#softwarecompatableshipping

“Pixal? What are you doing up?”

Pixal startled, making a noise akin to a computer ding and a cat who's been awaken from sleep. She lowered the hand her chin rested on and turned her head up at Nya, “Oh! I am sorry, did I wake you?”

Nya squinted a bit more, Pixal’s eye lights being just bright enough to irritate her sleepy eyes. It wasn’t like they were all that bright, but looking directly at them was kind of like looking at a digital clock in the same situation; just bright enough to cause sleepy eyes to hurt but not really bright enough to see anything else. Only difference here thought being the green and her eyes being a touch brighter than a clocks.

“Yes, but seriously, what’s got you up? Aren't you normally sleeping like Zane when everyone else is?”

Nya carefully rolled the rest of the way over the side of her bunk, legs sliding off and onto the floor without hitting Pixal’s knees. Pixal continued to watch her drop down and turn to sit on her bed, her face blank as could be.

“I don’t need sleep so-“

“I know, I know, you’re a nindroid and nindroids don’t sleep, but I meant why aren't you ‘sleeping’ like Zane? We all know he only does this when we’re all together. So I was just wondering why you didn’t too.”

“Oh, right, Zane’s ‘sleep mode’. I’ve found myself doing it occasionally, but not tonight. I ... don’t feel right doing it,” she said, her attention returning to the sleeping nindroid across from them. Nya looked at Zane, trying to see in the dim light with limited success. The best she could make out was the vague shape of him on his back, deathly still compared to her brother above him who’s chest rose and fell with the same steady rhythm of the billows at the forge.

“Is there any particular reason why?”

“Is there a particular reason you aren’t sleeping with Jay tonight?”

“Pfft, besides the fact that the bunks are too small and Kai’s face in the morning when he sees Jay cuddling me like a teddy bear? Nooo, no reason at all.”

Pixal giggled lightly, her hand returning to her chin to prop it again. She slumped over with her left resting on one leg and her right elbow digging into her knee, one of the most human poses Nya had ever seen out of her.

“I guess, after being apart from him for so long again I just .. can’t.”

“You’re afraid he’ll be gone again when you wake up, right?”

“Yes. I know it’s illogical-“

“But nothing, Pixal. Trust me, it’s normal. Zane did the same thing for a whole week after you up and left his head.”

“He did?” Pixal straightened up, turning to look at Nya with a surprised face.

“Yeah,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the support post for her bunk, “he was pretty freaked out once he realized you weren’t just shut down. He just about tore his own head open!”

“I didn’t know I caused him that much worry,” she said as her gaze fell to the floor.

“Yeah well, you had ALL of us worried too,” Nya reached over and put her hand on Pixal’s shoulder, “you’re an important member of the team, Pixal. We all started to freak out a bit. It didn’t help that Zane didn’t shut down all week just in case you booted up again at any time.”

“I should have told you sooner.”

Nya moved her arm behind Pixal to her other shoulder, pulling her into a side hug.

“The past is the past, what matters is the now.”

She gave her a small smile, the dull light of Pixal’s eyes casting faint shadows on Nya’s face.

A quick flick in the silent room caught both ladies attention,  eyes turning to the bunk across the room again. Nya couldn’t make out exactly what had changed but she could see that Zane had turned his head away from them, a soft sound barely reaching her ears from him.

“What was-?”

“Zane’s holo disguises. He’s turned it on in his sleep again,” she said as she leaned forward, letting Nya’s hand fall away from her. “He does this sometimes  when he’s dreaming, most often when he dreams of the past.”

“Dreams? But I thought-”

“Nindroids don’t dream, but Zane does. The best hypothesis we have is that it is caused by his element, considering almost all of his dreams have been prophecies of near future events pertaining to the ninja, and Master Wu has said the former Master of Ice had Seer powers as well.”

“So most of his dreams are of the future, not the past. So how do you know he dreams about that at all?”

“Zane has told me about every future dream he’s had, and even he said himself, most of them are of that. He did tell me some very rare times he has nightmares, and I’ve seen him have at least one of those. When I asked him if he had any others, he said yes but refused to tell me more information about them beyond that they were of the past.”

“Maybe they’re dreams about when he lived with Dr. Julian, he did say his memories of his past get more dream like the farther past his father's first death he goes.”

“Perhaps, that would explain why his protection looks more like his old face than his new. He even will have a visual displacement that looks like his old face skin being skewed.”

“Really? But I thought he hated that.”

