Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original "Ninjago: Masters of Spintizu" characters, nor do I own the original settings. I only own Katherine, Beck, Nikkei, Doctor Alan McKullan, Hydro, Chandai and Khozah.

NINE — "A General Among Generals"

Life wasn't easy underground – or so people believed – but the Serpentine made do, considering their past. They were natural adapters, thankfully, but that didn't mean they weren't limited. It was the same situation all over again. They were left with so little – barely any food or water.

Only now they were staying underground by choice.

They knew the people of Ninjago were searching high and low for them, especially the Ninja. And they also knew one of the first places they would look for them was their underground fortress. They had no other choice but to destroy it so they could cover up their tracks. Even the other underground tombs weren't safe.

The Serpentine had to build a new home for themselves, one much deeper beneath the surface – more secluded and hard to track. It took the Constrictai days to build. They burrowed for what seemed like forever. But they managed to build a path where the working Serpentine could safely go under with tools and begin building their new home.

Once it was big enough, the others settled themselves inside. Days became a week. Their new home wasn't quite well put-together as their old fortress, given the rushed circumstances, but the Serpentine weren't complaining in the slightest.

A sloppy home was better than no home.

Almost each Serpentine that were capable took on different responsibilities. Some were to continue expanding their underground home while others were to go out and hunt. Some were scouting, some were gatherers and some were to tend to the needs of the sick and old – which was quite an important job. Since anything could happen underground.

That was Selma's job.

She was very knowledgeable in treating injuries and illnesses thanks to her family line of healers. Selma was quite an expert healer. Since the pink Hypnobrai was hatchling she was taught how to treat injuries of all kinds, as well as different types of ailments. She was shown all kinds of herbs and remedies that could help ease pain, bring down fevers or heal up scratches and scars.

And Selma gladly taught the other inexperienced Serpentine these methods.

It took some pressure off her shoulders knowing she could leave a patient in another's care without having to worry so much.

Today was a day where she did such.

She had been tending to a Fangpyre who had sprained his leg during his work on their home when a female Venomari assured her she could take a break. Selma had been treating the injured they had all day, and a break sounded quite nice. As she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder where Skales was...

Selma searched all around, but he didn't seem to be underground. She went to the surface cautiously, knowing full well Skales hated it when she would leave for it by herself unprotected. There was a spot on the surface Skales always visited when he wanted to be alone...

She pulled herself out of the whole that lead to the outside of the city, pushing back the branches that covered the whole. Selma made sure to put them back neatly before going to find Skales. She was surrounded by the thick trees of a forest, quietly walking down a gravel trail on full alert. Pushing back a branch, she found the Hypnobrai General standing alone on a ledge, where the city of Ninjago could be seen from miles away. He gave her his back as he stared at it silently.

Selma stepped out. "SSSkales?"

Skales turned to the pink Hypnobrai and blinked. "SSSelma?" he asked, somewhat surprised. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be out here by yourssself. It'sss not sssafe."

"I know," she replied, thoughtfully, as she approached him, "but I wanted to sssee if – maybe – you...wanted sssome company?"

Skales opened his mouth – he looked like he was going to assure her that he was all right. That there was nothing wrong and to tell her to go back underground before someone nearby heard them speaking – but he said nothing... He sighed then, followed by a nod. "Company doesss sssound nice right now..." he confessed, unable to lie to Selma.

Selma was the only person Skales allowed at a close distance, even closer than he allowed Fangtom to be despite the fact they were childhood friends. During their years locked away under all the ice, she was one of the few in their Tribe Skales felt he could rely on for support. Not only because of her knowledge on medicine and healing but for other reasons as well.

She always knew what to say to cheer Skales up, always knew when he needed someone to talk to even when he said he wanted to be alone...she was a great comfort to him. Most of all – she was still the same towards him even after he took the title as General.

That alone meant more to Skales than anything.

They sat on a large stone next to each other as they gazed out at the city. Selma politely waited for Skales to speak, knowing he always liked to thread his words together before he spoke so his mind wasn't all over the place and he'd babble aimlessly. Sometimes it took him a few minutes to put the right words together, and the silence and Selma's patients helped.

