Skales x Pythor: My Loyal Number Two

Chapter 11: Secret lair

On the floor, there was carved into the stone ritual-like patterns, and a circle lined with Serpentine symbols. From the ceiling hanged chains with claws. And in the middle, was what seemed to be a pedestal, with acid oozing from its basin.

"Here, the Fangblades will be kept from now on," Pythor stated, pointing to the pedestal. "Ouroboros is not as safe as it has been, as I said before. And unlike that four-armed monster, I can't carry all of the blades at once."

That monster. Skales have heard rumors that the thing they met at the Fire Temple was none other than Lord Garmadon himself. Wu had survived until now, so it wouldn't be unthinkable that Garmadon had done the same. But that thing in the volcano was far from the Spinjitsu master they knew. Skales had tried to approach Pythor about the topic, but he had shut down any attempt he made. On the whole, Pythor discouraged any talk about the matter. For what reason, the Hypnobrai couldn't guess.

"So here they shall be, safe from the surface dwellers and the ninja." He continued to explain, with Skales wondering about the usefulness of gathering all in one place.

"But if all the Fangbladesss are gathered together, wouldn't it make it easier for the ninja to sssteal them? Ssshouldn't we ssspread them across Ninjago, ssso that if even one wasss lost, we would ssstill have the othersss?

"Theoretically that would be the right course of action, but that too would spread our warriors. No, if even one is lost we will end up in a cat-and-mouse game with the accursed ninja for who knows how long! I'd rather we focus all our efforts in one safe location, where the ninja will have little chance of succeeding when they try."

Skales caught on to Pythor's use of 'when', and made a realization.

"...You intend thisss to be a trap." The Hypnobrai exclaimed, to Pythors delight.

"That's why you're my second-in-command!" The Anacondrai said with a sweet tone, before explaining his plan further. "Once I start my search for the final Fangblade, it won't be long before the ninja notices. But thanks to our tunnels, I will have a headstart and they'll have no hope of reaching its location before we're long gone. In desperation, they will then seek out the other Fangblade in our possession. And once they do, they will make one heroic attack! Which of course will end in their capture, and no one to stand in our way, any longer."

"And you're sssure of this?"

"Truthfully...not completely. But what I do know, is that no matter what series of events that will transpire, we will turn out victorious!" Pythor proclaimed with such vigor, that no one could question that he truly believed it.

"But, here your part comes to play," He said, before calmly slithering behind the Hypnobrai, and grabbing his shoulders. He directed him over to the pedestal and made him stare at it.

"While I trust the other Generals to oversee a digging site, I'm not thrilled at the idea of trusting them to guard the Fangblades, without my supervision." He started to explain, with Skales listening attentively.

"That, is a task I could only ever trust to my most loyal follower; you! So when I soon depart for the last Fangblade, I need you to be here and protect the rest."

A sense of pride shot through Skales, as he started to understand the importance of the mission he was being given. To feel his loyalty being rewarded was a beautiful sensation of gratification. But Pythor wasn't quite finished, and leaned his head over to Skales' ear, and whispered his final words.

"See it as a way to make up for that little blunder you made back at the Fire Temple."

The words pierced Skales like spikes of ice, making his already cold blood chill as a tundra. The shock nearly made him gasp, but he managed to keep his composure.