After reaching Ninjago City, the two teams split up. Originally, Zane, Kai and Morro were supposed to go and fetch the Bounty.

Then Cole remembered that Nya and Jay were no longer able to work together. Ever since Jay had seen a flash of his future, his feelings for her had been reawakened. He never breathed a word about it, but she knew him well enough that she could sense his feelings towards her had changed. Which made her distance herself from him, which did nothing to weaken Jay's feelings for her, seemed to actually reinforce them, which just made her push him away more and… Well, it was a relationship spiral that had been giving Cole a headache for the past few weeks.

With this in mind, Cole decided that leaving Nya and Jay with a mischief-maker like Lloyd was a mistake in the making, so he swapped Jay out for Zane.

So now, Jay was in a repo yard, helping Kai melt off the metal chains that were keeping the Bounty anchored to the ground, while Morro was somewhere above them on look-out duty. The entire time, Jay talked at an increasingly annoyed Kai.

"I mean, why didn't she just take my hand, you know? Then we would have caught Clouse and we wouldn't be here, having to break out the stupid Bounty from a dumb repo yard. I don't understand the big deal, we're just friends, right? Handholding doesn't mean anything! And we weren't even going to hold hands, I was just trying to help her hide! Why did she just- just not take it?"

Kai had given up on trying to talk with Jay a while ago. The master of lightning was in full rant mode, there was no room for dialogue. The only thing making this worse was that it was about his sister. At first (and only to an extent), Kai had agreed with Jay – she should have taken his hand and it was hard to understand what she was being squeamish about. But the more Jay talked, the more evident it became that yeah, Nya was right, Jay still had a thing for her. And the more Kai listened to Jay, the more convinced he became that Nya was justified in hesitating to take his hand – even if it was just to hide. Kai honestly tried his best to focus on melting off the chains while Jay continued ranting and contributing nigh to nothing in melting. But FSM, it was getting difficult.

"Is it because- I bet it's because she always has to be independent and strong and perfect. I mean, you've gotta agree, that's a flaw, right? Who is she even trying to prove herself to? She's already brilliant and smart and awesome! Why can't she just be… cool about it for once. Why can't she just own it and why can't she just let herself… I mean, this would have never happened if she were a guy! Ok, so half this mess is probably because we dated forever ago and I think I wouldn't have dated her if she were a guy- at least, I don't think I would? – but my point is, if she had been one of the guys instead of the girl, she would have taken my hand and none of this would have happened and taking my stupid hand wouldn't be such a big deal! I mean, it's not a big deal! Why does she have to twist everything around and make everything into a big deal?!"

Kai could sense where this was now going. Nya and Jay's break-up had been very messy, and it had taken a year for them to learn how to be in the same room together without fighting, never mind maintaining any kind of friendship. And now something had happened to undo all their progress; everything they had done to make-up.

And with that unraveling came all the grievances they had once had with each other. Including the very thing that had made them break up in the first place: Jay's maturity, or rather, lack thereof. And while Kai was perfectly willing to listen to Jay whine and complain about Nya's recent "mistakes" (come on Nya, just take one for the team), talking about their break-up was crossing the line. Mostly, because Kai sided with Nya and agreed: yeah. Jay was still way too immature for a girl like Nya. She could do better. Sure, he had initially given them his blessing, but as it turned out, he had retroactively rescinded it. Who woulda guessed?

"You know what, Jay?" Kai asked, interrupting Jay before he could continue on another tirade. "Why don't you go help Morro on look-out duty and let one of us work in peace?" he snapped.

"Uh, but…" Jay stuttered.

"I'm sure Morro wants to hear all about your problems with my sister," Kai continued. "Besides, I've melted off, like, three chains already. You're still working on your first. Go. Be. Lookout."

Jay flushed pink, realizing that yeah, he had spent way too long talking about Nya. To Kai. Her brother. Like an idiot. He quickly nodded, and ran off, leaving the irate master of fire behind. He headed up one of the trash hills (was it trash if it was all repossessed items?), to try and talk to Morro and let him know about the change of plans. Morro thankfully noticed him approaching and dropped down from the sky above.

"You guys done yet?" Morro asked hopefully. Look-out duty was dull and what he used to make stooges do.

"Uh… Not yet. Kai sent me to help you do look-out."

Morro frowned.

"What did you do?" he demanded.

"I didn't do anything!"

"You must have done something. Because you should be making yourself useful by freeing the Bounty and not doing lookout!"

