And then Nya’s head hurt. She woke up barely able to open her eyes, but she heard a voice.
“Now, now, little ones, calm down! We don't want to disrupt our guests just yet.” Nya snarled as she heard the familiar girly giggle.
“Oh, looks like one of you is up already!” Milky giggled as she turned to Nya. “Do your friend a favor and don't wake up the others, okay?”
Nya growled. “So it was all a lie? Helping us and getting us to help you like we were friends?”
“Oh, so you found out…” Milky smiled. “Alright. I’ll tell you. Though most deceased are in the Departed Realm, there is an alternate realm for those destroyed in a…special way.”
“You…you poisoned us?”
“Not necessarily, no…but Mistake did.”
“She would do no such thing,” Nya said.
“Oh, that's right. I made a…special request. I didn't want you getting in the way of my plans. That's why I possessed Ninjago, to distract you and get you out of the way.”
“You're the Nyx,” Nya muttered darkly. “You were just trying to trick us the whole time!”
“Hmm…alright, the rest of you can wake up now.” She clapped twice and the other Ninja immediately woke up.
“Milky!?” “How could she have betrayed us?” “I smell a Quiet One all over again.” “‘Oh, look on the bright side, at least she’s cute!’ THAT ONLY MAKES IT A BILLION TIMES WORSE.”
“Not all at once, boys,” Milky cooed.
Hanna scooted back on the wall. “I knew there was something with her all along. I sensed a darkness in her cheery facade the entire time.”
“Why didn't you tell us? You could have warned us ahead of time,” Cole told her.
“I simply did not want you to lose the joy you had with her,” she replied in the same monotone. “You looked as if you were having a lot of fun. I…cared about your joy.”
“Aww, that's sweet,” Jay said with a small smile.
“Well, it would be if we didn't hate her even more now,” Kai replied with a death glare to Milky.
“Doesn't that sound familiar?”
The other Ninja turned to find a slim young girl, her long, white hair partially concealing a pale face. “I remember how you felt about me. I guess I realize now how stupid I was.”
“Rumi?” Cole muttered.
“You got that right,” she replied. “No makeup to hide behind this time. You're looking right at the Quiet One. I’m surprised you haven't hurt me.” She chuckled a bit.
“What you did before your life ended was good,” Hanna told her. “Why are you not in the Departed Realm?”
“I wasn't quite gone when the building fell,” she replied. “I felt that the world wouldn't accept a treacherous snake like me, so I asked for the same tea recipe. I poisoned myself. It was my final act of destruction.”
“You did not need to do that,” Hanna replied. “You could have simply made up for your behavior.”
“But it was too late,” Harumi replied. “If I were alive I would be in constant pain, both physical and emotional.”
“That's right,” Milky said with a chuckle. “I got her too.”
“But what about Lloyd?” Nya asked. “Don't tell me you ended him too.”
“No, that would have been far too easy.” She chuckled. “I saved him. I made him realize he didn't need you to survive, that you were simply figureheads and he was the real thing.”
“That sounds all too familiar,” Nya said, glancing at Harumi.
“Tell me about it,” the former princess replied. She lifted her head bravely. “What are you going to do to us while we're here?”
“Nothing,” she replied, “unless you would like to return to Ninjago alive.”
“Ninjago wouldn't have hope without us,” Kai answered. “Take us back.”
“Hmm…” Milky chuckled sweetly. “I oblige. But you will pay the price.” She unlatched a large box, her eyes widening with glee. “Come on out, my pets. We have work to do.” She snapped her fingers and the other Ninja instantly fell asleep as the slimes were all over them.
And then she changed. As her body went pink to black, her eyes became red as she was a shadow slime, and a terrifying one at that. In a much deeper voice, she chuckled. “They’d never know what I’ve done with the real Milky.”
That was the first thing the Ninja saw as they woke up, all of them with pounding heads. Fortunately, they could all walk just fine. Jay guided Nya as they saw the chaos in their home island. And there, in the middle, was Lloyd Garmadon, eyes glowing green and shouts loud and passionate.
“I never thought our roles would switch,” Harumi muttered as she stood on her toes to get a good look.
“You're not exactly the chosen one, Rumi,” Kai replied.
“I meant in terms of alignment, Flamey,” Harumi snapped back.
Jay looked up, unaware of the heavy feeling troubling his stomach.
As they watched, Ninjago lost its possession, but Lloyd did not.
