JAY

Jay sprinted out of the Observation Room. He ran down the hall and away from his friends. He tried not to allow his thoughts to get the best of him.

Jay didn't want to think about how Kai, Cole, and Zane were relying on him to save them. Or how Jay didn't know where Lloyd or Nya was. Or that Jay didn't have Elemental Powers. Or that Jay had no plan.

Jay burst out of the compound. He ran past the current dragon trial. He had to move fast. Even though he didn't know where he was going.

He made eye contact with Soren. Jay ran into the village. He glanced behind him, expecting to see at least one person pursuing him. No one was there.

"Really? Does no one take me seriously?" Jay mumbled to himself.

At least Jay had time to think about his next move. He stopped running because no one was chasing him. Jay meandered towards the edge of the village. Why couldn't his brain think of anything of use? He didn't know where Nya and Lloyd were. He had no mode of transportation outside of walking. Wow, he didn't expect to let Kai, Cole, and Zane down so quickly.

"Jay?"

Jay turned to see Doctor Kirk approaching him.

"Oh, hi," Jay said, "Are you going to try and capture me?"

"No, I don't think I'd be able to," Doctor Kirk said, "I'm more curious as to why you are wandering around?"

"Just trying to escape," Jay said.

"How's it going?" Doctor Kirk said.

"Not very well," Jay said.

"I thought that Elemental Masters could summon dragons," Doctor Kirk said. He came alongside Jay.

"Yeah, my dragon isn't working right now," Jay said. His stomach twisted. Jay gave up his Elemental Power... for nothing.

Doctor Kirk put his hand on Jay's shoulder. The gesture was confusing. It was comforting but at the same time, Doctor Kirk was the enemy.

"Well, if I were you, I'd escape through the tunnel. It lets out a half a mile east of here."

Jay remembered how he entered Okuura via the tunnels. It didn't occur to him that the truck that brought him to the tunnel would still be there.

"I'm sure someone of your skillset can hotwire one of our trucks or planes," Doctor Kirk said.

"Not without tools," Jay said. Doctor Kirk beckoned Jay to follow him. Jay was hesitant. He kept his distance as Doctor Kirk led him to a house. He went inside. Jay debated entering. It could be an ambush.

Doctor Kirk came out a few moments later. He dangled a key ring from his hands and tossed them to Jay.

Jay stared at the two keys. One was for a vehicle. The other... Jay wasn't sure.

"Are you helping me?" Jay said, tearing his eyes away from his gift.

"I believe so," Doctor Kirk said, "Did you think we were talking for banter's sake?"

"Why?"

"Because inpatient work is erroneous work. Moses and I didn't wake up with the same intentions. We need to reevaluate our mission. And what we are willing to do to achieve our goal," Doctor Kirk said, "Besides, I've read somewhere that a few ninja know the location of the realm crystal. Perhaps befriending them is a better means to an end than kidnapping children."

"The best way to defeat an enemy is to make him your friend," Jay said. Doctor Kirk took in Jay's words. He nodded thoughtfully.

"You have a key to one of our trucks. The other is for our prison," he said, "You can bring your new friend with you."

"Thank you," Jay said. There was hope.

"You should go," Doctor Kirk said, "Before Moses comes to his senses and realizes you are a threat to him."

"If you're on our side now, can you make sure my friends don't get hurt? I'm coming back for them," Jay said.

"I'll do my best," Doctor Kirk said. Jay nodded. He'd be an idiot to fully trust Doctor Kirk. But he didn't have to help Jay. And he gave Jay an immense gift: the ability to see Nya again. Jay squeezed the keys in his hand. He was going to save his friends. Kai was right, he had to snap out of his spiral. He pretended like his friends are watching him. Remember to plaster a smile on his face, crack a few jokes, and keep going. Don't give them a reason to worry.

Jay ran towards the only tunnel entrance he knew of: outside the compound. Lucky for him, no one was trying to stop him. Soren eyed Jay as he searched for the entrance. He didn't help Jay nor stop him. Maybe Soren was once an enemy, now Jay's friend.

Jay ran through the tunnels. He arrived at his old cell. Then he moved to the adjacent cell.

"Eyre?" he said. For a moment he wasn't sure if it was the right cell. He couldn't see anyone inside.

"How did it go, former Master of Lightning?" Eyre's voice echoed through the prison. Jay finally noticed a hunched-over figure in the darkest corner. When she didn't move, she disappeared into the darkness. Like she was still the Master of Shadow.

"Could be better," Jay said, "Everything sort of... immediately imploded."

Jay unlocked the prison door. He ran over to her side.

