PG-13 Ninjago Touch Up: Episode 5
This is after Lloyd and Pythor's "revenge" on Darkley's and after Pythor ditches Lloyd and steals the map. The child has food poisoning and almost fell off the roof of the building because he threw up and passed out. Wu's glad to see his nephew again and takes him in.
The ninja are slightly against taking him in, but let their guard down when they see how bad his condition is, when he has a nightmare and Nya calms him down. He quickly calls her, "Mrs. Darnese" while apologizing for not listening, even begging her to not make him reset anything.
He's welcomed with open arms after that.
Lloyd's quiet with all the ninja, but has something of a kinship with Zane, who's quiet and helps him eat food that's actually healthy for him; he's clever with making food little kids ususally wouldn't like look good for him to eat, Cole helps him with physical education and activity so he can be strong, Jay helps him with learning the stuff Wu teaches him, and Kai is the most "big brother"-esque, helping him adjust and get close with him and the others.
FLUFF TIME!
Zane notices Lloyd not eating and eats with him. He also helps him take his medicine and eat vegetables by trying them first to show that they are harmless. There are foods Lloyd doesn't like eating, but eats anyway, because at Darkley's he'd be locked in a closet with no food. Zane sees this and lets him know that he doesn't have to eat anything he doesn't like and he can tell them there's a food he'd rather not eat, as his diet now consists of meats, veggies, fruits, and all sorts of goodness to keep him healthy.
Cole notices Lloyd pushing himslef WAY too hard while they do some P.E, as in he tries matching what Cole is doing, so if he's already tired from doing 30 or so push-ups, he's still going to try and keep up with Cole, who does more than 500 a day. He tells Lloyd that it's okay to rest, if he's that tired.
Jay notices how Lloyd is struggling with something and offers to help. Too bad it's math and he has to really inspect it in order to help him. Lloyd asks, very sheepishly, if Jay has a hard time learning, too, which he semi-admits he does, but if there's anything he doesn't know, he can always ask for help, which he says Lloyd can do, since he's safe now.
It takes a little while for Lloyd to warm up to Kai, though Kai has a similar problem since he doesn't like kids that much. And Lloyd's like a mini Zane, not talking and following him around. It doesn't help that he sees Lord Garmadon in the child, which is understandable, but not really that fair. They only start bonding for real when Kai's playing a video game with Jay and Lloyd watches from the furthest corner possible so he doesn't bother then, even though Jay assures that he can sit closer, if he wants. They continue playing their game and check on Lloyd every now and again, though Jay does eventually see Lloyd move from out of the corner to try and sit between him and Kai. He makes room for him and soon Lloyd is sitting between them, very awkward and not knowing what to do now. Kai admits to himself that Lloyd's not all bad and ruffles his hair, which gives Lloyd the 'okay' to huddle next to Kai, who fights a smile, because Lloyd's cute.
The ninja, Wu, and Nya are extremely happy when, at the dinner table, Lloyd speaks up for the first time: "Um... Uncle? Nya? Guys? Thank you."
Happy tears and hair ruffles ensue, amd Wu hugs his nephew, who nows fully trusts him and the rest of the team.
TOO BAD WU MISPLACED HIS LESSON BOOK AND INSTRUCTS LLOYD AND NYA TO HELP TEACH THE NINJA!
It's simple: Nya gets the more dangerous tasks of tampering with Jay's robot and beating Kai's highscore(it's a game rating not meant for children at Lloyd's age) and Lloyd can switch an ingredient in Cole's soup and make Zane's gis pink.
Zane has, in my opinion, the best reaction to the tampering: He sees and greets a amiley and giggling Lloyd, who says he's come to retrieve Kai's uniform for him, which Zane ruffles his hair for before taking his laundry to his bunk. THEN HE STARTS THINKING. 'Isn't Kai's gi red? And isn't MY gi white?' Realization slowly sets in as Zane checks his uniform and sees it is now a very nice fluorescent pink. That smile he had at seeing Lloyd is gone as he plans on how he can murder Kai, make it look like an accident, and get away with it, with no one asking questions.
