The Flame And The Dragon Ch 6

Past Lives Chapter 1

Kai growled in frustration as he faced the Mechanic as best as he could alone. The Mechanic had recently escaped from prison and had rounded up some other escapees to go on a robbing spree of dozens of tech stores all around Ninjago. It didn't take Nya and Zane too long to figure out that the Mechanic was attempting to construct a type of bomb that was sold very highly on the black market. After almost six weeks of none stop chasing, the Ninja managed to track the Mechanic to an abandoned warehouse at the docks.

Unfortunately, the Mechanic wasn't alone.

All the fugitives he had recruited were there as well to ensure their boss wasn't disturbed while finishing the bomb. While his team fought against the criminals, Kai had somehow managed to sneak past them all. He considered staying to help the others but a look from Lloyd told him what to do and he ran through the docks and into the warehouse. He found the Mechanic alone with a half-constructed bomb, surrounded by hundreds of boxes containing many different things.

As soon as he saw the red ninja, he smirked and armed his blaster's arm.

"Well well well, we meet again Fire Ninja." He cackled as they faced off. The Mechanic blasted a big fire blast while Kai blasted his own fire blasts. They were at a stalemate. Kai was still weak from the ordeal but he had to think of something fast. His eyes caught sight of boxes full of old fireworks. He suddenly had an idea but it was very, very risky, but he was ready for anything. He stood up and put his hands in front of him. He let all his fire gather and blasted it all to the dozens of boxes full of fireworks.

The Mechanic's eyes widened when he saw what Kai just did.

He tried to shoot the red ninja, but it was too late. The Mechanic immediately ran and jumped out the nearest window, but Kai was too far away from any nearby exits to escape the incoming flames.

"I'm sorry guys." The brunette said out loud as his fire hit the boxes. It was enough to get to destroy the device and the warehouse.

"No! I was so close!" The Mechanic shouted as a massive explosion occurred while he stood at a safe distance. It was enough to cloud the entire docks. The rest of the Ninja saw the big explosion and they hoped everyone was alright. Eventually, the smoke cleared and they saw everything clearly.

"You did it, Kai," Lloyd said, proud of his unofficial big brother. All the Ninjas started looking around for their hotheaded brother but they couldn't find him. Lloyd was starting to grow worried. He looked around more and he started growing more worried. He eventually found Kai laying on the ground. "Kai!" He shouted as he ran up to the brunette. His amber eyes were closed. Lloyd tried to shake him awake but when he touched his shoulder, he drew back sharply.

He gasped as he felt that Kai's skin was very cold.

Because Kai was the Master of Fire, he was almost always like a human furnace so the fact that he was so cold sent alarm bells ringing loudly in Lloyd's mind.

"Kai?" He started calling Kai as if in a trance. "No Kai, don't do this." He pleaded as he picked up Kai's head but he still received no movement. Lloyd's eyes started to water and he held back the urge to cry. Maybe Kai was overly exhausted or something. Lloyd's eyes started overflowing with tears. "No Kai, please don't leave!" He shouted. Still nothing. Lloyd started crying, then he realized something else. Kai didn't have a pulse. Lloyd stared in shock, then his tears grew more forcefully as Kai's tanned skin began to grow grey and his lips turned blue.

"KAI, NO! NO!" He screamed as if Kai could hear his voice. He held on to Kai as if that would re-start his heart. Lloyd's body became racked with sobs. He started sobbing uncontrollably and hysterically as he was shouting to the sky. "KAI, PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE!" He shouted to the heavens hoping someone would hear his cry, but nothing happened. He continued to sob both uncontrollably and hysterically on the ground as the others found him.

As soon as they realized what had happened, they all broke down.

Nya was the worst. She fell to the ground, with only Jay holding her up, as she howled and sobbed louder than anyone believed she could be. But no amount of crying and begging would undo this. Kai Ash Smith was dead...

hey i really like your writing but for posts on tumblr could you maybe use a read more

Thank you!

But what do you mean by ‘a read more’?

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The Kiss

Kai sighed lightly as he waited for his breakfast. Both he and Cole were sat in a small dining room with a few portraits and objects dotted around. In the center of the room, there was a beautiful breakfast table with Kai at one end and Cole at the other, with Jay and Echo between them. Kai was served breakfast first. It was a steaming hot bowl of porridge with slices of fruit sprinkled on top. As he began to eat the tasty food, he looked at Cole, gobbling up his food with no table manners whatsoever.

Kai turned away and tried to ignore it, but Nelson came to the rescue.

He nudged the spoon with his little finger, and Cole reached out for it. Kai looked at him in wonder and confusion as he tried to eat with the spoon, but he had little success. Nelson and Jay laughed, but Echo shot them an admonishing look. Finally, Kai put down his spoon and lifted his bowl as if in a toast. Cole looked at the compromise and did the same. They both began to sip their breakfast out of their bowls. They stared into each other's eyes as they sipped their breakfast and silently placed the bowls back on the table.

The prince and the brunette stared at each other before they finally had the sense to break eye contact.

"That was awkward," Cole muttered, but Kai still heard it.

"Well I certainly won't do it again, I think I'd rather deal with another one of Morro's wedding schemes than go through that again." He joked lightly. At the word, 'wedding' and a foreign name the room spun towards him.

"Be pardon?" Echo asked as he, Nelson, and Jay all looking at Kai with confused eyes with a hint of fear. Kai closed his eyes and grumbled to himself, forgetting everyone in the room. He had been away from home too long.

"Who is Morro?" Cole asked and Kai's eyes snapped open at the firm anger in his voice. His narrowed eyes matched the expression along with something else Kai found curious. It was possessiveness. If he wasn't stuck in such a position, Kai would've smiled and teased him for it, but he knew better. Besides, he and Cole promised to be honest with each other. Kai was distracted by a tug on his sleeve. Nelson, who returned to his creature form, fidgeted nervously.

"Is Morro your lady?" He asked quietly. After a short spasm, Kai was positive his heart had stopped.

"Of course not!" He exploded without thinking then mentally kicked himself when Nelson and the others jumped back. He gave them a small smile in apology for the misunderstanding. Hearing a possessive and impatient growl behind him, Kai sighed and turned his body to the right. The look on Cole's face demanded he explains this. "He's a childhood friend of mine, or at least he used to be." He added. He looked Cole in the eye and kept his face neutral, wanting to see Cole's reaction before doing or saying anything he might regret later on.

A wave of jealousy Cole only now just realize was bubbling inside him suddenly relaxed.

