Hello!

Sorry this chapter took me so long, it's kind of really long. BUT I was coming up with ideas by the second. If the beginning is kind of, like, not greatly worded, Sorry, that's because I was warming up. :D

WARNING: Some really stupid jokes by the ninja, blood content, and a partially ugly ending, but one that I guarantee will leave you shocked, and you will like my twist, I promise. :D Enjoy!

SHADOW DANCER

11. Give A Spider Blood

Kai's back was stiff and uncomfortable.

The hard, packed sand beneath his back wouldn't seem to loosen up, no matter what kind of position he shifted to in order to exile all uncomfortability. Finally, after hours of tossing and turning in the dark, Kai sat up into the shadows, a shape shifting in the black. With the sun down, the desert was easier to deal with.

He glanced towards the solid, still forms of his friends, muted by their dropping eyelids. Zane lay pressed against the thin curve of the Bounty's shelter. His white T-shirt was easy to spot, even when it seemed like Kai could barely see his own two hands in front of his face. He felt a wave of sympathy. Zane had overheated badly this afternoon. They needed to move, get back to civilization, but Kai had no clue which way to go. And traveling during the sunlight with Zane just wasn't going to cut it.

Poor guy, though Kai, rubbing his face. This is one of those times he's really got to hate being a nindroid.

He tried to think of the best way they could get moving without Endangering Zane's safety- - and sanity. After Zane had fallen asleep, Jay had sat in the dark quietly beside Kai, Nya pressed affectionately against his side in an unbreakable slumber. He didn't look at Kai when he spoke, voice quieter than Kai had ever heard him speak. "Zane is seeing things," he murmured.

"I know," Kai had responded softly, scrubbing his eyes. He didn't want anything had to happen to Zane; to be truthful, Kai loved that quirky nindroid, who'd never done anything to hurt anyone (that he loved, anyway) in his life. Seeing him suffer through overheating, claiming the falcon was swirling in the air above them when really, the only mirage visible was the baking heat, shifting in the sky. It had driven Nya to tears. As Jay had held her gently against his chest, pressing his face into her hair so no one could see the pain on their faces, Zane had elbowed Kai.

"What's the matter with them?" he had asked, his voice low, easy as it always had been, like there was nothing wrong with him. Kai had scrambled for a lie.

"They just miss the Bounty," he'd forced out, watching Zane nod. he cocked his head in a way that informed Kai that he was thinking. For then, he'd turned away to watch the invisible body whirl in the sky, unseen by all but one. If he were normal, he ghost of a smile would've played on his lips, eyes hungry with a childish flare in his icy blue eyes. But since Zane was a nindroid and wasn't that emotional yet, Zane only watched, because Zane had no other choice.

The memories faded away into the distance as Kai's eyes focused back on the sullen form in the dirt. Feverish shivers racked the nindroid's body. It made Kai's seemingly unbreakable heart shatter into a million pieces. Look, he thought, look at what I've done. Although technically Kai hadn't forced the Bounty into that Storm, he was responsible for chucking Cole over the side. Cole would've known just what to do. Without him, the others were clueless.

He was a monster. How could he have let himself be possessed so easily, let himself throw his own best friend overboard? Cole was probably dead. No one could survive that. He was dead. He had to be. And it was all Kai's fault.

His eyes fell back on Jay and Nya. He could believe he was going to say this, something so unlike him that if anyone heard him say it aloud, they'd demand to know where their rightful friend was. He realized he just wanted them to go. He wanted them, when and if they found a way out of the desert, to go off, and have a long, happy life with each other, without any of this awful crap in the way. He wanted Nya to grow up with Jay at her side, find some job that she loved, and do it just because she could, because she had a long, happy life to fulfill. He wanted Jay to be happy, being the person he was. Maybe they could start their own business. Maybe they could Invent things together; Jay could sketch out the plan, and Nya could help him create the piece of art he'd mastered on the performed blue-lined paper. Jay could make that flying thing he was always talking about, and Nya could sit at his side, where in the garage they could create these things; they could travel, just like Nya was always saying she wanted to, and visit this place Wu had called 'Remnants of Paris' and they could go buy a...an éclair or whatever it was that Jay had called it, and they could buy a trustworthy dog to hang by their side just because they could. They could grow up, get married, have children. Fulfill the life that right now, the outlook prophesized that it wasn't looking as sparkling possible as it had before.

He wanted that so badly for them, it hurt.

A burst of confidence spread through his body, coursing through his veins, a charging animal breaking out the fire that burned solely within him, the winds of the heavens opening the window to him. He WOULD get them out of here. He'd return them back to the city, get them a chance at life that they were right now missing. He'd get Zane into a freezer and stick him in there till he froze like a Popsicle. He'd do anything, as long as their choices weren't taken from them like stealing candy from a freaking baby. He WOULD. And no one would stop him.

