Ed Sheeran - I See Fire

Prepare as we will

Watch the flames burn auburn on

The mountain side

Desolation comes upon the sky

—

The ninja's training was in full swing with the training equipment up and ready. Jay had his Nunchucks of Lightning out, whipping them around while doing some tricks with his Weapon. Watching them from the side, you sat on a chair, sipping some (f/d).

Cole flipped over the Lightning Ninja, turning and hitting one of the dummies on the training carousel in the chest with his Scythe of Quakes. Kai then whirled into Spinjitzu, going around half of the courtyard. Zane was by himself in his spot, sitting down with his head bowed and his hands clasped together, seemingly while thinking.

The Ice Ninja's eyes opened as he lifted his head, jumping up and landing near Jay before jumping again, landing near Cole and stealing his Scythe, slicing through a dummy's neck on the training carousel. Whirling into Spinjitzu, the ground beneath and around him turned to ice as he whirled around the courtyard, turning parts of it into his element.

With Kai still spinning, the Porcupine landed on the freshly ice-coated ground, slipping out of his Spinjitzu and landing on his back. Kai got up, careful not to make the same mistake twice as he walked to Cole and Jay, who looked over at Zane with intense glares.

''This roof isn't big enough for the four of us,'' Kai told the other ninja, irritated.

''Correction: This roof isn't big enough for him,'' Cole replied, just as irritated.

''It's like he's in his own world,'' Jay said, then looking at the Ice Ninja as he raised his voice a smidge. ''I bet he can't even hear us!'' Zane, as expected, did not respond, instead, he threw a Shuriken forward, then jumped on the spot as he spun mid-air.

Wu then approached the three disturbed ninja.

''Sensei, Zane's... weird.'' The Fire Ninja told his Sensei.

''What is weird? Someone who is different or someone who is different than you?'' The Sensei questioned.

Cole shook his head. ''No, Sensei. He's "weird" weird.''

While Cole was minding his own business in the bathroom reading a newspaper, Zane walked in, grabbing a comb to brush his hair, not noticing the Earth Ninja.

Embarrassed, Cole shouted. ''Do you mind?!''

Jay sat in front of the tv, with Nya and Zane on either side of him. Nya and Jay were sobbing as they watched the movie.

''Goodbye, my darling.'' The man on the tv sombrely said to his lover.

Zane burst into laughter, causing the other two to glare at him.

Kai walked to the fridge in the night to grab a snack for himself, only to be greeted with the sight of Zane sitting inside the fridge clutching a sandwich in his hand when Kai opened it.

''Ahh! Holy bologna!'' Kai yelled in surprise.

''I'm sorry. I consumed the last of the deli meat. Cheese?'' The Ice Ninja offered, holding out the piece of cheese.

You sighed, listening to their stories, looking over. Zane then bowed to a training dummy, hitting his head on it in the process, its arm hitting him back on the head.

''We like the guy. He's really smart. He's just...'' Kai tried finding the words to think, sighing. ''...a little off sometimes.''

Wu side-eyed the platinum-blond ninja. ''Zane is a brother and brothers are often different. I should know.'' He added the last part quietly.

A few minutes later, a loud gong chime came from the front door to the monastery.

''Mail!'' Kai, Jay and Cole cried out collectively, running excitedly to the door. With a roll of your eyes, you began to heave towards the group but soon found yourself helped along by Nya, who you quietly thanked.

The Postman panted, placing his mailbag on the ground. ''Let's see. A letter from Jay's parents.'' The Lightning Ninja grabbed his. ''Kai has a fan letter.'' The Fire Ninja grabbed his. ''(Y/n) has two letters... and oh, something from Cole's father.'' The Postman handed over the respective letters.

''What, no package? I'm expecting something from Creatures, Beasts, and Beyond.'' Cole told the Postman, disappointed.

''No. Nothing from...uh-uh.'' The Postman dug through his bag before pulling out a box. ''Here it is!'' He handed it over to Cole.

''Ha! Rocky's gonna love this!'' Cole said with a smile before running off.

