Chapter 19: The Greatest Fear of All and Corridor of Elders
The Elemental Masters flew on their Dragons back to Ninjago. After finding out that each one can summon a dragon with their powers when Chen took their vehicles. The man was successful in transforming him and his army into Anacndari, and took off towards Ninjago. Cinder sat with his brother on his dragon after his wings tired out; seeing more dragons made him happy even though they're just spiritual.
"Chen and his Anacondrai army have a day's start on us. Be prepared for anything and everything." Lloyd said
"How did we lose so much time?" Kai said
"You know, you took an oath never to leave a man behind." Dareth said and Cinder rolled his eyes at him.
"And we're not all quick learners. Mastering your fear to create Power Dragons takes time." Jay concludes
"Well, we're running out of that. There's Ninjago City. Hurry." Nya said
"Hurry's my middle name. Hyah!" Griffin said
"Remember, whatever happens down there, we're stronger united. We fight as one." Lloyd said
"Let's do this!' Jay said and everyone flew into the city. Everyone swoop, dived, and swirl around the buildings. Cinder held on tightly to his brother as his power dragon maneuvered through the buildings, but was still exhausted and his grip loosen and he flew upwards as Cole's dragon went into a dive. He squeak in surprise by this and when he fell he opened his wings and went into a glide. Then he was grabbed by the scruff of his neck by his brother's power dragon. Soon the Elemental Masters have landed on the streets, with Cinder being held by the scruff and Cole chuckling. A woman has noticed Skylor, who was unfortunate a Anacondari, and screams making everyone screams and panics.
"I wish I still had the power to change." Skylor sighed
"You have changed. You're with us now." Kai said as an elderly lady honked her car's horn, asking to get passed. The red ninja did so and the elderly lady drove off.
"Could you be a dear and move your Dragon? Thank you, young man."
"If we're the first ones they've seen, where's Chen and why hasn't he attacked?" Garmadon questioned
"We have to get you and my father off the streets before we alarm everyone. Everyone else, stick together and watch over the people." Lloyd ordered.
—
The ninja, Cinder, Garmadon, and Skylor enter the Samurai X Cave. The Falcon screeches and lands on Zane's arm. Cinder whistles impressively at this place. He had help Nya built this place, but never seen it fully completed and overall was impressed.
"And hello to you, my old friend." Zane said happily
"Ah. You're all back. Zane, look at you. You're all...shiny." Wu said, amazed and laughing.
"But where's your father?" Misako asked as he slither in.
"It's me, Misako." Garmadon said and Misako gasped.
"Don't worry. We have a reason to believe the spell may be wearing off." Skylor said
"But if that's true, it only makes Chen more desperate to act now. Everyone, this is Skylor, Chen's daughter." Kai stated as she slither up to them.
"You're amongst friends, Skylor." Misako said kindly as Garmadn turned to Wu
"Thank you for looking after my Misako."
"As any good brother should."
"Yes. A good brother."
"There isn't much time. Our friends are on standby but we don't know where Chen will strike first." Lloyd said
"And if we're not all there to stop him when he first attacks..." Cole said concerned
"Ninjago will succumb to war. Our greatest fear will come true." Garmadon said grimly
"Then the greatest victory will be that which has no battle." Wu said
"But how do we prevent a war? How do we stop an enemy we know so little about?" Jay said, scratching his head. Then the Falcon flies over to a screen, opening an image of Kryptarium Prison.
"We find someone who does." Wu finished
—
The ninja have used their Dragons to travel to the prison. Landing near the entrance the group walked up towards the entrance. Cinder trailed behind slowly; he was still exhausted from flying and his energy levels were low, making him unable to used his breaths for a limited time.
"Kryptarium Prison. Home of Ninjago's worst of the worst." Garmadon said
"I don't get it. Who's gonna help us here?" Cole questioned
"If one must learn how to fight a snake, one must talk to one first." Wu concluded as they entered the prison.