"Yeah, I know, but Kai got annoyed with me. He needs space."

"Maybe I need space. I've got lookout covered. Unless you can find a better vantage point than up there."

"Well, no… But I can still help."

"Oh really? Can you?" Morro asked patronizingly. "Kai doesn't seem to think so."

Jay glared at him. Morro rolled back his shoulders, looking over to the Bounty. Honestly, Morro was also a little annoyed that he couldn't help them. Wind powers were cool for flying, sailing, and intimidation, but there wasn't much in the way of practical application. Now, if he had lightning powers instead of wind, he could have probably melted off all the chains by now, but destiny had instead chosen to give one of the most powerful elements in the universe to a clown from the junkyard. Probably as some kind of cosmic joke.

But Morro was learning (slowly) not to be mean. Even when it was called for, even if they deserved it. (Seriously, how was it that Kai had not yet found his true potential, but Jay was among the first? Definitely had to be someone's idea of a joke.)

"How about this: Go keep an eye out at the gate. Make sure no one comes in."

"But won't you see someone coming first?"

"Yeah. But it'll be funnier to watch you try and ward them off," Morro retorted, before a strong gust of wind blew him up into the sky and helped him hover there. Jay whacked himself on the forehead. He had succeeded in annoying Morro too.

"FSM, I can't do anything right," he complained, before he clambered back to the ground. As he walked past the Bounty again, Kai glared at him warily. Jay quickened his pace.

Once he was at the gate, Jay positioned himself outside, trying not to look suspicious. He hoped he was at least somewhat successful in that. He made sure to stay out of Kai and Morro's sight too, aware of how much he had annoyed them already. It felt like all he had been doing lately was making mistakes.

Unfortunately, by hiding behind a wall, out of sight from his teammates, he had made yet another mistake.

"You're such a dork, Jay. You see one glimpse of you and Nya together in the future and expect everything to fall into line. And now, I'm driving her away and I'm annoying my whole team! Man, if only I'd never seen my stupid future."

"I can make this happen."

Jay couldn't help but let out a startled yelp. It wasn't loud enough to attract Kai or Morro's attention. He turned on his heel and came face to face with the djinn. It was the first time he had ever met anyone from Djinjago.

Jay tried to make a run for it, but the djinn simply appeared in front of him again, effectively blocking his exit. They really did move fast – just as Lloyd had said. Jay suddenly had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He could still back away, but he'd only back into a wall. Was this what Pixal's final moments had been like? Trapped, cornered, alone?

The most aggravating part of all this was that Kai and Morro were just around the corner and he couldn't call for help. The djinn's sword was held to his neck and he knew the moment he screamed, he'd have his throat slit.

"Who are you?" Jay asked, his back finally pressed against the wall. No where to go now. The sword was close enough to nick his neck if the djinn wasn't feeling generous. His only option was to try and buy time. Maybe if he could engage in conversation for long enough, Kai would finish up, realize Jay was missing and go after him.

"I am Nadakhan. I am the feared djinn of Ninjago and I… can offer you your heart's desire." The sword's tip trailed down from his neck to his chest. "This is about a girl, is it not?" Jay's mouth felt dry. He tried desperately to get his brain to work. As his mind choked to find any possible answer, his eyes observed his opponent. The djinn had a thick accent, perhaps predictably so. Djinns were not from this realm, after all. He was also large, significantly taller than Jay and visibly stronger, toned muscles flexing with every move. He had a wispy tail, like a ghost. He probably could make himself intangible then. Untouchable. And he had four arms. Four-armed beings had never brought good fortune with them, as far as Jay was concerned.

Still. He had finally put together that yes, he was definitely outmatched. So, stall for time. Stall. For. Time.

"I thought one of the rules was that you couldn't wish for love," Jay pointed out, remembering what Zane had said about djinns earlier.

"True," Nadakhan admitted. "But there are other ways to get what you want." Suddenly, Nadakhan was leaning in, too close for comfort. Already backed against the wall, Jay could only look away, in an unsuccessful attempt to stay calm and indifferent. "Then again, I guess a poor boy from a junkyard wouldn't understand," Nadakhan continued, grinning.