The ninja tear at each other before Wu reveals that Lloyd was partially responsible for the tampering, Nya also being responsible.
Lloyd has the giggle fits before seeing the ninjas reactions and hides behind Wu; Zane puts Kai's murder on the backburner so he can make sure Lloyd still feels safe with them.
Wu reveals the lesson, and that he couldn't find his lesson book, and Lloyd holds it up for him, saying it was in between the boards on the deck, which reminds the ninja that Lloyd may have some mischief in him, because he's a little kid, but he's not evil.
Nya tells them to meet up in the bridge, which they do(Zane carries Lloyd on his back because he's a good older brother), and informs them on where the other two tombs are, Venomari and Constricti. Lloyd shuuders at both because it Darkley's they were taught the words "venom" and "constrict," and tells Zane to promise he and Cole will be careful. Zane nods to say he will, and, because he's impressed Lloyd knows words an eleven year old would know, says they can practice learning more words like those such as "composure" and "beckoning" as he sets Lloyd down; when Jay doesn't know how to help, Zane steps in. He becomes Lloyd's mother.
Wu sends Zane and Cole to the Constricti tomb and Kai and Jay to the Venomari, warning both teams to be careful. Nya offers to join, but Kai yelps for her to stay back before recovering that someone has to stay to guard the Bounty, and Lloyd, which he adds when the kid stares up at him with puppy eyes.
Like before, Zane and Cole arrive and climb the mountian, Zane's spirit being lifted as he holds onto Cole, who is climbing as fast as he can. Even though he's a little tired, Cole joins Zane as they enter the tomb, because the rope they find is sus.
Zane translates the images inscribed on the wall and notes the tribes needing to be united to bring the Great Devourer and also how the retrieval of the four silver fangs bangs hinders on the Dark Lord, essentially the biter and bitten being brought together in any way to bring destruction upon all of Ninjago.
It rattles them both, especially Zane, who looks at Cole with extremely wide and disturbed eyes.
"What do you think it means? Lord Garmadon's in the Underworld. How can they unite the tribes if he's not even IN this realm?"
"What if they don't need Lord Garmadon himself?"
The implication gives Cole a sick feeling in his stomach, even when Zane expresses more concerns, but assures him that they're just snakes that hate each other and don't know any better. Too bad the Constricti general, Skalidor, attacks them.
He first lunges for Cole, but Zane throws his brother out of the way and drop kicks Skalidor, who burrows back into the ground. They make a run for the rope, but Cole stops when Skalidor resurfaces and grabd hold of Zane, using his tail to restrain his legs before slamming him into the dirt and wrapping him up some more.
He admits to waiting for them and to say that Pythor says, "Hi" to them and a "get well soon and go to Hell" for Lloyd. Zane, even in his disoriented state, calls Skalidor pathetic and cowardly for waiting for them and picking on a child who was sick. Skalidor chides him, and constricts him a little, for the insults and lack of a good fight, even talking shit about his choice in color.
Cole, throwing caution to the wind, uses his scyhte to make Skalidor release Zane and re-burrow. He quickly pulls Zane up and practically throws him the the rope as Skalidor resurfaces once more, hissing that NOW this is a fun fight.
As Cole fights, Zane has a seizure triggered, both from getting body slammed and having heard, "Fun fight" before, but not knowing where exactly he heard it.
I should note that in episode 4, during his dream when all the falcons surround him, he hears voices screaming his name, which makes him collapse and be forced to hear the screaming of what feels like hundreds of people.
Similar thing happens here, but he hears people scream his name and sees someone attacking him.
With Cole, he's basically in a really dangerous dance with a snake, trying everything he can to avoid the teeth and tail while stil trying get a hit in. He occasionally checks on a seizuring Zane, and calls out for him, but is otherwise not having a good time. He swings the blunt end of the scythe into Skalidor's torso, which causes the snake to burrow to attack next, but Cole uses the Sacred Flute, which Wu gave him and Zane before they left.
Zane comes out of his seizure in time to see Skalidor resurface a third time and not hold back in constricting Cole, literally being like a boa constrictor and tightening his grip whenever Cole exhales, especially when Cole yells for Zane.
