CHAPTER TWELVE — ELECTRIC FEELINGS
once bitten, twice shy — part one

"He's trying to find some light where darkness likes to fester." — iris wu

FINALLY, IRIS WAS FULLY HEALED AND BACK TO HER USUAL SELF. The healing tea had worked wonders especially after what happened when they followed Zane's falcon. The new Nindroid had been very caring and gentle after he had defeated the Treehorn Queen and they started their trek back to the Bounty. He didn't want Iris to get hurt even more. 

The fact that one of her ninja had unlocked their true potential was a good sign. Because maybe, just maybe, they stood a decent chance against Pythor and the infamous Great Devourer. Now the others just had to find theirs. But looking into your heart and realising what was tethering you down, it wasn't easy. So, in the meantime, they began their quest to find the four silver Fangblades before Pythor.

Because if that Anacondrai meanie found them, he could unleash hell itself.

They all sat in the bridge and surrounded a table covered in a white cloth. Iris had no idea what was going on, but she knew Nya enough to knew she had a reason. And when the Samurai whipped the fabric away, it revealed the old skeleton of a two headed Fangpyre. You could tell by the large and sharp fangs.

"Some villagers unearthed the remains of this Fangpyre a few miles away." She informed them as the boys were drawing on scraps of paper. They were meant to be doing maths, but the ninja had other ideas. Apart from Jay, it seemed, as the ninja was just staring at the fire ninja's sister dreamily. Had he done his hair? Woah. Iris, on the other hand, was sat beside Zane and stroked the head and back of his robotic falcon friend. "It predates the Golden Age."

With a hum, Iris added. "That's at least a few hundred years old then. Father used to tell me stories, he remembers it well." They all looked at the person in charge blankly. Did they not know how old her Father really was? "What?"

Nya just shook her head and then continued. "Although the venom in the fangs of the Fangpyre genetically mutate human cells into reptilian, I've learned there could be a way to stop the effects without having to create an anti-venom." Now that was amazing. "If one is able to wildly raise their heart rate, hypothetically it could reverse the venom's effects."

"That's genius." 

Iris gawped at the girl in amazement. Nya truly was a genius when it came to these things. The yellow ninja thought about her theory and she could see it in her mind, it would almost certainly work. She just couldn't believe no one had thought of it sooner. 

"Thank you." She smiled shyly at Iris and then continued, a redness blossoming in her cheek. "Resulting in...diminished, uh." Was she okay? Iris stopped stroking the falcon to look at her friend with concern. "Excuse me, is someone wearing perfume? I'm severely allergic to perfume."

Cole turned to Iris somewhat expectantly causing the girl to shoot him a glare. "It's not me."

But before anything else could be said, they heard Jay whisper to Kai. "Heh. You told me it was men's cologne." Iris shot her hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles. Jay actually fell for that. First the hair and now the perfume he thought was cologne. He was trying to impress Nya. A smirk formed across Iris's lips. 

"Eh, I get them mixed up."

Laughter filled the room at Kai's words. Even Iris was chuckling to herself. Zane high-fived Cole to applaud his decision. Then the white ninja flicked open a hatch in his arm — when he discovered he had that, Iris didn't know — and turned his humour switch off. 

The boys closed up their papers and got to their feet. "Looks like class is over. Time to start stomping some Serpentine before they find any Fangblades." Cole announced as they headed out of the room. 

Iris glanced down at the falcon and offered out her open arm. He glanced down at it, then back up at her, before jumping on and settling gently upon her uniform. A smile tugged at her lips and then she started to follow the ninja out onto the deck. 

"Sounds like a plan." Agreed Kai excitedly.

Zane grinned. "I'm excited to join."

"Looks like I don't have to plan any lessons for today, then." Chuckled Iris gratefully as she looked at the three ninja. Jay had stayed behind to talk to Nya, Iris would guess. He seemed to really like her. 

