When they arrived, Cole burst in through the door and glanced around at his father's household. Lou was settled on his couch, his leg propped up. Cole rushed over to him and hovered, trying not to think about how he probably looked like an anxious mother. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I got pushed over and twisted my ankle." His father told him.

Cole let out a breath and shook his head, touching his father's ankle gently. "You should have called sooner."

Lou smiled. "Don't worry, Cole. I'm fine."

The Earth ninja sighed again and shook his head, then glanced around. "What was stolen?"

"It's strange, but the photo of you and your friends with the blade cup is missing."

Cole furrowed his brow and looked to where the picture usually was, and indeed, it was missing. "Why would they steal that?"

His father shook his head. "I don't know. It holds no value other than sentimental."

Cole brushed his hair back with a hand and heard the voice whisper, Sentimental value is the most powerful.

He shook his head, confused, and glanced around for his girlfriend. "Did you see where Destiny went, dad?"

"Not sure. I think she went outside."

He nodded. "Are you going to be okay alone for a minute?"

"I'm not dead yet," his dad joked. "I'll be fine."

Cole rolled his eyes and went through the hallway to step outside. The dark quiet of Ninjago City unnerved him, but he rathered it be barren than busy that late at night. He couldn't see Destiny, but he heard the voice muttering too quietly for him to make out actual words.

What are you doing? Cole asked it, annoyed.

Preparing for Test Number Three, it replied, and the Master of Earth felt the familiar pain blast through his arm. He dropped down onto the steps, feeling like something was invading his mind and body. He shuddered as he tried to fight it, but then thought helplessly, How do you fight something you can't see?

He heard footsteps in the distance, and Destiny came into view. He felt poisonous intention seeping through his stolen mind, and his body shuddered as he fought it. No!

Yes! Came the voice's thrilled reply.

He heard his girlfriend cautiously ask, "Cole?"

He stood, trying to fight with his entire being against what he was being forced to do.

Keep fighting, the voice sneered. It only makes me stronger in the end!

Cole felt panic rising in his chest, but none of his body would respond to anything he wanted it to do. She took a step back as he grinned. He lifted his hand, power coursing through his arm, and Destiny stumbled. He darted forward and swung his leg upwards, his foot colliding with her stomach, and Cole withered inside as he thought about how badly that must have hurt. She fell, then scrambled back to her feet and backed away from him, her eyes frightened.

"What's wrong?!" she gasped, and Cole wished he could stop himself more than anything else. He moved towards her, although he could feel pockets of control slipping in and out of his grasp. But it was exhausting. Destiny kept backing away from him as he approached, and she choked out, "Talk to me!"

Sorrow split in his chest. I want nothing more, he told her silently. He felt a shudder run through his body as Destiny stopped moving away from him and he realized that he'd trapped her between him and someone's house. He saw her eyes flash in fear. He stopped, feeling his body shudder as he fought to make himself stop moving.

"Cole, please don't." She pleaded.

He lifted his hand, the power rushing through his arm. She jumped away at an angle, rolling on the ground as a rock spike slashed from the ground where she'd just been a moment ago. She stood and turned to face him. Despite his anguish, he couldn't help feeling impressed by Destiny's skill. He only wished that it was enough to protect herself from him. She got into the familiar battle-ready stance, and Cole sprinted at her, raising his fist to punch her. She dodged and he felt her grab his arm, flipping him over her shoulder and throwing him into the ground so hard that it hurt. If it were him fighting, the pain would have made him stay down for longer, but whatever it was controlling him made him stand up. He took Destiny's arms and easily started swinging her around, letting her go and watching as she landed heavily on the ground herself. He slunk towards her, predatory in nature.

"Cole stop, please!" She begged.

His heart broke, and he watched her silently. A moment later, pain exploded in his skull and the world went black.

When Cole woke up, he was in one of the guest bedrooms. He sat up in the bed and glanced around, startling as he saw Zane in the farthest corner.

"Zane? What happened?" Cole asked.

The Nindroid looked up at him and tilted his head. "Lloyd knocked you out."

He swallowed and stretched slightly, pain jolting down his back. "Why?"

"Last night when you went to your father's house, you attacked Destiny."

In a flash, the memories coursed back, and he groaned, then gasped in concern. "Destiny! Is she okay?"

Zane frowned. "She's not in great shape. You banged her up pretty badly."

Cole felt guilt creep into the pit of his stomach. It's not like you could do anything. He told himself, then shook his head and thought again. You should have tried harder. "Why are you in here with me?"

"You're under constant supervision. Sensei's orders. Speaking of which, drink the tea there."

