A Letter to Cole (Fic & Gift) [Ninjago]Cole bent over and reached out to grab the bunch piles of mails from the mailbox. He slowly looking through each one by one as entering his father's house. He stopped as his eyes landed on a quite big thick mail that is addressed to him, coming from Kai’s. <i>Oh that’s rare coming from Kai, must be something happened thats really interesting. </i>He thought to himself as he slowly pull Kai’s mail out of others mail, and putting the rest of them down on the dinner table for his father to read later. He rushed into his room, and walking toward his chair beside the desk as opening the mail. Pulling few of the letters out of the mail only to find a yellow lily flower fall from it. <i>Huh? A yellow lily?</i> He puzzled staring at this flower laying on the desk. <i>It’s beautiful, but why did Kai send me a flower? That’s unusual even for him. </i> He start open the letter while leaning back on the chair, reading it.<hr> <center><i> To Cole Before I started I bet, you probably already wondering why there was even flower in the letter, or rather why did I even send a letter in the first place.</i> </center> <br>He chuckled as reading that.<br><br><br> <center><i>Cole, there’s a reason why I have to write this a letter. Shit, this is feel so weird to saying it even writing it down. But hey, better now than never right? As our Sensei would always say and taught us to 'Never Quit!' Anyway, I’m getting off the point. Nya told me that, she always wrote letter to Jay forward and back. You know how they are.</i></center> <br>Cole quietly laughed. “Yeah.”<br><br><br> <center><i>Anyway so, one of those day she randomly just told me I should write it out in gratitude letter to someone who impactful in my life. Saying it’ll do good for me. I thought over about it a lot actually, and I really think she’s right, but don’t tell her though, she will never let me live this down.</i></center> <br>Cole paused, blinking his eyes several times at the word <b><i>‘impactful’.</i></b><br><br><br> <center><i>By the First Spinjitzu Master, this is harder than I thought, to organizing my thoughts in order, so uh, I’m sorry in advance this letter may be over all the place. Ever since first time we met under the horrible circumstances time. I really thought different of you back then than now I do. I thought you and Jay, especially him how he was being toward to my sister, ...well how do I put it in nicely word...Maybe I shouldn’t say it, you probably knew that already anyway.</i></center> <br>Cole snorted loudly.<br><br><br> <center><i>That definitely taught me, to not judging the cover of book, but inside of it. You definitely taught me that a lot as well many time than I can count for. Man, I was such jerk asshole back then, huh? Yet, you always had tremendously mountain of patience level toward to me, no matter wherever place, at any times. I really thought I’d set you off eventually at some point with my hot-tempered, but no. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, you got past by my hard wall around myself. To the point, that it just become felt so natural with you around me. It even felt so wrong without you around me lately. That day, when you guys learned that I was quite sorta of being illiterate. I was very terrified of how that might made me unwelcome for being out of place. But, no. You didn’t even judged me at all for who I am. Not just that, you actually even reached out way beyond more than anyone would do for me. You sat down patiently, teaching me how to write and reading. Even a small silly doodle to help me learning on the along way while being frustrating over learning it. You have no idea how much that day truly did mean a lot to me. You understood why I was even struggling with in the first place. You took your times for me. How could I ever repay that back to you? I felt like I was being truly vulnerable that time, it wasn’t first time either. You noticed that and shared some of yourself to making me feel to not left out or alone at all, when you didn't have to. You fully understood of what I’ve went through, you just being there reassuring me each time we facing something in our times without ask anything in returned back. To be honest, I really thought that was awfully suspicious of you when you did that. You see, where I come from, there’s always a catch when someone’s doing out of kindness toward us. But I was totally wrong that about you. That alone gave me so many courage to facing anything with you around nearby. I completely fully trust you to have my back no matter where I go with you around. That just how your presence is truly meant the world to me. I can only hope I do the same thing for you. Sometime I feel like I truly don’t even deserve you in my life at all. Shit, I’m feeling emotional as writing this down. Just know this, Cole. You really changed my life so fucking big time. </i></center> <br>Cole started feeling tears welling up. “Oh Kai..”