longer will this farce continue? I can only stand so many nights in that trash heap of an inn! I want my house back!"
"We're very sorry, sir," Melissa carefully interjected. "For some reason, the material transport has been delayed. We can't begin construction until-"
"Oh, please do not misunderstand," Harst assured her with a grin. "Every job has its unforeseen little roadblocks. Please take all the time you need." As he turned back to Lloyd, all traces of politeness evaporated. "The same does not apply to you, ninja; digging around my property for absolutely no reason at all! I oughta throw you out by the earful!" He swept his hand past the ninja's face, as if to shove him into the water. Lloyd almost wished for him to try. "But before that, you'd better tell me the whereabouts of that little demon."
Lloyd's face reddened. He quickly asked Melissa to catalogue the latest haul, to which she answered with a short bow and a quick step. As soon as she was gone, Lloyd leaned a bit closer, fighting the urge to shrivel up from the stench.
"I've told you before, Harst, this case is confidential! People still don't know who the Oni is and we'd like to keep it that way for now."
The man snorted and raised an eyebrow.
"Oho? Perhaps you have forgotten that I am still officially registered as the little monster's guardian."
Lloyd recoiled, befuddled. What was he getting at? The man grinned, stroking his chin as he continued.
"As such, I have the right to the whereabouts and condition of my dear little children. Denying a custodian these pieces of information and keep out family apart… it would be very despicable conduct. If someone were to leak that to the press…?"
Lloyd's mouth hung flapped open and closed like that of a fish. He didn't know what to say. Beneath his ruffled scalp, the man actually possessed some measure of intelligence. Who would have thought?
"How can you still be called a caretaker? The orphanage is gone."
"The building perhaps" -Harst chuckled- "but the institution remains, and though the other children have been assigned temporary foster homes, there is still one unaccounted for."
Lloyd was astonished.
"Achlys…" his lips formed, but no sound came out.
"Precisely. All I'm trying to do is get back what's rightfully mine, nothing wrong with that! Now if you would stop gawking and start talking, we could save us both some trouble."
Lloyd's face went dark. His own feelings were one thing, but the thought of a slimeball like Harst getting his way was far, far worse.
"What's your game here?" he spat, making no effort to hide his disgust. "Achlys doesn't even want to come back. I smell something rotten and it's more than just your cologne."
The man was unfazed, if not amused, at Lloyd's accusation. He looked over the ninja's shoulder at the mound of splinters and ash, charred beyond recognition. Lloyd knew it as much as he did. There was no evidence. Paper, wood, fabric… everything was gone.
No, Lloyd thought. Not everything.
"Ah yes, she must have slandered me quite a bit, I presume?" Harst said, as if reading his mind. "You want her to testify? Outstanding idea. I'm sure the court will be thrilled to listen to the ramblings of a monster." With those words, Harst had to cover his mouth, suppressing bursts of laughter as he turned around and went on his merry way. "Take your time, ninja. The longer you wait, the juicier the story grows. I can already see the headlines!"
Lloyd felt sick to his stomach. Melissa walked up beside him and watched as the man shoved his way through the walkway.
"Don't ask," Lloyd mumbled. "I'll be leaving now. Any helicopters bound for Ninjago City?"
Melissa nodded and pointed further down an alleyway.
"Aye aye, sir. You can catch one of the regular transports. My team will move out in a day or two."
"Thank you. Make sure to call us if you find anything new …and please stop calling me 'sir'. I'm not a policeman, you know."
"That's… I see. Apologies… uh… Mister Garmadon."
The name stung worse than he expected, but he somehow managed to keep a straight face. The storm had rolled closer, covering the horizon like a vast, gray sheet. Hopefully he could reach the monastery before it came pouring down.
Wu watched the clouds roll in from the north, a cascade of gray mist crawling through the land. It was a terrible storm, scoured by bolts of lightning. Far to the east, stars hiding from the sunlight began to peek forth, one after another, as if playing a game of hide and seek. What a beautiful world his father had created. How splendid it was, the days bathed in a glorious sun and nights caressed by soft starlight! Yet where there was light, there was always shadow.
Such was the ancient law.
Kryptarium prison was in no short supply of shadow, filled to bursting with some of the most horrendous criminals in Ninjago's history. Wu sipped the last drops of his tea before heading back inside, once again enveloped by the oppressive air and cold stone walls. As he passed through the layers of rigorous security, his thoughts lay on one shadow in particular, one marked by regret. He was not flawless like his father.
