A fire's shadow

Sensei doesn't know

Shadow's POV

Groaning, I slowly opened my eyes only to find myself in my room on the bounty. How did I get here? I was out on the deck before everything went black. It was then the thought hit me. I lost control of my powers and fainted. The others must have brought me to my room.

Pushing my legs over the edge of the bed, I sat up and placed a hand on my forehead as a pounding headache hit me full force the moment I moved my body. A hiss of pain escaped me as I felt the soreness of my body. I went extremely overboard with training for the fourth time since the incident with Matt, the others are probably very worried now.

I pushed myself off the bed and almost fell to the floor when my legs almost crumbled underneath me. Luckily I regained balance quickly, preventing me from falling.

I grabbed some clothes and went to take a shower when I remembered I was sweaty from training.

...

After taking a shower and changing into a pair of black jeans, black shoes, and a plain light grey tank top, I went to check if the others were okay after my little blackout.

As I entered the living room I was expecting to be tackled to the ground by Nya or scolded by Kai, maybe even by Wu, but what I was met with was Sensei sitting in the armchair sipping his tea.

"Sensei?" As my voice reached his ears his head lifted and we met eyes.

"Ah, I see you are awake. Your sister and brothers were worried about you, you know."

Scratching the back of my head, I lowered my gaze towards the floor, "Yeah, I kinda guessed that. It's not every day I faint from exhaustion." I joked, trying to lift the mood, but we both knew it was a failed attempt. Sighing, I lifted my head and once again met eyes with the youngest son of the first spinjitzu master, "Sensei, where are the others? I was expecting them to wait for me to wake up but they're not here. Did something happen?"

Sipping his tea, Wu hummed quietly, "I may be wise, but not even I knew where the path leads if I were to tell you. I've always had a hard time knowing where your path is headed, but ever since two weeks back, I've been unable to see even glimpses of where you're headed. Perhaps, it's not me who should know." He gave me a look that made me wonder what he meant by that.

"Sensei, I don't think I understand."

"You, just like Morro, did somehow escape from the path the people of sky kingdom had written for you. Which is why I've been unable to see your path. Because you're making it as you walk. You don't follow a path already made for you, instead, you make your way through bushes and over ponds where no one else saw you getting to."

"So......You're saying you're worried where the information about the others' whereabouts might lead me?"

Nodding, Wu sipped his tea once more, "That's for sure one way to put it, young ninja. You truly are a special human."

I muttered under my breath after hearing the last sentence, "I'm not human. We both know that."

"No, you think you know that Shadow. But trust me when I say your past does not define you. A very close friend of mine proved that a long time ago."

"Garmadon?"

For a moment, Wu seemed to get lost in thought, as his hands put down the teacup and a sad sigh escaped his mouth, "My brother may not have gone against his destiny as you have, but he still walked his own way. And he showed me that anyone can get a second chance, even if that someone is at war with themselves."

I turned my head away when he tried to lock eyes with me. Luca is not your problem so it's no use trying to find out things about him. "I have no idea what you're referring to, Sensei."

"I know you are trying to hide it from me Shadow. But you remember when we first met, It was clear to me that you were special even back then. And you were at war with yourself at that time and have been ever since."

"Right, never forgets anything, do you, Wu?"

"Somethings might slip my memory, but every time I look at you, I remember the frightened and confused boy I saw back then. You have changed over the course of time."

I sighed, "Yeah, it has been a really bumpy ride for me." I sighed again, "The others got an alarm, didn't they?"

Sensei nodded, "They did, and I think you don't want to leave them alone on this one. Former friends are not things to be taken lightly. And I don't think yours is going to be merciful on your family."

I cursed under my breath as I realized what he meant by that, "I should have known." I lifted my head towards sensei, "I need to go. Let's just hope I'm not too late."

...

It was not hard to find where the others where. Matt had lit several houses on fire after all. I quickly jumped into an alley and decided to observe the situation before making a move.

The others stood by a car in the middle of the road. Kai looked exhausted and the others seemed to be scolding him for some reason.

But then clapping caught everyone's attention, including mine. And then Matt stepped through a wall of blue flames, my teammates wearing shocked and confused expressions on their faces. I had to fight back the urge to sprint out there and punch him in the face, I needed to see where this was going.

"That was so heartwarming, really, it was. But unfortunately, I have to cut it short." He began, faking a regretful expression. "You are the ninjas, correct?" Stop acting like you don't know who they are because I know you know exactly who they are, and to think you looked up to them as well as me.

The others got into a fighting stance and Lloyd responded, "Yeah, what is it to you?"

"Oh, I just wanted to say I admire your work. But there seems to be a member missing." Matt smirked wickedly, "Where's my dear friend, Shadow?" You really had to ask it like that, I guess you want everyone to know about our history.

I saw Kai holding back a gasp. Right, he knows about Matt, just not what he looked like. "He's not here!" My brother shouted and I facepalmed. No shit, Kai.

Matt sighed, "Well, it's too bad really. I had been looking forward to destroying him, piece by piece. But I guess killing his family would make a good start." I felt my blood run cold as his eyes changed color to the same glowing blue color as the flames dancing around his fists and he charged at my family.

That's enough observation for my part.

I bolted into a run and stopped right in front of my former friend, grabbing his fists with my hands making him halt. He lifted his head and smirked at me when we locked eyes.

Matt chuckled, "So you decided to show up after all." Which earned a similar chuckle from me.

"I couldn't just let you hurt my family, now could I?"