"H-how do you know-" Jay stuttered, face flushing. He had only recently become embarrassed by his humble origins, with the media obsessing solely over that one detail of his background, completely ignoring anything else. Like that was the only thing interesting about him, the only thing worth knowing. The fact that he was nerdy, that he was clever, that he was an inventor, none of that mattered. To have it thrown in his face now was like having a dagger twisted in his side. His eyes focused on Nadakhan again. He glared at him, even puffing out his chest. To his satisfaction, Nadakhan got out of his face. "How do you know that about me?!" he demanded. Nadakhan laughed. Wrong question.

"You think I have lived for centuries, to not recognize a small, insignificant boy when I see one?" Nadakhan flippantly answered. "Oh, don't get indignant, I have met elemental masters of lightning before, and you are by far the weakest and most pathetic. A disappointment to your entire lineage."

"You're lying," Jay weakly argued. But then again, Nadakhan had been around when pirates had still existed in Ninjago. It was perfectly plausible that Nadakhan had met his ancestors. Nadakhan ignored Jay's weak protest.

"I know all about Ninjago, elemental master. I know what has happened to it since I was imprisoned; I know what it has been through. I know all about you Ninja as well. Perhaps even things I should not know." He smiled predatorily.

"What things?" Jay asked, forgetting the part where he was supposed to be stalling for time, not actually engaging in real conversation, getting lured in by Nadakhan's twisted charm.

"You are missing another member, are you not? A Green Ninja?"

Jay was a little taken aback by that. It wasn't really a secret, but they didn't go around advertising it either. Nadakhan was right: he shouldn't know about the Green Ninja, but…

"Anyone that knows the legend of the First Spinjitzu Master and the prophecy of the Dark Lord would know that," Jay argued. "Try again."

"Naturally," Nadakhan agreed. He continued without hesitation, "Your friend, Zane. He had his memory wiped, did he not? By his own father, to 'spare' him the pain of grief. What a kind and loving father."

That was harder to rationalize. That was personal information. Most people didn't even know that Zane was a robot. But Jay didn't focus on that. Nadakhan had no business talking about Zane's father so mockingly.

"Hey! Dr Julien was a great dad; he was just trying to protect Zane! He got a few things wrong, but- but you can't- you don't get to judge him…"

Nadakhan placatingly raised up all four of his hands. Jay did not feel respected.

"We are not here to discuss your friend's father," the djinn stated. "We are here to make you happy. So, junkyard boy. Would you not like to be reunited with this… Nya girl? I can fix whatever you lack: I can give you power, wealth…"

Jay felt off-balance. He was being relentlessly insulted and belittled. At the same time, he was being offered anything he desired. A chance to finally patch things up with Nya? In a way that was guaranteed to work? Jay couldn't help but hesitate. He looked back over his shoulder. Kai was working on the last chain now… He… He really should stall for more time. Argue with Nadakhan. No wishing, just- just stalling…

But what harm could one little wish do? It was just one wish, right? He looked up at Nadakhan.

"No one else would find out, right? This stays between you and me?" he nervously asked. Nadakhan smiled smugly.

"Of course. Cross my heart."

This… this was a mistake, but Jay supposed it was hardly his first. It probably wasn't even his tenth or hundredth.

"Fine. I…" He paused, taking a deep breath. "I wish I could be just a bit more mature, so that Nya won't just see me as some guy that can't grow up, so that she'll see that I do care and that I don't just think about myself and my feelings all the time, that I can, that I do think about others and- and their needs." He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

It was uncomfortable to admit one of his weaknesses so blatantly, let alone to a stranger, no, a probable psychopath that committed piracy as a hobby. But maybe- maybe this was how he and Nya were going to end up together in the future. Maybe… He opened his eyes, staring at the ground. "But hey, I've been trying that for the past three years. It's not possible."

"Your wish is yours to keep," Nadakhan chuckled from behind his ear. Jay jerked away, one hand covering his ear protectively, the other crackling with electricity… But Nadakhan was gone. All he could hear was the djinn's laughter, still ringing in his ear.

Oooooh, this was definitely a mistake. Bigger than his previous mistakes? Probably… Ah, but it was just one wish, right? So he was safe? Wait, how had Pixal been taken again…?

So wrapped up in his thoughts, Jay had entirely failed to notice the postman's rapid approach on a bicycle. All he felt was the tap on his shoulder and Jay whipped around so quickly, it startled the postman.

"Mr Jay, it's just me! The postman!"

"How- how did Morro not see you?" Jay couldn't help but ask. He looked up at the sky, but couldn't see the master of wind. Morro must not be facing his way.

"Ah, I'm glad I found you though," the postman continued, ignoring his question. "I've been looking all over Ninjago for you!"

