Kai grunted, chained up to a large ice block deep in the Hypnobrai tomb. The supposed general, Slithtraa, had caught him off-guard and captured him as soon as he had entered the tomb. It was a surprising outcome; the general seemed like a real idiot. Instead of hypnotizing him on the spot, he deployed his second-in-command to perform the task.

"Are you sure you wanna do that?" Kai shivered through his taunt, turning his head towards the warrior. God, he hated the cold.

"I don't want to." The snake hissed at him. "I have my own plansss."

"Well good, because so do I." Kai huffed and glanced at the entrance of the tomb, praying for a miracle.

Almost a second later, a loud scream echoed throughout the icy tomb. Kai glanced up, laughing to himself as the young boy tumbled onto the ground and slid to a halt. His prayers had been answered.

"Well, well, well..." Slithraa's tail rattled. "Another one. Look into my eyesss..."

Lloyd cried out in fear as he ducked from the snake's gaze, causing it to ricochet off of a block of ice and back to the general. Slithraa slid backwards, swaying in a trance. Kai grinned, proud of the kid.

Lloyd laughed wickedly. "No. I will control you from now on."

"What shall you have usss do, young master?" The general bowed to Lloyd as dozens of Hypnobrai stalked towards him.

"My own army of snakes." Lloyd whispered in disbelief. He glanced around and made eye contact with Kai and the snake guarding him, who was reluctant to follow the rest. "Tell that snake to release my friend! He's your master now, too!"

"Skales!" Slithraa boomed. "Release the prisoner!"

Skales' mouth dropped open. "Bu- But sssir-"

"Do as I say! I am your general!"

Skales glared at him and the boy before releasing Kai. "You'll come to regret thisss." He whispered into Kai's ear as he passed by. "You and the boy."
-
"We're wasting time!" Nya growled in frustration, clinging onto Jay's back as he and the others rode their dragons back to the temple. God, she hated having to hitch a ride with Jay, even if it was nice to ride along with him. When was she going to get her own dragon?

"We must inform Sensei about his nephew, as well as your brother's return." Zane stated for the millionth time. He was flying ahead of them as usual, focused on the task ahead.

"We could've caught up to them by now!" Nya shot back. "What's the point in going back and getting him? He has his own dragon for fuck's sake!"

The others ignored her outburst as they landed on the floor of the monastery. Why were they always ignoring her?! Nya didn't even bother to get off of Wisp as the other three stumbled towards Sensei.

"Sensei!" Zane called out to Wu, sitting on the steps of the monastery. "Kai has returned, and we believe he has intentions of releasing the Serpentine army!"

"And we think your nephew is working with him!" Cole added.

"What are you four waiting for?" Sensei asked, slightly upset. "Chase after them!"

Nya's right eye twitched slightly. That's what I was saying the whole time, assholes. She thought, growling to herself as she waited for Jay to get back on.

"I don't know why they don't listen you." Jay sighed, hopping onto Wisp. "You're always full of good ideas."

"Then maybe you should set an example for them and agree with me if you think something's stupid." She muttered.

"You know Cole's the leader, Nya..." Jay started. "And Zane's loyal to Sensei; even if he sees the most logical pattern, he'll always choose the path most beneficial to Wu."

"Just because he's the leader doesn't mean he shouldn't listen to us!"

"Where is this going, Nya?" He turned around for a moment, letting Wisp follow the other dragons without guidance. "Are you saying you should be the leader?"

"Maybe I should be, because I'm the only one around here that uses my brain." Nya snapped, crossing her arms and turning away.

"Fine!" Jay turned around and tightened his grip on the reins. "Then it can just be like old times, because you're just as temperamental as Kai!"

Nya's eyes widened, stunned. She noticed Jay tense up too, regretting saying that to her. "I- Jay, I didn't mean to-"

"Just forget it, Nya." Jay mumbled. "I didn't mean that. I'm just being dramatic."

Nya opened her mouth to speak, but closed it slowly, unable to say anything at all. Unable to shake off what Jay said.

She closed her eyes, trying not to cry. I'm just like Kai... I'm just like him... I'll end up like him, and fall to darkness... I'm evil, I'm evil, I'm evil!

I was never meant to play this part. I was never meant to be a hero.
-
"Raiding a village for sweets?!" Skales' red eyes widened in bewilderment. "General, you must be mad!"

"Do as the boy says." Kai muttered softly to Slithraa. In all honesty, stealing candy from Jamanakai Village's shops wasn't on his agenda either, but for now he had to be sure of the general's allegiance.

"You heard your master, Skales!" The General hissed. "We are to obey the boy; he set us free!"

"That's right!" Lloyd sneered, riding in a wheelbarrow full of candy, pushed by a lanky Hypnobrai soldier. It was like a scene out of a cartoon; completely ridiculous.

Kai chuckled to himself, watching the little boy cheer with excitement. Lloyd was lucky to have rarely interacted with his father; the monster would have ruined his childlike innocence, just as he did for Kai. Even at the Darkley's School for Bad Boys, they never had the audacity to order a young child to burn down whole villages.

He touched his scar once again, feeling the horrid, mangled flesh. There was no going back for a murderer.

"Ninja!" Lloyd suddenly cried out in fear, bringing Kai back to reality. He chuckled for a moment, turning to face his sister once again.

Kai closed his eyes, longing to hear their reaction. Some gasped and some called out his name in anger... or was it fear? Nevertheless, their disgust fueled the raging fire within. He chuckled, drawing a sword from his back holster and slowly opening his eyes.

"Hello, Nya-bean. I see you've brought my generals to protect you." He smiled warmly, sharpening his blade against the concrete. "You know, my offer still stands."

Nya winced at this, tightening her grip on her own sword. "You disgust me, Kai. I could never join you."

"Why not?" He swung his sword playfully. "We're practically the same person."

That seemed to upset her. With a yell and tears in her eyes, she charged at him, swinging her sword and slicing his shoulder. He retaliated and kicked her to the ground, gripping his shoulder.

Kai had only winced for a moment. The incision stung, sure, but it was nothing compared to his face. Had he gone numb to pain?

Before he knew it, he was fighting the other three, overwhelmed but unshaken by their attacks. He called on the snakes to help him.

"Oh my god..." Jay breathed, backing away as the snakes slithered towards the ninja. "He really did it..."
-
Nya scrambled to her feet, barely missing the claws of a Hypnobrai soldier. She jumped to the top of a ledge and called out to the others, "Guys! Follow me!"

The others escaped the main battle and followed Nya to an alley. She stopped to breathe before straightening up, turning towards the others. "Did anyone get hypnotized?"

When they shook their heads no, Nya sighed in relief. "Good. Listen to me, when they rattle their tails, don't look into their eyes. That's how they get you."

"Didn't they hypnotize a whole bunch of people already?" Cole asked. "How are we gonna help them?"

"The general's staff holds the antivenin." Nya explained. "If we can get the staff, we'll be able to help the victims."

"How do you know so much about this stuff anyway?" Jay asked, stunned.

Nya blushed a little. "It pays to do a bit of research."

"Alrighty." Cole cracked his knuckles and patted Zane and Jay on the arm. "Let's get a move on, guys." He ruffled Nya's hair. "Thanks, little sister."

"I- I'm not finished yet!" Nya stuttered.

"That's right." Jay spoke this time. "Because you're leading us this time."