cole

He was banned from the monastery kitchen for the next forty-eight hours.

Apparently his popcorn making skills were lacking, or in general, any of his cooking skills failed to please his friends. Tuesday's movie night had turned sour in mood and burnt in smell. Partially, okay, all his fault but in his defence how did it not make sense to put three bags in to reduce overall cooking time? Their second week of 'camp' brought nothing more exciting than what they'd already done in the first week, apart from Wu starting to teach them basic defence moves in an ancient Ninjagon art.

Cole stretched along with the others at sunrise in his robe, the black material swishing with him as he switched poses along with Wu's calls.

"With the earth Cole, you are the earth. Draw strength from the ground and use it to your advantage." Cole nodded discreetly in subtle response.

He refocused his efforts into concentrating on the ground beneath him, digging his heels into the powder sand and redoubling his efforts. His mind eventually began to wander as his body fell into a rhythmic pattern. The Archive of Earth and his mother's diary were interesting books to read, but he felt like something was missing. Like there was a key inside of him that needed to be found, then a lock to open and a mystery behind the door.

Training was a strange affair. What they were training for might have given others more incentive, since their future purpose as elementals was a vague haze provided by Master Wu. Cole had wanted to do something about Lord Garmadon, because it seemed selfish to not use these gifts to save lives. But his control over his powers had been wavering lately.

When he'd confronted Wu in concern for an answer, the wise sensei had nodded and gestured around him mystically.

"Your body is adjusting to your powers awakening. The strength and control you have over it will change depending on how it fluctuates. Unfortunately, you have no control over this. I know it is frustrating, I myself was frustrated when my powers first came, and I assure you that your friends are feeling the same."

At least his rock buddies had stopped sprouting, but, being entirely honest, Cole kinda missed dredging up rocks and pebbles wherever he walked. He spent a lot of his spare time free-climbing around the mountain, forming an improv chalk and then belting it to his waist to help him when he climbed. When he'd been younger and the Brookstones travelled out of the city for holidays, climbing was always a fun activity. It helped to keep him focused since he was risking his life, but he enjoyed it.

Two hours after sunrise, Cole snagged a shower and then disappeared into his room to browse back through both books. He was still stuck on Adira's entry. The Earth Archive was thin to sight, but as Cole flipped through it, more and more pages appeared like magic. Cole would have liked to know Adira. She seemed a person of steady reason and was logical in thought process.

Cole flicked through the random pages of his mother's diary and landed by chance on one.

Lily's Diary

He's big for a baby, I must admit, but my stars, he's the light of my life. His eyes come from his father, that's for sure. And with his lungs, Lou will be sure to get him into dancing and singing as soon as he can walk. Cole is a miracle. Our troubles with pregnancy and all gave me no hope, and then...he's perfect. Ninjago City is a big step for us, especially with a baby, but we must get away from him. It pains me that I can't tell anyone else, but if I did, that would put us all in danger.

Secrets, I've found, vary in strength. This one may doom us all or win us victory, but it is the latter which I intend to be our outcome. If I live to see it, anyway. I have been diagnosed with an...unknown illness that has taken root in me after I gave birth to Cole. Luckily, the doctors have identified it early and are trying to find a solution. They have given me an estimate, worse-case scenario, I have seven precious years with my boys.

It seems like a long time, seven years. Cole will be in his first year of proper school, and if Lou's plans for the Royal Blacksmith's take off as projected, their career should be well on their way. I'm going to treasure every second I have with them, it's cheesy, but it's what I have. They're my boys, and I'll never stop loving them.

-Lily

Seven years.

She'd been given seven years to live and Cole had taken them for granted, expecting her to stay very much alive for him.

He shakily closed his mother's diary and leant back against the wall, trying to keep his body from shaking as tears welled in his eyes. She was sick because of him. His mother had died, she'd written in those pages that after she'd given birth to him, she was diagnosed.

