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New ninjago city, years after rebuilding from the overlord attack had found themselves in an all too familiar situation. The return of the overlord in digital form fried all technological appliances while setting advancements back decades. The fulfillment of the golden master prophecy left major areas in ruin, families separated and holes in society waiting to be filled.
It was times like these where the people could rely on their greatest protectors
Drink, fight
Drink, fight
Fight’ drink
Drink, fight
Drink, drink, drink, fight
Once a routine of training, discipline and inner peace had become one of rage and hate.
The slither pit was easy for Kai, too easy.
He hated all the bitter drinks and incapable fighters but most importantly he hated the guilt.
“Zane is gone because you weren't strong enough. He paid the price because you couldn’t hold your own. He paid the price and you get to live another day.”
The same mirror that reflected a cocky smile now shows a frown with bags under his eyes and skin as pale as the moment he arose from the sewers to see his friend gone.
Watching Zane give his life while all he could do was be pulled into the sewers by sensei wu for safety made him feel more powerless than he had ever felt. He hated it. He failed Zane and it made him feel empty.
From that day on he set out to never feel that powerless again.
He wanted strength, he wanted durability but most importantly he wanted to make Pythor pay.
He trained harder than he ever thought was possible. Surrounding himself within his element, commanding the fire within. He had never been more durable, stronger, and could use his powers as if they were an extension of his body.
This was short lived. He was as strong as strong could be but something was missing, someone was missing. Having to grow up faster than most had forced Kai down a destructive path of suppressing his emotions until they reached a boiling point and then lashing out. He hid away, shutting himself out from his world, his family, his team. That's how he found himself here.
At first Kai loved the fight, blood rushing to his head as he threw his all into someone going through the exact same motions never made him feel more alive. It was easy for him to win, when he started it was never about the winning. He was a ringmaster and his opponents his circus. It was fun for a while but it was easy, too easy. He wanted a real challenge. Kai knew he wasn’t feeling the struggle he believed he deserved.
The slither pit morphed from a way to better himself into a short term fix for a long term problem. Instead of a sanctuary to channel his strength it devolved into an excuse to let out his anger on willing participants. He drank so much he wouldn't even remember fighting. He would only ever judge the success of a night by how many bruises he could find. No one could lay a finger on him. He was unstoppable, alcohol coursing through his veins only brought out his pure instinct and rage.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDD in the red corner we have the undefeated REDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.”
The roar of the crowd only agitated him. Their cheers reminiscent of the final screams of those he failed. He knew he didn’t deserve their cheers.
Standing in the opposite corner was a hulking figure with rusted armor and some sort of eye enhancement. Kai had never seen him before. He wondered if the mystery man would finally give him the battle he craved.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDD in the blue corner we have a newcomer. Who's ready for REEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.”
The crashing of the gong marking round one. They circle each other before Kai throws a weak first punch.
Rex catches it before twisting his arm, shoving him to the ground.
Kai steadies himself and just as he's beginning to get back onto his feet just to find Rex towering above him. He feels a cold steel plunge into his ribs from Rex’s boots and as he returns to his feet he begins to wonder what kind of animal he's found in his circus.
“You fight hard. I like that.”
“And you fight weakly for a ninja.”
Things got serious for Kai as he realised Rex wasn't just some sad drinker looking for escape. He was a threat. In a moment of rage he grabs Rex by the arm, pulling him closer to connect a right hook.
“What makes you think I'm a ninja? If I was a ninja wouldn’t I be helping people rebuild their lives? A ninja wouldn’t find themselves in a dump like this. ”
“Oh come on you're not fooling anybody” Rex shouts as he brandishes a dagger.
Kai jumps to action, charging at Rex while setting him off balance with a kick to the knee.
“I thought that nin-”
Rex had been interrupted as Kai grabbed his head, forcing it into his shoulder repeatedly. Blood began to gush from Rex’s nose prompting Kai to shove him to the ground, scattering everything in his pockets.
