#third oni au

Zane's attention immediately shot over to the doorway of the kitchen, the exact place that Cole had burst in from; eyes wide, hands stilling over the stovetop as he tended to a pot of soup, switching his attention wholly to the Earth Ninja.

"Even though I know that your powers allow you to mimic a great deal of things, I always forget that you can copy voices." The Nindroid said with a quiet sigh, yet his expression gave away more than a hint of interest.

What wasn't there interesting about shape-shifting and its further subcategories?

Everyone else was out of the Monastery that day, which had left the two 'veterans' on their own in the large expanse of the building. That probably explained why Cole was choosing to forego keeping his powers on the down-low. There wasn't anyone around to accidentally find out about their resident Oni.

Zane was still looking at his brother who had decided to lean against the doorframe, a wide grin on his face that didn't look like it was going to shift.

"What? Did I scare you?" Cole raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You look shocked."

"I'm just regretting many life desicions." Zane deadpanned which gained a sharp laugh in return. "Kai's voice sounds very unusual coming from you."

There was a minor pause, before a very different voice filled the air. Light and much more measured, with an underscore of a metallic lilt that only came with a nindroids vocal unit, "Would you rather hear yourself speak?"

Zane raised an eyebrow, one hand half way between the counter and the warming pan. "I always forget that you can do my voice too, I would definitely prefer to just hear your own voice, Cole. Now, set the table. Be useful." He smiled.

"Be useful-?" Coles voice was back to normal. "I am useful!"

"Of course you are."

-

I love the idea that the ninja are descended from dragons, it provides more reasoning other than 'genetics' as to why their elemental powers are passed down from parent to child instead of hopping from host to host once one elemental master dies.

I mean, I know that the power can be passed down, and logically that process would make more sense? Like, sure, a parent is more likely to pass their powers down to their kid and therefore it would be kept in the family, but power by inheritance?

A literal baby with elemental power flowing through them? Having to actively pass on a power instead of it being inherited automatically means that A LITERAL CHILD WON'T BE RUNNING AROUND WITH ELEMENTAL ABILITIES, all the parent would have to do is wait until they were a responsible and better age.

I'm totally getting off track with the point of this ask 😂

But that means, with the Third Oni AU, if we take into account that an elemental master is already inherently not fully human, then that means that Cole is even more seperate from humanity.

And think of it this way! First Spinjitzu Master is Half Oni, Half Dragon.

He had two kids, and whilst it's entirely plausible that he straight up created them from nothing, I like to think they had a mum.

So, genetically speaking, both Wu and Garmadon are half human, and the other half is a mish-mash of Dragon and Oni

Wu being more Dragon, Garmadon being more Oni.

Cole is pretty much half Oni, give or take, and half human.

But if that human aspect is a little tainted with dragon genetics (because logically, other than with Wu and Garmadon, Oni and Dragon genetics don't meld well for others)

Cole is technically more creature, than human. He's more than enough Oni, but now with the little bit of dragon in his blood he's not half human.

Cole and Zane: The Almost-Human-But-Not-Quite founding members.

Though Cole doesn't mind about the sheer ambiguity of what he is. He's content with the knowledge that he's not human, because if he was human then he wouldn't be able to do all these little shape-shifting tricks.

Treasure AU

Nightowls AU

The Ice Emperor and the Earth Dragon AU

Quiet One AU

Rapper AU (With @9d00m and @shock-tastic)

Actor AU

Land Entity AU

Third Oni AU

OverKing AU

BNHA AU

With Discord 🔥🍊

Celestial AU

Oh MAN this just made me think about these AUs in a whole different way.

His dragon form would be that bit different. There's a couple bits of fanart in the AU tag of Cole's dragon form, where he's in essence a more leith earth dragon clearly taken over by the cold and ice - much like his human form. BUT imagine! Veins of glowing purple, almost like cracks of amethyst arcing through his scales, a blue and purple eye instead of the mentioned blue and amber. The smoke that puffs from his snout isn't charcole black but it has a glowing aura to it alike to the fog that covers him as he shifts. Sure, he has as much control over shifting into his dragon from as he generally did in the fic, but this time when he's human, he could just shift into anyone else. That power wouldn't necessarily be effected by the scroll because it's not an elemental ability.

