Legends of Ninjago: Book 3: The Four Fangs

Chapter 28: Beneath the Surface

"I still think—AGH!" Kai cried as Cole grabbed him in a headlock. "We should check on him—Hya!" He reached around, grabbing Cole by the shoulder and leg, using his own body weight against him to flip him over.
"Aw, are you worried about him?" Cole asked sarcastically, still gripping Kai's head quite tightly.
Kai frowned. With a huff, he applied pressure to Cole's arm just right, allowing him to break out of his grip and stand on his feet again. Cole was up in two seconds, but Kai was already swinging his leg around at him, forcing him to dodge.
"Sha! Worried he might try to steal something! Ngh!!" Kai grumbled, right as he threw a punch.
Cole deflected it, grabbing his arm and pulling him forward. With a simple trip of his leg, Kai lost balance, and fell forward. But he grabbed onto Cole, kept himself from tumbling, and jumped onto his back, hooking his legs around Cole's torso.
"Ah! Hey! Kai, that's not a real fighting form!" Cole cried, trying to throw him off.
"Well maybe it should be!" He smiled as Cole did everything he could think of to get him to let go. "You're gonna have to try harder than tha—OOF!!"
Cole fell backward, letting his entire body weight land on top of him with a SPLAT.
"Ha ha!" Jay laughed, right before getting socked in the face by Zane. "ACK!!"
Cole stood, getting back into a fighting stance while Kai clutched his side, rising slowly. "If you aren't gonna follow the rules, then what's the point of training?" Cole asked.
Kai just scoffed and straightened. "I dunno. Seeing Jay get sucker-punched?"
Cole came charging in, striking powerful blow after powerful blow, but Kai was on full defence, moving out of the way every time. Each flying kick, each punch and hook—all Cole was doing was wearing himself out.
"Come on! Quit dodging and fight!" Cole challenged him, taking a step back.
"You do remember what happened the last time we fought, right?" Kai asked, raising a fist.
"Uh, I kicked your butt?" Cole raised an eyebrow, readying himself for anything.
"Huh. The way I remember it—" He finally ran at him, while Cole made to block whatever move he had coming his way. But then, Kai suddenly shot out a burst of flame, and Cole covered his face, backing away. It was all too easy for Kai to take out his knees while he was distracted, and he fell onto the deck of the ship. "—you fell on your butt." He had his fist pointed at Cole, claiming victory of the match.
Cole just glared at him. "This is hand-to-hand combat—no powers, Kai."
"Feel free to fight back with some rock," said Kai, still standing over him. "Whenever you're ready."
"You know I can't create rock from nothing," Cole growled, and he smacked Kai's hand aside as he got up.
"Pfft," Kai puffed, creating a fireball and tossing it easily from one hand to another. "Are you sure you're even an elemental master?"
Cole quickly spun around, his fist stopping just half an inch away from Kai's face. The small gust of wind it created snuffed out his flame with a quiet puff. "Don't get cocky, Kai. You can't beat me with strength alone."
Kai reluctantly narrowed his eyes. He was right, of course, Cole was several inches taller than him and had way more body mass, but that was why he hated getting paired with him for training sessions. It was just unfair! How was he expected to win against someone like Cole in hand-to-hand combat? In a real fight, he would have won by thinking outside the box, not by sticking to nonsense rules.
"But you wouldn't be able to beat me in elemental combat," he said cooly.
"You really think so?" Cole asked, clearly not believing him. "You wanna have a rematch? Earth vs fire and you think you'd come out on top?"
He suddenly shot another fire blast past Cole's head. "Only one way to find out."
He wasn't entirely sure why he felt like going after him like this, he just sorta had an itch to do something fire-based. They'd been training for hours now, up on the deck, while Wu and Garmadon were talking near the stern of the ship. Lloyd was likely still below deck, doing who-knows-what. The whole situation just felt so... stuck. Go out and do something, come back to the ship—go out and do something, come back to the ship. At least when they were at the cove, they were specifically focussing on training. Right now, everything felt so... disjointed. Not to mention, he was getting real sick of being cold and surrounded by water all the time.
Cole shot him a warning look, but Kai wouldn't be stopped. He let loose another fire attack, forcing him to react and defend himself, though not with any earth. Kai was holding back—he didn't want to accidentally hurt his friend—but he wasn't exactly going easy on him either.
