In this chapter, our heroes will fight the Hypnobrai.
As their name implies, they have hypnotic powers.
So our heroes need to be careful.
There is a way to counter their hypnosis though...by using a mirror. Lloyd learned that all too quickly.
Chapter 3: Hypnohiss
The five ninja were relaxing at their home sweet home.
However, their master had something unfortunate to tell them.
"I'm afraid I have bad news, my students. The Anacondrai and the Hypnobrai tombs have been opened." noted Master Wu.
'What are they?" asked Anne.
She wasn't sure what they were...but they sounded dangerous.
As well as...snakelike.
"They are both part of the Serpentine tribe, a race of snake people that have a grudge against humans. They went to war against humans, but they were sealed away in their tombs." explained the master.
"That doesn't sound good." noted Cole. Where were mongooses when you needed them?
"It's not. I expect that they intend to open the other three tombs. The more tombs that they open, the stronger they become." noted Master Wu.
"I thought the tribes were at war with each other." questioned Zane.
He had read about that in a book. A history book, to be precise. One might know it at first glance, but he did not spend all his time playing video games.
"Yes, but given that their unwillingness to work together was what caused them to be sealed in the first place, I suspect that they would be willing to put aside their differences this time. Believe it or not, the Hypnobrai and Fangpyre generals made peace not long before the war between the humans and serpentine ended." noted Master Wu.
"So, the Serpentine are learning from their mistakes?" asked Anne. She knew that she did.
'Yes, they are. I suspect that the Fangpyre tomb will be the next one to be opened, given that it is the closest to the Hypnobrai tomb. So we need to take action against the Hypnobrai quickly." explained the master.
"Let's go fight some snakes!" exclaimed Kai.
"Luckily, it appears that there is only one Anocondrai left. They were feared during the war and rightfully so. But the Hypnobrai are still thriving after all these years." noted Master Wu.
'That makes things a bit easier for us." noted Zane.
"It does. But you need to watch out for the Hypnobrai's hypnotic powers. Otherwise you'll end up doing things you do not want to do." warned Master Wu.
'I don't want to be hypnotized by a snake! What if it forces me to get in their belly?" questioned Cole.
"We'll definitely want to avoid that!" exclaimed Jay.
That sounded scary.
"If you notice that one of your teammates has been hypnotized, do your best to snap them out of it.' explained Master Wu.
The Hypnobrai had certainly struck fear in people's hearts during the Serpentine Wars.
The idea of being attacked by one of your own comrades was simply unnerving.
"Is there any sign of the Hypnobrai?" asked Cole.
Protecting people from them would be a lot easier if they knew where they were.
"According to eyewitnesses, they've set up a fortress on the outskirts of Jamanakai Village." explained Master Wu.
'We should destroy it then.' noted Kai.
Hopefully they could stop them from opening the other three tombs.
"By the way, do you know what the best way to defend one's enemy is?" asked the ninja master.
"Being stronger than they are?" asked Kai.
"No." answered Master Wu.
"Teamwork?" questioned Jay.
"Good guess, but no." spoke the master.
"Getting to know one's enemy?" asked Anne.
"Getting warmer." explained Master Wu.
"I guess we'll have to figure it out later." noted Cole.
Though he did wish to know the best way to defeat one's enemy.
That would be very handy in the future.
The hideout in question wasn't hard to spot.
They had a gate with two guards standing in front of it.
"Who goes there? Friend or foe?" asked one of the Hypnobrai standing guard.
"Friend!" exclaimed Cole.
They opened the gate.
Cole then began attacking the Hypnobrai.
"We need to come up with a better security system." noted one of the Hypnobrai guards.
"You think?" answered the other guard.
The five ninja began to fight the Hypnobrai.
"The ninjas are trying to ruin my fun again!" exclaimed Lloyd.
"I for one happen to enjoy a challenge." noted Pythor.
Fortunately, our heroes were well-equipped to handle the Hypnobrai.
But one of them managed to hypnotize Cole.
"I must destroy the ninja!" exclaimed Cole.
"Oh no! Cole's been hypnotized!" shouted Jay.
"He's on their side now!" bellowed Kai.
