All of nothing.
Wu sat at a small tee table in his room with his brother across from him. The two decided to be civil and enjoy the quite while they could.
"So how long are you going to let those fools go on like this." Garmadon asked after a sip.
"What do you mean?" Wu raised a brow.
"The lovey dovy pair and I don't mean the blue one and the samurai." Garmadon frowned.
"It is not my decision." Wu frowned back.
"Yet you don't tell them the truth either, what it truly means to be the bearer of the panther necklace." Garmadon frown deepens.
"When they time comes, they will find out." Wu sipped his tea.
"And until then you'll let them get closer till that time and they'll get hurt. Typical." Garmadon rolled his eyes.
"I believe that there is still hope for them. I may not be able to do anything but those to are smart and resilient. They will come up with something." Wu took a sip of tea.
"Even I if I do detest the ninja brother, for their sake you better be right." Garmadon took a sip of his own.
Meanwhile….
The ninja had found a serpentine willing to talk. But he didn't say much that could help them. Just that he was too far away for them.
Maya was frustrated. "How are we going to catch up."
The other where also worried till Lloyd had an idea to steal the rest of the fang blades.
Unfortunately….
"It will not be easy. I calculate that taking the other three would be far more dangerous. Pythor would undoubtedly have them protected by his top generals."
"Ha finally I don't have to hold back." Kai said cockily.
Maya just face palmed "Great Skales again." She hated that snake and he was still angry at her for the scar. 'I owe him another for the feral incident she growled.'
"Even if you could steal the other three, you don't even know where they are?" Garmadon reminded them.
"He's right, for the past few weeks there have been almost no serpentine sightings. How are they moving around? It's like their ghost." Wu brings up.
"Or big foot." Maya shrugged.
"Or snakes!" Nya exclaimed and came up with an idea to make a sonar sweep twenty feet below Ninjago, since snakes borrow and then they found it, how all the tombs connected and the most heavily guarded part of the underground maze that was made.
With that Wu gave the word to set sail. Nay saying they be there by sunup. It was time to get ready for battle. But first they all needed some rest.
Maya was restless in her sleep. She thought if she be dreaming she be dreaming of the green ninja, but not this time no….
Maya in the old temple of the panther necklace. 'What am I doing here?'
Suddenly the panther guardian arrived 'It's you, but why am I here?'
'You question yourself too much.' A female voice came from the panther.
Maya jumped 'You can talk?'
'I am no ordinary panther remember? Now answer me, why do you question yourself so much?' The panther sat on a stone in front of her.
Maya looked down and said 'I fear change I suppose. And I feel that the only reason I was chosen to be a ninja was to find the green ninja. But I want to be more then that. I want to be my own ninja.'
The panther shook her head 'Silly girl you already are. You have a destiny waiting for you, one that will test you, but one you must chose for yourself all the same.'
'What, I was never told about this?' Maya looks shocked.
'Somethings you must discover for yourself. Wait for your true potential to unleash and then you will see it, you will know the truth then, not only of the green ninja but of yourself.' The guardian nodded and soon Maya woke up with a flash of light.
As Maya woke up she no did not feel anxious or scared but a sense of peace in a way. 'I'll know the truth in time.'
As Maya got ready for the day she felt something new in her, something that made her necklace glow slightly.
Outside Wu began to help them learn how to combat against the snakes. Kai would fight without sight against the hypnobry, Cole would loosen himself against the constrictia, Jay would use his armor against the fangpire, and Zane would use his training in meditation to overcome the illusion of the venomari.
Then Wu said "Maya, how will you defeat Pythor, the last of the anacondria?"
They all looked surprised.
"Sensei you can't be serious, Pythor's too dangerous, he could really hurt her." The guys spoke up.
Zane looked at Maya worried but said "How will you defeat him?"
They all looked surprised at him as did Maya, she could see his worry but also his trust. She smiled at this and then closed her eyes to think.
