How they had ended up like this, they no longer knew exactly, or maybe they did.

It all started with an emergency call at one of the city's mining facilities, apparently the mysterious group of Vengstone smugglers had the wonderful plan to start raiding mines all over Ninjago to steal Vengstone samples and mining equipment. The miners' emergency must have been serious because even the police and various teams of rescuers and doctors were involved in the case.

As soon as they arrived at the site with the Bounty, the ninjas were informed by an officer that the attackers apparently held some of the miners hostage and that they are still in one of the mine tunnels, but they did not enter as apparently the mine is unstable and the suspects were armed to the teeth, they thought this would be a better job for the ninjas.

Lloyd was the one who gave the order to separate into teams of three since when entering the tunnel the path divided into two, so they assumed that the hostages would be in one of those tunnels, Lloyd, Kai and Nya went on the right side while Cole, Jay and Zane went left. The team of Cole, Jay and Zane did not take long to find the hostage miners, luckily they were all fine, somewhat gagged, but fine.

- What exactly happened here? Cole asked as he helped free one of the miners while removing the handkerchief from his mouth.

- Those guys attacked us out of nowhere, they were dressed in our work uniforms and suddenly they attacked us, they stole our equipment and several samples from one of the tunnels still under exploration - the miner explained frantically while being helped by Cole.

- Are there more hostages in the mine? Zane suddenly asks.

- No, just us, but they must be careful, those subjects put explosive devices in some tunnel of the place, several explosions could cause the chamber we are in to collapse completely -

- We have to get out of here now, get all these men out, I'll tell Lloyd that we already found them -

Meanwhile, in the other tunnel of the Lloyd mines, Kai and Nya found the trail of the suspects who seemed to be heading for the opposite exit from which they entered, they must have assumed that it was better to flee through the rear exit of the mine.

- It seems that our ruffians left through the back exit - Kai mentions when inspecting the tracks of cars and boots that were on the ground heading in the same direction.

- I agree – says Nya – They must have assumed that the entrance was already blocked by the police when the other miners were able to escape from their attack –

As Lloyd looked around his surroundings he was suddenly struck by an artifact nailed to the tunnel wall, it was some kind of strange device - What is this? – He asks himself while looking at the device in detail.

- Lloyd? Lloyd, do you read me, over? - Cole's voice began to be heard from within Lloyd's comm, but there was some static.

- Cole, the signal is weak, what's wrong? – Lloyd responds while trying to frequent the signal on his communicator.

- You have to get out of there, the place is full of explosives! - Cole yells from his comm, which confused Lloyd at first, but upon understanding the word "explosive" his expression changed to one of alarm as soon as he saw the device on the wall. That thing must have been one of the explosives.

- Kai, Nya, we have to get out of here - suddenly the device turned on and emitted a dim light that blinked somewhat slowly while emitting a simple alarm beep. That was his signal to start running - Now, already! –

The three ninjas wasted no time and started running towards the exit of the tunnel.

- But what about the miners? – Nya asks hastily.

- Surely the others already found them, sister - says Kai.

The devices began to ring faster than normal, which meant that the devices would soon explode. But despite increasing their speed the devices soon increased the sound to finally stop in a long beep and then start with the repeated explosions in different parts of the tunnel.

Cole and the others had already made it out of the tunnel with the miners, and it wasn't long before they felt the many tremors and the sound of explosions inside the mines.

- What's that? – asks one of the officers.

- The devices were activated apparently, the explosions are being activated making the mine unstable and collapse - explains Zane.

- Lloyd, Nya and Kai haven't come out of the mine yet! – Jay yells in alarm as he looks in the direction of the explosions. Even Cole and Zane had worried and horrified looks knowing that their other friends still hadn't come out of the tunnel where the explosions came from.

The place began to shake more and everyone must have moved as far away as they could from the tunnels, which began to collapse causing large stones to fall and raise a lot of dust from the ground.

Inside the tunnel, things had gotten complicated for the three ninjas who were still stuck there between so much disaster and falling rocks. The three had to do zig-zag techniques in order to avoid the rocks that fell from the roof of the tunnel, they stumbled among the falling rocks but still ran to get out of that place. But Lloyd fell to the ground after his foot caught on a large rock on the ground. Nya was the only one to notice that.