"Is there any way to return him to normal?" asked Zane.
He wasn't looking forward to fighting his friend.
And the Hypnobrai would no doubt be a greater threat with a ninja on their side.
Anne gave this some thought.
"Maybe we can try snapping him out of it." suggested the wind ninja.
It was as good of an idea as any.
"Good idea!" exclaimed Jay.
Kai tried clapping his hands together.
Likewise, Jay snapped his fingers.
This worked surprisingly well.
"Huh? What?" asked Cole.
Zane noticed a mirror.
Apparently, Lloyd used it to admire his good looks.
Perhaps he could use it to his advantage.
Some Hypnobrai attempted to use their hypnosis powers...
...but Zane used it to hypnotize them instead.
"Who would have thought that our own hypnosis could be used against us?" asked Skales.
"I didn't think so either!" exclaimed a nearby Hypnobrai.
Anne noticed Lloyd.
"Lloyd? Did you open the tombs?" asked Anne.
Up until now, he hadn't seemed like a real threat.
But looks could be deceiving.
He was the son of Lord Garmadon, after all. Though he lacked the black skin that Lord Garmadon himself had. She had seen pictures of him.
"I sure did! I figured I could use reinforcements against you guys!" exclaimed Lloyd.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea." warned the girl.
"Why not?" asked Lloyd.
"The Serpentine have a grudge against humans." explained Anne. No doubt they would be eager to enact their revenge after being sealed away for all these years.
"Huh?" questioned the boy.
He heard hissing, and moved just as Pythor was about to swallow him.
"What was that for?" asked Lloyd.
"Nothing personal. I just happen to be a carnivore." noted Pythor.
"Really?" questioned the boy.
"Well, maybe it is personal. I have a bone to pick with humans for sealing my people away all these years. Especially since we had to eat each other in order to survive." spoke the snake man.
He was lucky that he himself hadn't been eaten.
"I thought we were friends!" exclaimed Lloyd.
"Friends? You just wished to use us as weapons!" shouted Pythor. And to get candy.
"I didn't want that!" bellowed the boy.
"Says the boy who's the son of Lord Garmadon." answered the snake.
"We're losing!" exclaimed Skales.
Those ninjas had proven to be more than they could handle.
Especially since they had figured out their weakness.
At this rate, they would all be sealed back in their tomb. And Pythor would be all alone once again.
The Anacondrai sighed. It looked as if he had lost this battle.
"Then we shall retreat for now." spoke the Anacondrai.
He turned invisible and then ran away.
The Hypnobrai followed suit.
"Yeah! We did it!" exclaimed Cole.
"What should we do with Lloyd?" asked Anne.
Given that a Serpentine had tried to eat him, she supposed she could offer him sympathy.
But he was the one who was responsible for the Serpentine being unleashed.
"It's not fair! I just wanted friends!" shouted Lloyd. Unfortunately, it turned out Pythor wasn't his friend. Perhaps he should have chosen his friends more carefully. Preferably one that would not have him for dinner.
"I'll be your friend." spoke Zane.
"Really?" asked the candy lover.
"Are you sure about that? He's a troublemaker." reminded Cole.
"That doesn't mean that he's beyond redemption." noted Zane.
"It's nice of you to see the good in people." spoke Anne.
Perhaps they could reform Lloyd so that he didn't cause enough trouble.
Considering that he had opened two of the Serpentine tombs, that would probably be for the best.
The five of them returned with Lloyd in two.
"Did you defeat the Hypnobrai?" asked Master Wu.
Judging from the confident looks on their faces, they had done so.
"We sure did!" exclaimed Cole.
"Good. I see that you brought Lloyd with you." noted Master Wu.
"You're not going to steal any more candy, are you?" asked Jay.
"I just remembered that my dentist told me that sweets can give me cavities." noted Lloyd.
So it might be best if he didn't steal so much candy.
"I figured that if we reasoned with him he wouldn't cause trouble anymore." explained Zane.
"Ah, perhaps you've learned the best way to defeat one's enemy then." spoke Master Wu.
"is it by making them your friend?" asked the robot.
"Correct." answered the master.
"Nicely done!" exclaimed Jay.
