Chapter 4: The Climb
(trigger warning: This chapter goes over the subject of suicide so if you have any sensitivity to this subject please skip this chapter)
I've been walking for hours. I was exhausted, freezing, and ready to collapse. The sun had finally started to come up. I found a rock sticking out of the desert sand alongside the dirt road I had been walking on for hours. It was a nice rock- very flat on top- perfect for a seat. Once it was finally light enough I was able to get bearings on where exactly I was. I looked behind me and saw that I had walked right past the mountain split in two in the dark. I didn't see the mountain even with the moonlight. I was so tired as I continued to scan the area. I turned back in front of me and saw the river that Collette spoke about. It looked like it could go on for miles. Im not sure exactly how far this temple is.
As tired as I was, I continued on. I walked about another two miles along the river before stumbling over my own to feet, falling onto my hands that braced my face. "Umfh!" I hit the ground. I started getting angry and the feeling of complete and utter loneliness settled in. I beat the ground with my fists like a two-year-old as tears began to pour from my face. Im so tired. I just want to see my family again. My head slowly lowered to the ground. Dirt was getting in my eyes but I didn't care. I just wanted to sleep and never wake.
I ended up falling asleep on the cold ground. When I woke up, it must have been around midday. "Damn, did I really fall asleep for that long?" It grew hotter. It was no longer an ice cube outside. I stood up slowly and removed the tunic Collette gave me. I was thirsty so I cupped my hands and drank from the river. The water was so so cold. It felt amazing against my dry throat. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt my skin absorb the light from the sun. My fingers grew tingly. I looked down at my hands. They were glowing an orange-ish purple color. I've always seen them glow yellow. This is new. I reached out my hand towards the sky and beams of light shot out of my fingers almost like tiny flashlights. The beams grew until it was coming out of my entire hand as one beam. They even sparkled when I pointed the light directly at the sun. It was almost like a dream. It was now glowing purple with an orange dust that twinkled. It made me smile. I've never seen my powers to be so...so beautiful. In a way.
Eventually the lights faded. My smile disappeared. I felt peace for the first time in a long time. But now it's gone. Now I have to get back to reality. I have to finish my journey. I marched onward, only carrying my purple tunic. I had no food, so if it came to it, I would cook a wild animal with my rays. IF it came to it.
My vision started to get very fuzzy. It was almost as if I were hallucinating because I thought I saw the East Mountain. Or is it really the East Mountain? I rubbed my eyes hard and splashed some of the river water on my face. It was really the East Mountain. "Im here!" I exclaimed with a sigh. I was already so exhausted, but I knew I had to continue. I was so close.
I finally made it to the base of the mountain. I stood at the bottom of the staircase staring up into my fate. "Bro if I fall I'm done for." I laughed hard. I knew I was exhausted because I usually don't make those types of jokes. Or really any jokes at all. I couldn't even see the top of the mountain. The stairs climbed into the clouds. "This is going to be a long...long climb." I sighed and continued my journey.
My legs were aching, my stomach was growling, my head was pounding, and it was getting hard to breathe. I wasn't used to this elevation. I had made it into the clouds. I couldn't see for shit. The only thing I could see were the rocky stairs under my feet. I had to take caution with every step since the higher I climbed the rockier the stairs became.
After about thirty minutes I saw the tiniest ray of sunlight above my head. Since I could harness light, I reached out my hand to see if I could capture a ray. My finger tips started to glow. I smiled. I knew I was close. I was almost out of the clouds. "Just a little bit further." I whispered to myself. The light grew closer and closer. I got so excited I had a second wind. I began to jog up the stairs. I could feel it throughout my body. I felt the energy of the light course through every vein, giving me adrenaline. I was starting to love my power again. I haven't in a long time. I felt free. Free to feel how I wanted to feel. I started to laugh I was so excited. At last, my head poked through the clouds and an immediate rush of warmth filled my soul. I stopped as soon as my entire body was above the cloud and in the sunlight. I fell to my knees. I saw it. I saw the monastery. I started to cry. Not tears of sadness, but tears of pure joy. The first ounce of joy I've felt ever since I can remember. I felt hope.