"I killed her." he whispered, the realisation stabbing him in the chest. "I...I killed her."

There was a rustle from beside him, and so vulnerable, he ducked under his covers and lay still. A warm body wriggled through the gap, and Cole was face to face with the Smith's little puppy.

"I killed her, Ryu." he finally managed to choke out. "She got sick because of me. I killed her and I didn't even know."

Ryu yawned and snuggled into the crook of his shoulder, ignoring the salty tears slowly trickling down Cole's face. His body stopped reacting to his cries and went numb, the pain slipped away and Cole went numb.

Sometimes feeling nothing hurts more than feeling everything.

pixal

She gave the pot two quick stirs with the chopstick and watched carefully to make sure the pasta was cooking properly. Her chin jutted over Zane's shoulder as she stood on a kitchen stool to peer at the sauce simmering on the stovetop. The corner of Zane's lips lifted in a soft smile, eyebrows in hopeful request and Pixal handed him the spatula with a laugh, poking him in the side so she could drain the pasta.

Spirals, because half of them were basically kids and spirals were the most voted for. The big saucepan had enough to feed all of them, twice over, and the sauce was homemade by Pixal and Zane. Jazz hummed softly in the background, the small kitchen bathed in warm light. The hanging plants created by Nya and Lloyd in a burst of inspiration curled down from the ceiling, snaking down to the windowsill.

Dinner eventually finished as everyone hooted in laughter at Zane's now-iconic apron, washing and cleaning up while tripping over each other. Only Cole was missing, but the silence when Lloyd had knocked on the elemental's door served enough as an answer. Zane persuaded Pixal to join him in the kitchen for late night cinnamon roll baking, and she sat at the kitchen table methodically rolling cinnamon roll logs, her fuzzy-sock covered feet propped up underneath the table on Zane's knees. Once all the pans were in the oven, Zane picked up a crocheting project and Pixal carefully continued shaving curls off an Amnestone rock.

She switched it out for helping Zane with the glaze for the rolls, the lights from the living room flashing through the paper doors brightly as the nightly video game contest continued loudly. Thursday night was just like every other on their little holiday, except Pixal and Zane surprised the others with baked goods and then proceeded to crush the other duos with their analytical gameplay.

Pixal went to bed that night with a smile on her face.

It was strange how the best things ended so quickly. Friday and Saturday whipped past so quickly Pixal hardly felt like she appreciated their two week trip to the monastery properly. Everyone had changed since their arrival. Kai, Nya and Lloyd solidified as the sibling trio, nicknaming themselves the Three Musketeers, or, the Three Blind Mice as Jay had snickered. Cole was subdued strangely, retreating to his room and rarely coming out for meals. He only came out for long periods of time to train along with the others.

Pixal had enjoyed the extra time she'd spent with Zane baking and reading in each other's presence, for they did not need words to express themselves. Her relationship with her dad was beginning to slowly rebuild the trust that had been snapped over calls and video calls when she was exhausted after training. Pixal and Skylor were slowly trying to egg Nya on when it became increasingly obvious that Nya had a crush on Jay.

Only three people remained oblivious to the fact that Nya liked Jay. Kai, Nya, and Jay respectively. Despite this, Nya and Jay bickered everyday for some unknown reason, but Nya stubbornly refused to tell anyone except Cole, who Skylor and Pixal had pegged as her wingman. Her thoughts wandered freely as she continued packing her bags on Sunday morning, adjusting everything to fit properly. Ryu momentarily dashed in, his bout of energy had the little puppy dancing around her legs boisterously before crashing out of the door madly.

Loud yelling and laughing followed the little puppy's race through the corridors as Pixal carried her bags to the minivan. She let out a hoarse mixture of a laugh and a sigh at the messy pile of bags heaped beside the boot of the van. Sorting through everything, she packed the van with a meticulous eye to save space. Wu chased everyone out, handing them a packet of biscuits and a tumblr of Amnestone tea for the journey ahead and locking the monastery gate behind them.

