Short chapter because I was a little worried about pacing/splitting of this chapter, so this might be combined with a later chapter maybe. Anyway, thank you so much for the fantastic reviews and all the reads! It's lovely knowing you are taking your valuable time reading/keeping up with this monster XD

- Fell_and_Fallen -

"Oof!"

The swing of Kai's sword topples Jay to the floor with a heavy thunk. The blue ninja hits face first and doesn't move.

Kai raises his sparring helmet. "Jay, you alright?"

"I'm so tired!" the blue ninja answers, his voice muffled with his face pressed into the floorboards. "We've been training nonstop for almost a week and for what? So we can drive ourselves into the ground?"

"Jay, you heard what Sensei said. We need to be prepared for whatever move Desmond makes," Kai says. "And it's not like we have anything else to do now that Ash is gone."

"Except sulk, apparently," Jay lifts his head to look at the door leading below decks. "Cole's still not up yet?"

"He was training alone again last night," Zane says as he neatly finishes a granola bar. He brushes some light crumbs from his robe. "For a little longer than usual. My guess is that he is still asleep."

"Ugh, it's like someone took the air out of his balloon," Jay grumbles, tucking his arms under his face. "I hope Ash gets back soon. Maybe then I can finally take a nap."

"Perhaps we don't have to wait much longer."

"What makes you say that, Zane?"

The white ninja slowly points up into the sky where a bright red light flares to life. It starts as just a crimson pinprick against the clouds, but quickly grows as it approaches.

"What is that?" Jay asks as he scrambles to his feet. "Think it's Desmond?"

"I don't want to wait to find out," Kai says as he raises his sword. The others draw their weapons as the light closes in.

A dark shape flickers in the center, and as it crashes into the ship the three ninja are blown backward in a blaze of heat and light. Zane recovers first, sending a shuriken flying into the light only to have it sent flying back. Kai blinks as his vision adjusts to the glaring red light and the figure standing within it.

"Ash?"

I smile as the three ninja stare at me with slack jaws and wide eyes. Their weapons are still aimed at my face, so I keep my arms raised. "Hey guys. Mind putting the weapons down?"

Their arms drop, and I finally let the fire around me die.

"What was that?" Kai asks as they approach. "Did you just-"

"Fly?" I answer. "Yeah. I'm still getting used to it." My legs still feel like jello from the long trip staring at the ground so far below, but at least I haven't thrown up yet.

"I take it you succeeded in receiving the power you sought?"

I return Zane's knowing smile. "Yeah. I can't wait to tell you all about it-"

"Is that a tattoo?"

Jay grabs my arm and stares open-mouthed at Spitfire, who's safe at home on my skin. He looks a little miffed at being called a tattoo and swirls a little angrily around my wrist. Jay drops my arm like a hot pan.

"Not exactly," I laugh. I glance around the deck. "Where's Cole?"

"Ash?"

We look up to see Cole emerging onto the deck, pulling on his gloves and looking more than a little shocked at my sudden appearance. His eyelids are purple and puffy, looking all too much like my own have over the past couple of weeks. Has he not slept since I left? My stomach twists with the realization, and I cringe at the unfamiliar feeling. I thought I'd been making the right decision, but from the looks of it, I hurt him much more than he had let on.

Cole lowers his hands and grimaces, clearly uncomfortable at my presence. I approach carefully, watching his muscles tense as if he's ready to run back below deck.

I expect him to be angry, or to demand about my powers, but instead he says, "Look, I need to apologize."

I shake my head. "No, you don't."

"Yeah, I do," his face twists and the memory of our last conversation passes between us. "What I said-"

"Stop."

"No, you made the right choice-"

"Cole-"

"I'm trying to apologize-"

Before my brain can even comprehend what I'm doing, I reach out, grab the front of Cole's gear, and pull his face down to mine, drowning whatever he was going to say as my lips meet his. Cole tugs back in surprise, nearly pulling us apart before he realizes what's going on and settles against me. My heart thuds in my chest loud enough to drown out every other sound and thought as his hands move from the air and to my body, where he gently pulls me against him. Someone coughs lightly behind us, and I pull away with my face screaming with heat that has nothing to do with my power.