While Zane walked along, dragging his feet as he went. He glanced in your direction while you looked down at the pair of envelopes in your grasp, deciding which one to open first. One of them had a silver eight faintly printed on the back, along with the usual seal.

''Hey, Zane. How come you never hear anything from your parents?'' Jay inquired.

Zane stared ahead blankly for a moment, seemingly in thought. ''I don't remember my parents. I've been an orphan all my life.'' He plainly stated.

Kai and Jay glanced at each other. ''You mean you've never had a home?'' The Fire Ninja questioned.

Timidly, Zane shook his head.

''The Monastery is your home now,'' Wu told him.

The Ice Ninja turned, walking away while the others watched. You had only just looked up from your still unopened letters, seeing him go. Nya looked down at you as you did, silent.

Ripping open the first envelope, the one with the seal, instead of the usual writing that was expected you found yourself looking at a page with an area specifically clumped with words, this time not a scrawl across the page.

Your mother didn't seem too happy this morning. I asked her what was wrong but she didn't tell me all the details she knew. I thought it was your Star Ball thingy majig but she was quick to deny that was the problem. In other news, your first appointment is to-

You squinted slightly as a mauve-coloured mark like a water splotch on the page cut off that part of the sentence. Guess your father was being clumsy once again. From what you could deduce, he meant to say today was when it was supposed to happen. Or some time near that, at least. A random w sat on the right side of the paragraph.

Opening the other letter, it was somewhat different, half the words were written in cursive at the start, the rest in unkempt writing that dripped more ink than it should've down the page.

Dear b####, (The rest of the word had been scribbled out).

Wherever you are, I hope you're doing okay.

P.s, Mum made me write this

Love, ur sister

Cami

Snorting, you threw the letter behind you, looking ahead, holding onto the other letter you received. ''Sibling ''love''...'' You muttered. Nya then helped you get back inside.

—

Sitting at the table, the group ate.

''Mmm, oh, I love it when it's Zane's night to cook!'' Jay told the others, stuffing some food into his mouth.

''Same here.'' You grinned, grabbing your favourite food and stuffing it in your mouth as well.

''Hey, I didn't hear any complaints about my duck chowder last night,'' Cole replied, looking around the table.

''That's because it glued our mouths shut. You really thought Jay was speechless all throughout dinner?'' Kai questioned the Earth Ninja.

Jay folded his arms. ''Yeah. Please don't make that again.''

Zane opened the shoji screen sliding door as he entered, holding a plate with a cooked turkey on it. As soon as you looked his way, you caught sight of the pink apron he wore. A small smile appeared on your face.

''Dinner is served.'' The Ice Ninja placed the turkey down. The others stared at him, there was silence for a moment before most of those at the table erupted into laughter. Zane, confused, looked around, his eyes briefly meeting yours. You grumbled at their reaction, waiting for the laughter to die down. But Zane didn't.

''What's so funny?'' Zane questioned.

''Zane. You're wearing a...-'' Nya started with a few giggles, but you nudged her side before she could continue.

''You laugh because I take steps to ensure I'm clean after cooking?'' The Ice Ninja asked, walking to the head of the table to look at the others.

Kai laughed. ''No, we laugh because you came out wearing that ridiculous outfit!''

''I guess we don't share the same sense of humour,'' Zane replied, giving a small shrug in response.

''Well, how about this?'' Cole asked, throwing a plate full of prawns right into Kai's face, laughing afterwards. Everyone but you and Zane laughed, while Wu got up from his spot, going around to where he headed to the Earth Ninja.

''How could you not find that funny?'' Cole questioned the Ice Ninja. Wu then dumped a bowl of soup onto the Earth Ninja's head. ''Ah!'' Kai laughed at his expression.

The Sensei put his hands on Cole's and Zane's shoulders, looking over to the Ice Ninja as he then winked at him. ''Now you are brothers.''

A food fight broke out, so you attempted catching food in your mouth so Zane's cooking wouldn't go to waste. It was a shame how much of it ended everywhere that wasn't a plate.

While Zane stood nearby, some of the food ending up on his apron, observing the commotion with a blank expression on his face.