"Sorry I had to confiscate your weapons. Here we try to foster what I call "an environment of encouragement."" The Noble said as the group walked behind him through the prison. Cinder kept his tail blade close to him to not allow the prisoners to use it. Passing some Skulkins who were glaring at them but Cinder growl at them menacingly, shutting them up. Then they came upon Captain Soto who was squawking at them, but the Noble quietened him .
"Haha. Ninja ain't popular around these parts, considering you put most of them behind bars, hmm. But who you're looking for, he hates ninja the most. Last cell on the left." The Noble said as the group walked down the hall.
"Huh... these guys are... pleasant. But compared to what I saw they are weak. Compared to the mighty Sparx!" Sparx said dramatically and Cinder smacked at him with his tail in disapproval. His uncle yelped in pain from that and kept his mouth shut. They soon came up to an empty cell, well with a doll house within. Cinder's eyes narrowed when he saw a familiar white snake, who was wearing a prison suit.
"Hmm, why yes, Pythor, this may very well be the greatest cup of tea you've steeped. (Back to normal voice) Oh, you flatter me, Rodrigo, but do go on." Pythor said dramatically
"We need your help." Lloyd asked and the white Anacondari who gasped.
"Help you? The ninja? You fed me to the Devourer, defeated every army I've aligned with, even forced me to swallow your shrinking pill! Haven't you done enough damage to my diminishing ego?" He turns around but Cole turns over his cell. Pythor screams. "Well played. I suppose this is about that culturally insensitive noodle baron and his ilk that are now Anacondrai. Impostors, if you ask me."
"You are the last remaining Anacondrai. You must know how to stop them." Jay pleaded
"I'm not going to say another word until you can figure out how to make me big. And don't ask me to trust a ninja." Pythor said with a scoff
"Would you trust a snake?" Garmadon asked and Pythor turned to look and his eyes widened.
"Garma-Condrai? Oh, now my interest is piqued. Let's make a deal, shall we?"
Cinder just listens to the conversation but looks at his uncle who was napping on his head. He wanted to know more about his parents but knew he couldn't, especially in a place full of their enemies listening. So he sat on his haunches and just looked around as Pythor continued talking.
"Then you get the spell book and I'll tell you their weakness and then—"
"There's been a breach in Sector 2! They appear to be Anacondrai and—uh-oh, they're coming my way. They see me talking on the intercom. Oh, boy, here they come. Why am I still talking about this thing?" The Noble said nervously through the intercom.
All the prisoners except Pythor cheers. Cinder growled at them and looks at his uncle and softly shook his head, waking him up, and the dragonfly grumbled but compiles.
"You led them to me? What have you done? There's no escaping Anacondrai!" Pythor shouted in panic and tried to open a wardrobe. "Curse this fraudulent furniture! When it won't open, he hides under a lampshade.
"Tell me! How do we stop them? What is their weakness?" Garmadon shouted urgently
"Don't you get it? There is no weakness! They're Anacondrai!" Pythor shout back at the Sensei.
"Guys, we've got company." Kai yelled
"I'll handle this. Earth!" Cole yelled and tossed some bricks at them, but it dents some cell bars.
"We're trying to keep the inmates in, not let them out!" Jay yelled in anger. Garmadon grabs Pythor and some of his sweat lands on his hand, turning it back into scales. Cinder's eyes widened as he realized why the enemy was here.
"Your hand. That may be why they've come for Pythor. What if he holds the key to making their transformation permanent?" Zane concluded
"That's why Chen hasn't attacked." Wu said
"Then we have to get him out of here. If he's the key to preventing a war, we can't let him fall into the wrong hands. Literally." Lloyd stated
"Oh, I get it. It's literal because of my size. Haha, very funny. But I'm a little sensitive to all the size references." Pythor said sarcastically
"A little sensitive?" Garmadon said concerned
"Okay, I stepped right into that one." Pythor said apologetically. Everyone tried their best against the transformed Anacondari but was getting destroyed by them, with no weapons to help them fight against them. Jay was able to use what was laying around as a weapon to fend against the serpentine. Pythor wasn't impressed by them of being heroes which Lloyd tries to explain but the white serpentine wouldn't listen.
