And He Had Already Accepted It

Chapter 5

(A/N): So we've come to the final chapter!!! I hope you enjoy it!!

The following morning, the two boys headed out from the cave again back into the forest. Zane nervously asked if he could hold Kai's hand, and Kai just as nervously agreed. They both felt different on this day somehow, but it was a feeling that they knew they could get used to.

"So, where to first?" Kai asked, squeezing Zane's hand tighter to get his attention as they walked. "Food, water, what do we need?"

"Hmm, I suppose we should find some breakfast first," Zane pondered aloud. "It is, after all, the most important meal of the-" he was cut off as he tripped over a branch, taking Kai down with him. As they fell, they both rolled down a hill and through some bushes.

"Ow," Kai groaned as they finally landed.

"Are you okay?" Zane found Kai's hand again and intertwined their fingers.

"Yeah, just sore," Kai managed out.

"Hey!" The two heard a voice near them, and the sound of a sword being unsheathed. They both sat up to see the rebel Min Walker pointing her sword right at them. "It's you two," she addressed, tone as sharp as her weapon.

"Don't hurt him!" Both boys shouted at the same time, Kai quickly grabbing onto Zane and shielding him from the sword. "Don't hurt us, please," Zane begged from behind Kai. "We'll go away, we promise, just leave us alone."

"No no, please," another voice cut in. The rebel leader Garmadon emerged from the surrounding foliage, nodding to Min as an order to put her weapon down. "I'm glad to see you two again."

And there they were, Master Garmadon, the leader of the rebellion, and his terrifying renegade student, Minerva Walker.

"We don't... upset you?" Kai asked tentatively, holding Zane tighter.

Garmadon snorted. "Who cares about how I feel? How you feel is bound to be much more interesting."

"W-well," Kai started, still hesitant, "I, for one, feel lost, a-and scared, but happy."

"Why am I so sure," Zane cut in, "that I'd rather be this, than everything I was supposed to be, and that I'd rather do this than everything I was supposed to do?"

Min giggled. "Welcome to Ninjago."

Zane pushed out of Kai's protective grip, standing up. "Can you tell me, how was Kai able to alter fate? Why am I so willing to give up everything? What, is this?"

Garmadon smiled knowingly. "No more questions." He leaned down and grabbed Kai's hand, helping him up, then grabbed Zane's hand, connecting them all. "Don't ever question this," he said. "You already are the answer."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Wow," Lloyd said in awe. "So that's how you two met?"

Zane nodded towards his "nephew" and Kai gave a smirk.

"Yup, little dude, it's sappy I know," Kai tried to play it off coolly, but Zane nevertheless noticed his flushed cheeks. "Now it's time for you to go to bed though."

"Aww, but I don't want to!" Lloyd whined. "I don't even know what the answer is!"

"The answer?" Kai asked, confused.

"To all those questions you guys asked my dad!"

"Oh! That! Uh, Zane, wanna take this one?"

Zane smiled down at his nephew. "The answer was love," he said softly, instinctively finding Kai's hand and holding it.

"Wow, I knew it," Lloyd fibbed, tucking his covers up higher around him.

Zane chuckled. "So did I."