4. Dark Sides: Rise of the Anacondrai

Chapter 29 - Divided

Jay followed Master Wu and Kai as they descended into the canyon. At Wu's command, Cole and Zane had split off into different parts of the battle, while the three of them were going to surprise the Alliance from behind. Jay made the final leap off the sheer rock wall, landing in a cloud of dust on the ground. The Elemental Masters were struggling to hold Chen's army back. The Anacondrai weren't gaining any ground, but the Alliance wouldn't be able to hold them off forever.

"Garmadon!" Master Wu called. "Face me if you dare!"

Most of the masters were preoccupied with maintaining their line, but Garmadon turned to look at Wu.

"Oh great," Skylor grunted. "Look who's back. Now we're boxed in!"

"Go on Sensei," Turner said. "We can hold 'em. Go kick his butt!"

Garmadon was able to get away while the other masters filled in the space he left, ensuring that no snakes got through.

Jay could see how worn out the old man was. Sweat glistened on his brow, but he stood tall and faced his brother. Just then, Nya appeared at his side. She wore the same kind of helmet she had on when they first met, but Jay could guess that it had some newer alterations.

"Thought I'd make things a bit more even," she said. "Didn't look like a fair fight to me."

Kai shook his head. "C'mon, Nya, this isn't your fight."

Nya drew a long and a short sword from her belt. "But you wouldn't say that if it was your sensei."

Listen to him, Jay silently pleaded. Don't do this!

"You would be wise to heed your brother's words," Master Wu said quietly. "You don't belong in this battle."

"Neither do you. We're here to fight Chen. Sorry to disappoint you, but we can only take on so many traitorous snakes at once. Care to take a rain check?"

"You certainly are his sister," Master Wu muttered under his breath. "But do you really think it's worth all this to divide your family even further?"

Nya stiffened. "I'm not the one who divided us! Kai's the one who ran away."

"He's just trying to get inside your head," Garmadon said. "Don't listen to him."

"Didn't you ever wonder why?" Master Wu continued. Jay threw a glance at Kai, who didn't look too comfortable. "Haven't you ever asked yourself what made him feel so insignificant that he felt he had to leave in the first place? No, you never would think of that, would you? Too concerned with yourself, too busy soaking up all the praise that he deserved!"

"Stop this nonsense, Wu!" Garmadon interrupted. "What are you trying to achieve?"

"Just to remind my students where their loyalties lie."

"As you said brother, this is our battle. Leaver our students out of it. We can settle this on our own."

"My thoughts exactly!" Master Wu lunged and Jay heard Nya gasp. Garmadon just barely blocked a fatal blow with his own staff before retaliating. They moved swiftly, almost too fast for Jay to follow as they struck and parried back and forth. Wu caught Garmadon's staff with two of his hands and they were briefly locked in an effort to overpower each other. They broke apart, only for Wu to charge again, and from there they were lost in a blur of Spinjitzu. Their students were left facing each other, while the battle swelled in the background.

Jay didn't want to hurt Nya, and he didn't think Kai wanted to either, but the two of them would be enough to keep her thoroughly distracted while their masters fought.