—

Laying on your bed after dinner, the skies still light out, you had decided to do some drawing. On your bed.

Pencil in hand, your hand drifted across the paper, some of it bunching up where you had by accident rested your elbow on it. Drawings of home, of the willow tree near the cliff, of a forest where you used to play hide n seek with friends.

A shiver passed through you as some of the bad memories returned, you pressed the pencil to paper, using a stick figure as a base to go off from, doing a few that were going to be the ninja.

Grabbing an eraser, you rubbed out the simple lines, slowly drawing more complex ones over them. The door creaked, and you turned your head, pencil in hand, spotting Nya at the door with a smile.

''What do you need, Nya?" You questioned with a small smile in return.

''Wu and I are going to get the others, do you want to come?" Nya asked, leaning on the door frame a bit. Disappointed by the letter your father sent, you frowned.

''Sorry, but I've got a doctor's appointment today, 'spose they'll come over where mum knows where I am.'' You told her, bowing your head slightly. Nya rubbed the back of her neck, averting her gaze.

''Okay then,'' She nodded, turning and disappearing from view.

A bit of time passed as you continued drawing, filling the page with all sorts of things, not all in refined form but you were sure to do that later. First up, a drawing of Nya, her smile the one thing you worked the most on. Next was Jay, with lightning arcing around him.

Then it was Zane with a bird on his shoulder. You had no idea where that came from.

Lloyd Garmadon, with a green swirl behind him.

The fox tail surrounding the clock face, the seal on every letter your mother and father sent. Moreso on your mother's letters.

A small silver snake that could fit on your shoulders, with a dark pattern running along the spine of his serpentine self. A familiar friend.

The infinity symbol you saw back at the cliff.

Cole, with Rocky and his Scythe of Quakes.

Along with many other scribbles that made up the page, along with cornflower blue four-pointed stars that you absentmindedly scribbled. The gong-like chime from the doorbell jolted you out of your drawing session. Begrudgingly, you crawled out of bed, doing what you could to make this less painful for your still functioning arms, to where you were at the front gate of the monastery.

''Come in!'' You shouted. The gate opened.

A man who seemed to be in his late 20s, with thick short brown hair and pale grey eyes as well as lightly tanned skin, looked around the monastery's courtyard before turning his gaze down at you, wearing a worn traveller's cloak with stitched-on patches of fabric here and there, an eight on one of them.

''First of all, you shouldn't be dragging yourself around.'' He started dryly, walking off to grab a chair and placing it in front of you. Groaning, you pulled yourself up onto it as he waited. Once you were seated, he knelt, inspecting your practically useless legs. ''I'll call to see if your mother can pay for a wheelchair. It seems like it's the only thing I can do about your situation.''

''And what about my legs?" You asked hopefully. You could've sworn a corner of his mouth was starting to raise a bit but he turned away before you could decipher his expression. He shook his head, muttering something about ''skipping leg day one too many times''.

His face then turned serious.''I am sorry, but with your state, it looks like you won't walk on two legs again.''

It felt like you took a mallet to the chest.

—

Hopeless, you had rebelliously crawled back to your room, then onto the bed, tears stinging your eyes. Choking on each breath that you held back, you let it all out once you were sure you were alone.

It was all so unfair.

A hand grabbed at the sheets, tugging with all its might. Tears dripped down your face, silently screaming your internalised agony out. You then stared down at your drawings. The infinity symbol from the cliff stared back as you unclenched your fist, letting go of the sheets. For a moment, it was silent. You had no idea why you were suddenly fixated on the drawing.

Then, the pungent smell of smoke entered your lungs.

The pungent smell of- smoke? Glancing up, you had to do a double–take as you spotted tendrils of grey smoke curling like the heads of serpents in the rafters, the distant warm light of something else. Fire?

FIRE! You made haste, scooping up your art supplies while being sure to close the book before you hurried with what you had off the bed. A cough started in your chest, however, you couldn't put your hand over your mouth to stop it.