"Take my advice Lloyd, never trust a snake." advised Master Wu.
He had done so once...and there had been serious consequences.
But perhaps that was a story for another day.
"I'm sure not going to trust Pythor." noted Lloyd.
He tried to eat him.
"Where is Pythor?" asked Master Wu.
"He escaped." explained Kai.
"That's unfortunate. But I suspected he might. Anacondrai have the power to turn themselves invisible." noted the master.
This gave them a talent for espionage...and made it all the easier for them to prey on humans.
"Those Hypnobrai will know better than to mess with us!" exclaimed Kai.
"Good work, but it's a bit early to celebrate. I suspect that the Hypnobrai will be looking to open the Fangpyre tomb in order to obtain reinforcements." warned Master Wu.
It would be the best way to prepare for a rematch.
It was unfortunate that the Hypnobrai and Pythor had managed to escape...but at least he knew now that the ninja could fight the Serpentine effectively.
Which was good, because if luck was not on their side all five tombs could end up being opened.
"Is there any way to stop them from opening the Fangpyre tomb?" asked Anne. She felt that fighting Pythor and the Hypnobrai tribe would keep their hands full as it was.
'Unfortunately, I suspect we are already too late. But you can study the Fangpyre in order to learn what you're up against." explained Master Wu.
He handed them a book about the Serpentine.
'Let's see what the book has to say." noted Anne.
Her grandfather had told her that knowledge was power.
Now that she thought of it, Master Wu did remind her of her grandfather somewhat.
She didn't think he was a ninja master, however.
"Wait...you said the best way to defeat our enemy was our friend...but how are we going to befriend Lord Garmadon? He's the lord of darkness!" exclaimed Jay.
"Well, he used to be my friend once." spoke Master Wu.
"He did?" asked the lightning ninja.
"Yes. I shall tell you more after my teatime." explained the master.
"By the way, has anyone seen my sister?" asked Kai.
As it turned out, she was working on something top secret.
"I'd say I'm about halfway finished!" exclaimed Nya.
She was sure that her efforts would pay off in a big way...much like Pythor himself.
And speaking of the purple snake...
Pythor opened the Fangpyre tomb.
The ninjas might have won the first round...but that didn't mean that they would win the second.
With another tribe at his side, he would stand a better chance.
"Ah, Skales! It's been a long time!" exclaimed Fangtorn.
It was good to see him again.
He noticed that there was an Anacondrai with him.
"Wait, is that an Anacondrai?" questioned Fangtorn.
He looked up to the Anacondrai personally. Their strength was nothing short of impressive.
'Yes. I'm afraid being sealed away did a number on my people. In fact, I'm the only one left." noted Pythor.
He had to admit, he felt lonely being the only Anacondrai who was still alive.
But perhaps he would feel better once he had united the five tribes.
Why fight with one another when they all had a common enemy?
After all, Skales and Fangtorn had put aside their differences.
By that logic, so could the other leaders.
At least, that was what he was hoping. His plan would not succeed if he could not persuade the leaders to work together.
He looked forward to the day that he would have his revenge.
Though he did wonder when that day would come.
Would it be a week? A month? A year?
Well, he had waited patiently for the day that the Anacondrai tomb would be opened.
And his waiting had paid off.
So perhaps his waiting to unite the five tribes would pay off as well.
It certainly was something he would open.
And then he would have opportunity to exact his revenge.
Soon, Ninjago would fall.
Our heroes might have defeated the Hypnobrai, but there are plenty more Serpentine where that came from.
Oh man...the more tombs that are opened, the more trouble Ninjago ends up in.
At this rate, all five tombs will be opened. And that will be a real problem.
Hopefully our heroes can handle all these snakes.
Of course, if they can, they'll be facing the stone army next. And so on and so on and so on.
Yeah, there are a lot of villains on this show. It seems that the Ninjago writers had a lot of ideas for them. I admire their creativity...though I did feel the show was cliched at first.
As a side note, I decided to have Zane make friends with Lloyd because I figured that he was the nicest out of the four ninja. Or five as the case in this fanfic.
In the next chapter...well, expect Fangpyres. And Jay's parents too.