For the first time in months, I dream of the fire. This nightmare usually plays out the same way, ending with my father and I being separated by towering, suffocating flames. But this time, the flames are replaced by his face.

Desmond's cold eyes glare down at me from every angle, sneering and hissing dark words that tear through my mind. I raise my arm, but nothing happens. The heat that usually sparks from my fingertips is gone, leaving only my trembling pale hand between me and the monster.

He laughs and looms closer, his breath as frigid as arctic ice. I can feel myself freezing in my spot as the flames that once surrounded me are replaced by tall, jagged glaciers. The temperature drops to subzero, freezing the sweat that just clouded my body. Instead of fire, I'm drowning in piercing ice that spreads through my body with a fire of their own, and I'm helpless to do anything except stare at the chilling gaze that has me trapped.

I breathe and my lungs fill with an excruciating cold, like I've just swallowed a barrel of knives. My skin grows pale, my fingers flush, and my entire body explodes in frigid pain. Every breath feels like a sword to my chest as I struggle against the ice that holds me to my spot.

I take one agonizing step, then another, every frozen muscle in my body screaming as the cold clenches tight on my bones. Desmond's many faces laugh and sneer, and as they begin to glower deeper into my own the temperature drops another twenty degrees.

Thin, pale frost covers my skin like lace, sewing my muscles together with their frigidness. My legs come to a stop beneath me, and whatever warmth I was generating disappears. My chest aches and I'm finding it hard to keep my eyes open. My vision fills with cold, piercing my eyes with excruciating pins and needles. My body is a frozen statue and I'm trapped inside, struggling to remember how it felt to be warm. It hurts so much to breathe, to blink, to even think, and I feel myself start to slip.

As I spiral into darkness, the last thing I hear is Desmond's wild laughter.

When my eyes open, the cold is gone.

I stir against my pillows, feeling every muscle in my body twist and strain against each movement. I let out a low moan and something clatters to life nearby.

"Ash, you're awake!"

My hazy vision refocuses on the other person in the room, and with a few blinks I realize it's Nya. She gives me a friendly smile as she approaches the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I've just been run over by an army of steamrollers," I groan as I try to sit up, wincing as a sharp pain stabs my side. I glance down and see my stomach is wrapped tightly in clean white bandages, bundled more heavily where the wound in my side is. Looking at it makes my stomach fill with sour nausea, and all at once it starts to crawl up my throat.

"Oh no-" I splutter as I clamp my hands over my mouth and try to calm the raging in my stomach. It growls loud enough to wake the dead, and Nya immediately springs into action.

She snatches a small teacup from the bedside table and holds it up to my mouth. "Just take a deep breath and swallow, alright?" she says just as I take a sniff of the foul-smelling liquid sloshing around inside the cup.

I blanch. "You've got to be kidding."

"It'll help," she explains. My expression doesn't change. "Don't make me force it down your throat."

I give her a look but oblige, sucking in an enormous breath before I swallow the burning contents of the cup. I almost heave it back out, but Nya's expression is enough for me to clamp my mouth shut and wait for the burning to subside.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" she gives me a smile and I shake my head.

"Almost as fun as getting shot," I cough as a strong bitter taste forces its way up my throat. Thankfully, the nausea subsides and the ache in my side calms to a dull throb. "What was that?"

"One of Sensei's special teas," Nya explains. "He said it would help numb your pain."

"Yeah, by numbing everything else," I shudder as the tingling in my throat spreads through every nerve in my body. I shake my head again. "And he wonders why I hate tea."

"Hey, at least you're alright," she says. "We were worried about you."

"Thanks," I say sincerely. "How long was I asleep?"

"It's only been a day," she answers. "Sensei says you should be alright in a few more. You're pretty lucky. Another few centimeters to the left and Hale would've killed you."

"He didn't mean to. Desmond only wanted to scare me," I say in a quieter voice. The name brings a different taste to my mouth: metallic and full of dread. "Next time I won't be so lucky."

"Hey, you're alive and safe now," Nya says as she puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. Her skin is surprisingly warm against my own, and I briefly remember my dream. I fight back a shudder as I focus on her voice. "That's all that matters. We can deal with Desmond when you're better."

"You're right," I nod, but her optimism falls on deaf ears.

