{Location: The cave's of despair}(Morro's POV)

"Welcome boys and girls, men and woman, serpentine and man, to the caves of despair." A really dull and dead inside sounding guy with black hair and super paper white pale skin moans as he reads off a clipboard, "My name is Dave, I'll be your tour guild. Somethings about me, I have brown eyes, matching the dirt perfectly here. Does anyone have any questions before we began? if not, please hold them until the end."

I hold my stomping, my traveling bag being super light on my shoulders, "I'm the only person here."

"Which is why I'm not asking myself existential thought at my home and asking them at work." Dave scribbles something down, "Please understand that our current safety equipment isn't up to standards, so we'll be taking our safety "Children's" route. If there are any complaints, please direct them to our front desk. We'll be leaving in 5 minutes, enough time to get ready with no rush. Please ask if you need help getting your safety gear on."

"How am I supposed to put on safety gear that isn't here?"

"Also, we advise that no small easily lost items, or any large bags inside the cave so they will not get lost. There is a small cubby off to your right," he points left, "if you'd like to keep your items safe and secure. An additional note, if any items are left behind for ten or more days, they will be placed in lost and fount then after a month, they will be donated." Dave folds his hands, staring at me with dead eyes.

Ok.

Someone needs a new job...or a girlfriend or a puppy, just anything to make Dave not so...dead inside.

I put away my stuff, rubbing my talisman, should I leave it? It'll be fine. Grwowl. I. Am. So. Hungry.

My wallet's nothing but dust. Mabey I should beg a little before I head back to Sensei, get something in my belly and some real shoes.

Or just water. I am so thirsty and it's not like the last week has had much water in it. I rub my head as I put my talisman in my pocket. I stand up, feeling a little dizzy while crossing my arms.

Dave moans, "Is everyone ready?"

"I'M ready." I half roll my eyes. "And there's no-"

"Please save all questions until the end. Follow me," Dave puts his clipboard away while grabbing a chipped helmet, "As you can see, the caves of despair were once a prominent and very rich mining operation. However, with fossil fuels being heavily competed for from both serpent tend and men, the cave now very little to no natural resources left. Look," he vaguely points to a tipped over mine cart, "The operation was instantly dropped then picked up by International Ninjago tours."

"Yeah, I can see that it's a big success." I'm a little concerned on how some of the supports have large cracked and huge splinters in them. I honestly feel like this is a waste of time. And unless there are some huge features I don't know about at the end of this thing, I could be spending my time heading home or eating.

Seriously, I'm starving.

Dave ignores my comment, "As we go forward, carefully observe the cave's roof, how millions of years of erosion wore the cave." he sighs so lowly I'm pretty sure he hit the world's lowest note, "Fascinating."

"Or the first spinjutzu master just formed them that away."

"I apologize, you're one of those people."

"I'm sorry?"
"Believing in some first ancient old guy that created the world we know today all by himself. Not my cup of tea and frankly absurd to me."
"I'm not sure where you got all that from but the first spinjutzu master was actually pretty young when he made Ninjago, second, he had the golden weapons." What is wrong with this guy? Of course, that story is true. The evidence is all around me. "Third, why is that so absurd?"

Dave turns around, sighing even more bored than before, "Answer me this then, where'd he get the weapons from? And how do you know he had help?"

"I...I don't," how do I put 'ancient all-powerful beings with fairy wings and disaster level powers helped make the weapons,' in a way that doesn't sound nuts, "Can something just be taken on faith?"

"I'll believe faith when I see evidence with my own eyes."

"Would it change your mind at all if I said I actually know the sons of the first spinjutzu master myself?"

"Please save all questions to the end of the tour."

Really?

I fold my arms, hiding my chipped up nails, "Fine."

"As we go deeper in, the candles are gone as some minor stole them when we bought them out. Stay close to me as we move to the next second."

I start to tune Dave out. Picturing a few things when I get back home. Option 1, happy, nothing wrong, Wu takes me into his arms, I get some food in me and everything is perfect.

Option 2, what is more, likely I'll get harsh looks, wondering why I threw a tantrum and ran off like a child. Several disapproving looks from Sensei, not getting a good welcome.

Yup, that's definitely not depressing.

But as long as I get something to eat or drink. I could eat a horse with how hungry I am.

Funny, I thought I left starvation behind in that stupid circus.

Dave leads into a smaller cave, "Now, we can't stay long here. This is an active methane gas area-"

"I thought you said that all natural resources are gone."

"Well, you can't harvest air or wind, pal."

I wave my hand, separating some of the foul smelling gas. Imagine Dave's reactions. I put it back as my stomach growls loudly, "And why are we walking thought there? Isn't methane gas dangerous?"

"Please hold all questions to the end of the tour." He covers his mouth with his shirt. "Watch your step, this is a small ledge for us without gear."

So why didn't you just stop the tours? Or give me a refund? I mean it's likely I'll die in here.

