Micro Meetings 6

Dating for Dummies

Movie Ninjago

Zane took a deep breath that he didn't need, and released it.

Today was the day.

Today he was finally going to ask Pixal out on a date.

They had been friends for months now, and Zane was now more sure than ever his initial reaction to her was correct. He had definitely fallen in love with her kindness and knowing her better had only caused those feelings to grow.

And so, he was going to ask her out. The timing was perfect. There was a school dance in a few days (barring any disasters), and everything normal teenage romcoms had told him said that asking a girl to a dance was the epitome of romance.

Now he just needed to ask her to the dance in the proper fashion.

Fortunately, the cheerleaders owed him a favor.

The students of Ninjago High School were left befuddled when they arrived at school that morning to the sight of Zane Julien standing in the middle of the front courtyard, with the entire cheerleading team standing sleepily behind him.

Even his own teammates didn't seem to understand what he was doing, as they arrived, and hung back to watch.

Zane didn't even seem to notice the stares, his eyes scanning the oncoming students, clearly looking for someone among them.

Finally, he spotted her.

"Pixal!" he said brightly, waving towards the silver girl as she arrived at school alongside Skylor.

Pixel looked over at him at the sound of her name, looking just as lost as the rest of them as to what was happening, and exchanged a confused glance with Skylor before coming closer.

Zane, grinning brightly, signaled the cheerleaders.

The entire school could only watch with their jaws dropped as the Ice Ninja broke into an entire song and dance number, complete with the cheerleaders as his backup dancers for the spectacle.

The song they were singing and dancing to? You're the One that I Want, making Zane's auto-tuned intentions very clear.

No one was quite sure if this was either the cheesiest or the most adorable thing they had ever seen. Both probably.

It was definitely something straight out of a movie.

However, it was Pixal's reaction that was most important, and she looked absolutely gleeful when she realized what was happening.

Then, to the entire school's surprise, Pixal joined the song and dance, clearly having never practiced it before, but managing to match Zane's every move.

"Those two were made for each other," said Nya fondly as she and the rest of the Ninja Force watched the two mechanical teens twirl around for their big finish.

"No one tell Nick," Jay said. "He might start taking notes."

The rest snickered at that but were in total agreement.

When the song finished, Zane had Pixal in a dip, and asked her loud enough for the whole school to hear, "Pixal Borg, would you find it agreeable to go to the Spring Fling with me?"

Pixal beamed. "I find that most agreeable," she said.

Zane cheered as he pulled her out of the dip and back to her feet, and the entire audience clapped and cheered for them, though more than a few boys were getting the stink-eye from their girlfriends for not asking them with such a romantic gesture.

As the crowd began to disperse for class, Skylor sauntered over to walk with Kai. "Those two watch way too many movies," she said fondly as they headed to class.

Kai snorted in amusement. "Yeah, but hey, whatever makes them happy," he said. He then looked sheepish. "Honestly, I'm a little jealous of Zane's boldness."

Skylor hummed in agreement. "So," she said casually. "I heard there's a dirt bike course just outside the west side of the city. How about you and me go for a spin this weekend."

Kai grinned. "Sure! That sounds-" he broke off, and his eyes widened. "Wait! Are you asking me on a-"

Skylor just grinned cheekily. "There's more than one way to be bold," she said as she went on to class.

Kai stopped dead in his tracks, his face gobsmacked as he watched her go.

Then he pumped his fist in the air and shouted, "I'VE GOT A DATE! WHOOO!" at the top of his lungs.

He was late to class after that, but he didn't care.

The rest of the day he and Skylor couldn't stop grinning.

As for Pixal and Zane, they continued to serenade each other for the rest of the week until the principal had to politely ask them to stop.

In the school at least.

Anywhere else was fair game.


Playdate Problems

Show Ninjago

Skales was at his wit's end.

Horror upon horrors, Lloyd Garmadon, the Green Ninja and bane of Skales' existence, had invited Skales' own son over to play.

And Skales Junior, poor, innocent, naive Junior, had agreed before Skales could say no.

Even worse, Selma had agreed as well (promising Skales a date night while their son had his fun, and while that did sound tempting, but...).

Now, Skales had until the playdate to gently convince his son that the Green Ninja was bad news, and he should change his mind and stay as far away from the kid as possible.

It wasn't working.

At all.

