The Greatest Fear of All
Across the Endless Sea, Lloyd and Melissa flew on their dragons as they led the other Elemental Masters towards Ninjago City on their own dragons as they gave roars.
"Chen and his Anacondrai imposters have a day's start on us." Lloyd said to the group.
"And we've already got a taste of what they're capable of, so be prepared for anything and everything." Melissa added.
"How did we lose so much time?" Kai wondered.
"You know you took an oath never to leave a man behind," Dareth commented, riding with Zane as they had to go back and get him.
"And we underestimated how long it took for us to fly from here to Ninjago," Cole pointed out.
"And we're not all quick learners," Jay added, "Mastering your fear to maintain Elemental Dragons takes time."
"Well, time is something we don't have," Ryan spoke up and pointed ahead, "Ninjago City is just ahead! We have to hurry!"
"Hurry's my middle name! Hiyah!" Turner said as he raced ahead.
"Remember, whatever happens down there, we're stronger united. We fight as one!" Melissa called as they flew over Ninjago City.
"Let's do this!" Jay declared as they all flew down to fight the fake Anacondrai except there was something off, "Huh?" He said as he noticed the people of Ninjago walking around like nothing was wrong, with a few Serpentine around but none of Chen's followers.
"Um, what's wrong with this picture?" Jasmine asked in confusion.
"Chen hasn't attacked yet?" Kai asked as they all landed their dragons down while everyone all looked at Skylor and Garmadon in wonder since they looked a bit human then snake.
"I wish I sssstill had the power to change." Skylor said, feeling uncomfortable by the looks as she covered her face, since transforming into an Anacondrai from the spell took away her powers.
"You have changed. You're with us." Kai assured, which made Skylor smile.
He then heard a horn honking and looked down to see an old woman in her car, "Could you be a dear and move your dragon?" She asked as Kai's dragon raised its leg, letting her drive under it, "Thank you, young man,"
"Judging by their reaction, they haven't encountered any of the false Anacondrai yet." Zane noted as the Ninja got off their dragons.
"But if that's true, then where issss Chen? And why hassssn't he attacked?" Garmadon questioned as they all got off the Ninja got off their Elemental Dragons.
"We have to get you two off the streets before someone starts a panic." Lloyd advised. "Everyone else, stick together and watch over the people!" He called out to the Elemental Masters as they took off with roars before Skylor's hand returned to normal.
"Skylor, look. Your hand, it's turning back to normal," Melissa said as Skylor sees her hand turning back to normal, "I think we found out why Chen isn't attacking yet."
In an abandoned Subway junction, Chen and his Anacondrai Army made a temporary base with some tents set up, some banners and torches around, as well as the vehicles, including the Roto Jet and the Skychopper close by, while using one of the passenger cars as a main base.
Chen looked at his right arm and noticed it turning back into his normal hand. "Why is the ssspell wearing off?" he questioned his army about the situation that was happening. "If we attack now and turn back to normal, everything will be for nothing!"
"Eh, about that…" Chope spoke as he and Kapou were rereading the spellbook as they found something that made them nervous. "We read everything on page 149, but lo and behold, the ssspell continuesss onto the next page," he said as he and Kapou turned the page to reveal more details on the transformation spell.
"You ssslithering kultzesss!" Chen yelled in anger as he took the book from Chope and Kapou. "What have I told you about attention to detailsss? I knew I ssshould've had Clouse read the ssspell." He read through the page while the Anacondrai troops huddled close. "'In order for the transssformation to become permanent, one mussst obtain the essssence of a True and Unique Anacondrai,'" He read before closing the book in anger. "Where are we sssuppose to get that?! There aren't any real Anacondrai left! Not only that but they all look the ssssame!"
"Uh, if there'sss any out there, we'll find them," Kapou promised as he and Chope slithered off.
Eyezor and Zugu then slither up to Chen.
"There'sssss another problem, Massster," Zugu spoke up. "The Ninja and their friendsss have arrived."
"Oh, why mussst conquering Ninjago be ssso difficult?!" Chen questioned in frustration as he calmed down. "Fine. We change plansss. It's not like I don't have sssomething elssse up my sssleeve."
"And what'sss that, Massster?" Zugu asked in curiosity.
"Thisss!" Chen yelled before throwing the book at Zugu's chest, which made him grunt from that. "Now come on. We have sssome ssscheming to do," He finished with a sinister smirk.
In the Samurai X Cave, the Ninja walked as Zane's Falcon flew over to his master and landed on his arm. "And hello to you too, my old friend." Zane said with a smile as they walked up to where Wu, Seliel, Rachel and Luci are at.
"You're all back!" Wu said in joy as he walked up to Zane. "Zane. Look at you. You're all shiny." He said with a heartful laugh, glad to see his pupil alive again and right in front of him.
Seliel walked up to Cole and hugged him, "Good to have you guys back," She said before turning to Zane, "And you're looking solid, Tin-man," She quipped, tapping on him.
"Titanium." Zane corrected her with a smile. "It's good to see you too, Seliel. It's been a while."
"We're so glad that you're okay Melissa." Rachel said as she and Luci hugged their daughter.
"Don't worry moms, I'm okay." Melissa said with a smile.
"But where's my brother?" Wu asked while looking around.
"It'sss me, Wu." Garmadon spoke up, which made Wu gasped at seeing Garmadon's Anacondrai form as Skylor went by his side.
