(Warning, this chapter will include blood)
Everything was dark. The young red ninja glanced around, puzzled and confused. Why was it so dark? His attention shifted when he saw two familiar figures. Both adults, one was a woman and the other... a male. Kai stared quietly before watching them walk away... He didn't even realize it before his voice was crying out for them. He got up from his knees and scrambled after them. His arms out reached. "Mom! Dad! Please! Stop!" Why was he chasing them? Then it hit him.. where was Nya? His body was acting on its own until he fell. His arms reached out and he screamed once more, arms out stretched for the remaining small light above, for anyone, or maybe... for them? Then... the ground came. Fallen down, hard against the ground. He groaned and coughed. His eyes looking back up, weakly to the remaining light above and watched as it fade. He closed his eyes once more and remained laying down. He huffed, taking a few seconds to catchhis breathing. Than a voice spoke.
"...Get up..."
It was his voice. But that couldn't be right...
"...Get up!" He spoke again, pulling himself up to his knees. He huffed as he looked down at the stone floor. Stone? He lifted up his hand as he observed the ground below him. It looked so familiar... He gazed around noticing the symbols and torches that lit the dark room. A stone floor where servants bowed and above, a giant stone serpent head. He looked across to see the very place where elemental masters would've had their powers taken, to be replaced with a throne. Large skeleton ribs and stone fangs lined at each side. But what had caught his attention most. Was the familiar... staff...
Kai's eyes shot open. He looked at the staff, hoping it wasn't true. That it really wasn't there. But there it was. Resting against the throne. Almost calling to him. Whispering to him. It took him a second before he noticed his body moving, moving... towards it and- No! Kai quickly came back into reality and taking his reaching hand, forcing it down as he stood in place. He jolted his head away and shook. "No! T-This isn't real, I don't need it! I don't need it. I don't-" He was cut off when a sudden heavy presence cane over him. Something that was standing behind him...
He slowly turned around and stared at the familiar presence. His eyes widened because standing a couple feet away was a cloaked green warrior.
"Go on... take the staff... it won't stop who you are..." They spoke. Their voice was low, deep, and cold...
Kai shifted as he felt a cold shiver run up his spine. This wasn't Lloyd. Their voice..., it was no ones he's ever heard of. But something about them scared him. He shifted back when they began walking, walking towards him!
They walked closer and drew out two golden katanas. "You call yourself the master of fire? What a disgrace... What a disappointment... That you could be no better then that boy!" They yelled out as they leaped forward, holding up their two swords and swung them down.
Kai's eyes widened and he quickly moved out of the way. Just in time for the two blades to come down, creating two large broken cracks below. He felt his heart heart began to race as he he didn't know what was happening nor could he believe what was happening.
'What does I do. What does I do-' He stopped. 'You-... I need power... power... ,need..., take it!' His gaze quickly shifted as he looked back to the staff. He jumped back to his feet and ran towards the still staff. He could hear the green warrior's footsteps as they were coming closer. 'Grab the staff... you need it... take it... take it!' His fingers quickly wrapped around the staff and he spun back around. "Metal!" He yelled.
Hard armor began to cover the staff and himself as he called out for the summoned element. He swung it up right as two golden blades clashed down. Kai grunted as he pushed back against the green warrior's blades until they pushed each other away. Kai huffed as he looked at the green warrior. "You know nothing about me..." He said. Holding the cursed staff. He swung it forward, summing a blast of lighting.
The green warrior watched before placing up their swords, deflecting the strike and redirecting it passed them before it could strike them. They glared at Kai until vines and stone shot out from the ground below, pinning them in place. They growled as they tried to pull their legs free only to watch as a large stone came rushing towards them, bashing them back as it sent the green warrior flying back. They quickly raised up their sword and swung it down, cutting into the ground as they went to their knees. Stopping themself, they got back to their feet and looked back up at Kai. "...Still believe this will change things?" They asked before letting out a cold chuckle as they swung their blades before taking hold of their handles. "You're story is nothing..."
Kai watched the warrior and he couldn't help but gritt his teeth. 'Nothing..?' His blood began to boil as he felt the power of the staff course through his veins... his mind...
This power... He lowered his head and grinned. "Nothing..?" He asked before chuckling to himself. His head shot back up as he glared at the green warrior with crimson red eyes. "Is this nothing?!" He cried out, swinging the staff once more, sending a wall of endeavorous flames towards them.
The green warrior crashed back to the wall and slipped down to the floor. They quickly stopped themself from falling to their knees and ran towards the red ninja.
Kai growled as he came closer and hit back at his coming blades. He swung, they clashed. Until the green warrior landed a kick back on him, sending him off the stage and onto the ground below.
