CHAPTER SEVEN — PINK IS THE NEW WHITE
can of worms — part one

"The pink looks good on you." — the yellow ninja

HER FATHER PUT HER COUSIN'S MISCHEVIOUS, PRANKING WAYS TO SOME GOOD USE AS IT WOULD SEEM. He set his nephew the job of spreading rumours about the other ninja to each other to see how they would react. It was actually rather smart. But apparently the only reason he was doing it was because he couldn't find their joint lesson plan. 

Lloyd posed as Cole and somehow managed to break all of Kai's video game high scores — how he managed that, she had no idea. Cole had been making a Violetberry soup that he was rather proud of, only to find a bit of spice had been added to it which Lloyd pinned on Jay.  He then messed with the training robot Jay was using and blamed Zane. And Zane... his ninja uniform wasn't exactly white anymore. More like a bright shade of pink thanks to Kai's reds. It was ingenious. 

The father and daughter could hear the ninja yelling at each other inside their room over things neither of them had even done. All because of Lloyd and the rumours he had spread. Words really do matter. An annoyed look crept onto Wu's face as he heard them squabble as part of him had hoped they would pass his little test. But they had failed.

After a quick glance to his daughter, he pushed open the door to where the four ninja were just continuing to confuse the other with accusations. The two Wu's made their way to the back of the room to the screen that her young cousin was hiding behind. He laughed maniacally at the chaos before him as his Uncle pulled back the screen to reveal him to the ninja.

They all turned to see Lloyd Garmdon standing behind them, but what they were more focused on was what was behind him. For in a pile behind the son of their enemy, was all the stuff he had used to cause the chaos that morning. They all gasped. "You did this?" They outcried as they glared down at the blonde boy.

"Boys, I get first dibs on."

Instinctively, Iris stepped in front of her cousin as a protective shield between him and the ninja. She wouldn't let anyone hurt him. "No." Sternly said Iris as she stared at the earth ninja intensely as he stopped in his tracks.

"I put him up to this for today's lesson." Quickly explained Wu before the other ninja who try and get a little payback on the mischievous boy. "I wanted to show you the destructive power of rumours and that jumping to conclusions can only lead to trouble." Sensing the ninja were no longer going to go after her young cousin, Iris stepped to side to be next to her Father. 

Then she spoke up before Wu could. "You didn't even think to find out if the accusations were true, did you?" She inquired as she cast them all a disappointed look.

"Uh, no offence, Senseis," Cole began, "but let me jump to this conclusion: today's lesson is lame." Iris sighed in exasperation.

Jay added in agreement. "Yeah. Why can't you teach us to paralyze your enemy with one finger?" Maybe because only a true master knew how to do that, and neither of them were one. "Or find out if a man is lying by the twitch of his nose?"

"But not all lessons are about fighting." Wu shot back as he too grew tired with his ninja. And it was still morning. Then he admitted. "And I misplaced our lesson book."

Then Kai advanced towards her cousin and Iris readied herself to jump in defend the boy, but she didn't need to. Instead of hurting him, Kai just removed an item from the boy's pockets and held it out for their two teachers. It was their lesson plan. Lloyd had taken it. "You mean this lesson book?"

After sighing heavily, Iris turned to her cousin, hands upon her hips, as she looked down at him in a scolding manner. She knew there would be an adjustment period for him, but taking their lesson plan was a step over the line. Lloyd tried to hide his fear as his older cousin gave him a look that a mother would. Then, he turned back to Kai and the others. "It was the perfect plan, until you had to show up and mess everything up." 

Cole closed the screen on Lloyd to cancel out his defeated rant.

Just as Iris decided she wasn't going to say anything to Cole, Nya's voice echoed through the speakers. "If you're done fooling around, I could use you guys on the bridge." Oh how Iris really liked her. It was so nice to have another girl around with all these boys, and it certainly helped that the girl was so badass. "We do still have a snake problem to attend to. Over and out."

Kai groaned quietly. "It's one thing to let the son of your nemesis live with you, but having my sister here? I mean, come on, I thought this was a ninja headquarters." At the fire ninja's words, Iris Wu gave him the same disapproving look she had given Lloyd. Nya was awesome, it was just he didn't seem to see that.

"You do know I can hear you. Over and out."

Iris snorted. 

Then, after Nya disconnected from the speaker, they all headed up to the bridge were she was waiting. Zane was still in his pyjamas as Lloyd had stained his previously white suit pink with Kai's reds. So the ninja wasn't exactly eager to put it on. But if he could pull off that frilly pink apron, she was sure a pink suit would look just fine. Then again, there was a difference between the two.

As they reached Nya, who was staring up at the screen, she then started. "Last we heard of Pythor, he stole the Map of Dens from Lloyd and is now on his way to open the last two Serpentine tombs."

