Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She opened her eyes, breathing heavily. The world around her was still blurry—colours: green, blue, white, black.

Her head was spinning with dizziness and nausea.

Someone was screaming, shaking her, pulling her out of the line between consciousness and unconsciousness.

The colours seemed to blur together… Merging into something she was supposed to remember. Something she wanted so badly to recall. Yet, she couldn’t gather her thoughts enough to even be aware of herself.

"Nya! Can you hear me?"

The voice didn’t match the movement of the lips she saw on the face in front of her. The ringing in her ears was slowly fading.

"Jay...?"

She was startled at how weak her own voice sounded as it slipped from her lips. It felt foreign, like it wasn’t entirely hers.

“Thanks, First Spinjitzu Master. You hit so hard—” she heard another voice, higher than the previous one.

She felt someone pulling her into a sitting position, supporting her by the shoulders to keep her from collapsing.

She frowned, trying to remember what had happened, where she was, what... what was going on. But nothing came to mind. It was all clouded, locked behind an invisible wall she couldn’t break through.

She looked around, trying to stand, but someone pulled her back into a sitting position.

Krux. Acronix.

The fight in the past. The fight where she and her brother had battled the Vermillion and the Time Twins. The one they’d won—and—

Her chest tightened at the names that crossed her mind.

“Kai... Where... where is Kai?” she mumbled, searching for the familiar red gi among the blurred faces.

“...Kai?” someone echoed, but she couldn’t place the voice.

Nya’s heart stopped.

What do they mean by “Kai?” Why are they so surprised by his name? Why... why wasn’t Kai here?

“Kai. Kai—my brother!” she shouted, her head ringing from the sudden noise erupting from her own mouth.

Her eyes sharpened, now fully distinguishing the faces before her. They were all looking at her and at each other, confused. Almost all of them, anyway. Jay, instead, was gazing at her with soft, compassionate eyes, as if he alone knew what she was talking about.

“Nya, calm down...” He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “You hit your head really hard. The fireworks almost hit you, it’s just—” He bit his lip. “You’re confused.”

“Confused?” Her voice rose. “Yeah, I’m pretty damn confused!”

Bad idea. Raising her voice made her head ring even worse. She groaned as a sudden, piercing headache shot through her skull.

“You are suffering from a mild concussion. We should examine you carefully. Please refrain from sudden movements” the nindroid said, using his powers to cool down the area where Nya had been hit. It was working, she couldn’t deny that. But it still didn’t help her understand what was going on.

She looked around and was surprised to find she wasn’t in the Monastery of Spnjitzu or the Vermillion Swamps. And it wasn’t just that—it was broad daylight, the blinding hot sun overhead, not the cold and cloudy autumn she had expected.

Ninjago City Centre. It was the Imperial Square, full of civilians—

Scared civilians. Running into each other, yelling in panic.

Nya instantly stood up, ignoring the warnings from her friends. Terrified civilians meant an incoming threat. And an incoming threat meant you either went all in or got yourself killed.

The others noticed her sudden shift. Almost immediately, they pulled her back down, their voices calm but urgent.

“It’s alright! It was just a false alarm, anyway!” the blonde boy hurried to reassure her before she did something reckless.

Nya blinked few times.

“Lloyd? What happened to your voice?” she asked, confused. The voice didn’t match the boy’s face. No. The boy’s face didn’t match up either. It was... older. Not drastically, but in the details—his jawline was sharper, more masculine, his green eyes more stern, and... was that the start of facial hair?

Nya’s mind reeled as realization hit her.

“First Spinjitzu Master” she gasped in a single breath. “It’s the future.”

This was bad. This was really bad.

And the others seemed to think it was bad too. But with her.

“Um... I think we need to take her to the hospital. Like, right now. Now. NOW.”

...

And even with the fierce fight she put up, she still ended up having an appointment with the physician in the ambulance. They were already on the scene, patching up people who had been injured in the crowd panic.

Thankfully for her, the doctor wasn’t too concerned about her state and released her without bringing her fully into the ambulance. If it hadn’t been for Jay, she might have ended the conversation after just a few brief words. But instead, she had to endure Jay’s overly worried list of questions and pleas to examine her once again. When the doctor finally said she was okay, she didn’t wait for Jay to accept reality—she jumped off the ambulance.

Now she was looking around, with a new mind set of perspective. 

The future...

It couldn’t be too far off. Ninjago didn’t seem to have changed much, and judging by the others, they hadn’t changed too drastically either. Well—except for Lloyd. But let’s take him as an exception to the rule.

The last time she had seen him in “her time,” Lloyd had just turned fifteen. But here, he had hit puberty with a vengeance. Tomorrow’s Tea had aged Lloyd’s body, but for the past few years, he hadn’t grown a day older. It was as if his body had been waiting for his mind to catch up.

It was hard to pinpoint how much time had actually passed. She would have to ask, subtly, what year it was.

Subtly enough that they wouldn’t send her to the hospital again for being “overly worried” about a concussion.

And Kai. What about him? Why had they reacted that way?

She calmed herself down. Panic wouldn’t get her anywhere. She needed to take careful steps. After all, this was playing with time—maybe not as consequential as before, but still—she didn’t belong here. She knew she didn’t belong in this timeline.

Now that she thought about it, why were they in the Imperial Square of all places? There was an empty stage set up with a platform and speakers. The entire place looked trampled from panicked footsteps. Barriers were knocked down, litter scattered everywhere... People were passing by, cleaning, trying to restore the square’s former glory. And there were lots—lots—of guards, police, and even carabinieri.

What had happened here? A terrorist attack?

“Are you sure you’re feeling better?” Jay asked, hurrying to keep up with her pace.

She hummed in response, not eager to say anything that might draw unwanted attention. For now, she needed to stay observant. If she played it wrong, they’d try to send her back to the hospital—and from there, she wouldn’t learn anything.

“You sure? You still look pale to me...”

“Yes, I’m alright, Cole.” She sighed, a little irritated. How much more could they worry about her? Geez.

“Are we going back to the...” She started to say “monastery” but stopped halfway. Was the monastery even still standing here? What about Wu?

Yes, she needed to contact him immediately. He wouldn’t think she was crazy. Hopefully.

“We are invited to the Palace of Secrets, however, given our circumstances... refusal is encouraged” Zane stated, looking at Nya with his unnaturally blue eyes. Nya was almost certain he was running another analysis on her condition.

She frowned.

Hold on. The Royal Palace? This royal palace? Overdecorated with gold and red, paid for by civilian taxes? Now it made sense why the place was so heavily guarded if royalty was involved.

A meaningless invitation from the upper class who knew nothing about real life. Just what she needed now to distract herself from trying to grasp what was really going on.

“So, we’re refusing, then?” She wasn’t about to pretend she was interested. She needed to get back to the Destiny’s Bounty, or the monastery, or wherever their base was in this “time.”

“Given how Nya was hurt—”

“Oh, for FSM’s sake, it’s nothing! Give it a rest” she snapped at Jay.

“Mhm. Then let me give you a special charm: pain, pain, go away.” As he said this, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

She stiffened. Nya’s guts twisted with cringe. How many times had she told him to cut out the PDA? It was eating her up inside. Or maybe it was the “future” her that didn’t mind it? There was no way she would ever like it.

" Okay, guys, stop. My single ass is cringing. Can we focus on what we’re actually supposed to be doing?"

Thanks, First Spinjitzu Master, Cole, she thought.

“I say... we go there” Lloyd responded. “After all, we’re here for the mask, right? So we stay.”

“I agree with Lloyd. We should accept the invitation since it’s the best course of action to handle this” Zane said in his usual stoic, sophisticated tone.

“I say go. Like, come on guys, there’s gotta be dinner after it, right? Dinner prepared by the best chefs in all of Ninjago—”

“Remember you’re on a cake-free diet” Jay cut in, interrupting Cole’s words.

“Shut up,” Cole groaned, frowning. “Anyway, everyone goes in or no one does. Even if my stomach says yes, the last call’s gotta be Nya’s. If she’s not feeling well—”

“Oh, for f—! I told you, I’m alright!”

“I’m against it, and I don’t believe that the doctor just let you go that easily—”

Nya groaned, nearly wanting to strangle someone right then and there.

Oh, she was being manipulated so hard right now. And Cole and Jay didn’t even realize what they were doing. They were too stupid for their own good.

All eyes shifted to her. The boys looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

Nya groaned inwardly.

...

She was so angry at herself. She should have been focused on finding answers about what happened. But instead, nooo, she had to say “fine.”

She wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she was curious about this place too. Even if it was the last thing on her priority list, especially now, the opportunity to understand the situation might be found in the Palace of Secrets. Wasn’t it a bit over the top? Of course it was. But she had to find some positivity in this mess of events.

So here she was, irritated and out of place, stuck in a new, unknown “time” in an unfamiliar place far from her own.

The palace was suffocating under the weight of its own richness, almost making her want to vomit. Gold. Red. Gold. Red. Overdecorated carpets and ornate corridors stretched endlessly. Paintings lined the walls—no one would ever really look at them.

The half-dark hallways were lit by hanging lamps that barely cast a flicker of light. Everything in this place was utterly impractical, designed solely to look impressive.

They followed the head of the guard, a man named Hutchins, with some exalted title that Nya couldn’t quite remember. His eyepatch and armour only added to his serious, no-nonsense appearance. He seemed stern and deeply focused on his task, avoiding any conversation between them.

Nya silently thanked him for that, because the boys were starting to get a little out of hand with their astonishment.

Zane was analysing almost every painting they passed, Cole was already lost in his daydreams about the upcoming royal dinner, and Jay’s eyes were wide, staring at all the gold...

But Lloyd? She couldn’t quite read his expression. He was stiff, a little detached from reality.

In some ways, he resembled Nya at that moment.

Nya sighed as they took yet another turn down the corridor. How long did they have to keep walking? The hall seemed endless. The more she saw walls painted in pure gold, the more her stomach twisted. It resembled a labyrinth within a labyrinth—designed to trap people with its dazzling shine.

Capturing the ignorance of the inhabitants.

Finally, Hutchins stopped and cleared his throat, drawing the group’s attention. He opened the doors and, with a solemn voice, said:

“I present to you the Exalted Emperor and Empress of Ninjago, and their children... the Jade Princess Harumi and the Dragon Prince Kaisei.”

Now Nya thought she had exaggerated about the corridor. The throne room was even worse. The long hall seemed to push them farther away from the main figures in the room. At the far end, an elevated platform was framed by two towering red columns, clawed by golden dragons leaning over the standing royal family.

Behind them, the lavish gold and red decorations clashed sharply with the deep green robes of the royal family.

She glanced at them briefly before Lloyd nudged her, reminding her to bow.

She couldn’t distinguish the Empress from the Princess—the heavy white makeup made them look more like stuffed clowns than the dignified representatives of Ninjago they were supposed to be. The Emperor, on the other hand, looked like he might crumble under the weight of the respectful bow they gave him. His overly enthusiastic expression only made his wrinkles stand out more.

Nya shifted her gaze to the right—but then Emperor caught her attention again.

“We are honoured by your presence” the Emperor spoke with a momentous tone. His voice was indeed charismatic. Far more so than his stiff posture. Perhaps Nya had judged him too harshly.

She glanced again to the right. The siblings stood much closer to each other than to their parents, not aligned with their thrones. The girl beamed a graceful, well-rehearsed smile. Everything about her was perfect: white pearl hair with not a single strand out of place, high, slender cheekbones emphasizing her large dark eyes. Her “clown” makeup only made her features more expressive, highlighting her natural beauty.

The prince stood beside her, wearing another smile clearly meant for the countless propaganda photos the royal family had at their disposal.

Nya looked up into his eyes—and immediately stiffened.

Those eyes. She would never not recognize them, no matter what. Even with the ridiculous heavy blush shimmering under the lamp light, they were unmistakable.

One eye was marked by a scar, a familiar scar, now awkwardly concealed beneath layers of makeup.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

It was Kai.

Her brother.

Chapter Text

“Your Highness?” There was a knock at the door. “The Empress has asked your Highness to check on Her Highness.”

Kai rolled his eyes as he stood up from the papers scattered across his desk. Not even a peaceful moment to work. He left the papers as they were, always in disarray, and walked toward the door.

“What is it now, Irv?” he said, opening the door and leaning against it with crossed arms.

The young man standing at the threshold looked desperate, like he’d been running. He avoided Kai’s gaze, searching for the right words. His fingers nervously fidgeted with the belt of his green haori.

Kai smiled to himself. He already knew what this was about.

“On a scale from one to ten…” Kai began, half-serious “How bad is it?”

Irv made the familiar face that immediately told Kai everything he needed to know. Kai sighed and scratched the back of his neck.

“I’m going to check on her in a minute” Kai mumbled, turning back toward his office.

But before he could close the door, a firm footstep stopped him.

“I encourage Your Highness to do it now.”

“So… a seven?” Kai raised an eyebrow. “Well, she’s really outdone herself today.” Irritation crept into his voice.

“Your Highness…”

Irv’s brown head turned back, as if suspecting someone was eavesdropping. He closed the door and, now locked in a private conversation, finally sighed with relief.

“She’s uncontrollable” Irv whined. “Three servant girls ran out of her room crying.”

“Three isn’t such a bad number” Kai tried to laugh, but Irv’s gloomy expression spoke louder than any words.

“Your Highness, please save us” Irv’s voice cracked with desperation.

Kai groaned. Again, he had to save the day by calming his sister’s fury. For what sins, he wondered.

“Isn’t the speech in, like, three hours?”

The boy nodded in confirmation.

“Two hours and forty-eight minutes. Please hurry, Your Highness.”

“Nope.” Kai shook his head. Irv’s face went from relief to ghostly pale in an instant. Kai smacked his lips in amusement. “Not until you stop calling me ‘Highness.’”

Irv bit his lip tightly, closed his eyes, then opened them with a heavy sigh.

“Please, Kai. Pretty please.”

Kai chuckled and patted the other boy’s shoulder.

“Atta boy! See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He smirked, flashing one of his mischievous grins.

Irv sighed again, clearly done with Kai’s play.

“You do know I can get fired for this, right? Especially if your sister finds out.”

Kai just smiled and headed toward the door. Turning back with his back still to Irv, he said cheerfully,

“Then I’ll be right there to calm her down again!”

And with that, he left Irv alone in the office.

However, as soon as Kai stepped out of the room, his cheerful persona dropped. He sighed heavily, muttering under his breath about what sins he was being punished for this time.

He’d thought his sister had finally dropped her moody behaviour after she had turned fourteen, but, true to form, things were never that simple with her.

Spoiled brat. Just like always.

People bowed as he passed, and he gave quick, polite nods in response. He quickened his pace. Irv hadn’t been exactly expressive about what his sister had done, but it had to be serious enough if the Empress had sent him personally.

He quickened his pace as he neared the end of the corridor. Most of the palace seemed empty, the guards already stationed for the upcoming speech. The quietness felt unnatural to Kai. The palace had always been a place where every move was watched by someone’s eyes. It had taken him forever to learn how to sneak out without being noticed. Not that he had ever dared use those hidden passages again after the accident.

The lamps flickered with a soft glow, casting uneven shadows that left much of the corridor in a solemn half-light. It was yet another part of the palace he had taken ages to get used to. The more he thought about this place, the more he realized he hated it—more than he ever liked it.

When he turned down the final corridor, he saw the girls who must have been the victims. One of them was still sobbing and hiccupping, while another offered a comforting smile and soft words, gently patting her on the back. The third stood with red, puffy eyes, glaring at the door as if it were the enemy.

But fortunately, fortunately, none of them seemed to have bruised cheeks or any marks from struggling. Kai could handle harsh words.

He gave them a weak, awkward smile, hoping it would convey his apology without him having to say the words aloud. The two shyer girls managed small, sloppy bows in return, their eyes flickering with a hint of relief. But the third girl glared back at him with a stony, defiant expression. Kai’s gut twisted. If she had glared at anyone else in this place, she would be out of a job in an instant. Perhaps something had broken in her, and he wouldn’t have blamed her one bit.

Kai sighed again, steeling himself as he stood before the menacing door to the room. He glanced at the time on his watch. No time to waste.

Without knocking, he stepped inside.

“Rumi?”

His sister sat beside the mirror, adding the final touches of makeup to her face. She was already fully dressed in one of her most ornate green kimonos, topped with a white cape embroidered with red lotuses. Her hair, though still loose and uncombed, tangled messily in the folds of her kimono and cape.

Her face was set with a determined focus on the dull task, not even turning at Kai as their eyes met in the mirror.

Kai took in the state of the room. The chaos was palpable: two mannequins displaying dresses had been knocked over, one of dress torn beyond repair. A pair of scissors was stabbed into one of the wooden forms like a grim trophy.

The vanity table was cluttered with scattered cosmetics, some tipped over and smeared across the surface. 

Honestly... it could have been much worse.

“Harumi” he repeated, this time with a firmer, more commanding tone.

“They started it” she scoffed, still refusing to look at him.

“Mhm. Like I’d ever believe that” he muttered, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down heavily.

She finished her makeup and finally turned her face to him.

“Okay. Maybe I tipsy-dipsy added oil to the fumes,” she said with a shrug.

“Tipsy-dipsy?” Kai snapped. “Those girls are crying, Harumi.”

“Those girls are dumb whores” she replied mockingly. Kai let out a sharp scoff. “How the hell did they even get a job here?”

“Language” he warned.

She flashed him a “peace sign,”  that involve her middle finger raised right in his face.

“I swear” she hissed, her tone dripping with disdain. “Their only jobs here are to smile like idiots and spread their legs for every old creep with a coin.” She flicked her mascara wand over her lashes, steady as ever. “And to keep that old hag drunk enough to sleep.” Her tone softened slightly as she concentrated on the details, careful not to smudge her makeup.

And here Kai thought she’d grown out of that phase. Or maybe, he realized, something was eating at her.

“Do you need help with your hair?” He stood up and moved closer, trying to ignore her last comment.

“Yes, oh First Spinjitzu Master, yes.” She leaned her head back. “I’d rather watch those whores giving blow jobs to the Emperor than let them touch my hair.”

“Geez, sis. Not before dinner.” He laughed dryly as he grabbed a comb and began untangling her silver-white hair.

She hummed softly in pleasure, closing her eyes and relaxing. Kai noticed the stiffness in her begin to fade.

“So... being serious now... what’s going on?” Kai broke the silence.

“Hm?”

“You’re acting like a chick before her period.”

Sky chuckled, snarky.
“Maybe I am. Wanna find out?”

“No... thank you.” Kai pulled her hair a little harsher to comb the knots. “You seem stressed.”

Harumi glanced into the mirror, then shot Kai a sharp look.

“Do I need to be stressed to not be angry at incompetence?”

Kai smirked. “With you? Honestly, you’re the walking incarnation of fury.”

She elbowed him in the stomach.

“Ouch! Remember, I still have your hair in my hand—”

“Remember, I’m still not completely angry” she snapped back.

“Can you pass me the diadem?”

Harumi’s face twisted into a sour scowl as she handed it over.

“Okay, you’re right. I am angry.”

“Tipsy-dipsy angry?”

Harumi hummed softly.

Her expression shifted—serious now, brows narrowing with a sharp flare of irritation. Her lips pressed into a tight line.

“Let’s just say… things aren’t going according to my plan.”

“Things always go south when you’re the one doing the planning.”

Harumi jerked her head sharply, a low groan escaping her lips as Kai tugged a bit too hard.

“I told you, I have your hair in my hands. Don’t move— I’m almost done.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms with a stubborn pout.

“Who snitched on me?”

"Actually, Empress asked me to tame you"

Harumi let out another irritated scoff.

“Drunkyard. If she has a problem with me, she should come to me herself. Not send an errand boy.”

Kai chuckled.

“Yup. I second that. It’s an unfair world for me too.”

But when he caught the stone expression on Harumi’s face, he quickly stopped laughing. He stepped back to admire the hairstyle he had just finished.

“Done. Am I a great big brother or what?”