His stomach flopped in an emotional puddle of happiness, anger, guilt, relief, possessiveness, and sheer stupidity. It took all his will to keep himself from visibly scolding himself for his own arrogance. Hadn't he and Kai agreed to be honest with the other? Who was he to act so possessive of a teen who technically wasn't even his? The realization sent a painful jolt through his gut, but he wasn't naïve enough to admit to something he knew wasn't his decision to make.

Again he kicked himself.

Of course, this Morro person was probably a friend of his. Time had blended together for so long, he almost forgot Kai wasn't from the castle. He forgot Kai had a home, a family, and a possible relationship Cole had dragged him from. But Cole was sure Kai would have told him if he had that.

"What happened to Morro?" Jay suddenly asked before Cole could stop him. Kai said nothing for a moment before he glared daggers at the now-empty bowl as if it was Morro. Upon seeing Kai's distressed look, Cole reached over the table and took Kai's tanned hand into his scaly ones.

"Kai, if you don't wish to tell us about this Morro person them don't; we understand, just take your time." He reassured the teen, squeezing his hand slightly. Kai was a little stunned by this but smiled and squeezed back.

"That was kind of you," He said and the dragon prince flushed when he found Kai smirking at him.

"That's our Master." Jay agreed and the others all nodded, and Kai had to agree. Even as Cole grimaced and dismissed the staff with a bark, Kai caught the smile in his green eyes. He laughed, irking a growl from the Dragon Lord.

"What's so funny?" He asked, more embarrassed than annoyed, and handed Nelson his dishes when he started gathering them up.

"I just find it very ironic," Kai teased and gently shoved his leftovers towards a drooling Jay. The blue fox barely got it in his mouth before Echo plucked him off the table by his tail and dragged him off the table and back to the kitchen. Nelson chuckled and followed the couple.

"What's that?" Cole asked; his eyes shifting double-checking to make sure they were alone. A teasing smile slit Kai's face.

"That you act all tough and intimidating when you're really just a big softie." He giggled and Cole stoically dropped his spoon. Kai couldn't hold back anymore and laughed so hard he lost his grip on the table and fell out of his chair. He laughed until his sides began to hurt. He clenched his side with an arm to stifle the pain and banged the other fist on the ground. He didn't stop until Cole pounced and landed in front of him. Kai almost jumped out of his skin.

Especially after Cole kneeled over him and pinned him against the side of the table with his claws.

A devious smirk in his eyes and a wicked fanged smile flashed in Kai's direction.

"Don't do that!" Kai snapped, furiously. His face flushed with anger when Cole started laughing.

"Now, when did you get so jumpy?"

"Since you decided to take it upon yourself to scare the wits from me," Kai growled as his eyes lit up, recognizing the game, but unyielding to surrender. Using his smaller size to his advantage, he carefully and slowly rolled to the left then faked right, then slid under Cole's left arm and made a dash; only to flop over when something grabbed his ankle. Kai realized his mistake too late. Before he could move, Cole's tail yanked him backward and he landed on his back.

Cole didn't waste a second and pounced on top of him.

"Now where do you think you're going?" The Dragon Lord teased as he kneeled over the teen until their foreheads touched. Kai flushed at the contact and bit his lip trying to regain control of the situation.

"To help clean up?" He blurted in an obvious last-ditch effort and flashed a guilty-innocent smile. He shivered when Cole's smirk curled into a devious smile.

"No, my little captive, you've insulted me and need be punished." He purred lowly. Kai opened his mouth to question further but the words were chocked by an explosion of pearly laughter, and the vibrations sent up his sides by the strokes of Cole's claws. His hands shot to stop them, but Cole's tail grabbed his wrist and pinned it to the floor, pinning him. Another fit of giggles and pleads erupted from the teen. Cole smirked at his captive and felt himself laughing also at the sight.

His knuckles grazed up and down Kai's ticklish sides.

He refused to use his claws in case he hurt the brunette. A sudden joy filled him every time Kai laughed, whether it was from the play or just in general.

"Cole... please... I can't breathe," He choked through fits of laughter. Cole laughed but shortened his attacks to give his captive more room to breathe.

"Just apologize and I'll stop."

"Do I have to?" Kai whined, half-panting, half-laughing. He got his answer when Cole stroked one of his sensitive sports. "Okay, Okay, I apologize."

"Un-uh, you have to say it the correct way."

"Oh come on," Kai whined, with tears in his eyes from the play. Instead of giving him more tickles, Cole leaned forward, and lightly held Kai's free hand with his claws then kissed him chastely on the lips. It was short and brief, but the intensity of it galvanized Kai's entire body. He barely felt Cole pull away, but when he did and Kai was suddenly thrown back into reality, he felt strangely empty.

"Alright, I'm sorry I insulted you, now can you please let me up?" He finally conceded.

"That wasn't so hard now, was it?" Cole teased, and sat up, releasing Kai. Normally, Kai would've been annoyed to the bitter end at the arrogance of the teasing, but surprisingly he found himself comforted by it. Comforted that the playful tone was reserved for him and him alone...

****************

After they finished their breakfast, Cole urged Kai to dress up warmly and to follow him out into the courtyard. It had been snowing heavily the last few days, so the entire forest and castle were covered in deep, glittery snow. Icicles hung from the trees and castle, like Christmas decorations that sparkled in the sunlight. Kai might not like the cold, but even he would say it looked beautiful. As Cole and Kai walked through the courtyard, Kai noticed a flock of small birds and stopped to feed them.

Cole smiled as he watched the birds flock towards the brunette and peck the food in his hands.

Kai could feel the prince's gaze on his back but said nothing. He couldn't stop thinking about the Dragon Lord's change in personality and his new playful nature. There was something sweet, and almost kind. He remembered how Cole was mean, coarse, and unrefined when they first met. But now he was dear and so unsure of himself. Kai started to wonder why he didn't see it there before. Thinking that feed birds looked easy and fun, the hybrid knelt beside his captive, who smiled and passed him the bird seeds.

While trying to attract the birds, Cole shoved a handful of seed at them, but they jumped back in fright at his sudden movements.

Kai barely managed to hold in his giggles at his watched the prince's efforts. Finally, when he saw how upset Cole was getting at his repeated failures, he took a handful and gently spread it out, creating a thin trail. After a minute, one landed in Cole's hands, and he looked up at the brunette, thrilled. Kai smiled gleefully as one of the robins landed on his finger. He didn't notice his hand brush against Cole's scaly one as he stood up and wandered off

Cole felt a warm feeling bubble in his chest at the brief touch, but he didn't want to believe that Kai actually loved him.