We look up as Kai stifles another theatrical cough and instead gives us a sly smile. "So I guess the two of you have, uh… made up?"

"Made out, more like it," Jay chuckles with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Cole and I hurriedly detach from each other. I shove my hair out of my face and try to calm the raging blood flow to my face. "Yeah, um," I shake my head. "Uh, what were we talking about?"

A smile touches even Zane's lips. "You were going to tell us about your power?"

"Oh, uh, right," I cough and wipe at my mouth, which still burns with the imprint of Cole's. I can't even look in his direction as he shuffles awkwardly next to me. "Uh, where are the others? I'm sure Sensei will want to hear this too."

"Nya and Lloyd are out on a supply run," Zane answers. "Sensei was meditating, I believe."

Jay glances at his watch. "Which means he'll be here in about five, four, three, two, one-"

"Ash, I see you have returned."

Sensei emerges from the bowels of the ship right on cue, pouring himself a cup of tea as he climbs the steps. Spitfire lets out a happy whir at the familiar smell, and Jay takes a cautious step back with a look at the swirling dragon. I stifle a laugh.

"I trust your journey was fruitful?" Sensei asks just as he catches sight of Spitfire. He lowers the tea cup from his lips. "Oh my."

"Don't worry, he's harmless," I say as Spitfire puffs a cloud of smoke.

"Forgive my surprise, but it's been a very long time since I've seen a ruler's familiar," Sensei shakes his head and finishes his sip.

"You know about them?"

"Yes. Your father's was rather vicious. It snapped at me more often than I would have liked," Sensei shudders a little at the memory. "Then again, it may have been because I spilled tea on his arm once."

Spitfire hums a little, his scales rattling against my skin. I wonder if he's actually offended by the thought of having tea spilled on him.

"We should sit and talk," Sensei says as he starts to lead us to the dining room. "I'm sure you have many interesting stories to tell, and Nya and Lloyd will want to hear about it as soon as they arrive."

"Maybe we can finally crack out the dinner Zane has been promising us all week," Jay narrows his eyes at the white ninja.

"I was waiting until you came back before we used up all of the ingredients," Zane explains to me. "It took me a while to perfect the recipe-"

"Maybe I could make something," Cole says, and the redness in my face rages to life again. "I have a couple of recipes I've been waiting to try, and I'm sure you'd love to-"

"No, that's fine," I say hurriedly. "I mean, if Zane's been waiting so long to make something. We wouldn't want to cheat him out of that, right?"

"But-"

"There will be cake," Zane says. A little flare of panic also sparks in his eyes before the black ninja finally submits.

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"Good," Kai nods. "So it's settled. Tonight, we finally get to relax."

"Yeah," I smile. The memory of my ancestors' dark words flickers through my mind, but I push it aside. I can worry about Desmond tomorrow. For now all I need to focus on is being with my friends.

As we enter the dining room, I sneak a glance at Cole, who hurriedly looks away. I can't help but smile a little as Spitfire hums pleasantly on my wrists and something flips in my stomach. Yeah, Desmond can definitely wait.

"You're back!"

I'm nearly knocked out of my seat as Lloyd tackles me in a hug, leaving Nya to drag in the rest of the groceries by herself. I can't help but smile as I return the hug and gently pry him off me.

"Yeah," I laugh as I smooth down a few wild strands of his white-blond hair. "Just a while ago, actually."

"It's great you guys are finally back," Cole says. "I'm ready for cake!"

I elbow him. "Cole, you realize none of us have eaten dinner yet."

He returns the gesture with an even harder shove. "I haven't had cake in nearly two weeks!"

"It'll be longer if I have to separate you two," Zane narrows his eyes as he finishes preparing dinner. Cole and I exchange startled glances, but back off.

"So I, uh, don't like to give stuff to girls," Lloyd pipes up as he scuffs a toe against the floorboards. "But I wanted to get you something for being so nice to me. And as an apology for sabotaging your flat iron and telling you it was Nya."

"I still don't know how I fell for that," I shake my head as Nya laughs and takes a seat. "Your hair is already straight."

Lloyd reaches into his pocket and holds something out to me. I take it, realizing with a start it's a lollipop. One of the more extravagant ones with chocolate in the center. The kid gives me a smile.

"Zane mentioned you were obsessed with chocolate."

