A Cautionary Tale

Part 8

Zane led the group of four up to what felt like, and probably was, the tallest tower. "Okay guys," Kai said. "What're we doing up here? Shouldn't we be returning home?"

"We will shortly," Zane told him nonchalantly. "There is something we feel you may enjoy up here."

Kai just shrugged and tried not to think about it too hard. He had seen a lot of weird things today.

Once they approached the door to the tower, Kai somehow found himself in the front of the group. He opened the door and leaped back in surprise when a crap ton of people screamed, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAI!"

Jay helpfully shoved a shocked Kai into the room, donning a toothy grin. Once he recovered from shock, the spiky haired teen's heart died a little bit.

Directly in front of him was Lloyd, not on his stilts anymore but aside from that completely in costume standing next to his father who was picking at some of the makeup on his face.

Skylor, Ronin, and Pixal were in a corner near a stack of presents, all three wearing... the bottom half of a nindroid costume? Kai couldn't help but let a happy laugh escape the confines of his mouth when his girlfriend winked at him. They were the three nindroids that weren't acting entirely like robots.

On the opposite end of the room was Lou who appeared to have been conversing with Ed and Edna Walker and Dr. Julien, the doctor sitting in front of a computer, presumably working on something.

Darreth, who still had his bow on his back even though Kai figured someone should have confiscated it by now, was slowly inching away from Skales (and inching towards a table of food) who was standing next to... a pink version of him. Upon noticing their hands intertwined and the way the pink snake's stomach bulged, Kai figured she was Skales' wife and that she was with child.

Lastly, legitimately sitting in the middle of the room sipping tea, was Sensei Wu.

"OKAY!" Jay started, "BEFORE WE HUG AND HAVE FUN AND TALK, I DEMAND A GROUP PICTURE! AND DON'T FORGET YOU ALL PROMISED!"

There were a few groans (mostly from Cole), but everyone in costume all gathered around Sensei Wu and posed while Ed snapped a few pictures.

"Question," Kai piped up after Lou demanded they take just a few more because 'My son just looks so adorable'. "I don't see the assassin, who was she?"

"Ya know," Nya said slyly, "I don't like to brag, but I totally had you fooled!"

Kai choked on air. "That was you?"

"You really think I'd be stuck in a cage the whole time? Pfft, please!" scoffed Nya.

"Technically you were only in the cage for twenty minutes," Zane spoke up. He grinned widely and turned to Kai. "Father, Mr. And Mrs. Walker, Lou, Sensei, Nya, and I waited up here during your quest! Father hooked everyone up with body cameras and put some cameras in key spots so we could watch you guys!"

Realization then dawned on Kai. "Ohh, that's where everyone ran off to after they 'died'!" he exclaimed.

"Duh," Cole snarked, rolling his eyes. "Where'd you think they went? The Departed Realm?"

Kai rolled his eyes. "Har har, Fairy Boy."

"I'm not a fairy!"

Jay laughed. "Yes you are Cole," he said, smirking before suddenly gasping. "Oh, that's right! I almost forgot something!"

Kai and the others watched with interest as Jay dug around in his bag. Letting out a cheer of victory, Jay pulled out a present wrapped with red gift wrap and tied with an orange ribbon. "Happy birthday, Kai!" the elf chirped, smiling.