Zane retrieves it and plays a little before Skalidor grabs him by the neck and lifts him up, which makes his condition go from bad to worse.
With a gasp, and a rush of adrenaline, he plays the flute more until Skalidor releases them both and Cole lands a knockout blow to the head.
He catches his breathe and Zane slides to the ground, struggling to keep himself conscious as he comments on how hard Cole hit the snake general.
"Yeah, well, you're not bad on that flute," Cole replies as he helps Zane to his feet before slinging him over his shoulders when Zane wobbles on his feet. "You really can't help those seizures, can you?"
"For... Forget that. Kai... and Jay-"
"You're right. Let's get out of here," Cole says as he climbs out of the tomb with a "not all there" Zane.
With Kai and Jay, they arrive at the Venomari tomb and Kai catches Jay just as he slips from transforming out of his glider and almost falling into the acid surrounding them, saying they're in the toxic bogs, so they're in the right place. Jay wonders if it's more or less dangerous than Cole's chili, which gets a snicker from Kai, before they play a very real game of "the floor is lava" to get to the tomb.
They open it and openly gag at the smell of death; I can't descibe it, but, from what I've heard, it's pretty bad. It gets worse when they wonder where all the snakes are only to see a very mushy and darkyly colored glob drip onto and hit the ground with a splat.
Jay covers his mouth, even through his hood, and backs away as he shakes his head while Kai backs away and leans against a tree as he vomits; day what you will, but this is NOT what they signed up for when they wanted to become ninja.
We cut away to Jay, thankfully, who sees images carved on the door of the tomb, recognizing one as a large snake, one as Lord Garmadon beholding the snakes with what looks like four daggers, and a third showing Garmadon with another person drawn in the same color as him drawing blood onto a piece of paper, the second figure having a question mark next to it. "Uh, hey. Kai?"
Kai wipes off his mouth as he rejoins Jay, who shows and inquires him about the pictures. Kai doesn't know what they are, but is confused by the figure by Garmadon.
He may not like reading, but Jay knows and loves and is good at picture charade games, so he quickly puts two and two together: "What would the serpentine want with Garmadon or Lloyd?"
Kai is about to answer, but sees something move behind Jay. He throws Jay behind him and charges only to see it was a harmless little toad.
THEN A VENOMARI SPRINGS OUT AND SPRAYS VENOM IN HIS EYES.
Kai feels a burn, but sees the world fade as he sees he's back at his village in Four/For Weapons, but this time a crying, half burnt Nya screams in his face that it's his fault their parents are dead and he never should've become a ninja. He tries defending himself, but Wu appears behind him and admits he should've chosen someone else to be a part of the team. Cole appears and calls him weak and a waste of everyone's time and effort, Zane wonders why Wu bothered choosing him, and Jay races toward him, blazing with lightning and more furious than a hungry lion.
SYKE! While Kai freaks out, Jay tries snapping him out of it, so they can fight off the Venomari as they advance.
Thank goodness Cole and Zane arrive, Zane not fully ready for another fight, but together enough to kick away any snakes; he's here to kick stuff and chew bubblegum, and he never has any bubblegum.
Cole asks what Kai's deal is and Jay explains he has no idea as Kai screams at Zane to let him go and not hurt him. Zane confirms he's hallucinating and plays the Sacred Flute, remembering how it diminished the hypnosis Scales used on Cole.
It works for a while before until Pythor picks up Kai and Zane by the backs of their shirts and tosses them away, using his tail to snatch the sacred flute.
"Ooh. What an interesting little instrument."
Zane grabs onto a branch and catches Kai, who kicks at him to let him go. The braanch breaks and they land on a leaning tree that creaks beneath their weight. Zane freezes, but Kai only continues to panic, drawing his sword and demanding Zane stay away as both struggle to keep their balance on the rickety, falling tree.
Jay and Cole fight off more Venomari before turning their attention to Pythor, though Jay's attention turns to Zane and Kai, Zane trying to steady Kai as the red ninja swings at him. Jay races toward them as the tree snaps and Cole move to stop him before Pythor wraps his tail around Cole's leg and hoists him up to inspect him, pondering if he's who they need to find the fang blades.
