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The lightning storm raged as the ninja scrambled to set the sails straight. The waves rocked the boat wildly, and the lightning strikes had the others jumping from their posts to get safely away.
Zane was the problem, Cole realized, as the lightning was attracted to his metallic body. Sending him below deck only made sense for everyone's safety.
"Zane shouldn't be alone!" Jay yelled down at them as Zane made his way inside, "We need to stay together!"
When no one answered him immediately, Jay yelled again, "Cole! You're a ghost! Shouldn't you go below deck too!?"
And Cole could hand it to him, that made sense, but as soon as he let go of the rope securing one of the sails, Lloyd and Nya nearly lost their footing. They flew forward with the force of the rope.
Cole shook his head, looking up at the lightning rod of a ninja, "We need all hands on deck and we're already down four. 'Sides it an electrical storm, I'll be fine. Nya!" he turned his attention to the water ninja, "You got my back?"
She smiled, giving him a two fingered salute, "Aye aye!"
Feeling safe with his sister minding the water, Cole focused on keeping the boat afloat. The lightning calmed, but the storm was far from over.
To their left, a twister whirled closer. Ocean water was raised into the air. Cole had no doubt that Nya was strong, not after taking on the Preeminent by herself, but water was unpredictable. She might not be able to protect him from this.
"Port side!" Jay yelled and Nya struggled to turn the boat. There was land head and large jagged rocks blocking their path. There was no steering away from them. It was this or the storm. They go were going to crash. They were going to crash! He wasn't going to survive this! He wasn't going to—
Cole lost his grip on the rope. His siblings were screaming and he was powerless to do anything to stop it as they flew up into the air and down into the waves below…
When Cole next opened his eyes, he was in a dark place. A large archway stood before him and behind that were some ramshackle houses that looked like they hadn't been lived in for centuries. He couldn't recognize any of it.
He shivered as he pulled himself to his feet, struggling to remember how he even got there.
And then it hit him. The storm... The boat crashed. He touched the water!
That… That had to mean he was in the Departed Realm. That was the only option. But he couldn't be there! He still had to help his friends! And defeat Nadakhan! And save Kai and Wu and… and…
"JAY!" he whirled around, yelling into the abyss, "NYA! LLOYD! ZANE! ANYONE!"
There was no response. He ran toward the darkness, feeling as though he ran for miles and made no distance at all.
"Can anyone hear me!? Guys!? PLEASE!"
"You can't reach the living from here," Cole jumped as hollowed voice spoke up behind him, "The most you'll do is give them a shiver."
He turned back around, another spirit floated before him. He couldn't recognize them— they had no features at all— and it didn't seem they recognized him either.
"Please…" he begged, "I have to go back."
They shook their head, "You can't go back. Not on your own. But the departed don't often leave this place."
"I'm not departed! I'm not!"
They cocked their head, "Then what are you? Why are you here?"
"I— I was cursed!" he explained, "So that doesn't count! I didn't really die!"
"So you should be in the Cursed Realm."
"NO! Anything but that!"
The spirit nodded, seeming to understand more than Cole did. "You were sent here for a reason. One day you'll understand it. Many struggle to accept their fate here."
"But I—"
"Come," they beckoned him to cross the archway, "I will help you find your kindred spirits."
Cole cast one last glance into the darkness, seeing no sign of the other side. This was it. He messed up big time and payed the price for it. Again.
He can't leave them behind…
The spirit called for him again and Cole reluctantly made his way into the land of the dead. The spirit waited patiently for him, studying him as he made his way forward.
"You're one of the earth elementals," they stated easily, and Cole idly wondered if they read his gi or his soul, "Brookestone, correct?"
Cole nodded, throat feeling impossibly dry in the moment. "How do you know that?" he rasped.
"I've been here for a long, long time," they said wistfully, "I know a little bit of everyone."
"An old soul then?"
"Old enough to forget myself," they explained, leading him further into the city, "But do not worry. Remaining close to your loved ones helps you remember."
Ghosts filled the streets, flying through the air with little abandon and for a moment, Cole wondered what it's like before snapping himself out of the thought. He had to find a way back home. He had to.
They veered off, away from the city. The spirit directed him to a clearing dimly lit by gems. He didn't know what they were exactly, but it felt like he should. Like recalling a fading memory.
"This is where the masters of earth reside," the spirit explained, "Some are nicer than others. But they should welcome you with open arms."
Cole sucked a breath through his teeth, eyes snapping back to the faceless spirit, "Wait, does that mean—"
"You'll find your answers lie with your kindred spirits," they answered vaguely, floating away and leaving him alone.
Kindred spirits. Family. But the only family he has here is…
"Coley?"
Cole looked up, meeting a face he hadn't seen in years.
His mom.
