A/N: Hey there! So this and the next 2 parts are technically 1 whole chapter, but as I saw how long it was getting I decied to break them up. Part 2 is probably the shortest, but it has the twist. That's all I can say for now until you read it 🤐 Also, sorry about the wild and unpredictable updates. I make no guarantees when I update for two main reasons. One, my life can get really busy and sometimes I just can't write that day. Two, when I post a chapter or part, I literally just finished writing it. Meaning it takes a few days to write the next since it's not prewritten or anything. By the way comment questions for QOTC. This is getting long so I'll wrap it up. Thanks for reading, commenting, and voting!😊

Spar drummed his fingers impatiently on the table in front of him. Suddenly a figure appeared out of the shadows from the light.

“You requested for me?” it said in a raspy voice

Spar turned to face the greeter.

“Yes, I need your skills of shapeshifting.” Spar said

“I can do more than shapeshift you know, but my skills come with a price.” it replied smugly

“We’ll deal with a price after you complete the task, deal?” Spar said

“Deal. Now what is needed for you to be requesting of me?” it say with a wicked smile

“You are going to be my spy.” Spar answered

“Hm.. like the sound of that. What is the job and the plan?” it then said

Spar then explained the plan to the shifter. The shifter smiled and agreed before disappearing into the shadows.

“Now ninja, let's see what you have for this.” Spar said smugly as he moved a piece forward on a chessboard, making a check mate.

******

The ninja arrived back at their home mid afternoon.

“Echo, Jackson? You here?” Jay called out as he helped Cole get Zane onto the deck.

Echo then came out onto the deck.

“Hello.” Echo said bluntly

“Echo your translation worked, we got Zane and Lloyd back.” Jay said cheerfully as he then revealed Zne from behind him.

“Mmk, hey Zane.” Echo said simply

“Hello Echo, where is Jackson?” Zane questioned, clearly seeing that something was amiss

“He left a little bit ago. Said he need some stuff from a village or somethin’. He also said he be back in a couple days.” Echo said plainly, seeming bored with the conversation

“Odd, can you help me out with a project?” Zane asked as he gingerly stood on his own

“Can’t, I have something else I need to do.” Echo stated before he turned on his heel and walked away

“Geez what's gotten into Echo?” Lloyd asked out loud

All of the shrugged, except for Zane who seemed to be deep in thought.

“Zane, want me to patch you up?” Jay asked, hastily changing the subject.

“Yes, thank you. Can you guys plug PIXAL into the bridge please?” Zane asked

“Sure thing bud.” Kai said as Zane and Jay handed off.

The others headed down into the bridge and Lloyd pulled out PIXAL’s drive. He then plugged it into the bridge. The screen went black for a moment before PIXAL then appeared on screen.

“I can move again!” PIXAL said happily as she looked around

“Hey PIXAL.” Lloyd said with a smile

“Hello, where is Zane?” PIXAL questioned

“He took some damage, Jay is fixing him up.” Nya reassured

“Is he alright?” PIXAL asked with grave concern

“Yeah, I think so.” Loriah said, slightly confused by her reaction

Just as Loriah was about to ask something else Zane and Jay came in. Zane looked almost good as new.

“Boy, that was quick.” Cole said in surprise as the two came in.

“Nothing a little welding and rewiring can’t do, righto Zane?” Jay said cheerfully

Zane moved his mouth to speak but no words came out.

“Except for doing that.” Jay mumbled

Zane looked slightly annoyed, but his annoyed look quickly disappeared as he grab a pencil and a notebook. Zane started scribbling out a message. Kai looked over his shoulder and saw a message of 0’s and 1’s.

“Not this again.” Kai said

Jay then saw what Kai had meant.

“Zane do you want me to go get Echo? To you know translate it.” Jay asked

Zane quickly shook his head.

“I am still here you know.” PIXAL said

Zane pointed at PIXAL and then the notebook.

