The Estranged Uncle:

Lloyd slowed down as he neared the top of the mountain, staring nervously at the large monastery at the top. Zane noticed this and placed a firm, but gentle hand on his back. "Is everything alright Lloyd?"

Lloyd swallowed hard as he glanced down at his feet. "Just nervous…I mean…we know about each other…but we've never met. What if Uncle Wu doesn't help us?"

Kai suddenly pushed past the others, nudging Lloyd hard. "He'll help us. I mean, who can say no to you?"

Lloyd brightened up at that, before rushing up ahead and knocking loudly on the front door. Zane smiled as he glanced at the younger teen. "That was a good thing you did right there, Kai."

Kai shrugged, before hurrying to catch up with Lloyd. Soon all six of them were standing in front of the door, banging on it…until Zane noticed a doorbell. Deciding that maybe Lloyd's uncle couldn't hear them, he pressed the bell. Everyone immediately jumped back at the sound of a gong ringing throughout the monastery. A minute later, the door opened to reveal an old man with a long white beard and piercing green eyes. A warm smile was on his face as he looked them over. "Yes? How may I help you?"

"We're here to see my Uncle Wu! Ya see we found the map to the golden weapons but we need his help." Lloyd quickly explained, his green-gold eyes already widening into his puppy eyes.

The old man stiffened as he looked down at Lloyd. "You're not by chance my nephew, Lloyd Garmadon, are you?"

"Yes! That's me! And these are my friends…" Lloyd started to introduce the others.

Wu interrupted him, a scowl crossing his features. "Absolutely not! I will not help my brother get a hold of Father's weapons! And that is final!" He then slammed the door in their faces.

"So…what now?" Cole looked questionably over at Zane.

Zane rubbed his forehead as he realized that once again, the others were looking to him for guidance. "Come on. I'm sure to think of something at some point… let's get back to Marcher before he starts whining." With that said, he ushered them back down the stairs that led up the mountain…

~Meanwhile inside the Monastery~

Sensei Wu felt his heart pound loudly in his chest as he moved through the empty halls of the monastery, a place of learning and refuge for ninjas in the past, his eyes staring straight ahead. He eventually arrived at the monastery's library, thrusting the door wide open. Walking in, he looked around casually, all the while his steps not once faltered. They didn't falter until he reached the far wall. He felt guilt niggling the back of his mind for the abrupt way he turned his own nephew away, but he had panicked. He just couldn't risk Garmadon to get a hold of the weapons…but yet…. There was something about them. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he stopped in front of the empty wall. Empty except for a single picture, a painting really, of his father standing next to him and his brother, a woman, Lloyd's mother next to Garmadon. Biting the inside of his cheek, he reached up and pressed a finger against his father's hat. Immediately, there was a low grinding sound as the secret doorway hidden there slowly swung open….

~Back at the others' campsite~

"Marcher! Fetch!" Kai threw the ball as hard as he could throw it, grinning as he watched the old dog scramble to his feet.

Zane watched this from the corner of his eye, not liking how much slower Marcher was now than he was when they were younger. "Kai? I don't think that Marcher will survive much longer. Will you and Nya be ok when the time comes?"

Kai glanced over at his sister, who was working on one of her inventions with Jay dutifully hovering over her. "I think we will be fine…." Kai's voice was tight, betraying the fact that he was not in fact fine with that announcement.

Zane sighed, before going back to his cooking. Cole was attempting to help Zane cook their dinner, while Lloyd was reading one of their many books…. By the looks of things one of Jay's comic books. Reaching a hand out, he stopped Cole from grabbing a large handful of dried chilies. "Cole…. That is not in the recipe, and despite what you think, that will make it worse, not better."

"Oh all right then." Cole slouched slightly as he continued to stir the pot.

After awhile, Zane called all of the children to the table. Sitting down, they squealed with delight as he served the hot soup into their bowls.

….

"Zane? Can I give Marcher the leftovers?" Nya sat her spoon down, life sparkling in her eyes.

Zane nodded as he gathered up the dirty dishes. "Yes you may Nya."

Nya jumped up from the table, grabbing the almost empty pot of soup and carrying it over to where Marcher was sleeping. Kneeling down next to the dog, she poured the food out onto the ground. "Time to eat Marcher." Marcher didn't open his eyes to see what it was that Nya was doing, continuing on with his nap. Nya frowned as she ran her fingers through his course fur. "Marcher? Come on boy, time to get up. I brought you some dinner… Marcher? Kai! There's something wrong with Marcher!" Nya was by now going into hysterics trying to get the old, loyal dog to wake up.

Alarmed, Zane and Kai both ran over to see what was going on with the dog. Kai gently shook him, his voice a low murmur. "Come on Marcher….you need to get up…"

Zane felt his heart skip a beat as he realized what was wrong with the elderly dog. "Kai…you remember what I was talking about earlier about his age? I think it happened while we were eating dinner…."

"No!" With that, Kai burst into tears, clutching at the limp, lifeless body.

Nya, oblivious with what Zane meant, turned to face the older teen. "Zane? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that he is dead, Nya." Zane braced himself for the onslaught he knew was coming.

A loud wail escaped the small eleven year old as she threw herself at Zane, sobbing hysterically. Jay and Cole ran over, alarm on their faces. "What's going on over here?"

"Marcher just died…" Zane trailed off, recalling how these two had played with Marcher alongside Nya and Kai.

Right on cue, loud wails tore from the two young teens as they flung themselves to the ground. Lloyd ran over right then, his gaze darting to the limp form of Marcher. "He's dead?" Disappointment edged his voice as he looked to the large form, before he sat down and tears started to stream down his face.

Zane felt slightly overwhelmed at that, having not realized that Lloyd had grown attached to the dog as well.

A/N: Done! And never again! I felt…and still do for that matter, upset for killing off Marcher. But it had to be done! He was thirteen years old in human years, dogs typically don't live as long as humans. And that is ancient according to dog years. On the bright side, after nearly bawling because Marcher died, I will not kill off Roadkill ever! (For those of you that read Back in my Days…) Hmm, I probably should put a warning on the summary about this chapter…

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SkyTalon