AU where the quest arrakore was on when djinnjago was destroyed, was to retrieve the skull of an ancient sorcerer from the dungeons beneath shintaro, along the three adventurers later known as the upply
Okay serious Ninjago question: where is Metalonia?
I don’t understand the geography of Ninjago at all. Every damn season they go on an ‘unexplored island’ because there are literally 0 islands on the map. So where is Metalonia? Is it a large island that just isn’t on any maps? Is it a part of Ninjago that is separated by a river or something so it developed with its own language and culture? Is it a different realm??? Where is it? Also where is Shintaro? I have so many questions about Ninjago geography.
Shintaro is much like normal, but Princess Vania is... pretty nice. One wonders just how affected they really were by what happened.
Summary: What would happen if Cole had indeed had a reflection in the tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master? How would that have changed his life later? What would it have been? This story follows what might have happened if he had seen something, and what it was; who he would have become. What if his future was already decided?... (Rated T for safety. Alternate title: the Cosmic Spoilers AU.)
Chapter 3: Under the Mountain
The following days, or perhaps weeks, after the Ninja's arrival in Shintaro were a blur. It was just as much of an adventure as Cole has expected– rarely were their travels anything but adventure– and it ended up being rather exciting… in that stomach-turning way that made him anxious for his family's well-being and proud of how well they fought.
Their Shintaran adventure was better than most, when Cole thought about it afterward, already getting ready to go back to the Monastery of Spinjitzu. For once, no one was dead, or half-dead. No one was possessed, or scarred. No one was sent to another realm, or dimension, or anything! Everyone was… okay. They could leave in peace. There was no lasting damage, there were no painful memories... it was all just something good, for once, with new friends and new lands and new hopes.
Of course, the Ninja weren't the only people involved, and Cole wasn't selfish enough to ignore those who were arguably much more affected than they were. The Upply, the Geckles, the Munce, the Shintarans themselves… all of them were affected in that deeply intrinsic way one is changed by one's first adventure. The Upply were brave, the Geckles and Munce got along– the Shintarans were even considering ending their isolation! Their whole world had turned on its axis in a short week or so, and the Ninja were the cause.
Though the Ninja had changed Shintaro, the Shintarans had changed the Ninja's world, too. Ninjago itself was different. Each of their citizens was different and interesting, although they had barely met any of them, and it was fascinating getting to know them. With that said, if there was one Shintaran out of the rest who was most affected in Cole's mind, it had to be Princess Vania. She wasn't even Princess anymore; she was Queen Vania, sole ruler of the entire kingdom. Her deposed father had his title stripped immediately, and she had taken it up with comfortable ease, just as she was always meant to have it.
When Cole thought about Vania, he had to smile. She was the sort of girl that he thought more people should be like– strong, brave, and independent. She'd been more girlish at the start of their journey under the mountain, but by the time it had ended, she'd grown; she wielded her glaive and royal authority with adept swiftness that he couldn't help but admire. She was a fellow leader.
In fact, she was a really good fit for royalty… Lloyd could probably have taken lessons from her on how to assume power, back in the day.
Power… that was another thing to think about, wasn't it? Cole had received a lot of power during this trip. Now, he looked down at his hands and saw a faint, pulsing of orange right under the skin, just next to where his veins were. It brightened and dimmed with his heart's pulse, and he could feel its buzzing strength if he touched his wrist, or his neck at the jugular artery. It was the pulse of his power, passed down from his mother just like his life and breath were, and stronger than ever.
Now divorced from the events of the trip below the mountain, Cole could smile again at what he'd found. He hadn't imagined he'd find a temple, much less to his mother and ancestors! A sacred place for the Masters of Earth, where incredible power was housed for those who would seek it. A home for the history that was long since forgotten. It was almost too good to be true. He would say he didn't believe it, but he did; he believed it only because he had harnessed the Spinjitzu Burst and defeated the ancient evil his mother had defeated before him. With Vangelis locked up and the power of Earth more securely within his grasp, Cole could smile in peace– he was more connected to his mother than ever before. Earth was his link to the past…
What of a link to the future, though? His vision? What he'd seen in the First Master's tomb? He still remembered it, but the details had faded from his mind. He couldn't remember the details of it, let alone what he'd worn; just that it was some tunic, in white and blue.