"...I'm beginning to doubt if there really isss still a place for usss on the SSSurface." He confessed finally, now knowing how to voice all the things weighing on him. Selma looked at him. "I thought our current predicament wasss difficult, now we're being hunted down like criminalsss...but criminalsss with nowhere to go but underground."

Selma looked down, the heaviness of Skales' words weighing on her. "It...It could be worssse, SSSkales." She told him gently. "The Devourer could have eaten all of usss, but it didn't. Everyone'sss still alive."

"And now they all have to live underground again." Skales reminded. He sighed again, a twinge of regret showing in his demeanor. "Fangtom hasss hardly looked me in the face sssince thisss all happened. I know he blamesss me for putting them all in thisss sssituation."

Selma frowned. "You didn't know Pythor wasss mad."

"...But I did." He admitted, causing Selma to fall silent. He didn't have the heart to look at her.

She stared at him, her swirled eyes wide. "You did...?"

"I could tell Pythor wasss too driven by revenge to sssee there wasss a possssibility he would fail, but...all hisss talk of retribution and justice made me start to wonder that-that maybe – just maybe – he could really do it. That he could releassse the Devourer and we could take back the SSSurface."

Skales had tried to convince Pythor that the Great Devourer was just a legend – a story. But when he found the Lost City of Ouroboros through sheer will and determination, the Hypnobrai's opinion of the plan start to change. Like the others, he too started believing that this mysterious Anacondrai was the answer to their prayers. He held onto the hope that their future would finally see sunlight.

That hope also made Skales willing to give Pythor the benefit of the doubt. He became his more loyal number two the closer they came to collecting the Fang Blades.

But once they realized the Devourer was just a bloodthirsty monster out to satisfy its colossal hunger, the backlash Skales received was immense and instant. No Serpentine trusted him, not even Fangtom. He knew they all blamed him as much as they did Pythor – Skales was unfortunate enough to be alive to suffer it for the both of them.

Selma was silent, but her frown at Skales was sympathetic. She had known that he was also all-for in unleashing the Devourer, but she had no idea that he was fully aware how sick and twisted Pythor's vengeful mind was.

"Honestly, SSSelma," Skales said then, glancing at her, "I'm sssurprised you're not angry with me asss well."

"You made a mistake." She consoled with a soft, caring voice. "We...We all did when put our trust in Pythor and hisss actionsss. And now we have to move on from it."

"But how?" Skales asked her. "We're back to where we started, and now it'sss even worssse."

"We just have to sssurvive, SSSkales." Selma said, putting a hand over his, almost automatically. "Right now, thingsss like ranksss and titlesss do not matter. Every SSSerpentine isss doing their part to better our sssituation. Once we find a sssolution, thingsss will get better. But until then...we all need to stick together."

Skales was speechless for a moment, her words sinking in. He sighed after that, and then nodded understandingly. Selma was right. Bigger things currently mattered more than Skales' self pity. He knew that the Serpentine would need a leader soon, now that Pythor was gone. Even if he was alive, the chances of them accepting him back were slim to none.

The damage he caused was there – the people of Ninjago and the Serpentine were now suffering from it.

They would undoubtedly want a leader who would surely guide them through this nightmare, someone driven by something other then revenge.

He wrapped his claws around Selma's, giving a little squeeze. She scooted closer and Skales leaned against her shoulder, grateful that at least one Serpentine from his Tribe still thought kindly of him. But he knew better than to doubt Selma. She had always been thoughtful towards him, dating back since they were hatchlings.

Skales could never shut her out, even if he tried.

She was one of the few people in his life who really mattered to him, who he could never deceive or use to his advantage. Her happiness meant so much to him...so much that he was willing to believe a lunatic like Pythor and help him unleash the Devourer if it meant he, Selma and the other Serpentine could live happily on the Surface.

