Chapter 19- Endings and Beginnings

In what should have been a normal night, four very different families received four very similar calls.

"Good evening. This is Officer Anderson from the NPD. May I speak with Mr. Brookstone?"

Lou Brookstone held the phone close to his ear. He frowned at the words NPD. He couldn't imagine why the police would contact him. " This is he."

"It's about your son." Officer Anderson said, reading through the report before him. Usually, his tone could be described as less than enthusiastic, but tonight, there was a spark to his words. Something truly bizarre had occurred in Ninjago.

And by the hands of four teenagers, no less.

"Our son?" Edna smith questioned, biting her lip and holding tightly onto her husband's hand. "What about him? Is he okay?"

"He is currently being cared for at Ninjago's downtown clinic. Nothing to stress over. There are some things that your kid owes us an explanation for, though. Don't know if the news has reached you yet, but there's been an incident at the school.

"Your son was, quite literally, at the center of it all."

"Lloyd?" Garmadon grimaced, rubbing his temple. Lloyd was not supposed to be out. But one look at his empty bedroom told Garmadon all he needed to know. "What exactly did he do?"

"That's what we're all trying to figure out." Officer Anderson responded. "Ninjago High is in shambles. But there was no explosion. Some of the residents nearby claim to have seen the school float, before plummeting to the ground. It's still a bit early to make sense of things. We recommend you come down to the station. Your daughter will need one of you here so we can get some questions answered."

"That's. . ." Ray Smith was at a loss. "You're sure you have the right girl? Nya? Nya Smith? . . . Alright. Well, I'll be there soon."

With a click, the call was ended. Ray lowered the phone.

"What happened with Nya?" His wife, Maya, asked cautiously. She was not sure she wanted to know the answer. "Is she. . . okay?"

"She's fine. She's . . . in trouble, it seems."

"Trouble?"

Ray shrugged, shaking his head. "Something to do with the school. I doubt she really had anything to do with it but-"

Before Ray could finish his sentence, a noise, distinguishable as clumsy footsteps, interrupted him. He frowned up the stairs. There shouldn't have been anyone home.

"What's-" Maya began to question, but Ray lifted his finger, suggesting she remain silent. Maya gave a quick nod. They both moved toward the sound, tense and ready for anything.

Well. Almost anything.

Nothing could have prepared them properly for the person sheepishly moving down the stairs.

"Kai?" Both Smiths' asked in unified disbelief.

Jay didn't know how to answer any of the cop's questions.

Not only did he have enough painkillers pumping through him to start naming new colors, but the true story was impossible to tell. Yes, the school did float. No, it wasn't a bomb. Yes, a magic Djinn was the one responsible. No, I'm not insane.

For the most part, Jay told the truth. There was no lie to tell that would accommodate everything.

The cops blamed the medicine. And promised to return.

Maybe by then Jay would have something believable to say.

The moment the cops stomped out of the room, his parents waltzed right in, leaving him without a second of solitude. "Jay Walker. What exactly is your explanation for all of this? You got yourself hurt!"

Jay opened his mouth to answer his mother's question. His father prevented him from forming more than a single syllable.

"Why you had us worried sick, you know? We receive a call from the NPD, saying our very own Jay was out there, doing, doing who knows what!"

Jay looked from his mom to his dad, waiting to see if either of them would begin speaking again. When they only stared expectantly, he deemed it safe to talk.

"I- " He, what? It was one thing to tell the truth to the cops, but he didn't want his parents looking at him crazy, too." I don't know what happened. I don't remember."

"Well of course you don't! Your poor little head!" Edna stepped forward, attempting to cradle Jay's head gently. The strength of it, however, was closer to a choke hold.

"Ah- Mom- I'm-" Jay wriggled free. "I'm fine. It's okay. But. . . the others? Cole, Nya, Lloyd are they. . ?"

"They're just fine, son," Ed reassured him.

"Are they here?" Jay asked, attempting to leap off the bed. Edna pushed him back down. "I want to-"

"Oh, no. No, no. You're still in trouble, you know."

"Trouble?" Jay scoffed. "But I just saved-"

Jay bit his lip. Cleared his throat. Reworded his thoughts. "Why trouble?"

"Well, you might not remember what you did, but it sure wasn't anything you should have been doing!" Ed crossed his arms. Jay was inclined to disagree. "Your school will have to be rebuilt. You got yourself hurt. And the NPD is very interested in keeping tabs on you! That sounds like trouble to me, young man."

"But. . ." Jay pouted. The look in his parents' eyes told him all he needed to know. It was pointless to argue.

At least he knew everyone was alright. And the school would probably find a way to start back up sooner rather than later. He'd see them then.

