Chapter 7 - The snakes join forces

The next few days were peaceful. I got the training grounds to myself again and managed to beat my record and then best my new one so I was feeling pretty confident in my agility. Lloyd even apologized for what he said when he first got here! Things seemed to be going great...until I heard the ninja yelling at each other.

Curious, I went to investigate and followed Sensei inside their room. Sensei opened a side door to show Lloyd laughing by some materials. It was at this point that I felt like I was once again missing out on something here. "YOU DID THIS?!" They yelled.

"Boys- I get first dibs on-"

"No dibs!" Sensei cut Cole off. "I put him up to this for today's lesson. I wanted to show you the destructive power of rumors and that jumping to conclusions can only lead to trouble."

I tilted my head and looked at Lloyd. He had a smug look on his face and I was glad that I was not included in this lesson. The ninja did not look happy. Sensei kept talking anyway. "Did you ever think to check if the accusations were true?"

"Uh- no offence Sensei but let me jump to this conclusion." Cole rolled his eyes. "Today's lessons sucks."

"Yeah, why don't you teach us how to paralyze your enemy with one finger? Or find out that a man is lying by the twitch of his nose?" Jay crossed his arms.

"Because not everything is about fighting!" Sensei sighed. "And I've misplaced my lesson book."

Kai looked at Lloyd for a second before walking up to him and pulling out Sensei's lesson book from behind his back. "You mean this lesson book?"

"It was the perfect plan!" Lloyd groaned. "Until you had to show up and mess everything up-"

Cole closed the door, trapping me and Lloyd behind it. "Hey!" I yelled. "Let me out at least!"

They didn't listen to me and I had to move the door myself. It only worked one way so I had to struggle to get it open. "Hey- if you guys are done fooling around- we still have a snake problem to attend to." Nya's voice came over the intercom. "Over and out."

"OK- it's one thing to let the son of your arch nemesis live with you but my sister here? I mean come on! And Brittany too! I thought this was supposed to be a ninja headquarters!" Kai yelled.

"You do know I can still hear you, right?" Nya didn't sound pleased. "Over and out!"

Lloyd and I finally stepped out of where we were trapped and I looked at Kai. "Thanks."

I then walked out of the room and onto the training grounds, I didn't feel like listening to their next plans this time. It's not like I was needed anyway- they always made that clear. I watched as the ninja jumped off the side of the ship and figured that I could go back in. Nya looked as if she was about to leave as well. "Where are you going Nya?"

She jumped and spun around. "I just need to check on something. I'll be back- watch Lloyd for me?"

I nodded and found Lloyd playing video games. "Can I play?"

"These are two easy! How can they find these fun?" He groaned.

"Because they either plan as a team or against each other. It's more fun with more people." I sat down and took a controller. "You'll see! Restart the level!"

We played a bit until Sensei called us to the bridge. "The ninja need our help."

Sensei steered the ship over what looked like four unconscious ninjas. We managed to get them onto the ship and wake them up...hours later though.

When we were eating dinner- Jay decided they should tell the story. "And then just as we were about to bite it- a huge mechanical robot-"

"Samurai." Zane interrupted. "It was a samurai."

Lloyd and I didn't understand. "Samu-what?"

"Samurai." Sensei nodded to Zane. "Highest level of warrior class. They would protect nobility and serve with honor on the battlefield."

"He was over one hundred feet high with weapons coming out of every angle. Look at Sensei's beard- it's dancing!" Kai still hadn't recovered from the venom from the Venomari.

"Ok- when does this stuff wear off?" Nya sighed. "It's getting annoying."

"I think it's karma for what he said earlier." I giggled.

Kai then took some of his food from his plate and stuck it on his face. We weren't...really...sure why…

Cole the brought the conversation back on track and mentioned something among the lines of the Great Devourer. Unfortunately, I wasn't really paying attention. I was trying to see if Kai would do anything else, but he just stared at the wall in front of him without moving a muscle.

"Oh man!" Lloyd groaned. "It's all my fault! If I hadn't open the first hatch, none of this would have happened."

"We cannot change what has been done." Sensei looked at everyone. "But we can affect the future! At least we still have the flute-"

"About that…" Zane looked a little sheepish. "Pythor stole the flute."

"The last sacred flute? GONE?!" Sensei then looked very serious. This conversation now had my full attention. "You four are Ninjago's last hope."