"Are we still talking about the Serpentine War? The Anacondrai had every intention of honoring the truce. It was Chen who told us your kind was going to betray us. We had no other choice but to attack." Pythor said snootily
"Chen said you were going to betray us!" Garmadon argued
"Ugh, sounds like Chen was playing both sides." Lloyd sighed in frustration but then the group then sees Warriors in front of them.
"Again I say...cowards." Pythor said with a scoff as Anacondari Warriors surrounded them.
"Protect Pythor." Wu yell as everyone tried to protect the tiny serpentine. Lloyd uses Spinjitzu to attack some cultists but loses Pythor in the fight. Garmadon asked his son how he lost him. Right now the ninja, dragonet, dragonfly, and both Sensei's were still inside the Prison. But then the situation gets worse as a prisoner accidentally releases the others out of their cells. Cinder kept calm as he looked for Pythor, then saw him nearby Wu and looked at his uncle.
"Uncle Sparx?"
"Yeah kiddo?"
"I need you to go for Pythor ok?"
"Sure, he'll be easy to grab. But why me?"
"Because none of the Anacondari Warriors don't have wings. So you'd be perfect for this." Cinder explained
"Ok." Sparx said and flew out and waited for his signal. Cinder flinched as he watched his brother get hit by the giant Stone Warrior, the same one that they fought in the museum a year and half ago. Cinder growled and roared at it, which it turned and looked at him with hatred and roared back at him and charged. Cinder was ready and shoots an Earth Flail at it and swings it around, then does Spinjitzu and goes around it. Moving faster and faster he then creates a huge tornado with his Wind element, causing the prisoners and Anacondari Warriors to be sucked into. After a few mins with prisoners and serpentine getting knocked around the tornado died down and Cinder landed on the ground sluggishly and crumbled to the ground as he panted heavily in exhaustion. Unfortunately the help he did wasn't enough for Chen's men to get Pythor and escape. Even though his uncle tried his best as well, he couldn't save the white serpentine. The dragonet passed out into peaceful slumber as the fight continued around him.
—-
Cinder opened his eyes slowly and groaned. Looking around he was on a bed in the Samurai X Cave. He looked around and saw his uncle was sleeping in a small basket on a nightstand. He crawled out of the bed and sluggishly walked out, his uncle still asleep in the basket. and into the main room. He could see the ninja, Nya, Skylor, Misako, and both Sensei's were discussing over the issue at hand of Chen.
"Twenty trucks could hold two hundred Anacondrai. If they get to the city before we do, the city will be theirs." Zane noted
"And they'll have achieved the pivotal first foothold in the war." Garmadon uttered
"We have to stop them." Lloyd said, putting his fists together.
"I've already warned the others to head them off at the pass. They should be able to hold the line until you offer support. I had them equip themselves so we could communicate." Nya explained as Shade's face appeared on the screen.
"We're in position. If they show up, we'll be sure to put up a fight."
"They're coming to your location soon." Nya remarks
"I see them. Let's show them what we're made of. The trucks. They're going every which way." Shade said surprised
"What do you mean? Aren't they going to Ninjago City?" Jay questioned confused
"I don't know where they're going, but they ain't going together." Shade said
"There are over twelve densely populated villages within a ten-click radius." Misako imparts
"They aren't planning to launch one attack, they're planning multiple." Kai exclaims
"What do we do? You told us to stay together." Shade asked
"Chen knows you can't take you all on at once. He's trying to split you up." Garmadon imparts
"But even if just one of those trucks makes it to a village, the people won't be able to defend themselves." Misako pointed out
"We have to protect the people. Tell the Elemental Fighters we have to split up. We'll each intercept a truck and stop it from reaching those villages." Lloyd ordered
"What ever happened to "we fight as one?"" Jay said a brow raised
"This isn't a vote, Jay. This is stopping the end of our world as we know it." Garmadon said angrily and then the ninja ran off to help.
