While Cole struggles with normal life and Kai's presence as leader, a strange falcon guides Zane to a treehouse that LJ was building.

———

It was a peaceful morning in Ninjago City as Kai, now wearing a red hooded jacket, maroon shirt, brown jeans and black boots, and Nya had just arrived at the monastery and open the gates before Wu came up to them, obviously wanting to open the gates himself. "Ah, morning, Kai." He said. "I see you've brought Nya with you."

"She wanted to." Kai replied. "Can't really blame her."

"Okay, we shall start with the usual routine. Nya, you can watch if you like."

"Can't I train too, Master?" She asked.

"Well, uh, only for a little while."

"Yes!"

"And we have until 7:30 to get back to the academy for our first class, so we'll have to keep it short." Kai said.

"About that, I decided that since you're all a team, I thought I might have the others enrolled into the academy so that they could get to know you and your other friends better." Wu replied.

"Okay. Though I think Cole isn't gonna be happy about this."

———

In the forest, just outside of Darkley's Boarding School, many Skulkins were moving wood, vines and branches around as the two skeletons that brought the telescope into Lloyd's office were near a watch post, keeping a look out. "Kruncha, I don't get it." One of the skeletons said. He had a blue chest plate on. "Lord Garmadon is about to invade Ninjago, yet he instructs us to make this playhouse for his son?"

"It was his idea, Nuckal." Kruncha replied. He had a samurai helmet and a brown chest plate. "Besides, it's best to have a fort built and alert Lord Garmadon in case-"

"Hey!" LJ yelled, cutting him off as they look down to him. "If we plan to rule Ninjago from here, this elevator needs to have a trap door! I want more booby traps!"

"As you wish, young Garmadon." Nuckal said as they soon took off.

———

At the monastery, Zane, in his training gi, was meditating by a support post while Kai, also in his training gi, blocks a kick from Cole, who was in his training gi as well, before grabbing hold of the other foot and twists it, spinning him around before he lands on the ground. Cole quickly spun around, getting up at the same time, hoping to kick him, but Kai quickly jumps back before turning to see Nya, who makes a kick at Jay, also in his training gi, who quickly grabbed it. "Okay, you just need to widen your leg out, makes it easy." He said as he slowly backed away and Nya held it out wide.

But while Kai was distracted looking at his sister, Cole spins and kicks him in the back of his right shin before moving it up, tripping him and knocking him down, causing him to groan. "Kai!" Nya yelled, before she and Jay came up to him as he got up, rubbing his sore backside.

"Nya, this is a training session, you cannot interfere!" Cole yelled.

"That's enough!"

"No, now get out of the way!"

"Cole, she said enough." Wu said as he came up to him before checking his watch. "Training is done for today." Kai, Jay and Nya bow to him.

"But we still have half an hour before-" He turned to see the others were gone. "Where did they go?"

———

Several minutes later, outside Ninjago Academy, Cole, now wearing a dark grey sweatshirt, black track pants and black trainers, ran up to Kai, Nya, Jay and Zane, who were about to head inside. Zane was now wearing a white hooded jacket, light grey t-shirt, cream colours chinos and brown loafers. "Come on, Cole, we don't wanna be late on our first day." Jay, now wearing a blue jacket, white shirt, blue overalls and blue sneakers, said as they head inside.

———

In the hallway was several students, some looking in their lockers, one being bullied by two and a couple looking at a phone. There was several trophies on display and posters all over the walls. "So, what is our first class together, Kai?" Zane asked as they walk along.

"We got algebra first up." Kai replied.

"I got science, so I'll see you guys afterwards." Nya said.

"We can't just waste time at a school." Cole replied.

"Cole, it's important to be at school. We need education in our everyday lives."

"We don't need no education."

"Looks like you do." Zane said.

"No, I don't."

"Then why did you use a double negative?"

"He got you there, Cole." Nya said, chuckling as she soon walked away before Kai, Cole, Jay and Zane head into a nearby classroom.

———

In the classroom, the boys head over to a nearby desk and sat as Seliel and Skylor soon came in. "Oh no." Kai said as they came up to him.

"Hi, Kai." Skylor said. "Where did you go the other day?"

"None of your business."

