4. Dark Sides: Rise of the Anacondrai

Chapter 30 - True Colors

Garmadon's staff shot up just in time to block a strike from his brother. He flipped the staff around and swung at him, but Wu deftly stepped aside and retaliated with a punch. Although Garmadon was giving it everything he had, Wu had grown stronger since they last fought. Not to mention that he had always been a savage fighter anyway. He relied more on the power behind his blows, and caught Garmadon off guard with his unexpected moves. It was even worse that Garmadon kept forgetting about his extra arms.

Wu threw another punch at him. "Surrender, Garmadon!"

As he kicked, Garmadon leapt backwards to put some distance between them. He held his staff defensively in both hands. "Now that your students are gone, will you stop talking nonsense?"

Wu chuckled. "I'm sorry, brother, but it's fun to play the good guy. Now I see why you always acted so pretentious when we were young. People listen to you more when you know the right things to say."

Garmadon's grip tightened and he ground his teeth. "You're sick, Wu. Stealing these boys away from their homes just to help you win?"

Wu tilted his head. "I knew you were always a hypocrite Garmadon, but now you're testing my patience." Wu lunged at him again. Garmadon lifted his staff, but Wu grabbed it with two of his hands and ripped it away. He punched Garmadon in the face, and pain exploded across his jaw. He caught his brother's next fist and yanked on is arm, flinging him aside.

Then Wu whipped into a Spinjitzu tornado, and Garmadon did the same. They glided over the canyon, pummeling each other with equal force. When Garmadon finally came out of it, he was breathless, but Wu didn't give him any time to rest. He only just turned as Wu came at him and caught two of his hands. The pushed against each other as Wu grinned benath his black beard.

"How does it feel, dear brother, to know that your efforts have failed? Once I get rid of you, I'll pick off every last Elemental Master in your precious Alliance, and then every last one of your students. Even your family will be at my mercy once I have the most powerful weapon in all of Ninjago."

"You would never hurt Misako!" Garmadon said with an extra bought of strength that allowed him to push Wu back a little.

Wu's face turned dark. "If you still believe that, you're even more of a fool than I thought." He leaned closer. "She betrayed me, she left me for you! She'll die just like her son. My only regret is that you won't be there to see it."

"No!"

Wu used a free hand to punch him in the stomach. Garmadon released his brother as he doubled over, the air gone from his lungs. Wu stood over him, his voice proud and gloating.

"I admit, Garmadon, you still put up quite a fight. But you see, my students are rather useful on their own. By separating you from your team, I have a real chance to defeat you once and for all. Of course, now that I have the power to wield the Mega Weapon, no one, not even Chen will be able to stand against me."

Gasping, Garmadon got to his knees and sucked in enough air for a strained comment. "I've met your students. They're not like you. You can't make them like you, no matter how hard you try."

"Perhaps not. No matter what I tried, I could never convince them to follow my every command. Still, I will hold on to them as long as they are useful, but their weapons are the true prize. In spite of their weak wills, recent developments have provided me with the chance to draw and even stronger rift between our sides."

Wu seized Garmadon by the front of his robes and threw him to the ground again. Garmadon's head hit the dirt and for a second he saw stars. He coughed as dust filled his lungs and he tried to prop himself up.