Chapter 8: Her Name
We travelled on foot together- the ninja and I- a good distance in the hot desert before coming upon a cave. I stood before the massive cave opening terrified. It was so much bigger than me, it was dark, and loud noises were coming from the inside. I took a couple steps back while everyone started to run towards the entrance.
"What are you doing? Come on it's awesome inside!" Jay yelled at me.
"Yeah! You aren't going to get enough of it. Let's move!" Kai yelled as well.
Frozen in my tracks, Lloyd turned around to see me motionless. "This might look scary from the outside, but inside is our old base. We have our mechs in there too. We'll use them to get to Ninjago City faster without the easy target of the bounty."
"I'm not scared." I looked at him and huffed. "I'm just...in awe." I technically didn't lie, I just didn't tell the whole truth.
"Alright well, you can awe from the inside. We're wasting time. We gotta go." Lloyd said as he started to run to catch up with the rest of the gang.
Eventually I ran after them catching up to Cole who stayed behind to wait for me. "This is pretty cool." I said looking at Cole then at the cave.
"It really is. We never come here anymore since we stay on the bounty or at Lloyd's dad's- I mean, your dad's old monastery." Cole said.
"My dad had a monastery?" I stopped running.
"Yeah he did. He gave it to Misako and she's letting us stay there whenever we need to." Cole smiled.
"Oh," I said. "I didn't know that."
"Oh COME ON! Can't these damn things just turn on!"I heard Jay yelling as it seemed like he was banging on a lever.
"The lights appear to be dulled from the cold all of these years. Theres nothing we can do. Maybe Lloyd can use his energy to-" Zane started.
"I can help." I said. Everyone looked at me. Or at least I think they did. It was hard to tell since it was so dark.
"Think you're up for it?" Cole whispered to me.
"I've got this." I rolled my eyes at him. Slowly, I lifted my hands up; pointing at the lights above. My shoulders twitched and my legs shook slightly. I closed my eyes, but through my eyelids I could see streams of light. I opened my eyes and saw light rushing through my body, through my veins, making me look golden. All the ninja watched in awe, except for Lloyd, he was mostly confused since he hadn't seen my power before. The light streamed to my hands, creating an elegant glow. It slowly reached out of my fingertips and dispersed into the air. This was the sign; I was ready. Bracing myself for a controlled effort, beams of light broke from the palms of my hands, glittering like fairy dust, hitting the ceiling. The beams wrapped themselves around every light bulb. All of a sudden the light bulbs started glowing brighter, and brighter, and brighter until everyone except me had to shield their eyes.
"Maya! That's good!" Lloyd yelled.
"I-I can't...I can't stop!" I yelled becoming panic. I tried everything in my willpower to break free from the bond. I winced and groaned as it felt harder and harder to let go. All of a sudden, flashbacks of when I was young filled my mind.
Garmadon and Misako holding a baby rattle up to me. I seemed like I was in a baby carriage. "What a beautiful little girl you are!" Misako said.
"She is our beautiful little girl." Garmadon said as he wrapped his arm around Misako.
...
"I don't want to leave her! She's so young!" Garmadon yelled at Misako.
"I don't want to either but deep down you know it is the right choice. It's too dangerous to keep her with us. With you." Misako cried.
"Daddy!" I screamed.
All of a sudden, I was pushed to the cold, rocky ground of the cave. I let out a curdling scream as my back slammed against the floor. The light immediately flushed out of my body. I started coughing and gasping for breath; the wind was knocked out of me.
"Hey! You're okay! Maya, look at me." I felt the hands of someone on my cheeks. They were very hot, but not sweaty. It was a dry heat. I opened my eyes slowly to see Cole's face above mine. I should've known they were his hands. He was the only ninja who didn't wear gloves. I dragged my focus from his beautiful face *sigh* to the ceiling of the cave. It worked. I got the lights to work again.
"I..I did it." I said with a raspy voice.
