(REWRITE) The 17th Realm, The Maniac Trilogy - Book 1

Chapter 4 - The 17th Realm

JAY'S POV

It's been a few weeks since the Bounty crashed. Lloyd seemed much better and PIXAL, mini pix and Zane have been working on rebuilding it along with Nya and Lloyd. I helped out a little and so did Kai.

One person who didn't put any input was Cole. Like, since the whole Crystal King stuff he's been super distant. I think he admitted that he was hanging out with this girl or something. I can't even remember... We all know that it's a lie but whatever. This year was wild and just... I'd rather not talk about it.

He also said he's got some family issues to work out.

Yeah, I know. For over a year?

So, I decided to call him. I am pretty concerned about my best friend since he's been a little bit... I don't know... off?

Ugh, who am I kidding? Everyone's been a little off...

"Hello?" Cole answered after a few rings.

I was really... gloomy. "Hey, Cole, what's up?"

"I'm good, I'm good."

I sighed. "Dude, you rarely ever come to the monastery anymore. Is everything okay?" I asked.

"It's kinda complicated," he replied.

"Damn, you should come by- WHAT DO YOU WANT, KAI?" I yelled at the person in question, who rudely interrupted my call.

"I've been looking for you! There's an emergency."

"What sort of emergency?" I asked Kai.

"I dunno, apparently it's urgent, who are you calling?"

"Cole."

"Oh, hey Cole! Master Wu needs you here. Some sort of emergency," Kai informed.

Cole sighed. "I'll be there." He hung up and Kai and I shrugged at each other at his reluctance. Usually he's the first to jump into emergencies.

Once he arrived in his gi (everyone else was already dressed), we all went to the scroll room where Master Wu wanted us to meet.

"What is it?" Cole asked with his arms crossed. He was completely unbothered.

"One of my father's scrolls went missing... It is one of the most dangerous ones in my possession."

I laughed, "You said this was an emergency!"

Nya rolled her eyes, "Jay, can you name a scroll that isn't dangerous? If Master Wu called us in for an emergency about a scroll, it's pretty serious."

"What is the scroll about?" Zane asked.

Sensei sighed and reluctantly answered, "The forbidden realm. My father called it a mistake... The 17th Realm."

"You always said there were 16!" I screamed.

"There is a reason why I never told you about it..."

"What? Like all the other things you tell us about, like, last minute?" Cole asked.

"Well..." Master Wu hesitated for a moment. "This is different... This scroll cannot be touched when unrolled. If this happens, the person who touched it will be banished there. It is the furthest realm from Ninjago. Return is impossible from what my father informed me before he passed away."

Cole rolled his eyes, "And why did you not bother about telling us about this scroll earlier? What if a bonehead like Jay just found it laying on the floor and went to pick it up and then bam! Gone!"

"Hey! I'm not a bonehead... Why did you have to use me as an example?"

"Because you're standing next to me. Am I wrong?" Cole asked, shooting a glare at our Sensei. Cole scoffed and left the monastery, "I'm not gonna waste my time here. I have stuff to deal with." When did he become so moody? I know that he gets protective over others but... I mean, he has a good point.