Chapter Text
With light out of the way, it makes room for darkness. At least that was true for the earth ninja.
Not being grounded anymore by his regular elemental powers, made room for something more sinister, just as ancient.
The first time they lost their powers it was just in the back of his mind, a scratch that couldn't be itched, making him feel like he was starting to levitate off the ground.
It made him feel connected in a whole other way, never fully connected but also never disconnected.
It made him gravitate towards Lloyd every time he laid eyes upon him and he didn't know why.
Of course, he never told anyone especially not Lloyd, he has always been a pretty private person only reaching out for help if it was really necessary.
Luckily the feeling disappeared when their elementals returned when the darkness crept away turning back into a shadow.
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All hope seemed lost when the overlord commenced his victory, and the ninja couldn’t achieve dragon form until they discovered that they weren’t alone, that they all had to sacrifice something, but the ninja the most.
They looked at each other determined, ready to give up this power again, the most powerful they’ve ever been together.
Cole beats himself up in his head for hesitating only slightly, he was afraid and felt a bit greedy, if he could just use this power to get rid of the crystals forming on his body, what if they forever stayed this way, why did they have to sacrifice everything again, while one of them gets to play the ultimate hero.
He glanced one look upwards and saw a small figure barely hanging on for his dear life, the gold of his armor reflecting in his eyes.
As he was watching, the figure slipped and became a victim of gravity.
‘Lloyd’. Rang through his head, and he squinted his eyes in determination, clashing his golden weapon forward.
He felt it immediately, the rush of the chaotic power running through his body for a few moments, before shooting outwards into the sky.
The armor of their new form seemed to crack and fall apart as the crystals rapidly grew, encasing them.
He felt the crystals taking effect on his mind, and that faint itch in the back of his mind had returned.
Before he could question it further, he could feel his subconscious falling deeper within himself, taking a seat as it watched in third person.
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A golden light swept across the sky and destroyed any crystal in sight within its waves.
Cole could feel himself gasping for air the moment the crystals shattered, and he almost fell to his knees as he regained control over his body.
He looked up and felt two arms wrapping around him, followed by more.
“Lloyd!”. Kai then exclaimed before rushing toward him, followed by the other ninjas.
“You did it”. Jay squealed.
“Yeah, but I couldn’t have done it without her”. Lloyd replies and turns his head to look at who he was referring to.
There was Harumi, standing alone and a bit shy, unsure what to do.
Lloyd unwrapped himself from the other ninja and approached her, extending his hand to reach for hers.
Cole stepped up to the other ninja.
“Well, another day in Ninjago city huh?” Kai said.
“You could say that again”. Jay replied.
Zane looked between the two of them while reaching his arm upward and motioning it, trying to simulate the activation of his powers, but nothing happened.
Jay noticed and tried as well.
“Oh well, I’m sure it will be fine, this isn’t the first time we lost them”. Jay said, being optimistic as always.
Cole frowned in worry, the feeling in the back of his mind along with the slight headache returning.
He wonders if he can stay grounded.
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“And that’s the last of it”. Lloyd said as he put the final crate down before opening it up and putting whatever was inside into a display case.
They’ve been tasked with putting the artifacts back where they belonged, in a secure location, now that the city is being cleaned up, and Ninjago slowly makes its way back to being what it once was.
Cole was opening up his last crate as well, he looked inside and his eyes widen when he recognized it, it was the oni mask of hatred.
He stared at it and subconsciously steered closer, before snapping out of it.
He can’t touch it, he would be blown back, only an Oni can.
But that didn’t change the fact that he was mesmerized by it.
Before he even knew it, he was sticking out his arm towards it.
It was magnetic like it called his name.
“Wow Cole, be careful with that”. Lloyd exclaimed when he saw him getting closer.
Cole didn’t seem to register him as he grabbed the mask and lifted it out of the crate.
“Cole no!”. Lloyd yelled and then froze in his tracks, staring wide-eyed at the mask and Cole.
Cole seemed to come out of his daze, as he turned his gaze to Lloyd.
That seemed to unfreeze Lloyd, as he took a few steps towards him again.
“Okay- Cole, listen to me, carefully hand me the mask”. Lloyd said, getting closer.
Cole looked at the mask again and then at Lloyd.
“Slowly, okay?” Lloyd said and reached out his arms towards it.
Cole looked at the mask and stared at it.
“Cole?”. Lloyd frowned.
Lloyd reached out for it and his fingers brushed over the mask as Cole pulled away from him and stepped back.
“Cole, what are you doing?” Lloyd asks, confused.
Cole took one quick glance at the mask, he had to know why, what is his connection, it was too strong, and he wanted to give in, with his element gone, he couldn’t stay grounded.
He brought his face closer to the mask.
“No!” Lloyd cried out and charged up, hitting the mask as it was about to attach itself to Cole.
The mask flew out of his hands, sliding across the floor.
Cole seemed a bit shocked as he turned his gaze toward Lloyd.
Lloyd looked at Cole with wide eyes.
Cole quickly turned and sprinted towards the mask.
Lloyd seemed to unfreeze again and run after him.
Cole was about the grab the mask, as Lloyd slides across the floor, sweeping Cole off balance.
Lloyd quickly got up and grabbed the mask.
Cole grabbed Lloyd his leg and pulled him back.
Lloyd lost balance but still held the mask with him.
Cole quickly climbed on top of Lloyd, locking him in place.
He grabbed the mask tight and tried to pull it out of Lloyd’s hands.
Lloyd held onto it tightly, tugging it towards himself.
“Cole! Snap out of it”. Lloyd said while they were still playing tug of war.
Cole didn’t answer as he continued to take it out of his hands.
Soon Cole began to feel a bit tired, without his elemental powers, he was weaker than normal, while Lloyd seemed to have tons of energy left.
Then a thought crossed his mind, if you can’t beat your enemy, become allies, is one of the things they all learned from master Wu.
Cole gave it all his strength to have a bit more control over the mask, and so he managed to turn the mask around.
Lloyd his eyes widened. “Cole-“. He managed to call out before Cole pushed the mask toward Lloyd with all his might.
Lloyd tried to struggle but the moment it was on his face, he lost control of his limbs.
His arms loosened from the mask, falling to his sides, his head rolled to the side as if he fell unconscious.
Cole was catching his breath while watching Lloyd carefully, he didn’t dare to move.
Everything went silent like time stood still until the mask started to glow, and from the top of it, two golden horns warped slowly into existence, then the gold seemed to infect and spread across the rest of the mask, soon reaching the rest of Lloyd’s body.
Cole seemed to snap out of his daze as he jumped back, watching in fright and horror.
When it reached his arms, two other ones came to exist, while the rest of the gold spread to his legs.
The spreading stopped once it was complete.
Then he moved one of his fingers a little, then his whole hand.
His eyes sprung open, and the mask its eyeholes started to glow purple.
He quickly got up and stared at Cole, before letting out a deafening roar.
Cole still stared in horror, too afraid to move.
Lloyd dared to move closer while letting out animal-like growls.
Once Lloyd stood directly infront of Cole, staring into his soul, Cole did the only thing that he’s never done before.
He broke the first rule of being a ninja, once he lowered himself to the ground, onto his knees.
He hung his head toward the ground.
A ninja has quit, surrendered, waved the white flag.
Lloyd hung over Cole’s figure, sniffing at him before turning away.
Cole opened his eyes and dared to look.
‘Wait, where is he going’. Cole thought and stood up.
Lloyd made his way toward the exit.
“Lloyd!” Cole called, but it was too late, Lloyd was already gone.