Ninjago: Purpose and Meaning

14. Purpose

"Listen up everyone!" Nadine walked into their unofficial meeting room, the kitchen.

Her steps had a new vigor and purpose to them, a vigor and purpose they had missed the past months. But, now that they faced a new enemy, she felt like herself again.

It had been a confusing time since Arashi died. She had started questioning everything as she thought she couldn't live this kind of life without him. But now, on pure instinct, she fell back into her old role as the leader of the Elemental Masters. She didn't give Arashi's absence a thought but walked with confident steps into the room filled with the Elemental Masters that had gathered in a matter of minutes after she called.

"Nepenthe's found them", she said, disguising her excitement with a neutral tone, "Before the oni came and distracted us, we were working at taking down the Destiny's Bounty and her crew. It was our duty to protect the world from the likes of them." She looked over the excited faces of the Elemental Masters. "But, after we lost Arashi; after we faced the oni; and after we parted ways, we forgot why we became Elemental Masters in the first place." She fell silent and let her words sink in among her audience. "I don't blame anyone for wanting to live a normal life. But we still have unfinished business. We left Captain Soto to plague the world with his presence, and I say, we've let him do that long enough. It's time to end this." The group of Elemental Masters sat silent, waiting for her to say the words. "We're leaving at dawn."

Without another word, the Elemental Masters rose as one and moved out of the kitchen. They had determination on their faces as they went to prepare for the mission.

Nadine stood still, enjoying the feeling of purpose and meaning. It was like somebody had taken the weight of the world off her shoulders. She had felt low and her spirit had been crushed. She had been lost after Arashi died. She couldn't imagine a life without him and didn't know how to continue without him, but now she knew. She had found her purpose again.

She opened her eyes and sighed deeply before she turned around to gather her things but laid eyes on Tierney. The young brown-haired man looked nervous and unsure. He lowered his grey eyes the moment she looked into them.

"Before you say anything", he quickly said, staring at the wooden floor beneath them. "I know I'm new. I know I haven't had these powers for long and you probably believe I'm not ready..." He raised his eyes to hers, determination filling them as he took a deep breath. "But, I just wanted to say-"

"You're coming with us", Nadine interrupted him. "You're ready."

Nadine, kind of, shocked herself as she said it. Since she realized she didn't have to bring Tierney along a week ago, the discussion had never been far from her mind. She had realized it was her decision whether he would get to go with them as they faced Soto and his crew, and the pressure got to her. 

But, one thing had always remained the same, she couldn't decide whether he was ready. She didn't know what to say when it came to it. But, she knew she had chosen right the moment the words left her mouth. Tierney was ready. He had trained hard for the past weeks, and maybe he didn't use his powers exactly like Arashi did, but that didn't really matter. He was ready.

She could see the shock on his face. Tierney had probably expected a lot more resistance against the idea of him coming along. He had probably been thinking about what to say for days, preparing arguments for why he should come along. Nadine didn't believe the possibility of her agreeing to the idea ever crossed his mind.

 "Are you sure?" Tierney managed to say after a long pause.

"I am", she told him. "You are more ready than I was for my first mission. And you will have all of us beside you."