All he managed to do was clue his son in that he didn't want him going.

"Daddy, why don't you like Lloyd? He'sss nice," Junior finally asked as Skales Senior's discouragement became particularly blatant as they waited for the Green Ninja to arrive.

Skales froze, caught in the act, and unsure how to respond. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he replied, "Well, SSSon," he said. "The reassson I'm not fond of Lloyd isss due to his time leading our tribe."

"He led our tribe?" asked Junior, his eyes wide with awe. "That's ssso cool! I didn't know that!"

Skales scowled. It most certainly was not 'cool'. "It was back when SSSlithraa was the head general of the Hypnobrai. Lloyd managed to trick him into hypnotizing himssself with his reflection."

Junior let out a hissing giggle. "He did that?" he said. "That'sss really funny. How dumb do you have to be to hypnotize yourssself?"

"Pretty dumb," agreed Skales, rolling his eyes at the memory. "But he wasss in charge, and with him under Lloyd's thrall, we were forced to do his bidding."

"What'd he make you do?" asked Junior.

"Juvenile thingsss," Skales hissed. "He made usss attack a village that wasss mean to him sssimply to sssteal their candy."

Junior's eyes widened. "He did?"

Skales nodded. "Yesss, sssuch actionsss are beneath usss Nobel SSSerpen-"

"That's awesome!" said Junior. "I love human candy! Why don't we sssteal it more often."

Skales gaped at his son at that response. "I- we can't- SSStealing isss wrong!" he finally settled on.

"Oh," said Junior, disappointed.

Thinking his son was finally getting the picture, Skales continued to hammer the point home. "And then he had usss build him this ridiculousss treehoussse."

"A treehoussse?" asked Junior with wide red eyes.

Skales nodded. "Yesss, a massssive thing. He demanded it be filled with zip-linesss and booby trapsss."

Junior's eyes grew even bigger. "That. Soundsss. AWESSSOME!" he cheered, startling his father. "He soundsss like sssuch a cool leader! We should make him leader again!"

Skales stared down at him. This was not going as planned. He was supposed to be warning Junior off of Lloyd, not making him sound even more impressive.

After opening and closing his mouth like a fish for several seconds, trying to come up with a response, Skales finally blurted out, "But, SSSon, I'm the leader."

Junior nodded. "I know, Daddy, but Lloyd wasss such a cool one. He hasss great ideasss!"

Meaning Skales wasn't 'cool'...

Ouch!

Skales winced at the clearly unintentional blow to his ego. He scrambled for something to tell Junior to turn his opinion around (or say that he was a cool leader too), but before he could, Lloyd showed up.

The little Green Ninja smiled and waved as he ran up to them. "Hey, Junior. Ready to go?"

"Am I ever!" said Junior, more excited than ever for this playdate.

Lloyd beamed and the two ran off, trailed after by the Red Ninja, who was their acting chaperone.

Skales could only stand frozen where he'd been attempting to dissuade his son and utterly failed.

Then with a defeated sigh, he turned and headed off to find Selma.

Looks like he needed that date night after all.


Mending Mistakes

Movie Ninjago

Within his Volcano Lair, Lord Garmadon was smug.

No, Lord Garmadon was smugger than smug. He didn't remember ever feeling smugger in his entire life.

Sensei Garmadon was already regretting everything!

"So what you're saying," said Lord Garmadon, his smug, smug smirk taking up his entire face. "Is that you need my help to win back over your lady love."

Sensei Garmadon scowled. "Well, your assistance is not distinctly necessary, but an outsider's opinion would not be remiss. Misako is no longer as angry at me as she was, but there is still a distance between us I hope to overcome."

"And you plan to do that with an epic date that'll knock her socks off," said Lord Garmadon still grinning viciously. "And for that, you need the expert advice of yours truly."

Yup, Sensei Garmadon definitely regretted even opening his mouth.

"Perhaps this was a mistake," he said, backing away in hopes of preserving what remained of his dignity. Why did he think this was a good idea again? (Oh right, because the only other people closest to him were his brother whom he'd stolen the love of his life from, a gaggle of utterly clueless teenagers, and his child son who still thought girls had cooties.) "I will just meditate on-"

"NOPE!" shouted Lord Garmadon, surging forwards to snag him around the shoulders with one of his upper arms, and keeping him pinned in place with his lower ones. Gesturing grandly in the air with his remaining arm, he began steering his counterpart deeper into the volcano. "I'm invested now! No take-backsies!"

