Author's Note/Disclaimer: I still haven't found a billion dollars with which to buy Ninjago.

So … I originally had this idea to write a story where it looked like Zane had betrayed the team by joining the Serpentine to do some rather shady looking stuff. So I wrote these two little scraps of an idea down so I'd remember it. I was never able to fit a decent plot around it, though, so I decided to let it die. It also didn't help that I've just recently read Night of the Nindroids for the first time and discovered that there's already at least two official stories floating around that draw Zane's loyalties into question. While I love the idea, I don't feel like it needs yet another rehash from me. But I still like what I wrote, and it would be a shame to waste it, so here you go. It was set at some point after season 4. Also, yeah, I will sometimes refer to nunchucks as nunchaku because that's the actual name of the weapon. It's just a thing I do. Also, Lloyd is not here because he was supposed to be off with his mother doing some research at the time.

Start scenes

Zane stood on the cliffside, Skales and Pythor standing off to the side behind him. The dust from where the village had once been was still settling, drifting about them in clouds. Kai, Jay and Cole stood at the bottom of the cliff, their weapons drawn. They were too late.

"You're not going to get away with this, Zane!" yelled Kai, waving his sword heatedly.

Zane could see the anger burning is his friends' eyes, and he flinched slightly. He knew what he was about to say would sound bad, but he was fully committed to the cause now. There was no going back. "I wouldn't need to if you'd just listen to me. Join us. It's not too late."

"No way! I don't know what those snakes have promised you, Zane, but I hope it was worth betraying the team!"

Zane hadn't thought it possible for Kai to look angrier than before, but somehow his friend had managed it. He took a moment to study the others' faces. Cole's expression was drawn and grim, and Jay … Zane could deal with the fury, but the look of hurt betrayal on Jay's face almost made him lose his resolve. Almost.

"I haven't been promised anything, just told the truth of the matter. It really is a matter of life and death, and we can help. But you need to stop fighting us and just listen for a moment."

"Zane," started Cole. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "I am willing to accept that you believe you're doing the right thing, but to me, turning people to stone and destroying whole villages doesn't sound like the kind of thing a good person does. So you'll forgive us for not believing you and doing everything in our power to stop you."

Zane's eyebrows knit in shame and disappointment. "I admit, I didn't really expect to sway you. I do wish you would listen. However, if this is how it must be, then so be it."

"Forget them," hissed Skales as he and Pythor turned to leave in the waiting Rattlecopter. "They're too ssstubborn to know what'sss good for them. Typical humansss."

Zane continued to stand there watching the others even as Skales tugged at his gi to get him to move. Kai and Cole's expressions hadn't changed, but he could see tears glistening in Jay's eyes. The regret it made him feel physically hurt.

"I…" Jay started, and Zane cocked his head slightly, somewhat surprised that the blue ninja was only now speaking up. Jay's expression hardened and he shook a fist at the nindroid. "I hope you choke on a lug nut!"

Zane blinked; the only outward sign of the shock he felt at Jay's words. Without another word, he turned and followed the two Serpentine to the Rattlecopter and the three took to the sky.

Kai let out an enraged bellow, throwing rocks at the fleeing aircraft. Cole crossed his arms to his chest, his face a mask of anger and frustration. Jay rubbed at his eyes, a pathetic grin on his face.

"Zane wouldn't really betray us, right?" he asked, his voice full of empty optimism. "Right? Maybe there's something to what he's saying?"

"If you really believe that, you're welcome to join him," snapped Cole.

Jay shut his mouth, and stared hard at the ground.

X X X

Nya took one look at the ninjas' returning faces and her greeting died in her throat. Eyes hard, she asked, "I gather it didn't go well?"

"If I get my hands on Zane, I'm going to melt his titanium face off," snarled Kai in reply.

"That good, huh?"

Sensei Wu watched his students without a word. Cole stalked off in silence, disappearing below deck. Kai activated the training course and began taking out his aggression on it. Jay just stood there looking miserable until Nya approached him.

