On a String

Chapter 9

"How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core,
where I've become so numb.
Without a soul,
my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold,
until you find it there and
Lead it back... home."
Bring Me to Life' by Evanescence.

"The Puppeteers hung them."

[ ... Have you ever wondered what a battlefield would look like, had the conflict never taken place? Perhaps daisies would grow in long, green grass, gently tousled by a soft breeze. The field (yes, it would be a field- reminiscent of warm sunny days, not a hot, burning hell) would be alive with birds and growth (not death. There would be no fading screams from those who lost their lives (so unjustly) echoing down the halls of time).

Have you ever wondered what a tarnished piece of gold would look like without the corruption? Shiny, reflective. Polished perfection. Soft enough to mold with one's bare hands yet strong and resilient to stay in shape when it is most required. Gold shows unity- marriage rings; symbols of trust, eternal love and glory. Without tarnish, gold is beyond beautiful. Treat it well, and it will last forevermore.

Pictures, pictures.

Images, images.

Memories, memories...]

"But Sensei, there have always been three! Three blind mice, three musketeers..." Jay explained hastily as Sensei Wu raised an eyebrow at his student.

Sensing that his Master was about to disagree before the team had time to make their point, Cole stepped in hurriedly. "Erh, what he's trying to say, Sensei Wu, is that the three of us have trained together. We're solid," the Master of Earth protested desperately, looking at the new Ninja out of the corner of his eye.

A cocky grin, hands sitting easily on hips... the new guy might be standing in the middle of the courtyard wearing nothing but red striped pajamas after just being attacked by three Ninja, but he looked completely relaxed. In fact, he was so relaxed that any outsider would probably think he owned the place. Cole scowled. He did not need this guy and his ego on his team.

"Didn't look so solid to me," Mr Ego folded his arms carelessly and turned around to smirk at Cole, spiky hair (seriously? Who wore their hair like that, anyway?) swaying slightly with the easy movement.

Behind his mask, Cole scowled.

He couldn't believe this guy was going to be training with them.

"Okay guys, let's chop-socky this lemonade stand! Cole, you got the plan?" Jay asked with a grin while the team finished surveying Samukai's camp.

Cole nodded, turning to his left. "Yep. Kai, you-?" He halted abruptly mid-sentence as he realized that the red Ninja was not there. Biting back a growl, Cole turned back to his team mates. (Actual team mates, that was. Jay and Zane always had his back and knew when to follow his orders. Unlike a certain red Ninja...).

Why was Mr Ego part of the team? Cole had never met anyone as reckless or impatient as the red Ninja. Why didn't Sensei Wu listen to him? The idiot was going to get them all killed!

"Watch out bro! On your left!" Kai sailed through mid-air in a flip, landing beside Cole and taking out the incoming skeleton with a causal wave of his sword. "Good thing I've got your back, huh?" he paused briefly to grin at Cole, before turning back to the enemy. "If you ever need any assistance just give me a call!"