Kai's P.O.V.

I woke up, Zane at my side.

"Where are we," I asked him.

"It seems we are in the place we were planning on going to," Zane replied. "And there's their base."

I looked up and saw a large building, surrounded by black, hairless creatures. They were down on all fours, but they looked more like humans.

"What do we do?" I asked.

"Find the others," Zane suggested. "They don't seem to be with us."
I spun around, looking for them.

"We must have been separated when we arrived here," Zane continued.

"Maybe they are already looking for Cole and Dash?" I said.

"It's possible," Zane replied. "Maybe we should go and look around."
"But how do we get in without being noticed?' I asked.

Zane examined the building.

"In the roof, there is an air duct," Zane said. "If we can get up there, we can get in and maneuver around without being noticed."

"Ok, let's…" I was cut off by rustling in the bushes behind us.

We slowly crept closer, ready to attack. They jumped at us first, but everyone froze when we made eye contact. Ali laid on top of me.

"Sorry," she blushed.

"It's ok," I replied, blushing. "As long as no one is hurt."

I looked over at Zane, with Jay.

"Wait, where's my sister?" I asked.

"I thought she and Lloyd were with you," Ali said.

"They're still out there somewhere," Zane said.

"Hopefully they're safe," Jay added.

"We are," a voice said.

I spun around, looking for him.

"Up here big bro," Nya's voice called.

I looked up and saw them hiding in the tree.

"Your plan might work, so let's go for it," Lloyd smirked. "What are you waiting for?"

We started up the tree, careful not to get spotted. Hopefully, Cole and Dash are OK.

Cole's P.O.V.

Dash and I sat, cuddled in silence, alone in a room. The door was locked from the outside, leaving us with no escape.

"Cole, what do they want from me?" Dash asked.

"They never said, but it's something about your powers," I replied.

"They're after my undead powers," Dash sighed. "Of course, how did I not see that."

"I'm not going to let them get you," I assured her. "Nothing will keep us apart."

I saw Dash nodding, but she was crying too.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I didn't think it would come to this," she whispered. "You and I, being together, in the afterlife."

"Dash, the others will come for us," I told her. "I know it."
"But what if they're too late," she asked. "What if they get my powers before the others save us?"

"They'll have to take me down first," I said. "I won't let them take your powers without dealing with me first."

She hugged me tightly. I felt her warmth, and it made me happy. Then the door started to move. I pulled her close as the same man who threw me in here walked in.

"Well, it's time," he smirked.

"You're not taking Dash," I said.
"Who said she was first to go?" he asked.

I gulped as his creatures came and started lashing at me. One grabbed Dash's shirt and pulled her into the corner. He walked towards me, his creature digging their claws into my skin. I felt weak, exposed and hopeless. He towered over me, but I refused to beg for mercy. If this meant Dash had more time to be saved, then I have to face him.

"You're weaker than I thought," he mocked.

I bared my teeth, trying to get to my feet. I felt his hand go under my chin, lifting it up. He brought my gaze to meet his, staring into my eyes.

"You're time is up," he snarled. "You're done, finished, over."
His claws dug into my face and I screamed. I held on, falling to my hands as he backed away.

"You….you.." I panted. "You're the weakling… or you would have killed me by now."

"But where's the fun in that," he laughed. "Watching you suffer. Watching you're dear friend over there, the horror as you fall. As you die forever."

I panted, exhausted. I can't quit. A ninja never quits. I slowly tried to get to my feet, but I fell flat on my stomach. I groaned in pain as someone lifted me up.

"Let's go," I heard his voice in my ear.

"No! Cole!" Dash cried as I was dragged off. I managed to open my eyes and look at her one last time as the door swung shut.

We continued down the hall, I was too weak now to move and couldn't do anything to stop him. He dragged me into a room, and laid me on a table. I looked at him, watching him as he moved around me.

"What are you going to do?" I had to ask. If I couldn't do anything, I at least want to know how I'm to die.

"Extracting you're energy," he replied. "Then turning it into dark power and using it to destroy this pathetic world."

I didn't even move. I stared straight ahead of me, terrified. My home, destroyed. I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts, screams and cries for help as Ninjago crumbled. I felt chains attach to my arms, tying me to the table. He had me down around my arms and legs.

"I know you elemental masters are weak against venge stone, so I made sure this is made of it," he said.

I watched as he aimed a bunch of lasers at me. I started to panic a little bit. This is it. No escape, no turning back. Someone help me.

Dash's P.O.V.

I cried to myself. Cole was gone. He's not coming back. The room I was trapped in was silent, all except for the tears I cried. Up until something bumped and I heard mumbling.

"Who's there?" I cried out, terrified.

Then six people toppled from the air duct, landing in a tangled pile.

"Dash," Lloyd said.

"He was right," I cried, running to Lloyd, as they untangled themselves. "You came!"
"And you're alive," Lloyd smiled.

"Where's Cole?' Ali asked.

"They took him, they're going to take his energy and kill him," I cried.

"We have to hurry," Kai said.

Ali harnessed the power of earth and took the door down in one blow.

"Which way?" Jay asked me.

"This way," I said. "Hurry."

We ran down the hallway, not coming across any Death Shadows. I slid to a stop in front of a room.

"In there," I cried.

"Who needs doors anymore," Lloyd shrugged. "We just make our own."

He blew a hole in the wall. I ran in and tackled the man, about to kill Cole. He topple in surprise.

"How did you escape?!" he cried.

"I had some help!" I smirked.

The other ninja started attacking him and I ran to free Cole.

"Hold on, I got you," I told him.

I got the chains off him and helped him off the table. We started for the door, when I heard Ali scream. I looked and saw our captor had Ali by the throat. The others were in pain on the ground.

"Surrender and i let you're friends go with what life they have left," he demanded.

"Dash, if you surrender, they'll die anyways," Cole whispered. "It'll only give them more time if we do."

I looked at Cole, then to Ali. I frowned.

"Just because you've given me one option, doesn't mean I can't make another," I told him.

I pulled one hand free from Cole and used my Dark magic to strangle the man. Lloyd and Kai slowly got the their feet, helping the others and running for the door. He released Ali, who ran out with Zane. I released him and ran with Cole. We got outside, but there were hundreds of his creatures surrounding us.

"What a predicament. You thought you would escape, but not everything goes your way."

He followed us out. Now we have no escape.