It was not the loving reunion he anticipated.
In fact, when Zane had finished projecting security footage and vocal recordings of their meetings on the many console screens, he was disheartened by the lack of any emotional reaction from Pixal. She did not rush to the manufacturing floor as he expected, rather, she calmly made her way downstairs and jumped onto the conveyor belt out of sheer curiosity and seemingly nothing more.
"Are we… compatible now?" He asked hopefully.
"I am compatible with every available software that exists inside and outside this tower," She replied. "which AI program is currently addressing me?"
Zane's heart sank. She didn't remember him; how long had he been gone? It can't have been more than a few months at the most.
However, he soon realised that the droid he was currently engaging with was not Pixal. Although her eyes were green, and her hair was exactly like Pixal's, her facial circuits were blue, and the uniform she wore was a short, blue, one-sleeved skater dress.
"I am Zane." He said sadly.
The second he spoke, the droid looked horrified and shushed him.
"Do not say that name!" She hissed worriedly.
" But you asked, and that is it," Zane said in a confused tone. "I am the Master of Ice."
"He who Sacrificed Himself?" She stared at him in disbelief and shook her head. "No, it is impossible! If you are who you say you are, then why did you not return sooner?!"
"I tried, but I got lost in the digital space," He explained. "then I fought for months to get through the Borg system firewalls; I can assure you that I got here as soon as I could!"
"Months?" She also began to look puzzled. "What do you mean by 'months'?"
A sickening notion formed in Zane's mind.
"How long ago was the Overlord destroyed?" Zane asked, now afraid of the answer to his own question.
"It is almost the sixth anniversary of the overlord's defeat." She responded.
A white-hot sinking feeling ran through him; if Zane could've fallen backwards, he would have.
"Six years… No, that's impossible!" He fretted as the panic set in "It can't be, it just can't!"
What felt like a matter of months to Zane, as he made his way through a digital wasteland and then battled to get past the firewall of Borg's system, turned out to be two thirds of a decade. Dozens more questions poured through his mind; what happened to Pixal? To his friends? To his teacher? He was so consumed by the whirling of thoughts in his mind, that he didn't notice the droid leave the room.
Suddenly, he felt his consciousness rapidly moving back through the cables that he had used to access the manufacturing floor. Seconds later, he stopped, and once again felt the weight of a physical body. He opened his eyes and felt the droid removing a cable from the back of his head. He glanced at the heavily circuited arms of this new shell and glanced around for a reflective surface to get a better view of it. She, meanwhile, clapped her hands twice and bowed.
"Kura-okami, bless this lost soul who has found new life under the glorious reign of Lady Borg." She prayed.
"Lady Borg… I do not understand; did Mr Borg get married?"
"No, Lady Borg is Mr Borg's daughter."
"His daughter?" Zane tried to access additional details about Mr Borg from his memory but could not recall him having a family. Unless... "By any chance, do you mean Pixal?"
"Naturally; who else would I be referring to?" She confirmed. "Although, I am mildly uncomfortable with you using Her Imperial Highness' first name."
Zane was filled with relief. This droid was not Pixal, but Pixal herself was still alive. His heart swelled at the thought of seeing her again, but he was also rather confused.
"I did not realize that she preferred to be addressed by such a formal title," He said. "she never indicated to me that she did not want to be called by her original name."
"One cannot use such a casual term for someone of such great importance," She shook her head. "after all, Lady Borg is the Shogun of Ninjago."
"But wait, if Pixal is in charge here, then where is Mr Borg?"
"Cyrus Borg retired to an island paradise five years ago," She explained. "Lady Borg succeeded him when he felt the time was right for her to reign over New Ninjago in his stead – this was before the establishment of the Shogunate, of course."
"Will you take me to her, please?"
"No."
"I need to see Pixal, please, take me to her." He pleaded.
"No!"
"You do not understand, she needs to know that I am back!"
"No! It is bad enough that you do not show proper reverence for the Shogun, now you dare to demand an audience with Her when you have done nothing to indicate that you are who you claim to be!?" She growled angrily. "I demand that you prove yourself and show me your ice powers!"
Zane was momentarily startled by this request, but ultimately opted to comply.
He took a wide, combative stance and began a series of rhythmic, concentrated breathing. She looked at him with great incredulity, not believing for a second that this random A.I. was who he claimed to be, yet simultaneously curious to see if he truly was.
Zane mentally reached into the core of this new body and felt the convulsing beat of a strong power source. Infused with the confidence of what felt like his original heart, he gently swayed his arms before suddenly thrusting them straight out; fully expecting the usual sensation of sub-zero frost leaving his hands…
But nothing happened.
"I knew it." She sighed.
Zane could feel an internal panic spreading once more. He performed several roundhouse kicks, expecting ice to materialise from his kinetic energy, but again, there was nothing.
"I do not understand…" Zane breathed out.
"I do," She turned her back to him. "you are just another fraud."
"It is this body you have put me in," Zane insisted. "it is incompatible with my powers!"
"Nonsense!" She scoffed.
"Please, take me to her," He begged. "Pixal will know it is me."
"No! Enough of this! I will not allow you to add to the pain and heartbreak that Lady Borg has suffered through!" The droid snapped. "Even if you are who you say you are – and I am not convinced – I will not allow you to put her through any more pain!"
Zane saw the anger on her face and paused.
"If you consider me that much of a threat to her, why even give me a new body in the first place?"
"Only so that you cannot run rampant on the system," She stated. "this way I can keep an eye on you."
Sensing that she did not like him, he opted to change the subject, hoping to ingratiate himself a little.