It caught his eye straight away. A badge with a white scale with the letter P over it in purple. He knew it belonged to Pythor. Fear loomed over Rex like never before scrambling to his dagger.
All he could see was a monster-like figure clouded in shadows marching towards him. Rex made it to his feet holding his dagger in both hands pointed at Kai, it was his last line of defence.
Kai slapped the dagger from Rex’s weakened hands and no matter how hard he punched it seemed like Kai was indestructible. Kai sweeps his legs before placing him on his knees while holding the back of his head for support.
Just as the steel boots had pounded against Kai’s ribs, Kai’s knee was crashing into Rex's . With each thrust of the knee he shouts.
“WHERE
IS
PYTHOR?”
Kai steps away to regroup and let Rex catch his breath while holding his ribs in agony.
“How much ya willing to pay for the snake, ninja?”
A burning rage had come across Kai, he ran straight for Rex pinning him down almost instantly. The red fire inside of Kai had been projected onto Rex’s face. He hadn’t felt this alive since the day Zane died.
His insecurity, his guilt and his anger had all built to a merciless wrath. On top of a defenceless and defeated Rex, Kai continuously pounds on him with no sign of stopping. His nose was bloody, his lips busted, his nose shattered and his jawline non-existent all while
yelling.
“I’m not a ninja and you're not getting paid now tell me WHERE IS PYTHOR?”
By now Rex was already unconscious and his face a mangled mess. While he shut the outside world out the police were brought in and ready to haul Kai away. While the handcuffs were brought out a mass fire broke out.
Was it luck? Did he do that? He was barely strong enough to stand let alone think for himself . As the officers helped patrons evacuate Kai pocketed the scale to find it encased in metal and as he scurried through the fire everything faded to black.
Kai awoke and knew exactly where he was. Nya must've found him and the sinking realisation hit him as hard as Rex’s boots in the ribs. Nya has seen the red shogun.
Looking into her mirror only revealed the same frown with bags under his eyes and skin as pale as the moment he arose from the sewers to see his friend gone with some new looking bandages freshly applied over his head and shoulder.
He knew he only had a matter of time before she returned so rushed to fix himself up, he knew Jay still had clothes he could steal. Even if they would be hard to fit into it was better than nothing, the tight cotton brushing against his bruises and cuts only adding to the ringing pain in his head.
Limping to the door with the hope he would get away was short lived as he reached for the door handle, Nya pulled it away from him at the last second. He can barely look at her let alone stand straight. All Kai could feel was pain and embarrassment before a ear piercing yell.
“INSIDE!”
A fear like no other hits Kai, not the feeling of embarrassment but one of disappointment in himself.
Barley holding himself together, Kai sits as Nya hands him water and some pain killers.
“Sis. You think I need or even want pain killers? You should’ve seen the other guy.”
“Who am I even talking to right now, Kai or the red shogun?”
“Cmon sis d-”
Refusing to listen to another half bothered mumble Nya jumps to her feet, raising her voice.
“How should I know? The brother I know wouldn't go beating on the defenceless. The brother I know wouldn’t need to be dragged unconscious out of a dumpster. THE BROTHER I KNOW WOULD NEVER SET A BUILDING ON FIRE WITH PEOPLE INSIDE!”
Guild draws over Kai’s face in a way he hadn’t experienced since that fateful day.
“Nya you're right. I've not been myself, I'm sorry. But I've found proof that pyth-”
“YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT!”
Tears begging welling up in her eyes as she turns her head away as to not let her big brother see her this weak.
“Do you remember what you said to me after our first day without mam and pap?”
“No, why do-”
“You told me in time everything will be better. I never understood it and I don't know if you did either but you were right. You were right because you made it better.”
A confused look had spread across Kai’s face. He was thankful but also confused. They never really talked about their upbringing so he felt more was coming.
“But Nya Pytho-”
“YOU'RE STILL NOT GETTING IT!”
Confused now more than ever, Kai rises to meet Nya’s eyeline while the confused but grateful look is masked by a stern one.
