The Winds Of Change

Chapter 1: A Second Chance

Morro was certain he was going to die. After the battle against the Preeminent, the waters of the Cursed Realm were supposed to pull him under, forever trapped in the void of nothingness. That had been the deal, after all. But instead of fading away, he suddenly felt a hand grab his wrist. The sensation startled him, dragging him back from the edge of oblivion. Gasping for air, Morro opened his eyes to find himself lying on a cold, wet shore. The sky was cloudy, and the winds howled above.

"You're alive," came a familiar voice, soft yet steady. Master Wu stood before him, his expression as calm as ever.

Morro struggled to sit up, water dripping from his hair and clothes. "Why?" he croaked, his voice hoarse. "Why did you save me?"

Wu knelt beside him, his long white robes soaked at the edges by the sea. "Because everyone deserves a second chance."

Morro stared at him, blinking in disbelief. Wu had every reason to let him disappear into the Cursed Realm, to leave him for dead after everything he had done. Morro had betrayed him, stolen the Realm Crystal, and unleashed havoc across Ninjago. The weight of his failures hung heavy on his shoulders, yet here was his former master, offering him a hand.

Morro's fists clenched at his sides. "You think I deserve forgiveness?" he snapped. "After all I've done?"

Wu's gaze didn't waver. "Forgiveness isn't given because it's deserved. It's given because it's the right thing to do."

Morro turned away, his heart pounding. He didn't want this—didn't want to feel grateful or guilty. He had been chasing power for so long, trying to prove he was worthy of being the Green Ninja. But that dream had shattered, and now... now he was just a ghost of his former self.

"I'm not who I used to be," Morro muttered, barely loud enough for Wu to hear. "I'm not your student anymore."

"Then be someone new," Wu said simply. "You don't have to be what you were. You can choose who you become from this moment forward."

Morro said nothing. The thought of starting over, of changing, seemed impossible. But what other choice did he have? He was tired of running, tired of fighting against everyone, including himself. For the first time in a long time, he was faced with a different path.

Returning to the Monastery of Spinjitzu was not easy. Every corner of the place was filled with memories of a past Morro had tried to forget. He had trained here under Master Wu, once a bright and eager student, before his hunger for power consumed him. Now, as he stood at the entrance, the weight of his decisions hung over him like a dark cloud.

The doors creaked open, and Morro followed Wu inside. The other ninja were already there, gathered in the main hall. When they saw him, every pair of eyes widened in shock and disbelief. It was clear they weren't expecting him to ever return.

Kai, always quick to speak, was the first to break the silence. "Is this some kind of joke?" His fiery temper was clear in his voice. "Why is he here?"

Lloyd, standing beside Kai, furrowed his brow. He was the one Morro had tried to replace, the rightful Green Ninja. There was no anger in his expression, just a wary confusion. "I thought Morro was gone."

Wu stepped forward. "Morro is here because he has been given a second chance. He will stay with us now, as part of our team."

"A part of our team?" Cole scoffed, crossing his arms. "After everything he did? He tried to destroy Ninjago!"

Zane, his mechanical voice calm but firm, added, "How can we trust him?"

Morro stood silently through their reactions, knowing all too well that they were right. He had caused more harm than good, and trust was not something easily given. Yet, despite everything, Wu had brought him back. There had to be a reason for that, even if he couldn't see it yet.

"I'm not asking for your trust," Morro finally said, his voice low. "I know I don't deserve it. But Master Wu saved me, and I owe him for that. I'll help you in whatever way I can."

"Help us?" Kai spat. "Like how you helped release the Preeminent?"

Morro's eyes darkened at the memory. He didn't have a good response for that. He'd made too many mistakes to count, and the guilt of them weighed heavily on him. "I'm not asking for forgiveness, Kai. I'm just... trying to make up for what I've done. I know it's not enough, but it's all I have."

For a moment, the room was silent again. Lloyd was the one to speak next, his tone calm but thoughtful. "I believe in second chances," he said, glancing at Morro. "But if you try anything, we'll stop you. No hesitation."

Morro met Lloyd's gaze and nodded. "Fair enough."

Wu clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Then it's settled. We'll begin training tomorrow morning."

Over the next few days, Morro trained with the ninja, though he could feel their distrust lingering in every interaction. He didn't blame them. He had caused too much pain, and he was still trying to figure out who he was now. Every time they sparred or trained together, Morro caught the quick glances they threw his way, as if waiting for him to betray them.

But he didn't.

Instead, he threw himself into the training, trying to keep his mind focused on the present rather than his regrets. His mastery over wind was second nature, but now he was using it for something more than just destruction. He was learning to control it with discipline, not anger.

It wasn't easy. His temper still flared at times, especially when Kai pushed him too far with his remarks. But Morro held back, reminding himself that this was his second chance—possibly his last chance. The hardest part wasn't the training; it was proving that he wasn't the same person he had been.

One night, after the others had gone to bed, Morro sat outside on the steps of the monastery, staring at the stars. He wondered if he was doing the right thing. Could he really change? Or was he doomed to repeat his mistakes?

"Can't sleep?" a voice asked from behind him.

Morro turned to see Lloyd standing there, his expression softer than usual. "No," Morro replied. "Just... thinking."

Lloyd sat beside him. "It's not easy, is it? Changing."

Morro shook his head. "No. It's not."

They sat in silence for a while, the cool breeze ruffling their hair. Eventually, Lloyd spoke again. "You're doing better than you think. It takes time, but I believe you can change. You just have to keep trying."

Morro didn't know how to respond, but for the first time since he'd returned, he felt a small spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a place here. He wasn't sure yet, but he was willing to try.

And that was a start.