Each day I tirelessly worked on my mural. Everyone found out after Cole came to help, and this everyone always came to help. It was actually really fun considering how chaotic it was with everyone in my tiny little room.

"Kai, watch your foot! You're standing in my paint!"
"Move it zaptrap I have to fix that leaf."
"Hey, Zane? Could you pass me the blue?"
"Ah Shoot! I may or may not have kicked over the paint..."
"Kai!"
I just sighed and went with it every time. Crowded as it was, we made it work.

In a few days, it was finished. Granted, I had to clean up quite a few areas when the boys weren't around (sh don't tell them!).

And life continued this way. Wu's nephew moved in (he was a brat at first and then he grew up and now he's so sweet), something with a giant snake, an Overlord (that's a really cool really scary name. I'd have that name if I was a bad guy), and Garmadon became good again (he's like my second dad now. I love him).

The past few weeks, the ninja have been on a crazy big mission. Something about "the Overlord returning" or something. I don't know, I was just told to stay in the Bounty.

"Jay you don't get to tell me what to do!" I complained, eyes narrowed.

"Y/N don't. I told you, I told you you could get hurt! And I-" my brother looked away and closed his eyes, tight. "-I can't lose you. I almost lost you once. If any of us are going to get hurt, I would rather it be me!"

"I just want to help..." A whine escapes my lips and I ran my hands through my hair. Darn it, big brother.

"You can help by staying safe."

Sigh. And so I was left, again.

I made sure to lock the door this time. No fires. Not this time.

I danced around the ship, cleaning and organizing. It wasn't my favorite thing to do, but it took up some time. I took to cleaning my room. The mural covered the biggest wall, and a soft blue gray the others. My bed was pushed against the far wall, draped in a muted tan. I had pictures taped on the white headboard of my bed, one of Jay and I laying upside down off the sofa in our house, taken by Ma herself. I love that picture. It just shows my big brother being silly and being the big brother I love.

A smile crept across my face.

The next was one of Cole, Lloyd, and I. Cole has hoisted me up on his shoulders, my arms stretched to the sky to the rain that was coming down. Lloyd stood beside us, in his little yellow rain boots and green umbrella, jumping in a puddle and splashing Cole in the process. A perfectly timed picture, I would say.
One of Kai and Jay when they stole my camera and took a picture making silly faces. Zane stood in the background of one utterly confused.
One of Nya and I when we had our pancake making competition. She won.
One of Zane standing in front of our mural covered head to toe in paint.
One of Sensei Wu, the team, and I sitting on the edge of the Bounty as the sun set behind us.
And the last one.

One of me pulling all of my friends, all of them, faces squished together as we smiled for the picture. We were all so happy.

And as I smiled and laughed, remembering all the fun times I had with the friends who had become my family, a lock clicked and in they shuffled.

My eyes lit up, and I shot from my bed and into the kitchen where they had sat.

"Well welcome back! How did it-..." I cut off abruptly.

Everyone turned to look at me, faces sopping wet with tears.

Wait.

"Where's Zane?"

My brothers breath hitched and a few gasps and shutters echoed in the silent room. My gaze was avoided.

Tears threatened to spill. No.
"No no. He can't- guys tell me! No. He's just gone. We're gonna get him back, right? Jay?" I looked to my brother, but nothing. My best friend. "Nya? Please?"

"He's dead. He's dead, Y/N. He died to save us all."

The tears found their way out, and I fell to my knees.

No.

I lumbered into my room, days later. Numb. Someone could've shot me, and I don't think I would've felt it.

My eyes were glued to the floor and a whimper caused me to look up.

There sat Cole. His back against my bed as he stared at where Zane signed his name on our mural. Tears stained his cheeks, and continued to flood his face as he wept silently.

This was Cole. Big strong Cole, who kept all of us up.

And here he was crying.

Because around his shoulders was draped Zane's old ninja gi.

The same tears I had been crying the past week returned, like an old habit you can't quite break.

"I miss him..." A hoarse whisper came from Cole as I slid down beside him.

"I know." Choking on the words, I was forced to swallow. "I miss him too." My hand found his, and he clenched it as if it was his life support.

And maybe it was.