<br><br><br> <center><i>Heh, did you know that I still have the very first doodle of you drew Fire Dragon for me? It’s so badass! I couldn’t believe when first time I seeing this majestic work of your! Speaking of that, remember how that day you were so excited when you heard that I used to worked some of forge crafting from my father’s forge? I told you to not get high hope about it due to me being clumsily crafter. I was quite really on low self-esteem myself about it. But no, once again you were being so full of supportful and encourage me to pick it up again in our spares times. Seeing you so eagerly and excited over anything I crafted come from it. Slowly by over time, you helped me gained confident in myself about it. I admit it, I am pretty weak against those praise word coming from you since I knew you meant them in sincerely coming from your genuinely heart. And I don’t really get that often of them in my life either. It must be artistic thing, but we truly understood each other without knowing much depth of our work, just on surface and both of us really do get what we’re talk about. Man, Cole it’s just so easy to talk to you about anything really. Even on some day, when I just struggling to even say a word or trying to expressing my feelings, you understood me instantly without a fail. Hell, even sparring against you is amazing! I don’t even need to hold back at all unlike I do with others. I fully knowing that you’re always up to challenge and always is on par level against me. It’s always fun to being so competitive against you, be it in sparring, or video games or anything really. It’s like… You allow me to being true to myself in our times. Not often I get that chance to be myself and let myself on loose. That very first day of our sparring times… When I realized it, that I can being true to myself with you around. I made vowed with myself on that day, to pay it back in return for you, it’s the least I could do for you.</i></center> <br>Cole softly clutching the paper.<br><br><br> <center><i>So when I learned about your awkward relationship with Dad and the dancing. I really wanted be there for you, for each step you took at that time. You had no idea how much I was so enthusiastic on that day when you finally resolved with your father. And no less than, then that dance one you made of Tripe Tiger Sashay and won with it on the very same day, that was SO EPIC! I couldn’t even believe it with my own eyes! Still can’t believe it even right now, by the way. Your father is cool man, even tho he may be quite quirky, but yeah he’s alright man.</i></center> <br>Cole let a whimpering and laughing as tears rolling down his cheek.<br><br><br> <center><i>You know… That dark day when you suddenly disappeared from us. I don’t think anyone even told you how that did really affected me so badly. It was a really very touchy subject for me. It probably was for others as well, we were pretty kinda almost fall apart without your presence. I honestly fully understood that it wasn’t even your fault to begin with. Imaging how big relief it was went through me when seeing you return back to us in safely. I immediately realized why, we have this such very a strong unique bonds. No one else can really come close to fill in my space as you did. It’s even more crazier to me, that the fact after you return back safely to us. You carried on like nothing big deal and still taking in confidential of what others need and provide support to them. But what about YOU? It’s why I always had to seeking you out to checking you on. I know you, man. You tend to kept thing to yourself to not burdening on others. It take one to know one. You probably just shaking head at me right now.</i></center> <br>Cole shaking his head, laughing. “You got that right, man.”<br><br><br> <i></i><center><i>This probably just really sound silly to you, but whenever we have cake or donut in our free times. Watching you eating them in so gleefully is actually healing me in many way, than you’d think so. Right, so now about that flower.. As I have said it earlier, I thought over it a lot about writing it down. I was strolling outside the park, there was randomly a flower petal float into my face. It made me thought of Lloyd’s childhood friend - Brad. Since he’s running the flower shop. I thought I’d stop by to ask him about Lily. Since I remember how you’ve quite fond of your white lily to reconnect and resemble your mother. Then I remembered how Nya would kept talking about flower and their symbolize behind it. So I asked Brad to see if he know the symbolize behind white lily. I recognize, that it was more fitting matchy to your mother's more so than it does for you. I must have somehow showed it with a bit let down face. Brad picked up on it and expanded explaining me behind symbolize of each others colorful of Lily’s This yellow lily definitely perfectly matchy to your personality more, while being you know.. Lily in some honor toward for your mother as well. I hope you would like this at very least. I honestly never thought I’d met someone like you in my life, - thank you for being my best companion I could possibly ever asked for, and being a true friend to me. I still couldn’t believe, that you were just a stranger who I first