Jay sighed. Being a hero sucked.

Cole was very, very antsy.

He hadn't had contact with anyone other than the cops and his father for four days now. It was absolutely infuriating.

There was still no announcement as to when they would be able to return to school. Which meant Cole had absolutely no idea when he'd be able to say Jay again.

His father had confiscated his cell phone again. So there was no reaching out either. Or, well, there shouldn't have been any reaching out. But Cole was tired of rolling with the punishment.

He'd gone up against an angered Djinn. He could break a couple of rules.

After waiting for his father to go to bed, Cole tip-toed out of his room. The house phone was in the living room. Not much ground to cover. Still, a challenge, since he was trying to be as silent as possible.

Cole hoped his father was a heavy sleeper.

When he finally reached the phone, he clutched it tightly, waiting, listening, until he was sure his father was still asleep. He dialed Jay's number.

Instant voicemail.

Cole sighed. What had he been expecting? Jay was most likely in the same boat as he.

He had never bothered to memorize Nya's number. Nor Lloyd's. So now. . .

"You're an idiot." Cole hissed to himself, dialing the number he truly should have tried first. The line beeped, as it attempted to connect. Cole tapped his foot impatiently.

And then!

"Hello?"

"Kai" Cole whispered as loudly as he dared. "Dude. It's me. It's Cole. You're alright."

Cole! Nya told me everything. So. . . thanks. For saving me and all. But are you alright? Nya's had me tried to reach out to everyone but no one's answering anything.

"I'm fine. Just, you know, in trouble. Because apparently saving Ninjago from imminent doom is illegal now."

Can't wait to see you at school then. You know. Whenever that happens. I'll let Nya know you're okay.

"Can't wait to see you either. So I can punch you into the next solar system. What did you even wish for?"

I just wanted you to not be mad at me.

"You could have, oh, I don't know, just talked to me?"

You're terrifying when you're grumpy. I didn't think it would work. I thought you'd hate me for all eternity unless I did everything just right. Thus- wishes. Very poorly thought out wishes.

"You're an idiot, Kai."

So I've heard

"You're my best friend. I'd never hate you."

I'll keep that in mind. For the next time we encounter an all-powerful wish granting Djinn

"You better." A shuffling sound from upstairs made Cole panic. He ducked behind the couch. Not a very good hiding spot. "I think I woke up my dad. I've got to go. I'll see you at school."

See you at-

Cole hung up, dumping the phone back where it belonged.

He then rushed back to his room, trying to keep himself from bursting into a fit of victorious laughter.

In the end, no one could make sense of anything.

They settled with blaming it all on a gas leak beneath the school. Suggested that the seemingly floating pieces of the earth had been nothing more than a hallucination. It was a lazy, incomplete explanation. But it was the only thing anyone could come up with.

School returned even sooner than anyone expected. Classes would take place in portable classrooms, while the reconstruction of everything moved at an incredible pace.

Classes. School. Homework. Jay didn't think he'd be able to focus. Not after everything. But he was eager nonetheless. Eager enough to not feel anxious about having his dad drive him. After all, he'd finally get to see-

"Nya!" Jay hopped out of the car, dragging his backpack behind him.

"You could say bye, son!"

Jay turned back, returning to the car. "Sorry, dad, yes, bye!"

After giving a weak wave, he returned to running toward his friend. He struggled to stop, the sling over his right arm making it hard to remain balanced. Nya steadied him.

"You're okay!" They both shouted in unison.

"I'm okay too. In case anyone asks." Kai piped in.

"Kai! Ha! So it did work! I thought it had but. . . I wasn't sure." Jay stood on the tips of his toes, peeking into the bus behind them. "And Lloyd?"

Kai shook his head. Nya gave a shrug.

"He wasn't on the bus," Nya explained. "Well, we can probably ask Mrs. Garmadon about him. She's bound to be here, right?"

"Right," Jay nodded. "Plus my parent's did say he was okay. I just wonder what-"

A warm hand covered Jay's eyes. He flinched. Then the voice he most wanted to hear spoke behind him.

"Guess who?"

"Cole!" Jay shouted, turning around with a small jump. He gave him a one-armed hug. "You're okay!"

"Of course I am." Cole returned the hug, lifting Jay a couple of feet off the ground.

"So should we leave you two alone, or. . ." Kai teased, as Cole deposited Jay back down.

"Sorry, sorry." Cole smiled. "So. . . long time no see, huh?"

"Oh what, I don't get a hug?"

With a roll of his eyes, Cole gave Kai a hug. Kai made a sound that seemed in between a laugh and a cough. "Jeez, dude, is this a hug or a murder attempt?"

