Hey, guys! Thank you all so much for the positive reviews and suggestions! Sorry for the long wait, but I'm glad to say that the next chapter is finally up! So, without further ado, I give you Brotherhood: Chapter 6! (all characters belong to the creators of Lego: Ninjago and are not my own).

Chapter 6

Tea, Anyone?

"Where are we headed again?" Cole asked. Jay shivered beside him as they trekked through the icy forest.

"It's cold out here! I want my mittens!" Cole rolled his eyes. Jay may have been older, but he was ten times as whiney as a seven-year-old.

"Patience, Ninja. We'll be there soon."

"But my feet hurt. And my hands are cold!"

"Jay, if you don't shut up right now, I'm gonna punch you in the face."

"Sensei, Cole's being mean to me!"

"If both of you don't stop it this instant, I'll send you both back to the monastery!"

Cole groaned as Jay pouted beside him, crossing his arms like an angry toddler. Jay pouted. Why did he always have to be picked on? It's not like he was trying to be annoying - honest! He just hated the cold.

"Are we there yet?" Cole groaned loudly, his frustration towards Jay reaching it's peak. "What? Do you really expect me to believe that you're enjoying this as much as Wu is, Cole?"

"How can I enjoy anything with you two bickering like children back there?!" The sensei, though he remained forward-facing, got his point across. The boys clammed up, Jay deciding his feet were far more interesting than before, and Cole staring at a nearby dead squirrel as they passed, its crimson blood staining the snow around it. What could have done that?

Their feet left a trail behind them as they walked, the forest engulfing their silhouettes menacingly. An owl hooted in the distance, making Jay jump.

"What was that?" he asked, nerves scattered. Cole rolled his eyes.

"That was an owl, Jay."

"Right. I knew that."

The trio continued their trek into the dark forest, bare birch trees twisting their gnarled limbs outward threatening to pick them off one by one. Jay gulped audibly.

"Sensei, are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Patience, Cole. We'll get there soon enough." Cole huffed. He didn't even answer my question.

"Oh, come on, Cole - it's Sensei Wu! Of course we're going the right way!" Cole shot him a look. Just because Jay had been Sensei's pupil longer doesn't mean that Cole should trust anything either of them said. It was a matter of principle: if they wanted him to trust them, they'd have to earn it.

This is a metal prison.

Cole looked around the dimly lit room; rusted metal walls stretched to the tall ceiling above, keeping the harsh cold of winter outside where it belonged. A rickety old bed sat against the wall, covered in tattered blankets and a stained, flat pillow. Covered in moth-eaten blueprints, a questionable little table stood proudly next to the bed, an old lamp flickering on the surface. Cole grunted; the chairs they were sitting in weren't in better shape. Nor was the bunker's owner...

"Good to see you, Wu."

"And you, old friend." Wu tipped his tea cup to the middle-aged man, returning his kind smile.

"Hey, you got any bread?" Jay asked, lowering his tea. Cole gave him a look.

"Who eats bread with their tea?"

"Uh, I do! It's the only way to drink tea!" Wu cleared his throat, breaking up the glaring contest between the two. He turned to his friend.

"How is Zane? It's been awhile since my last visit." The tinkerer smiled.

"He's a dreamer," he laughed. "Can't get him to come inside." Wu laughed at the apparent joke. Jay cocked an eyebrow.

"Uh, who's Zane?"

"I am Zane. Who are you?" Jay screamed, rocketing out of his seat. Hot tea spilled from his cup, staining his clothes. A shrill noise came from his throat as he ran around the room, waving his arms around frantically as everyone laughed. Jay fumed, stopping to catch his breath.

"Not cool, man! NOT COOL!" Zane laughed from his place behind Jay's chair, struggling to find the words.

"I am sorry, friend. I did not mean to startle you."

"Yeah? Well, say that to my soaked pants!"

"Woah, take it easy, Jay! He didn't mean anything by it."

"NO, YOU TAKE IT EASY, COLE!"

"Both of you, calm down!" Wu ordered. Calming, he smiled apologetically. "I'm... sorry about the mess, old friend." The inventor laughed.

"Oh, no need. I'll get one of my inventions to clean it up!" Cole and Jay shared a look. "Oh, Zane, why don't you get some berries, hm?" Zane bowed respectively.

"Yes, father."

Wu smiled at his retreating back. Smiling mischievously, he looked to Jay and Cole. "Why don't you help him?"

"What?! Oh, no way! He made me spill my tea!" Jay huffed. Turning his head, he crossed his arms across his chest, resuming his angry-toddler look.

Cole sat up. "Sensei, you can't be serious!" Wu's brows furrowed. Sighing, Cole stood. "Come on, Jay. Let's go."

"Humph." Only when the metal door closed behind them did Wu turn to his companion.

"Did you find it?"

Wu noticed the lines on his friend's face but said nothing. Placing his head in his hand, the inventor let out a harsh breath before answering.

"Nothing. I-I've tried everything! I just don't understand it - where could it be?" He sighed heavily as he sat, weary and drained to the bone. Wu saddened as exhaustion covered the former like a shroud.

"Don't worry, old friend. We'll find them."

"I still don't understand why we have to help Cat Boy get the berries." Jay grumbled.

"Um, because Sensei Wu asked us to?"

"So? Now I'm going to be wet AND cold!" Cole rolled his eyes, his weariness starting to show.

"Look: the faster we get the berries, the faster we get to go inside. So, let's just get the berries and get back to where it's warm, okay?"

"AH! Did you hear that?"

"You mean the sound of your girly screams?" Cole smirked.

"No, I mean the rustling sound!"

"Jay, there is no- GET DOWN!" Jay shrieked as Cole tackled him to the ground, smothering him in the snow.

"Would you mind warning me next time?"

"Shh!"

"Don't shush me-" Cole covered his mouth, Jay venting unintelligible things into his hand.

Tall trees leered back at them, their large branches reaching out in the dark. A lonely owl sounded it's call, warning them to leave. Its loud shriek echoed through the trees. Jay froze, silent as the wind rustled the dark trees around them. Looking around, his heart stopped at the silhouette looming in the blackness engulfing them. He screamed, the sound muffled by Cole's hand.

"Jay, will you just be quiet!"

"Mmm! Mmm!" Exasperated, Cole removed his hand.

"What?"

"I said: RUN!" Cole's eyes widened, his head whipping towards the sound of a branch snapping nearby.

"Good enough for me!" Standing, they bolted. Fear clouding his vision, Cole grumbled internally.

This is not how I imagined my Sunday afternoon would go.

Author's Note:

Hey, y'all! I wanted to thank you guys for being so patient. I had a good time writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed it. I'm also happy to announce that I already have an idea for the next chapter, so it should be up soon. And if you're wondering why Jay called Zane Cat Boy, I thought it was be a nice addition to the story. I originally wanted Jay to call him "Metal Brain" or something, but since they don't know he's a Nindroid yet, I went with Cat Boy instead since he snuck up on Jay. Don't worry - Jay won't be resentful for long ;) Well, that's all for now! Byye!