Pixal cast one last look up the mountain to where one could see the gold of the arch peek over the top, smiling fondly at the memories before sliding into the minivan and popping in her headphones, handing the other ear to Zane and tearing an old cinnamon roll in thirds to share with the girls.

They stopped at Jamanaki again for a shorter visit to wander about and do some stretching, hopping back in the van for the rest of the ride after a toilet break. Pixal made a mental note that the Amnestone tea encouraged frequent urination as the cost. Luckily Pixal didn't have to drink it, as they had to stop several times to let Ryu out in a safe area and to use the toilet.

It was about four in the afternoon when they rolled into the centre of Ninjago City. Jay claimed he was taking the bus back to his house, Lloyd, Nya and Kai were walking home, and Skylor was getting picked up, with Cole and Zane taking the bus back to their respective house. Pixal waved and hugged everyone goodbye when Master Wu pulled her aside, a hastily hidden troubled expression flitting across his face.

"Master Wu?"

"Pixal, I will be going away for several weeks to find something that can defeat my brother. He plans to take out the Emperor and the Empress when he has the forces, and when the elemental he has is trained properly. I need you to continue giving everyone tea and training them in exercises, as well as their basic defense moves. I can trust you, but you must promise me that you will continue this."

"Yes, of course, Master Wu." her brows furrowed in confusion. He talked about the trip like he wasn't coming back.

He released a relieved breath, his hand clasped over his heart. "Thank you. I will not be in school tomorrow, but a new history teacher is coming. His name is Vance Spirdon, and you must trust him." Wu shuddered and a hand crept up to where his scar lay. "He is a double agent for the Sons of Garmadon and has been feeding me essential information so I could time this trip correctly. Trust him, and all will be well."

"I will, Master Wu."

Vance Spirdon, she mused to herself as she set off for Borg Tower. All will be well.

All will be well.

jay

"Ma? Pa? I'm home!"

"Jay!" choroused two familiar voices, arms crushing him in a hug.

"How was the trip Jay? Did you pack enough underwear? My, you look a little thin, let me go heat up that—"

"Ma, I'm fine." He grinned, checking over his parents quickly. Everything seemed the same. "How were you guys? Pa, did you get any new cars since, oh, the last thirty minutes since I've called you?"

Edna patted his cheek lovingly, ushering him inside. Ed handed Jay a sketch pad and gestured to a cluttered pile of parts at the doorstep of the trailer.

"I drafted up some designs for your wing lifters, but I think it's best if ya look over summa the measurements since I swear you've grown since we last saw you."

Jay chuckled and sat down at the table, legs swinging as he examined the notes.

"No, they all seem pretty good Pa." His gaze landed on the tall stack of mail in the floating cubby. "Any mail for me?"

Edna hummed as she sorted through the stack. "Oh yes, I remember seeing this one. From that Fritz Donnegan fellow, whose car we fixed. You remember him, Jay?"

Fritz Donnegan. Jay numbly took the envelope from his mother, staring at the neat print. Had he found out about the videos?

"Thanks." he murmured, standing up and heading for his room on autopilot. "I'll...yeah."

His fringe fell into his eyes before he swiped it away, still petrified at the name on the front, the stamp and the address, and even more scared about the contents. Because Fritz freaking Donnegan had mailed him and there was absolutely no connection between him and the moviestar except his fanboy self and those videos. Jay hadn't posted on that account since his last video, but his likes, shares and following had grown like he'd bought a follower bot or something.

"Come on Jay, you can open it. It's just an envelope, what's it gonna do? Bite you?' he laughed to himself and then grimaced. Three, two, one, and open! He quickly slid his finger under the flap and extracted the paper within it, unfolding it clumsily with his eyes squeezed close.

Jay paused unsurely for a beat, and then snapped his eyes and the letter open, scanning it quickly while his heartbeat beat a sharp staccato with every breath.