Forget opening his mouth, Sensei Garmadon was regretting even getting up that morning.

Oblivious to this, Lord Garmadon continued on, "So here's what I was thinking…"


Show Ninjago

Misako wasn't sure what to think when her husband turned up in a tux and invited her out on a picnic by a lake.

And now she felt like she was in a scene out of one of those romantic paintings where a man was rowing a rowboat while a woman sat across from him with a parasol.

Except she didn't have a parasol, but there was one nestled at her feet should she choose to use it.

The picnic had been serene, the food had been good, and Garmadon had been a perfect gentleman. It was honestly one of the best dates she'd been on in a long time.

Even so, Misako knew he was doing this out of guilt, and that fact hung heavy in the air.

The truth was, she wasn't mad about it anymore, but she was still disappointed. Getting the letter she thought had been from him had been one of her favorite memories of their relationship, one of the things that had kept her going in her years-long search for a cure. Finding out it was a lie sullied the memory of it in a way that she didn't know how to resolve.

Still, she was at a point where she was willing to try.

"What are we doing out here, Garmadon?" she asked. "I love you, but no amount of picnics is going to change what you did."

Garmadon stopped rowing and sighed. "I know," he said sadly. "As I said before, I do not regret it, but more than anything I wish I had won your heart in a different way. A better way. But…" he struggled to find what to say next, then gave her a sheepish look. "Wu is still better with words, but please know that I am willing to do anything to atone for my actions."

"And a romantic outing on a boat is part of that atonement?" asked Misako. The whole rowboat bit was slightly confusing to her. It was nice and cheesy, and romantic in a way that she didn't know Garmadon would ever do.

Garmadon flushed slightly and rubbed the back of his head. "Actually, the rowboat wasn't my idea, but it seemed like something you'd enjoy."

Misako blinked in confusion. "Wait, then whose idea was it?" she asked.

Her answer came not a second later when a jetski roared by with Lord Garmadon driving it at breakneck speeds, and Koko riding behind him cheering for him to go faster.

The jetski swerved close enough to the rowboat that a sharp turn had it spraying Misako's husband with water before tearing off across the lake.

A now soaking wet Sensei Garmadon glared after the couple as he wrung water out of his jacket. "I should have known," he grumbled.

Misako was fighting to keep her amusement at the situation off her face. Her husband was so proud. There was no way. Did he really? "Wait, you asked him for help?"

Garmadon's exasperated sigh was answer enough. "It seemed to be a good way to think outside the box," he muttered ruefully.

Misako couldn't contain it any longer and burst out laughing.

Garmadon looked at her, startled, but then it melted into a warm grin at the sight of her mirth. He hadn't seen her laugh like that in a long time. If it took swallowing his pride to see it, it was worth it.

He knew he still had much to make up for, but at that moment, he knew they were going to be okay.

And if Misako showed her forgiveness by shielding him with the parasol next time Lord Garmadon came shooting by, he was all the more grateful for it.

His advice had paid off after all.


A/N Once again we have some Micro Meetings between characters.

Dating for Dummies: I got a few comments about how neither Kai or Zane actually asked the girls out at the end of In Need of Polish. To be fair, they were too embarrassed by Nya announcing their feelings to actually do so. Also, Zane, determined to do the normal teenager thing, had to make his big romantic gesture. Meanwhile, Kai was holding back while Skylor recovered from being away from Chen, so she took the initiative.

Playdate Problems: This was mostly Kay Hau's idea. She thought it'd be hilarious if Show Skales was put out that his son was 'colluding with the enemy' but couldn't actually stop him. In face, he just made things worse by making Lil'Loyd sound cool. They're on their way to being friends, much to Skales' dismay.

Mending Mistakes: A thanks to Kay Hau again for helping with some ideas for this, and the title. She thought it'd be cool to tie all three Micro Meetings together with dates, romantic or otherwise. That's how I came up with this. Poor Sensei Garmadon has no idea just how much of a cliche his counterpart tricked him into, but Misako appreciates it. It was him swallowing his pride to ask Lord G for advice that really won her over, more than the actual date.

As ever, big thanks to Kay Hau for beta reading and the reasons above.

Next Time: Red Nya ponders recent events and practices her powers.