"What's my father up to?" Skylor questioned as the ninja left the cave.
"Nya, ready the Bounty. We must prepare for the worst." Wu orders
"You heard our orders. Split up and intercept those trucks." Shade said
"Well, I hope they can get him." Cinder says exhausted and everyone looks at him.
"So you finally wake up Cin?" Nya said with a smirk and the dragonet grumbled in annoyance.
"How would you feel when you don't have unlimited elemental energy? I was on fumes when at Kryptarium and was forcing my body to its limits. Now I'm exhausted, tired, and cranky. So give me a break would you?"
Nya nodded and Wu turned to her,
"Nya, why aren't we in the air?" He asked
"We just gave the old gal a makeover. It's gonna take some time for her to warm up." Nya said
"Misako, notify every ally we have. We're going to need all the help we can get. And brother, if for whatever reason this doesn't work out, I'm glad you're home." Wu said
"There's something wrong. Why aren't you telling me?" Misako said skeptical
"We're on the threshold of war and I'm a man-snake. Take your pick." Garmadon said looking down
"You're my husband. I know you better than that. There's something else." Misako said
"Do you remember the letter I gave you long ago?" Garmadon asked
"Of course. Those words you wrote. It was the reason I fell in love with you." Misako said
"That letter was not—" Garmadon was cut off as the lights went out before he could finish.
"Nya, what just happened?" Wu said grimly
"I'll have her back online in no time." Nya said as she worked on getting the lights back up. Cinder watched the screen as each Elemental Master took on a delivery truck. Lloyd chased one near a village, his brother chasing another in Blackwood Forest, and Kai chasing another in New Ninjago City.
"Zane, have you diverted the truck away from the villages?" Wu said through the communicator.
"Yes, and once it's at a safe distance, I plan to take care of the Anacondrai." Zane said
"Good work. The people are safe." Wu said in relief but Skylor wasn't
"No they aren't. We aren't pulling them away from the people, they're pulling us!"
"Stop the trucks!" Wu shouted at the communicator. But it was fetal, as each Master opened the trailer bed of the trucks. They start to panic and can't concentrate on summoning their power dragons, making it useless to get to the others quickly.
"It was all a trap." Garmadon uttered in disparity
"Then that means..." Misako trailed in realization.
"The greatest victories...have no battle. Our worst fears have come true." Wu said grimly as on the screen they could see Chen laughing as his army made their way into Jamanakai Village. Cinder whimpered.
"The new Serpentine War...has just begun." Garmadon said, barely a whisper.
—
Nya was trying her best to communicate with the others, but fails. Each one she tried to contact went through but was getting statics from most of them, but then cuts off entirely
"They're attacking Jamanakai Village. You have to stop them. All communication is cut." Nya said rubbing her head frustrated.
"If our fighters don't know where to go, who's gonna stop my father?" Skylor uttered
Cinder agreed with this. His uncle have told him about the war with the Dark Master, but bits and pieces as his memory was blurry now of remembering those occurrences. Then the screen came live and the dragonet turned and everyone did as well as Chen's face appeared on it.
"Hello. As you can see, I've taken control of the airwaves, just as I'll take over Ninjago."
"You'll pay for this, Chen." Garmadon said angrily but Wu puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Brother, enough. What do you want?"
"A truce."
"Ha! Like the one the real Anacondrai wanted during the last war? The truce that you destroyed by deceiving both sides?" Garmadon said acidity
"I will honor my word and no one will get hurt, if you and everyone you know leave Ninjago and never comes back." Chen ordered and Garmadon growled
"We're not leaving our home."
"Wait. Let us think about it." Wu said which surprised the snake-turned man.
