In the middle of the night on Chen's Island, it was dark and quiet while the crickets could be heard. Then the bushes rustled as coming out of it was Harumi, whose Kabuki disguise was a bit dirty and slightly torn from trekking through the forest. "Okay, the coast is clear, for now." She said as she went out of the bushes while coming from behind her was Nya, who was still in her bra and underwear that were in the same condition as Harumi's clothes, while shivering from the cold.
"Okay, now I regret ditching my disguise." Nya said while hugging herself to keep herself warm.
"That's what happens when you make a quick escape, Nya." Harumi said with a slight chuckle. "What did you expect? At night the temperature drops. And you being mostly bare don't help much."
"Well, at least we escaped Chen's men." Nya said while trying to keep herself together. "It's a bit dark for them to search for us in the forest. And right now, I'm grateful none of them saw me like this." She said while looking down at herself.
"Though, I guess it's mostly my fault." Harumi said with a frown. "If I had known that our cover would be blown that quickly, I would've brought spare clothes if that happened."
"It was a good plan, Harumi. Just, it was mostly Dareth's fault." Nya assured with a smile, which Harumi returned before Nya started shivering from the cold. "Though, a nice warm area or clothes would be good right now."
"Don't worry, we'll find something," Harumi assured as she noticed the waterfall where the D.P. Express was once parked. "Maybe Dareth left something behind for us to salvage." She said,
"If he left something that is." Nya said with a brow. "I mean, come on, it's Dareth." She reminded her.
"It doesn't hurt to check." Harumi said with a shrug. "Don't you agree?" She asked while gesturing to Nya's current almost bare form as Nya groaned.
"Okay, let's go." Nya said as the two girls then went up to the waterfall. After a short bit of a trek, they entered the cave where they parked the mobile base as they looked around. "Are you certain there would be something here?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but then again, it doesn't hurt to look." Harumi said as the two girls looked around the cave for anything.
After searching around, Nya groaned in frustration. "Let's face it. Dareth didn't leave anything behind when he got captured. I'm just gonna have to just keep running in my underwear for a wh-Whoa!" She tripped down to the floor.
"Are you okay?" Harumi asked in concern as she rushed up to Nya.
"I'm fine." Nya said as she rubbed her head. "I think I trip on something." She said as she looked down and saw something that made her gasped, what she fell on was a folded pack of her Samurai X suit. "My Samurai X gear?!" She said in shock while Harumi was surprised by this. "Wait, how did they get here? They were supposed to be in the D.B.X." She wondered before Harumi spotted something.
"Hey, there's a note." Harumi said as she saw a note lying near Nya's Samurai X gear as she picked it up and read it.
Hey, Nya. I had a feeling that I might get caught by those savages and might take the mobile base. So, I took the liberty of hiding your gear for you. I figure you might need it to get the upper hand.'
Good luck, Dareth, the Brown Ninja.
Nya and Harumi were surprised by this. "Wow, Dareth actually did something smart for once." Nya commented.
"Heh, he's full of surprises," Harumi said with a chuckle. "Now that you have some clothing and weapons, we might stand a better chance."
"Yeah. Now we do. I better put this on and then, we find a better place to hide and find a way to get to the others." Nya said as she grabbed her gear and started to put them on. "But you still owe me for that Kabuki disguise." She said to Harmui with a finger.
"I know." Harumi said with a shrug and a smile as Nya got to work on putting her suit on.
High above Chen's island, a zeppelin was flying by as the remaining competitors, Garmadon, and Misako were inside as everyone was on edge. "What are you looking at, Zippy?" Jay questioned Turner, who was looking at him.
"The next one out of the tournament." Turner said with his arms crossed, gesturing to Jay's casted foot.
"Uh, heh." Jay sarcastically said as Kai looked at Shade.
"Why so scared to show us your back, Shade?" Kai taunted the Master of Shadow, "Worried we're gonna find a tattoo and know you're working for Chen?" He questioned with a smirk.
"I hope this next match is between you and me because I'm gonna put you on your back, Hot Mouth!" Shade snarled as Lydie gave Skylor a suspicious look.
"Do you mind?" Skylor questioned as she crossed her arms.
"No, I don't actually." Lydie said with a glare at her.
"Tensions are high." Garmadon said as Misako nodded in agreement.
"Even Lydie is part of this atmosphere." Misako said.
"Yeah, not as high as we are now." Lloyd said as he saw how high they were as they saw Chen's whole island. "Can hardly see the island from up here."
"I've had enough of this. I can't stand heights." Neuro said in fear as he stood up and walked up to the cockpit. "Where's Chen?" He questioned as he opened the cockpit, seeing no one at the controls as the competitors gasped and Neuro whimpered.
Then the monitors turned on to show Chen. "How do I know if this thing's on?" He questioned as he got close to the controls. "Oh, oh, oh, I see the light. Oh, oh, I'm on?! Right now?!" He asked in surprise as the group huddled around as Chen cleared his throat. "Hello, final eight. I see you are all eager for the tournament to commence so one of you can win my Staff of Elements. Instead of fighting for a Jade Blade, today you will be fighting for something different, or rather two somethings."
Chen then changed the Monitors to show the forest where Nya and Harumi were, with Nya now wearing her Samurai X gear, as the girls walked aimlessly across the forest.