The door before him was made of solid steel, rumbling like a choir of iron dragons as it opened.
Saru raised his head as the Master entered, studying his visitor with tired eyes.
"Leave," the Daimyo spat, shuffling a deck of cards. "I have nothing more to say to you."
Wu sat down and placed two cups on the table. Saru glared at them and turned his nose.
"More Tea of Truth? What kind of fool do you take me for?"
"Just regular Taes Tea," Wu spoke softly, pouring himself a cup. "Care for a sip?"
The man kept glaring, not convinced in the least. His once glamorous robes had been replaced with pale, striped prison clothes and tousled pieces of hair hung loosely over his face.
"You drink first."
Wu happily complied, taking a big sip of the delectable herbal beverage. He smacked his lips and hummed, nodding at the perfect brew. Saru leaned across the table and stared him in the eye.
"Why did you betray the Shogunate, Wu?"
The Master stared down into his cup, watching the steam swirl around his mustache.
"We had differing viewpoints. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Saru fell back onto his chair in laughter.
"Ha! Indeed, that was no Tea of Truth! Not even a Serpentine's cloven tongue could lie as well as that!" He chuckled for a bit, before abruptly slamming his fist into the table, swatting his teacup into the wall, sending pieces flying everywhere. "How dare you trample your father's legacy so nonchalantly!? A millennium of honourable history, degraded to swindlers and rusted scraps!"
Wu gave what remained of the porcelain a melancholy stare.
"That was my favourite cup…"
Saru grit his teeth, but slumped down and continued shuffling his deck of cards. Wu got out of his seat and began to gather the fragments in the palm of his hand.
"There is no Shogunate. It died with my father and will never return. All that remains are scattered shards that have long since lost their purpose. Ninjago is better off without it."
The convict growled in disgust and placed the deck in the centre of the table.
"Oh, and how well you have protected it in our absence. Was it not the Green Ninja, 'saviour of all', who was responsible for releasing those accursed Serpentine back onto the surface? We seek only to reclaim the prominence of old! To restore the strength of our nation to its former glory!"
Wu threw him an ice cold glare, sending a shiver through the man's bones as if the grim reaper himself ran a finger down his back.
"You seek dominion, and nothing but dominion, cultivated through fear and deception," Wu spoke softly. "My father's legacy burns bright as ever. However, it does not burn within you."
Every hair on Saru's back stood on end, though he could not stop himself from chuckling.
"Shards, are we?" he seethed, eyes fixated on a small cut on Wu's hand. "Even the tiniest chip can wield a lethal edge. With each passing day, we grow sharper, stronger and more refined. Before long, the blade of the true Shogunate will pierce the veil and usher in a new age. A great wave is coming. I hope you are prepared!"
Wu paused his endeavour and stood back up. A great wave? Intriguing choice of words, to say the least. He suppressed a smirk, carefully studying Saru's face while feigning anxiousness.
"That cannot be," the Master blurted out, clutching his beard. The Shogunate has fallen. We toppled your empire and soon the rest shall follow."
'Empire', Wu thought to himself. No harm in a bit of flattery. As expected, the Daimyo's grin grew wider, swallowing every word with gusto.
"The beast hungers. You've merely cut off its tongue -and speaking of cutting," -he reached out his hand- "you would not happen to have a blade on you?"
The speakers on the walls sparked to life at his words and a deep voice cut through the static.
"Please refrain from giving the prisoner any weaponry."
Saru threw out his arms, rattling the chain that fettered him to the table.
"Oh, who do you take him for, Conrad? He is the son of the First Spinjitzu Master! You honestly believe I would stand a chance?" He turned back to Wu. "Can you believe these people? Look at this!" -he held up one of the cards: Southwest Throne: The Slave- "They even filed down the corners on my deck! Dull as a brick!"
Wu sat down again, sliding the pieces into his pocket before presenting a small dagger. Saru raised an eyebrow, fingers wriggling in anticipation, but Wu kept weighing the metal in his palm, passing it from hand to hand.
"This is one of Einian's creations," he started, further fanning the flames of the fool's fancy. Saru was practically drooling at the mention of the name. "But that does not sit right with me. After all, this world is built upon balance. It is only fair that you should give me something in return."
