Ninjago Bruise One Shots

Too easy

When he pictured fighting in this tournament, he didn't imagine the person standing in front of him. He saw it coming, he really did, but there wasn't a single bone in his body that truly believed it. He'd hoped so badly that he was wrong.

Yet he wasn't.

"Cole? Are you okay?" Geo's soft voice entered the room.

The fact not even his voice was enough to bring the earth ninja back to reality was worrying.

"You seemed distracted at the meeting. Is everything alright?"

Perhaps if he wasn't so concerned with the possibilities in his mind, Cole would've shrugged it off and refused to listen to those voices in his head. That's what he usually did. This time, however, it really did seem like they were trying to warn him.

As soon as that thought popped into his head, it didn't seem to leave.

Cole nodded and he wasn't entirely sure why he did. He was far from alright.

"Really?" Geo's figure stepped into view, "you can be honest, y'know."

The earth ninja glanced up at him, and for a moment it felt like tears were going to form. He hadn't felt that way in so long.

He wasn't sure whether to nod or shake his head. His body didn't let him do either. All he could do was sit in silence, staring.

He really didn't want to believe it.

"What's wrong?" the man's voice was softer. Quieter.

Cole tried to take a deep breath, letting at least something back into his lungs, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't do it. His throat tightened, his chest growing heavier. Was it getting hot in here?

"Do you want some water?"

God, the last thing he needed to think about was Nya. What would she say about all this? If she knew what he was thinking she'd hit him round the head and tell him to snap out of it. He was acting crazy. He knew he was. It was his mind. It didn't stop.

"Cole?"

He opened his mouth again, attempting to say something, anything, but all that came out was a single breath.

"Seriously, Cole, you're worrying me."

The team had just been discussing their action plan for the upcoming Tournament of Sources. They'd gathered a group together to fight - Kai, Nya, Lloyd, Zane, Cole, Sora, Arin and Geo - with hope that with large numbers, they'd be able to win. They were confident. However, after learning Ras had been recruiting elemental masters to create a new Forbidden Five, the ninja were on their toes. Many discussions had taken place about who would be recruited. Possibly some of the old elemental masters they knew through the past tournament? But why would they join Ras? Maybe new ones? There had been a significant rise in the number of elementals they'd come across. Arakore was another mention but he was allied with the ninja.

They weren't too worried until Ras mentioned a 'secret weapon'. This secret weapon was said to defeat the ninja once and for all, and there was no way for them to win. It was worrying, of course, but what could it possibly be? The ninja had fought many people and beasts before, surely it couldn't be anything they haven't faced before.

That was until Cole started reading between the lines.

Ras had stated that not only this secret 'weapon' was their strongest fighter, but was supposedly the team's greatest weakness. It was a broad subject. The ninja were all very different, sure they shared fears, but their greatest weaknesses were widely varied so what could possibly be so strong that it would take them all down?