"Don't worry, we have reassson to believe the ssspell maybe wearing off." Skylor said.
"But if that's true, that only made Chen more desperate to act now." Kai said before turning to Skylor, "Seliel, Wu, Rachel, Luci, this is Skylor. Chen's daughter but now on our side,"
"Welcome to the family, Skylor," Seliel said with a smile to which Skylor returned.
"You are among friends, Skylor." Luci told her with a smile.
"Even though Chen is your father, we won't hold it against you." Rachel said which made Skylor smile.
"Thank you for looking after Ninjago," Garmadon told his brother.
"As any good brother should," Wu told him.
"Yes, a good brother," Garmadon said in a touch of guilt as Misako held his shoulder in comfort.
"Oh and I almost forgot, everyone this is Ryan and Jasmine." Melissa introduced them. "The Masters of Plants and Metal, and the new members of our team."
"Hi." Jasmine said with a smile as she and Ryan waved their hands to them.
"It is very nice to meet you Ryan and Jasmine." Wu said with a smile.
"Welcome to the team." Rachel said as she and Luci smiled at the two.
"I have to admit, it's nice to have another girl part of the group." Seliel said with a smirk.
"Agreed, sista." Nya said with a smirk as she, Seliel, Melissa and Jasmine shared giggles with each other.
"There isn't much time." Lloyd said as he walked up to the monitor. "Our friends are on standby, but we don't know where Chen will strike first."
"And if we're not all there to stop him when he first attacks…" Cole started.
"Ninjago will ssssuccumb to war." Garmadon said seriously. "Our greatest fear will come true."
"Then the greatest victory will be that which has no battles." Wu added.
"But how do we prevent a war?" Jay questioned. "How do we stop an enemy we know so little about?"
"Then it'sssss a good thing I'm here." A voice spoke up as they all turned around and saw Rattalia, Skales, Skales Jr and Selma approaching.
"Crap! Another Anacondrai!" Ryan exclaimed as he and Jasmine started up their powers and got into defensive positions.
"Woah, woah, woah! Ryan, Jasmine, calm down!" Lloyd said as he got in front of them. "She's not one of Chen's Anacondrai, she's a friend."
"What?" Ryan asked in surprise.
"Really?" Jasmine asked in surprise.
"Jasmine, Ryan, this is our old friend Rattalia, one of the last two Anacondrai and the Queen of the Serpentine." Melissa said with a smile.
"It'sssss nice to meet you." Rattalia greeted with a smile before turning to Lloyd and Melissa. "And it's alssssso good to sssssee you two again."
"It's good to see you two Rattalia." Melissa said as she and Rattalia shared a hug.
"I'm guessing my Uncle told you about what's happening?" Lloyd asked.
"Yessss. And let me jusssst ssssay, I'm not happy about it." Rattalia said with a look.
"When Wu made the call, Rattalia wassss really not happy." Selma explained. "And you don't wanna know what she did when Wu told her what wassss going on."
"But let'ssss jussssst ssssay we need a new Mud Newt Ssssstand." Skales said sheepishly.
"But it was hilariousss!" Skales Jr cheered with a small laugh.
Rattalia rolled her eyes in amusement at her little brother before giving a serious look. "Thissss issss a disgrace and an inssssult to everything that my father hassss worked for!" She exclaimed in anger. "Ssssso I am gonna help you all take thesssse impossssters down, but unfortunately I don't know much about my kind and their weaknessessss."
"Well that's just great, now what do we do?!" Jay asked.
"I said I don't know." Rattalia said as she had an idea. "However, I do know sssssomeone who might." She said before giving a sigh. "Even if I don't wanna sssssee him." She added dully.
Melissa then realized who she was talking about and shook her head. "No, no, never gonna happen, we are not asking that psychopath for help." She said, crossing her arms in anger.
A bit later, the Ninja were then walking past the Serpentine Village while Melissa had an annoyed look. "I can't believe we're asking that freak for help." Melissa said with a dull look.
"Look Melissssa, I feel your pain and even I don't wanna deal with him, however we have no choice." Rattalia said to her as they walked past the villagers and into the door as they entered and saw many Serpentine prisoners.
"Well just my luck." Melissa muttered in annoyance.
"Well, seeing that it's our only option, might as well give it a shot." Lloyd said with a shrug as she led them into another section of the village. "So, where did you keep Pythor after the whole Golden Master thing?" He asked before they saw several security traps ahead.
"Sorry, after the Nindroid attack we decided we need to sssstep up our ssssecurity," Rattalia said as she flipped a switch and deactivated the traps.
"Well, you clearly stepped up your game, that's for sure." Jay commented as they walked into a room section where they saw just a few Serpentine in cages, looking a bit bored or enraged at being locked up.
"Why are there some Serpentines in cages?" Ryan asked.
"Let'sss just sssay that there were sssome snakes that didn't want to turn over a new leaf." Rattalia said with a sheepish shrug. "Sssome went rogue and left the village while others tried to sssstage a coup. Sssso we created this prisssson area to keep them contained while rehabilitating them."
"And how's that coming?" Kai questioned.
"Well…" Rattalia started before they dodged a venom spit from a Venomari in a cell.
"I'll give you nightmaresss, your hignessss!" The Venomari yelled out while banging on her cell.
"Very, very, sssslow." Rattalia said sheepishly. "But it'ssssss coming along great." She added as she then saw a female Venomari with light green scales with some pink markings approaching them which made Rattalia smile. "Izzy!" She greeted her happily.
