It was a large green pasture with wooden fencing outside of the main area of the town. A few trees and shelters were on one side, with a small pond on the other. There was a herd of about ten horses wandering around, grazing on the fresh grass and staring at them curiously.
Zane and Hundarion stood in the middle, watching them.
"This is where horses born stay until they find their true comrade." Hundarion explained. "We do not assign them. Like people, every mount is different. Only they can decide who they can work with best. They need to trust and be trusted. Lack of the former will causes trouble, especially in battle. The horse needs to trust the rider that they will guide them through a battlefield with diligence, and in turn the rider needs to trust the horse that they will obey every command with as much strength and courage as they are capable." He patted his horse's neck. "Orion and I have been through many hardships together. Had it not been for him, I would have ceased to exist, multiple times at that. Once, before I was Calvary Master, I was stacking hay. A couple bales had slipped and would have crushed me had it not been before Orion, who pushed me out of the way. I had but two cuts, but considering the circumstances I could have well died. A later time came when he had been bitten by a snake. He deteriorated faster than I had seen anyone before. It had taken me, two others, and three months, but Orion kept his strength."
Zane nodded. "I see. The bond between horse and rider is vital to most aspects of your culture."
Hundarion nodded.
Zane looked across to the horses. There were four brown ones, two of which were bays, three black, one with white stockings, two white, one that was flea bitten , and one palomino.
Zane looked for awhile, deciding which one stood out to him. After a few moments, he pointed to one of the bay horses.
"This one appeals to me. I will take him."
Hundarion chuckled.
Zane raised an eyebrow. "What is so humorous?"
"Oh my!" Hundarion said, trying to control his laughter. "I do not mean to offend, but it strikes me as funny how people can just pick a horse and assume they'll work fine as one."
"You see Zane, it is not the rider that chooses the horse, but rather the horse that chooses the rider. A horse can sense one's energy, and it is only them that can correctly decide whether or not they and a rider can be true companions of one another. In a world outside of ours, people use fear and displeasure to make the horse work with them and eventually accept them. But we do not believe in that. We believe that for every rider, there is a horse that only accepts them as a true companion."
Zane nodded, understanding dawning on him. "I see."
"We call this process mount matching." Hundarion explained. "Once a rider finishes chivalry school and basic foot combat training, he is taken to this field. From there, he will remain until a horse chooses him as a comrade. After, the rider takes the horse and puts them in a stable, where two weeks are given solely to get to know their horse. It may seem ridiculous to some at the beginning, but the horse is their comrade in battle. For comrades to work together, they must have a strong bond. Otherwise there is no trust. The horse is theirs and theirs only."
"What would happen if one were to decease before the other?"
Hundsrion nodded thoughtfully. "If the case comes to the horse dying before the rider, then the horse is cremated, and its ashes are put into a charm on a necklace in which its name is engraved, therefore the horse, although dead, is still with him. If the rider was to die before the horse, the rider is buried, and the horse would be given to another who lost theirs. When the horse dies, it is cremated and the ashes are split and buried with the two owners. We do this because horses and riders help each other through the grieving process, creating trust, and therefore the bond. If the horse and rider were to die together, then they are buried in the same grave."
"That is very noble, giving horses the same respect as riders."
"Although animals, horses are also soldiers. Without them, we would not be strong. They think and feel. To not do so would be to take them for granted."
"I agree." Zane said. He looked at the herd, ambling for the pond.
"How long does the mount matching process take?"
"Alas, that is up to the horse." Hundsrion said. "For some it may take mere minutes, others hours, and for some even days. Now I best leave you be. They are getting anxious by both of our presences, and a horse will only choose when it is just the rider alone."
Hundarion clucked to Orion, who turned and began headed back for the gate.
"Wait, Hundarion!" Zane called. "How do I know when a horse chooses me?"
"You will know when it happens!" Hundarion called back. "I have explained to you all that I could!"
Offering no further explanation, Hundarion opened the gate, shut it, and loped out of sight.
Zane sighed and turned back to watch the herd. They still stared at him, as if unsure what to make of his presence.
In an attempt to coax them closer, Zane ripped a fistful of grass and held it out.
"Do not be afraid." He said. "I am looking for my companion."
Some of the horses skittered away.
Zane sighed and let the grass drop. This was going to take awhile.
…
The morning hours had now given way to the afternoon. The sun had just reached its peak in the sky.
Zane was still sitting in the pasture, waiting. He had actually fallen asleep, the warmth of the sun making him drowsy.