“What am I not getting Sis. Pythor is still out there and he needs to be put down.”
“You stupid idiot. You're not getting it are you?
I had no one but you. You were there to make me feel safe, to feed me, to cheer me up when things were hard and to be my friend. But most importantly you were there to protect me. Pythor can wait, the important part is that you're a protector and the people need protecting!”
A look of realisation wiped the stern look away in an instant as Kai staggered back into his seat.
“Wow sis. I never thought of it like that, but that was then and this is now. I wasn’t good enough to protect Zane. I'm not that person anymore. Even if it’s just for me I need to find Pythor and put him down.”
“HOW can you talk like that you selfish jerk. You're a protector and you're choosing not to protect. Me, Lloyd, Garmadon, sensei and even Jay and Cole are doing their part but you're not. You're too busy playing pretend hero. Don’t talk to me, if you wanna play real hero you know where I’ll be.”
The slamming of the door left a haunting ring in his ears, one of guilt and regret. He hated arguing with Nya and could understand her perspective but he knew he had to be selfish.
He hadn’t had a good night's sleep since it happened and tonight wasn't going to change anything. The pittering and pattering of rain couldn't extinguish the rage inside of him but only act like gasoline to enlarge the roar of his fire.
He knew Pythor was a coward that liked to scurry back wherever he felt safe and where else would he feel safer than the place he had the most power and a fully obedient army.
The launch site of codename Arcturus was different. It was baron, no nindroids on patrol, no cargo moving in or out and Kai had no fear. His scorching heat incinerated the door leaving nothing but a pile of ash in its wake, but no alarm. He knew Pythor mustn't be here but sticks around to find clues.
Nothing in the engine room.
Nothing in the storage facility.
Nothing in the corridors.
Nothing in the Hangar.
Something in the Vault.
Chatter, it seemed one way as if they were communicating with a group in different locations. A brief silence fell shortly before the alarm system was triggered and the iron doors had a huge hole blasted in them.
“SHOW YOURSELF”
Kai walked around the vault to find pills and monitors. He knew Pythor was behind it but just couldn't prove it. Pills for performance enhancements and needles with an unknown substance but he was able to infer it was Somatropin, a growth drug.
Just as he’s getting familiar with his environment a mechanical hook swings at him from above. Feeling nothing but pure burning rage Kai reacts in time to grab the hook.
The thud that followed shook every screen and scattered every book.
“Mechanic, WHERE IS PYTHOR”
“Like I'll ever tell you. The boss has big plans for you ninja.”
“I’m not a ninja. I’m the red shogun and YOU WILL GIVE ME ANSWERS OR ELSE.”
The pressure on his ribs intensified as Kai’s boots pressed harder and harder with each movement being followed by more and more cracks. He wasn’t playing around, he would get his answers one way or another
“The last time I didn't get the information I needed well… you should've seen the other guy.”
Struggling and squirming, trying anything to get out from under his foot.
Kai lets off only to stamp on his knee. An agonising crack, muffled out by the screams followed by rapid pounds on his face, the pain of his knuckles suppressed by the adrenaline of the fight but he knew it wasn't a fight, it was a beatdown.
“TALK!”
His voice grittier with every shout and the sweat rolling onto the mechanic's broken body. Kai didn’t let off, he couldn’t stop his burning fists plunging into his face to the point all that was left on the left side was char and severe bruising on the right. He had only just realised the mechanic was unconscious and barely even breathing. In a fit of rage he threw him to the ground before giving his back one last kick before realising.
A flicker of light amongst the dark, a rough noise in the quiet and Kai is ready to pounce upon it. As the static clears and muffling falls quiet he could tell who it was from an instant. how could he not.
“HMMM is this thing on? Oh so it is, and it looks like we have a special guest.
“Pythor your time is up.”
“Ohhhhhh save it with the cliches boy. When I'm big again no one will stop me conquering ninjago, not even your former team if that's even what you want to call it. Anyways sorry to keep it short, but you know this body of mine won’t grow bigger on its own. Toodaloo ninja.”
