Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 51- Shutdown

Z A N E

Smoke. Ash. Destruction.

Everything was happening too fast.

I moved quickly, my systems running at maximum capacity, analyzing every injury, every movement, every possibility. My primary focus was to protect.

Kai lay slumped against the rubble, his body battered, burns and bruises covering his exposed skin. His breathing was labored,
shallow, his pulse erratic. His body temperature was dangerously high—he had pushed himself too far, and now he was paying the price.

His chest wound hadn't even healed properly, and he'd put himself through this.

I crouched beside him, running a quick scan. The results were... concerning.

"Zane," he rasped. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "How bad?"

I hesitated. The logical course of action was to be honest. But logic did not account for hope.

"You are in a bad condition," I admitted, keeping my tone steady. "You require medical attention. But it's not immediate."

Kai exhaled sharply, something like a chuckle breaking through his pained expression. "Yeah... thought so." His fingers twitched. "Not out yet, then."

He was stubborn. But he wouldn't last much longer.

A sudden explosion split the air. I turned sharply, my sensors locking onto the battle raging ahead.

Cole. The Forbidden Scroll. The Overlord.

The ninja was glowing. The golden energy of the Forbidden Scroll burned around him, ancient and raw. The Overlord countered every attack with raw energy, lightning crackling as they clashed.

Jay never used his powers like this. It was too powerful, too dangerous, too uncontrolled-

I had no idea that he had to restrain from using his full capacity so much.

Rue was still on her feet. Barely. She was clutching the Mirror of Shadows tightly, her breaths ragged. Her vines coiled and struck, though I could tell the pain was taking its toll. She was hurting. But she was still fighting.

We were still fighting.

I could not just stay here. I could not just let them fight alone.

I turned back to Kai, pressing a firm hand against his shoulder. "Stay down. Conserve your strength."

He tried to smirk, but it looked more like a grimace. "No promises."

I didn't have time to argue.

I ran toward the fight.

Cole caught my eye and threw the scroll.

I caught it mid-air, feeling the energy pulse through me like wildfire.

It was horrible.

The last time I'd used this— it didn't end well.

The moment it touched my hands, my systems reacted, absorbing the power, syncing with its movements. It was wrong. So wrong.

But it was the only way.

The Overlord's eyes narrowed as I lunged.

I struck. The scroll's energy amplified my attacks, my ice sharp, precise, unrelenting. Cole was beside me in an instant, reclaiming the scroll as I passed it back. We moved in sync, trading it between us, our attacks seamless—earth and ice, power and precision, holding our own.