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Chapter Text

“Hello sir! Welcome to The Four Weapons! What can we do for you?” Kai stared expectantly at the old man, already feeling the exhaustion he would bring. The man hmmmed in a way that sent a shiver of irritation down Kai’s body.

The old man moved through the shop, completely ignoring Kai’s attempts at conversation. Nya cleared her throat, trying to show the man something he might like, but was waved away.

Kai could see the glare she was hiding. Nya hated being ignored. 

As Nya opened her mouth, most likely to yell at the man, Lloyd stepped in with a smile.

”Is there anything you might be looking for sir? Or maybe you’re in need of a custom order? They tend to cost more but our customers always leave satisfied!”

The man narrowed his eyes at Lloyd, confusion flickering across his face.

Oh god did this man even know why he was here??? Kai tried to put a lid on his irritation, he really did. But then the man went too far.

”Tacky,” he said as he jabbed his staff at the katanas. Kai squawked in indignation, Lloyd quickly lost the smile on his face, and Nya clenched her fists.

”Usless,” the man said, nearly knocking over an armor display, but Lloyd and Nya managed to catch it before it went crashing to the floor. They glared at the old man as he turned his back to them.

”Hey you don’t get to come in here and insult our work!” Kai shouted, following the man through the shop.

The man continued to insult every piece available for sale, seemingly unaware of the fuming Kai that followed him.

Before the man could whack another sword, Kai grabbed the staff midswing.

”If you’re going to buy something, buy something. Otherwise I want you out of our shop,” Kai hissed, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

The man yanked his staff out of Kai’s hand, and turned around with humph.

”Thought I might find something special here,” he said.

Kai could feel the anger coursing through him. He opened his mouth, ready to verbally destroy this old geezer. The next thing he knew, Nya had flung herself on top of him, taking them to the ground.

”Thank you for your time and please don’t come again!” Lloyd called to the man as he not so calmly shut the door.

“What was that for?!” Kai shouted as he shoved Nya off of him. He was seething with anger. “That man totally deserved what I was going to say to him!”

”You idiot,” Nya huffed. “Your hair is on fire again! We didn’t exactly want him to see that, did we?”

Oh. Kai sheepishly fingered his hair, feeling the barest warmth licking his fingers. He gave a quiet laugh, quickly putting out the flames.

”Uh, thanks, Nya.” 

“You’re welcome,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

”For the record,” Lloyd said, holding out a hand for Kai. “That guy definitely deserved a verbal thrashing.”

Kai nodded, a self satisfied grin on his face.

Nya moved through the smithy, fixing the askew products.

”I can’t believe him! What kind of person does he think he is? He can’t just walk in here and insult everything! He had no right!”

”And he wouldn’t even listen to us!” Kai seethed, moving to help Nya. “He only paused with Lloyd, and I had to grab his fucking staff to get him to pay attention!”

”It was pretty stupid,” Lloyd hummed. “I’m just glad he’s gone.”

There was a chorus of agreement, and the trio went back to their jobs, trying to forget about the old man.

They moved in comfortable harmony. Lloyd providing the metals, and Kai using his flaming hands to melt and shape the new weapon. When he held out the scalding piece, Nya used her water to cool it. When Kai approved it, Lloyd took over the wrapping and displaying.

They worked like that for a long time, no one speaking. They were all content with each other’s silent presences, the man quickly forgotten.

It was two hours later when the sun vanished.

***

Kai was pounding away on a pair of shurikens, Nya and Lloyd checking the inventory. Without warning, thunder sounded and dark, looming clouds smothered the sky. Kai paused, looking up with a frown.

”Uh guys?” Lloyd asked, leaning out the window, eyes wide. “Something tells me those aren’t natural.”

Kai frowned as he stared at the dark town in the distance. It was too quiet. His agitation grew, spreading through his bones.

Listen. Prepare. Fight.

The screams began. They were distant, and the revving of engines quickly drowned them out. On the road to the smithy were skeletons driving cars… or something like it. Kai wasn’t too sure, and they looked kinda stupid, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

“You two are staying inside, I’ll deal with them,” Kai said as he grabbed a katana. 

“No way are we letting you have all the fun!” Nya scoffed, grabbing one of the few tridents they made. She gave it a quick spin, a nervous grin on her face.

”Yeah no way are we leaving you alone,” Lloyd said as he grabbed a sword, curved at the top.

Kai sighed, gave his katana a few swings, and glared at his siblings.

”If you’re really sure.”

They nodded, and were soon outside the smithy, ready to fight. The trio watched as the skeletons came closer and closer, hearts hammering in their chests.

”Hey Nya,” Kai called. The skeletons had arrived.

”Yeah?” She answered, still wearing her nervous grin. She and Lloyd sank into battle positions, clutching their weapons tight. The lead skeleton was shouting about some map, but Kai gave a sharp grin.

”No one else is around. Why don’t we show them what they’re dealing with?”

The skeletons were leaping from the cars, shouting and raising their weapons. Kai swung his sword, sinking into positing. 

Fire erupted around his blade.

”Oh hell yes !” Nya shouted, and Kai knew she had summoned her water. “Now you’re talking!”

The skeletons had paused at Kai’s flaming katana, and were practically shaking in their boots at Nya’s power display. Their leader was seething, eyes wide with anger.

”Try to keep up Lloyd!” Kai grinned. 

“Like I need powers to beat up a bunch of skeletons!” Lloyd scoffed.

The flames burned brighter, and Kai could feel the flames tickling his ears.

”What are you idiots doing?! GO!”

Fight. Win. Lose.

***

Kai’s firing katana crashed against a skeleton’s skull sending it flying. He kicked the flailing bones as he rushed to the next. 

The whole battle was pretty much just a lot of ducking, swinging, and kicking. Nya was shooting her water, and Lloyd was swinging his sword like a baseball bat, laughing with every hit.

The skeletons were everywhere, running around every which way, some with heads and others without. It was honestly a little underwhelming. Turns out the training the three had received all those years ago was paying off. 

Kai turned his attention to the big skeleton, hair and sword bright with fire. The leader grinned, laughed, and pulled out four curved blades.

