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Chapter 7 - Season 1: Never Trust a Snake

Pythor gets a bomb of questions thrown at him. XD

Someone knows that Nalia is getting her voice back. But who? :3

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*Early morning on the Bounty*

Nalia was sitting outside on the deck, writing down a new song in her notebook, which she used to communicate with. "I should probably ask Sensei if I could get another notebook. That way, I can use one for my songs and the other for me to communicate with when hand signs don't work."

She hummed softly to one of her songs to find the right melody. But as she was doing that, smoke started coming out of her mouth again. "Oh no, not again."

Nalia let out a small sigh as more smoke came out. "Why smoke? It's almost worse than bad breath." She closed her eyes, trying to control her breathing for a few minutes until she opened them again, and the smoke had stopped coming out.

It wasn't long until she heard the others coming out, laughing about something, but she wasn't sure what.

"Hehe. Little slow today, huh? What exactly did you dream about?" Kai asked.

"I saw the Falcon again." said Zane.

"Whoa. Zane, every time you see that bird, something big happens. First, it lead you to the secret tree house." said Jay.

"Then it lead you to the Bounty." said Cole.

Nalia got up from where she was sitting when she saw Wu approaching her and the ninjas. "Looks like I'm not getting out of training today." She pulled her scarf up to cover her face a little more. If smoke comes out of her mouth again, her scarf should be able to hide it.

"All right. Stretches. First, the Swooping Crane." Wu faces away from the ninjas to demonstrate a stretch.

"This time, it showed me the Green Ninja." Zane whispered.

"The Green Ninja?"

"Really!?" Nalia looked over at him with big eyes.

Wu looked back to see the three in different poses. "That looks like the Shocked Monkey. Bad form, more focus. You should take notes from Nalia." He, again, faces away.

Having lived and been trained by Wu for a year, it had its perks, so Nalia didn't have much trouble multi-tasking between training and holding a conversation, even if she liked lazing around.

"You can't just drop a bomb like that. Spill the beans." Jay whispered.

"Yeah, what else did you see?" Kai whispered.

"I wanna know, too." Nalia kept her pose, letting out a small yawn.

"He was fighting Lord Garmadon." Zane whispered.

"That's what the prophecy said. That the Green Ninja would defeat the Dark Lord. But did you have a chance to see which one of us was him?" Kai whispered.

"Yeah." Jay whispered.

"Did you see?" Cole whispered simultaneously.

"Please tell us." Nalia now focused on listening to Zane.

"I could not tell. He shared attributes each of us possesses. Except Nalia's." Zane whispered.

"What? Does that mean I'm not the Green Ninja?" Nalia raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Now, Pinching Crab." Wu, along with the others, changes pose.

Kai whispered. "Well, tell us everything. And don't spare any details. There has to be a clue that tells us which one of us is gonna be the Green Nin—"Wu pulls on his hair. "Ow, ow, ow! Hey!"

"What was so important to ignore my teachings?" Wu asked.

"I didn't ignore them." Nalia went on to raise her hands in defense.

"Uh, nothing." said Kai.

"It was nothing, Sensei." said Jay.

"Yeah, we don't talk while you teach." said Cole.

"Everyone was paying attention." said Zane.

"Since you all appear to lack focus, you can all share in the punishment—except Nalia, since she was the only one able to focus," said Wu.

"When you train under Sensei Wu for a year, you learn quickly that if you don't follow his teachings. He will either bonk you in the head with his staff or give you a punishment." Nalia thought to herself.

"What?" said Kai.

"Punishment?" said Jay.

"It was all Zane." Cole pointed towards Zane.

"I was merely answering their questions." said Zane.

"No free time and no video games. The rest of the day can be used for training. And tomorrow, for that matter." said Wu.

"Thank the old man that I avoided this." Nalia thought with a small smile under her scarf.

"Training? For how long?" Kai asked.

"Until you can answer this simple riddle: what is the best way to defeat an enemy?" said Wu.

"Easy, with a sword." said Kai.

"Your fists." said Jay.

"Spinjitzu." said Cole.

"Tornado of Creation?" said Zane.

"Hmmm, if I wanted to defeat an enemy, I would like to avoid fighting if possible. If anything, I would try and make them my frie—" Nalia thought for a good moment on her answer until it hit her. "Sensei, I know!" She was jumping in excitement.

"Oh, do you now, Nalia?" Wu asked, looking at her. "Then how about you tell me inside." He smiled at her before turning his attention back to the ninjas.