"Nya?" Kai said in surprise.
"Harumi?" Lloyd added as the girls noticed the camera above them.
"You two know them?" Skylor asked the two.
"Nya is my sister and Harumi is the Princess of Ninjago." Kai explained.
"And my best friend," Lloyd added.
"We have a pair of uninvited guests on the island." Chen spoke up as Harumi and Nya rushed into the underbrush.
"And they must be holding the proof that will stop Chen." Kai summarized.
"The Two fighters who find them will automatically move on-" Chen continued as he appeared on the monitor again.
"The spell he plans to use when he takes our powers." Lloyd finished.
"-to the final round!" Chen announced.
"He wants us all to hunt them down?" Jay questioned in concern, mostly for Nya. "They won't stand a chance."
"Then we have to find them before anyone else does." Lydie said with a serious tone as the Ninjas and Skylor put on their masks.
"In 10 seconds the bottom will drop." Chen said, which made the competitors all gasp in horror. "But to show you I'm not a bad man, I've given you eight parachutes." He said as eight parachutes came off from the ceilings, at the same time the floor began to open as everyone screamed and quickly started grabbing a parachute while Garmadon and Misako looked around in fear.
"Sensei Garmadon and Misako are there?" Chen questioned with a smirk as the two Garmadons turned to him with a glare. "Shoot, that makes ten. Oh, well I was never good at math. Heh. Toodle-oo." He waved as the hatch opened up wider.
"That guy's love for trap doors is seriously getting on my nerves!" Lydie shouted in irritation.
Soon, the hatch opened up completely as the competitors all fell out as they lost their grips on their parachutes. Shade quickly grabbed one closest to him as he put it on and opened his chute as he was safely gliding down as he gave a laugh as the other competitors kept falling.
"Lloyd! Lydie! Call your dragons!" Jay told the Garma-Twins.
Lloyd and Lydie nodded as they tried to conquer their power dragons, but nothing happened as Skylor grabbed her chute. "We can't!" Lydie shouted.
"We can't get them to work!" Lloyd added as Skylor opened her chute. Turner grabbed his as well before he opened up his chute.
Jay kept screaming as he landed on Turner's chute, which he left dangled onto while Griffin saw him. "Get your own chute, lead foot!" Tuner shouted.
Jay ignored him before he looked up and saw another chute as he jumped and grabbed it as he fell further down. "I got one! I got one! Hahahah!" He cheered before he opened up his chute.
Lydie and Lloyd continued to try and summon their dragons but still nothing. "Your powers don't work because you both are not controlling your fears! Focus!" Garmadon called out to them as they tried to grab their cutes, but missed.
"Kids, he's right! You both have to control your fears!" Misako encouraged.
"Don't let it control you! Center yourselves!" Garmadon added.
Kai was falling on his back as a chute went towards him, but Neuro grabbed the chute as well, which made the two flip around in the air as a flock of birds flung by, causing Kai to let go as Neuro opened his chute up as Kai kept falling. Kai then saw another parachute as he used his powers to boost towards it as he quickly grabbed it and put it on as he opened it.
Kai looked down as he saw the Garmadon Family still falling with two parachutes close to them. "There are only two parachutes left." He said, seeing that there were four falling and two parachutes falling as well.
Lloyd and Garmadon grabbed one chute while Misako and Lydie grabbed hold of the other. "We can share!" Lloyd called out.
"They're only built for one!" Garmadon stated.
"This is an easy choice!" Misako said.
"You're right," Lydie said seriously as she pulled the string on the chute and let go as Misako held onto the chute.
Lloyd then did the same with the other chute as he fell after his sister as their parents looked in shock. "What have you two done?!" Garmadon called out.
"Kids!" Misako cried in concern as the Garma-Twins watched as they were close to the ground.
"Control the fear." Lloyd muttered.
"Don't let fear control us." Lydie muttered next as they closed their eyes as they fell further into the forest, but then a bright flash shined in the forest…before two golden and purple dragons flew out from the jungle and up into the air with Lloyd and Lydie on their backs respectively.
"They made it!" Kai said with huge relief.
"Hahah! Of course they did!" Jay cheered on.
"Thattachildren!" Garmadon cheered with a proud smile.
"Great job, you two!" Misako cheered as well as Lydie and Lloyd flew close to their friends and parents.
On the ground, Harmui and Nya looked up and saw the competitors gliding down. "This doesn't look good." Nya muttered.
"No it's not." Harumi said to her. "Come on, let's get out of here." She said as she and Nya rushed further into the forest as each of the competitors landed on different sections of the island to begin their search.
For Kai, he was getting too close to a volcano. "Whoa!" He cried out as he managed to land at the edge and regain his balance as he sighs in relief and takes off his mask. But when he was about to walk down the volcano, he saw his parachute caught flames after landing on the lava.
Jay got caught in a tree and from where he was as he saw Kai jumping and yelling in pain on the Volcano. Jay shrugged it off, knowing that Kai would be fine as he struggled to get his parachute free. But after a few struggles, the branch broke as he fell with a yell as he landed on his back as Jay groaned as his chute fell on him.
"That did not feel good." Jay muttered under the parachute.
With Shade, he was walking around the forest before he saw a bow and a couple of arrows hiding in a fallen tree as he walked towards it before a speaker sounded off. "Hail, combatants. I have left a few treats to help you in the hunt." He said as Shade quickly took the bow and arrows and rushed off. "I hope you use them wisely."