"Well, you're not alone, heh…" Jay awkwardly joked.

"Ah, don't worry, I won't report you to the authorities. Just delivering the mail," the postman cheerily answered, handing Jay a letter. That, in itself, was weird. Jay wasn't expecting any letters and the only people that mattered to him wouldn't write him a letter. Now thoroughly confused, Jay opened it and couldn't help but read it out loud. Who could possibly be sending him… letters…

"I'm sorry to inform you, but your… father has… passed. You have inherited his estate and lots and… lots and lots of money…" He couldn't read the rest. He whimpered.

"Ooh… Sorry for your loss, son," the postman said. Jay looked at him, pleadingly. All rational thought had shut down. He was running on emotions alone and they were all telling him he had to go home. NOW.

"Could… could I borrow your bike?" he asked, with as much emotional restraint as he could muster up.

"Where the cursed realm is he going?!" Morro cried out, just as Kai broke the last chain.

"What's that noise?! Trespassers?!" a new voice called from somewhere in the repo yard.

"Morro, that's our cue!" Kai yelled at him from the ground. Morro swooped down, landing soundlessly next to him.

"Jay just bolted off! Does he usually do that?!" Morro demanded.

"Jay did what?!" Kai exclaimed.

"There! Trespassers! Don't move!" the repo man hollered from around the corner, unleashing an angry, growling, barking dog.

"Oki, time to go," Kai hurriedly spoke, tugging at Morro's wrist.

"Wuss," Morro muttered. He summoned up wind and blew the Bounty into the air. Kai's eyes widened in horror.

"What are you doing?! The Bounty isn't even switched on yet, it'll fall back down!"

"No, it won't. Come on. Airjitzu your way up," Morro retorted, sending himself flying upward. Kai looked between Morro and the very scary-looking and rapidly approaching angry dog. Quickly, he launched himself into the air and after a few seconds of upward falling, Kai found himself landing and rolling across the Bounty's deck. Morro had landed on the stern, grabbing the wheel and seemed confused when they didn't move. Still smarting from the rough landing, Kai clambered to his feet, ran up to Morro and hurriedly switched the engine on.

They heard a few shots bang against the back of the Bounty, but soon, they were sailing away at a pleasant speed. Kai let out a deep breath, falling onto his knees, tempted to lie flat down on the Bounty's deck. He didn't.

"Man, that was close," he muttered, still shaken. He wasn't used to moving through the air like that and it made him jittery when he did so without much foresight. He could vividly see all the ways their quick actions could have gone wrong, up to and including the Bounty plummeting out of the sky. He then paused, thoughtfully. "And hey, you didn't use your powers on another living being. Good job."

"Whatever. We need to go and get Jay."

"Are you sure Jay just… took off?" Kai asked. Now that the imminent danger was over, he could focus on the other problem at hand. Which was Jay's disappearing act.

"I saw what I saw, ok?" Morro moodily replied. "He grabbed a bike from somewhere and cycled off! And he's not responding to his communicator. Typical."

"We don't have time to go after Jay…" Kai muttered. He scratched the back of his neck, then looked up at the sky, as if a celestial being could give him an answer to Jay's sudden escapade. "Right. Here's the plan," he then announced, unsheathing his golden weapon. "You take the Bounty and pick up the others. I'll use the Blade Cycle to fetch Jay. We rendezvous outside of Ninjago City."

"You trust me with the Bounty?" Morro flatly asked.

"I reckon a ten-year-old could fly this thing. Just don't. Touch. Anything. Only the steering and the brakes. Got it?"

"Whatever, dad."

Kai simply rolled his eyes.

"Shouldn't we land this thing, so you can get off?" Morro asked, concerned that Kai was rapidly approaching the edge of the ship. Kai looked back at him, smirking.

"No need, Morro, because I am the master of FIYAAAH!" Kai exclaimed, then dramatically jumped off the side of the ship. Morro quickly ran over, to see Kai had summoned the Blade Cycle and was using super-heated air from the bike to slow his descent. Looked like someone had been paying attention to Morro's explanation of air and wind cycles. Deciding Kai would be fine, Morro turned the ship around and headed toward the suburbs of Ninjago City.

Meanwhile Kai landed fairly cleanly on the ground and as he sped down the highway, he spared a glance in his mirror, to watch the Bounty sail away. Good. Now he could focus on getting Jay. Since Jay had taken off on an ordinary bicycle, Kai reckoned he would catch up to the master of lightning in no time.

