She only slowed when they entered the forest, and that's when Jade's strength cracked and she began crying. Cole wrapped his arms around her when he noticed her about to fall, and slowly brought her to the ground, "Shh.... It'll be okay.."

Jade shook her head and sniffled, looking at the raven haired teen, "H-How do you know?"

"I know what you're going through," he replied lightly with a small smile, "Heartbreak isn't fun and it's hard to get over."

She nodded, "You've had your boyfriend dissown you too?"

Cole couldn't help but snort a laugh, "No, it's a bit more complicated than that. My best friend is dating the girl I love, and I have to see them together every single day."

"Ha ha," she poked his face, "Ssorry, though. That'ss gotta ssuck."

"I've gotten used to it after a couple years," Jade's eyes widened when she heard that,

"Yes, that's been happening for years. There was a time when we were dating, but... It didn't work out. And no laughing at me, or I'll laugh at you."

"Please don't," she cracked a feeble smile.

"Ah-ha!" it was his turn to poke her cheek, "There's that smile!"

Jade slapped away his hand, "Why are you being sso nice?" Might as well give up on the whole 'full human' mask. They already know.

"I can empathize with you," he told her, pulling her to her feet, "We need to get going," he took a couple steps away from Jade and she followed. Cole waved his hands, "No no, you may want to step back."

With a small nod, she backed up behind a tree, watching as Cole produced an orb of black energy wisps in his hands. She was about to as what he was doing when there was a burst of white light and Cole was suddenly sitting atop a black dragon. It's scales were a mixture of black, but white light shone beneath them, giving the dragon a glowing look. Whenever it moved, there was a smoke trail, as if the creature was made of smoke, "What in the name of NinjaGo?!"

"Jade, meet Rocky the second," Cole gleamed, patting the dragon's neck, "He's gonna get us back to The Bounty quicker," Cole leaned down and reached for her hand, "C'mon."

Hesitantly, Jade made her way towards the slightly intimidating dragon. Cole rolled his eyes and pulled her up, "Okay, don't fall off."

"Wait! Fall off-" Jade's worry molded into a happy scream when Rocky catapulted into the sky.

Once they were airborne, Rocky leveled out and was flying smoothly, only moving to flap his wings once in a while, "See?" Cole looked over his shoulder, "Nothing to be scared about."

"But it'ss a dr-dragon!" Jade stuttered, "They're, like... aren't they dangerous?!"

"No," Cole looked ahead of him again, watching the 'road,' "No dragon I've ever met was dangerous. Not even Rocky the first. He, granted, did try to eat us, but once he learned that we were trying to protect the Golden Weapons, he was really quite a softie. They all were."

"Meaning all the Elemental dragonss," Cole turned around in shock, and Jade gave him a skeptical look, "Yeah, I've heard of them. I don't live under a rock.... twenty-four-sseven, anyway."

"Hold on," Cole muttered to no one in particular as Rocky neared the ever-so-familiar flying ship. Before Jade could ask who he was talking to or what he meant, the dragon disappeared and the two began falling, and Rocky wasn't very close to the deck of the ship, either.

Jade was freaking out, because she was never one to enjoy heights, so she clamped her eyes shut. Just to ensure her safety, Cole wrapped her in a hug and cushioned her fall onto the deck, only releasing her when they rolled to a stop. Content with his work, he jumped to his feet, "Jade. Jade? Wakey-snakey," he bent over and pulled her up, brushing off her shoulders, "You're not dead," he stressed, "Open your eyes."

"Don't ever," she began, slowly prying open her eyes, "Do that. Again!"

"Why not?"

"I don't like heights!" Furious at him and at herself for getting into this mess, Jade stomped below deck and out of sight.

Perfectly timed, Kai walked out from the cabin just as the top of Jade's head went below deck, "Back from your solo woman hunt?"

"My what?" Cole squinted his eyes in confusion.

"Well, I can't very well call it a man hunt when you were hunting a woman, now can I?" Kai clarified, walking over to his brother-in-arms, "But how'd it go? Did you find anything that'll help us find her?"