"You sure did, Sparky," Oh my god he has a nickname for me. Why Sparky? Oh well, I think it's cute. "I'm sorry I had to earth punch you like that, I didn't mean to hurt you. You were just too dangerous to get close to I..." Cole started as he removed his hands from my face.
"You earth...punched me?" I turned my head confused.
"Yeah, again I am so sorry-"
"Good job." I laughed.
"Wait what?" Cole said.
"Good job. Nice payback." I sat up.
Kai couldn't help but laugh in the background.
"I mean when you put it like that," Cole laughed grabbing my hand to assist me in standing back up. "I guess you did deserve it."
"Don't push it." I said.
"Okay, okay." Cole chuckled. "I'm glad you're okay though." Cole turned and met his eyes with mine. The most beautiful dark brown eyes, just a hint of gold in the middle. We both stared with wonder at each other. Was he feeling what I felt? I felt a connection. It didn't appear to me what kind but I knew it was there.
"Maya?" Lloyd interrupted our staring session when he walked up to me putting both hands on my shoulders. "Are you good? That was a rough fall." Lloyd eyed Cole.
Cole and I immediately broke our stare. We both made a nervous chuckle and turned away from each other. Why did he have to be SO HOT? "I'm okay. A little shaken, but I am okay."
"Okay, that was really impressive what you did there, but very dangerous. Let's not try it again until we test your powers out more. In a safer way. Now we're wasting time, let's move it, people!" Lloyd yelled as he ran towards the mechs.
Cole eventually ran to Lloyd and I stayed behind everyone. Nya came up to me and looked at me very confused. "What?" I asked.
"I hope you know what you're getting into." She snapped.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I scoffed.
"Oh please," Nya pulled me into a corner where we weren't seen. "Cole touching you like that, you both staring into each others eyes, oh and when you used Cole as a SEAT to get off the Bounty?"
"Okay, listen, not that it's any of your business, what goes on between us is between us." I snapped back. What business did she have prying into my life like that? I don't even know this chick.
"You do things in front of everyone! And it IS my business. You come waltzing in here acting like you own the place. You don't own anything here. Not Lloyd, and certainly NOT Cole." Nya pointed at both Lloyd and Cole who were getting in their mechs.
"First of all, if I can recall, aren't you dating Jay? Are you saying you own him?" I got closer to her face.
"What? No- I never said that-" Nya shook her head.
"I never said I own anyone here. Lloyd is my family like Kai is yours. You can't keep me from that with your pettiness." I started to walk away but she began to say something in return.
"It isn't the same. I've been a sister to Kai my whole life. Where have you been? You didn't even know Lloyd existed." Nya hissed at me.
I looked at her in shock. I cannot believe she just said that to me. She has no idea what I've been through to even get here. I gave her a glare and walked away. Tears filled my eyes but I wiped them with my hood before anyone could see. I walked past Kai who looked concerned.
Kai walked over to Nya who was kicking the dirt on the ground and muffling things under her breath. "What the hell was that about?"
"Nothing." Nya shrugged.
"Nya you're pissed and Maya's pissed. What did she do?"
"She...it's her name." Nya sighed.
"Her name?" Kai asked confused.
"Maya." Nya whispered.
"So? What about it?" Kai lifted an eyebrow.
"That's our mother's name." Nya's lip quivered.
"Nya," Kai hugged her. "Look I get it, now it feels weird too, but why give her such a hard time? She can't control her name." Kai said.
"It's not just that, I can tell she's eyeing Cole and Cole's eyeing her. It's wrong. She just came here and now she's acting like she owns the place." Nya huffed.
"I could see it too, but that's none of our business who they like or don't like. Jay's is one of my best friends and I let him date you." Kai said.
"That's different-"
"If anything it's more. You're my sister, Jay is like a brother. I'm surprised I haven't killed him yet." Kai laughed.
"But Cole is like a brother to me. I would destroy her if she did anything to him." Nya pounded her fists.