As she opened them she said "Make him the hunted." Maya glared.
They all looked shocked at that. Wu nodded and said "Good. Pythor has always bean the hunter. Now it is time he learns how it feels to be hunted down."
They all looked shocked and still a bit confused, what did sensei and Maya mean.
Lloyd came down and hugged Maya and the other "Be safe out there."
"Not goanna beg to come with us little guy." Kai smiled.
"I learned my lesson last time." Lloyd shivered.
They all chuckled lightly.
Nya then came with her mech and said "We made a seat for you to help keep us sensei." Nya called and Wu hoped on.
"Wait then who's watching Lloyd." Maya looked worried.
"I'll be." Garmadon came out.
Maya stiffened "Shouldn't you be coming with us. We can't fail this mission."
"My mission is to protect my son. Nothing more." Garmadon glared.
"Maya let him be. If we run into trouble he can be backup." Wu explained.
Maya sighed, she still didn't trust Garmadon but there was no time to argue, she just worried for Lloyd. She then hugged him once more and whispered "Remember the secret hatch."
Lloyd frowned sadly at tht but nodded. Zane had helped create a secret hatch that lead to a small escape ship in the basement. They thought it be good for emergencies or in this case if Garmadon tried anything.
At that they all jumped into the cave and as they looked about they found nothing.
"I thought you said this place would be crawling with snakes Zane." Jay scolded.
"I can be wrong once in a while." Zane shrugged.
"Really modest Icy." Maya shook here head.
Then they noticed a drawing of Cole on the wall, with a mustache.
"Now that's just rude." Cole came up and said "At least give me a good mustache." He pressed the picture and it turned out to be a secret pathway. With that they ran through.
They stayed up in the ledge and overheard the generals talk about the great devourer.
'Do any of them not now that that would mean they get eaten too?' Maya raises a brow.
Pythor then came to quite them and tell them Pyhtor would be there soon.
'Oh boy here we go again.' Maya sighed inwardly.
"There's too many to deal with at once. I say we travel by shadow." Kai recommends.
"Right behind you." Nya agrees.
"And I'll be right behind you." Wu tells Nya.
So they head out and get ready to fight. Sadly it didn't go well, she wasn't' sure what happened but somehow they were surrounded, Nya tried calling for him but only Lloyd answered.
Somehow it was as if the snakes knew they where coming. 'New we shouldn't of trusted Garmadon.' Maya growled. She deal with that later right now they had to fight.
They used the advantages they learned to defeat each of the snakes. Pythor wasn't there yet so Maya would just help how she could.
She used spinjitsue, her claws, and teeth, but it wasn't working too well. There were too many of them and they where being surrounded.
They saw the fang blades and where about to grab them, but it turned out to be a trap, soon they were caged.
Maya was about to unleash her panther energy but Wu called "Maya don't, you are too close to the other ninja. You could accidently trigger the panther tornado."
Maya had to stop herself. If she did that she might accidently cave them in. The other tried to get out but couldn't for some reason.
"Come, come, can this get any better? Seriously, they fell right into my trap." Pythor gloated.
"Ugh this isn't good." Kai tried to shake the bars.
"When I get out of here Pythor, I'm going to bite you." Maya glared.
Then they where hefted up as Pythor said "A bit primitive don't you think."
"Says the cannibal." Maya smirked.
The other snakes chuckled as Pythor glared. "Put her in another cell. I have a different plans for her."
"Leaver her alone." They all shouted but they where grabbed by the strange tentacles and Maya was wrapped in some strange chains and soon put in another cage. Maya had tried to struggle but the chains where too strong.
The tried to take her necklace but they just got blasted back. Hissed at this but let it be as he took the other ninjas weapons. 'There's got to be something I can do.' Maya glared.
Zane looked over worriedly at Maya, afraid of what the snakes had planned for her.
