Chapter Text
They were the first ones- besides Nya- to arrive at the bridge. When the others arrived a minute or so later, Nya started talking.
“We’ve received reports of armed robbers at New Ninjago City Bank; the police need help, so some of us need to head out there and stop them.”
“Why’d you call all of us here if you don’t need all of us?” Kai asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
“Because, those who don’t help with the robbery are going to go to the temple and work on unpacking.”
There was a groan from Kai, Lloyd, and Jay at that.
“Me and Cole will go to the temple,” Zane said before anyone else could.
“Great!” Nya said, grinning, “Me, Jay, Lloyd, and Kai will go deal with the robbery.”
They headed to the temple on Zane’s elemental dragon. Zane had insisted on it, even though Cole kept saying that he felt fine. On the way, Cole asked: “Why did you volunteer us?”
“If I’m right, and this has something to do with Sensei Yang’s Curse, the best place to find answers would be in his temple; the place where it started.”
They fell into a thoughtful silence for the rest of the trip.
Once they reached the temple, they jumped off Zane’s dragon as it disappeared.
They walked to the temple, Cole leaning a bit on his brother. Despite his insistence of being perfectly fine, he was still feeling a little weak. He wasn’t in pain anymore, but he felt tired and like he had a mild cold.
They headed inside and up to the loft. {it’s where the ninja first met Yang; I have no idea what else to call it. If someone knows what it’s called, please let me know in the comments} It wasn’t a place any of the the ninja except Cole went; it still felt haunted, despite Cole’s assurances that the temple was not haunted anymore.
Sensei Yang was meditating in the center of the floor. Cole stopped leaning on Zane and bowed.
“Sensei,” he said.
Sensei Yang looked back and stood up when he saw Cole.
“Greetings my pupil,” the ghost said, “It’s been a while since you last visited me.”
“I’ve been a little busy with my ninja work,” Cole said with a small laugh.
“What’s going on?” Zane asked, confused, with a touch of worry in his voice, “Who are you talking to?”
Cole turned to his brother. “You can’t see him?”
“See who?”
“I might be able to fix that.”
Cole turned to Sensei Yang. There was a slight warping if his form, and then Zane gasped.
“Sensei Yang!” The nindriod exclaimed.
“The one and only,“ the Sensei said, a smile toying at his lips.
“But Cole said there were no more ghosts here!”
“I said it wasn’t haunted,” Cole corrected, “I never said there weren’t any ghosts here. Besides, if it weren’t for Sensei Yang, I would have been forgotten on the Day of the Departed.”
Zane cringed at that, but Yang spoke before Cole could comment on it.
“But, my pupil, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been a ghost in the first place.”
“That’s besides the point. We actually came here for a reason.”
“What brings you here then?“
“I- I don’t know exactly. I woke up this morning in considerable pain. Zane had a theory on why it happened, but he hasn’t told me it.”
“Speak then, young ninja.“
“Cole spent the night in garb that was soaked through with water,” Zane said, apparently over the initial shock of seeing the Sensei, “I was wondering if it was a side affect of your curse.”
“Perhaps. This is new territory for me. Do you know if any of my other students have had any negative side affects?”
“No, they all seem to be doing quite well.”
“Perhaps it has something to do with you going through the portal so late?” The sensei asked Cole.
“I have no idea,” Cole said truthfully.
“Well we’ll just have to see what the future brings then,” Sensei Yang said cryptically.
The future did bring surprises for them all.
Almost all of them were ones Cole would have preferred had stayed secret to everyone, including him.