She was soaring above the sky, flying in a metal machine, something far better than a dragon. She was much faster than them, faster than she could have ever imagined. Her brother was in her steel clutches, unconscious. Her teammates were following her, cheering her on.

No. Not following her. Chasing her. Screaming for her to come back.

She had turned on them.

"Nya?"

Jay's gentle voice echoed throughout her dream. She stirred before sitting up quickly, groaning at the sudden moment that cause her head to spin. "Ugh... Jay?" She fluttered her eyes open, realizing she was back at the monastery in her room. The lighting ninja was perched on the side of her bed, leaning in to stroke her cheek. "Jay..." She whispered, finally grasping onto what happened. "We didn't catch them."

Jay moved in and held her tightly, remaining silent. When she shook with anxiety, he rubbed her back, whispering words of comfort. "We'll get them next time. I promise."

"Cole. Is he... okay?" Nya stomach twisted in knots, remembering what the snakes had compelled him to do. She held onto Jay tighter, realizing again how close she was to death.

Jay nodded. "If Sensei didn't fly in at that moment..." He shuddered. "We have him to thank. He used this magic flute to return Cole to normal. We had to return to the monastery shortly after, just to make sure you were okay." He pulled away slowly. "Reminds me, I should tell the others now."

"Just tell them I'm okay, Jay." Nya mumbled. "I need to be alone for a while. Everything's still processing."

"Of course." Jay smiled at her, holding her shoulders and planting a kiss on her forehead. "Just call us up whenever you're ready. Zane might need to run an analysis before you train."

Nya nodded, thanking him for staying with her. Once he left, she got out of bed, wobbling awkwardly on her legs. Water. She stumbled to the bathroom, running the tap and splashing the water on her face before taking a long drink. Gasping, she winced at the aching all over her body, her muscles feeling torn and her bones weak. Fumbling through the medicine cabinet above the sink, she took a couple of painkillers and sank to the bathroom floor.

She had failed. Nya felt her eyes and nose grow hot as fat tears spilled down her cheeks. Failed as a leader and failed as a ninja. I'm not even a ninja. She thought, her heart aching. I don't have a dragon and I don't have a golden weapon. I can't even control water.

Bringing her knees to her nose, she curled up in a ball and quietly sobbed. I'm tired of crying over my failures, but it isn't like anything will ever change. I don't seem to learn anything from my mistakes, like Sensei keeps telling me. Perhaps she was simply not cut out to be a ninja; Kai should have been the one that Sensei found. Nya would have been better off on her own, fighting for the same ideals, sure, but not alongside the ninja.

It was a boy's club, and that was that.

A message from her phone interrupted her brooding. She struggled to get up before stumbling back onto her bed, grabbing her phone. Unknown number. Weird. Unlocking her phone, she opened the text, only for the screen to become inverted.

>Nya. I understand you are an inventor?

Nya swallowed, unsure if she should answer it, but her curiosity got the best of her. Perhaps it's a link to the Serpentine. She speculated.

>I've dabbled. Who is this?

>I must assure you that I am on your side. Your inventions will be the key to our victory over the Serpentine. With your assistance, we will be able to take down the enemy swiftly and effectively.

Nya ran her fingers through her hair, growing nervous.

>I'm interested, but I still don't trust you. Who are you?

>Who am I? That is the question, as well as the purpose of what will soon be our existence. You will be working alongside me anonymously, for your own safety. You have not failed the ninja, Nya. The ninja have failed you.

>How did you know any of this? Or when to arrive?

>I must regret, I have been interested in you for some time. Your drive as a leader and a warrior has inspired me to create this organization. I supposed I sent in a drone at the right place and time.

Right after she read this, a small beeping sound came from the window. A little chrome spider waved hello with a leg.

>... Perhaps it is more of a spider than a drone. Regardless, I apologize for the invasion of privacy. I still firmly believe that you will be able to bring about a change in this world, in your own way.

Nya took a shaky breath, typing with quivering hands. She waited a moment before hitting send.

>Where do I sign up?

-
"You dare challenge my command?!"

Kai watched with a confident smirk as Skales tightened his grip on the staff. The snakes muttered amongst themselves, astonished that the warrior was finally taking a stand. Everything was slowly coming into play.