"How can you even entertain him?" He said crossed
"Our ninja are gone. We need more time." Wu argued
"You should listen to your brother, Garmadon. He's always had a way with words. Hehe. It convinced Misako, didn't it? What's wrong? You look a little purple. Oh, that's right. Once a snake, always a snake." Chen said sweetly
Cinder eyes widen
"Oh no, this isn't go to be great."
"Haven't you hurt enough people, Father?" Skylor said bitterly
"What is he talking about?" Misako asked confused
"Oh, he hasn't told you? The letter he wrote that made you fall in love with him...it was written by Wu." Chen said with a smirk. Misako gasps.
"I...I was trying to tell you." Garmadon said meekly
"How could you, brother?" Wu shout in anger
"Oh, and about that truce? Deal's off. I actually only wanted to drop that delicious little bombshell. Toodaloo!" Chen said and ends the transmission.
"Of all the things..." Wu muttered
"Brother, don't let anger cloud your judgement." Garmadon pleas but Wu wouldn't listen.
"Don't tell me what to do. You're no Sensei, and you've never been one!"
"ROOOOAAAR!"
Wu stopped and looked at Cinder, the dragonet was looking at him angrily. His body is surrounded by streaks of darkness. He slowed his breathing and the darkness went away and his body went back to normal. Everyone looked at the dragonet in astonishment. Cinder just stared at Wu in disappointment.
"I'm ashamed Sensei. You should know that Sensei Garmadon has a rocky path because of the darkness going through him. You are also the one that knows that this wasn't his fault, if you want to blame someone, blame Chen." Cinder said with a growl.
"I agree with my nephew, trust me I have experience with this. Cin's mom have that issue and all the things she did weren't her fault but others still loathe her for what deeds she did. Listen to your brother and let him explain, don't jump to conclusions." Sparx spoke, saying his piece.
"I agree with the two. You see what he's doing? He's divided the ninja, now he's dividing you." Skylor added in. Wu nodded in shame and let him explain his story. After that the mood in the room was sulky, Cinder watching the computer screen's map of Ninjago. A few hours later the Elemental Masters and Ninja entered in with grim looks.
"Thank goodness you got my message." Neuro said, relieved as Kai walked over to Skylor, who's body was almost back to being human.
"Look at you."
"The spell is wearing off, but my father's antics sadly have not."
"Tea?" Wu said as he pours some into a cup, then gives it to Misako. Lloyd saw thus and looks at his father.
"He knows about the letter?"
"The message was delivered." Garmadon said with a sigh
"So why were we asked here? We should be fighting snakes." Griffin asked and Wu stood up.
"Because anyone can fight. Only one side can declare victory."
"In the time it took you to get here, Chen has taken over the entire Eastern seaboard and is moving inland. With each village destroyed, they grow stronger." Nya said as she points to dots that are red n the East.
"That's a lot of red. Karlof not like red." Karlof said
"How are we supposed to stop them? Most of us have lost control of our Dragons, not to mention we're outnumbered ten to one." Gravis ponders
"Actually, 62.4 to one." Zane replies
"Look, I'm scared like the rest of you. It may look like we've lost, but it's not over. When we thought we lost Zane, it nearly tore us apart. But we didn't quit. We let it fuel us. We grew stronger." Lloyd said parading
"There's hope. The Corridor of Elders." Wu imparts
"Corridor of Elders?" Shade questions
The computer screen zoomed out and moved more Western, then stops and zoom in on a terrain full with canyons. Cinder looked at where the global map paused on a narrow section of the canyon, in it were statues. Built into the canyon walls on either side of the narrow chasm.
"I know we don't stand much of a chance taking on his entire army at once, but after he's controlled the East, he'll move West tomorrow and have to pass through Echo Canyons. Our best tactical position is to make our stand where it bottlenecks: here, at the Corridor of Elders, the monuments honoring our ancestors. It's the narrowest channel, but our greatest chance." Wu explains.
