Sixteen dragons travel the skies, heading for Ninjago.

"Chen and his army have a day's start on us," Lloyd announces as they draw closer. "Be prepared for anything."

"You know, I'm still confused," says Katlain. "If Chen needed our powers for the spell, how did he make it work after we destroyed the staff?"

Kira swallows. "It...it's my fault."

"What are you talking about?" asks Ivan.

"After the fight in the cave...Chen and Clouse took me. Since I'm the master of crystal, they thought I could fix the crystal in the staff. Clouse used dark magic to fool me into doing it." She notices the other Ninjas' expression and bites her lip. "If I hadn't given in, Chen wouldn't have this power, and we wouldn't be in this mess. I'm so sorry."

"Ah, don't blame yourself." Taylor smiles at her. "It sounds like you didn't have much of a choice."

"Agreed," says Melody. "Let's just focus on taking Chen down."

"Preferably quickly," Nya adds from the back of Jay's dragon. "We're running out of time."

They keep traveling, but Lloyd manuevers his dragon until he's flying beside his girlfriend. "When were you gonna tell me and the guys they did this to you?" he asks.

"When we didn't have a war hanging over our heads," she responds. "I...I don't wanna talk about it. Not now."

Lloyd growls, his grip on his dragon's reigns tightening. "Chen and Clouse are gonna pay for what they did to you, and for what they're doing to Ninjago."

"Speaking of Ninjago," Kai says as he pulls up beside them, "we're here." Sure enough, a landmass looms before the group: they're finally home.

"I say we hit the Samurai X Cave and strategize there," Nya suggests.

"Sounds good to me," her brother responds. "Can you lead the way?"

She smirks. "Piece of cake."

"Cake?!" Cole echoes, perking up.

The Elemental Masters take off. Civilians gawk and point as they fly over Ninjago City, rendered speechless by such a stunning sight. The flock reaches the Sea of Sand not long after, their dragons disappearing as they make their way into the cave.

Nya checks the GPS system, looking distressed. "In the time it took us to get here, Chen has taken over the entire Eastern seaboard and is moving inland," she reports. "With each village destroyed, they grow stronger."

"The Eastern seaboard?" Kira gasps. "That means they must've taken Jamanakai..."

"Are you alright?" Rose shuffles closer with a concerned expression.

"It's my hometown. My mother still lives there." Kira's hands clench into fists. "Oh, they are so gonna pay for this."

"So, how exactly are we supposed to stop those freaks?" Apollo asks with folded arms. "We won't last long on our dragons given how scared we all are, not to mention we're outnumbered ten to one."

"Actually, 62.4 to one," Zane corrects him.

"...Right. Thanks, Tin Man."

"Look, I'm scared like the rest of you," Lloyd speaks up. "It may look like we've lost, but it's not over. When we thought we lost Zane, it nearly tore us apart. But we didn't quit. We let it fuel us. We grew stronger."

"There's hope," his uncle says. "The Corridor of Elders."

Ray cocks his head questioningly.

"I know we don't stand much of a chance taking on his entire army at once," Wu explains, "but since he's controlled the East, he'll move West tomorrow and have to pass through. Our best tactical position is to make our stand where it bottlenecks: at the Corridor of Elders, the monuments honoring our ancestors. It's the narrowest channel, but our greatest chance."

Garmadon's expression is dark. "If we can't stop them here, the rest of Ninjago will fall like dominos."

Rain growls, her tail lashing. "I'll be snake food before I let that happen. Um, no offense, little guy," she adds to Noodle, who's sitting on Samuel's shoulder. He only flicks her tongue at her.

Wu sets his jaw. "Then we have one day to save tomorrow."

——————————

The next few hours are spent preparing for war.

The Elemental Masters remain in the Cave. With the help of Nya, Misako, and Wu, they train with each other and finish repairing the Bounty. Things become a little more complicated after the reveal that Garmadon had forged a love letter from his brother in his youth, prompting Misako to fall in love with him. The failed Sensei helps around as best as he can, but the spiteful glares of his brother are too much for him to bear. All the while, Chen's army continues to storm Ninjago, taking city by city with no sign of stopping.

Meanwhile, the Ninja travel the realm on the backs of their dragons, hoping to rally its people and instill a drive to fight for their future.

In Ninjago City, Kai addresses a crowd outside Doomsday Comix. "I wish I could say we're not facing an army unlike we've ever seen," he states. "But we have, and we know what they're capable of."

At his parent's scrapyard, Jay's voice is the most serious it's ever been. "Right now, our cities and villages are falling, which is why we're asking everyone to rise up."