At least. That was what he had assumed. Things did not go to plan.

One moment, he was on the highway, chasing after Jay. The next, he felt four arms wrap around his torso, he was suddenly lifted off the Blade Cycle, surrounded by a cloud of orange dust and then he was falling forward into white sand, the sword of fire landing next to him with a dull clatter.

He tried to shake off the dizzying disorientation, but it was taking what felt like eternities. He sat up on unstable hands and knees, coughing and spitting out sand, trying to get the tiny grains out of his mouth, using his sleeves as best he could. He was aware that it did not look very dignified or elegant, but sand in his mouth man. He could hear the sound of the ocean. A calm breeze. His mind stopped ringing with confusion. He reoriented himself. He shot to his feet.

"What… where…" he asked. He was on a beach. He hurriedly grabbed the sword of fire, holding it up warily. This must be the djinn's doing. "Show yourself!"

"I was not hiding," someone said by his ear. He jumped back, holding up the sword threateningly. The djinn was not disturbed by the display.

"You must be the djinn," Kai stated in a low tone.

"Of course. But please. My name is Nadakhan," the djinn corrected. "And you… you are Kai. The, ah, failed master of fire."

Kai did not react to the jibe. It was too cheap an insult, hardly the first time anyone had called him that. He remained stony faced, glaring at Nadakhan, resolute to attack should the djinn try anything.

"Where are we? What did you do?"

"You were in such a rush. For what? Everyone today, always so busy… I thought you might need to… slow down? Or perhaps calm yourself. I have heard how… hot-headed the new master of fire is. Such a cliché."

"What do you want?" Kai demanded harshly.

"The question I think is, what do you want?"

Kai glared at him, not lowering his sword.

"I want to go back and get Jay. But that's not happening, is it? Not unless I wish it."

"Not as dumb as you appear, are you?" Nadakhan replied, floating around Kai, as if he were inspecting the ninja. Kai tried to keep facing him but struggled to do so. He gave up and stood steadfast instead, keeping his footing balanced. He listened to the sounds of the waves washing up onto the beach. The gentle breeze in the palm trees. The quiet tingling of magic that surrounded Nadakhan and was constantly giving his position away. Got you.

Feeling more self-assured, knowing he could attack Nadakhan if needed, Kai asked "You talked to Jay, didn't you? That's why he suddenly took off."

"Indeed. I helped your little ninja friend. I could help you too."

"I don't want your help and you're not tricking me into wishing for anything."

"Who said anything about tricking?" Nadakhan asked. "Are you honestly telling me the only ninja to not have found his true potential, has no wants? No desires?"

"I- I don't know what your game is but I do know it's none of your business-"

"You still rely on your golden weapon, don't you? The very last ninja to do so." One moment, the sword was in Kai's hand. The next, Nadakhan had easily taken it from him, now floating high above him and inspecting the sword lazily. So much for knowing the djinn's position.

"Hey! Give it back!" Kai demanded.

"Wish for it."

"No. I won't," Kai said through gritted teeth.

"But you are defenseless without it, are you not? You cannot summon fire without it. You are not a true master of fire without it. Such a strong dependency on something that is merely metal. All I have to do is take this and you are no longer, ah… fit to help your ninja friends."

Kai summoned up his Airjitzu and leapt up to give Nadakhan a nasty uppercut. Nadakhan vanished the moment Kai had reached him though. The djinn laughed, as he watched Kai fall back into the sand, landing hard on his back. Kai lay there motionless for a few moments, winded from the fall. He coughed and then groaned. He had not expected for Nadakhan to disappear like that. It had caught him off-guard.

"I suppose I could just leave you here. It is not like you are worth anything without this," Nadakhan continued, holding up the sword like a prize. "But as said. I want to know what you want. I can help you." He floated down, hovering over Kai. "All you need to do is wish for it. Are you not tired of being the weakest ninja? Easily tricked, easily possessed, easily defeated?" Nadakhan asked, getting closer with every word. Close enough that Kai tried to reclaim the sword, but no dice.

Nadakhan flew further away again, chuckling as he grinned down at him, twirling the sword in one of his hands. Outwardly, Kai was still as certain and hostile as ever. But Nadakhan was starting to get to him. All the djinn had cruelly spouted was, as far as Kai was concerned, true. He knew he wasn't the green ninja. It had taken him three years to work that out. But he had yet to figure out why he had not yet unlocked his true potential. Sometimes his team suggested he had not really let go of being the Green Ninja. But he swore up and down that he had.