Oh. Probably not good.

Kai grit his teeth, and before he could chicken out, his blade was swinging and fire was erupting. The katana crashed against the four blades. The skeleton continued to laugh, and Kai grit his teeth. 

He pulled away, then came back swinging. The two traded blow after blow, the skeleton growing silent as Kai refused to back down. 

Fire was igniting all over his body as he punched and kicked and swung his blade. Each hit was harsher, hotter, stronger than the other. And then Kai had the skeleton on the defensive. He was going to win. He was going to send this pile of bones back to whatever hole it crawled out of.

Kai was angry. He was so, so angry. This idiot and his stupid followers had really tried to attack them. Attack Kai’s family. Hell no. Hell. No.

Kai was not going to let these fuckers get away unscathed.

” KAI WATCH OUT!! ”

Kai turned just in time to get a sword to the face. 

***

Ow.

I really hate how much the face bleeds.

Kai was hissing in pain, one hand pressed against the gash just below his eye. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt like hell. 

Kai was just about to retaliate when something slammed into his back. He went flying, crying out. When he crashed to the ground, he couldn’t get up.

No no no no no nononono.

“KAI HOLD ON!!!”

No no no no not Lloyd. Stay away stay away stay away.

But Kai could get his vision to focus. And the blood was still flowing down his face, and he could feel it rising in his throat, threatening to choke him.

Am I really this fucking weak? I can’t even take a hit from behind? Useless, useless, useless.

Both Nya and Lloyd were surrounded by swarms of skeletons. But they were fighting, panic behind every hit, every step, every breath. They were fighting to get to him. They were fighting to save him. That was supposed to be his job. Weak, weak, weak.

The skeleton from before loomed over Kai, its bony mouth twisting into a grin as it kicked him again. 

Kai gagged, droplets of blood flying from his mouth. His flames wavered, slowly withering out.

The skeleton leader was laughing. Why was he laughing? Why were Lloyd and Nya screaming louder?

The skeleton’s foot slammed into Kai’s chin, and for a moment everything was black and silent. 

And then reality crashed back into him as he hit the ground. Hard. Blood spilled from his mouth, pooling on the ground.

It hurts it hurts it hurts ithurtsithurtsithurts.

But when Kai managed to see past his haze of pain, the skeletons were racing back to their vehicles, shouting, and one waving its arms in the air.

”A good fight, but worthless in the end,” the leader laughed. And then he was slamming his blades into the water tank. And then he was running back to the vehicles. And then the water tank was falling, falling, falling, right towards Kai. 

Shit. Shit shit shit. 

But then there was a golden, spinning thing heading straight for him. Kai felt strong arms scoop him up, and before he could blink, he was next to a startled Lloyd, his exhausted body held up by someone.

“I’ve got you Kai,” came a way too familiar voice.

Kai looked up, narrowing his eyes to get them to focus. Yep. It was the insanely rude old man. Great. 

“Garmadon says grab the girl!”

Kai froze. He stopped hearing. Nya was running straight at them, and then something wrapped around her, and Kai was fighting the old man. Why wouldn’t he let go? WHY WOULDN’T HE LET GO?? He needed to save his sister. HE NEEDED TO SAVE NYA.

But Nya was yanked up into the air, a surprised screech escaping her lips. And whatever had grabbed her was pulling her towards the biggest car, with the leader and his stupid, stupid grin.

Kai was free.

”no no no no,” Lloyd was saying. He was frozen, horror etched across his face.

”LLOYD! KAI!” Nya was shouting. 

Kai was running.

“Kai come back! You can’t help her now!” The old man was shouting.

”Let me go you JERKS!” Nya was shouting.

Lloyd was running, a choked cry escaping his lips.

All Kai could see was the fear in Nya’s eyes. The fear she was desperately trying to hide. But she couldn’t, not with Kai as her big brother. Not with Kai raising her. Not with Kai knowing her .

How could this happen? How could he let this happen? How could he let this HAPPEN?

Kai reared a hand back, the cars growing farther and farther away. He had one shot. He had one shot. 

His fist erupted in flames, bigger and brighter than they’d ever been before. Kai could feel the heat, no longer a usually soft warmth. No. This fire felt like it was burning. Burning him for his failures.

Kai had one shot.

Lloyd was shouting at the old man, screaming at him to do something. 

Kai had one shot.

The old man was yelling at Kai, reaching for him.

Kai had one shot.

Fight. 

Win.

Lose.

Kai missed.

Chapter Text

Kai had one shot. Kai missed.

I had one shot. I missed.

I missed, I missed, I missed.

Useless. Weak. Worthless.

Kai was still bleeding, blood running down his face and chin, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Every breath sent spikes of pain through his chest, ribs aching. But they weren’t broken, that was a different pain. 

Kai wanted to cry. He wanted to shout, let the rising fire and anger explode out of him. He felt like he was going to break. He failed. He failed his sister.

“Kai…” Lloyd’s broken voice made Kai whip around. Nya wasn’t here, but Kai couldn’t break. He still had Lloyd, and Lloyd needed help. Lloyd could not see him break.

Lloyd was shaking, his normally vibrant green eyes wide and dull. But he had no obvious injuries, no stiffness in his movements, and no pain in his eyes. Good.

”Are you okay? You need help,” Lloyd was wringing his hands, a nervous habit.

”I’m fine Lloyd. Listen,” Kai put his hands on Lloyd’s shoulders, forcing him to focus. “We are going to get Nya back, okay? I will not stop until she’s back home. It’s going to be okay, okay?” Lloyd nodded, his eyes sharpening in determination, but something was still off.

”What’s wrong?” Lloyd hesitated.

”They said Garmadon,” his voice barely a whisper.

Oh. Shit. Garmadon was Lloyd’s dad. And also super evil. And he just kidnapped Nya. Shit. 

“We’ll figure it out, okay? When we get to it, we’ll deal with it.” Kai didn’t let go of Lloyd until the boy nodded, standing up straighter. With that, Kai turned to the old man, who had kept quiet.