Then again, Kai has never been this nice to him before, so it might just be possible. Kai ducked around a tree, leaving Cole with the birds. He began to look doubtful again, but turned his head around the tree and laughed when he saw Cole was covered with birds before he twitched and they all flew away. Kai snickered at the startled, yet proud look on the prince's face. These feelings were new, and a bit alarming to the brunette. He had never, ever thought that this could happen.

True, that Cole was no Prince Charming, but there was something in him that Kai simply didn't see.

With a mischievous smirk, Kai threw a snowball at Cole, knocking him back into the snow. When he realized what had happened, Cole grinned and began to gather a large pile of snow. Kai quickly threw another snowball at Cole, who dropped his huge pile of snow on his head. He chased Kai around a tree, but he ducked around the other side and sneaked up on him from behind, but Cole dodged the incoming attack. The Dragon Lord swaggered towards his victim, placed his hands on his sides, and leaned forward slightly so he was more level with Kai.

"It seems I have the advantage now."

"That's not fair!" Kai squealed as he slid away, trying to get to his feet again. Cole had to admire his persistence. He offered Kai a hand, which the teen reluctantly took. He gasped when Cole pulled him to his feet and he crashed against the dragon's warm chest.

"Hey!" Kai half complained, a large smile split across his face. Cole couldn't get enough of that smile and Kai couldn't help but blush at the adoration in those lovely eyes. They didn't need words to express what they wanted or how they felt. All they had to do was feel and move, so they did. Kai moved his arms so they were around Cole's neck and stood on the tips of his toes to better match his height. Generously, Cole wrapped his arm around Kai's waist pulling him closer, and leaned down so their foreheads and noses pressed together.

They were both too proud to speak, too bold to resist, too nervous to take the next step on their own; so instead they did it together.

They both closed eyes, and leaned forward. Their lips brushed then met at the same time, sweet and unhurried, but it wasn't enough, they wanted even more. Kai leaned forward as much as he could. He pulled Cole closer against him and pressed his lips deeper against his. Cole obeyed and pulled him closer, deepening their kiss. It deepened and lessoned on its own accorded, never once losing its sweetness. It was a battle of will and dominance.

It was a mutual desire.

An equal pushing and pulling of their emotions and heartstrings. When they pulled away, they were still dazed. Still holding the other tightly, trying with all their might not to lose the moment. Only when reality dragged them back into its clutches did they finally understand what they had done, but unlike before they didn't pull away. But the nervousness returned in full force. Kai bit his lip and looked away. Cole set him down, his expression was much more somber.

Neither had the courage to say anything, but they didn't need to.

As they walked back to the castle in the freezing snow, neither of them saw they had an audience. Above them, staff members crowded at the windows for a better look or flooded the balconies. They didn't notice the giddy looks and squeals from the staff mates or the groans of others who'd lost bets or were missing the action. Nor did they noticed the narrowed eyes watching them from the woods, already forming a devious plan to ensure this was indeed their last kiss...

The Flame and the Dragon Ch10

Chapter 10: The Bargain

"Nya! Lloyd! If you two are here, please answer me!" Kai screeched desperately, growing more and more worried. "Dammit, where are you two!" He shouted as loud as he could. A loud squeak screamed behind him, and Kai turned around in a flash. A wooden door with iron bolts, he hadn't noticed before, creaked open. Against his better judgment, Kai approached it, caution in each guarded step.

"Who's there!" He demanded. He received no answer but found himself in another chamber that contrasted with the rest of the castle. The room closely resembled a tower entrance, but the stone was not made of marble like the rest of the castle. The light of an oil lamp on the wall faintly lit the room in a pale orange glow, barely illuminating the silhouette of the staircase spiraling to the top of the castle. Shadows danced in the corner as if beckoning him to follow.

Every single thought told him to turn on his heels and go the other way, but the thought of his siblings possibly trapped in such a gruesome place quickly altered Kai's decision.

He grabbed the lamp from its hook and raised it above his head. A complete sphere of orange light surrounded him as he cautiously making his way up the stairs. The tower walls felt dank and wet beneath his hands. The air was heavy with the disgusting stench of mildew. Grime covered the walls in some places while flecks of moss speckled enormous stone blocks in others. Huge blocks formed the steps, built on top of the other in a spiral, so large it was like walking two steps at a time.

Barely any space existed between the two walls except for the width of the staircase.

This caused the uneasy feeling of claustrophobia to creep up Kai's spine, but he forced it away. Shadows danced in front of him, like small creatures struggling up the steps. The second their shadows left his sight, they stopped, as if waiting for him to follow. Kai blinked at the strange shapes but shook his head to relieve his worry.

"Nya! Lloyd!" He howled again, his voice bouncing loudly against the stone of the tower, reflecting a harsh echo. Kai increased his speed as fast as he could up the enormous steps. Once he reached the top he stopped and held his ground at the sound of panting. Once he made sure he had the advantage if anyone attacked him, he turned around and held up the bright lamp, but saw nothing. They made it to the top of the staircase faster than expected.

Both Jay and Ronin faltered until they both collapsed to the ground.

Their legs were very sore from running up such a long flight of stairs and their lungs panted desperately for air. Tox slithered up the last of the steps, shaking and panting with the last of her strength before finally collapsing in a heap on the floor. They had quickly hidden when the loud footsteps of Kai's heavy boots charged up the stairs. The three hissed at the brightness of Kai's lamp. The boy barely noticed, however, clearly too worried about his brother and sister.

Once Kai shrugged the sound off as rats, the lamplight and moonlight peeking through the windows told him he was in the highest room of the tower.

The stone blocks melded into a slate cone that seemed to go on forever. Glassless windows form gaping holes all over the roof allowing moonlight to spill into the room. The moonlight highlighted the iron bolts, locks, and bars upon the heavy wooden door on the other side of the room, clearly marking the tower as the dungeon. The smell of mold and grime hung in the air, creating a revolting stench. The floor was littered with straw and small broken pieces of the wall.

The dim light of Kai's lamp danced across the room.

He moved his hands to cover his mouth in a weak attempt to block out the horrid stench. The sound of crying quickly froze him in place, followed by the soothing shushing sounds he knew by heart. Keys was the first thing that popped into Kai's mind. He searched frantically for any signs of a key. Kai searched around until his eyes spied the keys on the hook. Practically leaping across the room, Kai clumsily snatched the keys from the hook and fiddled with each one until with a joyful click the lock came undone and Kai swung the door open.

Anger, relief, and sheer joy bombarded him all at once.

Nya and Lloyd were sat on the floor of the dark, dank, rancid prison chamber, leaning beneath the only glass-less window in the room. Heavy manacles connected to about five feet of thick chains shackled their ankles to the wall. Both were shivering from the freezing temperature, both the stone and the open window caused. The fact that neither had their coats didn't help to ease the chill. Nya and Lloyd looked up in shock and slight fear when the door opened.