"Rattalia!" Izzy cheered with a smile as she approached them. "It'ssss sssso great to ssssee you again."
"It'sssss great to ssssee you too." Rattalia said with a smile before turning to the Ninja. "Everyone, thissss issss Izzy." She introduced her as Izzy waved. "She'ssss my girlfriend."
"Nice to meet you all." Izzy said with a smile.
"Nice to meet you too, Izzy." Melissa said before turning to Rattalia with a smirk. "So, you found your own lover, huh?"
Rattalia gave a sheepish chuckle with a blush. "Well I have you to thank for that, with the advice you gave me I approached Izzy and told her how I feel, and she feelsssss the ssssame way." She explained as she and Izzy held each other's hands.
"Heh, you're welcome." Melissa said with a smile.
"Izzy, I'm ssssorry for cutting thissss ssshort, but we're on a time limit." Rattalia said to her girlfriend.
"What'ssss going on?" Izzy asked in concern.
"I'll explain later, right now, we need to get to my uncle." Rattalia said as she turned to a certain cell. "And he'sssss right around the corner."
In a small doll house, Pythor was sipping some tea. "Hm." He started before he turned to a basketball he carries that has a face drawn in. "Why yes, Pythor, this may very well be the greatest cup of tea you've steeped." He said while pretending the ball spoke. "Oh, you flatter me, Rodrigo, but do go on." He said to the ball.
"Hello Uncle." Rattalia spoke up, which made Pythor flinch as he dropped his cup and ball as he turned to see his niece looking through the window. "I can't believe I'm sssssaying thisss but, we need your help."
"Help you?! With the Ninja?!" Pythor questioned while seeing the Ninja were with her. "They fed me to the Devourer, turned you against me, defeated every army I have aligned with, even forced me to swallow their shrinking pill!" He ranted while Rattalia gave a dull look. "Haven't those humans done enough damage to my diminishing ego?" He questioned before Cole turned the dollhouse around, making Pythor yelp as they all gave amused smiles. "Well-played."
"Uncle, we really need your help," Rattalia told him in a serious tone. "Massster Chen and hissss cult hasss transformed themselvesssss into Anacondrai and making a mockery of our kind."
"That we can both agree on, my dear niece. Impossstersss, if you ask me." Pythor said in agreement.
"Sssssomeone isssss imperssssonating the Anacondrai?!" Izzy exclaimed in shock. "That'sssss not good."
Pythor then noticed Izzy standing next to Rattalia. "Oh, and I see you brought your lover friend here. Disgusting." He said in disgust.
"Wow, you are a psychopath and homophobic," Melissa said, giving Pythor a look. "Can you make me hate you even more?"
"You already have, with you and the Ninja on my list." Pythor said with a look.
"You want me to give you nightmaressss again you little freak?" Izzy questioned with a look while hissing a bit. "Becausssse I'll double the dossse."
Pythor flinched a bit. "Uh, no thank you." He said nervously as Izzy smirked.
"Look Pythor, you are the oldest and most experienced Anacondrai." Jay pointed out. "You must know how to stop these fake Anacondrai."
"I'm not going to sssay another word until you figure out how to make me big again." Pythor said with his arms crossed before he turned his back to them. "And don't asssk me to trussst a human."
"Uncle, thisss isss bigger than jussst returning you back to normal, thisss isss about Ninjago." Rattalia told her stubborn Uncle.
"I've been sssmall for a long while. I would like to be big, I could've been more helpful to you." Pythor said stubbornly.
"Would you trussst another sssnake?" Garmadon questioned, which made Pythor turn to him in surprise.
"Garma-Condrai?" Pythor asked in shock before he turned to them in interest. "Oh, now my interest is piqued." He said with a smirk. "Let's make a deal, shall we?"
Zane then got a beep from his head as Pixal spoke up. "I thought you should be aware that someone has been poking around the sewers with an interest in your, shall I say, little friend." Pixal joked as Zane looked around.
"Chen?" Zane asked her.
"I don't know, but be on your guard." Pixal advised him. "You may be expecting unannounced visitors."
At the Entrance of the Serpentine Village, two Serpentine guards were keeping watch before they saw Chope slithering towards them, "Hey, who's that guy?" The guard on the left asked.
"I don't know, I never-" The guard on the right was cut off when Kapou suddenly appeared and knocked them out as he and Chope slithered into the village, staying invisible and avoiding the other Serpentine.
Serpentine Warden looked at a prison uniform floating. "That's sssstrange." The warden said in confusion before he was about to sound the alarm, but his hand got caught before his mouth was tied to as Chope and Kapou appeared.
Chope gave a laugh. "So gullible. Everyone knows there's no such thing as ghosts." He said in amusement as he tossed the prison uniform away and grabbed the keys.
Back in Pythor's cell, he was making an agreement to help the Ninja. "Then you get the spell book, and I'll tell you their weakness and the-" He was cut off when the speakers spoke up.
"Mayday! Mayday! There'ssss been a breach!" A Serpentine said over the intercom, "They appear to be, uh, Anacondrai, but very different onessss! Powerful ones and… Uh-oh, and they're coming my way! They sssee me talking on the intercom!" He said fearfully as Pythor and Rattalia gave horrified looks. "Oh, boy, here they come. Why am I ssstill talking on thisss thing?!" He questioned as the snake prisoners all cheered by this.