” You. Why the fuck did you not help Nya? You could’ve done your spinny thing or something! You could’ve helped us out at the beginning and we wouldn’t even be in this mess!”

Small flames were flickering in Kai’s hair, but the man had already seen, and he just couldn’t bring himself to care. But what really got them going was when the old man sighed like he was explaining something very hard to a child who couldn’t understand.

”You are injured, Kai. And there was simply nothing I could do.” Kai scoffed.

”Really? Really? You couldn’t do anything? Why do I find that so hard to believe?” 

“There was nothing I could do. We must move on from this, time is being wasted.”

”No kidding. Come on Lloyd,” Kai called, not sparing the man a second glance as he moved towards the smithy. Despite the voices in his head yelling at him to go after Nya, don’t waste any time, you have to go now, he needed to deal with his injuries. He would be useless to her if he was bleeding all over the place. 

Lloyd ran ahead, lifting a floorboard in the kitchen and pulling out the emergency supplies. It had what little money Kai could put away to save, the librarian and combat mentor’s address and phone numbers, as well as their families’, and more importantly, medical supplies. 

Lloyd chucked the cleaning wipes at Kai, and Kai got to work. The old man had followed them, but Kai didn’t care. He couldn’t bring himself to care. He had to worry about Nya. He could not fail. He could not fail his family again. 

When all the blood was cleaned off, Lloyd smeared a simple ointment(the best they could afford), and placed the bandages over the gash. Kai couldn’t lie, he definitely felt better.

Unfortunately, the only thing they had for his ribs was rest, but they had no time for that. Besides, he’s dealt with a couple bruised ribs before, it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

”So you and your sister have elemental powers. And you seem rather adept at using them.”

Kai froze. He had forgotten the man had seen all that. But it didn’t matter. Those powers were probably the only reason Kai got off so easy.

”Yeah? So what?” His voice was dangerous, and Lloyd sent a wary look at the old man. 

“I believe I have a way to help you. You must come with me, and train to be a ninja, so that you can defeat Garmadon and save your sister,” the man spoke as if there was no other choice, as if what he said was simple.

”I’m sorry, what?” Kai asked, dumbfounded. Why the hell did this man think he would do that? Become a ninja? Ha! How would being a ninja help anything?

“I feel I should start at the beginning, for your sake,” the old man said with a heavy sigh.

Kai was so very fucking done. 

“Garmadon is my brother,” the old man starts.

I’m sorry, what?

“When we were young, he was bit by a snake, The Great Devourer. It turned him evil, and my brother was lost. The only thing I could do was seal him away in the Underworld, to protect Ninjago from his evil.”

Kai had heard this story before, it was one of many Lloyd had told in the first couple of months he arrived. But why was this man failing to mention it was his fault Garmadon got bit by the snake?

He could tell Lloyd was not enjoying this story, but at least he was keeping quiet. And, wait. If this man was Garmadon’s brother, then he was Lloyd’s uncle…. Shiiiiiit.

Nope, Kai would worry about that later. Now was not the time. 

“But now I fear he has returned, and is seeking the Golden Weapons in order to return to this world.”

”And he kidnapped my sister to do that?!” Kai growled, fed up with the storytelling.

”I believe he has done so in order to control you, Kai. As the elemental master of fire, you are the only one who can remove the Sword of Fire from its resting place.”

”Well then he could have just kidnapped me!” Kai was really feeling an itch to punch Garmadon in the face. And before he could voice that thought, he was getting whacked from behind. When he turned, Lloyd was glaring at him, and a shiver ran down his spine.

”Do not say that. None of this should have happened,” Lloyd said. He turned to the old man, Kai remaining silent. “Why does Kai need to be a ninja? Why do you need to train him?”

”So that he can retrieve the Sword of Fire of course. If we are going to defeat Garmadon, then we will need the Golden Weapons. And I can teach you spinjitsu and other fighting techniques,” the old man said matter of fact. “And we must hurry. Now that the Skulkin have the map your parents hid, they are a step ahead of us.”

What the fuck. What map? 

“What map?” Kai and Lloyd ask simultaneously. 

“The map to the Golden Weapons.”

Kai was getting a headache. He was getting a very bad headache. This was all too much. He just wanted to save Nya. He did not want to deal with any of this. But if the Golden Weapons would save his sister, then he would just have to deal with this. 

“Fine. I’ll do the training, as long as Lloyd can do it too.”

”Of course he can. He seems equally trained as you,” the man said.

So now me and Lloyd were going to be trained by this old guy. And learn spinnyjitsu or something like that. And also go get some Golden Weapons, save Nya, and maybe defeat Garmadon who is Lloyd’s dad. That’s a lot.

Wait…. What was this dude even called??? And how did he know my name, and maybe Lloyd’s? That was creepy. Like really creepy.

”What’s your name?” Lloyd asked, seemingly also realizing what Kai had.

”I am Wu,” the man said.

”I’m Kai, and this is Lloyd, though I think you already knew my name,” Kai says as he narrows his eyes at Wu, or, Sensei? Eh, didn’t matter. He was oblivious to Kai’s stare anyways, instead focusing on Lloyd, a distant look on his face.

Lloyd shifted uncomfortably, and the man turned away.

”Well then, let’s get going. There is much to teach, and not much time for it to be taught.” With that, the man turned and left the smithy, not bothering to look back. 

“What if he figures it out?” Lloyd whispered, eyes stuck on his feet.

”We won’t tell him. And we won’t say anything to make him wonder. If you don’t want him knowing, Lloyd, then we won’t let him know. He’s a part of your family, and it’s up to you when he learns, if ever,” Kai hummed, slinging an arm over Lloyd’s shoulders.

”Thanks, Kai,” Lloyd smiled. “We’re going to get Nya back, and then everything can go back to normal.”

”Yep!” Kai grinned, and the two left the smithy, ready to do whatever it took to get their sister back.

And while the grin never left Kai’s face, he had a sinking feeling.

I don’t think things will be normal for a long time.

***

“Complete the course before I finish my tea,” Sensei Wu said, a glint in his eye. Kai and Lloyd turned, and the obstacle course roared to life. Every single obstacle spun or moved, and weapons shot out every which way.

