The Winds Of Change

Chapter 2: Old Wounds

Morning came quickly, the sun rising over the hills of Ninjago, casting long shadows over the monastery. Morro had never been much of a morning person, but training with the ninja left little room for sleeping in. Today, he was up earlier than the others, already out in the training courtyard, running through old forms and techniques he had learned long ago under Wu's tutelage.

Despite everything, it felt natural. The movements, the balance, the control over wind—it all came back to him as if no time had passed. But he wasn't the same person he had been back then. His anger had fueled him once, pushing him to be stronger, more ruthless. Now, he was trying to control it, trying to let the wind guide him instead of forcing it to bend to his will.

The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see Kai approaching, already dressed in his red gi. His expression was neutral, though Morro could tell from the stiffness in his walk that Kai wasn't here for friendly conversation.

"Up early, I see," Kai said, stopping a few feet away.

"Couldn't sleep," Morro replied, lowering his stance and standing upright.

Kai crossed his arms, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "You know, you're not fooling anyone."

Morro raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"All this," Kai waved a hand in the air, gesturing vaguely at the courtyard, at Morro, at everything. "This whole 'I'm a changed man' act. You think just because you're training with us, we're going to forget what you did?"

Morro felt a flash of frustration rise in his chest but quickly swallowed it down. He knew Kai was testing him, trying to get a reaction. "I'm not asking you to forget," Morro said calmly. "But I'm not here to prove anything to you, either. I'm here because Wu asked me to help."

Kai scoffed. "Wu might believe in you, but I'm not so sure. People like you don't just change overnight."

Morro's jaw tightened. He wanted to snap back, wanted to remind Kai that he wasn't the only one who had made mistakes, but he knew it wouldn't help. If anything, it would just prove Kai right. Instead, he took a deep breath and let it go.

"I get it," Morro said quietly. "You don't trust me. And maybe you never will. But I'm not the same person I was before. You don't have to believe me, but I'm still going to fight alongside you, whether you like it or not."

Kai's eyes flickered with something—maybe surprise, maybe annoyance. But before he could respond, the rest of the ninja started arriving in the courtyard, one by one. Lloyd, Zane, Cole, and Nya filed in, followed shortly by Wu, who clapped his hands to signal the start of training.

"Good morning, everyone," Wu said, his voice calm and steady. "Today, we will focus on teamwork. The key to victory is not in strength alone but in how well we work together. Trust is earned, not given freely."

Morro caught the way Wu glanced at him, as if the lesson was meant specifically for him and the others. Kai snorted softly, clearly picking up on it, too.

"For today's training," Wu continued, "you will be paired off into teams of two. You'll need to work together to complete a series of challenges. Zane, you'll be with Kai. Nya and Cole, you'll be another pair. Lloyd, you'll be with Morro."

Lloyd's gaze shifted to Morro, and for a moment, they exchanged a quiet look. There was no anger in Lloyd's eyes, no bitterness, but there was caution. Morro understood it. He didn't expect Lloyd to just forget their history, but at least he wasn't hostile like Kai.

"Alright, let's get to it," Wu said, stepping aside to allow them to start.

The first challenge was a simple obstacle course designed to test both speed and agility. The pairs had to make their way through a series of hurdles, swings, and tightrope walks, relying on each other for balance and timing.

Lloyd and Morro were up first.

"Ready?" Lloyd asked, standing at the starting line.

Morro nodded, stretching his arms. "Let's do this."

They took off, running side by side. The first few hurdles were easy enough, and both of them cleared them without much effort. But as they reached the swings—two ropes hanging from wooden beams—they had to synchronize their movements. Morro grabbed one rope while Lloyd took the other, and they swung in unison, timing their landings perfectly.

"So far, so good," Lloyd said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Morro couldn't help but grin back. "You sound surprised."

They continued through the course, their movements fluid and precise. For a moment, it almost felt like old times—like they were teammates, not rivals. Morro had forgotten what it felt like to work with someone instead of against them, and the sensation was strange, but not unwelcome.

As they reached the final obstacle—a narrow tightrope stretched across a deep pit—Lloyd went first, carefully balancing on the rope as he made his way across. Morro followed close behind, his wind powers giving him just enough control to stay steady.

Just as they neared the end, Lloyd lost his footing, slipping slightly. Instinctively, Morro reached out, grabbing Lloyd's arm to steady him.

"Got you," Morro said, pulling him back up.

Lloyd looked at him for a second, his eyes wide with surprise, before nodding. "Thanks."

They crossed the finish line together, their teamwork evident to everyone watching. Wu smiled approvingly, but Kai, standing off to the side, looked less impressed.

"Not bad," Cole said, walking over with Nya. "You two actually make a decent team."

Lloyd glanced at Morro, then nodded. "Yeah. We do."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of training and teamwork exercises, with Morro doing his best to prove, not through words but through actions, that he was serious about working with them. He knew he wasn't perfect. He knew there were still doubts, especially from Kai, but for now, it was enough that they were starting to see he wasn't the same person he had been.

Later that evening, after dinner, Morro found himself once again sitting outside on the steps of the monastery. The sky above was dark, dotted with stars, and the air was cool and quiet. It was peaceful, something Morro wasn't used to feeling.

The door behind him creaked open, and Lloyd stepped out, sitting down next to him just like the night before.

"You did well today," Lloyd said, breaking the silence.

Morro shrugged. "I had a good partner."

Lloyd smiled slightly, but it quickly faded as he grew more serious. "I know it's not easy for you. Being here. Trying to fit in after everything."

Morro didn't respond right away. He wasn't sure what to say. "I don't really expect to fit in," he admitted after a moment. "I'm just trying to make things right. Or at least, as right as they can be."

Lloyd nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I get that. But I think you're on the right track. It'll take time, but... I think we can learn to trust you."

Morro looked at him, surprised. "You really think so?"

Lloyd shrugged. "You're here, aren't you? You're trying. That counts for something."

For the first time in a long while, Morro felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this second chance wasn't as impossible as it seemed. He still had a long way to go, but at least now, he wasn't facing it alone.

"Thanks," Morro said quietly.

Lloyd smiled. "Don't mention it."

As they sat there in the stillness of the night, Morro allowed himself to relax, even if only for a little while. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't running from something. He was moving forward.

And that, he realized, was enough for now.