Zane opened his eyes and found himself laying in the cool green grass. He rubbed them and yawned, sitting up.
His vision came into focus. He looked over to the pond. The herd had not moved. The horses had lost interest in him, opting for the grass rather than his presence.
All but one.
One of the white horses was staring at Zane still, he had not seen it much earlier. It was not flea-bitten, but rather it was solid, snowy white. It's grey-white mane and tail flowed gently in the wind.
Zane was still. For some reason, he didn't want to frighten it.
A few minutes passed. As if checking it's surroundings, the horse glanced around. Then it gingerly wove past it's herd mates and taking a few steps towards Zane. The other horses snorted, as of showing concern, but the white showed no heed.
Becoming hopeful, Zane slowly reached beside him and pulled some grass. He held it out.
The horse craned it's head and flared it's nostrils, as if investigating. Then he came a little closer, muscles rippling under its hide with each step.
Zane slowly stood up and held out the grass further.
The horse walked to him a little more briskly, big, heavy hooves that were surrounded in long, white hair thudding on the grass.
Zane's heart sped up with each step that the horse came closer. He was shaking a little; the anticipation and nervousness of whether this horse would accept him or not was starting to get to him.
The white stopped, as if sensing this. Not wanting to scare it off, Zane took a deep breath to calm himself.
"It is okay." He said gently. "I am not going to harm you."
The horse craned it's neck again. It pawed the ground and shook its mane nervously.
Zane stared into the horse's piercing blue eyes.
"Trust me, horse."
It snorted.
"Please."
Looking at this animal, Zane began to feel something he had never felt before. He needed this horse to trust him. He needed to. His heart was racing more and more as the distance between them shrank.
Looking at the horse, he saw a past reflection of himself. He could see it in its eyes, the doubt mixed with fear. Before the ninja team, Zane always kept to himself. He couldn't trust anyone, he had always been misunderstood. Trusting people always led to consequences later. It took many years and a wise old Sensei to finally coax him into opening up and trusting someone again, let alone three others. When he finally realized that he could truly and wholeheartedly trust someone, it was the greatest feeling he had in a very long time.
He wanted to show this horse what he had seen. If he could show that it could trust in someone one hundred percent, it would be just the greatest feeling.
"I know how you feel." He said in a low, calm voice. "I was like you too, once."
The horse's ears pricked forward. It hesitated, then crept closer, two arm lengths away from him now.
"But there are people in this world that you can trust." Zane continued. "It is very true, as difficult as it is to believe. I want to show you that."
The horse came even closer.
"Please, horse. Let me show you the beauty of it." Zane said, repeated the same words Sensei had said to him the day he had found him on the bottom of the frozen pond.
The horse's eyes softened. It took the last few steps so Zane could now touch it.
He thought his heart might explode. He could feel pounding against the wall of his chest. He could see everything. The way each muscle in its neck was carved, as if out of wood, its hooves almost twice as big as his own foot, the white lashes above its blue eyes as if each square centimeter was like ice crystals, the way it's mane shone in the sun like silk, how it's coat glittered like newfallen snow.
The horse looked him in the eye. He returned the stare. He could see the doubt in its eyes, but the fear, he could see, was no longer there.
Zane took a deep breath.
"You can trust me."
The horse looked at him for a moment more. It took another step.
Finally, the horse accepted Zane's offer, gently nibbling at the grass in his hand.
Zane let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Each warm breath from the horse's nose and touch of it's velvety gray muzzle sent goosebumps through his body.
The horse finished eating the grass and nudged at his hand. Zane placed his hand on the horse's head, slowly stroking it.
"There is nothing to fear. We both know where we have been. I believe we have both been waiting for each other."
The horse nickered, almost in agreement, as Zane scratched under its chin. Now he knew what Hundarion meant. This horse was meant to be his. He could relate to it, something he never thought he could do. From the very moment he saw it, he felt a connection unlike anything he had felt before. This horse now trusted Zane to be its friend. Now Zane couldn't help but trust that the horse that it would prove to be the same.
"My calculations project that you and I will be a great team." He said to it. He rubbed its face with both hands, which the horse seemed to enjoy. It nickered as it came up and playfully nudged Zane.
There was no denying at this point. This horse now belonged to him. It wouldn't choose someone else.
The horse nudged Zane again, this time making him fall back. He landed on the soft grass.
