Son of the Raging Tide

Chapter 1

A/N: I've had this story sitting in my files for way too long, it's time I finally published it. Since it's another one of my short stories, I'll be posting a new chapter every day until it's done. I've also got some other shorts on my FFN account that, for some reason, I never posted here, so I think I'll start adding those after I finish this one. 

I've always loved the idea that both of Kai and Nya's personalities are a mix of fire and water, and even though they may appear to be more like one than the other, they could have been born with either element. That's the cool thing about this family, it's your stereotypical FireTypeXWaterType trope, but it's their kids who are the main characters. And their kids are a perfect blend between both of them. Also I thought it would be really funny to watch Kai try to master an element he's terrified of so yeah XP Enjoy!

. . .

Kai sighed as he stood in the doorway of the disheveled tea shop, taking in the damage. There was hardly anything left on the shelves anymore, all the jars and teapots strewn across the floor alongside shattered porcelain bits. It was one of those times when he almost envied his sister and their friends. Most of the time, he was content to stay behind and leave the world-saving stuff to them. His place was at the forge, providing weapons that they could kick butt and protect themselves with. And yet, that also meant that he was often left with cleaning duty.

But this time . . . this time Lloyd was in danger. That kid had become like a little brother to Kai, and Kai couldn't stand the idea of him being possessed by that ghastly ghost with a grudge. This time, having to stay behind was almost too much to bear.

Taking another deep breath, Kai released the door frame from the iron grip of his anger. If he busied himself with fixing up the tea shop, then maybe it would get his mind off things and he wouldn't have to worry so much.

He approached the shelves on the back wall and went to work setting some of the stock back in their places. But his attention was taken again as Misako and Sensei Wu approached from behind.

"Kai," Misako started gently. "We didn't exactly bring you back to care for the shop."

He paused, turning back to them. "Then, what did you bring me back for . . . ?" What else was there for him to do? The wrecked shop seemed to be the most important thing right now. At least, the most important thing that he could actually help with.

Misako and Sensei Wu exchanged a look before Sensei heaved a sigh and began hesitantly, "There's something I haven't told you about your parents."

Kai waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, I know. Chen said something like that to Nya, too." Back when Master Chen had hosted the Tournament of Elements, Nya had been thrilled to meet another female ninja. Kai had been thrilled, too, when he first saw Skylor, but she had been too busy trying to save the world to notice him much. But Nya and Skylor had become fast friends, and when the ninja were captured by Chen, Nya used her leverage with his daughter to get on the inside and sabotage his plans. Chen had tried persuading Nya to join forces with him by saying that he knew secrets about her and Kai's parents, but it was mostly just more lies.

"We already looked into it," Kai explained as he went back to work, returning everything that wasn't broken back to the shelves. "We found out that Dad was the Master of Fire, but that didn't come as much of a surprise."

"But," Misako interjected, "did you know that your mother was the Master of Water?"

Kai paused, a glass jar in his hands. "I – what?" He turned to face them again, his attention finally caught. Then it dawned on him what they must be trying to say. "Wait, then that means . . ."

Sensei Wu nodded. "Yes. As Nya took on the traits of your father to become a fire ninja, for the sake of saving Ninjago, you must train to become a Master of Water."

Glass shattered as the jar slipped out of Kai's hands, but he barely noticed.

Water? The most uncontrollable and deadly force in the world? With its violent waves and raging currents that could suck a person into its depths, never to be seen or heard from again? And he was supposed to –?

Kai could have sworn the room was swaying. All of a sudden, he felt dizzy. Pieces of memory saturated his thoughts, of darkness and cold and hopelessness. Kai's breath caught in his throat as a single thought drowned out all others: Don't breath in.

Darkness took over and he blacked out.