Kai noticed the corner of the recording had an address next to a street sign, he made a note of it before turning the lab upside down, rummaging through and ransacking every file cabinet in sight
Empty
EMpty
EMPty
EMPTy
EMPTYYYYY!
Nothing, all that was there were schematics and contracts.
His rage grew and as he hurled useless documents into a growing pile at and it a fit of rage he left sending a huge fireball barreling into the facility causing several explosions and leaving the mechanic inside.
Dejected was a feeling that was all too familiar at this point, it made him feel pathetic and weak. Cole was always there to offer a shoulder to cry on and understanding ears but in the desert he had nobody.
He knew he had to face the long walk alone even though he felt he wasn’t strong enough.
His knuckles bloodier than ever and his feet hadn’t ached this badly since he was hauling along his sensei with his team, with people that made him feel safe.
He took it all food granted and he knew it, his body barely keeping itself together but his mind wasn’t. For the first time since the battle with the golden master he allowed himself to cry, he walked, wept and shouted for what felt an eternity until he could see a once vibrant skyline which had now been clouded in dust, smoke and despair.
Every step agony, every movement carried the weight of a broken body and his mind preparing to give up, he knew he couldn't. He had to make it back for his family and to make pythor pay the iron price.
Kai awoke in a strange place noticing he was in a fresh change of clothes. He had surrendered to the pain and fell unconscious. Panic set in, the last time he was in a situation like this Pythor had him chained up in his biggest moment of failure.
He frantically scrambled out of the makeshift bed expecting to find henchmen and weapons only to find provisions and warm faces.
“Wow you look really shaken up mister are you ok.”
“Sorry to startle you kid, I'm ok. I just don’t remember how I got here.”
“ That lady found you, mister. You were on the outskirts of the city.”
Hobbling over with a look of gratitude on his face, a feeling he had almost forgotten entirely.
“Whoever you are, thank you so much.”
“I'm Jenny dear. How are you doing? You looked real bad when we found you.”
“Thank you so much Jenny. I'm doing ok, what is this place?”
Jenny hands him a plate, a warm meal. He hadn’t had one of those in months.
“Me and a few others set up these shelters across the city to help those hurt the worst by the attack. It’s not much but we have to do our part.”
They had little but what they lacked in resources they made up for tenfold in spirit. Kai thought about how the people had come together and how much Zane inspired them.
The guilt hits again.
“I’m sorry to use up resources Jenny. Is there anything I can do to repay the favour?”
“There is actually. Please can you spread the word of what we're doing. A group of our people has been gone for 2 days and they should've come back by now. I'm scared.”
Kai was hit with a wave of clarity. He wasn’t the only one that had suffered loss. Regret gloomed over him like never before. Notions of revenge had consumed him for the longest time, the fire that once lit a beacon of hope almost instantly devolved into a burning wrath hellbent on killing Pythor and he hated it.
Protectoral instinct kicked in. Kai was renewed with a sense of what he had to do, of who he was and why he became a nina.
“You will see your team by nightfall I promise.”
The pouring rain couldn't extinguish his burning hope. He was going out to help people and it made him feel more complete than he ever had before.
The same body Kai weaponised to inflict the maximum amount of hurt now used to inflict the maximum amount of help. Sore feet once used to kick at ribs were now used to kick away rubble and instead of sending out scorching fire blasts Kai harnesses the fire within to send it away. Helping people put an uncontrollable smile on his face, it was his calling after all.
The corner of his eye flickers.
There it was, the same address next to the same street sign.
All of a sudden he succumbed to his violent urges. Revenge would be his and he would refuse to bottle up these feelings anymore.