"You know, you never told me you're friends with these hotties." Seliel said as she looked at Cole. "I kinda like this one in particular."

"Why don't you just get lost?" Cole asked. "I'm in no mood for anyone harassing me, especially mahogany hair dyed geeks."

Seliel was soon shocked and became teary eyed before running out, crying. "Cole, that was unnecessary." Jay said as Skylor soon walked out, to go after Seliel. "I think you just hurt her feelings."

"Whatever."

The bell soon rang as a middle aged man came in, wearing a brown suit, black shirt and brown tie. The students immediately sat down at the desks while the man came behind the front desk. "All right, good morning, class." He said. "Miss Fortis is on maternity leave, so I will be substituting until she is fit enough to return." He then looked away. "And introduce me to my godson." He then looked back at them. "Now before we start, it appears that we have three new students who had just joined us, so I'll let them introduce themselves."

Zane soon stood up. "Salutations, I am Zane Julien, I hope we get on well." He said before sitting down and Jay stood up.

"I'm Jay Walker, I hope to do the same." He said before sitting down.

"Cole Brookstone." Cole said, not standing up.

"Please stand up when you say it." The substitute teacher replied.

"No way, old man." This gets the students to gasp.

"Cole, you just insulted the principal!" Kai said.

"What?" Cole was surprised and shocked.

"For that remark and insult, you have just gotten yourself two hours in detention, Mr. Brookstone." The principal said.

Cole soon sighed. "This is ridiculous." He said it to himself.

"I heard that. I'm making it an extra hour." Cole soon sighed again. "Now, we will start off with what Miss Fortis was talking about pi."

———

At Darkley's Boarding School, LJ enters his father's office and opens a desk drawer as Lloyd came in. "Looking for something?" He asked.

"Just a bandaid." LJ replied. "Cut myself testing a booby trap." He holds up his hand, showing a cut on his palm before he soon got out a bandaid and walked away. "The Rangers have been spotted in town, they might find out about the construction of my treehouse."

"Don't worry, I got someone to provide security."

"Nice work, dad. Now, I'm gonna head back to check on the progress, see you tonight." LJ soon walked out as a small clatter was heard, causing Lloyd to turn to the window, only to find nothing.

"Probably just a bird."

———

Several hours later, the bell rang as Kai, Jay and Zane came out among other students from their last class for the day while Cole was forced to stay behind for detention as Nya came up to them. "Hey, where's Cole?" She asked.

"Detention." Kai replied. "He insulted Principal Dareth Brown. It's lucky he didn't insult Miss Fortis."

"I heard, maternity leave."

"Guess we'll have to wait for Cole." Jay said.

"How about some coffee?" Kai asked. "My treat."

"Get me a cappuccino with soy milk, one sugar."

"Sure thing. Zane?"

"I don't drink coffee." Zane said.

"Okay, I'll be right back. Enjoy yourselves." Kai heads off further down the hallway as Nya, Jay and Zane leave the building.

———

Outside, Nya, Jay and Zane walk down the stairs before Zane hears something squawking nearby and looked up a nearby tree to see a black falcon on a nearby tree as Nya and Jay pass by, not noticing that he had stopped. Zane tilted his head to the side, confused. The falcon did the same. Zane then shook his head. The falcon did the same as well. Zane then backed away, in shock. The falcon did the same as again. Curious, Zane flaps his arms, like a bird. The falcon also did the same. While he was surprised at the sudden movements, the falcon soon flew away and Zane heads off to follow it. "I'm sorry about Cole being rude." Jay said as he and Nya walk along campus before they sit down on a nearby bench. "You see, I have been a Power Ranger for 6 months, Zane only 3, and Cole, well, in about two weeks time, it will be a year. When I first became a Power Ranger, he said that I didn't respect him, like 18 respect points, until a month later. During a Serpentine raid."

———

5 Months Earlier

A blue snake creature grabs hold of Cole, in his Ranger suit, and grinned. "Look into my eyes." It said.

"Cole!" Jay, in his Ranger suit, yelled. He soon saw a nearby chain laying nearby and ran over to it. He rolled onto the ground as he picked it up and it suddenly starts to glow. As it glowed, Cole and the snake turn to see Jay's newly acquired chain turns into a flail before he swung it and struck the snake, knocking it down, freeing Cole and it takes off as Jay swung it, emitting lightning. "And don't come back!"

