A/N Heyo! This oneshot is actually my first Ninjago piece that I'm going to write, and it's actually based off of a dream I had, which is based off of RebelFanja's Dark Sides: Book 3. I definitely recommend you check that story out first before reading this. Otherwise, enjoy!

SPECIAL THANKS TO REBELFANJA HERSELF FOR BETA-READING THIS ONESHOT TO MAKE SURE THE CHARACTERS ARE IN-CHARACTER

Kai never thought it would end this way.

When he joined Sensei Wu, he thought he was doing what was right. He was helping to protect the Golden Weapons from Wu's power-hungry brother, for FSM's sake! When he joined, he never thought he'd see Nya again. When he joined, he never thought he would end up in a situation like. . . like this.

But then again. . . nothing is as it ever seems, at least to Kai.

He thought he was fighting for the good guys. He thought he was fighting for peace and for justice, since that is what Wu was fighting for. No, Kai corrected himself, that is what Wu wanted them to think.

Now, he wasn't so sure.

Skylor, that attractive orange ninja, revealed to him what she claimed as the truth. She told him what Wu's true motive was: to shape Ninjago into the Master's own image. To rule over all of its inhabitants.

Doesn't sound so bad, at least to Kai.

But Skylor also pointed out how Wu had been treating Kai's teammates, and though Kai didn't want to admit it, she was right; he saw how Cole seemed to be cracking under Wu's pressure, as well as how Jay seemed to get a little. . . jumpy whenever he's near their master. Even Zane, though he doesn't show it outwardly, seems to become wary around Wu.

And then Kai remembered his punishment that fateful day—that day when Wu informed him of Nya's presence on Garmadon's team, the day when they were so close to the Fire Temple.

The day he had to betray his sister, the last remnant of his living family.

The look in her eyes, that shattered look—that look of broken hope, that look of betrayal—is something that, try as he might, Kai will never be able to banish from his mind. She had trusted him, fully and willingly. And he. . . he had betrayed that trust by using her to obtain the Shurikens of Ice.

He caused her trust to shatter.

All because Wu asked him to.

Ever since then, a worm of skepticism had wriggled its way into his brain, taking special note of the way Wu acted around them and whispering words of doubt into his brain, every time Kai saw how his sensei (no, the sensei) lashed out at Kai's brothers.

(are you sure you made the right decision?)

(look at how stressed Cole is)

(look at how distraught Jay becomes)

(look at how wary Zane acts)

(are you sure being with Wu was the right choice?)

Kai tried to stamp it out, tried to hiss back to that voice in his head that yes, joining Wu was the right thing to do.

(why?)

Because—because Wu stood for peace! He stood for honor and justice, and all he wanted was to bring peace to Ninjago!

. . . right?

But when Kai saw the heavy bags under Cole's eyes from a stressful mission, the ticks Jay displays whenever he's around Wu, and how passive Zane becomes, Kai got the feeling that something was very, very off.

This wasn't right.

And so, he was with a torn mind (the right thing to do vs. your brothers: your choice) that he decided to side with the girl ninja, once and for all. Oh, sure, Nya still treated him as if he were dirt, but he deserves it, with how he had used her, his own sister, against her team.

Even just remembering it made Kai feel sick to his stomach.

The teleporting one, Seleil (he thinks is her name) made it clear that she doesn't trust him. The robot girl seemed to act a little wary around him, but otherwise she seems at least partially accepting of him.

He supposed out of all of them, only Skylor was fully willing to trust him, although he has no intention of betraying them. His eyes were open to Wu's cruel nature; he wasn't gonna go back.

But a twisted turn of events has landed Kai in the position he was in now.

He wondered if people would remember him when he passed on, and how they would remember him. Would they recall to mind his brash, impulsive nature? His hotheadedness? His reckless actions? His defiance?

How much of a jerk he was to them?

All these thoughts, and more, flitted through the Fire Ninja's mind in split seconds as he stared into the gaping maw of death itself, in the form of a crazed Anacondrai cultist leader.

"You dare betray me?" Chen bellowed.

Kai internally flinched away from the tone, but he put on a brave front, glaring at the Anacondrai cult leader.

"Well, it wasn't that hard to decide when I saw what was really going on," Kai snarked back, unable to contain himself. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the four girl ninja, each struggling with a guard of their own. Since all of them, save Skylor, had their powers taken, they were unable to break out of the guards' strong grips.

Chen clucked his tongue, leaning back in his throne seat, looking incensed at Kai's insolence. Kai saw, with increasing guilt, the looks of betrayal that were etched into his brothers' faces.