“He does, but it seems to happen occasionally.”

Quiet settled once again in the room, both ladies seemingly focusing on the young man across from them. Nya squinted hard to see Zane, but nevertheless saw him raise his right arm straight out to the side. A painfully familiar sight to her that got her to break the silence.

“Aww, he’s dreaming about his falcon.”

“How can you tell?” Pixal asked as she looked over without turning.

“That’s the arm it used to perch on, we actually don’t know if Zane just used that arm because it was easier or if falcon actually had a preference.”

“Ah, so that’s what that means.”

“Wait so he’s done this before?” Nya turned her head back to face Pixal, her eyebrows pinching into a questioning look.

“Yes, it has happened a few times, it’s about as rare as his nightmares,” she said without taking her eyes off him. Nya turned back to Zane, watching him for a few more seconds before deciding to change the topic.

“Hey, you wanna go to the kitchen and get a snack?”

“That’s the best thing you’ve said all night,” said another voice to their right, startling both young ladies and grabbing their attention.

“Skylor? When did you wake up?”

“Mmmmm, maybe a minute before you did? I thought I could just go back to sleep on my own, but then you two started chatting and it got interesting sooo,” Skylor explained as she got out of her bunk.

“Then why didn’t you join the conversation earlier?” Pixal asked as Skylor walked over and leaned on the post supporting Nya’s bunk.

“Didn’t have anything to add,” she shrugged, “I don’t know Zane as well as you two so there wasn’t a point.”

A fair statement considering most of her time was spent at her business, chatting with Kai and/or Nya, or keeping contact with the other Elemental Masters. It was only in the last few days since the boys came back from the First Realm that Skylor began to hang out with the rest of the team, something Nya had come to enjoy a lot.

“So are we going to get that snack or what?” Skylor asked playfully. Giggling, Nya stood up and started walking to the door with her. She turned around before completely passing Pixal, holding her hand out to her, “Come on Pixal, I know you don’t need to eat, but it’ll be more fun with you.”

Pixal made brief glances between Nya’s hand and face and Zane, a moment of hesitation overcoming her.

“Don’t worry, he’ll still be here when we come back,” Skylor added, her voice gentle and comforting.

Pixal took one last look at Zane before taking Nya’s hand. The three walked out and down to the kitchen, lightly chatting about pajamas and food. Glasses of milk were pored and enjoyed with crackers along with stories of Skylor’s weirdest customers. At least two stories, a sleeve of crackers and ten minutes passed with only good cheer before Pixal got an alert.

“Oh dear,” she scooted her chair away from the table and stood quickly.

“What’s wrong?” Skylor asked, the cracker halfway to her mouth being put back on its plate.

“Temperature is rapidly dropping in the bedroom. Zane must be having a nightmare.”

Pixal ran out of the room, Skylor and Nya exchanging surprised looks before running after her.

It was cold and bright out; the trees coated in a layer of ice that made them glitter in the sunlight. Zane loved when that would happen, something about the post ice-storm weather made him feel at home. Better yet, this was his home forest; the tall birch trees towering over the fresh snow drifts. His feet crunched and popped over the snow, little piles of powder trailing between each print. But he wasn’t alone; a different set of feet walked alongside him, keeping up easily with his brisk pace.

Zane looked to his left, finding Pixal walking beside him holding his hand. She turned and smiled at him, a gesture he enthusiastically returned. They continued to walk in the forest when a loud cry from the sky caught their attention.

Falcon swooped in lazy loops above them, squawking at them before turning to fly right to Zane. Instinctively he raised his right arm out, Falcon landing perfectly on him like always.

“Hello old friend, I didn’t expect you to visit today!”

Falcon squawked and flexed its wings, doing its little ‘follow me’ dance before flying off in a direction. Gripping Pixal’s hand tighter Zane pulled her after him, following the Falcon deeper into the forest saying a cheerful “come on!”

They followed the robot bird for a short ways before coming to a familiar clearing. Falcon landed on a branch of the largest tree and happily squawked and screed. Zane looked at the tree and smiled; he was home.

“Zane? Is that you?!” A voice called, one that made his heart nearly stop again.

Dr. Julian walked briskly into the clearing, the few logs in his arms being quickly dumped and forgotten by the trees roots.

“Oh Zane my boy! It’s been so long, how have you been?” Dr. Julian asked as he hugged his son. There was barely a wrinkle on his face, only a few hairs here and there starting to grey. His smile was exactly the same, though; warm and comforting no matter how cold it was outside.

