On the Bounty, the Ninja have reported everything they learned to the rest of the team and are locating the location of the last Fangblade. Aria and Lloyd were practice fighting.

"The Venomari's right. By the time we cast sail clear across the other side of Ninjago, Pythor will have already beat us to the last Fangblade" Nya said

"Oh, come on, guys. This is the last one. We gotta get it. We gotta think of something" Jay said annoyed

Aria flipped Lloyd onto his back and she looked at Jay "I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas"

Lloyd stood up "If all we have to do is just get one Fangblade to stop him. What if we take back the other three?"

"Pythor wouldn't risk having them all on him. He's probably hidden them somewhere while he goes for the fourth" Aria added

Cole smiled"yeah it's so simple.

"Huh, why didn't I think of that?" Kai questioned

"because you're not smart enough, besides I don't think it'll be that easy" Aria said placing her hands on her hips

"My algorithms suggest taking the other three would be far more dangerous. Pythor would undoubtedly have them protected by his top generals" Zane informed them

"Ha, finally. I don't have to hold back" Kai said

"finally, some ass kicking time" Aria smirked

Lloyd looked at her "do we need to get you a filter"

"Even if you could steal the other three, you don't even know where they are" Garmadon said

Wu sighed "He's right. For the past few weeks, there have been almost no Serpentine sightings. How are they moving around? It's like they're ghosts"

Nya smiled "Or snakes. Bridge, give me a sonar sweep of Ninjago"

The computer shows no activity.

"See, nothing. It's just like Sensei said" Kai said

"Well they're snakes, right? Snakes burrow" Aria said

Nya smiled "Exactly, bridge, now give me a sonar sweep of Ninjago but twenty feet below surface"

The computer shows them the tunnels the Serpentine took.

"All the tombs have been interconnected" Kai pointed out

"To make one massive underground fortress" Cole added

Kai points to the main base "There, that's the most protected area. The Fangblades must be held there"

"Then what are we waiting for? Nya, set the course" Wu commanded

"Already on it. We'll be there by sunup" Nya said

"alright" Aria cheered before knocking Lloyd off his feet and onto his back, the ninja laughed.

"hey I wasn't ready!" Lloyd shouted

Aria crossed her arms "A ninja should always be prepared"

-

The next day, the Ninja prepare for battle

"There is no room for error. The Serpentine have shown that they have great powers, and to combat them, you must turn their greatest strengths into their greatest weaknesses. Kai, how will you defeat the Hypnobrai?" Wu questions

Kai pulls down a blindfold "Their hypnotizing powers are useless if their opponent can fight without relying on his eyes"

Wu nodded "Good, Jay, the Fangpyre is fast and his bite sharp"

"But if he can't bite through your skin" Jay taps the armor on his arm "he can't turn you into one of them"

"Yes. Cole, the Constrictai are strong" Wu traps him in a net "And they will not let go"

"But instead of fighting back, one must try to loosen up" Cole frees himself "And a little soft shoes doesn't hurt"

"Zane, the venom of the Venomari can make you see things. Cloud your perception" Wu said

"Then I will use my new Falcon Vision" Zane activates said visionary ability to illustrate his point.

"Very good. I have trained you well. You are all ready" Wu said

Aria sat off to the side using her elemental fans to fan herself "and yet I'm stuck here"

Nya was heard on the intercom "We're arriving at the Mountain of a Million Steps"

Lloyd came running out "Wait for me"

"This is not your fight. The Green Ninja is too important for a future destiny. You shall stay with me and Aria" Wu said

Nya arrives with her Samurai Mech "Well they're going to have to look after themselves, because we made room for you" She points to a seat on her Mech.

Kai smiled "Well, you said you were concerned that you couldn't keep up, so Jay and Nya rejiggered the design so you could come along, what do you think?"

"I think...shotgun! Haha!" Wu said happily jumping on

Garmadon walked forward "I will stay back with Lloyd and Aria. I don't enjoy saying this but...good luck"

The team climbs down a rope.