But that also makes me think, in the general Third Oni AU, if Cole took hold of the Forbidden Scroll, would things be different? By this time in the series, the reveal of Cole's Oni nature would have taken place, but would the scroll make a difference to his power? Like, would it make his form much more fluid? Instead of the orange glow that he gained when using the scroll would it be closer to purple, likened to Garmadon?

Since it ups their powers to a normally unattainable level, could Cole's body get to a state where its so fluid and malleable that he's almost barely there. Like, he seems solid, but brush a hand through him and it shifts into smoke? That would make him really hard to fight if any attack made would just pass through him. Oni can shift forms, so with extra power, would it be so hard to believe that Cole would be able to manipulate the state of his own body in a way that was different to shape-shifting?

Oh man, there's so many damn possibilities!

If we're focusing on the Third Oni AU on its own, would Cole be called a Formling from the get-go by Sorla? Would he meet Akita along with Lloyd? Now that's a friendship that would be chaotic, two shifters who definitely like using their powers.

Would Cole take his shifting ability into Prime Empire because its genetic, or would he have to unlock it like they did with Spinjitzu?

... Could Cole shift into Superstar Rockin' Jay in real life after they're out the game?

You know, you guys are constantly on the same wavelength when it comes to these things because??? You're totally right!

Also the point about "humans wouldn't make an amulet that grants the power to breathe out of water" Man, I keep reading that point. That's woke as fuck. Legit poetry, so satisfying to read.

Whilst it's clear that the Oni have been in Ninjago before; I mean, they must have brought the masks over somehow and some Oni did stay - Mystaké, but say like Oni could transcend realms with the help of an outwards force (Realm Crystal, etc) why wait to take over ninjago if there are these three masks that can grant them even more power than what they already have? They're feared and powerful and they can be even more so if they'd attacked before season 8 and got their hands on the masks before they were destroyed resurrecting Garmadon.

And if they could enchant masks with these powers, then why not just... Use this magic on themselves?

Anyway! It explains why the Oni masks cause the users to turn into, arguably, an Oni (or at least an Oni form) Mr E. Gains an extra set of arms and horns; Harumi and the purple veins, horns; Killow and horns -

Whenever Killow uses the mask of Deception, there are visibly no bodily changes other than the mask growing horns. I like to think this is due to the mask deceiving those around it to think its not as powerful as the others. Lack of visible changes = lack of power, which isn't the case.

If an Oni used these masks, it would grant them the added power, but the physical changes the masks provide make much more sense on an Oni form. Humans aren't meant to wear them, so the masks compensate by making them more Oni.

Then we could also argue, if these masks are meant for Oni use, then would the powers be ramped up? Could there be additional abilities? Would the power stay behind for a time, even after the mask has been removed?

A human is using something not meant for humans. It's like a left-handed person using right-handed scissors. They'll work, but they won't be the best. But give the scissors to the right person? It works a whole load better.

ALSO, maybe these masks are what give the Oni status. Take Omega for example, powerful, skilled, larger horns, in charge. Find a mask, put it on, gain power.

Honestly, I'm not sure! Most of the time when I answer the asks, it's me answering a question that I have to ask myself and then figure out, so whilst some aspects of it are things that I have already established in my head, sometimes I'm just shoving my thoughts onto a page and making them colourful.

Buuutttt, say like we were to stray just a little from canon territory, which we already did do if we're saying that Cole went with Lloyd and Harumi to get the Mask of Hatred.

