"So Jay and Zane saved your life," Kai said smiling.

Cole nodded, "Not only that but they made sure I got back the the Dojo safely. I was a bit confused though. In my eyes they easily could have gone back themselves and taken the credit."

"Of course we'd never do that," said Jay, "Credits should be given where credits are due, at all times, no matter what, even when-"

"I think he gets the point, Jay." Zane interrupted him.

"So you got back to the temple and then what?" Kai asked.

"Well," Cole said slowly, "with my ankle injured I couldn't really do much. The first day after the injury was awful...until Jay and Zane came to talk..."

Cole lied back on his sleeping pallet staring up at the ceiling. He was not only bored but he wanted desperately to know who Sensei Wu had chosen to be the best and most worthy to be a ninja. So far no one had told him to leave, but Sensei Wu may have simply been waiting until he could walk again out of pity. Cole sighed. He hated people feeling sorry for him.

His thoughts were interrupted by his door sliding over. Jay and Zane stepped in with some lunch for him. Cole sat up accepted it gratefully.

"How's your ankle?" Zane asked.

Cole shrugged, "It hurts. Not as bed as yesterday though. You two really shouldn't have carried me back though."

"You couldn't get back on your own, Cole. We couldn't just leave you there," Jay said.

"But you two could have taken the credit. Sensei would have chosen you two without a moments thought." Cole argued.

"Chosen us?" Zane asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Chosen you to be the best of us. To be the one worthy to be a ninja," Cole explained.

Zane and Jay stared at Cole for a moment before Jay finally broken the awkward silence, "That's what your attitude was about you thought this was a contest? That's why you've been such a loner? Why you point out weaknesses? Why you tried to smash us with a giant ball?"

"In my defense I wasn't trying to hurt you with the ball," Cole said, "but yes,"

Jay shook his head laughing, "You got it all wrong. Sensei isn't trying to choose among us. He already chose us all!"

"Sensei wants us all to build as a team. And while I can understand you wanting to be the best, being such won't help you become what Sensei wants," Zane further explained.

Cole looked at them in shock. How did he get that so mixed up. In fact what Zane and Jay were telling him made everything that had happened make much more sense.

"I'm sorry," he told them looking down, humbling himself for the first time in years, "What you're saying makes sense. I was wrong to treat you two like I did...especially with cheating and making the ball fly at you two."

"That basically it," Cole concluded, "Once my ankle healed I was able to go back to training and doing ninja work. This time I worked with Zane and Jay, and promised to myself that I'd always have their backs. And I'ved one my best to keep that promise since."

"As you've seen we've mad quite a strong team. And no matter what Sensei says, you are helping us make it stronger," Zane added.

"Thanks" Kai smiled.

"Lets go in," said Jay standing, "It's getting late, and I'm thinking sashimi for dinner,"