Ninjago: Purpose and Meaning

13. Home

"You've always used our power like a sledgehammer", the former Master of Water told her. "You learned to throw waves and shoot beams of water at your enemies. But that's only one of many ways to use them."

Nyad floated in the water without effort, probably because she was a part of the ocean. It was mildly infuriating to see her so effortlessly control the sea all around them with barely a thought. It showed that even though Nadine had had her powers for a decade, she had much to learn.

"No one ever taught me any other way", Nadine said in an attempt to defend herself.

Nyad simply smiled at her, tilting her head to the side as her white eyes glowed with an unusual fervor.

"No one taught me either", the first Elemental Master of Water said.

Nadine blushed and turned her eyes down at the water in front of her. She started to kick a little harder to keep herself afloat.

Of course, Nyad wouldn't feel sympathy for her not having somebody to guide her. Nyad never had someone to teach her how to use her powers. She was the first to have them. All she knew about them, she discovered herself.

Nadine always could, at least, ask Nyad for advice. She had had someone to help her.

Even though Nadine had a hard time admitting her faults, she was thankful for Nyad helping her with this. She had missed the girl made out of blue glowing water.

It had felt weird not to be able to go and talk to her each evening, even though she only started because she searched for Tierney.

Fortunately, Nyad had suddenly answered her. She hadn't answered for weeks, but now she did when Nadine asked for help with developing her abilities.

Nadine suspected the First Spinjitzu Master had told her what they had talked about and asked Nyad to help her if she asked. He probably thought, and hoped, that helping her would distract the former Master of Water from his...condition. But Nadine could see how something was weighing her down.

"Like I was saying", Nyad continued. "You've been using your powers like a sledgehammer. It's effective...to destroy stuff."

Nadine would have crossed her arms if it wasn't for the fact that she was using them to help stay afloat. 

"You have the brute strength, now you need to sharpen your technique." She glanced beneath the surface of the water. "Stop kicking", she told her. "Use your powers."

Nadine hesitated before she listened to Nyad's instructions. She stopped kicking the water and instead focused her powers to push her toward the surface. A weak current appeared around her and she noticed how she stayed afloat without needing to do anything. The water emitted a weak glow as her arms lit up in their usual strong blue light.

"You need to realize", Nyad continued talking as she saw Nadine was listening to her instructions. "That you are the Master of Water. It is here you can get to know your powers", she signed to the open vastness of water on all sides of them. "But you've spent all your time since you got them on land. It's only here you can master them."

A mischievous smile appeared on Nyad's lips, and a flash of recognition passed before her eyes. It was the exact same smile the First Spinjitzu Master used to do when he got an idea.

"What-"

"Focus", Nyad interrupted her before she dove.

Her glowing body disappeared into the darkness and Nadine looked down after her, waiting for something to happen. Her body filled with energy as she got more nervous the longer she waited for something to happen.