Disclaimer: Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu and Legends of Chima are both own by LEGO Company.

Morning had come to the Sanctuary Forest, after a well-earned rest, the exile lions prepared to carry out their plan. Having successfully robbed the Sacred Pool from the Serpentine, Laval now prepares for the second phase of the plan, delivering the precious chi orbs to the other tribes and restoring the fleeting balance of the land.

Finishing loading up the orbs, Eris looks down towards her friend before asking, "So this is your plan?" she says with a skeptical tone. Looking up at her, Laval sheepishly answers, "Hey it's not perfect! I had to think of something! I never saw my father look so sad before, I had to give him some hope!" Still a bit hesitant, Eris retorts, "And your answer is, let's get the eagles to play delivery bird?!" Laval just gives her a smirk before answering, "Well yeah!?, Besides, what better way to deliver something than from the sky? Plus, I had to help him; he's usually like' "Grow up son! take this lion thing seriously!", and that night he was just... beat..." he tells him sadly. Having understood him, Eris responds with an enthusiastic, "Well! Here's our chance to "beat" back a bit." as she begins to take off, Laval riding on top, as they fly through the clouds with a fleet of eagles.

Stopping at the Gorilla Forest, the fleet makes their first delivery to the gorillas, dropping a bag of chi down onto a tree branch. Grumlo and Gorzan coming to look at what it is, "Air mail?" Gorzan asks bewildered. Grumlo opens the bag, only to be in awe at what's inside, "No!" he says as he pulls out a chi., "Air Chi!" he says as Gorzan pulls another chi out in hand before turning to one another, "Dude!" was all the pair said before the eagles departed. Next up was the Beaver Lodge, the fleet flew above it and let down another bag of Chi, Bezar holding out his arms as he tried to catch it. "I got it! I got it! I got it!" he says before he fails to catch the bag as it crashes through the roof and down two levels. The other beavers respond with an excited, "FIX IT! FIX IT! FIX IT!" as they run outside and wave goodbye to the fleet while cheering. At the Rhino Quarry, a third chi bag is let down to the quarry, some orbs falling out and raining upon Rogon, Runk, and Rukus. All the rhinos take cover, Rukus even using an umbrella, "Woah! It's raining Chi!" Rogon says in amazement. Adding to the comment Rukus exclaims, "Weather is so stinky!" while Runk playfully hits him and chuckles, "Stinky weather!", chucking all the while. Flying through the air, the fleet makes their way to the canyon. Flying over Raven Town, they dropped the bag as the squawking ravens tried to use a big rusty sheet to catch the incoming Chi. Razar looked above with a knowing smirk, his calculating eyes on the departing jets.

Happy that his plan was working Laval looked down towards her friend, "So far so good Eris! We've flown Chi to almost every tribe in Chima! And the Serpentine can't stop us!" he says excitedly, before changing his tone to a more grateful one as he continues, "Thanks Eris! We could never make these chi deliveries without the eagle's help." Looking up, Eris gave Laval a smile before changing to a solemn expression as she replied, "But the Serpentine still have control over the Sacred Pool. They have way more than anyone else!" Looking at her, Laval sight before telling her, "I know. My dad says that kind of thing creates an imbalance in nature, and the land reacts. That's why we need to carry on with these deliveries and continue to try and make alliances, the longer Chima remains like this, the worse it's going to get.

Inside the old Lion Temple, word of the new developments is beginning to stir. An Anacondrai scout by the name of Chop'rai raced toward the throne room as fast as he could. "Huff, huff, huff. Pythor! Lord Pythor! I have news for you!" he said, hyperventilating from the long way there. Pythor just sat upon his throne, looking at him with dwindling patience, "Well don't just stand there! WHAT IS IT!" he yelled exasperated. "The lions! They're delivering the Chi to the other tribes!" Chop'rai hurriedly spat out, as he looked at his leader head-on. "WHAT!" Pythor screamed at the top of his lungs. "This can NOT stand. This Chi is the only thing keeping those tribes from revolting against us. If they think that they can so easily oppose us it would be chaos. We must keep them under our thumb right this minute." He ranted on angrily passing from side to side, "You, tell the generals to go to their respected tribes immediately, they are to crack down at this show of resistance at once!" he proclaimed as he pointed toward Chop' rai, who for his part just rushed out of the champers immediately. "They think they can play us for fools, well I'll show them what happens when they challenge us! The game is set little lions, your move!" the violet tyrant said, his red eyes narrowing into slits as he spoke.

