Hey everyone, I'm back!
So I got a new phone today which is bigger and (hopefully) better than my old one, and also no longer has a shattered screen, so hopefully I'll be able t get more work out now, but no promises, as usual.
I'm not entirely sure what to write here, since I'm sure none of y'all want to know how I'm doing at the moment with quarantine and whatnot, so I'll save all that for after this oneshot, so let's just jump straight into this!
No warnings except angst.
A good deal of angst.
Yes I'm evil.
Enjoy... or at least try to.
Your Eyes Open
Kai Smith doesn't have an issue with his life anymore.
Sure, he didn't have the greatest start - his parents disappeared when he was five and he had to raise his little sister for seven years on his own, only for her to get kidnapped by Skulkin for Lord Garmadon, but he had saved her after being recruited by Sensei Wu for his team of Elemental ninja.
That's pretty damn cool, right?
Right.
So yeah, Kai has no problem with his current life.
He's witnessed and lived through it all: Skulkins, True Potentials, Green Ninja prophecies, the Great Devourer, giant Stone Warriors, the Overlord, all within the span of two short years.
He remembers it all like the events were merely yesterday.
He remembers his anger at Wu the day he turned up at the blacksmith's shop, his sorrow and loss when Nya was taken, his joy when he found that the others were just as... different as him, even more so in Zane's case.
He had finally found his group, his team, his brothers.
And it was okay.
Even when Lloyd joined the lineup as the official, prophesied Green Ninja, the team was okay - they held their own in fights, stood up for each other when necessary, accepted their flaws and weaknesses while also embracing their strengths, comforted each other in hard times.
They truly have been brothers for years.
Now, Kai looks back on his life as the ninja team soar over the city on the Destiny's Bounty, course set on their latest enemy's position.
This will be their most intense and life-threatening battle yet.
The Fire Master's life continues to flash before his eyes.
The Overlord's return, reborn digitally.
Zane's sacrifice to defeat him.
Receiving the invitation to Chen's Tournament of Elements, where he would go on to find old friends, make new ones and meet the love of his life.
Skylor's betrayal, before turning on her father and helping the Ninja and other Elemental Masters defend Ninjago from his reign.
The sad look in her eyes as she walked away, back to New Ninjago City to run her late father's noodle chain.
More memories that bring joy - such as Nya's True Potential as the Water Ninja that saved the entirety of Ninjago from the terror of the Preeminent, or finding out that his parents are not really gone, merely kidnapped by Krux, one of the dreadful Hands Of Time, and reuniting with them after a quick explanation on his father's behalf - and more memories that bring sorrow and tears - including the sacrifice of Sensei Garmadon that ultimately sealed the victory of the Elemental Masters against Chen's Psuedo-Anacondrai, and losing Sensei Wu in time when he fought Krux and Acronix for the last time - flood his head and flash before his eyes.
In the end, a small smile makes its way onto Kai's lips, gently pulling them upwards. He watches over the past few years of his life, soon to be a whole decade. He lets the smile remain on his face until Nya's voice rings out from the cockpit of the ship.
Within half an hour, all six ninja are fully equipped for what is incoming, waiting for Sensei Wu's signal to launch into battle. Kai's eyes narrow in anger and anticipation.
The fight is long and bloody, with many wounds accumulated by each ninja. In the end, only Kai remains standing strong, his sword gripped tightly in both hands, ready to strike. The masked enemy lets a sinistsr laugh escape their lips before twirling their bloody blade in their hand.
The villain lunges towards the hero, whose eyes instinctively snap shut as he waits for the impact. As his eyes close, he sees the sun glint against the stained red, gleaming metal of the blade as it approaches his stomach.
The world goes black.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound is high pitched, rhythmic, loud and rings in Kai's ears. A bright red clouds his vision as he realises that light is piercing through his eyelids. Muffled voices reach his ears.
"Kai, I know you're probably not going to hear me, but it's been so long. Please wake up. We really miss you."
Kai recognises that voice.
Nya.
His little sister.
"It's been years."
Then, his eyes open.
Okay so I actually really don't like how this turned out but I hope some of y'all liked it.
As usual, I am trying very hard to keep writing, but writers' block is here once again so I am struggling a little bit. Also, I just got a new, bigger phone, and I'm still adjusting to the larger screen and keyboard, so I'm sorry if there are more typos. Also, I've been really losing sleep, so...
Anyway, I hope you're all staying happy, healthy and home during this quarantine period. Remember, stay home, save lives.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, stay alive.
I love y'all.
Thanks for reading.
-Panic1AtTheEverywhere