Zane sat up to be met by the horse's soft muzzle, brushing against his face as it smelled him and gently nibbled at his hair. Zane couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Haha, okay." He said, taking the velvety nose with both hands. "I am delighted we found each other too." He stood up, looking the horse in the eyes.
"Let us go, friend." He said. "We have people waiting in us. The sooner we get going, the sooner I can take you to your new dwelling. Then we can familiarize with each other more."
The horse nickered, and much to his astonishment, followed Zane as he walked to the pasture gate. He paused to rub the horse's muzzle. Then he opened the gate and closed it after them. A couple horses whinnied as the two walked away. The horse returned the gesture, as if saying goodbye.
Zane called for Hundarion, who appeared over the hill, riding Orion. He was accompanied by another calvaryman.
They stopped before Zane and his horse. Hundarion and the other man gasped.
"The destrier." He said in amazement. "It has chose him. Not even my officers nor myself was accepted by this magnificent beast."
The calvaryman held out a rope to Zane.
"What is a destrier?" Zane asked, taking the rope and slipping over the horse's head.
Hundarion shook his head. "Only the finest, bravest, and most capable of warhorses." He said. "Many a man have tried to be accepted by it, yet it did not prevail. Until now."
"It is only fitting, a man of our legend finally trusted by one of the finest mounts we have bred. Like a snowflake on a gale wind, fast and fleet was he, hence the very day he came unto the world."
Hundarion turned to the man next to him. "Darius, will you go fetch the necessary items so we may outfit his horse for him?"
Darius nodded before turning his horse and galloping back over the hill, back for the town.
Hundarion nodded at Zane and the horse. "Let us go back as well." He said. "I believe your young friend on the black horse awaits us."
…
"May I?"
Zane handed the end of the rope to the saddler, who took the horse around the side of his building. Sometime later, he emerged with it again, the horse fitted in a new set of tack. Then it was taken to the blacksmith. When Zane saw his new horse with its set of armor, forged of iron and trimmed with gold, he gasped. It looked even more magnificent, as well as ferocious. The horse's large size and being protected by metal gave him the impression of a tank, a true beast of war.
The horse craned his head to look down at him.
"I can see why you were feared so greatly by your enemies in combat." Zane said to Hundarion as the blacksmith handed the horse's reins to him. "I certainly would not want to be in the path of one of these."
The Calvary Master nodded. "The warhorse is a key component to our identity. Without them, we are nothing."
Zane nodded as he stroked the horse's neck.
"Perhaps you would like to ride your new mount." The saddler suggested. "So I can make adjustments to your tack as needed."
Zane swung himself into the saddle, startled at how high he was above the ground. It was entirely different from Cody, Ranger, or any horse he had ever ridden for that matter.
He let the saddler adjust the stirrups, then he took his horse in a quick circle. He could literally feel the muscles flexing as the horse moved, even under the saddle and armor. It responded to his leg pressure and reins flawlessly and almost immediately.
"Well?" Hundarion asked. "How is it?"
Zane smiled. "It's perfect."
Hundarion nodded. "Good. This horse suits you well."
A bell tower chimed in the distance, signaling that it was three in the afternoon.
"Where do you hail from, Zane?" Hundarion asked as Zane finished thanking the saddler and blacksmith and they began walking down the dirt street leading to the main road.
"I am from Ninjago." He said.
"No, I know that. But here, in Mt. Horn. Where is your dwelling?"
Zane was unsure whether or not he should say, but went ahead anyways.
"I live in Elkhorn." He said hesitantly. "In the house with my friend who brought me here, and her relative."
"My, that is quite a day's ride away." Hundarion said. "The eve is soon drawing near, and the woods can be quite perilous at night. Do you wish to stay? It would be the greatest honor. We can provide you and your companion the finest accommodations we can muster."
Zane shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot take up that offer. She discussed with her relative that we would be back before midnight. However, I greatly appreciate the kind gesture."
Hundarion nodded in understanding. "Very well." He sighed, sounding crestfallen. "I understand. As much as I despise to say this, but if that is the wish of the relative, then I should not keep you much longer."
They turned onto the main road.
"I am sorry we did not receive you with ceremony." Hundarion said. "Had your visit been aforementioned, I would have made arrangements, but this was unannounced prior to me."
Zane shook his head. "It is quite alright Hundarion. This is more than I would have ever expected."
"Why so hesitant to speak?" Hundsrion asked, noting the nervousness in his voice. "Is something troubling you?"