This would be easy.

When the two turned back around, Sensei Wu was smiling.

”I do believe you two will have a much easier time with this than my other students, but don’t consider it a simple challenge.”

“Yeah, yeah can we get started?” Kai asked.

”You will go at the same time,” Sensei Wu said, annoyance lacing his voice. “Begin!”

Kai and Lloyd raced forward, the tips of Kai’s ears lighting with fire. They ducked, swerved, spun, and smacked whatever obstacles got in the way with their wooden swords. 

It was actually kind of fun, and definitely added more challenge than normal. Kai was kind of enjoying it, and Lloyd was too. But then Lloyd was chucking his sword at their timer.

”He cheats,” Lloyd hissed, a feral grin on his face as the cup was knocked from Wu’s hands.

”Nice one Lloyd!” Kai called, rushing ahead of his brother. While his little brother gave the two more time, Kai didn’t feel like losing to him.

Barely a few seconds later, Kai was skidding to a seat next to Sensei Wu, Lloyd right behind him.

”So how’d we do?” Kai asked, a cocky smirk on his face.

Wu looked between Kai and Lloyd, frustration overtaking his face. But then he smiled.

”It seems I underestimated your skills. Perhaps it’s time you met my other students.”

With that he turned around and left a very confused Kai and Lloyd.

”Do we follow…?” Lloyd asked, 

Kai shrugged.

”He said we were going to meet some people so maybe we just stay here.”

So the two waited, and then they waited a little more, and then some more. And then Lloyd was asleep, and Kai was lost in his head.

It had been a week, a week, since Nya was kidnapped. He had no idea where she was, or if she was okay, or what Lord Garmadon planned to do with her. 

Lord Garmadon, Lloyd’s father…. Kai didn’t know what to feel about the man. For his whole life, Lloyd had talked about his dad, telling the good and the bad parts. And Kai had always felt an odd sense of respect for the man. Sure, he was evil, but despite that he had cared for Lloyd as long as he could. Sure, Lloyd had been a kid when his dad disappeared, and he knew he was evil, but he only saw a good father. So Kai found himself respecting the man.

But then he kidnapped Nya, and Kai found his view on the man tainted. One moment Kai wanted Lord Garmadon dead for what he did, and the next he couldn’t imagine Lloyd losing someone so important to him.

”Kai?”

Kai knew he wasn’t alone in the struggle, and he knew Lloyd was having a harder time with it than he was. 

“Kai!”

Kai just wanted to see his sister, alive and safe. He didn’t want to be training with Wu, or dealing with internal struggles over a man he hasn’t met. He doesn’t want to be a ninja.

”Kai!”

He wants things to just go back to normal! 

“KAI!”

Kai shot straight up, knocking his head into Lloyd’s. Lloyd took a couple steps back, rubbing his forehead. Wu was standing in the doorway, a small frown on his face.

“Uhh… hi?” Kai said, a hand running through his hair. He felt the barest warmth tickling his fingers and knew his hair was on fire, which was something Wu was trying to train out of him. So far it hadn’t worked.

“Did you need something?” He asks, waving away the flames. 

Wu sighed, then turned to the closed doors behind him.

“It is time you met my students, your team. We will begin our journey for the Golden Weapons tomorrow. For now, you must get to know each other enough to be comfortable working together.”

With that, the doors opened, and three black clothed figures stepped through. They flipped their hoods off, and suddenly there was a lot of noise all at once.

Kai couldn’t even understand what all was being said, only that all three were talking, and then Lloyd was talking, and Kai was getting wrapped up in introductions even though he would have preferred quiet.

”I’m Jay.”

”Cole.”

“Zane, a pleasure to meet you.”

”I’m Lloyd.”

”Uh, Kai.”

”So how long has sensei been training you guys?”

”Which one of you can control fire?”

”Sensei said we’re saving a girl!”

“He said you passed in record time!”

”I bet it’s you, your color scheme fits.”

”Is she cute?”

“He doesn’t give praise that easily.”

“Red and fire go pretty well together.”

”Is her favorite color blue?”

My hair is on fire again, isn’t it?

Chapter Text

As they trekked across a mountain range, Kai was doing everything he could to fight his flaming hair. It seemed with the complete sensory overload that was the students of Wu, he had no more control over his powers. It seemed to be frustrating said sensei.

It was also frustrating the other ninja except for Zane; all of them complained the mountain heat was enough, and they didn’t need his fiery hair on top of it. They sang a different song at night. They were also complaining about the gis Wu had provided two weeks ago. Apparently they were way too hot, and they were all sweaty messes by the end of the day. Kai wasn’t entirely sure what they meant, and was completely unaffected by the supposed heat, which seemed to frustrate them all.

“Can’t you just turn the fire off?” Jay shouted from the back of the group. He was the loudest complainer and got on everybody’s nerves.

“For the last time, NO!” Not with everyone making me angry at least. 

Lloyd glanced at Kai, a spark of worry in his eyes. Everything had been adding to the pressure in Kai’s body, and he felt like he was going to explode any minute now. It was rare that he truly exploded, but the brothers both knew it was not a pretty sight.

“Could you try? It’s just going to make all this harder you know,” Jay grumbled.

A part of Kai knew Jay didn’t mean it, and never intended for Kai to even hear. The other part was already blazing with fury.

“What’s making this harder is you not moving! We aren’t going to get anywhere if you keep complaining and slowing us down! So get your ass moving, or I will torch it.”

Kai didn’t bother waiting for a response. He just turned around and stormed past Lloyd, Wu, and Zane. He kept the pace up until he couldn’t see them behind him and couldn’t hear anything behind his own thoughts.

And boy were they loud.

They screamed at him, the fire in his hair flicking about like a candle in the wind. At what point would it be snuffed out? 

It had been two weeks, two weeks, since they had left the Monastery, and they hadn’t even reached the place where the Scythe of Quakes was. They had already been delayed when Wu refused to leave until they wore the stupid color coded gis.