"Yes, yes, of course," the man said, wiping his mouth. "I'll show you something interesting, just hand it over."
Wu grabbed the blade by its outermost edge and ever so slowly relented it to the enemy, ignoring the objections raining through the speakers. Saru spun the hilt in his palm, let it dance between his fingers before flicking it upward, balancing the weapon on his fingernail.
For a moment Wu caught a glimpse of a tear forming in the corner of the Daimyo's eye. The next moment, however, the man's hand flashed, burying the dagger into the deck of cards, clean through the paper and deep into the table beneath. He closed his eyes and exhaled, muttering something under his breath. A prayer; or perhaps a curse. Having done so, he dislodged the steel, set it aside and fanned out the cards across the table.
"This is how you wheedled your followers?" the master inquired, unamused. "Juveline card games?"
Saru smirked and, faster than the eye could see, formed three separate piles.
"People are frightened little creatures. Do not pretend it is untrue. Every day, they wake up, wary of the endless calamities that may befall them, wondering what cruel fate lurks over the next hill. I quelled this fear, Wu. The Sword of Destiny gave my subjects hope! A hope that you mercilessly stole from them! You say I rule through fear? Did you see a single frown in my village? Anything but cheerful smiles and gracious souls?"
Wu scoffed.
"I recall one or two 'gracious souls' attempting to stab me in the gut."
"Details, details," Saru muttered. "Give it a month or two and we shall see whose side the common folk are truly on. Mark my words, they will beg to have me back. Now, if I may?"
Wu sighed. He'd just about had it with the Daimyo's dastardly diversions, but he might as well play along for the time being. He gave a short nod and watched as the man flipped over three cards, one from each pile, crimson red and covered in ornate patterns, swirling about a gilded centerpiece.
Southward Steel: The Sword
Northwest Yin: The Hydra
Southeast Sphere: The Chasm
"What luck!" Saru burst out. "Blessed by 'the sword' on our very first draw! It symbolises honour and perseverance."
"As well as ego and obsession…" Wu added. "Do not think me uneducated in the Elemental Arcanum."
The man paid him no mind as he scrutinized the pictures, pondering out loud.
"Steel, Sphere and Yin harmonise, but balance is toppled to the south…" he hummed. "The Hydra represents water and purity, yet the chasm creates disruption… I see. Perhaps you, or someone close to you, recently experienced a tearful parting of ways?"
"Nothing of the sort," Wu dismissed with a flick of the wrist. "This is all you had to show? If that's the best you can manage, I see no reason to keep humouring you."
"Be that as it may," the Daimyo shrugged, shuffling the set before drawing three new motifs. "The cards never lie."
Northward Sphere: The River
Westward Yin: The Kirin
EverYang: The Oni
Wu frowned at the mention of the Oni. Saru watched the master closely as he moved the cards across the table.
"The EverYang… how rare. It represents carnage and destruction. Yin of the Kirin, bringer of lightning, resists it, yet only causes more strife within the torrents of causality. Could this be connected to the incident in Stiix?"
Wu shifted slightly in his seat. Saru raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, brushing against the dagger with the side of his hand.
"What's more, the Kirin embodies grand, unpredictable events. Perhaps-"
"It also represents silence at the storm's peak," Wu hurried to interject.
"And confession in the lull! Spit it out, old man. If the Oni have returned, they will not make the same mistake twice! Who knows? Perhaps they are already in our midst, lurking behind friendly faces? Do you really think you could repel them twice?" He drew three new cards, glanced at them and expelled a hideous cackle mixed with fear and resignation, before throwing the set on the table. "Admit it, Wu. It's just a matter of time. You need us."
Northward Throne: The Emperor
EverYang: The Oni
EverScale: Balance
The door to the interrogation room burst open, admitting a dozen guards, armed with stun guns, clad head to toe in riot gear. Conrad stepped through the crowd, carrying a large, concave, plastic shield.
"The Convict is armed! I repeat: The Daimyo has a knife! Both of you! Step away from the table!"
Saru rolled his eyes and swiped the weapon from the table, turning every stun gun in the room in his direction, ready to fire. In the next moment, he unceremoniously handed the dagger back to Wu, who promptly slid it back into his robe. The whoosh of a dozen lungs exhaling in relief rang through the room. Conrad raised his visor and turned to Wu.