The news had traveled fast among the generals, each serpentine tribe now being stationed along one of their "allies" for the time being. The Fangpyre where to be stationed with the Ravens, the Constrictai with the Rhinos, the Hypnobrai had begrudged accepted to look after the Bears while the Anacondrai remained as the sole guard of the temple, as well as the only ones looking for the missing tribes, leaving the Venomari to look after the crocs. Acidicus and his men had already been sent to look after the swamp for some time, being an expert on the environment, the news had only sped up the process. The elder snake being cations on his leader's newest orders, not liking had thin their forces had been stretched, nor did believe that this was the best station for his men. Nonetheless, he followed his orders, settling his Venomari among the swampy home of the Crocs. He himself had retreated to the Hideout's library to further study, knowing that knowledge was the greatest power one could have. It was this craftiness that had led him towards his position, using forgotten techniques and clever tricks to his advantage. It was he who had invented the special vials to house his species' notorious hallucinogenic venom for use in combat so that they would never run out. It was this intellect that had given him control over a large part of the serpentine forces, his plans being the backbone for their success. While Pythor was the tactical genius, he often lost sight of the bigger picture, something he never did. He cared about his people above all, it had been his reason to fight and why he had supported Pythor in the first place. The outlands were not the ideal place for them, he knew this and that their best hope for survival lay in the rich lands of Chima. And while he was not against using diplomatic means to acquire them, he knew that force would be the others' first option. Knowing that their only hope of success relied upon unity, he didn't argue against them, but now he was beginning to doubt Pythors design.

As he lay there thinking as he shifted throw the books and scrolls that littered the room, he fails to notice an unexpected quest. "What are you doing here!" the perpetually annoyed voice of the Crocodile princess said. "Your Highness, I did not hear you arrive. Tell me what leads you towards the library this day." Acidicus answers in his raspy calm voice. "That's your Majesty to you! And I asked you first!" she said accusatorily. "Now, such hostility is unbecoming of an ally, princess! We are allies after all, are we not?" he asked, somewhat smugly despite his tone not changing, "But to answer you, I was merely getting to know the kingdom, after all, knowledge is the greatest strength one can possess." he told her. "Sometimes the only strength." He heard Crooler mumble. "What was that your highness?" he asked quickly. "I didn't say anything! Never mind, just thinking out loud. Things have been a little hectic is all, I was coming here to escape it." she informed him. "Ah yes! This is a great place for thought and relaxation. Why don't you tell me what's bothering you Crooler, I might be apple to help you." he says wholeheartedly. 'And why would you do that!" Crooler responded aggressively once again. "Well, I am supposed to be your advancer I'm I not?" he asked her. "I don't know, are you! *huff* Fine! I just wish Skales had hypnotized everyone before he left!" she told him after relenting. "Oh, is that so? Why would you say that now!" he asked, a slight concern in his tone. "Yeah, everything would have been easier if he did. No one respects my authority, always arguing, or talking back at me. As if I wasn't the rightful ruler of this place!" she shouts out in exasperation. "But you're not, correct?" Acidicus tells her, not understanding her point, she had stolen the throne not earned it. Of course, people would be against her, but they would calm down in time. "I should be, the first born is always the first to rule in our tribe and that is me! I hatched first, I am the true successor! But no one sees it, not them and not my parents!" she cried out passionately. Acidicus finally understood her, before him laid a girl that felt the world had wronged her. She finally made sense to him; he had often wondered why she had been so eager to help them. It was no surprise that she had her own agenda, but he could not find out what that agenda was! Until now, he now understood that she had needed their help to get what she felt was hers, and with this knowledge came the truth. He pitied her. "I see, but perhaps you're going about this the wrong way, maybe the trick is to show your people why you are the right person for the job instead of demanding that they just bend to your whims. After all respect is earned, I had to gain my people's respect as well when I became their leader, I proved to them that I had the brains needed to lead them into a brighter future, that I would not repeat the mistakes of the past. And since them, no one has challenged my authority, no one feels the need to do this and the same will be true for you!" he told her, with wisdom tested through age. "You really think so?" Crooler asked, small tears threatening to form in the corners of her eyes. "I now so, your Majesty!" he said with a small bow as Crooler shared a small smile with him.

