Cole hustled through the forest, holding his captive on his right arm; taking him to his master. Lloyd struggled on his grip and squirmed as he shouts.

"Cole! Let go of me!" Lloyd yelled, pounding his hands on Cole's left leg.

"Shut." Cole whispered.

"Cole, fight the darkness inside! It's not you! You were chosen as a protector of Ninjago, you are a good guy! You fight along with your friends! You chosen to protect Ninjago from the evil!" Lloyd whispered. Trying to use same tone against Cole.

Suddenly Lloyd felt Cole's grip became loose. He looked to his purple eyes but it was shut tightly. Free hand rested his head in pain. He dropped Lloyd and he immediately trotted away using his feet, kicking away in shock. Too petrified or dare to flee from Cole. Poring at his leader, kneeling down, collapsing to his knees screaming in pain. Lloyd narrowed his eyes and gasped.

"Cole?" Lloyd wryly. Intensified Cole erratically pause.

Cole slowly lifted his eyelids and reveal his chestnut colored pupil eyes. Lloyd froze; verified his leader true-self, he crawled closely to Cole and rested his palm on the Earth Ninja thigh. Sensing someone rested a warm, soft hand on his thigh.

"L-L-Lloyd? P-P-Please... g-get away f-from m-me. I-I done e-enoug-ffff damage..." Cole stuttered, brushing Lloyd's hand off him gently. Feeling himself slipped into darkness, as he tried to inhibit the darkness with all his strength.

Lloyd deny his will. Influencing him might help him. Zane observation could bring back their brother. The true Cole is somewhere, latent for Lloyd to notice the change of the Black Ninja. So he continue to reminisce with the fun times they had together.

"Cole, remember the time when Jay uses perfume? Kai said he can't be familiar between cologne and perfume. Kai told me all about it when I was capture by the Serpentine." Lloyd said softly with a warm chuckled.

"Y-yeah, I-I remember t-that time." Cole said weakly. Suddenly, Cole screamed in agony, held his head. Lloyd saw Cole eye color changing into purple. Cole shook his head to regain his consciousness against the chronic battle with a force of energy. The overwhelming darkness consumes his mind. Then Cole turn to Lloyd with a glare. Lloyd breathed in panic, seeing Cole crept closer.

"Cole! No!" Lloyd shouted.

Out of nowhere, pairs of shurikens sailed through the trees into the ground, stopping Cole tracks. Glanced above his head to see few pairs of shadow appeared and landed near Lloyd side for assistance. The cavalry has arrive to save Lloyd. While Cole regains his position, growling at the Ninjas.

"Don't take Lloyd away from us! He took you away from us; but not Lloyd. Never!" Kai yelled, infuriated kept stacking inside. Never allow or wanted to lose another member of the team.

"You're getting into my nerves!" Cole snapped, drawing his scythe to his grasp.

Lloyd tugged Kai ninja garb and the Fire Ninja met eye to eye with the chosen one "Guys, Cole change for a moment when I told your past time. One of you tell your stories to him."

Jay rose, letting himself pass and calmly respond like what was important "Hey Cole, remember the time when we found out under the mask of the samurai was Nya?"

Kai nudged his elbow at Jay arm "Dude! That's your story! Something else that we do, idiot!"

"Okay, okay! Uh uh hey, remember the time when we fight against the Great Devourer and we go by your plans to trap the giant freak! And your plan was successful too! Man, that fat snake chased you in high speed! How amazing, isn't it?"

Cole suddenly felt his heart ache. Clenching his chest, collapsing to the ground. Kai, Zane, Jay, and Lloyd noticed and worried of his condition.

Zane spoke up, recaptured his brothers attention "I sensed his heart has purified of his corruption. But it is incomplete, which he is not back to Cole that we that know."

Kai looked to Zane crystal blue eyes and reply "So you're saying that it's working?" Zane nodded "Yes, the real Cole is fighting his way through. He is relying on us, brothers."

The Ninjas gazed to their leader, kneeling on the ground. Before they react, Cole muttered to the Ninjas "G-Guys..."

Kai, Jay, and Zane gasps together. Before they do anything, Cole collapsed to the ground, fell into unconsciousness. The Ninjas rushes to the fallen leader, flipped him over gently and Zane rested his hand on his forehead why unusually fell unconscious.

"He is fine, but exhausted without resting since last night. I sensed the darkness still inside him." Zane informed his brothers with a concern look written all over the nindroid's eyes. The darkness still within their leader and unable to stop the demonic, corrupted heart and mind.

"What should we do with him? Since he's not back to himself, we can't leave him out in the wilderness!" Kai snapped, irritated that Cole definitely one hundred percent not back to himself.

The Ninjas reunion been interrupted when someone yells ahead of them. The Serpentine. A curtailed plan, Zane implies to his brothers "Brothers, we need to go. We'll meet Cole again. And this time, we need to find one memory he enjoys the most with us."

Kai shut his eyes in anger. Couldn't leave his best friend to the wraith of the Serpentines. But Zane speech was right. The Ninjas starting to raced off while Kai stay put to take a last glimpse on his leader. Lloyd rested his hand on Kai shoulder with believing eyes. Promised to return, knowing they never leave a man behind. Kai nodded and lift Lloyd, put him on his shoulder like a guinea pig ride and raced off with Zane and Jay, abandoning Cole with the snakes back to his master. But Kai didn't knew one of his brother stayed behind to keep watch. But who exactly?

AN- Yay! Another chapter! Sorry I haven't update yesterday because I got home from visiting my mom's friend. And I use my 3DS to read, PM, ect on Fanfiction. But Yay, got it done!

Ha, hahaha! I never laugh so hard and enjoy in Fanfiction! Meeting authors, more like awesome friends. Yeah, thanks to Packerfan95, KaitouKiwi, Pinkie Pie luvs Ninjago, DeliciouslyDangerous1, NinjaWriterMaster, JustCallMeDisc0rder, and WhiteColor. And guest, Solidground, AwesomeAuthor13, and guests! Thanks everyone! You are awesome! :D