- Lloyd! – Nya ran towards Lloyd to be able to pick him up and run again, but the rocks had already completely surrounded them.

Kai stopped and that he was ahead, he was the fastest of the ninjas, apart from Jay, but seeing that his sister and Lloyd were no longer following him as he thought he saw how the two, his younger brothers, were trapped between the rocks that fell from above, he did not think twice and did what he should do as the older brother of the two, he had to protect them, even though it means being crushed by huge rocks.

Forcing his legs to run faster, he felt how the fire suddenly began to invade his body as if it were huge fathoms embracing him completely, but without burning himself, he did not feel burned, he only felt a slight sensation that his own fire it was heated, as if it were a great locomotive being fueled by coal.

Nya, seeing that a large rock was going to fall on the two of them, instinctively, almost maternally, covered Lloyd with her body, even though that would be useless if the rock managed to fall on both of them.

- Whoa, Lloyd! - I scream at the top of my lungs as if begging the seven winds that his hand could reach them and save them, instead, the same warmth that he suddenly felt now felt like a kind of burning ember that burned tremendously in his heart, the feeling of being able to protect his brothers is the same as he felt when he saved Lloyd from the volcano, but stronger than ever, the lava may have increased its fire that day, but where they are there is no lava or a source of heat that Kai's power brings, rather this would be the perfect place for Cole's power right now.

But he didn't need a heat source for what he was about to do, the fire that was already emanating from him and from his heart was enough to generate a great shield of fire that is capable of holding one of the huge rocks that almost crush his little brothers. Kai looked like a living human torch, after being able to get there in time with Nya and Lloyd, the fire that emanated from him helped the other rocks not fall on the three of them, it was only enough for Kai to hold the big rock that he was holding now with his two arms.

Breathing contempt for a minute inside Kai's body, he felt how his hands held the heavy rock and how his back and head were severely hit by it, for a minute he felt as if he was going to collapse, but he resisted the urge to scream in pain as soon as the rock hit his body, he had seen how Cole carried heavy things, but Kai thought he got over it with this rock, but maybe that was due to his fire, which served as a second support for Kai, the fire was able to create a shield that was able to prevent the rock from completely falling to the ground, it's like his fire was a secondary super power that suddenly emerged from Kai's body. Even the fire avoided hurting Nya and Lloyd on the spot, the two just covered their eyes to such a strong light emanating from Kai's fire, it seemed almost a miracle that the fire didn't burn them, although Lloyd felt a kind of let down. -vu seeing Kai's fire acting again.

Most of the fire disdained, but Kai's hands were still burning, it was something similar to Cole's power, Lloyd and Nya soon took a good look at their older brother, Kai seemed to be suffering from the weight of the rock on his body, his legs barely supported the weight, his body was trembling from the maximum effort he was giving in order not to let the rock crush them. His breathing was raspy and labored, it was as if the breath had left him completely.

Kai even seemed to be badly injured upon impact. The fresh blood ran like a river and fell on the ground from his head and neck, he clenched his teeth with the intention of holding back a pitiful scream and his grunts of effort suppressed his moans of pain, Kai may have managed to stop the impact, but now the question was about how long it would last in this state it is in now. Even Kai internally feared that at some point his legs would buckle and the rock would completely crush him to the ground. But he had to hold on, he had to bear this weight on him, because if he hesitated for an instant the rock would completely crush not only him, but Nya and Lloyd as well.

- Kai? – Nya was the first to come out of her shock as she looked at her brother in shock. Same thing with Lloyd.

- I-Okay, Nya...s-just...please...call the others because... - he lets out a pitiful groan as he puts more force on the rock – I don't know how much...I can resist... -

Nya gave a hasty nod as she removed her comm and sent a distress signal to the others' comms, only praying that the signal if it got through to the others.

- D-Damn... - Kai grunted in pain – I-I knew that Cole carried heavy things, but...this thing that I'm carrying now...it will surely make me overcome it, don't you think...? – He mocks as he lets out a kind of dry cough that almost makes his legs fall completely to the ground.