Huh. I betrayed my two families; how ironic, Kai couldn't help but muse with dark amusement.

Maybe he'll simply be remembered as The Traitor.

"Kai?" Jay stepped forward, looking hurt. "W-why?"

Kai glanced down at his feet. "I had to," he mumbled. "Haven't you noticed how Wu has been treating you guys?"

Zane merely looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Kai jerked his head towards Cole, though he kept his eyes on Zane; FSM knows what kind of expression Cole held right now. "Cole's been getting a lot more stressed lately—" He nodded towards Jay. "—Jay's been acting more jumpy around Wu lately—"

"I have not!" Jay denied loudly.

Kai ignored the blue ninja, desperate to prove why he chose his decision. "—and Zane, you—" He paused, trying to word his observation carefully. "You've been acting a lot more. . . passive around Wu lately."

Zane seemed to maintain his neutral expression, but Kai noticed how a flash of—was that concern?—passed through his eyes.

Before any of them could speak, Chen loudly interjected, "Yes, yes, so Wu's been a little hard on you. That doesn't make it okay—" He glowered at Kai. "—to betray me!"

Skylor suddenly jerked in the corner of Kai's vision. The Fire Ninja turned to see the redhead look at him with. . . fear?

Why on earth would she be afraid? And by the looks of it, not of Kai, but for him.

But that doesn't make much sense. Despite Chen's being Wu's ally, Kai was pretty sure that Chen was nothing but an old kook who had way too much time on his hands. . .

. . . right?

"Now that is a crime that is unforgivable and in need of. . . punishment."

Kai flinched, a chill going down his spine at Chen's tone. Instead of sounding like a crazed old man who lived on his island for too long, Chen sounded. . . dark, but with an underlying amusement. His tone seemed to indicate he was dismissive of human pain, almost as though he knew what pain he would bring on Kai, and he relished the thought.

What was that word? Malicious? Seems like a pretty good word, but Kai didn't think it was what he was looking for.

What was it? Kai thought it started with an "S".

Sociopathic? Seems about right, but not the word Kai was thinking of.

No… wait.

Sadistic.

Kai had never thought that Chen was even capable of sounding sadistic, not until now. Sure, Chen had a strange fascination with snakes and having elemental masters fight in the most showy (and occasionally bloody) fights ever. But to sound as though he could kill someone painfully and not only not be bothered by it but to actually love it?

That Kai never thought he would hear from Chen.

And the visage of the kook who loved his throne a bit too much faltered even more.

Chen sighed. "How disappointing of you, fire ninja. I had thought… of all the ninja, you would've been most fit to be my right hand man. What a pity."

Kai suppressed the flinch at the implication that Chen was putting forth.

Useless. Pathetic.

You've thrown away your chance of power.

Some ninja you are.

"Well—" Chen shrugged nonchalantly. "—you chose to betray me, so I suppose it's only fair if you pay for it."

As if on cue, one of the Anacondrai cultist guards drew his Anacondrai Blade and advanced. Kai mustered up a cocky grin, despite the fact that his heart was pumping as though he had run a marathon. He definitely wasn't sweating nervously, nor would his hands be shaking had his arms had not been restrained.

And he definitely didn't notice the frantic looks of his brothers, nor did he feel a pang in his heart at having to put them through this.

"What, are you gonna kill me?" Kai quirked an eyebrow. "Not much of a payment if you ask me."

And then Chen did the last thing Kai would ever think he would do: he began cackling.

Kai glanced over to see his brothers also exchanging confused glances. "What?" he asked warily, shifting with what little control he has over his limbs.

"Oh, fire master." Chen began tsking. "You truly are new to this whole business, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?" Now Jay was the one who spoke, and he was eyeing Chen with a nervousness that gave Kai a small, fleeting hope: maybe they would finally see what Chen and Wu had been up to.

"Oh, you too?" Chen cackled again. "I thought Wu would've taught you by now, but I suppose I was… ah, mistaken." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But I guess I better teach you this lesson now, 'cause better late than never!"

Now Kai was really worried, and that was an understatement. He snuck a glance over to Skylor, only to see that all the blood in her face had drained drastically. He also saw her sneak glances over to… Nya.

But why?

Kai looked up to see the Anacondrai cultist slowly moving towards them. That's when he noticed that the cultist's gaze wasn't fixed on Kai; in fact, his whole demeanor indicated that he had no intention to engage the fire master. Confused, Kai followed the cultist's gaze to…

Nya.

No. No no no nononononono NO!

