Sensei Wu was meditating again, but just like before, his students' voices interrupted him.
"My turn!" - Kai's voice came through.
"Ahhh! It's my turn!" - Cole's voice followed.
"Oh, you want more? Take this!" - Kai seemed to be punching something.
"Yeah! How about some of this?!" - Jay sounded determined.
"Kick to the face!" - Cole shouted.
"Ninja wheel!" - Zane finally said something.
"Dragon punch!" - Jay punched his training enemies.
Sensei Wu checked the game room, surprised not to find them there. He went to the training field and felt somewhat satisfied to see them training again.
"Ninja, Go!" - Zane used his ice elemental tornado.
The ice covered almost everything.
"This place isn't big enough for the four of us," - Kai said after almost slipping on the ice when he used his Spinjitzu.
"Correction: This place isn't big enough for him," - Cole frowned.
"It's like he's in his own world," - Jay admired the white ninja - "I bet he can't even hear us."
Zane began making his moves using his golden weapon.
"Sensei, Zane is acting weird," - Kai exclaimed.
"What is weird? Someone different or someone different from you?" - Sensei Wu asked.
"No, Sensei. He's weird, weird!" - Cole recalled a memory and shared it.
He was in the bathroom, using towels while reading a newspaper. Then, Zane appeared to comb his hair. "Excuse me!" -.
Next, Jay and Nya were watching a sad romance movie. Both were crying, while Zane... laughed, confusing them.
Then for Kai, he went to get something to eat at night.
"Oh! Holy mortadella!" - He exclaimed in shock when he opened the fridge and saw Zane inside.
"Sorry, I got all the cold cuts. Want some cheese?" - Zane offered with a soft smile.
"We like the guy. He's smart. Just a bit... out there sometimes," - Kai couldn't explain exactly.
"Zane is a brother. Brothers tend to be different sometimes... I know that well," - Sensei Wu looked down, remembering Garmadon.
The postman was struggling to climb all the stairs to the monastery. When he finally made it, exhausted and looking like he was about to sleep, he was immediately awakened by the loud doorbell.
"Mail!" - The three ninjas ran excitedly.
"Ah... Let's see. A letter from Jay's parents... Kai has a letter from a fan... Oh, and something from Cole's dad," - he said, handing out the letters.
"What? No package? I'm waiting for a Creatures, Beasts, and Beyond box!" - The crow explained.
"Uhmm, nothing of that... Oh, here it is!" - He said, handing over the box.
"Ah! Rocky will love this!" - He ran off to give it to his earth dragon.
The boys opened their letters, and Jay noticed that Zane didn't get anything, again.
"Hey Zane, why don't your parents ever send you any letters?" - The blue ninja asked curiously.
"I don't remember my parents. I was an orphan my whole life," - Zane explained without any specific emotion.
"You never had a home?" - Kai asked, a bit softer. Zane looked down and shook his head sadly.
"The monastery is your home now," - Sensei Wu said to the saddened ninja.
o0o0o
The Earth Master went to his dragon with a smile.
"Toads and livers, Rocky! Your favorite," - Cole exclaimed, holding his dragon's favorite food.
The dragon was panting and almost drooling because of it. Cole threw the food, and it was immediately devoured. For someone who's afraid of dragons, Cole managed to connect well with his dragon.
o0o0o
Meanwhile... Skales, who had hypnotized Cole, watched through his vision.
"I can't believe you hypnotized a ninja! Does the general know?" - One of the snakes asked the second-in-command.
"Of course not. He's under Lloyd's control. And I plan to use that to my advantage," - the snake explained.
The other started to leave when he saw their general approaching.
"Everyone works while you two laze around," - He looked disappointed - "As my second-in-command, I expect more from you, Skales!" -.
"Yes, general," - He bowed his head in respect as he watched his general leave - "General, you know I'm very loyal to you, but I must question this childish endurance. The ninjas stole our scepter, but you ordered your army to build this toy house for Lloyd? Snakes don't live in trees," -.