Lloyd just shook his head with shame. "Ugh. Don't remind me."

"Pythor's our most dangerous threat. If he finds those tombs before we do, with his intellect and all four tribes unleashed, there's no telling what he'll do."

"But those tombs could be anywhere." Jay pointed out. "Without the map of Dens, we might as well just throw darts at a map."

"Good idea." At her voice, they all turned to Nya who somehow already had multiple darts ready to throw in her hand. She was definitely ahead of their thinking. "Why don't we?"

With a flick of her wrist, three darts sailed straight onto the map of Ninjago, hitting their mark with incredible accuracy. The darts marked out where the already open Serpentine tombs were located, Iris noticed, and they were all curious to see what Nya would do next. Kai grumbled at his sister, something about her being a show off, but Iris paid them no mind. She was more focused on the map in front of them.

"After many hours of ruminating on why the tombs were placed in these three precise locations," Iris appreciated her hard work, but she needed to take Nya out some place some time. A girl's day out or something. A smirk crossed the girl's lips as she spotted Jay staring at the Smith girl in awe, "I discovered a secret pattern."

Stepping back, Nya switched on the torch in her hand and shone it upon the screen. A large snake was projected onto the map, crossing over the darts. That was when Iris spotted the pattern. 

Where two parts of the snake seemed to meet as it curled up, that was where a Serpentine tomb was.

"If you notice, all three are in line with the Ninjago symbol for serpent." Nya announced, confirming Iris' guess. 

As soon as Jay understood what she was saying, the blue ninja stepped forward to point at the map. "So the last two tombs must be here," he pointed to one end of the map and then the other, "and here." Turning to Nya, the lightning ninja smiled. "Ah, you are so smart."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Nya smirked.

"Never." Iris shook her head with a smile.

As the two girls grinned at each other, Sensei Wu seized the opportunity to take a step forwards. "There's little time. Kai and Jay, you head to the Venomari tomb. Cole and Zane, you take the Constrictai tomb." He ordered before reaching into his white robe and pulling out the last sacred flute. "And take this, you might need it if you run into Pythor." Up against an Anacondrai they were going to need all the help they could get. "Good luck, ninja."

"What are me and Iris gonna do?"

At her words, Iris froze. It seemed slipping away to help the ninja this time wasn't going to be as easy as last time. 

Lloyd then spoke up. "Yeah. What are we gonna do?"

After exchanging a silent conversation with his daughter — one that agreed that she would not be joining the ninja this time around — Wu answered. "Nya, Iris, I need you both here to make sure Lloyd doesn't get into any more trouble."

A tired sigh passed Nya's lips as she relented to her Sensei's words. Iris knew that Nya was a fighter and wanted to help the ninja, just as Iris was doing in her yellow gi, but it seemed her Father had other plans. But Nya was strong-willed and determined, so she wouldn't give it all up so easy. And that just made Iris like her more.

The ninja disappeared into the ship to find their weapons to take on the Serpentine with; even if Zane's suit was currently a bright shade of pink. Most of Iris wanted to be at their sides, but the yellow ninja wasn't the only role she had to play. She was also Iris Wu and she couldn't forget that. Turning to her Father, the master of space ran a hand over her jet black hair as she walked over to stand at his side before the map of Ninjago.

Pythor was out there somewhere. And so were the already released Serpentine. They just had to find them before it was too late.

BOTH SERPENTINE TOMBS HAD BEEN OPENED WHICH MEANT THAT, AS OF TODAY, ALL THE SERPENTINE WERE FREE. The Constrictai trapped in the mountain of a million steps were no longer bound and so were the Venomari in the toxic bogs which was where they had both gathered. Jay and Kai were caught in a trap (which wasn't helped by the fact Kai was then sprayed with their hallucinogenic venom) but fortunately, Cole and Zane realised what was going to happen and raced to the bogs as fast as they could to save their friends. Then they were saved by some mysterious samurai. How cool.

First Iris, the mysterious yellow ninja, and now a Samurai. Things were really starting to change in Ninjago.

After their battle, the ninja changed from their suits and into their comfortable pyjamas. Her Father, Lloyd, Nya and herself listened intently as the ninja recalled their latest adventure over dinner. At least it wasn't Cole's night to cook otherwise she was sure no one would be up to talking.  

Whilst the ninja were out, Iris had stayed behind to help and watch over her cousin. She was teaching him ways to calm his mind and extinguish negative energy and emotions. Of course, the boy was impatient and wanted to learn to fight. But Iris had to remind him that all good things took time. And even though he would deny it, Lloyd did find Iris' exercises rather relaxing. 