The other boys just turned and smile happily at their new leader who stood beside them, falcon perched on her arm. Just the sight of his dear mechanical friend taking to Iris the way he had, just made Zane smile brighter. 

It seemed they both liked Iris Wu.

NYA HAD CALLED HER INTO HER ROOM LATER THAT DAY, ALL STRESSED AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE DATE JAY HAD ASKED HER ON. Of course, being the only other girl aboard the ship, Iris tried to help the best she could. But her dating experience wasn't what you would call varied. Still, she tried the best that she could.

A kind, calming smile was present on Iris's lips as she watched Nya sigh and shake her head. "It'll be okay, Nya. Jay adores you. No matter what you wear he'll think you're gorgeous." She reassured her. "Which is true because you are absolutely stunning." A blush crept onto the girl's cheeks. 

"I know." She sighed before hanging her head. "I just don't want to upset him if this doesn't go the way he wants to." In that moment she was talking about herself and what would happen to Jay if Nya realised she didn't care about him in the way Jay wanted her to. Of course she cared about the blue ninja, but she was currently trying to figure out whether those feelings remained in the friendzone or not.

Making her way over to the girl, she placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "Just don't worry about that yet and focus on having a good time." Her eyes glanced to the Samurai helmet that laid on the floor by the door. "No Samurai, okay? Whatever it is, I'll take care of it."

"But—"

Iris shook her head. "No buts." She insisted and Nya sighed reluctantly. Whether the girl was going to obey her wishes was another matter, but at least she tried. "Now, try this one." Grabbing one of Nya's nicer outfits, she handed it over to the girl. They really had to have a girls day out at some point. Shopping and then kicking snake butt sounded very appealing to Iris.

The girl went behind her screen to change and as she did so, there was a clear solid knock on the door. "Nya, are you there?" It was Jay.

Slamming her hand against the door, Iris prevented the lightning ninja from entering. "Don't come in, Jay! She's getting ready."

At the sound of the commotion, Nya popped her head around the side of the screen to find Iris keeping her date at bay. She smiled in appreciation at her friend who returned it. "Iris, hey. Can I speak to Nya?"

"She can hear you, Jay." Iris told him as Nya was finishing getting ready behind the screen. "Just say what you were going to."

"Well, um... I wanna talk to you about our date." Called out Jay to Nya through the closed door. He sounded nervous but he was so excited and confident before. What had changed? Scanning the room, Iris's eyes widened at the sight before her and she quickly dashed from the door to round up all of Nya's Samurai gear and tossed it back into the wardrobe where she normally hid it. If Jay had seen that... It was best not to think about it. "I'm hearing some really bad reviews for the restaurant and I just..."

All ready and dressed for her date, Nya emerged from behind the screen. Iris's jaw dropped at the sight of her because she was beautiful — not that she normally wasn't. Yet before a compliment could slip her lips, the bracelet around Nya's lips started to beep and flash. Then a map was projected before the two girls who stared at in concern. This must have been what happened to get Jay all nervous. Because the ninja were needed.

"Serpentine spotted at Mega Monster Amusement Park?"

Iris gave the girl a stern look. "Nya, we agreed. No Samurai today. This is about you having a good time."

Sadness clear in his voice, Jay then said. "I think we should cancel." Nya said nothing and just headed for the door. 

She pulled it open to reveal one fancy looking Jay with a large scarf wrapped around his neck. He actually looked okay. From behind Nya, Iris sent Jay a teasing smirk over the girl's shoulder at the attire. My had he gone all out. But that just showed how much he cared. The scarf was a bit odd though. "Oh." Sighed Nya, disappointed. "You're cancelling?"

"No, no," He quickly insisted and Iris watched as the girl perked up again, "I just wanted to know if you would rather go to the Mega Monster Amusement Park instead?" He wanted to what? Iris just stared at the boy in utter disbelief.