"For your own good, it's better not to question me, Skales. I'll pretend you didn't ask that," - said the General to his second-in-command.
"Hey! If we plan to rule Ninjago from here, this elevator needs a trapdoor! I want more traps!" - the blond demanded.
"As you wish, young Garmadon," - He signaled Skales to go.
"As you wish, General," - Skales bowed his head and left.
Before he could go far, the purple ninja pulled him and pinned him against a wooden wall, ensuring she wasn't seen. She squeezed the snake's neck, which started struggling to breathe.
"For your and your species' sake, you better not dare harm a hair on my Young Master's head. If you hurt him, I guarantee you'll see your entire race suffer while you can't do anything, nothing! And this will make you wish you'd never been born and beg for a quick death," - She threatened before releasing his neck, the snake curling up from her severe release - "Have a good day, Skalesss," - She prolonged the last "s" mockingly.
Skales breathed quickly, his heart racing, thinking about how terrifying this ninja could be.
o0o0o
"How will you prove your loyalty, Moon? You're now in possession of one of the Golden Weapons. I need to be sure you won't betray me," - said a giant shadow severely.
The purple ninja, younger and wearing a different, old uniform, looked down, thinking for a moment.
"How much blood do I need to shed?" - She asked, looking into his eyes.
"Uhm?" - Lord Garmadon was slightly confused. She removed her mask and lifted her sleeve, grabbing her staff, sharper than a sword.
"How much blood do you want me to shed, Master?" - She asked again, dragging the staff across her flesh.
She held back any sound or closing her eyes. The blood pooled on the floor as she continued to cut deeper.
"Uhm. That's enough," - Lord Garmadon said, seeing her becoming pale and weak, noticing her legs trembling - "Stop! Skeletons!" -.
She pulled the staff away from her arm and fell to her knees. The skeletons appeared.
"Take her to her quarters and ensure she survives. She's too valuable to lose," - He laughed maliciously.
The skeletons gently carried her to her room, tending to her wounds and giving her food, sweets, and water to replenish her lost blood and keep her from dying.
"Sprint," - The young ninja murmured weakly.
The dragon, still quite small, managed to enter her room, growling softly while rubbing his head against her body, gently. She looked at him with a softer gaze before falling asleep again.
o0o0o
Lloyd sneaked up behind the ninja, who seemed to be in deep concentration.
"Surprise attack!" - He shouted as he lunged at her.
The ninja opened her eyes and easily caught him, spinning him around and placing him on the ground.
"My Young Master, if you shout 'Surprise attack!' your attack will no longer be a surprise," - the ninja said, gently ruffling his hair.
Lloyd blushed in embarrassment and giggled.
"Can you teach me?" - He asked with a side smile.
"Of course, as you wish, my Young Master," - She nodded.
"What are you doing?" - Lloyd asked his guardian.
She was sitting on a rock, not far from the construction, seemingly meditating.
"Connecting with my inner self... in search of my True Potential," - She explained, opening her eyes.
Lloyd was curious, but became even more curious when he saw Sprint starting to eat some blueberries.
"Aren't dragons supposed to be carnivores?" - Lloyd asked, looking at the ninja.
"Well, yes, Young Master. However, aura dragons are herbivores, their teeth are serrated to easily handle plants and fruits," - She explained, jumping off the rock and petting Sprint.
"You know a lot about dragons," - He said, impressed.
"Actually, this is very little about these legendary creatures, Young Master. But your father, my Lord, Lord Garmadon, taught me a bit about them," - She explained, stopping her petting.
Lloyd remained silent and thought for a moment.
"What was my father like? What were his teachings like?" - Lloyd asked, curious.
Tyrant
"A powerful Dark Lord" -.
A horrible Sensei and Master.
"The best Sensei I've ever had and a great Master" -.
His teachings were severe.
"Wise teachings" -.
I was taught that trust and loyalty are earned through the shedding of blood.
"Trust and loyalty are very important" -.
Lloyd beamed at the ninja's words, admiring his father even more. Lloyd's smile softened the ninja's expression, and she lightly patted his head.