Wu sighs. "Pace yourselves. You have a lot of training ahead of you. Make sure you sharpen your mind as well as your Spinjitzu." He walks away with Nalia.

"Ugh. What's the best way to defeat an enemy? It could be anything, ugh!" said Cole.

"Come on, guys, we're smart. We can figure this out." said Jay.

Kai punches a punching bag and sees Wu closes the door. "Yeah, but let's hear more about this dream."

"Let me just say, the Green Ninja is awesome." said Zane.

*Inside the Bounty.*

"So, Nalia, what are your answer to my riddle?" Wu asked, sitting down with two cups of tea.

Nalia smiled, taking her cup of tea and siping it, feeling the healing effect again in her throat. "I would make them my friend!" She had a big, bright smile on her face.

A smile grew on Wu's face at her answer. "That's the correct answer, Nalia." He said, drinking his tea.

Nalia giggled happily, thinking that she had guessed right. "Sensei..... I wanted to ask if I could get a second notebook?"

"Why? Have you already used up the one you have?" Wu asked.

Nalia shook her head. "I still have a lot of blank pages, but I would like to have another notebook where I can write more personal stuff."

"If you wanna write personal stuff, as you say. Why not a diary?" Wu suggested.

"A diary?" Nalia looked at him in confusion.

"Yes, a diary, it's where you can write down your thoughts, feelings and events. And no one else is allowed to read it." Wu explained, taking another sip of his tea.

"Huh, a diary might be better for me to write my songs in, and it would make it more personal, like the journal and scarf Morro gave me," Nalia thought to herself, and a smile grew on her face. "Yes, I would like to have my own diary."

"Alright, I'll have Nya help get you a diary," Wu said.

Nalia finished her tea after a few minutes and slowly got up. "Thank you for the tea, Sensei." She wore a bow before leaving the room and returning to the deck. She saw that the ninjas weren't training. "Wu isn't gonna be happy about this." She shook her head but joined them and listened to what Zane told them.

*Some time later, Zane is finished explaining his dream.*

"...with his fist on fire." said Zane.

"Whoa."

"So cool!" Nalia smiled with big, sparkling eyes.

"So I'm the Green Ninja." said Kai.

"What are you talking about? He had incredible strength to lift that cargo and save his life. It's me." said Cole.

"No, no. Did you miss the part of the story where the guy pulled out nunchucks? I have nunchucks!" said Jay.

"No, it's me. Just because the Green Ninja wasn't using my powers doesn't mean it can't be me." Nalia crossed her arms.

"I think you're all missing the point of this dream. The point is the Falcon flew on his arm and it was my dream, so naturally it's me." said Zane.

"I think we can cross Cole off the list. I could've lifted ten times—" said Jay.

"Whoa, cross me off the list? Anyone can hold nunchucks." said Cole.

Wu approaches when he realizes they're not training. "Since you are not training, you must have already found the answer to my riddle. What is the best way to defeat your enemy?"

"Uh, the best way to defeat your enemy is to...train, Sensei?" answered Kai.

"Feeble and incorrect. Maybe more training will help you focus. Remember what happened to your vehicles when you lost focus. A razor-sharp weapon is an extension of a razor-sharp mind." Wu goes back inside before the ninjas groan.

"How am I supposed to focus when we don't know who the Green Ninja is?" Jay asked.

"I don't want to be training all day. Let's work together on this riddle. We can figure it out." said Cole.

"Wait, Nalia, you gave Sensei your guess earlier inside. Do you know what the answer is?" Kai asked.

Nalia noticed the ninjas were all looking at her, waiting for her answer. "Yes, I know what the answer is."

"You've gotta tell us the answer, Nalia," said Cole.

"Please, Nalia, if you give us the answer, we will buy you lots of mangos," said Jay.

Just hearing the word mango caught Nalia's attention; she looked over at Jay with big eyes and was about to give them the answer but thought better of it for a moment. "Sensei wouldn't like you using bribes to get what you want." She walked away from the ninjas and headed to the upper deck just as she breathed out smoke again.

The ninjas groaned as they couldn't get the answer out of Nalia, so they went on to do some training.

"Anyone got a solution to Sensei's riddle?" Cole asked.

"It can't be that hard. What's the best way to defeat an enemy?" Jay asked.

"Zane, you're smart. What is it?" Kai asked.

"I do not know, but I sense that Sensei is going to keep us here if we don't work together and find an answer." said Zane.

"That bothers me, because while we're here working, that means the enemy is playing." said Cole.

