The legend of the light ninja

Chapter fifteen | The Green Ninja

*I DO NOT OWN THE NINJAGO UNIVERSE AND ITS PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING CHARACTERS. AND THE PLOT OF THE SHOW. I ONLY OWN MY CURRENT CHARACTER | SAMUEL JASON HOLLAND. And any new characters I may develop in the future *

The night air over the Destiny's Bounty crackled with energy. A distant thunderhead rolled across the sky, casting momentary flashes of silver light on the deck where three ninja danced with precision through shadows and illusions.

"Earth!" Cole's voice rang out, deep and commanding. His powerful leg swept through the air, connecting with the side of what appeared to be a Serpentine warrior. The figure reeled back, only to spin harmlessly in place.

"Lightning!" shouted Jay, launching a sharp bolt of electricity from his palms. Sparks danced across the deck's wooden planks, and the enemy let out a hollow hiss.

"Ice!" Zane's tone was calm, focused. A beam of freezing energy followed the word, striking their opponent squarely in the chest and sending it sprawling to the deck with a hollow thud.

Then, 'Click'.

A floodlight above them buzzed to life, illuminating the figure they had just "defeated." Its serpentine snarl was painted on, its head nothing more than a burlap sack stitched with crude eyes. Its limbs were stiff wood and jointed rope. It was just a training dummy.

From the upper deck, Nya leaned against the railing, arms folded and eyebrow raised. "Good training," she called, her voice tinged with approval. "Your powers are getting stronger." She looked around, scanning the shadows. "But...where's Kai?"

Down below, deep within the hull of the ship. Kai stood before a mirror, clad in the shimmering Green Ninja gi. The emerald fabric reflected the lamplight, casting pale green glows across the small cabin's walls. He tightened his stance, arms raised in a dramatic pose, then threw out with more hope than power.

"Fire! Unlock Fire!" he shouted, voice echoing slightly. He waited...and frowned. "Uh...Fire go! Shoot flames!" he tried again, teeth gritted. "Oh, come on! Everyone else can do it, so can you."

He planted his feet wide, sucked in a determined breath, and yelled at the top of his lungs: "BRING HEAT!"

Nothing.

The room remained stubbornly flame-free. From the doorway behind him came a chuckle.

"Kai," said a voice dry with amusement, "what are you doing?"

Kai jumped like he'd touched a live wire. He spun around to see Sam leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, one brow raised. He looked like he'd been watching for a while.

Kai flushed, practically glowing red under the green hood. "Uh, nothing. I mean, training. I was just. Y'know...experimenting."

Sam stepped into the room, glancing over the Green Gi thoughtfully. "In a suit you're not supposed to wear, yelling at your reflection like it's going to set on fire?" He smirked, then added, "You're not exactly subtle, you know."

Kai scratched the back of his neck. "Look, I didn't steal it. I was just...looking through Sensei's things for a clue. Something to help me figure out who the Green Ninja is. I found the GI and...I don't know. It felt like maybe it could be me."

Sam's expression softened. "You want it to be you that badly?"

Kai didn't answer right away. He stared at his reflection, at the green-clad figure standing tall but unsure. " Everyone else has unlocked their True Potential," he said quietly. "I'm still stuck. Chasing something I can't see."