They soon heard Lloyd trying to contact them on Nya's suite, Nya hit it with a rock and said "We're fine but we're a little held up at the moment. Our weapons had been taken and locked in cages."
"And Pythors returned with the fourth fangblade." Cole explained.
"Lloyd where did you're father go?" Zane asked.
Lloyd then explained what happened.
Maya growled 'I know we couldn't' trust him, at least Lloyd is safe.'
That's when she heard what Lloyd was planning "No Lloyd your too young."
Wu agreed but the others said they didn't' have a choice with what was coming. Still Maya didn't like it. She couldn't allow this.
Pythor wanted to head strait to unleash the great devourer but the other snakes wanted to party a bit. "Then tonight we celebrate with the slither pits and our first attraction will be the purple ninja!" Pythor pointed at Maya.
"No!" the others called as Maya was cuffed and dragged out, she tried to fight but couldn't, what was wrong.
"It's venge stone it cancels out our elemental powers." Wu warned her.
'Elemental but my powers aren't an element.' Maya realized. 'But then why is it hard to activate them.' Maya still felt a bit of power and tried to use them but nothing came. She had to try though.
As she was thrown in Skales came up and said "I've been waiting a long time for this."
Maya glared as she took a fighting pose, even without powers she could still fight. Skales launched at her but she jumped. Kicking him into the dirt. He hissed as he tried to tie her, she then used her hand like a paw and struck it away.
"Nice trick ninja. But they can't last forever." Skales rubbed his soar tale.
Maya knew this and she knew she had to get out of here. The other cheered Maya on, telling her she could do this.
She felt comforted by this and took her battle stance, she could do this, she had too. Skales then said, "Look into my eyes ninja."
Maya closed her eyes at this and tried to fight without seeing, but without her advanced senses it was harder to fight and Skales eventually threw her to the ground. She tried to get up but he pinned her with his staff.
"That's cheating!" Kai roared. The other agreed with him as the snakes just cheered.
Maya couldn't get up, she was to forced down. Skales laughed and said, "Now how to end you ninja."
Then she smelled it 'Sugar?' LLody was there.
'No he can't be he can't he'll be hurt. I have to do something but I'm stuck and….' Maya struggle she was not letting anyone get hurt.
"Give up ninja!" Skales yelled.
"Never I will never give up I will never submit!" Maya yelled.
"Oh really." Skales hissed as he wrapped Maya up. She tried to loosen herself but something was wrong.
"That little trick won't wok on me." Skales chuckled, and Maya found out way, the tail, it felt like there was something sticky on it. Maya couldn't get out. Skales began to tighten her and she was gasping.
"Maya no!" Zane called in horror. He felt his heart speeding up and he wanted to fight he hit the bars to get out as did the other, they all shouted but one voice called over them.
"AH!"
"Hey looked I got a pipsqueak ninja!" Called a snake.
Maya eyes shot opened and shouted "NO!"
Pythor smiled as he came over "OH look a little snack."
At that Maya felt her body stiffen and her anger rise. 'No I won't let him get hurt, I wont' let any of them get hurt. I am a ninja and ninja don't give up!'
Maya roared and suddenly she did spinjitsue to escape Skales hold.
"What, but how? The stone…." Skales started.
"Is for elemental powers. I am not an elemental ninja I am the panther ninja and I fallow the path to protect others, especially those I care for!" Maya launched at Skales and scared him as she pinned him down and racked her claws across his chest.
Scales yelled in pain as Maya ran off on all fours, her purple energy rising as she saw Pythor about to eat a scared Lloyd. By he stopped as he heard her roar.
"What is that?" He called scared as Maya ran over and jumped between the two, the little ninja fell.
"Lloyd get the others. As for you Pythor. You are now my prey." Maya growls.
Pythor shouted, scared as he tried to slither off. Maya roared as she chased after him, he tried to slow her down as he threw his own snakes over to slow her down, it didn't help much.
"What's gotten into Maya?" Kai looks shocked.