Nalia leaned against the railing of the upper deck, taking in the view as she began humming a soft tune. To one of her songs that she was working on.

"W-ere did i-t c-me f-om? Wh-re c-uld this w-nd be t-k-ng us? I lo-k up to t-e s-y ho-i-g for an-w-rs, but th-re's no reply." Sang Nalia in a low, soft voice even though it was hurting her throat. But she didn't care as she was just happy to hear her voice slowly returning. Though she made sure the others didn't hear her.

Nalia turned her attention back to the ninjas that was at the lower deck, listening in to what they were saying.

"Okay, so we all agree this is the answer?" Cole asked.

"It's the only right answer." said Zane.

"Alrighty then, let's go and tell Sensei our answer right away." said Jay.

"Ninja go!" said Kai as they all raised a hand before heading inside.

"Did they figure out the answer?" Nalia wondered, so she followed them inside the Bounty.

"Oh. You must have found the answer to what is the best way to defeat an enemy." Wu asked.

"We have, Sensei. It's—On three, guys. One, two..." said Cole.

"Teamwork!"

"Okay, so maybe they didn't figure out the answer." Nalia thought, watching them the side.

"Is this what you all think?" Wu asked.

"Yeah." said Cole.

"Yes!" said Jay simultaneously.

"Absolutely." said Kai simultaneously.

"Sadly, you are all wrong." said Wu.

"It shouldn't be that hard to guess." Nalia looked at the ninjas, shaking her head.

"Come on." Cole complained, while Kai groans in annoyances.

"Aw, man." said Jay.

"I'm starting to think whoever figures out this riddle can be the Green Ninja for all I care." said Cole.

"I guessed it, does that make me the Green Ninja!" Nalia smiled, with big sparkly eyes.

"I take back what I said." Cole sighed.

*The alarms start blaring.*

"What's that?" Jay asked.

"Who cares? It's something else besides training. Break it down for me, sis." said Kai.

"Lloyd and a Serpentine have overtaken Darkley's Boarding School for Bad Boys." said Nya.

"Lloyd!" Nalia had a big smile on her face.

"That place is cesspool for the crooked and the misbehaved." said Jay.

"Well, doesn't mean they don't need our help. Step on it." said Cole.

*Zane pushes the button to fly.*

"Ninja, go!"

"Hey, what's a school?" Nalia asked.

"Oh, boy." said Kai.

"I'll explain it to you, on the way there." said Cole.

*Some time later, the ninjas arrives at Darkley's Boarding School.*

"Looks quiet down there. Should we infiltrate using stealth?" Zane suggested.

"Ah, we've done that. What about using our Golden Weapons that turn into our vehicles?" Kai suggested.

"I'm still working out the kinks on that. Anyone have any other good ideas?" said Cole, looking at everyone else.

"I don't have any." Nalia was shaking her head.

"Hmm. Well, I have one idea, but you guys gotta trust me." said Jay.

"Oh, I don't think I like the sound of this." said Kai.

"I trust you Jay." Nalia smiled at him.

*The ninjas stand on the anchor.*

"Jay, I don't know about this." said Kai.

"I trust Jay, and his idea. Whatever it is." Nalia smiled, not seeing the problem.

"I think we need to teach her what is dangerous and safe," said Cole, as they looked worried at Nalia, who was still smiling.

"Just hold on tight!" Jay signals Nya to drop the anchor.

*Everyone but Nalia screams as the anchor falls. Lloyd and Pythor dodge the descending anchor as it crashes through the roof; Nalia jumps off just a minute before the others fall to the ground floor. The ninjas cough once they reach the ground.*

"Lia!?" said Lloyd surprised.

Nalia smiled at Lloyd, waving a hand at him. Before she noticed Pythor, her eyes started sparkling in excitement. "So cool! You're an Anacondrai. I've read a lot about you and the other Serpentines!"

"Ummm, what?" Lloyd looked at her, confused about what she was saying since he didn't understand hand signs.

Pythor raised a brow at her. "Why yes dear I am, but might I ask. Where did you read about us?"

Nalia's smile grew at this, and she was happy to find a Serpentine who could understand her. "Oh, I read an old book some years ago, before the Serpentine War. Though the info in the book was limited on everything."

Now Pythor gave her a skeptical look when she mentioned the Serpentine War. "I see, but if you've read it before that. How old are you?"

Lloyd kept on being confused with what they were talking about.

