The mountain summit was unusually peaceful that night, with only the occasional whistle of cold wind disturbing the silence that had settled over the rocky landscape. Far below, thick clouds drifted between the surrounding peaks, concealing the valleys beneath a pale blanket of mist, while thousands of stars glittered across the cloudless sky above. Wu and Jinx sat on opposite sides of a small campfire, its orange flames casting shifting shadows across their faces as they rested during their journey. Neither had spoken much since leaving the village, although Wu occasionally glanced toward his young companion, who seemed perfectly content to occupy himself with his elemental abilities.
For several minutes, Jinx had been balancing a miniature tornado above his open palm, watching with quiet fascination as tiny currents of Wind twisted around one another in an intricate spiral. Despite being no larger than a drinking cup, the vortex possessed extraordinary precision, with several smaller streams moving independently within its center without disturbing the surrounding flames. It was the sort of control that had taken even experienced Elemental Masters years to develop, yet Jinx manipulated the delicate currents almost absentmindedly, occasionally adjusting their speed simply to see how the pattern changed. Wu watched the display for a while before finally deciding to break the silence.
"Jinx, may I ask why you followed me?" Wu inquired, resting both hands against his staff as he regarded the young Wind Master across the fire. "I never asked you to accompany me, nor did I ask any of the other ninja. You were supposed to remain with them and continue searching for the Fangblades."
Jinx didn't immediately answer, his violet eyes remaining fixed on the miniature tornado as he gradually compressed the swirling currents into an increasingly narrow column. After another moment of concentration, he closed his fingers around the vortex, dispersing it so smoothly that the surrounding air barely stirred. He then lowered his hand into his lap and looked toward Wu, although his expression suggested that the question he intended to ask had very little to do with why he had followed him.
"I've been wondering about something, Master," Jinx began, leaning backward against a conveniently positioned rock while stretching his legs toward the warmth of the fire. "I know I haven't been here as long as the others, but unlike those idiots, you've never actually told me anything about my destiny. You've talked about the Green Ninja, their True Potential, and all that other stuff, but whenever the conversation turns to me, you get rather mysterious."
Wu regarded him silently, recognizing the curiosity beneath the young man's casual delivery. Jinx rarely expressed much interest in prophecy unless someone attempted to use it as justification for telling him what he could or couldn't do, and his apparent indifference toward becoming the Green Ninja had been one of the first things Wu noticed about him. Nevertheless, there was something unusually thoughtful about his expression tonight, and Wu suspected the question had been occupying his mind for longer than he cared to admit.
"Now, don't misunderstand me," Jinx continued, casually picking up a small stone and rolling it between his fingers. "I don't believe destiny is some grand script written in stone. Hell, every story has an ending, but that doesn't mean someone else gets to decide what happens before it, and that's something I feel right down to my soul."
He paused, considering how best to explain the distinction without making it sound as though he was contradicting himself. "Still, I'm not stupid enough to think everything's completely random either. Some things are probably going to happen no matter what we do, but that doesn't mean the outcome has to be the same every time." His fingers closed around the stone as he looked directly at Wu and asked, more seriously than before, "So I guess what I'm asking is, what's my destiny?"
The question remained suspended between them, accompanied by the gentle crackling of burning wood as Wu stared at his student across the flames. He had expected Jinx to ask about Lloyd, the journey ahead, or perhaps whether they could avoid another exhausting climb in the morning, but the sudden interest in destiny caught him off guard. More troubling was how familiar the conviction behind Jinx's words sounded, stirring memories of another young Wind Master who had once questioned the future with equal determination.
And for a fleeting moment, Wu saw him.
Standing beside Jinx was a boy who appeared roughly the same age, with unruly black hair distinguished by a striking green streak that fell across his forehead. His youthful face carried a proud, stubborn expression, while his eyes remained fixed on Wu with an intensity that seemed to challenge whatever answer the old master might provide. The boy's hands tightened into fists at his sides, his frustration visible for a brief instant before he forced himself to relax and drew a slow, deliberate breath.
It was an image drawn from Wu's memories rather than a presence Jinx could perceive, and the young Wind Master remained completely unaware of the figure his teacher seemed to see beside him. The resemblance between their defiance was unmistakable, yet the differences troubled Wu just as deeply, because the boy from his past had desperately wanted destiny to acknowledge him, whereas Jinx appeared determined to live regardless of whether destiny acknowledged him at all. Wu blinked, and the remembered figure disappeared, leaving only Jinx watching him with growing curiosity.