"You led them to me?! What have you done?!" Pythor questioned in fear. "There's no escaping an Anacondrai!" He said as he tried to get a cabinet open, but it was just a product. "Curse thisss fraudulent furniture!" He cried before he grabbed the head cover of a lamp and hid his head in it.
"We're running out of time, Uncle!" Rattalia called as she removed the lamp cover off her uncle's head. "How do we sssstop them?! What issss their weaknessss?!"
"Haven't you learned anything by now, Rattalia?! There is no weakness! They're Anacondrai!" Pythor exclaimed as he hid his head again.
Soon, Kai turned to the gates and saw them open. "Guys, we've got company!" He called as Chope and Kapou entered the cell block.
"I'll handle this." Cole said as he and the Ninja put on their masks before he jumped forward to a stone pillar. "Earth!" He called as he moved the pillars to Chope and Kapou, who avoided them as they hit the bars on a couple of prison cells as Kai and Jay rushed up to Cole.
"We're trying to keep the inmates in, not let them out!" Jay exclaimed as he and the two boys charged at the two False Anacondrai.
In Pythor's cell, Garmadon grabbed hold of the tiny Anacondrai and pulled out the lamp cover. But a sweat fell off Pythor's head and landed on Garmadon's hand, which reverted back into an Anacondrai hand.
"Your hand. That may be why they came for Pythor." Zane realized. "What if he holds the key to making their transformation permanent?"
"That's why Chen hasn't attacked." Wu concluded.
"If that'ssss the case then we need to get my Uncle away from thesssse fakers." Rattalia quickly said.
"Then we have to get him out of here." Lloyd declared. "If he's the key to preventing a war, we can't let him fall into the wrong hands. Literally."
"Oh, I get it, it's literal because of my size. Ha, ha. Very funny." Pythor said dully while the others gave him teasing smiles. "But I'm a little sssenssitive to all the size references."
"A little sensitive?" Melissa asked with a smirk while squinting her hand a bit.
"Okay, I stepped right into that one." Pythor said, didn't mean to make a pun there.
"Let'ssss be reassasonable here." Izzy told them. "After all, little people have rightssss too." She said with a chuckle which caused Pythor to glare at her.
"Um, I hate to interrupt this size joke, but we have to get out of here!" Ryan exclaimed in annoyance.
"Ryan's right, we need to get this little guy as far away from these fake Anacondrai as fast as possible!" Jasmine told them with determination.
Wu then turned to Zane. "Zane, keep them busy." He instructed as Zane nodded and put on his mask as he joined the others, who were struggling with Chope and Kapow.
"Ah! What do you think we've been do-?" Kai was cut off as he was flipped off while Jay was tied up by a tail.
"Get out of here already, it's not like we can hold them off all day!" Jay exclaimed as Zane came in and slid on the floor as he kicked Chope away, freeing Jay but Kapou caught Zane by the tail and tossed him away as the Nindroid gave a yell.
At the entrance, the Serpentine warden was tied up on his chair before his feet managed to flip the switch, sounding the alarm as he gave a smile before he tripped on the floor.
In the cellblock, the door was closing. "The prison hold isss on lockdown!" Rattalia exclaimed as she, Izzy, Lloyd, Melissa, Wu, and Garmadon, who was holding Pythor, rushed up to the entrance. "If we don't find a way out, we may never escape!" She called as they quickly went under the door before it shut.
Kai turned and saw the door closed before Chope whacked him back and hit a stone pillar while Chope grabbed hold of Zane with his tail and sword while Kapou swung his sword while Cole dodged each one.
"It ain't fair. Why is it they've got weapons but we don't?" Cole complained.
"Everything's a weapon in the big house!" Jay called as he grab a toothbrush from a cell and used it to brushed Kapou's teeth hard to keep him at bay.
In the tunnel hallway, Rattalia, Lloyd, Melissa, Izzy, Wu, Garmadon, and Pythor were running through the hallways while the traps were active.
"Oh, sssome heroesss you are." Pythor complained as they managed to get through the spikes. "And to think there's only two of them." He said before screaming as Wu threw him to Lloyd.
"Uncle Wu says the greatest victories-" Lloyd started, looking at Pythor.
"Hasss no battle, blah blah blah," Pythor cut him off as they came to spinning wrecking balls, "Well if their imposssters, your cowardsss!"
"And what does that make you? There's a reason we never trust a snake!" Wu said, using his hat to hit the switch and deactivate the wrecking balls, "First General Arcturus betrayed the truce in the Serpentine War, then you tricked Lloyd and Melissa-"
"Woah, woah, woah there Ssssensei, that'ssss not what happened!" Rattalia told them. "My father had every intention of honoring the truce made after he and the First Ssspinjitzu Massster locked away the Great Devourer beneath the City of Ouroborossss." She explained as they came to the laser grid.
"She'sssss telling the truth." Izzy told them. "From what I've read, Arcturusssss wassss getting ready to finish up the truce until Chen came and ssssaid that the humanssss were gonna betray ussss, and it wassss proven to be true when a bunch of assassinssss came and killed a bunch of Sssserpentine, men, women and children." She informed them as Garmadon used his tail to deactivate the laser grid.
"Indeed. We had no other choice but to attack back." Pythor siad as Wu used his staff to keep the walls back as they went past it.
"But Chen sssaid you were going to betray us!" Garmadon stated in shock as they kept running.