Aria looked annoyed "some ninja I am"

Garmadon smirked "come, why don't I teach you a thing or two that Wu can't, Lloyd go play"

"what why" Lloyd crossed his arms annoyed

"because I said so" Garmadon ordered and Lloyd walked away

Garmadon and Aria went into the training room and Aria sat down.

"have you made any progress with your powers?" Garmadon questioned

"Nope none, Sensei isn't really an expert on my powers" Aria sighed "and I haven't exactly been wanting to either. The other 4 already unlocked their true potential and I don't even know what mine is"

Garmadon sat in front of her "it seems the only one blocking your way is you. You have to accept who you are"

"How can I except who I am when I don't want to be who I am?" Aria questioned

"their's nothing wrong with who you are Aria" Garmadon replied "Look at me, I've accomplished many great things"

"Wherever you go people fear you, you were trapped in the underworld for being evil" Aria said standing up "I refuse to be like my father, I don't want these powers"

"Aria" Garmadon called to her as she walked out the door

-

Lloyd walks in the Bridge seeing Garmadon typing on the computer.

"Transferring files" the computer said

Lloyd gasps "You're stealing?" Garmadon turns around "Dad, my friends are risking their lives to save Ninjago, and you go behind their backs to gain an advantage?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Ever since the Devourer bit me, evil runs through my blood" Garmadon tried to explain

"You left me for so long. Where did you go?" Lloyd asked

Garmadon sighed "Son, there are places in this world void of any good. Dark places, you know how I've always wanted those Golden Weapons, well, this place allowed me the power to possess them"

"But why didn't you take me with you?" Lloyd asked

"Every boy has a choice to grow up to be whoever they want to be. But I never had that choice. Because I was bitten, evil runs through my veins. But you still have a choice. You don't need to be like me, Lloyd" Garmadon replied "Your uncle has a plan for you, and even though it may be to stop me one day, we have to follow our own destiny. And after I help the Ninja stop Pythor, I'll need to leave again"

"Then why don't you just leave now!?" Lloyd shouts angrily

Garmadon shook his head "Lloyd—"

"No, really! Go back to whatever evil place you came from" Lloyd said angrily

Nya's voice was heard on the computer "All right, Operation Stealth was a total bust. We're gonna need reinforcements. Anyone there?"

Garmadon reaches for the computer but is stopped by Lloyd "We don't want your help, and we don't need you here. Maybe it would've been better if you hadn't come at all."

"If...if that's how you feel" Garmadon walked out the door to see Aria on the other side "you were listening"

"Do you really think Lloyd can be his own person?" Aria questioned "when he has you to look up to, who else can he be?"

"Lloyd can be anyone he wants to, he has the ninja and Wu to look up to" Garmadon replied "take care of him for me"

"I will" Aria said before Garmadon left

-

Aria walked into the bridge

Lloyd presses a few buttons "I'm trying to help, Nya. Just hold on"

"I don't think they can hear you Lloyd" Aria said taking his hand off "stop touching random things your going to crash it"

Lloyd sighed "then what do we do"

"We are going to go charge in guns blazing" Aria smirked

"I don't think that's a good idea, let's go rescue them" Lloyd said changing into his gi "The Green Ninja is here to save the day"

"oh I feel safe already" Aria said sarcastically

Nya's voice was heard on the computer again "Aria? Lloyd? Lord Garmadon? Is anyone there?"

"We're here" Aria said "But Garmadon left

"How are you guys holding on?" Lloyd asked

"We're fine, but we're a little held up at the moment. Our weapons have been taken, and we're locked in cages" Nya replied

"And Pythor's returned with the fourth Fangblade" Cole added

"Lloyd, where did your father go?" Zane asked

"I-I told him to leave. He was trying to steal secrets" Lloyd answered

Kai huffed "Oh, big surprise there. I told you about that guy, but you guys wouldn't listen-"

"Not the time" Aria interrupted

"My dad's going back to where he came from. But don't worry, we'll save you" Lloyd said

