Everyone's keep on showing or speculating how Nya would react to Jay losing his memories in DR part 2, but I need how COLE would react to it.

No one's POV

Cole was just trying to find a way out of this forest. He went in one of those rifts in hopes of bumping with the other ninjas or PIXAL or anyone familiar. Unfortunately, seems like the monks of Cloud Kingdom hates him, because also he got is the spookier version of Primeval's Eye.

Cole's POV

"It really had to be related to ghosts," I groaned loudly. Not too many good memories in both Primeval's Eye and ghosts in general, there are, but like I said not much.

Swish.

"Huh?" I checked my surroundings, but saw nothing, but what if I… hmm, that could work if I focus well.

My arms erupted in a fiery blaze, and the skin on my arms transformed into a molten lava texture. I don't know why, but this makes me feel closer to my element.

Anyways, I closed my eyes and tried using my now better seismic sense and there is someone here, they're pretty high up— Wait, they're gone.

I snapped my eyes open, still keeping my lava arms for protection. Thud.

Ow, that hurts. I look behind me and there I saw it, my assailant. They're wearing a full black outfit with olive green accents. And their face is fully cloaked, like with the mask and hood.

I went to my fighting stance, and reactivated my lava arms. If they attack again, I'll form the golem. That'll teach them not to mess with me.

"You are not welcome here," my assailant spoke. At least now I know it's a guy. His voice sounds oddly familiar, but there's something different about it too.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked him.

"Everyone knows that the Administration is off limits, especially to trespassers like you," he explained. "And how did you get pass security?"

Oh… "Okay, one; I didn't know that, and two; I just entered through the rift, I was hoping to meet anyone familiar."

"Hmm… Interesting," he replied, suddenly his comm beeped. "Malik here, over."

Malik? That name sounds familiar… Wait, is this Jay? Huh, that explains the voice, just a bit modified with a voice glitcher? Eh, whatever it is, at least, I found my best friend.

"Okay, stranger—"

Did he just? "Wait, what did you call me?"

"Stranger, why did you ask?"

"Take off your mask and hood."

"No."

"I'll take my mask off too."

Silence.

"Deal," Jay said as he takes off the hood and mask. And yep, that's him alright, his hair is just side shaved but it's Jay.

Although, what's weird is that when I showed my face, Jay didn't seem to react the way I expected. It's like he doesn't… recognize me… Oh no, don't tell me.

"Jay, do you recognize me?" This can't be happening. No, this cannot be happening.

My heart sank as I stared at Jay. His words echoed in my mind, cutting through me like a cold blade. "No, why would I recognize someone I just met? And why are you calling me Jay? My name's Malik. Get it through your head."

The realization hit me like a tidal wave, Jay had lost his memories. All the shared adventures, the laughter, the struggles we faced together… vanished from his mind as if they never existed. How could this happen? How could fate be so cruel?

I fought to keep my composure, trying to process what I was witnessing. I had to stay strong, for both of us. But inside, I was crumbling, torn apart by the knowledge that my best friend no longer knew who I was.

"Malik," I whispered his new name, testing the sound of it on my lips. It felt strange and foreign, a stark contrast to the name I had known him by for so long, Jay.

I remembered how he once revealed that he was adopted and mentioned his given name, "Jason Malik." I never thought that revelation would lead to this heart-wrenching moment.

I took a deep breath, trying to hide the pain I feel, and finally said, "Look, Malik, I don't know what's going on, but we've been best friends for years. You're not just some stranger I met. There's a bond between us, and I can't let it go that easily."

He gives me a blank stare, and my heart sinks further. But I won't give up. I can't. I won't. I'll show him that we're friends, best friends, that we've been through thick and thin together. Maybe if he sees how much I care, it'll trigger something in him, a glimmer of recognition.

"I know you don't remember me right now, but I promise you, Malik, that's who you are. You're Jay Walker, the ninja with a heart of gold and a penchant for bad puns," I say, hoping to see a spark in his eyes.

Instead, he looks annoyed. "Enough with this Jay nonsense. It's Malik. Just Malik."

It's like talking to a brick wall. He's shutting me out, and it hurts. But I won't let that stop me.

As we continue our conversation, I try to bring up memories, little snippets of our adventures, hoping to trigger something. But each time, he dismisses them, treating them like irrelevant stories. It's like a knife to my heart. Is this how it's going to be from now on? Me desperately trying to reclaim our past while he remains indifferent?

I have to stay strong, for both of us. I won't lose hope. Somewhere within Malik's mind, Jay is still there. I'm sure of it. I'll do whatever it takes to bring him back, to remind him of the bond we share. No matter how long it takes, I'll be here for him.

Because he's my best friend, and nothing, not even this strange twist of fate, can change that.

Almost done

Also, this hurt me(for the first time I cried while writing pain)