Brave kid asked me "What if Pythor never betrayed Lloyd?" So I made this trilogy of one-shots to answer that question. Enjoy!
*Little Brother (deleted fan scene from Never Trust a Snake)*
Pythor quickly shut the door with his tail and grabbed a piece of wood.
Not exactly the heaviest thing up here, he thought as he threw it onto the trap door, but it will have to do. He then backed up with Lloyd at his side. It won't be long until that Blue Ninja reaches them.
Pythor then looked down at Lloyd, seeing the fear in his bright green eyes. He can tell that he's scared. The snake would be scared too if a bunch of ninja were after him.
But Pythor's not scared about having ninja chasing him. He's scared for Lloyd. After all the fun they had together, the human boy was becoming the little brother he never had. And hearing that he's been alone in the world, he feels complete empathy for him.
Pythor was planning to steal the map from Lloyd, but when he held his tail while sleeping back at the tomb, a strange feeling came over him. It was a feeling he'd never expected; a feeling of acceptance…a feeling of longing…a feeling of brotherly love. Pythor now knows that it's not revenge he wants; it's family.
And I choose to protect it, he thought before Jay busted out through the trap door.
"Shocked to see me?" he asked, swinging his nunchucks above his head. Lloyd then turned to Pythor, who glared at the Blue Ninja with a growl.
"Quick," he called, "do someth—"
"Stay behind me, Lloyd," Pythor said, moving to the front of him and wrapping his tail around him. This surprised both humans, especially when he had a look in his fuchsia eyes wanting to kill anyone who would hurt the boy.
"Pythor," Lloyd then asked, "wh-what are you doing?"
"Protecting my little brother," Pythor answered, not taking his eyes off Jay for one second. Even the ninja himself couldn't believe what he's hearing.
"WHAT? Your little brother?!"
"Is there a problem with that?!" Pythor shot back as a gust of wind blew at them. It was a little strong, but it was strong enough to blow the map out of Lloyd's pocket. The boy was the only one who noticed.
"No! The map!" He then jump out of Pythor's coils to grab it, causing the Anacondrai to turn to him in shock.
"Lloyd, what are you—NO!" Lloyd then saw that he's heading for the edge of the roof and couldn't stop. But before he could fall off, Pythor's tail shot out and pulled him back into Pythor's arms. He looked up with surprise to see Pythor's frightened and angry face.
"Lloyd, what were you thinking?!" he yelled. "You could've gotten yourself killed!"
Lloyd shuddered a little at the sight of the angry snake. He has never seen Pythor this mad.
"I'm sorry," he stated, feeling like he's going to cry. "But the map…I wanted to get it back, and…I didn't mean to scare you…I…" Pythor just hugged him tightly in his arms, allowing Lloyd to cry into his chest.
"Shhshhshhshh," he hushed softly as the Bounty flew down towards the rooftop and the rest of the ninja jump up to join the shocked Jay. "It's okay, Lloyd…I got you…don't worry about it…Just don't scare me like that again…"
*Failed (sequel to Little Brother)*
Pythor was still hugging Lloyd as Sensei and Nya stepped off out of the ship and onto the roof.
"Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon," Sensei then called out in a scolding tone, "you come here right now!" Pythor just held his "little brother" closer to him protectively. He's not surprised that his middle name's Montgomery. I mean, how many does he know with a "classy" middle name like "Prometheus" (yes, that's Pythor's middle name).
"You'll have to get through me first, old man!" the Serpentine growled. Suddenly, bolas shot out and him and wrapped around him, surprising him and causing him to drop Lloyd.
"Pythor!" Lloyd cried before a lasso shot out and wrapped around his long neck before pulling him down sharply, keeping him from getting up despite his struggling.
"Lloyd, run!" he cried, but it was too late.
"I got him," Jay said before grabbing the boy and tossing him onto his shoulder. "Good thing I brought my bolas and rope with me."
