'Thinking'
"Speech"
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(Akira POV)
(Time skip) (location: near the Hypnobrai tomb)
The desert's scorching heat gave way to an unforgiving, biting cold. Days bled into a relentless trek, the roar of Fangpyre engines a constant drone against the howling, icy winds. Our destination: the Hypnobrai tomb, a place of frozen silence in this endless white expanse. Each stop along the way was meticulously planned, a calculated pause in our journey. I worked stealthily, marking three of their vehicles- the helicopter, a lumbering truck, and a sleek motorcycle- with an improved silver tracer. Subtle sigils, almost invisible against the snow-dusted metal, a silent claim of dominion. My influence spread through their semi-sentient systems, rewriting their loyalties, ensuring they would only answer to me.
My jet, a predator of steel and elemental technology, underwent a chilling transformation. Its frame expanded, its turbines pulsed with amplified power, and its modular design allowed for a disturbing versatility. As a personal experiment, I had already tested its ability to disassemble into adaptable components, merging seamlessly with other vehicles, aircraft, or forming an augmented armor around myself. A mobile arsenal, a silent guardian against the biting frost.
When integrated with my serpentine form, the jet's components formed a streamlined armor, not unlike a powerful jet pack. The turbines, now connected to the wings that extended from my back, roared with contained energy, granting me the ability to soar through the icy air. The armor itself, devoid of any extraneous weaponry, hugged my form, enhancing my speed and agility, a fun exercise in elemental technology, since I could always achieve flight with wind, gravity, form, my golden power, or even by reverting to my dragon form. It was simply... a matter of style.
As the Hypnobrai tomb loomed closer, a phantom memory surfaced, a ripple in the otherwise frozen stillness of my mind. Not long after the cariole's creation, a unique serpentine arrived. Acid, he called himself. Blackish-grey scales, purple accents. A Vermillion. Spawn of the Great Devourer, the snake that grew with consumption. Vermillion warriors, red serpentines formed from multitudes of smaller snakes, shared the Devourer's hunger, though lacked its infinite growth.
Acid was different. Pyro-viper-like, yet dragon-infused, explaining his form without armor. Remnants of Golden Power, and the Overlord's dark energy. Creation or possession? He'd called me 'kid.' Amusing, given my millennia, compared to his apparent youth, despite my usual immaturity.
'He gave me the scrolls locations,' I mused, inspecting my Naginata's disguise. 'I don't need them, not with this.' Still, replication was tempting. My focus, however, was Lloyd. My... nephew. A strange, comforting term. Arcturus... he had remained a constant companion, a ...father figure. I missed him.
(Scene break)
The snowy hill crested, revealing the Hypnobrai army. " The Hypnobrai. Now to teach them a lesson for betraying Lloyd Garmadon." He exclaimed, arms in the air. "Uh, do your thing Fangpyre. I let you out of your hole for a reason." He gestured to Fangtom. "Attack!" Fangtom commanded, and the serpentine armies surged forward, a cacophony of cheers.
Fangtom abruptly halted the bike. "Skales, my old chum!" he exclaimed, dismounting. I subtly tightened my tail around Lloyd, preparing to initiate the vehicle combination. "I didn't think I'd be fighting you. Hm, moved up in the world, have we?" Fangtom continued, surprise laced with excitement. "If it isn't the Fangpyre. Of all the cold-blooded to creep up on us, I'm glad it is a friend." Skales responded with equal enthusiasm.
"Wait, I thought you were enemies. Not friends." Lloyd said, with a mixture of shock and surprise. Hearing this Fangtom turned to him. "We were at war. But seeing that Skales is now leading them, well, I don't see why we can't be comrades." He said. "Had you released the Constrictai, the Venomari, or heaven forbid the Anacondrai, then we would've had a tussle." Skales countered, a hint of sardonic amusement in his voice. "A tussle? A tussle?" Lloyd echoed, incredulous. "But I'm Lloyd Garmadon, bringer of evil!" He continued, emphasizing "evil".
As they debated Lloyd's fate – serpentine transformation, pig-like hypnosis – I simmered, their casual cruelty igniting a cold fury. They seemed to forget my presence entirely. Time to remind them.I raised my hand, silver energy pulsing from my fingertips, tracing the barely visible sigils on the helicopter, truck, and motorcycle. "Arise, and obey your new master." I commanded, my voice resonating with elemental power, a theatrical flourish.
The vehicles shuddered, their metal bodies twisting and contorting. Snakelike features writhed and reformed. The truck's serpentine head receded, replaced by a sleek, silver prow. The motorcycle's fangs vanished, its form streamlining into a silver chassis. The helicopter's tail coiled, then straightened, becoming a part of the merging structure. The metal flowed and shifted, like liquid silver, fusing the three vehicles into a streamlined behemoth,little smaller than the ninja's ship.
