A/n- This takes place right after the ninja escape from the desert temple in the 'fire chapter.' For my purposes Kai is remaining unconscious longer than depicted in 'Ninja v Lava' and the snakes haven't started attacking the city yet.

Aaaaand there might be an element- pun intended- borrowed from ATLA (fire benders)

The purpose of this one-shot is my (somewhat salty) response to a rather large inconsistency in the Ninjago universe concerning the stealing and regenerative nature of the elemental masters' powers.

"Has he woken up yet?" Master Wu stepped into the Bounty's infirmary.

"No." Nya tightly responded.

She sat at her brother's bedside. Zane stood next to her performing a scan of the unconscious red ninja. Said ninja lay on a cot covered by three blankets, shivering violently. Her face pinched with worry Nya jumped up, hurrying to pull another blanket from a nearby cabinet. Beeping sounded from Zane.

"We need to turn up the heat in here." Zane mused aloud. "His internal temperature is currently sitting at 98° (36.6 °C)."

Nya draped the blanket over Kai and glanced toward Zane. "Isn't that normal?"

Shaking his head Zane walked to the thermostat. "For most people yes, but since Kai is the master of fire his internal temperature is usually several degrees warmer. Whatever magic Aspheera-" Zane and Nya missed the grimace on Master Wu's face at the name- "used to rip his powers away is causing him to experience relative hypothermia."

Turning from his students Master Wu walked to the portside window. The glow of the pyramid's lava long since faded leaving the desert night lit only by the stars. "What else did your scan say?"

"Though not within optimal levels, the rest of his vitals are holding steady. If we can get his temperature under control I believe that will be the most crucial aspect to his recovery." Zane's worried eyes trailed Kai's still form. "It does concern me that he's still unconscious. Though we've had our powers stolen before it's never affected one of us so severely. Although he did suffer multiple head injuries in our frenzied escape which doesn't help matters."

"Kai is strong. Though his body has suffered I have faith he'll make it through. I'm just sorry it came to this." Master Wu shook his head, for once looking his advanced years. "As soon as the sun rises Aspheera will attack the city. Her power grows with the sun. We need to be there before that happens." He turned to Nya. "I know you want to stay with your brother, but I need you on the bridge so we can make it back in time."

"I'll monitor him." Zane assured.

With obvious effort Nya nodded. She gave Kai's hand a gentle squeeze. "Hurry brother we need you."

Master Wu sighed deeply when she left the room.

"Sensei? Are you alright?"

Sensei Wu looked up to see Zane studying him intently. "Not really. But it can't be helped."

Sensing it wasn't a topic his teacher wanted to delve into Zane turned his attention back to Kai. "As I mentioned this has had a harsher impact on Kai than any of our past enemy encounters. It's revealing to me there is still much I don't understand about the nature of our elemental powers."

That seemed to draw Master Wu from wherever his thought had gone. "How do you mean?"

"I know my element was given differently than those of my teammates, since theirs were handed down from their parents."

"Yes." Master Wu sat in Nya's vacant chair and waited patiently to see where Zane planned to take the conversation.

"So why has there been such a discrepancy with mine and my brothers' powers compared with the other masters we've met over the years- including Nya?"

"I'm afraid I don't completely understand your question." Master Wu leaned forward.

Zane's eyes flashed blue and Master Wu could see images scrolling behind them. "Why were we not able to come into our powers on our own in the way Nya or the others at Chen's island did? Initially we weren't able to generate our powers without the use of the Golden Weapons and after they were lost it wasn't until Lloyd sacrificed his golden power that we could manifest them on our own. However that in turn connected us to Lloyd's health- until it didn't anymore."

"I see." Master Wu was quiet for a moment. "When my father created this realm he used the elements of Ice, Lightning, Earth and Fire." He glanced toward Kai. "That action tied your elements to the destiny of Ninjago. The destiny that would eventually be realized in the Green Ninja. Since he wasn't around yet, your predecessors grew in their talents the way any other elemental would."

Zane nodded. "That makes sense-" A groan interrupted him and both turned their attention to Kai.

He was still shivering, but some of his color had returned. Pulling out yet another blanket Zane added it to the growing stack covering the red ninja.

When Kai settled Zane turned back to Sensei Wu. "I can see how our destinies are intertwined but that still doesn't explain how our powers are no longer connected to Lloyd." At Sensei Wu's raised eyebrow Zane elaborated, "When Lloyd fought his father, after the Sons of Garmadon brought him back, and lost his powers we weren't affected. It was our powers with Mystaké's tea that saved him."