It was like no one cared they had a person to save! His sister was kidnapped by Garmadon and no one seemed to be concerned for her safety. Not even Lloyd seemed to be giving it the same importance as his older brother. At least he had reasons.

Why couldn’t anyone treat this as real life? They weren’t some fabled heroes who could defeat all evil with a snap of their fingers. They were just regular human beings who had to work their asses off just to get dinner.

Kai groaned, his face falling into his hands. Why did he ever think Wu would help him save Nya? She was more likely to save herself blindfolded and limbs tied up than for Wu and the “ninja” to even get to Garmadon’s evil lair.

If it weren’t for the fact Garmadon was evil, Kai wouldn’t have bothered with the fruit colored students of Wu. And Kai was having doubts about Garmadon’s evil vendetta on top of all this!

Everything he knew about the man Lloyd had told him. And he didn’t really seem all that bad, just… misled. Wu kept making him out as some horrible guy, but Lloyd told the good stories. He didn’t know what to think anymore.

With each step he took, Kai fell deeper and deeper in his thoughts until they were the only thing he could hear. He stopped seeing the mountain path and his feet, stopped feeling the wind on his face.

Then he stopped thinking. He was just walking along, putting one foot in front of the other, but not thinking. He was aware of everything and aware of nothing. He was just… there.

He didn’t notice the sun dipping lower, or how he was still alone. He did not hear the faintest voices and rattling. He just continued to walk and walk.

The voices grew louder, and Kai started humming. The monotonous noise filled his empty brain. The voices cut out. He didn’t notice.

Then with the battle cry of the century, a skeleton came hurtling from the rocks. It swung its sword straight at Kai’s face, hitting him square on.

Kai went tumbling back into himself as he also tumbled to the ground. His face was throbbing with pain, but he grit his teeth and launched himself back up.

There were two skeletons now, both jeering at him. They did not recognize the deadly anger on Kai’s face. Oh he was going to enjoy this.

“You know, I’ve been waiting to punch a pile of bones.” Kai raised his fists already wreathed in flame. The skeletons shut up immediately, raising their swords defensively.

Kai only grinned, and began to advance.

By the time the other ninja caught up, the sun had sunk behind the mountain, and the only light came from Kai’s flaming hair. The group’s laughter halted when they took in the lounging fire ninja and two skeletons tied to a tree.

Kai didn’t bother to open his eyes as the footsteps came to a stop.

“Kai…” Lloyd was the first to speak. He didn’t get very far though.

“Yes?” Kai asked, stifling a grin.

“Why do you have skeletons?” Zane asked. Kai opened his eyes.

“It’s quite simple. They tried to ambush me, were sorely defeated, then told me all I wanted to know before kindly offering to stay for the night.” He turned to the skeletons and grinned. “Right guys?”

The skeletons only glared, but it seemed more out of fear than violence.

“What did they tell you?” Wu asked, face carefully blank.

“Oh nothing,” Kai said, waving his hand. “Just that the golden weapon is about an hour away, and none of the skeletons can find it.”

There was silence for a second, then the small wooded area erupted into noise. It seemed a million questions were barreling towards him, and Kai had to fight the wince.

“Shut up you idiots!” Everything halted and they all turned to the skeletons.

“You make it seem like it will be easy to take the golden weapon! But you fruit colored idiots won’t be able to do anything! We have one of the strongest forces here, excavating the weapon. They’ll turn you into a pile of dust before you even step foot in the caves!”

The skeleton opened its mouth to say more, but it suddenly froze; its bones began to rattle.

“I think it would be a good idea to shut up now,” Kai said, voice deadly cold. Everyone except Lloyd took a step away from him. Lloyd only felt a shiver run down his back.

The two skeletons mumbled something incomprehensible before shifting, as much as their bindings would allow, as far away as possible.

Kai huffed and turned back to the group, who now all stood behind Lloyd.

“What?” he asked, his voice normal again.

“Your brother scares me,” Jay whispered to Lloyd.

Kai glared; Jay squeaked and ducked behind the younger brother. Wu cleared his throat

“I believe we should listen to what Kai learned, and then make our plan of attack for tomorrow,” he said.

Everyone murmured their agreement and Kai settled back into his spot.

Finally things are happening.

In the morning, they went over their plan and Wu sent them off with a warning.

“Do not use the Scythe of Quakes, and Kai. Do not use your fire.”

Kai ignored him. It had been the only way to escape anyways. If they couldn’t use the Scythe against a horde of skeletons and a dragon, then his fire was the only option!

Kai knew the rest of the team agreed, they all knew they would be dead without it. But here Wu was, infuriated over Kai. He never stopped yelling, and Kai couldn’t get a word in to defend himself.

So he stood there in silence, a glare on his face. He didn’t pay attention to what Wu said; he kept his focus on controlling his fire. He was not going to let even a wisp of smoke rise from his hair, or waft from his hands.

Kai didn’t pay attention when Wu turned to the other ninja and congratulated them for retrieving the Scythe and the map to the other golden weapons. He didn’t notice when they started on their trek to the Shurikens of Ice. He ignored the other ninja and Lloyd when they tried to talk to him.

He focused on controlling the fire inside him, raging against his skin, begging for release.

Eventually they all gave up and left him alone, even Lloyd who had never seen Kai like this. He didn’t know his brother slipped into these modes often at night. When the stress of raising two kids by yourself with no money became too much. When all he wanted was to sleep but it never came.

The anger calmed down in the next few hours. He focused more, listened more. He still ignored Wu, but he spoke with the others, and managed to joke around with Lloyd. But he felt a vacancy in his chest as the days went on.

Nya would love this group. She would love sparring, both verbally and physically. She’d love to talk machines with Jay, and spar with Cole, and speak random garble with Zane.

But she wasn’t here, and Kai didn’t know where she was, and as the days went by, he wasn’t sure anyone remembered they were here to save his sister. Wu filled their heads with fantasies about heroism and saving the world from evils. But since the explanation of the mission, he hadn’t so much as mentioned Nya.

Kai wanted to go home, He wanted to be running the smithy with Nya and Lloyd by his side. He wanted all this fake hero stuff to stop.