Silver plating gleamed, accented with blue and gold. My jet, purple and white, attached itself to the back, its form merging seamlessly. Six wheels, each capable of omnidirectional movement, extended from the undercarriage. Six turbines, their blades shimmering with elemental energy, adjusted their angles. The vehicle's 'eyes,' a combination of cameras and organic sensors, glowed with a soft blue light.
With a mental command, the wheels retracted. The turbines roared, lifting the combined vehicle into the air. "Time to leave," I said, my voice cutting through their surprised exclamations. I turned the vehicle towards the desert, the jet providing an extra burst of speed. We left the serpentine armies behind, a trail of snow and dust in our wake. 'How's that for having little imagination.' I mused, a wry smile playing on my lips, remembering Acid's comment.
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(Time skip) (location:sea of sand)
Hours later, we flew over the Sea of Sand in the 'Shift-Wing,' a temporary name for the merged vehicles until I devised something better. The map of dens, copied onto the vehicle's screen, guided us toward the Anacondrai tomb. "Had you released the Constrictai, the Venomari, or heaven forbid the Anacondrai, then we would have had a tussle. Pfft!" Lloyd mocked, mimicking Skales.
As the tomb loomed closer, a wave of unease washed over me. "Lloyd" I asked, my voice strained, "are you sure you want to release the Anacondrai?"Despite my lack of attachment to most serpentine, Arcturus's presence within their ranks held a strange weight. The thought of confronting his memory stirred a discomfort I couldn't ignore. "Of course I'm sure. With an army of the strongest serpentine, I'll be able to get revenge on the ninja and the serpentine who betrayed me!" Lloyd cackled. "Why'd you ask?" He asked.
"I... was apart of the Anacondrai army, and my ...father, Arcturus was one of the generals." I admitted, the words feeling foreign. "When the elemental masters entombed the serpentine, they used the same flute your uncle has, it has the ability to hypnotize the serpentine and cancel out their powers." I continued.
"But when uncle used the flute against the Fangpyre they tried to cover their ears, you didn't even flinch." Lloyd observed, his naivety juxtaposed with surprising perceptiveness. "Does that mean you're... different?"
I hesitated, the truth hovering on my tongue. The First Spinjitzu Master's bloodline, a secret known only to a select few in Ninjago. The Oni, a myth to most realms. Dragons, feared as monsters in some. It has been over a millennium since I came to Ninjago, more specifically 1,289 years, it has been 60 years since I met Arcturus and 38 years since the serpentine wars ended.
'I suppose... my fear of Arcturus's rejection kept me silent,' I mused inwardly. 'He wouldn't have cared, would've loved me regardless.' I looked at Lloyd, I decided that I would tell that I was a dragon... but not an Oni, that would come once he's older. "You're right," I finally said, the words a release. "I am... a dragon."
"Wow! A dragon!" Lloyd exclaimed, his eyes wide with childlike wonder. "Is that what you meant by pulling the cariole?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "I can show you later, after we secure your revenge."
The vehicle's console beeped, signaling our arrival. Ahead, the Anacondrai tomb rose from the sands—a colossal, petrified tusk, its tip curving skyward like a skeletal finger. The weathered, ochre surface bore the marks of time, etched with ancient symbols that pulsed with a faint, ominous energy. The entrance, a gaping maw at the tusk's base. "We found it! Lloyd exclaimed.
I landed the Shift-Wing near the tomb's maw. "The Anacondrai." Lloyd murmured, dusting off the entrance, searching for a release mechanism. "The most feared and powerful serpentine of them all. And if they're afraid of the Anacondrai, then the Anacondrai is what they're gonna get." He let out a childish, evil laugh as I forced the ancient door open.
The interior was a macabre tableau: skeletal remains scattered across the floor, a silent testament to starvation. A wave of unexpected grief washed over me; Arcturus's kin, reduced to dust. Lloyd's sudden scream snapped me from my reverie. I immediately looked over and saw an Anacondrai with an unusually long neck, most likely bitten by a Fangpyre. "My sincerest apologies, young man." he spoke, his British accent laced with a chillingly smooth tone. "Oh, dear, due to my unfortunate appearance, I tend to have an unsettling effect on people. Oh, I believe you dropped this." He returned the flashlight. "Ah, there you are."
"Uh, thank you." Lloyd thanked him, slightly unsettled. "Uh, what happened to the others? He asked. "Poor unfortunate souls. All those years, locked away with nothing to eat. Must have slowly starved away until they were just scales and bones." the serpentine replied, his stomach growling audibly. "And who may you be, my little appetize—. Uh, I mean, friend?" He had almost said appetizer, and I narrowed my eyes.
"Lloyd Garmadon. Son of Lord Garmadon and future dark ruler." Lloyd replied. "Oh. Ha-ha. How deliciously evil. If I had feet, ooh I'd be trembling in my boots." the serpentine chuckled, a hint of menace beneath his polite veneer.