"Well, I didn't find anything that'll help us find her," Kai's face fell and Cole grinned, "But, I did find her in her entirety, if that makes you feel any better."

The brunette got all up and arms at this news, "She's here?! Where? Cole, where? Is she hurt? Tell me where she is!"

Cole grumbled and put his hands on Kai's shoulders, "No. She needs to be left alone for a while, alright?"

"Why?"

"Um... Heartbreak," Cole thought that was a good enough explanation. It was, wasn't it?

"Cole, I know this from having been looking at you for the past three years. When someone is inconsolable from heartache, they don't need, nor want to be left alone. The person wants someone to talk to," Kai brushed Cole's hands away, "A friend, alright? Where is she?"

"Not you," Cole began walking towards the door that led below deck, "I'll go, she trusts me."

"How do you know?" Kai called after him.

"I just do!" he called back, walking down the corridor, "Jade? Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaade..... Okay, sorry, that last one was a bit creepy sounding," There was an airy snort from Nya's room, and scene as how Nya was flying The Bounty, Cole knew he'd found his girl. Ever so slowly, Cole pushed open the door, "Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?" he asked, stepping inside and closing the door gently behind him.

She chuckled and wiped at her eyes, "Crying, if you musst know. Really no point trying to hide it."

Still being slow with his movements, Cole sat down and slung an arm around the young girl's shoulders, "Why're you still crying?" she shrugged and he hugged her tighter, "Don't cry. He's a boob, doesn't deserve to be cried over."

Jade snickered, despite her current state, "You called him a boob."

"He is!" Cole shouted with a smile, "Now, how 'bout we take you above deck to go socialize."

"I'll go up in a moment," she scooted to the other end of the bed, "I need to take a shower and change clothing again."

"If you say so," Cole stood and walked towards the door, adding in a joking manner, "I wasn't going to say anything, but you smell."

Jade threw a pillow at him and laughed, but the pillow missed him for he'd ducked back into the hall, where he almost ran into Misako, "Whoops. Sorry."

"That's alright, Cole," she assured him, "What were you doing in Nya's room?"

"I was talking to Jade, trying to calm her down," he explained as they walked back above deck, "Been having a bit of a rough few days, ya know? Kidnapped by us, kidnapped by Elemental Masters, first real friend, I think, anyway, turned out not to like her and now she's back to square one with us."

"But we're one step closer to defeating the OverLord and she's more comfortable here with us, is she not?"

"More or less, yeah. No more tying her up, though," Cole held the door of the meeting room open, "Give her some space, too."

"Who some space?" Jay asked, turning away from the window to look at the newcomers.

"Jade's in the shower," Cole shrugged, and added in answer to Jay's blank stare, "Her. Give her some space, and I meant it... Kai. Back off."

"Well that was a bit blunt," Nya muttered, turning around, "What did he do now?"

"Remember?" Jay asked, "He's creepin' on the she-snake."

"Am not!" Kai scowled, "Shut up."

"It appears that your heart rate accelerates every time your thoughts wander towards Jade, Kai," Zane turned his attention to the conversation.

"I'm confused," Lloyd face-palmed, "What's happening?"

"You left for the Labyrinth after all this happened, Lloyd," Cole waved his hand in front of the blonde's face, "Don't tell me you've got amnesia?"

"No," Lloyd swatted the hand away, "I know who you're talking about, but why is she back here?"

"Why are you?" Jay asked, still leaning on the wall for support, "You're supposed to be in hiding. This isn't hiding!"

"My brother and I have decided that it is best we stick together," Garmadon explained, "Divided we stand no chance but together we may figure something out."

"Still doesn't answer why Jade is back here," Lloyd crossed his arms.

"It was your idea to go get her, dunce," Jay retorted, "Cole was just smart enough to go look where none of us thought anyone would be in a time of crisis."

"Mega Monster Amusement Park actually had a lot of people there," Cole shrugged, "Took a while, and I got caught up in a conversation with Lar, Ash and Griffin, but eventually my target came to me and dragged me off."