Now, to strategize just how he'd get them out of here. Traveling in the dark was most likely the best answer. That way Zane wouldn't be overworking himself to press through the heat. They could rest during the day. Yeah. But...how could they shield Zane from the unbeatable sun, that Kai couldn't seem to beat off with a stick?

He rubbed his eyes. There was the beginning of that stupid migraine again, just like on the boat. He sighed. He didn't understand why all of the sudden he was getting these awful headaches when he never really had ever gotten before. Sure, to everyone else HE was a headache, but now, he was almost completely consumed by them. He'd been sick all week, ever since the day Lloyd had arrived. Maybe he'd given Kai some kind of stomach bug or something.

Lloyd. Funny how this all started with him.

The hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up, their erect positions pricking against his skin, sending electrically charged shivers through him. He may not have had the sixth sense, but suddenly, something was out of the ordinary, disrupting the peace that had surrounded the remaining ninja.

Something was wrong.

And then, he saw it, moments too late.

The quick flitting of a figure in the darkness in front of him killed the moment, the stupefied Kai reacting too slowly. There was suddenly more than one. Their we're hundreds. thousands. Maybe more. Figures dancing in the shadows. Kai stood quickly, giving Jay a nudge with his foot. The forms danced around them, villains playing, laughing, their high pitches cackles sending whirls up Kai's spine.

Jay finally stirred. "What's happening?" he mumbled groggily, opening his eyes. He caught sight of the black masses, with reactions of fear and horror shaking him awake. "Sweet mother of LLOYD, WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS?"

Jay leapt to his feet, surreptitiously blocking he creatures from Nya, who was starting to awaken at the sound of Jay's shriek. Zane, from behind them, reached forward to place a gentle hand of Kai's shoulder. "I sense they are not from our world," he said softly.

At their inhuman cackles, Jay stared with wide, circular eyes, trying to focus on one. They moved too fast for anyone to be able to see where they'd come from. "No kidding!" Jay cried, and pushed Nya back. "Careful, you!" he said warningly.

"I can handle it," Nya protested, but Kai could see the worry in her eyes. She didn't believe herself.

Kai stated at them. They were closing in, those ghastly creatures of fear. Kai glanced at his brothers, his friends. They all nodded in a silent, simultaneous agreement; they prepared themselves for a fight. A grin came to Kai's face. We could've easily wiped out these gags with the tornado of creation, except Cole wasn't...here. Um. Well forget that..

"Ninja, GO!" shouted Zane, Kai, and Jay. The swilling white and blue masses around Kai knocked aside the creatures with aggression, their little shrieks amusing to Kai. It told him they were winning this one. Piece of cake, he thought. It would've been just as fun if they had their weapons, but those had been lost in the death of the Bounty, their familiar metals lying somewhere consumed by dirt and stupid sand.

Kai landed, his feet sinking into the sand, plush for his fall. He smacked aside one mass, tall as him, until he realized these things were wearing cloaks, overshadowing their forms. Thick, scaley black skin wrapped around a thin hand, reaching for Kai, gnarled black claws at the end of every finger. He recoiled, landed a thick blow to the hood with a defending kick. The creature hissed angrily. they surrounded him in muddled masses, scratching at his legs, arms, cheeks. Kai could barely keep up as he kicked, shoved, and punched his way around them. They hissed in his face, but he never saw theirs.

He heard Jay's frightened shriek from behind him. He tried to catch sight of him somewhere through the thick swarm of bodies but there were too many of the damned things. He gritted his teeth.

"NINJA-FREAKING-GO!" screamed Jay. "Get off me! GET OFF!"

"Jay!" shouted Nya from somewhere around Kai, but she was unseen. A creature cackled in his ear and grabbed a hold of his hair, yanking him backwards. "OW!" he shouted. he elbowed the thing. "Let- -GO!"

With the last breath, he released the strengthened powers of his true potential, a fireball of heat and anger forcing the creatures Away from him. At the sight of his bright, burning light, they recoiled, hissing and screaming as they ran away. "BE GONE!" he shouted. They moved around him, dancing in a little circle that his light couldn't touch, their fear of his bright, fiery powers forcing them twenty steps back from his two. Kai grinned.

"Don't like light?" He asked, gathering a fireball in his hands. "Eat THIS!" He hurled it at random. The creatures screamed. The fireball torched the closest seven Cloaks of then villainous beasts, sending them to a condemnation of flames, their bodies falling to ash at th feet of their comrades. Kai laughed menacingly.

There was a familiar electrical zap from somewhere behind him. "Watch out for the lightning!" shouted Jay. "It can be extremely SHOCKING!"

"Watch your step," said Zane's voice, deadly serious above the hissing laughter of the mongrels. "Ice is slippery when wet."