"you're not ready, Lloyd. Your destiny is too great to risk" Wu argued

"Yeah I'll do it myself" Aria shrugged

"No, you're not ready either" Wu argued "I forbid you both from leaving"

"I hate to break it to you, Sensei, but if we don't get out of here before Pythor unleashes the Great Devourer, I think this will be the end of all our destinies" Cole intervened

"Sensei, where's my gi" Aria questioned

"...hidden" Wu answered "You're not ready"

"Fine then, I'll go as I am" Aria said turning off the com

Lloyd tries to take a weapon but they fall on him "Ouch"

Aria helped him up "forget weapons, we go as we are"

-

Lloyd and Aria climb up the Mountain of a Million Steps.

"Whoosh. Ninja roll. Flying Drag—" Lloyd trips "whoa! Ninja recover! Whoosh. Ninja roll"

Aria hit him on the head "will you cut it out, are you trying to alert them of our presence, ninjas are stealthy"

"Aria you're so mean to me" Lloyd whined

They got to the entrance and looked in.

"alright we need a plan" Aria whispered

Lloyd took a deep breath "Come on, Lloyd. You're the Green Ninja. You can do thi-"

"Alright got it" Aria said as she kicked Lloyd in the back

"Ah!" Lloyd falls all the way down, making the Serpentine confused.

Lloyd stood up "Well, if we don't meet again, Pythor. Unhand the Ninja, or suffer humiliation against the Green Ninja!" Everyone laughs at him.

"Oh, yeah? You and what army?" Pythor questions laughing

"Uh, how about my army of fists?" Lloyd punches, but almost falls again. Everyone laughs.

"Oh Pythor" Aria called from the top of the stairs

Everyone looks up to see Aria next to Garmadon with the army of Skulkin.

"how about this army?" Aria smirked

"Dad!" Lloyd shouts happily

"The Skeleton army? But why would they fight beside you? Garmadon betrayed them and Samukai long ago" Pythor says

"Because everybody hate snakes!" The army laughs.

"Attack!" both sides yell and Pythor pulls a lever that makes the cage the ninjas are trapped in descend into the vat of venom.

"Hey, we're moving" Jay said

"Yeah, the wrong way!" Cole shouted

Aria fought against the snakes while Lloyd frees the Ninja and their weapons "Told you I'd save you.

"Ninja, go!" The ninja shout and they use Spinjitzu to clear a path. Garmadon soon faces Pythor in a brief battle before the snake slithers away.

Cole takes the Fangblades, but Pythor disappears.

"Where did he go?" Cole questions

"Who cares, We have the Fangblades. Let's get out of here" Cole said

As the ninja started headed to the exit Aria turned to look at the Skulkin.

"Don't worry about us. We'll keep fighting the good fight" Nuckal said

Aria smiled and followed the Nina

"I never thought I'd be saying this, but go, Ninja, go!" Kruncha shouted after them

Lloyd helps Aria onto the bounty and the Ninja leave.

-

On the bridge, the Ninja celebrate their victory. Lloyd walks in.

"He left, didn't he?" Nya questions and Lloyd nods "Then have some Snogfruit Punch. Cole made it, and it's actually not bad"

"Tomorrow, we arrive at Torchfire Mountain to destroy these Fangblades once and for all. And it couldn't have been done without your father. I'm going to miss him" Wu said

Aria stood by the window looking out, deep in thought.

"it seems the only one blocking your way is you. You have to accept who you are"

"I know who I am, it's just hard to except that" Aria said to herself

"What's troubling you young one?" Wu questioned joining her

Aria sighed "A lot, sensei I can't accept my father"

"Have your read the scroll he left you?" Wu questioned

Aria shook her head "no"

"Aria I admit I can't teach you much" Wu said "But you truly have the heart of a ninja, I don't believe anyone can make you change who you are"

"I want to unlock my true potential Sensei" Aria said

Wu smiled "I know you do, but it is something you have to discover yourself"

Wu walked away and joined the ninja. Aria sighed and looked out the window "what are you up to dad"