Jay wanted to go on a date and be a ninja at the same time. That wasn't fair on Nya, it wasn't fair in general. Iris just shook her head in disapproval. Sure, she hadn't been on many dates in her time (but she had been on a few during her two years away) but even she knew this wasn't a good move.

"Really? That would be perfect!"

Not Nya too. Iris shot her the same look she had given Jay and sensing this, Nya refused to meet her gaze. She too wanted to be a Samurai and go on a date at the exact same time. It was supposed to be about Nya and Jay having fun, but now it was just an excuse for them both to go to a place where Serpentine had gathered.

Nya raised an eyebrow at her date's attire. "Aren't you overdressed?"

Exasperatedly, Iris sighed and then proclaimed. "I'm going to go. You two have fun." She told them as she forced a smile upon her face.

Iris knew it, she could feel it in her gut. This date wasn't going to turn out as either of them were hoping.

A LOT WAS HAPPENING AT THE CURRENT MOMENT: JAY WAS ON A DATE WITH NYA — BOTH ON EDGE AND READY FOR BATTLE UNBEKNOWNST TO THE OTHER —, THE SERPENTINE WAS SEARCHING FOR THE FIRST FANGBLADE WITHIN THE PARK AND IRIS HAD JUST ARRIVED WITH THE OTHER FOUR NINJA. She just knew it was going to be one hell of an afternoon and that they couldn't Pythor leave with the blade in his possession. With it, he was one step closer to releasing the most evil snake Ninjago had ever seen.

When they arrived at Mega Monster Amusement Park, it was surprisingly empty, which wasn't like this place at all. The ninja all looked around to try and find where the people had gone off to, but nothing. Perhaps it was just a slow day. "Where is everybody?"

Screaming filled the air.

"That's where they are." Sighed Iris as her and the other ninja turned around to witness crowds of people fleeing the scary ride. But thing was, despite its intention, the ride was the most unscariest thing ever. So they couldn't understand what had frightened them.

Cole spoke up, "Wait a minute. That ride was never scary."

That was when it hit her. "Venomari." Both her and Zane breathed out. They then turned to each other, eyebrows raised, as they both had realised and spoken at the same time. The Venomari's hallucinogenic venom was behind it.

"Should we get Jay?" 

Fiercely, Iris glared at the fire ninja. "Don't you dare." Her heated stare made him cower slightly and back away. Zane's jaw dropped in awe and Iris just smirked proudly. After everything Jay and Nya had done for Ninjago, they deserved a break.

"Lets not bother the two love birds." Agreed Cole, more gentler than Iris had. "I think we can handle this."

Iris and the others then ran into the ride on 'official ninja business' in search of Pythor and the first Fangblade. The attractions within the ride were childish and unfrightening so the ride didn't make much sense to her. But she had never been one for amusement parks. 

Determination fuelled her as they followed the track because she knew they were getting closer. Maybe a bit of anger crept onto her face, after all, she owed Pythor at least a good punch after everything that happened in the previously lost city of Ouroboros. Speaking of that purple menace, they could hear his voice from around the bend. Loud and annoying. 

Iris reached back and withdrew her non-golden katana whilst the boys took out their golden weapons and readied themselves. They would have to act quickly if they were going to get the Fangblade before the Serpentine, of if they needed to, from the Serpentine. 

"Ha-Ha-ha!" Chuckled the snake diabolically. "The first Fangblade is ours!"

Not if they had anything to say about it.

The ninja stepped out from the shadows, weapons raised and ready. Fire licked the edges of Kai's sword as he brandished it before the snakes. "Not so fast!"

Cole tore his sight from the snakes to look at his comrade in disbelief. "Really? That's the best you got?" He sighed.

Shrugging, Kai answered. "I couldn't think of anything on the fly." And Iris just rolled her eyes impatiently at the two. They were standing before a rather large gathering of Serpentine whose butts needed to be kicked, after all. 

"How about 'Time to burn' or 'Jump on this fire ride'?"

