Chapter Text
Three months passed in peace.
The courtyard shimmered under the golden rays of morning. Cole absentmindedly swung his scythe in lazy arcs, the blade whispering through the air. Jay sat cross-legged beneath a gnarled tree, sparks spitting from the small gadget he fiddled with, his brow furrowed in exaggerated concentration. Nearby, Zane meditated calmly, his posture near statue-like beside a serene fountain. Nya reclined in the shade, one arm slung over her eyes, her glass of iced tea slowly beading with condensation. And Kai—Kai was already gone, up before sunrise, training before breakfast.
Peace had reigned since their last descent into the Underworld. The threat of the Skulkin had been vanquished. The world was calm. The air was light. Too light.
“You’ve grown soft,” Wu said, his voice sharp as he strode into the training yard.
Zane looked up, puzzled. “I ran a full kata this morning.”
“While seated?” Wu snapped.
Jay yawned, raising a lazy hand. “Come on, Sensei. One slow month isn’t gonna kill us.”
Wu's eyes burned. “Complacency is a poison. You will not reach mastery of the Golden Weapons in your current state.”
Jay waved a hand. “Relax. We’ll start fresh tomorrow.”
Wu crossed his arms. “Never put off to tomorrow what can be done today, or you will face dangerous consequences. I should know best about them.”
“Ugh,” Jay groaned. “There it is.”
And at that, Wu left the ninja to stew in his warning.
"Is Wu seriously expecting us to train again today?" Jay muttered. "What for? We already saved the world."
"Twice! Don’t forget the part with the skeleton truck," he added with a crooked grin.
"Complacency is the enemy of progress," Zane replied calmly.
Nya’s voice floated from the shades. "Come on, guys. Wu has a point. But… maybe just a half day of training?"
Footsteps echoed sharply against stone. From the training hall, Kai emerged, sweat clinging to his shirt, dragging a beaten dummy by one arm. Ash and Surf, his two small dragons, clung to him like living scarves, their tiny bodies curled against his shoulders.
"Seriously? Again with this? You’re all turning into Noodle Ninjas," he said, tossing a wooden sword toward Jay, who yelped and scrambled to catch it.
"Hey! That’s slander," Jay snapped, chest puffed. "I’m in top form."
Kai smirked, wordless.
Cole laughed under his breath. "He's right, though. We have gotten lazy."
Zane nodded in agreement. "Affirmative."
Kai’s expression darkened slightly. His voice was quiet but firm. "We don’t know what’s coming next. Peace never lasts."
He didn’t explain how he knew. He never did. The others often dismissed his tension as paranoia. But Nya noticed. She always noticed. The way his shoulders stiffened at certain words, how his gaze lingered a beat too long at innocuous things, how he looked like he was listening for echoes of a war they hadn’t yet fought.
Nya’s stomach twisted. There was something wrong. Kai wasn’t just cautious. He was haunted.
Later that morning, the team prepared for a supply run to Jamankai village. All mounted their dragons—Cole on Rocky, Zane on Shard, Jay on Wisp. Nya rode with Kai atop Flame. Surf curled around Nya’s waist like a belt, and Ash perched on Kai’s shoulder like a living ember.
The ride was uneventful, and the village nestled in the middle of snowy mountains, glowing with winter snow. some villagers bowed respectfully as the dragons landed. As Jay dismounted, his satchel snagged on a saddle hook and spilled open.
“Oops!” Jay scrambled to gather the contents. “Wait… this isn’t my bag.”
Zane pulled out a worn scroll. “This is Sensei’s bag. You must have taken it by mistake.”
He unrolled it carefully. The others leaned in.
“Ancient Ninjargon,” Zane murmured. “This symbol—it’s a prophecy.”
Cole frowned. “What does it say?”
“One Ninja,” Zane translated. “Will rise above the others and defeat the dark lord.”
"Huh, who do you think it is?" Nya asked.
Instantly, Jay puffed his chest. “Well, obviously it’s me.”
Cole scoffed. “Yeah, right. I’m the strongest.”
“Strength isn’t everything,” Zane said calmly.
Nya rolled her eyes. “Boys.”
Only Kai stood apart, staring beyond the scroll. His attention was locked on something moving near the town square.
A small figure raced past a stall and leapt onto a fountain.
A shrill voice shouted, “It is I, Lloyd Garmadon! Give me all your candy or else!”
There he was—a kid in a skeleton hoodie, blonde hair mussed, a fake sword slung through a belt loop. Bright eyes. Too bright.
Kai’s breath hitched. Ash and Surf went still.
“Let’s talk to him,” Nya said, already walking forward.
The others followed, Kai hanging back.
They surrounded Lloyd casually, curious and amused.
Jay grinned. “Kid’s got guts.”
Cole raised a brow. “Garmadon, huh?”
Zane tilted his head. “His energy is... curious.”
Lloyd glared up at them all. “You can’t stop me! I’m the son of the dark lord!”
Jay chuckled. “Sure you are, buddy.”
Zane stepped forward, his expression soft. “You’re alone, aren’t you?”
“I don’t need anyone,” Lloyd replied quickly.
Cole crouched beside the fountain. “You always rob candy stores by yourself?”
“I don’t rob! I—reclaim.”
“Right,” Jay said, amused. “Hero of sugar everywhere.”
Nya kneeled. “You don’t have to do this. There are better ways to be strong.”
Lloyd scowled. “I don’t want to be strong. I want to be feared.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Kai stepped forward. Slowly.
He crouched near the boy. “Why?”
Lloyd looked at him. Really looked at him.
Then, suddenly, whispered, “You feel familiar,”.
Kai’s heart thudded. “I don’t know you.”
“You smell like fire.”
Kai forced a smile. “Maybe because I hang out with dragons.”
Lloyd hesitated, then smiled back—just a little.
Then it happened.
A tomato. Splat.
Thrown from the crowd.
“Get out of here, Garmadon!” someone yelled.
Another vegetable was thrown, but that was when Kai saw red and snapped.
He caught the flying vegetable before it hit Lloyd, then he turned around furiously to face the crowd of villagers behind them.
He stepped between Lloyd and the crowd, eyes glowing menacingly.
“Back off! He’s just a kid!”
Ash and Surf bristled, growling.
But the damage was done.
Lloyd’s face was flushed. His eyes glassy.
He turned and ran.
“Lloyd!” Kai shouted.
“Kai!” Nya called.
The others shouted his name, but he was already gone.
Chasing a boy.
Chasing his brother.
Toward the mountains.
Toward the storm.
And the wind howled like a warning.