A/N: Hello! Ok…I won't just totally rewrite the last chapter and call it the current one. Long story short, I forgot that I already did The Day Ninjago Stood Still….wonderful. Uh, unless I am reading the summary of the wrong episode… Dr. Julian should be making an appearance in this chapter… COOL! Umm… can't think of anything else to say…

Read and Review! Oh! For everyone that is wondering how many embarrassing stories Kai has…Nya most likely was making most of them up so she could embarrass him needlessly.

Disclaimer: I own Nothing! Except for any OC name drops that might happen!

Chapter Nine: Zombie!

I was watching Nya work on repairing the boosters on the Bounty. Jay was helping her, the two of them falling into synch as they hurried the repairs along. Zane and Sensei suddenly walked over, deep in a conversation. I nodded to them as they approached, my eyes flickering back to my sister.

"Kai? You're not still mad that Nya knew quite a bit of your past and didn't tell you, are you?" Zane placed a rather cold hand on my shoulder.

I quickly jerked away from him, a small gasp of shock escaping me. "Zane! You're freezing!"

Zane hurriedly took a step back. "Sorry! I forgot that due to the heat out here in the desert I had to lower my body's temperature to avoid overheating."

Cole chose that time to walk over, humming some song under his breath. Sensei turned to face him, gently tapping his staff against the ground. "I take it you were visiting your father?"

Cole froze his eyes widening as he finally noticed that he was humming. "Sorry. I didn't realize that I was humming. So, uh, what's the plan?"

Sensei sighed as he turned to look in the general direction of the abandoned city. "I have no idea. I am afraid that I have never prepared you for this kind of emergency."

Sighs promptly rippled through us as we sank down to the ground. Not having a plan of action when Ninjago is in danger was not a good feeling. Nya glanced up from where she was working, frowning at the sight of Jay joining in on the sitting down on the ground. "Come on Jay. We need to fix this before we get a plan of action."

"If that is the case…it should be done now. I have an idea that might be of help." I snapped my head up to see that Misako had joined us. "Follow me."

…

I stared at the map spread out in front of us. She also had multiple scrolls written in the ancient language…so only a few of us could actually read the information on them. I could tell by the illustrations though that it was about the green ninja and some island….and was that a temple?

Misako pressed a finger against the writing, excitement gleaming in her eyes. "It says here that the Green Ninja can't harness the true power of his potential until the four protectors, which would be you four, find your true elemental powers. This can only happen if you go to the Temple of Light…which by chance is located on the Island of Darkness."

I groaned at that. Somehow going to the Island of Darkness, where one can either purposely harvest or accidently fall into Dark Matter. Yep. That is definitely a good plan. Not at dangerous.

"Kai? What is Dark Matter and why are you being soo sarcastic about this plan?" Misako stared at me, bringing the fact that I was grumbling out loud to my attention.

I quickly shrugged, not sure how to explain it to her. "I don't know for sure what it is. It just sounds like something that we might run into while we're there." The truth, we don't know much about the Dark Matter. Just that it is on the Island of Darkness, and makes the Great Devourer's venom look pleasant.

Misako nodded before flipping through the scrolls, as if she were looking to see if it were in the scrolls somewhere. Zane folded his arms, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Are you sure about that Kai…or are you holding things back again? Cause you sure know some pretty strange things…"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, looked like we were repeating a familiar conversation, one we've been having nonstop since Lloyd grew up. "No Zane, I am NOT an enemy spy. Really! How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Sensei quickly pushed himself between us, eyes flashing in anger. "Enough! Zane, we do not have time to argue amongst ourselves!"

Zane lowered his head, a blush creeping up his face very quickly. "I apologize Sensei. Kai, I have no right to question your loyalty, you have proven yourself many times to be a good, loyal ninja and brother."

I sucked in a breath, knowing it will problem come up again sometime anyways. "It's fine Zane. I really shouldn't get so wound up whenever you start questioning my weird knowledge of things."

Jay burst out laughing at that, a grin flashing across his face. "Weird? Dude! You played with the lights back at the monastery just cause you didn't remember ever seeing something like those before!"

I blushed at that, remembering how everyone would yell at me whenever the lights suddenly started flickering. That stopped though when they yelled at me once, only for me to be outside practicing on the course. Our first blackout as a team…. And it wasn't my fault! Misako cleared her throat, amusement dancing in her eyes. "As much as I would love to know more about how weird Kai's knowledge is…we still have a problem call the Bounty is still grounded."