Wu inhaled deeply before finally speaking. "Throughout my life, I have studied many ancient scrolls and teachings concerning destiny, including records that speak of the Elemental Masters and the paths they may follow," he explained, his expression becoming thoughtful as he looked into the flames. "Some describe events that have already come to pass, while others offer glimpses of possibilities that have yet to unfold. Even after all these years, I would be foolish to claim that I understand everything about how destiny works."
Jinx listened quietly, apparently recognizing that his master was making an unusual effort to answer him directly rather than hiding the explanation behind another cryptic lesson. Wu lowered his gaze toward the staff resting across his knees and continued, "But in all the scrolls I have studied, and all the teachings I have encountered, I have found nothing that truly accounts for you. Your existence, the unusual nature of your powers, and the circumstances surrounding your arrival are unlike anything I have seen described."
Jinx raised an eyebrow at that, although his expression remained more curious than alarmed. "So, what, I'm an anomaly?" he asked, tilting his head with the faintest hint of amusement. "That's a pretty fancy way of saying nobody knows what to do with me. Although, considering how most people react when I show up, I suppose that sounds about right."
Wu allowed himself a small smile before shaking his head. "An anomaly, perhaps, but not necessarily a mistake," he replied, his tone becoming firmer as he met Jinx's eyes. "The absence of your name from a prophecy does not mean you have no future, nor does it mean that you are destined for something terrible. It simply means that I cannot point toward an ancient scroll and tell you what you are supposed to become."
He paused, allowing the fire to settle before continuing with a seriousness that made Jinx abandon his joking expression. "Whether your unusual circumstances become a blessing or a curse will depend upon the choices you make and the person you decide to be. You possess extraordinary gifts, Jinx, but those gifts do not make your decisions for you, and they cannot excuse the harm you might cause through using them carelessly. I can guide you, teach you, and offer whatever wisdom I possess, but I cannot choose your path on your behalf."
Jinx lowered his eyes toward the flames, his expression becoming unusually contemplative as he considered the answer. For someone who had spent much of his life resisting expectations, there was something strangely reassuring about hearing his master admit that no ancient prophecy appeared to have claimed ownership of his future. He had never needed the universe to tell him he was special, but he appreciated knowing Wu wasn't secretly expecting him to fulfill some grand destiny he had never agreed to.
"So you're saying my future's pretty much an open book," Jinx observed after a while, his lips curving into a small, satisfied smile. "No ancient prophecy telling me which idiot I'm supposed to fight, no grand title waiting for me, and no mysterious old man deciding how my story ends. I can work with that."
Wu chuckled softly, although his expression remained thoughtful. "I would not go so far as to promise that your future is free of hardship, nor that destiny will never place obstacles before you," he cautioned, remembering how easily confidence could become arrogance when a young person believed determination alone made them invincible. "There may come a time when the choices available to you are far more difficult than you imagine. What matters is not whether you can avoid every hardship, but what you choose to do when you encounter one."
Jinx gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment before reaching into his coat and retrieving a small piece of chocolate he had apparently been saving for later. He unwrapped it with his usual lack of urgency, taking a bite while staring toward the distant mountains, where the first traces of moonlight illuminated the clouds below. For several minutes, neither spoke, and Wu seemed content to let his student consider the conversation at his own pace.
Eventually, Jinx broke the silence again.
"For the record, I didn't follow you because I thought I was destined to," he admitted, his voice softer than before as he continued watching the horizon. "Lloyd's still out there, and every time I try sitting around doing nothing, I keep thinking about him in that cage. I know running off and smashing everything isn't going to fix it, but I couldn't stand staying behind while you went looking for someone who might help."
Wu regarded him with quiet understanding, recognizing the fear concealed beneath his student's characteristically casual manner. He could hear the genuine affection in Jinx's voice, but he also remembered the violence that had followed Lloyd's disappearance and the frightening storm that had nearly consumed the desert. His student possessed an extraordinary capacity to love, yet that same attachment could become destructive when fear overwhelmed his judgment.
"I understand why you followed me," Wu answered gently, looking across the fire with an expression that carried neither accusation nor indulgence. "But remember what we discussed, Jinx. Loving someone does not mean you can protect them from every danger, and the fear of losing them must not become an excuse to lose yourself."
Jinx remained silent for a while, slowly finishing his chocolate as he considered the words. He disliked how easily Wu had identified the part of his behavior he had been trying not to examine, but he could hardly deny that his earlier actions had endangered people who were also trying to bring Lloyd home. Eventually, he released a quiet sigh and pulled his knees closer to his chest, allowing the warmth of the campfire to chase away some of the mountain's cold.
"Yeah, I know," he admitted, sounding faintly irritated that he had to acknowledge the obvious. "Doesn't make it any easier, though."
"No," Wu agreed, his expression softening. "It rarely does."
