Cole had woken up a few hours ago and the guys had just given him Hope's letter. He looked at in his hands and read it.

My Dearest Cole,

I didn't want to leave you without letting you knowing the truth about me and why I'm not there to see you wake up.

I love you with all my heart and I'm so so so so sorry for not being there.

I'm not there because of my family. Our enemies would do anything to get to me and my family. I will not put you in danger.

You probably don't understand, so I'll tell you the rest of the facts to help you understand.

My family is not normal. Shell, they're not even fully human. They don't even live in Ninjago. I'm from a place called Earth. My home town is New York city.

My father moved there after Shredder killed his wife. He brought four pet turtle from a pet shop and took them home. He ended up fighting off some Krrang (long story) and a canister of mutagen broke open, splashing my father and the turtles. My father became half rat and my brothers became part human.

My father hid in the sewers with them. One night, when he was looking for food, he found me in a box. I had a note telling everything about me. My name, my powers, and where I was from.

Me and my brothers trained for 14 years underground. On our 15th birthday, our father let us go to the surface for the very first time.

We protected the city from that night forward, the best we could, but the Krrang attack one night. Leo and I tried to lead them away from the other so they could get away but it was a trap.

Both me and Leo were badly beaten by Shredder. We nearly died that day.

That was the day I nearly lost my family. They are the thing I hold dearest. And I nearly lost them that day. I can't go through that again.

That's my greatest fear. Failing to protect those I care for. I have to deal with that everyday and every night.

I care for you and I wanted so badly to be there when you woke up, but I knew I couldn't.

Danger and trouble follow me around every where I go. And its not the kind you or the ninja are ready to handle right now. You're not ready to help me fight my battles.

I won't let you suffer because I was so selfish to stay. You got hurt because I was there. You nearly died because of me.

I'm going back home, to a place where my powers aren't a threat to anyone.

I'm not dumping you. I left you a present in my old room, so you can be with me any time, at any place.

My father always said "Hope, you are not a leader, protector, inventor, or a prankster. No, you are something more important. You are the beating heart of this family".

I never knew what that meant until I met you and the other ninja. But now I do.

I'm meant to balance things. To put the needs of others before my own. I make choices that no one else can. I sacrifice myself for those around me.

That's why I can't be there. I wouldn't be that selfish and stay. But I know I can't, not yet at least.

Fate has played our song and its time to move on to the next piece of music.

But don't worry. Fate will play it again. And I'll be ready to sing next to you once again.

Love,

Hope Hamato

"We read it, sorry Cole," Kai said and handed Cole Hope's green cellphone. He turned it on and a message played.

"I know you guys read the letter that was for Cole and Cole I'm sorry about leaving. I didn't want to but fate plays little tricks on us all. I just wanted you to know I love you with all my heart... and shut up Jay. I am trying to tell Cole my feelings. Don't ask how I know that, I live with four brothers and I happen to know what you four would do. Anyway, Cole I love you, and please do me a favor and hit Jay upside the head for me,"  The message ends and Cole hit Jay upside the head.

"Why did you do that?" Jay asked.

"Hope asked me to," Cole said, smiling at his best friend.

They all laughed at that.

Cole often listen to the recording, just to hear Hope's wonderful voice. He would laugh at the joke Hope said and he wanted to call her.

But deep down, he knew that it wasn't time from them to sing their song again.