“Hello, father, it is so good to see you. I was not expecting to drop by today, but it seems we have gone on quite the detour on our walk.”

“Mhmhm, it seems you have, but I am still very glad you are here regardless. Now aren’t you going to introduce me to your lady friend here?”

“Oh! That’s right! You’ve not met PIXAL before! Father this is PIXAl; she is an android like me and was made by Cyrus Borg. She is a very capable fighter and an amazing hacker. She is also absolutely vital to me,” Zane explained, smiling at her with a mesmerized look and clutching her hand tighter.

“Well then, it’s nice to meet you Pixal! I am absolutely overjoyed that my son could find a young lady like yourself,” Dr. Julian took both of her hands in his and held them firmly, the smile on his face only broadening as his eyes squinted.

“So Borg you say, I’ve heard rumors of some upstart by that name saying he was making leaping progress in robotics farther east of Ninjago.”

“Yes, Cyrus Borg moved into Ninjago city not long after The Overlord was defeated. He made major upgrades to much of Ninjago’s technology.”

“Ghmhm that’s good. From what I remember Ninjago City was at risk of at least monthly blackouts. But it’s been a long time since I’ve visited.”

“Father, you were there when we defeated The Overlord, surely you haven’t forgotten.”

“Oh no, Zane, I haven’t, I’m just pulling your leg a bit.” Dr. Julian sat down on one of the roots of the massive tree, patting a spot beside him for his son to join him.

“Zane, can I ask you something?” He asked as Zane sat down.

“Of course, Father, what is it?”

“Do you like this girl?”

“Pixal? Of course I like her, she is very intel-“

“Zane, I meant do you love her?”

“I...  Yes, I do, with all my heart.”

“And does she love you back?”

“Yes.”

“Then good,” He said firmly, looking away from his son to look at the sky with eyes closed, “I am very happy for you, Zane. More than I could ever explain.”

“Father?”

“You’ve found love, Zane! I never expected that to happen! This is more surprising and exciting than when you became a ninja! I never could have dreamed any of this happening to you, and I am so happy it has.”

Dr. Julian wrapped his arms around Zane, pulling him into a twisted hug. Zane hugged him back, something in him finally giving way, as he started to cry. The two stayed like that for what felt like forever yet not long enough, before finally pulling apart to look at the other. Dr. Julian’s eyes were just as wet as his sons, the smile both of them shared mirrored almost perfectly. Then Zane noticed something, or more accurately, the lack of someone. Dr. Julian followed Zanes gaze and looked all around them.

“Where’d she go?” He asked, getting no response from his quickly panicking son. Zane bolted up from his spot and began running, following her footprints in the snow with signal-minded fear. It wasn’t long before his old home was out of sight, the trees becoming unfamiliar and looking like they moved out of the corner of his eyes. Zane ran harder, fear spreading through his body like one of Jay’s playful shocks.

Then he came to a new clearing, and the sight he saw had his heart beating harder than when he faced The Overlord head on.

Pixal was surrounded by at least a dozen Treehorns, each one closing in fast. Their long spindle legs seemed to make a wall between the two, blocking any view Zane had of her.

Without thinking he charged in, screaming her name and firing ice blasts every which-way. Half of them were frozen in place by the time he got to her, the other half becoming more aggressive and bold in their attempts to stomp them. Zane tried to push Pixal behind himself, but she refused to move, instead slapping his hands away.

“Zane,” she grabbed his shoulder, yelling his name a few more times before grabbing his other and shaking him.

“Zane. Zane! ZANE!”

“GAAAH!”

Zane sat bolt upright, his right hand outstretched before him and a bit to the right. He could feel the splintering cold from his palm and in between his fingers, the tell-tail after effect of his powers. Breathing heavily, Zane looked up his arm and followed the second hand that rested on it. Pixal looked back at him, her green eyes wide with panic.

“Pixal! You’re alright,” he sighed in exasperated relief, hugging her tightly despite the odd angle.

“Zane I am perfectly safe. I’ve been here all night. Whatever happened was just a dream.” Pixal carefully pushed him back until he let go, staring at him intently. She let her hands fall back to her sides once he was sitting up again, or tried in the case of her left hand which he took hold of in his right.

“I... I know that now, but it was still worrying to see you surrounded by Treehorns. I thought I might lose you again,” he said, voice quiet and soft. His eyes stayed locked on their hands, his thumb rubbing back and forth along the top of her hand.

