CHAPTER TWENTY — UNLEASHING EVIL
rise of the great devourer — part two

"I'm sorry, Iris. For everything." — sensei wu

IRIS CLUNG TO THE WING OF JAY WALKER'S LIGHTNING JET AS THEY RACED AFTER PYTHOR, HIS SERPENTINE CREW AND THE FOUR FANGBLADES. They knew that they had to do whatever they could to stop them reaching the city. The Great Devourer could not be unleashed. But at the moment, the odds weren't entirely in their favour.

And then just to make things worse, the Fangpyres bit into the multi-carriage bus, turning it into long snake on wheels. Yep, definitely worse. 

Cole tried to get closer in his strongly built vehicle, but the newly sprouted tail at the end started to swat him away. He couldn't even get near the bus. Although it wasn't a bus anymore, it was a moving snake fortress. 

Holding on as tight as she could, Iris continued to cling to the wing of Jay's jet as they soared after the snake bus and the three elemental vehicles that were chasing it on the ground. Nya and her Father too had taken to the skies as they raced after the Fangblades. 

But when the earth ninja made even an inch of progress towards the snake-on-wheels, laser cannons emerged from the scaly sides and started to fire at them. Just their luck it seemed.

"Hold on, Iris!" Yelled Jay as the cannon fire was sent straight at them. 

Iris held on for dear life as Jay swerved to avoid the projectiles. But the Serpentine kept on firing. So he twisted his jet in the air as he danced around the incoming lasers. He twirled so much that Iris was almost flung off the wing.

"Jay!" Shouted the master of space as she tightened her grip on the metal beneath her. "Be more careful!"

Quickly, the lightning ninja responded. "Sorry, Sensei!"

Iris then cast her eyes to her Father and Nya and found they were having the same problem they were. But Nya recovered rather quickly and continued to fly after Pythor and his crew. 

Fangpyre-infected bikes charged at the three ninja on the ground, having come from the side of the bus. But no matter how many the ninja took down, more just kept coming their way. 

The yellow ninja somehow managed to free one hand to summon orbs of cosmic energy which she tossed down at the scaly riders below. It wasn't much, but it was enough to help her ninja down on the ground. She was there to protect and help them after all, so what else would she be doing.

Alternating between grasping the wing and firing her own assault of elemental cannon fire, Iris tried her best to stop the Serpentine. As someone who understood the damage the Great Devourer could cause, she was even more determined to ensure that that huge snake never see the light of day again. If she could teleport to Pythor — inside a moving vehicle — and snatch back the blades, then she already would have. So Iris had to help as much as she could, even if she couldn't use her powers to solve everything.

From her comm, Iris could just make out the voice of Cole as he said. "If we have any chance at getting on that truck, we need to work together."

"I've got an idea." Announced Nya as she soared above Iris and Jay. "Jay, follow me. And Iris, hang on." Nodding, the yellow ninja white-knuckled the metal wing beneath her in preparation. Then the lightning jet flew upwards as it followed Nya's Samurai suit. "Zane, try to get in close and cool him off."

Nya led them down to the back of the snake bus. To the tail. It tried to hit them from the sky as an assault of laser fire was directed at the two flying objects. Jay flipped in the air and spun to avoid being struck.

Boy, Iris was glad she tightened her grip now. 

But the constant spinning was making her feel nauseous so she hoped that whatever Zane had to do, that he did it quick. 

Leaping from his bike, Zane used spinjitzu to get aboard the roof of the bus. Instantly his bike evaporated and reverted back into his elemental shurikens that would aid him in his fight. Iris wanted to jump from the wing and help him, but she was currently feeling too dizzy to do anything. 

Fortunately, it seemed the ice ninja had it all under control. And he managed to sever the last car (the one with all the cannons and the huge hitting tail) from the rest of them. Now nothing could try and stop them from approaching. Finally, they had a chance.

"All right." Cheered Jay as he finally steadied out his jet. "Nice one, Zane. Now let's board that truck."