Nya wrapped her arms securely around Lloyd as the small boy cried in her chest and lap.

Their eyes widened even more at the sight of, no their capturer, but their third sibling standing in the doorway.

"Kai!" Lloyd cried out. Wasting no time Kai dashed over to them. The second his knees hit the floor, Lloyd threw himself into his brother's arms and wrapped them rightly around Kai's waist, crying loudly. Unable to do anything else but kneels there, Kai returned the gesture and stoked the little's one's bangs until he calmed down.

"It is okay, I got you." He promised when Lloyd calmed down enough to look at him. The only one not smiling or emotional at the trio's reunion, which they both soon noticed, was Nya. Instead, the only female Smith sibling looked furious, her blue eyes burning with anger, fear, and remorse, and her entire body was shaking like she didn't know whether to strangle her twin or hug him until he burst.

"You should not have come here." She managed to choke out after many failed attempts to speak. It was directed at Kai, but the tone made Lloyd clench his older brother tighter.

"What the hell does that mean? You think I would just leave you two to rot?" Kai demanded. Nya didn't argue with him, instead, she just grabbed the keys Kai dropped when Lloyd hugged him and threw them at him.

"Listen to me; take Lloyd, get out of here, go back to the town, and don't. Ever. Come back." She ordered, her tone held no room for argument, but Kai was never one to follow orders.

"I am not leaving either of you here." He declared sternly.

"Dammit Kai, for once in your life, do what I tell you! You and Lloyd have to get out of here before he gets back; if he finds you here he'll-"

"HE ALREADY HAS!" A booming voice thundered throughout the prison tower. Kai froze as the chilling voice stiffened his spine. Lloyd screamed and buried his face in the safety of Kai's chest and Nya, for the first time in her life, was scared speechless. Even the three people who Kai hadn't noticed were outside started shaking. All three backed themselves against the wall, hiding. Kai didn't turn around. Instead, he slowly got to his feet, holding Lloyd securely in his arms, wrapped in his coat, and held him tightly.

He stood and turned around to face Nya and Lloyd's capture.

The man had hidden in the shadows, only his eyes were visible. Two striking orbs of jade glowing unnaturally in the darkness. He watched as those eyes turned to the three people Kai hadn't noticed before, shivering in the corner.

"Tox, go help, Nelson." The voice commanded. The green-haired woman burst from the room and vanished down the stairs in less than a second. When his gaze met the remaining two, both boys swallowed loud lumps in their throats. "I'll deal with you two later." He stated before turning his frozen gaze to the siblings. Kai felt a shiver run up his spine when those green eyes fell on him, but he held his ground.

"Who are you?" He demanded in a calm, unreadable voice.

"You're in no place to be making demands." The voice mocked, arrogantly. "But if you must know, I am the master of this castle and all within its walls."

"Are you the ones who kidnapped my brother and sister?" Kai demanded. His face was a neutral mask and his amber eyes were hard and unyielding.

"I've done nothing of the sort." The shadow removed itself from the wall and moved towards them without leaving the darkness, extremely cautious of the moonlight bathing Kai and his two siblings. "You're siblings trespassed on my property and entered this castle without my permission; therefore, as the master, I have every right to keep them both here until I decide to let them leave, or until they die, whichever comes first." He spoke in a harsh, arrogant tone.

"Trespassing doesn't warrant such a punishment!" Kai shouted, clenching his free hand at his side. The shadow raised an eyebrow at the fierceness burning in those amber gems, clearly intrigued by the brunette.

"It matters not, ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the laws; if you wish to grant your sister's request, however, I'll allow you take your brother home, but either way, one of you is staying and not even your persistence will convince me otherwise." The shadow stated firmly. Kai was about to retort until Lloyd started coughing in his arms. He'd obviously been trying to hide it, but the loud choking coughs and heavy pants alerted everyone in the room to his condition.

In a second, Kai's expression went from fury to fear as he fell to his knees and rearranged the smaller boy in his arms.

As he did this, the blond boy released the worst coughing fit even the Master of the castle had ever heard. Kai felt like punching the floor.

"He can't stay here, Kai, he'll only get sicker," Nya explained, lying Lloyd down in her lap, as the boy tried desperately to refill his lungs.

"What's wrong with him?" The Master asked taking a step forward, but Kai was on his feet in front of his family before the shadow could get any closer.

"He was born with asthma." He explained. "The doctor said it should work itself out as he gets older, but whenever he has an attack it has to be controlled or he could get worse!"

"Then give him some medicine."

"I don't have it." Kai retorted before turning to his sister. "Where is it? I know you packed some when you two left, I checked three times." He reminded her, but Nya bit her lip.

"We did have it, but... it was in the carriage." She replied and Kai mentally swore. The medicine was still in the carriage. The carriage he untied from Flame's reigns before they rode into the woods. Swallowing his pride, Kai turned back to the master.

"Lloyd can't stay here; he'll die if he does."

"Then take him back to your town." The master ordered. "I won't stop you, I already said only one of you has to stay."

"I'm not leaving Nya here either." He said firmly. The master raised another eyebrow, stepping closer, making his silhouette and eyes visible but nothing more.

"Then what would you propose, I do?" He asked, turning to the smaller boy who was shaking in his older brother's arms. He doubted Lloyd truly was as sick as his brothers feared, but something had to be done about that vicious cough. But first, he wanted to see how the youth in front of him would react. His eyes fell back on Kai. This one intrigued him, challenged him with no fear, met him blow for blow with a spirit that refused to break, and fierce independence.

Even now, despite his obvious fear for his younger brother's life, his sister's freedom, and his anger at himself, the boy refused to show any sign of weakness.

The Master was interested to see just how far that spirit would go, as the master watched the amber-eyed teen calculate a plan in his head.

"How about a deal?" Kai said, at last, lifting his head to meet the Master's eyes. Blazing amber was burning with all the fire the master loved, bore into his orbs of cold green. The master raised an eyebrow, curious.

"I'm listening."

"You said one of us has to stay here, right? But you never specified who." He explained. The Master's brightened curiously as a smile slowly crept across his face.

"I don't believe I did." He admitted and Kai wanted to snarl at the arrogance in his voice. Nya must've figured out where Kai was going because she stiffened and protested immediately, but Kai ignored her.

"Then how about this: you let Lloyd and Nya return to the village and never bother either of them again, no imprisonment, no nothing." He bargained, not a glimmer of doubt or hesitation in his eyes.