Nya who looked extremely worried about the idea of us going to the Island of Darkness, suddenly spoke up. "It's a ship. It might not be air worthy, but it is still sea-worthy. We can sail to the Island."

"Wait…we?!" I screeched, my head snapping up to stare at her in horror.

"Yes, we. I am not letting you to go there by yourselves. You might accidently touch Dark Matter and then we'll have Garmadon and you idiots to deal with. I am coming with. DO NOT TRY TALKING ME OUT THIS! Am I understood?"

Jay and I nodded our heads in agreement, not wanting to anger her farther.

…

I leaned against the deck railing watching as everyone said goodbye to their family and friends. Well, some of us were doing that. Nya, Zane and I were already onboard watching the on goings. Sensei tapped his staff against the ground gently as he walked over to where we were standing.

"Are you not going to say your goodbyes?" Sensei asked as he placed a hand on Zane's shoulder, concern dancing in his eyes.

Zane smiled as he turned away from the crowd. "I will miss Ninjago, but there is no point in wishing people bye. Whether they be fans or the parents of my brothers. I am content to leave the past behind and look forward to the future."

Sensei nodded in agreement, relief slowly edging its way back into his eyes. "I see. And what about you two?"

Nya half-shrugged, a small bit of worry dancing in her eyes. "I don't really know anyone here besides you guys. None of my family, or friends, is here, not unless you count Kai. And he's coming with us."

I squeezed Nya's hand, signaling that I knew what she meant by that statement. "I kind of agree with Zane. It doesn't make sense to say goodbye to everyone when all the important ones are going to be with me anyways." That and last time I said goodbye before leaving…I never returned.

My hand suddenly tightened as Nya squeezed it back suddenly. Leaning over, she whispered into my ears, her voice full of emotions. "Yeah…and you never would have become a ninja if you had returned home…"

I blinked at that, knowing she was correct about that. I met Sensei a few minutes after everything happened. Dareth took that moment to ran up to us. "Hey! What if we're attacked while you're gone? We need someone to stay behind and protect us!"

I glanced over at him, wondering if I could get away with it… yeah I can. It's Dareth. "About that. Until we return, you're in charge of protecting all of Ninjago."

"Cool!" Dareth did a little victory dance, before turning to face us. "What's my element?"

"Hot air." I muttered to Nya, drawing out a small laugh from her.

Sensei stepped forward, lifting his staff half an inch off the ground. Slamming it down on the wooden deck of the ship, he drew the attention of the other ninja. "It is time for us to leave! Ninja! Board immediately! We leave now!"

This was going to get interesting fast.

…

"This is it. This is the end of the line for us." Lloyd groaned as he stared at the floor.

I wanted to strangle him for having such negative thoughts. I mean, come on! I am pretty sure Misako wouldn't have suggested it in the first place if she thought it would be the end of us.

Jay poked Lloyd in the small of his back, a smile beaming out on his face. "Come on! Cheer up a bit will ya!?"

"Kai and Zane didn't say goodbye to anyone. That clearly means that they believe we're not returning." Lloyd muttered darkly as he pulled his knees up to his chest.

Zane placed a hand on his shoulder, concern flooding his eyes. "I didn't say goodbye because my family and friends would be with me every inch of the way. I was not going to bother my fans with saying goodbye."

Nya knelt down, quickly hugging the poor kid. "I think Kai not saying his goodbyes was my fault. I told him that he bid everyone goodbye back home right before he left for a few days…only those few days turned into he never came back. We're going to be fine. And to prove it…Zane? Can you check on Falcon please?"

Zane nodded before closing his eyes. When he opened them again, they were glowing brightly. "He is already at the Island of Darkness." Just then, Zane gave a cry of alarm, before ducking his head. When he lifted his head up, his eyes where back to normal. "They shot Falcon down. I am now truly without a family."

Misako stepped out of the bridge, worry creasing her brow. "Storm ahoy! We need to batter the hatches!"

"On it!" Cole and I hollered back to her.

…

"Watch out! There's starteeth in the water!" Zane hollered as he grabbed two starfish-looking creatures, throwing them overboard quickly.