Kai smiled and hurled another fireball. The demons screamed in pain. But then, for some freakishly weird reason, they started chanting. Soon the two having become a few voices morphed into the shouts of the many, outweighing the dainty shouts of the few. Kai took a step back. He didn't know what their raised voices were calling, but he didn't like it.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder.

He whirled, coming face to face with a demon itself that glared down on him with menacing green eyes. It's skin was blacker than the night itself, scales drawn along his wrists and up his arms, encoding his face in the words of snake-like creatures. Fine, sharp teeth lined his lips as he grinned, a contrast of colors so different it hurt Kai's eyes. A staff of gold sat in its hand, pointed at the top, a sharp tip ready to poke someone's eye out. He frowned. This one was standing in his light, unharmed by the rays of fire. Why didn't it hurt him?

"Hello, Kai, ninja of fire," whispered the demon, his voice dripping calm malice that tasted like salt.

Kai clenched his fists. Without answering, he lit up his hand, thrusting it in the face of the fiend, but it stood unharmed. He made for his fist to hit the monster directly, but Kai's fist only connected with air. The creature-man was gone.

"I've been watching you for a while now," said the voice from behind him. Kai spun. He went to shout, "NinjaaaaGOOO!" but his scream was sliced in half when the beast waved it's hand, sending Kai flying through the air. He collapsed in a heap on the ground, true potential knocked right out of him.

Patiently the monstrosity glided towards him. Kai tried to stand, but as it waved it's hand, he found himself invisibly shoved back onto the ground by a force unseen. He groaned with the smack of his ribs against the hard sand.

"You're a feisty one," admitted the demonic entity. He stood above Kai, his peaked nose hooked like the falcon's, ready to peck away at Kai. He tried to stand, but forcing himself up against the tide of power the creature unleashed was too hard. He grunted trying to push himself up.

"A little brainless, but you've DEFINATELY got a spine," it continued."I admire you."

"Admirers"- -grunted Kai- -"usually just send me unsigned love letters."

The beast frowned. "This is no joke, ninja. I think you fit the bill just fine."

"Bill?"

Instead of answering, the demon snapped his fingers, and silence followed. "Bring me the other three," he commanded in a loud, authoritive voice. Moments later Kai watched the crowd part. Just so quickly these beings had forced Jay, Zane, and Nya to the edge of the circle, their arms bound behind their backs, even as they shouted indecent words at their captors. Nya's eyes fell on Kai, and she yelled at the staff man, "Let him go NOW!"

"Or what, girl?" It laughed evilly. "Will you pull my hair?"

The crowd laughed. Nya stared red-faced at the 'It.' Zane, catching sight of the awful face of the demon, suddenly looked fearful. "GREEN," he murmured. Jay just looked at him.

The It turned back to Kai. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes." His green eyes glared jauntily down on him. "You are just as you think. Though your ego is large, you know you are impulsive. Thoughtless. Self-centered. You've caused pain to so many of the people you love, and to innocents, as well. There are dark secrets of your past, Kai," the It sighed. "You know as well as I do that hell is your direction."

Kai opened his mouth to protest. Suddenly the world was agitated of its normal, still stature, a churning couldron of faces and names. He put his cheek on the sand, trying to block out the vicious surge. His eyes refused to focus on the It.

"However...There is another place for you as well," said It, using its hands to motion in the air as he spoke. "The King misses his son."

"Why...should I care?" Kai managed to choke out. He wondered if his dizziness was the It's doing.

It sighed, shaking its head. "Poor boy. There is a secret amongst you that you don't even know about. But," he added, motioning to the others, motionless as the other Demons clung to them. Kai could barely move his head to look at them. Confused, Zane and Jay listened and watched, their usual expressions of confidence and blankness sewed to their faces. But Nya looked horrified.

"Don't you DARE," she snarled.

"Dare what?" asked Jay when Kai couldn't.

The It looked between Jay and Kai, amused. "Ask her," he said. "She knows."

Nya wouldn't meet their gazes. Kai couldn't open his mouth, voice box refusing to work to its proper functions; he gave Jay his best pleading glance. Jay nudged Nya. "What's he talking about?" he asked.

She didn't answer for a long moment that seemed to last forever. Jay repeated her name, each time his octaves more and more worried. "Nya, seriously. What's happening?"

Instead of answering Jay, Nya's eyes met Kai's, tears streaming down her face, pouring in fits of misery. "I never told you because I didn't want to hurt you," she blurted. "I didn't want to see you..." her voice trailed off. She sobbed.

"What?" Kai managed. He could feel the force of power holding him down start to lift, allowing him to sit up slowly, though his pounding birth of headache wasn't gone. He stared at her. "Nya. Tell me." he pleaded

But she didn't, wouldn't, so It did. "Your parents took you when they found you, alone in the wild. It was days after the Rise. He hadn't meant to leave you, Kai, but the gate was so close to shutting."