Zane gulped.
"Hundarion, May I ask a favor of you?"
The Calvary Master nodded. "Of course."
"Please, don't let this news of me being here go beyond your realm. I am trying to remain unnoticed by the rest of the world here so I can go back to my homeland to aid my brothers in the fight against Morro."
Hundarion nodded slowly. "Yes. Most definitely. I was not planning it. But I will hold a council and let the rest of my own know of the predicament."
Zane nodded. "Thank you very much, Hundarion. I am afraid that if word escapes, then I will be detained and unable to return home."
"Fear not, master of ice, as your secret is safe here."
"Thank you."
"Of course. When do plan to depart?"
"Hopefully soon. My new household says that they will personally see that I get back once the blizzards in the mountains have alleviated."
Hundarion rubbed his chin. "Aye, that will will take many a week, not until midsummer."
Zane's heart sank. It was barely the beginning of spring.
"Morro would have gained power substantially by then. And I don't know the state of my brothers."
Hundarion rested a hand on Zane's shoulder.
"Fear not, Zane. From what you tell me, the bond of brotherhood you five have forged is stronger than any steel. I am certain they are well." He said assuringly.
"I hope so…"
"And if need be, we have many men and their mounts at the ready. If Morro proves to be much too strong for you and your kin, we stand ready at your call. We will assist you in defeating this ghastly leader once and for all."
Zane nodded. "My greatest thanks Hundarion. We could use all the support we can possibly get."
Hundarion stopped his horse. He held up his hand.
"Zane, let this be a vow of brotherhood. Alongside each other we will fight, against threats great and small, for the greater good of both lands and their peoples, and the defeat of all evil. Peace will prevail, but until then, there will be war. So let us live, fight, and die together. Let us be the defenders of peace. And when rightfulness triumphs over evil, let us celebrate together. And in times of peace let us continue to live gaily and in harmony, so at which hour evil rises again, we may unite as but one people, and fight together once more."
Zane nodded and took Hundarion's hand, whom grasped it firmly in a clasp. He looked the master in the eye. "Let us be so."
They held for a moment more before letting go. Hundarion gave a curt nod and they continued on their way.
…
They approached the main gate, where they found Hailey resting under a nearby tree with Ranger cropping the sparse grass that pushed through the dirt.
At the sound of clopping hooves, Hailey looked up, a second later shock coming over her face.
"Holy hell!" She said, jumping to her feet.
Zane looked after quizcally. "What?"
Hailey looked at Zane's horse and shook her head in amazement. "It's amazing…I've never seen one like it…much less an Oldenburg horse up close…"
She whistled for Ranger and mounted up. "Are you two done?"
Zane looked at Hundarion, who nodded.
"Yes, I have provided as much knowledge and accommodations as I can."
"Alright then." Hailey said. "Ready to head back?"
Zane nodded. He turned to Hundarion one last time.
"Thank you, Master Hundarion for your hospitality. I never would have expected so much."
"No, Master of Ice, thank you for allowing me to accommodate you. It is the greatest honor. I wish I could do more, but it is all I can give-wait…"
Hundarion reached back and pulled a knife from one of his scabbards. It was rather big with a heavy blade, the hilt of the knife turning into a horse's head. He held it out to Zane in both hands.
"''Tis my saxe knife. It is forged from the strongest, finest steel, crafted by the best weaponsmith of our time. It has long been a prized possession of mine, but it deserves to be passed unto someone worthy of it. Take it as my token of thanks. Use it in a time of need, and may it serve its purpose well."
Hundarion wrapped the blade in a cloth and handed it to Zane, who accepted it and put it in his horse's saddlebag.
"Thank you Hundarion. Your gesture is greatly appreciated."
"Thanks for your kindness, Master, we appreciate it." Hailey said.
Hundarion nodded and looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to get low, making the shadows begun to stretch.
"The eve is drawing near. I shall not keep you longer." He said. He looked at Zane.
"T'was an honor, meeting you Zane. I hope we cross paths again in the future and fight together if need be. You can always call upon me and my men to aid you. You are always welcome here. Until then, stay strong, stay vigilant. May your mount prove to be a faithful companion, and may you serve each other accordingly."
Hailey and Zane nodded. Hundarion escorted them to the gates from which they came, people rushing to cast one last glance as the three rode past. They bade each other one last farewell before Zane and Hailey went on their way back to Elkhorn.