He paused and thought again. "While I cannot tell you for certain, I do have a theory. Since your elements are what my father used to form Ninjago through the use of the Golden Weapons I believe them to be innately tied with your power. As such they were able to be used as a catalyst for accessing your element when you began your journey of realizing your full potential. This became both a help and a hindrance since you didn't know how to trigger a reaction when the Weapons were no longer at your disposal."

A deep rumble rose from within the Bounty accompanied by a lurch. Pausing to allow the engines to stabilize- and thus decrease in decibel- Master Wu picked up his train of thought a few moments later. "When Lloyd assumed the mantle of the Golden Master- heir of my father's legacy- that gave him control over your elements as well. While his relinquishing the golden power to keep the Overlord from stealing it meant giving up his control over your elements, it reinforced the bond between the green ninja and his protectors.

"So it was that his power became another catalyst for you four. However when Morro possessed his body and dampened his elemental power and strength, that led to yours being affected as well. Since Nya, and the other masters you've met, have come into their true potential on their own merit their control hasn't been directly affected by another person's strength, or lack of it, for their own element's expression.

"Yet as you all grew, especially Lloyd in his own right, your well being was no longer dependent on each other in such an integral way. Therefore when my nephew and brother fought, you four remained unaffected when Lloyd's elemental expression was stripped from him."

Zane nodded. "I see how that makes sense that our powers aren't tied to Lloyd anymore, but that doesn't explain why Ahseera's stealing of Kai's power is so much worse than when Chen stole our elements."

"Yes." Sensei Wu frowned. "The magic he came across to accomplish such a feat is troubling, yet even that artifact wasn't powerful enough to cut deeply into what I'll call 'your innate source' of power. I also believe that as the staff absorbed more elements it did so at an increasingly lessening impact. In a sense it was a lot of powers, but with little depth."

"So do you believe our powers would have returned even without the staff's destruction?"

"If you remained devoid of vengestone shackles, yes. Your element is part of who you are. Skylor's regaining her abilities only solidifies the fact. However it probably wouldn't have regenerated fast enough to stop Chen's imposter Anacondrai from their reign of terror. Kai's breaking the staff merely returned what had been siphoned off."

"So you also believe Kai's powers will return from this assault?"

Master Wu grunted and watched Kai's ragged breathing. "Yes. What makes you all elemental masters comes from deep within. It's not a piece of you that is willing to let go lightly."

Nodding Zane performed another scan of Kai's vitals. "His internal temperature has risen half a degree. That's progress." Zane paused and allowed Master Wu's words to sink in. "You said it's hard to fully lose your element but how do Krux and Acronix factor in? Krux was here for forty years and yet he never regained his temporal powers. They still depended on the Time Blades to use the elements of time when we fought them."

A sigh rose from deep within Sensei Wu. "Theirs was a unique case. The chronosteel tempered with vengestone served as a perpetual siphon for their power. So that even when the Blades were lost to time, they held a link with the twins to keep them from ever regenerating their elemental powers."

"So could someone create another device to permanently rid other masters of their element?"

Sensei Wu's face darkened. "I suppose it's possible, but very unlikely." He didn't elaborate further and Zane sensed that wasn't a train of thought he'd be inclined to share.

"Thank you for putting up with my many questions. Being chosen to be an elemental master is a great honor and I want to utilize the knowledge to best serve the people of Ninjago." Zane looked sheepishly up at Master Wu. "Even if we haven't been taking our duties seriously of late."

Allowing a small smile Master Wu shook his head. "You all are still young and I can forget that at times, but even relaxation should be done in moderation."

Kai groaned again, rolled over, and went quiet. A frown covered Zane's face as he watched. "I am sorry it came to this to realize that lesson."

"Indeed."

A knock came from the door. Jay poked his head in and looked cautiously around the room, grimacing at the sight of Kai still unconscious on his sickbed. "Nya wanted me to pass along that we should be reaching the city in less than an hour. Our scanners are picking up multiple heat signatures- and I mean literal heat signatures- about fifteen minutes ahead of us. With the way the Bounty's flying we should reach the city about the same time. Hopefully we'll be able to minimize any damage."

"Thank you Jay," Master Wu turned to Zane. "I'll watch over Kai. The others will need your help."

Bowing his head Zane gave a soft, "Yes, Sensei," and followed Jay out of the room.

When Master Wu was certain the other two had gone he drew his chair close to Kai's bed. "I'm sorry my student. For once again you must pay the price of my past actions."

If only he'd known how steep the price would turn out to be