- Just hang on, Kai. We'll get out of here, just hold on a little longer - Lloyd assures his brother as he began to check the surroundings in search of some other exit, he even began to push several rocks to find that exit he thought to find.

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Cole, Zane and Jay began to move several of the rocks with the help of the mine's machinery in order to create an exit that would take them safely to their friends since the signal that Nya had sent them had reached Zane's sensors. , the miners offered to help them as well as the other policemen and doctors who were at the scene. The plan was to remove as many rocks as possible without the need for explosions, since if there is another explosion there could be another collapse inside the mine, the idea was that after removing as many rocks from the entrance Cole would use his powers of Earth Master and move the other amount that was obstructing the tunnel and create some new stone columns so they can prevent another cave-in once they and the rescue team go inside to look for Kai, Nya and Lloyd. They just hoped and that they were okay.

- Gentlemen Ninja, we have already removed the rocks from the entrance - one of the miners informed the ninjas who were organizing the rescue plan with the medical personnel in case they found their friends badly injured.

- Well, now it's my turn - Cole said at the moment of activating his earth powers and forcing several rocks to move to open a path in the tunnel and place the largest ones as columns that would support the tunnel. The plan seemed to work as Cole managed to make his way through the tunnel - It's working, everyone follow me - his two friends soon followed suit as well as the rescue team.

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The time that Kai still supported the weight of the rock seemed to be eternal, Nya managed to send the distress signal and suddenly began to help Lloyd move some of the rocks to find a way out, Kai knew that a wrong or sudden movement for his part he would make the rock crush him completely. His breathing became labored with each exhalation released from his throat, the loss of blood began to affect him as he suddenly began to feel very, very tired and dizzy. But he refused to pass out, since that would be the worst mistake of his life, his fire slowly began to go out, and if it went out completely he would no longer have the superhuman strength to be able to hold the rock, Kai forced himself to Even supporting the rock, he internally ordered his element not to dare to go out, he even felt that his hands were beginning to hurt, and he didn't know if it was because of the rock or because his own fire was beginning to burn the palms of his hands.

The only thing that kept him conscious was the fact of seeing his younger brothers desperately trying to find a way out, between his tired snorts he only kept focused on seeing his brothers. He didn't want to let them die like this, bearing this kind of weight didn't compare to the weight of his heart as he tried different ways to protect his family from all the dangers in the world. Now was not the time to falter and buckle under the weight of an insignificant rock, Kai seriously focused on his breathing with the intention of not becoming even more tired than he already was. Even Nya had yelled at him not to stop breathing as Wu had taught him in cases like these. He felt his muscles tense so intensely that he could feel his bones almost breaking from the tremendous weight he was holding. Kai tried to imagine that he would get out of this situation, the three of them would get out of this situation, the boys would find them and he would rest for a long time on the couch in the Monastery and pretend that this death situation never happened. He forced his body to remain firm like an imposing wall, it hurt, it hurt a lot, but Kai resisted it like a champion.

But he was beginning to tire, to run out of strength, as he would now like Nya to yell at him not to give up, at least her screams would make him stay awake and remind him why he was holding this heavy rock.

"Do, whatever you do, Kai. Don't get tired, don't fall asleep, don't fall, don't cry, don't complain, don't bow down...because if you do...your brothers will die because of your lack of strength"

It is what was repeated over and over in his head with the intention of not giving up.

- Kai? Nya? Lloyd? They are there? – Suddenly the three heard the familiar voices that they wanted to hear so much now. If Cole found them, that meant the others did too.

- Cole! Cole! – Lloyd hurriedly yells in the direction in which he poked his friend - We're over here! We are here! Can you hear us?! –

- Lloyd?! I hear you, friend! Don't worry, we're coming! –

- Fast! I don't know how much longer we're going to last! –

- Everything will be fine Kai, the boys found us, you will be fine - Nya says in a sure way, but with a slight concern in her voice, while gently taking her brother's face in her hands, she had knelt in front of him to assure him that everything was going to end and the three of them would leave the cave.

Kai couldn't seem to take it anymore, he barely identified his sister's words, the commotion in his head must have affected his hearing system in his ears since all he heard were weak whispers almost half empty and understandable - Huh...? – A confused and tired expression was all Kai could show to his sister, who was looking at him worriedly. She also knew that her brother wouldn't last long, as did Lloyd, who just kept looking at Kai.