Kai, sprinting at the house brought to a halt at the driveway as The mechanic and Rex stepped out the door. They look different, cloaked by burns and bruises. Kai hated seeing them, they were a reminder of him at his lowest. Behind Rex and the mechanic followed an all too familiar voice
“OOOOOHHHHH hello ninja. It’s about time you found me, I guess it’s time to surrender. Oh who am I kidding you couldn’t bring me in even if you wanted to. OH boyyyyyyyyssss
FIRE AWAY.”
They didn’t fire at Kai. They propelled molotov’s into a nearby refuge center which had quickly become surrounded by a symphony of screaming.
As Pythor slithered away Kai had the decision to make, was he a protector or was he a vengeful warrior. Was he the same Kai that took care of Nya, gave her clothes and fed her all while being her friend? Or was he the same Kai that let anger consume him, the Kai that went out looking for beatings and was handing out life threatening injuries at an alarming rate all while hiding behind a mask.
All he could hear was Zane and his words
“You will not hurt my friends.
There is nothing that will hold me back.
I know who I am.”
Kai knew he had to honour Zane in the only way he knew how. He was a protector after all.
Begrudgingly he let Pythor escape, telling himself there is always tomorrow and knowing if he does nothing that the refuge center wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
He acrobatically leapt into the smoldering action, the smoke helping him acclimatise to the heat. It was all second nature to him, every movement and thought had been thought hundreds of times over and over again. As he cast the fire to the side, clearing out room for an escape, the fire grew.
The room was full of wooden panels that only served to enrage the growing flames which had begun to circle inwards. Every ounce of his strength was poured out into sending the hundreds of fire tongues as far away while absorbing whatever his body could hold.
As the people make their safe exit, Kai begins backing out of the building, only to be interrupted by a violent push as a result of an explosion. He was flung back several metres landing on his back and his head narrowly missing the rocky street surface.
Kai rose instantaneously, refusing himself the dishonour of defeat and letting more people down. Psyching himself up to return to the furnace like structure before being pulled away by the thankful citizens all chanting
“FIRE NINJA”
“FIRE NINJA”
“FIRE NI-”
The building suffered a second explosion and the blaze only blossomed and at a rapid rate. For just a brief moment Kai let himself bask in the glory of saving lives just for more to be endangered. Without a bone of hesitation in his body he leapt amongst the fire knowing what had to be done.
Fire this raging and roaring couldn't be redirected or put down Kai knew he had to bear the cost of it to ensure no lives were lost.
It came easy at first, it was almost like the fire had bonded with his soul on a spiritual level.
The feeling of ease was very short-lived. As the flames persistently fused with the master of fire his body began to pay the price.
Skin began to shed from his body like scales from a snake. The pain was unbearable, more than anything he had ever taken on. During what he believed to be his dying moments all he wished for was the master of ice and his cool presence to keep him calm, he knew Zane wouldn't come but the hope kept him going.
The room began to darken but he refused to let himself pass out again, he knew ninja never quit and for the first time since the battle of the golden master he truly believed himself to be a real ninja again. He wasn’t falling unconscious but the room was still growing darker and darker and all of a sudden a cold foamy liquid followed by a loud familiar thud.
He knew his job was done and everyone was safe. He allowed himself to pass out.
Kai awoke, not in a hospital bed or refuge shelter but a high end hospital. He didn’t even need to open his eyes to know who was there.
“I knew my stupid big brother was a hero after all.”
Tears leaked from both their eyes but not from a familiar sadness. Pride had consumed them. Nya was so proud of Kai saving lives and Kai was proud of Nya for reminding him what was important.
“It’s good to hear you happy sis, I missed that sound.”
“Kai I will always be so proud of you and you will always be my hero no matter what I might have said in a moment of anger.”
“I know sis. I’m sorry I was such a jerk.”
“Now, you're pretty burned up. I’m gonna let you get your beauty rest. Hopefully you're back on your feet saving lives in no time.”
He was desperate to rest, recover and get back out there as he knew people wouldn't need saving forever.
For the first time in forever Kai had let himself rest knowing he deserved it. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was a card.
“THANK YOU our brave hero”
And there it was, a good night's sleep.