Cole hears a crack and a splash-esque sound and looks behind him to see the branch Kai, Jay, and Zane are on has broken and is now being dissolved in the acid, the three if them sinking downward.
Cole panics and yells for them to be saved, but Pythor only acts more like a dick and turns Cole around to them
"If you're as useful as I think you are, what point would they serve other than to remind you of what you've lost? It's wrong to defy destiny, after all."
The tree sinks lower and Cole cries more desperately as he watches Jay have to headbutt Kai and hold him on his shoulders to jewp him from falling in and Zane slip up to a higher point on the tree, see and feel it teeter under his weight and then rejoin Jay's side.
He tries freezing the acid, but it instantly melts away. Jay shouts for him to try the nunchucks, but Zane gets electrocuted.
Just as the acid almost reaches their toes, smoke pellets are thrown and clous the snakes' vision from the ninja, who see a rope fall in front of them to climb.
A sonic, "nails on chalkboard," electric type sound fills the air and the Venomari flee from the samurai mech, especially Pythor, who also drops Cole and gets grazed by a sort of double bladed frisbee, MAYBE it's a chakram, but I'm just guessing.
Zane helps a shaken Cole to his feet as Jay fanboys over the mech and its driver, a person ckad in armor, a mask, and goggles.
Cole thanks them for saving him and the other ninja before getting some sleep smoke in his face and knocking him out. Jay goes for his nunchucks as Kai panics agaim, but they're also smoked down. Zane and the samurai engage in battle, though he's tired, had a seizure, and almost died. He notices the samurai's technique is familiar and notices a mark on the side of the samurai's head, what looks to be a small scar from a weapon used by the skeleton army during the attack on Four/For Weapons.
"Is... that you?"
The inspection costs him as the samurai hits him with sleep smoke and knocks him out with the others before departing, the Bounty arriving soon after to pick up the ninja.
Like in episode 4, Zane is the last to wake up, except this time the other ninja aren't up and about. They're all getting over whatever incense was used to put them to sleep, though Kai has to squint so he can see what's real, and he's holding Lloyd because he jist wants to hold the brat after almost dying; the flute diluted a lot of the venom, so it'll wear off soon.
Wu inquires them about what they found at the tombs, which they explain; Kai mutters, "Traitor," as Lloyd switches from sitting next to Kai to joining Zane's side.
Cole talks about the images Zane translated as Wu flame cups some of his ribs back into place(Skalidor almost broke them entirely), mentioning how the serpentine might try to use Garmadon to help them find the silver fang blades. Jay cuts in that he and Kai something similar to that, but brings up how they saw Garmadon and another person over a map.
Kai asks out loud, "Wait a second. Didn't you say the serpentine want to use Lloyd or Lord Garmadon?"
Zane gulps as Lloyd huddles into him, putting an arm around him.
Lloyd admits he never should've taken the map and blames himself for the ninja getting hurt, but Wu assures him everything will be okay now that they know what to do: protect Lloyd, keep the serpentine as far away from Garmadon as possible, destroy the fang blades, and keep the tribes from uniting.
Wu and Nya leave the ninja to rest a little longer, though Nya and Zane eye each other amd Nya leaves the room.
Kai rubs his eyes and flops back in his bed, complaining about the venom giving him a headache, though Cole gently reminds him to lie on his stomach to get the venom out, which he does.
Jay drinks an energy drink to calm himself, noticing Cole isn't asking if it's his second bottle that day; he makes sure Jay only has one a day.
Zane rubs the back of his head, but does turn his attention to Lloyd, who asks what happened and if Cole is okay. Before he van respond, Cole reploes he's fine, admitting he's just glad they're all okay and that they were saved.
At dinner, Jay talks about the samurai, though Zane, Kai, AND Lloyd correct him, because Zane knows what it is and just taught Lloyd. Wu explains what a samurai is to Cole, who get confused in Lloyd's place because he wasn't brought up with said knowledge.
