Try to open your heart: Pythor and Aspheera story

Chapter 1

PYTHOR'S POV

Strange mechanical bugs—spider-like in shape—led me into the underground depths of Ninjago City. Pathetic place. Toxic. Killing me slowly with every breath. The moment I crossed the boundaries of the Kryptarium Prison, I tore off the striped rags the people working there made me wear. What a hideous creatures. I've got imprisoned and later got saved by metal imitations of spiders. I don't think there is a worse embarrassment than this. 

But, I had almost forgotten how suffocating Ninjago could be, especially the capital. Wherever you looked, another monstrous building loomed, each one taller and uglier than the last. Factory chimneys towered over the skyline, vomiting thick, poisonous smoke. I could feel it already—stinging my eyes and choking my lungs.

And yet the mayor and that glorified cog-in-a-suit, Cyrus Borg, insisted they were "improving" the city. Pfft, improving it? Sure. And I'm the High King of the Serpentine, I wasn't eaten by the Great Devourer, and my dear brother isn't a total lunatic.

I shook my head and hissed under my breath.

"How I hate this realm... Everything is better in Knighton. Backward, yes—but at least breathable."

The five spiders stopped at the edge of an opening—an entrance to the sewer tunnels below. I groaned.

"Great. Just great."

Two of the bugs used their front limbs to open the hatch and leapt inside. The other three turned to face me. I swatted at them with my tail.

"Out of the way, you worthless tin bugs!"

A shiver crept up my spine as I approached the hole. My snout wrinkled in disgust.
"I hate Ninjago." I hissed, and climbed down after them.

But to my surprise, it wasn't a sewer tunnel. We'd entered the subway—deep underground and long abandoned. I blinked once, then twice, forcing myself to recover.

The spiders chittered and hissed in their metallic way, waiting for me to catch up.
"Well, don't just sit there twitching! Let's move! The Crystal King doesn't like to be kept waiting!"

They led me through the tunnels to a strange silver vehicle. I stared at it, arms crossed.
"And what, exactly, am I supposed to do with this?"

Of course, no response. Stupid pests.
Pythor, you're repeating yourself again...

One spider hopped into the cockpit. The others vanished into wall vents. I scowled but stepped into the vehicle. As soon as I did, the doors slammed shut and the machine bolted forward at dizzying speed.

I barely had time to grip the seat. My claws dug into the upholstery as the acceleration pinned me back.

"CAN IT BE SLOWED DOWN SOMEHOW!?" I shouted at the spider clinging to the console. 

No answer.

The vehicle skidded to a halt moments later. My head slammed into the cockpit.

"Argh! Holy—! Seat belts! Ever heard of them!?" I groaned, rubbing the diamond on my forehead. Supposed to symbolize the royal blood—but hurts like blazes when you hit it.

The doors opened. The spider leapt out. I followed, stumbling slightly as dizziness hit me like a freight train. My vision blurred. I shook my head.

"Never. Ever. Again." I hissed, staggering after the spider who didn't even look back.
Emotionless rust bucket. Even vacuum cleaners have better manners.

We entered through sliding titanium doors, and rows of stone statues greeted us. My brows furrowed.

"Wolves?" I murmured, peering at their snarling stone faces. "No... human-wolf hybrids? No—werewolves!"