Harumi glanced at the mirror, tilting her head to inspect his work. A small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her lips, barely hiding her true satisfaction.

“Mhm… could be better.”

“Come on… a little flattery wouldn’t hurt.”

She stood up, now fully transformed into the Jade Princess.

“Not great brother. The fucking best.” She smirked.

Then her expression shifted again, clouded by thoughts she wouldn’t voice aloud. Kai noticed the change but couldn’t quite place where it came from. He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow, silently expecting for her to explain.

“Are you… happy being here?" she started hesitant. "Don’t you want to just get the hell out of this place? Free yourself from this shitshow — the endless etiquette, the meetings, the speeches—”

“Yup. Boring speeches” he interrupted and she shot a glare sharp enough to make him flinch, like she was ready to knock him in the stomach again.

Kai sighed, sinking back into the chair.

“I don’t know” he shrugged, “pure honesty. There’s a lot I hate here. Not gonna sugarcoat it.”

But where else could he go?

He was just one of those forgotten orphans who’d hit the jackpot when the Empress adopted him. What first felt like a blessing from the heavens had slowly turned into a living hell.

Sometimes he wondered if things might have been better if she hadn’t found him. Maybe the Emperor and Empress would’ve been happier without him around.

Harumi scoffed, breaking the silence.

“As always, undecided. Too much thinking for your poor brain, huh?” She crossed her arms, smirking. “Sit.” Her tone was sharp, commanding, as if she owned him. “I’ll handle your makeup before some other whore gets the chance to mess with your face.”

…

On the stage, he tried not to look at the sky too often. It had a calming effect on him. The clear, cloudless blue that he could stare at endlessly. How long had it been since he’d seen that same sky outside the palace, in daylight?

The Emperor was giving the speech, and he could read between the lines to see who the real author was: Kai. It was the speech he had prepared but never had a chance to deliver. He wasn’t particularly surprised. After all, the Emperor hadn’t bothered to hide his plagiarism.

Kai fought to suppress a yawn while still trying to maintain a perfect smile. The crowd seemed overwhelmed by words. At least someone was being entertained. Maybe he should thank the crazy biker gang, or whatever clowns were causing chaos on the streets right now. The news that reached him was muddled with gossip that only came from servants. There was no real flow of information to him. After all he was just a doll, a little pawn to be looked at.

"And always stayed… united!" The closing words of the speech crackled through the loudspeaker.

The incoming cheers and applause drowned out the crowd. He already felt so stiff from standing in the same perfect position for so long. Just ten more minutes, and he could retreat to his office, maybe with a bit of drama from Harumi. Locked in the palace. Why did that thought feel so melancholic to him?

Then he noticed it—something out of place.

A white-dressed man aiming a bow from the tower. Kai had to blink twice. Another—

A green head leaned out from behind a column.

Who were they? Could it really be that… the Emperor had asked ninjas for help?

The thought seemed ridiculous at first. That man was too proud to ask anyone for assistance. He only took when he absolutely had to. But perhaps it was Hutchins’s idea. That seemed more plausible.

Kai focused on the green head peeking out from the column. He seemed agile and stealthy, definitely the type to slip in and out unseen. So why had he revealed himself? Then, Kai realized: the ninja wasn’t looking at him. No. He was staring straight at the person next to him —his sister.

Well, whoever this man might be—Chosen One or not—he would soon be crushed under the weight of Harumi’s real personality.

Suddenly—

Bang.

The bang rang out, slicing right through the applause. Before he could react or register what had happened, he was slammed to the ground by a sudden weight. In the corner of his eye, he saw something green draped over him. It took him a second to realize he was being shielded—someone had thrown themselves over him and Harumi, tucking them down before any threats could reach them.

His heart stopped.

Screams erupted in the distance as people pushed and shoved one another. Cries, yells, anger filled the air. Some were injured—First Spinjitzu Master—he spotted a woman, probably, in a pink sweater, screaming as she lay on the ground, blood trickling from her forehead. No one was helping her, no one was offering her a hand to stand up. She was being trampled as people ran over and over her like panicked rats.

“Are you guys okay?!” the person who landed on him shouted, but not to them. He was yelling into his comm. Kai blinked a few times before realizing that standing before him was the famous Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja.

Hutchins hurried after him, quickly extending a steadying hand to help him to his feet. Without wasting a moment, he began guiding Kai, Harumi, and the Empress toward the nearest exit, urging them to move faster through the chaos. Kai, however, remained rooted in place, his eyes desperately searching the throng of panicked faces.

Where was she?

He scanned the crowd again and again, but the woman in the pink sweater was nowhere to be seen. The sight of her helpless haunted him, but now she had simply vanished beneath the stampede. His heart pounded in his chest as a wave of helplessness washed over him.

Suddenly, a shout cut through the cacophony:

“What?! Nya is down?!”

The voice belonged to the ninja who had shielded him moments before. Without hesitation, the Green Ninja leapt from the stage into the tumultuous crowd, determined to find her.

Kai’s words were caught in his throat. He wanted to yell, to scream that the woman needed help. But no sound came out. The words were stuck, trapped inside him, as if swallowed whole by the chaos around him.

Hutchins grabbed his arm, pulling him roughly to attention, shouting something, but Kai couldn’t make out a single word. His gaze remained fixed on the wild, desperate crowd. A sea of agony and screams that threatened to swallow everything whole.

Until—

The pain flickered from his cheek. The sudden pain pulsed in time with his pounding heartbeat.

“Get your shit together!” Harumi barked, her voice cutting through the air like a whip.

She stood before him, frowning. Kai instinctively traced the spot of the burning sting with his hand, blinking blankly at her.

“Kaisei! Hurry up!” the Empress grabbed his hand and pulled him forward.

Finally, Kai began to grasp the gravity of the situation.

“Mother—” he gasped, before slipping the Empress under his arm, following Hutchins’ hurried steps.

They raced down the stairs from backstage straight to the black car which was pulling down before them.

Hutchins shoved them inside, then—

“Take them back to the Palace!” he barked to the driver,  before slamming the doors shut.

Kai glanced at the Harumi, then at Empress, whose ghostly pale complexion made her look almost spectral. Both were dishevelled, their hairstyles ruined, white and red paint smeared messily across their faces.

Then it hit him.

“Emperor—Father—where—is he?!” Kai lunged for the side doors, desperately trying to open them, but they were already locked tight. “We have to go back to him—We—”

“Your Highness, calm down! His Majesty is in the second car!” came a voice from across the seats, it was the driver.

“Kaisei, your father is fine. They evacuated him first” the Empress said, her voice nervous but steady, trying to calm him.

“Emperor—” he began again.

“Yeah, don’t sweat it. Like he’d just kick the bucket that easily,” Harumi interrupted with a hint of sarcasm.

“Harumi!” the Empress snapped, raising her voice in disbelief.

She rolled her eyes and stared out the window.

Kai inhaled deeply, then exhaled, struggling to steady himself. He tried to collect his scattered thoughts and make sense of what had just happened.

“What was that? A terrorist attack?” he muttered aloud, the question spinning endlessly in his mind.

The Empress looked at him silently, offering no answer. She remained tense and confused, her fingers clutching the fabric of her kimono tightly against her chest.

Only Harumi seemed relaxed and Kai wasn’t surprised in the slightest. It was his sister, after all—unfazed by anything. Sometimes he even wondered if she was really human.

“Sons of Garmadon, probably” she said, pressing her forehead against the window. “You know… the sooo evil biker gang.”

“A bunch of ignorant fanatics!” the Empress hissed. Harumi jerked her head away from the glass at the Empress’s words and frowned. “They think they can intimidate us by using that Mask of Deception!” she continued, agitated.

Mask of what now?

Kai glanced at Harumi, but she just shrugged—clearly no clue either.

“Those maniacs are after three ancient Oni Masks—one of them in our possession. One of which remains under our guardianship. Hutchins proposed entrusting their protection to the ninjas, yet your stubborn as a mule father declined.” Empress said, a hint of hostility in her voice. She scoffed, clearly offended. “Now he’s comprehending the gravity of our situation! Dealing with nothing less than deranged fanatics!”

Harumi glanced at Kai and rolled her eyes dramatically, then pressed her forehead back against the window.

Chapter Text

She stood there like a clown in a circus. Not far from the truth, really—with these ridiculous clothes and makeup, she could pass for one easily enough. Waiting for the “special guest” to arrive.

And now the shitshow was starting all over again.

Just one night. One fucking night, and everything would be over.

Of course that stupid old man had to invite the ninjas too. He was already shitting his pants, as he should be. 

The doors finally swung open, Hutchins leading the parade. The colourful pyjama party was marching straight to its doom. One more ridiculous than the other.

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the circus of all circuses! The so-called protectors of the realm!

First up, the large, fat, hairy ape—Cole! Look at those biceps, more fat than muscle, and that stomach—pure beer belly, if she ever saw one.

Next, the living embodiment of a nervous wreck, Mama’s boy himself—Jay Walker!

And now, the wannabe real boy, Pinocchio in the flesh—Zane, the autistic robot with the cold heart looking to become a real human boy.

Then the token girl, so they wouldn’t get accused of sexism. But hey, let’s make her a muscular whale—just to keep things balanced, right? Nya, or whatever the name her was—

And finally, the crème de la crème, the chef’s kiss—Mr. Composed, Daddy Issues himself—Lloyd Garmadon!

Did she just mentally list them all? Yes… that would be the full roster. Oh, wait—there was also that other old geezer in the group. Well, at least one less person to bare the sight on, on this theatrics.

She smiled her most charming smile. Of course the Emperor would eventually invite the ninjas, but why did it have to be the almost the same day her plan was supposed would go into action?

With this turn of events, everything could collapse like a house of cards.

“We are honoured by your presence,” the Emperor said, after exchanging respectful bows with them. “The great protectors of our realm. It saddens me that we meet under such unfortunate circumstances.”

“The honour is all ours,” the Green Ninja replied, bowing again. “We are grateful for your invitation and your kind words.”

Harumi looked more closely at the boy standing and representing the group. He was… quite a bit smaller than she would expected. A little too fragile, but not timid. Which was surprising, given how the rest of them seemed overwhelmed by the situation.

Not that it mattered to her. Or rather, it might have mattered, but she didn’t care. She would achieve what she wanted, no matter who she stood against.

The blond boy standing before her also glanced at her, a flicker of curiosity hidden behind his eyes. Another surprise, and one she hadn’t anticipated. She knew her own beauty, and she wasn’t the type to be humble about it. A few well-placed words would surely do the trick. After all boys are the boys. Always the same.

She shifted her gaze to the others presented before her.

Boring. Boring. Bo—

Hold on. Why was that girl staring at Kai like that?

She wasn’t just glancing politely. She was practically devouring him with her eyes, mouth agape like a fish.

What was her deal?

“Recent events” the Emperor began, his voice strong and unwavering. “Have shown us just how difficult it is to maintain peace, and how fragile our order truly is. With only a handful of twisted, yet determined, fanatics, everything can collapse.” He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle before continuing. “The situation is dire, and I cannot turn a blind eye to the dangers that threaten us, including my own family. That is why I believe, my dear ninjas, that you are the ones best suited to guard the mask.” He spread his arms wide in welcome. “There are no better men to protect it from falling into the wrong hands than those who have stopped every disaster that has threatened Ninjago.”

Stopped every disasters, her ass.

A small portion of irritation came by. False prophecies and delusions, that the only ones, these elemental brats, appointed by the oh-so-goodie First Spinjitzu Master, were the only ones who could save the world.

That was it for her—

“I have read much about you” Harumi began, stepping closer to them. “Your heroics will surely become legends.” She paused, letting the flattery settle before turning her eyes on Cole. “Cole, the rock—the foundation of the team.” She gave him a small, mocking smile.

“Jay, the joker whose mouth is as quick as lightning,” she continued, bowing to him with exaggerated grace. Jay, startled, looked like he’d just been struck by a bolt himself.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Emperor and Empress stiffen at her words, but she only smiled wider.

Suck. My. Balls.

She felt her brother’s menacing glare, practically spelling out ‘What the hell are you doing?’ on his face. Priceless. She wondered just how far she could push him out of balance at an official meeting.

She wanted badly, so badly, to bamboozle all farce, but sadly she couldn't allow herself. Much more was on stake, than her intrusive thoughts.

She continued, her voice smooth and practiced, her tone that of the perfect courtier.

“Zane, the cold and calculating one—a droid.”
“Nindroid, Your Highness” he corrected with a bow, dropping his holographic disguise to reveal his metallic silver skin.

Finally, her eyes fell on Nya. She tilted her head slightly, voice dripping with faux sweetness.
“And Nya—the girl.”

Harumi paused dramatically. Finally, the cyan ninja unglued her eyes from Kai and turned to face her, brows furrowed. Harumi smirked to herself, opening her mouth to continue—

But before she could speak—

“The girl—the fierce and brave warrior who, with her command of water, can rival any master.”

Kai’s voice cut in, his tone warm but laced with steel. He stepped forward, brushing Harumi’s shoulder, a clear sign: shut the fuck up.

Harumi looked at him with only twitch of her eyebrow, giving him a reply that she didn't need his assistance.

Nya, however, shifted right back to staring at Kai, her eyes following his every move like a lovesick puppy. A heat of anger rise in Harumi’s chest.

What the hell?

Harumi forced a smile.

“As my brother said.”

Oh, right—there was still one more left. She scanned the group.

“Lloyd—the Green Ninja,” she continued, feeling the improvisation hit her at full speed. “The youngest but most powerful protector. The Chosen One.”

But Lloyd’s face fell, his expression suddenly heavy with some unspoken grief.

Fuck.

Time to wrap this charade up before it unravelled any further.

“Please” she continued, her voice regaining its polished calm. “Make yourselves at home during your visit. A grand feast awaits you—”

“As the prince and princess have already said, you are most welcome here” the Emperor cut in, his voice steady but strained. “These are troubling times, and as long as the Oni Mask remains in our possession, we fear our lives—and the lives of all our people—are in grave danger. The mask must never be reunited.” He paused to let his words settle, then continued. “Hutchins will show you the artefact you are to protect. Should you have any further questions, direct them to him.”

With that, Hutchins stepped forward, placing himself between the ninjas and the Emperor and Empress as they quietly exited through the double doors at the back of the chamber.

Kai started to follow them, until he noticed Harumi.

Instead of retreating with the so-called “family”, she moved deliberately forward, stepping down from the throne platform with a purpose in her eyes.

Harumi didn’t need to look back to know Kai was following her like an obedient dog—or better yet, a loyal guard dog, ever watchful and close at her heels.

“I will escort you in person” Harumi said with a gentle smile to the ninjas, stepping confidently to lead the way. Hutchins gave a respectful bow, seemingly unsurprised by her initiative. Kai, however, was a different story.

He looked at her with blank expression, just enough to expose everything, what he thought about it. But he played along.

“I’ll accompany you too” he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her aside, away from the group, to speak in a low whisper. “What the hell are you doing?” He hissed to her, leaning close enough, not to be seen as whisper, but still keep it private.

“Having fun with ninjas, I guess,” she replied with a sly grin.

“Whatever fun means to you, it’s definitely not for me” he scoffed. “Just... please, please behave.”

“How bad could I possibly be, dear?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

…

And yet, she had to fight with herself, to not snap out.

Any moment now, any second, and she would gouge that bitch’s eyes out herself.

That girl couldn’t keep her eyes off her brother, like she would swoop in, batting her eyelashes and scheming her way into his bed, if Harumi let him out of his sight.

Harumi pressed her lips together, barely holding back the curses she wanted to spit.

“And finally” Hutchins said, dragging her back to reality. “The reason for your protection: the Mask of Deception.”

They arrived at the destination. Library. And there it was—sitting on a pedestal like some fucking prize: an orange Oni mask, all twisted features and sinister grin, exactly the kind of thing that would give kids nightmares. Perfect craftsmanship, but a little too on-the-nose.
And that name?
It was too damn perfect.
Because what was coming next for these idiots was nothing but pure deception—and she’d make sure of it.

“Ugh, it looks horrible” the fat-ass said, leaning closer to the glass case.
“If this is the Mask of Deception, what was stolen from Borg Industries?” Jay asked, leaning over Nya’s shoulder.

Harumi’s frown deepened. From what she had heard, Blue and Cyan were supposedly head-over-heels for each other, the press drooling over them like they were some powerful couple. More like a Dominant and Submissive straight out of a trashy BDSM flick.

But if that was the case, why the fuck was she staring at Kai like he was the last meal on earth?

Harumi’s grip on Kai’s arm tightened, hard enough to leave a mark.

As if on cue, Nya’s eyes narrowed at her.

Harumi didn’t hesitate. She shot her a glare back, pure venom in her gaze.

“The Mask of Vengeance.” Hutchins replied.
“And who has the third one?” Cole asked.

Nya was taken aback by Harumi’s expression. She leaned over to Lloyd, whispering something in his ear.

“No one has the location of the Mask of Hatred” Zane cut in. “But my sensors tell me that it won’t be lost for long.”

Did they really have to spell out every damn thing? Did they even know anything at all? Harumi could spend all day bragging about the ninjas’ incompetence, but this, this was beyond her expectations. These guys were worse than she had imagined.

“No one has found the third mask—” Hutchins started, but someone cut him off.

“If you’ll excuse us” came a voice right next to Harumi’s ear. It was Kai’s. “We’re grateful for your help. Unfortunately, it’s time for us to go.”

He pulled her sharply, forcing her to follow him as they stepped quickly out of the room. Not even after a one turn, he yanked her, now looking clearly frustrated at her.

“What was that?” he asked her with demanding voice.

“What was what?” she shot back with fake sweetness.

His eyes darkened with irritation.

“You know what.”

Harumi sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes.
“I haven’t done anything yet. But that bitch is begging for it.”

Kai threw his head back, exhaling in exasperation.
“Oh, First Spinjitzu Master—Rumi!” he hissed, struggling to keep his voice down. “She’s not a servant who you can harass! She’s a guest, not mentioning a ninja, and you you’re supposed to act according to your status—”

“Don’t lecture me” she scoffed. “Lecture her! She’s been staring at you like a lovesick puppy since she set eyes on you.”

“So be it!” He massaged his temples, fighting to stay calm. “Listen—maybe you forgot, but we’re the prince and princess. People are watching us every second, it’s our goddamn job!”

“Oh, so that’s it? You’re planning to have a little fun with her?” she spat.

“What? Harumi—fuck’s sake, no! You’re completely missing the point.”

“Hm. I wonder how a ninja would taste—”

“Harumi, stop!” he snapped, his voice cracking with frustration. He closed his eyes and let out a ragged breath. “You know what? Fuck it—I can’t do this. And by the way, the Green Ninja was staring at you too.”

“Oh? So the girl can stare at you all she wants, but the boy can’t even glance at me? That’s what this is about?”

“You know what? Have fun with your delusions. I’m done. I am so fucking done with your bullshit. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had this same conversation.”

He turned his back to her and walked away, leaving the frustration hanging in the air. Harumi watched him fade into the half-light of the palace lamps.

Whatever.

Soon, everything would be over.

…

She was heading to her room, eager to rip off the suffocating clothes, scrub off the makeup, and just flop on her bed. She had in mind to contact, to pass on some new information, but that could wait. First thing first – flopping on the bed.

She rounded a corner—and nearly collided with someone.

'Watch it' was on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back when she saw who it was.

“Green Ninja?”

She blinked, slipping on her princess mask like a second skin.

“Your Highness—” he gasped, clearly startled. “I’m sorry—”

What the hell was he doing here? Shouldn’t he be off with the others?

“Don’t be” she said, forcing a smile and stepping to the left to pass him. But Lloyd mirrored her movement, blocking her path. Then he tried to sidestep in the opposite direction—awkwardly, nervously laughing—just as she tried to do the same.

She couldn’t help but chuckle at the awkward dance, cursing inside that this little brat had to be the one standing in her way.

“My fault,” she said sweetly.

Lloyd laughed too, finally stepping fully aside.