Why wouldn’t it stop?

It took a week and a half to get the Shurikens of Ice. Another two weeks to get the Nunchucks of Lightning. It was close to two months now since Nya had been kidnapped. Lloyd was fast friends with the rest of the ninja. He managed to have fun, to smile and laugh. He still avoided Wu, who miraculously hadn’t learned who Lloyd was. But Lloyd fit in. He enjoyed the journey and battles, his emerald green eyes seeming to glow with the excitement and thrill.

Kai was at the end of his rope though. He felt it fraying as he tried to hold on. He tried not to snap when the other ninja were friendly. They were just trying to be nice. They didn’t deserve his exhausted anger.

But Kai knew any day now that the anger boiling under his skin was going to be released soon. It didn’t matter how or why.

Wu got him to explode.

They were supposedly a week from the Sword of Fire, and the tension between Kai and everyone else had grown taught. He was anxious to get to the temple. He was getting so close to saving Nya. Then one night Wu pulled Kai away from the group. He needed to talk apparently.

“There is something I need you to be aware of as we reach the final golden weapon,” Wu said, his face carefully blank.

Kai crossed his arms, waiting.

“Have you ever heard of the Green Ninja?”

Kai had one of Lloyd’s favorite stories. He shook his head anyways. To Wu, he should have never heard of this prophecy.

“The Green Ninja is the person with elemental powers directly from the First Elemental Master. He is the only one who can defeat Garmadon and erase his evil from Ninjago.”

Kai shifted on his feet. It felt like his skin was crawling as the conversation went on, and he resisted the urge to scratch at them.

“I don’t understand what this has to do with me,” he said, cutting Wu off midsentence. Wu sighed, then led Kai further away from the group who were most definitely not eavesdropping.

“What I’m trying to say, Kai, is that you are the Green Ninja.”

Kai stared at Wu.

“Until all four of the golden weapons are in our possession, we won’t know for sure, but it is almost guaranteed.”

Kai’s eye twitched.

“With you gaining your powers at such an early age, and with your level of control over them and your combat skill, it seems only reasonable that you are the Green Ninja.”

Kai felt the itching on his arms mutate into a burning fire. His flames pushed at his skin, screaming for release.

“While I understand gaining a new elemental power will be hard to control at first, with enough time at my monastery to be trained by me, I am positive you will become a formidable foe. One Garmadon will fear for the rest of his living days.”

Kai felt like he was going to puke. Or maybe scream for the rest of his life. Maybe both. But Wu kept talking.

“In a few years you will be ready to face Garmadon, just allow yourself to take the time you need.”

Kai snapped.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

The fake conversation stopped; the ninja stood in alarm. Wu froze, his mouth still open to speak.

“Are you really, actually trying to pin some fake hero title on me right now?”

A strangled laugh rose out of Kai.

“What, just because I could do this?” Kai threw his hands up, fire exploding out to cover his arms. “That makes me some prophesied hero? Just because I didn’t need your stupid golden weapons to use my power, I’m destined to kill Garmadon?”

Kai moved closer to Wu, who took a step back. The ninja were coming up behind Kai but wisely kept their mouths shut. His eyes narrowed, every breath releasing flames.

“What gives you the right to force this on me without any proof?! What gives you the right to make me stay at your rundown monastery so I can learn to kill your brother with my supposed new powers?”

“You aren’t-”

“I’M NOT DONE!” his hair erupted in flames, climbing higher and higher.

“Not only are you trying to force this on me, but your plan was to get the golden weapons and then go back to the monastery. What about my fucking sister? What about the girl you promised we’d save from Garmadon? What was your plan for her? Leave her until I was “ready” to kill? Was that it?”

Wu remained silent, but his stare turned hard.

“You got something to say, Wu? Any reason to explain all of this away? Any lies to fill my head with?” Kai asked, his own stare turning cold despite the fire raging across his body.

“We were- are going to save your sister. It just might not be as soon as you want it to be. I understand wanting to get your sister to safety as soon as possible, but-”

“BUT WHAT? It’s been two MONTHS!” Kai took a step away from everyone, everything. He couldn’t do this anymore. He needed to get away.

“I’m not doing this anymore. I’m done. I’m. Done.” 

Kai turned and ran.

He couldn’t do this. Wu was never going to save Nya. Why did he ever think he would help? Why did he think anyone would help? No one has helped before, why would they start now? Wu only wanted a Green Ninja to fight his battles for him. He wanted Kai to be the Green Ninja. But Wu didn’t understand that Kai wasn’t some prophesied hero! He was just a kid with fire powers.

A desperate, older brother with fire powers.

He just wanted to save his sister.

Kai ended up by a little stream, curled up on a rock. He hummed as rocked back and forth in his sleepless haze. He needed to move, to go find Nya, but his limbs were heavy, and the second he saw the water he all but collapsed.

He wasn’t sure how long he stayed at the stream; he didn’t know how long and how far he ran.

Not far enough, some part of him whispered.

How could you leave Lloyd?

Why aren’t you finding her?

This is all your fault.

You let them take her.

You followed Wu.

How can you save her? You are powerful enough.

You don’t have the skill.

You’re useless. You can’t even handle the thought of more responsibility.

Kai might have fallen asleep, he’s not really sure. His body felt too heavy to move. He didn’t bother to try.

Maybe he could stay on this rock forever, listening to the little stream as it trickled by.

Maybe then everything would stop, he could take a breath, possibly a break.

His mind felt empty; no thoughts barreled around, fighting for attention. He liked the quiet. He was alone in the woods, but why didn’t it feel like it? Why was his body tense, ready for a fight? Why was he sitting up straighter? Why were flames beginning to light in his hair?

“Kai? Is that you?”

Oh. That’s why.

“I see hair on fire, that’s him.”

Kai was too tired to speak, so he didn’t. He let the three ninja walk into view, sit down around the rock. He sighed, sliding down the rock so he was on even ground with them all. He didn’t like being higher than them, it was awkward.

They all remained silent, scanning Kai, concern on their faces. He must have looked terrible, but what else can you expect from one hour of sleep at most?