“Zane,” she placed her other hand on his shoulder, prompting him to look at her directly before asking “what is a ‘Treehorn’?”

A few seconds passed before Zane seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in.

“Oh! Treehorns are large creatures from my old home. They are as tall as the trees and look very similar to them, they eat people.”

“And may I ask why we were in a forest full of these dangerous creatures?”

Zane lowered his head again, focusing on her hand once more.

“We had gone for a walk and gotten very lost. My falcon appeared and lead us deeper into the forest, taking us back to Father’s home.”

He smiled at her hand before looking up at her face with the same softly fond look he always had.

“He is very happy to meet you, and is very happy that we are together.”

“Mhmhm, as am I, Zane,” she said just before she leaned down and kissed his forehead.

Nya and Skylor stood stunned not too far away, Nya’s hands slowly covering her mouth to suppress whatever sound would try and escape her. Skylor couldn’t help herself and let out a quiet fusion of “aww” and “ohh”. The two ladies exchanged brief glances before trying to silently sneak back out of the room; an effort to give the two nindroids some sort of privacy quickly ruined by yet another unexpected guest.

“Ummm, I’m sorry to interrupt but, uh, could I get some help?”

Lloyd’s unnatural green eyes burned through the dim room, their light not casting onto any part of his face making for a surprisingly intimidating sight. Nya leaned over and flicked the light on, wincing a bit at the sudden change. With more light on the situation, it was clear to see what the problem was. Most of the wall next to Zane and even extending up under Kai’s bunk had a layer of ice on it, some of it beginning to drip onto Zane’s bedding due to the Master of Fire sleeping right above him. On the other side of the room however, on the bunk above Skylor’s, exactly where Zane pointed to when he awoke, sat a good sized chunk of ice. Sticking out of the ice chunk was Lloyd’s sock clad foot.

“Oh! Lloyd, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you or ice you.”

“I know Zane, it’s alright, just, could someone give me a hand?” Lloyd asked, staring at his toes with the Sad Look.

(If there was one thing the ninja were surprised to learn, it was that the sad puppy-ish look Lloyd made all the time was not exclusive to him. No, Master Wu made practically the same face during their time in the First Realm. And after seeing him make the same face again but with facial hair, they all concluded that the Contemplative Master Look was just what the Sad Look looked like with a beard, mustache, and wrinkles. A quick ask of Misako confirmed that, indeed, Garmadon made the same face and that is was very much a family thing.)

“I got it,” Skylor said, walking briskly to Zane’s bunk and touching Kai’s dangling limp arm. A quiet grown and a rolling turn away to the wall expressed just how much the still asleep young man thought about the light and talking in the room. Skylor then walked over to Lloyd, her hand warming up with the borrowed heat from Kai. A full flame surrounded her hand by the time she reached his bunk, and with one swift slam her scorching hot hand landed on the ice and promptly began to melt it away. It wasn’t long before Lloyd’s ankle and lower leg were freed from the cold chunk, although Lloyd still wore his Sad Look. Nobody ever liked having socks or pants wet, and now he had both.

“Thanks, Skylor,” He said, a small smile trying to force through, though not quite overpowering the feeling of wet sock and pants.

“No problem, Lloyd,” Skylor smiled back at him, her own far more genuine.

“Well, since we’re all awake now, I guess we could get started on training?” Nya half-heartedly suggested; her shrug and disappointed face making it fairly clear how she felt about that idea.

“Oooorrrr we could go back to the kitchen and eat more crackers while I tell you all about the guy who tried to beat Dearth’s Puffy Potsticker record,” Skylor suggested, looking between everyone who was awake for agreement.

“That sounds like a lot more fun,” Lloyd said as he began to climb off his bunk. The three humans started to the door, the nindroids looking between themselves and Lloyd  for a second before Zane spoke; “I agree, that does sound rather enjoyable.”

And so the five of them sat in the kitchen, laughing and chatting into the wee hours of the morn. By the time the sun was up and Sensei Wu was making his way into the room to make his morning tea, all of them were asleep. Wu smiled, taking in the sight of his students and close friends being so relaxed and content.

Lloyd sat with his head nestled into his arms on the table, his hair shielding his eyes from view. Nya had her head propped up in one hand that was on the table, leaning against Skylor who herself was sleeping propped agents the wall. Zane and Pixal slept soundly sitting upright, only lightly leaning on the other as if they were cuddling.