"Hey, let me go!" Lloyd cried as he struggled. "Pythor, help me!" The Anacondrai then struggled to get out of his bonds and save him, but they were too strong for him to break off.
"What should we do with him?" Kai then asked, making Pythor think they're referring to him. His heart sank when their suggestions made him realize they're talking about Lloyd.
"Wash his mouth out with soap for a year?" answered Cole.
"Ground him indefinitely?" Kai suggested.
"Have him sit in the corner for a century?" Zane added.
"How 'bout a thousand spankings?" asked Jay, causing Lloyd to whimper. That made Pythor really angry.
"You so much as lay a harmful hand on Lloyd," he roared, "and you'll each wake up missing both of yours!" The ninjas were taken aback by his outburst.
"Whoa," Cole said, staring at the violet snake in awe. "I've never seen a Serpentine act so protective of a human, let alone Lloyd."
"Perhaps he has developed a brotherly bond with him," Zane stated hypothetically.
"I know precisely what we must do to Lloyd," Sensei said sternly, causing Lloyd to gulp in fear. Pythor then shut his eyes tightly, knowing he can't do a thing for the boy now.
Lloyd, I'm sorry, he thought as he fought back his tears. I've failed to protect you.
*Make Them Your Friend(sequel to Failed)*
"And that is why Jack the Rabbit never trusts a snake," Sensei read from his book to Lloyd, who's lying in his bed listening. "The end."
Pythor just listened from next to Sensei, not minding the story because it will help Lloyd learn that he shouldn't trust the other Tribes besides him. He knows that the Hypnobrai and Fangpyre Tribes will be dangerous now that they've united against the boy. He can only pray that the map showing the locations of the Venomari and Constrictai Tombs doesn't fall into their coils.
"If my dad had read me that book," Lloyd sighed, "I never would have made that mistake. I'm sorry, Uncle."
"Oh, you've no need to apologize," Sensei replied as he tucked Lloyd in. "I'm sure if your father were still here, it would be the first book he'd read. Besides, Pythor has proven that not all snakes are bad, so he's one snake we are certain to trust." He then turned to Pythor, who looked up at him in reply. "I had seen what you had done for him. Thank you for saving my nephew's life." Pythor simply bowed to him humbly before Sensei patted Lloyd's head.
"Good night, nephew," he said to the now sleepy boy. "Sweet dreams."
"G'night, Uncle," Lloyd yawned before turning to Pythor. "G'night, Pythor."
"Good night, little brother," the snake replied before he and Sensei left the room. Once they had, Pythor turned to Sensei.
"I…I hope you could forgive me," he said shamefully, "for calling you 'old man'." Sensei just gave him a small smile.
"You have no need to apologize, Pythor," he replied as they stepped out onto the deck. "You were only doing what an older sibling should do and protect him." The two of them then heard the ninja behind them.
"I don't get it, Sensei," Kai explained before they turned to Sensei's students.
"Why isn't that little brat getting punished?!" snapped Jay, earning himself a death glare from Pythor.
"Yeah, we had to train all day," Cole complained, "and he gets read a bedtime story? That's not fair!"
"Aw, did you want him to read you a bedtime story too?" Pythor teased, causing the three complaining ninja to growl at him.
"I am afraid we are too old for that, Pythor," Zane explained. Pythor would have told him he was joking but recalled the others telling him that he has no sense of humor.
"You are right," Sensei said to his students. "I nearly forgot. Why are you not still training? Have you figured out the answer to the riddle?" The four of them looked down in shameful defeat.
"No, Sensei," Kai answered hesitantly. "We still don't know what the best way to defeat your enemy is." Pythor just smiled before answering for Lloyd's uncle.
"It is to make them…your friend."
"Oooh," they replied with realization. "Right. Of course." Pythor and Sensei then left to turn in as the ninja watched their new friend Lloyd sleep peacefully. To Pythor, this is a whole new beginning…for all of them.