Kessie's Short Stories

[Ninjago] Warmth in the Cold

Originally published 12/22/2019

. . .

The cold had always strengthened him. It was only now, after the disbanding of the Elemental Alliance, that he came to realize that this strength was now leaving him. He knew that some time soon, he would no longer be a part of this world- with him being the Master of Ice (a key element of Creation) while also holding no heirs, this presented a problem. He decided to travel all over Ninjago for the one who could carry on this power; he just hoped he could find them before he expired.

There were many reasons why he decided to visit Birchwood Forest in the middle of the cold season. One was to regain some sense of his lost youth. The other was from news that something peculiar lived there; a creature that was not man nor machine and seemed to live by its own dictations- free of any master. Even if the rumors were not true, it still served as an excellent adventure to distract from other current matters.

Too bad he didn't take into account that they were also in the middle of flu season as well.

In his defense, the trip had started out well. He had packed enough supplies to last him nearly a month by his lonesome. He owned no personal vehicles of his own, so he accomplished most of the travel on foot. What he did not take into account were (ironically enough) bandits.

They had sought him out when he had ventured roughly an hour into the forest. It was particularly wise of them to wait until he fell asleep before taking his things. The bandits took nearly everything that wasn't directly attached to the Master of ice- which only accounted for the clothes on his back and a blanket for warmth. When he woke the next morning, he found himself impressed with their efficiency and felt that he was only mildly inconvenienced by their greed. But that was before he coughed- the sign that he was not as healthy as he had been in his youth.

Foolishly, he continued on, further into the Birchwood Forest and its harsh climate. Around noon, the Master of Ice found evidence that he was not the only one traversing the woods. Tracks, still fresh, were leading to an area where the trees were more densely packed. Giving a cough much harsher than the first, he began to fallow the tracks. The walk was nothing short of agonizing as his coughing become worse and his head feeling light. By the time he reached the small sawing mill, the Master of Ice believed that he was set to expire right then and there.

What he did not know – and could not see – was a young man who was actively cutting trees for the mill. This young man was an odd one for sure; his platinum blonde hair was cut into a clean buzz cut and his eyes held no visible life to them. An automation this man seemed to be than just a mere human, and he was certainly not one to question his identity either.

After chopping down yet another tree, the young man then worked to drag the trunk back to his lumber yard. The young man was not surprised in the slightest to see the Master of Ice at his mill. What caught his attention about this older man came with a scan of his vitals.

"Sir, you are ill." the young man announced, speaking loud enough for the stranger to hear as the younger dropped the tree trunk. The Master of Ice could just barely turn to face the newcomer without collapsing under himself.

"Sir!" the young man exclaimed with urgency as he rushed to the older's side. "Sir, you are very sick. Do you need assistance? Sir? Sir, can you hear me? Sir?!"

And, for the first time in awhile, the Master of Ice felt warmth in the cold.