"Are you okay, Jay?" she asked, clearly worried.

He just shrugged, at a loss for words, unusual for the motor mouth. Nya hugged him, but he brushed her off- more strange behaviour. Understanding, she let him have his space. He followed after Cole, wandering off below deck.

Nya glanced to Sensei Wu to ask if he had any suggestions, but the old man had already gone.

X X X

Jay didn't see Cole anywhere downstairs. Knowing that his friend often disappeared below deck just told him that Cole had gone to stew in his usual hiding place, wherever that was. That was fine by him, though. He wasn't really up for the company.

Reaching the bedroom, he ripped the sheets off his bed and tucked them under Cole's mattress, turning the lower bunk into his very own fortress of solitude. Crawling into it, he proceeded to pull his knees up to his chest, resting his head on his arms as he contemplated recent events. He didn't want to believe that Zane would really betray the team, at least not without a good reason, but he had to admit Cole was right. It didn't look good for the nindroid. Maybe they should have listened to what he had to say, but Cole and Kai were too stubborn to do so, and if Jay were to suggest it, he'd get snapped at.

Jay let out a shaky sigh. Whatever Zane was doing, he believed it to be in the best interests of Ninjago, that much was for certain. Jay just didn't understand how any of it could be. Turning whole villages to stone and burying them underground didn't make any sense. It was evil … wasn't it?

In truth, none of that really mattered to Jay. All he wanted was his friend back.

He didn't want to cry, but he couldn't help it. The stress of the situation was finally getting to him. He needed to let it out somehow, and he wasn't up to telling jokes. Besides, there was no one there to hear them. At first, he tried to keep quiet. He didn't need to be teased about being a cry-baby along with everything else, but eventually he just gave up. Shoulders shaking, he let out all the grief he was feeling in great sobbing wails.

He wasn't sure how much time passed before he noticed that someone had joined him in his den, a hand on his back. He bit back a sob, sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve before looking up.

"Se-Sensei?"

Sensei Wu patted him on the back before offering his student a smile and a cup. "Tea?"

Jay's smile was thin. "O-okay. Thank you…"

Wu poured two cups of tea, handing one to Jay. The two sat in silence, sipping at their respective drinks for several moments.

"Sensei," said Jay, finally breaking the silence. "Do you … do you think Zane's really betrayed us? I mean, I know he can be pragmatic at times, but this just seems … extreme."

Wu took a moment before replying. "To be honest, I don't know. We all have our own paths to follow in life. If Zane's has taken a detour, it may not be too late to set him back on the right course. But only he can make that decision in the end. If he truly believes that what he does is right, I fear none of us could convince him otherwise."

"Wow, Sensei, that's so reassuring. Thanks for the pep talk!" said Jay, sarcasm thick in his voice.

Wu smiled and clapped Jay on the shoulder. "I am sorry, I won't lie to you. I can't tell you what I don't know. And believe it or not, I do not know everything.

"But I do believe that Zane has a reason for what he is doing. I know the others refuse to hear his explanation, so perhaps you should try to talk to him by yourself at some point?"

"That … actually makes sense. I'll try, Sensei."

"That is all I ask of any of you." Wu paused for a moment, looking about. "Nice sheet fort, by the way."

Jay needed to talk to Zane, but he wasn't sure how to manage it. The attacking Serpentine were keeping him pretty busy, and if Cole or Kai beat him to Zane, he would lose his chance. He thought of yelling insults in an attempt to provoke him, but Zane tended to stay cool in battle. He would most likely just ignore him. Plus, Jay was pretty sure Zane would know he didn't really mean any of them, despite the situation.

While knocking back one of the attacking snakes with his nunchaku, he decided to throw caution to the wind. Jumping atop a rock, he pointed to Zane with his weapon and yelled, "Hey, Zane! Fight me!"

Zane's head snapped in Jay's direction. So far, he was keeping to the back, avoiding direct battle against the others, opting to instead direct the snakes he had allied with. Jay's invitation seemed to vex him.

"Why would I wish to do that?" he asked.