"You're terms are steep, little candle." The Master said as he circled him, keeping in the shadows. Kai stood his ground. The master was testing him, looking for any sign of weakness, like a predator searching for its prey's weak spot before making the killing blow. "I assume you're willing to offer me something just as valuable in return?"

"No." He said bluntly. "Nowhere near as valuable but it's all I have got to bargain with."

"Very well, but I can't agree unless I know what it is you are offering me, candle?" He replied and Kai shivered when he felt a claw-like hand brush one of his spikey brown bangs behind his ear. He already knew what Kai was going to say, he just wanted to hear him say it.

"You promise to let them go, no tricks, not double-cross, no loopholes, not nothing, and... you can have me, instead."

"KAI NO!"

"That is an awfully steep sacrifice, candle." He said and Kai could hear the smirk in the Master's voice. "You know you'd be giving up everything right? You'd be trapped here until I decide to let you leave and you'd never see your family or your home again."

"It'd be worth it." He said immediately.

"But that's not all." The master continued. A clawed hand tugged on Kai's wrist pulling him into the shadows despite his struggle, while the opposite held his chin forcing him to meet the Master's eyes. "I saw it the moment I first laid eyes on you; you're a spirit as wild as an untamed falcon, a wildfire that burns vigorously with freedom! If you agree to this, you'd be throwing all that away; you'd never be free again and you'd be confined to this castle and the grounds, or, if I ordered it, this very room." He whispered darkly in Kai's ear.

It was a miracle Kai managed to not shiver when he felt those cold, scaly, clawed hands firmly grasp his shoulders.

He was testing him and Kai knew it. Testing his weakness and exploiting everything he loved, knowing he was requiring the teen to sacrifice everything while he lost nothing. Waiting for him to weaken and refuse. Waiting for him to break. Clenching his fists at his side, Kai closed his eyes forgetting his own desires and focusing solely on his siblings. Lloyd needed medicine and he needed Nya to take care of him. That was how it had always been since Ray died.

Kai and Nya would take care of all three of them financially, but only Nya would take care of him and Lloyd emotionally.

They'd both be safe, free from this nightmarish lord, his dark prison, and all it would cost him was everything he ever loved and cared for.

"Come into the light and let me see you," Kai whispered, without turning around.

"What!?" The Master roared as he released his shoulders.

"No disrespect, I just wish to see who it is I'm signing my life away to before I tell you my decision." He explained. It wouldn't matter either way, but if this guy thought he could keep Kai in the dark forever, he was mistaken.

"Swear to me you won't scream." He said after a moment of silence. Kai nodded and braced himself for the worst as the Master stepped into the moonlight. Immediately, Kai looked up. For all his arrogance and selfishness and harsh deeds, the Master was a breathtaking creature. He was human, yet at the same time, he wasn't. The Dragon Lord was indeed the right name. He wasn't human or a dragon, but both. He stood seven feet tall, easily towering over Kai.

A shaggy mop of black hair on the top of his head revealed two pointed fin-like ears.

His dragon fangs glittered pristine white in the moonlight, protruding from his upper lip, visible when he smirked though his face betrayed no emotion. His human body stood firmly with large muscles. Instead of human skin, a clutter of black and dark orange scales formed a spike at both his elbows to his wrists. Smooth dragon scales looked like armor at first glance. The dragonskin glistened down his arms. Sharp black claws that could easily rip him to shreds were at the end of his long fingers.

Kai shivered, remembering them on his shoulders and holding his chin a few moments ago.

Just below his back from both his shoulders, they appeared. Two enormous dragon wings were as big as he was, membraned and muscled, like a bat's, and were topped with a small black spike. They were strong and more powerful and looked like they could consume the brunette in their leathery grasp. They were glowing the same black and dark orange as his scales. Unable to control his body anymore, Kai scanned the rest of the Dragon Lord's body.

His top half was covered by a sleeveless black jacket trimmed with silver and closed in the front.

Behind him, Kai could see a large, muscled tail, glistening with black scales, moving on its own accord, and the end curled like a whip. Moving his eyes from the lethal abdomen, Kai scanned down the Dragon Lord's legs and feet. Black pants tightly hugged the strong legs leaving little to the imagination. More scaled armor covered his legs from the knees down, forming a pair of boot-like dragon legs resembling his claws, but with stronger paws and shorter nails.

"Well?" The Master asked, forcing Kai's gaze to return to those green eyes. Immediately he was trapped by the paralyzing gaze of those sharp orbs with only black slits for pupils. Dragon claws, dragon scales, dragon wings, dragon eyes. Immediately Kai knew where they were, who the Master was, and what was happening and the realization made him dizzy and unable to move. It took all his willpower not to faint as he tried to remember the hybrid's name.

"Y-You're Prince Cole B-Brookstone, the Dragon L-Lord." He stuttered out eventually. Surprise suddenly filled the dragon's eyes, as if shocked someone knew who he was without having to explain his past. But as quickly as it appeared, a smirk replaced it. Beauty, fire, and brains. He truly was a rare jewel.

"That is correct, my candle," Cole smirked, but his eyes bore into Kai's with no emotion, noticing Kai's fierce resistance as he tried desperately not to show fear or desire. "So what do you say now?" He commanded, seductively. His claws danced under Kai's chin making him whimper slightly. "Do we have an agreement?" He asked, trying to intimidate him, but still, Kai refused to show any weakness.

"Kai no!" Lloyd pleaded, through another violent cough.

"You have my word." Kai choked in a whisper.

"Done!" Cole roared releasing the teen and ordering the servants at the door to release Nya and Lloyd. Unable to hold himself up any longer, Kai's knees give way and he collapsed to the floor, closing his eyes and buried his face in his hands to keep tears from falling. The second Jay and Ronin undid their chains, Lloyd threw his arms around his older brother crying, pleading with him to come back. All Kai could do was hold him. He felt Nya hug his shoulders, not saying a word, knowing nothing she said would change his mind.

"Dammit, Kai." She snarled quietly. She didn't have time for anything else. Cole grabbed the back of her cloak, and called for two other servants, and threw her to the two guardsmen.

"Skylor, Chamille, take them back to the village." He commanded before turning back to Lloyd and Kai on the floor. "Time to go, little one." He said in a more civil voice.

"NO! Kai has to come too!" Lloyd screamed, clenching Kai tighter.

"It's alright, green bean, I'll be fine, just go with Nya, alright?" Kai said with forced a smile but Lloyd saw right through it and just continued to cry. With a sigh, Cole snatched the smaller away from Kai and, with a little more care, handed him to Chamille despite Lloyd's struggling and coughing.