"What are you doing here!" she cried, suddenly cupping his face as she examined him head to toe. "No… No. No! You're not supposed to be here yet! You're so… so…"
Cole could feel his eyes burning as if he had any tears to cry. He blinked furiously as his arms slowly raised to wrap around his mother.
"I messed mom…" he confessed, "I messed up bad."
She smiled at him, eyes looking as wet as his felt. "That's okay," she whispered, "I know you tried your best."
"The boat crashed…" he mumbled into her shoulder, "I couldn't do anything to stop it!"
"We don't get to decide when it happens," Lilly sighed, "It's not your fault, Coley."
"But it is! If I hadn't—"
She pulled away, locking eyes with him. "Listen to me. It's not your fault," she said it with that stern, yet determined tone only a mother can use, "You couldn't have known. There's nothing you could've done to stop it."
And as much as he wants to argue that he could have stopped it, that he could have not gone back for that scroll and avoided this entirely, he can't argue with his mother. That soft spot in his heart burns and so he just nods with what she says.
Lilly seems to be satisfied with that, looking Cole up on down. "Look at you," she smiles, "You've gotten so big!"
If the circumstances were any different, he'd probably show off. Brag about how he could dead lift with both Jay and Nya sitting on the weights. But he just smiled, head ducking into his shoulders under his mother's praise.
Lilly continued on, running her fingers through Cole's bangs, "And a little shaggy."
"Mom," he whined, shrugging away from her. It was like despite the years, nothing had changed. It almost took him off guard.
But he was just… so happy to see her again. He couldn't believe he was actually in the Departed Realm, but… seeing her again almost made it worth it. Almost…
Lilly laid a hand on his shoulder, seeming almost hesitant to continue speaking. "How was life?" she whispered.
Cole took a breath. He never stopped trying to breathe despite dying months ago. And he can't imagine he'll stop any time soon. "It was great, mom," he answered honestly, "I… I had all these friends— family, really. And we went on all these adventures. And… And…"
Lilly nodded, listening intently as Cole told her all about his battle brothers and sister and their battles against Garmadon and the Overlord and Chen. He told her of Master Yang's curse and his untimely demise. Of Nadakhan and the boat crash that sent him there. He even told her how he got over his fear of dragons.
"No more nightmares then, huh?" she hummed.
"No way!" Cole shook his head, "Rocky was… he was my best friend. I mean, Jay is too, but Rocky's on a whole different level."
Lilly nodded, "I see." She leaned back on her hands. Cole blinked, realizing they were sat on nothing but air. he hadn't even noticed, but now that he did, he was scrambling in the air to find purchase on anything.
His mom reached out to steady him, "It's okay. You'll get used to it, hon."
Cole shivered, the weight of everything crashing back down on him. It was hard enough to figure out how to turn invisible. Now he had to figure out all the other ghost powers if he wanted to get anywhere in this place.
When he was settled again, Lilly asked, "How's your father?"
"He's, um…" Cole swallowed. When was the last time he talked to his dad? It hadn't been that long ago. Just after the Preeminent was defeated. Still, he should've reach out more. Because now he was gone without any warning and the others are lost at sea somewhere so no one will be able to tell him. Not for a while at least. "Dad was doing better…" he sighed.
Cole attempted to pop his knuckles, fumbling with his non-corporeal fingers, "We, um… We stopped talking for a while," he admitted pitifully, "But things— things are good now. You know, I go home sometimes. Call him every once and a while."
He looked up to meet his mother's eyes. They were soft and full of understanding. "I told him not to mess things up with you. But you know your dad."
"He's pushy?" Cole guessed.
"I was going to say a stubborn jackass, but that works to," Lilly chuckled.
Cole's jaw dropped, "Mom!"
"You're grown," she pushed him lightly, "Though I can tell you're still my little boy."
Cole snorted, leaning into her side. For a moment they sat quietly, staring out into the abyss that made up this realm and the way it seemed to glow with spectral energies.
"When did you get used to it?" he asked quietly, "What do you even do here?"
Lilly didn't answer immediately, still staring out at the void. "Well… I think it was just easier for me. I always knew I would end up here too soon. I had come to accept it."
Cole furrowed his brow. Because… that wasn't true. His mom was a fighter! He'd seen it, seen how hard she fought to stay alive. There was no accepting it!
But then she turned to smile at him, leaning over to press a kiss into his fringe and he realized, she only stayed for him.
"But honestly, it's not easy being here," his mother sighed, "Just… a while lot of waiting," she ran her hand through his bangs, ruffling them lightly, "For the people you love."
Cole smiled slightly, before letting it fall. He's going to be waiting a long, long time for his dad and Master Wu and his brothers and sister. It sounds like torture.
But that's the thing about it. He wants them to take longer because that means they're living long happy lives…
…without him.
But he can be okay with that. Maybe make peace with it.
For now he waits.