…
The sun had gone down awhile ago. The woods were dark, filled with the sound of crickets, frogs, and the call of the occasional bird. The night was cloudy, blocking out the moon, cloaking the forest in almost complete darkness. The only thing that provided Hailey and Zane with light were the two oil lanterns that Hundarion have given them before they left, which cast a warm, orange glow around them.
The ride had been quiet mostly. Zane was thinking about the events that had happened over the course of today. He thought back to when he had said "My new household" a pang of guilt hitting him. He shouldn't be really saying that, he knew, his home was with the other ninja, P.I.X.A.L, and Sensei in Ninjago.
But he had been here for so long, it was starting to feel like a second home, as ashamed he was to admit it. He realized how much less he was of his old self…culture-wise, at least. It had been months since he had worn his robes. They were hanging in his closet, collecting a layer of dust. Sitting on a chair at a table had made the traditional cross legged position feel awkward now. The music styles were drastically different, and he actually found himself being quite fond of a couple of well-known songs, even more so then some traditional pieces back up north. And god, when was the last time he had a puffy potsticker? He couldn't remember the last time he did. Even though nindroids didn't need to eat, the chicken, pork, and seafood he was so accustomed to was ousted by game meat like elk, venison, and fish salmon and catfish, prepared in ways he wasn't used to. The closest thing he even had to food back in Ninjago was spaghetti, which was with noodles, but they rarely cooked with noodles. And the sauce was made with ground deer, which took the whole "traditional" out of it.
He was becoming like them, his northern ways vanishing. He feared that when he returned back to Ninjago, he'd go through a period of "culture shock"-again-because he had just gotten so used to living here.
Zane sighed at the thought.
"You alright?" A voice suddenly came from in front of him.
His head shot up and saw Hailey twisted in the saddle, peering back at him, her concerned expression lit by the light from the lantern.
Zane shook his head. "Yes, I am fine." He said.
Hailey reined Ranger in and paced so her and Zane were riding side-by-side.
"Ya know, if something bothering you, I'm here to listen."
Still silence. Hailey had an idea why he was so down.
"You're homesick, aren't you?" She asked quietly.
Zane couldn't hide it from her. He nodded.
Hailey nodded as well in understanding. "I see. Understandable."
Silence came over the two again.
"Maybe you want to talk about it? It can only help…"
Zane shrugged.
"Why don't y'all tell me about the other ninjas you live with? And your Sensei?" Hailey suggested. "You've only mentioned them in passing."
"Well, it's quite a long story…"
"We've got time. We still have about three hours until we reach the district line."
"Very well." Zane said. He began with telling her how they met.
"We are not brothers by blood, as we come from all walks of life and different families. But we have lived, trained, and fought together. Sensei Wu was the man who brought the four of us together. By working as a team under his mentorship he taught us what true strength was, how to overcome our weaknesses, and reach our true potential. We have gone through many dark times, but it has only made us closer. He has always been there for us when we needed it most. He gives us wise words of advice when we are faced with a difficult situation. He never let giving up be an option."
Hailey nodded thoughtfully. "He sounds like a good man…"
"He is, by far the best. He is like a father figure to me."
"You don't have a father?" Hailey asked. "What happened?"
"I did. He died some time ago." Zane said. "He lived in a massive tree at the Birchwood forest and built me and raised me as his own. However, he turned off my memory switch when he died. He said later that it was to prevent me from feeling pain and not being able to move on. For awhile I thought I had no parents, that was until the day I discovered that I was a nindroid."
"Wait-but I thought he was dead…"
"He was, until Samukai revived him with resurrectea."
"What's that?"
"It's a special elixir, or tea, with magical properties. He explained all this to me when we found him at the abandoned lighthouse, as we ended up there on our voyage to the Dark island to defeat Lord Garmadon. He was put there because Samukai forced him to build vehicles for the Skeleton Army."
"Damn." She said. "Is he still around?"
Zane shook his head. "No. He passed again about two years ago."
"Oh." Hailey said. "I'm sorry for your loss…"
"It's alright. My brothers have been there for me during those times."
"So, who are your brothers exactly? You mentioned Cole, Kai, and…" Hailey thought for a moment. "Robin?"
"Jay." Zane corrected.
"Oh, yes, right. Jay."
"Yes. They are all elemental masters like myself. Kai and Nya Smith are siblings, with Kai being the oldest of the two. They were blacksmiths in Ignancia, whose parents disappeared mysteriously at a young age. His element is fire, she is water. Kai tends to be a hothead, and sometimes has a short temper, but he is kind regardless. Nya is there to keep him in check. She is a very strong woman and excels in mechanics."
