Chapter Text
The fight should have been over by now. If it wasn’t for the Elemental Master of Copy making a clone of himself for each of the Ninja.
It was infuriating.
“This is infuriating!” Kai screamed.
Across the battlefield— consisting of a pile of rubble where a dingy two-star hotel once was Jay and Nya. They both were back to back, being poked and prodded by the daggers of Mr. Gibson.
“Crane,” Zane said in a calming manner— it was obvious how overwhelmed he was, however. Mr. Gibson surrounded him by not one, not even three, but four of his clones. “We can discuss solutions.”
Kai blocked an attack from a clone to his left, bringing his leg up to kick the man in his face. Everytime Kai managed to…kill a clone… Crane Gibson just created a new one. And it wasn’t a pretty process. The battlefield flashes, his own raspy screams echo into the night before another twin enters the fight.
Kai flinched as Cole brought his hammer down onto the clone. Kai couldn’t help but grimace. Were they technically killing people? It was all the same guy… they were all clones. And they were trying to kill them. But as the blood splattered to the ground, Kai couldn’t help but second guess himself.
“Lloyd is still evacuating people.” Cole said as he turned the direction of red and blue wailing siren lights. “We need to take Crane out for good. I’ll cover you, can you get to him?”
Kai thought for a second before nodding at the guy. Cole took off, Kai following behind him. When a flash of light and a copy moved closer into frame, Cole took the force of the attack. Kai kept running for the middle, his sword gripped tight.
“You can’t stop this!” Mr. Gibson screeched. His hands raised.
“Stop what exactly?” Kai grunted as he got closer and closer. Flames danced on his knuckles and in his hair strands.
Crane's eyes snapped to Kai. His hand was outstretched, a dagger was between his clenched fingers. Kai stopped a few feet away from the man.
“I will have my perfect victory. Soon— after I’ve defeated you lot— I will copy all of Ninjago. I will have a place to rule all by myself!”
“Sorry to hear how that won’t be happening. Actually— do you even have the capability to do that?”
Crane leaned back, his brows furrowed. “I— I’ve been practicing.”
Kai almost laughed. He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Nya screamed from across the field of battle, “Kai, stop small talking the guy! Go get him!”
“Yes, Kai.” Crane began. “Come get me.”
Kai takes a step forward. Sword raised and ready. A jolt of pain brushed up his leg in a quick movement. Kai froze in place, he heard gasps around him. But a ringing in his ear cut it into silence.
He didn’t recognize himself when he began screaming. Whether it was in agony or not. His eyes darted to the man in front of him. Kai heard Crane whisper a quick note to him.
“I’ve never tried this on another person. Only myself and objects.” Then with a smirk he said, “Have fun.”
A flash of white light blinded Kai in his motionless movement.
It must have been minutes later. Kai woke up with a groan— in the corners of his eye he could see the red and blue lighters were even closer. As he blinked he noted the villain— Crane was being hauled away by officers.
“Fuck.” He pushed himself onto his elbows but was stopped as he felt a weight on his back.
“Kai!” A voice screamed. It was Nya, definitely. “Holy— Kai!”
“What?” He moaned.
“What?” He moaned— again?
No, it was someone else.
His eyes snapped open at the other voice. It was a smaller and frailer voice. But it was a voice he recognized. One that he was familiar with.
“Is that a kid?” Screamed someone. No doubtably Jay.
Kai shoved the weight off his back. He pushed himself down the gravel to get a distance and see better. Kai could feel Nya helping him, she was grabbing him by his shoulders and positioning him in a comfortable— as comfortable as sitting on rocks can be— sitting position.
It was like looking into a mirror from the past. His outfit was the same as Kai’s, only smaller. He held a cringe and was looking around like the world was new. The only odd thing was this, Kai didn’t have an eyebrow scar at that age. Yet, the kid shared the same matching scar.
“Me?” Kai nearly shouted.
“A younger you.” Zane corrected as he got closer to Kai’s duplicate.
This copy only squinted at the nindroid. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes were wide and scared.
“It must be because I stopped him— he couldn’t fully finish duplicating you.” Cole said from somewhere behind Kai.
Kai felt hands haul him to his feet. It took a few steps to get himself balanced. A few groans escaped his lips before his body relaxed.
Moving closer, the other him starred up. His mouth was open as if he were astonished.
“Woah.” Younger Kai whispered.
“Woah is right.” Kai bit his lip, cursing Crane for everything the old man was worth.
The bottom lip of the kid trembled. He seemed terrified.
“What do we do with him?” Asked Jay. “I– I mean we can’t just…you know… like we did to Crane’s clones.”
“Do you think Crane could like…squish them back together?”
Zane shook his head. “They aren’t split in half. They are two separate minded individuals with the same genetic components— DNA.”
“So, he has my memories?” Kai asked.
“Well, he knows his name is Kai.” Nya said.
The mini-Kai swallowed hard. His eyes were glossy. His eyes darted to Kai’s left. Kai followed the gaze towards Lloyd, whose mouth was agape.
“Kai?” Lloyd murmured.
Kai nodded. Young Kai did the same.
“Who– who are you all? Is that Nya?” Little Kai whispered the last part.
The original Kai looked over to Nya, then back to his other self.
“We should leave. Police are handling the rest.” Cole said.
“What about him?” Asked Kai.
“Obviously he’s coming with us.” Nya told him.
Kai grunted and crossed his arms. But what was he going to say?
No, we are not bringing back a kid-clone of myself to the Monastery.
Zane helped the boy up. He had yet to say anymore than he had previously. Though, he was staring heavily at Nya.
Cole jabbed Kai’s side.
“This is going to be a long few days, huh?”
Kai rolled his eyes with a frown. “And here I was, hoping we’d get to enjoy this summer.”