Chen spoke up as he was inside the D.B. Express with a smirk as he turned to Clouse. "Clouse, why have I never had a mobile base? It's my new favorite toy. Hoo, hoo. There's so many buttons and surprises." He laughed as Clouse shook his head tiredly.
Chen didn't realize he was still on the microphone as Jay heard him, "Like I'll ever trust a treat from you, Chen," He said as he hobbled along, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" He said with every step he took before he noticed a large gray mech against a tree.
"Well, okay, maybe just a small treat," Jay conceded as he hobbled up to the mech and climbed into the cockpit.
"Welcome Master of Lightning," The Mech's Computer said as it turned blue and four wing-like blades sprouted from its back.
"Suddenly, my leg feels much better!" Jay said as he shook the Mech's foot, "I'm on my way, girls," He said and rebegan his search.
With the Garmadon family, the two elders placed down their chutes as their children hovered down, "If we're going to find Nya and Harumi before the others do, we have much ground to cover," Garmadon said as Lloyd and Lydie's dragon disappeared.
"Look! Their footprints," Lydie said, pointing to two trails of tracks.
"No, Nya and Harumi are too clever for that," Misako said, checking the trails, "No, they want everyone to follow these tracks, but only want us to see that." She said as she pointed to a tree with a Samurai helmet and cross and a flower-like design carved into it.
"The Samurai X Symbol." Lydie recognized.
"And the Symbol of the Royal Family," Garmadon spoke up.
"Should Lydie and I give you two a lift?" Lloyd asked as he was about to use his powers, but Lydie stopped him.
"No, Lloyd. We gotta save our energy." Lydie said to her brother as Lloyd canceled out his powers. "It's best not to draw attention to ourselves. I can't shake the feeling this is one of Chen's tricks,"
"Your sister is right, son. Come on." Garmadon said as the family walked down into the forest.
Back in the Samurai X cave, Seliel was at the monitors trying to get in contact with the D.B Express, "Hello? Nya come in! Dareth, Harumi? Can anyone read me!" Seliel called anxiously. "Why don't they answer?" She wondered in worry.
"Still no word?" Susan spoke up as she, Wu and Nao walked up with Wu carrying a tray of four teacups.
"Nothing. We've lost all communication with the D.B Express." Seliel told them before turning to them with a glare, "How can you be so calm about this?! My friends and Boyfriend are out there all alone!" She told them in frustration.
"As are my brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew and pupils, but we must not let fear cloud our thinking." Wu wisely said to her as he put the tray down.
"Garmadon and Misako are there to guide them through this. I'm sure they'll be fine." Nao assured.
At Chen's underground factory, the guards were on double patrol. "Still no sign of Cole and that metal man?" One of them questioned.
"They still haven't escaped the island." The lead guard informed as Karlof listens in. "We'll find them. Search the labyrinth and lock this place down." He ordered as he and the guards walked off as the machines shut down as they exited.
"All clear." Karlof said as he and the rest of the prisoners turned to two barrels, which Zane and Cole came out from, with Cole was covered in flour again.
"Okay, back to our plan to all of us getting out of here." Cole said as they huddled around as Zane brought out a holographic projection of a pipe network. "Now, if we all tried to tackle the labyrinth, some of us would be sure to get lost. So that's not an option. But Zane here, he analyzed the sewer network."
"Sewer network?" Karlof questioned. "Isn't that stinky?"
"Hey, I'd blast my way out of here if I could, but all of our powers are gone." Cole reminded him.
"The sewer network is old and can only sustain so much weight." Zane explained. "But after adding up all of our combined masses, the pipes will hold by the slimmest of margins." He stated.
"Did anyone else understand Metal Man?" Karlof questioned.
"He means, it'll work," Cole simplified.
"It'll work!" They all cheered before they turned to the door as they saw two guards shoving Dareth onto the floor.
"Get to work!" One of them said before they walked out as Dareth got up and saw the prisoners walking up to him.
"Don't worry, boys, the Brown Ninja's here." Dareth said with a boastful smile. "But before I rescue you, can anyone show me how to make a Puffy Potsticker?" He asked desperately before he saw a familiar face. "Cole, you're here!" He said, seeing the flour covered Earth Ninja before turning to Zane. "And Zane. Is that you? Boy, have you changed." He commented, noting Zane's new titanium form.
Karlof then went up to Cole. "When metal friend say slimmest of margins, how slim?" He asked as Cole looked at Dareth's overweight body.
Cole gave a sigh. "It won't work. Back to the drawing board." He said to Zane, who sighed.
Back on the Surface, the Garmadon family were still following the symbols that Harumi and Nya left as Lloyd turned to his father. "You said before that Master Chen was your Sensei, but nothing else, Dad." He stated.
"Yeah, Dad. You didn't tell us more about Chen when it's clear that you know him very well." Lydie added as they walked further into the forest.
"Kids, there are things from my past I am not proud of," Garmadon said to them.
"Then perhaps it's time for them to know the truth, dear," Misako said to her husband.
Garmadon nodded as he began to remember when he was Lloyd and Lydie's age, "After the Great Devourer bit my hand when I was a child it took years for the evil to fully consume me."