met through the terrible circumstances, is also become the very person who changed my life in big time ever. You are the part of reason, I’m willing to try improving thing in my life even more and looking forward to the future as well. I reckon, that I am not perfect person at all, way far from it. There’s still couple of thing I dislike about myself. But Fuck, if I aren’t trying my best to improve even to be better. You also made me starting loving myself even more in some way. So many thing I never thought I’d even bother with, but here we are. So, yeah Cole, thanks. I could only hope I did return back the same kindness you showed me on our entire journey. I will always be so grateful forever, for that I met you and having you impacting so much in my life. Thank you for just being <b>yourself.</b> Thank you for being <b>existing </b>in my life. <b>Thank you.</b><b><big><big><font color="Maroon">- Kai</font></big></big></b> </i></center> <hr>Cole rubbed his eyes, gently put the letters and yellow lily down beside the picture frame of Kai took a goofy selfie of himself with Cole in it.<br> <i>Yep, I think, I should make a visit to Kai’s house right now.</i> He smiled softly as got up from the chair, and walking out of the room, the door slowly closing by itself behind. <img src="https://cdn.sheezy.art/69da00768939587bd306d364">persontrophyHaunted 5: GravestoneAfter many delays, the time had finally come. With the wretched sticky note at hand, Jac had set out to the graveyard off the edge of the human district to find the eponymous Bartleby's tombstone that was etched so vividly in her mind. She hated this wild goose chase more than anything- after the events of the previous nights, she felt as if she was being dragged into this otherworldly mess without having any say on the matter. Aiden and Jillian had split off to find the mastermind behind this dubious scavenger hunt, so without the red head's protection Jac had brought along the next best person. Or rather, he volunteered to accompany her while she tried her best to to insist that she'd be fine on her own. "You didn't have to follow me here, you know." Jac said. "You can't technically go any further anyway since this is a human restricted area." "I don't like this at all Jac," Richard spoke rather uneasily. "Tell me again why you have to do this?" "If I don't, then the ghosts will just keep coming back." "Jac..." "I know you don't believe in these things, but you have to trust me on this one! The visits have become more frequent as of late, and every night I get the exact same dream of this woman with white rags pointing her finger towards me..." "You may need some therapy..." Richard mumbled. "After this is all over with, I think I will take you up on that." Despite the fact that the two friends had visited the cemetery during midday, the atmosphere within the area still felt eerily cold. Barely anyone else was present even at this hour, and the scenery throughout appeared misty and hollow. Nevertheless, Jac proceeded to march through the main entrance without losing any of the confidence she had whipped herself into. As soon as she stepped forward, she suddenly felt the Wile giant's finger brushing her shoulder ever so gently. "Wait," he said with a tense voice. "A-allow me." And before she was given the chance to turn around, she witnessed a whitish-blue radiance that blossomed across the yard, illuminating the area in a soft, warm glow. Jac understood right away what this meant, yet it still left her completely stunned. She slowly looked behind her just as the magic had started to fade, and there stood Richard not even a foot taller than her. Jac knew Richard felt vulnerable in this form, and would never think to shrink down out in the open under normal circumstances. This situation must have been truly dire for him. "You! You didn't have to--!" "Don't sweat it, okay?" Richard said after he shook some of his dizziness away. "Let's go, I want to get this over with before nightfall." Jac remained silent, but pressed onward after she snapped herself back to focus. Best not to question his decision, although deep down she appreciated the act more than he realized. Searching through hundreds of different gravestones, most of which have been worn through the passage of time, was no easy task. For the next couple of hours, the two companions decided to engage in small talk to help alleviate some of the stress that had been building up since their arrival. Jac made a passing statement that Richard uses magic much more frequently in her dreams, to which the shrunken Wile replied as being hogwash. The human laughed, only to lose herself in quiet sorrow as she admits to missing such lighthearted night visions. Ever since that fateful night, they've been replaced by the sinister being that seemed to have taken up residency in her head. .... "I... I think I found it!" Jac raced over to Richard's side after he made that declaration. There stood a large tombstone with what appeared to be vines with razor sharp needles wrapped all around it. Engraved was the name of Bartleby Jones, and just underneath