“You really thought Ninjago would remain like this?” Lloyd laughed, a crazed and strangely unpleasant sound. “And where’s the fun in that when you can just destroy the good in it?”
“Lloyd.” Harumi spoke up. “Stop this. I know how empty you feel, but I know this isn't the Lloyd I know.”
“How do you know that, Quiet One?” Lloyd’s normally calm voice had an aggressive edge. “Or have you lost the dignity to wear that title?”
“Because I know I lost it then. After I left this world, I felt that I needed to make up for how stupid I’d been.” Harumi stood. “And you're being just as stupid, if not even dumber.”
“Speaking of stupid, why isn't the weakest link of the team running his mouth as usual?” He gestured towards Jay.
Jay glared at his former friend. “I’m not weak. I’m strong,” he said…quietly? He couldn't shout? “The Nyx must have weakened my voice, possibly in an attempt to take it from me,” he whispered. “But she failed.”
“Oh, and what happened here?” He poked Jay’s belly, causing him to squeak, flustered. “You always were the scrawny one. Where did you go wrong?”
Jay yelped, jumped and looked down at his stomach. He must have gained at least 40 pounds, if not more, because it was big, round and soft, like a fleshy pillow. Jay was confused, and then he realized- Milky’s magic must have exaggerated recent events.
“How are we gonna get him back?” Cole asked.
“There's no turning back. I know what you've done,” Lloyd replied. “You're just a bunch of grown-up kindergartners, playing pretend. You don't have any real power. In fact, you only make things worse.”
Harumi glanced at Lloyd. “You don't have to listen to the voice in your head. It's not a good thing.”
“Says the girl who destroyed her own parents,” Lloyd scoffed.
“That's in the past, Lloyd.” Harumi approached Lloyd. “If I have to hurt you to get you back, I will.” And then she grabbed his hand.
Lloyd blinked, then shook his head. “Rumi.” He looked into her eyes. “How are you alive?”
“The realm I was sent to…I was sent back.” Harumi sighed. “Some of us have changed since we entered the realm.”
Lloyd glanced at a glassy-eyed, blind Nya, a baby-faced, chubby Jay, and a rather…large Cole. Zane seemed a bit lightheaded, and Kai wasn't showing his usual passion or ego. Hanna seemed exactly the same, however.
“Okay, so first…what happened here?” Lloyd poked the blue Ninja’s plump cheek.
Jay sighed and replied, “Well, I’d gained some weight before, just a little, and the other Ninja were teasing me about it, so the Nyx must have taken advantage of that.”
“And Nya?”
“I was blind as soon as I arrived,” the Gray Ninja explained. “I’m guessing it was some optic nerve damage. I probably won't see for a while, if not forever.”
Cole crossed his arms and sighed. “Unlike Jay, I didn't stress-eat. I take my weight seriously and train it into muscle. The Nyx must have taken advantage of my concerns for my health.”
“But why that?” Jay asked. “Why not just make you really skinny or something?”
“I was fat for a while as a kid,” Cole replied, “you know, before I went out into the mountains. I was bullied at school and my dad misjudged me. I hated myself for it and once I started weight training, I resolved to never let that happen again.”
“At least you're still strong,” Jay replied. “I’m weak. I’ve always been.”
“Nah, buddy,” Cole replied. “You're strong. Strong in the real way.” (That was…totally not a Steven Universe reference. XD)
Jay blushed and smiled. “Uh…thanks.”
“Anyways, it looks like we won,” Kai said with a small smile as he admired the peace coming back to the city.
“Yeah,” Lloyd replied. “We definitely won…for now, at least.”
Jay undid the belt on his gi and sighed in relief, then stared in the mirror as he saw his stomach, round and rosy like a healthy baby’s. He guessed this was what he got for giving in to gluttony. Pulling it off, he looked for something - anything - comfortable to wear. He found that strangely enough, but conveniently, he was storing a line of larger clothes in the back of his wardrobe. He figured it had something to do with his doppelgänger, wondering what sort of situations the fake Jay had gotten into. He slipped into a comfy pullover and sweatpants and went out.
“Is anyone up?” he called.
“Morning, Jay,” Nya called back, and he saw his girlfriend on the couch.
Jay jumped. Nya couldn't see him like this. Wait, she couldn't see anymore…but she could feel. But it didn't matter.
Jay sat down with her and she put her arm around his waist, pulling him closer. She rested her head on his shoulder. Jay blushed a bit, but smiled at him.