They discuss the tribes uniting, rather how to prevent it and the ninja reveal Pythor stole the sacred flute while Zane keeps his eyes on the table.
Dinner is interrupted by the sensors and the ninja head out, Zane still bummed out at his pink gi and Kai surprised by the sudden realization that no one's been attacking him, so he's off kilter.
They get to the sewer and see the tribes argue, but listen to what Pythor has to say.
Cole wonders how they can stop them and Kai asks him if he'd like to keep the high score he got on Kai's game. It confuses all the ninja, but it clicks with the lesson they learned.
"Who can trust the Hynpobri when they'll just trick everyone into doing what they want?"
"The Constricti need to stop digging and get a grip on each other!"
"Fangpire working WITH other tribes? More loke the other tribes will work FOR the Fangpire!"
"I'm surprised everyone's found their way here after thw Venomari spat in their faces!"
It's offensive, but it works. The tribes begun to stop listening to Pythor and start tearing each other apart.
Until Skales sees the ninja watching the madness and nods to Skalidor, who's ready for payback after the knockout and earworms from Cole and Zane.
The ninja start to leave, but are stopped by Constricti. Kai is the first to be taken down, dragged under by the ankle as the others have to run. Cole is next, Skalidor stopping him by wrapping his tail around Cole's neck before pulling him under. Jay is stopped when two tackle him, one locking him in a chokehold while the other restrains his legs, and shouts for Zane to run.
He unsheathes his shurikens, but listens to Jay when he sees the cracks the the ground race toward him, one faster than the rest.
Zane books it until he's stopped at a dead end, where Skalidor and a underling Constricti resurface. Out of options, he hides and waits for them to see him, waits to possibly be broken in half by the snake he and Cole previously encountered, maybe even be triggered into another seizure.
But they don't do anything.
He looks to see Skalidor demand where he vanished off to before shuffling back. Skalidor, familiar with vibration in the ground, senses this and inspects where it came from, getting inches away from Zane until he and his underling are called back by the venomari general Acidicus.
Once they're gone, he walks away from the wall he was against and sees it's a poster for a band that he's blended into.
Back with the serpentine and ninja, Skales, extremely mad, golf clubs Kai in the face as he demands wherw the fourth ninja is, saying he knows that there's four of them.
Kai, who's been being hit a lot, smirks up at Skales with his split lip and bloodied face and asks if his vision really is going bad from being close to a Venomari, or if he's been wasting his time hypnotizing everyone. Rather than hit Kai again, he ramms the ground end of his staff into Cole's stomach; all the ninja are tied up, but they're side by side and tied in different ways: Jay strung up by his wrists so he can't use his lightning, Kai with his hands behind his back fo prevent fires, and Cole with his arms and hands tied behind him.
Pythor realizes that with the ninja trapped like this, they can be used to sway the serpentine to his side, seeing as how they now have beef with the ninja.
He thinks fast, retakimg hiis place begore the serpentine and announcing he has a gift for them: the demises of the ninja that have tried to thwart them. The serpentine start arguing again, each side wanting to be the one to do it, but Pythor tells them it's his gift to them.
Too bad a golden shuriken cuts him off and a certain pink ninja swoops in, making ice walls to keep the serpentine from attacking. Skalidor lunges for him, but Zane slides under him, making a slide so he crashes into Pythor and the other tribe generals.
Zane frees the others and they make a run for it before usimg Zane's and Kai's motorcycles to escape, the team missing when Skales gets yelled at by Pythor.
Back home, after getting patched up, the ninja breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they at least stopped the tribes uniting. Jay thanks Zane for stepping in when he did, though Zane 'says' they should be thanking Lloyd, who walks in with Zane's now white gi and a smile on his face, saying he no longer has to be the pink ninja. He then gives Cole a recipe he found for the soup he was trying to make, one that Lloyd will not be tampering with again.
Cole ruffles his hair and chuckles, "Thanks a lot, pip squeak."
Zane smiles at the exchange before turning to Nya, who gives him sad, puppy eye, almost guilty. He smiles again and winks at her, drawing a small 'X' on his chest; 'I won't tell a soul.'
