A Serpent's Promise

Chapter 1 - The Real Devourer

Everything in Ninjago City seemed to have gone back to normal; true, it was now covered in the splattered guts and poison of the Great Devourer, but the city was still in one piece—for the most part. And although Garmadon has disappeared along with all four of the Golden Weapons, everyone was ecstatic to find their beloved Sensei Wu was still alive and well, as he rose from the goop of the giant snake.

The ninja, Nya and Lloyd cheered as they sprinted towards the wise man, but he ignored them as he tried to spit out the horrible taste of snake in his mouth. Luckily, Wu found his trusty teapot, which had also found its way into the stomach of the Devourer, and hastily poured himself a cup of tea to wash it down.

They all stood around him and smiled, as he took a big wig of tea and laughed at the fact that it was still hot.

"It's good to have you back, Uncle," Lloyd chuckled in great relief, but a frown suddenly crossed his face, "But my father left, and he took the Golden Weapons."

"Ah, very true. The ability of the weapon is truly great, but the ability to better oneself makes you limitless," Wu slowly but firmly explained.

"I couldn't have said it any better myself," Jay added happily.

"Besides, we have what's most important: You," Kai pointed out while placing a reassuring hand on Lloyd's shoulder.

"The pupils have become the masters," Wu commented with an approving nod.

But despite Wu's comforting words, Lloyd stared down at the ground in fear, "Am I really gonna have ta fight my father one day?"

Wu nodded, "One day. But today, we can feel good that Ninjago is saved—for tomorrow, you will train for the day when good will finally face evil, and a final outcome will be decided for all of time."

"U-Uh, but don't worry! We're gonna teach you everything we know," Kai quickly stated.

"And make sure you're prepared for that battle," Jay pointed out.

"Because as we all know, good will always stand up to evil," Cole firmly informed.

"And ninja always stand up for what is right," Zane added with a smile.

Wu and Nya exchanged knowing glances, and the ninja, including Lloyd, were just about to jump up into the air and cheer about being a ninja—but a nearby groan effortlessly caught everyone's attention.

Mere seconds later, a large pile of snake guts started to twitch, as a dark mass trapped inside tried to free itself from the gelatinous mass. Everyone watched in confused silence, and they stepped back when a tall and lithe figure suddenly burst out of the green goop.

They all gasped and stared in awe at the creature before them; they were a couple feet taller than the average man, covered from head to toe in dark green scales with white scales on their underbelly, and there was a spiked frill atop their head that stretched down to their shoulders. If they didn't know any better, they would swear that this creature looked a lot like…

"Ugh…w-where…am I?" the creature spoke, their voice hoarse but defientely feminine. And when she opened her eyes to take in her surroundings, they shared an unmistakable resemblance to the shimmering amethyst glow of the Great Devourer.

"Who are you?" Lloyd was the first to ask, and he did nothing to hide the disgust in his tone.

"I-I…well, I…" the Serpent-like creature tried to answer, but Wu walked up to her and stared deep into her eyes. She remained quiet as he stared up at her, and he hummed in deep thought while stroking his beard.

"I believe this creature is the Great Devourer," Wu eventually stated.

"Really? What gave it away? Was it the sickening green scales, the piercing purple eyes, or the creepy-ass frill?" Cole ranted on.

"Don't forget the huge fangs," Jay whispered to his fellow teammates, and they nodded agreement when they noticed the four abnormally large and shiny fangs protruding from the creature's mouth.

"Forgive me for my frightening appearance, but I promissse, I mean you know harm," the female creature said while holding her hands up in defense.

"Nice try, but we've learned not to trust snakes, so you can jut slither back to whatever hole you crawled out of," Jay growled threateningly.

"That'sss just it—I do not have a home."

"And we care, because why? As long as it's not here, we couldn't give two rats' asses where you live," Kai sneered.

"Pleasssse, I wish to make it up to you. You may not know this, but I was curssssed. I wasss not always the monssster I once wasss, and that isss certainly not who I am anymore," the tall snake explained.

"So, what you're saying is that you want to help us?" Nya asked in disbelief, and the snake nodded rapidly.

