Kai gasped, opening his eyes to reality to escape the horrible essence of his dreams. The fire ninja shook, he had had a terrible nightmare, that involved his element and a lot of damage. However, it was most peculiar that Kai could not recall any parts of his dream...yet he still could see it and feel it all happening right in front of him, that was the scary part.
Then Kai realized, he was not on the forest floor.
The fire ninja immediately began to notice he had been sleeping on an actual bed, not on the grass somewhere in the woods. "W-What...where the hell-"
"Watch your language!" came a voice.
Kai jerked his head towards the other side of the room, and there stood an elderly man who looked at least sixty or seventy years old. The fire ninja narrowed his eyes, tempted to reach for his weapons, only to find he didn't have any. "W-Where are my weapons?" he sputtered, a bit anxious.
The old man titled his head in confusion, "Weapons? You didn't have any weapons on you when I found you. Yet, you did have a lot of injuries around your head, your legs, and especially your back."
Kai pat his back, he winced, it still hurt from where the Toxibrai sliced an "X" right in the middle of his spine. The fire ninja still was curious, "W-Why the heck-"
"Language," spoke the man.
Kai sighed, "Sorry. Why am I here? H-How did you find me?"
The old man pondered as he came over, "Well, I was just out and about with my granddaughter, collecting hazelnuts for the-"
"Get to the point please," snapped Kai.
The man stared at Kai sternly, the fire ninja closed his mouse. "I see you're in a bad mood, that's understandable considering your back has a bloody "X" carved into it."
Kai cringed, even hearing someone say it made it hurt. The man only cleared his throat, "I guess I could just cut to the chase if that's what you want. My granddaughter and I were only finding ingredients when we stumbled upon you in the woods. There, does that answer your question?"
"You're a bit snappy for an elderly man," Kai pointed out.
The man glared at Kai, the red ninja gulped.
The man humphed, "Hasn't your mother ever told you to respect your elders? I'd whack you with my sword if you were my kid, but I aint! So I wont!"
"You own a sword?" Kai said, surprised.
"Well, why not?" spoke the elder, "everyone happens to have at least one weapon these days. I used to be an explorer, so I have plenty in case anybody decides to rob me."
Kai scratched the back of his head, he yelped. The man crossed his arms, "Quit touching your head, I just said you had injuries around your head, your legs, and your back do I need to repeat myself?"
The fire ninja humphed and stepped out of bed, rubbing his eyes to adjust his vision. They finally worked, Kai grinned, "I can see."
"Oh joy. Have you been blind for the rest of your life?" the man asked.
Kai scowled, "No! I was blind last night!"
"Well, its best you don't go blind again. Come now, you're probably hungry from sleeping under that log." the man suggested.
"I was unconscious," Kai explained.
"Same thing," the man stated, pushing Kai out the door and closing it behind him.
The fire ninja took a quick glance around the mans home, the walls were painted with photographs, which had to have been from a while ago for there was no color in any of them. The man grinned as he saw Kai's reaction, "Do you like the pictures? They're mostly from my various adventures as an explorer. Oh time does go by quickly doesn't it?"
Kai stayed quiet, he recalled Nya, its been months since they last saw her. The fire ninja nodded as a response.
The man then gestured to one photo on the left corner, below it was a sword and an amulet. Kai cocked his head in confusion, he reached for the amulet, "Whats this do-"
"DON'T!" the man screamed, reaching for Kai's arms.
Kai pulled them away, he trembled violently, "H-Huh?! WHY?!"
The man put himself between Kai and the items, "They're sacred treasures I got from escaping Hiroshi's Labyrinth."
Kai looked at the man, his eyes widened, "Y...You're Hiroshi?"
Hiroshi coughed, "Well..."
"Oh my god! You're famous!" Kai exclaimed, smiling.
"I guess so. After beating the most treacherous and dangerous maze, not to mention the most puzzling. I guess I deserved some honor afterward, but I don't mean to brag-" Hiroshi humbled. Kai laughed, and for a while he didn't feel so afraid, "W-Wow...I cant believe I'm meeting the actual Hiroshi! My dad used to tell me and my sister stories of you, along with some of the other heroes in Ninjago..."
"Did he really?" Hiroshi asked.
"Yeah, always helped us...get to bed," Kai mused, frowning as he remembered his sister again.
Suddenly, the door to the house opened and in came a little girl, about the age of five or seven. Kai watched as she dashed past him, he fell at her speed, courtesy of his injured legs, "Augh..."
"Grandpa!" she squealed running into Hiroshi's open arms. Hiroshi chuckled, "Well there, June. You've grown quite a lot, haven't you? Are you here for another story?"
"Story! Story!" June cheered.
"Owww," Kai moaned as he held his head, only to wince.
"Don't! Touch your head, do I have to stress that enough?" Hiroshi demanded.
"Grandpa, has Spike finally woke up?" June questioned, finally noticing Kai.
Kai wasn't amused at the nickname, he grit his teeth at her, June hid behind Hiroshi. Hiroshi gave Kai a look that made him scoot backwards, then he turned to his granddaughter, "June, his name isn't "Spike"...um uh, what is your name?"
