The Students of Garmadon

Chapter 8: Tick Tock

"how long has he been underwater?" Aria asks

"A long time" Kai replies

"If he drowns do we have to pull his dead body up or will it float up?" Aria asks

"What kind of question is that? He's fine" Cole replies

After awhile longer Zane surfaces and the ninja all cheer

"Amazing!" Cole shouts

"We're not worthy" Jay says falling to his knees and Aria laughs

"I broke the record?" Zane questions

"You destroyed it!" Kai replies

"Okay, okay. Is anyone thinking what I'm thinking? We've been training for so long, I don't think we can get any better. Just think about all we've accomplished" Jay says

"And yet none of you have unlocked our true potential" Aria comments

"We have all made a lot accomplishments these past couple months, I wonder if we've reached our full potential yet?" Zane questions as they head inside the Destiny's Bounty to find Wu "Well, every morning I do five hundred push-ups"

"Five hundred? Ha, try a thousand" Kai brags

Jay laughs "Hahaha, I do a thousand and one"

"Pfft, amateur hour" Aria crosses her arms

Cole laughs "Sounds like my warm-up. Sensei, what does True Potential look like if-"

They see Master Wu putting away a katana.

"Sorry we interrupted you Sensei" Aria apologizes

Wu sighs "I'm sorry if I've been distant lately. My mind has been elsewhere since Lloyd has gone missing. What can I help you with?"

"Sensei, what if we've done enough training? What if we've reached our True Potential? What if we're ready?" Cole asks

"Hm. You might have reached peak physical condition, but you've yet to reach your inner potential. In each and every one of us, there are obstacles that hold us back. Only when you conquer that fear will your heart be free. Only then will you reach your True Potential. Only then will we have a fighting chance to stop the Serpentine from releasing the Great Devourer" Wu answers

"There's more to the Great Devourer than you've led on, isn't there, Sensei?" Zane questions

"when I was younger me and my brother were the best of friends. One day while we were practicing our skills, I lost my katana, and my older brother sought to find it, knowing our father would not be pleased. Garmadon found the katana after clambering over the wall, however, he was bitten by a small green snake. In the following days after, Garmadon developed an increasingly darker nature, thanks to the snake bite that was from a legendary snake, the Great Devourer." Wu told them

"And their's no known cure" Aria says sadly

"we cannot change the past, we can only look to the future. That said, I am going on a journey, alone" Wu says

"what no" Aria holds onto his arm

"It must be done" Wu says patting Aria's head "it is a place you cannot follow"

"Why not?" Aria asks

"Just trust me Aria," Wu smiles to her "I am doing this for Lloyd, and for you."

"For me?" Aria looks confused

The Ninja are all taken aback, but they and Nya oblige, dropping Wu off at a nearby mountain. Afterwards, the Ninja decide to go to Jamanakai Village to post signs about the missing Fangblades. As Zane is posting signs, he sees the Falcon.