The silence. The eery silence. He didn't like it. He never liked it. He didn't even know if the others realized he was missing. He held his arm, scabbed and wrapped from the Death Shadow Leader's claws. He watched the dark silhouette of the leader walking around the room. He remained silent, not wanting to be hurt more. Then the door opened, the light shining brightly into his eyes. He squinted, turning away.

"Did you see her?" he heard the leader's voice asked.

The door closed, the room falling dark again.

"Yes," he heard Cole say. "I played along with their games. They thought I was someone they knew. I did as you said, though."

"So those ninja know we have the master of fire?"

"Yes," Cole replied. "I made it as clear as I could."

Kai sighed in relief. The others knew he was kidnapped, hostage, and would hopefully come for him. He heard footsteps coming closer to him. Both the Leader and Cole walked towards him and Kai simply sat in silence, terrified.

"Do you really think that they will hand Kirra over?" Cole asked.

"Of course they won't," the Leader snapped. "Not without some encouragement."

Kai went still. They were going to do something to him.

"Are we doing something to him then?" Cole asked.

"He would be of no use if we didn't," the Leader replied. "Watch over him for a little while. I will return shortly."

"Yes, master," Cole replied.

Kai listened to the footsteps as the Leader walked away. He watched the door open, the light pouring in, the disappear just as quickly as it closed. He heard more footsteps within the room, clearly Cole moving around. Kai listened to the shuffling of papers, trying to pinpoint the location in the room it was coming from.

"Are you going to say anything?" Cole asked.

Kai flinched, snapping his head towards the sound of Cole's voice. He didn't respond. He heard more footsteps, towards the door.

"Brace yourself," Cole told him. "I'm turning to lights on."

Kai closed his eyes just as the lights came on. He squinted, allowing his eyes to slowly adjust to the light. He looked up, seeing Cole looking at him.

"You can still speak, right?" Cole asked.

Kai nodded.

"I'm not going to make you," Cole said. "But I'm not going to yell if you do. Unless you scare me."

Cole turned, walking over to a table at the other end of the room. He rustled through the papers some more, reading them over.

"What does he want from me?" Kai whispered.

"Huh?" Cole asked, turning to look at Kai.

"What does he want?" Kai asked again. "Who is this Kirra he mentioned?"

"Kirra?" Cole replied, puzzled. "I guess you know her by her other name. Dash, I think."

"Dash isn't her real name?" Kai questioned.

"No, it never has been," Cole replied. "Hardly anyone knew. Now, they all know. I told them."

"How did you know?" Kai asked.

"I always knew," Cole replied, walking over to Kai.

Kai shifted uncomfortable as Cole sat by him, just out of arm's reach.

"You did?" Kai said, surprised.

Cole nodded. "Then again, we just met so how are you suppose to know that."

"Cole," Kai breathed.

Cole snapped his head to Kai.

"Do you remember anything?" Kai asked. "We were friends. Teammates. We've been through so much together."

"I think you're talking about someone else," Cole told him. "The only friend I have is my master."

Kai's face fell, his eyes looking at the ground. Our Cole really is gone, Kai thought. He looked back up, seeing Cole looking at him. His head was tilted slightly to the left, looking at Kai with curiosity. His wings were wrapped loosely around his upper body.

"Before," Cole said, snapping Kai back to reality. "You asked what master wanted with you. What he was going to do to you. Correct?"

"Yeah," Kai mumbled.

"He wants," Cole stopped, trying to figure out the name to use. "Dash, I guess, so he can get her powers and destroy the realms. He's planning on using you to force them into surrendering her to us. Now, though, I worry that he's changed his plans. He feels like you will be more helpful on our side, and might corrupt you."

"He can't do that, can he?" Kai asked.

Cole didn't respond. Kai didn't need him to. He already knew, seeing Cole the way he was.

"Can you talk him out of it?" Kai asked, pleading.

"I can try," Cole replied. "I can't promise. I just don't want to hear screaming. I hate it so much."

Kai gave him a slight smile. Hopefully, he could survive. Hopefully he could escape back to the others and soon.


The eery silence that filled the Temple. No one spoke, no one looked at anyone. Nya and Dash were both in tears, with a couple others on the verge. Zane was with Ali preparing lunch in the kitchen. They were making french toast.

"Zane," Ali spoke.

"Yes," Zane replied, his eyes watching the bread.

"Do you think they'll be OK?" she asked. "Cole and Kai."

"It is unsure of Kai, since I do not know the state he is in," Zane replied. "But once this is over, we will easily be able to revert Cole to his normal self."

Ali sighed. She glanced to Lloyd, sitting at the table. He fidgeted with the bandage around his arm. Ali shook her head, walking over to him. She took his hand, causing him to jump.

"You shouldn't play with it," she said softly. "You could unravel them. We don't know if you're cuts are still bleeding or not so they are best left undisturbed."

Lloyd nodded. He slipped his bandaged arm under the table, resting his head on the other one. He let out a sigh, looking away from Ali. Ali walked around his chair, to look him in the eyes.

