Chapter 11: All of Nothing

On the Bounty, the Ninja have reported everything they learned to the rest of the team and are locating the location of the last Fangblade. Aria and Lloyd were practice fighting.


"The Venomari's right. By the time we cast sail clear across the other side of Ninjago, Pythor will have already beat us to the last Fangblade" Nya said


"Oh, come on, guys. This is the last one. We gotta get it. We gotta think of something" Jay said annoyed


Aria flipped Lloyd onto his back and she looked at Jay "Well Aladdin when you think of something let us know, on the other hand-"


Lloyd stood up "If all we have to do is just get one Fangblade to stop him. What if we take back the other three?"


"Exactly, Pythor wouldn't risk having them all on him so he's probably hidden them somewhere while he goes for the fourth" Aria agreed


Cole smiled "yeah it's so simple.


"Huh, why didn't I think of that?" Kai questioned


"because you're not smart enough, especially if you think it's going to be easy" Aria said placing her hands on her hips


"My algorithms suggest taking the other three would be far more dangerous. Pythor would undoubtedly have them protected by his top generals" Zane informed them


"see, the tin can knows what I mean" Aria said


"Even if you could steal the other three, you don't even know where they are" Garmadon says


Wu sighed "He's right. For the past few weeks, there have been almost no Serpentine sightings. How are they moving around? It's like they're ghosts"


Nya smiled "Or snakes. Bridge, give me a sonar sweep of Ninjago"


The computer shows no activity.


"See, nothing. It's just like Sensei said" Kai said


"Well they're snakes, right? Snakes burrow" Aria said


Nya smiled "Exactly, bridge, now give me a sonar sweep of Ninjago but twenty feet below surface"


The computer shows them the tunnels the Serpentine took.


"All the tombs have been interconnected" Kai pointed out


"To make one massive underground fortress" Cole added


Kai points to the main base "There, that's the most protected area. The Fangblades must be held there"


"Then what are we waiting for? Nya, set the course" Wu commanded


"Already on it. We'll be there by sunup" Nya said


"alright" Aria cheered before knocking Lloyd off his feet and onto his back, the ninja laughed.


"hey I wasn't ready!" Lloyd shouted


Aria shrugged "I don't play fair"


-


The next day, the Ninja prepare for battle


"There is no room for error. The Serpentine have shown that they have great powers, and to combat them, you must turn their greatest strengths into their greatest weaknesses. Kai, how will you defeat the Hypnobrai?" Wu questions


Kai pulls down a blindfold "Their hypnotizing powers are useless if their opponent can fight without relying on his eyes"


Wu nodded "Good, Jay, the Fangpyre is fast and his bite sharp"


"But if he can't bite through your skin" Jay taps the armor on his arm "he can't turn you into one of them"


"Yes. Cole, the Constrictai are strong" Wu traps him in a net "And they will not let go"


"But instead of fighting back, one must try to loosen up" Cole frees himself "And a little soft shoes doesn't hurt"


"Zane, the venom of the Venomari can make you see things. Cloud your perception" Wu said


"Then I will use my new Falcon Vision" Zane activates said visionary ability to illustrate his point.


"Very good. I have trained you well. You are all ready" Wu said


Nya was heard on the intercom "We're arriving at the Mountain of a Million Steps"


Lloyd came running out "Wait for me"


"This is not your fight. The Green Ninja is too important for a future destiny. You shall stay with me and Aria" Wu said


"why me too?" Aria questioned annoyed


"because the Purple Ninja is also for a future destiny, we can't risk the two of you going out while still unexperienced" Wu tells them


Nya arrives with her Samurai Mech "Well they're going to have to look after themselves, because we made room for you" She points to a seat on her Mech.


Kai smiled "Well, you said you were concerned that you couldn't keep up, so Jay and Nya rejiggered the design so you could come along, what do you think?"


"I think...shotgun! Haha!" Wu said happily jumping on


Garmadon walked forward "I will stay back with Lloyd and Aria. I don't enjoy saying this but...good luck"


The team climbs down a rope.