He got his first look at Eyre. She had long stringing hair. It was unkempt. The grey strands covered most of her face. She was so old, her skin was extremely wrinkly.

Their escape was going to be slow; Jay doubted Eyre could move very fast. Lucky for them, no one was chasing them.

"Ah, you look like your ancestors," Eyre said, she reached up wistfully towards Jay.

"Really?" Jay crouched next to her. They were at eye level. She gently touched Jay's cheek and stared into his eyes. She began to cry. Maybe Eyre liked Jay's ancestors more than she let on.

"It's like I'm seeing her again..." Eyre paused and retracted her hand, "Your talkative nature isn't the only attribute that gives away your power. You look exactly like the others. Like a Master of Lightning," Eyre said.

"I'm not the Master of Lightning anymore. Remember?" Jay glanced back. He thought he heard footsteps echoing through the hall.

"Look at me, Jay," Eyre said. Jay gave Eyre his attention.

She gestured to the air around her.

"I've survived much longer than the other Elemental Masters who were imprisoned with me. Because of the darkness; it fuels me still to this day. I'll never lose my connection to the Shadow. That is true of you too. No one can take that. Lightning will always be your Element. It will always be in you. Even if you aren't the current master of it. There are some things that are intrinsic. Jay, you will be forever the Master of Lightning. Forever."

"You're a good friend, Eyre," Jay said. He held out his hand for Eyre to grasp. When she touched Jay's skin, she jolted. There was a small spark. Jay shocked Eyre. He laughed.

"This is why I don't like working with Masters of Lightning," she said, "Between the shocks and the talking, you are unbearable."

Jay helped Eyre to her feet. He patiently walked with her toward the exit. She shuffled slowly along the stone floor.

"Are you excited to see the sun? And smell the fresh air? After all these years!" Jay was getting excited on Eyre's behalf.

"I'm excited to see my family."

"I know the current Master of Shadow," Jay said, "we'll find him as soon as we can."

Eyre's eyes began to water. She mouthed a thank you to Jay, being too emotional to be able to speak.

"You have such a kind heart, Jay," a new voice said.

Jay's head snapped up. Doctor Kirk was standing at the door of the prison. He slammed the door shut. Jay's eyes widened. He wanted to leap forward to stop Doctor Kirk but Eyre was leaning on him. She'd fall if Jay wasn't holding her up.

Doctor Kirk wrapped a chain around the door, holding it shut, and locked the chain in place with a new padlock.

"But I thought-" Jay sputtered.

"While making friends is the best way to defeat an enemy, it is also vital to know the difference between an enemy and a friend," Doctor Kirk said.

"I'm not the Master of Lightning anymore," Jay said, "You don't need me. Just let me take Eyre home."

"Jay, don't you get it," Doctor Kirk said, "This isn't just about going home. We've been robbed of our home. We've been locked in this realm -this prison- for generations. There needs to be consequences for the injustice done to us. Someone must pay for our suffering."

"You're going to take this out on the innocent people of Ninjago?" Jay said.

"No. We're taking it out on the people who follow him. The Elemental Masters. The Masters of Spinjitzu. You were never going to be able to walk away from this freely. I've spent years researching you and the other ninja, knowing you'd pay for honouring that snake. This was no accident."

"I don't even know the First Spinjitzu Master," Jay said.

"You should be excited then. You'll meet him shortly," Doctor Kirk said. He left.

Jay lowered Eyre to the floor. He tried to force the door open with no success. Jay took out the keys Doctor Kirk gave him. He hoped that Kirk was an idiot. He jiggled both keys inside of the lock. But it didn't open. As Jay suspected, Doctor Kirk was not an idiot.

Jay tightly gripped the bars of his prison. He pressed his forehead against the bars. With his eyes tightly shut, Jay fell to his knees. His sweaty palms rubbed against the vengestone as he descended, causing a squeaking noise to echo through the tunnels.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Eyre," Jay said, "I got your hopes up. For nothing."

Jay's found it hard to swallow. All of his sorrow balled up in his throat. Eyre didn't respond. He looked behind his shoulder to see Eyre's entire body shaking. She was silently sobbing.

"Oh, my precious Ebony..." Eyre whimpered. Jay's eyes watered as well. The saltiness of the tears stung Jay's eyes.

"I'll never see Nya again," Jay's breathing was shaky as he spoke, "I never told her that I love her. The last time I saw her, she was going to ask me an important question. But she never got a chance to ask it. I'll never know..."

Jay and Eyre didn't move or speak. There was nothing to say. There was nothing to do.