Flames burst into existence as they crackled to life, licking away at the wood. The doc said you shouldn't crawl but here you were, fighting for your life whilst crawling. Screw him anyway. If you followed his word, you'd be toasted in ten seconds flat.

A part of the ceiling crashed down onto where you once lay with a sickening crunch, the bed igniting as the part fell onto it. Eyes widening, you had to drag yourself forward with more force, still foolishly pulling the art supplies with you.

Around and above you, the monastery was collapsing. Still, the flames tenderly licked away at the wood, slowly turning it to ashes. But you were beginning to feel weaker with each pull, half-expecting the next second to be the one where you were crushed under blazing rubble.

The light was up ahead. The exit. You were so close, you could almost imagine the cool, crisp air on your sore skin. You were right at the exit, but with all the smoke inhaled, you began to cough and wheeze for breath as the world in your vision started to spin.

Faintly, as your surroundings began to blur, you spotted a tall blue being with red eyes towering over your vulnerable self, who then reached a scaly hand out. With a flash of silver, the tall blue being was hit, backing away quickly, you tried focusing on the silver being.

But like a stone cast into the water, your mind slipped out of consciousness.

—

The monastery was beyond saving when the ninja arrived on the back of Flame with Wu and Nya, spotting the burning wreckage.

''We're too late! Those snakes.'' Kai told the others, fuming. The dragons cried out for help, trapped in their pens.

Flame landed, and the Earth Ninja jumped off, going down to the pens and releasing the dragons. The others hopped off after him, looking around at the remains of the monastery. The Fire Ninja turned his gaze upward, surveying the extent of the damage. ''Our home.''

Zane guided his dragon to where it flew over a part of the wreckage. ''Shard! Put this out!'' He ordered the dragon, who nodded, flying above the monastery and releasing a barrage of ice to extinguish the flames.

A gasp came from Nya, and the others turned to look, as she ran from where she previously stood, heading to something under charred rubble. She groaned from the strain as she attempted to lift the heavy planks by herself. Cole and Jay rushed over to help, the three pulling the rubble off the person.

And there you were, once more reduced to laying on the ground, eyes closed. Nya's breaths became shallow, eyeing the burns dotting your skin. Some were first-degree, others second-degree, thankfully there were no third-degree burns.

Nya would never forgive herself if that were true. The gentle rise and fall of your chest brought relief flooding through her. Beside her, Cole swallowed the lump in his throat, lost for words. He instead looked away while Jay clenched and unclenched his fists.

''Everything's gone...'' Jay mumbled, then crouched as he looked around, unable to stand the churning feeling in his stomach.

''They stole their staff back,'' Wu told the group.

''What do we do now?'' Cole questioned, finally speaking up. Rocky nudged his side, and he turned to pat his dragon as reassurance.

Kai picked up a small piece of rubble, holding it in the palm of his hand before crushing it as he scowled. His pulse sped, heartbeat pounding when his narrowed eyes landed on Zane, who watched the others blankly.

''If you hadn't followed that silly bird, none of this would've happened!'' Kai shouted, lashing out with a swipe that the Ice Ninja avoided.

''Kai...'' Wu started as a warning to the Fire Ninja.

Jay abruptly rose to his feet, stalking over to Zane. ''No, Sensei, he's right!'' He glared at Zane in the eyes. ''Because of you, all this happened!'' He gestured to the ruins.

''This is a teaching moment. We must learn from this.'' Zane tried to tell the others, however, his words did not sit well with the other ninja.

''..."A teaching moment?" What's wrong with you? Don't you get it?! Everything is gone!'' Cole yelled, stomping up to him.

''Enough!'' Wu called out, the three upset ninja and Nya turning to look at him, the girl still at your side. ''We are all at fault. Zane is your brother. Apologize at once.''

Once they had realised what they said, the three boys went to face Zane with guilty looks on their faces.

''I'm sorry, Zane, I...'' Kai started, but the boy was gone.

''Zane?'' Jay looked around the ruins, not seeing him.

In the distance, a white and light blue dragon soared high above the clouds.