“No, no, it’s mine” he said, then glanced around, ashamed. “I—I think I’m lost.”

Hold her back, before she murdered him right then and there. Instead, she replied softly:

“Turn right, then go straight. You’ll find the chambers that were prepared for you and your friends.”

“Thanks” he said, smiling at her. “It’s easy to get lost here.”

“You don’t have to tell me” she replied with a sigh. “It took me years to get the hang of this place—and Kai still manages to get lost sometimes.”

That was true enough. She knew every in and out, every secret passage. She had memorized them, especially for the plan she was about to set in motion.

“I’m sorry, years?” he asked, a confused expression crossing his face.

“Oh. No— Me and my brother, we were adopted by Emperor and Empress. My biological parents had passed away.”

Guilt flickered across Lloyd’s face.

“I—I’m sorry to hear that” he said. “I know what that feels like. I lost my father too.”

Oh, yes. Bonding over shared trauma. How touching.

Harumi wanted to shot herself.

But, at least it was working.

An awkward silence settled between them, both of them forcing bittersweet smiles.

“You should get back to your friends” she said at last.

“Oh, right. Yes— yes of course.”

“See you around, Lloyd.”

He bowed politely.

“Goodbye, Princess.”

She took a step, then turned back.

“Oh, and please—call me Rumi.” She smiled, practiced and perfect.

Lloyd’s grin widened.

For the beloved Overlord.

Why was it always so easy?

…

She laid on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her body sprawled lifelessly across the entire bedframe.

Three hours left.

Time to make the call.

She sat up and rolled off the bed, heading to the corner where she had hidden the curved floorboard. She pried it up and grabbed the phone she had stashed beneath it. She scrolled quickly through the contacts until she found the right number and hit call.

“It’s me” she said, not bothering to wait for the other person to greet her. “The ninjas are already here. Proceed as planned.”

“Perfect” the voice on the other end replied with excitement.

Harumi was about to hang up, but then a thought struck her. She couldn’t resist. She smiled to herself.

“Oh—and the prince? Lock him in the most humid, claustrophobic place you can find. He’ll be as docile as a lamb.”

The woman on the other end laughed darkly. Then she hung up.

Now that, that was settled—

A muffled thump came from behind her door. She spun around, listening carefully.

Then she yanked the door open.

There stood one of the servants a brown-haired boy Kai was oh-so-fond of. He was pale as a ghost, frozen in place.

She was fast. She grabbed him by the collar and yanked him into the room, slamming and locking the door behind them.

“I didn’t hear anything!” he squealed, panic in his eyes.

Harumi just kicked him hard in the stomach, before he could stand up, cutting off his pathetic protest.

The boy groaned in pain, curling his knees up to his chest, trying to shield himself from any further blows.

“Didn’t hear anything, huh?” she hissed. “And yet you know I was speaking—curious, isn’t it?”

She reached to the vanity table and snatched up a hairpin with a sharp end.

The boy tried to crawl away, but Harumi was faster. She pressed the sharp point against his throat, making him freeze in terror.

“Irv. Yes… Irv! That was your name!” She grinned, her voice dripping with amusement as she remembered.

The boy wheezed in fear, trembling so hard his teeth chattered. She slammed him against the wall, pinning him in place.

If he had wanted to, he could have easily pushed her off and run—but Harumi knew better. The fear had him by the throat, paralyzing him.

“I always fucking despised you” she snarled.

She swung with the hairpin piercing his throat with all her might. The servant’s eyes went wide, and he let out a sickening gurgle as blood flooded his windpipe and bubbled out of his mouth.

She watched, unblinking, as his body slid down the wall, collapsing in a heap. She squatted in the blood puddle forming underneath the body, tilting the head.

She thought killing him would be more satisfying.

But it would have to be enough. For now.

Chapter Text

Nya had been half-listening to the Emperor’s speech, but by the time Hutchins was talking, she wasn’t listening at all. Her head was spinning with questions. One in particular filled at her mind.

Why.

Why Kai was here? Here as a prince?

While she was staring at Kai's back, the questions rinsed in her head.

It didn’t make sense. Not even in a timeline-messing, dimension-hopping kind of way. He looked the same, spoke the same. There was nothing to prove he could be the son of a royal couple.

A doppelganger? A clone?

No, those thoughts drifted too far.

But Kai… he didn’t know her. He’d treated her like the others: polite but distant. Like strangers. Heroes of the realm, sure, but not friends. Not family. And it went in both ways. Her friends didn't know him either. And that realization rattled her.

She felt her stomach twist.

“Nya.” Lloyd’s whisper broke her daze. “You look pale.”

She blinked, realizing Lloyd had been watching her.

“I—” she stammered, swallowing hard. “I’m fine.”

“You’ve been staring at the prince” he said with worried. “Better I noticed than Jay.”

Nya’s chest tightened. Jay was the last thing on her worry list.

“…Are you sensing any elemental powers from him too?” he asked, voice low.

“Wait… What?” Nya stopped walking, turning to face him with a puzzled expression.

“I thought that’s why you kept staring at him” he said, brows furrowed.

"Of course you do, he's—" she almost spouted out. Breathe. She forced herself to slow down. She needed to say it know. She wouldn't find any better opportunity, not to fool herself. “Lloyd.” She said, voice trembling, “please, just—don’t think I’m crazy, okay? Whatever I’m about to say—”

The blond boy frowned, but nodded silently.

“I—I think I’m from the past.” The words tumbled out in a single breath. “Or—or from a different timeline—I don’t know—whatever it is—this—” she gestured around them, the palace hallways stretching on like some unfamiliar maze “—this isn’t what it’s supposed to be. Not to me.”

Lloyd crossed his arms, his mouth half open to respond—

“Before you argue—” she cut him off, her eyes burning. She pointed a trembling finger at the group of ninjas up ahead, already far from them. “Kai. He’s my brother. He’s an elemental master—or he was back then. He’s a ninja, not a damn prince!” Her voice cracked with anger. “He’s far from that! I don’t know what the hell is going on—I was fighting Krux and Acronix, and now—” she threw her arms wide “—now I’m in this Palace of Secrets, for the First Spinjitzu Master’s sake—and—”

She stopped. Lloyd’s hand landed on her shoulder, grounding her like an anchor.

“Slow down, Nya. Just—slow down.” Lloyd patted her shoulder gently, giving her a small, reassuring smile. He glanced back at the crowd that had moved on without them. “Okay—let’s—” He sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. “First things first: we should continue this talk, but not right now—”

Nya opened her mouth, but he cut her off.

“I believe you” he hurried up saying. “Or—at least I don’t think you’re crazy” he chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. “And I’m not trying to brush you off. Just—”

“Yeah. More pressing matters” she finished for him. She knew him too well. He would always be the one to stay focused on the mission, no matter what else was going on. 

“Exactly.” He agreed, giving her a grateful look. “I promise we’ll come back to this.”

Nya nodded, feeling the weight in her chest ease, even just a little. She clenched her fist, determination steeling her voice.

“Let’s go.” She said, as she and Lloyd hurried to catch up with the rest of the group.

...

So the Oni Masks were their main worry now? Great. It even had a face only a mother could love. Nya stared at the twisted expression of the mask, barely listening as the “royal escort” droned on. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

And that princess… something was off with her. Nya had whispered her suspicions to Lloyd, but he had brushed it off, insisting he hadn’t noticed anything suspicious. He was more concerned about Hutchins. Typical Lloyd.

But Nya trusted her gut more than anything.

Maybe, perhaps, she was biased. After all, she was looking at the girl who had replaced her as “little sister.” But that hostility she had felt from the princess? That was real. She was sure of it.

It was the time for little sniffing around.

She turned to leave, but Jay, ever the watchdog, caught her.

“Nya? Are you alright?”

How many times would she hear that question today?

"Yes. I am." She tried to not to sound too mean, but oh well. It slipped anyway.

Jay frowned, worried again about her.

"Are you sure?"

“Yes.” She hissed, irritation boiling over now.

“No. You’re not.” He crossed his arms, stepping closer, his voice firm. “Ever since you got hit, you’ve been acting weird. And don’t try to deny it. I’ve never seen you so lost in thoughts.”

She exhaled heavily, feeling cornered. What the hell was she supposed to say?

“I’ll explain later, okay? This is not a good time.”

Yeah. Let future Nya deal with it.

“Okay…” He didn’t look convinced, but at least he didn’t push any further. Nya turned to leave.

But Jay opened his mouth again.

“Is this about your brother?”

Nya’s head snapped toward him, eyes wide.

“I knew it.” Jay mumbled, looking at the ground, then his voice rose in frustration. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

“Hold on. What about my brother?”

"You tell me." He paused, and then barley in whisper, almost inaudible "Nya, you need to move on. It was years ago."

Nya’s heart stopped. No. No. It couldn’t mean what she thought it meant.

“What… what do you mean?” she asked, her voice flat.

Jay scoffed, turning his head away. She grabbed his arm, yanking him back around.

“What. Do. You. Mean.” She demanded, her voice climbing in pitch, panic lacing every word.

Jay sighed.

“What I’ve been saying for years. You need to move on. Holding on to his death… It’s eating you alive.” His voice cracked at the end.

Nya’s blood ran cold.

No. No, no, no. That couldn’t be true.

She stormed off without another word.

“Nya!”

She heard behind Jay's desperate yelling, but it was to late. She was already gone.

Her chest was tightened with fear of what Jay had said, each word like a knife.

That couldn't be true. She refused it. She made out from the battle alive, she was with Kai all the time. So he had to be here too.

And He was here. That was her brother. Not some damn prince.

Damn prince. Damn princess. Damn palace. Damn masks!

What the hell happened here?

She charged down the corridor, heart pounding. She needed answers. But she stopped as soon she saw the familiar face on the other side of corridor.

Lloyd stood at the end of it, watching her with bitter smile.

"Perfect timing. Let's continue conversation" Lloyd told her.

...

They leaned against the wall, faces stiff and strained after Nya had finished saying everything she knew. Lloyd scratched his jaw thoughtfully, processing every word.

He had suggested they work backward from the end, retracing Nya’s memories piece by piece. She had spent nearly an hour explaining her timeline, while Lloyd questioned every detail, cross-examining any difference that could be significant. He had even ventured beyond Nya’s personal life: asking about the world, history, even beliefs—searching for cracks.

Nya silently thanked the First Spinjitzu Master that Lloyd hadn’t ignored her. It felt like a relief to finally voice her confusion, to share just how disoriented she was.

Finally, Lloyd clicked his tongue and straightened up.

“Okay.” He said. “Some of this lines up with what’s happened here, but your theory about being from the future? We can probably toss that. The worlds are too similar—at least where they don’t involve you specifically. I don’t know anything about ‘Time Brothers’ or Elemental Master of Time, but everything else you’ve said happened here.” He paused, frowning. “The only real difference I can see is that ‘Time Brothers’ never existed here, and—” He cut himself off.

“And what?” Nya pressed, a note of dread in her voice.

Lloyd hesitated.

“I… don’t know all the details. It was always a delicate topic for you.”

“Yeah.” She said hoarsely. “I know that already. Supposedly… Kai is dead here.”

The words hung heavy in the silence that followed.

They sounded so foreign, so absurd that she couldn’t even process what they meant.

That was why it didn’t hurt—because she didn’t believe it.

Lloyd only nodded slowly, his face solemn.

“…Should I go on?” he asked, hesitant.

“Don’t dance around it.” She said firmly. “Just tell me straight. What happened to him?”

Lloyd’s lips thinned.

“You never told me the whole story.” He admitted. “But when you were kids, you and Kai went into the woods one day, and… only you came back.” He shook his head, looking pained. “I’m sorry—”

Nya’s face was stone.

“It’s alright. Please—go on.”

Lloyd nodded, gathering his thoughts.

“Seeing how calm you are now… it makes me think you’re not my Nya I knew.”

'My Nya'.

What that meant?

Did coming here erase his Nya? Did it erase her too?

Her chest tightened at the thought. But there was no time to dwell on that. She needed to focus, on herself, and on Kai.

Lloyd continued, more gently now.

“I only heard stories from uncle and your parents—”

“Hold on. My parents?”

“Yeah… they still visit you all the time.” Lloyd said. Then he paused, blinking. “Right—In your world, your parents were captured by—”

“Krux and Acronix.”

“Yeah.”

So the price of saving her parents here had been losing her brother?

A dark thought flickered. How she might have preferred it the other way around. She quickly throw away those thoughts.

"Anyway, focusing on now, now." Lloyd rushed on, eager to avoid fall of another silence “It is possible he’s your brother. Of course, if we ignore the name, Kai and Kaisei aren’t the quite the same name. I mean, I don’t know if he’s the same Kai from your timeline or the Kai from this one, but—”

“What do you mean?” she demanded, cutting him off.

Lloyd took a steadying breath.

“The Prince and Princess here… they’re adopted.” He explained. “They’re not related by blood to the Emperor and Empress. And given that I can sense elemental master energy from him…”

“He could be him!” She gasped, eyes wide. “That would make sense! Maybe he got lost and they—”

“Nya, slow down.” Lloyd raised his hands gently. “We don’t know that for sure. I mean it is possibility. But..." He looked averting eyes "I mean, your parents think he's dead— you are thinking that he's dead."

“You said he was lost in the woods.” She said sharp, staring grim at Lloyd.

“I said… that’s what I pieced together from the stories you—well, the other you—told me.” Lloyd said, staring at the floor. “I don’t know for sure, Nya. Maybe you should ask my uncle. Or—” He hesitated, searching for words. “Or your parents.” He sighed, shoulders shrugging. “This whole time paradox, or alternate world—maybe it’s best if you just… go back to the Destiny’s Bounty?”

Nya could see the uncertainty creeping in. He tried to stay calm, but she knew that it was hard to him too. Masks, mission, now her sister throwing at him— ... Whatever this was?

Lloyd was trying to stay strong for her, but even here—he was still just a kid, and this was beyond either of them.

“No.” She cut him off, her voice sharp as a blade. “Kai is here. So I’m here too.”

Lloyd looked at her, doubt clouding his green eyes.

“Are you sure?” he asked, almost pleading. “I mean, this isn’t your world. Maybe that’s not your Kai. Maybe… maybe this is different.” He groaned, running a hand through his hair. “So many questions. So few answers. I just—” He paused, collecting himself. “Look, what I’d suggest is contacting the Destiny’s Bounty. Maybe they can help you figure this out.”

Nya let out a slow breath, her shoulders sagging.

Another hours of explanation incoming.

“Yeah.” She said at last, voice low. “It’s an idea.”

It wasn’t the best plan—but it wasn’t the worst. And right now, she would take whatever help she could get.

…

Time flied differently in this place.

Since the palaces’ half-enlighten corridors without windows didn’t let the sun rays in, she didn't quite know what time was. Her tired body, though, gave her a clue that it was probably late.

She moved quietly, navigating the labyrinth of corridors, heading for her assigned chamber where she hoped to catch Zane. As Lloyd had suggested, she should reach out to the Destiny’s Bounty.

A strange, heavy feeling tugged at her chest.

She wondered, what would her parents be like here? What would it have been like to grow up with them?

She shook the thought away, only to freeze at the sound of raised voices.

“You were supposed to watch her!” a man’s voice boomed around the corner.

“I was—but we’re talking about Rumi, she’s unpredictable!”

That was Kai’s voice.

Nya pressed herself against the wall, heart pounding, straining to hear.

“What would you do if she lost control, hmm? Your mother entrusted her care to you, yet you let her slip through your grasp!”

“I—I did!” Kai stammered, panic threading his voice. But before he could finish, the other man cut him off.

“Enough excuses!” the man thundered. “You’re her older brother. It’s your duty to take care her! You should be ashamed of yourself! Or did Kizuna’s death not teach you enough?”

The silence fell.

“No, Your Majesty.” Kai hissed, voice tight with tension.

“Dear! That’s enough!” The Empress’s voice suddenly cut through the air, gentle yet commanding. “That’s enough for the boy!”

Nya perfectly new this Kai’s tone. Kai gave up in the fight. But she didn't have to know this, since it followed with Kai storming off from the room. Nya instantly, ducked behind a column and watched.

Kai was shaken. Each his step was infused with fury. He circled the empty hallway like a caged animal, his fists clenching tighter and tighter until he slammed one against the wall.

The impact was sharp. A flash of heat pulsed through the air, like a spark that threatened to ignite everything around him.

It was Kai.

Everything about him.

The posture, the anger, even the fire that nearly touched the air—it was all Kai.

She swallowed hard. Kai turned back to the wall, muttering something under his breath. She couldn’t make out the words from this distance, but the pain in his voice was unmistakable.

She stepped out from the corner.

Her heart raced. What was she supposed to say? Comfort him? When he thought of her as a stranger? Ask him if he was okay? When he so obviously wasn’t?

“Kai.” She called out, the word trembling on her lips.

The words fell from her lips before she even realized what they could bring.

He turned to her, surprised. She could hardly read his expression from that distance.

“Oh.” He said blankly, his tone flat but tinged with a reluctant recognition. “The Water Elemental Master.” He started to walk toward her, then stopped halfway, his brows furrowing. “What are you doing here? Your chambers are in the south wing, near the mask.”

Then his eyes narrowed even further.

“Were you following me?” His tone shifted sharper, more accusing. “I’m not in the mood for games.”

Nya’s chest tightened, the pain of his cold unfamiliarity piercing deeper than any weapon. He was treating her like a stranger and it hurt in a way she hadn’t expected. Even more when they were alone.

“As far as I know,” Kai continued, his voice low and dangerous, “it’s not in your job description to eavesdrop on private conversations between members of the royal family.” He stepped closer, the anger practically radiating off him. “Or to stalk them.”

“I wasn’t doing either of those things!” She said quickly, shaking her head. But it hurt—hurt more than she could bear, seeing him stand there, looking at her like that.

He scoffed, crossing his arms in a posture she recognized all too well.

“I’m not blind or stupid. This is the last warning. If I catch you sniffing around—”

“Kai, please.” Her voice cracked, breaking at the moment she needed to be strongest. “Please, tell me you remember me.”

First her voice, then her eyes betrayed her. Her eyes got teary, not crying yet, but enough for others to notice. Kai expression shifted from anger to confused. He loosen his arms, staring, blinking with half open jaw.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he asked, his voice uncertain for the first time.

“I—” she started, but the words faltered in her throat. “It’ll sound crazy, but—”

“Kssh—guys—w—”

The comm in her ear crackled with static, making it hard to hear.

She frowned. Was that Cole?

Pressing her earlobe harder, she tried to filter out the noise. Kai started to say something, but she quickly shushed him, holding up a hand.

“I saw kssh—Hutchins—”

“Cole? We can’t hear you! We’ve got a bad signal!” Lloyd’s voice cut through, clear in the comm.

“We need to get kssh—! The whole palace kssh—to explode! It kssh— Hutchins!”

Nya’s blood ran cold. Without thinking, she grabbed Kai’s arm, pulling him toward her.

“Wha—?” Kai stumbled, eyes wide, trying to pull away.

“We have to evacuate! NOW!” she shouted, already breaking into a run. “Where’s the closest exit?!”

He stammered, clearly rattled.

“I—I think in the throne room—” Then, as panic took hold, his voice cracked. “What about Harumi? The Emperor—the Empress—they’re in—”

She didn’t even glance back.

“Others will take care of them! Worry about yourself, Kai—NOW!”

Suddenly, she was thrown into the air by the blast—

She hit the ground hard, pain radiating through her bones. The explosion’s roar echoed in her head, and she felt a heat crawling up her back.

A first-degree burn, guaranteed.

She turned her head and saw Kai. He sat frozen, eyes wide, his face bathed in the orange glow of the fire with half opened jaw in shock.

Nya reached for his hand and pulled herself up with a hiss of pain.

“We need to move!” She barked, hauling him to his feet.

“They—they were there—” he stammered, voice trembling. “The Emperor. The Empress—” His finger shook as he pointed toward the flames.

Nya pressed her lips together tightly. Then, with sudden force, she yanked Kai toward her.

