•The World Isn't Ending• (Cole x Reader)

dirty cash i want you, dirty cash i need you•༄

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hey babes! welcome to my Cole x Reader, in this story you are Y/n Ninjago's one and only wind ninja, so enjoy! love ya <3
Song in title- Dirty Cash (Money Talks)- Sold Out 7 Inch Mix by The Adventures Of Stevie V
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As we neared the dock, I couldn't help but point toward the towering temple that loomed over the island like a sentinel. "Look at that," I whispered in awe, the grandeur of the place making it hard to focus on anything else.

"Awesome," Kai breathed, his eyes wide as the ferry prepared to dock. For a moment, even he was lost in the sight of the immense structure.

But, of course, Karloff was quick to bring him back to reality. "Let me see," he grumbled, shoving Kai aside like he was nothing more than a leaf in the wind.

Kai staggered but shot back with a glare, squaring up as if ready for a fight. "Do you mind?"

Before things could escalate, a chorus of chanting erupted from the island, pulling all of our attention away from Kai's scuffle and toward the dock. Clouse, ever the unwelcoming host, stood at the front, eyes gleaming with malice.

"Welcome to Chen's Island," Clouse sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "The Tournament of Elements welcomes its brave fighters. Master Chen will be pleased you've returned, Sensei Garmadon."

My father's expression remained cold, unreadable. "The pleasure is all mine, Clouse," he replied, stepping off the ferry with a calm that belied the tension thickening between them.

Clouse's smile twisted, his attempt to maintain composure faltering. "I'm sure it is," he growled through clenched teeth.

"Definitely feeling some tension between you two," Jay muttered as we all disembarked, glancing nervously between them.

As we moved further onto the island, Kai piped up, curiosity overriding his sense of caution. "Yeah, and how is it we're on an island I've never seen on any map?" His gaze swept across the dense jungle and the imposing temple.

Cole, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. "And care to explain how the face of Ninjago's most popular noodle house is secretly assembling an underground fighting tournament?"

My father turned to us, the weight of his words heavy. "Master Chen used to be a friend. Now he's a traitor. During the Serpentine Wars, Chen turned against his own kind and sided with the treacherous snakes."

"The battle you and Uncle Wu fought together in?" Lloyd asked, his tone cautious, as if each word brought him closer to a darker truth. "He was an enemy?"

"He used deception to divide the Elemental Masters," my father continued. "We barely defeated the Serpentine, and in a deal for his surrender, Chen was to never leave this island. Little did we know, he'd begin to build his criminal empire from here."

The tension grew palpable as Lloyd squared his shoulders, determination evident in his eyes. "He may have divided our ancestors, but he's not gonna divide us."

Kai, ever distracted, suddenly perked up, spotting the ponytail girl again. "Uh...ladies first." He shoved us aside to let her pass, a cocky grin plastered on his face. "Fire will melt her icy heart. Just wait."

I groaned, giving him a shove of my own, which sent him stumbling a couple of steps. "Maybe try focusing on the tournament instead of flirting," I muttered as I walked ahead.

Kai's indignant "Hey!" barely registered as we approached the massive gates of Chen's palace. The rhythmic drumming and chanting from inside grew louder, a primal sound that reverberated in my chest.