“... Hi,” Cole said after the silence became uncomfortable.

Kai hummed in response. He couldn’t figure out how to use words.

“Lloyd and uh… Sensei are an hour or two down the trail. It took us a little to find you but you weren’t too far off,” Jay said, wincing a little when he mentioned Wu.

Kai hummed again. The three ninja glanced at each other. They all wore matching expressions of apprehension and confusion. It was very obvious they didn’t know what they were doing.

Kai groaned on the inside and forced his brain to focus. He needed to end this as soon as possible, if not for himself than to save these three from an excruciating conversation.

“Look, guys-”

“It was a really jerk move what Sensei Wu did last night,” Cole shouted. “He didn’t have to single you out like that, or try to force that idea on you, just because you got your powers early. Because we all did! We just didn’t train with them. We didn’t know what they were.”

Kai was frozen, mouth still open.

“It’s true,” Zane said. “When I was young I repeatedly froze my feet to the ground, and I was never affected by freezing weather.”

“And I got hit by lightning more times than I should have in my childhood, and I’m perfectly fine,” Jay said with a grin.

“Are we sure about that?” Cole mumbled.

“What did you say?!” 

“I said that when I was young I picked up my dad’s car for fun.”

Jay glared at Cole who rolled his eyes.

“The point is, we all got our powers before sensei thought we would. But you’re the only one who bothered to train your ability, and he used that to pin the Green Ninja crap on you.”

“I’m not the only one,” Kai whispered. “Nya got her powers a few years after me. She even has better control despite the two year difference.” At the blatant surprise on their faces, Kai huffed. “I guess Wu failed to mention that.”

“He failed to mention a lot of things,” Cole mumbled.

“And speaking of your sister,” Zane said. “We want you to know we never would have waited years to save her. She needs help. And we all know it has been too long already.”

“We don’t care what Sensei would have us do, we will be helping her,” Jay said, his eyes sparking with determination.

“I don’t think any of us have made it clear that we want to and will help you and Lloyd, and I think that might be part of the issues between us,” Cole grimaced.

They all fell silent, and Kai realized they were waiting for him to respond. But Kai didn’t know what to say. He felt like a large weight on his shoulders had been lifted, there was a lump in his throat he couldn’t quite swallow away. And that’s when he realized.

He never believed he was going to get help. He never thought the three ninja in front of him wanted or would help. These past two months, he’d been under the impression he was going to save Nya alone. He thought he was doing this by himself, like he had since that horrible day 12 years ago. But as he looked at the three ninja, he realized he was never going to do this alone. He wasn’t going to be alone.

He sagged against the rock, took a breath. He would not break down.

“Thank you,” he said, voice strong and clear for the first time. “You don’t know how much I’ve needed to hear this.”

The three ninja grinned, and Kai offered a small smile of his own. It felt like the most genuine in months.

“Before we get going, do you need a nap?” Jat asked, an odd amount of concern in his voice. “Not gonna lie man, you look like shit.”

Kai frowned in confusion.

“I don’t look that bad. Besides, I feel perfectly fine.”

That was a partial lie, but he could keep going. Just like he had his entire life.

The three shared a look before giving him a sidelong glance.

Kai rolled his eyes as he jumped up.

“Come on, we need to get moving.”

Kai promptly ignored Wu when they all grouped up. He spoke with Lloyd (who didn’t bat an eye about his appearance) and the rest of the ninja the entire day’s journey. They all seemed upset with Wu, and he had the audacity to try and discipline Kai for running off.

 He was met with five matching glares.

When they stopped for the night, Kai actually started to enjoy the night stories and bickering. He even joined in for a bit. Lloyd was overjoyed by this, and kept up the energy for the last week of travel.

The last night they stopped, they were a few miles away from the Fire Temple. Kai was jittery with nerves and longing to just get the damn sword already, but he knew they should rest and scout it out beforehand. Even if waiting was killing him.

Several hours into the night, with the fire dead and everyone sleeping, Kai was wandering into the woods, too jittery to sleep. He could go get the Sword of Fire on his own, he knew that. But something was telling him to wait. When he spotted the figure in the trees, he stopped listening, his heart stopped.

The figure turned with a grin, and ran towards the temple.

Kai chased after his sister.

Chapter Text

Kai barreled through the woods; branches snatched his face, leaves snagged in his hair, he tripped over rocks. But as the woods slammed into him, he never lost sight of the gr running away from him. He never lost sight of his sister.

“Nya! Nya wait! Why are you running from me?”

Nya didn’t turn, didn’t so much as pause. It was like she didn’t hear him, or didn’t want to listen.

She kept running towards the Fire Temple, and Kai was about to shout again when his foot slammed into a tree root. He went flying with a screech, landing face first in the dirt. By the time he managed to get up, Nya had disappeared.

The only place she could have gone was the Fire Temple. The feeling of unease returned, telling him to go back, to leave the Temple. Kai promptly ignored it, and began racing up the stairs.

It took far too long in his opinion for Kai to get up the stone steps, but if he ran too fast he kept tripping. His fire was burning brighter and brighter as he got closer to the entryway. He barely bat an eye at the wave of smoke and heat that came from the active volcano.

He only saw one person. Only heard one voice.

“Nya!”

At the center of the volcano was Nya, dangling from a chain above the golden Sword of Fire. When she spotted Kai she tried to shout, but the gag in her mouth stopped her.

“I’m coming Nya! Don’t worry!” he shouted. Nya grew frantic, trying to undo her bonds.

Kai glanced at the bubbling lava and the intermittent rocks that blocked his path. He ignored Nya’s attempts to speak, and took a step back.

He could do this. He knew he could do this. He couldn’t fail.

He didn’t have a choice.

Kai leaped from rock to rock, barreling towards the chain holding his sister. She was staring at him in surprise, but Kai focused on the metal.

He felt his powers rising up, and his hands began glowing white hot. He launched himself up to the chain, latching on. In a matter of seconds, the chain melted. Before Nya could fall, Kai unwrapped the chain and she landed on her feet.