Zane stands before the Titanium Ninja statue. "We may have different backgrounds, but we all share the same future."

The inmates of Kryptarium Prison listen intently as Cole speaks. "You may wonder why we're asking you to fight for Ninjago. We aren't. We're asking you to fight for each other."

"We're asking you to fight as one," Lloyd says from outside the city bank.

Beside him, Kira stands strong and tall. "United we stand, or divided we fall," she says. "Please...make the right choice."

And the people of Ninjago do.

——————————

Hours later, the Elemental Masters can feel the tension in the air as they march to the Corridor of Elders.

At the head of the brigade is the Green Ninja himself, flanked by the rest of the Ninja, and then by the Elemental Alliance. Nya, Wu, Misako, and Garmadon have taken to the air in the Bounty, and the people of Ninjago have already taken their positions throughout the canyon.

War is brewing on the horizon, and that knowledge makes everyone more afraid than they've ever been in their lives. One way or another, after today, things won't be the same. For all they know, this could be the last sunrise they ever see. Nevertheless, there's a sense of pride as they prepare for battle. They are Elemental Masters. They are warriors. And they won't stand for the destruction of their home.

As everyone gathers in the canyon, the ground begins to shake beneath their feet. Then, Chen's army appears at the other end. The Anacondrai warriors are armed to the teeth, wielding everything from swords to Roto Jets and blasters.

"Whoa..." Jay whispers, his voice quivering with fear. "There's so many of them..."

"Don't be scared," Ivan whispers beside him with reassuring smile. "We've got this."

A beam of energy appears at Lloyd's hands, which he uses to scour a line in the ground. "Whatever we do, we can't let them cross this line. If they do, nothing can stop them," he says. "And remember....we fight for each other. We fight as one!"

The rest of the Masters cheer. Hoods and masks flip up. Powers are activated. Bodies tense in anticipation. Last-minute whispers of good luck! and we've got this! ripple through the group. As the rest of the team prepares for battle, the green and midnight ninja exchange one final look. She smiles at him, and while her lips say nothing, the look in her chestnut eyes says everything.

I love you.

He smiles back, hoping this won't be the last time he gets to say it. I love you too.

She nods before tugging her mask up, and he flips his own hood up just as Chen's army draws closer into view. "It's the Elemental Masters," snarls the old master. "CHARGE!" The Anacondrai surge forward, roaring and screeching.

"Hold the line!" Lloyd shouts. "Hold!"

The enemy keeps coming with gleaming fangs and raised swords. A few people tense, but no one dares to move. Just when the snakes are moments away from devouring them, a handful of them fall into a pit.

"Trapdoor?" roars Chen. "That's my signature move. Ugh, destroy them!

"NOW!" Lloyd screams.

Zane seals the hole with a layer of ice, trapping the Anacondrai, and the Elemental Masters charge. They don't fight alone. Everyone in Ninjago, from civilians to the Serpentine, has opted to join the fight. Before long, the canyon explodes a mass of screaming, shooting, weapons clashing, and straight up chaos.

The Second Serpentine War has begun.

Kira fights back-to-back with Zane, both Ninja firing their powers at the Anacondrai, and Kai, Jay, and Cole do the same nearby. Ivan flickers in and out of view, grinning as they catch the enemy entirely by surprise. They're attacking before they can even think to flee. Rose punches, kicks, and flips, taking down every snake in her path. There's a hiss behind her, and she turns to see another Anacondrai snarling down at her.

"I'd be careful if I were you," she warns. "I see a lot of misfortune in your near future."

The snake blinks, confused. A split second later, he yelps and collapses as he's blasted in the back with dark matter. Taylor appears with a smirk, more matter at her fingertips.

"Nice one!" Rose says to her friend.

"You're not doing bad yourself," the redhead responds. "Now c'mon, help me kick some tail!" Rose nods, grinning, and the two leap into action together.

Lloyd takes down snakes left and right, only to shriek as one seizes him, wrapping its tail around him and squeezing tight. He struggles, gasping for breath, but there's no escape. There's a sudden a grunt and the Anacondrai goes down, dropping Lloyd in the process. The Green Ninja looks up to see Apollo standing over him.

Lloyd blinks. "You saved me."

Apollo grins and offers him a hand. "We're on the same team, aren't we, Greenie?"

Lloyd hesitates, then smiles as he takes Apollo's hand and lets him help him up. "Thank you, Apollo. I...I see was wrong about you."

"Guess we were both wrong about each other. That's the only time I'll ever be wrong, though."

