Ninjago: Purpose and Meaning

12. Friends Again

"Indeed, we do", Tierney said, not making any sign of wanting to go with her back to the house.

Nadine just stared at him, waiting for a reaction while he stared back, apparently waiting for her to take the first step.

He had to see the regret on her face, but even if he was, he didn't give a reaction. He seemed determined to make her feel each moment like it was an eternity.

"I was wrong", she finally broke their silence. "I never should have tried to replace Arashi with you."

"Really," Tierney said, tilting his head to the side. "It's almost like I told you that a week ago."

Nadine bit her lip, annoyed at his behavior, but realized she couldn't blame him. They had fought, and then she left without apologizing and disappeared for a week. Tierney had a week to build up his emotions, and the disappointment in his idol. Today was the first time he could let them out.

"I'm sorry", Nadine continued. "But I was only taught one way to use my powers, just like all the other Elemental Masters." She stepped over the soft ground and stopped in front of him. "We were only taught to use them as weapons. We never learned another way. And after everything we've been through, all the threats we've faced, it never occurred to us that there was another way."

Tierney rolled his eyes. "So you just stopped thinking?" He questioned.

Nadine shut her mouth and stared at the new Master of Wind, suddenly not feeling so bad for what she did to him anymore.

"We listened and accepted the First Spinjitzu Master's help. We did what he taught us."

Tierney blinked and looked unsure momentarily as she mentioned the 'saint' he had been praying to for years. He must have realized that if he was questioning what she was taught, he was questioning him.

Nadine didn't wait for him to recover.

"He didn't stay around long enough to teach us the different aspects of our powers, we had to learn by ourselves." She stared at Tierney, seeing his determination waver in his eyes. "So, when I found you, we tried to do the same for you! We tried to teach you what we knew! And when I come to apologize and tell you that you were right and we were wrong, you give me that attitude!" Tierney looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry!" She continued. "And I'll try to help you learn how to use your powers like you want to!"

Tierney sighed and uncrossed his arms, leaving them hanging by his side.

"I'm sorry, Nadine", Tierney finally answered. "I'm very thankful for all your help. It's just that..." He hesitated. "...I didn't want to learn to use my powers like that. I was afraid of what would happen if I did."

Nadine's mood softened as she looked at the defeated Master of Wind, and she realized his emotions weren't coming from their fight, it started before that. It started the first day they met.

"After...After almost destroying my home, I feared what would happen if I used my powers again." Nadine thought about the first day they met and how Tierney created a tornado by mistake. She only managed to stop it by causing him to go unconscious. "Then, you asked me to become an Elemental Master, and I couldn't say no. It was my dream, and I thought I would get over this fear I felt. But I didn't. So I tried to find other ways to use my powers."

Nadine bit her lip and lowered her gaze. She never considered that possibility. In the grand scheme of things, elemental powers were still new to the world. They had only been in the world for a decade, and it would take much longer for them to become "normal". But from Nadine's perspective, since she always had been close to those with powers, she never was scared of them.