"Hmm, I'm not sure." Nalia shrugged, not sure what answer to give him. "Anyway, now I have some questions!"

"Is it true you can turn invisible?"

"Does Anacondrais, really not have any weaknesses?"

"How many of your tribe is left?"

"Are you a general?"

"If you lose a fang, does a new one grow back?"

"Are your tribe really the strongest one, out of all the other tribes?"

"What does your vemon do?"

"How old, are you really?"

"What's your name?"

"Can Anacondrais swim?"

"How long does it take you to go from one place to another?"

"Is it true, that you can eat bones?"

"Would you shut up already with all of these questions!" shouted Pythor, annoyed, since he couldn't take it anymore with her questions.

Nalia was surprised when he shouted at her, and tears began forming in her eyes.

Lloyd sees Cole coming after him.

"Prepare to eat dust." Pythor pulls on a rope, making the dust fly everywhere, and Cole and Nalia cough. Jay finds them in their condition. "He's got a Serpentine with him. Watch out for booby traps!" said Cole while coming up next to Nalia, who was fighting back tears.

"Ah, that's one big snake," Jay said before noticing the look on Nalia's face. "Hey! No one makes our little sis cry!"

Lloyd running around in a circle. "They're coming. They're coming. They're coming!" Pythor barricades the door, but Jay manages to break it open.

"Shocked to see me?" Jay asked with a smirk behind his mask. "Now, who made Nalia cry?" He narrowed his eyes at Lloyd and Pythor.

"Do something!" Pythor laughs and takes the map. "Wh-what are you doing? I thought you were my friend." Lloyd asked.

"All you wanted was to make the Serpentine your slave. Well, sorry, my dear boy, I have other plans." Pythor disappears.

Lloyd tries to escape but can't. He gulps after seeing how high he is from the ground. Wu and Nya arrive on the Destiny's Bounty.

"Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, you come here right now!" Wu said in a stern tone.

"I got him." Jay throws Lloyd on his shoulder and brings him to Wu.

"Whoa! Hey, let me go!" said Lloyd.

ole came over with Nalia holding his hand, tears running down her face. But she didn't let out a sound since she was trying to hold back the smoke in her mouth, which was slowly coming out but was hidden by her scarf.

"What should we do with him? Wash his mouth out with soap for a year?" Cole asked.

"Ground him indefinitely?" Kai asked.

"Have him sit in a corner for a century?" Zane asked.

"I know exactly what we must do." said Wu.

Lloyd gulps.

*It is now nighttime. Everyone is back at the Destiny's Bounty. Master Wu reads a book to Lloyd and Nalia, who are lying on Master Wu's bed. The ninjas stand in the doorway, watching the scene with angry faces.*

"And that is why Jack the Rabbit never trusts a snake. The end." Wu finished reading.

"Oh, if my dad had read me that book, I would never have made that mistake. I'm sorry, uncle." said Lloyd.

"Oh, you do not need to apologize. I am sure that if your father were still here, it would be the first book he'd read. Good night, nephew and Nalia. Sweet dreams," said Wu, getting up.

"Ah, good night, uncle." said Lloyd.

Nalia was lying beside Lloyd, giving a slight nod while still wearing her scarf and glasses. She didn't like others seeing her scars, and she wouldn't take her glasses off until Lloyd was asleep.

After Wu left the room, Lloyd turned to look at Nalia. "I'm sorry about Pythor shouting at you, even though I'm not sure what you said that could make him so mad."

Nalia gave him a slight nod, smiling a little. "It's okay, I forgive you."

Lloyd gave her a confused look since he didn't know what she was saying.

"Right, I don't have my notebook, so I can't write the words. And he doesn't understand hand signs." Nalia thought, taking a deep breath; she looked at him with a soft smile. "I for-ive you." She whispered.

Lloyd's eyes widen, hearing her voice for the first time, though still weak. "You spoke."

Nalia nodded at his reply and grew shy as a slight blush grew.

"Has the others heard you speak before?" Lloyd asked.

Nalia was shaking her head in a way to say no.

"Then.....does that mean I'm the first to hear it?" Lloyd asked.

Nalia grew more shy at his question and couldn't get herself to look him in the eyes. "....Yes."

Lloyd's face grew big with pride, knowing he was the first to hear her voice. He let out a chuckle, happy to know this.

Nalia turned around, removed her glasses, and laid them next to the pillow before closing her eyes. She was not up for more talking and had grown too shy to look at him.

"Night, Lia," said Lloyd, closing his eyes with a smile.

"....N-g-t."

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