No Title, Just RBG Angst (Puppet AU)
Summary: After over a year, the ninja have tracked down Kai’s location to a small village, but what exactly he’s doing there, none of them could’ve expected.
(Like all Puppet AU content, the AU isn’t mine, it’s @kittydemon9000’s, go look at their cool shit)
The blood in Nya’s veins is boiling.
Seriously, more than it ever has, even for someone like Nadakhan. Because this? This is too far.
It’s been over a year since she last saw her older brother, and she and the others have barely slept, Lloyd especially. Even Misako and Sensei Wu haven’t rested since Kai’s disappearance.
It was supposed to be a simple mission: capture some rouge Serpentine and get them back to the city for Skales to deal with, nothing new there, just a typical Tuesday.
But it was new.
Because Kai never came back, gone without trace.
That’s when the search began. Posters, emails, billboards, TV appearances… anything they could do to get the word out and let people know to be on the lookout…
And that leads to earlier in the day.
Someone had contacted The Bounty, saying they saw someone that looks just like Kai in a village a few hundred miles from Ninjago City. After a year of dead ends, the ninja team ventured out on foot so as to not alert Kai’s kidnappers. If this was, in fact, Kai.
But they found nothing. Many villagers claimed they saw him, but none could tell them where he went.
That’s when they stumbled upon a chalkboard advertisement.
It was for a puppet show, run by some semi-known legacy performer. The ninja went just because they thought they could use a break, something to take their minds off of things…
The puppet should’ve been their first hint something was very wrong.
“It” looked just like Kai, but, since it was just a marionette, the team didn’t- they didn’t think-
They went up to the owner of the show afterwards, a tall, very unsettling person who only addresses themselves by “Puppeteer”. If they only had the purple suit and cape, then yeah, maybe they were just a little eccentric…
But his mask was downright CREEPY.
It was made to look like one of those comedy masks from ancient theater, the kind of stuff Sensei Wu would’ve seen around when he was young.
Anyway, Lloyd asked about the doll, explaining their situation with Kai being missing. They thought that, behind the creepy mask and weirdly on the nose stage name, Puppeteer was truly trying to help them.
They should’ve known better.
The team was allowed backstage to talk privately, away from any stragglers in the audience, which is where Nya saw the puppet hanging from a giant cross brace on stage left. “It” looked even more like her brother up close, even having a chip in “its” “skin” over “its” eye to match Kai’s scar.
Puppeteer called it attention to detail.
Nya calls it sick degeneracy.
While the others talked, Nya’s gaze was kept firmly on the puppet, something about “it” seeming just… too uncanny for her liking.
And that’s when she noticed it.
A detail so small, so perfect, that not even Puppeteer’s alleged “attention to detail” could catch.
A scar. One small, tiny scar ok the puppet’s foot.
A scar on Kai that only he and Nya knew about. One he’d gotten from a minor blacksmithing accident when they were kids.
That’s when it all clicked.
The puppet didn’t just look like Kai…
It was Kai.
All this time he was gone, he was really here, with some traveling show, stuck as the main attraction: a puppet!
Nya couldn’t imagine how long her brother’s been stuck like this. Could he even think anymore? Was he aware of his surroundings? What exactly is the extent of what this monster’s done to him?
Which is why she and the others are currently outside of the carriage they followed Puppeteer to.
They know where Kai is now. They just need to get him back and hopefully reverse whatever magic’s been done to him.
“Zane.” Nya whispers, “Do you hear anyone inside?”
“I do not hear nor sense anyone is currently in the main entrance. We are free to enter.” Zane replies.
Without another thought to the matter, Nya hastily finished picking the lock and quietly sprints into the main room, which appears to be a small auditorium of some kind.
“Kai’s probably somewhere back there!” Lloyd exclaims, frantically gesturing to the stage.
Jay turns around to look at Lloyd annoyedly “Oh, really? This crazed puppet guy who turned Kai into some sideshow puppet wouldn’t just keep his star attraction out on the open?? WHAT A SUR- mrf-!”
Cole covers his friend’s mouth.
“Shut up! Do you want to find out what happens if we’re caught??” He questions.
Jay shakes his head, still glaring at Cole.
“Well then cram it, Zaptrap. This could be our one shot to get Kai back.”