"Wait, dad, you told us that Chen turned the Elemental Alliance against each other, right?" Lloyd spoke up, "What if he was playing both sides into turning on each other and hired those assassins to antagonize the Serpentine into attacking."
"And if that's true, then maybe he's also the reason why the Serpentine Tribes turned against each other afterwards!" Melissa realized.
"Now hold on jussst a moment!" Pythor spoke up, trying to slow it all down, "Are you telling me there'sss foul play in all thisss?!"
"Ssso, Chen isss the reassson why the truce was broken, my people's imprissssonment and my father'ssss banishment!" Rattalia said in a murderous tone as her blood boiled with rage. "That Noodlemaking imposssster isssss gonna pay dearly!"
"Oh, when I see that warmongering deceitful Cad, I will eat him 10 times over!" Pythor shouted in rage.
"He issss ssssso getting nightmaressss till the day he diesssss!" Izzy growled while clenching her fist.
They ran through the closing gate as Wu lost his straw hat, but he quickly grabbed it as they made it to what looks like a clearing outside of Ninjago City in the Sea of Sand with a giant hole that looks like a courtyard.
"Uh, where are we?" Melissa asked in confusion.
"We're in a courtyard that is just outsssside of Ninjago City at the SSSea of SSSand." Izzy explained. "Rattalia had it built sssso that the prisonersss can have sssssome fresh air and exercisssse."
"Okay, how fast can you make these things?" Lloyd asked in surprise while holding Pythor.
"When you're trapped underground, you have a lot of time on your handsss." Rattalia said with a shrug.
Soon, they saw the False Anacondrai overhead in what looks like mini mechs before they turned and saw the Bladecopters flying in with even more False Anacondrai flying in.
"Again I say…" Pythor started before he cowered in Lloyd's hand. "Cowardsss." He whimpered in fear.
"Protect Pythor!" Wu told Lloyd and Melissa.
"Never thought I would hear those words." Melissa commented.
Lloyd and Melissa then put on their hoods. "NINJA, GO!" They then did Spinjitzu and knocked away a few False Anacondrai, but when they stopped, Lloyd looked at his hand and saw that Pythor was gone as he gasped and looked around.
"I lost him!" Lloyd cried out in panic.
"What?!" Melissa yelled in shock. What they didn't see was Pythor was on the ground spinning from Lloyd's Spinjitzu, looking a bit dizzy before he stopped and then screamed when he saw a mech foot about to crush him before he slithered off to avoid getting squished.
"What do you mean you lost him?!" Garmadon questioned as he fought off some False Anacondrai. "Find him!" He exclaimed as the Ninjas of Yin and Yang started looking for Pythor, but they're having trouble when the False Anacondrai were fighting them.
Back in the Prison cell, the other Ninjas are still dealing with Chope and Kapou. "Fire!" Kai called as he sent a fireball at Chope, but ducked to avoid them.
"Lightning!" Jay called as he sent a lightning shock, which shocked Chope as he screamed before he collapsed on the floor as his spear was sent flying and landed in front of a Hypnobrai's cell.
"Ooh, now thisss could be usssefull." The Hypnobrai said with a smirk as he picked up the spear.
"Hurry! Grab his spear!" Ryan exclaimed as they rushed up to the Hypnobrai, but he quickly aimed the spear to the switch beside him and flick it, which made all the cells open up as the Serpentine inmates all cheered and yelled.
"Oh, no." Kai muttered as the Serpentine inmates all exited their cells as the four Ninja huddled close uneasily.
"Uh, guys, I think we're about to serve some hard times." Cole said nervously as the inmates jumped down and advanced towards the Ninja.
"We really ssshould thank you, Ninja," One Fangpyre said with a smirk before shrugging, "But it'd be more fun to kill you." He joked before he charged at Jay, who quickly kicked him back as Cole ran up to a Constrictai, but he was whacked back.
Some of the Hypnobrai rushed up at Zane, who dodged a punch with a flip before he started fighting them while the others fought off the inmates as well as Zane caught a Hypnobrai by the leg.
"I'm not an outdated relic anymore!" Zane called before he flipped over the Hypnobrai and punched him away with a yell.
Jay dodged a Venomari spit before he held up a Hypnobrai as he got hit by the venom spit, which caused him to yell at seeing his worst fear. "Okay, since we've already fought these guys before, what say we keep this short?" He said before he tossed the Hypnobrai away.
"Especially since me and Ryan are inexperienced here!" Jasmine cried out as she and Ryan were fighting off the Serpentine, but were sloppy.
Zane caught a fist from a Fangpyire, "Agreed!" He said, throwing the Fangpyre away.
"I'm with you! The door, hurry!" Jasmine shouted as they all rushed up to the door with the Serpentine inmates chasing behind them.
"Alright! Who's busting out of here with me?" Cole questioned as they went to the closed entrance.
"There's no way you're breaking through this door. It's solid metal." Kai pointed out as he struggled to get the door open.
"I never said anything about a door." Cole said with a smirk under his mask as he raised a fist and gave a yell before he punched a wall, creating a hole that they rushed through as they all rushed in with Cole smashing walls with the inmates chasing behind them as Chope and Kapou got out of sight.
"When people try to bust out of jail, they do so quietly! Not literally!" Jay exclaimed as Cole kept smashing walls.
In a lone cell, two Serpentines, a Hypnobrai and a Fangpyre, were digging a wall with a spoon, trying to dig their way out.
"Digging your way out issss hard." The Hypnobrai commented.