Nya ripped the gag out of her mouth and launched herself at Kai. As he felt her barreling into his arms, he couldn’t stop the choked cry that rose out of him. He hugged his sister tighter, and for the first time since she was taken, he felt complete. He felt right.

And as much as he hated it, he pulled away.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, scanning the thin form before him.

“I’m fine Kai. I promise,” she said. “But we need to get out of here, it’s a trap.”

Kai frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m sure you didn’t think this would be easy?”

Kai froze, and turned to the looming shadow behind him. With glowing red eyes, and the helmet he wore, it was clear who stood before the siblings.

Lloyd’s father.

Lord Garmadon.

“I’ll admit, I didn’t think you’d be able to free the girl without the sword. But I’m not letting you leave until you pick up that sword.”

Kai glanced at the golden sword stabbed into the rock.

“Why? It’s just a sword,” he said, voice somehow dripping with boredom.

“You don’t need to know. You just need to give it to me.”

Kai turned to the Sword of Fire and began to inspect it. He frowned as he looked at the fancy fire pattern on the blade. It honestly wasn’t very bad craftsmanship, but were it not for the elemental power imbued into the sword, it would be incredibly weak near the base.

There were similar smithing issues in all the golden weapons, and it bothered Kai to no end. He managed to rant for hours about the nunchucks and shurikens.

(There was no chain for the nunchucks, only lighting! And the shuriken blades were ice. ICE! How would anyone be able to use the weapons without a specific elemental power?!)

After another moment of considering the blade, he turned back to Garmadon and a confused Nya.

“I don’t need it. It’s not really a good blade, and really the only thing it has going for it is the elemental power. I don’t really know what all it can do but it seems to be a way to channel and control weak and erratic powers. And, honestly, I don’t need that.”

Nya was stifling a grin as Garmadon clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Honestly I would never use any of the golden weapons in an everyday fight. They can only be used by one person to even have any danger attached to them. Plus, I prefer hand to hand anyways.”

Garmadon growled.

“If you don’t pick up that sword, your sister won’t be leaving this place.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed, and he went deathly still. It did not matter that Garmadon was Lloyd’s father, or that he wasn’t entirely evil. No one got away from threatening his family unscathed. 

Kai’s hands exploded with fire, and he sunk into a battle stance. It felt so simple to do so, like he was always meant to fight.

“Leave the Smith family alone, Garmadon, before you regret messing with us.”

Garmadon laughed.

“Do you really think you can defeat me? I have years of experience! You have nothing.”

“I highly doubt this will be as easy as you think,” Kai said, grinning despite the definite loss. All he and Nya had to do was leave the temple without grabbing the sword and everything would be fine.

“Let’s get out of here Nya, our brother has been waiting to see you.”

As Kai shot a ball of flame, he felt his stomach twist at the confusion on Garmadon’s face. He couldn’t let him find out about Lloyd, not until Lloyd wanted it to happen.

The siblings turned to run, but Garmadon was already in front of them, fist swinging.

Kai went flying, a strangled cry escaping his lips. He barely missed the sword.

“If you won’t do it willingly, then I’ll just force you!”

Nya threw a punch of her own, but Garmadon melted into the shadows, and appeared right over Kai.

Kai flew back, sending fire ball after fire ball, but Garmadon avoided them with ease.

“Nya get out of here! Go find Wu and the group!”

Before Nya could protest, Garmadon laughed.

“They won’t be much help after my skeletons take the golden weapons from them. Not even Wu can save them.”

“That’s right.”

Everyone whirled to the entrance, and Garmadon let out a roar of frustration.

“Because I am here to fight you brother. Kai and his sister will help the ninja.”

Wu slid into a battle stance, his staff raised.

“I need the Sword of Fire Kai! It’s the only way I can hold him off long enough.”

“That’s what he wants!” Kai shouted, backing away from Garmadon. “And how could you leave the ninja? They need help!”

“So go!” was all Wu said. Then, with a war cry, he used Spinjitsu and launched himself at Garmadon.

“Kai we have to go,” Nya said, grabbing his arm. Kai watched Wu and Garmadon battle it out, and groaned in frustration.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

WIth that, he ran for the blade and ripped it from the ground. He didn’t have time to ponder the wave of warmth that crashed into him as he chucked it at the golden tornado.

“WU! Catch!”

The sword disappeared.

“Thank you Kai. Now you must leave and help the others.”
As Wu went back on the offensive, Kai turned to Nya. before they could even take a step, they were flung forward with a loud BANG, barely staying on the rock.

Kai’s head pounded with the impact, and by the time he sat up, Garmadon and Wu were gone.

“...what the hell?”

Kai laid back down.

He shot back up.

“Nya! Are you okay?”

She gave a thumbs up from the floor.

He rushed over to her, holding out a hand to help her up.

“Come on, we need to get moving. The ninja need our help; we’ll have to worry about Wu later.”

“Don’t know who they are but okay,” Nya groaned.

They raced through the woods, following the sounds of fighting. When they reached the campsite, Kai released a wave of flames, turning the skeletons into dust.

“Oh thank god you’re back Kai. Wu ran off the second the skeletons showed up and- who is that?”

“Nya!”

Lloyd barreled into his sister, sending them to the earthy floor.

“I can’t believe it! I’m so glad you’re back!” Lloyd was crying, and Nya was fighting her own tears.

Kai grinned as he watched the happy siblings.

His smile evaporated as he turned to the ninja.

“Garmadon and Wu got teleported somewhere, probably wherever Garmadon’s body is. And they took the Sword of Fire with them.”

“What do you mean they got teleported?” Zane asked. Lloyd and Nya stood, looking to Kai.

“Garmadon and Wu were fighting and then they disappeared in a big explosion.”

“What are we going to do?” Jay asked. “We can’t leave Sensei to fight Lord Garmadon alone!”

“But how do we even get to wherever they are?” Cole asked.

Before Kai could respond, a roar rattled the forest. The wind picked up, and the rhythmic beating of wings filled the night.

Kai turned to Cole with a wicked grin.

“I think they just answered your question.”

Cole groaned, looking as if death was near.

Looks like we’re saving Wu.

Who would’ve thought?