Colors he never wore.
Garments he'd never seen before.
It was too similar to Shintaro to ignore, and he simply had to hope that maybe, just maybe… it would be okay. Maybe it wasn't here.
Despite all that, he didn't see it happening. Maybe it wasn't coming yet. Maybe he could still avoid it a little longer… and in the meantime, he couldn't stay in Shintaro forever.
When it was finally time to leave Shintaro, it was the evening after Vania's coronation. The sun was setting when they made to leave in the Bounty, embracing the wind and sun on their faces. They still wore the armor given to them by the Geckles and Munce; they hadn't wanted them back, and they gave a semblance of purpose at the coronation, with all its pomp and circumstance. Cole's was particularly comfortable; he wondered if he should keep it as a usual part of his gi. It didn't hurt that it was gold, like his mother's favorite things... his mind was often on her now.
When they at last made ready to leave, the group exited the palace. They were joined by the many from the audience, led by Queen Vania in the very front. She smiled benevolently, like a proper queen, but just as sweetly as he'd come to expect. As the group split to say their goodbyes, she stuck close to Lloyd, talking quietly… Cole couldn't help but notice as he went to the Upply for his goodbyes.
"So long, fellas." He grinned at them. "This is goodbye."
"Good luck to you, Sir Ninja," Fungus said, bowing.
"And there will be hot bowl of soup waiting for you in Metalonia!" Korgran added, sniffling. "...Korgran will miss Cole."
"I'll miss you too, Korgran." He looked to Plundar, who had finally removed his hood to reveal his black hair. "Stay out of trouble, Plundar! You too, Adam."
Adam chirred, and Plundar smirked. "Where's the fun in that? We've got to do something now that we don't get a real eyeful of you and Vania dancing around."
"I– dancing around? What do you mean?"
"What Plundar means is that you and Vania have quite the connection," Fungus commented. "It's intriguing; we will miss seeing you both."
He shrugged. "Well, I'll miss her too, and all of you, so… yeah. That makes sense."
"Oh!" A familiar, feminine voice called out. "Cole!"
Cole turned back to the proper end of the pier. Lit in the sunset, Vania stood there, wearing her new crown. She was watching him with a little smile and a faint pink blush that seemed to be somewhat permanent, but wasn't an unpleasant sight. Far from it, it countered her pale complexion in rather pretty way. Cole couldn't help but smile at her and come up to the pier, so they were facing each other.
"I wish you could stay," Vania admitted to him, hands fidgeting. "I could use your help."
"You don't need me!" Cole grinned, grabbing one of her hands and clasping it tightly in his hand and raising the two between them. "You're one of the strongest and bravest people I've ever met."
She seemed to light up at his compliment, smiling even more than she had been. "Well, in that case… if you ever need my help, all you have to do is ask and I will bring the entire army of Shintaro to your aid."
"Thanks, Vania." He squeezed her hand gently. "Still feel like you want me to stay?"
"Well, I'd still like to have you here longer." She giggled a little. "Are you sure you can't? I'm really going to miss you."
"Yeah... I'm sure." He squeezed her hand. "I'll come back to visit, okay? Sooner rather than later."
"Okay. I'll look forward to it." She let go of his hand with that same sweet smile. "Have a safe trip home, Cole!"
"Thanks!"
That was all they said to each other before they parted. After a few more warm goodbyes, they boarded the Destiny's Bounty, and took off. As their journey back to Ninjago and the Monastery began, he couldn't help smiling; whatever came next, he hoped it would be as nice as Shintaro, with all its whites and blues.
Cole sighed as he looked out over the mountains. Shintaro was definitely where his vision was set, but… would it really be so bad if his future came to visit him there? Especially with such a good friend in Shintaro?
Vania is old enough to be a queen, so I would say she is 17-19, and the flashback she was only a toddler, so 3-5.(not 6, they usually look a bit taller)
That would make the Upply trapped under the mountain for at least 12 years. I assume their ages in the flashback to be early 20s for Plundar, late 20s for Korgran, and early 30s for Fungus
That would currently make them in their early 30s to 40s