They jumped all over the deck, running into Jay and Zane twice and disrupting their training, but they were too caught up in their fight to really notice. Kai kept on shooting fire blasts and Cole kept on defending himself, jumping out of the way, and occasionally trying to throw a punch or a kick of his own.
"Seriously, what's up with you?" Cole asked after a while, his back up against the mast of the ship. "What, are you getting cabin fever or something?"
Kai shot at him, forcing him to jump up into the rigging. By now, Jay and Zane were watching and debating with themselves whether or not to step in.
"Maybe I am," Kai responded, following him up and hanging on to the ropes for support. "The Serpentine are loose, they're trying to unleash an ancient evil onto the world, meanwhile we're stuck here bunking with two of the most evil people Ninjago has ever known, and somehow—" he threw an arm out wide, gesturing to them all, "—we're the nation's last defence?"
Cole sighed, catching his breath. "I see what you mean... but Sensei Wu has a plan."
"Oh, yeah, right, Sensei Wu has a plan."
"Kai, not this again," Cole groaned.
Kai jumped over to him with another fire kick, forcing them both down onto the deck again. The wood beams groaned under the weight of their landing. "Maybe he used to be something, but he's done nothing but run us around in circles since we met him."
"That's not true."
"Oh yeah?" Kai fired back. "Then how come we haven't started Spinjitsu yet? Huh? Wasn't that one of the first things he said he'd train us in?"
"Training in a martial art takes years of work and discipline," Zane pointed out plainly. "You can't expect him to make exceptions for us just because we have powers."
"I'm not talking about making exceptions, I'm talking about just teaching us the basics! All we've been doing are drills, drills, and more drills when we could be doing so much more!" Kai jumped into the air and, using both feet, created a small whirlwind of fire around him. The other boys had to back up not to get burned. "See? I taught myself that!"
"Yeah, but could you use that in an actual fight?" Jay grumbled, patting his singed shoulder.
"And then there's Garmadweeb and Garmadweeb Jr.," Kai went on. "Like, are we really going to pretend like that man didn't invade and enslave half of Ninjago? For years?!" The others went silent. Then he added sarcastically, "But Sensei Wu has a plan."
"Well, what would you suggest we do?" Cole prodded, getting closer again. "Give up? Go home?"
Kai frowned. No, he still needed to find his parents. Plus, he was pretty keen on Ninjago not getting eaten by a giant snake. But then a new thought came to him. "We could always go it alone. Come on, it's not like we weren't able to take care of ourselves before. Sensei Wu trusted us with that much."
"He trusted us to stay in the cave," Cole reminded him. "Which we failed at by the way. No offence," he added, looking in Zane's direction.
"No, that was my fault," he admitted casually.
"So then why's Ann the one who got punished?" Kai asked, folding his arms.
"Because she was the one left in charge," said Jay.
Kai sighed. "Okay, moot point. Either way, we were still fine. We were the ones who got this ship out on the water, we were the ones who started looking for the Fang Blades, and we were more than capable of taking care of ourselves."
"Yeah, except for the fact that for a large chunk of that time we were staying at my dad's house, and when we weren't having our meals made for us, we were catching and eating fish over a fire, getting sick and hardly doing our training." Cole had his arms folded now too.
"And how is that much worse than what we've got going on right now?" Kai pressed. "Wu's old. He's getting older. What if..." He wasn't sure about voicing this opinion, but he was gonna go for it anyway. Better to have it out in the open than just sitting, stewing in his brain. "What if that prophecy about the Green Ninja was about more than just becoming a great warrior? What if, whichever one of us it ends up being, is meant to be the next 'Sensei Wu?' You know, the next leader of the team?"
"Technically, that puts Cole in the lead, since he actually is the team leader," Jay pointed out.
"You're still thinking about all that, huh?" Cole asked.
"You're not?" Kai was astounded. "It's only a prophecy that states that one of us is going to become a legendary warrior."
"Well, technically it didn't exactly say that..." Zane muttered under his breath as the ship rolled over a particularly large wave for a calm day at sea.
"We kinda have bigger things to worry about," said Cole calmly. "Not that I'm not curious... but how about we wait until after the potential apocalypse to think about which one of us is going to be the Green Ninja destiny child?"
"How do you know that name?"
The boys suddenly turned around with a start, shocked to see Keaton out of bed and watching them, her expression unusually serious.
"Where did you hear that?" She pressed, her eyebrows knitted tightly together.
Kai cleared his throat. "How do you know about it?" he asked.