Cole lets go of the motormouth, with a light shove for good measure.
“Stop messing around, guys.” Lloyd comments as he makes his way behind the curtains.
“But they were not, they simply-“ Zane tries to say but is cut off by Cole’s hand on his shoulder.
“Greenie’s just worried, Frosty. Let’s not focus on the semantics.”
Zane nods before he and the rest of the team follow Lloyd backstage, where, much to their dismay, Kai isn’t.
But that’s when they hear it.
Exuding from a seemingly unimportant door, comes music. Older music, sure, but music nonetheless.
Lloyd looks amongst his team before drawing his sword, the others doing the same with their respective weapons, all understanding they may be in for the fight of their lives.
With a deep breath, Lloyd opens the door to reveal…
A corridor.
A long, dark, creepy corridor.
Lloyd motions for the others to follow him, the only lights in their path being the glow of Zane’s eyes.
Nya hates to admit it, but the whole thing is makes her skin crawl. Has this carriage really been Kai’s whole world for a year?
It must’ve been hell…
The music grows louder.
A few doors down, Zane halts the group, pointing to the door they’re currently in front of.
“Here is where the music is coming from.” Zane states.
“Then what are we waiting for??” Nya impatiently asks, “Let’s go get my brother!”
“Perhaps we should think of a plan before we jump to any-“
Zane’s words fall on deaf ears as Nya and Lloyd bust open the door, trident and sword ready to maim Puppeteer at a moment’s notice.
But that isn’t what they come across when inside.
No, instead of anger, the sight makes their hearts simultaneously drop and pound in their chests. The siblings’ grips on their weapons loosing as their eyes widen in shock, tears pricking at their eyes.
Why?
Because in the door, dancing almost hauntingly perfectly, is Kai.
Not a puppet, nor made of a wood, just… Kai.
He’s in a black dance uniform with his hair slicked down, but he’s still Kai!
“Kai!” Nya exclaims, “We- We’re here! We’re gonna bring you home!”
The master of water’s hear pounds in anticipation of her brother’s response…
But none comes.
“Kai..?” Lloyd asks, “You- you do know who we are, right?”
Nya’s heart practically stops at Lloyd’s insinuation. She hadn’t considered the idea of brainwashing. Puppeteer could’ve convinced Kai of anything he wanted if that was the case…
Maybe even something like forgetting his family.
“Hairgel, this isn’t the time to be ignoring us.” Cole steps into the room, “You need to stop dancing.”
Kai makes a leap across the room…
Still no response.
“Ugh! This is IMPOSSIBLE!” Jay groans, “We’re not gonna get Kai back because he’s probably been BRAINWASHED into thinking this is ok and that- OW!”
Cole smacks the back of Jay’s head.
“Motormouth, he’s been stuck here for a year! Maybe think about that before talking!
Jay rubs his head, but shuts up.
“Kai… please, answer us.” Nya pleads, “We’re going to rescue you! You don’t have to be here anymore! Not- Not with that monster!”
Kai halts his dance, side-eyeing his sister.
The ninja hold their breaths.
Kai silently walks over to the record player, where the music was evidently coming from, and turns it of.
“And what makes you think I want to leave?” He asks monotonously.
“What?” Nya gasps, “B-Because you were kidnapped! We’ve been looking-“
“If you were looking, you would’ve found me earlier.” Kai accuses.
“Realistically, given that you were constantly changing locations, no, we could not have.” Zane rebuts.
“Heh- oh yeah? Then I’m sure you all immediately realized who I was onstage then, right?”
The group falls silent…
Nya wants to say something, but even she didn’t realize until seeing Kai up close.
“That’s what I thought. Just do us all a favor and forget I’m here, I’m not interested in rejoining you all.”
“But- Kai-“ Lloyd chokes out.
“Don’t ‘but Kai’ me! You all abandoned me!” Kai shouts, tears sparkling in the corners of his eyes.
“We were looking! We haven’t stopped this whole time!”
“Then why didn’t you find me?! It’s not like I was in the same village I disappeared in for *days* after Puppeteer took me in!”
“We- we checked the whole village! People saw you run off… but not where to.”