“Ohhhh, I get it. I think.” Jay said

Zane then finished scribbling out his message before he showed PIXAL his message.

“He says that you rewired his voice mod by accident. Zane also says that there is a bigger matter he wants to discuss before it gets fixed.” PIXAL translated

“Nice going Jay.” Kai said, with his words laced with sarcasm

“Well it is as bad as your chirp post Kai!” Jay snapped back before quickly placing a hand over his mouth

Kai looked petrified while Zane looked infuriated. Zane then scribbled out a new message.
PIXAL quickly read it.

“No Zane, I will not tell him that and watch the language!” PIXAL said in a hard tone.

Zane sighed, before he looked at his pencil. He then expertly threw it and it hit Kai right in the center of his nose.

“Youch!” Kai yelped as he then clutched his nose.

“What ‘important matter’ did you want to talk us Zane?” Loriah questioned, trying to change the subject

Zane grinned before he reached into his gi and pulled out a scroll just as Kai gave him back the pencil. Everyone stared at Zane in awe as he set it down.

“You go the map of the stones!?” Cole exclaimed in shock

Zane gave a kind smile before he scribbled out another message.

“Zane says he managed to nick it while he was trapped. He also says that Spar couldn't  ‘unlock’ it.” PIXAL said, reading Zane's message aloud

Lloyd opened the scroll and laid it out. It still read the same message, ‘Only that which is pure may reveal me’. Zane then turned his attention away from the others and started having a quiet conversation with PIXAL.

“Is this maybe why he took Zane's ice?” Lloyd questioned

“Maybe, but what else could be pure?” Loriah countered

“What if we each try touching the map to see if it will do anything?” Jay suggested

One by one each of them touch the map. Nothing happened.

Suddenly a new message scribbled out under the first.

‘I am not an elemental but a trait.’

“Well that leaves out any of our elements.” Kai said

“What else could it be?” Nya asked

“Dunno.” Cole said unhappily

Loriah stood there thinking hard. Suddenly it clicked.

“Guys, what if it means more than just that.” Loriah said

“Go on.” Cole said, trying to follow

“Each of you, name a key trait that makes you, you.” Loriah said quickly

“My inventorism.” Jay said

“My strength.” Cole said

“My determination.” Nya said

“My protectiveness.” Kai said

“My good heartedness.” Lloyd said

“And my peacefulness.” Loriah said

“Ok, I am still not following.” Kai said

“Don't you get it? None of our qualities are as the map says ‘pure’.” Loriah explained

“Go on.” Jay urged

“Meaning that it means that it is something that is always there and never stops.”  Loriah finished

“That's it!” Lloyd said

“Zane!” Jay called over, making him jump

Zane quickly came over.

“Put your hand on the map.” Loriah instructed

“Trust me.” she added, seeing Zane's puzzled look.

Zane did as he was instructed and placed his hand on the map. As soon as he pulled it off, ink began appearing all over the map.

‘Yes, a heart of pure selflessness is what shall unlock me.’ it read before that writing disappeared and a true map took it's place.

They all quickly examined it.

“This is great! Plus look, we are near the Lightning Temple. We can go there first.” Jay said cheerfully

“True, if we go ahead and set the course now we can probably make it there by morning.” Nya said

“I’ll help. Oh and here Zane.” Jay said, as he quickly opened Zane up and rewired him again.

“Thank you Jay.” Zane said with a smile

“No prob.” Jay said before he followed Nya to the control room.

Kai quickly followed after the two stating he want ‘To make sure neither of them is doing any funny business’.

“I need to go sharpen my weapons.” Loriah said before heading off

“I’m headed to go take a shower.” Cole said before he too left

“You should go rest Lloyd, in order to be ready for tomorrow.” Zane suggested

“I guess so.” Lloyd said with a slight shrug

“I thought the all mighty green ninja was invincible? Seems not.” a voice sneered

Zane and Lloyd both looked up to see Echo leaning lazily against the doorway.