"Sorry to ruin the moment, but we're kind of fighting a war here!" Melody calls nearby. "Mind lending a hand?" Sound waves explode from her hands, either deafening the snakes or sending them flying backward. Apollo joins her and the two fight together, mowing down cultists left and right.

Razhai darts around, leaving the Anacondrai frozen in time in her wake. If one manages to get past her, she's quick to reverse time and deal with them properly. Meanwhile, Katlain creates illusions that thoroughly confuse her enemies, using the distraction to take them out easily. From the Bounty, Wu and Garmadon man cannons, firing nets into the canyon that trap several of the snakes.

"Ships aren't supposed to fly!" bellows Chen. "Sink it!"

A fleet of Blade-Copters takes to the air and heads for the Bounty. Samuel flies after them, blowing them from the sky with powerful gusts of wind. The Anacondrai inside scream and quickly abandon ship as their vehicles crash back to the ground. On Samuel's shoulder, Noodle hisses at the cultists, unimpressed with the snake imposters.

A howl echoes through the canyon in a fierce battle cry. Rain charges through the fray in wolf form, fangs bared and eyes bright and ferocious. She snarls and snaps her jaws at any Anacondrai close to her, fangs and claws sinking through their rough hides. Ray disappears into the shadows, reappearing on top of a Condrai Crusher and taking out the driver inside. He keeps teleporting, stealthily dispatching almost enemy vehicle on the ground.

"Nice going, Ray!" Lloyd calls to his friend as he dashes past.

Ray looks around, spotting something on the ground: Clouse's spell book, most likely dropped by Chen. He snatches it up and travels by shadow, teleporting to the Bounty and handing it to Garmadon. The old Sensei thanks him, and he nods before heading back into the fight.

Lemon reads the mind of her foes easily, taking them out before they can lay a hand on her. "Oops! Too slow!" she giggles as another snake attacks and misses her. She turns, ready to face her next opponent, only to notice something worse: the Anacondrai are advancing toward the point of no return. She quickly sends a mind message to every fighter in the canyon: "Protect the line".

The message is received instantly, and everyone rushes to defend the line. The Anacondrai hiss and strain against them, pushing them backward, and they struggle to keep them at bay.

"I'm slipping!" Katlain shouts. "And they just keep coming!"

"Don't let up!" Melody calls back.

"Push!" Lloyd screams. "We have to stop them!"

"We don't have enough people," Cole insists as they're shoved back again. "And we can't hold them all!"

Everyone shouts as the Anacondrai hiss and barge forward again. This time, they're too strong—the Masters stumble, their barricade crumbling as the snakes push past the point of no return.

Up on the Bounty, Nya swallows, her heart sinking. "They crossed the line..."

Chen cackles, his forked tongue flicking. "Yes! Now nothing can stop me!"

Samuel fights their way to Rain's side, nudging her shoulder. "Noodle's getting restless. I think he's trying to say something," they tell her. "Can you translate?"

Rain morphs back into humanoid form, sensitive ears twitching toward Noodle. "Well, he thinks these fake snakes are extremely offensive. And...oh!" Her eyes go wide. "He thinks he knows something that can end this war."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, but he has to speak with Garmadon about it. Is it okay if I take him there?"

Samuel hesitates, then lets the little snake slither onto her shoulder. "Protect him with your life."

"I will." Rain gives them a fanged smile before taking to the air. Lloyd yelps as she snatches him up, too, flying all three of them up to the Bounty. "Sorry! It's about your dad!" she explains.

They touch down on the deck of the flying ship. "Noodle thinks he can end this!" Rain blurts.

"They've crossed the line of no return," Wu protests. "No amount of power can stop this now."

Noodle flicks his tongue urgently. "He says the might of a true Anacondrai can," Rain translates. "Sensei Garmadon, if the generals you banished to the Cursed Realm so long ago saw this mockery, they would stop this travesty at once." She blinks. "Um, Noodle's words, not mine."

Misako looks uneasy. "No one comes back from the Cursed Realm."

Garmadon picks up the spell book. "Unless he that cursed them takes their place. I could unleash the spirits of the Anacondrai Generals."

Rain's tail droops. "Well...there's a catch. Noodle says it'll only work if you banish yourself in their place."

"Absolutely not." Lloyd scowls. "We're not losing you to bring them back!"

"If we do nothing, we lose Ninjago!" his father argues.

"We don't even know if they'll help!"

"We do know that the real Anacondrai wanted peace as much as us! It was Chen who started both wars. Noodle is right. This is the only way."

Wu steps forward, shaking his head. "I cannot allow this, brother."

"Who are we fooling? There's not enough time for me to make up for the pain I've caused in my life. But if I could save Ninjago..."