"Slither pit. Slither pit." Quiet murmurs slowly turned into thundering demands. "Slither pit! Slither pit!"

"I guess we will have to fight for it." Skales sneered, stroking the staff with his claws.

Kai relaxed on a sheet of ice, wincing at the cold. He noticed Lloyd was backing away from the fight, unsure of where to go. "Hey, kid! Over here." He patted the spot next to him.

Lloyd hopped onto the ice block, fumbling with his sweater. "What if the general loses? Who'd listen to us after that?"

"It's not about following us, Lloyd." Kai wrapped an arm around the shivering boy, using a small amount of his elemental power to heat him. "We must prove that we are inferior to the snakes so they can see us as equals. Allies."

"But how can we be equal if they think we're worse?" Lloyd scrunched his brows together, shuddering at the brutal fight.

"Your father taught me something a long time ago; the best way to defeat an enemy is to become their friend." Kai watched the fight carefully, observing Skales' fighting style. "Humility is a part of that. If we show off how wonderful we are, the snakes will surely turn on us."

"But what if they see us as weak? Or simple?" Lloyd gasped as Skales sliced Slithraa's arm, turning into Kai's chest and shaking his head.

Kai held Lloyd closer, reminded of the nights he had to comfort Nya when they were younger. He closed his eyes, taking in a slow breath. "You're right. That's why I'm taking extra caution in choosing my allies. Skales seems like a good asset to my vision, but I fear his lust for power will get in the way. He won't be a long-term friend."

"So he... should win?" The little boy peeked over Kai's arm, watching the fight again. The arena was now tilted, posing more of a challenge on the slippery ice.

"Skales is a much more competent snake than Slithraa. He will be able to lead the army into greater glory than the former general ever would have. We just need to be wary of his intentions." He paused, gazing at the battle. Skales had performed a series of movement with his body and high kicks, knocking the general to the ground. "You can never trust a snake."

The audience gasped as Slithraa struggled to get up before collapsing to the floor with a heavy grunt. He was defeated.

Skales pounded the staff onto the ice floor, a golden glow forming around his body. He grunted in pain as his body was transformed into the body of a general, his legs joining into one long tail. Slithraa experienced double the pain, his tail tearing in half and his bones rearranging until he was left with two feeble legs.

Skales slithered towards Kai and Lloyd, looking them up and down. "I owe you my gratitude, but not my allegiance. Still, I think you two will be the foundation of the new age of serpentine rule." He touched their shoulders with the staff. "I will allow you to stay with our tribe and fight alongside us, but you will not command my army. You may also leave any time you wish, as I do not control you. Is that understood?"

The two nodded silently.

Skales hissed in reply, baring his fangs in a smile. "Good. Where do we begin, my friend?"
-
Nya pulled out the chest from under her bed and unlocked it, taking out a small contraption. She hit a button on the center, letting it expand into a full-functioning jetpack.

>That is extraordinary. How long did it take you to make that?

>A week. It's still a prototype, I haven't even tested it. Are you sure I should go right now?

>This will be a quick meeting. I will teach you how to properly lead a double-life should you say yes. Attach the spider to the jetpack and it will give you the full coordinates to our meeting location.

Nya swallowed, following their directions. The spider beeped at her, waving hello. "You're adorable." She giggled, patting its head with a fingertip. Clipping on the jetpack, she sat outside of the window and inhaled shakily, sending her final texts before takeoff

>What if I don't make it? I've never tested this thing!

>I have full faith in you, Nya. Trust yourself. I will see you soon.

Nya swallowed, tucking her phone into her bag. "Okay. I'm doing this." She closed her eyes, jumping from the monastery window and to the rocky mountains below. Switching on the jets, she exhaled in relief, finding that she was not only gliding through the air safely, but flying!

I did it. She smiled, following the spider's directions and realizing she wasn't far from the location at all. Landing onto the desert floor, she made her way to a small cave, nearly blocked by a boulder etched with the Ninjago symbol for "Samurai".

Anxious to see who was on the other side, she slipped into the cave and found herself immersed in the darkness.

"I'm glad you came." A disguised voice greeted her, disembodied in the shadow. "I am the Samurai. Welcome to your first day."