Ninjago: The Tribes AU

"Weak..."

Kai and Ronin were perched on a rock at the edge of the Jade Tribe village, watching its inhabitants carry on with their daily lives. From their vantage point, they could make out people tending to gardens, weaving baskets, and engaging in conversations. It was fascinating for them to look down upon the scene from such a height, where each activity seemed to blend in harmony with the others. A few children laughed and played at the edge of the village, and Kai and Ronin watched them silently, captivated by their innocence. It was almost bizarre to see children with little to no injuries. From there perspective, nearly from the second you were born into the Fire Tribe, you were forced into learning how to fight and fend for yourself. It was everyone for themselves. In fact, it was common for parents not to truly love their offspring. That was just the harsh reality of their tribe. There was no love, only fighting... only violence and power.... strength. That was all that mattered- that was all they knew. So watching the children run around and play with bliss was incredibly bizarre to them. At the age Nelson was now, Kai was being drilled on where to strike your enemy with your sword by Clouse. And that man never held back with the training sessions either; the giant gash of a scar over Kai’s eye proved that. But as they looked upon the peacefulness of the village, Kai and Ronin were reminded of the ultimate goal they shared: to find a way to betray the leaders, this village- and destroy it. That was still their goal, and nothing at the moment could stop them from accomplishing it. As many complicated feelings as they were feeling watching the villagers go about their lives, they did what they were taught to from a young age and suppressed them. Any slight sympathy was a sign of weakness. And weakness was something both Kai and Ronin had vowed to never show.
And then, almost as though he was trying to jump-scare them, Garmadon appeared behind them. The two jumped at the sudden appearance of the leader. "Ronin-" He spoke firmly. "Do you mind coming with me for a moment?"

The soldier hesitantly questioned why.

"Because-" Garmadon started. "For obvious reasons, I haven't gotten to talk to a Fire Tribe member and quite some time. As a tribe leader, I take it upon myself to know all I can about the other tribes. If you would, please come and take a walk with me. I'd like to hear more about your..... customs- first hand."

Kai shot Ronin the look of 'please don't leave me.' But the solder shrugged and followed Garmadon with a nod.

With a groan, the fire leader plopped down again. After a moment, his eyes opened and his vision snapped to a specific direction. He couldn't explain it, but he felt the presence, like someone was watching him. His firey orange eyes scanned the trees until they locked onto a shadowy figure almost directly above him; high in the trees. The shadow jumped down and landed on the rock Kai was sitting on; just behind him. It was Morro. He scowled down at the young emperor like he was openly judging him. "What are you planning?"

Kai scoffed. "I'm not planning anything. I'm just... looking at the scenery. And don't think I haven't noticed you've been watching me this whole time. I suggest you knock it off."

"No. I don’t trust you. You've got something up your sleeve- no monster that can do what they did to Kataru and Lloyd, and then turn around and be this passive..."

Kai snorted as Morro sat down next to him; of course, still keeping distance.
"You can use that flea bag all you want as a representation of how terrible we are, but it wasn't gonna be all bad. We were planning on putting him out of his misery sometime next week. And don't act like he hasn't been asking for it ever since he got here- cause I know that's what he wanted."

Morro paused. He... wasn't wrong. Almost the second Zane got him comfortable in the medical hut, he asked for him not to bother. And moments after the medic left for the first night, he told Morro that he was in pain and just wanted it to end. Kataru didn't feel like going on- he refused most help, and they could only treat his wounds when he was passed out from exhaustion. Only until he reunited with Akita did he realize there was a reason to keep living. Now, he was eating, drinking, and letting her help him heal. It was bitter-sweet to witness.

"Regardless-" Kai continued. "I'm surprised he made it this far... Considering the others didn't."

"What others?" Morro growled.

Kai chuckled like he knew something Morro didn't. "You really think we only stole one person that day? No, we took one from all of the tribes. That flea bag was the youngest though, so we expected him to go first. Surprisingly, it ended up being the opposite."