Kai already knew what the lesson Chen was about to tell him, right before the words came out of the latter's mouth:

"To make your enemies truly bleed, target those closest to them."

Kai shuffle-crawled towards the source of sniffling. Even in the dark, he could navigate the bedroom with ease, he knew it so well.

"Nya?"

The sniffling stopped for a moment. Then: "Kai?"

"What's wrong?"

Nya was silent for a moment. Then she whispered, "Th-those boys. . . they told me that—that I was weak. . . because I'm a girl. They told me that I was. . . a crybaby, and that I can't play with them because of how stupid I am."

At her words, Kai's heart filled with a palpable rage: his vision went red, and he was sure that steam was coming from his ears, he was so. . . angry. How dare they hurt his little sister like this? How dare they go after Nya—sweet, determined Nya who could fight so fiercely it would send those boys running?

But instead, he swallowed up his anger and drew the girl closer to himself, embracing her with all the love he had for her, trying to soothe her with it.

Gradually, the flow of tears slowly petered out until all that was left were a few sniffles here and there.

"Nya, don't listen to them. They're. . . well. . ." Kai swallowed hard, reminding himself to keep it all together, for her. "They don't know you like I do."

He pulled away, looking at his little sister. "You're strong, stronger than anyone, even me." At that, Nya cracked a small smile. Feeling encouraged, Kai continued, "You're smart, brave, kind, and funny. You're better than all those boys combined. Just because you're a girl doesn't make you any more less than them."

Even in the dim light, Kai could see Nya smile even more, which he silently counted as a win. But then, the smile fell. "But… what if I can't be strong?" she whispered, and Kai could hear the tremble in her voice. "What if… what if I can't be brave, and they come back to hurt me again?

Kai smiled, albeit sadly, as he heard the weakness in Nya's voice. "Then I'll protect you."

Nya raised her head to look at Kai in the eye. Kai could see a spark of hope in them, a slight curl in her lips as she looked at him in awe. "You would?"

"Of course. You're my little sister." Kai gently pushed his sister teasingly. "You don't think I would let those boys treat you like that?"

Nya giggled, and the two sat in comfortable silence. Then: "You promise?"

Kai's heart melted at that. Nya sounded so vulnerable, so… unlike the strong-willed sister he knew and loved. Hearing that come out of her, of all people, made Kai want to wrap wings of protection around her and keep her away from the cold, cruel world.

"Of course."

And as he sat there, holding his little sister, he silently internalized the vow, etching it into his beating heart. This he vowed: until the day he draws his last breath, he will always be there to protect Nya.

Even when she grew and learned how to defend herself, even when she pushed him away ("I can handle it all on my own!"), even when they grew apart over the years, Kai knew that he would do all he could to keep her out of danger.

Always.

Without thinking, Kai wrenched himself free from the guards' steel grip. Ignoring the shouts aroused from this action, he hurtled to the side, blocking the cultist's advancement towards Nya. He wasn't thinking, only acting.

Time seemed to slow down for the fire master. Kai saw the cultist raise his sword, about to slash Nya just as Kai lunged to block Nya from the fatal blow. Kai glanced all around him to take in the scene: Skylor's breaking free from her captor, eyes wide with panic; Chen and Clouse, both yelling and looking angry; and the two other girl ninja, looking stunned.

Finally, Kai looked over to see his brothers, who all looked shocked beyond words. Jay's mouth was in the shape of an "O"; Zane, though he was normally the unfazed one, had the expression of someone had slapped him in the face for now reason; and Cole looked astounded, as if he didn't believe that Kai had it in him to do such a thing.

Kai smiled slightly; he knew what was going to happen next. After all, no one can just jump in front of a sword and not expect the repercussions. But for Nya, he was never going to back down, even if he had the chance. And so he braced himself.

A stinging pain in his left eye. A piercing pain in his chest. Blood, spurting out and rushing up into his throat. Wooziness, clouding his senses until he couldn't tell what was happening in the present anymore. Noise, muffled as the cloud in his head blocked out all his senses.

Kai stared at the blade in his chest, noticing the warm, red liquid staining his gi, before raising his head, locking eyes with the cultist. Within the cultist's eyes, Kai noted that there was a surprise in them, as if not having expected this outcome.

And then the cultist yanked the blade out of his chest.

An exploding pain, even sharper than the initial, burst in his chest. He staggered, his legs suddenly weak and shaky. He fought to keep himself upright, but part of him knew that it was a losing battle.

He gasped out as he felt gravity pull him down, overpowering his will and muscles, and the next thing he knew, he was staring up at the ceiling, the sounds of chaos finally penetrating the fog in his mind.

