|Anchor|

My dad was here. He was here. And I don't know how to feel about that. What's worse is that I'm pretty sure the ninja hate him. Because dad sent a hit for the previous "masters" of water and fire. And the nindroid ice master got his powers from the remnants of an ice master that dad (actually grandpa) tried to kill. No clue if any of them know thay little bit. I remember him bragging about it. And branging about how he killed someone and made it look like an accident. The psycopath.

"Hey," I turned to Cole (who wanted to walk me home since he said and I quote "You don't seem like yourself." yeah no shit sherlock), "you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm completely fine." I told him.

"You sure about that?" he told me, his hand giving a squeeze to mine.

I had forgotten it was there. I stopped. Luckily we were on the sidewalk. I let out a sigh. "No. Not really."

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked me as he got in front of me to hold my shoulders and stare into my eyes. Those chocolate brown eyes.

I looked down at the ground. I knew I wouldn't be able to stop myself from spilling everything to him. If I continued to look into his eyes. I didn't want him to think I was a monster. I may not be the monster in this scenario, but I've heard what people did to Lloyd Garmadon for just being the son of Lord Garmadon when he was evil and now that he was no longer evil. I knew it would happen to me. Which is why I took my mom's surname. But then again what would people think when they realized they were lied to concerning the Fairy Tale of Hansel and Gretel by Hans Christian Anderson (or was it the Brothers Grimm, I could never decipher the difference)? That Hansel and Gretel were the children of the candy witch? That Hansel and Gretel were in that point of time as teenagers where the kids start to drift fron their parents? That grandma wanted them to spend time with both her and grandpa but they didn't want to? That Hansel (the brother) was now female? Because he died and his niece tried to bring him back, but only got the soul and created a female body for him on accident? Because Gretel wouldn't allow a seven year old to learn magic (because she did) until her fourteenth birthday?

That is what I wished I could tell him, but I could never tell him. Because he wasn't family. He was just a friend. That I may or may not like a little too much. At least if he liked me like I like him, then he'll be like five steps up from Dash Baxter.

"N-no. N-n-not really." I admitted. "Sorry."

"I completely understand." He told me.

I looked up to see him smiling at me. Is it bad that I want to kiss him? Is it too soon if I want to kiss him? Would he want me to kiss him? I don't really want to know that answer. I just... don't know what I want. The next thing I know is he's leaning into me. Okay so maybe he wants to kiss me too. That's a good sign. Right? And just before our lips touched, his phone started to ring. To the tune of Istanbul. At least he has good sense in music.

Cole sighed, his breath against my face and he answered his phone. "What Jay?" Silence for a moment or two. "Okay. Sorry I wanted to walk [Y/N] home." Momentary silence as the other person, Jay, spoke. "No, it is not like-. I am not grumpier than usual! Kai, Lloyd! Stop snickering in the background! I can hear you, you know? I'm just glad Nya and Zane are the mature ones." Why did I get a funny feeling in my stomach when he said Nya? I am not one of those jealous types. "Alright. Okay. Can I at least-? Okay, okay. I get it." He hung up the phone and turned to me. "I'm sorry about that. I have to go."

"But you haven't finished walking me home yet." I told him.

"I know. I'm sorry." Cole told me.

The boy went to walk away before wrapping his arms around me in a hug. He smelled nice. Like earth. Soil. Rocky scent. Like mountains. Like... chocolate mountains and gingerbread. Like how he should. He let go of the hug and disappeared behind me. Yep. I'm fucked to the no. I continued my walk home before a laser was shot at me. Lucky I was was when I jumped out of the way. I looked up to see...

"Skulker! What are you doing here?" I asked the ghost bounty hunter.

"What does it look like? I'm here to take the boss's only heir to him." Skulker told me.

"That's going to be easier said than done." Where's this confidence coming from? Doesn't matter! Just use it! "Going ghost!" And I turned into a ghost.

Before he zapped me and I let out a scream reverting back into a human. I fell to the ground. I tried to turn into a ghost, but it wouldn't happen. Fuck. And with that thought, I ran away from Skulker. The bounty hunter chased after me. Okay. [Y/N], think. Think. Think. Think. I ran and ran going through alleys and shady parts of the neighborhood. Until I lost him. I hid for a few moments to make sure I did lose him. I pulled out my phone as my breathing calmed down, but the adrenaline continued to pump in my veins due to fear. I dialed Danny's number.

"Yes?" Danny asked.

"How fast can you get to Ninjago City?" I asked him.

"I can fly faster than planes, [Y/N]." I dont remember the asshole being overconfident in his abilities. But whatever.

"Danny. I can't go ghost or use my powers. I need you to save me. Because I don't have the ninja on speed dial. And I'm being chased by Skulker. How fast can you get here?" I asked him.

"Five minutes." He told me and hung up.

And it was perfectly planned becaude Skulker found me. I let out a startled scream and ran away from the danger. I ran and jumped. I need to get out of here. I just had to. And who would I have to run into but other than the Black Ninja on patrol? I hid behind him.

"What's got you so terrified, miss?" he asked. He sounds familiar.

"Ghost... bounty... hunter... chasing... me." I told him.

His chocolate colored eyes hardened at my words. Familiar eyes. His once calm and content stance shifted into one of tense stature. And Skulker appeared.

"Give me the girl and you won't get hurt, Ninja." The way he said ninja sent a chill down my spine. Skulker had always terrified me and been the only villain to ever make me panic inside, but now he was threatening to hurt one of the ninja who was protecting me from him.

"Not a chance, skeezbag." Familiar sounding insults.

"Then, die!" And a battle between the earth ninja and Skulker commenced.

I tried to crawl away from him. And suddenly the ghost mobile came through and the door opened up to reveal Sam, Tucker, Jazz, and Danny. Not really five minutes, but okay. I'll take what I can get.

"Get in." Danny told me.

And I did. The last thing I remmeber was the Black Ninja screaming my name, "[Y/N]!" before the door closed and the ghost mobile left the scene.

Hello. So... the official entrance of the Ghost Team. And [Y/N] finally met Cole in his ninja alterego. And the seeds have been planted. But do you think her reasons for telling Cole are rational?