To be fair to Cole, those were actually pretty good. Kai just shook his head. "Well, next time, you lead." 

"Next time I will."

Iris huffed as he tightened her grip on katana. "This isn't the time for this, boys." She spoke up before they could continue arguing. A annoyed look was shared between the earth and fire ninja before they reluctantly agreed. "Now, shall we attend to the snakes?"

No more needed to be said as the four ninja leapt into action. Zane threw out his shurkiens towards the snakes as Iris swung her katana. Her Father had given her this katana long ago and she was so lucky that it had not been in the monastery when it burnt down. It was one of her most treasured gifts. 

The battle consumed them as they continued their assault against the advancing Serpentine. It was like a deadly dance they knew the moves to, so elegant yet lethal. Iris dropped one hand from her katana to summon cosmic energy into her palm. Once it had formed, she tossed it towards a group of snakes who were knocked backwards by the blast. The boys caught a glimpse of her powers and stared in awe at them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Iris spotted the ride slowly making its way long the track, heading right their way. Hopefully the snakes and Pythor would be too worried about the four ninja to try and hurt the innocent people. They had to stop the Serpentine and retrieve the Fangblade that Pythor now had in his grasp.

Very not good.

"Watch and learn, my friends." Said Zane as he stepped forwards, holding out a shuriken in each outstretched hand. Blue light glowed in his eyes and his form became more like ice than metal. Just like when he had discovered his true potential.

Pythor and Skales slithered back fearfully as they watched the power build around the ice ninja. Iris didn't know what to do and just sheathed her katana as she watched her student and friend prepare to unleash his new abilties on the snakes. 

But... he ended up uncasing them in ice instead.

"Oops."

Cold trapped the ninja in a solid prison in which they couldn't escape. Their limbs were trapped and their vision was blurred. It was as if they were paralysed, but in mid air. Iris did not blame Zane, if anything she blamed herself. She should have not let him use that power that he hadn't yet learned to control properly. Stupid move on her part. And their current, imprisoned, state just made the snakes laugh at them.

Their amusement wasn't amusing to the ninja. Especially when Pythor used the Fangblade, they were trying to stop him from getting, to point at their icy confinement as he laughed deeply and heartily. 

Iris could feel the cold, but it didn't bother her much. It was just the sensation of being stuck, trapped with no way out, it made her heart race and fear spark in her dark eyes. 

Since the ninja weren't going to be free any time soon, the snakes fled and took the first Fangblade with them. Leaving the four, alone, in the old unscary ride and still encased in ice. Iris wasn't sure she could teleport out of this one so she was glad Kai was still in physical contact with his fire sword. Because then he could summon the heat and melt the ice right off their bodies.

Which was exactly what he did. Although it did take him longer than they would have liked.

They had no idea how much time had passed by the time all four ninja were free. Freezing water soaked them through and all but Zane shivered at the sensation. But at least were out of that ice. 

Each of them knew that it was probably too late to steal the Fangblade from Pythor, but still they rushed from the ride and out into the open. Everyone around was looking up and it didn't take the ninja long to realise why. The track of the rollercoaster had been destroyed, making it so the cart would sail straight through a ring of fire before plummeting to the ground.

It was Nya and Jay. They were on the ride. Well, Nya was anyway.

Even from where they stood, they could see Jay and watched how lightning overwhelmed his body. His form began translucent, like Zane's had done back in his old home. It seemed Jay was next to unlock his true potential. 

"He's doing it." Iris gasped excitedly. "He's unlocking his true potential." 

And just in time too.

Jay was composed of nearly pure lightning as he shot up into the air. He flew in front of the runaway rollercoaster cart and threw out his hands to catch it. The cart slipped further down the track, but Jay pushing it against it caused the cart to finally slow down and come to a stop. He had saved them both.

"He did it!" Cheered Kai in relief. 

"Wow, that was incredible."

It truly was.