"You know you can talk to me if something's wrong," Ali told him.

"I know," Lloyd muttered. "I just don't want to."

Lloyd put his head face down on the table, making it so Ali couldn't look at him. Ali sighed in frustration. She walked over to Zane, who had stopped to watch the scene unfold. He turned back, flipping the food in the pan.

"You know, he feels like it's his fault that they lost Kai," Zane said.

"I know," Ali sighed. "He and Kai are so similar in ways. That's one of them. The guilt. It drives me insane sometimes."

"I've grown to adjust to it," Zane said.

"I know," Ali said, irritated. She turned, looking at Lloyd. "I just wish he would talk to me. We're going to have our first kid soon, and I'm just worried that he's getting too stressed about everything."

Zane turned to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He'll recover eventually."
"I know," Ali said quietly. "I just wonder when that will be."

No one moved. Ali stared at the floor, lost in the hurricane of thoughts in her head. She shrugged Zane's hand off her shoulder, walking towards the door.

"I'll be back," she told Zane. "I just…..I just need some fresh air. Clear my head, you know."

Zane didn't respond. He just stood, watching Ali leave. He saw Lloyd look up, glancing between him and the door. Then his gaze stopped on Zane, and the two made eye contact.

"Do you think I was a little rough on her?" Lloyd asked.

Zane took a deep breath, unsure if he should be honest or not.

"I think you and her just need to talk things over," Zane replied. He turned back to the food. "You've been a little quieter than normal. It's worrying her. That's why she's constantly checking in on you."

"Because she's worried," Lloyd whispered.

Lloyd looked at Zane, then pushed himself to his feet. He walked out the door, walking towards the door outside. He cracked it open, peeking outside. He heard the faint sounds of guitar, following it towards a tree in the yard. He paused, hearing her singing.

"I met you in the dark, you lit me up. You made me feel as though I was enough."

I was shocked. Never before had I heard her singing, let alone playing the guitar. I didn't even know she owned one, Lloyd thought to himself. He watched her from behind the tree, listening.

"We danced the night away, we drank too much. I held your hair back when You were throwing up."

It was so heart spoken. Lloyd could feel the emotion behind every word she said.

"Then you smiled over your shoulder. For a minute, I was stone-cold sober. I pulled you closer to my chest."

Lloyd closed his eyes, quietly sinking to the ground against the other side of the tree.

"And you asked me to stay over. I said, I already told ya, I think that you should get some rest."

Lloyd could only listen, tears forming in his eyes.

"I knew I loved you then, but you'd never know. 'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go."

I never knew, Lloyd thought. Is she being honest about this?

"I know I needed you, but I never showed, but I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old."

"Just say you won't let go, Just say you won't let go."

"Should I say it now, or later," Lloyd asked.

There was a sharp gasp. Lloyd knew she was startled. He knew she was surprise he was there. Lloyd moved over beside her, smiling.

"Keep playing," he said softly.

Ali looked at Lloyd confused, but then started playing again. Lloyd smiled, his eyes slowly closing as he swayed to the music.

"I wake you up with some breakfast in bed. I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head," she sang, her eyes closed and letting the words guide her.

"And I'll take the kids to school, wave them goodbye. And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night," Lloyd took over.

She looked up, seeing him singing with the same heartfelt as she was. Then she took over.

"When you looked over your shoulder. For a minute, I forget that I'm older. I wanna dance with you right now, oh."

"And you look as beautiful as ever and I swear that every day you'll get better. You make me feel this way somehow," Lloyd sang.

"I'm so in love with you, and I hope you know. Darling, your love is more than worth its weight in gold," Ali smiled at Lloyd.

"We've come so far my dear. Look how we've grown, and I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old," Lloyd sang, causing Ali to blush.

"Just say you won't let go," Ali sang

"Just say you won't let go," Lloyd echoed.

"I wanna live with you, even when we're ghosts. 'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most," Ali sang softly.

"I'm gonna love you 'til my lungs give out. I promise till death we part like in our vows," Lloyd sang, the most heartfelt Ali had heard the whole time.

"So I sing this song for you. Now everybody knows. That it's just you and me until we're grey and old," Ali smiled, tears sparkling in her eyes.

"Just say you won't let go. Just say you won't let go," Ali said, looking directly at Lloyd.

"Just say you won't let go," Lloyd responded.

"Oh, just say you won't let go," they sang together.

There was a silence between them. Then they kissed.

"I will never, ever, let you go," Lloyd said. "I promise you that."

Tears trickled down Lloyd's cheeks as they hugged.

"I'm sorry if I made you think that way," he whispered. "I love you with all of my heart. I swear I do."

Lloyd felt Ali shaking, her warm tears on the back of his shirt. He laid his head on Ali's shoulder, rubbing her back in comfort. He made it clear. They would be together as long as they lived.

The song is Say you Won't Let Go by James Arthur. I just thought it fit perfectly with the scene, having Lloyd and Ali make up. So, with that, there is the intro to the new story!

I hope you enjoyed!