“You’ve gotten soft,” Nya said.
“Uh, yeah, the…”
“I know. But I don't think it's that bad. They could have taken your voice or brainwashed you or taken me but they just put more weight on you.”
“A bit stupid, I’d say,” Jay replied. “If they were gonna make me fat they could have made me too fat to be of use.”
“Yeah,” Nya replied. “Although I wonder what's up with Kai. He’s just not himself.”
“Yeah,” Jay replied. “It's almost as if he lost the very thing that makes him Kai.”
“And Zane’s been malfunctioning a lot. It doesn't look like something that could be easily fixed,” Nya added.
“Yeah, he’s been acting weird. Cole gained some weight, but in sort of the strong way….but he’s been really insecure about it. Almost as if he has a fear of it. He always did care about his health, what with his ‘my body is a temple’ thing earlier this year.”
“Yeah,” Nya replied. “Rumi’s been okay, but she hasn't been talking to Lloyd.”
“I know! But…I get it. They’ve had a rough past,” Jay replied.
“Don't remind me of 2 years ago,” Nya said. “You and Cole…”
“Yeah,” Jay replied. “Even as besties who would talk about anything else, we don't speak of it. Anyways, Hanna seems okay. What could they have done to her?”
“I spoke with her earlier, and she didn't respond.” Nya sighed. “She just moved her mouth without saying anything. She must have had her vocal database deleted. I think we might have a silent ninja again.”
Hanna sighed as she put down her spear. It just wasn't the same without something to say. It brought her back to the incident in the mountains where she’d first been rendered mute. But the Nyx had promised to bring her back to Ninjago, something she couldn't refuse. The others’ situations couldn't compare to hers. How could she communicate her distress to the others?
Ninjagian Sign Language.
She remembered now. If only she could recall it.
Then she remembered that Jay was fluent in it. Having come down with bad laryngitis about three years ago after the Final Battle, he’d learned it to keep himself from having to go to great lengths for the others understand him. Maybe the now 18-year-old could help her.
Hanna went out and tapped Jay, who had been watching TV on the couch with Nya, on the shoulder, and made a few gestures.
“Hey. What's up?”
Hanna motioned again.
“You want me to help you remember sign language?”
She nodded.
“I might be a little rusty, but sure, I’ll help.”
For the next few days, Jay helped Hanna recall the motions for certain letters and words. He was surprisingly patient with her, and he made sure she understood. Nya listened to them and sighed. Jay had taught her the same language, but she couldn't see herself using it, especially now that she was blind.
Nya approached Hanna, where she felt her fellow kunoichi. “I’m sorry you had to lose your voice,” she said. “But I lost my sight.”
Hanna signed into her hand. I know.
“Wait, I understand you?”
Hanna shrugged, before remembering Nya’s blind status. I haven't an idea. Do you?
“I don't have to sign to you, do I?”
I can hear perfectly, Hanna replied.
Nya sighed in relief. “I guess having a silent ninja won't be the worst after all.”
Jay knocked on Cole’s door, wincing a bit when he heard his strained groans as he trained. Rubbing his back, Cole opened the door. “Jay?”
“I know this is probably a bad time but I miss my old body and I really want to lose weight,” he said.
Cole thought for a moment. “Come in, we’ll talk.”
Jay nodded and entered his room. “Wow, you’ve got a lot of training equipment in here!”
“Yup,” Cole replied. “I do a lot of weight training. Helps me get stronger. I would recommend it, but I don't think big muscles would suit your body type.”
Jay nodded. “What would?”
“All I can recommend is a good amount of exercise and a proper diet,” Cole replied. “If you want, I’ll help you set goals and stuff.”
Their plan went on for a while, and gradually Jay was returning to normal. One day, he was walking with Cole to get lunch at a nearby restaurant.
“I don't know how it happened so fast,” Jay said breathlessly. “I feel…tired, yes, but so…light and free, like someone lifted heavy armor off my chest.”
Cole chuckled. “I’m glad you're enjoying it,” he said. “But I haven't lost a single pound.”
“Wait, you haven't?” Jay asked. “I hadn't noticed anything.”
Cole shook his head. “The training makes me feel healthier and stronger, but I haven't shed a pound.”
“I haven't told you this, but I also can't shout anymore,” Jay said. “My voice has been weak since the Nyx activated her slime things.”