She glanced back at the stern, where Wu and Garmadon were still talking, and she urged them all toward the bow, as far away from their Sensei as possible. "We're not really supposed to talk about it," she whispered tensely. "You guys weren't even supposed to know."
"Oh, look who was right about Wu keeping secrets," Kai said, sending a look in Cole's direction.
"That's Sensei Wu to you, mister," Keaton bit out, and making him frown just the tiniest bit.
"But, so then, how come you know?" Jay asked. "Is it, like, some sort of secret in-the-know club thing?"
Keaton looked uneasy and glanced back at the stern one last time. "It was a long time ago... Sensei Wu used to tell us stories... but that one? The one about the Green Ninja? We promised we wouldn't mention again."
"Why?" Asked Cole, his expression soft.
Keaton sighed and wrung her hands. "I don't know if I should even really be telling you guys this, but... the last time... someone got all worked up about wanting to be the Green Ninja... it kinda got them... killed." Everyone took a turn to glance at each other. "Sensei Wu says that we can't make prophecies come to fruition before their time. Least of all, prophecies about potential messiahs."
"Wait, what?" This was news to Kai.
"How much exactly do you know?" Keaton asked, raising an eyebrow at the group.
"Honestly... not very much," Zane answered.
"Okay, well, history time: the Green Ninja is said to be one of the most powerful warriors in all of Ninjagian history. His powers will be unmatched by man or beast, and he will defeat the Darkness, bringing about a new age for all of mankind. It's said that he will be a brother of the Golden Warriors—" she seemed to stop, as if catching herself doing something she wasn't supposed to.
"You wanna run that one by me again?" Jay asked, looking just as surprised as the rest of them.
Keaton bit her lip. "It's one of the names the ancient scrolls use to describe... you."
Kai took a moment to mull that name over. "Golden Warriors." Sounded dramatic. But... kinda cool.
"Us?" He asked, not quite seeing how it really suited them. "You sure you were reading the right scroll?"
She rolled her eyes and frowned at him. "Yes, I'm sure! Sensei Wu said it himself! The four warriors who are destined to wield the Golden Weapons and help defeat the Darkness. Lighting, Fire, Earth, and Ice. That's you."
Now it was Cole's turn to frown. "I mean... superficially, sure, but... I mean, isn't it possible that... it's referring to another group of people? People who are actually warriors?"
She shook her head rather firmly. "Wu said that it meant you."
The silence that hung about them seemed to speak volumes as to what they were thinking. Them? Destined to be these "Golden Warriors?" It sounded made-up. Like Keaton had just invented it herself.
"So why did he not tell us?" Zane asked. Certainly something that important would be made known to them.
Keaton pulled in her lips tightly. "Because you weren't supposed to know."
"But why not?" Kai couldn't see any reason to keep that information from them.
"To keep it from going to your heads."
This time, it was not Keaton who had snuck up behind them, but Sensei Wu. They all jumped back, hands behind their backs innocently, while Keaton's shoulders went up to her ears. How had he snuck up on them? They didn't hear so much as a creak or a footstep! Wu didn't exactly look angry... but he didn't exactly look happy either.
"Keaton. Back to your room, please."
She did as she was told, looking over her shoulder at the boys sheepishly.
Then Wu set his steely eyes on them. "Put all of that out of your heads. Now."
"But Sensei—" Kai started.
"No!"
Everyone seemed to suck in a breath. Very seldom did Wu raise his voice like that. "These are things greater than you or I. Things best left untampered with. Put it out of your mind and let it go."
"So we're just supposed to forget about the fact that we're the Chosen Golden Warriors, or whatever?"
"Kai—" Cole urged him.
"That prophecy is already set into motion. You needn't concern yourselves with the future," said Wu delicately.
"And how about the Green Ninja?"
Wu frowned at Kai.
The boat went far too silent for a few long seconds.
Wu seemed to be thinking.
Then his moustache twitched.
"Very well. You want to know so badly, do you?" Wu turned and walked off, going below deck and leaving the boys to anxiously glance at one another. They each hoped he meant for them to wait there, otherwise they'd need to awkwardly follow him down.
Shortly, he returned, carrying four bundles of various size. They already knew what was inside. He stopped in the middle of the deck, the wind blowing coldly, and he waited for the boys to come closer. One by one, he carefully unwrapped them, laying them out in a semi-circle. The Sword of Fire, the Scythe of Quakes, the Nunchucks of Lighting, and the Daggers of Ice.
"According to legend," Wu said firmly, "The Green Ninja will be recognised by the Golden Weapons. For the same power which flows within their metal, flows within his veins. Approach."