THEY REGROUPED OUTSIDE THE AMUSEMENT PARK WHERE JAY AND NYA WERE WAITING. As soon as the blue ninja came into view, the other four had practically thrown themselves on him to congratulate their friend on discovering his true potential. Now that made two out of four. And it wasn't just words of joy that were shared, because Nya finally decided to tell the others the truth about who she was.

Technically, it was just Zane and Cole left to tell.

Iris embraced her girl friend in a tight embrace as she was proud of all Nya had accomplished. They were more friends, they were sisters. "I never guess you were the Samurai." Zane informed them.

"I can't believe Iris knew the entire time!!" Jay complained as he shot their leader a look of disbelief. Iris just shrugged. 

A laugh escaped Cole as he said. "I wish I had a sister like you." That made Nya smile. She was so nervous about how the boys would react to her being the Samurai, and this was honestly the best she could have hoped for.

But, of course, Kai had to ruin the moment. His signature cocky smirk lined his lips as he mentioned. "Technically, I was the first to discover both their secrets, and didn't we agree whoever we thought was the best would naturally be the Green Ninja?" Iris just didn't understand why Kai was so obsessed with being the Green Ninja; he was already the red ninja and red was a great colour. "Huh? The Green Ninja? The destined ninja to defeat Lord Garmadon, huh?"

"Why would we say that?" Jay questioned as he pretended they had not come up with such a bet. Iris chuckled at Kai's reaction as Cole continued.

"Yeah, I'm drawing a blank."

Zane then added. "Nope. That conversation is not in my database." 

Besides, surely if the ninja were talking about the very first people to discover both identities, then it would be between Iris and Nya. Actually, more like it would just be Iris since she was the first one to discover both. But she definitely didn't want to be the Green Ninja, it just wasn't her destiny.

"You know what I learned today?" Jay asked rhetorically and then turned to Nya.

"What's that?"

He then answered. "No matter what kind of secret you have, whether you're a snake or a Samurai, it's important to be yourself." Iris offered the ninja an approving smile at his lesson for the day. It was very beautiful.

"Yeah, that's cute." Cole chuckled softly then his expression turned more solemn. "But you wanna know what I learned? The Serpentine now have the first Fangblade."

Zane glanced between his team. "But we are getting stronger. One day, we will all reach our true potential and Pythor will be stopped." And the ninja would do everything in their power to ensure that happened. 

At that, Jay smiled quite proudly of himself and the others. "And we figured out all this without Sensei Wu." He quickly shot Iris an apologetic look. "No offence, sort-of-Sensei Iris."

The sort-of-Sensei in question just laughed heartily. "None taken, Jay."

"And that's pretty good for five ninja." He proclaimed smugly. Next to him, Nya reached out and slapped the top of his unarmoured arm causing the boy to wince and pull away. "And a Samurai." That made Nya smile. She was officially part of the team, not that she wasn't already.

Kai looked distant and then he stared down at the ground. "I wonder what Sensei is doing right now." He mused before glancing to Iris somewhat expectantly. The girl thought about it herself for a brief moment. When it came to her Uncle Garmadon, she learnt to expect the unexpected.

"He's trying to find some light where darkness likes to fester. So, the usual."

And, of course, she was right.

This is a nice chapter. I quite like it. 

We have a bit of Iris and Zane but I like to think this chapter was more about her friendship with Nya and the others. Honestly, though, Nya + Iris >>>. Iris just wants Nya and her ninja to be happy and not put too much on themselves. With the way she was raised, Iris knows the importance of taking some time away for a breather.

But now Pythor has the first silver Fangblade which is not a good thing. Iris really doesn't want the Great Devourer to be released. 

Of course she does know Wu has gone after Garmadon although she actually has no idea where that is. Her Uncle is complicated but she does know that he cares about his kids, his love for them seems to shine through the darkness in him. And Iris knows that. Lets go save Lloyd!!!

Thank you for reading!!!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326