So... I wrote a one-shot about Zane in the future. Enjoy!
"I am glad to see you have returned my emperor."
Wha- what?
"You must be eager to reclaim your throne, however you must prove your commitment first."
No, no no no no! Why can't I move?
Vex motioned to Pixal and Krista: "you must prove you are willing to do this my emperor. End them."
I- I can't stop. No no no.
"Zane."
Why is Pixal so calm?!
"Zane wake up." She nodded.
Wake up?
"Wake up you are having another nightmare."
Nightmare."
Zane wake up."
"Wake up."
Wake up!
Zane wake up!
I jolted awake, as frost climbed up my fingers I heard Pixal's calming voice, however I couldn't comprehend any of it through my panic.
Tears blurred my vision as a violent sob shook my body. As she wrapped her arms around me I managed to relax the slightest bit and dug my face into her neck. Slowly I calmed down and started listening to her voice.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked gently.
"I'd rather not think about it." I muttered.
"Alright." As she yawned I felt a sting of guilt.
"I'm sorry-" I was cut off.
"You have nothing to apologize for Zane." As she pulled me closer I felt another wave of tears forming in the corners of my eyes.
After a moment of silence I managed to speak up: "Vex was there. He was telling me to hurt you and Krista… I couldn't… I-" I cut my sentence short with another sob.
"Shh, shh, it was just a nightmare. Vex isn't here." She rubbed gentle circles onto my back.
"I know." I tried to continue but a forming lump in my throat prevented it.
After another silent moment I talked again: "you should go back to sleep, I need to clear my head."
"Are you certain that you don't want me to come?" Pixal's glowing green eyes illuminated the room as I pulled away.
"Affirmative. Good night love." I gingerly stood up and walked to the door of our bedroom.
"Good night." Pixal smiled and soon laid back down.
I walked to the hallway, only to hear quiet sniffling, it was coming from Krista's room. I gently knocked and creaked open the door.
"Snowflake? Is everything alright?" The moonlight softly illuminated Krista's chocolate hair and parrot onesies.
Her face buried in her sleeves it was clear that she'd been crying for a while. I slowly approached her and sat next to her, she clung to me and sobbed wildly.
"It's alright, it's alright." I lifted her closer so that she could get a better grip.
As she clung to my gray my T-shirt I kept on promising that she was safe.
"Th-they- They t-to-took m-me away!" She wailed.
"Shh, they're not here. You're safe, I promise." I whispered gently.
As Krista slowly calmed down and as her wails turned into quiet sniffles I rocked her back and forth.
"Dad?" She whispered into my T-shirt.
"Yes?"
"Do nindroids dream?" She looked up at me with her emerald eyes.
"Yes, some more than others." I gently pat her hair, knowing that touching her arms may be a trigger.
"What does that mean?" She planted her chin on my chest.
"Well, Pixal rarely has dreams, but I see dreams almost every time I sleep." I felt a smile creep up as I saw Krista's eyes sparkle with intrigue: "and do you want to know what always cheers me up after a bad dream?"
"What?"
I leaned down and whispered: "hot chocolate."
Krista gasped.
"What do you say? Pixal doesn't have to find out." Krista slid out of my lap as I stood up.
"Sounds delicious." She jumped after me.
Krista sat down to the kitchen table as I pulled out milk, cocoa powder, marshmallows, two cups and spoons.
"So, how many marshmallows per cup do ye reckon cap'n?" I found myself putting on my pirate talk.
She snickered and began doing her very precise calculations: "Five would be way too many, but one per cup wouldn't be enough."
"Two 'n a half then?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm. No. Half a marshmallow is never a good marshmallow. I say three. Three per cup quartermaster!" She barely kept herself from laughing.
"Aye aye cap'n" I quipped and soon served her with a warm cup of hot chocolate, accompanied by three marshmallow ships floating within it.
Soon the cups were empty and waiting in the dishwasher for the next load, Krista yawned and snuggled firmly against my side.
"Are you ready to go back to bed?" I carefully lifted her up as I myself stood.
She hummed affirmatively.
"Let's get you tucked in then." I soon found myself quietly humming a lullaby as we walked toward Krista's room.
As I set her on her bed and covered her with blankets she yawned and creaked her eyes open the slightest bit: "Dad."
"Yes?" I was about to stand up but stopped in my tracks.
"I love you." She smiled ever so sweetly.
I felt a tear form in my eye as I bent down and kissed her forehead: "I love too."
That seemed to satisfy her as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. I walked out and closed the door, all the terror and sorrow from my nightmare was gone, replaced with love and frank excitement. The first time she used the word love.
Right then and there I knew I could never be the Ice emperor again. The Ice emperor did not feel love, and I, at that moment, felt so much indescribable love towards my daughter, my wife, my family.
The Ice emperor was gone. Forever.