The boys glanced back at one another again, thinking the same thing. Who's gonna go first? It wasn't just the weapons on the deck that made them hesitate, but Wu's harsh stare and the possibility of knowing one of their destinies which suddenly made them rethink all those times they had so casually discussed this.
Eventually, Jay stepped forward. He could hear the quick whispers of the Nunchucks—feel its power tingling from a distance—but the other weapons were silent to him. Nothing happened.
Wu nodded, and Jay stepped back.
It was not Jay.
Next, Zane came, eyeing the Daggers first and foremost. He did not hear its voice, though he did still feel its pull. He felt colder already, barely being this close. They all waited, but once again, nothing happened.
It was not Zane.
So then, Cole walked into the semi-circle, and of course, he at once heard the whispers of the Scythe and fought to concentrate on the other weapons instead. It was difficult. Almost as though the Sword and Nunchucks and Daggers didn't exist at all while the Scythe was there, calling to him. Once again, nothing happened.
It was also not Cole.
Kai stared at the weapons, but didn't move toward them.
Could this mean...? Was he...?
"Approach, Master of Fire," said Wu in a commanding voice.
Kai tried not to swallow nervously as he stepped forth, expecting something magical to happen... but...
"I don't understand," he said, looking around at the weapons, which were still just sitting there. "Isn't something supposed to happen?" His lip twitched as he fought to tune out the Sword's incessant, pushy aura.
"It would seem not," said Wu as he began to roll the Scythe back up.
"What? But I thought—"
"That it would be one of you who would be the Green Ninja?" Wu asked, scrutinising him. "The prophecy states that he will be a brother. It does not, however, state that it will be you."
"But... none of us have brothers," said Cole, confused.
"That was a matter of contention among the old scholars," Wu admitted slowly as he picked up the Sword in its wrapping. "It was thought that, yes, while it could potentially mean a biological brother, it was just as possible for it to be referring to a brother-in-arms. A spiritual brother."
Kai looked back at the others. He certainly didn't know anyone like that—he'd never had many friends growing up. As Cole and Jay and Zane all shrugged, it seemed as though neither did they.
"But—"
"Butts are for rams, Kai," said Wu, wrapping up the last of the weapons. "Not for ninja." Kai frowned again. Then Wu paused and looked at them long and hard. "You see, it is not meant to be. Accept it. Move on. Be who you are in the here and now, and let that be enough." He breathed in through his nose as he looked them over one last time. "Your training waits for you. I expect you all to finish your sets before dinner."
With that, he disappeared downstairs again, taking the Golden Weapons with him.
"Well, great. Glad we got that cleared up," Cole said dryly as he moved back to where they had been training. Jay and Zane joined him.
"So, where do you think we're sailing to next?" Jay absentmindedly asked as they resumed their exercises.
"Seriously?" Kai asked, turning around. "You guys are just... letting it go?"
"I believe that is what Sensei Wu said to do, yes?" Zane asked with a pointed eyebrow.
"Kai—stop." Cole was standing at his full height again, an arm outstretched in calm warning. "Every time you get like this, it winds up causing trouble. Remember the night you stole the Golden Weapons and gave them to Garmadon? From what I heard, you ended up getting stabbed. Or when you snuck into Sensei Wu's office? We got kidnapped. Or how about when you ran off to that village all by yourself? I had to come get you out of there."
"Remember the night I saved your life?" He shot back.
Cole's eyebrows got low.
Both Jay and Zane were giving Kai a similar look, making it clear where they stood.
"Dude, it just doesn't really matter that much," said Jay.
"Doesn't matter?" Kai repeated.
"Yes," Cole said firmly. "Not anymore."
"Not since Master Wu told you it didn't?"
"You got some sort of authority issue?" Cole squinted at him. Then he sighed, his shoulders drooping. "Kai, I don't want to argue. I just... this one time, could you please just not cause trouble?"
Kai felt a nasty feeling poking around inside of him. They all thought he was some sort of problem child, didn't they? A nuisance. A pest. Just because he didn't like to follow orders. Sure, whenever he went off and did his own thing, other people kept getting hurt, but... he wasn't particularly concerned about the logic of the argument just then.
They all resumed their training... all except Kai, that is. He went to the only place where he could be somewhat alone—the top of the mast—and sat there brooding for a long while.
He really was stuck here with these people, wasn't he? Some great decision this had turned out to be. Way to go, past Kai. This was spectacular.