———

Present

"Overtime, he became my best friend, now with 85 respect points. So, it will take a while for Cole to get use to Kai."

"What are you two talking about?" Kai asked as he came up to them with a tray with two coffee cups and a normal cup.

"Just about how Jay became friends with Cole." Nya replied.

"What took you so long, anyway?" Jay asked.

"Big line up." Kai replied. "Well, here you go." He grabs one of the cups. "Iced latte." He hands it to Nya. "And your soy cappuccino with one sugar." He gives it to Jay before taking the last coffee and threw the tray into a nearby recycling bin. "Make sure to put it in there after you finished."

"Okay, Kai." Jay said. "What is that, by the way?"

"Flat white with chilli powder." He soon took a sip. "Hey, where is Zane?"

"What are you talking about? He was right-" They look to see that Zane was gone. "Where did he go?"

———

In the forest, it was near dusk as Zane ran along the path while following the falcon, who soon sits on a nearby branch and he stopped to catch his breath before continuing on and sees the construction site of LJ's treehouse, causing him to gasp. "Hmm." He said to himself.

——

Inside the treehouse, LJ sniggers as he walked along the main guard tower. "It's almost finished." He said. "Soon, my fortress will be complete." He turned to a nearby Skulkin. "You! Hold up that sign for me!" The Skulkin grabs a nearby wooden sign, saying 'No Girls or Rangers', before LJ pulls a nearby lever. The floor below him soon opened up and it falls through as LJ came up to the open trap door. "Booby trap!"

———

The Skulkin lands on the ground, coming apart as Zane looked on and the falcon squawked again, causing him to look at it before it motioned its head to the treehouse. "Thank you, my mysterious friend." He said before crouching down to get a better view of the construction site as the falcon flew away. While Zane looked on, something hits the back of his neck, sending him rolling down the hill as he yelled. "Whoa!" He rolled along the hill before landing on the ground, clothes dirty from the roll. He quickly got up to see the one who pushed him had very wide bones and black armour. "This is a bad predicament."

LJ looks down from the main guard tower and is shocked to see Zane. "The White Ranger! Attack!"

Zane quickly spun on the ground, kicking a few Skulkins before getting up and vaulted over a Skulkin before turning around, kicked another one back, causing it to come apart. He then grabbed hold of another one's arm, pulled on it, taking the arm off and struck it, knocking it down before throwing the arm at another Skulkin before one comes up behind him and kicked, knocking him down. Zane immediately rolled back to avoid its stomp before getting up and raised his left arm. "Spinjitzu!" He touches his Spinjitzu Watch with his right thumb.

———

Zane moves his left hand by his right shoulder as he moved his right elbow back. "Ninjago!" He starts spinning as a white tornado soon appeared and engulfed him. It soon dispersed revealing Zane, in his Ranger suit. He was on his right knee with his right arm spread out and his left arm in front of his right knee before he looks up as white wind soon engulfed his head, turning into his white helmet.

———

Zane poised as some Skulkins ran at him before Zane grabbed hold of one and kicked it back as he soon punched another one and backflipped, kicking another Skulkin before finding himself surrounded by a circle of them. "This is gonna be tough. Better inform the others of this situation."

———

In a classroom at Ninjago Academy, Cole was writing in a book before Dareth comes up to him. "Ok, Mr. Brookstone, detention time's up." He said as Cole soon got up. "Now, the next time you see Miss Effigia, you apologize to her."

"Sure thing." Cole replied, sarcastically before he walked out.

———

In the hallway, Cole had just left the classroom as his watch beeps, causing him to hide behind a row of lockers and answer the call. "This is Cole."

"Cole, I'm gonna need some help, I'm in the Forest of Tranquility." Zane said through the Spinjitzu Watch. "Lloyd Jr. is constructing a treehouse and it seems that I am trespassing."

"On it."

Kai, Jay and Nya soon came up to him. "We just heard." Kai said. "Let's get going."

"I think I can help Zane myself."

"Still worth having some help."

"Fine."

"Nya, you stay out of this."