"Get them there as fast as you can, and make sure he gets his medicine," Cole ordered the two monsters, before pointing to Lloyd. The two nodded and left, dragging Nya and Lloyd with them, looks of remorse on their face as they tried to block out the pleads and cries coming from all three siblings. Kai made a dash for the door but Cole already locked it. He wrestling with the door and screamed at the top of his lungs before he gave up. He sprinted to the window and clenched the stone windowsill, looking for the guards.

He finally found them, but could barely see them from the tower prison.

He could see his siblings fighting with them, as the guards held a now blindfolded Nya and Lloyd in their arms and took them to the forest. They would make sure they couldn't find their way back to the castle but could get back to the village. His heart shattered when he saw Lloyd, crying and screaming and shouting his full name. He was so scared, but he had no fear for himself or Nya. His fear was a direct result of his beloved brother's unknown fate as the lord's prisoner.

Kai collapsed to the floor in a shaking heap, curled his arms around the window sill, and buried his face in his arms.

He did nothing to stop the river of tears from falling. They were tears of anger, grief, remorse, and loss. He had always hated crying, considered it a weakness, but it seemed impossible not to cry at that moment. The window served as a permanent reminder of the outside world that was forever barred to him since chances were, he'd never set foot outside his current cell. He had signed his life away. His family, his dreams, his freedom, everything he ever held dear, to a devilish creature who knew nothing of sacrifice.

Now was the perfect time to cry...

Anyway screw it Ninjago inspired dresses

Jay/Lightning:

Kai/Fire:

Cole/Earth:

Zane/Ice:

Nya/Water (two versions! bc she doesn't like dresses but I was proud of the dress design and even more so of the suit design):

Lloyd/Green:

So like. If you decide to draw them in these I'm not gonna stop you

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Cut Above The Rest

In the dungeon Kai leaning against the wall as he scanned his prison. It was smaller than his bedroom, surprisingly enough, with large stones making up the walls and chains like the ones currently shackled to his wrists hung from the ceiling. There were no windows and the door had a little opening at the bottom where the prisoners were served their food. Kai slowly let out his breath. It didn't puff out in front of him, which was good. It meant that it wasn't overly cold in here.

It was still pretty cold, though.

Goosebumps were prickling along Kai's skin as cold seeped through the thin, damp clothes he was wearing. With a tired grunt, Kai managed to cross his arms over his chest and pulled his legs close. Kai was at Cole's mercy, and knowing him it'd probably be forever before the prince freed him. Much to Kai's shock, however, a part of him still loved Cole, despite what had happened now and before with his siblings. Kai scowled, hugging himself tighter as he shivered.

The dungeon shouldn't be cold enough to be any sort of danger.

Cole wouldn't have locked him in here if it was, but that didn't mean that it wasn't uncomfortable. Kai started to fantasize about different ways of getting Cole back if he was let out as he waited, and waited, and waited. So far, his favorite idea was to dump bright pink glitter on Cole while he was sleeping. Kai's teeth started to chatter loudly. It startled him, and he clenched his jaw to stop it, which just made him all the more aware of how severely the rest of Kai was shaking.

Kai curled in tighter on himself, trying to keep what heat he had left.

It wasn't until Kai's face had gone numb that he reluctantly extracted his hands from where he'd been pressing them against his legs. He winced as the cold started to numb his fingertips. Kai tried to rub some warmth into his legs, but he couldn't feel his hands anymore. Even if he could, they were shaking too much for him to concentrate. He tucked them under his arms, not that it helped much at this point. The cold stone of the wall was leeching heat away from where his back was pressed against it, so Kai scooted farther into the dungeon as far as his chains would allow, still shivering.

He swore under his breath, hugging his legs to his chest and pressing his face into his knees.

He really hoped Cole came to his senses soon and let him out, or at the very least someone would just come and check on him. Then they might see his shivering and possibly give him a blanket of some kind. Kai kept coming up with ways to get Cole back, drawing inspiration from the pranks that Lloyd had played when he was younger. After a long time, Kai blinked, dimly realizing that he had zoned out. He tried to remember what he'd been thinking about before, but his mind was too fuzzy.

He had stopped shivering, but couldn't remember if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Kai breathed out, letting himself relax a little bit. His muscles ached, not wanting to move. He was really, really tired. He should take a nap. That would be nice. There were sounds, though. They sounded like words, but they were far away. Then all of the sudden they were louder, closer, and Kai could hear them well. Not that he remembered what they meant. As his mind started drifting again, something or someone suddenly released his wrists from the shackles and caught him in their arms.

"Kai?" A timid voice whispered and Kai slowly opened his amber eyes, seeing the worried teary eyes of his friends. He struggled to look up and saw Zane was holding against his chest so he was in a seating position. Harumi suddenly burst into the cell from the open door, carrying a large duvet cover from the nearest bedroom.

"Here you go, darling." She smiled sadly as she wrapped Kai up like a newborn baby. The brunette offered her a grateful smile in return, a little disappointed that it wasn't Cole who saved him from possibly freezing to death in his prison cell. He curled up a little as he soaked up the warmth from the blanket and Zane's body heat. When his body finally regained most of its heat and he had stopped shivering, Kai sat up slightly and turned to his friends.

"Guys, I'm sorry." He said weakly. "Nothing's changed."

"I warned you nothing would change." Shade suddenly said, and everyone but Kai glared at him. "I warned you all that the master would not allow this, I warned you this was all a hopeless folly!" He shouted and Kai winced, looking down in shame at giving them all false hope. "But...I was wrong." He added, surprising everyone. "If we felt lost and lonely, with not a dream in our heads, your words lifted our spirits high."

"Yeah Kai, remember what you said?" Nelson asked with a heartwarming smile, but Kai shrugged, not sure what the boy wanted him to say. "That hope is the greatest of the gifts we'll receive, as long as our shining star shines above." He said and Kai's eyes widened for a second, remembering what he kept telling them and what he had even put in the story for Cole. Kai smiled and pulled the boy into a hug.

"You know what, Kai? I don't need to be human to be happy." Jay said and they all nodded in agreement. True, they missed being human, but as long as they had each other then perhaps everything would be alright.

"I suppose I can do without mistletoe." Shade sighed before suddenly pulling Neuro into a rough, passionate kiss.

"Well, I don't need tinsel." Neuro spat in embarrassment. He might love the cook, but he hated it when Shade got too physical when they were in public.

"Oh, I don't need holly." Shade counted.

"I don't need a wreath." Neuro huffed and his lover snarled. Kai turned to the others, but they didn't look fazed by the row. This sort of thing happened all the time.

"I don't need ornaments."

"I don't need turkey!"

"I don't need stuffing."