"Kai. It's Kai," Kai responded.
June stuck out her tongue, Kai returned the gesture like a mature man would. (*Cough* Sure *Cough)
Hiroshi only smiled, "Kai, hm? That means fire, but in some places it also means water."
"I thought it meant food," June stated.
Kai narrowed his eyes, he was puzzled at his many name misunderstandings. Hiroshi shrugged, "Well, yeah it means food too. But here it mostly means fire. June, are you sure you're here at the right time? Story time doesn't start at 3:00 P.M."
Kai gaped, "I-It's 3:00 P.M.?! How long did I sleep?!"
"Do the math yourself," Hiroshi answered.
Kai humphed.
"Is Spike angry?" June giggling.
"My name is not Spike!" Kai yelled.
Hiroshi glared at Kai, "I would appreciate it if you would not yell at my granddaughter." Kai lowered his head, "Sorry..."
"Good. Ok, June, story time wont start until 6:00, when its bedtime. Because right now I need to take care of Mr. Sour Mood over here-"
"Hey!" Kai shouted.
Hiroshi cleared his throat, Kai shut up and grumbled. "I need to handle this, besides, your mother is probably worried sick looking for you."
"Why wouldn't I tell her where I'm going before I leave?" June asked.
"Cause you're a child," Hiroshi replied.
June thought about it, "Fair point. Fine, grandpa, you can take care of Spike and I'll go play until its time for story time."
Kai resisted the urge to correct her. Hiroshi nodded and bid his granddaughter farewell, he then turned to Kai, "Ok Spike."
"Please don't call me that," Kai pleaded.
"Fine. Kai, is it? Good, well...it doesn't seem that anything else except your head isn't badly injured. I'd suggest you make yourself comfy because you're not leaving until your head gets better." Hiroshi explained.
"What?! You cant make me stay here!" Kai argued.
"I can and will, and I don't think your head disagrees either," Hiroshi replied, patting Kai's head. The red ninja winced, he growled and made his way back to the mans bed. Hiroshi shook his head, "Unbelievable."
Meanwhile, June ran through her village to the far end where she and her friends usually played. "Guys!" she called.
A girl and a boy looked away from their daily game of catch, "Hey, June!"
"Where have you been?" asked the boy.
"Grandpas," June responded.
"I heard you and him found some guy in the woods, is that true?" asked the girl.
Somewhere in the bushes, a pair of eyes were watching them.
"Well, yes. His hair is really spiky, so I called him Spike! He doesn't like it though, also his real name starts with a K or something," June replied.
"Doesn't that mean fire?" asked the boy.
"Why yes, yes it does."
In the blink of an eye, a figure launched itself from the bushed, the children screamed. Toxe smiled and cackled taking out her daggers, grabbing onto the boys arm, the boy squealed. "Why don't I continue on with the conversation?" Toze giggled, "how bout I start with..."
Toxe cut the boys throat, June and the other girl screamed.
"Where. Is. Kai," she growled.
June took off running, but more Toxibrai emerged from the bushes scaring her half to death. "Going somewhere, little girl?" spoke one. June looked back to see her friend, Toxe threatening her with her dagger. "I-I don't know anything!" the girl sputtered, she then pointed her finger towards June, "s-she told us about him!"
June's eyes widened, Toxe eyed her maliciously. She stabbed the girl through her chest and threw her onto the grass, she then made her way over to June. The girl panicked and pushed the warrior in her way aside, dashing towards her grandfathers house screaming, "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!"
Pretty soon, the entire village was overrun with Toxibrai, and the woman and children were just as scared as June.
Hiroshi heard the commotion, and so did Kai. The fire ninja came out of his room, "What's going on?"
"Stay in the house, I'll go check it out," Hiroshi spoke.
Kai scoffed, "What are you going to do? Smack the trouble with your cane?"
Hiroshi pointed his sword at Kai, "You're one to talk with an injury on the back of your head leaving you vulnerable. Calling an old man weak...stay here."
Hiroshi left the house, leaving Kai alone. There was a scream, Kai jerked his head up and tried to look for a window. He did find a small hold in the wall the size of his thumb, so he used that. Kai could only make out so little, but what he immediately recognized was the markings of the Toxibrai; black, blue, and pink. "They're here?!" he shrieked, a bit anxious.
Kai panicked and huffed, scanning the room for anything to defend himself. Come on Hiroshi, I know you're old but you sure as hell can make a comeback...you have to have some weapons hidden in your room, right?
The fire ninja caught sight of something shiny under the bed, he immediately grabbed for it. A silver sword was hidden under the bed, Kai grinned, "Jackpot." However, when he reached for the sword, Kai's fingers accidentally cut along the blade of the sword. "GAH!" he shrieked.
Blood dripped down onto the wooden floor, Kai trembled and gaped as he saw his blood ooze through the floor. "Au-Augh..." he groaned, backing away from the spot. Kai looked at himself from the sword, his eyes bright red. "W-Whats wrong with me?" he asked miserably.
