A/N: This story was originally for the Ninjago writing contest but it closed right before I could post it. Anyway, I'm finally writing something more Ninjago like instead of spereate stories. How long has it been since I wrote for this Fandom? Here's to adventure and humor! :)

Zane Girlfriend

When Snakes Fly

Zane pulled his white sheet over his head, eyes shut in deep concentration. He'd definitely heard something. Straining his advanced hearing he only made out the soft breaths of his fellow ninja asleep in their beds.

Nothing.

His lids slid up to reveal icy, blue eyes roving back and forth, scanning the bedroom of the Bounty. Zane smiled. After the battle with the Great Devourer, things had been quiet and peaceful—at least as peaceful as it could be living with Jay.

Creak! Thump. Thump.

Something tapped lightly against the wooden floorboards in the hallway. Next to him, Lloyd started to mumble and sit up. Zane clamped a hand over his brother's mouth and shook his head. Lloyd's green eyes widened and he clutched the sides of the bedpost, but he suddenly froze.

The soft thumping ceased just outside the door. Then resumed farther down the hallway before it was joined by a low, venomous hiss. Distinct. It was unmistakably that of a Serpentine. Zane threw his sheet off and slipped out of bed; then silently crept toward the door.

Lloyd was at his heels, blond hair hanging in front of his contorted face as he breathed from his mouth. His sweaty hands clenched into fists.

The Bounty remained still as the noises gradually faded, replaced by a lingering tension. Zane headed for Jay's bunk while he pulled his Shurikens from underneath the bed. Lloyd grabbed his arm, pulling him close and whispered in his ear.

"Don't wake the others up. They need their sleep. Let's just get the intruders and kick them out."

Zane hesitated for a brief second before nodding. Heart pounding out of his chest, Lloyd stepped into the dark hallway right in front of a dark shape two meters tall. Before he could react, something hard and scaly smacked into his cheek. Crunch. His head snapped to the side but the adrenaline coursing through him prevented him from feeling anything.

Zane zipped past him in a blur of white and silver.

With his advanced sight he made out two Fangpyre holding machetes three feet away. He drew back and released both Shuriken at their heads. The first knocked it away with his blade.

It clattered to the floor as the second ducked low and dove at Zane.

The ice ninja threw a punch, driving his whole body forward. His metal knuckles connected with bone. A muffled scream came from behind. He whipped around to face a Constrictai pressing a black-handled knife against Lloyd's throat. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the deadly, silver blade barely touching his brother's soft flesh.

"Get on the ground," the snake hissed through his fangs. His crushing tail coiled all the way around Lloyd's waist and arms and squeezed tightly.

"Let him go," Zane said calmly. "What do you want?"

"Get down, now."

One of the Fangpyres kicked him from behind, forcing him to both knees. Zane put his hands against the back of his head. He locks eyes with Lloyd, unsure what to do. If he does anything, will the dim-witted Serpentine actually hurt him?

"What do you want?" he repeats.

The three intruders hiss similar to sinister chuckles. "We—"

The door jerked open and smacked into the Constrictai's head. Lloyd seized the opportunity, slamming an elbow back into his captor's gut and snatching the knife from the snake's cold fingers. He jumped forward as the tail uncoils from his body.

Jay exited the room with a hand running through a pile of messy, auburn hair. "What're you guys doing?"

Zane and Lloyd nodded. They whipped into their elemental tornados and spun right for the three fleeing snakes, leaving behind a sleepy, confused lightning ninja.

The Constrictai reached the deck first and climbed onto the ledge. The first Fangpyre was overtaken into a tornado of ice that stung like a dozen needles. Zane hurled himself forward, kicking the snake's back as both dropped to the hard wood.

He landed, knee pinning the Fangpyre down.

A hiss directly ahead snatched his attention.

Lloyd was clambering onto the ledge where the two Serpentine crouched low. The white and red snake opened his mouth to display two fangs dripping with venom and a tongue flickering out.

The orange and black snake behind it was looking up at something above he couldn't see.

Wind whipped through Lloyd's hair as he lunged for the nearest assailant, arms out for a tackle. Zane scanned the deck.

In a split second the Fangpyre bit down on something too hard to be flesh. It vibrated. Lloyd re-directed himself at the last moment and landed a punch square in the snake's eye. He shrieked and tumbled off the ledge.

Then Zane saw it. Through the ashen clouds covering the dark sky, Garmadon hovered above them with the golden Mega Weapon in hand.

He laughed maniacally as Lloyd attempted to tackle the remaining Constrictai. The snake whipped its tail around the ninja's leg and then sent a series of rapid blows to his face. Zane left the Fangpyre, bolting for Lloyd.

Before he could reach him, the Constrictai received a knee in his stomach and a fist on his jaw. With a grunt Lloyd shoved him off the edge.

"Dad?" he yelled over the Bounty's engines and the shrill wind.

Zane pulled up short to watch the evil lord disappear back into the clouds. "I see your security is down tonight. Another time, ninja. Another time!"

"Wait!" Lloyd reached out too quickly. His feet slipped out from under him and he tumbled off the ledge. Zane latched onto his brother's forearm, gripping him using every ounce of strength he had. "Great catch."

The ice ninja hauled him back up onto the deck just in time to see the last snake jump off the Bounty.

They stood there for a moment in silence watching where Garmadon had just been. Only the wind and Lloyd's breaths were audible. Occasionally he touched the swelled bruises from where he'd been hit but they weren't too bad.

Nothing was broken at least. Eventually, the younger ventured to ask, "What'd you throw in the Fangpyre's mouth?"

Zane patted his arm lightly. "Kai's toothbrush."