Worse, Kai was the weakest of the ninja, both mentally and in terms of power. He was the one that everyone targeted first. Kai had been tricked by Master Chen. He had been possessed by Morro. And without his fire powers, without the sword of fire, he was powerless. He was nothing. Nadakhan had his sword now and he was stranded who knew where. His team needed him; he was supposed to be helping Jay.

He looked up at Nadakhan.

"So, you think I'm weak, huh? You think I'm no threat to you?" Kai snarled at Nadakhan. "Well, maybe you'll regret it when I find my true potential! I wish I had my true potential, that I unlocked all of it!"

"Your wish is yours to keep," Nadakhan sardonically answered. "Look up."

"Huh?"

Something was hurtling down out of the sky. Where had that even come from…? Oh no wait- it- It was headed straight towards Kai…!

Reflexively, he dodged out of harm's way and caught it before it touched the ground. He held it in his hands. A spear? He noticed a scroll wrapped around its end. It began unfurling and suddenly, Kai felt electrified. Fire was running through him like it was his life essence, pure energy pulsing in his veins, in his lungs, in his head. Kai had reached his true potential and more in an instant. His eyes widened. He felt- he felt great… Fantastic even! And yet…

This wasn't what he had wanted. He knew that all this new power came from the staff, from that scroll. He had not found his true potential; he had found a replacement to the sword of fire. And a terrible memory swirled around his head. He remembered holding the staff of elements – he was told that at that moment, he had been more powerful than even the Green Ninja would ever be. But the power- it had been too much for him- it had begun corrupting him. It was only thanks to Nya and Skylor that he had snapped out of it. He had sworn never to seek power after that, yet here he was, holding yet another staff.

He needed to drop it. He had to drop it. Yet his fingers only curled around the staff further, like his body was determined to keep it, to never let go of power again, outright refusing to listen to the mind.

"This- this isn't what I wanted!" Kai gasped out as he struggled to drop the spear.

"Is it not? You wanted to unlock all your true potential. Not just whatever is in your way of finding it. This is the forbidden scroll on Spinjitzu. It unlocks everything."

"This is too much power! I never wanted this! This isn't me!"

"And what do you want me to do about it?"

"I- I wish I didn't have this power! Take it all away, I don't want any power!"

"Your wish is yours to keep," Nadakhan answered. Suddenly, Kai was surrounded by orange dust. He felt power drain out of his body, leaving him feeling hollow and weak. He fell to his knees. But the staff was gone. All that thrilling energy, just… gone. He felt empty, sapped dry. Still, Kai breathed out a sigh of relief.

Until he looked at his hands.

"What… Why are they so small…?" Kai covered his mouth, horrified by the sound of his own voice.

"You asked me to take away any power you had. And when was the last time you had no power, no say in anything, except for when you were a vulnerable child, reliant on parents that were not there? Yes, as a child you are entirely reliant on everyone around you. Is this not what you wanted?"

"I- I'm a kid again?!" Kai squeaked. Everything was so much bigger now, most worryingly Nadakhan and why was his heart beating so fast and why was he standing frozen, why was there no one with him?! "This- this isn't what I wished for! I can't be a kid! Who will look after Nya- who will- I can't…"

"You have one more wish. All of this can go away if you just say the words."

Kai was suddenly becoming acutely aware of the ocean, the large body of water… He thought he had somewhat mastered his fear, but now stuck in a tiny body again, his phobia had come back at full force. The sound of the ocean was threatening and dark, a cruel promise to take away all he loved if he let it.

All his other childhood fears where biting at him too, chewing away at his psyche- the loneliness, the helplessness, he was abandoned, and no one was going to come for him, EVER…

Nadakhan continued speaking: "Just wish it away and be done with it all."

"I-" Kai started. His mind was reverting to that of a child, he could feel it. Not just the fears coming back- everything else. His dependency on others, his need for familiarity, his lack of experience, his lack of knowledge… Everything that made Kai Kai, he felt like it was all coming undone, like he wasn't himself anymore. Some small part of him tried to warn him, tried to stop him, knew the consequences, the obvious trap… But stuck inside the mind of a younger self, he could feel himself drowning in fears when he wasn't unravelling.

"I- I wish it all away," he whimpered.

Nadakhan smiled darkly.

"You wish is yours to keep."