"I don't need pudding!" Neuro exclaimed and Shade looked ready to tear his hair out.

"To each his own my love, you know how to get me stressed, but if it comes to making things special I'm a cut above the rest!"

"If you could see facts clearly, you would say that I've been blessed!"

"You can't hold a candle to my timing!" Shade laughed bitterly as he flicked Neuro right between the eyes. Kai saw this as the right time to step in and, with shaking legs, stood up and approached them, still clutching the blanket around him. The couple stopped their fighting and helped to teen stay upright, worry clear on everyone's faces.

"You belong side by side, you should never be apart because if you're both together, you're really twice as smart." He told them both calmly, and the couple all shared a look before a smile appeared on their faces.

"Twice as smart? He does have a point." Shade smirked.

"Yes, well, two heads are better than one I suppose." Neuro agreed and everyone else visibly relaxed that a proper fight hadn't broken out between them. At that moment, however, a large frame suddenly appeared in the still opened door frame, blocking out the light from the hall, and they all turned to see Cole standing there. They all froze in fear when they saw him. None of them were supposed to be in here and Kai was supposed to be shackled up.

Instead of anger, however, the only expression the prince had was one of sadness and regret.

Without even acknowledging the servants, Cole walked to Kai, who was glaring at him and gently took his hands into his scaly ones. Kai made no move to pull away and when he saw the regret in Cole's green orbs his anger melted into pity.

"Can you forgive me?" He pleaded, looking ready to cry before Kai could answer.

"I'm sorry for leaving the castle when I wasn't supposed to,"

"I admit that I overreacted, but I would have been fine if you had just asked from my permission and told me where you were going, but I don't really blame you for that part," Cole replied, giving Jay, Echo, and Ronin a glance and they all gulped. He wrapped Kai in a strong embrace who looked up at him in his soft eyes. Kai felt an ugly combination of grief, heartache, and guilt burning in his heart.

"Does this mean you forgive me?" Cole asked.

"I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me," He replied shyly and Cole's response was cupping his cheek and turning to him.

"Always." He promised and kissed the brunette softly. It wasn't passionate, more like a shaky first kiss where someone didn't quite know what to do. Kai was stunned for a second, but recovered quickly and put a little bit more passion into it, realizing just how much he missed Cole's kisses, even though he might not have gotten many yet. The servants all cheered as their master and Kai reconciled their relationship. As they all celebrated, no one saw an inky black cloud of dark magic seep into the castle as look for the perfect tool of destruction.

It eventually found a large, seemingly abandoned giant pipe organ bolted to the wall.

It seemingly melted into the instrument, turning the grand pipe organ black as night. It suddenly began playing loud music, which shook the castle to pieces...

ninjago aesthetics: trans kai smith❤

requests are open!

hey it’s happened in every other version

Keep reading

Unrecognizable - 

Like Father, Like Son by @eternalglitch

The Flame and the Dragon Ch9

Chapter 9: The Boy in the Castle

Kai's amber eyes remained fixed on the huge castle before him. The structure stood dark, curved, and magnificent with an unearthly quality that invited doom, but drew unwary travelers to it like ships to a beacon in a raging storm. The two towers boarding the main castle and the multiple spikes, towers, and spires created a jagged line against the sky. Every gargoyle, every window, every arch, and balcony is a perfect mirror of the castle in Kai's mind.

"This is.." He trailed off, the words dying in his throat; his hands gripped the iron bars of the gate so hard the rust of the iron dug into his hands. The only difference between the two castles was this one was dark and foreboding, while the one he was used to was white and rich with life. "This place was only supposed to be a dream! It can't exist." He tried to tell himself and yet there it was. A perfect dark, mirror-image of the castle he saw every time he closed his eyes.

This was where Lloyd and Nya were trapped?

Shaking his head free of the trance once his gaze fell back on Nya's coat, Kai released his grip on the gate then took a few steps back. With a mighty kick, the gates swung open with a loud screech.

"Come on Flame." He called, but the second his foot stepped through the gates a chill ran through his body, either from coldness or fear. The stallion followed, though was much more cautious in his steps and a look of trepidation in his eyes. Kai scowled to himself. Even the horse thinks coming here is a bad idea. But he ignored his own apprehensions and bolted to the entrance.

"Stay here." He told Flame, before cautious climbing up marble steps. He approached the massive doors of the enormous castle, cautiously. The decoration was more lavish than any Kai had seen. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it must've been like centuries prior without age and weather to wither its contents. Swallowing a lump of hesitation, he pulled on the door knockers. The doors open just as the gate did, and once again, the second he stepped through the doors it was like he'd entered another world.

Despite the castle's outwardly withered appearance, the inside was nothing short of magnificent.

With slight hesitation in his step, the teen took a step down the stunning red carpet. Walls of glass were at both sides of him, hazy from years of neglect and caked with dust. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. He could only imagine how lovely the crystals and glass looked in the sunlight. He came to another set of enormous doors, much nicer and more elaborate than the ones outside. Vines and roses were elegantly carved into the fine oak wood, climbing up the sides of the door and surrounding the stunning carving of what looked like an enormous dragon.

Kai shook his head again, forcing himself to stay focused.

The doors flung open with a mighty shove and again he found himself within the depths of the castle. His eyes widened in shock. He had never imagined the inside, nor had he ever dreamed it, but even he had to agree it was far more magnificent than he could have possibly imagined. The front hall alone was huge and alight with enormous iron and crystal chandeliers filled with burning wax candles. Brass candle holders lined the inner hallway.

The small candle flames bathed the entire front entrance in a pale glow.

A majestic marble staircase spiraled in one direction leading above the first staircase to what looked like a balcony-hallway. The hallways were like crystal-lined marble chambers that could lead anywhere. The ceiling seemed to go up and on forever like a giant cathedral. The chains holding the chandeliers vanished in the darkness. Gargoyles and statues embedded in the huge walls above him were in scattered locations. The darkness and years of dust draped the entire castle in an eerie atmosphere, but the history of the castle itself spoke more than a hundred ancient tomes.

"Hello!" Kai called, hearing his voice echo against the empty hallways. "Does anybody live here? Hello!" He called again. His own voice boomed around him, the only drop of sound among the room of silence. "I'm looking for my brother and sister! Hello!" He tried for the third time but still got no answer. Confident that the castle was indeed abandoned he turned to the left towards the first corridor. He started calling Nya and Lloyd's names, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching him in the main hallway...

****************

"What on earth were you and Tox thinking, Jay?" The white and black-haired man in disappointment. He also had a goatee and black eyebrows that looked similar to Kai's. He wore a gray and tan robe-like attire with a leather collar and belt. Jay was currently lying on his back, atop the dining room table, since it hadn't been used in well over a century. Ronin was pacing around in front of them. Zane was in the other room talking to the castle's seamstresses to pay them any attention.