Pushing away her nausea, Iris chuckled lightly. "You read my mind, Jay."

After a moment of trailing the bus, the ninja prepared to release their vehicles to jump to the bus. But then the long, green snake-on-wheels started accelerating as they drew nearer to the City. So, the ninja sped up too.

"Get ready, Iris!" 

As soon as Jay's warning left his lips, Iris released her hold on his plane. She could feel it dematerialising beneath her so she had to be quick. So with one firm push from the wing surface, Iris Wu launched herself forwards and to the bus. Jay was not that far behind her and they landed without issue. 

With her feet on, at last, a flat surface, Iris sighed. She loved flying, she truly did, but all that twisting and turning didn't really agree with her. So it took a moment of deep breathing to finally calm her nerves, and her stomach, after arriving on the roof of the bus. Zane was already on board next to her and Cole and Kai were next to join them.

"Are you alright, Iris?" Questioned the ice ninja as he scanned her yellow form with worry.

The Master of Space nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, I am now. Thank you, Zane." 

Once they were all aboard the runaway snake bus, the five ninja turned to each other. "Let's split up." Kai took the lead. "Last one to the front is a rotten ninja."

So, the fire ninja wanted to play? Game on.

As the boys hurried along the bus, Iris remained where she was. She stood there, eyes closed, hands clasped together. Because whilst the others were trying their hardest to race to the front, Iris was attempting to centre herself.

Her breathing was calmed to a slow pace, so was the heart that had previously been racing inside her chest. It was chaos around her, so she had to be the one that was balanced. The world fell away and her arms became limp at her sides as she relaxed fully and found inner peace. Opening her dark eyes, Iris stared at the train before her.

Kai was already pretty far ahead upon the roof of the bus and she had no doubt the others were doing just as well inside. But Iris had her powers on her side. 

Being able to teleport onto something moving was incredibly difficult, so she had to focus. 

She spotted a point far ahead and pictured it clear in her mind. Her powers surged beneath her skin and she could feel it flow through her veins as easily as the blood did in her body. It radiated a soft tingle throughout which warmed her to her core as she allowed it to take control of her entire form. 

Then, after another deep, calming breath, Iris Wu vanished in a puff of yellow mist.

But then she reappeared right where she had pictured. And much further along the bus than Kai was.

The boys may have rushed into this in a desperate attempt to reach the end of the bus first. But had they not heard the fable of the tortoise and the hare? 

Sometimes slow and steady truly did win the race. 

Yet she didn't have much time to celebrate her achievement because more Serpentine appeared on the roof and advanced towards her. Kai was dealing with snakes of his own behind her and she had no doubt that the others were too within the different carriages of the long scaly bus. She had to do this herself.

Iris took a deep breath. 

Then she prepared to strike.

A Venomari swung in her direction but Iris ducked and kicked at it's legs. It stumbled and then toppled over the side of the bus. One wrong movement and she too would be on the ground beneath them. 

Using the momentary distraction, Iris reached back and unsheathed her katana to brandish it before her. A smirk formed on her lips as she sized up the three Serpentine charging at her. This was going to be easy.

"Come and get me." She goaded.

They came fast and strong. But Iris Wu was faster and stronger. She swung her katana with wide strokes, hitting the snakes to the roof of the bus if not to the road beneath them. Removing one hand from her katana, Iris formed an orb of cosmic energy in her palm and flung it towards even more Serpentine coming her way.

And it sent them flying.

The metal beneath her feet was smooth and hard to get a sturdy foothold on, but she had no other choice. She could feel her blood racing inside her veins and her breathing quickening as she fought. Sweat beaded from her forehead and was absorbed by the mask on her face. But Iris couldn't shake the feeling that the real fight had yet to come.

She vanquished every Serpentine foe that crossed her path, sending them down to the road below. Determination fuelled her as she set her sights at the carriage ahead. Pythor and the Fangblades were in there. So she had to reach them before this bus made it to Ouroboros. Because they still had a chance to stop this whole thing.