"I almosssst got it." The Fangpyre said before the Ninja burst through the wall behind them and crashed through the wall in front of them, leaving them surprised.
"Thank you!" The Hypnobrai and Fangpyer said in unison, waving to the Ninja.
Back in the Courtyard, the Garmadon family, Melissa, Izzy, and Rattalia were fighting off the False Anacondrai while looking for Pythor before Melissa spotted him. "Got him!" She called as she saw Pythor avoiding some tails as Wu blocked a mech's strike, but he flung back as some basketballs bounced around Pythor. "Don't got him!" She called out as she rushed up to Pythor while Garmadon used his snake skills to fight off the False Anacondrai.
Pythor barely avoided the fallen swords and basketballs that kept dropping near him. "I really hate being small!" He yelled out in irritation before he was grabbed. "What?!" He cried out as a False Anacondrai held him before Izzy kicked him away and caught Pythor in her hand with a yell. "Izzy! My savoir." He said in relief.
Izzy just gave him a dull look. "Don't get too relieved you little freak, you're lucky you're important to thesssse impossssters, otherwissse I would ssssquish you under my foot." She said with a look.
"Okay, fair." Pythor said with a dull look before Cole and the others burst through the walls, which caused the False Anacondrai to cough from the dust.
"Do you have him?" Kai asked the group.
"Of course we d-" Izzy was caught off guard when she looked at her hand and saw that Pythor was gone. "Where did he go?!" She exclaimed as she looked around and then saw two False Anacondrai appearing behind her holding Pythor giving chuckles before slithering off before turning invisible. "They got him!"
"We can't let them escape!" Cole shouted before they turned and saw the Serpentine inmates rushing towards them through the holes Cole made.
"No, we can't let them escape!" Wu shouted while gesturing to the inmates. "No more smashing walls!"
"Next time, how about we use the door?" Ryan said with a brow to Cole.
"My guardsss and I will hold back the prisssonersss! You regroup with your friendsss and ssstop Chen!" Rattalia told them.
"Good luck, Rattalia." Lloyd told her.
"I'll get us out of here! Ice!" Zane called as he used his ice powers to make an ark to the hole above as they all rushed up before Kai turned back to the inmates trying to follow.
"I'd hate to let anyone down, but… Fire!" Kai shot a fireball, destroying the ice ark as the inmates fell before Rattalia stepped forward as her guards slithered up beside her.
"Okay, fellow sssnakesss! Time to get back to your cellsss! Now!" Rattalia yelled firmly as the inmate Serpentines all groaned in defeat.
"I really love that Anacondrai." Izzy said with a smile.
Back at Chen's base, Pythor was in a jar held by Chen and screaming in rage. "AAHH! Deceivers! Charlatans! Frauds! Murderers!" Pythor yelled in rage. "Two-bit phonies!" He exclaimed.
"I don't get it, how are we gonna get enough sssweat out of that little guy to fix all of usss?" Kapou questioned in confusion since Pythor was way too small to give enough essence for all of them.
"The sssimplessst plan is often the best." Chen said as he opened up the jar and put Pythor in a cage with a hamster wheel. "The more complicated one's are so much more fun to watch!" He cheered as he placed a helmet with a tube on Pythor's head. "Now run!" He demanded.
"A true Anacondrai would never demean himself!" Pythor said firmly with his arms crossed, "I have my honor, you know!"
"And we have a Mongoose." Zugu said, holding a black mongoose as it gave a screech and jumped onto the Wheel.
Pythor screamed in terror and started jumping like he was in a potato sack to get away from the weasel but the hamster wheel prevented him from going anywhere as his sweat dripped down the tube of his helmet.
"As you can see, fear is a powerful thing." Chen said with a smirk as he moved his normal arm to the end of the tube where a drop of venom spilled on his hand, reverting it back into an Anacondrai arm as Chen gave a smirk.
"Oh, the essence, it's working!" Chope cheered with a smile.
"Ssssoon, I'll have enough to make my entire army permanently Anacondrai!" Chen declared with a smirk as he slithered off. "Now that that one problem isssss dealt with, it's time we give the Ninja one of their own! It's time to ssssspread sssssome fear." He declared with a look.
At the end of a train tunnel, a train light flashes as a fleet of Chen's noodle trucks drives off and went down the road through the desert to Ninjago City.
At the Samurai X cave, the Ninja walked up to where Skylor, Misako, Rachel, Luci, Nya, and Seliel were.
"We got here as fast as we could." Kai spoke up.
"What's happening?" Melissa asked.
"Twenty noodle trucks have been spotted heading toward Ninjago City just 50 clicks away." Nya informed me while showing the monitor.
"And let me guess, they ain't hauling noodles?" Cole guessed with a serious look.
"No they are not." Ryan said while shaking his head.
"We've confirmed that there are definitely Anacondrai signals inside them," Seliel added. "10 could fit in each truck."
"And Twenty trucks could hold 200 Anacondrai." Zane stated in worry. "If they get to the city before we do, the city will be theirs."
"And they'll have achieved the pivotal first foothold in the war." Garmadon said seriously.
"We have to stop them!" Lloyd called out.
"I've already warned the others to head them off at the pass." Nya stated. "They should be able to hold the line until you offer support. I have them equip themselves so we could communicate." She explained as the monitor turned to show Shade.
"We're in position." Shade informed. "If they show up, we'll be sure to put up a fight." He promised.
"They're coming to your location soon." Nya informed before Shade looked ahead.