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
“Where’s your uniform?” Jay asks without thinking, “You’re kinda gonna need it for-“
“Don’t you get it?!” Kai snaps back, “*This* is my uniform now.”
“You’re not a dancer, Kai.” Cole adds.
“You’re absolutely right.” Kai responds, leaving the others at a loss for words.
Not a dancer? But that’s what he’s been doing, is it not? If not a dancer, then what-
“I’m Puppeteer’s doll now.”
“…What?!” Nya demands, anger rising in her voice.
“Did I stutter?? I said-”
“We heard you.” Lloyd interjects, “But this isn’t you! You- you’re a ninja, Kai! You’re not some- some doll!”
“Last I checked, I get a say in what I am, and I’ve gotta say: being a doll for Puppeteer is better than being a ninja for you any day! So leave me alone and stop acting like we’re still family!”
A silence befalls the ninja.
Lloyd’s sword drops.
Nya has to catch her brother, who almost collapses in shock.
“The hell, Kai?!”
“Hestia.”
“What-“
“I don’t really use ‘Kai’ anymore.” He states, shockingly unresponsive to his little brother’s plight.
“But that’s your name!” Nya shouts back, “You’re Kai! Kai Smith! Master of Fire! Red Ninja! Our brother!”
“Well, it’s too bad you threw away all of those things when you decided to stop looking for me! Puppeteer warned me you’d try to lie like this, and I’m not fucking having it, ok?! I’m not Kai, I’m not your brother, and I’m absolutely NOT a ninja! Ok?!”
Nya grits her teeth, eyes narrowing at her brother.
“SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO YOURSELF! YOU’VE BEEN BRAINWASHED, KAI! LET US HELP YOU!”
“Well I-”
“𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒮𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓁𝑒𝓇? Is everything alright?” A voice comes from the doorway.
The ninja all snap their heads to face Puppeteer, mask and voice has chipper as before.
Nya hands Lloyd off to Zane.
“Everything is NOT alright you SON OF A-“
As Nya draws her sword to attack, a wall of fire separates her from Puppeteer.
“H-Huh?” She looks at back to brother, flames licking his frame as his arms are outstretched.
“Don’t hurt him. He’s more my family than you were.” Kai glares.
Nya would be lying if she said that didn’t sting.
“And no, Puppeteer, they were just watching me practice our new routine and were about to leave.” he continues.
“Like hell we-“
“Please, escort them out.”
“Kai… we’re not going to leave-“ Lloyd tries to say, but is cut off.
“Out. Now.”
Nya’s grip on her trident tightens as her whole body tenses.
She- she can’t leave her brother. She just- she can’t! He’s so clearly been brainwashed by this lunatic that he- he-
“AUGH!” Nya shouts, all of her pain and frustration unable to be put into words.
“𝒪𝒽 𝓂𝓎, you are quite the 𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓎 one, aren’t you?” Puppeteer comments.
“Cram it, asshole! You’re nothing more than a fucking monster!”
Puppeteer falls silent for a moment.
“𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒮𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓁𝑒𝓇, might I..?”
“Don’t, it’ll just convince them more I’m somehow suffering here. Just… get them out some other way.”
“Ah, 𝐼 𝓈𝑒𝑒.” Puppeteer comments, looking around at the ninja before speaking once more, this time in some kind of… unknown language.
Nya conjures a torrent of water, channeling all of her rage, all of her fury, and all of her pain into one singular blast of water, and once it’s fired…
It slices a tree clean in half.
…A tree? But they were all just-
Looking around, Nya and the others notice how they’re no longer in the carriage, but, rather, about a few yards away from it outside.
…What?
Before anyone can properly react, the sound of clopping hooves and turning wheels echos throughout the thin forest.
The carriage- it’s leaving.
No- not now, not today, LIKE FUCKING HELL THEY’RE TAKING HER BROTHER AWAY AGAIN!
And so, Nya runs.
For how long? She couldn’t tell you.
But by the end of it, the carriage is at least half a mile away and the sun is peeking up over the horizon.
She falls to the ground, legs too exhausted to carry her anymore.
She isn’t sure when she falls asleep, but she wakes back in bed to Misako holding a cold washcloth onto her forehead.
Misako says something Nya doesn’t understand.
But she doesn’t care.
She’d care if her brother were around.
But he isn’t.
She failed.
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