“I did notice you sounded a bit gentler than usual,” Cole replied. “At least you can still talk, and...I kind of like it when you talk normal.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “It sounds more pleasant to me than when you talk loudly.”
“Thanks,” Jay replied. “You’ve really been making me feel better, Cole.”
Skylor smiled at them, then put the orders in front of the boys. “Enjoy your meals, and by the way…Jay, have you lost weight? You were pretty well-rounded last I saw you.”
“Yeah,” Jay replied. “Cole helped me out. It feels good to have that weight off.”
“Wait- how did you even gain it in the first place?”
“It's a long story involving another realm and evil slime,” Jay said. “Yeah, it was really weird and I hope we don't have to fight her again for a while.”
“Her?”
“Remember that voice in your head?” Cole asked.
Skylor’s eyes widened.
“Yeah. We met up with her in person. Not a pleasant lady,” Jay replied. “I mean, I thought Milky- you know, that cute slime girl from a while ago- had gone rogue on us, but I saw her transform just before I got here.”
“I wonder if she didn't want us to know,” Cole added.
“Probably,” Jay replied. “This is just between us and the other Ninja, Skylor.”
Skylor nodded and left to serve other customers, and the bell rang; someone looked familiar.
Jay watched as he walked over and sat at the table next to theirs. When he took off the Hood of his sweatshirt, Jay saw a green streak in his black hair. Morro was alive- and not a ghost?
Morro avoided their attention at first, but gradually Jay’s attempts to talk to him got to him. “What?” he asked irritably.
“I was just wondering if you were Morro, that's all,” Jay replied. “Because you look…well, alive. And…un-ghostly.”
“You're one of Lloyd’s friends, aren't you?” He laughed a bit. “You were the one who said I made Lloyd look like he’d hit puberty. Jay, was it?”
“Jay it is,” he replied. “Jay Walker. Anyways, what happened?”
“Let's just say there was a miracle,” Morro replied. “In the Departed Realm, there was a lot of weird stuff happening, rifts opening and a weird darkness and stuff. I didn't know what was going on, so I wanted to leave, even though I knew I couldn't and…I ended up here.”
“That's crazy,” Jay said.
“Yeah,” Cole replied. “Crazy.”
“It was strange. I thought I could- never mind, you wouldn't understand.”
“No, tell us!”
When Skylor came to take his order, she dropped everything and stared.
Morro awkwardly picked up the chopsticks by his plate and struggled to use them. “Ah, dang it…”
Cole was glad to show Morro how to use chopsticks. “Like this, see?” He picked up a bit of rice and let Morro copy. “Yeah, you're getting it. Now just move it into your mouth and…good job!”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Morro asked. “I…I did so much bad…”
“Yeah, but in the end, you did good,” Cole replied. “Besides, a former ghost has to look out for his fellow former ghosts.”
Morro chuckled.
Cole looked at Jay. “Hey, why are you so quiet? You're usually pretty quick to join the conversation.”
“Sorry, just…saving my voice,” he replied.
“Ah, I see. Should we call everyone over?” Cole asked.
“Why not?”
It wasn't long before the other Ninja, as well as Harumi, arrived and joined. Cole and Jay were finished eating, but Morro was having trouble going past his first bowl. They explained immediately.
“Hey Morro, that's a lot,” Lloyd told his former captor. “Why don't you share that with us?”
“I…sharing…” Morro looked down, in a wistful mood, thinking of his time with Wu, sharing from whatever food they had managed to find. He looked back up. “Um…I guess…”
“He’s used to eating a lot as a ghost,” Cole explained.
“It's been a while,” Morro added. “Wait, Lloyd? Your voice…you finally hit puberty for real?”
“Uh, yeah.” Lloyd laughed sheepishly. “I was a late bloomer.”
“Aww, he remembers my little comment when we first met him,” Jay replied.
“Yeah…I couldn't use your normal voice though,” Morro replied. “For obvious reasons.”
Lloyd laughed. “I guess I didn't sound intimidating enough?”
“Nope, you were more like a little girl stuck in a teen’s body.”
The young friends left the noodle house with full stomachs and full to-go bags. Cole turned to Morro. “So…you have any plans?”
“Actually, yeah,” he replied. “I found a new home so I’m moving in today. I just thought I’d stop by for lunch before I went.”
“Okay,” Cole replied. “Tell us if you need anything.”
“Nah, I can handle myself.” He chuckled. “Have a good day, alright?”