The two fell silent again, although the atmosphere between them had changed considerably since the beginning of their conversation. Wu returned his attention to the flames, contemplating the strange young Wind Master sitting across from him and the memories his words had awakened. He could not help wondering whether the absence of Jinx from the ancient records was something to celebrate or fear, but for once, he resisted the temptation to search for an answer before the future had been given a chance to unfold.
Jinx, meanwhile, leaned back against the rock and closed his eyes, a faint smile lingering on his lips as a gentle current of Wind began circling lazily around the campfire. Whatever awaited him beyond the mountains, he had no intention of allowing some ancient prophecy to determine who he should become, and he was perfectly content with the thought that his story might remain a mystery even to those who claimed to understand destiny. For now, all he wanted was to bring Lloyd home, find somewhere comfortable to sleep, and perhaps convince Wu that traveling by Wind was considerably more sensible than walking.
Wu glanced toward him one last time before settling into meditation, his thoughts briefly returning to the black-haired boy with the green streak who had once stood before him with fists clenched in determination. He remembered that boy's hunger to become someone destiny had seemingly promised him he could be, and the terrible consequences of allowing that desire to consume everything else. Looking at Jinx now, Wu silently hoped that this young Wind Master would discover something his former student never had.
The freedom to become someone without needing destiny's permission.
The mountain had grown considerably colder as the night deepened, although the small campfire continued burning steadily between Wu and Jinx, its orange flames offering a welcome contrast to the darkness surrounding their campsite. Their earlier conversation about destiny had long since ended, leaving the two Elemental Masters in a comfortable silence that neither felt particularly compelled to disturb. Jinx had eventually settled against a nearby boulder with his hood pulled over his head, lazily manipulating small currents of Wind around his fingers while Wu carefully examined the unusual packet of tea he had purchased from Mystake.
After several minutes, Wu finally rose from his place beside the fire and approached the flames with the packet held between his fingers. Jinx opened one violet eye at the movement, his curiosity stirring when he noticed the unusually serious expression on his master's face. Without offering an explanation, Wu carefully opened the packet and scattered its contents into the burning wood, where the dried leaves immediately began releasing a thick, strangely colored smoke that behaved nothing like anything Jinx had encountered before.
Rather than rising naturally into the cold mountain air, the smoke curled inward upon itself, forming intricate spirals that twisted and folded through the space above the campfire. The flames suddenly changed color, shifting from their familiar orange to an unnatural mixture of violet and green, while the surrounding air began vibrating with a low, almost musical hum. Jinx straightened slightly as the smoke expanded into a luminous circular opening, revealing a swirling passage whose interior seemed to stretch far beyond the physical dimensions of the fire beneath it.
"Huh, that's interesting," Jinx murmured, abandoning his comfortable position against the boulder as he studied the phenomenon with undisguised fascination. He extended one hand toward the portal and allowed a delicate current of Wind to approach its surface, only to discover that the air disappeared into the opening without disturbing the strange energy surrounding it. "You know, Sensei, most people just drink their tea. Turning it into a hole in reality seems a little excessive, even for you."
Wu allowed himself a small smile, although his attention remained fixed on the otherworldly passage forming before them. "This is Traveler's Tea, a rare substance capable of opening a passage between realms," he explained, securing his staff before turning toward his student. "The destination is not one I would recommend visiting out of curiosity, and the journey ahead is something I must undertake alone."
Jinx raised an eyebrow, his interest in the portal immediately competing with his annoyance at being excluded from yet another potentially fascinating experience. He had encountered enough strange things since arriving in Ninjago to know that other realms were hardly impossible, but the opportunity to witness a passage opening directly before him was far too tempting to ignore. Nevertheless, the expression on Wu's face made it clear that his decision was not open to negotiation, and Jinx eventually settled for crossing his arms with a rather exaggerated sigh.
"Right, another mysterious journey I'm not invited on," he complained, although the faint amusement in his voice suggested he was not entirely serious. "You old people really do enjoy keeping all the interesting things to yourselves. At least tell me you're bringing back someone useful, because if I have to sit through another lecture about patience while Lloyd's still missing, I might actually lose my mind."
Wu's expression softened at the mention of his nephew, and for a moment his gaze drifted toward the strange portal as though considering the uncertain reception awaiting him on the other side. He understood Jinx's frustration more than the young man probably realized, but the person he intended to seek possessed a complicated history that could make their reunion dangerous even without another powerful Elemental Master accompanying him. Bringing Jinx into that confrontation, especially while his attachment to Lloyd remained such an open wound, was a risk Wu had no intention of taking unnecessarily.