The alarm then started to go off startling everyone. We all went to the bridge to check out what was wrong. All five tribe were congregating in Ninjago- causing the ninja to run out and try to stop them. I managed to see them off and catch Zane in his pink ninja gi- if the situation wasn't so dire, I would have laughed. He looked good in pink but it just wasn't his color.

I stayed up and watch the bridge for the ninja to return. They were jumping into the middle of all the snakes tribes combined, I was worried for them. I just couldn't sleep knowing they were out there but exhaustion overtook me and I fell asleep on the railing. I was woken up by someone picking me up and carrying me. "No...don't…"

"I got you Pinkie." It was Cole. "You should have just gone inside and waited- it's cold out here."

"Please put me down." I yawned. "The cold doesn't really bother me so I wanted to wait for you guys."

Cole chuckled and ruffled my hair. "You're a good kid- come on, let's go inside."

I nodded and followed him in. I was fully awake by the time everyone was gathered by the table...you know, to talk about what just happened. Cole sat down- joining the conversation. "It's just like you said Sensei, we used the destructive power of rumors to our advantage.

"You know, I don't think we would have been able to get out of there if it wasn't for Zane." Jay scratched his head.

"Don't thank me, thank Lloyd." Zane grinned. "If it wasn't for him and his laundry skills, we all would have been found."

Just then Lloyd came in with Zane's clothes, completely washed and white again. "It took 20 cycles but I managed to fix your clothes Zane."

Lloyd put Zane's clothes next to him. "And to show that I'm sorry Cole, I got you a can of nuts."

Cole didn't buy it, saying that a bunch of rubber snakes were going to jump out and went to the fridge. When he opened it though, that's where the rubber snakes were hidden and they jumped all on top of him. Everyone was laughing and when everyone calmed down, I looked around and asked. "When I get better and learn spinjitzu, do you guys think I can take Zane's title as the pink ninja?"

"Of course Brittany." Jay threw an arm around my shoulder. "We wouldn't want it any other way."

I grinned and went to bed quite happy knowing that...I'll join them on their adventures… eventually.

The next morning we were all gathered for breakfast. Lloyd was talking about how he would win against a snake if he had to fight one, only for all the guys to completely reconstruct his argument. Sensei walked in with a box and sat down in his usual spot. Lloyd groaned at the ninja's arguments. "Uncle? What's the best way to defeat a serpentine if you don't know what kind they are?"

"Sadly- that was the sacred flute you four carelessly lost." Sensei sighed.

Jay jumped to defend himself and his friends. "No, no, no, no, no, no,- we didn't lose it! Pythor stole it!"

"Whatever the case- without it I fear we have nothing to combat their powers."

I sighed and tried to think of something but to no avail. "I wish I could be be of more help but this is completely out of my element. All I know is how to fight skeletons, zombies, spiders and creepers...and the occasional human."

"Don't worry Brittany." Kai smiled. "You just keep training and focus on getting to unlock your spinjitzu- you shouldn't have to worry about this."

I forced a smile on my face. "What's in the box Sensei?"

"Just their new uniforms." Sensei took out one for each ninja.

Each guy jumped up to grab their own box. "They have armor!"

"I love the gold highlights!"

Lloyd looked a little dejected. "Anything for me?"

Sensei then panicked a little and looked around. "You get...uhh...the box?"

I walked up to Lloyd and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't think too much on it. You get used to it."

Sensei didn't appear to like my comment but he didn't say anything. As the guys took in their uniforms- the alarm went off again. This time the snakes were terrorizing the biggest amusement park in Ninjago. Lloyd wanted to go but was shut down. "Can I go? Can I go? Please! Let me make it up!"

"No Lloyd. You will stay here where it's safe." Sensei nodded.

He pouted. "Ninja get to have all the fun." Nya and I shared a knowing look.

Nya left to do...whatever she was doing before the ninja even left the ship. Sensei said he was going to head down and watch the ninja- leaving just me and Lloyd on the ship. "I hate this."

Lloyd threw down the controller while I paused the game. "It's not so bad Lloyd. We just need to prove ourselves to them that we can help. Until then though, we need to make sure we can protect ourselves...then others. Come on- let's do something else."

"Like what? There's nothing to do!"

I shrugged. "Let's find something to do."

We didn't have to wait long- as it turned out, the Samurai took care of the issue before the ninja ever did. They didn't look too bothered by it so I shook it off. As the days went by though and the snakes sightings started to become more frequent, the Samurai beat them to the punch every single time.