"I know! I know! I'm sorry!" Jay apologized but it was muffled by his hands covering his face. He sat up and braced himself on his arms. "Look me in the eye, Neuro, and tell me you could've left them freezing to death in the middle of a storm?" He asked as his dark blue orbs met Neuro's brilliant onyx ones. Neuro sighed, running a hand through his hair. The white and black wings he adorned in his Tengu form flexed and flapped in thought. Even long before he'd come to the castle, it was rare a single dark thought filled his mind or he wished malice on anyone.

The very thought of him leaving two innocents alone to fend for themselves and being able to cope with such a choice was nothing short of laughable.

"No, I couldn't even if I wished to." He sighed, turning his teacup in his hands. Jay slid off the table, and gulped down his cold tea in one gulp, hoping the mixture would ease the stress barraging his mind. Sadly, it did nothing.

"He shouldn't have been so harsh though; if he had only given me two seconds to explain..." The ginger-haired teen muttered as he gripped the table so hard his nails dug into the wood. Rising to his feet, Neuro placed and comforting hand on Jay's shoulder. He knew Jay blamed himself for what happened the previous night and felt guilty.

"I won't deny his decision was and is a dreadful mistake, but you know he has his reasons; he suffers more a day than any of us could ever understand." He said as Jay collapsed in a chair, and crossed his arms.

"Doesn't mean he has to be so harsh!"

"I warned you." Ronin snapped. "Didn't I warn you? I told you he'd react that way!" He exclaimed as he ran his hands through his brown hair and gripped the locks tightly. "What were you thinking, Jay! Bringing them inside is one thing, but what were you thinking! Changing their clothes, letting them sleep on the master's favorite couch, playing with the boy!" He ranted, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, excuse me for trying to be hospitable!" Jay retorted. Neuro sighed in annoyance, doing his best to tune out the two boy's argument, if only for his own sake and sanity...

****************

In the other room, Zane had just finished speaking with the castle's seamstresses by the time Nelson burst into the room, wild with excitement. Nelson was a young boy around Lloyd's age with light brown hair combed to the side. He was wearing a purple sweatshirt with white printed on the back and light blue pants. The seamstress was in her true form, a stunning woman with elegant waves of bleached white hair tied in a bun. Her stunning sharp emerald eyes radiated fierce independence but softened when she saw Nelson.

She always had a soft spot for the younger members of the staff.

"Where are you off to in such a rush?" She asked, sweetly.

"Harumi, Zane, you're not gonna believe this!" Nelson practically bounced with excitement. "There's a boy in the castle!"

"We're aware of that, Nelson; he's in the tower with his sister," Zane responded, without taking his eyes off the clipboard.

"Not them, Zane!" Nelson corrected. "There's another boy in the castle! He's here looking for them!"

"Are you sure?" Harumi asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"I'm positive!"

"That's enough, Nelson!" Zane scolded. "We all have work to do including you; no time for stories."

"But Zane—"

"Enough Nelson!" The yeti snapped, but before Zane could say another word, another servant burst into the room with a wide giddy grin. It was a woman with long black hair that was tied back in a tall ponytail with pale, almost grey skin and violet eyes. She wore a dark purple biker outfit. Harumi jumped in surprise at her sudden entrance.

"Ultra Violet! You'll give me a heart attack!" She scolded her wife. Though Harumi and Ultra Violet were the same age, Violet always acted so much younger.

"What is it, Ultra Violet?" Zane asked, sternly, clearly not in the mood for any more surprises since the previous night.

"THERE'S A BOY IN THE CASTLE! AN ACTUAL BOY!" She shrieked, almost bursting with happiness. Harumi's jaw hit the floor. Zane's eyes bulged out of his skull.

"I told you so!" Nelson screamed with a glare and a wide smirk...

****************

Neuro's hand clenched the teacup and plate so hard it almost shattered. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes in frustration, unable to decide if he should yell at the two arguing boys in front of him or drag them upstairs by their ears.

"I don't care if the Master is being unfair, that's already been established! Fact is you put them in danger!" Ronin accused.

"Well excuse me for trying to be nice!" Jay retorted meeting the man's angry gaze.

"Figures, the first two people to enter this fucking place in a hundred years, and we get them both imprisoned in a tower for the rest of their lives!" The troll snarled as he turned away and started pulling at his hair in frustration. Jay growled in anger. Neuro slammed the cup down on the table.

"Silence the both of you!" He scolded them both, causing both of them to turn their heads. They knew full well of the temper that was hidden behind Neuro's polite and stoic appearance, but it was still a shock when it surfaced. "If you two do not refrain from arguing this very second, so help me God I will—"

"Nya?" An unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed nearby. All three servants froze and bolted towards the source of the voice, their anger was forgotten. A flash of red passed the dining room entrance. Jay and Ronin met eyes before throwing themselves up and gripping the side of the wall. Their eyes widened and their mouths gaped in shock.

"It's a boy!" Jay announced.

"No, ya think?" Ronin retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What is he doing here?" Neuro asked as he blinked in shock, bewilderment, and worry. A giddy smile crossed Jay's face, and he started bouncing up and down in happiness.

"I knew it! I knew it! Don't you see?" He explained dancing around a bewildered Ronin. "He's the one! The one we've been waiting for! The one who's going to break the spell!"

"Jay, we've been through this, you're optimizing again!" Ronin said extremely patiently and panicked as if he were talking to an insane asylum patient.

"And it's paid off!" Jay beamed before he suddenly bounced before dashing to catch up to their guest.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" Neuro called, then cried out in shock when a purple dash crashed into him and another dove over him.

"Sorry, Neuro!" Nelson apologized over his shoulder. Tox bolted after her smaller friend in her naga form, before transforming back into her own human form without halting in her step. Before Neuro could voice a protest, several gusts of wind bolted past him, sending him to the floor again. The first one came from a small glowing pixie with purple wings and a familiar, giddy grin. She was followed by a stunning woman with long white hair, pointed ears, talons for hands and feet, and jade green feathered wings growing from her arms.

Another fairy and a purple naga followed closely behind her.

"Sorry, Neuro, we're in a rush!" The purple pixie, Ultra Violet, called over her thin, amethyst wings.

"What the hell is going on?" Neuro demanded.

"They're a boy in the castle!" The fairy paused in mid-flight to respond, before following the others. Neuro remained sitting on the floor, his jaw slacked in shock, and his eyes bulged with confusion.

"Has everyone lost their minds?"...