"And, uh, who are you?" Lloyd asked. "Humbly, I am Pythor P. Chumsworth. And since you've freed me, I am eternally in your service." Pythor said with a sly smile. "Really? You're not going to trick me?" Lloyd asked, suspiciously. "Oh, why would I trick you? I hardly have any friends." Pythor answered. I could taste his manipulative nature, but as long as he didn't harm Lloyd I didn't care.
"Whoa. I hardly have any friends too. Except for Akira." Lloyd gestured to me, and Pythor's eyes flickered nervously, a flicker he tried to hide. "You don't say." Pythor replied, his tone laced with false enthusiasm. "Hey, how would you like to be my loyal henchman?" Lloyd asked, turning his back as Pythor's gaze fell upon the map of dens in his pocket. "I've been betrayed by the Hypnobrai and the Fangpyres, and I'm looking to get a little revenge on some ninja too." He continued oblivious to Pythor's actions. If he harmed a hair on Lloyd, I was prepared to be the Anacondrai's extinction. "Hm. I love revenge." Pythor purred.
"Oh, you know, Floyd—"
"It's Lloyd." Lloyd corrected. "Whatever." Pythor mumbled. "I have a feeling this is the start of a beautiful friendship." We exited the tomb, leaving the skeletal remains behind, a silent warning of Pythor's true nature.
(Scene break)
We walked to the nearest village—I, to keep Pythor from the Shift-Wing, and Lloyd, to burn off his sugar rush.
Pythor, ever the opportunist, commandeered a scooter, and he and Lloyd tore through the village, a trail of overturned trash cans and gleeful laughter in their wake. I followed, a silent guardian. From grass-trampling to ice cream theft, to candy-snatching from a toddler, Lloyd's joy was palpable. It wasn't the mischief itself, but the shared experience, the simple act of having a companion.
A pang of guilt struck me. I could have offered this camaraderie sooner, but the pursuit of vengeance consumed us both. An hour later, they returned, a candy-laden cart trailing behind.
Inside the tomb, they indulged in their spoils. "Wow. You're the best henchman a mastermind could ever have." Lloyd told Pythor, who chuckled. "Lloyd, you're the best mastermind a henchman could ever have." I watched, a silent observer, content to see Lloyd's happiness. "Hm, why is it that you only have one friend?" Pythor asked, his tone deceptively casual. I decided to pay more attention to this conversation, as I never asked Lloyd this myself. "Well, I could've had friends back at my Boarding School for Bad Boys, but I decided to run away and never let them see me again." Lloyd lied. "Really? Uh, why would you run away from making friends?" Pythor pressed. "Everybody needs friends, even tyrants."
"Well, uh, maybe I didn't run away. Maybe I, uh— I got kicked out." Lloyd admitted, his voice tinged with a vulnerability he rarely showed. My eyes slightly narrowed, he was kicked out, abandoned. "From the Boarding School for bad boys? I don't believe it. I hear they are the breeding ground for the truly despicable. And if you ask me, ho-ho, you are a handful." Pythor feigned disbelief.
"Well, thank you, Pythor, but they told me I wasn't bad enough. They said I lacked the amoral ambition to be one of tomorrow's masterminds." Lloyd confessed, a flicker of hurt in his eyes. "Well, you'll show them." Pythor said with enthusiasm. "That's right, I will show them." Lloyd responded. "Then why don't we?" Pythor said.
"Uh, why don't we what?" Lloyd asked. "Let's get revenge on the very school that rejected you." Pythor said, as he held up Lloyd. I tensed at this, ready to strike. "And when the ninja come to the rescue, we'll have a trap laid out for them."
"A double revenge?" Lloyd's eyes gleamed. "A double revenge. Get some rest. Hijacking an ice cream truck is a lot for anyone, and if you're going to rule the world, well, ho-ho-ho, you'll need to get your sleep." Pythor said. "Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?" Lloyd asked. "I'll be your friend." Pythor answered with a sly smile, as he hugged Lloyd. "Oh, Pythor, you're the best." As Lloyd drifted off, Pythor's gaze fell upon the map, his hand twitching. "Harm a hair on him," I warned, my voice a low growl, my hands glowing with power, "and I WILL make sure, that you are the last Anacondrai, be it dead or alive."
"Yes, of course, 'lady Akira'." Pythor replied, his tone laced with sardonic amusement. "I swear on Arcturus." The name froze him. An Anacondrai oath, a sacred vow. He slithered away, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long.
As he vanished into the shadows, I coiled around Lloyd, a silent promise of protection. I wouldn't sleep. Not with Pythor lurking nearby.