"Woah calm down killer. You think I wouldn't do the same thing to Jay?" Kai asked.
"Well of course you would but-"
"Wait...is this because you had a thing for Cole once?"
"NO! Oh my god why even mention that!?" Nya started gagging.
"Okay I'm sorry I just had to ask." Kai said.
"I just don't want her to waltz in and ruin everyone's life. Especially if Wu is considering letting her join the team." Nya crossed her arms.
"Is Wu really considering that? Wait never mind thats not the point. It's not up to us if she joins the team. Well, it is a little bit. And sis, we were so welcoming of you once you joined the team. Why can't you be welcoming to Maya?" Kai asked.
"She's not your sister! I am!" Nya whispered roughly.
"She's Lloyd's. If you can't accept her how will we get far as a team?" Kai asked and walked away.
Nya was left to ponder in her thoughts for a couple seconds before jumping on to her water bike.
I, on the other hand, stayed with Lloyd. I jumped into his dragon mech that was decked out in the colors of green and gold. "Hey don't you all have an elemental dragon or something?" I asked.
"Technically yes, but since we don't know what we're dealing with, we bring the mechs just incase. Our dragons are controlled by our fear. If we get too scared, they disappear. That's why we like to have both on our hands." Lloyd said.
"Oh, I didn't know they were controlled by an emotion, that's really interesting." I said.
"You really want to know what's interesting?" Lloyd raised his eyebrow.
"What?" I asked confused.
"THIS!" All of a sudden, huge rush of wind blew in my face. Lloyd blew his dragon straight out of the cave and into the sky. I didn't realize how high I was until I looked down. I squeezed Lloyds shoulders when I saw the height. "It's okay! You have a seatbelt on. You aren't in any danger. Put your arms up; like this!" Lloyd threw his hands in the air and whooped.
Hesitantly, I reached my arms to the sky. I started laughing. I threw my head backwards as the wind rushed against me like the feeling of cold water on a hot summer day. My hood flew off my face, revealing my smile. I felt alive. I felt my powers surge through me again. Because I felt so free, I was able to control it. I was able to control everything. I was in control. Not my darkness.
Ninjago City was just ahead. I could see the huge city news towers and insurance buildings. I cringed. My arms immediately met my sides and I pulled my hood over my face. I was not smiling anymore.
"We're almost there, guys," Lloyd said in his com. "When we get there, we're going to land on the north-east border of the city. Dareth is down there and says it's the least infested area. From there we will figure out a game plan."
"LEAST infested!?" Jay screamed through his com.
"Relax, Jay. It's nothing we haven't seen before. I think it'll be fun." Kai smiled.
"Kai you think everything is fun no matter how dangerous." Cole said.
I couldn't help but laugh at their conversation. I looked over my seat. All I could see was clouds. All the other mechs were on wheels, so I had to trust that they were nearby on ground-level.
"Hey Lloyd," I said holding my talk button on "off" when I spoke.
Lloyd turned and saw that my com was off so he did the same. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm...kind of terrified. To see everything again. I don't want to hold any of you back if I freeze up. When I freeze up." I frowned.
"Maya, you aren't going to freeze up." Lloyd said but he and I knew he was lying. "But if you do, know that me and the gang are here for you. We won't leave you behind if that's what you're implying." Lloyd stated confidently.
"Everyone except Nya." I mumbled.
"What was that?" Lloyd yelled. The wind was making it difficult to understand.
"I didn't say anything." I yelled back at Lloyd. He nodded and let go of his "off" button. As did I.
I just know it. I know I'm going to regret coming back here. All of that free feeling a couple minutes ago completely washed away. My heart sank into my stomach. All I could think about was Ley. How I am a monster. How nobody knows how dangerous I really am. My breathing increased. That was a first sign of my darkness taking over me again. Then there was a numb feeling, no hope, no nothing. Just empty. I swallowed harshly and closed my eyes. Whatever I was about to face, was not going to be pretty. I am truly so...fucking...scared.