Back in the Sanctuary Jungle, Laval and Eris had just arrived from their deliveries and were about to meet up with Cragger. Hopping down from the aircraft the two friends make their way towards the exiled Croc.

"Hey, guys! How did it go!" Cragger greeted them eagerly as they came closer. "It was a complete success, we delivered Chi to all the main tribes of Chima!" Laval tells him with excitement. "That's great Laval! Uh... did you happen to have seen something of my home?" he asked his friend nervously. "Well, we didn't get a good look, but it seems like more snakes are moving in. Sorry, Cragger." Eris answered instead. "Oh, it's all right. Thanks, guys." He responded dejectedly. "I just can't believe she would do that." They heard him saying in a soft tone. "Hey, don't worry buddy! We'll save your tribe; we just have to find out how!' Laval told him, trying to sound hopeful. "Say, how did you break free from their control?" Eris asked, trying to help her dejected friend. "Yeah, maybe we can do it again!" Laval said eagerly. Thinking hard, Cragger tried to remember the events that had left him here. "It's all fuzzy. I remember meeting with one of the blue ones, the Hypnobrai! It was their leader, Skales; he looked me in the eyes and told me that I should attack you guys! It sounded weird, but I didn't feel like I was wrong, I just did it as if nothing happened. After that, I would get flashes of this… feeling. Like a reminder that I had to do something. I don't remember how it stopped. I think it was during that race when they took over." He began to relay, before shouting in fury and confusion, "Arrggh, stupid, stupid. I can't remember anymore. I just remember suddenly feeling awake, as if someone had woken me from a long dream. I don't know how! He said the only way to do it was with the antivenom of his staff, but I broke free some other way, there must have been a reason!" he told them in frustration. Seeing their friend's discomfort, both Eris and Laval rushed to comfort him," Hey, hey; it's ok. We'll figure this out." Laval said gently. "Yeah, you already told us enough, we'll find out what to do next. Just tell us if you remember anything else. Ok!" Eris added with a caring smile. "Yeah, all right. Sorry, I could help you anymore." Cragger told them. "Don't say that Cragger, we're just happy to have you back! We missed you!" his friends told him respectively.

Leaving him to settle his thoughts, Laval and Eris make their way toward the main tent to tell Lagravis the good news. However, upon arriving they saw an unexpected sight waiting for them. Standing there waiting for them was Worriz, discussing something with Lagravis. Shocked at this development Laval spoke up, "Worriz!? What are you doing here!?" he cried out suddenly. "Ah, Laval. Just the nauseous I wanted to see." Worriz says nonchalantly. "Ignore him, son. Tell me, how were the deliveries!" Lagravis intervened before the situation escalated. "It went well, we got Chi to all the tribes." He answered truthfully. "But that's beside the point, what is he doing here!" Laval asked again. "Relax! I'm just going over future heist plans with your father!" the wolf leader said with a smirk. "What, why! Isn't too early for another heist, the snakes would be waiting for us!" Laval said in a panic. Sensing his son's despair Lagravis intervened, "Things have changed son, Worriz has brought me some interesting information about the "Going Ons" of Chima. "he told him with a serious expression. "Dad? What's happening?" Laval asked worryingly. "It would appeared that the Serpentine have dicided to crack down on the other races, they have sent each of their groups to one of the main tribes, making any future deliveries much more difficult," Lagravis informed his son. Not wishing to get the conversation derailed, Woriz intervened, "It also means that they have less guards on the temple, making another heist far easier." He declared vigorously. "What! How can you even think about stealing chi right now! The tribes are being held hostage; we have to help them!" Laval said desperately. "I understand my son, but the simple matter is that we have no way of freeing them without the aid of the chi. We still know very little about the effect of their powers, and even less so on how to stop them." Said a regretful Lagravis, once again conflicted on his duties.