Selma felt a light flush on her face as Skales stayed leaning against her. She swallowed, hoping he wouldn't feel her heart thumping in her chest. Clearing her throat quietly, she glanced at Skales curiously, noticing he was going back to staring at the horizon again.

Selma looked out at it with him, watching as the sun set behind the city. They knew they would have to go back underground soon...but, for now at least, they wanted to watch the sky for just a little while longer.

He stood in the center of the enormous training room, which was filled with device and machinery that only Serpentine were skilled enough to create. He was an intimidating sight, with glowing green eyes and scarred on different parts of his body, as well as his chipped fang tooth. He was different than most Anacondrai, but his appearance never bothered him. Those scars were lessons, and so was the chipped tooth.

Some were from the hand-built machines around him. They were mechanisms suited for preparation into battle, standing taller and larger than most Serpentine – most, of course.

For Hydro – who was gifted with incredible height and strength – these dangerous mechanisms were child's play now. They were covered in marks and scratches, and some of the spikes sticking out of them were broken. They were as harmless as training dummies to Hydro.

But thankfully, he had something better than dummies or worn-out machines...

Hydro stood solid, awaiting for any movement. His only weapons was the giant sword strapped to his back and the dagger sheathed at his side. He was absolutely calm, almost expecting. He could feel all of them watching him from their hiding spots, eyeing the gold feather hanging from the string tied around his belt.

Just when he sure they were going to take another twenty minutes to plan an attack, he felt movement on his right side. Hydro glanced at his Tribe member, who had taken a bold plan of action and charged with his weapon swinging right at him. But the Anacondrai General didn't carry an ounce of surprise or intimidation.

He dodged swiftly, craning his lengthy body backwards and successfully avoiding the attack made for his feather. He acted fast in the next heartbeat – moving so fast that blinking would have made someone do a double-take at him – as he grabbed the Anacondrai with one arm and his dagger with his other, slicing at him just a moment before he tossed his subordinate over his shoulder like he was a rag doll.

The Anacondrai dropped his weapon as he was flipped by his powerful General, falling straight to the floor and landing on his back. With the wind knocked out of him, the Anacondrai muttered something dizzily about seeing stars.

Hydro sighed, slightly annoyed.

"And that is why you never blindly charge at your opponent." He said loudly, so the others could hear him. "Although it's a move that's never expected, it will most likely cost you your life if you're not careful."

Hydro looked around. There, on the ground in front of him, was the feather he had sliced off his subordinate. He picked it up and dangled it in front of his subordinate.

"You're dead, Vero. So that means you're out."

Vero scowled and muttered grouchily as he got up from the floor and went to the "Dead Corner". As usual, he was one of the first out.

Hydro then lifted the feather higher, so that the others could see. "That's one member dead. So I recommend you all not do what Vero did and join him in the Dead Corner."

He tied the feather around his. Now he had two.

Then – one by one – he gained more feathers. After almost three hours, he had fourteen; fourteen Anacondrai were in the Dead Corner. Hydro only needed two more.

He waited patiently, his dagger still the only weapon drawn.

The two left were Chandai and Khozah. Two Anacondrai that were stuck together like glue since their hatchling days. They were like shadows with each other whenever Hydro trained them. One of them leaving each other was near – if not – impossible.

They were also the only ones with their feathers.

"H-He's waiting for us, Khozah!" Chandai nervously whispered. "Like-Like a lion waiting to strike!"

"A lion wouldn't wait for the prey." Khozah told him, who was always the more calm and collected one compared to Chandai. "They stalk."

"You know what I mean!"

"Chandai, Khozah."

The two looked back out from their hiding place when they heard their General call their names.

"Whenever you both are ready...hopefully soon." Hydro's guard was still up, but it was obvious he was getting bored with waiting. He slithered in a circle in his spot, keeping an eye out for them.

Chandai swallowed. "Now he's taunting us!"

Khozah tilted his head. "He seems more bored than taunting, really."

"What are we going to do?"

"...We have to attack eventually."

"I know, but we're the only two left! We'll end up in the Dead Corner with everyone else – like last time!"

"Chandai!" Hydro called, growing annoyed. "Khozah!"