After resting for about five minutes, I stood up and finished my climb. I found myself at the doorstep of the monastery. My excitement was stripped from my body like tape ripping off a package. It was destroyed. Burned. Only one door was standing, while the door next to it was in ashes. I climbed over the ash pile into the main area of the monastery. everything was destroyed. I don't know by what, but something bad happened here. Fallen beams were blocking every entrance to any rooms I could visualize. At this point, I knew I was probably going to stay here until I died since I had no food and I was far from any water. Might as well make the most of it.
I walked back outside and walked towards the edge of the cliff which the temple stood upon. I sat down and dangled my legs over the ledge. If I were to be honest, I felt like it wouldn't have been too hard to jump. I mean what do I have to live for now? Im miles away from any civilization, food, water, and any family I thought I had. I'm alone. I had hope, but as usual, it was stripped from me like it wasn't even there in the first place. Besides, who would miss me? My only friend died because of me, my mother abandoned me, never told me she had a son, and my father is possibly one of the biggest villains of all time. That doesn't sound like a lot to live for to me.
"Im going to do it." I thought. "Im going to jump."
Right before I let my life slip out of my own hands, I was stopped when I heard stone crumble behind me. I jumped in intense fear. I turned and saw a man standing behind me. I could have fainted but I held it together. I was so dizzy because of my hunger that I couldn't make out his face. He was short and he had a hat. It was one of those big pearl gold hats that usually older men wear. He walked closer to me and his face slowly came into my view. I was able to make out that he had a very long white beard so I knew he had to be old. He also held a bo staff that most likely doubled as a walking cane.
"Young one, what are you doing up here?" He asked me.
I laughed. "You're a hallucination." I shook my head and looked out into the clouds.
"Maybe," He sat down next to me. "But not this time." He touched my shoulder with his staff.
I gasped and turned my head towards the man. His innocent eyes looked at me with concern. "Oh god you're real. You're really real?"
"Yes," He let out a chuckle. "I believe that I am."
"Wait how did you- were you here already?" I asked.
"I followed you, child."
"You climbed all those stairs and you're completely fine?" I did not believe he just climbed all those stairs without being in the pain im in right now.
"I might seem old, but I used to do this every day on a whim. I used to live here in fact." The man said.
Is he who I think he is? "Who are you?" I faced the man and stared him in the eye.
He stood up and held out his hand. "Come with me." I took his hand and slowly got up. I was in so much pain, but I wasn't ready to give up. "You're hurt and exhausted."
"I'll be fine." I lied. I'm definitely not fine.
"What's your name, child?" He asked.
"Maya Lenn."
"Come. I'll make you tea." He walked me back into the monastery and through a doorway that led to a room that was completely untouched by any destruction. In this small room was a mat and two rugs to sit on. Out of no where, this mysterious man pulls out a teapot and pours two cups of tea. "Please, sit."
I obliged at sat on one rug while he sat on the other. I grabbed one of the teacups from his hand and sipped it slowly. "You never answered me."
"What do you want to know?" He questioned.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" My breathing became heavy again.
"The real question is why are you here?" He asked with a stern look in his eye.
"I was looking for something. Well, someone." I admitted.
"Who are you in search for? I feel like I could help with that." He smiled.
"First tell me who you are since I already answered one of your questions." I raised my eyebrow.
"Fair enough. My name is Wu. I am a sensei so I often just go by Sensei Wu."
"Wu? As in...W-Wu Garmadon?" My eyes lit up. Did I just find my uncle?
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Wu turned his head in confusion.
"Oh god." I dropped my cup and it shattered on the floor. The hot tea spilled all over me, burning my legs. I felt very dizzy now. and nauseous.
"Are you alright, Maya?" Wu put his cup down.
"I...I don't..." I couldn't form a sentence. It felt like my words were being twisted inside my brain as I attempted to speak. My head felt heavy and I fell forward, collapsing in my uncle's arms. He grabbed me before my head hit the floor. That was the last thing I remember before blackness clouded my vision. Im so close to meeting my family. A part of me feels like I already have considering Wu is in fact my uncle. I think.