“Echo what has gotten into you?” Zane questioned as he slowly stood up

“Nothing, but you wouldn't know what was wrong if it stood right in front of you.” Echo spat back, he eyes gleaming with hate.

“I am cleverer than you think Echo.” Zane said with coldness filling his voice.

“Then if you're so clever, translate this.” Echo snapped back before throwing a balled up piece of paper at.
Echo then stormed off.

Zane quickly read it, since it was again written in binary. He then looked slightly heartbroken and he threw the paper away.

“Lloyd I am headed to my room if you have need of me.” Zane said quietly before leaving Lloyd and PIXAL alone.
Lloyd sighed.

“I’ll see you later PIXAL.” Lloyd said before he headed off to go help one of the others.

***

“Alright, who wants to go get Echo and Zane.” Kai asked as he finished up dinner

“I go get Zane.” Jay offered

“I’ll get Echo.” Cole added

The two then headed off. Cole headed to get Echo and Jay went to get Zane.

“Zane?” Jay questioned as he opened Zane’s door.

He was quick greeted with a shuriken. Jay yelped and ducked just as Zane slammed something shut. There was a thud and the shuriken was right where the top of Jay’s head was.

“Dude!” Jay exclaimed as he then went into the room.

Zane then turned around just as he slipped something under his bed.

“What was that for?” Jay questioned

“Sorry Jay, you startled me.” Zane replied sincerely

“It’s ok. Kai says dinner is ready.” Jay said simply.

“Alright.” Zane said with a shrug

Cole then came in rubbing his shin.

“I don't think Echo is coming down.” Cole said as he winced slightly.

Jay and Cole then headed back downstairs. Zane followed after make sure a silver box was hidden under his bed.

***
Lloyd laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. He just woke up with the pain coming from his injuries, which weren’t fully healed yet. Lloyd rolled over and looked at his alarm clock, which read 12:07 p.m.

Lloyd sighed and pulled himself out of bed. He quietly opened his door, so he could had downstairs to get a cup of water. Tiptoeing and using his stealth he quickly and quietly made his way to the kitchen. He had to hold in his yelp when he found Zane already down they, sitting at the table while laying his head in his arms.

“I had a feeling you would be down here. I made you a cup of healing tea.” Zane said quietly, turning his headed so he could look at Lloyd.

Lloyd spotted the cup on the counter. He got it and then sat across from Zane.

“Thanks.” Lloyd said softly as he slowly drank it. He instantly felt relieved.

Lloyd then noticed Zane started to fall asleep before quickly reopening his eyes.

“I can't be the only reason you're down here. What's wrong?” Lloyd questioned

Zane sat up and looked over at Lloyd.

“Nothing that I can't deal with.” Zane said simply

“You're too selfless sometimes. Zane you can tell me what’s wrong, and we can keep it between the two of us. Kinda like big bro and little bro.” Lloyd said with a smile.

“If you insist. The answer to your question is nightmares.” Zane said

“Nightmares?” Lloyd questioned

It then clicked.

“Oh you mean what happened?” Lloyd then said

“Mhmm.” Zane answered

“Is that why you’ve been falling out of bed frequently?” Lloyd said

“I suppose. I usually just have a cup of sleeping tea, since it isn't as strong on me unless its a heavy dose; but it seems to have disappeared.” Zane said tiredly

“Echo is not making things any easier.” Zane added

“Zane, is it me or is something...off about Echo.” Lloyd asked as he set his cup on the counter.

“There is most definitely something off. He has never acted this way before.” Zane said with a little sadness

“There anything me or the others could do?” Lloyd asked kindly

“No, not for now.” Zane said as he stood up and rubbed his eyes

“If you say so, but just let me know if you have anything going on.” Lloyd said with a slight smile

“Of course.” Zane said

The two then headed back up to bed. Lloyd collapsed into his and managed to peacefully fall asleep.