"Why?" Wu asked.

"I believe she'd just been unceremoniously disowned by her boyfriend," everyone turned towards the voice to find Jade leaning in the doorway, her long wet hair a dark brown, almost black colour. The water was darkening her already dark blue Captain America shirt, a small amount of water dripping on her red, white and blue plaid pajama pants (That were originally made for guys), "Since you were wondering."

The entire room was dead silent, and the gazes that weren't on Jade were flickering between her and Misako, Lloyd, Wu and Garmadon. After a long moment, Lloyd shook his head, "No...." his tone was warning and distant.

"Pardon me?" Jade asked, the strange demeanour of the room making her uneasy.

"It can't be..." Garmadon shook his head in denial, "Too long ago..."

"Can anyone explain to me what exactly is happening?!" she demanded, "Seriously, you're all scaring me."

Misako inhaled, taking a small step closer, "L-Lizz?"

"Who?" Jade took a step backwards, "I don't know a Lizz, and that's not my name."

"It is, though," Wu finally found his voice.

"No, it's not!" she argued, "My name is Jade and I am a Hypnobrai Serpentine! You've all lost your minds!"

"L-" Garmadon stopped himself, "Jade, just hear us out, please."

"You think I'm your lost daughter or ssomething, but I'm not," she snarked lowly, "There is nothing you can say or do that will make me believe you otherwise. In no way are we related at all so jusst drop it."

She bolted from the room and her absence seemed to have released them all from some sort of trance. Misako and Garmadon were frozen in time and Lloyd had backed himself into a corner and slunk down, bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Wu sighed, "The hold on her mind is stronger than I anticipated."

"Yeah, I'll say," Lloyd whispered, staring wide-eyed at the opposite wall. Nya had wandered over in an attempt to calm him.

"It is in fact her, though," Kai asked cautiously, inching towards Misako and the second Sensei.

"It is," Misako murmured, "As far as I know, anyway, but-" there was a pause, and she took a deep breath, "I haven't seen her in such a long time, it's hard to tell. And the young girl I left at Darkley's did not have such a dark attitude."

"It is the Serpentine influence," Wu stated, "Corrupted by venom or hypnotism, I know not which. Perhaps both, but whatever it is she will not be the same until the block is removed."

"Block?" Zane asked.

"Yes, Zane," Wu turned toward all his students, "It appears.... Jade has been with the Serpentine so long, prone to corruption far too many years, that she has suppressed any unwanted memories of life outside the one she grew up in."

"Wu and I will go into the City, to the apothecary shop, and find a cure," Garmadon announced, "The sooner the better, brother," and then he left the room.

*.*

"I don't want to sspeak with anyone at the moment," Jade barked, still facing with her back to the door. She had gone to sit cross-legged on 'her' bed, opposite Nya's.

"I just want in to grab something from my closet and I'll be on my way," Nya's soft voice floated through the door, giving Jade no choice but to stand and open the barrier. The raven haired girl grinned, "Thank you."

There was only a dry hum in response as Jade went back to her ill-mannered position on her bed, "Close the door on the way out again, please."

"You may want to think about coming out sooner or later," Nya told her roommate, "Kai and Cole are at each other's throats and we need our full team to defeat the OverLord."

With the click of the door, Jade was left alone with her thoughts once more. I've never seen these people before in my entire life, why do they pursue the idea of me being related to them? Yeah, alright, I kind of look like that blonde kid, who doesn't? They're all delusional, that's all. I have no family outside the Tribes, and- her thoughts were cut short once again by the creak of the door, "What?!" she snarled, whipping around with such forces, a voice in the back of her head told her to be careful for fear of whiplash.

Cole backed up a step, "I was just coming to tell you that lunch was done and you should come eat."

"'m not hungry," Jade turned back to facing the wall.

"Do you want me to bring you a bowl of Mac 'n Cheese?"

"Yes please."

"Alright, I'll be back," Cole amended, closing the door behind him. It was a few split moments before he let himself back through the newly unlocked door, "Room service for two?"