"Bit of both," Cole said, finally stepping back.

"Cole! Kai!"

Zane trotted up to meet them, his eyes jumping from one to the other, as if he couldn't quite decide who he wanted to look at most. "You are both alright. And you are both talking! Does this mean we may hang out?"

"Yes!" Kai beamed.

"And about time too." Cole shook his head. "Honestly, Kai. When you want to apologize, just apologize. Would be nice to not have to destroy the school to get you back."

"Better be listening," Nya said, with a smirk. "Next time, maybe we'll just let you stay trapped to marinate on your mistakes."

"Pff, that's fine." Kai shrugged. They all walked forward together, following the surging crowd around them. "I can get myself out. I almost had it. Before you all stepped in. Had you given me another day, I would have saved everyone myself."

"Oh, really?" Zane questioned.

"Of course!" Kai lied, resulting in a wave of chuckles from his friends. "I'm serious. I've dealt with worse. It was only a matter of staying focused. For example. . ."

Mrs. Garmadon was nowhere to be found that day. And none of them wanted to question Principal Garmadon.

In the end, the small group of friends decided that stopping by Lloyd's house was the best course of action. It took a lot of begging for their parents to agree, but in the end, they gave in.

"So. . . knock." Jay nudged Cole forward.

"You know him better. You knock."

"What if the principal opens?" Jay shook his head, then shrunk behind Cole's body. "Nuh-uh."

Nya rolled her eyes at them both, stepping forward to give the door a couple of quick raps.

Footsteps responded almost instantly. Rushing to the front door. It swung open with almost enough force to be blown off its hinges.

Lloyd stood in the doorway, watching them all with bright eyes. "Hey!"

"Lloyd!" Nya smiled. "You're here!"

"Why weren't you at school?" Jay asked.

"Ah. Long story." Lloyd stood on his toes, peeking behind them. He bit his lip, weighing unspoken options. "Mom and dad are out. Just. . . okay. Come in. Quick! I'll tell you guys what happened. But you can't stay long. I'm supposed to be in trouble."

They all stepped inside. Lloyd's house was overflowing with books. Upon coffee tables, packed in bookshelves, and towering on the floor. Lloyd nimbly walked through, guiding them all to the more open space of the living room.

Cole, Kai, and Nya all sat on the couch, finding comfortable positions in an instant. Jay stood to the side awkwardly, fidgeting with the hems of his jeans. Zane stood beside him, quietly taking everything in.

Lloyd hopped on the opposite couch. He sat crossed legged, looking more relaxed and comfortable than usual. "Oh! Did you guys want anything to eat? Drink? Sorry. Not used to guests."

"We're fine," Nya said, and everyone nodded along. "But really. What happened?"

"I technically broke into the school, that's what happened." Lloyd smiled sheepishly at first, but his lips slowly widened to give his features a more mischievous look. "When I went looking for the teapot. The school might have been a mess at the end of everything, but as my luck would have it, the cameras still worked.

"Dad got in trouble. Since it was his keys I used. They're keeping close tabs on him. And as for me. . . well, I guess I got my wish to get out of school after all."

"They kicked you out!?" Kai said, mouth agape. "Are you serious?"

"Well, sort of. They just didn't want me studying where my parents worked anymore. Since I'd proved myself to be 'untrustworthy'" Lloyd chuckled at this. "So it was either they moved, or I moved. So. . ."

"Where will you go now?" Jay asked.

"A boarding school. Can you believe it? I didn't even know those things were real." Lloyd said. "It's called Darkley's. I checked the place out earlier this week. I was sort of nervous, having to be the new kid all over again. But turns out there were a couple of people there I knew.

"Gene. And Brad." He turned to Jay and Nya, whose eyes flickered at the familiar names. "Gene's still a loser. Thought it was hilarious I'd been 'expelled'. Which I wasn't. But Brad. . . we talked a bit. It was . . . good."

Nya smiled. As did Jay. "But we'll still get to see you, right?"

"Duh." Lloyd nodded. "Plus, Brad and I are like, 90% sure there's some hidden evil in Darkley's. So who knows. The Save-Ninjago-From-Impending-Doom group might make a comeback yet."

"Save-Ninjago-From-Impending-Doom?" Kai asked.

His question went unanswered. Nya gave Lloyd a salute. "I'm always down to kick some butt."

"I'll leave myself as undecide,." Jay said, then shook his head. "Oh, what the heck. I'd be down. Maybe Ninjago will recognize us as the heroes we are if we save their butts a second time."

"Seriously. Save-Ninjago-From-Impending-Doom ?" Kai asked again.

Nya, Lloyd, and Jay shared a small laugh. Nya patted her brother's shoulder. "We'll think about initiating you."