The Master of Earth swallowed nervously and glanced at the bedside table, which had a teapot and cup on it. He sighed and poured himself a cup of tea, drinking it in one quick swallow. After a moment, he proceeded to finish the rest of the teapot. Zane remained quiet, watching him.

"So, you have to be with me at all times?" Cole asked, feeling unsure of himself.

"Me or one of the others." Zane replied. "You can't be alone. Kai and Jay have both already had a turn."

Cole nodded and was quiet. After a while of resting, he felt boredom making room in his mind for the voice to pester him. "Can I go train?" He asked Zane, fed up with being alone with "his" thoughts.

"Sensei said you're not allowed to train yet either. Oh, and here." Zane approached him. "Give me your hand."

Confused, Cole held up his right hand. Before he realized what was happening, Zane snapped a dark bracelet into place on his wrist and locked it securely. Cole felt his powers cancel out, and he burst out, "Zane! What was that for? That's vengestone!"

"I know," the Nindroid replied. "It'll make you less dangerous and easier to deal with if you decide you want to kill anyone again."

"That wasn't me!" Cole protested. "You know that I would never ever hurt Destiny on purpose. Especially not like that."

Zane sighed and nodded, backing away from him. "I know, Cole. But you can't help what happened. This is just a safety measure."

The Earth ninja nodded and settled back in the bed. He felt exhaustion behind his eyes, and he was just about to drift off when a knock came from the door. Cole's eyes snapped open and he turned his head to see Zane talking with Kai. After a moment, Zane waved him over.

"Sensei wants to talk to you." The Nindroid told him.

Cole sighed and nodded. When he stepped out of the room, he was herded between his two teammates as though he were about to go crazy at any second. And I guess that's pretty accurate, Cole thought bitterly. When they reached Sensei's room, Cole reached out and opened the door. Destiny was settled on the ground with Wu. He glanced behind him, saw that Zane and Kai were gone, and closed the door.

"Cole. Please sit down." Wu greeted him. "How are you feeling today, Cole?"

"I'm okay..." Cole replied dejectedly, his eyes locking onto Destiny as he sat. Her head was bowed, although he could tell she wasn't meditating.

"Can you tell me what happened last night?"

Cole described the call from Kai and reaching his father's house. When he got to the end of his story, he hesitated and added, "But when I got outside... I don't know. I just lost control."

"Has this happened before?" Wu asked.

"Not like that, no," Cole replied.

"But you have experienced something like that?"

He sighed. "Yes."

"We need to try and understand this, Cole. Before someone else gets hurt." Wu said, his tone serious.

"I don't know what's going on. Really, I don't. I get this pain in my arm every time it happens, and it feels like I'm possessed or something." Cole told him, struggling to describe it.

His Sensei looked thoughtful. "This wouldn't be the first time someone's been possessed. I think we should have Zane scan you for anything out of the ordinary. Have you come across anyone or anything unusual?"

"I don't know, Sensei. I don't remember everything that's happened anymore." Cole felt the guilt prick in his stomach again, and he turned to his girlfriend. "Destiny, I'm so sorry."

She turned her head slightly, but didn't look directly at him. "It's fine.. I'll heal."

"The others said I hurt you really badly. It doesn't sound fine to me." Cole shook his head.

"Did no one tell you? I lost my sight."

He was shocked into silence for a moment, emotions warring inside him, before he spoke again. "I blinded you?"

"Yes." Destiny replied, her voice sad.

He felt his eyes sting as he realized what he'd done, all because he wasn't able to control himself. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion, and he felt tears run down his face. "I fought it so hard, Destiny. I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine, Cole. My dad said I should get my sight back." Destiny's tone was gentle.

"It shouldn't have happened in the first place. I should have realized I was a danger to you and kept myself away." Cole wiped his eyes in a slightly frustrated fashion as he spoke.

"No!" Destiny burst out, startling him slightly. "There was nothing you could do, and it wouldn't have happened if I had been better at defending myself."

Cole took a few breaths to calm himself, swallowing. When he was able, he said, "You were great at defending yourself. But it wasn't a fair match... whatever is taking me over is ruthless."

"If I was that great, I would be able to see you right now."

"No one with honor fights like that." He said firmly. "It wasn't your own fault."

She sighed. "All I know is that we need to help you. Whatever is happening isn't good, and I'd bet it has something to do with that voice in your brain."

"I've been thinking about that, and it makes sense. The voice gets more, I don't know, murderous, I guess, when I lose control.." Cole told them, unsure if what he was saying was helpful.

"Cole, when was the first time you heard the voice?" Wu asked him. "That might help us discover exactly what it is. Also, has the voice been speaking into you since you woke up?"