Kai stumbled after her, his eyes still fixed on the blazing corridor. Nya didn’t let him hesitate—she tugged him along, dodging chunks of falling debris and the sharp scent of burning metal.

“Focus, Kai!” she snapped, even though she herself was barely holding it together. “We have to get out. We can’t help them now.”

His breath hitched as he turned to her, guilt painting his face.

“But they, they—”

“I know!” she said, voice taut, tears threatening but unspilled. “I know. But if we stay here, we’re dead too.”

A fresh explosion rocked the palace, sending a shockwave that nearly knocked them off their feet. A wave of heat slammed into them, smothering the air. Nya shielded her eyes and pulled Kai behind a fallen pillar.

“We need to move!” she yelled. She pointed to a cracked archway ahead, leading into a darkened hallway. “That way—let’s go!”

Kai nodded numbly, and together they stumbled toward the hallway, the fire at their backs. The roar of the inferno echoed like a beast closing in.

As they reached the archway, Kai stumbled, coughing on the acrid smoke. Nya steadied him with one arm while her other hand brushed the comm at her ear.

“Cole, Lloyd, anyone—do you copy?” Static, then a crackle.

“—Nya—kssh—we’re— the library —kssh—attack—”

Nya gritted her teeth. The library was on the far side of the palace.

“Copy!” she breathed. She turned to Kai, whose eyes were wide with fear but finally focused.

“Stay with me, okay?” she said, gripping his shoulder. “We’re getting out of here—together.”

Kai nodded, his jaw tight, and they pushed onward through the smoke-filled hallway.

Nya’s eyes darted around, taking in the chaos. The situation was dire. She didn’t know this place at all. She heard incoming voices all over the place. Clenching metal, screams, the sound of battle—

Voices echoed close by, too close for comfort. The acrid smoke made her lungs burn with every breath.

She glanced at Kai.

“Listen to me,” she said, her voice firm despite the tremble in her heart. “You have to focus right now, okay?”

It felt strange—almost surreal—to be the one guiding him. Kai, her older brother.

“Where’s the nearest exit? You said the throne room, right?”

He gave a quick nod. First Spinjitzu Master, he was trembling—

This Kai, he wasn’t used to this. Fighting for his life, relying on pure adrenaline.

“Where is it?” she pressed, gripping his arm. “Kai, please! You need to pull yourself together!”

He shook his head, his eyes unfocused.

“Who—who are you?” he stammered, voice breaking.

A knife twisted in her chest. Doubt was all she saw in his eyes. He was second-guessing everything, and her heart ached.

“I’ll explain!” she pleaded. “I promise, I’ll tell you everything. But right now—right now, I’m your family, Kai. The closest you have.” She squeezed his hand, desperate. “Please, you can trust me. You really can.”

Kai was looking into her eyes unconvinced. Perhaps he was trying to understand what Nya had said. Or perhaps he was searching in her any trace of lie or truth.

Whatever it maybe was, it gave him response to his doubts.

He swallowed hard.

“I…I’ll lead the way,” he whispered.

And with that, he pulled away from her grasp and led them forward.

Nya followed closely behind him, her heart thudding in her chest. She trusted him. Even if he didn’t quite trust her yet. She had to believe that, on some level, he felt the bond they shared.

The hallway was a maze of smoke and flickering lights. Debris littered the marble floors, forcing them to climb over fallen beams and duck under broken support columns. Sparks rained from the ceiling like angry fireflies.

“Stay low” she whispered, pressing a hand to his back to guide him. “Watch for falling beams.”

Kai nodded, determination sharpening in his eyes now. The old Kai she knew flickered through—a flash of the warrior she remembered.

They reached a fork in the hallway, one path leading toward a collapsed wing, the other plunging into darkness. Kai paused, breathing heavily, then pointed to the left.

“This way. The throne room is at the end of the royal wing—”

Kai swung open the last door. Nya recognized the place instantly—familiar and yet haunting from this angle. But before she could breathe a sigh of relief—

An enormous, grey hand lunged from the shadows and closed around Kai’s neck.

Nya’s instincts exploded. Like a force possessed, she grabbed the spear from her back and lunged—

It.

That was the only way she could describe it.

A hulking, grey mass, only in shape resembling humanoid — more like a twisted flesh and muscle, twice the size of any man — loomed in the doorway. Its thick, meaty hand clamped around Kai’s neck, lifting him like a rag doll. Kai kicked and twisted, gasping, coughing, desperately trying to get air.

There was sickening smell hanging in the room. A stench she couldn’t quite place, mixed together with the acrid smoke and the sharp tang of burnt metal.

Nya roared, driving the spear deep into the creature’s stomach, so deep she felt the handle thud against its unnatural skin.

It glanced down at her. Something that resembled human male face. Cracked in wicked smile. The creature didn't even flinch.

With its other hand, it reached for her waist, its fingers digging like iron bars. She felt her ribs bend under the pressure before it hurled her into the wall.

Nya cried out as her back slammed against the scorched stone. Her burns screamed in agony, but she forced herself to focus. Her vision blurred, then steadied. She had to keep fighting.

He was colossal—towering in both height and sheer bulk. Her spear jutted from his gut, curving slightly as it pierced through a faded “L” tattoo inked on his belly. A loose vest hung limply over one shoulder, barely concealing his grotesque form. He was a monstrous parody of a biker, with tattoos, skulls decorations, and sleeveless jacket.

She was surrounded. A dozen more had encircled her, their faces twisted into smiles beneath smudged skull makeup. Each wore a chaotic patchwork of punk biker clothes with weapon in their hands. Knives, metal rods, pipes, even a katana. Thankfully, she didn’t spot any range weapons or firearms.

The massive brute let out a low laugh, yanking her spear free with a single hand. The other hand still gripped Kai’s neck, mercilessly choking him.

“Is this the Princeling… or the Green Ninja?” he rasped, cocking his head unnaturally on a thick neck nearly swallowed by folds of flesh. His voice was low and mocking. Almost inhuman.

Nya lunged forward again, rage clouding her senses—

She didn’t even see the metal pipe swinging at her already burned back. She crumpled to the ground, gasping, before a crushing weight pinned her down. Several goons piled onto her, forcing her cheek to the cold floor as she struggled, thrashing fiercely.

But she was outnumbered.

With cheek smashed to the floor, crooked with head, she helplessly yelled in fury.

Her fury boiled over. She clenched her fists, gathering water from the air, and released it in a burst of high-pressure force, blasting the goons away and sending herself upright.

She immediately turned her eyes to the monstrous brute—

—but fire erupted suddenly, covering its face.

Kai’s fire.

Fire that came from Kai's palm

A groan of irritation rumbled from the creature’s throat as his grip on Kai loosened—just for a heartbeat, but enough for Kai to slip from his grasp.

“Kai!” Nya shouted, rushing to him. He was on his hands and knees, gasping for breath, eyes wide and panicked.

“Killow! Stop playing with him!— Knock him out already!” someone barked behind her.

Killow’s voice laughed low.

“The Quiet One didn’t want to hurt you. But it looks like the damage is done.”

Another thug lunged at Nya, knife glinting in the firelight. She dodged and struck him with a stream of water, sending him in air.

Killow’s burned face split into a grin, revealing missing teeth. Before Kai could crawled back away, Killow’s massive hands closed around his throat. Two meaty palms pressing under Kai’s chin, cutting off his air.

Nya let out a hoarse, furious roar, charging at Killow—

A body slammed into her from the side, knocking her off balance. She shoved it away and found Cole there, fists glowing, the ghostly scar on his forehead pulsing with light.

“Nya?!”

“Kai! They’ve got Kai!” She pointed at the monstrous brute.

Killow was already barrelling away, Kai limp over his shoulder.

“Prince?!” Cole yelled.

Nya didn’t hesitate. She spun into Spinjitzu, water swirling around her as she launched herself through the air toward Killow’s back—

And yet again she was blasted aside by a force that sent her sprawling—

Her Consciousness flickered, as her body hit the ground hard.

…

She woke moments later, being half-dragged by Cole, her body numb. Cool night air brushed her face, cleansing her from the feeling of sweat and pain.

It was dark. Possible middle of the night.

“Cole…?” she croaked, trying to stand on her own. “Did we—”

“…No.” He said, voice heavy. “We’re retreating.”

She looked back at the palace. Flames consumed it, the structure collapsing in real time. Nothing could be saved. And the banners, half ignited from the heat—

Where once had flown the Emperor’s sigil, now hung twisted symbols: the Sons of Garmadon’s mark. Orange, violet, and black colours flickered over the defaced crest, mocking everything that once was.

Suddenly, the darkness deepened, an unnatural shadow swallowing the night sky. Above, she heard the hum of engines. Looking up, she spotted the Destiny’s Bounty, its lights cutting through the smoke.

A ladder dropped down to them.

“Can you climb on your own?” Cole asked, grabbing the swaying rope.

“What—what about Kai?” Her eyes darted frantically. “We need to go after him. We need to—”

Cole shook his head.

“We don’t know where they were headed. We need to regroup, Nya. For now.”

He reached out her hand, but she slapping it away.

“Kai—they took him! You saw it! We can’t just—”

“Guys?!” Jay’s voice crackled from above. “You coming? We need to get out—ASAP!”

Cole looked at her with an exhausted expression, then reached for her again, gripping her arm and pulling her toward the ladder.

They climbed up together. On deck, Zane was talking to Pixal through a screen, Jay steering the wheel, and Lloyd speaking softly to princess, trying to calm her.

They all looked defeated.

Jay spotted them and rushed over. He pulled Nya into a tight hug. She winced in pain, her burned back screaming. She pushed him away, hissing.

“You’re hurt?” he asked, alarmed.

“No, I’m perfectly fine.” She snapped, then quickly softened. “It’s nothing.” She brushed past him, heading straight for Lloyd.

Jay grabbed her arm, but she yanked it free, her gaze locked on Lloyd.

“We need to go back!” She demanded, her voice steely. “They took Kai.”

Lloyd slowly turned to her, torn from his conversation with the princess. Harumi’s face froze at the mention of Kai’s name.

“Nya—They took the mask too. We’re trying to—”

“What about my brother?”

Nya’s head snapped toward Harumi, her brow furrowed. A cold knot twisted in her gut.

She hated it—hearing her call him “my brother.”

She ignored Harumi’s question and faced Lloyd again.

“We’re going back.” She said firmly. “A guy named Killow took him.”

“Nya—” Lloyd started, his tone calm but strained, “We can’t just charge back in. We need a plan. We don’t know where they’ve gone—”

“Then we find out.” She cut him off.

Lloyd clenched his jaw, inhaling slowly before speaking.

“Okay—” he said, his tone controlled, hands lowering as if to steady the storm. “Zane is working on it. Please—get your wounds treated, get some rest.”

“And do nothing?” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “While Kai is being held by those fanatics?!”

“Nya, calm down—” Jay started from behind her, but his words only added fuel on the fire.

“Calm down?!” she exploded, rounding on him. “You’re all too calm!” Her eyes darted wildly, wet with tears she refused to let fall. “None of you care about him! You don’t care because you don’t remember him! You don’t know him!”

She was shaking now, her fists clenched, her breathing ragged. She didn’t care about anything else. She just wanted Kai back. She wanted her brother. She wanted everything to be normal again, her normal.

“Nya.”
“What?!” She snapped, whipping her head toward the voice.

On the higher deck, Sensei Wu stood with his staff in hand, his gaze steady, calm, yet heavy with meaning.

“Sensei—” she breathed, her voice catching.

“Lloyd told me about your condition.” He said, his voice low but firm. “Please, listen to your brothers. Come to my room. There’s much to talk. About the time that never was.”

Cole and Jay exchanged puzzled glances, then looked back at Sensei Wu. Lloyd gave them a silent nod, signalling he would explain later.

Nya turned and hurried to the stairs, drawn toward Wu like a moth to a flame.

“What—what about Emperor and Empress? Where are they? And Hutchins?” the princess cried out, her voice trembling with desperation.

“Dead.” Nya spat, gripping the stair rail like it was the only thing holding her together.

Lloyd shot her a sharp glare as the princess crumpled, sobbing into his arms.

…

They sat on the pillows, Wu quietly pouring a cup of tea for Nya. Neither spoke a word at first.

“Drink.” He said gently, setting the cup before her. “For your wounds.”

Then he rose and went to a nearby drawer, retrieving a wooden chest.

“I know you won’t tend to them before we talk, but please, don’t neglect the state of your body and mind. Both are important.”

He placed the chest on the table and opened it to reveal a small medical kit.

Nya stared at it blankly, uncertain how to react.

“Krux. Acronix—” she began.

“I know, Nya.” Wu interrupted softly. “Lloyd told me about it.” He rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. “Only a handful of people know about those Elemental Masters. And you, Nya—” he gave her a steady look, “you are one of them.”

“Then—”

“Returning to your own time is uncertain.” Wu said gently. “I cannot give you clear answer just yet.” He paused, closing his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry, Nya. I will need to study it more. You must give me time.” He opened his eyes and looked at her with quiet gravity. “However” he continued, “this, unfortunately, must wait. Ninjago is facing more immediate threats. Ones that demand our full attention.”

Nya exhaled, her shoulders slumping as the anger built inside her. She understood—she really did—but…
She just wanted to go home. Her home, not this tangled, half-familiar world that felt like a shadow of her own.

Wu’s voice broke her thoughts.

“There’s another matter you need to be aware of. There is one “you” in time, at least in this case. Right now, your memories from your own timeline are overwriting those of this time. But the longer you remain here, the more those memories will start to merge. Both sets of memories will blur together, and eventually you won’t be able to tell which events belong to which timeline.”

Nya’s eyes widened, a cold shiver creeping up her spine.

“You mean I could forget… where I came from? My real home?”

Her voice cracked with disbelief.

Wu nodded solemnly.

“Yes. Memories are fragile, Nya, especially when they collide across different paths of time. If you stay here too long, the lines will blur. You may not even realize it’s happening.”

Her heart pounded. All she could see was Kai’s face, his real face, the one from her time, before all this chaos. She clutched her chest.

“Then we need to find a way to get me back. I can’t—”

Wu’s eyes softened, but his voice was calm and measured.

“It won’t happen overnight, this unravelling of memory takes years. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to help, to prevent it or at least delay it. But remember, Nya… Sometimes, even with all our skills, time has a will of its own.” He placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “For now, we must focus on what lies ahead. Kai’s safety. Ninjago’s safety. And your own strength.”

Nya closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath. She wanted to scream, to tear the confusion from her mind and find her way back home. But Wu’s steady presence gave her a little comfort.

“Alright.” She whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. “But promise me, Sensei. Promise me you won’t give up.”

Wu nodded.

“I promise.”

And in that moment, for the first time since she arrived, Nya felt a small spark of hope. Even in this strange world, there were still bonds that could not be broken.

“Now… Your brother…” Wu nodded thoughtfully “ You told Lloyd that Prince Kaisei is the missing Kai Jiang-Smith” he said quietly. “Can you explain that to me?”

…

Next morning they landed at the place that Nya didn’t quite recognize. Surrounded by open sea, hiding behind high rocks, a perfect spot to retreat.

Nya stepped out onto the deck, the salty breeze filling her lungs as her body finally felt lighter, healing. Wu’s tea, careful bandaging, and much-needed rest were working their magic. Her mind cleared, the fog of exhaustion lifting slightly.

Though she still refused to give up, she now faced her challenges with a steadier, more realistic resolve.

Lloyd and the princess were already on deck, locked in one of their tense conversation. Nya clicked her tongue at the sight. She owed the princess an apology for her harsh words yesterday.

“Morning.” Nya greeted, approaching them.

Lloyd gave a muted hum in response. The princess bowed slightly, her expression unreadable. Her poised, controlled demeanour betrayed no sign that Nya’s words had ever stung. It was strange, especially after the fierce glare the princess had shot at her in the palace.

“Any news?” Nya asked.

Lloyd shook his head.

“Nothing yet.”

Nya glanced at the princess.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Nya offered, immediately regretting her words coming from her mouth.

The princess nodded.

“Thank you. You’ve all been gracious to take me in since our palace was… taken.“ She started to hesitate, fidgeting her fingers.

Nya swallowed hard.

“I was an asshole” she blurted out “I shouldn’t have said so harshly. Saving Kai—that’s our priority. My priority.”

Harumi blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“May I ask you why?”

“It’s complicated.” She said, retreating toward the control room, avoiding further princess questions.

As soon she walked in, she came up to the computer, seeing Pixal interface on the screen. Jay was there too, speaking with her on another screen. He glanced at her, with uneasy expression.

Nya frowned, shooting Jay a sharp look before turning her attention to the files before her.

“Nya.” Pixal’s robotic voice echoed through the room. “Zane and Cole have re-interviewed the burglar involved in the Mask of Vengeance heist. They are planning to go undercover at the bikers’ nightclub.”

Nya’s brow furrowed deeply.

“You… you had this information and only now you’re sharing it with me?”

“It was my decision,” Jay responded calmly.

“… Why?” a mix of frustration and hurt were bubbling beneath her question.

“Because you’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment, Nya.” He said softly, his tone carrying a weight of concern and regret. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Please, can we just… talk? About everything that happened. Lloyd told me everything.”

“No.” She shot back instantly, turning away from him to fix her gaze on the screen.

Silence settled heavily between them.

“…We’re also planning to go with Lloyd to Mystake to talk about Masks” he pressed on “Sensei wants to speak with your parents about… the prince. Kaisei, Kai—” his words faltered, frustration creeping in. “Damn it, Nya, you could have told me! You could have told me that the prince was Kai or about time travel—”

She let out a bitter laugh, eyes narrowing.

“And what? To Hear that I need to move on? Or that I had hit too hard?”

Jay swallowed hard and gave up on pressing the topic further.

They stayed in the same room a while longer, both of them in silence, focused on their own tasks.

Nya barely noticed when Jay quietly slipped away from Destiny’s Bounty alongside Lloyd, leaving her alone with her spinning thoughts.

Chapter Text

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

He looked up at the blinding light, the only source in this pit of darkness.

His breath came in ragged gasps, each exhalation a shivering cloud of mist. The water had reached his shoulders, lapping cold and relentless. His fingernails were torn, the raw stubs oozing blood. His throat burned from the constant screaming, the bitter, sour taste of the contained water that he drunk, left a mix of blood, his vomits, and who knows what else—on his tongue. And exhaustion, an endless, restless exhaustion, clung to every fiber of his being.

How long.

How long?

His eyes were dry from crying. He stared upward, desperate for any face, any sign of help.

He had tried so hard to ignore what lay before him. His nose had long grown numb to the stench of rot. 

He closed eyes, trembling. The image was burned into his mind, growing more vivid and monstrous with each passing hour.

Let the rain come. Let the storm come. Let it all end.

He forced himself to look once more.

Wet, tangled black hair drifted on the water’s surface, a dark mass that brushed against Kai’s arms whenever he moved in this claustrophobic hell. The head, propped against the jagged rock, lay at an unnatural angle, too flat. The blood that had once stained the stone had long since been washed away. The arms laying like a rag doll, once slim with beautiful pearl skin, now bloated from too much water in it.

He was jealous.

Why couldn't he had fall and die quickly as she did?

...

Tap.

Kai jolted awake at the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. The dense humidity clung to his skin, washing his sweat with liquefied water.

Was it now? Was it his dream? Was it past?

It was dark. Wet.

He felt his shoes soaking in a shallow puddle.

He couldn't be back there.

He couldn't.

He scrambled to his feet, pressing a hand against the wall. Panic welled up, and his breathing turned ragged, shallow. His fingers clawed at the stone, nails scraping across the rough surface, seeking any crack. He faced then wall fully, pressing his forehead against the cold brick, desperate for some anchor in this nightmare. His fingers dug into the crevices, nails splitting and bleeding, not stopping, no matter of what cost.

He broke in cry, tears streaming down his cheeks. He sobbed, his body shaking with each breath.

...

He lay crumpled in the corner, away from any puddle of water, hiccupping with broken sobs.

How long.