was the worn and torn fragment of something yellow that fluttered in the wind. There was no mistaking it. Jac hurriedly pulled out the paper and scanned it frantically..only to drop to her knees, eyes narrowed in utter disbelief. "You.. You can't be serious!" Jac didn't have the energy to shout her fury to the wind. Dumbfounded, speechless, lost, and even more afraid…She handed Richard the note briefly before she slowly got up, and walked away. The shrunken Wile was no less shocked, for a single written word had brought everything to a stand still: ’Dig’ "Screw this, I'm going home." Jac spat angrily as she tore up the note and tossed it into the rubble. "I'll get a medium or the Bean to help me fight this ghost. Destroying private property isn't worth it." "Yeah..” Richard sighed. “Couldn't have said it better myself.” .... Jac was infuriated by the fact that she had wasted her time and energy on this thing, this entire thing. This was looking more and more like a case of a gravedigger's folly that had incurred the wrath of those who should have been left undisturbed. Jac was secretly kicking herself for allowing these consequences to happen to her, and getting her friend Aiden involved only made her overwhelming regret even worse. These were the thoughts that would plague Jac's mind the following evening, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that it was all her fault. The tossing and turning had become relentless. As she began to mentally stew herself in a dark corner of her mind, Jac slowly turned her head. Somehow, subconsciously, she knew it was there. Perched on her left shoulder once more was the glowing butterfly. Jac remained semi-conscious however, so at this moment in time she believed she had already fallen asleep. "Oh. It's you again." Jac said flatly. "What do you want?" The pretty little insect fluttered about as it usually did whenever it was addressed. Jac pinched her eyes shut and tried her best to ignore the slight nuisance, and sure enough the glow had faded. With a quaint smile, Jac turned to lay on her back before she gave out a long, drawn out sigh. And as soon as she opened her eyes again... She saw that the apparition that was by the entrance on previous nights was now hovering right over her head. Jac would have had the start of a scream, if it wasn't for the ghoulish hand which was at this very moment pushing hard onto Jac's face. Using the other hand to restrain her left arm, the otherworldly being had effectively pinned the young woman down. Jac struggled with all her might, but it was no use- in no less than a few minutes time, the human would lose all consciousness... ..... Richard tried calling Jac multiple times. He had a gut feeling that something had gone horribly wrong, for his friend never failed to leave a message or two to give at least some kind of signal to how she was doing. Using his phone's tracking system, he was able to pinpoint the human's approximate location, his eyes widening at what he saw. This can't be… no. He couldn't believe it. And yet, his gut told him to follow. It was half past midnight, and a shrunken Richard wasted no time retracing their tracks at the lowly cemetery. The Wile frantically searched for any signs of his best friend- - Jac's scent, yes!! He whipped his head and was able to spot her from a far distance. Kicking his legs to catch up, Richard's eyes began to tremble as the realization began to set in. His walking slowed, his breath started to labor, as he increasingly became mortified by what laid before him. "J... Jac?" Richard nearly choked up. Jac turned to face him slowly and mechanically, she bore eyes that flashed bright with what appeared to be no signs of any eyeballs in her sockets. As if being pulled like a marionette, the woman slowly jilted her head back and resumed what she was doing. Upon seeing that she had taken a shovel and was using it to upheave dirt, Richard crouched down to the ground, tears dripping without ceasing. To say he was about to throw up was an understatement.. this HAD to have been nothing more than a horrendous nightmare… it's gotta be. And he wanted nothing more than to wake up from it. Then, she suddenly stopped. Tossing the shovel aside, Jac pawed into the crevice that she created and pulled out an object that sparkled against the light of her eyes. A vintage trinket lopped by a piece of string- it resembled an oval shaped gemstone, center as white as snow. The Wile could feel an unnerving and mysterious aura emitting from it, but that was the least of his concerns. Jac suddenly cried, in laughter, and with hysterical sorrow, back to back in an uncontrollable fit.. as she embraced the object close to her heart, the shine in her eyes slowly fading out. A similar light would then reappear inside of the abnormally in her hands, and with this it felt as if a great weight was lifted from her entire body, a euphoria unlike any she has ever felt. And just as soon as she would have regained her sense of self, she would then lose consciousness once more. She would have plummeted to the pit below if it wasn't for a timely catch.