Chapter Text
It was cold. It was very cold. Dark, and Moist with a cold breeze. Kai opened his eyes, unable to comprehend where he was in this frigid void. “Wh-where am I? Is this a Dream?!” He panics, trying to find a light source. The pitch black atmosphere responded in silence. He walked endlessly calling out for his companions only for the echo to be the only thing in return he hears. “This must be a dream….” He says to himself. He continues walking, unable to fathom anything in the darkness. “Wait” he pauses before snapping his fingers, attempting to use his fire powers. Nothing. He snaps his fingers again, more briskly, but the flames don't spark. “What the- Impossible..”
click! Fwoosh! The sound of a snap and fire spark suddenly sets in motion about 200 feet away. Kai jumps back immediately, petrified by the sudden action. “Who’s there?!” He yells. The light flickered for a moment before moving a great distance away from him. “Hey Wait!” He shouts, taking a great pace in jogging after the light source. The pursuit began as Kai ran for what seemed like forever after the mysterious illumination. Just as Kai was catching up he stumbled and fell down, but instead of hitting the ground he continued falling. As Kai looked up he saw the mysterious flame flickering faintly, before it was blown out.
“AHHHHHH!” Kai screams falling at top speeds in the ‘void’ he was in. “This cannot be real! I need to wake up!” he yells frantically trying to stay calm. As he looks around he sees light again, but different. He was falling closer to the source of light, getting brighter and brighter, eventually blinding Kai. Closing his eyes he prepared for impact before hitting the surface of…water…?
The impact was powerful, submersing Kai into the depths of the dark waters. He was in shock, as he struggled and clawed his way to find and break the surface for air. With a weak swipe, Kai reached the surface again in the dark gasping heavily for oxygen as he tried to stay afloat. “HELP!” He cried choking on the water before going under briefly. I can’t go out like this! Damn being a weak swimmer he thought to himself before returning to the surface. He broke out into a doggy paddle hoping to find a ledge or something to pull himself out of.
After endless minutes of fighting the ruthless waves he found an illuminated tree trunk faintly shimmering as if a miniscule sun ray was beaming directly at. “Gotta huff Make my way huff Over huff There!” Kai wheezed into between words breaking the currents as he swam towards the lodged tree trunk. Seconds later, confirming that he had a reliable grip, he scrambled like a wet cat would on the Tree clinging tightly, unwilling to let go. Kai took this chance to catch his much needed breath, inhaling and exhaling rapidly, then slowing down to calm his rattled nerves.
Moments later unfortunately, his nerves were shook again, as the mysterious flame from before flashed abright in front of Kai, nearly knocking him back into the cold murky depths. The flame blazed brightly as if it grew sentience and was angry. Kai managed to hold on and look directly at the fire. “What are you?!” he yelled, fear once again overtaking him. The flames returned a series of rapid flickers. “Great….Silence…. Real fucking helpful!” He growls, still gripped on to the tree. The rapids were getting higher, starting to rise and submerge the Tree Kai clung desperately too.
“Fuck!….Cmon Kai I just need to get out of this Nightmare!” He pep talked himself. He looked around trying to find out where to go from here, as soon as the Tree became overtaken with water. There's got to be a way out! There has to be! He thought. The Tree was starting to sink back into the violent wrath of the water and Kai was starting to sink into doubt and more fear. The atmosphere was loud with waves, completely blinding over what seemed like faint whispers that started to echo throughout the ‘void’.
“Wait…what's that sound?” Kai paused, trying to focus on it. It seemed to be coming from…the fire. Kai looked back at it to see the flames of red orange but it was weaker. Like it was going out almost. The whispers grew loud, and more cryptic, as Kai couldn’t understand what they were saying. “What are you saying!” Kai shouted, desperate for answers. The whispers only become more nonchalant. “Answer Me!” Kai screamed. The water was swelling at his chest.
“Kai!” The flame blazed. It was loud, distinct and brought all of Kai’s focus towards the fireball. The whispers stopped, but the sounds of the waters didn’t, as it was up to his neck. “Kai!” The voice boomed again. “Who are you! W-What do you want!” Kai choked out his questions as the water was up to his mouth. The water overtook him, once again dragging him down to the depths of the pitch black and unknown. The fire looked like a faint glow stick, and its voice was barely audible but as he heard it shout his one last time, he closed his eyes hoping he would wake up, out of this limbo of a dream, into his nice comfy bed.
“Kai! Wake Up!” A voice yelled, shaking him aggressively. Kai shot open his eyes, gasping desperately for air as he sat up on his bed breathing heavily. He was disoriented, tired, and was sweating profusely. “Kai! Are you Okay!” The voice spoke again. It was familiar enough for Kai to untense his body, but still looked down, fearing he was still in that limbo. “Kai, it’s ok, I’m right here!”
“Z-Zane?” Kai looked up to see the tall nindroid at the end of his bed reflecting an empathetic gaze towards him. “Yes, it is me, Kai. You overslept, and everyone is out on the courtyard training. I was sent by Master Wu to retrieve you but..” He looked down to see Kai was back to looking down at his bedsheets, still sweating, and breathing heavily. “You are not well Kai, I will see to it that you stay and get adequate rest.” Zane says. Kai looked up immediately and glared at Zane with a desperate face. “No, I can still train! I’m fine! Really!” He jumped out of his bed to get his clothes and gear ready, still a bit disorientated.
“No Kai, you cannot train. You are sick, and-”
“Shut it Zane! I said I’m fine!” Kai shouted back and added frustration to his tone. He made it clear that he wanted to train, despite being ill with a fever, but Zane wouldn’t have it. “I will not let you leave this room Kai, I want you to-”
He was knocked over and thrust to the wall by a fireball shot from Kai’s palms. Fortunately it only burned part of his gi but the force was strong, clearly indicating Kai wouldn’t go down without a fight. “I want you to leave and tell Master Wu I’ll be training!” Kai growled. Zane got up and looked down. He didn’t want to do this but he had no choice. Holding out his palm Zane blasted a cold mist towards Kai, completely immobilizing him up to the neck, in a chunk of Ice. He looked at him with the same empathetic face from before. “I didn’t want to do this Kai, but you must stay here. Being sick isn’t the greatest but you need to fight it off. Now please, get some rest.” Zane said before exiting Kai’s room. He heard Kai’s angry screeching and him cussing out but ignored it as he made his way outside to the Courtyard where everyone else was at.