I'm baaaack! I am so sorry for the extra long wait, I had finals and then reunited with family after 3 months away from them. We all know the drill, let's do this:

I own nothing.

Chapter 10: Awakening

At the top of Borg Tower, the bipedal genius sat alongside Pixal and several of the young students, overlooking the city. It had been hours now since the ninja had left, heading towards an almost certain deadly battle.

"I'm sure they will be fine, Pixal." Although they were not related by blood, Cyrus Borg had considered Pixal his own, and new her every emotion as if they were his. This included her seeing fear for Zane and the rest.

"I know, Dr. Borg, but... I am so confused. My logic receptors cannot process all that is happening: all at one, the Dark Army re-emerges, we lose contact with Lloyd and Mystake, and a strange anomaly occurs just over the City. I categorize these as "bad omens," but for what?"

Before he Could answer, Cyrus was surprised by Brad's sudden burst of energy. "LOOK!" He pointed across the city skyline: Coming from the north at raging speeds was the Ultra Sonic Jet. Lloyd. Before they could even wave to guide them onto the top platform, the group scattered to make room for the fast-approaching Jet as it all but crashed onto the sleek surface.

"GAH! Lloyd, what are yo-" The android was interrupted by the Green Sensei jumping out of the cockpit, gripping onto the Scroll of Airjitzu.

"NOT NOW, PIXAL! We have to get this to safety before the Dark Army gets here! THEY'VE RETURNED!"

"Yes, we know."

He was taken aback. "...What?"

"A large portion of their forces have been spotted moving across the Desert of Doom, towards the destination of Clutch and your Mother. And Lloyd... it seems they have added more to their legions. We tried to contact you, but the Jet's communication systems must be damaged."

"Mom is in danger?!"

Cyrus wheeled forward. "We have already sent Nya, Cole, Dareth, and Zane to face them. As we understand it, thye have contacted Kai, who has found the remaining Elemental Masters. They are headed in the same direction now."

The Green Sensei put his hands to his forehead, his mind racing. "That won't be enough!"

"No, young Lloyd, it will not." The collective group turned to face Mystake as she slowly disembarked the Jet, carefully carrying a crate which contained the remains of the first Spinjitzu Master. "You have to go help them. We will take care of our business here, and await your return."

He nodded in agreement with the proposal, handing off the Scroll to Pixal before jumping back into the Jet. "OK, to the Desert of Doom!"

"Lloyd, wait!" He turned back to Pixal. "Please... take care of Zane. And, do take care of yourself."

"I will, Pixal." With that, the Jet lifted up and sped away, hoping to reinforce the Ninja.

Less than 500 feet away, hidden by Dark Magic, Garmadon stood within the carrier alongside Harumi and Clouse as he watched his son wisp away in his sleek white Jet. "Oh, Lloyd. You poor, sad fool; this will break your heart."

At the encampment around the Golden Peaks, the Time Twins stood at the forefront of the new Temple. While Krux stood proudly as he watched over the soldiers work, Acronix only stared at his aged twin in confusion.

"I still do not understand, brother. All this, time, you prepare for my return, so that we may overthrow Ninjago together with the might of the Vermillion. Then you just... Hand them over once I actually am retrieved through the time slip?!"

"Yes, that was my plan. But then I thought it would make kind of a dumb plotline. Also, do not forget it was the work of Clouse at Garmadon's orders who helped retrieved you."

The younger-looking twin folded his arms in irritation. "Two of our former enemies."

"True. Former being the key word. We have brokered an alliance, and have allowed Chen to copy our power's essence into his staff. They have shown us that our strength is in numbers. And there is still so much we have yet to gain..." He trailed off at the sight of four incoming SOG cycles. Walking forward, the twins approached the halting vehicles alongside Killow and Ultra Violet, who were eager to be reunited with their fellow general.

"Well, Mr. E, did all go as planned?"

The black-clad Biker silently nodded, taking out the Mask of Vengeance. "Good, you were warned you would likely need to use the Mask. I see your other men have sustained some damage from the fights. But what is important is that you have moved the Great Plan forward. Heal up, boys!" Dismissing the three other Bikers to go to the infirmary, Krux turned to Ultra Violet.

"All is according to plan. Soon, we will have everything we need. Prepare our prisoners, Ultra Violet; we cannot afford to waste time once Lord Garmadon returns!"

Only miles away from the ancient Pyramid now, the Ninja Tumbler and the DB X rolled across the sand, intent on arriving ASAP. "We need to hurry, Ninja!"

"Zane, we know, but the fact is, they have already arrived at the Pyramid. At this point, it is a matter of stopping them from finding the Forbidden Scrolls within the temple." Although Nya made a point, the white Ninja stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. "They killed Jay, Nya. If they kill Misako-"

"They wouldn't dare, Zane!" Dareth's voice interjected. "Both she and Clutch know too much about the scrolls to be considered invaluable. I know they are alive."

Cole agreed. "Dareth is right."