Hailey nodded. "I like the sound of her already."
"Yes, with you two having the same interest of repairing things, I am sure you two would really hit it off." Zane said. He cleared his throat.
"Jay Walker is the elemental master of lightning. His sense of humor and his mouth are as fast as his element. Like Nya, he is also good with things, although he is more into robotics and inventing rather than repairing. Most of the fighter bots we use for training are built by him. He most likely got his skills while he lived in the scrapyard with his parents before joining us. He is head over for heels for Nya."
"Oooh boy. What does Kai think of it?"
"He is overprotective of Nya. But he means well."
"That's good that he cares."
"Yes, he has always cared about them, especially since when their parents disappeared."
"Now what about Cole? It's an interesting name. Is it spelled C-O-A-L?"
Zane couldn't help but chuckle. "No. It's C-O-L-E."
"Oh, right." Hailey said, facepalming. "I had a friend with that name."
"It's okay. We make mistakes. Cole is the master of earth and the leader of the team. He lived with his father, Lou, in Ninjago city, who is a well known performer. His mother died while he was very young. Soon after, Lou wanted Cole to be his prodigy, so he sent him to Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts. But he ended up running away from the institution, but still wrote to his father to deceive him into thinking he was fulfilling his father's wishes."
"Wow." Hailey said. "I don't blame him. I don't understand why people force their children to be something they're not. I mean, my grandmother from my father's side tried all my life to influence me to be a lawyer, but I'm planning on becoming a livestock vet." She shook her head. "I mean, it's my life, my education, I'm the one paying for it, so therefore it's my decision."
"I understand you completely." Zane said. "You should be able to fulfill your dreams as you please."
"Yea. Sorry to interrupt you, keep going."
"You were not interrupting. Shortly after, Cole tended to drift from place to place until Master Wu recruited him and joined the rest of us. For a period of time, it was just the four of us. Then Lloyd came along."
"What's Lloyd's element?"
"Lloyd possesses the element of energy. He is essentially the wielder of all of the four main elements combined. He is the the son of Garmadon, or formerly Lord Garmadon, who was turned evil by the Great Devourer's venom. His mother is a very kind woman named Misako, and Sensei Wu is Garmadon's brother and consequently, Lloyd's uncle. Garmadon left Lloyd and Misako when he was too young to remember him, as he finally could no longer control the evil within him. Interestingly enough, Garmadon did not want Lloyd to be evil like him, but Lloyd was quite the opposite. He caused quite the headache for us four when he was a child." Zane smiled at the thought of the time when they stopped him from robbing the candy from Jamanakai village.
"Afterwards, Wu took him under his wing and he joined us on the Bounty. We soon discovered later that he was the green ninja. He proved to be the one in defeating his father in the Final Battle against the Overlord."
Hailey shivered. "Eeesh." She said. "Sounds rough."
"It was very difficult for him to battle his own father. But after he was defeated, Garmadon was finally no longer evil."
"Oh, wow. That's amazing." She said. "How are they now?"
"Sadly, Garmadon is no longer with us. He is in the Cursed Realm, as he sacrificed himself to banish the Anacondrai Army."
"Oh…" she muttered. "I hope Lloyd is coping well."
"He did. He had us and his mother."
Hailey nodded. "That's great you guys support each other. Not all families are like that."
Zane nodded. "Yes. I am extremely thankful for my family. Even when they did not understand my circumstances, they still were there for me as much as they could, my brothers, Misako, Sensei, and P.I.X.A.L."
"Who's P.I.X.A.L?" Hailey asked. "I don't recall y'all mentioning her at all."
Zane blushed.
"She's…um…my…" He said, trying to find the right word.
Hailey gave him a smug look. "Your love interest?"
Zane nodded sheepishly.
"Oooooooooh." Hailey said. "Is she nice?"
Zane nodded. "Very much so." He said fondly. He couldn't stop grinning at the thought of her.
"I'm assuming she's a nindroid like you, right?"
"Yes. She was built by an inventor, Mr. Cyrus Borg, as his assistant. He is also a close friend of ours. Her name is an abbreviation of Primary Interactive X-ternal Assistant Life-form. Her and I met while she was giving us a tour of his facilities. During the Overlord's return, she was under his control until I managed to redeem her. We have shared a very close bond ever since."
