Chapter 3

Kai's P.O.V.

So here I am now. Falling to my doom by best- sorry… former best friend and brother. Yup. They don't care about me, according to Lloyd, so I don't care about them. Of course I don't think that entirely but not like I can say 'sorry I didn't kill a guy' and they can take me back because I said it myself- I quit.

So here I am now.

As I was nearing the bottom, I remembered that I can summon my elemental dragon. Duh! I'm such an idiot. Doing that, I safely flew down onto the grassy plain. As a past villager, I knew where my home was but I didn't move because I wanted to search the skies for the Bounty. And since I was dropped off from incredible speed (luckily I had my dragon or I would be dead), the flying ship was nowhere in sight. Why would Lloyd do that? If he just listens to me! I was getting frustrated with my own thoughts so I started walking towards Ignisia. I guess I won't need to ask Wu about that vacation, since it's now permanent.

After about 15 minutes into my walk, I came across the little town that now I call home. I sighed in contempt. Running the rest there, I now stood in front of my parents blacksmith shop. At least I know where I will live. I thought, looking on the positive side. Entering, I saw that Nya and I left everything as it was when I became a ninja. I noticed that I should say 'hello' to my old neighbors seeing that I'm gonna be staying. Making my way outside and through the town, I decided to go to extra shops along the way to buy some food. After I greeted everyone in town, I still haven't come across a familiar face. Sighing for the hundred time today, I walked back to the black smith shop and changed my clothes from my ninja gi to a plain white t-shirt and black pants. Probably never gonna use this again, I thought grimly. I made my way to the front of my shop and sat down on the porch, looking at the setting sun. That's when someone came running up to me and ran me over, engulfing me in a bear hug.

"Woah! Who the heck are you?!" I yelled, pushing the mysterious person off of me.

"What? You don't remember me? I'm offended by Kai!" The teenage boy told me. He had a slightly deep voice and had thick frizzy hair and tan skin. He seemed familiar but I couldn't place my finger on it.

"Wait! I have an idea!" He told me to raise a finger to prove his point. That's when realization hit me.

"JAKE?!" I yelled standing up.

"You know it bud. Now give your old' best friend a hug," he told me which I obliged to. I couldn';t believe it. "No way! How is this even possible! How did you recognize me, Jake?"

"Well it's not hard to forget that hair style of yours," he pointed towards my head. I gave him one of my well known smirks. "What? You're jealous you can't rock it like I can?"

"Haha, the same old Kai that I remember. But how did you recognize me?" he questioned chuckling.

"Well at first I thought you were just some random guy that gave me a hug for no apparent reason, that's until you said that you had an idea and lifted your finger. I only know one person that does it- and that's you bud."

"I thought so. So where've you been? I haven't seen you in a while. Where'd you go man?" He asked me as he lightly smacked my arm. I felt a bit awkward thinking about it but I surpassed the feeling and told him anyways. "Well actually when I left, I became a ninja for the time being-"

"A ninja?! That's so cool! Wait a second… Are you the famous ninja that stopped the snakes and lord Garmadon?" He cut me off excitedly.

I nodded.

"Woah! So what are you doing here? Where are the rest of the ninja? Did something happen?" Woah. I forgot that he asks a lot of questions.

"Yeah actually, something did happen," I told him reluctantly. Jake looked at me confused.

"What happend man? You know I don't like cliffhangers," he asked me impatiently.

"Um.. I kinda… quit being a ninja," I muttered the last part hoping he didn't hear. But luck hasn't been on my side recently.

"YOU WHAT?!" My friend yelled in shock. "How can you quit being a ninja? First: they are really cool. And second: I know that you did not quit the ninja for retirement purposes because you are 15 and there's another reason why." He knows me too well. Dang. I sighed and nodded to his claim. "So will you tell me? Unless you don't want-"

"No. I need to get it off of my chest so telling my best friend is my best bet," I cut him off. He nodded to show that he was listening. So I began.

"We were called on a mission that a couple of armed men were breaking in Kryptarium prison. Once we got there, we saw three of them guarding the hostages and no one else. As we got closer, one of the armed attackers shot a security guard and then two of his own people. We never dealt with cold-blooded murder before so we just stood there… shocked. After that, the remaining violator of the prison ran off with a prisoner hostage towards one of the courtyards. I was the only one who ran after him. Once I caught up, the man, who I soon learned his name was Chuck, and I fought. I won at first until he knocked me down and took advantage then grabbed my sword. He said that his 'mission was complete' and then he… he stabbed himself with my sword. I didn't understand and I guess my mind didn't register it but I slowly made my way over to him and pulled my weapon out. I watched the prisoner run out and that's when I noticed the fearful expressions from my teammates. They all thought that I killed Chuck.

"Once we arrived at the Bounty, my second home, Lloyd punched in some coordinates on the ship's control panel then dragged me outside. He told me that I didn't belong in the team and I only cared about myself. My friend, that I thought I knew as a brother, used his elemental power against me and threw me overboard. But not before I told him that if 'they didn't want me there anymore then I quit'," I told him the whole story about what happened. I felt a lone tear go down my face but I made no move to stop it. Jake stood still like he was trying to process what I told him, then he moved closer and raped me in a comforting hug. Just like the one in my dream. I returned the favor but only tighter. Like he's the only one left that I have. And it's true. After a while he spoke in a calm voice.

"I'm sorry Kai. That shouldn't have happened. No friend or brother should talk to eachother like that even if it was a misunderstanding, it was not right." He then pulled me out of my grip and stared at me right in the eye. "Listen to me Kai, you are NOT a selfish person. You do NOT only care about yourself. And NEVER think about yourself like that again. Promise?" He held out his fist that showed his grey bracelet. I smiled. At least I have someone at my side. And I'm at theirs. I fist bumped with him and watched the strong glow starting to come off the bracelets. Then I looked him in the eyes.

"I promise."

To be continued...