"Okay." Nya said, disappointedly, as the boys take off and folded her arms.

———

At the forest where LJ's treehouse was being built, Zane falls to the ground as the buff skeleton came up to him. "Big-Bone, take him down quickly before the others come!" He yelled.

"Too late, junior." Kai called out as LJ turned to see him with Cole, both morphed and holding their weapons. Cole soon charged at LJ, who looks down.

"Too bad you're on a booby trap." He quickly kicked a nearby lever, causing a trapdoor to open underneath Cole, causing him to fall out, but Kai quickly grabs hold of him while LJ takes off.

"Kai, go after him!" Cole said.

"No, you're more important!" Kai replied before he started to pull him up and manages to get him to the edge for Cole to get up and he looks at him.

"Thanks."

"No sweat."

"I'm adding a lot of respect points."

They look down to see Jay, in his Ranger form, striking Big-Bone with his flail while Zane quickly got up and fired a few arrows at some Skulkins. "Let's go."

Jay swings his flail again at Big-Bone, but it moves aside before it grabs hold of the chain and forces it back, making him move forward before kicking him and knocks him into Zane. "Hey!" Kai and Cole yelled, charging at it while holding their weapons and strikes it, knocking it back. Cole soon tilted down for Kai to roll over him and kick it before Cole somersaulted over him and struck Big-Bone with his mallet, making it move to the side.

"Hey, Kai, let us show you something cool. Guys, let's combine our weapons together!"

"Right." Jay and Zane said.

———

Jay held the flail out while Zane places his bow on top of the flail and Cole places his hammer on top, creating a blaster. "L.I.E. Blaster!" They all yelled as Jay and Zane held the sides while Cole held the flail handle.

"Earth Power!" Cole said, placing his hand on top of the blaster. The end of the blaster soon starts emitting energy and expands. "Ready? Fire!" The blaster fired the shot, hitting Big-Bone, causing it to scream and explode.

———

The force of the explosion hits the treehouse, causing it to tilt and fall back, completely coming apart. "My treehouse!" LJ yelled before crying.

The Skulkins look on in shock and take off. "Go!" Nuckal yelled.

"Retreat!" Kruncha yelled as he grabbed LJ.

"Hey, put me down this instant!" He yelled, kicking him.

"Shut up, spoilt brat. And stop kicking me there!"

"A spinning victory." Cole said as he, Jay and Zane split the L.I.E. Blaster back into their normal weapons.

———

Later that day, in the principal's office at Darkley's, Kruncha and Nuckal kneel before Lloyd as LJ was beside him. "It appears you failed to spot the other Rangers when they infiltrated the construction site and destroyed the treehouse." Lloyd said.

"We apologize, my lord." Kruncha replied. "We will take whatever punishment you give us."

"A week in the dungeon." Lloyd kicks a nearby statue. The rug underneath the two soon opened up and they fall down it.

"We have to defeat those Rangers if we want to take over the world." LJ said.

Lloyd gets up and heads over to the telescope to look at the monastery. "I hope so too."

———

Up at the monastery, the Rangers train as Kai, in his training gi, swung his kendo sticks before Cole, also in his gi, came up to him. "Hey, Kai, I want to apologise about this morning." Cole said. "You see, I've been a Ranger for almost a year and I've always relied on no one but myself until Jay and Zane came, and it's still a little hard."

"I'm sure we'll make it work." Kai replied. "And be there for each other."

"Speaking of being there..." They come up to Zane, also in his gi, as he was firing an arrow at a target board, hitting it with three other arrows already on it as Jay, in his gi too, and Nya also came up to him. "Zane, tell us how you stumbled upon Lloyd Jr.'s treehouse."

"I followed a bird." Zane said.

"Why did you follow a bird?" Jay asked.

"Because it danced."

"Oh, ok. Was it a cuckoo bird?" They all soon laugh as Zane was confused.

"Of course not. Everyone knows cuckoo birds aren't indigenous to the forest."

"He still has to learn on his sense of humor." Cole said. "For that, it's minus 2 respect points."

"What?!" They soon laugh again as Zane just frowned. As they laughed, Zane soon turned a branch, coming from a tree outside the monastery, to see the falcon land and it squawked, causing him to smile a little while the others were still laughing.