Ninjago: This is Only the Beginning

A Child's Influence

Cole's POV

I brought the little guy back to my place in which I had just found right now. It was a small inn, but it made due for the both of us. " So here we are." I sighed, looking around.

" Not too shabby!" Aquilo smiled, jumping onto the small couch. I chuckled, and sat down next to him.

" So Aquilo...just wondering your name...What does it mean?" I asked, thinking if he had some connection to Zane.

Aquilo looked at me, and smiled. " It means North Wind!" he smiled. " I was told once that I have a connection to cold things.."

" I see, well you must be tired!" I yawned, stretching my arms. Aquilo shook his head, and jumped off the couch.

" I am not tired though!" he said.

" Oh yes you are! You gotten in enough trouble today, I think you need some rest to recover from that." I said in a stern voice, getting off of the couch.

Aquilo looked at me, and huffed. " Okay, then, but you have to tell me a bedtime story!" he smiled.

" Deal!"

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Once in bed.

" Okay, comfortable?" I asked, as Aquilo adjusted the bedding to his liking.

" Yup!" he smiled. " Now you promised me a bedtime story!" he smiled, laying down.

I sighed, and looked at him. " What do you like to hear about?" I asked him.

" I want to know about how the ninja of Ninjago formed!" he smiled.

My eyes widen, and my heart stopped for just a second...' Zane..' the thought of him appeared in my mind. ' Well, this kid needs a story, and what better way to honor Zane is to remember him when he was still fighting.'

I sighed. " Okay, it all began with our Master, Sensei Wu, he ventured from far and wide to find the chosen ones..I was the first to be found by him." I said smiling. " You see I was climbing up a mountain, and Wu was way at the bottom of it, but the moment I reached the top, the old man was there before I was!" I chuckled.

Aquilo began to chuckle as well, " You were got beaten by an old man?" he laughed.

I chuckled. " Yeah, in a way I was...Now, after I was found Wu had found Jay...You see Jay was testing out one of his gadgets, and-"

" It did not work! Did it?" he giggled again.

I chuckled. " Obviously!" I smiled, and looking into his eyes I saw something I haven't seem in a long time.....Joy...the joy and innocence of a child's eyes brought back so many happy memories.

" Now....the third one to be found was probably the bravest one of us all.." I smiled softly. " He was found in the oddest of ways. You see he was meditating at the bottom of an icy lake, and that the next moment Wu was sitting next to him drinking tea!"

Aquilo began to laugh again. " How is that even possible?!"

I shrugged. " There was a lot of things about our Master that we never got to find out, but he was way wiser than any of us were...except perhaps Zane of course.."

Aquilo calmed down, and looked at me. " You said 'was', speaking as if he was gone."

I began to feel a pain in my chest, and I turned towards the window of the room. " Yeah, it's been a couple months now since Morro." I said.

" What happen?" he asked.

" Something that should never had happen..." I whispered. " Zane, was never suppose to even be there, but Lloyd was in trouble, and I couldn't protect him.....Lloyd was saved, but at a high price.."

Aquilo's eyes sadden. " I am sorry...I did not know." he whispered.

I shook my head, and smiled. " I think that's enough bedtime stories for one night.."

Aquilo nodded, and got comfortable in his bed. " Thank you for telling me a story, Cole...I never had a bedtime story before.."

" Well, then I'll tell you one every night then!" I smiled.

" Yay!" the little boy smiled. I got up and went to go close the door, but before I left Aquilo said one last thing. " Cole, thank you...for everything.." he smiled.

" No problem, kid! Sweet dream.." I smiled, and closing the door, I headed to the couch down the hallway.

I laid there, and looked up to the sky..." You were never suppose to be there..." I whispered, until I fell into a deep sleep.