She wasn't sure what Nya was doing as this was all happening. But Iris realised that she was the last person who could judge Nya about randomly disappearing. Besides, she trusted the girl and everyone was entitled to their secrets. And her Father, during this time, he was drinking tea much to everyone's unsurprise. 

"So then, just when we were gonna bite it," now those were some unfortunate choice of words, "this huge mechanical robot—"

"Samurai." Injected Zane, correcting his friend. "It was samurai." 

Samurai, huh? How interesting. Lloyd frowned in confusion before turning to the man of ice. "A sama—what?" He queried. 

Unlike her young cousin, Iris knew what a samurai was and she was curious to see what this powerful warrior would do in Ninjago. First ninja and now a Samurai so there definitely wasn't going to be shortage of people willing to fight for their home. This was a good thing for them and a bad thing for the scaly Serpentine and their destructive plans for Ninjago. 

"Samurai." Mused Wu. "Highest level of warrior class. They would protect nobility and serve with honour on the battlefield." Explained the Sensei and Iris nodded along with his words. She couldn't have put it better herself.

Then Kai spoke up with some strange version of what he saw, which wasn't that surprising considering the Venomari venom hadn't yet worn off. "He was a hundred feet high, with weapons coming out every part of him." Everyone just sighed at Kai's tale. "Look at Sensei's beard." He whispered to Cole, but wasn't that quiet as everyone could hear. "It's moving like snakes." 

Hopefully Kai won't remember a thing, Iris thought as a hint of an amused smile graced her lips. 

"When is this Venomari spit supposed to wear off?" Inquired Nya to the whole team. Iris had no idea, to be completely honest, she had never seen a victim first hand before. Her Father would know though. "It's starting to get annoying."

Kai slapped a piece of food against his face.

Iris cringed as she watched the tasty morsel slide off his cheek and splat onto the floor below. Such good food wasted. Was Kai aiming for his mouth? But then why was it closed? Did he think it was something else? Who knew with the Venomari venom, it was powerful stuff. 

Steering the conversation back on track, Cole spoke up. "Don't let this mysterious Samurai cloud what's really important: all the Serpentine are out, and if Pythor can unite them the legend states some Great Devourer is gonna consume the land and—"

Shock coursed through Iris and her eyes bulged at the news. THE Great Devourer? Oh dear. She knew the stories her Father would tell her as warnings. They couldn't let this happen.

It seemed the ninja had no idea what Cole was saying, but Iris and her Father did. They exchanged a worried glance and Iris opened her mouth to say something, but Wu shook his head. He did not want to worry the ninja, especially when he had faith they would stop the tribes from reuniting. "Whatever it is. it's a can of worms I don't wanna see open."

A groan came from the other side of the table and they all turned to see Lloyd, head in his hands as guilt and regret consumed him. "It's all my fault." He admitted and all Iris could do was shake her head. He may have been the one to open the tombs, but that wasn't the true him. And besides, they all made mistakes. Granted, not usually ones of such magnitude, but he was trying to make amends. "If I hadn't opened the first hatch, none of this would have happened."

"Monty," Iris piped up and then gave her cousin a comforting glance, "the Serpentine would have been freed from their prisons one day or another. At least now there's us here to stop it." That seemed to perk the sad boy up a bit making the Wu girl smile.

Nodding in agreement, Wu said. "Iris is right, Lloyd. And besides, we cannot change the past, but we can affect the future." Now that was nostalgic. She had heard that saying, in many forms, basically for as long as she had lived. It was always nice to hear it. "At least we have the Sacred Flute in our possession, so—"

"Yeah, ahem. About that." Iris's eyes widened. She internally begged that the next words don't confirm her fears.

But they did anyway. "Pythor sort of stole it." Revealed Zane. 

This was very bad, very bad indeed. Panic flared in Iris's eyes at the news and fear settled into her bones. That flute wasn't just an important sentimental and historical artefact but it was also one of the only weapons they had against the snakes.

"The last sacred flute, gone?" Then Wu sighed heavily as the news sunk in. "You four are Ninjago's last hope." Well, maybe not just those four. Because the yellow ninja and the new Samurai, as it would seem, were also champions of Ninjago and were ready to fight for their home.

The alarms blared throughout the Bounty. There was trouble in Ninjago.

They sprinted to the bridge as fast as they could, leaving their delicious meal behind to grow cold. As soon as they entered, the screens showed them where the Serpentine were in Ninjago city of all places. Definitely not good. It seemed that the only good news was that the Venomari venom was wearing off so Kai was his normal, fiery self again. But she saw him slightly miss the door on his way in, so she would have to say that it wasn't completely gone just yet.

"How many are there?" Questioned Jay as he stared up at the screen.

"Looks like all of them."

As the team looked in alarm at the number of Serpentine dots that covered the screen, Zane deduced. "Pythor must be trying to unite them."