Nya gives me another soft smile before she takes her hand away and retreats toward the door. I watch as she picks up a bucket and a heavy brush and starts scrubbing at a few dark stains on the floor. I realize with a twinge in my stomach that she's cleaning up my blood.

The door clicks open and pulls me from my morbid thoughts. Nya and I look up as Sensei walks in.

"I see you've woken up. How are you?" he greets me.

"Physically, surprisingly okay," I answer, then shake my head. "Mentally?" A few scattered flames fly between my fingers, and I force the dark memories into the farthest corner of my mind.

"You went through a great ordeal," Sensei nods solemnly as he takes a seat in the chair by my bed. "It is a miracle you survived the journey back here."

He gives me a comforting gaze. "Ash, I know this is difficult for you, but I need you to tell me what happened. You were delirious when you arrived, and I want to be sure we know the full story. What happened between you and your father?"

I drop my eyes and fight the heat that roils into my fingertips. "Desmond isn't my father," I say in a dark voice. I explain everything to Sensei. The letter, meeting Hale and Desmond, finding out the truth. I almost lose it trying to explain my parents, but manage to keep myself together to finish the story. When I do, Sensei has a grave look on his face.

He closes his eyes and for a few seconds the room is completely silent as Nya and I watch him. When he opens his eyes again, they're ringed with tears. "I am sorry to hear about your parents," Sensei says. "As I said before, I knew your father before you were born. I was afraid something had happened to him, but not like this." He shakes his head.

"He said he was getting back at them for killing his wife," I say in a quiet voice. "Desmond did. I don't know his plan, but he wants me to help him destroy Ninjago."

"But you would never do something like that," Nya says. "You're one of us now. His plan failed."

"I'm not so sure," I shake my head. "Hale is still alive. You remember how he controlled me with just a touch. If he gets close enough, it's over. I won't have a choice anymore."

"With luck, he will never get that close," Sensei says as he starts to get up. "But until you are healed I'm afraid I cannot allow you to go anywhere by yourself. One of us must be with you at all times, and I'd prefer you not to leave the ship."

He lets out a sigh and turns to Nya. "This would be much easier if we could get airborne. How is progress on that?"

"Slow," she shakes her head. "Jay and I can't make heads or tails out of it. Everything looks fine, but for some reason it just isn't working. Until we figure out what's wrong, we're grounded. Unless the guys want to get out and start pushing."

"Keep working on that. The sooner we're back in the sky, the better. Even with his mind-control, I'm certain Hale cannot fly."

"I want to help-"

Sensei turns back to me. "Ash, the wound Hale gave you is serious. Another few centimeters and it would have killed you before you were anywhere near the Bounty. It's going to take time to heal- longer if you push yourself now and reopen it."

"I can't just sit here and do nothing," I press. "Especially with Desmond and Hale out there."

"I know you are afraid, Ash, and rightfully so. But you are hardly in any shape to walk, much less fight. Rest and regain your strength. Then we will see about confronting Desmond."

"But-"

"You may continue doing the mental exercises I've taught you, and I'm sure everyone would be willing to help you around the ship," Sensei says. His eyes darken. "Or I can lock you in here."

Nya stifles a giggle as I close my eyes and let out a breath. "Fine. I'll sit out," I give him my own look. "For now. As soon as I'm feeling better I'm going after him."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Sensei says as he starts to leave. "For now, rest and heal."

The door clicks shut behind him, and I let out a sigh.

"Remind me to never get shot again," I grumble as I slump back against the headboard. My side twists and throbs, and I bite back a face. "Talk about stifling."

"It's for the best," Nya says, though a part of her voice sounds like she doesn't buy it either. She chuckles a little. "And it could be worse. No shore leave is one thing, but at least he hasn't chained you to the bed."

I can't help a smile. "I'd like to see him try."

There's a sudden commotion from above our heads and incomprehensible but angry voices waft down through the floorboards. Nya and I exchange glances.

"I'll take it he's told the boys you're awake," she says. She lets out a sigh as she steps back from my bed. "Cole's been throwing quite the fit since you got back, and I think Sensei's going to have his hands full. Better go calm the raging testosterone before someone gets hurt."

"I'll come with you," I say as I start to pull the blankets from my body and get to my feet. Nya gives me a dubious look.

"Ash, you heard what he said-"

"I can't stay in this room forever," I wince as my feet steady on the floor. My side throbs like a disembodied heart, and I try not to let it show on my face. I give her a smile instead. "And you might need some backup for Team Estrogen."