Lloyd steps back, eyes blazing with fury. "You want my blessing to walk out on us again? Fine. But don't expect me to stick around to watch you go. My real family needs me."

He turns and jumps off the Bounty. Rain gives the Garmadon family a final look, mismatched eyes glimmering with sadness, before taking off with Noodle.

Lloyd hits the ground and keeps fighting, losing all sense of control as he lashes out blindly. He tries to repress them, but memories come flooding back to his brain. His dad saving him from the volcano when he was just a kid. The utter joy he'd felt when the Overlord was defeated, and his father had been purged of all evil. The peaceful afternoons spend fishing or hiking together, moments that were rare given the life of a Ninja but precious nevertheless. He remembers it all, remembers how wonderful it was to be loved by a father, how he'd embraced every moment for fear he'd never find that kind of love again.

He remembers, and his rage builds, his power growing with it. He leaps and crash-lands in an explosion of energy that sends every nearby Anacondrai flying. Only one thought stays with him: that of his father, and what he knows must be done.

Ray watches his friend, eyes glimmering with concern. "I don't know what's gotten into him," Apollo says, "but it's too late. We can't stop them now."

Up on the Bounty, Garmadon hands Wu the spell book. "Read it, brother. You know as well as I, the Ninja don't need two Sensei. Only one can remain."

His brother's eyes swim with pain, but he doesn't object, starting to read the spell in a shaky voice: "Komodo, nicktu, demic tara."

As he speaks, Garmadon's form becomes surrounded by a swirl of magic as he's lifted into the air. "Misako." He looks solemnly to his wife. "Will you ever forgive me for the letter?

"I already have."

"Thank you. Tell Lloyd I'm sorry."

"You can tell me yourself."

Lloyd climbs back onto the Bounty. "If anyone should be sending you off, it's me," he says. He takes the book from his uncle and starts to read. "Kenji, suveris, toto-demada, cursono, neeboro..."

There's a flash of bright light. The battle pauses as everyone in the canyon looks up, gasping. A hole appears in the sky: a portal. Garmadon floats higher and higher into the air, heading straight for it.

"...actu, cursono, neeborro..."

"I yearned to make the world in my image," Garmadon says as he continues to rise. "I never realized I already had..." He meets his son's gaze, eyes glistening with tears.

"...in you."

Lloyd falters. He forces himself to keep reading as tears streak down his face."Sono, hokido, bo-rock!"

His father keeps going, screaming as he's beamed up into the portal. There's another flash of light, and Lloyd's heart sinks as he disappears.

Sensei Garmadon is gone.

In his place, flashes of ghostly green emerge from the portal. Snakelike spirits appear and start to fly around canyon, turning the Anacondrai warriors into ghosts upon contact. The cultists cry out, horrified, as they're carried off toward the portal.

"The spirits of the Anacondrai Generals..." Kai whispers. "They're cursing Chen's army!"

"What are you doing?" Chen cries as the ghosts corner him. "W-we're on the same team!"

One of the true Anacondrai—General Arcturus—glares at him. "You will never be one of us, because you are a liar, a cheat, and an impostor!" Chen screams and starts to slither away, but Arcturus is faster, cursing him without a moment's hesitation.

"I can't be cursed!" he shouts, but no amount of fighting can save him as he and the last of his men are dragged into the Cursed Realm. His screams fills the air for a moment longer, a haunting echo that fills the canyon. Then, the portal closes, and everything goes still.

Misako turns, noticing the tears in her son's eyes. "The war is over," she murmurs. "It had to be done."

Samuel tenses as General Arcturus floats up to them, eyes locked on their pet snake. "Thank you, Noodle, for your bravery and quick thinking," he rumbles. "You have made all of snake-kind proud." Noodle flicks his tongue happily.

"Good boy," Samuel murmurs, giving him a pat on the head.

"And thank you, Master Lloyd," Arcturus continues, drifting up the Bounty. "Because of your friends, you have done what we never could: united the Serpentine and your kind as one. Because of you, the balance is restored. And because of your father, our spirits can be free. You will have our eternal respect as the greatest warriors to ever battle for Ninjago."

He bows, and Lloyd returns the gesture, his face still red from crying. With that, the Anacondrai generals disappear through a portal of their own. 

Silence falls over the Corridor of Elders. Everyone takes a collective breath, panting and wiping sweat from their brows, as the full weight of what's just happened hits them.

The Second Serpentine War is over. And they've come out victorious.

- RIP Garmadon...gone but not forgotten (until Season 8 lol). Anyway, fun's not over just yet! I have two chapters left ^_^ -