That's when he registered a tearstained face in his view: Nya. He then realized that she was cradling him in her arms, repeatedly mouthing something, though he couldn't make it out.

"—Kai? Kai! Please, answer me!"

He shaped his mouth, trying to speak, trying to say something to Nya, but the chest wound has done its damage; he couldn't seem to catch his breath, and the blood clogged his throat. He coughed, hacking, and he felt a warm trickle of. . . some liquid flowing down the corner of his mouth.

Nya looked stricken, and Kai could see even more tears well up in her eyes.

Kai raised his hand (why was it so heavy?) and grasped Nya's hand firmly. "N-Nya. . ." he rasped, before his body was racked with wet coughs that expelled more blood from his throat.

"O-oh FSM, Kai!"

Kai felt the presence of another warm body next to him, as well as a flash of orange, but he kept his gaze on his sister. Warmth that had nothing to do with the blood welled in his chest upon seeing, perhaps clearly for the first time, how Nya turned out to be: strong, independent, and bold.

Just like how he saw her, all those years ago.

Kai coughed, curling upward as his body spasmed again. When he settled, he looked over at Nya and, with a grin, teased, "So, I guess I had to save you again."

Nya chuckled, but Kai noticed that it was somewhat strangled, choked with grief, and it quickly disintegrated. "Why?" she sobbed, her grip on him tightening oh so subtly. "Why did you do it?"

Kai grimaced, another spasm of pain hitting his body, but he summoned all the strength he had left to rasp, "Because I made a promise."

Startled, Nya looked at him with red-rimmed eyes, as if wondering where Kai was going with this.

Kai started gasping, trying to maintain breath, but he pushed on, not willing to give up. "Remember. . . when we were younger, and—and I told you. . . that when you weren't strong, I. . . would protect you?"

Nya's eyes widened.

Kai smiled slightly. "I made a promise then. I won't break it now."

He could hear Nya's breath hitch and her voice break. "Kai. . . I—"

Kai cut her off. He needed to know, needed to make things right with his little sister before he passed. "Do you. . . forgive me?"

Nya seemed to recoil at that. "What?"

Kai's body was wracked with deep coughs that splattered blood everywhere. He could feel another pair of hands on him, trying to ground him, to keep him from floating away, and he heard Skylor whisper, "Oh, Kai, I'm so sorry—"

"It's not your fault." He craned his neck to stare deep into her eyes. They were filled with grief, Kai realized, betraying a deep, deep pain.

In a way, Kai was touched; he never realized how much Skylor seemed to care. But now wasn't the time; he had to apologize to Nya.

It's the least he could do before dying.

"But it is mine."

Nya recoiled slightly, but before she could say anything, Kai continued, "Nya, it's—it's my fault for. . . for all of this." He breaks off, hacking up blood as he realized his vision began darkening. No. Not yet.

"Don't talk," Nya urged, almost tearfully. "Save your strength!"

But Kai refused to heed her words; he had to do this, otherwise he wouldn't forgive himself after he's. . . well. . .

"Nya, I. . . I'm so sorry. For leaving you all alone. For betraying you. For—" Kai could barely breathe at this point, the blood was overwhelming his respiratory system. He coughed so hard he thought he might throw up. "—everything."

Nya looked stricken with grief. Tears poured down her cheeks, and Kai felt some splatter on his gi. It could've been his imagination, but he felt something warm splatter on his other side too.

"I. . . I hope you can forgive me."

"Kai, no! Don't talk like that!" It broke Kai's heart to hear Nya sound so. . . so pained, but Kai had to.

"Can you forgive me?"

Nya seemed to hesitate for a moment. Why wouldn't she? Kai had accused her, abandoned her, fought her, and above all betrayed her! How could she forgive someone so despicable as him?

"Yes."

What? Kai looked up at her face, tearstained but determined. He honestly didn't—no, couldn't—understand why. Why did she choose to forgive him? After all he's done to her, she could forgive him, just like that?

(shut up, this is what you wanted, isn't it)

Kai cracked a slight smile at her, finally feeling at ease for everything he's done. Even if this is the end, he's glad he was able to make up with Nya.

Another burst of pain in his body. This time it was almost unbearable, starting from his chest and exploding throughout his body until all he could see was white. He couldn't hold back the scream that erupted from his throat because oh FSM it hurts make it stop make it stop!

Through the blinding pain, he could (distantly) feel Nya's grip tighten on his arm, nearly crushing it and another hand on his cheek, holding his face almost tenderly. It felt. . . nice, sending sparks of comforting warmth through his body.