Iris centred herself. 

Then, with one last swing, she sent the remaining snakes flying to the ground. Now she could continue.

But Iris did not sheathe her sword and instead tightened her grip on the hilt as she continued forwards. She wasn't exactly sure how she would enter the bus. That was until she spotted a skylight overhead. It was perfect.

Running across the roof of a moving vehicle was hard enough, but the scaly and smooth exterior made getting her footing much harder. But she continued nonetheless. So, there were some almost trips along the way but it seemed that was inevitable.

She reached the skylight quickly and pried open the window so she could jump down. Her knees took the brunt of the impact as she landed in the last and empty cart. Sore knees were the least of her problem at the moment.

Where was everyone?

And just as the thought popped into her brain, it vanished as soon as Cole burst through the door. 

Surprised would be an understatement for the look on his face as soon as he saw her. "Iris? How did you get here so fast?" He questioned, lowering his weapon slightly. "Weren't you the last to leave?"

The young Sensei smiled at her student. "Did no one tell you that 'slow and steady wins the race', Cole?" 

Then the earth ninja chuckled at her words. 

But their moment didn't last. Because behind Cole, Iris could see more Serpentine entering the compartment, heading straight for them. And behind Iris, Cole could spot Scales wielding his Hypnobrai general staff. Noticing the alarm in his eyes, Iris quickly glanced over her shoulder and joined the ninja in his startled state at the sight of Pythor's right-hand snake.

Iris and Cole backed up against each other, weapons raised and ready to fight. They were ninja and they had each others' backs. But Iris wasn't completely sure how they would fare against a Serpentine general. 

"End of the line, losers." Sneered Scales as he slithered towards them.

"End of the line for you, perhaps."

The Wu girl tightened her grip on her katana. She was ready to lunge at the snake, blade swinging, but Cole had different ideas. He turned to face her and offered out his Scythe of Quakes midway. "Hold on." She had no idea what he was planning, but Iris trusted him. So, she did as he asked and they both gripped onto the scythe with tight grips.

Cole brought down the weapon and hit it against the ground. Instantly, his elemental vehicle materialised around them. And Iris was inside.

She wasn't exactly sure what Cole's plan was, but she didn't expect this. And she didn't even think it was possible for her to be inside another elemental's vehicle, but it seemed she was wrong on that account. Because she was currently sat behind the master of earth as he narrowed his sights upon the general before them.

One button was all it took to blast Scales straight out of the window and to the ground with all the other snakes. And the ones that had gathered behind them, those scurried away in fear at the armed combat vehicle. 

Cole released his focus on the vehicle and suddenly it vanished into thin air — just as it had arrived. A laugh bubbled in her throat as she turned to her student who was holding his scythe aloft. "I love this thing."

"That was amazing, Cole!" She beamed with pride as it swelled in her chest. 

Then, above them, the roof was suddenly torn off the top of the carriage. And both ninja gasped in shock before they whipped around to find Nya's Samurai suit holding up the metal sheet.

It was just their team. They were alright.

With one of the suit's hands, Nya lowered Sensei Wu down into the compartment as Kai walked over to stand by his sister's side. "Iris." Smiled the old teacher who approached the two ninja. He glanced at his daughter specifically and relief filled him just to know she was alright. And the same could be said for her just to know he was unharmed. "Cole. Good to see you."

"Good to see you too."

Behind her Father, the ninjas of lightning and ice were heading their way. And a relieved sigh passed her lips as she noticed everyone was okay and uninjured. For now at least. "So, is everyone alright?"

"Yes, Iris, we are." Replied Zane softly.

"Yeah, Sensei Iris! We're all good!"

Beneath her mask, Iris smiled at the two approaching ninja. "I'm glad to hear that."

But their peace was cut short when the long bus started to shake. It rocked from side to side and meandered down the straight road. Something must have happened to the engine. 

