Ninjago: Purpose and Meaning

10. Origin

Tierney leaned against the tree, staring out into the darkness of the night. He and Nadine had argued. Since Tierney came to the Elemental Masters, Nadine had tried to turn him into somebody else. She couldn't accept who he was and how he wanted to use his powers.

Nadine had brought him to the Elemental Masters, which was everything he had ever wished for, but she didn't want him to be himself. She wanted him to replace Arashi, the last Master of Wind.

She thought he had to use his powers as a weapon to be an Elemental Master, but what she could not understand was the fear he felt for using his powers that way.

Tierney looked down at his shaking hands, pressing them against his chest to try and stop them. He pressed his eyes shut as he saw the first time he used his powers before his eyes. He had created a tornado by mistake. He had not been able to control it, and it almost led to him destroying his own home if it had not been for Nadine who knocked him out before the tornado could do any real damage to the village. 

And even after that, Nadine thought it was best he learned to use his powers that way. He just couldn't. He couldn't risk losing control again. The price he would have to pay was too high.

But that meant he would fail Nadine. All she wanted was to make him an Elemental Master, to honor Arashi's memory. But she couldn't do that if he refused to take her help and advice.

Tierney didn't know what to do. For the first time, he understood why people were both afraid and amazed by the Elemental Masters. As long as they were on the people's side, they could protect Ninjago from any threat it faced, but if they decided they had a right to rule...With their powers, taking control of the world wouldn't be hard.

That was why the First Spinjitzu Master only chose those he deemed worthy, that was why Tierney knew he was right not to want to use his powers as a weapon. The First Spinjitzu Master wouldn't have chosen him if he didn't have his heart in the right place. He would not use his powers to hurt others. Ninjago had gone through enough already.

Ten years ago...

The village was teeming with activity. It was not often Tierney saw this much activity in his home. It had only happened a few times that he could remember; The first time was a year ago during the war against the Overlord. The First Spinjitzu Master had traveled across Ninjago, evacuated everybody, and gathered them in the biggest town on the island nation. And before that, it happened when the First Spinjitzu Master brought them to Ninjago for the first time. But since then, it had calmed down.

That was until a message was brought to his village that said the First Spinjitzu Master was searching for help in the war against the Stone Army.

All those who thought themselves strong or capable enough answered his call and would travel to meet with the First Spinjitzu Master in person. All those who did it were determined to repay their debt to him after everything he had done to protect them.

That was all Tierney wanted. But he couldn't. He was too young for it even to be an idea to go. The First Spinjitzu Master would never choose a twelve-year-old.

So Tierney watched and wished that it would be different. He wanted to help. Help the man who had done so much for everyone. He just wanted to help.

But he could only watch as everyone left.

-

"How did it go?" Tierney asked his brother the moment he opened the door.

Tierney flew at him, hugging him tightly, and looked up at him with wide eyes, almost like he expected him to look different even though it was only a few days since they last saw each other.