This takes place at the end of season two, episode 26, and note that Zane's father is not there, just to make it simpler for me. The lines may not match up to the actual episode, so sorry about that. WARNING: this is a Kai/Zane story.

Also, thanks to The Night Ninja for helping me with the storyline.

Chapter one: the choice

Zane POV

"Bye bye!" Nya sang, her purple eyes glowing with amusement, then ran through the swirling portal after the death machine. It started to close.

"I've got it!" Kai yelled, running towards it. He leaped, but the portal closed and he fell on the sand. "NOOO!" He yelled. I turned around, my eyes squeezed shut. How could this happen? I opened them and saw Lloyd on the sand near the water. Misako was stroking his blond hair. He opened his leaf-green eyes and blinked rapidly.

"Did...did we win?" He managed.

"No." Sensei replied sadly. Lloyd sat up, and tried to stand, but only fell down again, gritting his teeth in pain. He held his breath and stood up, walking towards the water.

"I thought…" he murmured. Then he turned around.

Okay, time skip, cause I forgot the lines. :D

"Does anyone have a plan?"

I smiled.

"I don't." I grinned. "But he may." I pointed to my falcon, who was flying in circles overhead. It squawked at us and flew into the trees. We followed it, the lush undergrowth surrounding us. I saw it swoop down into the trees, and I stopped, staring at what it landed on. It was a temple. Vines crawled down the marble pillars, and it was covered in a layer of dust.

"What…" Misako gasped. "This was not in the scrolls."

"I think…" I muttered, walking closer and touching the stone. "I think this was the first temple of light." I pushed open the doors, and a cloud of dust surrounded us. I walking warily, and Kai followed, his sword glowing. He coughed.

"It looks...abandoned."

"Thank you, captain obvious!" Jay exclaimed, upset about Nya evil and being stranded here. I peered into the semi darkness and saw ten stones in a circle around a pedestal. Ancient writing scrawled across the first stone. I narrowed my eyes at it.

"It's a portal."

Jay gasped.

"Whoa! Where does it lead?"

"Wherever you need to go." I read. I think I can access it, if I read the words correctly." Then I stopped. "But someone has to stay behind to close it." I frowned, knowing what I had to do. "I have to stay behind."

"What?!" Cried Lloyd. "No! You're too important!"

"I am not the green ninja. You need to go and save the people of Ninjago City. Then you can worry about me." I said solemnly.

"But… someone else can stay behind." Kai protested, glancing at Misako for a split second.

"I am the only one who can read it. You must go."

Wu nodded and stood on the pedestal beckoning the others on. When they were all on, I began to read the words.

"portar-me a on vull anar, portar-me al lloc que necessito, fer-los sacrificis, deixar-los, quedar-me al benestar més gran. anar." Light started swirling around my friends. I continued. "un camí de tornada, així que no et deixis anar, vagi. anar." I stared at them as the light engulfed them. "Anar. Anar. Anar." The light vanished, and the temple grew dark.

"Lloyd?" I called. "Kai? Sensei? Anyone?" No response. I allowed myself a brief smile before walking out and onto the beach. It worked. But now I am still here. Stranded.

Well, here's chapter one, I hope you enjoyed. Please review! It means SO much to me when you review!

~CatOfWater