Her face doesn't change, and I roll my eyes.

"I'll come right back here when we're done, alright?" I give her my most trusting smile, even if it is a little forced. "And I promise I'll be extra careful."

"Alright. But you're coming back the second we're finished," she narrows her eyes at me. "Even if I have to drag and chain you to the bed myself."

"Duly noted," I grin as she shakes her head and leads me to the door. I hobble along after her, struggling to straighten my walk as each step twists my side painfully. Nya notices my discomfort, but thankfully doesn't say anything as we start the agonizing journey to the upper deck.

Minutes later, I lean on Nya's arm as we emerge into the too-bright light of the open ship. I'm breathing more heavily than usual from our perilous trip up the steps, and try to ignore the smug smile that touches Nya's lips.

The ninja are gathered around Sensei some feet away, with Lloyd hovering just outside their circle. Cole, Kai, Jay, and Sensei seem to be in the middle of a very heated debate, with Zane offering small comments every so often.

Their conversation stops as Nya and I approach at a slow pace.

"Ash," Cole's face clears of tension for a second as he and the others thankfully move to meet me halfway. My stomach churns with pain and nausea and I get the bad feeling that tea is about to make a reappearance.

"We're glad you're okay," Zane smiles. He's wearing a bright, brand new robe, no doubt a replacement for the one I ruined. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly, like I ate a box of disagreeable knives," I answer. "But hey, I'm still kicking."

"You are very lucky to be alive, Ash, and as such you should be resting," Sensei narrows his eyes at me.

Cole's jaw reclenches. "How can we sit here and rest while Hale and Desmond are still out there? We need to go after them!"

Sensei lets out a deep sigh. "We've been over this. I know you are all eager to get moving, but we cannot face Desmond unprepared. Ash has already agreed to take it easy for the next few days-"

"What?" Cole turns to me.

"Those weren't my exact words," I say. "Honestly, I'm as revved up as the rest of you to give Desmond a taste of his own medicine."

"Then let's go!" Jay says. "The longer we wait, the more time he has to attack first!"

I take a deep breath. "But Sensei is right."

"What?" Kai starts. "Ash, the man nearly killed you!"

"Exactly," I say. "I almost died. I can hardly walk, hardly breathe, heck, I can't even stand up straight without help. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm in no shape to go after Desmond."

"Then we go after him ourselves," Cole says, and the rest of the ninja nod. "We've handled worse with less."

"You don't know him like I do," I press. "Desmond is different. He's cunning, dangerous, plus he has Hale and his powers. I'm the only one who knows what we're up against. I know his fighting style, the way he thinks. If you go after him alone, he'll destroy you."

I swallow the sandpaper that's suddenly wrapped my throat. "He knows how much all of you mean to me, and he's going to do everything in his power to get me on his side. He already killed my parents, I won't let him get to you. If that means staying on this godforsaken ship playing Monopoly and watching paint dry, then fine. As soon as I'm healed, we'll take him down. Together. Not a second sooner or later."

There's a few seconds of silence as my words sink in, then Sensei lets out a deep sigh.

"I believe our decision is made," he turns to the ninja. "Until Ash has recovered, no one leaves this ship. We will stay, train, and do what we can to prepare for whatever Desmond has planned."

"Alright," Cole lets out a breath. "But I'll hold you to that promise, Ash. I hate being benched."

"I know," I smile a little. My side wrenches, making me double over as I fight the nausea that hits me like a freight train.

I cringe up at Nya. "I think I'll go back to bed now."

"You sure you're going to make it?" she asks as I lean against her again and clench my stomach as pain and nausea mix together in nasty cocktail.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be fine," I groan as my head starts to spin. "Eventually."

"Let me help," Lloyd steps forward to support my other side, helping to keep my body semi-straight as I turn with agonizing slowness back to the stairs.

"Ash, are you sure you're alright?" Kai asks with a cringe as I stop to catch my breath. When did it get so hard to breathe?

"Yeah, fine, fine," I nod and spare a hand to wave the concerned ninja away. "Go back to training or whatever. I'll just go lie down for a while and uh, see you later, alright?"

They don't seem convinced, but I ignore their worried looks and focus on putting one foot in front of the other as Lloyd and Nya lead me back to my room.