—

What the group could scavenge from the ruins was used to build a makeshift tent, along with a campfire. The group huddled around it, holding onto weird-looking mystery meat on a stick that had to be kept over the fire to slowly cook it.

There was no way you were staying at the ruins, instead, the group decided to stay at another part of the mountains. You were awake, staring at the meat on your stick in silence, inattentive to the conversation the others had.

''Wh-what are we eating again?'' Kai questioned with a shiver.

''Mud newt. Not bad for something that lives underground.'' Cole replied after taking a bite out of his food.

Jay gagged. ''What?'' He spat out the piece of no longer mystery meat. He also threw away his portion. Out of desperation, he chucked a stone forward, it landing in the can. ''Yeah! A new high s-sc-score!''

''Remember, we must be thankful for what we still have.'' Wu reminded the ninja. You absentmindedly frowned at his words.

''What do we have? Our home is gone.'' Cole replied to his Sensei.

''You know, I don't miss our home. What I really miss is Zane.'' Kai told the others, his eyes briefly scanning around the group, his breath hitching in his throat as his gaze landed on you, then averting his eyes.

''Yeah. I miss Zane.'' Jay agreed.

Nya's gaze landed on something in the distance. ''Zane?'' You lifted your head at the girl's mention of the boy, the mystery meat on a stick forgotten.

''Yeah, Zane. You know. White Ninja. The smart, strange one.'' Jay told her as if she'd forgotten the Ice Ninja.

''No.'' Nya then pointed ahead, bringing your and the group's attention to what she pointed out. ''Zane!''

''Zane!'' The group collectively cried out in relief as they were running to him, Nya helping you up and towards him, so you could see the platinum-blond ninja.

Jay sighed in relief with a smile. ''Zane. We're so sorry for everything we've said. We're a team and that means we're all responsible.'' He told the Ice Ninja.

''You don't need to apologise to me.'' The Ice Ninja replied with a small smile.

''But what about all those awful things we said? Isn't that why you left?'' Kai questioned and your gaze shot towards the Porcupine with a short-lasted glare.

''Of course not. I saw the Falcon again and I followed him.'' Zane answered, sending you a worried look with a glance. While the group happily stared at the returned Ice Ninja for a moment.

''That's our Zane,'' Cole spoke, the group then moving in for a group hug which seemed to slightly confuse the boy as he didn't return it. Nonetheless, the gesture was heartfelt.

''We're glad to have you back.'' You finally spoke up with a warm smile.

''Why? Is it my turn to make dinner?'' Zane innocently questioned. The others laughed in response as they backed away to give him space. If you were being honest, you chuckled a bit while they laughed.

''Yes, Zane. We would love for you to make dinner.'' Wu told him after he had finished laughing.

''But I already made it. Come. I want to show you what I've found. I think you will all be pleased.'' Zane informed, beginning to walk away. The group shared confused looks.

Eventually, the group followed the boy out into the Sea of Sand, leaving tracks behind them as they kept going.

Zane stopped behind a large rock that blocked out a majority of the sunlight: ''I can't explain it, but I feel a strange connection with the Falcon. I think he's trying to help show us the path we need to take.'' Turning the corner, ahead was a ship, with a dragon's wooden carved head as the figurehead, with mainly red decorating it, along with some black, some tan-ish yellow as well as white for the sails.

You shifted in your place in Cole's arms to see it properly, who nearly dropped you at the sight of the ship partially buried in the sand.

Zane pointed ahead to it. ''Our new home.'' He announced, the group gasping.

''Do I smell pie?'' Jay questioned.

''Cobbler berry. Oh, and I made myrtle berry and apple and—'' Zane didn't even get to finish, the others racing to the Bounty in the hopes they'd get there first. Cole was in the lead, even with you in his arms. The boy had priorities, and they were concerning food.

Maybe things were starting to change.

Well, I guess this is my contribution to Whumptober, lol. I was busy with exams while this chapter was a W.I.P so there's that.

Plus, I feel exhausted so ima go to sleep before sleep catches up with me.

As always, all of your comments I read with a smile, so please, go wild!

Without further ado,

See ya, Bookworms.

WriterAgreste, over & out!