? ??????? ? {Ninjago}

?S1 E7: Tick Tock (1)?

But you didn't. You left him there to rot.

You were snapped out of your trance by Kai putting a hand on your shoulder. "Are you OK?"

It was the softest tone you think you'd ever heard come out of him. You gently nodded. It wasn't his fault. "Sensei, what if we've done enough training?" Cole was asking. "What if we've reached our true potential? What if we're ready?"

Wu laughed weakly. "You might have reached peak physical condition, but you've yet to reach your inner potential. In each and every one of us, there are obstacles that hold us back." He gazed curiously at you for a brief moment before continuing. "Only when you conquer that fear will your heart be free. Only then will you reach your true potential. Only then will we have a fighting chance to stop the Serpentine from releasing the Great Devourer."

The ninja were all nodding after his small speech, and Wu turned away again. Gathering your courage, you spoke up, "Uncle? There's... There's more to the Great Devourer than you're telling us, isn't there?"

The old teacher sighed. "I too have obstacles within my own heart. There's a story I've never told you. Any of you." You sat down on the floor, ready for a story. Jay quietly snickered to himself. "Long ago, when I was a young boy, Garmadon and I were more than brothers. We were the best of friends."

"Like me and Lloyd?" You blurted, immediately regretting it when your uncle paused. You looked at the floor.

"...Yes," Wu said quietly, almost affectionately. "Like you and Lloyd."

"While we're having little questions," Jay cut in, "I know you two were brothers, but really? The King of Cruelty, the Doer of Destruction, the Captain of Chaos. And you two were friends?"

Wu held up an arm. "Please, no interruptions."

Jay sputtered, "But—But (Y/N)—"

"You see," Sensei Wu continued as if he'd never spoken, "He did not always have a wicked heart. One day, I lost this very katana. Knowing our father would be mad, my brother told me to go retrieve it. But I refused. He told me not to put off what can be done today and went to get it himself."

Wu paused again, and the mood became even more tense. You leaned forward from your place on the ground. "When my father found him, he was very ill. For he was bitten by a legendary snake that would grow forever as long as it consumes. A great evil had found its way into my brother's heart. For the snake's venom could turn the purest of things wicked." Wu just barely looked over his shoulder at you, but you didn't catch it.

Unconsciously, you put a hand over where your heart was. It beat strong and steady in your chest, but you felt just the slightest bit sick.

Even the purest of things...

"The snake is the same one the Serpentine was to re-awaken today. It is the same snake that took my brother away from me." He ended his story on a cold, almost vengeful tone that you'd never heard him use before. It made chills race up your spine. Just the thought of the venom made you feel tingly and horrible.

Kai nodded. "So the Great Devourer turned your brother into the Dark Lord?"

Wu inhaled a deep breath before letting it go. "It was all my fault." I promise that I will never let it happen again. Picking up his case, the one holding the katana, he said, "You four have finished your training. You must now focus on stopping Pythor from collecting the four Fangblades. But never lose focus on the obstacles that lie within each of your hearts that holds you back from true greatness. Unlock your true potential." He glanced at you. "All of you."