I cover my mouth. Feeling a small shake in the earth. What?

The tunnel out and in starts collapsing.

Dave swallow as he freezes, "P-p-pleas."

"We need to move."

"Stay c-c-calm." He's stuck as we're going to die in here.

I steady myself as the ledge out collapse. Perfect. I start taking in deep breaths, the wind easily bowing to my will, "Dave, brace for impact."

"Wh-OFF"

I blow Dave clear into the exit tunnel just as the doorway collapse on itself.

Methane. Not good.

Need to go.

I hold my head while turning to the other exit.

As if on cue, it falls into itself. Shoot.

Ok, think. I lean against the wall as I start panicking. My breathing gets faster and I really need to stay calm. I peek forward, mabey I can jump from here to the exit and start pulling rocks.

On 3.

1. I easy myself closer.

2. I ready a draft to carry me over.

3. I jump only to miss my draft.

Falling on my face as my head start super spinning.

My stomach loudly growls as the earth still shakes, letting up more gas.

Ok. Need to get out. I'M GOING TO DIE!

I'm not ready to die! I came here because I couldn't get my deposit back. I-Focus idiot.

There's got to be a way. I push myself up, pushing aside rocks as my vision blurs. Where there's a will there's a way.

I have more than enough will to find a way.

Ninja never quit.

I don't quit.

Just only in becoming the green ninja.

I gave that up because I was...am in self-destructive behavior. I'm starving, stuck in a gas pit all alone. That obsession is unhealthy.

I Just want to go home.awful

I hit a wall, digging will take too long. And I...I need- need out nOW!

My hands gravitate to my neck, I can't breathe. It feels like I'm swallowing a coin and it's stuck. Sure some air can get in but just bearly.

I lick my lips. Must move.

I just want to go home, eat...crap. Now eating sound amazing and awfual.

I feel so sick.

Need to go. Look up, can't dig, climb? I reach up only to stumble on myself. I'm not normally clumsy. I get up on one knee as rocks tumble down.

Trapping me.

I sit back, leaning against a boulder.

I weakly punch a rock. I can't get out. I'm stuck...mabey forever. "GAHHHH!" I just want this over! I want to be home! I want my bed! I want the monastery! I want to wake up as a child again! I want Sensei to hug me tight and tell me that this is all a horrible dream! That this isn't my life I'm screwing up right now!

I shake wildly as I burst into tears.

"I WANT WU!"

Screw me! Thinking I'd be nothing more than a street circus rat. I could never be the green ninja and how delusional I was for thinking I could be. I'm stupid for paying people like Akia or Nao. What is wrong with me?

I try blinking the blurriness out of my eyes. I have to get up.

I try to move only to fall.

Oh duh. Move the gas. I raise my hand, weak wisps coming out.

No use.

"Grroowlwl!" My stomach screams at me as I hold it.

"I know. I'm trying." I don't care if I have to steal again, I need food.

Think, option, plan.

Is there any other way out? Exits are blocked, it's too deep to dig and...and.

It's just honestly pathetic.

I lean back, my heart beat feeling off. I somehow smile a little. I wipe my tear as I start laughing.

"How'd I fall so far?" I snicker and chuckle. I mean, it's a totally serious situation but takes a tiny step back...how the heck did my life get here?

My smile fades as my nose tingles like it's on fire. I'm a dead man.

I...

I'm never going home.

I calm down, clutching my stomach as the rock fall away to a new entrance. So close.

But first, I'm tired. I need sleep.

Just a little something.

Like a small nap...for some self-care.

"Noooo." My no sounds like Dave's, dead and drone out. "Got to move. Gonna...die."

Just sleep. Sensei will still be there. I'll just be a little late. I lean my head back, gasping for air as something deeper than sleep lulls me, "I'm Sorry, Sensei." I hear my tailsmen fall out of my pocket.

That's mine. I reach thought, saving the talisman while releasing more gas.

Who cares.

My hand rests on my chest, my arms holding my chest my eyes get heavy.

It's bedtime. I'm just so...tired.

Black.

Something's carrying me. No. DOn't want to wake up. Across my neck, something slick, slimy, and defiantly not human lift me up. My eyes snap open to the most hideous thing I've ever seen. I struggle.

"Shh," it's a she? What is happening? She pulls my closer, "Will you serve me?"

"Who are-CRAP!??" Where's my body? I'm slowly green. I bring my hands up, no. No no no. I..dead?

She wraps another long sleek, slimy tentacle around my arms, "You're a hungry little man."

"What's goin-"
"Will you serve me?"

"Who... what are you? Am I dead?"

She...it squeezes tighter, "Will. you. Serve. Me?"

No. What do I say? How about you answer me first and the answer is still no.

Like she can read my thoughts, she squeezes me to the point of crushing me, "You will. You will serve the Cursed realm. Where you now and forever belong."