It was on one of these days where Kai was supposed to keep an eye on the two of us but we were ditched at the front of an arcade. "Look I know I'm supposed to be looking after you- but just play a few games and stay in one place, ok? Brittany you're in charge."

"Aye aye captain!" I gave a mock salute as Kai handed Lloyd the coins for the arcade.

"Let me help!"

"No." Kai's decision was final.

Lloyd groaned. "You could have at least dropped us off at a decent arcade."

"Sorry shorty!" Kai teased as he drove off, leaving us in the dust.

We were about to head into the arcade but we started hearing some voices. Lloyd suddenly took off to investigate and I could only follow. We some serpentine talking to each other and argue for a bit before settling the issue. I stayed watching, trying to not get myself caught when Lloyd came back to my side with fake fangs, a weird hat and rad glasses with maracas in his hands. I caught on to what he was planning to do and grabbed his shoulder. "No- that's a bad idea! Don't do it Lloyd!"

"You told me we need to prove ourselves to the ninja that we can help. I can take care of myself." I stated proudly.

"No offence but I doubt that."" I bit my lip. "What if you get caught?"

"I'm not going to get caught!"

With that he walked away and rushed to meet up with the snakes. I started panicking and came to the conclusion that he shouldn't go alone. I looked into my inventory and rank another invisibility potion. With the desired effect in place, I ran after Lloyd just in time to sneak onto the bus and sit next to Lloyd. "We are so dead."

"Brittany?" Lloyd sat up.

"Shh." I shushed him, sitting next to him as the bus started to drive away. "Don't be so loud. Pretend I'm not here. Kai said that I was in charge so I have to be with you in case there's trouble."

"Oh...ok...why can't I see you?" Lloyd lowered his voice to a whisper.

"I'm invisible. Now we can't talk to each other but just know that I'm here ok?" I took a deep breath to calm my heart.

The bus ride lasted for hours and when we reached our destination, it was already dark out. The city we ended up in was huge and looked ancient. It was the new main HQ of the serpentine.

I looked to Lloyd in slight fear but said nothing. We were ushered out of the bus and into the stands to watch all four tribe leaders take on Pythor at once. Pythor then cheated through use of the sacred flute and played it in front of the other leaders to take their staff's away to win the title of leader and unite the snakes. When Pythor commanded the serpentine to bow down to their new master- Lloyd's dropped the maracas and was found out.

He tried to run away but was caught by the back of his hoodie. "Where do you think you're going?"

I gasped and kicked the snake in the face, forcing him to let go of Lloyd. He didn't get very far though and was taken away before I could follow without being caught myself. When I saw him again, he was completely surrounded by snakes and stuffed into a cage. I ran out to meet him but the potion wore off, revealing my presence. "Uh-oh!"

I tried to fight my way out but soon I was overpowered and stuffed into the same cage as Lloyd. "Sorry Lloyd...I tried."

"They didn't hurt you, did they?"

I held back a tear and nodded. "But I'll be fine...I've taken worse hits before."

We both ignored what they were saying afterwards and huddled for warmth. The desert got cold overnight- I could only imagine the hat of the day. Morning eventually came by and Lloyd and I woke up by what looked to be the snakes draggin in the samurai. I gasped and watched as they locked him away.

Nothing really else happened after that so Lloyd and I could only wait. We were startled by a loud sound and when I looked over, I saw the ninja trapped in a cage, their weapons strewn out just beyond their reach. I sighed and leaned on the bars of the cage. "We're doomed."

Lloyd gasped and held a hopeful look on his face. "The ninja!"

They were taken out of the cage and forced to be on the battle arena. The poor guys looked as confused as ever- even more so when they saw who they were fighting. I frowned and looked away. "I can't watch this."

Pythor didn't miss a beat at all and said. "I want to see once and for all who is the better hero! Is it the ninja or the Samurai?!"

I could hear the sounds of a fight going on but I covered my eyes and waited for it to be over. I was scared- I didn't know what was going to happen.

When I did open my eyes- I saw the ninja on the back of the Samurai suit being blasted away. The Samurai then flew around the area before stealing the golden weapons and leaving. Before he left though- he gave a mock bow to a very angry Pythor and left. I looked to Lloyd and let the a few tears fall. I was forced to accept that we probably weren't going to be rescued anytime soon.