What if things had gone far differently? In a world where dark and light are interlocked in a constant battle, where the land of Ninjago is slowly being taken over by the forces of darkness, the young blacksmith Kai is just trying to make enough money to support him and his sister. He desperately tries to leave the small town of Ignacia, whose people abandoned him and his sister after their parents' death, behind. But when an old stranger appears at their shop only days before they would be ready to leave, his plans are thrown in the blender. Especially considering he knows Kai's most well-guarded secret-Kai is the elemental master of fire. When his sister is kidnapped, the young blacksmith finds himself tangled in a war between the last elemental masters and Garmadon's Skulkin Army. His only chance of saving his sister lies in the ninja team his new master is assembling. A hyper teen with a horrible sense of humor, a cold, emotionless man that doesn't even understand humor, two sisters with a vendetta against Garmadon, and their withdrawn leader with a shaded past. With his sister's life on the line Kai is willing to do anything to get her back-even betray this newfound team of his. (Also available on AO3)