New Allies and Foes

Hope

Malody remembered from Aunt Elana's training that electricity is an element that is in continuous motion. It had been the only element of creation that she had trouble learning and mastering initially. At this point in time, Malody can control Lighting as fluid as Earth which was a shock to her over the years. The rest of the team has been trained by Wu and Garmadon over the years so how they use their powers is different than how Malody uses her powers. Though Malody uses her emotions to make her powers stronger but, her trauma makes it harder. The team has been through trauma themselves but one thing that was different is that they had each other to rely on. Malody only ever had Theon to lean on since the Overlord's return but even then her episodes have been in constant flux. One thing that made everyone turn their heads was that she has been using techniques that haven't been used in generations. "The techniques that Malody has been using are those new or what?" Kai asked Wu and Garmadon. 

"Those techniques that she uses are old ones that haven't been used in generations," Wu said knowing who taught his niece those techniques. "Then why didn't we get taught those techniques in the first place?" Pixel asked. "I want to say that my dad and uncle already had techniques for you to learn," Malody said without looking back.  That freaked everyone out because they didn't expect her to listen to their conversation. "You must be Malody," Skyler said to the blue-tipped white-haired master of darkness and destruction. "And you must be Skyler?" Malody asked in all curiosity to the master of Amber. Skyler had been talking to Malody and Nya about their past and connections to their powers.  Skyler and Malody had similar childhoods due to their fathers being villains who wanted to take over Ninjago and some lingering trauma from their childhoods. The similar backgrounds gave them something to talk about but it was something that they didn't want to dig up. 

Skyler asked Malody if she wanted to train together and Skyler wanted to learn from Malody. That was something that Malody didn't expect because she never had any experience with Skyler or her elemental powers. It was more a training fight than anything but both of them knew they had to see where the other was at in terms of previous training. "You are a good fighter, Mal," Skyler said observing the silver ninja. Malody gave her a curt nod and smiled knowing that it was something that she hadn't heard in a while. "Thanks, I should say the same to you, Skyler," Malody said. Nya knew that both Skyler and Malody had years of experience and training due to how they were raised. With Malody, it was because she grew up knowing that she would protect Ninjago like her dad, uncle, and grandfather before her. On the other hand, Skyler had been trained by Chen to make her useful to him in his plans when he restarted the Serpentine War. 

"Who trained you after you left when you were 10?" Skyler asked. Malody looked at her knowing that it was as painful as her time under the Overlord's control. "Jay's birth mom trained me after I left but she disappeared around the time that Wu formed the team then Mystake took up my training," Malody said. That was something that the team knew that Malody had been taken in by Elena and Cliff when everything went down but didn't know about her relationship with Mystake. Cole looked at Malody knowing that she lost two family members, though honorary, before losing the one person that helped her. He knew that he and the rest of the team didn't have their predecessors when they started but Malody did though she was trained by another elemental master.  So once they were done with training and headed inside though Malody went to her room to cool off knowing that she needed time to herself.

Malody started to play a song that her Aunt Elena used to play when she freaked out around lightning. The song itself is about hope or at least knowing that the sun will come again. Cole listened to the song as Malody sang the song but knew that Malody didn't want to know that she could sing.

'Remember morning always comes
As night surrenders to the sun
No matter how dark it may become
Don't stop your light from shining on
'Cause nothing's ever over till you say it's over
And nothing's ever finished
Not unless you walk away
You see I've got hope
So you could use a little, use a little
Leave it when you've done it
And I won't let go
'Cause with a little, with a little, it can go a long way
Hoooo-ope hooooo-ope, hoooo-ope
I've got hope
It's easier to say you can't when you know you can,
It's easier to let go then to hold somebody's hand
But if you do, then you might just understand yeah
That it's okay to not know where you're gonna end
'Cause nothing's ever over till you say it's over
And nothing's ever finished
Not unless you walk away
You see I've got hope
So you could use a little, use a little
Leave it when you've done it
And I won't let go
'Cause with a little, with a little, it can go a long way
I've got hope
So you could use a little, use a little
Leave it when you've done it
And I won't let go
'Cause with a little, with a little, it can go a long way
Ooh oh oh oh oh,
You need hope
Oooh oh oh oh oooh,
I got hope
I got hope
You see, I've got hope
So you could use a little, use a little
Leave it when you've done it
And I won't let go
'Cause with a little, with a little, it can go a long way
I've got hope
So you could use a little, use a little
Leave it when you've done it
And I won't let go
'Cause with a little, with a little, it can go a long way
Oooh oh oh oh oooh Oooh oh oh oh oooh
I've got hope
Oooh oh oh oh oooh,
Give me hope
I need a hand, I need a hand, I need a hand'

Malody turned around and saw Cole smiling at her. Mal was surprised when she saw that Cole just heard her sing knowing that she was starting to have feelings for him. "What's happened between you and Kagme?" Cole asked wanting to know but knows that the question was loaded. "Kagme is part of my psyche that is influenced by my Oni heritage so when I came under the Overlord's influence she took over," Malody said. Cole knew the rest of the story of Malody and Kagme when it came to the Overlord's plan to escape the digital world. "Is that the reason why you're hair is white?" Cole asked. Malody told him that it was the reason why her hair turned white but she had dyed the tips in a Storm blue streaked with green to give her some control back since the incident. "Before the incident, my hair was brown just like my dad's before it started to gray," Malody said with a small laugh. Cole had seen photos from when Wu, Garmadon, and Misako were younger so he had some idea that Malody had some similarities to her father.

Cole smiled at her but knew that he wanted to take her out on a date.  "I was wondering if you would like to go out with me?" Cole asked. Malody looked at him not expecting the question because it was something that she would never experience. "I would love that," Malody said with a smile before placing a kiss on Cole's cheek. Cole put his hand on his cheek shocked that Malody kissed him but smiled that she said yes to his offer. Malody went to the kitchen to grab something to eat before turning in for the night. Unknown to Cole, Malody was smiling knowing that she finally had hope that things could get better and she had found love.