"If you'll excuse me, Young Master. I will patrol," - She said, bowing slightly.
"Yes, of course," - Lloyd watched her leave, blushing slightly.
The ninja performed parkour through the trees, looking around in complete silence. From a distance, she saw a small white point in the darkness and approached cautiously. It was the white ninja.
Moon heard the sound of a hawk and looked up.
(That hawk must be connected to that ninja) -.
The white ninja then disappeared, causing the Aura Master to grip the wood so hard it broke.
(Damn. I lost sight of him) - The ninja returned to the base.
o0o0o
The next morning, Zane called his friends, brothers, and fellow ninjas to go to Lloyd's base in the middle of the forest.
At first, none of the ninjas believed Zane or in the existence of his falcon friend, but they believed when he actually showed them Lloyd and the snakes' base. The four decided to destroy it before it could become operational.
The plan was to cut the support of the treehouse, which was supported by three larger trees.
"Ninjas?! I said I didn't want ninjas here! Attack!" - Lloyd ordered once the ninjas revealed themselves.
"Retreat!" - Skales ordered.
Obviously, the snakes obeyed the second-in-command.
"Hello again Red Ninja," - Moon appeared on the roof.
"It seems our encounters are indeed quick, Purple Ninja," - Kai growled at her, grabbing his golden sword - "How about showing your ugly face?" -.
"Sorry, but you'll never know what this face looks like to judge," - She grabbed her own golden weapon.
The two charged at each other, fighting evenly.
"I see you've been training," - She murmured, blocking a strike that sparked.
"You're not the only one who got stronger, sister kidnapper," - He said, frowning.
"Still holding a grudge? Emotions will only get in your way," - She said, focusing aura on her leg.
Unfortunately, Kai saw it and backed off before she could kick.
"Nananina not! I won't fall for the same trick," - He said with a smile under his mask.
"What a pity," - She moved her staff as if to throw it at Kai.
Blue "flames" surged and advanced on the ninja, and when they didn't hit him, they continued "burning" on the ground.
"Are you crazy?! Trying to burn everything?!" - He asked, seeing the different flames.
"Unlike your wild fire, my aura is controlled and doesn't burn," - She said, snapping her fingers and making the flames disappear.
"Man, that's cool," - Jay, the blue ninja, said, appearing with Zane.
"I'm sure this isn't the time to be impressed!" -.
"Kai's right," - Zane murmured - "I suggest you surrender, Purple Ninja, hand over your golden weapon, and come with us without resistance, or we'll use force," -.
"What a gentleman, but no," -.
Skales looked at Cole, who was watching his friends.
"I control you now," - Said Skales, looking at the ninja with his hypnotic eyes.
Cole was hypnotized soon after, not that he wasn't already.
"I destroyed those ninjas, especially the purple ninja," - Skales ordered with venom literally dripping from his fangs.
"Yes, sir Skales," - Cole attacked.
The black ninja kicked the purple ninja's back, who was distracted.
"Skales..." - She murmured once she noticed Cole's condition.
"Nobody goes anywhere before facing me!" - He said threateningly.
The other four ninjas, white, red, blue, and purple, moved away from Cole, avoiding his scythe.
"What's gotten into him?" - Kai asked, confused.
"He's under Skales' control... That snake," - Moon growled softly.
"Yeah, it's better if we get out of here, because this place is going to collapse!" - Jay said as the house shook.
Moon heard Sprint's roar.
"I'll see you another time," - She said, running towards Cole.
Cole tried to hit her with his scythe, but she jumped just in time, dodging and continuing towards Sprint.
"Coward!" - Kai growled.
o0o0o
"What happened, Sprint?!" - The ninja asked worriedly to her armored dragon.
Sprint grabbed her by the collar and threw her onto his back, the ninja easily landing on the saddle. The aura dragon began to fly towards the monastery.
"The monastery..." - She murmured when she saw it in flames.
Her dragon landed in the pens, and she heard the desperate roars of the other three ninjas' dragons.