"AH!"
Kai jerked his head around, he heard the sound of the door being knocked down. The fire ninja rushed to the door and opened it just a little bit, enough to see what was going on outside. Hiroshi was lying on the floor, he coughed and groaned in agony. "Where, is he?!" came a demanding scream.
The fire ninja spotted Toxine come through the door, knocking poor Hiroshi against the wall, causing some of his photos to fall onto the floor. Hiroshi rolled on his side, attempting to get up and grab his sword. Toxine stepped on his hands, Hiroshi screamed, making Kai flinch. "Tell me where he is or you'll pay with your life!" Toxine demanded, pointing her sword at his neck.
Hiroshi humphed, "You want to know where he is?"
Kai's eyes widened in fear.
Hiroshi slowly got up, motioning Toxine towards the bedroom, she followed in suit. Kai couldn't believe it! Then again he was disrespectful to Hiroshi and his family, perhaps this was his way of getting him back. Hiroshi inched closer to the door, Kai held the knob tight. Toxine pushed the man aside, just about to enter the room. Hiroshi pulled out a knife from his belt, he then pounced on Toxine and jabbed it into her neck. "AGHHHH!" she screamed.
Kai let go of the knob at the scream, he groaned at the impact as he hit the floor. Toxine yanked the knife out, she yelped and turned to Hiroshi in anger, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, HIROSHI!"
"I doubt it very much," Hiroshi spoke, avoiding the attacks he got. Toxine sliced and cut through the air with her blade, but Hiroshi was faster than her, he hit her with the hilt of his sword. Toxine punched Hiroshi in the nose, the old man winced. He wiped the blood from his face, "Now that is just rude-"
"RAHHH!" Toxine screamed.
She launched herself towards him, Hiroshi kicked her aside, allowing her to hit the wall. Toxine grit her teeth, and from above Hiroshi's sword and amulet fell from their hooks. Toxine stared at the amulet and grinned, grabbing it, "I knew you were insufferable but I never thought you'd cheat."
"How is using an amulet cheating?" Hiroshi questioned.
Kai listened on in, Toxine cackled.
"This one is magic, I don't believe it. You've used magic as an aid in the labyrinth, and for that you got famous," Toxine taunted.
Hiroshi grit his teeth, "It was a gift! Do not insult its power or its purpose! I was supposed to use it, I only got help from the people who gave it to me! I have them to thank!"
"Oh shut up. I'm tired of you're stupid lies! What I want is answers, and I want them NOW! WHERE IS HE?!" Toxine screamed.
"GRANDPA!" June yelled, bursting in.
Hiroshi gasped and tried to stop his granddaughter but Toxine already had her hands on her, her blade close to her neck. Hiroshi stood still, Toxine only smiled and looked down at June as she squirmed in fear. "Deary little girl," she spoke, "would you mind to tell me where you're keeping the man?"
"You wont hurt Spike! Or my grandpa! Never!" June cried.
"Is that so?" Toxine growled, inching her blade closer to June's skin. Hiroshi cried out, "Please don't!"
"THEN ANSWER ME!" Toxine screamed.
At that point, Kai had had enough of watching them suffer, he grabbed the knob and opened the door, "LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
Kai charged towards Toxine at high speed, both of them crashed through the house and began to fight. June shuddered and watched from the new hole in the house, Hiroshi scooped her up and tried to escort her away from the danger. "Grandpa what about Spike?" June stated.
"Kai can handle himself, it seems so!" Hiroshi answered.
The fire ninja emit his palms with balls of flame, "YOU'RE DEAD NOW!"
Kai punched Toxine hard in the gut, she cringed and hissed at the burn. The fire ninjas eyes only glowed insanely red as each hit he made and took grew fierce, and Toxine was loving the hate.
"Disturbed, you are?" she taunted.
"SHUT UP!" Kai screamed, punching Toxine in the head. The snake punched Kai in the gut and in the head, the fire ninja screamed and fell back against the dirt. Toxine looked at her victim lying helplessly on the ground. Simple she thought.
She raised her blade to finish the job.
Kai opened his eyes and lashed out at her, Toxine didn't even have time to react before she was on the ground acting as the fire ninjas punching bag. "ROAAARARRRRRR!" Kai yelled, his eyes turning into eruptions of flames. The fire ninja delivered his last punch, before he screamed and transformed.
Toxine was knocked back into the woods, she hit three trees and landed straight into a rock before she passed out.
Kai let out his cries of insanity, shooting flames around the village, burning everything in sight. People were killed, thousands of children were burned as well as there homes and there property. Hiroshi didn't even make it out of the village before a charring piece of wood came flying in from out of nowhere. The old man lay dead on the ground, June screamed.
Kai roared and cried, disturbed and angry.
Then he looked around at his damage.
The fire ninja's eyes softened, and then he realized what he had done.
Kai returned back to his humane form, he landed on the ground and gazed around at what was left of the village.
Nothing
The fire ninja, eyes wide and full of fear, fled the burning village in a state of pure terror.