It was about three or four years ago. It took a lot of strength and stamina to get to the top of that building, but I did it. I took a few minutes' breather, before I pulled it out of my bag. The wings. The failing invention that changed my life.
Breathing heavily, in and out, I quietly muttered to myself to calm my raging nerves. I stood at the edge of the lofty tower, putting the wings on. I felt the wind in my hair, rippling through my light jacket, as I spread them, like a bird. Like a jay.
Finally gathering all my courage, I jumped. The wind grazing my skin felt good, but it took a bit to gain control. Was I going to fall?
To my immediate relief, I didn't. I flew. I glided over the city, taking in the view from above, and then looked ahead as I was overcome with shock. "No, no, no, no, nonono!" Too late. I crashed into a billboard in front of me, and that was when I saw him.
In my tiredness, all I could manage to say was, "Huh...?" He was a thin, brittle-looking, elderly man, his beard longer than my hair in middle school. Panting, I tried to take in the sight of him. He was wearing a conical straw hat, and oddly enough, he was calmly sipping tea. I was lucky I was tired, or I would be freaking out.
"Hello there," he said, his voice calm and quiet.
"Uh...hello...?" I still had to get used to the fact I crashed into a random old guy.
"Is there a reason you jumped?" he asked without even asking my name.
"Uh...I just...well, really, I come from a poor family in a humble home," I replied. "I wanted to do something...exciting for once. Everyone just sees me as the local junkyard boy. I thought I could get some attention if I invented something less...ordinary. So I made these wings." I took them off. "They're not much, but they...carried my weight and made sure I didn't fall. Now I realize they're just a stylized hang glider." I sighed.
"And what's wrong with that?" The man turned to me. "You have it better than a lot of people. You have both parents, correct?"
"Yeah."
"And they love and care for you?"
"Yeah."
"You have a roof over your head, correct?"
"Uh-huh. Just a trailer and an old car, but...it's something."
"I guess so, but they're not all that interesting. Just...failing inventions, meaningless poetry, uncreative cooking..."
"No, Jason Walker. You are a man of many talents," he replied, causing me to jump.
"How do you know my name?" I asked, panicked.
"I knew your mother," he answered. "You can call me Sensei Wu."
"Sensei...Wu? As in, a sensei, who teaches martial arts?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"That's really cool! Can you teach me anything?"
"For now, I will teach you what you are worth. You have a...scar, above your right eye," Wu told me, nearly touching the notch in my eyebrow.
I touched it. "Yeah?"
"How did you get it?"
"Oh, there was an...accident, with an invention, back at the junkyard. I...I managed to get my parents away, but it hit me right in the eye. It was bleeding pretty bad," I replied. "I'm just glad I got them to safety."
Sensei smiled through that distractingly long beard. "I knew you had that instinct in you."
"What instinct?" I tilted my head, confused.
"You seem...quick with reflexes, and...fiercely loyal," he replied. "Both excellent traits...for a ninja."
My eyes shot open and I stumbled a little. "Ninja?"
"Yes, I'm afraid you are just the right type for my team."
"Team?"
"I will introduce you to my other student, once we go back," Wu replied.
My mood changed from confusion to excitement, like a lightning bolt to the heart. "This is...this is amazing! Just little ol' me, the ultimate underdog of Ninjago, a ninja?" And then I looked back down at him. "Wait, how the heck did you get up here?"
"I have my ways," he said with a chuckle. "I knew I would find you up here. You are one of my...chosen ones."
"Chosen one?" I echoed curiously.
"To protect Ninjago," he replied. "You have a lot of potential, Jay. You just need to see that." He adjusted his hat, took up his tea and stood. "Come. We have a long journey ahead of us."
"But what about my parents?" I asked.
"I have contacted them ahead of time," he replied. "Anyway, follow me." He gestured with his bamboo staff, and I followed him.
As Wu lead, I climbed a mountain with him. It wasn't normally something I'd do, but it was part of the plan, so I simply went with it, curious about this whole ninja thing.
In the middle of our climb, I lost grip on a particularly smooth, slippery rock. Hanging on with one hand, my heart rate sped up and I reached for another one to grab onto. Before my other hand could slip, Wu grabbed me and helped me along.
We finally got to the top, and I was exhausted. Wu helped me up, and we walked, arm in arm as he supported me, into the supposed training facility. But there was nothing. Just a monastery and open space.
"Ah...a...well, it's a..." I was a little dumbstruck. "That's a...an empty monastery! Heh heh."
"You may say 'empty,' but there is more to it than you think," Wu replied, hitting a small, golden dragon statue as a bright red button popped out. "Go on. Press it."
I bit my lip, deeply inhaling. "Are you serious? I...you...this is...this is a...secret thing?" I was really trying not to freak out. Getting myself together, I energetically slammed that button, and part of the floor lowered, rising again with a huge, fully functioning, automated training course. I was trying my best to stifle a scream of excitement. "This...this technology is just...incredible! How'd you...?"