"Harumi" he mumbled.

He needed her. He needed her comfort, her hug, her words.

Harumi. Harumi. Harumi

She was the one who could make everything go away.

She was the one who could help him forget.

She was the one who could save him.

Harumi. Harumi. Harumi.

She had saved him. She had saved him before. She had pulled him from that hell.

She could do it again. She could save him now.

Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi.

He whispered her name over and over, the word tumbling out between ragged breaths, a desperate mantra that offered no solace.

Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi.

He chanted it like a prayer, his voice trembling, tears falling unchecked.

Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. Harumi. 

...

He woke up again at the sound of water dripping.

Had he ever gotten out of there?

Was any of it even real?

Had he died back then, and now he was trapped in Cursed Realm, paying for his sins?

For not watching over his sisters?

For failing as their older brother?

...

He stared blankly at the stone wall, too afraid to look forward, to see that same burned image.

He wondered if he slammed his head against the wall enough times—would it be enough to kill him?

Could he then die like her?

...

Suddenly, light flooded in with a crack, the sound of a door creaking open.

He jerked his head violently, shielding his face from the sudden blindness.

“Hey! Careful!” A voice called out from the distance. “I can walk on my own! Geez!”

“Shut up!” another voice snapped.

Kai slowly uncovered his eyes, blinking in confusion. He saw a man roughly shoving another into the room, sending him sprawling onto the ground.

In the room fell darkness again, with the closing door.

Relief washed over Kai’s chest. There was a door. He was locked in a room. He hadn’t fallen.

Kai blinked, struggling to adjust his eyes to the dark. He could barely make out the outline of the other person.

Kai curled even tighter into the corner, unsure if he was hallucinating or dreaming.

The person dusted themselves off.

“Geez. You could be more gentle, Zane.” They muttered under their breath. They began to look around, then jumped when they noticed Kai in the corner. “First Spinjitzu Master…” They mumbled, then added “This darkness is driving me crazy.”

“Me too.” Kai whispered back.

The person jumped again, nearly ready to scream.

“For the Overlord’s eyes! You—” they exclaimed, then took a hesitant step toward Kai. But Kai shrank even further into the corner. “Are you alright?” The voice softened, directed fully at Kai now.

“Are you real?” Kai wasn’t sure if he was trying to lighten the mood or genuinely asking.

The person crouched down. Kai could finally see their outline: a round face, long hair tied into a short bun, and arms cuffed in handcuffs in front of them.

The man studied Kai, then his eyes widened in recognition.

“Prince… Kaisei? Your Highness?!”

Kai just nodded.

"That's a relief! We— we’ve all been trying to find you! Oh, thanks, First Spinjitzu Master! Don’t worry, prince! We’ll get you out of here!"

Kai sank his head into his knees.
That wasn’t real.

"Hey, I promise, everything will be alright now—" the man said, resting his cuffed hands on Kai’s shoulder and shaking him gently. "Harumi is with us—"

At the sound of her name, Kai’s head shot up, eyes wide.

"Rumi—Rumi—Harumi— Where—" The words tumbled out, his mind reeling. He grabbed the man’s shirt, ignoring the pain it caused.

"She’s with us! Don’t worry—safe and sound." The man patted his shoulder. "I’ve got a plan to bust us out, okay? You’ll be with her soon."

It couldn’t be true. There was no way out of this hell.

"First Spinjitzu Master—" the man’s voice trembled. "What the hell did they do to you?" He reached for Kai’s hand. Kai recoiled, yanking it away. "Sorry." the man mumbled.

Kai stared at him with doubt.

"...Who are you?"

"Right— I didn’t say my name. Cole. Cole, the Black Ninja— I was back at the palace, remember?"

Palace. Ninjas’ invitation. Mask. The attack—

“Emperor… Empress—Harumi—”

“Harumi is alright!” Cole said quickly. “Your parents, though…” His shoulders slumped in the darkness. “They… they didn’t make it.”

Kai closed his eyes, trembling, fighting back the tears. It’s okay. Harumi survived. That’s what mattered.

“I… I’m sorry.” Cole said, sitting down next to him and leaning against the wall. The space was so tight that his arm pressed against Kai’s.

“Don’t be.” Kai whispered, pressing his hand against his nose to muffle the sound of his sob. “They… weren’t the best parents.”

“Oh.”

Silence fell. The steady tap of water dripping was the only sound in the room. He couldn’t stand it. It only made the memories come back stronger. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to see that non-existent corpses in the corner.

“Hey… are you alright?” Cole asked again. “Okay, stupid question—you’re not alright—”

Kai tried to steady his breath. Instead, his heart pounded even harder—like it might jump out of his chest at any moment.

Cole noticed. He reached out and took Kai’s trembling hand in his own large hands.

“Are you… claustrophobic?”

Kai didn’t answer. He didn’t care to. He was too busy trying, failing, to stop the panicked hyperventilating, which only made it worse.

“Shit—breathe, okay? I mean, breathe slowly—” Cole stood up and crouched in front of him, still holding Kai’s hand. “Focus on my voice, okay?”

Easier to tell, than do it— 

Tapping. That damn tapping still echoed in his ears.

“Hey!” The voice sounded muffled now, blurred. Kai felt himself being yanked, but he it didn’t reach to him. “Kaisei! Stay with me!” Cole shouted, but the words slipped in and out of Kai’s mind, leaving no meaning behind.

He was back there. He had never left. There was never any way out.

“Kaisei.” The voice was firmer. Still distant, but gentler, too. “Breathe in. Hold it. Now breathe out.” Cole patted Kai’s arm, then gripped his hand tightly again. “You’ll hold it as long as I tell you, okay? Everything’s going to be alright. Everything is alright. Breathe in…” He paused for a few seconds. “Breathe out… slowly.” Another pause. “Breathe in… hold it… breathe out.”

Kai didn’t know how long it took for Cole to calm him down. Cole was patient, slipping in soft reassurances between the measured breaths, touching him gently, not rushing.

It was hard. But it wasn’t impossible.

“I’m pathetic.” Kai whispered, as soon as he could string a thought together. He was still trembling, but at least he could speak.

“It’s alright. No worries. And you’re not pathetic.” Cole said, pointing a finger at him. Then he brushed a stray lock of hair out of Kai’s face. “Your hair’s a mess—did you style it yourself?”

Why was he so… touchy?

Kai had never been touched by anyone without his permission—except for Harumi. He valued personal space, personal distance. And this guy—Cole—was making that worse. Sitting next to him, holding his hand. Kai understood it was meant to calm him down, but now?

Touching his hair without asking?

“No.” Kai answered, trying to hide the tremble in his voice. “Harumi did.”

“Your sister, the princess? You two are pretty close, huh?”

Kai nodded.

“Makes sense.” Cole said, still patting Kai’s shoulder. “She had a beautiful hairstyle, too.”

Kai’s eyes flicked to Cole’s hand on his shoulder.

“I made it” he mumbled.

“You made it? Wow—professional job there” Cole chuckled. “So, you like hairstyling? Is that your hobby?”

Kai shrugged.

“Rumi hates when anyone touches her” he muttered.

Cole hummed, but his hand stayed on Kai’s shoulder. It was irritating.

“…What are you doing?” Kai snapped, shaking Cole’s hand off.

Cole’s eyes widened, taken aback.

“Oh—sorry. I was just trying to help you calm down. I thought small talk might—”

“I’m fine now.” Kai cut him off, voice sharp. “Stop touching me.”

“Um—sorry.” Cole drew his hands back and sat across from him, putting distance between them. “I— I was just trying to help.”

Even in the darkness, Kai’s glare was sharp.

“…Sorry.” Kai mumbled after a while, softer. Realizing maybe he shouldn’t have reacted like that.

“No, that’s alright” Cole hummed. Kai couldn’t see what he was doing in the darkness, but it seemed like Cole was avoiding his eyes.

“…How did they capture you?”

“Oh, yeah—that’s…” Cole chuckled awkwardly. “Interesting story.” He scooted closer, sitting next to Kai. Once again, Kai felt Cole’s skin brush against his, and the uncomfortable sensation returned. “Ugh, should I have asked to sit next to you?” Cole muttered, clearly noticing Kai’s expression.

“No” Kai shot back, a little harsher than intended.

Kai swallowed hard, trying to steady the sudden tightness in his chest. Every time Cole got close, the walls Kai had built around himself trembled. He wasn’t used to this—any touch, any closeness.

“Alright then—” Cole leaned in closer, so close Kai felt sick. “Actually, it’s part of the plan for me to get captured” he whispered.

“…What do you mean?”

“Shh! Not so loud!” Cole shot a quick glance toward the door, as if expecting someone to overhear. “So, the plan now is to infiltrate the Sons of Garmadon from the inside. Zane needed to gain their trust, so he put me under arrest.”

“…And?”

“And bust us out.”

“How?”

Cole smacked his tongue. “That part’s still up to us to figure out—”

Kai rolled his eyes. He was sure Cole couldn’t see it in the darkness, but the sound of his exasperation must have been obvious.

“Hey, don’t be so pessimistic. The plan’s already in progress—it’s getting better.”

Kai didn’t answer. He didn’t feel like talking anymore. The more he learned about these famous ninjas, the more they sounded like a bunch of kids fumbling in the dark.

“If I just—” Cole struggled against the handcuffs. “Remove this—” He pressed his lips together, trying to do something with his hands. “Stupid—” He inhaled sharply. “Vengstone…”

Cole let out a heavy sigh.

“Everything would be so much easier with my powers—” He leaned his head back so hard Kai heard a loud bang.

“It blocks your elemental powers?” Kai asked, half-curious, half-bored.

“Yeah. They can be handy—” Cole chuckled. “Get it? Handy, handcuffs?”

Kai scoffed.

“I thought that Blue Ninja was the one who made jokes.”

Cole burst out laughing.

“He makes them even worse than mine—”

Kai joined in, a genuine laugh breaking through for the first time. His anxiety loosened, even if just a little.

Silence settled between them, then Kai asked again.

“…Is Harumi really okay?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. Safe and sound, like I told you. Not a hair out of place on her head.”

“…Good.” Kai mumbled.

“…Say, Kaisei… Can I call you that?”

Kai just nodded.

“Do you… know Nya?”

“…The Cyan Ninja?”

“Yeeeaah… her…” Cole let the word hang in the air, as though it carried some deeper meaning.

How was Kai supposed to answer that? Should he pretend to be grateful for the time she had saved his life? Or pretend he had forgotten how she had stalked him, creeping him out? She even had said something weird to him during the explosion too, hadn’t she?

“…No.” He finally shot back, a little too coldly.

“Oh. I see.”

“You don’t see shit” Kai muttered, instantly regretting it. He felt guilty, awkward. Ungrateful for Cole’s help. His nerves were getting the better of him.

“True.” Cole laughed lightly, nudging him with his shoulder. “See? That’s about Jay’s level of jokes.” His grin flashed white teeth in the dim light, his handcuffs clinking. “Hey—are you any good at lock picking?”

Kai blinked, genuinely confused.

“Right. Yeah. That was—stupid of me.” Cole sighed. “I guess we’ll just have to wait for Zane.” He let the last part fall quiet, and sighed again.

The silence fall again. And with that—

Kai’s mind flickered with an idea. He didn’t know if he could do the same trick again, but…

“… Could this… Venge… whatever it was—be melted?”

“Melted? What do you mean?” Cole’s brow furrowed.

That wouldn’t work anyway. He had just gotten lucky that one time he used his powers against that monster. Kai hadn’t been able to use his powers properly for so long. And it wasn’t like he had ever had that level of control back then.

“Nothing.” He muttered, dismissing the thought. “Just—give me a hairpin if you have one.”

“Wait—seriously? You’re gonna lockpick with that?”

“Got a better idea?” Kai asked, a hint of defiance in his voice. He stretched out his hand, palm up, waiting for Cole to hand hairpin over.

Cole must have been surprised, because he hesitated a second before reaching up and pulling a pin from his bun, his hair falling loose around his shoulders.

“Aren’t you a prince? How the hell did you learn how to pick locks?”

Kai didn’t answer, ignoring the question as he straightened the hairpin and bent over the cuffs. It was so dark he could barely make out the outline of the lock. He focused, feeling for the tiny shift inside the mechanism.

…

He forced his breathing steady. One wrong move and he would snap the pin.

“…If you try on the left side—”

“I got it” Kai snapped.

He hated it. Hated the way Cole’s breath hit his ear, hated the way Cole leaned too close, their hands brushing. The press of another person so near made him sick to his stomach.

He’d been working at the lock for at least twenty minutes now—each click and grind of metal building his frustration.

“Maybe if you give me for—”

“I got it” he hissed again, sharper this time.

It made him exhausted, weak, every second of Cole’s presence draining his strength.

Click.

He almost didn’t believe it himself.

Cole’s eyes widened.

“No way. You actually—”

Kai looked up at him, a cold smile tugging at his lips.

“Told you.”

Kai sighed and stepped back. As soon as he did, the exhaustion lifted from his shoulders.
What was that? Probably the tension.

Cole swung his newly freed hands, stretching them out.
“Sweet! Thanks, man!”

“Now can you open the door, please?” Kai’s tone was flat, but relief showed in the slight drop of his shoulders.

“You got this—”

Suddenly, a faint green glow flickered across Cole’s forehead, then marks on his arms lighting up and casting yellow light around the room. Kai instinctively took a step back. Was that Cole’s elemental power manifesting?

Cole was about to ram the door down, he took a few steps back, ready to charge—

But before he could run, a blinding light flooded the room.

The door was open.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, the light casting his silhouette.

“Hurry up! Before they notice!”

Kai blinked against the brightness, eyes adjusting.

“Zane!” Cole grinned. “Aren't you a sight for my sore eyes!”

“Did they hurt your eyes?” The calm, but concerned voice of Zane replied.

“Not exactly!”

They exchanged a quick bear hug. Kai just stood in the darkness, watching them like it was some kind of weird ritual. Only after a moment did Cole seem to notice that Kai was left behind.

“Oh—right! Zane, we found the prince!” Cole exclaimed, beaming, and pushed Kai out of the cell.

Kai shielded his eyes from the sudden light, grimacing as he was yanked from the darkness. When he finally looked up at their rescuer, his eyes narrowed.

Both of them wore the most ridiculous disguises—like cheap cosplayers trying to pass as street thugs, all oversized jackets and flashy colours. If Cole hadn’t said Zane’s name, Kai would never have recognized him as the same Ice Elemental Master he had met in the palace.

They were in a narrow corridor, the brick walls slick with moisture. Kai bit his lip, feeling an unease crawl up his chest.

“Kaisei, this is Zane.” Cole clapped a hand on his shoulder, jolting him from his thoughts. “He’s here to save us.”

“Actually,” Zane replied, his tone flat, “you’re going to save yourselves.” He bowed stiffly. “Good to see you again, Your Highness.” Then he turned and started walking down the corridor, expecting them to follow. “I’ve prepared an escape route” he continued. “According to my scans, we’re in an abandoned subway station.”

Cole hurried after him, glancing back at Kai, who was still frozen in place. He grabbed Kai’s wrist and tugged gently.

“Don’t worry, Kaisei. Come on—” He smiled, trying to be encouraging.

Zane turned back, his eyes flickering with an unnatural blue light.

“Your stress levels are abnormally high given in calculation the circumstances.” He noted, his gaze dropping to Kai’s ragged fingertips. When Kai realized Zane was staring, he quickly hid his hands behind his back. “Do you require psychological treatment?”

“Zane!” Cole hissed, warning him off.

Zane blinked, expression unreadable, then turned back down the corridor.

Kai didn’t respond. He fell into step beside them. He only wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible.

“I’ll guide you to the exit” Zane said, “then I’ll leave you.”

“Wait—what?” Cole asked, still holding Kai’s wrist. “Why?”

It was unnecessary and irritating. But at least it distracted Kai from the crawling dread in his gut.

“I have a scheduled meeting with the Sons of Garmadon’s leader” Zane said. “They call themselves the Quiet One.”

Zane suddenly signalled them to duck behind a corner. Someone was coming.

The corridor was scrawled with graffiti in symbols Kai didn’t recognize. Packages were stacked everywhere, giving the place the look of an abandoned warehouse rather than a subway station.

“Quiet One? What kind of name is that?” Cole muttered.

“The gang’s names are… odd,” Zane replied. “Under the Quiet One are three high-ranking members: Killow, Ultra Violet, and Mr. E.”

“Man, and I thought my Rocky Dangerbuff was the worst name I’d ever heard,” Cole grumbled.

“Statistically speaking, your name is far more… Odd.” Zane said in that unsettlingly flat voice that left Kai unsure if it was supposed to be sarcasm or a simple statement of fact.

“Can we focus on getting out of here?” Kai snapped, irritation bubbling in his chest. He felt like a package being carted from point A to point B.

“Affirmative.” Zane replied, his voice cold and mechanical. “There’s also information I should share before we proceed.” He turned to Kai, his expression unsettlingly blank. Like he was trying to frown but didn’t know how. “Our initial assumptions about the biker gang were incorrect” he continued. “We’re dealing with a dangerous, fanatical cult.”

Cole’s brow furrowed.

“Well, they’ve always been dangerous and fanatical.” he muttered, pulling Kai against the wall.

Seriously—was Kai just cargo to them?

“Affirmative.” Zane said. “However, this time, the situation is comparable to Chen’s Anacondrai cult.”

Cole stopped dead, his face darkening.

“Seriously?” He glanced at Kai. “Shit.”

Kai blinked. Was it some secret code between them?

“Yes, indeed.” Zane confirmed, his tone chillingly calm. “Proceed with extreme caution.”

Cole swallowed hard, then turned to Kai, his grip on Kai’s arm tightening.

“Kaisei, listen to me. When I say close your eyes, you close them. When I say duck, you duck. Got it?”

Kai frowned, refusing to answer.

“It’s for your own good, okay?”

Kai still didn’t respond, but Cole’s hand on his arm stayed firm.

Without waiting for a reply, Cole dragged him forward, following Zane’s lead deeper into the corridor.

Suddenly, they pulled Kai into a half-open room.

Cole’s hand came over Kai’s face, covering his mouth, but something even more sinister clouded his mind.
The stench.

The sharp, rotting stench of decaying bodies mixed with dampness. He knew that smell all too well.

Cole went pale, then green, covering his nose as his expression shifted from focused, to shocked, to outright disgusted.

Zane quietly shut the door behind them, pressing a finger to his lips in a warning to stay silent.

“And that’s it for our precautions, huh?” Cole muttered irritably through his pinched nose. “Zane, any chance of a reroute?”

Zane shot him a glare that clearly said 'shut it' and leaned against the wall, listening to the footsteps outside.

Kai scanned the room, illuminated by a flickering fluorescent lamp that buzzed with its characteristic clicking.

It looked like an abandoned butcher shop—tilted floors cracked with age, faded stickers advertising meat, the shattered glass of the counter now dark with grime.

Kai’s eyes looked over a ladder. A blackened mass, crawling with maggots, that had once resembled meat made Kai’s stomach churn at the sight of it.

Cole saw where Kai was looking and yanked him closer, trying to shield him from the sight.

Too close. Kai’s chest tightened. Too close.

He yanked himself away.

“Please, hold any sudden movements.” Zane whispered, his voice low but calm. “Cole’s only trying to keep you from seeing what can’t be unseen.”

“I can take care of myself” Kai hissed back, pulling even harder. “I’m not as fragile as you think.”

“Kaisei, please.” Cole cut in, his voice both firm and pleading. “We’re just trying to get you out safely. That means both physically and—” He hesitated, lips pressing together. “Mentally, too.”

Kai’s eyes flashed.

“Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?” His voice rose just enough to make Cole glance at Zane in panic, but Zane only nodded, signalling it hadn’t compromised their cover.

“Anger is understandable” Zane said, his tone as flat as ever. “But it’s not advisable. We need to keep moving.”

Kai let out a frustrated scoff and sighed.

"Please, just get me out of here." He said, his voice cracking into something dangerously close to begging "I... I hate it here" he whispered.