"Before I leave, there is something I wish you to remember," Wu said, turning to face him properly as the portal continued expanding above the fire. "You spoke earlier of refusing to let destiny determine the course of your life, and I believe there is wisdom in understanding that the future need not always unfold as we expect. But freedom does not mean that every choice is without consequence, nor does loving someone give us the right to decide everything for them."
Jinx's expression became more thoughtful, and although he could already guess where the conversation was heading, he allowed Wu to continue without interrupting. The old master rested both hands against his staff, looking toward his student with an unusual mixture of affection and concern. "When the time comes to make a difficult choice, do not ask only whether you possess the power to accomplish something," Wu advised. "Ask yourself whether the person you wish to become would be proud of the way you accomplished it, because that is a question no prophecy can answer for you."
For once, Jinx didn't immediately respond with a sarcastic remark, his gaze lingering on the flames as he considered the advice. He still believed that destiny had no right to dictate anyone's decisions, and he certainly had no intention of allowing some ancient scroll to determine the kind of person he ought to become. Nevertheless, he understood what Wu was trying to tell him, particularly after the fear of losing Lloyd had driven him to hurt people who were supposed to be his friends.
Before Jinx could formulate an answer, Wu reached inside his robes and withdrew a tightly rolled scroll secured with an old cord. The parchment appeared considerably older than the ordinary training materials kept aboard the Bounty, its edges slightly weathered despite the care with which it had clearly been preserved. Wu examined it for a moment before tossing it across the fire, and Jinx instinctively extended his hand, allowing a brief current of Wind to guide the scroll neatly into his palm.
"What's this?" Jinx asked, turning the unfamiliar object over as he inspected the binding without immediately opening it.
"Something I believe you may find useful," Wu replied, his expression becoming difficult to read as he glanced toward the scroll. "It will not tell you your destiny, nor will it provide every answer you seek, but perhaps it will encourage you to ask questions you have not yet considered. Read it when you are ready, and remember that understanding a lesson is not always the same as accepting it."
Jinx regarded the scroll with renewed curiosity, wondering what could possibly be written inside something Wu had apparently considered important enough to carry on such a dangerous journey. He briefly considered asking for a more satisfying explanation, but the growing instability of the portal suggested that their conversation was rapidly approaching its conclusion. Instead, he slipped the parchment into the inner pocket of his coat and looked toward his master with a faint, crooked smile.
"Well, that's reassuringly vague," he remarked, adjusting his hood as another gust of cold mountain air swept across the campsite. "Try not to die wherever you're going, all right? Lloyd's already missing, and I'd rather not explain to him that his uncle wandered into a magical bonfire and never came back."
Wu chuckled quietly at the rather unconventional farewell, although he recognized the genuine concern beneath Jinx's teasing words. "Take care of yourself, Jinx, and remember that the others are your friends, not merely companions who happen to share your journey," he answered, offering one final nod before turning toward the portal. "Trust them, and allow them to trust you."
With those final words, Wu stepped into the swirling passage, his figure disappearing beneath a sudden surge of violet-green light as the portal folded around him. Jinx watched with considerable interest as the unnatural flames contracted, the strange smoke unraveling into ordinary wisps before the entire phenomenon vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. Within moments, the campfire had returned to its familiar orange glow, leaving the young Elemental Master alone beneath the stars with nothing but a mysterious scroll and several questions his teacher had apparently decided to leave unanswered.
Far beyond the boundaries of Ninjago, Wu emerged from the passage into the Realm of Madness, his sandals meeting unfamiliar ground beneath a sky that seemed to reject the natural order of the world he had just left behind. The atmosphere possessed an oppressive, unsettling quality, and the strange landscape stretching around him offered little of the comfort associated with the mountains and forests of his home. Nevertheless, Wu remained composed as the portal closed behind him, his staff resting firmly in one hand while he surveyed the surroundings with the cautious familiarity of someone who understood exactly how dangerous this realm could be.
A deep, amused voice suddenly broke the silence, carrying an unmistakable familiarity that made Wu turn toward its source. Standing amid the strange landscape was a towering figure clad in dark armor, his imposing silhouette made even more intimidating by the four powerful arms extending from his body. Lord Garmadon regarded his younger brother with a broad, wicked grin, apparently finding the unexpected reunion considerably more entertaining than Wu did.
"Hello, Brother," Garmadon greeted, spreading two of his arms in an exaggerated gesture of welcome while the others remained folded across his chest. His grin widened as he studied Wu's expression, clearly savoring the rare opportunity to greet his brother on his own terms. "What took you so long?"
Garmadon's booming laughter echoed across the Realm of Madness, while Wu stood before him with the knowledge that the journey he had undertaken was only just beginning.