The Master of Earth took a moment to think trying to remember the first time he heard the voice. It should be simple, right? A big memory, you know. Maybe marked "The Day I Lost All Sanity" in red marker. But he couldn't remember. "I don't know the first time it spoke. Months ago. And, yeah, it's almost always there. I've kind of been learning to ignore it, and most of the time it's just background noise now."

"Did it say anything to you before you lost control?"

Cole furrowed his brow as he tried to remember what happened. "Uh.. yes! It said 'Preparing for Test Number Three,' and then.. you know. It was strange, honestly."

"If that means that last night was test three, then what were the past two tests?" Wu asked irritably.

"I've had other bouts like this," Cole explained. "One was when Destiny was showing her father around. And another was awhile before that. I remember less the farther back I go when it comes to this."

"That is troubling." His sensei said. After a moment, he raised his voice. "Zane, come in here!"

Cole glanced back and saw Zane enter the room. "Yes, Sensei?" the Nindroid asked.

"I need you to scan Cole for anything unusual." Sensei Wu told him.

Zane nodded and Cole stood. Zane stared at him for a few moments, then said, "Sensei, it appears that Cole has a type of poison in his bloodstream."

Cole blinked, utterly confused as Sensei Wu replied. "What kind of poison?"

"I don't know, Sensei." Zane said. "I'll need a blood sample for more tests."

The Earth ninja shuddered a bit. "Uh, blood sample?"

"Yes. Zane, take Cole to Destiny's dad and get a sample. We need to figure this out quickly." Wu directed.

Cole felt nerves flutter in his stomach as Zane nodded and motioned for him to follow. The Earth ninja shook his head and walked quickly after his teammate, dreading the idea of talking to Shaw again. Especially after last night, he thought.

They made one stop at the supply closet before continuing to Shaw's room. When they got there, Zane knocked on the door. After a moment, Destiny's father opened the door. He glanced between the two of them and then gave Cole a very small scowl.

"So sorry to disturb you," Zane said. "But we need to take a blood sample from Cole here and hoped you'd be willing to help."

"Come in." He said gruffly.

Cole was herded into the room by Zane and looked at the ground awkwardly, trying to avoid catching Shaw's eye.

"Thank you." Zane said to Shaw. "We have supplies if you need them."

Shaw nodded. "I'll need a bandage from you, in that case, and a needle."

Cole watched as Zane opened the medical bag he'd grabbed and handed Destiny's father the things he needed. He tried and failed to repress a shudder. "At least you should enjoy this," he said quietly to Shaw.

Shaw grinned a tiny bit. "You seem like an upfront kind of guy, so I won't lie. I'm going to enjoy this to the fullest." He tapped Cole's arm, and he held it out.

Cole frowned slightly and sighed. "I deserve that. But I didn't do what I did on purpose."

"Tell that to my daughter's vision." His face grew focused as he readied the needle.

Cole winced slightly as his arm was impaled, looking up at Shaw's focused face rather than anywhere else. "I've explained it to her. She knows and she understands. And if her vision doesn't ever come back.." he swallowed down emotion and sighed. "Then I'll have wished for my whole life never to have met her, rather than be the cause of her blindness."

"You can say that, but it won't change anything."

"I know it won't." Cole replied flatly, feeling defeated.

"I'm done. That blood should be enough for your sample." Shaw told him, and Cole blinked slightly in surprise.

"Thank you," he told Destiny's father.

"Hmph.." Shaw replied gruffly, holding the vile out to Zane.

The Nindroid took the sample from him and nodded to Cole. "Come on."

The Earth ninja sighed and followed the Nindroid from the guest room through the hallways into the mission quarters. Zane directed Cole to sit, and he grumpily complied.

"This should only take a few minutes, Cole." Zane told him. "And then we'll get back to Sensei."

Cole nodded and waited, watching his friend as he prepared the sample and tested it. After a few minutes of the Earth ninja sulking at his imprisoned wrist, Zane tapped his shoulder.

"Got it." the Nindroid told him. "Let's get back."

Cole stood but watched him eagerly. "Wait, what is it?"

Zane pushed him towards the door, replying, "I'll explain when we get back to Sensei so I only have to say it once."

Cole frowned but complied, walking side by side with his teammate back to their sensei's room. When they arrived, Wu was waiting for them. He looked up from meditating when they opened his door and asked, "Have you figured out what it is?"

"It's a type of Venomari," Zane told him. "I detected traces of other ingredients, but there isn't enough of it in this sample for us to identify what it is."

"Hm. Thank you, Zane." Sensei replied.

"What do we do now?" Cole asked.

"Now, Lloyd will take you to the tomb underground to see if you can get the antidote from the Venomari. Hopefully they'll be willing to help."

Cole nodded, but was confused. "Lloyd?"

"It's his turn to watch you," Zane explained. "Although I'll still accompany you to the tomb."