The green warrior jumped down and walk towards him. They approached, swinging their blades, allowing their tips to spark against the stone floor.
Kai watched as they approached. No. This was his power. They took everything from him. This was his title that they stole. He was supposed to have the power of the green ninja. They took his destiny. He wasn't nothing. This was him. Why should he be the green ninja when he can have this power... it belongs to him... and with it... "I'll kill you!" He cried out. Swinging up a leg, he summoned his spinjitzu and rushed towards the green warrior.
The green warrior watched and swung their blades as they spun into spinjitzu and clashed against the other.
Strike after strike. They clashed, weapons swung, and then... they were both to the ground.
The green warrior huffed and huffed as they tiredly looked up at the red ninja. Weakly getting back to their feet they-
Slash...
The green warrior's body froze, their body shook as it started to go numb. The green warrior weakly looked down at a large ice shard, impaling through their lower body. Looking down at where the ice had shot from, they followed it to its belonger.
Kai breathed as he glared at the stabbed warrior. His grin widened as he watched them drop their weapons. "I told... I would kill you..." He said as he got back to his feet. A grin forming on his face before he let out a bitter laugh and approached the green warrior. "Is this nothing to you?" He asked and giggled to himself. He stopped once he was infront of them. "Who's nothing now?" He asked, grabbing their hood and mask, tugging it down and-
The air fell heavy... Their was a loud clang as the staff fell to the ground. The red ninja's eyes, wide and guilt... filled them. Because before him, was none other then his little sister... Nya...
Nya stared up at her brother with weak and tired blue eyes. Blood dripping down from her mouth as she watched her brother weakly.
The crimson red faded from his eyes as tears began to form. No... no, no no no no No! Kai quickly took her into his arms as the ice melted away and her body fell limb, threateningly to fall back. He looked at her as he spoke. "No no no- Please... Nya... I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry I didn't mean-"
"But you did... we left you behind. Didn't we? You'll never be strong enough..." Then her weak voice began to change, twisted and hollow."...You are a pest... Unwanted... Morro..."
Kai stared down at her with a puzzled look ...What? Morro? But he wasn't- He looked back to her and watched as her body faded to dust. Then suddenly, black sand blew harshly around him. The staff disappearing along with the room as wind and black sand flooded his surroundings. He winced as he pulled up his arms to protect his eyes until chains shot up from the ground. Clapping down around his wrists and tugging them down to the ground. He tugged against the chains before realizing he was sinking. Sinking down to the sand below. Fear over came him and he began tugging harder. Using his strength, he desperately tried to pull himslf out. But he just kept sinking... His legs soon becoming trapped down to its depths. It was thick. So heavy. So hard to move. Eventually..., his chained hands began to sink down. He panicked and tugged harder. Trying to bring himself up. Just a little. Just- he stopped as heard... laughter? Through the rushing sand, he saw it. His family... the others... All together. Smiling... Without him- But then he saw... himself. No... it was some else. Another person. Another male. But... why was he wearing his red...- no... it couldn't be. "Wait! I'm still here! Guys! I'm still here!" He cried out. Managing to tugged out one of his hands. He reached out towards them. "I'm right here! Please!Help!" He yells but his upper body was already sinking down below to the darkness. No- it couldn't end like this! They needed him. They needed him! "Someone help! Cole! Zane!" He yelled out, but none of them looked at him. "Nya! Jay?! Lloyd?! Please! I'm right here!" He said as tears began forming in his eyes. His head beginning to sink down as the sand consumed his shoulders. He looked down at the sand before staring back up to them. He cried out again. But it wasn't his voice... it sounded more like... "Wu!!!" Morro screamed. But there was nothing and he was engulfed into the darkness below...
Kai gasped as his eyes shot open. His breathing settled as he looked around, finding himself in a small stone room. No sign of sand, darkness, or Chen's secret room. Was it all... "A dream?" His attention shifted to the people talking from a nearby room.
"The Preeminent is growing impatient Morro..." a raspy voice spoke.
"Do not remind me..." Morro growled. "Because I don't suppose any of you know where a second realm crystal is, do you?!" He yelled, slamming his fist down at what sounded like a nearby table.
"Morro..." The soul archer spoke. "Control yourself..." They spoke as they sharpened their arrows.
Morro looked at them and scoffed. "Me? Control myself? I'm... fine..." He said bitterly. "You've been watching over the red one, how is his condition?"
The soul archer ran his finger down the current arrow he was holding before speaking. "He is doing fine... He'll probably be resting for a few more hours with the damage that he's under..."
Bansha stepped in as she spoke. "I'm tired of all this waiting!"
"Bansha..." Morro spoke as he looked at her with a threatening glare.
