Random Ninjago Stuff

Shape-shifting with a side of confusion

"Hey Cole?" Lloyd suddenly said, making Earth look up from his slice of cake.

"Yeah?"

"Could you teach me how to shapeshift?!" Cole chuckled, finishing his slice before getting up from the table.

"Sure," He said, rinsing the dish under the sink.

"Please Cole- wait really?" Lloyd blinked in surprise, and Cole nodded.

"Yup, get changed into your gi. I'll meet you in the courtyard." Green smiled, dashing off upstairs.

---------------------------

{A few minutes later}

"I'm ready!" Lloyd yelled, seeing Cole was already outside.

"Great," Cole said, "Do you have any questions before we start?"

"What does shapeshifting feel like?"

"It's complicated, but Seliel says she feels the same way I do when she shapeshifts. While you're changing forms, you kinda feel weightless, but when you've done, it's exhilarating," Cole smiled, his eyes shining brightly, "There's a deep power inside your chest, and suddenly, you harness it and become, say, a bird. The excitement never gets old, and I love it every time."

Cole took a step forward, smoke covering him before Claudia took his place, "However, seeing as I also change between Cole and Claudia for comfort, when I shift to the correct form, I feel a little more free, like a tight ball of anxiety inside me has loosened. It's hard to explain, but I think the best way to describe it is thrilling and liberating."

"I think I understand," Lloyd responded, "How do you shapeshift exactly? You make it seem so easy."

"It's not as complicated as you would think when you get the hang of it," Claudia said, "Now, you need to connect with your Oni side, and you need to reach forward and grasp it. Then, you think about what you want to become, and when you feel that weightless feeling, you know you've done it."

"Cool, but what should I turn into?"

Claudia sat down, and Lloyd joined her, both cross-legged in a meditation position.

"We'll start with a robin; it's small and doesn't require as much energy. It's also pretty easy to imagine. You've already made a connection with your Oni side, so try and search for the power it has."

Lloyd closed his eyes, reaching into his mind. Then, a thought made him stop, and he glanced at Claudia.

"What if it takes over?" He asked, and her expression softened.

"When I first found out I was part Oni, I was so scared I would become one of the things that live in my nightmares. But, I realised if I ever did lose control, you guys would be there to help me. And that's what I'll do for you if it does take over. Oni is in our blood, a part of us, we shouldn't fear it."

"Alright, I'll give it a go."

"That's the spirit, Greenie. Remember, I'll be here if anything goes wrong."

Lloyd closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath.

"Look for that power in your chest," Claudia instructed.

"I think I feel it," Lloyd responded, a small ball of energy swirling inside him.

"Good, now grab it and imagine a robin. Think really hard about what it looks like, don't miss out any details. Eventually, you won't have to think as much about it, but for now, you need to concentrate."

Lloyd's brow furrowed, conjuring an image of a robin in his head.

He felt the small ball expand, warming his body slightly. Suddenly, it burst, and it was like he was floating.

"Yes, you're doing it!" Claudia exclaimed, "Keep thinking about the robin!"

He opened his eyes, seeing dark smoke surrounding him, before the weightless feeling stopped, and everything around him was significantly larger.

"Woah!" He yelled, surprised he could still speak. Claudia smiled, before another robin was in front of him.

"Good job! You got it first try too!" It said in Claudia's voice, "Try and fly around. It should be pretty easy."

Lloyd spread his wings, before flapping them. An instinct took over, and he began soaring through the courtyard.

"This is so cool!" He laughed, "It feels so natural."

"Oni need to know how to act like the form they're in, so they have certain instincts that know how to, for example, fly," Claudia explained, "Now, shift back."

Lloyd landed on the floor, before thinking hard about his actual form. The same feeling came back, before he felt himself sitting back on the stones.

"Great. Though, you won't always have the chance to stand still and shapeshift. If you're on a mission, you need to know how to shift on your toes," Claudia flew towards him, changing from a bird to human again as she landed next to him, "You gotta be quick, it can be used as a way to disorientate the enemy," She ran behind him, and a deer took her place, "Try jumping into a robin."

As he geared to jump, Kai suddenly burst out of the door, followed by the others.

"Lloyd! What have we said about bringing the animals you find into the Monastery?!" Nya exclaimed as they all walked up to Claudia.

"Shoo, go on," Jay said, "Someone open the gate."

"Come on, you can't be here," Zane stated to her, while Lloyd could barely hold his laughter in. Claudia glanced at Green, and he snorted.

"Hey, this isn't funny. Help us get her out, she belongs in the forest," Pixal said, "Where on Earth did you even find her? We're on a mountain."

Kai activated his powers, and the others yelled in protest.

"I'm not gonna hit it! I'm just gonna scare it off a little," Red argued, before edging towards the deer, "Move damnit! Get out you wild animal."

Suddenly, Claudia shot towards Kai, making him squeal. Just as she was about to collide with him, she shifted, and Kai found himself thrown over Cole's shoulder.

"Y'know, I would've left peacefully, but you didn't have to be so rude about it Airhead," Cole joked, and Lloyd wheezed, falling onto the floor.

"What the hell are you doing as a deer?!" Nya yelled.

"I'm teaching Lloyd how to shapeshift," Cole said plainly, as if it was obvious.

"Oh cool, how's it going?" Jay asked.

Lloyd finally recovered, sitting up, "It's going great! I can turn into a robin while standing still!"

"Yeah, so start jumping into one please," Cole instructed, and Lloyd saluted, smirking widely.

"Yes Sir."

"Hi, sorry to interrupt, but could you put me down?!" Kai called out.

"Sure, as long as you don't try and scare me off again," Cole stated, making the others chuckle.

"Yes, you know damn well I didn't know it was you!" Cole lowered Kai, before dropping him, "Ow."

"First Master! Cole I did!" Lloyd suddenly yelled, before a robin zipped towards them.

"Amazing! Now shift back without landing," Cole said.

The bird flew forwards, before smoke surrounded them, and Lloyd landed on the floor, stumbling slightly.

Cole caught him, beaming proudly, "That was great! You've got a knack for this!"

"Thanks, it was surprisingly easy," Lloyd responded, returning the smile.

"See, I told you it was simple."