Quickly, the two thought of a plan – one they hoped wouldn't get them killed.

Hydro was in mid-turn when he heard Chandai finally bolt from his hiding spot with a cry of power, charging at him with his weapon ready. He tried not to roll his eyes as he held his dagger, ready for the attack.

Then – at the last second – Khozah became visible in front of Chandai. He swung his weapon, catching Hydro off guard. He backed away quickly, avoiding the attack.

The two took that moment to swing again, this time together. Chandai and Khozah aimed for his feather.

Hydro acted fast, pulling out his sword. He blocked and their weapons came down. The weapons collided – before Chandai and Khozah's shattered like they were glass. In the blink of an eye, Hydro swung his dagger at them both, slicing the strings of their feathers.

The two were dead before they hit the ground.

They blinked, their hearts pounding as they panted. Looking up, the two saw Hydro with their feathers.

"All sixteen."

He sighed then, taking the feathers from his belt and holding them over his head for all his subordinates to see.

"This needs to stop." He told them, his tone cold and unforgiving. "I will not be the last standing in battle. You all need to buck up and improve. Before we know it, we'll dwindle away into nothing, and I'm not having that."

Hydro let the feathers go, letting them drop to the ground.

"We are stronger than others Tribes, we install fear in the hearts of humans, we are warriors – we are Anacondrai."

He turned to them, noting their guilty, heavy expressions.

"We're training again tomorrow, and I expect a better performance."

He left them dead and unsatisfied. No words of praise and encouragement.

The sixteen Anacondrai were silent, none of them had anything to say. They were too embarrassed to even look at each other. Chandai and Khozah sat up, looking at their Tribe sympathetically.

"How many times do we all have to 'die' to get it right?" Chandai frowned, glancing at Khozah before sighing in defeat.

"At least we caught him off guard this time." Offered Khozah.

"Yes...I guess that lightens things up a bit."

Chandai picked up his shattered weapon, gazing at it. "He's truly a warrior, isn't he? Even after all these years, Master Hydro's power is impeccable."

"A General among Generals." Khozah said.

"Most definitely." Agreed Chandai. "One of the few survivors of the Serpentine War...maybe that's why he's so cold."

Khozah shrugged. "Could be...or he's just a jerk."

"Yes, or that. But still...he is indeed a General among Generals."

Hydro slithered down the hall, his mind clouded. He slithered out to a balcony, watching as the sun set over the Sea of Sands. He sighed, tense.

They're still too weak, Hydro thought, gripping the railings. They would surely die if they displayed that carelessness in battle...

He sighed, rubbing a temple. They were improving at least, despite the fact none of his subordinates never managed to get his feather...but there was something about their determination. It reminded him of...

Why? He asked himself. Why was he thinking of the past so much lately? Whenever Hydro was alone, his mind always wandered to them – of the broken shards that was his old life.

Before he took his place as General.

Normally, he would distract himself by sparring with the mechanisms, but – as of late – that routine wasn't helping to numb the emotions arising from someplace he thought he buried deep inside himself. Hydro sighed again, closing his eyes. It's been so long since I've thought about them. Huh...who would have guessed that now I would start dwindling on the past. I must be getting old...

He leaned over the railing, taking in the quietness. Hydro knew his subordinates despised training with him; granted, it wasn't like he couldn't see why. There was no praise, no support to lift them up. But he never offered those things, especially when they so horrendously failed to do one simple thing when sparring.

...Hydro could almost hear his brother lecturing him in his head.

'Be kinder', he would say. 'Show that you care for their well-being.'

Hydro rolled his eyes just recalling them all. He shook his head. He had to stop being so ridiculous.

A responsible General would never let the past affect their emotions.

"Giving into your weakness," Hydro said aloud, "is how someone gets killed...just like you did, Hydras."

Hydro was strong. He would never stoop so low and let his emotions carry him along so idly. To live, one had to be cold. Mercy was for the weak – survival was for the strong. If it was a choice between emotion and survival, he would choose survival.

...Only one can remain.