"Lasst I checked there was only one of me," Jade turned around to look at the Ninja, who was holding two steaming bowls of cheesy noodles.

"There's only one of you, but two in the room altogether," Cole sat on the bed and handed her a bowl and a fork, "You didn't think I'd let you eat by yourself, did you?"

Her skeptical look left her face, "Judging by how nice you've been doing, I should have known you wouldn't have."

"Obviously," he smirked, taking a bite of his lunch, "You're too special."

"Creeper," she bumped his shoulder with her's and began eating, quite quickly, too.

"Whoa," Cole gently grabbed the wrist of the hand holding her fork, "Calm down, I'm not going to eat your food on you."

"Habit," she muttered, slowing her macaroni-to-mouth ratio, chuckling through mouthfuls of food.

"What are you laughing at?!" Cole asked, looking about the room, "There's nothing funny!"

"Just the way you're so confused and irritated!" she snickered, "I always laugh at nothing!"

"You're the reason I'm confused and irritated," he pouted, and then broke into a grin, "I told you were hungry."

"Shut up," she turned to face him, leaning her back against the wall, "Why do those four think I am related to them?"

"That's a long complicated story that no one's got time for," Cole waved off the inevitable, "Don't fret about it."

"Well I'm going to fret about you, Rocks-For-Brains," she scowled, "Tell me."

"I don't know, alright?" he put his hands up in defense, "If I knew I'd tell you."

"You're lying!" she polished off her food, set the bowl on her nightstand and pointed at him, "I can tell!"

"Am not!" he stood up, "I'm telling you the truth!"

"How long have we been in here?"Jade asked randomly, putting her hand down.

"Twenty five minutes, give or a take a few minutes, why?" Cole sat back down, the intention of running no long in his mind.

"Hmm..." she hummed, looking out the window, "It's, like, two in the afternoon."

"Three, actually," he corrected, "Why do you care what time it is? You're not going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, are you?"

"No, you idiot," she snapped, "I was just wondering what time it was. When are your Sensei getting back from the apothecary shop?"

"Should be soon actua-" Cole cut off and looked her in the eye, "How did you know they were going?"

"I heard that one saying they were going," she told, glaring back. Reminder: don't eat anything anyone gives you when they return.

Cole could feel the tension rising, "Anyway.... I should go introduce you to everyone."

"Yes. Knowing my kidnappers sure won't make anything awkward or anything," she stood up.

"You came here by yourself, remember? No one forced you," Cole led the way to the door.

"Whatever you say, bra," Jade stepped into the hall and almost ran into Zane, "Oops, sorry Zane."

"You know him?"

"I've met him last time I was here, Cole," she stepped around Zane and walked onto the main deck.

"Just wondering," Cole muttered, following suit, "You can't go anywhere, I hope you know that."

"Why can't I?" she sassed, peering over the edge of the ship, "Oh...." We're three billion miles in the air.

"I find it entertaining how you try so hard to be closed off and angry at everyone," Cole stepped up beside her and leaned on the railing, "But in reality you're just blocking everyone out so you don't get hurt."

"You don't know that," But you're right on the dot.

"I don't, you're right there," he looked at her, staring her down with those almost-black brown eyes, "But it sure seems like that's the case."

"Don't make me throw you overboard," Jade threatened lowly, going with her only remaining option to get him to shut up, "It'll seem like an accident."

"You can't throw me overboard," he mocked, "Wu and Garmadon are going to come back and wonder where their team leader went."

"And I'll say, 'He's a pancake on the forest floor about five hundred feet back. He lost his balance and fell overboard.' Simple as that."

"You're just bound and determined to get rid of me, aren't you," Cole shook his head.

"We're landing," Jade pointed out, looking at the nearing ground, "Why're we landing in the middle of the forest?"

"I don't know, go ask Nya," Cole shrugged, "She's the one driving."

"Whaaaaaaatever," without a word Jade jumped into the lower-middle branches of a tree, "I'll just hang out here until your Sensei get back."

Cole looked out towards the city, "That won't be too long, they're almost back."