"If we can't stop them here, the rest of Ninjago will fall like dominos." Garmadon concludes
"Karlof not like to lose. Karlof fueled!" Karlof shouted determinedly and Wu smiled
"Then we have one day to save tomorrow."
Everyone cheers.
—-
Cinder watched everything off on the restored Bounty. Sitting on the deck he watch as everyone sat up in the canyon. Making a trap in the ground to make them think they're outnumbered. His uncle was impressed by the ship and brought some memories of being on a pirate ship, but were literally captured to be entertainment to the crew.
Cinder have called for Ultra to aid them in this battle, but hasn't arrived. He wonders why the four-headed dragon isn't coming, so he hopes that this is enough to hold.
Then he hears the cries of battle going on down below. Chen's army has arrived and the ninja and anybody that could helped to aid. But after a few mins he sees some of the copters go up. Cinder yips to Nya for the signal to enter the Bounty into battle.
"The new girl hates feeling left out. Now!" Nya shouted and shoots a blaster at some of the copters
"Misako, Nya, drop it like it's hot!" Wu ordered
"Aye, aye, Sensei." Nya reply as she launch another blast at another copter. Cinder tried his best to help but with no elemental energy, he had no elemental breaths to use against the slimy man. One moment the ship saved Skales who almost lost his life from a Condrai Crusher. But unfortunately it wasn't enough for Chen and his army to cross the line.
"They crossed the line." Nya said
Explosives were going off as the Anacondari Warriors started to destroy the canyon walls to stretch the canyon width. Cinder then noticed Lloyd coming up the anchor of the Bounty after Skylor jumped down to confront her father.
"Pythor says he has something that can end this war." Lloyd spoke as he put the small Serpentine on the deck floor.
"They've crossed the line of no return. No amount of power can stop this now." Wu said grimly
"But the might of a true Anacondrai can." Pythor said with a smirk
"Do you see what's happening? This isn't about you. Making you big solves nothing." Garmadon said frustrated
"But if the generals you banished to the Cursed Realm so long ago saw this mockery, they would stop this travesty at once." Pythor pointed out which got the others thinking.
"No one comes back from the Cursed Realm." Misako said as Garmadon picks up the book.
"Unless he that cursed them takes their place. I could unleash the spirits of the Anacondrai Generals."
"If you banish yourself. Magic has its rules, you know." Pythor warned
"We're not cursing you. We're not losing you to bring them back." Lloyd said angrily.
"If we do nothing, we lose Ninjago." Garmadon argued
"We don't even know if they'll help." Misako implies
"We do know that the real Anacondrai wanted peace as much as us. It was Chen who started both wars. I never thought I'd say this, but Pythor is right." Garmadon said with a sigh
"I cannot allow this, brother." Wu objects
"Who are we fooling? There's not enough time for me to make up for the pain I've caused in my life. But if I could save Ninjago..." Garmadon trailed off but Lloyd cursed in angrily.
"You want my blessing to walk out on us again, fine. But don't expect me to stick around to watch you go. My real family needs me."
Then he jumps off the Bounty.
"Lloyd, wait!" Garmadon shouted but the Bounty gets hit with a missile. Cinder squeaks in fear from the hit.
"If this is going to happen, I suggest we do it now." Pythor said urgently. Garmadon handed Wu the book.
"Read it, brother. You know as well as I, the ninja don't need two Sensei. Only one can remain." Garmadon said and turn to Cinder. "It was also a honor to teach you Cinder. Even thought I was evil you were kind to me compared to the ninja."
Cinder whimpered in sadness.
"Like I said, you and my mom have the same ordeal. So I was opened to be friendly with you. You been a great teacher and I hope from my world that the ancestors give you peace on your soul."
"Thank you Cinder. I hope you will be a responsible dragon with your powers." Garmadon said and turned to Wu. "Go ahead brother."