Hailey smirked. "I can tell."
Zane blushed harder and turned away so Hailey couldn't see his grin get wider.
"Awwww." Hailey said when she saw it. "Don't be embarrassed about it, Zane. I'm certain y'all would make a cute couple."
Zane straightened up. "I hope you are correct on that one. I certainly hope so."
"You will, trust me. Hey, it may seem like a dumb question for heroes like you, but do you have any pets? No family is complete without a pet, in my opinion."
"It is not a silly question, I agree that animals are wonderful additions to any household. Yes, I have a pet falcon, and the Ultra Dragon belongs to all of us. We also have our own elemental dragon that we summon by our powers, but I do not consider it a pet, as it is not technically living."
Hailey looked bewildered.
"That's…" she began. "Um…a really interesting…uh-pet choice…"
"It is, isn't it?" Zane said humorously. "Yet again, I did not know horses are common pets for you."
Hailey shrugged. "That's fair. But yea, horses are really common, especially around here. Almost everyone in my family has one. On my mom's side at least."
Zane nodded.
"If you do not mind, I would like to learn more about you and your family." He said.
"Okay." Hailey said. "Well, I was born at the Creekside Memorial Hospital in Breton on February 25, 2002. After that, my mother and I lived with my grandparents, where I was taken care of them and my relatives while my mom was working. She was planning to move up to the ranch, but the house was under remodeling at the time."
"Then when I was about five, mom got laid off. It was when our economy crashed. She spent about six months looking for work, but couldn't find any locally. The only one she could find was as a store clerk for a bakery in Silverton. So she decided to move. She hated the city, but it was her only choice. She wanted me to live the traditional way of life and learn the family values and have an upbringing in hard work. Plus the only apartment she could find had only one cramped bedroom. There was no way she was going to take me there. She didn't want me to be miserable. So she began looking for someone who would take care of her until she could move back and find a better job closer to us. So she let Uncle Sam take care of me. She helped me move in with him and I've been living with him ever since."
"Does your mother come and visit you?"
"Yea, she does when she can, but it's not very often when she does. She works long hours and it's difficult for her to get days off, even for appointments."
"I see. What is your mother's name?"
"Laura. Of course you know Uncle Sam. Then there's my three aunts, Mary, Christina, and Stephanie. My grandmother is Jodi. My grandfather is Steven. My great grandfather and the owner of our family ranch is Clemens. My grandmother passed when I was just a baby, but her name was Bonnie. My grandparents and their children all lived and worked on a cotton farm over on the outskirts of Brook until the drought of 1972 struck. Then they had to move to the family cattle ranch and eventually make their own way. They chose to settle here because it was nearby the ranch but also provided job opportunity in nearby towns and the city."
"My, your family has been through many rough times." Zane said.
"Yea." Hailey replied. "But we've pulled through time and time again. Ever since the Yukon Invasion. My great great great great great grandfather from the 1800s fought against the Calúsan during that time."
"What about your father?" Zane asked. "You have not mentioned him."
Suddenly a dark look passed over Hailey's face.
"For a reason." She said gruffly. "He left my mom years ago when he found out she was pregnant with me for gambling. He's never been a part of my life and never cared about me. God help that damned bastard."
"Oh. I'm sorry if that was a sensitive subject." Zane said.
Hailey shook her head. "It's alright." She replied. "It's good for you to know. Paul is his name. He was never a father to me in my eyes. Uncle Sam is my father figure, and he's more of a father to me than my biological one ever was. He was the one that taught me basically everything I know today. A lot of people think it's weird how I live and spend so much time with my uncle, but I don't think so. It's perfectly normal to me."
Zane nodded. "Yes. The bond you and Samuel have is very evident."
"Yea, we're pretty close. So, in Ninjago, where do you live?"
"Everywhere basically." Zane replied.
Hailey gave him a look. "What do you mean?"
"We don't have a set house in a specific location, we tend to move a lot based on what the situation is. But we live in this giant red ship called the Destiny's Bounty. It looks like a dragon. It was formerly the ship of Captain Soto and his crew, but it had wrecked. We found it in the Sea of Sand after the monastery we lived in was destroyed by the Serpentine, and we modified it so it could also fly. It has been our home ever since."
"Wow." Hailey said. "Damn. A flying ship?"
Zane nodded.
Hailey shook her head. "You guys are off your rockers man…"
…
It was nearing midnight when the dimming lanterns cast their light on the Elkhorn sign. The whole town was dark.