Many years ago, a young Garmadon and Clouse were at Chen's dojo in the training area with wooden swords circling each other, "After your Grandfather passed on, I left Wu to study under Chen, thinking he could lead down the proper path," Garmadon recollected as his younger self and Clouse clashed with each other before they stopped using their swords and tackled each other to the ground as Chen came out.
"Good Garmadon. Good Clouse. But you're both holding back." Chen spoke up to them. "Might I add he who wins this fight shall become my right hand and be granted lordship?" He asked with a smirk, which caught Garmadon and Clouse's attentions.
Clouse quickly kicked Garmadon off him as he then used his dark magic onto some pillars, bringing them to life as they charged at Garmadon. Garmadon then used Spinjitzu as he knocked them back as the pieces landed on Clouse. Garmadon went to him with a victorious smirk as Clouse got up.
"He cheated, Master! You said Spinjitzu was forbidden!" Clouse told Chen, sprouting out from the sticks.
"He did what he had to do to win," Chen brushed off as he turned to Garmadon. "Congratulations Lord Garmadon." He congratulated as Garmadon smiled proudly.
"It was our time in history where men and Serpentine would not get along." Present Garmadon narrated as Chen lead younger Garmadon into the Monestary. "As our sides clashed, we hoped for a truce. But not Chen."
A bit later, Chen and Garmadon are in a room where they were looking at a map of Ninjago. "Oh, peace is so boring, but conflict and turmoil is so unpredictable and exciting." Chen said with an interested smile.
"But Master Chen, even General Arcturus is making conceptions." Garmadon stated uncertainty. "There could be a truce, there could be-"
"Never trust a snake, Lord Garmadon. Remember that." Chen said firmly to him as Garmadon looked down in conflict. "Oh, don't look so sad. I've intercepted something that will make you feel better." He said as Garmadon looked up and saw Chen brought out a letter with a smirk. "A love letter. Apparently your pathetic little brother feels the same about that girl you admire." He said.
Garmadon gasped at what Chen met. "Misako." He said as Chen gave him the letter, which Garmadon opened it as he started reading.
"His words are so heartfelt." Chen started with a smirk. "They could sway how she feels about one of you."
"I didn't write this, I shouldn't be reading it." Garmadon said, knowing that this is wrong.
"Didn't you?" Chen asked as he then gave an ink and quill close to Garmadon. "It could be your name on it. Certainly you feel the same." He urged as Garmadon was conflicted on this, but gave into temptation as he took the quill and started writing his name on the letter.
But he didn't notice that Clouse was watching from the door as Garmadon wrote his name down.
"The Letter was from Uncle Wu?" Lloyd and Lydie asked in shock. Though their mother had already told them about the letter they didn't know it was their Uncle who their father took it from.
"As I told you two, there are things in my past I am not proud of, but I have no regrets." Garmadon said as he walked ahead before he stopped and turned to his children and wife. "You two wouldn't be here otherwise. My fear of losing Misako controlled me and led me down a dangerous path. A path I hope to one day make peace with."
Misako then held his hand, "You already have that with me," She promised her husband with a smile.
Garmadon gave a small smile back while the Garma-Twins were surprised by this. "Wait, Dad, aren't you surprised that Mom knew?" Lloyd asked in confusion.
"I had already told her when you two and the boys first went off to find Zane." Garmadon explained.
"And I already knew from the beginning that it wasn't your father who wrote that letter," Misako said while smiling at her husband, "And even then, I will never regret my decision,"
"Well, that's good," Lydie said with a smile.
"Yes. That is one thing I'm grateful for." Garmadon said with a smile.
At the D.B Express, Chen was pressing many more buttons before Clouse came up to him. "Master, if our men couldn't find the girls, why do you think they will fare much better?" He questioned. "If the girls get s that spell to a Ninja, all of our plans will be jeopardized." He stated.
"Oh, Clousey-Clouse." Chen said as he turned to Clouse with an assuring smile. "There's a reason why I'm the master and you're my pupil. Why should I worry about the remaining fighters rising up against me when after today there'll be no fighters remaining?" He questioned as he gestured to the monitor, showing some red dots on them. "The little treats I gave them are tracking their every move. This little game isn't about the hunting of the girls, it's about hunting them! Hahahah!" He laughed as Clouse gave a smirk.
"Master, you are a devious one." Clouse complimented, finding Chen's plan very clever and impressive.
Back in the jungle, Harumi made another mark on a tree while Nya kept watch. "Okay, that's another one." Harumi said as she finished her mark.
"And just in time because here comes someone who's not with the Ninja." Nya said as she saw Shade rushing by. "Quick, hide!" She said as she and Harumi then quickly hid in a bush as Shade rushed up to a tree, which had a speaker as music began to play, which made him stop in confusion.
"Your time in this tournament has been expired," Clouse spoke up as Shade turned and saw him and some cultists surrounding him.
"The Ninja were right all along. Chen was never gonna hand over that staff." Shade said with a glare as Clouse kept his smirk.
"Mmm. Only one can remain." Clouse recited as Shade got nervous. "And it will be Chen!" He finished as he pointed to Shade as the cultists dogpiled on him as Shade screamed as Harumi and Nya gasped.
"Chen isn't making the Fighters hunt for us, he's using us as bait to hunt them!" Nya realized in dread.