"It's not like I signed up for this" Aria complained "I wanted to take over ninjago but no apparently I'm a good guy"


"It's not so bad" Lloyd shrugged


"yeah sure" Aria sighed "so says the green ninja"


-


Lloyd walks in the Bridge seeing Garmadon typing on the computer.


"Transferring files" the computer said


Lloyd gasps "You're stealing?" Garmadon turns around "Dad, my friends are risking their lives to save Ninjago, and you go behind their backs to gain an advantage?"


"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Ever since the Devourer bit me, evil runs through my blood" Garmadon tried to explain


"You left me for so long. Where did you go?" Lloyd asked


Garmadon sighed "Son, there are places in this world void of any good. Dark places, you know how I've always wanted those Golden Weapons, well, this place allowed me the power to possess them"


"But why didn't you take me with you?" Lloyd asked


"Every boy has a choice to grow up to be whoever they want to be. But I never had that choice. Because I was bitten, evil runs through my veins. But you still have a choice. You don't need to be like me, Lloyd" Garmadon replied "Your uncle has a plan for you, and even though it may be to stop me one day, we have to follow our own destiny. And after I help the Ninja stop Pythor, I'll need to leave again"


"Then why don't you just leave now!?" Lloyd shouts angrily


Garmadon shook his head "Lloyd—"


"No, really! Go back to whatever evil place you came from" Lloyd said angrily


Nya's voice was heard on the computer "All right, Operation Stealth was a total bust. We're gonna need reinforcements. Anyone there?"


Garmadon reaches for the computer but is stopped by Lloyd "We don't want your help, and we don't need you here. Maybe it would've been better if you hadn't come at all."


"If...if that's how you feel" Garmadon walked out the door to see Aria on the other side "you were listening"


"Do you really think Lloyd can be his own person?" Aria questioned


"Lloyd can be anyone he wants to, he has the ninja and Wu to look up to" Garmadon replied "Just like you"


"I will never be a ninja" Aria crossed her arms


"take care of him for me" Garmadon says


"I always have" Aria said before Garmadon left


Aria walked into the bridge


Lloyd presses a few buttons "I'm trying to help, Nya. Just hold on"


"I don't think they can hear you Lloyd" Aria said taking his hand off "stop touching random things your going to crash it"


Lloyd sighed "then what do we do?"


Aria smirked "my specialty"


"something that ends with us dying" Lloyd crossed his arms "no"


"You're no fun" Aria whined


 "let's go rescue them" Lloyd suggested smiling "The Green Ninja is here to save the day"


"Oh my god the green ninja, a 10 year old little boy is going to save the day, i feel so safe" Aria said sarcastically


Nya's voice was heard on the computer again "Lloyd? Aria? Lord Garmadon? Is anyone there?"


"We're here" Aria says "But Garmadon left"


"How are you guys holding on?" Lloyd asked


"We're fine, but we're a little held up at the moment. Our weapons have been taken, and we're locked in cages" Nya replied


"And Pythor's returned with the fourth Fangblade" Cole added


"Lloyd, where did your father go?" Zane asked


"I-I told him to leave. He was trying to steal secrets" Lloyd answered


Kai huffed "Oh, big surprise there. I told you about that guy, but you guys wouldn't listen-"


"Not the time" Aria interrupted


"My dad's going back to where he came from. But don't worry, we'll save you" Lloyd said


"you're not ready. Your destiny's is too great to risk" Wu argued


"destiny this destiny that, nobody controls me or my life, especially not some stupid scroll" Aria hit the sound off "let's go Lloyd"


"but they said-"


"I don't care what they said, I'm not them. We're going to save those stupid ninja" Aria commanded


"yes ma'am" Lloyd smiled, he tries to take a weapon but they fall on him "Ouch"


Aria helped him up "forget weapons, we go as we are"


"we should change clothes" Lloyd says, he goes to the cabnet and takes out their gi's "look, our ninja gi"


Aria sighs "Fine" they go to change then come back out



"I think we look good" Lloyd smiled


"...when did you start acting grown up?" Aria questioned


"I'm not" Lloyd shook his head "let's go"


-


Lloyd and Aria climb up the Mountain of a Million Steps.