"Obsessed?" I squint my eyes at the white ninja.

"Hey, you were the one who ate an entire tub of chocolate ice cream in one sitting," Cole shrugs.

"Says the guy who shovels down cake like it's oxygen," I shake my head and turn my smile on Lloyd. "Thanks, kiddo. This means a lot. And, uh, no harm no foul on the flat iron thing, alright? I needed a new one anyway."

Lloyd returns my smile and takes his seat as Zane finally passes out food. For a few seconds, the only sounds are appreciative grunts and chewing as we take in Zane's spectacular cooking, but after the commotion has died down Sensei speaks.

"So Ash, tell us what you found."

I look up from my mouthful of potatoes and try to swallow it in a dignified way. "Well, it wasn't easy getting there, that's for sure," I blink and the memories of stumbling down hills and through thorn bushes flies to the front of my mind. "And honestly, your maps weren't that helpful once I actually reached the forest, but I managed to find it anyway. After I, uh, fell through the floor, I found my ancestor's Sanctuary, which is where I got Spitfire."

I raise my arm as Spitfire huffs a contented cloud of smoke. Nya and Lloyd's eyes widen as they take in the dragon for the first time.

"That's so cool," Lloyd says as he reaches out and pokes Spitfire's tail. The dragon flicks a forked tongue at the kid, but doesn't snap the way Sensei had described my father's.

"My dad was there along with the rest of my ancestors," I pause and set down my fork. "He, uh, told me the truth. Desmond's wife died of a rare disease and she didn't want him to know about it. My parents tried to help her, but she couldn't be saved. When she died, he just kind of lost it. He ran off and my mom was left to take care of two kids-"

"Two kids?" Kai looks up from his plate. "I thought you were an only child."

"I am," I answer. "It's just… before she died, Desmond's wife had a child. Hale."

"Hale is Desmond's son?"

I nod.

"That's just… weird," Jay shakes his head. "So what? He just left his kid at some creepy day care and decided to raise you instead?"

I cringe. "I know, it's awful to think about, and honestly I've tried to forget it."

"And I thought he was messed up enough already," Cole shakes his head. "He definitely needs to get what's coming to him."

"When we get our hands on him, he'll pay for everything he did to you and your parents, Ash," Kai says.

My hands tighten as Stella's words echo in my head. "No."

"What?"

"We have to bring down Desmond, but we won't destroy him," I say.

Cole looks exasperated. "Not this again. You want to wait?"

"No, we have to do the right thing," I press. "Meeting my ancestors did more than just give me power. They opened my eyes. Right now we're blinded by revenge and hate and want to rip him apart for everything he's done. We would kill him for the same reason he killed my parents. For revenge. We can't stoop to his level."

"What are you saying, Ash?" Jay asks. "That we just let him go?"

"Honestly, I don't know," I shake my head. "But we can't destroy him. As much as I want to make him pay for what he did, I can't become him. We have to end the cycle somehow."

"You are making a powerful decision," Sensei says as he takes a long drag of tea. "One that will certainly alter your future one way or the other. Are you sure that this is the path you want to take?"

I nod. "I had a long talk with my father, and I promised him I would embrace myself for what I am. Not only my power, but my responsibilities as the guide for Ninjago your father created us to be. I'm supposed to stand for justice and peace. Killing Desmond would make me no better than he is. We'll bring him to justice, but we're going to do it the right way."

I pick up my fork again. "So that's where I stand. I'm not asking all of you to agree with it, but-"

"Hey, I'm done doubting you," Cole smiles. My mouth suddenly goes dry. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we have your back, whatever you decide."

"Hear, hear!"

"That means a lot," I smile. "Really. I honestly don't know what I've done to deserve all of you."

"You got Zane to make cake," Cole shrugs, and I elbow him hard enough to make him wince.

"You're lucky I like you," I laugh as the clatter of dinner starts again.

I laugh and smile with my friends as the night goes on. No, my family. After so many years of fearing my power, of being hated, of pushing people away, it's hard to believe I'm surrounded by such wonderful people. Not only that, but they accept me exactly for who I am, even before I did.

Spitfire whirls happily on my wrist as the night drags on, and for the first time in forever I finally feel…

Happy.