Iris grabbed the nearest seat for support as they all struggled to keep their balance because the long snake bus was tossing them around like rag dolls. The others tried their best to remain on their feet, but the bus wasn't stopping any time soon. She cast her eyes to the others but her attention was quickly diverted when she heard Kai's cry.

A gasp fell from her lips as she watched Kai fall. Heading straight for them, Zane instinctively opened his arms out and the fire ninja landed right in them. A perfect catch. Phew.

Jay chuckled. "Nice catch, Zane."

Kai leapt from Zane's arms and onto his feet. Then Iris released her grip from the bus seat as they all turned towards the head of the snake. There was only one carriage left to this long scaly bus and they hoped to the First Spinjitzu Master that it contained Pythor and the four Fangblades. 

It was their last hope to prevent the Great Devourer from being awakened.

"Last one's a rotten ninja."

As they hurried towards the door, Iris rolled her eyes. Had Cole not learnt his lesson about racing. It wasn't always the fastest road that was most successful, but the one that took the time to work properly. Even though they were in a rush to stop the Anacondrai, they had to think through their plan before they launched into an attack.

Kai was first to reach the door and glanced at them over his shoulder. "Ah, so be it, but one more car to go." They were all hot on the fire ninja's heels as he opened the door and peered right into the next and last carriage. "Pythor's in there with the four Fangblades!" He announced before turning to his team. "Who's first?"

This was it. This was their chance to stop him before it was too late.

The ancient city of Ouroboros was fast approaching. This was their last shot.

Wu stepped past his daughter and placed his hand upon her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Iris." He said. The girl quickly frowned and confusion filled her mind. What was happening. "For everything."

Then he jumped past them all to the door of the next carriage. All the ninja's eyebrows furrowed as they watched their teacher face them with a sad look on his face. What was he planning?

But when he pressed down a button, separating the carriages. They soon found out.

Iris's eyes widened in realisation and alarm as she watched her Father speed away from them in the last carriage. He was planning on taking on Pythor alone. And he didn't think he was going to make it. 

But she had promised him that he wasn't going to go anywhere. That they would always have his back. And now he was choosing to go it alone? 

"Sensei!"

Tears welled in Iris's eyes as she watched her Father get smaller in the distance. "Father!" She yelled after him. "What are you doing?" Focusing on her Father, Iris took a deep breath and concentrated. There was no way she was going to let him do this alone. So, she closed her eyes and tried to teleport to him. But it didn't work. Nothing she tried worked. Iris looked down at her hands and gasped when she saw it. He had put a vengestone cuff on one of her wrists. He had made sure she wouldn't follow. "What have you done?"

"My destiny is to face Pythor alone. Your destiny is to look after Lloyd."

No matter how hard she pulled, the cuff would not come off. "Father, no!" Tears flowed down her cheeks, soaking into her yellow mask. Her Father was going to what he believed to be his death and there was not a thing she could do to help him.

Zane turned to the master of space and wrapped an arm around her waist. She instantly stiffened at the contact but quickly relaxed into it. A sob racked her body as she watched her Father leave. The helplessness she was feeling was something she hoped she would never feel again but here she was, watching her Father go and there was not a thing she could do. Zane tightened his hold on Iris so the young woman threw her arms around his neck as she tried to cling onto what she still had. Both Jay and Cole placed comforting hands upon the girl's shoulders as the sight and sound of her cries felt like their own hearts were in a vice. 

Kai groaned. "This is turning into a habit with him." He tried to ignore the pain in his own chest as he watched one of his Sensei's leave. And forced back the tears that formed as he watched Zane rub a hand up and down Iris's back as she cried into him. "How do we get off this thing?"

There was nothing they could. They were stuck on the Venomari infected bus and the cuff on Iris's wrist prevented her from teleporting right to her Father's side. It just made her realise that he didn't just know it was going to happen, he was prepared.

The ninja all sat along the edge, thinking about the fate of their mentor as he battled the last Anacondrai. Iris's crying had calmed considerably after a few minutes, but tears still fell from her dark eyes. Her hand rested in Zane's as the white ninja tried to offer comfort not only to her, but to himself as well. He feared for Sensei Wu's fate as well.