"It's...been here for a while," Wu replied with a shrug.
"Can I take it apart? See how it works? Maybe give it a few...upgrades of my own?"
Wu sighed. "You are very...eager, Jason. But for now...you must be tired. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Oh, you have tea? That'd be great, actually! Really calm my nerves, y'know?" I followed him inside. "So, uh...tell me more about this whole 'ninja' thing. Am I gonna have new friends? Are you gonna teach me that...tornado thing? Ooh, am I gonna get a cool outfit? Save some people? Maybe get a girlfriend?"
Wu poured some tea as I stared at him eagerly. He turned. "Let's leave the questions aside." He handed me a steaming cup of the aromatic liquid. "Here."
I blew on it and sat on the steps. "Thanks, Sensei. Um...you said you had this other student. Could you describe him for me?"
"Finish your tea, I'll show you to your room and you can meet him."
I followed Wu to another room in the monastery, where there were a few bunk beds, and I saw something else.
I blinked a couple times and made out the shape to be another person, probably a couple years older than me. He was sitting in one of the bottom bunks. As I looked closer, I saw a tall, muscular body, messy black hair and dark eyes topped with bushy eyebrows. To be honest, I was slightly intimidated, not just because he was bigger than me, but his expression seemed so serious.
"Uh...hey," I muttered, waving. The boy looked up, studying me, with my baggy PJs and untamed hair, I hoped he wasn't silently judging me. He crawled out of bed and stood. He must have been at least three or four inches taller than me.
He stretched out his hand, which looked a bit dirty and scratched. I took it somewhat gingerly, and he shook mine firmly, though it almost felt as if he was trying not to rip my arm off. I bit my lip to hold in a yelp of pain.
"Hey," he replied, still not smiling, as I held my arm, biting my tongue. "Name's Cole. I got your back, kid, but I'm warnin' ya...don't cross me."
"Okay," I squeaked as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I think I felt a couple bones crack.
"Oh, I'm sorry...did I scare you?" His expression softened a little.
"Honestly?" I replied. "A little."
"Anyways, don't worry about the dangers in this world, buddy," he continued. "There ain't nothing I'm afraid of."
"Is that even possible?" I asked, still gripping my arm.
"Yeah, it's possible," he replied. "Anyways...what's your name, kid? Looks like we'll be working together for a while."
Oh gosh, really? "Um...it's Jay," I told him. "Or...Jason. Jason Walker. That's my full name."
He seemed to be stifling a chuckle, causing my face to burn a little. "Nice to meet ya, Jay." He actually smiled a little. Okay, now he wasn't as scary. "Cole Brookstone-Hence."
I smiled a little too. "That's kind of a nice name." What I didn't realize was how familiar his name really was.
Cole sat on one of the beds again, gesturing for me to follow. "So...what brings you here?" He seemed to be trying to make friendly conversation.
"Oh, uh...I was testing one of my inventions, I crash-landed, and I met sensei there," I said.
I followed Wu to another room in the monastery, where there were a few bunk beds, and I saw something else.
I blinked a couple times and made out the shape to be another person, probably a couple years older than me. He was sitting in one of the bottom bunks. As I looked closer, I saw a tall, muscular body, messy black hair and dark eyes topped with bushy eyebrows. To be honest, I was slightly intimidated, not just because he was bigger than me, but his expression seemed so serious.
"Uh...hey," I muttered, waving. The boy looked up, studying me, with my baggy PJs and untamed hair, I hoped he wasn't silently judging me. He crawled out of bed and stood. He must have been at least three or four inches taller than me. ***
AWW, when Jay and Cole meet!! This is great; I like this story so far!
I followed Wu to another room in the monastery, where there were a few bunk beds, and I saw something else.
I blinked a couple times and made out the shape to be another person, probably a couple years older than me. He was sitting in one of the bottom bunks. As I looked closer, I saw a tall, muscular body, messy black hair and dark eyes topped with bushy eyebrows. To be honest, I was slightly intimidated, not just because he was bigger than me, but his expression seemed so serious.
"Uh...hey," I muttered, waving. The boy looked up, studying me, with my baggy PJs and untamed hair, I hoped he wasn't silently judging me. He crawled out of bed and stood. He must have been at least three or four inches taller than me. ***
AWW, when Jay and Cole meet!! This is great; I like this story so far!
Yup. And about him being intimidated by Cole at first...who wouldn't, with all that MUSKLE?
AWW, when Jay and Cole meet!! This is great; I like this story so far!
Yup. And about him being intimidated by Cole at first...who wouldn't, with all that MUSKLE?
Not to mention that natural scowl going on. Poor Jay -- but it shouldn't take him long to discover that there can be a good friend beneath large muscles and a dark scowl.
Yup. And about him being intimidated by Cole at first...who wouldn't, with all that MUSKLE?
Not to mention that natural scowl going on. Poor Jay -- but it shouldn't take him long to discover that there can be a good friend beneath large muscles and a dark scowl.
"Oh yeah? So...you're an inventor, huh..." Cole smiled a little.