"Very well. "Komodo, nicktu, demic tara."" Wu starts chanting and Garmadon turns to Misako.
"Misako, will you ever forgive me for the letter?"
"I already have." She said with a sad smile.
"Tell Lloyd I'm sorry." Garmadon said but them—-
"You can tell me yourself." Lloyd said as he climbs into the Bounty. "If anyone should be sending you off, it's me." He takes the book from Wi. "Kenji, suveris, toto-demada, cursono, neeboro" Everyone gasps when they see a portal opened up in the sky. "actu, cursono, neeborro."
"I yearned to make the world in my image. I never realized I already had, in you." Garmadon said with a smile
"Sono, hokido, bo-rock!" Garmadon screams and moans as a purple beam of energy hit him as he's being sent to the realm. Soon he was gone: Garmadon has left Ninjago for the last time.
"Is he...?" Misako trailed off uncertain
"We shall see." Wu reply. Then after a few seconds the purple vortex opened up. Coming out spectral beings flew down towards the fake Anacondari. The Anacondrai General spirits were cursing the Cultists. Soon all of Chen's men and himself were cursed as ghostly beings and were sucked into the vortex. After that everyone cheered, the war was over with Chen and Ninjago was saved. Cinder was happy this ordeal was over but watched as Misako patted her son's shoulder.
"The war is over. It had to be done."
Cinder then watched as the Anacondari spirits came up to the Bounty. They looked different from Pythor, probably because of genetics.
"Thank you, Pythor. You should be rewarded for your courage and bravery. You have made your ancestors proud. Finally."
"Oh, what can I say? Everyone can change." Pythor chuckles as then the leader general returns Pythor to his normal size. The white serpentine gasps. "That's more like it. Haha!"
Then the general turned to Lloyd
"And thank you, Master Lloyd. Because of your friends, you have done what we never could: united the Serpentine and your kind as one. Because of you, the balance is restored. And because of your father, our spirits can be free. You will have our eternal respect as the greatest warriors to ever battle for Ninjago." The general looked at Cinder. "You also have done so much already with helping protect this land. Even though you're not born here, the spirits will guide you on your path to your destiny." Then the generals then went into another realm.
—-
"Haha! You showed them!" Griffin said laughing
"You mean we showed them. Thanks for fighting with us." Cole said
"Huh. Smarter than fighting against you." Karlof said and everyone laughed. Cinder just warbles in amusement.
"Anytime you need your help, just holler." Jay said with a grin
"Same goes for you. I imagine we all have homes and villages to get back to. Thank you, ninja." Neuro said
"Thank you, friend." Zane reply
The ninja form a circle around a campfire. After cleaning up the mess in the corridor. Wu pours tea for everybody. Kai raised his cup for a toast.
"To the Anacondrai, the greatest warriors of their time."
"Yeah. Now it's our turn to make our ancestors proud." Jay uttered
"Because we're proud of those who were here before us to show us the way. Goodbye, Father." Lloyd says farewell and looks to see a crew of people making a statue of his father.
"His loss will affect us all." Wu said with sorrow
"Not his loss, his life. He made us stronger, and he brought us together." Misako said with a sad smile
"I am Lloyd Garmadon, son of Lord Garmadon." Lloyd declared
"Student of Sensei Garmadon." Wu added
"He made me who I am today. He was my father. He was my adversary. But in the end, he was my friend." Lloyd said
"Because of him, we will live to see tomorrow." Zane noted
"And for every tomorrow, we'll live to honor him." Kai said as Lloyd threw Clouse's spellbook into the fire.
"And because of him, we'll be ready for whatever comes next." Jay contended
"Skeletons, snakes, Nindroids, and Anacondrai wannabes. If they can't stop us, what can?" Cole smiled
"That's for tomorrow to decide. Today, we say goodbye to a legend." Lloyd said as everyone watched the men worked on the statue and the sun set downwards in the horizon.
—-
Chapter 19 edited and spell checked