Day by day, things began to grow surprisingly back to normal.

Once his parents had decided he'd been punished enough, Jay spent as much time as he could with the others. He grew closer to Kai than he ever thought he would. And he found that Zane was great company.

He and Nya missed Lloyd, but once a week, the three of them would exchange notes through a video chat. Nya talked about her plans for the end of the school year. Lloyd mainly babbled about the strange things at Darkley's. And Jay couldn't help but spout dozens upon dozens of things about his relationship with Cole.

Cole, who was steadily getting very good at video games, but still had trouble differentiating a socket wrench from needle nose pliers. Cole, who was teaching Jay things he'd never thought he'd learn, such as the perfect way to craft a melancholy tune and why certain rhythms were more likely to cheer you up than others.

Cole, who was as familiar and comfortable as he was new and exciting.

We lost Jay again, Lloyd chuckled.

Jay shook his head, erasing the dopey smile from his face. "AH! Sorry. I've just been thinking about-"

Cole, we know, Nya laughed.

You love Cole. You adore him. Nothing in the world you wouldn't do for him. He's the light of your life, Lloyd continued

Your sun, your stars. . .

"Stop." Jay blushed furiously. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

You are, both Lloyd and Nya said in unison.

"I just really want to come up with the best way to ask him to prom. I told you guys about the serenade apology, right? I'm going to show him I can be romantic too!"

In response, Nya and Lloyd only rolled their eyes.

Jay had been flipping through ideas for a long time. Each time he was sure he'd come up with the perfect plan, something even better came to mind. It made it almost impossible for him to decide.

But he couldn't execute all his ideas at once. In the end, Jay was forced to settle on one.

"This is the last time I'm coming over, you know," Cole said. "Until you come to my place."

I promise I'll go, I will! Just, this is important. An absolute emergency. If you don't show up in about thirty minutes the earth could explode. Just saying.

"I'll be there." Cole rolled his eyes. "And if it's not an emergency?"

It is. You'll see. Just come. Or I'll keep spamming you until you do.

"Don't. I'm coming. Reluctantly." Cole said. "See you soon."

Yes! See you!

Cole hung up. He didn't really know what to think. There was a wide array of things that Jay considered an emergency. It could be anything.

He drove. The path was so familiar now, Cole could have taken it in his sleep. He should start charging Jay for gas. The little bug had no business living in the middle of nowhere, and wanting that much attention.

Not that Cole actually minded. He never grew tired of being with Jay. He didn't think it was possible to. Jay was a hurricane of wild ideas. And Cole loved to be part of them.

When he reached the junkyard, it was empty. And quiet. Which was really odd. Jay's parents were always loud enough to be heard for miles. And Jay himself was no better.

"Jay?" Cole asked. "What's-"

Cole felt a small nudge on his foot. He looked down, spotting a tiny robot. Around what Cole supposed was its neck, was a familiar blue bowtie. "Um. Hi."

The robot rolled away. Then rolled back toward him.

"Should I . . . follow you?"

The robot nodded. Or malfunctioned. Cole couldn't really tell. Still, when it moved away again, Cole walked behind it.

It guided him through the piles of junk. Cole was still amazed at how big the place was. It almost felt as if it were randomly generated each time he set foot inside. Everything always felt new.

The robot finally stopped before one of the smaller mountains of junk. Jay stood atop it. Hands on his hips. Proud smile on his lips.

"Hey," Cole waved. "So. . . what's the emergency?"

"This is the emergency!" Jay shouted theatrically. "Hit it, Buddy-Volt!"

The robot rolled forward. Twitched. Sparked. Toppled over onto the sand.

"Wow. Yeah. Terrible emergency."

"Shut it." Jay hissed. "Just. . . Could you hit that button? Right there?"

Cole spotted the button. He pressed it.

The piles of junk around him began to light up one by one. The lights were mismatched and colorful, forming gigantic letters. In the end, they formed a one word question.

Prom?

Cole stared. Blinked. Stared some more.

Jay slid down the from the junk pile. "Well? Don't- heh- Don't leave me in suspense here."

"Yeah. Yes. Of course." Cole smiled. He pulled Jay close, giving him a quick kiss. "Wow. You just. . . wow. That was really. . . something."

"You started it! Serenading me and all. You didn't think I'd just let you have the upper hand, did you?" Jay said.

"So, is our relationship going to be just us constantly trying to one up each other with terribly dramatic gestures?"

"Of course not." Jay said, bending down to retrieve his small robot. "I mean, honestly? No way you'll ever beat this."

"Oh?" Cole quirked an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

"It's a fact, Brookstone."

"We'll just have to see about that, Walker."