I seized several of the biting starteeth, flinging them into the water. "Starteeth? Seriously? I am beginning to think some unknown force doesn't want us to return!"

Thwack. My hand darted up to rub the back of my head as I glared at Cole…who failed by the way with the you?-me?-look. Lloyd pushed his way to stand between us, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Ok, knock it off you two. Kai, I agree with Cole. Please keep all negative thoughts to yourself from now on."

"Sorry Kid." I ducked my head, even as I snagged a few more starteeth.

Misako, who was in the bridge watching everything, suddenly turned on the intercom. "The storm is over….but…"

"No buts!" We all yelped, knowing that typically meant that something was about to get worse.

Misako ignored what we just yelled, and continued on as if it hadn't happened. "The starteeth have eaten through the bottom of the ship. We need clean up and the hole patched up…immediately."

We all groaned as we sank to the floor. This was turning into a no rest for the weary kind of trip.

…

"And then after that, we left that time period, and went back to the time period where Kai fell out of the sky without a parachute." I vaguely wondered if anyone would complain if I threw Jay into the ocean.

Nya frowned as she lifted yet another bucket of water up that needed to be taken out. "Kai…is that the truth, or is Jay just telling stories?"

I swallowed hard, quickly turning my back to her as I thrust my bucket in, filling it with water. Cole placed a hand against my back for five seconds before turning to face her. "It's the truth Nya. Don't worry. We don't intend on having anything happen to us any time soon."

Lloyd nodded his head, relief flashing in his eyes. "Good. I don't want to have to deal with whatever is soo dangerous about Kai."

Zane suddenly snapped his head up, holding his bucket. "I sense something large coming up."

The words barely left his mouth when the ship jerked to a halt. Scrambling, there was a chance it was the Island of Darkness, we darted outside to find ourselves stranded on a small island with a Lighthouse resting at the very peak of it. Zane lead the way up to the front door, his fingers curling into a fist so as to knock on the door. Once he, with the rest of us right behind him, arrived at the door, he quickly knocked. A minute later, the door was opened by an old man wearing the lab coat of a scientist. His eyes widened as he looked to Zane for several seconds. He was not the only one with a surprised look on his face; Zane appeared to have gone into shock. Puzzled, I poked him in the back, trying to get a response out of him.

"You're dead!" Ok, not the response I was looking for.

An amazed look crossed the older man's face as he looked to Zane. "Zane?"

I tilted my head, wondering how he knew my brother. Sensei cleared his throat loudly, drawing our attention. "Zane? If you know who this is, then would you like to do the introductions?"

Zane sucked in a breath, tears glinting in his eyes. "He is my father. Dr. Julian."

I took an involuntary step back, startled beyond words. We all knew from talking to Zane that his father had passed away awhile ago. Dr. Julian quickly ushered us inside. "Quickly, get inside. It's not safe out here."

…

I wanted to strangle Zane. After Dr. Julian had fixed the boosters on the ship so that we could fly off, the Leviathan attacked us, trying to drag the ship back down into the water. Zane's response to that was to jump overboard and to go for a little swim. I bit my bottom lip as I wondered if I should suck it up and jump in after him. A frantic Dr. Julian was scanning the water below, his eyes widened in horror. Then again… pretty sure any parent would have freaked out if their kid suddenly leapt into starteeth infested waters, on purpose. Silence fell as we scanned the waters below us.

Nya suddenly shifted her weight, fury dancing in her eyes. "If Zane doesn't show up any second now…. I am going to jump in after him!" I glanced at her worriedly, able to pick that she was not furious at him, but rather alarmed and scared something bad happened to him down below.

Before I could suggest she calm down, the water exploded as the Leviathan suddenly released us…and sat Zane back down on the deck. Zane turned to face us, exhaustion dancing in his eyes. "No one deserves to be chained up. Not even a monster like the Leviathan." With that said, Zane fell into a dead faint, Jay and Nya quickly catching him.

Lloyd spoke up taking a rather bold step forward, confidence flooding his stature. "Next stop. The Island of Darkness!"

I turned away from him to look over at the sea that was now miles below us. Was this a good idea? Or will the Island of Darkness will be our doom?

A/N: Done! Phew. It's only uh…about two days late. Let's see here, I was supposed to finish this Monday, and it's now Wednesday. Yup, a bit late. I was having a really hard time writing the storm sequence for some reason… Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know it's late.

SkyTalon