"I will explain later. Right now we must escape somehow. Lloyd is still in danger and Maya cannot defeat them all." Wu declared.
"How we can't use our powers and we don't have our weapons!" Jay exclaimed as he jumped rocking the cage.
At that Kai got an idea "Everyone move side to side, it will rock the cage it might get us out."
They all looked at each other, unsure but nodded as they decided to try it out.
Maya at last had Pythor cornered "Give me the fangblade." Maya growled.
"Never. I'd rather die then give up to you, you…What are you anyway. You're a human who acts like an animal. Your on a ninja team full of elemental users yet you don't have one. Oh and you don't even seem to have a purpose. What is that all about!" Pythor shouted.
Maya, instead of flinched, just stood up, her powers going down and said "I don't completely know. I'm still figuring that all out. But there are things I do know. I am Maya Wilder, panther ninja, and I was brought into this team to find the who the green ninja was."
The ninja had finally escaped and grabbed on to the chains to grab their weapons and but yelled in shocked at this. All accept Zane.
"But I know there is more to my destiny then that. I am a protector and I shall continue to be one for as long as I want, there is more out there for me I know. But for now, I'm happy to find who will help get rid of a great evil from this land, it's my responsibility and I will fulfill it. But for now I am here to stop you!"
Maya roared at the end and Pounced at Pythor who was crushed into the wall and nocked out. Maya then took the fanglbades from his hand as she kicked Pythor away and held them up "The great devouere shall never rise. Not while I can help it!"
At that Maya started to glow, other snakes tried to come after her but she was engulfed by a purple sphere, she turned and roared at the snakes so powerfully they fall to the ground from the sonic shock.
She then started walking forward and any that got near where hit by a giant paw. Step by step she began to glow.
"Sensei! She's found her true potential!" Nya exclaimed.
"Yes, she has." Wu smiled.
As Skales got up and saw how his whole army was being defeated in droves by a single ninja he called "Retreat!"
Pythor was grabbed by some of the snakes and they all ran out. As the snakes ran Maya roared once more at them, making them fly through the their escape and even buried them from falling rocks she nocked down.
The others finally got down and went to congratulate her but "Stop!"
They turned to Wu who walked over cautiously "It is not over."
"But the battle won, there's no danger." Cole looked confused.
"Maya has reached her full potential, now she will show us who the green ninja is." Wu explained.
"So Maya was he key to knowing who the green ninja was." Kai looked surprised.
"She is more then that. And she always has been." Zane looked on worriedly at Maya, the sphere was gone but she was still glowing and was spaced out.
"You knew, didn't you?" Kai looked at Zane.
"She came to me with worries of this. She was worried that this was all she was worth to us. That she had no other purpose. She had to let go of that fear to reach her full potential." Zane realized and smiled proudly at Maya.
Wu then said "Now she is in the process of finding out who the true green ninja is. Stay still my students. It will be over soon." Wu nodded as Lloyd came up a bit worried, but Wu hugged him. It would all be okay.
In Maya's mind….
Maya opened her eyes and found herself in the panther temple, but four elements waited in front of her 'What's going on?'
'It is time.' Maya looked to find the panther guardian.
'You again?' Maya looked surprised.
'Pleas you have earned the right to call me by my name. I am Prowess, guardian panther.' She slightly bows to Maya.
Maya bows back and says 'Thank you for your help Prowess. But where am I. Last time I remember I had defeat the serpentine but now…Why am I here?'
'It is time to reveal the green ninja.' Prowess comes up to the elements and sits in front of them.
'What do I do now?' Maya asks.
'Close your eyes, fallow your heart and it will reveal itself to you.' Prowess smiles.
Maya nodded and did as told. She closed her eyes and suddenly the voice she remembers all to well came over her 'I can here him.'
'Then fallow.' Prowess smiles as she leave.
