(When the five ninjas follow the mysterious falcon into the woods, they stumble upon a hidden workshop where Zane learns the secret about his past.)

Season One: Episode Seven
Words: 1.5k

"Jeez," I say watching the clock pass ten minutes. Zane comes swimming up, "I broke the record?"

"You destroyed it," Kai says showing him the clock. "Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking," Jay asks, "we've been training for so long, I don't think we can get any better. Just think about all we've accomplished," Jay says as Cole and I flip around each other.

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I stood in a bright room with Sensei. My wrist guards were on and my mind was focused. I breath in and let smoke travel among my arms, and around the room.

It starts to get thicker as I focus and lift my arms. The room turn dark as I tighten my fists. I open my eyes feeling my powers excel.

"Nice," Sensei says, "you've almost got it."

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"The question is, have we reached our full potential?"
We all walk to where Sensei is, the boys bragging about how many pushups they do. I freeze as the boys keep talking interrupting Sensei.

I bow along with the boys as they stop, "our apologies, we've interrupted you."
"I'm sorry I've been so distant lately. My mind has been elsewhere since Lloyd has gone missing."
I pat Sensei on the shoulder knowing how he feels, "what can I help you with," he asks.
"Sensei," Cole starts, "What if we've done enough training? What if we've reached our full potential? What is we're ready?"

"You might have reached peak physical condition, but you've yet to reach your inner potential. In each and everyone of us, there are obstacles that hold us back. Only when you conquer that fear will your heart be free. Only then will you reach your true potential. Only then will you have a fighting chance to stop the Serpentine from releasing the Great Devourer."

"There's more to the Great Devourer than you've lead on, isn't there Sensei?"
"Yes, there's a story I've never told you."
We all crowd around listening to Sensei.

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"So the Great Devourer turned your brother into the dark lord," Kai asks as Sensei finishes the story.
"You five have finished your training. You must now focus on stopping Pythor from collecting the four Fangblades. But never lose focus on the obstacles that lie within each of your hearts that holds you back from true greatness. Unlock your full potential," he says putting the katana back into its case.
"How are we supposed to do that?"

"It is up to each of you to discover," he walks away from us, "now I must go on a personal journey of my own."
"Where are you going," Jay asks.
"To a place you cannot follow, I am going to find someone who can be of aid to helping Lloyd. The Serpentine have united and grown stronger and we need all the help we can get."

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We all say goodbye to him at the edge of the ship, "Sensei please don't get my dad," I pull him close and whisper he looks to me and walks away making me slump.

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"This is silly," Zane says looking at the missing Fangblade poster Nya is putting up, "Do you have any better idea," Cole asks.
"Wait, maybe Sensei is gonna go get the Samurai for help," Jay says making me freeze.

"T-the Samurai," I stutter.
"I'm sure she's - I mean he's busy looking for the Fangblades as well," Kai says.
Cole raises his eyebrows suspiciously, "uh, is everything alright?"

"Yeah yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"
"One hundreds percent. We're not hiding anything."
"Yup, What they said."

"Maybe I should teach you a lesson on manners," a man says as Zane drops all the posters.
"I'm sorry, sir. Sometimes our friend is in another world."
"He littering all over the place his says angrily, "don't worry we'll pick I up," I say as the others help pick the papers up.
"Zane, what's the deal," Jay says.

We see Zane staring at the falcon, "oh my gosh, it's the falcon. Every time we follow it, it leads us to good fortune," Jay says running off with the others.

"Head back the the Bounty and wait till you hear from us," I hear Kai say to Nya as I run off, following the falcon.

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"Keep going. I'll, I'll catch up later," Jay says sitting on a rock pile, panting.

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"I'm good. Just - just taking a breather," Cole says panting as he lays on the log, "uh, I'll meet up with you shortly."

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"Hey, uh, Zane, Kai I'll wait for the others. Just need a small break," I pant heavily laying on the floor. "Good thing we're in peak physical condition," Kai says running off with Zane.

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The others have caught up to me and we've just reached Kai and we're walking into this tree thing.
"Zane," Kai calls as we make our way down the steps, "Zane what wrong," I ask as he's on the floor at the bottom of the steps.

We all rush to him.
"Are you hurt?"
"You okay?"
He sighs before handing us a piece of paper. He then goes to his stomach, and opens it?
"Woah, what," I ask as the others gasp, "you're a robot?"

"All this time and I never knew," he says.
"Uh, guess this explain why you're always acting weird." I smacked Jay for saying that.
"The reason I never had a sense of humor was because my funny switch wasn't on," he flips one of the switches and starts dancing wildly.

"Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal," he starts singing. Me and Jay starts laughing with the others don't look amused, shutting us up.

He sighs as falls to the ground, "Come on Zane," I say.
"It just makes you more special," Cole says," you're still the same Zane. Just more gears."
"No matter what you're made of, you're still out brother," Kai says.
He looks up to us, "in fact, I bet it makes you an even better ninja," Cole says, "yeah, and how cool it's it to honestly say: my brother is a nindroid," Jay says to which the others ask what a 'nindriod' is, "what about you (y/n)," Zane's looks to me.
"I wouldn't have you any other way," I say making him smile.

"Now come on. Pythor is still out there looking for the first Fangblade and we need you," Cole says.
"You'll have to go on without me. I just don't feel right."

We all sigh and start leaving, "we just have to give him time. I don't know how I would feel if I told I was a robot," Kai says and Jay corrects him making me roll my eyes playfully.
"How the heck do we get out of this place," Cole asks.

In the distance I hear a low growl, "What was that?"
"Did you see that," Cole says as I slip on my hood. The trees are moving, "last time I checked trees don't move."
"Treehorns," they all surround us.

We all run to attack. I throw balls of darkness at their feet knocking them down but too many surround me. They kick my stomach and trap me, "there's too many," I groan loudly.

I try to get free but another one just kicks me and I fly into Cole. I yelp as another collides into my stomach. Suddenly they're all off of me and I run to help Kai up as Zane takes them all.

We all get together as the surround us once more, "Ninja go."
I sound around hitting the feet of the treehorns and knock them down.
I get knocked back by one but Jay catches me. I raise my hands letting darkness spread around me, "Are they regrouping," Jay asks seeing them come together.
Who's that," I ask seeing a huge one, "the queen," Zane answers.

"You will not hurt my friends," he yells, "there is nothing holding me back. I know who I am,"  he says and as a huge beam on light surrounds him as he spins his weapons.
"What's happening to him?"
"Zane's unlocked his true potential."

Zane spins around the queen scaring her and shoots a beam of ice towards the queen freezing her, the others run away.
He falls to the ground, "what happened?"

"That was awesome!"
"You should've seen yourself."
"I've never seen anything like it."
"Good job Zane," I pat him on the back.
"This must be what Sensei meant about unlocking our hearts," Zane says, "I remember now. I remember everything," he slips off his hood, "I remember my father and how he cared for me. I remember where I came from. And I feel stronger knowing."

"Holy crap," I say, "I'm so jealous. His powers are so cool," Cole says. We all cheer, "Watch out Pythor. We're coming to get you."