The entire shop was silent in the evening that was beginning to set. The sun was low on the horizon and a nice breeze swept over Emma's shoulders as she sat on a single boulder in the pond behind the teashop. Garmadon usually sat here for sunrise, and she sat for sunset. It was something she had been doing for a short while, the time she had stayed with the ninja in her new home.

But today was a day where she needed to be alone and sit by herself to censor her thoughts. It was her mother's birthday, a day that used to be filled with dancing and singing, but since years ago had been left alone and never discussed.

Emma didn't know what Cole on this day in the past, but she always kept to herself. Her father would bury himself in work and then cry himself to sleep, but Emma chose to think of the good times and be alone.

She had successfully avoided everyone the entire day - making an excuse to instead go to the city and visit friends that didn't exist. Cole didn't say anything and wasn't even surprised, and it made Emma wonder if he even remembered the day.

"Emma?" someone called, snapping the girl out of her mindless trance as she faced away from the shop on that single boulder with her legs tucked in. The girl looked down at her solemn reflection in the water and kept quiet. "Hey," the person said, Emma recognizing the voice as Cole's.

"What do you need?" she called without turning around, knowing she wouldn't have enough time to dry the tears that leaked down her cheeks. "Dinner's ready, I wanted to let you know. We haven't seen you all day and -"

"Tell the others to eat without me. I'm not hungry," she responded quickly, interrupting his thought and making him frown. "Why not?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest while awaiting an answer.

Emma sighed before looking back, allowing her brother to see her fresh tears. Once he did, he dropped his arms and stared at her. "It's mom's birthday, Cole. I don't want to sit down with the others and talk like nothing is wrong. That wouldn't be fair, okay? It's not right."

"Mom would want you to be happy. I mean, that's why I'm not hiding and keeping this to myself."

Emma scoffed and looked back toward the pond. "You know she's alive, Cole. You had that dream, you said it yourself."

Cole stared at his feet, "I know. I did say that, but it doesn't change how she would want this day to go."

Emma shook her head and ran a hand through her very bright pink hair, "Just go tell the others I'm not eating. I'll be in soon."

That statement ended the conversation. Cole knew he couldn't change her mind or make this all better, so he left instead. She needed to be alone and he understood that. So he went inside and told everyone to go ahead and eat. No one else questioned it, they just enjoyed the beef stew that Nya prepared and talked about their days and how training went with Sensei Garmadon.

It was a fairly normal day. One that wasn't particularly interesting. But it was one that made Emma realize just how strong she needed to be to bring back the woman she loved so much.

•••

"Not that I mind, but why did you wish to train so late into the night?" Misako wondered as she sat criss-cross on the hardwood floor in the training room of the shop. Emma looked back at the older woman and shrugged, "I just needed to do this, and the time didn't matter to me," she honestly replied before wandering over to the weapons bin and fetching her bow with a quiver of arrows.

"Okay, dear. Whatever you wish," the woman said before pressing a button sitting before her and watching as seven targets appeared from behind hidden compartments and crevices. 

Emma beamed, "Wow," she awwed, "Nya really outdid herself on this one."

Misako grinned, "Well, the design had originally been fit for Zane and herself since they were the only two who used weapons that were thrown, but she was very overjoyed when we shared with her that you were using a bow. She wanted to test her skills, I suppose."

Emma pursed her lips and looked at each red and white target, "So, should we test her skills? I'm ready to try this."

Misako shrugged and gestured the girl forwards, "However your pink hair will allow it."

Emma tossed a glare at the woman before lifting a hand to shove a loose strand of pink hair behind her ear, "Too soon, Misako. Too soon."