The rocks around them soon moved magically thanks to Cole's power, the faces of their friends soon appeared through the disturbed rocks, Nya and Lloyd had never felt so relieved in their lives, they finally found them, and with help! The boys had managed to bring help, they knew this would be of use to Kai. Nya and Lloyd were relieved to know that their brother would have the help he needed now.

Cole, seeing how Kai supported the large rock that prevented them from being crushed, wasted no time and using his powers, he took away the large rock that Kai was carrying. Cole didn't know how Kai withstood that huge boulder, but he was glad that his friend held on long enough to get them out in time, even glad that he brought the rescue team with him.

Kai didn't know when the rock was removed from his hands, he only knew that in his tired mind that the weight he felt was fading from his hands, he thought that maybe now he could just relax for a minute, maybe close his eyes and pass out. A few minutes wouldn't hurt him or his brothers, they would understand after all right?

Nya and Lloyd were very quick to catch Kai when he immediately collapsed as soon as the rock was removed from his hands, even his fire immediately extinguished from his hands as if they were candles. He fell completely exhausted into the arms of his brothers, they even saw most of his injuries, open wounds on his head, cuts and burns on his arms and his back seemed to take the brunt, the fabric on his back was torn and the blood came out of his wounds, they just hoped and that they were not so severe.

- Oh, friend, it doesn't look very good - Jay reached them along with Zane and they helped Kai in the same way, Zane quickly scanned Kai and by his expression he seemed to be mean.

- Kai's wounds are serious, as is his body, but if we hurry we can help him - Zane made a sign to the doctors who accompanied them and told them to take care of Kai. The medics brought a stretcher with them, well actually there were three of them in case all three of them got hurt, it was lucky that Nya and Lloyd weren't hurt either, maybe a bit shocked and had minor injuries from the collapse, but at least they were okay , the only serious one was Kai, who urgently needed help.

The doctors carefully removed Kai while they all left in the same direction they came from, being at the exit the ninjas discussed if they should take Kai to the hospital but Zane made calculations and the best thing would be to treat him in the Bounty, since apparently Kai lost a lot of blood and if he lost more he could die of hemorrhage, Zane had the knowledge to treat Kai, and it was lucky that the Bounty had installed a room with medical equipment of any kind.

The ninjas carefully carried Kai's stretcher to the Bounty, the police officers would stay in the place to continue investigating the case, in case they found something new about why the attack happened they promised to contact the ninjas.

Zane hurriedly treated Kai, stitching up his deepest and most severe wounds, applying ointment to the burns on his arms and wrapping large gauze pads around Kai's back wounds, apparently the most severe, counting the one on the other side. head, but it wasn't severe enough to cause long-term damage in the future. Zane didn't have any blood transfusions for Kai, but seeing Kai's condition in detail he thought that maybe he would survive without the transfusion, after all he wasn't in critical risk, now it seemed all he needed was to rest a lot, since at It seemed his muscles were very tight, but it was something that Zane could solve, after all Cole was the perfect example when it came to cases of strained and injured muscles.

The others were waiting outside the room, and as soon as they saw Zane leave they gathered around him.

- How's Kai, Zane? – Nya asked, worried about her brother's condition.

- Kai will be fine, of course he suffered several severe injuries but, nothing that time can fix, but he is physically damaged almost all over his body, especially in his back, but I already took care of giving him the necessary medicines. He's going to recover, but we'll have to keep an eye on him in case of an emergency – explains Zane calmly, giving everyone a calm and serene expression in front of everyone.

Zane's response was enough to ease everyone's tension and worry, Kai would be fine, and that was more than enough.

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A few days passed and Kai's condition seemed to be improving, but little by little, after installing him in the monastery and in the room used as an infirmary, Kai had woken up the day after the incident, but with a horrible headache and back pain. that made him wish he was better off dead than alive. Even so, Kai seemed to be fine, badly hurt and in a bad mood for not being able to move freely as he wishes, but well, after waking up he asked desperately for Nya and Lloyd, the sudden sudden movement he made made him moan in pain, if it wasn't for painkillers by now I'd be screaming in agony. Luckily he calmed down when he saw that his younger brothers were fine, the two immediately came to the room as soon as they heard the voice of his older brother awake. Zane was the one with him when he woke up, but that was because he was checking his vital signs and changing the bandages on his arms, he had to do it so the burns would heal faster, also, Wu helped with some medications. so that Kai would recover faster from his injuries.