"I see them." Shade said, looking ahead with a serious look.
The Elemental Masters all saw the noodle trucks heading their way. "Let's show them what we're made of!" Shade said with a smirk as the Elemental Masters summoned their Elemental Dragons and flew towards the Trucks.
Then Neuro noticed something, "Wait, something's wrong." He told the others as they saw the Trucks suddenly go in different directions.
"Shade, what's going on?" Melissa asked back at the Samurai X Cave.
"The trucks, there going every which way!" Shade said in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Jay questioned with a brow, "Aren't they going to Ninjago City?"
"Looks like only one of them is, but the others," Shade trailed off as he looked at the Trucks, "I'm not sure where they're going, but they ain't going together."
"There's over 12 densely populated villages within a 10 click radius." Misako said as they all looked at the map on the monitor.
"They aren't planning to launch one big invasion, they're planning multiple smaller attacks." Jasmine said in shock.
"What do we do?" Shade spoke up. "You told us to stay together."
"Chen knows he can't take you all on at once." Garmadon spoke up. "He's trying to split you up."
"But even if just one of those trucks make it to a village, the people won't be able to defend themselves." Seliel pointed out.
"Just ten Anacondrai, is enough to cause a bit of chaos." Luci noted with concern.
"We have to protect the people." Lloyd declared with seriousness.
"Tell the Elemental Fighters we have to split up." Melissa instructed. "We'll each intercept a truck and stop it from reaching those villages."
"Whatever happened to 'we fight as one'?" Jay questioned.
"This isn't a vote, Jay." Garmadon said firmly. "This is stopping the end of our world as we know it." He said as Jay nodded as the six Ninja rushed off out of the cave while Skylor looked at the monitors where the trucks were going.
"What's my father up to?" Skylor muttered with a suspicious look.
"Nya, ready the Bounty." Wu ordered as Nya nodded. "We must prepare for the worst."
Each of the noodle trucks went down the road as the Elemental Masters stood there. "You heard our orders, split up and intercept those trucks," Shade said as the Elemental Masters gave their dragons roars and split up into different directions Shade told the others before each of them went in separate directions to stop the trucks.
Back in the Samurai X Cave, Nya was working on the Bounty up and running as Wu walked up to her. "Nya, why aren't we in the air?" He asked.
"We just gave the old gal a makeover." Nya said as she climbed down. "It's gonna take some time for her to warm up." She explained.
Wu nodded as he turned to Misako, Rachel, Luci Seliel, and Garmadon. "Misako, Rachel, Luci, Seliel, notify every ally we have. We're going to need all the help we can get." He said as the three girls nodded before Wu turned to Garmadon. "And brother, if for whatever reason this doesn't work out, I'm glad you're home." He said with a smile as Garmadon nodded as Wu turned away.
Garmadon frowned in concern as Misako realized what's wrong. "Are you okay, dear?" She asked.
"We're on the threshold of war and I'm a man-snake. Take your pick." Garmadon said with a frown.
"You wish to tell Wu about the letter aren't you?" Misako asked as Garmadon sighed.
"I don't know if now is the right time or not. Things are at their worst, and I don't know if he will forgive me for what I've done." Garmadon said in concern.
"If things do turn from bad to worse, just know that I'll be right beside you." Misako assured with a warm smile as she held her husband's hands. "Wu will understand if you just tell him. You will never know unless you try."
"I suppose your-" Garmadon was cut off when the light suddenly shut off.
"Nya, what just happened?" Rachel questioned. "The power went out."
"I'll have her back online in no time." Nya assured as she went up to the control panel.
Meanwhile with the Ninja, they were currently pursuing the Trucks. Zane was trailing behind a truck close to the mountain side. He used his powers to try and freeze a bridge, which caused the truck to server but regain balance before his dragon fired an ice blast to the truck, creating an ice wall that trapped the truck in place.
Zane landed his dragon close to the truck before he saw on the other side another truck was driving by before he flew after it as his dragon gave a roar.
Back in Chen's hideout, Pythor was still running on the wheel with the mongoose behind him as they still collected more of his sweat.
"The trucks are in position." Zugu informed Chen. "It's time." Chen nodded as he and his troops slithered off.
"What about me?!" Pythor panted, "You can't just leave me here! Where's the Honor in that!?" He demanded as he continued to jump and run.
"Oh, right. Honor." Chen said with a sly grin, slithering to the Roto-Jet, "Well it'sss like you ssssaid, we're not real Anacondrai." He said as he gave a laugh and started up the Roto-Jet. "No, we are not. No, no, no!" He laughed before he flew out of the tunnel and into the sky with the Bladecopters following.
In Jamanakai Village, some kids were playing soccer before the ball rolled to the bridge while in the distance Melissa was chasing a Truck.
"Oh nonono!" Melissa said as the truck went to the bridge, but Melissa blasted the bridge, destroying it but also deflated the kid's ball. "Sorry, kid. No time to explain." She said as she flew after the truck.
"Wow!" The boy said with a smile before he tossed the deflated ball away. "Hey, let's play dragons." He suggested to his friends.
In the Forest of Tranquility, Cole was chasing his truck, "Not a chance pal, can't let you finish this delivery route." He said as his dragon blasted rock spires in front of the truck as the driver quickly turned out of the way, "Oh not giving up huh?" He taunted as he continued to fly after the truck. "Neither will I!"
