Ninjago Lava Ship - It's messed up

Confronting a problem

Cole arrived in Shintaro around noon. He did have some problems with dire bats along the way, but he skilfully passed them. Well.. just with few scratches on the jet.

He finally landed on the ground in front of the entry of the castle, got out of the jet and went towards the door. Some guards intended to stop him, but some of the other guards recognized him as the elemental master of earth and queen Vania's friend so they cleared the path for him. Two of the guards went to open the door for Cole, and as he went inside, he waved at them and smiled. The door closed and he kept walking towards queen's throne where, of course, Vania was sitting. Vania quickly stood up and ran towards him with a big smile "Cole! Good to see you!". She hugs him and lets go off him after few seconds "What are you doing here?? Is everything alright? Does Ninjago need help?".

"Uhh.. Good to see you too, Vania. And everything is alright. No trouble this time." Cole moves his right hand from left side to the right. "Then what is it?" Vania raises her eyebrows. Cole laughs nervously, remembering how everything happened in his dream and trying to mimic it, but the memory of his dream slowly starts fading away from his head as he has been left speechless for few moments.

Vania is looking at him with one eyebrow raised and head tilted to the side "Cole? Are you there?". She waves with her hand in front of his face then gets him back to reality. "Uhm.. Oh yeah, I am here. I was just.." He shakes his head "Nevermind.". Then he takes her hands into his and looks her in the eyes "I came all the way here because I am wondering about something.". Cole, not being able to remember how it went in the dream, decided to improvise with the words "Vania, would you want us to be a couple?".

They both took a few moments just starring into each other until Vania broke off the silence "Uhh.. What?". She was looking at him confused "Why do you want us to be a couple?".

"W-Wha..?" Cole got surprised by her reaction. "I thought we had a connection.. You know, the love at first sight, you liking me, and me liking you?" Vania blinks a few times then chuckles to herself and separates their hands from each other "Cole. I admire you. You're my favourite ninja, of course. And love at first sight? I don't really believe in that stuff. I believe in getting to know one another until you start feeling butterflies in your stomach. Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea.".

Cole still had his hands in front of him, but he slowly put them down while he looked like he is looking into an empty space in front of him "I must be really unlucky..". He facepalms "To even come here to say that, I feel retarded.".

"No, no, no. Don't be like that." Vania puts her hand on his shoulder. "It is my fault. I sometimes don't notice what is really going on around me. And you're not unlucky, you are just.. Uhm... I guess your opportunity still needs to come. Maybe someone who is closer to you and doesn't have royal duties would better suit your life style." She smiles nervously then clears her throat "You know what? Let's talk over a drink. What do you say?".

Cole sighs then nods. Vania leads the way towards the kitchen as they sat at a round table next to a wall. They told the butler what they would like to drink and now they are just waiting for it to come.

Vania turns her head towards Cole then interlocks her fingers together putting her chin on them. "So.. You are having love crisis, huh?" She smiles nervously, but sweetly. "Ugh.. You could say that. You know, everyone around me has someone. It didn't bother me before.. I guess it started when Lloyd even got the girl he likes." Vania's eyes widen "Wait.. The Harumi girl??".

" Yeah. But you could say she is on our side now. I don't think they are dating though. Well not yet anyway."

Vania snorts "So the great, powerful earth ninja is jealous of the other people having relationships. It sounds a little bit ironic, doesn't it? People would rather be jealous of you for having elemental powers.".

"Well yeah, but powers don't fill my heart to the fullest. I love fighting and all, but it would be nice to have someone who cares about you too. When you go, like, fighting," Cole puts his fists in front of him in a fighting position "and that person is worried something might happen to you, but when you get back and see their big smile as they see you survived..". Then he smiles slightly "I don't think there is anything warmer than that.".

"See? What you're describing is a person who can always be by your side. Which is hard as you are a ninja, but it happens, no?"

Cole groans "Yeah. It happened to Jay and Nya as they are both ninjas, to Zane when he gave half of his heart to Pixal and she joined us, to Kai when he met Skylor who also has elemental powers. She didn't join us though, but she is still there, in Ninjago. And even Lloyd with Harumi! I mean, who would have thought she would join us after all she's done? It's like this world is playing the favourites.". He crosses his arms.

".... Hmm.. You're right. They can have relationships as they have the same job. Or as they are close to each other."

The black ninja sighs "And the only thing I have is cake. I always eat it though.".

Vania laughs at what Cole had said "Silly, you can't be in a relationship with a cake. And as you said, you would eat it anyway.". She puts her legs on the side of the chair, still looking towards Cole "If that really troubles you, you just need to find someone who could join you. But know this,". She leans closer "there must be spark between you and that person. A chemistry. You will know when the butterflies in your stomach are real.".

Cole stays quiet for few seconds trying to process what Vania had said, then he looks at her and nods with an understanding smile "Thanks, Vania. I guess I know what I need to do.". He stands up and starts running off while waving at her "Thanks for everything!".

"W-wait!" Vania tried to say something, but he had already left. Just at that moment, the butler arrived with their drinks.

She sighs "You can sit with me and have his drink instead of him." then smiles slightly, feeling really good, as she helped a friend with a problem.