The Flaming Juryo

Chapter Ten

"Here we have Lily achieving her first silk mawashi, she requested it to be a bright orange. It was weaved by hand in Jamanikai village and took three weeks to arrive, she would have become the first woman to become a Yokozuna if it weren't for her illness.." Garmadon recalled, a book full of old photos on his lap. "She was strong enough to nearly lift me right off my feet! Of course being the master of earth she was known for having double the strength of any other elemental master."

Cole was listening intently, wanting to know every last bit of his mother's secret lessons. He was hoping to honor her memory by becoming a sumo champion, although there was still the issue of Lou finding out where he was. "Why are women forbidden from becoming professional sumo wrestlers anyways? I mean I know sport's bras weren't invented yet but I don't think that would have bothered anyone."

"They're considered impure, due to what happens during that time of the month. Although to have them banned outright is unfair, but not even my father could be convinced to let them in. I am hoping things will change now that you boys are being taught, you and Kai will both do your mothers proud."

"What about an ice master? Did you train one as well?" Zane piped up, he was mostly quiet the entire day. He often kept to himself while the others were chatting about either not getting enough sleep from having to wake up at six in the morning or what they'll be having with their lunch.

"Sorry Zane, the previous master of ice was an old man with pure white hair. He vanished sometime during the Serpentine War, not wanting to take sides with anyone. Do you not know him?"

Keeping his head low, the ice sumo simply shook it. "I have been an orphan for as long as I can recall, I never met anyone who knows where I come from or even who I am. All I could ever remember is my name." He mumbled, picking at the tofu.

Kai couldn't help but feel sorry for the newest student, as odd as he could be sometimes. "I mean he slept in the fridge once and wolfed down all the cheese! But he can't be all weird, he doesn't walk in on us whenever we use the bathroom right?" He thought. "Hey Zane? I lost my parents when I was four, had to raise Nya most of my life. I can see where you're getting at, I'm hoping to find them soon, maybe if I become a good enough sumo wrestler I can also find Mom!"

Cole was quick to jump in; "Half of my childhood was with a widowed parent drowning his sorrows while the other half was at some dance school he still thinks I'm at. We can be your family Zane, I'm sure there's someone out there who knows who you are right? Like a distant relative or maybe even a former student of Wu! I wonder how he's doing anyways.."

---

Back at the monastery, Nya decided she might as well find something to pass the time until Lloyd returned. "What's this? Looks like Wu, Garmadon and some girl years back. I didn't know people had cameras even back then, I'm betting that young woman is Lloyd's mother."

"You mean Misako?" A voice murmured, Wu had emerged from his room, smelling heavily of incense. "Forgive me, I had to meditate. I'll be ta-"

"What's all this about your brother being evil and that he's going to conquer the entire world? So far he didn't seem all that bad, but going as far as to lure my brother and him to a volcano? I think a simple note telling him to meet you there would have been enough!.. Wu?"

Nya could have sworn she saw a tear going down his face, his expression softened some more as he tried to pull himself together. "He can't suppress the venom's effect forever, soon he will be nothing more than a shell of his former self... My brother was bitten by a vile serpent when he was just a child, if I had just gone out after the sword he wouldn't have ended up this way." Wu croaked.

"Well, he doesn't seem all that different now. Don't you think you're being just a bit paranoid? I mean you got those Golden Weapons you wanted."

"No, I was hoping the four weapons of creation would be enough to flush the venom out of his system. It appears I'll have to think of something else, I have to do this.. I want to make things right with him and our father, he didn't speak to us for so long after Garmadon was bitten."

"Wow.. That's gotta leave a mark. But I'm sure he'll be alright, why don't you try meeting with him yourself? We could all go down to the shrine and-"

"Not after what happened today, I have to do something worth his forgiveness. I.." Wu felt helpless, he had hoped the weapons would be the answer to his problem but it turned out to be quite the opposite. "Hey, what's this weird looking staff surrounding the Golden Weapons? Looks like some kind of Mega Weapon."

"That? It's just a myth... Unless."