(Scene break)
(Time skip)
I reluctantly let Pythor into the Shift-Wing for a swift journey to Lloyd's old boarding school. We landed just outside, waiting for morning to thwart the ninja's shadowy approach. Inside, we bound the students and two Skullkin substitute teachers. Traps were set: a rooftop cannon, a slime trap above the stairwell doors, and dust traps scattered throughout. Lloyd, skateboarding through the hallways, was a whirlwind of mischievous energy, with Pythor and I slithering close behind.
"Heh-heh. Hey, how are the booby traps?" Lloyd asked, a grin on his face. "Every door, window, and hole into this place are spring loaded." Pythor confirmed. I hummed in agreement, a mischievous glint in my eyes, remembering the extra-sticky slime I'd prepared. "Ah, good. I'm sick and tired of those ninjas sneaking their way into my evil doings." Lloyd declared, leading us to the roof.
He paced nervously, anticipating the ninja. "Relax, we've made the perfect trap. We're in broad daylight so there isn't any shadows. But even if they could get in..." Pythor began, but Lloyd interrupted, pointing. "What's that?!"
Pythor fired the cannon, launching a net that ensnared... a lizard. He glared at Lloyd.
"Oh, good. Yeah, good reflexes. I was just testing you." Lloyd stammered, embarrassed. "If I know these ninjas, they're cleverly sneaking their way right past us this very moment." He continued.
Screams echoed from above. The ninja descended from their ship, crashing through the roof. I yanked Lloyd back as they plummeted to the bottom floor.
I looked down into the hole they made and saw the black ninja, climbing the chain. Using the element of quake, my hands glowed a pale yellow/orange, I grabbed the chain and infused it with seismic energy, violently shaking him off.
The black ninja, climbing the chain, faced my seismic energy. My hands glowed yellow, and I infused the chain with quake, violently shaking him off.
Pythor, meanwhile, activated a dust trap against the black ninja, who dropped his scythe.
"They're coming. They're coming. They're coming!" Lloyd shouted, running across the roof. Pythor slammed a plank over the trapdoor, but Jay burst through.
"Shocked to see me?" He taunted, swinging his nunchucks. "Do something!" Lloyd urged.
Pythor chuckled, grabbing the map from Lloyd's pocket. I pulled Lloyd away, keeping him close. "Wha— What are you doing? I thought you were my friend." Lloyd exclaimed, betrayed. "All you wanted was to make the serpentine your slave." Pythor replied with venom. "Well, sorry, my dear boy, I have other plans." Pythor hissed, turning invisible. I saw him and blasted him off the roof with a shockwave, knowing he'd survive. Lloyd, his eyes wide with fear, looked up at me. "You won't leave me too, will you?" Tears welled. "Never," I promised.
The ninja's ship descended. "Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, you come here right now." Wu commanded.
My hand glowed silver, summoning the Shift-Wing. "What is that!" Jay yelped, surprised by the sudden appearance of the shift-wing. "It's your choice Lloyd. Do you want to try and release the other serpentine, or do you want to go with your uncle?" I asked.
"I'll go."he whispered, his voice barely audible, my eyes softened. "Ok" I gently lifted him and slithered onto their ship, wary of attack. The Destiny's Bounty flew off, the Shift-Wing following. Dinner was silent, Kai's glare fixed on me.
Later, Wu and I escorted Lloyd to his new room, where Wu read him a bedtime story. "And that is why Jack the rabbit never trusts a snake. The end" Wu finished the book. "Oh, if my dad had read me that book, I would never have made that mistake. I'm sorry uncle." Lloyd apologized, his voice filled with remorse. I rubbed his head gently. "Oh, you do not need to apologize. I'm sure that if your father was still here, it would be the first book he'd read. Good night, nephew. Sweet dreams." Wu said softly. "Good night, uncle, good night, Akira."
"Good night, Lloyd." I replied, following Wu to the top deck. "I don't get it, sensei." Kai said, confused. "Why isn't the little brat getting punished?" Jay added, and I gave him a warning look, causing him to back away. "Yeah, we had to train all day and he gets read a bedtime story? It's not fair." The black ninja, Cole said.
"Hm, you're right, I nearly forgot. Why are you not still training? Did you find the answer to the riddle?" Wu asked, changing the subject. The ninja sighed. "No, sensei, we still don't know what the best way to defeat your enemy is." Kai admitted.
As they headed to their rooms, Wu was about to speak, but I interrupted. "Friend." The ninja looked at me in surprise. "It is to make them your friend." I clarified. "She is correct." Wu confirmed. "Ah, of course." "Yeah." the ninja said in unison, a moment of realization. I began to slither toward Lloyd's room, seeking rest.
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Chapter 5
Please let me know how you like it.
The next chapter I post will be for the httyd story.
Note: there will either be short chapters or skipped episodes due to Akira's absence. The same will happen with the httyd story were Cinderwing is not really involved