Bansha glared at him. "We have not moved a step closer. How are we for sure to trust the fool's word? For all that we care he could be lying-" She hissed, meaning Chen. "For all that we know, you are sending us in no where." She hissed as she pointed a dagger at their leader.
Morro looked at the cursed dagger and growled to himself. "I haven't forgotten anything... I'm working on what we can to find a way to summon the Pree-"
Morro was cut off as a blade came towards his neck before stopping.
Bansha glared at Morro as she held her cursed blade, threatenly close to their leader's throat. "You aren't the only one who demands for blood, Morro... Don't forget each of our agreements... The Preeminent comes first..." She hissed.
Morro glared at her before kicking her back and drawing his weapon. "You dare-"
"Enough!" The soul archer spoke. "Now is not the time for this insolence..." He growled. "We still have one more solution..." He said.
Morro looked at him and spoke. "Is the sword ready." He asked.
The soul archer moved his gaze as he spoke. "Almost... The sword has been strong from the past couple of days... but soon... it will be ready for our next plan... Once we reach the cursed woods that is..." He said as he looked back at Morro.
Morro looked at him and nodded. "Good..., now..., leave me..." He told them as he gestured his hand for them to leave. He watched the ghosts leave before looking back to the room where Kai rested.
Kai watched until Morro came into the room. He looked at him and glared at the other. "What are you planning..." He spoke weakly as he tugged against the vengestone chains that were keeping him in place.
Morro scoffed. "Good to see you're awake." He said before standing a few feet away from him. "But you shouldn't worry. You should only be worrying more about regaining your strength. Unless you plan to grow more scars..." He muttered. "Just be happy that I've been keeping you alive..."
Kai looked at him and spoke again, deciding to get to the point. "What did you mean by sword?" He spoke before realizing something and his eyes widened. "What have you been doing to the Sword of Sanctuary..." He asked as he glared at the other.
Morro chuckled. "Just making some changes. That's all, don't worry. You'll see it when the last step is finished." He said with a cruel grin.
Kai looked at him and lowered his head. "What ever you're planing, I won't be a part of it!" He hissed.
Morro looked at him and scoffed. "Wow, you really are no fun." He said, turning his back away.
Kai watched him before tilting his head "Your friends don't seem to approve your progress." He said. "Really feel well welcomed huh?"
Morro scoffed. "They are the best of the best. The Preeminent choose them like it choose me. It knows what I'm capable of and it knows that I deserve to be the green ninja." He said as he looked back at Kai. "When I came back, I didn't expect such a weak and pathetic child to have been chosen by destiny..."
Kai huffed as he rolled his eyes. "Again with the destiny... Maybe your destiny is to be the elemental master of whining." He said until he felt a hand at his throat.
Morro growled as he glared at the red, his hand squeezing around the ninja's throat before letting go. "You're lucky that you're an important peice to the plan. Otherwise I would've end your life, right here and now." He said before taking his leave
Kai coughed after being forced to be choked by the other. He looked back up and him with a glare and spoke. "This isn't just about the green ninja, is it? It's about Wu?" He asked. He watched as Morro stopped in his tracks. It all made sense now. "He made you feel welcomed like you had a home. Like... a father."
Morro glared back at the male and his eyes glowed. "What would you know... He keeps what he wants... thats how it all is..."
Kai stared at him. "That doesn't sound like him. He-"
"What?" Morro asked. "Forgot about the green ninja because of me? Replaced me with destined heros instead until the weapons actually chose someone? For what? So he can feel important about himself? Go down in history as the old man that raised the heros of Ninjago? Tell me, would anyone else be treated the same? You, you're only chosen because you were one of the four element masters that was chosen to carry the golden weapons. How is that holdin out for you now? Do you think that if you all died that Wu would just replace you with another that was destined for greatness that was better than yours?" He asked.
Kai looked at him before giving it a thought as he's never thought of this himself. Sure it was a surprise to hear there were more elemental masters but this? Would Wu have replaced them? He shook his head. "No..., He cared. He cared about us, about you and you..." He paused as he remembered the last bit from his dream. The fog... the dream was from the fog! His memories must've mixed with his when he was still possessing him. "You cared about him... You've missed him." He said as he was connecting the dots.
Morro turned away from him, placing an arm up against the wall. "No, no I did't. Not anymore..."
"But you did. Morro, I know how it feels to be alone. You've seen my memories. You-"
"Shut up!" Morro shouted, turning back towards him with his body trembling. His emotions finally overwhelming him. He growled to himself as he hid them once more. "What is done is done..." He growled. "Wu will know what it means to be alone..." He said. And with that, he left..., leaving Kai in the cold room.. where the next time he would see him... He would see what was next in store for his friends...