Cole laid a hand on his shoulder, his smile painfully gentle.

“It’s okay, Kaisei. I’d be shitting my pants in your place.” He chuckled softly. “You’re doing great. Soon, you’ll be back with Harumi. Okay?”

Kai hated that smile.

Zane’s eyes flickered with a subtle glow as his scanner activated, leaving a faint holographic grid wherever he looked. Kai shifted his gaze from Cole to Zane, yanking free from Cole’s hands again, this time more naturally.

There was no point in being hostile towards people who genuinely wanted to help him.

“There should be an exit at the back, leading to the abandoned track depot” Zane said, shutting down his scanner. “From there, turn left, and you’ll reach the surface.”

“Seems like a solid plan” Cole replied, his tone tense. “Zane, you go first. Your disguise hasn’t been compromised like mine.” He covered his nose with his elbow, grimacing. “And besides, you’re the only one who can stand this stench.”

Zane nodded and took the lead, heading toward the half-open door of the freezer.

Cole followed, gesturing for Kai to stay close, but this time, he didn’t grab his wrist.

They stepped into a defrosted freezer room that was surprisingly large, given that they were still underground. Rows of rotting meat hung from hooks, oozing putrid fluids and reeking of decay. The smell that already made Kai's stomach churn, he had to fight the urge to gag. He thought he would never have to smell it again, yet here he was, surrounded by rot.

They all kept a careful distance from the hanging meat, as if proximity alone might make them sick.

The only light source of light in this dreadful place was Zane’s artificial eyes, glimmering like a beacon.

Kai wished to be with Harumi again.

When they finally reached the door marked 'EXIT', half-illuminated by a green sign, a rush of relief washed over him. Even though the freezer was only a few meters long, every step had felt like a lifetime.

The vast, cavernous space opened up before them as the doors creaked aside. Bathed in the ominous glow of red alarm lamps, the scene revealed a tangle of tracks that ended abruptly in wall. A network of metallic supports jutted from the walls and ceiling, holding the cavern together. Barely.

Something crystalline clung to the structure, catching the red light, but Kai couldn’t make it out from this distance. Rocks littered the ground, fragments from the ceiling’s partial collapse, were blocking their path.

“No signs of life detected.” Zane reported, straightening from his crouched position. “But please keep your voices down. The subway was abandoned due to structural instability. Any loud noise could trigger another collapse.”

“Perfect hideout for a loud, punk biker gang” Cole muttered, weaving between the fallen debris. “Though… there’s something off about the ground here.” He paused mid-step, his brow furrowing. “Huh. It’s disrupted in a way I’ve never felt before.”

As they continued, the crystals embedded in the rocks began to show themselves more clearly. They glowed with an eerie red light, reflecting every movement like watchful eyes.

Kai caught sight of his own reflection, multiplied and distorted. A ghost stared back at him. His hair now hung down, tangled and matted. The richly decorated green robes that once marked his status were torn and filthy, smeared with blood, sweat, and mud. His eyes, sunken with eye bags, revealed in full glory ugliness of his scar on one eye.

He shivered at the sight. He looked exactly as he had that day. The day he had escaped that hell.

B̷̜̀̈́ͅe̵͕͐a̵͍͛̃ȓ̷̥̞̋e̵̻͗r̶̗͓͌ ̴͈͒̿ǫ̷͐f̶̞̞͐ ̶̙͂̅ẗ̸͖̥́͋h̸̗̉͂e̵̜͘̕ ̴̝̋l̶̪̫͝ö̸̘́̎s̷͔͍̎̔t̵͖̲̀͂ ̶̩̻͋F̷̫͕̆͋í̵̟̘r̵͖̀e̷̺̅ ̸̝͂͑Ē̴̦̦l̸̞͝e̴͛͜m̸͓̕ḕ̶̼̰ǹ̷̩̹̊t̸̻̓͛,̸̤̈́̐ ̴͍̇ḥ̶̊ȅ̷̬ ̵̙͍͑ẃ̸͍̻h̴̛͎̘o̸̮̹̒̿m̶͎͂̾ ̶̩͙̈I̸̞̐͝ ̵͈̂s̸̲̦̆ḧ̶̨̘́a̵̫̙͐ĺ̵̹̺̿l̶̻̈́̈́ ̷̜́̉s̶̭̎̚p̵̟̒a̷͛͜ŕ̸̥̠ẹ̴͉̾̃.̶̼̝̂

A voice.
Cold.
Sickening.
Like the sound of death itself.

Kai flinched, stumbling backward into Cole.

“Hey—what’s wrong, Kaisei?” Cole caught him, steadying him with a firm grip on his shoulder. His voice softened instantly. “Hey, hey, it’s okay.”

“Did you—did you hear that?” Kai’s voice trembled.
“Hear what?” Cole’s brow furrowed.
“My sensors did not record any auditory anomalies.” Zane interjected in his flat, mechanical tone.

Cole glanced at Zane, confusion in his eyes.

“Kaisei, are you alright?” Cole repeated with his reassuring voice.

Kai swallowed loudly and pull away from Cole.

The voice was real. He knew it.

He hardly understood what it said.

Kai tried to breathe, but the voice still echoed in his mind. Like a promise, like a curse.

“Let’s… Let’s just go” Kai muttered, with his voice trembling.

Zane and Cole exchanged puzzle expression. Kai knew this kind of look. And it made him irritated even more. Without waiting for their response, he pursued further, now taking the lead.

The stench refused to fade. They were already far from that place of rot, yet to Kai, it felt as if it clung even more. Growing stronger with every step. The crimson glow of the crystals intensified, creating a claustrophobic tunnel.

Then, at last, he stepped free of the crystalline path and stepped into a vast open space.

A shadow loomed across the far wall. A towering altar bathed in the oppressive red light. Strange symbols snaked up the wall in tight, tangled ribbons, as if they’d grown from the altar itself.

Kai eyes shifted to the altar’s surface.

A body.

He blinked once. Twice.

It was a naked human body, impaled through the stomach with a massive red, maybe magenta, crystal. Smaller crystals had sprouted across her skin like a grotesque fungus, and one limp hand dangled over the edge, lifeless.

Kai stepped closer, unable to look away.

A woman.

The skin was bloated and waxy from the damp, and Kai understood now—the smell was coming from her.

His chest clenched. Her blond hair, matted with dried blood, clung to the inhuman grey of her skin.

He knew her.

She had worked at the palace once, only for a short while, but enough that he would remember her face.

And she wasn’t alone.

In the dim red glow, Kai’s eyes flicked past her, and he saw it. A heap of bodies, stacked like discarded refuse in the corner, each one crusted over in those same crimson-magenta crystals. Their pale skin, split and bloated, glistened wetly in the half-light.

The sickly scent of decay was everywhere.

“First Spinjitzu Master—fuck!” Cole raw and trembling voice echoed in the hall. He yanked Kai backward, hard. “Fuck! This is fucking worse than Chen!” he spat, his voice rising.

Even Zane faltered, his normally calm expression shadowed by shock. His eyes glowing now with red, stared at the altar. Processing of what was before him.

Cole steadied himself, but he was shaking so hard that Kai could feel it in his own bones.

Cole face had gone pale, green at the edges, like he might vomit at any moment.

“Sick bastards!” he muttered, voice cracking. He pulled Kai closer. “Fuck—Kaisei, are you with us?”

“Fuck—we’re getting out of here, like right now!” Cole snapped, his voice raw with panic.

“Hold it!” Zane shot back, his voice sharper than usual. “Lower your voice.”

Cole pulled Kai into a rough hug, shielding him from the horror behind them. “What?!”

Zane’s eyes were locked on the altar, analysing the body with his signature holographic grid flickering across his gaze.

“What?!”

Zane looked conflicted. His eyes were locked in on the altar. His eyes then, put analyse on her, holographic grid coming from his eyes.

“The exit is on the left.” He said evenly. “There’s an emergency staircase that leads to the surface. Go—now. Good luck.”

Chapter Text

Harumi watched Lloyd walk toward his jet, then lifted a hand in a wave.

Relief washed over her the moment the cockpit locked and the engines roared to life.

Fucking finally.

Privacy at last.

For a while, she had started to think he would never leave. It would have come down to either killing him or jumping overboard herself.

She turned to face the breeze, more lost in thought than ever. Everything was coming to the end, the grand finally on her terms. The hidden hate, she had to buried inside, could slowly show up. She would have her revenge, her justice for everything that happened to her.  Almost everything was in place. Two Oni masks secured, a third within reach. Kai on her side. So why the tightness in her chest?

She glanced across the control room.

Nya’s glare met hers like a blade.

Harumi smirked and turned away with a quiet scoff.

On this ship, they were alone.

A dangerous little thought sparked.

It couldn’t be that hard… could it?

She looked out at the sea. They were flying too low for a fall to be fatal. But the water below, it could serve as a perfect grave. A plausible story. Nya vanishing without a trace. Two birds, one stone. Get rid of a pesky ninja and that insufferable little bitch.

Destiny’s Bounty was armed to the teeth. Finding a weapon wouldn’t be hard. The only challenge was landing a surprise strike.

Harumi didn’t stand a chance in a one-on-one fight. But one clean, fatal blow—that was all she needed.

She stepped lightly toward the cockpit.

Inside, it was a storm of chaos. Manuals, projects, documents, even weapons lay scattered across every surface. It screamed for a woman’s touch. Apparently, Nya was just as messy as the boys. Nya sat hunched at the console, absorbed in her files. From a distance, Harumi could see the Mask of Hatred displayed on screen. As if they could find it without divine help.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything sharp.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

Harumi jolted at the sound of a female robotic voice.

Another droid?

That wasn’t in her plan.

Nya turned to her.

Shit.

“Uh… good morning?” Harumi replied, wary.

Could the droid access the ship’s cameras? If anything was being recorded, there would be no chance to act.

“My apologies. I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself. My name is Primary Interactive X-ternal Assistant Life-form, but everyone calls me Pixal.”

Harumi scanned the room, trying to locate the source of the voice. No use. It echoed from the loudspeakers. An AI? Borg tech built into the ship? That complicated things.

“Oh... I see.”

“Never seen a nindroid before?” Nya asked, arms crossed.

“I… didn’t get the chance” Harumi answered, glancing around for anything that resembled a power core she could destroy. “Aside from Zane, the Ice Elemental Master.”

And Mr. E, though he had been laced with her dark magic. That hardly counted.

“Right.”

Silence fell. Awkward and tense. Neither of them eager to speak.

“…Did you find anything?” Harumi asked eventually.

“Actually... no” Nya admitted, turning back to the screen. “I’ve got… A side mission…, It keeps me hard to focus on the Sons of Garmadon.”

“Side mission?”

“It’s… complicated. Confidential.”

So the ninja could keep secrets when they wanted to.

“Say… Princess—”

“Please, call me Harumi.”

“Yeah, thanks—Harumi.” Nya paused. “Is your brother’s name really Kaisei?”

Harumi’s expression darkened slightly.

“Why do you ask?” she said sweetly, though poison shimmered just beneath the surface.

Pixal answered before Nya could.

“According to the records Nya retrieved, you and your brother were adopted by the Emperor and Empress after the Great Devourer incident. However, the name—”

“That’s enough, Pixal.” Nya interrupted coldly. “Can you answer the question, Harumi?”

Harumi hesitated. Was that not a violation of her privacy?

“Our parents renamed him Kaisei.” She said slowly. “But I still call him by his old name, Kai.”

Because, of course royal family thought that name “Kai” was too peasant.

“And how exactly does that help you find him?” Harumi’s voice now dripped with irritation.

“Confidential.” Nya replied, expression like ice.

Harumi clenched her jaw. Every nerve screamed to leap across the room and stab her.

But no. She needed to wait.

Gain trust. Build a bond. Then Nya would open up, share her little “girlie secrets.” Then Harumi could finish what she started.

…

With the awkward conversation with Nya still lingering and clearly going nowhere, Harumi decided to snoop around. Now that she knew about the ninja’s “spy” team member, any investigation had to seem natural. Subtle. Not invasive.

Exactly the opposite of how Nya had treated her.

She wanted to dig up Harumi’s past? Fine. Harumi would return the favour.

First stop: Nya’s room.

Unfortunately, it was a dead end.

The place was a disaster.

Schematics and scrolls covered the walls in a chaotic mess. Clean and dirty clothes were flung everywhere. Scattered around the floor were gears, tools, and freshly soldered circuits that still carried a faint metallic burn.

Harumi frowned.

This girl was a mess.

Every inch of the room screamed Nya, but it also screamed incoherence. Like someone trying to shout ten things at once and failing to say anything clear.

She walked to the desk where a few scrolls were unrolled. A quick glance told her it was some babble about time travel. Fantasy nonsense disguised as knowledge. Not the well-guarded secrets of the Elemental Masters she would hoped for.

Harumi scoffed.

Then, something finally caught her attention.

A photo.

Tucked just beside the schematics was a framed picture—Nya as a child, standing between what must have been her parents. And a boy. Young, smiling, just a little older than her.

So, she had a brother.

Little sister syndrome, probably.

Frustrated, Harumi left the room and moved on.

Next stop: Lloyd’s room.

This one was far more composed. Predictably green: green bedsheets, green pillows, green clothes hung neatly in the closet. Not sterile, but neat enough to pass as presentable.

Her curiosity led her to a corkboard on the far wall. It was dotted with pinned photographs. Team photos, colourful, almost offensively bright. Harumi skipped past them with barely a glance.

Then her eyes landed on something more interesting.

An older woman, dressed in weather-worn explorer’s clothes. She leaned closer. Garmadon’s wife? Lloyd’s mother?

She looked sharp, serious. Someone who didn’t exactly radiate maternal warmth. No wonder she had been so absent from Lloyd’s life.

A second photo caught her attention. This one even older, yellowed by age. Two men stood side by side, almost identical except for hair colour and robes. Black for one, white for the other. Brothers, clearly, the resemblance was uncanny.

She plucked the photo from the board, narrowing her eyes.

“That's Sensei Wu and Garmadon.”

Harumi turned. Lloyd was standing in the doorway, stepping into the room.

“…He probably doesn’t look like you expected” he added with a bitterly smile.

Harumi handed the photo back.

“I heard he changed… became human again in his final years.”

Lloyd nodded, looking down at the image.

“Yes.” Lloyd said nostalgic. “He wanted to redeem himself.” He looked at the photo and then he pinned it back to the board. “And he did.”

“How was the talk with Mystake? Did you learn anything?”

Of course he would eventually find out everything, Harumi had always known that. But better to gauge how much intel they had, and when.

“Yes…” Lloyd began solemnly. Then his eyes narrowed. “Their aim is to resurrect my father.”

Well, shit.
He knew everything.
Mental note: Mystake would need to be eliminated in the next phase.

“That must be… difficult for you.” She said, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

“To be honest… I don’t know how to feel about it.” He confessed. “I miss him. I want him back, but—”

“But?” she prompted, voice low, sympathetic.

“Mystake told us he wouldn’t come back as the man we knew.” Lloyd said, his gaze drifting to the floor. “That only the Oni side would return, corrupted by the Overlord.”

Harumi gave him a soft pat on the back.

Perfect moment for some bonding. Time to share that good old abandonment trauma.

Oh, Overlord, let this be the last time she had to fake this.

“If I had the chance to see my parents again… I’d do anything.” she said, voice lowered just the right amount.

Lloyd turned his head, meeting her eyes.

“You mean… your biological parents?”

She nodded slowly.

“I miss them deeply” she said with a faint, wistful smile. “They gave me everything in this world. Even their lives, just to save mine.”

His bright green eyes locked onto her. There was something in his gaze, compassion, maybe. Or something heavier. Deeper. She couldn’t quite tell. They stood there, the silence between them feeling heavier than words.

Until someone else broke it.

“We’re going to debrief before Cole and I begin the undercover operation.” Zane announced, his voice flat and mechanical.

Harumi didn’t mind his tone. Or intrusion. It was easier to deal with than human emotion. No pretence, no need to match a facade.

“Yes” she said quickly. “We’re coming.”

…

Harumi sat in the control room, spinning lazily in the chair.

So. Boring.

The remaining ninja were closely monitoring Cole and Zane's movements, speaking among themselves in hushed, focused tones. Harumi, as expected, was completely left out of the conversation. A fifth wheel, literally what she was.

She wasn’t particularly worried. Her trio could handle a few ninja. They would sniff them out instantly, no question. Still, she had sent a discreet message ahead. A quick heads-up never hurt.

Hence… The boredom.

So much boredom.

She sank deeper in the chair, chin propped up on one elbow. She missed Kai a little bit. Kai would be furious if he saw her posture. Or the way she wore this oversized green hoodie like she had no dignity. He would scold her for being so “disgraceful.” Or worse, for provoking Nya. His frustration was always so damn cute.

Okay, maybe she missed him more than a little.

He was safe, probably in the safest place she could arrange under her control. But not being able to see him, not being able to visit him? That made her heart ache a little.

And it had only been a day.

She needed to wrap this mission up. Fast.

A sharp red light blinked on the control board, cutting into her thoughts.

The alarm went off.

“Shit! We’re engaging now!” Nya yelled, already sprinting out of the room.

“Wait—what happened?” Jay asked, stumbling after her.

“Their covers are blown! They need backup!” she snapped, not even turning around.

Jay hurried after him, and then Lloyd. Harumi stood up to go after them.

“No—Harumi, stay here!” Lloyd ordered, glancing over his shoulder, voice firm.

“But I want to help—!”

“You’d only be a hindrance” Nya called back sharply, already halfway down the stairs.

Harumi’s eye twitched.
Oh. That’s how it was going to be?

So much for peace and alliance. Nya had drawn the line. Fine by her.

Peace was never an option.

Lloyd hesitated at the door.

“Harumi, I know you want to help” he said, softer. “But our job is to protect you. So please, stay here safe, no engage in our fight okay?”

His words were bittersweet. She relaxed her shoulders just enough to seem compliant. Lloyd gave her a quick nod and turned, disappearing down the ladder.

“Stay safe…” she said.

Break your bones and die.

“Thanks—I will!” he called out peeking from the ship edge.

..

Surprise, surprise. They fucked up—just like Harumi always knew they would.

They returned beaten, limping, dragging themselves back onto the ship like cockroaches too stubborn to die.

Harumi wanted to smile. Beam, even. But the situation didn’t allow it. So instead, she painted on a look of concern and hurried over, the image of the helpless damsel. Dutiful, supportive, always in the background. Her white knights, battered and bruised. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

As she helped bandage them up, something didn’t add up.

“Where’s Cole and Zane?” she asked, scanning the group, frowning.

“They… continued the mission,” Lloyd replied. His voice was tight, his arm tense as she tied off the gauze. Harumi had to admit, someone had done real damage. Deep cuts. She was impressed, that her people did their job really good. “Sons of Garmadon weren’t bluffing” Lloyd muttered. “They’re more organized than we thought.”

Harumi’s hands stilled for a moment.

“And Cole and Zane?” she asked, more carefully now.

“Zane’s staying undercover. He’ll try to gain their trust and dig for intel.” Lloyd groaned slightly as she adjusted the bandage. “Cole is the bait—he’s being kept as a prisoner. To make Zane’s cover story believable.”

Her pulse spiked.

Fuck.

They were trying to infiltrate from the inside. That was a risk. And too big of one. If Zane gained even an inch of trust, or he would try to walk around, Harumi’s whole plan could collapse like a house of cards.

She forced a soft sigh. Masked the tension in her shoulders.

“You’re all so brave” she whispered, pressing a patch onto Lloyd’s busted lip. “But maybe… too brave.”

They didn’t catch the bite in her words.

She needed to move fast.

Zane needed to be dealt with—carefully. And Cole? Cole would need to stay just where he was. Chained, contained, and in the dark.

They had made a bold move.

Now it was her turn.

…

Another mental note to herself: precise orders for her subordinates. Very precise. As in: idiot-proof.

How—how—could they lock up a ninja and the precious prince she had explicitly told them to be gentle with… in the same fucking cell?