"I'm coming!" - The ninja ran and opened the dragons' pens.
The dragons, free from the danger of the flames. The dragons stared at her in gratitude, then the ice dragon extinguished the flames, freezing them. All four dragons were close to her. Sprint purred in gratitude.
"You heard them... asking for help," - She murmured, petting his snout.
The other three elemental dragons nudged her with their snouts, thanking her and wanting affectionate petting.
Moon felt a bit calmer near the dragons. Then the next thing she did was quickly turn around and catch a punch from the red ninja.
"What did you do?!" - Kai was really angry.
"Don't be mistaken, Red Ninja... I didn't burn your base, it was the snakes," - Moon said, kicking him away.
"Don't give me that talk! I'll finish you off!" - Kai said, grabbing his sword, which started to catch fire.
"Kai! That's enough," - Sensei Wu requested.
"But, Sensei Wu, she-!" - He tried to argue but was interrupted.
"She freed the other dragons while the monastery was burning," - He softly tapped his staff against the ground.
They heard a sharp roar and looked to see her leaving.
"Argh! She escaped!" -.
o0o0o
"Let him go, snake," - The purple ninja said, holding the Hypnobrai's wrist.
Lloyd was being dragged by one of the snakes.
"Moon!" - Lloyd smiled when he saw her and felt more confident.
Without a word, out of fear, the snake released Lloyd, and Moon let go of his wrist.
Lloyd hid behind Moon, grabbing her ninja uniform.
"Do something, General! You're still under my command, aren't you?" - Lloyd asked in a whisper.
"Enough! I am the general! You will return my scepter right now!" - The snake ordered.
"No, I won't!" - This surprised the snakes.
"Do you dare to defy my order?" - He asked, irritated.
The snakes began to chant "slithering pit."
"I think we'll have to fight for it... in the... slithering pit!" - Skales said bravely.
All the snakes gathered for the fight, to battle for the scepter and the tribe's leadership.
The general was clearly taking a beating from Skales.
(It's obvious who's going to win) - The ninja was not at all surprised.
She wondered how the current general had obtained this position, being clearly inferior and poor in combat, even with some weapon.
Lloyd looked to the side and saw a map, quickly grabbing it and hiding behind Moon, rooting for the general.
"We have a winner!" - The announcer said, handing the scepter to Skales.
Skales transformed into the same form as the general, who became like the other common snakes.
Skales gained the servitude of the former general and turned to Lloyd and Moon.
"And you two, get out and never come back!" - He ordered.
Lloyd began to tremble with fear; after all, he was just a child.
"Don't worry, Young Master. I'll protect you, but for now, we better leave," - The ninja murmured to him.
Moon easily guided him to the exit and to her aura dragon. Helping him up front and climbing behind Lloyd.
Seeing his master's sadness and anger, Moon decided to act.
"Would you like to pilot Sprint?" - The ninja asked.
"Yes," - He nodded, not getting too excited.
Soon the dragon began to fly away from the tomb and in no specific direction.
o0o0o
Sprint growled when they stopped in front of the ninjas' new house, hearing their laughter and cheer. Lloyd sighed, tired.
"Young Master, I suggest you sleep, today was a tiring day," - The purple ninja softly requested.
"Moon... do you promise never to betray me?" - Lloyd looked at her, tired and hurt.
"I could never betray you, Young Master. My loyalty belongs to you and your father," - She replied, stroking his head.
Lloyd yawned and snuggled into her lap and arms, with a small smile. Finally.
(Finally, he is calmer now) - She thought while gently handling Sprint, to not wake him.
Sprint purred for his ninja, spreading his wings and starting to fly smoothly. Knowing that it gets very cold in the desert, she took from the bag she had placed next to the armor, recently, she took a blanket and wrapped it around Lloyd, protecting him from the cold and possibly catching a cold.
(Sprint's transformation time is approaching, as well as for the other dragons) - Moon thought, feeling her bed become warmer and rougher.
The ninja looked at her master's son and closed her eyes, staying like that for a few seconds before opening them.