"Hmm—I suppose we can learn to put the past behind us," Wu pondered aloud.

"What? Sensei, you can't be serious!" Cole exclaimed in surprise.

"I can, and I am. We will need all the help we can get for the final battle. And if this creature stays true to her word, she could be the difference between victory and defeat."

"Oh, thank you, thank you. You are very kind, Sir. How can I ever repay you?" the snake sighed in great relief.

"Just promise to help us prepare for the final battle, and that will be payment enough," Wu added with a smile.

The snake smiled back, "I promissse, I will do everything I can to help, Sir."

"Good. And there is no need to be so formal. My name is Sensei Wu, and these are the ninja: Kai, Jay, Cole, and Zane."

When Wu called each of his students' names, neither one of them gave the serpent a look of kindness. But she smiled and bowed respectfully nonetheless.

"Hi, I'm Nya. Unlike my arrogant brother, I'm actually a samurai," Nya pointed out with a smirk.

"Hey!" Kai snapped at being called arrogant.

"A sssamurai, you say? They were very powerful and cherished warriorsss back when I wasss younger. I am honored to be in your pressssence, Miss Nya," the snake explained with another bow.

Nya couldn't help but giggle, "Thanks. And just 'Nya' is fine."

The snake finally noticed the young boy, and smiled down at him, "And who are you?"

Lloyd was just as disapproving to have to make nice with this creature, as he backed away and glared up at her, "Lloyd Garmadon, son of Lord Garmadon, the man you corrupted with your venom."

"Oh, dear. I am very sssorry. I must have poisssoned him after I was cursssed. You must undersssstand that I was not in control of my own actionssss back then," she tried to explain, and leaned down to get eye-level with Lloyd, "I promissse, one way or another, I will make it up to you and your father."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Lloyd scoffed and walked away to blow off some steam.

"I hate ta say it, but I agree with the kid. We shouldn't be so quick to trust her, Sensei," Cole argued while crossing his arms.

"If you do not trust her, then trust me. I believe she truly wants to make up for what she has done," Wu said sternly.

"I hope you're right, Sensei," Kai sighed in defeat, as he and the other ninja followed Lloyd to try and distract themselves with cleaning up the city.

And as she watched them leave, the female snake finally took in the sight of the huge mess around her.

"Did I really do all of thisss?" she asked as her frill drooped in shame.

"Yeah, there's no sugarcoating it," Nya reluctantly replied, "But hey, at least you didn't eat everything?"

"I ssstill ate and dessstroyed too much. It isss as you ssssaid: I cannot ignore the damage I have inflicted on your home, ssso I am prepared for what ever punishment you have planned for me."

Nya and Wu looked at each other knowingly, as the snake bowed her head to receive her punishment. But instead, all she received was a comforting hand on both of her shoulders. She glanced up in surprise, and found that both of them had placed a hand on her shoulders while smiling warmly.

"As long as you try to atone for your mistakes, I see no reason to punish you," Wu explained softly.

"You may be willing to forgive me, but what of your sssstudents? They have gone out of their way to show their dissssdain for me."

"Eh, just ignore 'em. They'll be a bit bitter at first, but they'll learn to like you," Nya added with a scoff.

"You really think sssso?"

"I know so."

The snake smiled at that, "Thank you. You have no idea how much your hossspitality meanssss to me."

"You are very welcome, but there is one more thing we need to know," Wu began while smirking, "What is your name?"

"Oh! My full name is Devonella Crudesora Alligasi Tulanosi," the snake replied happily.

"Um…" Nya muttered as she and Wu once again looked at each other, but this time in confusion.

She quickly noticed this, and chuckled in embarrassment, "You may give me a shorter name if you like."

"How about 'Devon'?" Nya suggested.

"That is a much simpler and more popular choice," Wu added in agreement.

The snake gave a single nod, "'Devon' it isss, then."

I won't lie, this is kinda inspired by The Ancient Magus' Bride. So, if you've ever heard of that anime, there might be some similarities(I'm not entirely sure, though).

Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!