" -Zzt- WOAH, this must really be the end times if Dareth is right!-zzt-"

"KAI? Where are you?" Cole didn't require a verbal answer before he looked out the front view and to his right, to see a slightly-modified Destiny's Shadow carrying a large amount of Elemental Masters, with Kai driving.

The Red ninja raised his fist in the air, rallying his new friends. "ALRIGHT EVERYBODY, LET'S KICK SOME ASS!"

"My friends, the time will soon be upon us!" Pythor stood at the epicenter of the room, surrounded by thousands of Serpentine from all different tribes and factions. The warriors took up all the space in the room, and were in fact spread throughout the entirety of the Pyramid, with the Anacondrai Serpent in the entrance of the giant room.

The four tribe Generals stood behind their King, along with Machia, Raggmunk, Blunck, and Chen. "We only await for three people now! First, Skales, if you would be so kind..." The Hypnobrai General bowed his head graciously, slithering forward with the Realm Crystal before handing it to his King.

Pythor stared at the jewel before raising it in the air, signaling his warriors to cheer. "FIRST, we bring back the one who is lost!"

At the far back of the room, Misako and Clutch stared in confusion. "What's he talking about, Clutch?"

"I have no idea."

After the cheers ended, Pythor closed his eyes in concentration, summoning a portal above him. "From the far reaches of the Realm of Abominations, the one who is a bridge of Venomari and Anacondrai, he who was banished for his pride, for siding with adventurers and not those who would tame the High Seas, I call upon you to come home, CLANCEE!"

Immediately, a light-green skinned Serpentine fell out of the portal, landing on his face. "AAAH-OOF!" Picking himself up, Misako could see the strange warrior in full-view now: He indeed had the complexion of a Venomari, with green skin and yellow eyes, but had the bone structure of the old Anacondrai with the exception of a tail. Instead, he had a leg and a pirate's peg leg, along with multicolored pirate raider armor. She also noticed he was shivering in fear.

"AH! W-w-who are y-y-you? Serpent-t-t-tine? You all c-c-cast me out!" Pythor slithered forward and clasped his hands. "Yes, Clancee. Our ancestors cast you out. But through Dark Magic associated with your "employer," you have lived long past an of them! Now, you are welcomed back into the fold of the FULL might of ALL SERPENTINE!" The shrilling noise of thousands of Serpentine cheering throughout the halls of the Pyramid sent shivers up Clutch and Misako's spines.

Clancee on the other hand, surrendered a large smile on his face. "I... I can come back?" His stutter practically dissipated with the news. The Serpentine King looked back at him, a large grin also covering his face. "Yes, Clancee. And that is not all! As Serpentine King, I will return our dark Queen Aspheera from her entrapment! Together, we will bring the full might of the Serpentine to the Dark Army, and be all the more closer to complete domination!"

"Dark Army? So it's not just Serpentine? I see several human faces around here!" He pointed accusingly at Chen's cultists before Pythor put a hand on his shoulder.

"We are but a portion of the Dark Army. We seek unanimous control, for together, we are stronger then anything the Ninja would throw at us! Don't you worry, Clancee, I know what you want to ask; they will all be returned and brought into the fold. But now..." He trailed off, staring forward at the crowd. "THE SECOND!"

Several warriors marched forward, carrying what Misako perceived as a coffin, styled similarly to those within the Pyramid. Placing the coffin in front of Pythor and Clancee, they stepped back giving their King the chance to speak again.

"The Loyal! Dedicated servant, sworn to carry the mantle of his Master's legacy after her entrapment, and who has long since passed with her secrets well-kept, General Char of the Vipers!" He used his staff to open the box, showing a fully-kept corpse of a Black Viper. In his hands, he clasped onto a tablet, which Clancee carefully removed, making sure not to damage the body.

Clancee stared at the tablet before holding it above his head, giving him the spotlight as the warriors cheered in unison. The pirate-Serpentine smiled as he turned to his king, who nodded graciously before holding his hand up to hush the crowd.

"AND NOW, SERPENTINE! It is our honor, our duty, and our genuine pleasure to bring our forces to full might! THE THIRD, I call upon you, Clancee, to bring back to us! QUEEN ASPHEERA!" The warriors cheered in unison as Clancee stepped forward, facing the large mural on the wall, reciting the words on the Tablet.

"From the bonds brought down upon you from the betrayer... For the good of those who seek to serve... I break the spells which hold you entrapped... So that you may have your Revenge! Slatha… dooktu macha rivo! Slatha… dooktu macha rivo! SLATHA DOOKTU MACHA RIVO!"

Misako watched in both awe and horror as the mural illuminated a purple aura before it began to crumble, and within seconds, burst open. All in the room shielded their eyes from the dust, and Pythor was the first to look to see the sight before him: His Queen, the Sorceress Viper Aspheera, slither forward with her scepter, laughing as she stared at those before her.

"My loyal... I. HAVE. AWAKENED!"

OK OK, I KNOW this was super late and still kinda short. I am REALLY sorry, but I promise there will be at least one more chapter before the new year.

PLEASE REVIEW!