He opened his eyes, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his head from the strain of going through the unbearable agony of the spasm. He squinted up through the haze of pain to see that the other hand belonged to Skylor.

"Sk-Skylor. . ." he managed through the overwhelming pain (fire, fire, raging in his chest).

Skylor smiled, although Kai was faintly surprised to see more than a surface sadness in her eyes. "I guess. . . this makes you a hero, huh?" she lightly teased.

Kai quirked his mouth, trying for a grin even through the blood trickling out of his mouth. "Guess so," he teased back.

The sounds of fighting, which the fire ninja didn't realize had been muffled by all the fog in his head, suddenly pierced his eardrums, all the noise rushing in at once. Kai couldn't stop the yell of pain that erupted from him, strangled by the blood in his respiratory system. His vision went white, and he arched his back, the pain shooting through his head like an arrow.

When the pain subsided, he realized that Nya and Skylor had held him down so that he wouldn't start thrashing around. He turned his head, locking eyes with Skylor, whose smile had disappeared after his spasm.

Kai mustered up a grin, suppressing a grimace as his body shuddered with more agony. "Hey. . . at least. . . I got a chance. . . to meet you. . ."

Without thinking, he weakly grasped Skylor's hand, which had withdrawn, and placed it over his heart, staring into her eyes. They were beautiful, he noted, even when full of grief. A beautiful green, with specks of different colors glittering in them.

Skylor shut her eyes, a deep pain etched into her features. Then, to Kai's surprise, she leaned forward and pushed her forehead against his own. "I. . ." Skylor swallowed, opening her eyes to look at him, and he knew that she was fighting against a tidal wave of emotions; he could see it in her eyes. "I'm also glad. . . that I got to meet you."

Kai's vision began darkening, but he smiled back at her. Not a grin, not a smirk, but a smile. He felt a tenderness directed towards her that he hadn't felt for anyone else but Nya, and as such, he couldn't help but make these last moments as sincere as possible.

FSM, he was a romantic sap, wasn't he?

"T—" Kai gasped, his lungs feeling as though they would drown in the blood they were coated in, but he wouldn't stop, even as his vision faded faster. "Take. . . care. . . of Nya."

With those words, he finally let go.

As his vision faded, he could feel his muscles collapsing, trembling from the exertion he put them through. He could hear Nya's cries from afar, could feel someone trying to shake him awake, but he smiled to himself.

As his head lolled to the side, he caught a glimpse of them.

His brothers.

Even in the midst of the fighting, they were clearly fighting their way towards him. Everything looked as though it were moving in slow motion: he could see his brothers' every step, their every slash, their every move as they fought against the swarm of the Anacondrai cultists. And even through the chaos, Kai could clearly see them calling his name.

Kai smiled slightly. Although he was pained to leave them, he knew that they would be left in good hands; Cole would take care of them. Nya now had her new friends to rely upon whenever she needed comfort, encouragement, or just someone to talk to. Now that she had them, he really wasn't needed here anymore.

She truly has grown up, Kai marveled sadly.

A part of him, the survival side of him, fought and screamed, protesting against accepting his death. He was too young! He had so much to live for: getting to know Skylor better, fighting for the good of Ninjago, hanging out with his brothers; there was too much to give up by dying!

But the greater part hushed the former part of himself. He was. . . content. He lived to see Nya truly grow into the person she was meant to be. And he could go, knowing he protected her so that she could continue growing into the person she will be in the future.

All his life, Kai knew that he was a protector by nature. He knew, from the moment he vowed to be Nya's protector, that he would always hold up his vow. He held it up when he fought against the bullies who were hurting Nya; he held it up by drawing the fire dragon away from Nya and Garmadon, back in the Fire Temple; he held it up by siding with the girl ninja to stop Chen and Wu.

This, then, was his final act as the protector.

And it is with these thoughts and a smile on his bloodstained face (his blood, not Nya's) that he slipped away into darkness.

He had done his job.

A/N Did that make you sad?

Okaaay, this may have MANY continuity issues, but whatever; it was inspired by a dream, so just roll with it!

Even then, this doesn't actually reflect what the dream was, but I was making a slight effort in sticking with the continuity ('cuz dreams; they don't exactly try to stick to continuity, if you know what I mean)

Honestly, this may've been OOC, or doesn't fit with many people's thoughts of how this would go, but hey, I like how it turned out.

Make sure to check out RebelFanja's Dark Sides series; if you like a Roleswap AU, then that series would really suit your interests!

Have a great day!