The Master of Earth sighed and nodded. A few minutes later, Lloyd arrived. Sensei explained everything to him, and the blonde nodded. Cole was once again herded in between his two teammates as they took him out into the training yard. They both summoned their dragons, and Cole frowned as he realized that he wouldn't be allowed to ride Slate again until he was cured. Which should be soon, Cole thought, trying to be optimistic. Lloyd motioned for Cole to jump up with him, and he hopped up, settling on Lloyd's dragon, Vitality, and resting his hands on the blonde's shoulders. The two dragons took off, and Cole's stomach lurched slightly as he remembered the first time he'd been on a dragon with Lloyd. He'd still been a kid then, just learning about how to steer Ultra Dragon. Thankfully, Lloyd was in much better control of his dragons now, and Vitality soared easily and swiftly.

Ninjago City came into view relatively quickly, and they alighted down on the outskirts. Cole slipped from Vitality's back, landing on the ground with a slight grunt. His companions followed, and Cole watched as Zane lifted one of the manhole covers up. Lloyd nodded to him and started climbing down, Cole following after. Zane took up the rear, and the three of them dropped down into Ninjago City's underground maze. Cole stifled a sigh as he was once again contained between Lloyd and Zane, trying and failing not to think about how much he felt like a prisoner.

They walked through until they found the tunnel that the Serpentine had dug, and they turned down into it. Cole tried to ignore the voice that was nagging in his brain as he walked. Eventually an ancient-looking metallic door came into view. It was slightly cracked, and sounds of a livelihood could be heard from inside. The three ninja slipped inside, and Cole was startled when he was almost immediately blinded by a blaringly white light.

"Ssssstate your business," a voice hissed at them.

Cole, along with the other ninja, had held up their hands in an attempt to block the light, although it wasn't working very well.

"We're here to speak to the Venomari," Lloyd called out. "Please. We need help."

There were a few seconds of silence, and then the light shut off. Cole rubbed his eyes as they readjusted to the cave that now seemed gloomy. He could see a dark, broad-shouldered snake approaching them, and Cole recognized him as the General of the Constrictai.

"Ninja," he greeted them gruffly. "Call me Skalidor."

Lloyd bowed his head in greeting. "Thank you."

"What do you need the Venomari for?" he asked. "We've not been in separate tribes in yearsss. You of all people should know that."

"We do know," Zane told him. "But Cole has been infected with a variant of Venomari venom, and the antidote in the staff may be the only way to cure him."

Skalidor regarded them carefully, then turned and called, "Skales!"

Cole watched carefully as the familiar blue snake appeared and slithered towards them. His eyes lit up in recognition as he got closer.

"The ninja?" He asked Skalidor, then nodded to the three guests. "You don't usually visit us. To what do we owe your presence?"

Zane explained once again, while Cole felt his patience growing thinner.

"We document which snakes go out when," Skales told them. "None of our Venomari have been out long enough to infect you."

"I don't think it was one of the snakes," Cole told him. "It wasn't pure venom. It doesn't have the same effect as if one of your warriors were to directly infect me with it."

Skales nodded. "But you ssstill think the staff might help you?"

"There's a large possibility it will," Zane replied.

The leader of the Serpentine nodded once more. "Follow me, then." He turned and led them farther into the cave. "When the tribes united, there was lesss of a need for leadership amongst individualsss, and so we took the ssstaffss and placed them in a hollow in this cave. Any sssnake may visit them, so long as they are accompanied by a General."

"That's interesting," Lloyd said. "Do the Generals still help you to run the Serpentine, or is it all just you?"

"We take turnsss," Skales replied. "We all have families. Although the other Generalsss help when it is not their turn, as I do. We've created a more peaceful habitat to live in here."

They got to the room, and Cole was impressed when he saw four staffs set up and gleaming in the light. Skales slithered between them and then took one down from its pedestal. He took out the venom vile that was built into the staff and turned to them, handing it to Zane. "Here. We don't have the proper technology to develop the antivenom, so I'll have to entrusssst this to you for now. Please return it both intact and in a timely manner."

Zane nodded and tucked the vile away. "We'll be very careful with it. It might be a few days before we get it back to you. Is that okay?"

The leader of the Serpentine nodded. "Yess. If it isssn't returned in a week, I'll sssend a warrior to ask about it."

"Thank you, Skales." Lloyd said, his voice grateful.

He nodded, and the three ninja turned to leave the Serpentine in peace. When they got back into the main sewers, they climbed back up to the streets the first chance they got. When Zane pushed the manhole cover away, all Cole could hear was partially muffled screams, and alarm rang in his skull. Zane finished climbing up, and Cole quickly followed. The streets were almost overrun by people fleeing, all in the same direction.