"If he captures them all, us having the Spell is pointless," Harumi feared as the two girls rushed off, knowing they had to find the Ninja fast.
"Nya?! Harumi?! Where are you girls?!" Kai shouted out as he walked around the forest before a figure rushed behind him, which he sensed. "Nya? Harumi? Is that either of you?" He asked before he saw a face that was Nya or Harumi as Kai quickly summoned his powers as a precaution. "Whoever's there, I'm fired up." He warned.
Coming out from behind the tree was Skylor. "It's just me." She said with a smile as she removed her mask as Kai sighed in relief as he put out his fire as Skylor walked towards him.
"I see you didn't pick up any of Chen's special treats either." Kai noted.
"Of course not, like I'd ever trust him." Skylor said before she smiled. "And I wanna find them to help you get the spell and stop Chen once and for all."
"Maybe we should be together." Kai said as he held Skylor's hand before he realized what he said. "Aah, that didn't come out right. Heh." He said with a slight blush. "I mean, it's a big island, so maybe if we're a couple… Argh! No. Uh, heh.." He said embarrassed while Skylor gave an amusing smile. "What I'm trying to say is, um…"
"You want me to help you find your sister and your friend." Skylor said with a smile. "Of course. I'll follow you."
"Heh. It's good to work with people you trust." Kai said with a smile as Skylor then held his hand.
"Yes, I couldn't agree more." Skylor said with a smile as the two stood quietly with smiles to one another.
Back at the D.B Express, music was being played as Clouse and the street gang walked in with Neuro being held. "Two fighters down, six remain." Clouse said as Neuro struggled to break free while Clouse and the street leader gang held him. "And this one was tricky to find while messing with our minds."
"You're never going to get away with this Chen!" Neuro said with glare.
"Are you serious? Where have you been?" Chen questioned in amusement. "I've been getting away with it time and time again. Oh, take him away. He's boring." He said before they dragged Neuro away as he gave a yell. "Argh. You'd think they'd create a trap door in this thing…" He muttered.
"Master, Skylor is with Kai." Clouse informed.
"Good." Chen said with a smile.
"But, we still don't know where the Garmadon family are." Clouse added.
"Bad!" Chen said with a frown. "Find them, Clouse. While you're at it, round up the rest of them." He ordered.
Back with the Garmadon Family, they are still following the symbols before something on Lydie's mind came up. "Father, I don't understand." She said as she went over the down tree. "You trained under Chen and yet you fought beside Uncle Wu in the wars."
"Yeah. What happened to the truce?" Lloyd asked, feeling confused as his sister.
Garmadon gave regretful sigh, "When Chen said never trust a snake, he was right," He told them as he remembered the days of the Serpentine War like they were yesterday, "When we let our guard down, the Serpentine launched a full assault on our lands,"
During the Serpentine Wars at Jamanakai VIllage, the village was under attack by the Serpentine as some of the buildings were on fire while the people ran in fear. "But the alliance of the Elemental Masters fought back." Misako spoke up as the previous Elemental Masters of Fire and Water came up and fired their powers on a couple of Serpentines while the previous Elemental Master of Shadow vanished and knocked a Fangpyer down.
The Elemental Master of Water then used her powers on the fountain to wash away the Serpentine while putting out some fire in the process as well. But then the Anacondrai Troops came, lead by Pythor himself. "But even they had never seen the likes of Anacondrai Warrior," Garmadon said as the three Elemental Masters stood in surprise at the approaching army.
"Attack!" Pythor ordered his tribe while pointing his spear as the Anacondrai charged the Elemental Masters and pushed them back as the village's soldiers charged in and fought back with them.
"They were bigger, smarter, stronger, faster, natural leaders on the battlefield," Misako went on as the Anacondrai pushed the Soldier back while the other Serpentine recovered and continued to pillage the village, "The Anacondrai were a proud tribe who fought with every fang filled with venom. There was no greater warrior in the Realm. And with their leader, General Arcturus, in command, they proved too much for the Alliance to handle."
The Anacondrai pushed the villagers back as the Elemental Master of Gravity floated above. "Charge!" He yelled as he flew in and fought the Anacondrai in the air while glaring down at them. Pythor however smirked and chuckled as the giant Anacondrai Serpent came up behind the Master of Gravity and he turned around just in time for it to lunge at him with a roar.
Later, Pythor stood before an Anacondrai with gold armor and green eyes and was holding the Anacondrai staff, "We have taken the village, Arcturusss. The Alliance attempted to ssstop us but we thwarted them." Pythor told the General while bowing his head.
"Good." Arcturus said with a single nod.
"Brother, might I sssuggest an idea for usss to achieve total victory over the humansss?" Pythor requested, "The Great Devourer ssstill ssslumbersss beneath Ouroborosss, ssshould we unleasssh it, we could-"
"No! I told you before Pythor, the Devourer isss far too dangerousss!" Arcturus said sternly, "I will not risk our livesss for the sssake of victory by an uncontrollable beassst! Thisss isss my decisssion asss your brother and your general!" He said, stamping his staff down firmly.
"Yesss, brother." Pythor said as he folded his arms with a disappointed look.
"Fear not Pythor, we will ssstill achieve victory, and Ninjago will belong to the noblessst race," Arcturus promised as he looked up at their army. "Never forget our creed,"
"Only One Can Remain," Pythor said as the Anacondrai all chanted the four words in their language.