Was it really that hard to think?

Now she sat, again, in the control room, waiting, fuming, watching the tiny red dot blink steadily on the map, supposedly Cole’s beacon. A little glowing signal dragging itself toward her like slow snail.

She sat tensed, pressing her lips into a tight line.  Bold moves could come later. Not until Kai was back. Not until she saw him with her own eyes. Safe. Breathing. Hers.

She shifted her eyes to Nya, sitting across the room.

Nya looked stressed, fingers twitching over the controls, eyes flicking back and forth like she was holding herself together with threads.

Harumi didn’t get it.

She—Harumi—was the one who should be panicking. Kai was her brother. Her fragile, half-healed mess.

So why the hell did Nya look like she was about to fall apart?

Harumi narrowed her eyes slightly, watching her.

Finally, Harumi heard the noise outside.

She bolted.

Without a word, she rushed out of the control room, overtaking Nya in a run. Her heart pounded against her ribs like it was trying to break free.

Her breath caught when she saw him.

Kai stood next to the hairy ape—Cole. She frowned at the sight of the man’s arm draped around Kai’s shoulder. Only then did her gaze shift to Kai’s face.

He looked like hell.

A ball of trauma wrapped in a panic attack. His eyes never met anyone’s. They darted to the ground. His whole posture screamed ‘Don’t touch me. Don’t look at me. Don’t notice me’.

Harumi bit her lip.

She had gone one step too far, hadn’t she?

It was supposed to be a little push, a nudge. Something to deepen their bond.

She opened her arms, with fake tears in her eyes.

“First Spinjitzu Master, Kai!” The girl next to her gasped “What— what happened to you?”

Harumi pressed her lips into a tight line. What the fuck was her aim here?

But she didn't have time to dwell over it, because Kai jumped in her arms as soon he lift his eyes on Harumi. He was grabbing her clothes tightly, sobbing. He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her head. Like she might vanish if he let go.

She was stunned at the full display of the Kai's affection, feeling butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't help but smile, hiding her face in Kai's shoulder.

A second later, she began to cry too.

Because… Why not?

It felt so good to mirror his feelings.

They were siblings—torn apart and finally reunited.

Poetic. Tragic.

Now, nothing would separate them.

Kai kept sobbing, and Harumi smiled wider, gently running her fingers through his filthy hair, shushing him softly. He reeked of death and desperation, the smell she didn’t mind. But if it clung to him too long… it might break him.

“See? Harumi’s fine.” Cole said awkwardly, not sure whether to give them space or not.

Harumi recognized that look. The sceptical stare of someone who didn’t understand a damn thing.

She pulled Kai even closer, steering them away. Her eyes flicked back toward Nya, daggers laced with venom.

Nya stared back at them. At Kai. Hurt.

Harumi couldn’t stand her.

She tightened her grip on Kai and led him to her room, locking the door behind them.

Kai calmed slightly once they were alone, but he still clung to her hand, as if afraid she would vanish. With her free hand, Harumi dragged a chair into the bathroom. Leaning against the sink, she guided him to sit.

She silently lowered his head into the sink and turned on a gentle stream of water, washing his hair.

Neither of them spoke.

When she finished, she patted his hair dry with a towel, then moved to clean his face with a sponge, wiping away dirt and dried tears. When she was done, she kissed his cheek softly.

She removed his outer robes from his shoulders. He didn’t resist, limp as a rag doll in her hands.

She smiled, kissed his forehead again.

Then moved on to his belt.

She untied it quickly and let the haori drop to the floor, stripping him down to his bare chest.

Kai closed his eyes.

When she touched his skin with the sponge, he flinched.

“Shh… I’m with you” she whispered, running her fingers through his damp hair. “You’re safe. You’re not in the well.”

Kai hiccupped and broke into jagged sobs.

“She died—She died because of me—” he covered his face with dirty palms.

Harumi sighed. She should have started with the hands.

She crouched in front of him.

“It was an accident.”

“I failed her—” he hiccupped. “She— I should’ve—I was her older brother—”

She grabbed him violently by the cups, yanking off hands from his face.

“You’re my older brother” she hissed.

Kai froze, eyes wide. Those amber eyes, dilated, hollow, met hers.

“Kizuna is dead. I am alive.”

She released him. Her voice softened again. She picked up the sponge and wiped the smudges his hands had left behind.

Then she moved to clean his chest. He resisted at first, but she held him firmly in place.

Kai sobbed and trembled, but she didn’t flinch. She didn’t speak. She frowned at the sound of his cries.

It wasn’t that she disliked this soft, broken version of him. No, she loved it. It was a side of Kai only she got to see.

What she hated was that it was all in Kizuna name.

Harumi inhaled deeply and began to hum.

“Spider's in the house,” she started to softly sung “Sleep, sleep...”

She lifted his head. Kai looked back, with puzzled expression.

 ”Spider bit the mouse,” she continued “Sleep deep…” she smiled to him bitterly, pausing... Expecting him to end it.

“…Don’t wake up or else,” he croaked, voice trembling.

“You’ll find a spider in your mouth.” They finished together.

Chapter Text

Nya hurried after Kai and Harumi, but a firm hand stopped her in her tracks.

“Whoa, whoa—where are you running to?” Cole asked, gently turning her around to face him. “This really isn’t the best time to stress him out even more—”

“What happened there?” Nya cut him off, eyes sharp.

“Honestly?” Cole inhaled, then exhaled hard. “I don’t know. I already found him like that. And during the escape...” He trailed off, voice dropping. “It was bad.”

“Then that’s even more reason for me to go after him—” she snapped, trying to move past him, but Cole caught her arm again, firmer this time.

“He really should be with his sister right now.”

“I am his sister.” Nya hissed sharp.

Cole sighed and gave her a light pat on the shoulder.

“I know. I know. But...” He hesitated, lips pressed together. “Look—while we were getting out, he kept asking for Harumi. Over and over. This guy has been through something, Nya.” He rubbed his temples, eyes shut. “ Sons of Garmadon are nut-jobs. We saw… Mutilated corpses and Kaisei was first to witness.”

“Holy shit” Jay muttered under his breath.

“Yeah. Fucking nightmare fuel, man” Cole muttered back. “Like... horror show level. Blood, limbs—just wrong.”

Nya’s eyes narrowed, flickering with fury. At the Sons. At the situation. At herself, maybe.

But she didn’t continue to argue. She just shook off Cole’s hand and stepped back.

“Where’s Zane now?” Lloyd asked, watching them closely.

“He stayed behind. Said he had a lead— Something worth risking it—” Cole’s arms crossed over his chest. “Now I’m not so sure. If we don’t hear from him soon, we pull him out. Period.”

“And you?” Lloyd tilted his head. “Did you learn anything?”

Cole scoffed bitterly.

“Nothing useful. Just things I wish I could unsee.”

“So it was all for nothing?” Jay muttered.

Nya turned on him with a glare sharp enough to cut.

“We got my brother back.”

“I meant—” Jay stammered, then looked away. “Never mind.”

Cole jumped in before the tension could snap.

“Speaking of... Nya, I’m sorry, but... Kai doesn’t seem to know you.”

Nya’s chest tightened like something was caving in. She didn’t need to hear it. She knew it. And it still felt like a knife.

Jay looked at her, brow furrowed. Was that pity? Or just confusion at how much this meant to her?

She licked her lips, forcing the words out.

“What do you think about him?”

Cole tilted his head, pretending to think.

“Hmm... Cute, but kind of a dick” he smirked.

“The hell?” Jay snapped. “You were flirting with him?!”

“Nah” Cole chuckled darkly. “Just messing. Trying to kill the tension.” Then his face sobered, shoulders sinking. “But seriously... he’s really messed up. I don’t know if it’s what they did to him or something deeper, but... I think he needs real help. Like—therapy kind of help.”

“What?” Nya frowned, jaw tightening. “Now you’re joking.”

Kai? Needing therapy? The Kai she knew?

No. That couldn’t be real. Kai didn’t break. He got angry. He fought harder. He never needed help.

And yet... something about the way Cole looked said he wasn’t joking at all.

“I'm going to speak with him now.”
Nya’s fists clenched at her sides, knuckles white.

“Nya. Stop.”
This time it was Lloyd’s voice.

She froze in place, teeth grinding.

“If Cole's right,” Lloyd continued, gentling his tone, “then Kai needs space. He has just lost his home. His parents. He was kidnapped…” Lloyd stepped closer, voice low but unwavering. “Just try to look at it from his perspective. I know you’re worried. I know you want to help. But right now, giving him room to breathe might be the best thing you can do.”

Nya stared at him, her breathing shallow. Her eyes were hot, but no tears came. Just frustration.

Then, without a word, she turned and stormed toward the control panel room. The door slammed behind her with a sharp, metallic clang.

Silence followed in her wake.

“...That went well,” Jay muttered under his breath.

Cole just exhaled slowly, rubbing his eyes.
“Yeah. Well, it’s a mess all around.”

…

Jay was the first to follow her to the control panel room. He lingered in the doorway for a moment, fidgeting with his fingers, unsure how to step further into her storm cloud.

Nya didn’t need to look. She could feel it, his nervous energy hanging in the air like static. Her chair creaked slightly as she shifted, pretending to read the scroll on Time Blades in front of her. The words blurred together. Her mind was anywhere but here.

She exhaled sharply.

She should have apologized. She knew she had to. But she didn't feel to do it.

Jay finally broke the silence.
“…Did you learn anything?”

“No.”
Her voice was flat, brittle. She didn’t turn.

Jay moved in quietly and sat across the table from her. He started tapping his fingers, but each tap was another chip against her focus.

She lifted her eyes briefly to glare at him before turning back to the scrolls.

“What are you going to say… to the prince? When you get a chance?” he asked.

Nya flipped a page.

“The truth.”

“That means?”

She closed the scroll with more force than necessary.

“That means everything I know. Everything that happened. Can you not pick at me right now?”

“I was just trying to talk to you—”

“Well, I don’t want to talk to you.” Her words came sharp.

“Can you stop pushing me away?”
Jay’s voice was barely a whisper, but it hit harder than if he would shouted.

Nya bolted upright, her mouth opening for a retort, but then she saw his face.

His lips were pressed tight, trembling slightly. His eyes shimmered, not with anger, but with something far more fragile. He looked like he was one word away from breaking.

And suddenly, the weight in her chest shifted.

Her anger dissolved under the ache in his expression.

“I—” she breathed, voice catching. “I’m sorry.”

It was enough. More than enough.

Jay didn’t wait. He moved toward her the moment the words left her mouth, like her apology had been the final key to a lock he had been twisting at for days.

“I shouldn’t have been an asshole” she murmured as he reached her, wrapping her in an awkward, honest embrace.

Nya didn’t hug back immediately. But she didn’t pull away either.

After a moment, she rested her forehead against his shoulder.

“No” he whispered. “Neither of us has been okay.”

“I want to go home” Nya whispered, voice cracking. “I want to be back in my home. I don't know what to do anymore.”

Jay didn’t say anything. He just held her tighter.

“Why does everything go to shit? Why can’t I just get a break?” Her voice broke completely now, muffled against his shoulder.

Jay gently pulled back, enough to look her in the eyes. Then he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“We’ll get through this. Like always” he said quietly, giving her a small, warm smile. “Ninja never quit. Remember?”

He couldn't pick more corny line, could he? So Jay. And somehow... it helped.

She gave him a small nod, resting her forehead against his chest again. They stood like that for a moment longer.

Until the console beeped.

An incoming call blinked on the screen, cutting through the quiet like a siren.

Jay glanced at the screen, reluctantly loosening his grip.

“Duty calls” he said gently.

Nya stepped back, wiping her face quickly, eyes hardening again as she turned toward the console. She tapped the console and accepted the incoming call.

Zane’s face blinked onto the screen, framed by roaring wind and blurring desert.

“Zane, do you read me?”

“Yes. My cover may be compromised.” Zane said without a stammer. Behind him, the desert rushed past—he was on a bike, clearly mid-chase. “But I spotted the Mask of Deception.”

“Acquiring visual” Pixal said calmly. A second window opened, displaying grainy footage: several high-speed bikes tearing through dunes, and one rider with a glowing red, ominous helmet.

“I don’t know how much time I have, so listen carefully” Zane continued, voice strained through interference. “I still don’t know who’s leading them, but they're known as... the Quiet One.”

“Quiet One?” Jay echoed, furrowing his brow.

“Hang in there, Zane!” Nya said, already punching in coordinates. “We’re on the route to your location!”

“No—not yet—!” Zane’s voice cut. The feed jumped violently as he collided with another bike. Sparks flashed across the screen.

“Zane, don’t act cocky!” Jay barked into the mic, leaning over Nya’s shoulder.

“There’s something else you need to know... There’s a ghost—”

The image glitched again.

The horizon flipped, blue sky spun down, sand swirled up. Then— black. Complete blackout.

“Pixal!” Nya shouted. “Can you trace him?”

“I am afraid the connection is lost!” Pixal answered, her usually even tone carrying a rare note of concern.

“Shit” Nya hissed. She looked down at the frozen coordinates Zane had last transmitted. “I got a lock on his last position. Everyone, gear up!”

…

The night had deepened into a thick silence, the only sound the low hum of the ship’s engines hovering over the dunes. A beam of the reflector swept slowly across the desert, cutting through the dark, but so far revealing nothing but shattered bike parts and half-buried wreckage. Sand whispered across metal fragments, erasing signs of struggle as quickly as they were found.

They’d been searching for hours.

The last battle had clearly taken place here. Scorched tire marks still scarred the sand. But Zane was nowhere to be seen.

“Still no signal. I’m continuing the pinging.” Pixal voice mechanical but thinner than usual, echoed through the loudspeaker.

Nya leaned over the reflector, her eyes never leaving the sand.

Harumi stepped in behind her and Lloyd. It was the first time, Nya saw her on the ship deck, after reuniting with Kai. Nya frowned at her sudden appearance.

“How is it going?” Harumi’s voice was quiet, but edged with false concern.

Lloyd didn’t look away from the desert below.

“Bad.”

Nya opened her mouth to ask about Kai, but—

“There!” Cole’s voice tore through the tension like lightning. “I see him!”

The ninja team didn’t hesitate.

Metal rattled as they swarmed down the ladders, hitting the sand hard and running toward the direction Cole pointed. The reflector beam steadied, now locked onto a slumped shape partially buried under a collapsed bike frame.

But someone else was standing beside him. The silhouette was obscured by the harsh glare of the beam, details swallowed in shadow—but if one squinted, the outline was just visible.

Nya froze, pulling a spear from her back, but Lloyd reached out, stopping her mid-motion.

“Hello?” he called cautiously.

The figure didn’t move.

Then Nya saw it—the faint shimmer of green light tracing the edges of their form. Unnatural.

She raised her fists, water swirling tightly around them in preparation to strike.

She knew immediately what they were. A ghost.

The glowing robes stood still as the desert wind breezed Nya’s cheeks. They were standing with their back to them. Long translucent hairs, that seemed wet, were stuck to the clothing.

Nobody moved. The only sound was sand shifting beneath their boots and the distant flicker of static from the communicator still weakly connected to Zane's chest.

Lloyd stepped forward, cautiously.
“We’re not here to fight,” he said, slowly raising one hand. “We just want to help our friend.”

The ghost didn’t respond. Didn’t even twitch.

Then, a gust of wind stronger than the last swept across the dunes. In that instant, the figure turned their head.

Her jaw was dented inward, twisting the lower half of her face into a grotesque shape. Blood spattered across her skin, glowing faintly green, mixing with the sickly light that bled from her form. Nya held her breath, forcing her eyes away from the mangled jaw to meet the ghost’s gaze.

Eyes glowing green were locked at the ninjas with unreadable expression. Then Nya noticed, the gentle outline of the remaining of the face. It was a girl, teenage girl that couldn’t have been older than Lloyd.

Jay screamed.

At the sound, the ghost’s form flickered violently, as if her body were barely stitched together from mist. Her robes fluttered, translucent and bloodied, but she didn’t speak. Didn’t move to attack.

Instead, she began to drift backward into the dunes, the sand parting gently beneath her like water.

Cole gritted his teeth.

“She’s leaving—!”

“No—don’t chase” Lloyd ordered.

The figure disappeared in the darkness. And only then, the ninjas moved closer to laying Zane.

Zane’s body was twisted awkwardly, one arm caught beneath him, his chest plate cracked and flickering with faint blue light. Wires sparked where his synthetic skin had torn, but his eyes were open—dim, but glowing.

“Zane!” Cole dropped to his knees, brushing sand off his face.

“Say something Zane! You hear me?!” Jay yelled, stuttering, still shocked from the previous encounter. “Zane!”

“Pixal!” Lloyd shouted toward the Destiny’s Bounty. “Lower the stretcher—Zane’s in bad shape!”

Cole and Jay were already rushing forward, unhooking the stretcher and adjusting the braces to fit Zane’s limp body.

“Hang on, buddy. Hang on!” Lloyd’s voice cracked as he leaned over Zane, desperation starting to bleed through his expression.

…

“First Spinjitzu Master,” Harumi whispered, her breath catching as she saw Zane being lifted onto the deck. Her hands flew to her mouth, eyes wide with fear.

Nya didn’t even look at her.

Her focus was locked on Zane, on the injuries, on the lifeless way his head lolled to the side. She bolted to the console, hands trembling as she yanked open the medical interface. The others pushed the stretcher past her toward the medbay.

“Pixal, reading!” she snapped, already scanning the diagnostics herself.

The blinking red was all on the screen, screaming how much was bad with the Zane.

Vital systems offline. Power core unstable. Cognitive core damaged. Zane was barely holding together.

“He has extensive damage to all systems” Pixal reported, her voice tight with urgency. “His neural net and cognitive core have suffered multiple failures.”

“Can you do anything?” Nya asked, leaning over the console, eyes darting over the rapidly scrolling diagnostics.

“I have diverted power to critical functions, but Zane will have to handle the rest himself. He needs to reconfigure his internal systems and initiate a full reboot.”

“Is there anything we can do?”

Nya turned back at the voice that she didn’t thought she would hear. Kai was standing, curled up in the doorstep. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, posture defensive, like he didn’t know if he was allowed to be there. His eyes were shadowed, his voice low and cracked with trembling.

Nya blinked, startled, but before she could say anything, Lloyd spoke.

“We have to keep moving” he said, his voice fraying at the edges. “The Sons of Garmadon... they're still out there. And they’re still after you.” He looked at Kai. “You’re not safe here.”

Kai looked at the ground with even more disappearing expression. Nya make a step to him, but again, Harumi outrun her, grabbing Kai’s arm, under her.

“Kai!” she gasped concerned “You should be resting”

Kai just solemnly closed eyes and allowed her to be dragged out. However Nya was quicker and grabbed his other free arm.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

When Nya touched him, it was like watching a wounded animal flinch. He shrank behind Harumi, his grip on her sleeve tightening. Not possessively, but desperately, like she was the only stable ground he had left.

Nya’s hand lingered in the air, then slowly fell back to her side.

Her voice broke slightly.

“Kai… It’s me.”

Still, he said nothing. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. Wouldn’t even lift his head.

Harumi glanced over her shoulder. Her expression was all concern, but behind it, something unreadable flickered in her eyes. She gently pushed Kai forward, shielding him.

“He’s overwhelmed” she said quietly, avoiding Nya’s gaze. “He needs rest.” Her last words came out more like a hiss than a statement.

Nya opened her mouth to argue, but Kai’s posture said everything. He wasn’t ready. Maybe didn’t even recognize her as someone safe.

So she let go.

“Okay” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. “Okay.”

She said it as she watched him disappear with Harumi into the corridor.

…

Nya wandered the deck under the moonlight, her eyes fixed on the stars as she tried to figure out what to do next.

“Shit!”

She whispered, wanting to break something badly. The situation was getting out of control.

“It’s frustrating, isn’t it?” Jay’s voice came softly as he approached, two mugs in his hands. “Tea?”