"Yeah," I replied. "You?"
"I was mountain-climbing. Testing my limits. He just appeared out of nowhere when I got to the peak..." He stopped talking.
"And?" I glanced over at him, expecting him to say something more, but he looked away. "Dark past?"
He shrugged. "Guess you could say that."
"Guess I won't ask anymore about it," I muttered, before changing the subject. "Do you climb as a hobby?"
He nodded. "Or...more of a lifestyle, really. Ever since I ran away from home..." He looked away again, as if he'd said something wrong.
"At least you weren't raised in a literal dump," I said, before clenching my fist and looking away. "Dang it!"
"No one's past is perfect," Cole told me. "At least you have a family."
"Well, don't you?" I asked. "I mean, you've got to at least once had a family."
"Yeah," he replied bitterly. "Once."
"Okay, okay, you don't wanna talk about it, it's cool!" I avoided the topic from then on. "So, uh...what do you do, you know, for fun?"
Cole shrugged. "Climbing and reading, I guess. Music's nice too."
"Oh," I replied. "I'm mainly into gaming, inventing, poetry, model building, cooking...well, I have a lot of hobbies. Life was simple, so I had to keep myself busy."
"Huh." Cole looked out the window. "It's really dark, isn't it?"
"Yeah," I answered. "Wonder why the moon decided to hide tonight." I laughed a little, and Cole smiled.
"Yeah, it's a wonder."
"Barely any stars out either, huh." I pointed. "The whole sky is hiding."
"Nah, just the stars," Cole answered. "The sky wouldn't hide from me. It knows me too well."
A few days of training and getting to know each other, and soon I was beginning to like Cole, as a friend. Yeah, we teased each other and got into the occasional petty squabble, but I felt we were already buddies. And then another one showed up.
Wu came in one day to introduce us to a new team member. “This is Zane,” he said. “A very extraordinary young man.”
Zane, as he was called, was at least a foot taller than me, with sharp features, icy blue eyes and a hairstyle I couldn't dream to replicate, but his overall disposition was gentle. He was weird, but I liked him too.
“Zane, this is Jay Walker, a student of mine.”
“Hi.” I wanted to make a good first impression.
“Hello,” Zane replied.
I stuck out my hand, hoping he'd shake it, but he seemed confused.
“Um…you’ve heard of a handshake, right?”
Zane awkwardly took my hand and gently shook it. I smiled a bit. “Theeere ya go. That's how ya do it. I mean, it could have a little more force but I’ll take it.”
Zane blinked at me.
“Um…just…come inside. Cole’s on his bed, he doesn't even know you’re here.” I grabbed Zane’s hand again and lead him to our sleeping quarters. “Cole? The new student's here, come say-”
“Ow!” The older teen hit his head on the wall and rubbed it. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, you little- oh. Hey.” He turned to Zane. “So you're the new kid?”
“Um, I guess,” Zane replied awkwardly.
Cole smiled at him. “Don't worry. I’ll do everything in my power to make you feel welcome.”
Zane smiled back, just a little. “Thank you…what is your name?”
“Cole Brookstone-Hence,” the muscular teen replied. “You?”
“Zane.” The tall man shrugged.
“Zane, huh.” Cole stood up. “Lemme show you around.”
I smiled a bit. I dunno, just watching Cole, a big, hulking strong guy, be so soft-hearted and kind was kind of nice to watch.
“I’ll help!” I offered enthusiastically.
“Don't tell me you're just gonna go on about the training course technology,” Cole replied.
“But it's so cool!”
“Is it interesting?” Zane asked.
“You bet! So…the monastery looks empty, right? But- see that statue to the left? It flips open and there's a button that you can press that brings up this whole big thing of contraptions! Ah- I mean- isn't that awesome? I made a few adjustments, of course, because I’m sort of a born inventor, y’know- oh wait, I haven't told you anything about myself, have I?”
“This is probably going to go on for a while,” Cole muttered to Zane.
“It's alright. I am interested in what he has to say,” Zane replied with a soft smile.
A few days of training and getting to know each other, and soon I was beginning to like Cole, as a friend. Yeah, we teased each other and got into the occasional petty squabble, but I felt we were already buddies. And then another one showed up.
Wu came in one day to introduce us to a new team member. “This is Zane,” he said. “A very extraordinary young man.”
A few days of training and getting to know each other, and soon I was beginning to like Cole, as a friend. Yeah, we teased each other and got into the occasional petty squabble, but I felt we were already buddies. And then another one showed up.
Wu came in one day to introduce us to a new team member. “This is Zane,” he said. “A very extraordinary young man.”
Yayyy, Zane's here! :3 How could I forget everyone's favorite nindroid? Of course he's here!
![[uni]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/mPKcREJAtrpeAXSOgaOH.png)
This is great; I like this story so far! ![[y]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/WYWPH2VRo26pOFDid7QZ.png)
![[derp]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/YqNTPqyQUocVMYXZgUAI.png)
Of course he's here!