At Chen's temple, Garmadon and Chen were looking at the map of Ninjago where the Serpentine are in control in some areas. "Chen stood to gain more if he sided with the snakes and wanted me to help him." Present Garmadon said as his past self looked at the map as his eyes glowed red. "Though the evil in my veins tempted me, I wouldn't fight a war for him. I would only fight to see Misako again." He said as his past self remembered Misako smiling at him as his eyes stopped glowing red.
Soon after word, Past Garmadon is walking out of Chen's temple with his bag while Chen and Clouse watched him go. "From then on, Chen and I went our separate ways. So that I could join my brother in battle."
Soon, Past Garmadon and Wu stood together with the other Elemental Masters and some of the warriors willing to fight for their homes. "We were the sons of the First Spinjitzu Master. And together, with the Elemental Alliance, we stood a fighting chance." Present Garmadon said as the Elemental Alliance looked at the army of Serpentine, led by Arcturus, Pythor and the other generals.
Wu and Garmadon gave war cries while Arcturus pointed his sword at the alliance as the two sides charged at each other, with Wu fighting Pythor while Garmadon battled Arcturus and the Masters of Fire, Earth, Lightning, and Ice battled the other four Generals. Eventually though, the Alliance forced the Serpentine back, Wu knocking Pythor back while Garmadon pushed Arcturus backwards.
"Retreat!" Arcturus told his army as the Serpentine ran for it with some, including Pythor, screaming in terror.
The Elemental Master of Fire then shot a fire ball, but it was blocked by the Elemental Master of Earth's armor, which shocked the group. "But Chen's influence changed all that. He found a way to turn the Alliance against each other." Misako said as the Elemental Master of Earth then summoned a huge boulder and then made more as rock pillars sprouted, knocking the Alliance down.
Arcturus saw that the battle had turn in their favor as he pointed ahead. "We have the advantage! Push forward, show no mercy!" He called out as the Serpentine all gave battle cries as they charged at the down army while Clouse watched with a smile as he held his spell book.
"The battle was all but lost." Present Garmadon said grimly. "The Serpentine soon held almost complete control over Ninjago, but in our darkest hour something…unexpected happened."
"What do you mean, unexpected?" Lloyd asked.
The Five Serpentine Tribes were soon gathered, arguing and yelling at each other, "During the time of drawing the spoils of the war, the Serpentine Tribes began to fight amongst themselves, each believing they deserved more or that the others would betray them." Garmadon explained as the Arcturus and the other Generals tried to manage the chaos.
"The Serpentine turned on each other too?" Lydie said in surprise.
"Yes, before long civil war and infighting among the Serpentine broke out, fighting over the land they ironically won over together," Misako continued as the Serpentine started fighting anyone who wasn't of their tribe while the Master of Lightning was spying on them and rushed off.
In one of the few villages that weren't conquered by the Serpentine, the Master of Lightning explained the Serpentine fighting to Young Wu and Garmadon, "When Wu and I learned that Serpentine had turned against each other we believed this might be the opportunity we needed to take back Ninjago," Present Garmadon explained as Young Wu and Garmadon began thinking, "However, an assault would be useless, but then when it seemed things were at their bleakest, we found hope."
Soon, Garmdon turns when he hears a flute playing as he notices the snake was entranced by it. "The Sacred Flutes," Lydie realized which made Young Garmadon smirked as he realizes the answer to end the war.
"And hope found a way to end the war." Misako said as around every corner of Ninjago, each Elemental Master had a Sacred Flute as they played each one to lure the Serpentines to the entrance and freed the hostages as they were led to their tombs. "Because of their Civil War against one another, the Serpentine were divided, and locked away in their tombs."
Later each Tribe were sealed in five different locations, with the females carrying their eggs and young and the Generals being the last ones in. The Master of Water sealed the Venomari in the Toxic Bog. The Master of Shadow sealed the Constrictai in the Mountain of a Million steps. The Master of Lightning sealed the Fangpyre in the Cemetery of Souls. The Master of Ice sealed the Hypnobrai in the Glacier Barrens.
The Master of Fire then sealed the Anacondrai, Minus Arcturus, in the Sea of Sand, with the last two in were Pythor and a female Anacondrai with an egg in her arms. Pythor turned to the Master of Fire with a glare before the tomb doors were shut.
"Chen and Clouse were then exiled." Present Garmadon said as the Elemental Alliance forced Clouse and Chen into the steam boat to the island.
At a courtroom, a hammer fell as Arcturus and six other Anacondrai were standing trial. "We asssk only for mercy," Arcturus pleaded as he and his commanders bowed their heads.
"Mercy?" Mystake questioned while standing up, "Never heard of it!" She snapped.
Arcturus bowed his head in dismay as he knew what was about to happen, knowing that he would never see his brother, his beloved, or his unborn child again. He could only pray that Pythor would protect them.
Mystake then turned to Garmadon and nodded as Garmadon opened up the spell book and started muttering a spell. "And General Arcturus and his Commanders were given the strictest sentences: Banishment to the Cursed Realm, so that they will never set foot in Ninjago again." Present Garmadon said as his past self finished the spell as a portal opened up above Arcturus and his commanders as they were sucked into the portal, forever banished to the Cursed Realm while Young Garmadon gave a look of regret and sadness while Wu held his shoulder in sympathy, silently telling him they had no choice.