"Whoosh. Ninja roll. Flying Drag—" Lloyd trips "whoa! Ninja recover! Whoosh. Ninja roll"


Aria hit him on the head "hey all mighty and powerful green ninja, ninjas are quiet"


"Aria you're so mean to me" Lloyd whined


They got to the entrance and looked in.


"alright we need a plan" Aria whispered


Lloyd took a deep breath "Come on, Lloyd. You're the Green Ninja. You can do thi-"


"Alright got it" Aria said


"What is it?" Lloyd asks hopeful


"yeet" she says as she kicked Lloyd in the back


"Ah!" Lloyd falls all the way down the stairs, making the Serpentine confused.


Lloyd stood up "Well, if we don't meet again, Pythor. Unhand the Ninja, or suffer humiliation against the Green Ninja!" Everyone laughs at him.


"Oh, yeah? You and what army?" Pythor questions laughing


"Uh, how about my army of fists?" Lloyd punches, but almost falls again. Everyone laughs.


"Oh Pythor" Aria called from the top of the stairs


Everyone looks up to see Aria next to Garmadon with the army of Skulkin.


"how about this army?" Aria smirked


"Dad!" Lloyd shouts happily


"The Skeleton army? But why would they fight beside you? Garmadon betrayed them and Samukai long ago" Pythor says


"Because everybody hate snakes!" The army laughs.


"Attack!" both sides yell and Pythor pulls a lever that makes the cage the ninjas are trapped in descend into the vat of venom.


"Hey, we're moving" Jay said


"Yeah, the wrong way!" Cole shouted


Aria fought against the snakes while Lloyd frees the Ninja and their weapons "Told you I'd save you.


"Ninja, go!" The ninja shout and they use Spinjitzu to clear a path. Garmadon soon faces Pythor in a brief battle before the snake slithers away.


Cole takes the Fangblades, but Pythor disappears.


"Where did he go?" Cole questions


"Who cares, We have the Fangblades. Let's get out of here" Cole said


As the ninja started headed to the exit Aria turned to look at the Skulkin.


"Don't worry about us. We'll keep fighting the good fight" Nuckal said


Aria smiled and followed the Ninja


"I never thought I'd be saying this, but go, Ninja, go!" Kruncha shouted after them


Lloyd helps Aria onto the bounty and the Ninja leave.


-


On the bridge, the Ninja celebrate their victory. Lloyd walks in.


"He left, didn't he?" Nya questions and Lloyd nods "Then have some Snogfruit Punch. Cole made it, and it's actually not bad"


"Tomorrow, we arrive at Torchfire Mountain to destroy these Fangblades once and for all. And it couldn't have been done without your father. I'm going to miss him" Wu said


Lloyd smiles, he looks over at Aria who's standing by the window looking out.


"Hey Aria come join us" Lloyd called out


"I'm good" Aria declined


"come on cuz" Cole pulled her over "lighten up, you're a ninja now"


"But I don't want to be" Aria argued "I don't even know how to use elemental powers"


Wu sighed "patients young one, I will be teaching you, it seems you've forgotten your lessons when you were a child"


"Of course, cause i hit my head" Aria tells him "I don't remember much about my childhood anymore"


Lloyd looked guilty "It was at Darley's, I was still new and me and Aria weren't friends yet. Aria kept playing pranks on me with the other kids, and i was so angry I pushed her off a cliff, i-it wasn't too high I just-"


"Lloyd relax, I told you it was ok" Aria patted his back "I'm fine and we became best friends after that"


"yeah but now you don't even remember who your mom and dad were" Lloyd said sadly


Cole patted Lloyd's head "Lloyd relax, it's actually for the best that Aria doesn't remember her father"


"so says the one that does know him" Aria grumbled


"Well next we will focus on you and Lloyd's training, you're powers are relatively similar so it will be good training but at some point we will have to separate your training" Wu informed them "Are you two ok with that?"


Lloyd and Aria looked at each other "yes"

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