Jay kicked an approaching snake in the face, and knocked another away with his nunchucks before replying, "Because I asked nicely?" Now that he had Zane's attention, he mouthed, I want to talk to you.

It only took Zane a moment to decipher the message. Bringing out his shuriken, he nodded. "All right, then. Let's fight."

Even though Jay was fairly certain Zane wasn't going to try to hurt him, it was still terrifying to watch him suddenly bear down on him. The titanium master of ice's expression was as cold as his element.

There was a shower of sparks as Jay blocked Zane's initial attack. It didn't even slow the nindroid down; he caught up his weapons on the rebound and took a swipe at Jay with them. Jay blocked this attack as well, nearly losing his footing as he slid back from the force of the blow.

The two jumped back from each other for a moment, sizing each other up. Jay took the initiative this time, swinging his nunchaku in a deadly arc he was certain Zane could block. There was a clang as his weapon glanced off Zane's shuriken.

The two fell into an easy rhythm of attacking and parrying. Jay just hoped Cole and Kai didn't become wise to the fact that the battle was being staged and ruin everything. With luck, the Serpentine would keep them busy.

"Zane," Jay said in a hurried whisper as the two came together for a moment as their weapons caught and locked. "I want to know why you're doing this."

Zane gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head. "We don't have time to discuss the situation here."

Jay grunted in frustration as he pushed Zane back, the nindroid executing a back flip to keep his balance. Several intense moments of trading blows later, they came together again. Jay had come up with a crazy idea to pitch in the time it had taken.

"Take me hostage."

"What?"

"Take me with you. Then we can talk."

"Jay …"

"Just do it!"

Zane didn't argue further. With an ease that scared Jay, Zane pushed him back before catching and forcing him to turn around. Grabbing hold, he wrapped one arm around the blue ninja, pinning Jay's arms to his sides, while bringing up his other to press a shuriken to Jay's throat.

"Everyone stop or I will do something we shall all regret!" he announced. Jay swallowed hard, hoping he wasn't doing something incredibly stupid.

The Serpentine immediately backed off, startling Cole in the middle of an attack. He managed to stop his momentum without falling and turned towards Zane. Kai, meanwhile, kicked a couple snakes as they slithered past him in retreat before also turning his attention to the white ninja.

As one, the two yelled, "Jay!"

"Let him go, Zane!" said Cole.

"Don't you dare hurt him!" added Kai.

"I have no intention of hurting him," Zane replied. He pressed his weapon a little harder against Jay's throat. The blue ninja shivered in response. If Zane noticed, he made no indication. "So long as you allow me and the Serpentine to leave without trouble."

Cole frowned. He was in no position to bargain, but decided to try anyway. "Leave Jay and we'll let you go. For now."

Zane shook his head. "Jay comes with us. I will return him in an hour so long as you don't try anything."

"Dammit, Zane …" Kai took an aggressive step forward.

So quickly Jay barely knew it was happening before it was over, Zane brought up a blade and jabbed. Jay let out a startled cry of pain as the cold metal cut into his skin. He could feel hot blood begin to trickle down his chin and wondered again if this was a good idea. He couldn't believe that Zane had really gone evil, but he certainly wasn't acting very nice right now. A small, undignified whimper escaped him.

"I'm being very serious, Kai. Stay where you are," said Zane.

Kai looked like he was prepared to disobey again, desperate to get his hands on the traitor, but Cole threw out an arm to stop him.

"Let him go, Kai," he said. Then he turned to Zane. "Go on, then. But believe me, if you hurt him again, there will be hell to pay."

"It wasn't my intention to hurt him in the first place," Zane replied. "I will do what I must, however."

Kai looked like he wanted to spit a few interesting expletives, but he stayed silent.

Jay let out a squeak of fright as Zane readjusted his grip on him so he could pick him up and sling him over his shoulder. He then turned and walked away, Serpentine troops following his lead. A few minutes later, they were gone.

Kai tossed his sword to the ground in frustration. "Great, just great! This just keeps getting better and better!"