And just when they thought all hope was lost, in came Lloyd to save day.

He swooped down in the Bounty — Iris had no idea how he knew to fly, but he was pretty good — and hitched the anchor to the remaining carriages of the bus. They were dragged along the road by their flying home and towards the city of Ouroboros. Not only did they now have a Great Devourer to stop, but they also had a Sensei to save. 

"Lloyd!" Rejoiced the ninja.

Her throat was hoarse from crying, but Iris managed to say something. "Little Monty to the rescue." She somehow put on a smile.

"Hook, line and sinker."

Kai looked up at the Bounty with hope. "To Ouroboros as fast as you can!"

"Aye, aye, Captain." Lloyd replied and suddenly Iris could feel the bus beneath them move as they were lifted into the air. 

Hope too consumed Iris as she felt the wind blow past her face, rippling the fabric of her mask. With the Bounty, Lloyd carried them to the city and after the fleeing form of the first carriage containing her Father and Pythor.

They had to stop them.

WHEN THE NINJA ARRIVED AT THE ANCIENT CITY OF OUROBOROS, IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE. 

The Great Devourer was already being unleashed thanks to Pythor's doing. Ninjago was now in grave danger because of that purple serpent. But there was still time to save her Father. Lloyd flew them to the entrance of the city and Kai quickly shouted up to him. "Okay, Lloyd. Put us down after that truck."

As soon as their carriage made contact with the ground, they were gone. They ran as fast as they could, heading straight for the centre of the city of Ouroboros. That was where Pythor and her Father were.

Behind them, Lloyd was scrambling down the anchor chain and tried his best to catch up. If it wasn't her Father's life and the fate of Ninjago on the line, she would have waited. But she couldn't stop. They had to keep going. Thunder boomed in the dark sky and small bolts of lightning cracked in the gloomy clouds. It did not look good.

Ahead of them they could see the giant snake statue crumble. But no Great Devourer. 

The ninja finally made their way to the centre of the city, only to find the ground ahead of them gone. It crumbled and fell into a pit beneath. Her eyes were drawn there first, like a moth to a flame, and when she saw the scales and the searing purple eyes, fear struck her to her very core.

The Great Devourer was beneath them. And it was huge. 

Her hands trembled and her knees knocked together as she stared wide-eyed at the beast of legend. It was this very monster that turned her Uncle and would inflict so much destruction upon Ninjago. 

But when she saw her Father, Iris forced herself to pull away from the snake to find the old mentor standing over the pit, his hand clutching Pythor's long neck to prevent him from escaping. He was going to sacrifice himself to stop Pythor. She couldn't allow him to do this.

"What's going on?" Kai questioned and when he noticed the yellow ninja shaking, he asked. "Who's that creature underground?"

She gulped fearfully. "The Great Devourer."

Then her Father's voice echoed through the empty city causing them all to turn to face him. "You must do everything in your power to stop the Great Devourer." No, he was talking as if he was going to die. They had to save him. She couldn't lose him too. "Go, ninja! Go!"

"Father, no!" Cried the Wu girl. Zane and Cole held back Iris as she tried to reach the man. Any wrong move and she would go tumbling into the pit with the snake. And they couldn't lose him too. "Please."

But then the snake burst through the ground.

It soared up high and fast, straight into the air. 

Iris held her breath.

And then the Devourer stopped and lunged straight for her Father.

Please, no.

Chapter 20!!! Here we go!!!!

Second last episode complete! We're almost at the season one finish line!

Poor Iris has lost so much in her life and now her Father. And he finally apologised! What happened before she left just hasn't been mentioned or addressed and she already mostly forgave him but he finally apologised for it. Thanks Wu. Shame you had to do that right before you were eaten.

Looking forward to what's next. And I love how the boys were supporting Iris. They're her boys and they love her. And of course she had to add a little lesson in there. Very Iris Wu of her. 

Thank you for reading!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326