Kai stared in shock.

"The Shadow Dancers didn't know about the Opening. But the King had to see his new son, and his beautiful, mortal wife. His wife wanted to come back with him, leave the mortal world, take his son. It was planned.

"But we Shadow Dancers caught them right before the gate was about to close. Angry, we attacked, and stole his son from him. He had to go back into the gate without you." The It grinned. "For Years he's tried to get in touch with you. But, Boy, we aren't planning on letting that happen." it grinned. then, holding out its hand, it waved to Jay, Nya, and Zane, watching with horrified expressions, except for Nya, whose head hung low in shame. Kai stared at her. "Why do you think you are the way you are? Your inner fire belongs to him. He wants you back, Kai, which is why we Shadow Dancers need you on our side. Revenge."

"Now in return for your loyalty to us," continued It before Kai had a chance to speak, "we shall give you what you desire most."

"How would that be worth it?!" exclaimed Jay. "He'd be on your side. EVIL. His greatest desire would be cancelled out by that because he'd desire to be AWAY from you creeps!"

It smiled patiently. The darkness overhead was starting to brighten. "He knows what he wants," it said. "Go on, tell them, boy." The green eyes of fury turned on Kai, sparkling darkness within. "Tell them what you want the most."

Kai didn't hesitate, although he would've liked to, his dazed eyes settling on the ragged forms of his friends. The numbness of shock had become him. "I wanted everyone to get home safely," he said softly. "I wanted Zane not to have to overheat like he has been, and I wanted you two to live a long, happy life with each other. I wanted to get you out of here safely. I wanted Cole to return home. I wanted him to be safe. Alive."

It looked satisfied, grinning. Kai wasn't able to think straight. There was a numb sensation pricking throughout him, a venom so deadly that it licked him from the inside, the flame of himself being put out. His frazzled thoughts could barely settle on him. The King of the Underworld. His father. A lie that expanded throughout his childhood, a distant, feral secret he'd never known. It explained more than Kai could've wanted it to. His stubbornness. Why he looked so unlike his parents. Why his element was fire. It hadn't made sense before; the blacksmith and his wife had been gentle, patient, like Nya. His attitude had come from somewhere. They always told him Kai was out there all on his own; he was unique in his own way. Now he knew what they meant.

He was the King of the Underworld's son. And an It prepared to start a war with his father wanted him to join them, in return for letting the others get back to the city, together, and normally safe.

"You can't do it, Kai!" shouted Jay. "We'll- - -we'll do this on our own. But you cannot join them. You- - - we can't lose you."

Kai stared at the ground. The blood rushed from his face. He still couldn't process this correctly. He kept thinking about how now, he and Lloyd were practically just the same. How his father was worse than Garmadon had been, worse than the Overlord, worse than the Great Devourer. It was just worse.

"It seems you've got some thinking to do," said It, examining its claws. "You know you can't do this alone. I'll give you four days to decide: Your friends' safety for your hand in the work of the Shadow Dancers. We need you to bring your father to us. Once we have the Shadow Key, we can open the gate. Once we open that gate- - -well, the Great Battle will finally begin." It grinned, its spiny teeth showing in their perfect, sharp rows. "Oh, and boy- - -one last thing to add to the bargain."

Kai didn't understand what a Shadow Dancer was. He didn't know what a Gate was, or a Shadow Key, or the Great Battle. None of it made enough sense to put together into a perfect puzzle where the picture laid out before him. No, instead what he had was a pile of pieces but no jagged edges to connect each other to. He raised his dull eyes to meet the green, everlasting plumes of It.

"In return for your hand, aside from your friends' safety," It began, "we will grant you the health you, currently, so desperately seek."

"Health?" repeated Zane warily.

It smiled at the nindroid. "He's sick," It said simply.

"Sick?" repeated the three simultaneously, their eyes falling on Kai.

Kai was too shocked to even feel the twisting inside of him. As if on cue, he felt the bile rise in his throat, but this time, he had an even more metallic taste in his mouth than he did when he last vomited, two days ago. And this time…when he was able to see what he'd spewed, lying in a deadly pool before him, was blood. Running down his chin, dribble spilling over his lips, dropping onto his hands lying on the ground. He coughed the penny taste out of his mouth.

Nya shrieked his name.

The It watched without a flicker of emotion. "He was poisoned," he said, his eerie voice catching with a cliffhanger as he raised his staff above his head. The staff huffed smoke into the darkness as it gathered around him and the other demons, sucking them up into a puff of black smoke as they disappeared, but not before the last signal of his message was relayed through the chilled air: "And poisoned, indeed, by none other than your good friend, Lloyd Garmadon."

Alright, then. A really prophetic chapter, don't you think? So who should the next CH. Be about? I'm drawing a blank. :/

:D Hope you guys have an awesome day, and please, review for me! :D