Thinking of the situation at hand, Laval suddenly remembered something! "Wait, Dad! I remembered something, Cragger told us that one of the snake leaders told him that the antivenom for his powers was kept on his staff, what if the same is true for the others? Could we just steal those and use them to defend the other tribes!" he said eagerly. Taking this new info into consideration, Lagravis said, "Interesting, but how would we get these staffs in the first place? I doubt they would just leave them unguarded for anyone to just grab!" he asked his son, wishing to explore this line of thought. "I… well… you see…" Laval stuttered, trying to reach a solution. "You have no clue, do you?" Worriz asked him annoyed. "No, I have an idea! We just need a better thief, someone sneaky, someone like the…

"Ravens!" Cragger suddenly yelled out as he barged into the tent. "Laval, I think I remembered how I got out of their spell!" he told his friend franticly. "What! Cragger that's great, how did you do it!" he asked curiously. "I didn't, Crug did! He was playing this strange flute when I suddenly snapped out of it! He said he got it from the ravens!" he told them all eagerly. "And where is this flute now?" Lagravis asked seriously. "I… well I can of sort of… left them back on the Hideout! But I'm sure the Ravens must have another one, right? Cragger said in a hurry. "It's worth a shot Dad!" Laval said in defense of his friend. "Even so, it doesn't change the fact that this is the perfect moment to strike!" Worriz added determinately. "I am afraid he is right Laval, so long as Chima remains unbalanced our main priority is beating back the Serpentine. Once we have the resources we need, we can begin to discuss ways to counteract them! But until there, the moment to fight is at hand." The old king said in sorrow. "Are you sure about this Dad?" Laval asked one final time. "I am afraid so, war is coming to Chima, and I pray to Cavora that we'll be ready for it!" Lagravis answered as he narrowed his eyes.

On the Lion Temple, a much different conversation among family is taking place. "Are you certain you have to go; he already misses you so much." a mysterious pink serpentine said. "I am afraid so, Pythor wishes for this conflict to be ended as soon as possible, and that requires all combatants to be present." Said the familiar voice of Skales. "But don't worry Selma, I promised I'll come back as soon as possible." He told his pink-scaled wife. Selma was a Hypnobrai of the soldier clade, despite not being a combatant, the rare albino serpent was more of a caregiver, oftentimes caring for orphans during the many wars her people had been in. That was how she had met Skales, back when he was but a mere warrior, she had cared for him, and their love had soon blossomed. The arrogant serpentine proves to be a devoted mate, gifting her with trinkets and eventually with the greatest gift of all, their son. Skales Jr. had been born not much after they had arrived at this realm, merely a small serpent when this all had started, now a child he looked up to his father, wishing to be just like him. "You better, your son needs you! You're his hero, he wants to be just as daring as his father is someday!" she said with a laugh. "Then I'll be sure to train him as soon as I return.' He said with a smile of his own. "I wish we didn't always have to be at war," Selma said sadly. Looking over to her, Skales thought hard on what to say, his trademark wit nearing an end as he stared into her eyes. Finally, he just settled for an, "I leave at dawn, I'll be back soon!" as he slithered over to the barracks, not willing to face his wife. From the shadows, a smaller figure watches the conversation take place, a small pair of red eyes staring as his family was split once again. Junior understood why he had to go, but he still wished he could do something to make his father stay. If only he were stronger, he could fight by his side. Noting his mother's eyes on him, he rushed back to his room.

Unknown to the family, another pair of eyes looked upon them on that night, looking upon all of the temple. From outside, the mysterious rider known as Shadowind stared at the darkening fortress that had once been the heart of Chima. Looked, for he knew that some may come a time to make a choice. A time to either join them in battle or continue to watch as he kept the growing darkness at bay.

Soon his time would come, yet he still knew not what to do!

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! Today is my birthday, and I decided to celebrate by releasing a new chapter for this fic. I hope you all enjoy it. Like always, don't be shy about leaving me ideas and criticisms, I welcome the help!

Thank you for reading!