Enjoy!

Third POV

"No, no, this isn't true! I know it!" Jay cried.

"How do you know?" Zane asked, crossing his arms.

"Because I just do, okay?!"

"Guys, cut it off!" Kai said, gesturing to Cole, who remained silent. The two stopped and looked at him along with the others, frowning.

"Hey.." Kai placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. We'll protect you." He said.

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it, I really do. But.. I just need some time alone for now." He sighed, getting up from his seat and dragging his body towards their room. The rest stayed silent, until they got up as well, one by one. Leaving Lloyd and Harumi alone.

"I shouldn't have spoken.." She said, looking at Lloyd with pleading eyes.

"Don't worry about it." Lloyd sighed. "You didn't know. It wasn't your fault."

"Lloyd?" Harumi asked.

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking of something.." She said, but hesitated to finish the sentence. "Actually, nevermind."

"No, tell me." Lloyd reassured her.

"Fine.." She sighed, though she felt relief on the inside. "I was wondering.. Do you think the others are holding you back?"

"Holding me back? But why? I don't get it."

"Lloyd, how much progress have you guys made?" Harumi asked, raising a brow.

Lloyd awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, stammering a bit before answering the question. "Well, we got the Golden Weapons and-"

"And?"

Lloyd then realized. They really hadn't made important progress on their actual mission. They saved Jay's, Kai and Nya's parents, but apart from that, they had just been on a few spy missions. It was.. Weird.

"Why are you asking me this?"

Harumi smiled, picking up her chair and placing it next to Lloyd's. "I was thinking.. Maybe we could.. Move on?" She said.

"What do you mean move on?"

"I mean move on. What don't you understand?" She growled, her expression slowly turning into an angry, annoyed one.

"Can't you see? You'll never succeed at this rate!" She took a deep breath, then continued. "Lloyd, do you trust me?" She said. Her voice softened. He nodded his head, too afraid to speak.

"Let's go then! Let's leave this place! We'll create the sword together! We'll defeat Garmadon together!" She said, grabbing Lloyd's hands.

"Rumi.. I-" Lloyd said, a bright shade of pink covering his cheeks.

"You know what? Fine. I'll leave tommorow anyways. But let me leave you with this; Who would you rather trust? Your best friend, or the strangers you met a few months ago?" She said, a cold tone in her voice. She stormed off to her room, leaving Lloyd alone. He was in a dilemma.

~•~

"Hey, Cole? Are you in there?" He heard a female voice come from the other side of the door. He remained silent. It was one of those times where upgrading to having individual rooms seemed like a bad idea.

She, just like the others, could feel the sadness in him. It gave her chills to see her strongest friend hit rock bottom.

"He's not answering." She turned back to Sensei Wu, who was looking down at his feet.

"Go to sleep, Nya. I'll have a talk with him." He gave her a slight smile, which she soon returned. She nodded, walking towards her room.

He tried with everyone. Kai, Lloyd, Jay, Zane and even Nya. He still remained silent. He refused to talk.

Wu pulled out a spare key from his pocket, he always held them just in case something happened. He went in, gasping at the sight in front of him.

Cole sitting in the corner of the room, crying. One of his strongest students, breaking so easily. He wasn't ashamed of him, no, but he didn't expect that sort of reaction from him.

"How did you get in here?" Cole asked, wiping his tears with his sleeve.

"A master always has his ways." Wu winked, trying to cheer him up. "Now, tell me, what's wrong?"

"Can't you see what's wrong?! I'm a dissapointment that's what's wrong!" He snapped, clutching his fists.

"And why are you exactly a dissapointment?" Wu enquired. He sat on the edge of his bed, patting the spot next to him for Cole to sit. He still preffered to sit on the floor, so Wu let him stay.

"Are you afraid of dying?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Cole shook his head in denial.

"Then what is it that's bothering you?"

"It's just that-" He hesitated to finish the sentence, taking a deep breath before continuing. "It's just that I don't want them to protect me. I don't want them to go through all this torture, just to protect me. I'm not worth it."

"Your friends care about you. That's a thing you cannot change." Wu snickered, trying to lighten up the mood. "There is something we can do, but you may not like it." He sighed.

"What is it? I'll do anything!" He exclaimed.

"You see, other Realm Crystals do exist. Garmadon just doesn't know about them yet." Wu said. "If we can find one of them, then we might have a valid plan."

"What kind of plan?" Cole asked.

"If we manage to get our hands on a Realm Crystal, we'll have the ability to send you to the Departed Realm. If we take you out quick enough, then.."

"Then what?"

"Then you'll be fully turned into a ghost." Cole flinched, his eyes widening.

Before he could answer, they heard a more high pitched gasp come from outside the room.

Wu sighed. "You can come in, Nya." He said.

Nya entered the room, playing with her fingers. "Sorry, it's just that I heard the door open and heard you talking and- I'm so sorry for spying on you!" She exclaimed.

After a moment of awkward silence, she spoke up again. "Sensei, can you repair a Realm Crystal?" Nya wondered.

"I.. am not quite sure about that. I have never tried it before."

"Why are you asking?" Cole asked, giving her a suspicious look.

"It's.. A long story." She blushed. "But I think I know someone who owns one. Even if it's broken.."

"These news were.. Unexpected." Wu's eyes widened. "But now one thing remains. Cole. You have to decide. Are you willing to give up your human form forever?" They both turned to him. Cole bit his lip, but didn't respond.

"Sensei, I think we should give him time. This is not an easy question." Nya placed a hand on Wu's shoulder, gesturing at Cole.

"I understand." Wu said. "Do you think you can provide us with an answer by tommorow?" He smiled.

Cole nodded, finally smiling a bit. Sensei ordered for Nya to exit the room along with him, Nya giving Cole a thumbs up before she left.

He sat there, alone. He was in a dilemma.

~•~

Lloyd couldn't sleep. It was almost 3AM. His eyes were still wide awake. He couldn't help but think of Harumi. Her offer.

Maybe the others really did hold him back. But they were his friends, his family. They couldn't possibly do that, right?

He knew he had to decide. She was leaving tommorow, after all. How could he possibly leave her? His childhood friend who he may have a small crush on, even though he won't admit it.

He stared at his hands. He didn't have powers like the others. He didn't want his hands to hold blood, he wanted them to hold power. His True Potential. But that potential didn't seem urgent with him staying in the team. It seemed Wasted.

He had made up his mind. He got up from his bed, opening his bedroom's door. He tried not to make much noise, as not to wake anyone up.

He went up to a door and knocked. It didn't take more than a second for the person to answer, a smirk drawn on their face.

"Ready?"

Hey, long time no see! So yeah, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll be finishing my exams this week and then.. Summer!

C ya!