"Arcturus was a noble leader, and I regret doing that to him but it had to be done." Garmadon said as the regret he had for doing such a deed still haunted him.
"Brumesia said that you would've done something to save her dad, but you were outvoted?" Lloyd asked him.
"Didn't Uncle Wu help you try to reason to not banish the Anacondrai Generals?" Lydie asked, "I mean, you're the sons of the First Spinjitzu Master, creator of All Ninjago! That must mean you get full say in their punishment!"
"Lydie, just because your uncle and I were the sons of your Grandfather, doesn't mean that we control all of Ninjago or how the system of justice works," Garmadon said to her gently. "The people had already drawn their own conclusions and it was our responsibility to deliver their demands or risk losing everything our father left for us to protect, including the Golden Weapons."
"They were going to take the Monastery?" Lydie asked in surprise.
"We had no other choice." Garmadon said in guilt.
"And all this time, you two never told Wu about your past with Chen, Dad?" Lloyd asked in wonder.
"What would I say?" Garmadon questioned. "I almost lost Misako, I would've lost my brother. Not to mention-"
"Someone I know once said you need to control your fear, and not let fear control you," Misako said with a smirk as Lloyd and Lydie nodded.
Garmadon gave a chuckle, seeing his own words against them. "You're right. Once we put all of this behind us, I'll make things right." He promised with a smile. "But first, we need to find Nya and Harumi. Come on." He said as the family then went further into the forest.
Just then a thought came into Lloyd's mind, "But wait a minute something doesn't add up," he said with a thought.
"What doesn't little brother?" Lydie asked in confusion.
"If the Serpentine worked together to conquer Ninjago, what caused them to turn on each other?" Lloyd wondered. "Right after the Alliance had turned on each other too,"
"We never knew why, but sometimes even the closest allies can turn against each other." Misako stated with a shrug. "Perhaps it is their instincts for territory or some other outside element." She suggested.
"Not that it matters for Chen, since he loves war." Garmadon added as they went further down the forest while the Garma-Twins caught what their father said as an idea started coming to them.
Back in the underground factory, Cole was doodling on a piece of paper while trying to figure out a plan. He crumbled up the paper in frustration and tossed it aside with the others as he turned to the prisoners. "Okay, so maybe rolling ourselves up into giant egg rolls isn't the best plan. Anyone else have another idea?" He asked the prisoners for a new plan that would work.
"Karlof used to be aeronautical engineer back in Metalonia." Karlof said with a proud smile. "Work on roto-jets. Just one could take entire army."
"Oh. Great idea." Cole said sarcastically, seeing a flaw in that plan. "But two things: We don't have a roto jet, and what good is a jet if we're underground?!" He questioned before the conveyor belt turned on and he fell over to one end as Dareth came out with a component from the cookie machine.
"Okay, don't mind me, carry on whatever business you all are doing." Dareth said as he rode the conveyor belt to the other side as he jumped off and landed beside Cole.
"Sure, we were only using that to hatch our escape." Cole sarcastically said as he turned and saw Dareth grabbing some spare parts from some shelves. "Dareth, what are you doing?"
"Well, if there isn't a machine that makes Puffy Potstickers, by golly, I'm gonna make one." Dareth said with determination, which gave Zane an idea.
"That's it! Dareth, you've solved it!" Zane cheered with a smile, which confused Cole.
"How are Puffy Potstickers gonna help us?" Cole questioned in confusion.
"We'll use machine parts to build the roto jet." Zane said with a smile before turning to Karlof. "Karlof, do you still remember the schematics of it?"
"Of course." Karlof nodded.
Then it set." Zane said with a determined look. "Karlof and I will create a blueprint. Everyone else, find parts." He instructed as everyone went to do just that.
"But we're underground!" Cole exclaimed about their current predicament.
Back in the jungle, Jay continued searching for the girls, "Legs, getting tired," Jay panted as he walked, "Must keeping looking," He said before he noticed the Samurai X symbol on a tree, "Nya." He said.
"I'm sorry, your search ends here." Clouse spoke up as Jay turned and saw him behind him as Jay turned his mech around. "Your time in the tournament is over!" He stated before launching dark magic at Jay, which knocked him and his mech down as Clouse the used his magic to trap him in vines.
But Jay's mech countered it as it broke free and Jay gave a jump as he landed in front of Clouse, who stumbled back a bit. "Magic's for wussies. I'll stick to good old nuts and bolts with a little ingenuity." Jay said as he then fired shots at Clouse, who dodged each one.
"You want ingenuity? Try this on for size!" Clouse called as he summoned his dark magic and gathered some rocks around him as he formed a four arm stone mech. "Magic versus nuts and bolts." He mocked as he and Jay then started fighting each other.
With Nya and Harumi, Nya was carving her symbol next before they heard the fighting. "Ha! Is that all the hocus-pocus you got?!" Jay's voice can be heard from the trees.
"Jay." Nya said, knowing that voice anywhere.
"He's close! And it appears he's fighting someone!" Harumi said as Nya jumped down from her tree and landed next to Harumi. "Let's go!" She said as the two girls rushed off.
"Jay!" Nya cried as she and Harumi appeared and saw Jay fighting Clouse.