Zane and Hailey rode through town. He heard her sigh in relief when the house came into view.
"Home sweet home…" she muttered.
They rode up and unsaddled the horses. They put Zane's horse armor with the rest of the tack. Hailey put Ranger in his stall for the night, but suggested that the new horse be left out in the pasture and keep the stall door open in case it decided it wanted some shelter. They turned it loose and tossed a flake of alfalfa hay for it before heading inside.
They entered the living room and saw Samuel reading an issue of "The Bugle" by the light of the fireplace. He heard their footsteps and looked up.
"How was the trip?" He asked.
Hailey yawned. "Long. Longer than I expected it to be."
Samuel nodded. "I know. I was was starting to get worried. Any troubles?"
Hailey shook her head and finished yawning. "No. And the Calvary Master gave us lanterns to use on our way back. She held hers up, the flame gone."
"That was very nice of him." He turned to Zane. "Did he give you a horse?"
"Yes." Zane replied. "It is a magnificent one. I am now also aware of the role I play in your culture's legend. Prior I would have had no idea. I am glad we decided to make today's trip."
"Good." Samuel said. "Hailey was right, you should have known sooner."
"Uh huh." Hailey smirked. "Told you so."
Samuel rolled his eyes. "Yes, you did. Now it's half past midnight and you've been up for almost twenty hours on horseback. Don't you think you two need some rest?"
…
The next morning was a cool and clear one.
When Samuel saw Zane's horse, he whistled.
"Damn," He had said. "What a horse. That thing is a beast."
Now they were at the fence of the pasture, watching as Ranger and Gunsmoke approached the new horse.
"Watch them." Samuel said to Hailey.
"I am." She replied.
The two horses stopped and raised their heads, sniffing the air. The big white pawed the ground nervously.
Ranger and Gunsmoke took some steps nearer, making it skitter away nervously.
"Give it some time." Samuel said to Zane.
Zane nodded.
…
"Uncle Sam, I think they're working it out finally."
Samuel looked up and saw Zane's horse and Gunsmoke inches away from each other, nickering softly.
Suddenly Gunsmoke raised his tail and reared slightly, squealing.
Zane became alarmed, but Hailey saw it.
"Relax," She said. "It's just Gunsmoke asserting that he's the leader. When horses are in herds, there's a structure: usually one or two leaders, a sidekick, followers and the underdog. They establish dominance by showing it to others."
Gunsmoke reached out and nipped at the horse, making it squeal and run away. It stopped and turned around to be met by Ranger's teeth as well, albeit lightly.
"Now Ranger is showing he's second." Hailey explained. "Which makes your horse at the bottom of the pecking order."
"How do we know if my horse's accepted into the hierarchy?"
"Just watch."
After about fifteen minutes of nipping, squealing, and a couple of half hearted kicks, Zane's horse was left standing on one side of the pasture with Ranger and Gunsmoke grazing on the other.
The horse looked up from its alfalfa to the other two eating the grass.
Zane heard Hailey hold her breath as it cautiously made its way to Ranger and Gunsmoke. It stopped next to Ranger, who only cast a look before going back to graze. Gunsmoke didn't even pay attention to it.
It looked around a few moments more before lowering its head, cropping mouthfuls of the young grass.
Hailey let out a breath.
"They'll get along just fine." She said.
Zane couldn't help but smile as he watched his horse move slowly with the others. Just like he had years ago, this horse found where it really belonged.
…
A couple hours later, Hailey and Zane sat on the fence, watching the herd quietly.
"So…" she said, breaking the silence that sat between them.
Zane turned to look at her "Yes?"
"Do you like your horse?" She asked.
Zane grinned. "Yes, I am very pleased with it. We bonded very quickly on our first encounter."
"That's good, he's a very fine horse. I like him."
She turned to Zane. "Have you named him yet?"
Zane thought for a moment. "No, I have not."
"Really? You always bond more with a horse if you name it."
"That is logical." Zane said. He was quiet for a moment.
"You know, I do have an idea."
"Hm." Hailey said. "What's that?"
"Hundarion said this about my horse: 'Like a snowflake on a gale wind, fast and fleet was he, hence the very day he came unto the world." Zane repeated.
Hailey raised an eyebrow.
"Okay…" she said. "So what are you getting at?"
"Well," Zane began. "What is your opinion on 'Gale?'"
Hailey thought for a moment. Then she nodded.
"I like that…"
Next one up coming soon!