Cole nodded and kept walking, until he dropped his bag. Not like he lost his grip on it, but like it slipped through his hand. He couldn't help but notice it; his hand was turning ghost-white and transparent.
The weight gain was just a distraction.
That was why Morro was alive, why there were the rifts in the Departed Realm. It all occurred to him at the same time.
“Cole?” Jay asked as he noticed his best friend looking down, ramen spilled on the floor. “You're acting pretty distressed. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it's fine,” the Earth Ninja replied. Jay couldn't know.“Don't worry about me. We should get home.”
Cole got home and plopped down on his bed, sighing. His hand had already faded, and his arm was starting to go too. He had to tell Jay, but…he couldn't. The Master of Lightning had a heart of glass. If he found out, he would never be the same cheery little jokester Cole loved.
Cole glanced at Nya, the only other one in the room. “Nya.”
“I won't tell him,” Nya replied. “I’ll build you a prosthesis. He won't know about the trade.”
“Alright, but…it's happening fast. Can you make one that grows?”
“We aren't at that point in technological advancement, Cole.”
“Whatever you can do,” Cole replied, his arm already ending at his shoulder. “Make it quick. I’m fading fast.”
“You shouldn't hide your affliction from Jay,” Nya replied. “I know he’ll be broken over it, but it's better to tell the truth. He’s made the same mistake before everything wrong happened to him.”
“What, when he turned into a snake?”
“Worse,” Nya answered. “But…you wouldn't remember.”
“Alright.” Cole bit his lip. “I’ll tell him.” He began to get up, but one foot was asleep. “Dang it.” He wasn't going to last long.
Cole managed to get into the game room, where he knew Jay would be. “I need to talk to you in private,” Cole whispered, and dragged Jay out before he could make a sound.
There was no one in the cellar, so he grabbed Jay for support.
“Woah, what's going on?” Jay asked, before gasping. “Wait- you...no...this doesn't mean-”
“Yeah,” Cole replied. “The Nyx must have made me gain weight as a distraction.”
“But…but you should have done something about it!”
“Heh…you really think you can just stop departure, don't you?” Cole chuckled. “But...before that happens, I just want you to know that…even through the quarrels and flames, you're…you're the best friend I’ve had in my life and…I wouldn't trade you for anything. Not even the world, or a million dollars, or…or the Stealth Raider jet.” Jay chuckled.
“C’mere, you big, wonderful clod.”
Cole chuckled and joined the hug. “I love you, you amazing spaz.”
Jay laughed and cried, unsure which emotion to express at the moment. They hugged for what seemed like forever.
Cole let go and collapsed on one leg, and he faded faster. “Jay...for me…be happy.”
“I lost my birth parents, and almost lost the love of my life. I can't lose you too.”
“Don't…worry…” Cole breathed in as the darkness closed in on his face. “I…want you…to-”
Jay lunged forward and grabbed what was left of Cole, suddenly planting his mouth on his best friend’s.
“Trying to do mouth-to-mouth?” He heard a voice behind him. The Nyx had arrived.
Jay turned around.
“It’s not going to work. He’s going to stop existing as a whole, not just stop breathing.”
“You can't make me believe it's all my fault,” Jay replied. “I’ll fight you if I have to.”
“Hurt me and you hurt him.” She pointed at Cole on the floor.
Jay looked down. If he defeated her, Cole would go faster, but if he spent the time he had with Cole, he would not only lose Cole but the Nyx would rule. He looked at Cole, who bit back tears.
“Do it,” he said.
“No. I can't.”
“It's my final sacrifice for you.”
Jay bit his lip and sighed. He then turned to the Nyx and got out all the energy he could muster. He let every bit of lightning hit the slime woman, and gradually, she dissolved.
Jay looked down. If he defeated her, Cole would go faster, but if he spent the time he had with Cole, he would not only lose Cole but the Nyx would rule. He looked at Cole, who bit back tears.
“Do it,” he said.
“No. I can't.”
“It's my final sacrifice for you.”
Jay bit his lip and sighed. He then turned to the Nyx and got out all the energy he could muster. He let every bit of lightning hit the slime woman, and gradually, she dissolved.
And Cole was gone.
I started reading this (which btw I have to say this fan-fic is pretty good ) I've finally caught up on reading this. And, because I love this so much, all I can say right now is... MOAR.
) I've finally caught up on reading this. And, because I love this so much, all I can say right now is... MOAR. 