"We can't let that happen!" Exclaimed Iris, panic once again filling her eyes. 

Turning to his ninja, Wu instructed. "Go. We mustn't let the five tribes unite." He was scared of what would happen if they did. And he had every right to be. 

At his words, the four ninja headed straight for their uniforms and left Iris with Nya, Wu and Lloyd. She knew she had to join them and that they were going to need her help. Her heart raced inside her chest as she waited for the right time to leave the others behind and head out after the ninja. 

After a minute, the tense air had settled and the Wu girl cast a look to her Father. He nodded in understanding and then she slipped away and out of sight. The ninja were heading down to the streets below and as soon as she had changed, Iris stared down at the city through her window. And once she had pictured it in her mind, the girl vanished in a puff of yellow, prepared to help the ninja stop the Serpentine.

Because the Great Devourer mustn't be released, no matter what.

NINJAGO CITY WAS ONE OF IRIS'S FAVOURITE PLACES, SO IT WAS A SHAME SHE HAD TO VISIT IT IN THOSE CIRUMSTANCES. She had managed to teleport herself into an alley adjoining the street the ninja had landed in — with the help of their elemental vehicles. Then she ran her hands across her tight old suit, straightening it out for a more comfortable fit. If she was going to fight, she was going to fight comfortably. 

Once the ninja had made their vehicles return to the golden metal in which they came, the yellow-clad warrior emerged from the shadows. "I heard there was a snake party in need of crashing." 

"Yellow!" The ninja cried happily as they noticed the arrival of their friend.

Zane glanced down at his attire and stared away shyly at the state of it. Even though there was a mask covering her face and she disguised her voice, Iris felt the need to smile and reassure him. "The pink looks good on you." 

"Thank you." He said sincerely, smiling beneath his mask too.

Stepping towards the main street, Jay turned to them. "Come on, guys. As Yellow said, we have a snake party to crash." He egged then on as they headed out into the open. 

Wow, Ninjago city truly was beautiful at night.

Everyone — apart from Iris — gasped in awe as they made their way into the street. Skyscrapers stood tall amongst the older buildings, the two generations perfectly integrated and balanced throughout the city. It was peaceful and felt friendly. And it was definitely that, Iris knew from experience. 

"Ninjago City." Gasped Kai as all their eyes took in the sight before them. "Amazing. Always heard stories of this place. Biggest city in all of Ninjago."

"I've always wanted to come here."

Cole added. "Yeah, I've dreamed of one day being on a billboard here." Really? Iris rose her eyebrow up at that. Being on a billboard was something she never even thought about, and honestly, she didn't want to. It wasn't her thing.

"You too?" Jay queried.

"Yeah, I did too."

Was every ninja's dream to be on a billboard? It kind of seemed counterproductive in Iris's opinion. Both the yellow and pink ninja exchanged a confused look as it seemed they were the only ones who didn't share that dream. 

Then Zane spoke up, focusing them back on the task at hand. "Uh, but may I remind you, where are the snakes?" He was right. The snakes should have been right where they were standing, but there was nothing. Not even a scale in sight. Her eyes suddenly scanned her surroundings in search of where the Serpentine had slithered off to. "We should be standing in the middle of a massive Serpentine gathering."

As the last words left the pink ninja's mouth, Iris's eyes caught an open manhole cover on the other side of the street. She turned to the ninja and pointed over to the opening. "We can't see them because they're underground."

"Yes." Zane nodded as he realised the ninja beside him was right, not that he had much doubt. "You're right, Yellow. They're beneath us."

Together the ninja team cautiously made their way open to the partially covered hole in the ground. They stood around the manhole as the yellow ninja moved over the slide the metal top completely off. Cole groaned at the tunnel opening.

"I hate snakes."

Then, after the five ninja exchanged a nod, they jumped down into the tunnel beneath them. The Serpentine were close and Iris knew they had to stop this meeting from getting anywhere. But she also had to help the ninja in every way that she could, whilst keeping her secret.

Tonight wasn't going to be easy.

Chapter 7!!! Here we go!!! 

It's time for the epic era that was the Pink!Zane. Honestly kind of wished they brought back this suit later on, it would have been great. Look at Iris reassuring Zane about his pink suit, aww. These two >>>

Also, Iris does know about the Great Devourer of course. She knows what it did to her Uncle so she knows she must do all she can to try and stop it.

I also love that she's teaching Lloyd to control his emotions and to get rid of negative energy. Her doing the Mum pose is so on point for Iris. She is the Mum of this team and her and her Father and Nya have the only brain cells. Talking about Nya, Samurai X and Yellow ninja team ups are coming! So badass! Love these badass girls. They're so gonna support each other.

Thank you for reading!!!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326