Maya looked over shocked and then saw the elements disappear to reveal an orb of green energy and then it flew into more into the temple.
Maya was surprised but took a breath. It was time.
'Every inch of me is trembling
But not from the cold
Something is familiar
Like a dream I can reach but not quite hold
I can sense you there
Like a friend I've always known
I'm arriving
And it feels like I am home….'
Maya moved about as she fallowed the energy orb the temple started to change, the green forest was still there, but the sky became clearer and the air became colder.
Maya felt her heart flutter in the orb reached the middle of the temple and shaped itself into the green ninja.
'Show yourself
I'm dying to meet you
Show yourself
It's your turn
Are you the one I've been looking for
All of my life?
Show yourself
I'm ready to learn….'
The voice called out to her as it became more solid and then rant up to the top of the temple and into some sort of door. Maya fallowing.
'I've never felt so certain
All my life I've been torn
But I'm here for a reason
Could it be the reason I was born?
I have always been so different
Normal rules did not apply
Is this the day?
Are you the way
I finally find out why?'
Maya knew she was different and new the normal did not work for her. Now she was here, away from all that was normal and she was about to figure out a secret that could help them all. And she was ready she needed to know this. She came out to find the ninja, solid and looking over a terrace over the forest.
'Show yourself
I'm no longer trembling
Here I am
I've come so far
You are the answer I've waited for
All of my life
Oh, show yourself
Let me see who you are…'
Maya felt something familiar about this ninja, something so familiar. She found herself tapping his shoulder. He turned about, his eyes closed as if afraid to show his true self.
'Come to me now
Open your door
Don't make me wait
One moment more
Oh, come to me now
Open your door
Don't make me wait
One moment more.'
Then he opened them and Maya gasped as she said 'I should have known all along, those icy blues never lie to me.'
'Where the north wind meets the sea'
At that the ninja took off his mask so show Zane with a smile, the two embraced and
Ah ah ah ah
There's a river
They two kissed and suddenly the temple began to be covered in snow as it fell from the sky.
Ah ah ah ah
Full of memory
Outside Maya mind….
As this happened the others looked worried.
"What do you think is going on?" Jay looked on curios.
"It seems to be some sort of trance." Zane looked worried.
Maya then began to walk towards them. They all froze as they waited as Maya approached a little every few second and then. Then she stood in front of Zane.
"What?" Kai looked shocked.
"Waugh Frosty." Cole looked in aw.
"Wo, that's kind of surprising." Jay looked on as Nya walked him arm.
Maya then put a hand to Zane's shoulder and suddenly he felt something surge through him. The other looked on and Zane white gi began to change, it still stayed white but the edge and his armor became a mint green as green energy surged around him.
"Wo so cool." Lloyd looked on.
Maya then kissed Zane and for a moment Zane was in Maya mind and could see what she saw, hear what she heard. As he pulled back in shock Maya finally opened her eyes to normal and cried "I should have known, a leader, with a pure heart, and determination to match. The others have at least one or two of these but you have all three. That is what make you worthy to be the green ninja."
Zane looked on shocked, as did the other but they all smiled and came up to him.
"Congratulations Zane." Kai said sincerely as he patted his shoulder.
"Why to go Frosty." Cole smiled grabbing the other shoulder.
"Couldn't of thought of someone better." Jay smiles hugging him.
Zane was surprised "You are all not angry with this."
"Are you kidding, it's perfect. Your smart enough and determined. I fallow you anywhere buddy." Kai smiled.
"Yeah if I had to give up the reins to someone I'm glad it you bud." Cole nods.
"Just don't go getting a big head on us." Jay smiles.
"I will not, I am proud to know you all trust me, but Cole if you can, could you help me in being a leader? I feel I can learn much from you." Zane smiled.
"Of course I will Zane." Cole smiled.
"That was so epic! So does Zane still have his ice powers or will he have something different or…." Lloyd tries to ask in a rapid speed that made Jay proud.
