Jack shielded his eyes as the amulet burst, and he felt a few shards hit him. When he looked out, he saw each of the ninja peering at him.

"Do you have your powers back?" Lloyd asked.

Jack lifted his hands, peering at them. He didn't feel any different. He wasn't stronger, nor did he feel the usual gentle him of the earth beneath his feet as he usually did. With a sigh, he dropped his hands and shook his head.

Hysterical laughter burst out behind him, and Jack turned to look at Ornum. "You really thought I'd be so stupid as the tether it to that amulet?" He asked scathingly. "No, my plan was much smarter than that."

Destiny smacked his head, and Jack smiled at his girlfriend. "What did you tether it to?"

"Like I'll ever tell." Ornum scoffed.

Jack growled. "You've had your games. Enough is enough, Ornum."

The blonde cackled. "Fine. The only thing I'll say is that it's closer than you think. You might figure it out, but you're weak! You won't ever be able to follow through and destroy it."

"Either spit it out, or I can make you. It's your choice." Destiny growled, holding him by the neck of his shirt.

"You don't have it in you."

His girlfriend raised an eyebrow and held up her hand, phasing until it became transparent. "Talk, or I take the tongue."

Jack felt a flash of both admiration and fear dart through him. He walked up behind her and set his hand on her shoulder, saying, "She isn't joking. She's threatened me the same way, and has actually done some pretty scary stuff. Let's just say, I was worried for a few days that my organs were out of place in my body." He blinked, then acted surprised and continued, "Oh, wait, you'd know all about that, because you were in my head when it happened!"

He paled a bit, but said, "I'd rather lose my tongue."

"Someone get me a jar for his tongue."

Ornum paled more and said, "Okay! You're even crazier than I am."

"Don't call her crazy," Jack growled.

The blonde scowled at him, then said, "Not."

Destiny punched him in the face, and Jack winced, hearing a crack. "Ooh, ouch. That's gonna need some ice. Zane, mind helping us out?"

The Nindroid grinned and chuckled, holding out his hand and shooting out a small chunk of ice, which spread thickly over Ornum's mouth. The blonde's eyes widened slightly, and Jack laughed quietly. He saw movement in the corner of his eye and turned to see Destiny moving away from Ornum, and she stood by the window.

He followed her slowly, running through different conversations in his head. Eventually, he settled on an awkward, "Today must be weird for you..."

"Yes, but not as weird as it probably is for you.." She replied, guilt flickering in her eyes.

Jack tilted his head, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, and Jack raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. "When did you get your memories back?"

Jack sighed and allowed her to change the subject. "When I first talked to you. I mean, that day in the city. You know?"

She smiled. "Yes. Now I understand why Morpheus has been acting weird."

He mirrored her. "The dragons are intelligent creatures." He paused, his face creasing in worry. "Speaking of which, Ornum has been treating Slate okay, right?"

"He always did in front of me. But I can't promise he did when I wasn't around. I'm sorry about that," she replied, sighing.

He put an arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her into a hug. "It's okay. And please don't blame yourself for any of this. Ornum spilled your tea on purpose when I gave it to all of you. Even I needed the tea to help me remember fully. That's why I wasn't sure when I unchained you."

"You had every right to be cautious.. What do I call you? Jack, or Cole?" She asked.

Jack shifted for a moment, his thoughts whirring. "I'd prefer you to call me Jack. For now, at least. Until I get my powers back. I'm just... not Cole right now." He said with a sigh.

"Alright, Jack," she replied.

He smiled a little. After a moment, he heard Lloyd's voice say, "Come on, guys, let's get him back to Wu! Sensei has a plan."

Destiny walked away, and Jack felt his shoulders droop as he followed her. Once outside, all the ninja summoned their dragons, and Jack started missing Slate more than he knew he could. He saw Destiny hugging Morpheus, and he followed her, slightly awkwardly.

"Would you mind giving me a ride?" He asked. "If not, I can ride with one of the others. In which case I don't mind."

She glanced at Morpheus, then smiled at him. "Of course you can ride with me."

Jack didn't feel so sure, but he nodded. Destiny jumped onto Morpheus' back, and he followed. He put his hands on her shoulders, and Morpheus took off. Jack felt his heart yearn for so much: for his life back, for his dragon, but mostly to have Destiny look at him the way she had before Ornum. And sadly, he couldn't help wondering if things would ever be the same.

When they landed back at the monastery, he jumped down from Morpheus with a grunt. Wu greeted them, saying, "Bring him inside. It's best if we do this quickly."

Zane pushed Ornum into the monastery, and Jack followed with the other ninja. They grouped together in the mission room, and Zane sat Ornum down in a chair. Wu clipped a shackle onto the blonde's wrist and unchained him, then wrapped the chain around the boy's foot. He held the end out to Kai, who flamed it until it started to melt. He then pushed it against a metal piece on the floor, and Zane cooled it. After Ornum was properly chained, Wu pushed a cup of tea toward him.

"Here, drink. You must be parched." Wu said.

Ornum glared at him, crossing his arms. "I'm not stupid. There's no way I'm drinking that."

"We have a Master of Density that can force it down your throat." Sensei replied, and Jack grinned.

After a reluctant glance at Destiny, Ornum lifted the cup. He growled, then drank a few swallows of the tea.

"Now, tell us what the tether is." Wu told him.

Ornum glared at him and his muscles twitched, as though he were trying to avoid answering. "It's- It's Destiny!"

Jack shot up, looking at Destiny. Why- Then his mouth dropped open. Because we can't destroy her.

He looked dead at Ornum and felt rage well up inside of him. He darted forward and slammed Ornum against the wall, shouting at him. "Don't lie!"

"Jack-" Wu started.

He slammed him once again, harder this time. "What is the tether?!?"

"Cole!" Wu shouted, and Jack felt hands on his shoulders, pulling him away from Ornum. "We gave him the Tea of Truth. He can't lie."

Jack tensed, then fell limp. He felt arms wrap around him as grief poured through him. He could never ask Destiny to do what was required. Ornum's laughter rose around him, and he looked up to glare at the blonde.

"I told you," the boy sneered. "You'll never destroy it."

"Gag him," Wu ordered. Jack heard footsteps as his command was followed, but Jack could feel his muscles shaking.

"Jack, breathe," he heard a voice say, and Nya's face came into focus. She started inhaling and exhaling in time, and Jack tried to follow her, finding himself short of breath. When she smiled at him, he shuddered slightly. His thoughts were racing, each one going by almost too fast for him to know what he was even thinking. All he knew was that he would never have his life back, and now knowing the price, he was okay with that. He'd have to be okay with it.

Suddenly, the ground hummed beneath his feet and Ornum let out a screech of pain. Jack looked at Ornum, then lifted his hands, feeling a rumble of response from the earth beneath him.

"Destiny," he whispered. He looked around the room and realized for the first time that she wasn't there. "No! Destiny!" He tore past Nya and out into the hallway. Once there, he paused momentarily, feeling the ground for abnormalities. In the training yard, he felt a sticky substance, and his heart nearly stopped. He ran as fast as he could there, and what he saw brought him to his knees with a wail.