Morro snarled and pinned the fire leader to the ground. "YOU TOOK SOMEONE FROM MY TRIBE!?! WHO?!"

Kai shrugged. "Don't ask me- I think you forget last we attacked you maggots I was only 3. I don’t remember. All I know is that they died first."

Morro could not even begin to explain how much he wanted to tear Kai limb from limb in that moment. Especially considering that was probably what they did to his stolen member. But before he could do anything he'd possibly regret, he took a deep breath got off of him. That boy was just so.... wrong! Everything about him- down to the way he seemed so desensitized to idea of torture or murder. It was like taking another's life was a game. He laughed when remembering the people they killed from each of their tribes. That wasn't normal! That was not the response your supposed to have when you picture that kind of thing! Yet- HE seemed the one confused at MORRO’S reaction. It was weird. Morro sighed as he returned to the trees. "Like it or not, I'm keeping my eye on you." Then, he disappeared into the foliage.

Kai turned and looked back over the village. He watched curiously as one of the children playing tripped. Nelson and the other quickly turned around and helped him up, asking if he was alright. Kai thought back to a day when he was that age. He wasn't playing or having fun with other kids- he was training. The goal was to take a sword placed on a rock. It sounded simple, but Clouse used his powers to protect it and stop him from reaching it. The sorcerer beat the boy down with his magic tendrills- not holding back. Kai coughed as he stood up; little body covered in scars and bruises. He ran at full speed towards the man with determination in his eyes, but a tendrill whipped his face and sent him slamming into the stone ground. Kai cried out in pain as he grabbed his face. It stung. It felt like no pain he had ever experienced before. His trembling hands lowered and they, along with the entire side of his face was stained crimson red. The young boy felt his heart rate skyrocket. Blood poured down his face like a waterfall and he lost sight in one eye. Clouse bent down and held his hand, covered by his sleeve, to the gash. He put pressure on it, seemingly to help the bleeding stop. The leader was desperately trying to hold back the tears, but a few were still flowing out.

"Oh, come now young master- what did I say about crying?" The man said almost coldly.

"It makes us weak." He sniffled.

"Good. Now, I suggest you get yourself sorted out." Clouse got up and began to walk out, leaving Kai to stop the rest of the blood flow himself. "I think you've done enough training for today."

As Clouse disappeared out one of the doors, the boy stood up and tried desperately not to cry from the pain of the searing wound etched deep into his face. He could swear he felt the bone underneath. He held all the emotions he was feeling back.
"Push it down..." He whispered to himself. "Don't... don't feel. Just like he taught you." Letting out a deep sigh, he suppressed all the tears and his expression turned emotionless. "No weakness."

Kai snapped out of the flashback and continued to watch the village. Everyone seemed to be smiling. Genuinely happy smiling. The fire leader tilted his head. Did he ever do that? Or was his smile only a mask to hide........... no. Enough of that train of thought! He was NOT weak.

Elsewhere, Clouse walked down a dark corridor lined with torches. He exited in a chamber that was dark and cold. An evil scent hung in the air as the sorcerer closed himself into the room. The man glanced over in the corner where a purple crystal was placed and stared longingly into it. Then, he turned his attention to a stone pedestal in the center back of the room. His eyes glistened with an ominous purple glow and his hands glowed the same color as he placed them on the table. Markings began to form on the top of it, filling in with the purple light. Soon enough, the full pattern was glowing in front of him. It resembled a snake. He held out two hairs and a purple scale, placing them on the pedestal. One hair was red, and the other was blonde. Clouse scoffed at the blonde one. "Lucky you, Wu- you get to help me destroy your father's realm. Your sacrifice is much appreciated. It's a true shame I had to kill you back then- I'd love to see your face as I crush everything you ever held dear." Clouse's eyes burned as he watched the red hair. "And you. You'll be out soon."