In Ninjago City, Kai flew his dragon through narrowed buildings while keeping up with the noodle truck before she saw an adult with three kids crossing the street. "Out of the way!" He called as he flew his dragon ahead and landed between them and shot a fireball at the truck.
The False Anacondrai driver screamed as he turned left before the fireball could hit him as Kai flew after him. He flew through the park before he steered around and some mud hit Zane's memorial statue.
"Hey! Not cool!" Kai yelled in anger from that as the noodle truck went back on the road, which made the elder woman scream as she stopped as she saw Kai flying by.
"I thought I told you to move your dragon, young man!" The woman yelled in rage while honking her horn as Kai kept chasing after the truck.
"I've gotta get him out of town." Kai muttered as he then started firing fireballs on the road, keeping the truck straight without any turns. "Now, that's what I call getting back on the right track." He quipped with a laugh.
Back in the Samurai X Cave, Nya got the power back on as they spoke through Zane. "Zane, have you diverted the truck away from the villages?" Wu questioned.
"Yes, and once it's at a safe distance, I'll deal with the Anacondrai," Zane reported.
"Good work. The people are safe." Wu said.
Seliel then noticed something on the map, "Um, quick question, Chen's army is all those trucks right?" She asked, looking concerned.
"Yes, we already established that." Nya answered.
"Oh, okay," Seliel said casually before whipping around and pointing to the screen, "Then could someone please explain to me how Chen is leading a whole army of Anacondrai into Jamanakai Village?!" She asked, showing them a camera view of the Anacondrai attacking Jamanakai village.
"What?!" Rachel exclaimed in shock.
"Seliel's right." Skylor said in dread as she recognized the tactics. "We aren't pulling them away from the people, they're pulling us!" She exclaimed as the others gasped in realization.
"It's a trick!" Luci exclaimed in shock and realization.
"Stop chasing the trucks!" Wu yelled out to them.
With Jay, he was in the snow forest as he used his lightning to short out the truck as it crashed into a tree as he landed on the ground as he quickly got off his dragon and tied up the Anacondrai driver as he walked up to the back of the truck.
"Alright, snakes, you're about to be charged." Jay quipped as he opened up the truck.
But what he saw was an empty truck, with only ten Anacondrai scales inside, which made Jay gasp in horror. "No. It can't be." He muttered as he took off his mask as every Elemental Masters experienced the same thing.
"Everyone come back now!" Wu called out through the comms.
In the mountains, Melissa gasped in horror when she saw her truck was empty too, "Empty?! B-b-b-but, but, but--" She stammered as her fear caused her Elemental Dragon to vanish as she fell onto the ground of the mountain with a yelp.
Elsewhere in a desert mountain, Lloyd was in a similar state then got himself back up. "I'm not afraid. I can do this. I have to get back." He said to herself as he then tried to focus his powers to bring out his dragon again, but nothing as he gave up. "I can't! I'm too afraid!" He called out.
"It was all a trap. They were baiting us away from the people." Garmadon spoke as every Elemental Masters who chased the trucks all had the same situation as they all each looked at the empty trucks, giving into fear to make them unable to summon their Elemental Dragons.
"But then that means." Misako started in dread.
"The greatest victories have no battle." Wu recited back at the cave in dread. "Now our worst fears have come true."
In Jamanakai Village, the boy from earlier was playing with a cut out dragon, but then a shadow loom over him as he turned and saw a Zugu behind him and took his cut out, causing the boy to run up to his parents in fear as Zugu ripped apart the cut out as the rest of the False Anacondrai growled while the villagers screamed in fear.
Behind the army, Chen gave a maniacal laugh at his victory as his army then swarmed Jamanakai Village as Bladecopters took to the air while some of the buildings were in flames.
"The New Serpentine War… has just begun." Garmadon finished in dread, fearing the Second Serpentine War had begun.
A/N: And that was The Greatest Fear of All, and it appears Chen was playing both sides of the humans and Serpentine and we even got introduced to a new OC Izzy who is Rattalia's girlfriend, but now it appears that trouble is coming their way as Chen and his Anacondrai army has gotten stronger, how will the Ninja stop him? Find out in the season finale. Leave a review and tell me what you think.
Up Next: The Ninja needs to find a way to take down Chen and his army once and for all.
Here's the Cast List.
Jillian Michaels as Lloyd, Selma and Old Woman; Tara Strong as Melissa and Venomari Prisoner; Vincent Tong as Kai and Hypnobrai Prisoner; Michael Adamthwaite as Jay and Fangpyer Prisoner 2; Brent Miller as Zane and Serpentine Guard; Kirby Morrow as Cole and Fangpyer Prisoner 1; Kelly Metzger as Nya; Paul Dobson as Wu, Neuro and Serpentine Warden; Mark Oliver as Garmadon; Kathleen Barr as Misako; Ian James Corlett as Chen and Skales; Brian Dobson as Zugu; Ian Hanlin as Chope; Alessandro Juliani as Kapow; Michael Dobson as Pythor; Cristina Vee as Jasmine; Seth Green as Ryan; Heather Doerksen as Skylor; Jennifer Hayward as Pixal; Ashleigh Ball as Seliel; Veronica Taylor as Rachel; Alyson Court as Luci; Tabitha St. Germain as Rattalia; Rebecca Shoichet as Izzy; Alan Marriott as Dareth; Andrew Francis as Shade; Doron Bell Jr as Griffin Turner; Alyssya Swales as Skales Jr.