"Sir, you're in violation of prison protocol. I don't even know how you got that dagger past our security in the first place but… I must kindly ask you to leave the premises."
"Not to worry. I have had just about enough of this dreary compound anyways. Return him to his cell."
The guards moved to grab hold of Saru, who made no move to resist.
"Just you wait, Wu. My destiny was changed once; it can change again. The Shogunate will not let this stand. A great wave is coming! One that will rock the world to its core!"
The man's cackling rang down the corridor as he was dragged off, but Wu's attention was locked on the three cards. The Emperor, herald of change. The Oni, bringer of doom. ...Balance…
Wu sighed and bent down, sweeping up the final shards off the floor with the tip of his beard. They were fewer than he had expected. Perhaps they could yet become whole.
Pixal watched the clouds roll in from the northeast; a dense, swirling mass forcing its way toward the monastery. Storms rarely climbed high enough to reach the ninja stronghold, but this particular tempest lay a notch above the rest.
"Frightening, isn't it?" Zane's voice whirred, more metallic than usual. The nindroid sat hunched in front of the monastery doors, the inner mechanisms of his back exposed; gears, tubes, cables and circuits hailing from his innards like iron sprouts. "- bad memories are like storms. No matter how deep you dig or how high you climb, they will always rage in some corner of your world."
Pixal raised an eyebrow as she kept tinkering, tending to every component with superhuman accuracy.
"Did I somehow activate your poetry processor?" she wondered, lenses zooming in among the wires. "You have been unusually evocative as of late."
Zane just shrugged and stared out over the pale sea.
"My mind has felt a bit muddled. Nothing to worry about."
"Your processor may be in need of tuning. Should I set up a scan?"
"No. I appreciate your concern, but I just need some time to think."
A few minutes passed. All was silent, spare the constant clicking of working metal hands.
"Pixal… when did you first realise you were an android?"
A single gear hit the ground, gaining speed as it plummeted down the mountainside. Pixal's head snapped toward the noise in panic, ready to set off in hot pursuit, but Zane held up his arm and stopped her. The next moment, a shadow swept past their heads and snatched up the part right before it crossed the edge. Zane nodded gratefully as the falcon circled around and came to a rest upon his arm, dropping the gear into his palm.
"For me," Zane continued with a sentimental undertone, "it was this little fellow who showed me. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, this is where we met for the very first time."
The falcon flew over to the tree beside the gate and flapped its wings eagerly. Zane handed the gear to Pixal, who studied it for a moment to make sure it was unharmed, before nestling it back where it belonged.
"I- I am afraid there is not much to tell. I had always been aware of my identity. My purpose. I was made to serve others. Not once did I feel the need to reflect on myself until…"
She paused, softly closing up the armour plates. The metal was shiny enough for her to see her own face.
"...Until I met you."
Zane blushed as much as a metal man is capable of blushing, though he didn't smile.
"Have you ever wished that… you had some things that other people have?" He looked down into his hands, covered in frost. "Lacked some things that others lack?"
Next thing he knew, Pixal had wrapped her arms around him, cuddling him from behind.
"Of course I have. Back when I lacked a body of my own, I could not do this," she sighed, resting her head against his. "Whether in body or mind… you are -and always will be- my other half."
Zane remained still for a moment, before slowly reaching to grasp her hand. The frost that encrusted it melted away at her touch and all he managed was a silent "thank you".
The wind picked up, carrying the first swell of the storm over the mountaintop. Drops of rain began to fall until the ground was covered in dark spots. Zane rose and threw his white ninja garb back over his shoulders, fluttering as the gusts tried to pry it away. He offered Pixal his hand, but the android's eyes were turned away, fixated on a lone shape ascending the stairwell. She let out an audible gasp and rushed down the steps.
Zane's eyes adjusted themselves briefly before widening in horror.
"Nya!" they cried out in unison, just as the Water Ninja's knees caved in under the pressure.
Pixal caught her mid-fall and carefully laid her down onto her back. Her face was covered in dust and deep, dark bags hung below her eyes, as if she had been running for days without rest. Two broken arrow shafts stuck out of her coat.
"What awful bruises… just what happened to you? Where is Kai?"
"Kai…" Nya rasped. She would have cried, if only she still had tears to shed. "Kai's been…"