“Is that the same stuff Wu uses to calm us down?” she scoffed, accepting the mug from him. Then she gave him a small smile. “Thanks” she murmured.

“I think? Maybe. Partially. Yeah.”

“Partially?”

Jay shrugged.

“I kinda… shattered three jars last week and just mixed what I could scouped out into one.”

Nya let out a soft chuckle, the tension easing just a little.

“Don’t worry,” Jay whispered, his voice gentle but heavy with hope. “I’m sure you’ll get a chance to… be his sister again.” He gave her shoulder a light, comforting nudge.

“Yeah,” Nya replied, her voice cracking slightly, betraying her doubt more than her words did.

She lifted her eyes to meet Jay’s, but something shifted at the edge of her vision.

“Jay.”

“Hm?”

“The ghost… she’s behind you.”

Jay whipped around. Nya grabbed his arm, pulling him close. Her eyes locked on the figure at the far end of the ship.

There she was— ghost standing motionless like before next to Zane, cloaked in moonlight and mist. That fractured jaw, glowing with sickly green light, made Nya’s blood run cold. Jay’s body tensed. She could feel him trembling too.

Then—another voice called out from behind them, sharp and familiar.

“Are we interrupting something?”

Nya’s heart stuttered.

“…Mom?”

Nya stood frozen as her father stepped onto the ship’s deck, Master Wu beside him. Her mother stood nearby, arms open, waiting for a hug.

She turned back to the ghost. Ghost disappeared.

Did she just imagine it?

Or did she run away at the sight of her parents?

She forced herself to focus.

Turning back to the figures before her, she took a hesitant step forward, then stopped. Doubt tangled in her chest like thorns.

It was a strange feeling.

She knew this was her mother. But… she had only just learned about them.

Whenever she thought about parents, only image she had was Kai.

Maya’s warm expression faltered into a frown. Her gentle eyes creased deeper at the corners, concern growing behind them.

“Baby girl…” Maya whispered.

But her husband, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room, swept Nya into a tight hug, laughing softly as he wrapped his arms around her.

“You… aren’t her… are you?” Maya said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on Nya with quiet disbelief.

Ray froze mid-embrace, slowly pulling back. He looked at Maya, then at Nya, confusion creeping into his expression.

“Hey!” Jay stepped forward, his voice edged with frustration. “She’s your daughter—flesh and blood! Can’t you see? It’s Nya!”

“Am I, though…?” Nya said quietly, her chest tightening with the weight of it all.

Who was she now?
The Nya from her original timeline, trapped in a world that wasn’t hers?
Or the Nya of this timeline, inheriting memories that didn’t belong?
Even Jay—this version of him—wasn’t her Jay.
What here was hers at all?

She took a step back from Ray, deliberately avoiding both his and Maya’s eyes.

“As I explained to you… it’s much more complicated” Wu said gently, fingers combing thoughtfully through his beard.

Ray and Maya turned to him, visibly confused.

“Perhaps,” Wu added, looking toward Nya, “you should hear it again. This time… from your daughter herself.”

Chapter Text

Kai jerked awake, gasping for air.

Tapping.

He heard it. Tapping in his head.

He drew his knees to his chest, his fingers digging slowly into his skin. His nails, wrapped in bandages, began to bleed through as the pressure grew.

“...Kai?” Harumi’s voice was groggy, half-awake. She rubbed her eyes and gently pulled his arm, urging him to lie back down. “It's just the rain” she whispered. She moved closer, wrapping her arms tightly around him. “Shh... It’s just the rain...” she repeated softly, pulling the blanket over him. “Go to sleep,” she murmured.

Kai closed his eyes again.

Tapping.

Harumi cuddled closer, holding him protectively. Gradually, the sound faded and Kai drifted back into uneasy sleep.

…

He woke again, this time bathed in sunlight.
Blinking a few times, he turned his head to the side. Harumi lay peacefully asleep, her white hair tangled across the pillow like threads of silver.

He frowned at the sight and sat up with a quiet exhale. The movement must have woken her, because a moment later she groaned softly and stretched.

She yawned, then looked at him with sleepy eyes, but her smile was warm and radiant.

“Morning” she said.

Kai didn’t answer. He stood up from the bed, biting his lip.

“What's wrong?” she asked, rubbing her eyes mid-yawn.

“...This.” Kai muttered.

“Care to elaborate?” Her brows furrowed.

“I slept in your bed.”

“...And?”

Kai crossed his arms, eyes dropping to the floor.

“It's wrong.”

“Seriously?” She raised an eyebrow. “This again?”

“People could get the wrong idea.”

“Like...?” she asked, smirking.

“First Spinjitzu Master—” he hissed through his teeth.

“It’s not like we’re blood-related or something” she said with a shrug. “It wouldn’t even count as incest if we fucked.”

“Fuck, Harumi! Can you be serious for once?” he snapped.

“What?” She tilted her head, clearly unfazed. His rising anger only seemed to fuel her casual defiance. “Okay, okay, geez!” she said, narrowing her eyes with a sigh. “So what? You wanted to cry on the floor while night having fucking panic attacks instead?”

Kai averted his eyes, staring at the ground.

“Now you can’t fucking answer that, can you?” she snapped, standing up. “You spent nearly every night in my chambers back at the palace— And now it’s suddenly a problem?”

“You were younger” he mumbled.

She grabbed his face, cupping his cheeks in her hands.

“Because you were having some kind of fucking panic attacks, just like you are having right now!” she shouted, yanking him closer before letting go with a sigh. “Look, I don’t fucking care what people might say. What matters to me is that you, my brother, get a decent night of sleep and some damn comfort. If you can’t deal with that, then… Fuck you.”

She scoffed and turned away, crossing her arms.

Kai scratched the back of his neck, awkward. He couldn’t argue. He couldn’t even deny it.

“I… I’m sorry” he mumbled.

“You fucking should be” she hissed, then she added. “Now go. I’m going to get dressed. Or do you think that might give people the wrong idea too?”

Kai scoffed and left, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against it, exhaling hard. Then, once again, he scratched the back of his neck.

Did he just start a fight for no reason?

He groaned to himself.

“Hey.”

Kai turned toward the voice. It was… Jay. That was probably his name.

Kai was still in his pyjamas, borrowed ones, at that. He should have felt ashamed, walking around like this, but then again, after last night, dignity didn’t rank high on his list of concerns. Honestly, he didn’t care anymore.

He inhaled and gave a slight, polite bow.

“Good morning.”

Jay blinked a few times, visibly confused.

“Um—yeah” Jay stammered. “Do you… need anything? How’re you feeling?”

Kai’s expression turned solemn as he scratched the back of his neck.

“…May I ask you for a clean set of clothes?” He glanced around. “I suppose I—”

“Yeah, sure! No problem.” Jay cut in quickly. “I think you’d fit in Zane’s clothes for now—or mine. We’ll figure something out later.”

Second-hand clothes. That stirred memories Kai hadn’t expected. How long had it been since he truly understood what a humble life felt like?

“Thank you.”

“No worries. Also, we’ll be having breakfast downstairs. Feel free to join us.”

…

After finishing his morning routine and managing to look somewhat presentable, Kai headed down to the kitchen, just as Jay had told him. He found only Lloyd and Cole there, setting the table.

“Kaisei!” Cole grinned at the sight of him, chuckling as he walked over and clapped him on the back. “You’re looking much better! Feeling better?”

Kai gave a small nod.

“Good to see you, prince” Lloyd added, giving him a quick, respectful bow of the head.

“…Can I help with breakfast?” Kai asked, his voice quieter than he intended.

Cole glanced at Lloyd, then back at Kai.

“Actually…” Cole began. “We’re pretty much done. Why don’t you sit and talk with us while we finish up?”

Kai nodded and moved to a corner of the room, careful not to get in their way.

“You like pancakes?” Cole asked from the kitchen annex. “You do know what pancakes are… right?”

Lloyd shot him a sharp glare for the unnecessary comment.

“Yes, I know” Kai said with a faint smile. “And I know how to make them too.” He added, almost to himself “Probably to your surprise.”

“Really?” Cole raised an eyebrow, surprised.

Kai clenched his jaw. He shouldn’t have said that. His eyes fell to the table, and he frowned slightly at the number of plates set out. There were too many.

“Will someone be joining us for breakfast?”

“You could say that…” Lloyd replied, setting down a plate of steaming pancakes. “You haven’t met my uncle yet—our Sensei, Sensei Wu.” He paused, then added, “And… he invited two more guests.”

“Guests?” Kai frowned at the vague response.

“You’ll see, Kaisei,” Cole said quickly, stepping in to help Lloyd.

“Morning” Jay yawned as he shuffled into the kitchen.

Cole glared at him.

“You know it’s your turn to make breakfast today, right?”

“It is?” Jay gave a nervous laugh. “I must’ve forgotten—” He flashed a goofy smile, then caught sight of Kai and immediately turned to him. “Hey dude! You look kinda fancy in my clothes!”

Cole gave him another pointed glare at what kind of change of topic Jay was even trying to pull.

“…Thank you again for lending them” Kai said with a quick bow.

“Um—”

“Good morning.” Another voice entered the room. It was Harumi. She smiled brightly at everyone and made her way to Kai’s corner.

“What the hell are you wearing?” she hissed through her teeth while still wearing that polite, graceful smile.

“…Clothes?” Kai replied with a shrug.

“Well, you look like shit in them—”

“…Thanks. Always can count on you, Rumi,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

Then his thoughts drifted back again to the palace. The lost home. The people… his parents—
They were gone, while Kai stood here, waiting for some fucking pancakes.
A twist curled in his gut.
This was wrong.

“Rumi...” he whispered hesitantly. “...What about the funeral?”

Harumi’s eyes narrowed.

“The fuck?” She blinked a few times in disbelief. “You’re seriously telling me that’s your real concern?”

Kai didn’t answer her, still looking into her eyes.

“Fuck them.” She scoffed quietly, careful not to raise suspicion around the group. “Don’t you dare miss them. They were never really our parents.” She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight. “We never belonged there in the first place.” She hissed the last words like a warning.

Kai swallowed hard, feeling the tight grip on his hand but unable to pull away. The weight of her words hung heavy between them.

“…Then where do we belong?” Kai whispered back.

Harumi opened her mouth to say something, but before a word could leave her lips, Nya quietly approached their corner. Her presence had gone almost unnoticed until she was right in front of them. Both Harumi and Kai turned to her, waiting for whatever she had to say.

But Nya hesitated.

Harumi’s expression quickly twisted into a frown full of suspicion.

“Hey...” Nya began, her voice cautious. “Can we talk... in private later?”

Harumi’s mouth opened again, but this time Kai acted first, covering her mouth with the hand.

“Sure—yes—of course” he said hastily, trying to suppress a groan as Harumi immediately started biting his fingers.

She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him as if to say really, Kai?

Nya, either ignoring the gesture or choosing not to react, nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“After breakfast?”

Harumi wrenched free and elbowed Kai hard in the stomach. Kai groaned irritated.

“Actually,” she hissed, “we have plans after breakfast. You promised you’d help me... with the hairpin.”

Kai gave her a deadpan look.

“The hairpin? Really? You’re seriously telling me that’s your real concern?” He said with mockery.

He turned back to Nya and was taken aback. There was something in her expression that made his chest tighten.
She looked... hurt. And jealous.

It was subtle, but enough to knock the wind from his sarcasm.

Kai’s faint smirk vanished.

“We’ll talk in private after breakfast” he said, more firmly now.

He didn’t miss the daggers Harumi was now glaring into the back of his head. He just chose to ignore it as always.

…

Breakfast went smoothly, surprisingly, despite Harumi kicking Kai under the table the entire time, clearly irritated that he had accepted Nya’s invitation. Her childish, four-year-old behaviour was nothing new.

And as always, Kai endured it.

There were a few unfamiliar faces at the table. An older couple, and one particularly ancient man with a long white beard. Kai couldn’t help but notice the way their eyes stayed glued to him throughout the meal. The couple whispered quietly to each other between bites, never fully breaking their stare.

Nya, too. Her silence was louder than words. Her gaze on him and Harumi was filled with something sharp and pained.

The whole atmosphere was suffocating. Only Jay, Cole and Lloyd were trying to erase tension with small talk about nothing.

When the breakfast was over, Jay volunteered to handle the dishes, giving Kai and Nya a silent opportunity to leave. Nya gave Kai a subtle nod and gestured for him to follow.

She took him to the room, that seemed as her. It was cluttered with schematics, scrolls, and gears. Kai didn’t know on what he should focus his eyes on. It certainly resembled his little, bratty, Harumi.

Nya shut the door behind them with care. Then she crossed the room to her desk, where she pushed aside a few scattered scrolls. Without a word, she picked up a framed photo and gave it to him.

She watched carefully his expression, any change on his face.

He frowned, uncertain what reaction she was expecting from him.

“So… This is about what you were trying to say back at the palace?” His voice was cautious and doubtful.

She didn’t say anything just gaze back at him with full of pain eyes.

Kai inhaled, not hiding confusion. He looked at the photo.

He instantly recognized the couple that were siting on the breakfast, here on the picture – much way younger. Between them, kids.

Kai scoffed.

“Are you seriously giving me blurry photo?”

“Blurry?”

Kai rolled his eyes and handed the picture back to her.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but I’m out.”

“Wait—what do you mean blurry?” Nya asked sharply.

“It means exactly what I said.” He shrugged. “Faceless kids. I don’t know, are you into urban legends? Or was that the intro to some creepy story from the internet?”

Nya dashed immediately form the room.

Kai stood there, blinking, more confused than ever. He scratched the back of his neck, glancing toward the door. Just as he made up his mind to leave, it swung open again—this time, with Nya returning… and Jay behind her.

“Jay, look at this photo.” Nya said, giving him the frame.

Jay blinked, clearly confused, but took the picture and studied it. After a moment, he glanced at Kai.

“If it weren’t for the scar—” he began.

Kai immediately shifted his gaze, jaw tightening. That word again. He resisted the growing urge to walk out, knowing it would only draw more attention.

“I thought it was already obvious that…” Jay lowered his voice, “…it’s him.”

“No, not that,” Nya snapped, shaking her head. “Do you see anything weird? Blurry faces? Faceless kids?”

Jay squinted at the picture.

“Uhhh… no? Should I?”

“No!”

“Then, that’s fine?”

She groaned in frustration.

“That’s the problem. Kai sees one.”

Jay looked back at Kai, brows raised.

“Seriously, dude?”

Kai scoffed.
“Is this some kind of joke?”

Nya snatched the picture back from Jay and shoved it into Kai’s hands again.
“Look closely!”

He flinched at the sudden movement, glaring at her, but reluctantly glanced down at the photo. His brows furrowed. He just wanted this whole thing to be over already.

What nonsense. A blurry spot? Seriously? What were they even hoping he would see?

Of course, nothing, came from it. How could he read anything from it.

And yet—
He froze.

The distorted part of the image… it wasn’t static.

The spiral of the blurriness was barley moving. A slow, almost imperceptible spiral, like mist circling a drain. For a moment, he thought he was imagining it. But the dread in his chest twisted tighter. It was making him uncomfortable, giving him nausea, headache and—

Then—he saw them.

Eyes.

Purple, abyssal, pupil-less. Staring straight at him. Through him.

He dropped the picture, catching the breath.

He was back again in the room, Nya and Jay looking at him with concern. No abyss gazing into him.

“Are you alright?” Jay asked, but Kai only grew in panic, feeling how he would hyperventilate in any given moment.

He bolted from the room.

“Kai!” Nya shouted, chasing after him.

She caught up easily, grabbing his wrist.

“Your name is Kai! Kai Jiang-Smith!”

“Let me go!” he snapped, jerking his arm, but her grip tightened.

“Kai Jiang-Smith!” she repeated, louder now, like the name was supposedly mean something.

“What the hell is this about?!” a sharp voice cut through the chaos.

Kai’s head whipped toward the source.

Harumi stood in the corridor, fuming. Her fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight enough to crack. She looked like she could lunge at Nya at any second and gouge her eyes out without a second thought.

“What exactly are you doing to my brother?” she hissed, voice low but sharp as a dagger.

“It’s not like that—” Nya began, but Harumi had already stepped closer, forcing her to back off.

Jay slipped between them.

“Okay, this might sound crazy to you, but—” Jay said, his voice tight with stress.

“I’m your sister, Kai. Biologically,” Nya cut in, the words trembling in the air like a fragile truth.

Kai froze.
He blinked a few times, stunned.

Harumi held her breath too.

“This is ridiculous. This is fucking ridiculous!” Harumi shouted. She yanked Kai’s arm, pulling him out of Nya’s reach, then turned him slightly behind her, shielding him like a guard dog poised to bite. “He’s barely holding himself together, and you think now’s the time to play mind games?”

“It’s the truth!” Nya insisted. “Kai, it’s your real name—Harumi, you even told me—” She stumbled, trying to organize the storm of thoughts. “Your parents, Kai… they’re here. Maya and Ray—”

“Stop this nonsense! You’re breaking him!”

“I’m not breaking him!” Nya shouted back.

Kai stood frozen behind Harumi—pale, shaking. His hands were balled into fists at his sides, not from anger… but fear. And Harumi saw it.

Harumi turned her head just enough to whisper to him, her voice soft and razor-sharp, meant only for his ears.
“You want me to get rid of her?”

“Harumi—” Nya warned.

“I swear I’ll throw you through the ship deck if you say one more word,” Harumi snapped, her smile now honed like a blade.

Kai didn’t answer. His throat had locked up. He was still processing the word.
Sister.

Harumi.
Kizuna.
Nya.

Sisters.
Sister.

His mind was blank.

He tore his arm from Harumi’s grip.
“What—what are you saying—” he asked, voice hoarse. He swallowed hard.

“Kai!” Harumi hissed, digging her nails into his arm.

Nya inhaled sharply, clutching at her chest.
“I’m your biological sister. I’ve been looking for you. Me—” She paused, biting her lip. “Me and… our parents.”

Kai’s chest twisted tight, like a knife was being driven into his gut.
“H-How—?” he stammered. But before he could say more, Harumi jerked away from him, face twisted in frustration, and stormed off.

He looked at Nya. At Jay. Then back at Harumi.

And he ran after her.

“Rumi, wait—!”

He chased her to her room, but didn’t make it in time. The door slammed, followed by the sharp click of the lock. He grabbed the doorknob, no use.

“Rumi—please!” he knocked, his voice cracking with desperation.

“Fuck you!” she yelled from the other side.

“Rumi...”

“Go to your fucking sister! She’s probably better and perfect and everything I’m not!”

“Harumi, you know it’s not—”

“Leave me alone!”

Kai sighed, eyes falling shut as he pressed his forehead against the door. Of course it had to end like this. Slowly, he slid down until he was sitting on the floor, back against the wood.

“Rumi...” he murmured. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done it—”

For a long moment, there was silence. Just his breathing, and the faint sound of her pacing beyond the door.

Then her voice came, quieter this time, muffled by wood and wounded pride.

“You always pick them...” She said, almost too soft to catch. “You always choose anyone but me.”

Kai’s heart sank. He rested his head back against the doorframe.

“That’s not true.”

“It is.” She whispered harshly. “First Kizuna, then your servants friends— And now— the second someone else shows up claiming to be your ‘real’ family—” Her voice cracked with a short, bitter laugh. “You just abandoned me.”

He shut his eyes.

“Rumi, you know that’s not true. I promised you—I’ll always stay with you, no matter what.”

Silence thickened between them.

“I told you back then. That I wouldn’t abandon you. And I never will.”

He heard the soft click of the lock turning. Kai straightened up, and the moment Harumi opened the door, he pulled her into a hug without hesitation.

“You are my sister. My little sister.” He whispered. “I will never abandon you.”

“Then why do I always feel like you will?” She scoffed, not returning the embrace.

“I didn’t ask for any of this.” He murmured. “I don’t even know what’s real anymore.”

“You know me” she snapped. “Isn’t that enough?”

There was a pause.

“...It is,” he finally said, so softly, it could’ve been mistaken for a thought. “It is.”

She finally hugged him back.