Dear Mr Walker,

On behalf of Mr Donnegan, I am writing to you about the videos you have posted on the social media app TikTok. Two of these videos have gone 'viral' and gained you a noticeable amount of followers and a presence on social media. Despite your short-lived success, I'm afraid to say that you have broken the contract signed by your parents, Ed and Edna Walker upon accepting our request of signing a NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Mr Donnegan will be calling you on Thursday at 4:00pm CNT (Central Ninjago Time) to discuss this matter.

Kind regards,

Michelle Rezzerstan,

Secretary to Fritz Donnegan,

Donnegan Cinematic Studios (DCS)

"Oh...I fucked up." Jay moaned, falling back onto his bed. "Fritz Donnegan wants to talk to me." Then he bolted upright. "Fritz Donnegan wants to talk to me!"

His very loud conflicting thoughts were arguing as to whether this call was a good or bad thing, but it ultimately meant that he, Jay Walker, would be talking to his childhood (and current) hero, and what could be more pog than that?

o o o

Time can either crawl or naruto run depending on how good the week ahead would be.

Jay found that this week was a strange mixture of both. On Monday morning, they'd had an assembly run by the Vice-Principal to announce their new sub-history teacher to Ninjago High. Jay took note of that, since he had History last period and Mr Spirdon looked fairly relaxed and likable, a paper coffee cup crushed in one hand and his hair ruffled.

Jay's quick judgement was proven right. By lunch time, the whole school was raving about the new teacher, and Jay was amused at the small collection of fangirls he'd collected. His mind kept crossing back to the letter and their little trip, which, surprisingly, few questioned them about. He walked into History, subtly shocked at how the desks had been cleared to the very back of the room in neat rows. There was a large rug on the floor with big circles, and low rap music in the background.

Mr Spirdon had his feet kicked up on his desk and fell off abruptly when Jay walked in.

"Hey kiddo, you're early," the teacher glanced at his watch, still on the floor. "Wait, no, my watch is just behind on time. Leave your bag on a desk and come sit on the floor and we'll wait for the rest of the pack to come in."

Jay did as instructed, sitting down awkwardly and staring at the blank whiteboard.

"So uh, how come you're coming in so late in the year?"

"Your other history teacher left." Mr Spirdon climbed back onto his chair and took a large chug of coffee. "Did you not notice?"

"Oh. Right, sorry 'bout that Mr Spirdon."

Said teacher wrinkled his nose. "Just call me Vance. How was—"

"Ayyyyy, Mr Spirdon!" boomed Chad, strolling into the classroom with his cronies flanking him. "Hope you weren't getting bored to death by that crime-dealing jaywalker over here."

Mr Spirdon remained silent for a beat and then looked back at Jay with a devious smile. "Can you show these kind, generous, unique, sophisticated, talented, humble men what to do, Jay?"

Jay grinned back. This new teacher seemed pretty cool.

A/N: BNWRUGBOU WE HIT 80K WORDS ON THIS CHAPTER POGS IN THE COMMENTS. AND POG WE ALSO HIT 200 PAGES DOUBLE MILESTONE BABY. Okay, I know cole's part is short, but bich, we gotta get that angst in there huh? Someone please draw pixal and zane in a cottage core kitchen with them like baking cinnamon rolls or something and zane in pink apron and yes pelase. Now you're thinking, damn, this is a shit chapter, and yes, my readers, i agree totally. I changed pov's so many times but like PICKING SHIT UP I WALWAYS FWFNIWONFUEWNUO.

Also yes i had to do that to cole. Did i plan it? No siree. I have a one week break in which i will be churning out as much writing as possible to get ahead, so, cheers!

i'd also like to say thank you so much for 4k reads! i don't think it was that long ago i was saying thank you for 3k...and it's just insane. i can also confirm next chapter has got one of the plotlines rolling, so...thank you all so much!

-dommie out