Kai was happy and relieved to know that at least his heroic (or foolish and reckless) action would help his two younger brothers to be okay. That was all he wanted to know, that his family was okay. But he was not saved from being cared for like a baby by his brothers, it's not that he doesn't complain, it's just that Nya, his little sister, thought it would be a good revenge for worrying them, they wouldn't let him or do the simplest things while he was in bed, they wouldn't let him turn on the TV with the remote control, drink a glass of water by himself, or even take his medications, which Zane strictly forced him to take, as Kai complained about the almost bitter taste. Of medicine. Even Wu supported his actions, much to Kai's anger.

- Hey, you know we do this not just because we want to, right? This may be the funniest thing in the world and he's enjoying it - Nya said with a mocking expression on her face - But you know we're doing it because we're worried about you, right? – From having a mocking expression, it became a worried expression on his face.

- Yeah, I know - Kai admits tiredly as he looks at his sister. Lloyd was also there, but on the other side of the bed with Kai, he was carefully observing Kai and Nya's conversation - It's just that... they make me feel a little incompetent by not letting me do even the simplest things that I can do, despite my state –

- Don't worry, we won't do it for a long time, we just did it as a little revenge for having worried us - Nya says looking at her brother with a triumphant smile on her face.

- Ha–Ha – Kai laughs falsely at Nya's comment – ​​How funny – Kai's comment makes Lloyd laugh from his place.

- But to be honest, if you scared us a lot, we were trapped in the mine, if not for your powers of fire, maybe the three of us would have died, it was something, so to speak, intelligent and brave on your part, but your action left severely injured. Just please don't do it again if we find ourselves in a similar situation in the future – Lloyd says quietly as he looks at Kai with a worried look.

- Don't even mention it, I prefer not to repeat that situation again, what's more I would like it not to happen to us again in the future - Nya says severely before her brothers - But... and if it really happens, the three of us will share the same weight , not just one of us, if something happens to someone and they have to bear the weight of everything, we will share the weight of that burden, okay? – Nya looks at them seriously, but eager to hear their answers.

- Okay - Lloyd affirms with a proud smile on his face. Only Kai was missing.

- I wouldn't...I'd like any of you to get hurt, but...yes, I agree with what you said, sister – Kai says with a slightly insecure tone, but just as serious in his expression on his face. Nya sighs and pats him hard on the back.

- OUCH! Ouch! That hurt! What's wrong with you, Nya?! – Kai complains as he shifts uncomfortably on his bed after his younger sister's "playful" hit. Lloyd laughs at Kai's reaction instead of worrying.

- Don't worry me like that again, okay, fool? – Nya says looking at Kai with a childish and mischievous smile displayed on her face as she turns to see him.

- Yes, yes, whatever prevents you from hitting me like that again - growls Kai in a childish way in his last comment.

Kai may not admit it, but what Nya said made him think, "carry all three with the same weight?", it was something that Kai didn't think much about, as an older brother his duty was always to take care of his younger siblings, and Kai took that role seriously since his parents were captured by Krux, Kai put up with Nya a lot, he would rather take all the punches in the world than Nya did, the same with Lloyd, but the situation with Lloyd turned out to be a bit difficult The blows were coming long before Kai was aware of it, but he was still on his toes. This was the weight that Kai decided to carry and that he still carried, the weight of the rock will never exceed the weight that he must always carry day by day, a weight that neither his brothers nor his friends will be able to see inside, since it was something that Kai decided to carry alone, but seeing those smiles on the faces of his brothers made at least the weight he was carrying feel light from time to time and that calmed his heart, they were moments that Kai enjoyed a lot and it makes him feel really at peace with himself.

Carrying a load can only be difficult and hurt you along the way, but there will always be people who take or lighten that load and take care of you from time to time so that you can once again bear all the weight that life gives you and those people may even want to share the weight with you. 

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