Both Cole and Lloyd could leave with the mask. It's different this time, it's two on one and even armed with the Mask I'd like to see Harumi beat Cole and Lloyd with spite and sheer thirst for revenge being the only form of muscle she has (I do love her as a character! But without a Mask I don't see her being able to hold her own again multiple ninja)

So she doesn't have a chance to put on the mask, Cole and Lloyd take it from her before she loses it - and I think I remember this being around the point where Lloyd gets kidnapped (my memory may be freaky good, but there have been multiple TV shows and books between me watching that season. My mind is full) so this is me working off of basic plot line progression and that gaining the Oni mask was followed quickly by the ritual, meaning Lloyd must have been kidnapped soon after, yadda yadda

So, Lloyd doesn't get captured then, both Cole and Lloyd make it out the Oni temple with the mask. Only for--

👀👀👀👀👀 I just had an idea whilst typing this, you're about to see me directly translate an what I see in my head, onto this post.

They leave with the mask, only to get cornered by Harumi and the Sons of Garmadon

They're I'm the jungle around the waterfall, trying to find their way back to the Bounty and everyone else.

So Harumi gets her hands on Lloyd and natural, hostage situation, Cole freezes. He has the mask in had, and freezes. So then it's a stand off, a trade. The mask for Lloyd, and there's no qualms about it. If Cole had been in Lloyd position he'd argue against trading him for the final mask. Lloyd is arguing too, but Cole's not hearing it.

Until Harumi settles on the fact that he's taking too long to make the desicion.

Plus, she wants both Lloyd and the Mask. She can't fight against Cole, and if she does this trade that means she's giving back half of what she wants.

So she drops the bombshell with a "In fact, no, you're not getting Lloyd back. But I still want the mask."

And Cole would be shocked, both at the gall of her, but that she's even demanding more. Not saying that Lloyd is worth the mask, he's worth a lot more. But a trade is a trade, something for something else.

"That's not how this works, Lady. You can have the mask, but I'm not letting you leave with my brother."

Cole can feel the Sons of Garmadon around him, surrounding him. But he can take them, he can protect Lloyd.

Until, "Give me the mask, or I'll let loose your little secret. And I'm right, aren't I? It is a secret."

"What..?"

"That there is an Oni in that little team of Ninja. One more powerful and more pure than the Green Saviour here. And I'm looking right at it."

Cue a shocked expression, wide eyes from both Cole and Lloyd as realisation settles. Then a sharp thump, a strike to the back of the head and Cole's sight bleeds to black. He wakes up, the mask is gone as is Lloyd.

Oh man did I not explain that?? Bruhhh

I just really liked the idea of, you know when everyone knows what Cole is and what he can do? Zane being able to walk into a room with two Kais or two Jays in it and immediately being able to turn to one and address him correctly as "Cole". No one else can figure out how he does it but Zane just has a smirk on his face as Cole shifts back into himself again with a pouty expression.

There's a few things that this tell could be, to something that's a physical thing - say, for example, Cole has a single freckle on his cheek just under his left eye and he can't for the life of him make it shift away, to something more active. Like tapping his fingers, humming and mumbling under his breath, messing with his hair.

In reality, it's Cole's eyes. Sure, they look exactly the same as the person he's copied but he has a habit of letting his gaze float back over to whoever he's shifted into - as if he's checking to see if he's gotten it accurate (Which he always does. Shifting is sort of like magic, Cole doesn't need to know every aspect of how someone looks in order for him to turn into them. It just happens, all he needs is a sort of detailed blueprint and an image in his minds eye. His power does the rest!)

Though if he's using his powers in a more active setting, such as being on a mission, it's a lot harder to tell Cole apart from someone else. He's always focused in those settings, and if he's trying, he is good at not giving himself away. He's scary good at pretending to be someone else. Even when he's not shifted into anyone, he can do an impression of Jay that really makes Zane question if a mind swap has taken place or not.

But if Zane really wants to have fun with the whole 'immediately knowing which one Cole is', sometimes he pretends he doesn't know, or at least addresses the wrong one. Something like that, but he's changed up his process since Cole is constantly sure that Zane knows who he is at all times. Somehow.

Zane just whips out his phone flashlight and with a quick shine in the groups eyes, Cole is always the one with eyeshine. He's also always the one who reacts to the bright light and shields his eyes with a shout.

Cole always complains that it's not fair.

Everyone else is always on the floor laughing.