The scent of incense and old wood filled Kale's nose before his eyes even opened. His head throbbed like he'd run face-first into a concrete wall. As consciousness trickled back, his vision focused on the ceiling above him: a sloped wooden roof, polished and ancient, its beams carved with symbols he instinctively recognized but couldn't name.
And then it hit him. Memories not from this world, memories of a death he couldn't remember feeling, only knowing. Memories of a show, a world built in bricks and pixels, a team of ninjas, a destiny that once belonged to someone else.
He was in Ninjago.
His hands trembled slightly as he pushed himself upright on the bed. The blanket slipped down his shoulders, revealing an athletic but unfamiliar body, lean, toned, not overly muscular but well-built like someone born for agility. He could feel it thrumming just beneath the surface: a strange warmth and chill coexisting in his chest, Twilight. The element he had made up years ago was an idea which was then left unfinished, for he had bigger things to worry about at that time.
Just as the realization settled in, the door slid open. A calm voice, like still water flowing over stone, broke the silence. "Ah. You're awake." Standing at the doorway was a tall man with a white beard, dressed in flowing robes and a conical hat. His eyes carried both kindness and endless experience.
Master Wu. Kale blinked. He opened his mouth, then shut it. 'How do you explain reincarnation to a fictional character?' He thought.
Instead, he just mumbled, "Uh... yeah. I guess I am."
Wu stepped inside and sat on a cushion near the bed, hands folded. "I found you on the cliffside of Wailing Peak. Alone. Unconscious. You had no belongings, no weapon. What were you doing there?"
Kale hesitated before he said, "I don't remember anything. My memories, they're just gone," he said slowly. "But my name's Kale."
Wu nodded with the grace of someone who had seen stranger things. "Then, Kale, you shall be. Memories or not, you are welcome here at the monastery. Rest, recover. When the mind is ready, it will remember. Or make new memories worth keeping."
He stood and walked toward the door. "Breakfast is at dawn. Join us if you feel well enough."
Then he left. 'This is life now.' Kale looked around. What he had said to Wu was the truth, except for the show, his name, and a few other bits of information; everything else was gone. Kale layed back on the bed, exhaustion of the body hitting him out of nowhere, even though he did nothing.
The morning sun spilled through the paper windows, casting warm golden lines across the wooden floor. Kale sat up and swung his legs off the bed, finding a neatly folded set of black clothes at the foot. A toothbrush and washbasin waited nearby. "I guess divine reincarnation comes with hotel service," he muttered.
He washed up, pulled on the training outfit, lightweight fabric, sleeveless, with room to move. He caught a glimpse of himself in the small wall mirror. A young man, maybe sixteen or seventeen, stared back. His skin was olive-toned, his jawline clean but strong. His hair was an ashy black with subtle silvery streaks at the ends, almost like light and shadow were caught in it. His eyes were his most distinct feature, one a soft golden hue, the other a cool violet.
He looked like someone destined for something. Kale blinked, bringing himself into the real question 'How do I access my powers? He remembers that his powers start like all other ninja powers, with a weapon. Although he has never decided on a weapon, he knows that his weapon exists in a secret room within the monastery, also with the records as to how it came to be' he thought as he filed it for later and went outside his room.
The hallway creaked beneath his bare feet as he wandered toward the training hall. When he slid the doors open, the sight nearly stole his breath. A wide space of polished wood, ropes, dummies, suspended platforms, and mounted weapons. The same iconic training room he'd seen countless times.
"Cool place, huh?"
The voice came from behind, calm, confident, just a little gravelly. Kale turned to see a tall, muscular teen leaning against the wall, arms crossed and brow lifted. His hair was shaggy and dark, his skin tanned. His brown eyes were direct, grounded, but not unkind. He wore a dark sleeveless gi with a stone symbol at the belt. Even if Kale hadn't recognized the voice, he would've known immediately.
Cole, the elemental master of earth, wielder of the quake staff and the hammer, later on. "I'm Cole," he said, walking over and offering a hand. "Wu said you were up. Everyone's waiting."
Kale shook it, nodding with a faint grin. "Kale. Thanks."
"C'mon. Let's grab some food. Jay gets unbearable when he's hungry."
The dining area was cozy, filled with the smell of eggs, rice, and toasted bread. Around the low table sat three others: Master Wu, serene as ever; a boy with short brown hair and bright blue eyes, fiddling with his fork; and a pale teen with snow-white hair, pristine posture, and eyes like steel. Jay grinned widely and stood.
"Hey! Memory guy! Glad you're not in a coma or trapped in the mirror dimension or whatever."
Kale blinked. "Thanks... I think?"
Jay chuckled and threw an arm around Zane's shoulder. "I'm Jay, the resident comedian, and this is Zane, our weird guy. And a literal walking calculator."
Zane gave a polite nod. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kale. I hope your recovery is progressing well."
Kale sat down as Jay added with a wink, "Careful what you say around Zane, he remembers everything. Maybe you two can start a support group."
No one laughed. Jay's smile faltered.
Kale smirked. "If you are the resident comedian, then our crew's morale is looking real low right now, even lower than your sense of humor."
"There we go!" Jay pointed a fork at Kale. "You do have a sense of humor, unlike Zane over here."
After breakfast, the team moved to the training area. The ninjas went through their routines with practiced ease, Jay flipping through the air in sparks, Cole smashing dummies with punches, Zane moving like clockwork precision.
Kale stood off to the side, feeling both in awe and incredibly out of place. "Master Wu?" he asked. "Mind if I give it a try?"
Wu considered him carefully. "Only if you're ready."
"I'll never be ready if I don't try."
Wu nodded. "Then begin."
Kale stepped into the ring with Cole. No weapons. Just sparring. He lasted fifteen seconds. Thrown, flipped, and pinned to the floor before he could land a single blow, Kale groaned as Cole offered a hand.
"Not bad," Cole said. "For a rookie."
Kale laughed bitterly. "Yeah. This is going to take some time." And for the first time since waking up in this strange new life, he was okay with that.