"I think we should leave the question for another time. Someone is very tired." Wu pointes to Maya who had fallen asleep on Zane.
Zane looked surprised "I did not even notice."
"It bean a big day for all of us. Let us return home." Wu smiled and they all nodded.
Nya took the fangblades as they headed back home, but none of them noticed that a shadow loomed it the dark. 'So the green ninja is the ice ninja. I know my enemy. But how to defeat him?' Grmadon down wondered.
He had come back to try and help but it seemed he was not needed, but it stilled worked out for him as he know knew who he would face and he knew the this particular ninjas greatest weakness. He laughed as he rushed off.
Later…..
Maya finally awoke and Zane was right there waiting for her "Did sensei allow this?" she smiled.
"Only because he knows I would never try anything." Zane smiled.
"Good. Congratulations Icy." Maya caressed his face.
"Thank you love. But really you where the one to figure it out. And in a way I don't think I would have ever found out if you had not bean there. Also I don't think my powers would have ever activated without you." Zane smiled
"What do you mean?" Maya stood up confused.
"When you chose me as the green ninja, somehow a felt a wave of energy come form you and open up within me. Maya, the reason only you can find the green ninja is because only you can unlock the green ninja." Zane helped her as she put her legs out of the bed.
"What, but the scroll…." Maya looks shocked.
"Was incomplete. I believe there is more to this legend then we know. All I know is that you where the key to unlocking the green ninja. To unlocking me." Zane held both her hands tenderly.
Maya smiled as she held his hands back "Zane, I still don't understand all this fully, but I'm glad I could help and can I say. You look very handsome with that mint green on." She smiles a bit flirty.
Zane flushes but then smiles as he leened in ot kiss her but "Ah no no no, not in the room." Called Wu as the two jumped.
"Now come. We are celebrating." Wu calls them as he heads out.
"Sigh, we should fallow sensei and…." Before Zane could finish Maya kissed his cheek and said.
"We'll catch up on that kiss another time. Now let's go mr. green ninja. We have a lot to celebrate."
With that the two headed to the monitor room where everyone was partying and having some sort of yellow liquid.
"Hey the main guest have arrived!" Jay held punch up.
"To Maya. Who took the serpentine down!" Kai said in a rockstar voice.
"And to finding the green ninja, our buddy Zane." Cole added.
Maya flushed at this as Zane snuggled her.
"Guys it was nothing I…" Maya feels embarrassed.
"Nothing? That was awesome you should have seen how yourself." Cole smiled.
"Yeah I don't know how you could have ever thought you weren't important to this team Maya. Trust me without you I go crazy and Wu definably couldn't keep this guys in line without you." Nya smirks.
Wu chuckled as he said "I agree. As I said before you help keep this team balanced." Wu winked.
"And after today I have to say your my favorite ninja." Lloyd hugged her.
"What, I thought I was your favorite." Kai said sadly.
They all laughed at that and then Maya saw a sad Lloyd "Missing your dad?"
"I just wish he would have helped." Lloyd looked down.
"Do not be too harsh on him Lloyd, your father is poisoned by evil. We've tried to find a cure but never found one. He cannot fully control himself." Wu said sadly.
"He tried to tell me that I at least have a chance to be whatever I want to be, not like him. That's why he never took me with him." Lloyd looked down.
"I'm glad he didn't, we would have lost out on a great friend." Maya patted his head.
"And we have missed far too much in our lives. We should not miss more." Zane smiled.
Wu then said "Tomorrow we reach torch fire mountain and destroy these fangblades once and for all. But for now we celebrate." Wu smiles.
They all cheered once more and decided to relax and have fun.
Several songs came one and they eat a good meal that Zane made. Just because he was the green ninja didn't mean he give up his hobbies.
At one point the song 'Fix you' came up and the two decided to dance. Jay and Nya decided to join in as well. The other rolled their eyes at this but where happy for the couples.