"Girls! I've got my hands full at the moment!" Jay called out as he struggled with Clouse. "Did either of you find the spell?!"
"Yes! It's a spell to use everyone's powers that will turn anyone with Anacondrai Tattoos into-" Harumi tried to say but the fight kept her from finishing.
"What?!" Jay called out, couldn't hear her.
"Silence, girl!" Clouse told the Princess as he sent a rock hand at them, which Nya quickly grabbed Harmui as they avoided the rock hand.
"Go, girls! Tell the others!" Jay shouted as he struggled to keep Clouse back. "I can't hold him for long!" He called as the two girls nodded and rushed off.
Clouse then grabbed one of his stone hands into the mech and took out some wires. "Primary power obstructed. Automatic self-detonation in five, four-" The mech spoke as Jay gave a nervous chuckle.
"That's unfortunate." Jay said nervously as Clouse's eyes widened, realizing too late he just made a big mistake.
To where Skylor and Kai were, they saw the explosion from across the island as they saw the smoke lit up. "Aah! That could be Nya or Harumi! Come on!" Kai said as he then started hopping on some rocks to cross a big lake.
"Let me. I have a faster way." Skylor said as she raised her hand, which created an icy blue sphere, which caught Kai's attention as Skylor then froze the entire lake in shock. "What are you waiting for? Your friends could be in trouble." She said as she skated ahead.
Kai was shocked by the ice lake as he turned to Skylor. "How did you just do that?" He asked slowly.
Skylor was confused by this. "I can absorb any elemental power, remember." She reminded him as Kai carefully stepped on the ice.
"But Ice?… Zane's never been in the tournament." Kai stated as he looked at Skylor, who realized what she just did as she looked down, knowing what's coming as Kai put the pieces together. "You're the Traitor! If you've seen Zane, you're working for Chen!" He realized as he looked at Skylor in betrayal.
"But, I have to obey my father, or else-" Skylor tried to explain, but what she just said shocked Kai more.
"Chen's your father?!" Kai exclaimed in shock before he slipped and fell on his back.
"Yes!" Chen cheered as he appeared in a puff of smoke next to Skylor, which made Kai gasp as he backed away from them. "And now your time in the tournament is over, Master of Fire." He said with a smirk. "Take him, Skylor!"
"Okay, Dad." Skylor as she skated towards Kai, who stood up as she tried to give a kick, but Kai grabbed her leg and pushed her back as Skylor landed on the ice as Kai pinned her down.
"The reason you didn't have a tattoo was because you used Chamille's Power of Form! And why Neuro couldn't sense the traitor because you use his power of Mind!" Kai said as he raised a hand up to summon his powers.
"And now I'll use Ash's Power of Smoke." Skylor said as she vanished in a smoke and reappeared behind Kai, "Along with Lydie's power of Darkness," She then delivered a dark blast that sent Kai back as he fell on the ice again as Chen gave a laugh. Kai summoned a fireball, but Skylor grabbed his hand. "Do it, and we'll both go in." She warned, but Kai didn't listen as he summoned another fireball in his other hand. "No!" She cried out.
"NINJA, GO!" Kai shouted as he did Spinjitzu, using his powers to break the ice.
"What are you doing?!" Skylor called out as Chen slipped from his ice and fell into the water.
"Skylor, help me!" Chen called out, struggling to stay afloat as Skylor rushed up to him.
"Dad!" Skylor cried out as she grabbed her father's hand and pulled him up as Kai got out of his Spinjitzu and rushed up as Skylor got her father up.
"Enough of this!" Chen called as he used the Staff of Elements to use the power of Nature to control the plants to trap Kai in their vines as the Master of Fire struggled to break free.
At night, Harumi and Nya were running through the forest as fast as they could, with Harumi ahead of Nya, before Harumi crashed into someone and they both landed on the ground, she looked up to see who she crashed into.
"Lloyd?/Harumi?" The two friends at the same time.
"Nya? Harumi?" Lydie asked as she and her parents turned to them as Nya managed to catch up.
"They took Jay! They took everyone!" Nya cried out in a panic.
"Slow down, Nya." Misako said to her as Lloyd helped Harmui up.
"Lydie, Lloyd, you two are the only ones left." Harmui said as Nya took out a spell and gave it to Lydie. "We got the spell and I'm glad Burmesia's not here cause she would be very upset." She said,
"Upset about what?" Lloyd asked as Lydie opened up the spell, which Garmadon recognized.
"A Transformation Spell. It can't be." Garmadon said in shock and horror.
"Transformation?" Lydie asked in confusion.
"Transform into what?" Lloyd asked.
"Into an army of Anacondrai." Garmadon revealed with a grim look as the page had a mark similar to the markings on Pythor's head. "The tournament may be over, but the next Serpentine War may have just begun."
At the D.B. Express, Chen tossed Kai into a cell with the others they had caught as he looked at their grim expressions. "Don't worry. Lloyd and Lydie will come for us." Jay said to Kai.
"I'm planning on it." Chen said with a smirk as he gave a maniacal laugh and shut the cell as the competitors glared at him.
Kai just looked at Skylor, feeling betrayed by her as Skylor felt a huge weight of guilt in her as she looked away in shame as she walked off, tears forming in her eyes knowing that Kai will never forgive her for what she did.