"So… you know my name, but what is yours?" Zane asked, gazing in the reflection of a monitor, and noting that he too had green eyes and blue circuits on his face, as well as long, white hair tied back into a low ponytail.
"I am Miru, She who Watches; I see what Her Highness cannot," Miru responded. "be glad that you appeared to me and not my sister Kiku, She who Listens – one mention of that name you said earlier, and she would have reported you to Lady Borg as an imposter without a second thought."
"Why? Does Pixal hate that name?" Zane wondered, his heart aching with sadness.
"Outside of the annual holiday, the mere mention of He who Sacrificed Himself by his original name either reduces Lady Borg into puddles of grief, or throws her into a wave of fury," Miru elaborated. "in fact, the first time someone casually dropped that name without the proper reverence, Lady Borg became so enraged that she found out who their Master was, stormed his island fortress and obliterated everyone on it, taking only one prisoner."
"But it is my name, how can I exist without using it?" Zane questioned as he tried to imagine the sweet Pixal he knew getting so angry that she would launch such a vicious attack. "Someone is bound to notice me walking around with you, what am I supposed to tell them?"
Miru paused for all of two seconds before she sighed, defeated by Zane's logic.
"You are right, we will have to introduce you at court, but you must adopt a pseudonym, and keep your head down," Miru declared. "absolutely NO mention of who you claim to be until I have determined your authenticity, is that understood?"
"Understood." Zane confirmed.
"We must introduce you as soon as possible to prevent suspicion, come with me."
Zane did as he was told and followed Miru through the familiar corridors of Borg Industries. But something didn't feel right. The welcoming warmth that he previously experienced here was long gone, replaced by the icy chill of his own element.
On their way to the elevator, they passed numerous armed guards who all wore the same blue and silver uniform as himself. He waited until they were in the elevator and the door was closed before saying anything to Miru.
"There are many more guards on duty now than the last time I was here, and they all appear to be armed; has there been an incident which would warrant this much active security?"
"There is not much time to go into detail," Miru began. "just know that Lady Borg's rule has fostered a culture of absolute loyalty and constant protection."
Zane stayed silent as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Before they stepped out, Miru delivered to him a stern warning.
"I will address my sister Hanasu, She who Speaks, and tell her the name that you will answer to from now on," She growled. "do not speak unless you are spoken to, and do not approach Lady Borg unless told to – understood?"
"Understood." He agreed.
They exited the elevator and into a large, opulent room full of well-dressed people. Some fifty feet ahead of them stood an elegantly filigreed throne. Although most of the throne was obscured by the draped shadows of some mauve brocade curtains, Zane could make out the subtle glowing of purple circuits that he assumed belonged to Pixal. Two female droids with long, silver hair – tied into twin tails – gently strummed a koto and shamisen at the foot of the throne.
At either side of them, sat five regally attired, glamorous looking ladies – three on the left and two on the right – which Zane assumed to be women of nobility.
He looked around the vast room as they approached the imperial chair, noting the crowd of people seated on either side of the red carpet they walked on. The people gossiped and whispered among themselves at this sudden intrusion, while he and Miru walked along the strip of velvet flooring. Although the crowd were curiously gawking at the two droids who had just entered the room, the guards didn't acknowledge them at all, they simply stared straight ahead with stern eyes.
Soon Zane and Miru approached another droid, identical to Miru in every way but for two distinct features; her eyes were sapphire blue, and her silver hair was styled into a French braid. Her lips were also painted a rich purple colour.
Miru whispered to her and then bowed before the throne. Zane followed suit and bowed too.
"Your Imperial Highness." The droid said loudly as she also bowed.
A hand emerged from the darkness and waved – the mumbling voices and cheerful music ceased simultaneously.
"Your Highness," She spoke again. "if it so pleases you, She who Watches has brought you a gift."
"A gift? How thoughtful…" Pixal's voice echoed out. "She who Speaks, bring him to me."
Zane's heart almost exploded at hearing her dulcet tones again. Hanasu grabbed Zane by the arm and pulled him closer to where Pixal sat.
"Kura-okami blesses you with this loyal servant – a lost soul who found his way to us," Hanasu humbly spoke. "we present to you: Zander, He who Defends."
Zane once again bowed, happily falling at her feet, his heart filling to the brim with joy at being near her once more.
"You have done well, my dear Miru," Pixal praised. "I accept your generous gift with a grateful heart."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Miru said, her head still bowing low.
"Zander, perhaps you would care to tell us where you come from." Pixal purred.
"Your Imperial Highness," Zane began, speaking from the depths of his heart. "I have wandered the wastes of Ninjago for six years, endlessly training and fighting, just to be worthy of defending you – please accept me into your court."
Pixal chuckled and stood up. She stepped down from her gilded seat, dressed in the glittering, elegant layers of an Empress, and approached the spirited droid before her. Zane happily glanced upwards – finally, he was face to face with his beloved – but he was shocked by what he saw.
The first thing he noticed, was the eyepatch covering her right eye, and the jagged points of a scar peeking out of the top and bottom of the patch.
He could not contain his reaction, and any promises he made to maintain protocol went out the window. Utterly flooded with a mix of rage and horror, Zane slowly rose to his feet. A chorus of shocked gasps rang out from the crowd as he hovered his hand near her face, only to be stopped by someone suddenly grabbing his wrist.
"You dare to touch Lady Borg?!" A familiar voice growled.
Zane looked at the person grabbing him and received another shock; it was Kai! He looked a little older than Zane remembered, and while Pixal held an expression of total composure, Kai glowered at him with disgust and fury. He stared Zane down with narrowed eyes and a maddened grimace.
"Now, now, Lord Kai, calm yourself," Pixal put her hand on Kai's shoulder. "I'm sure he means no harm."
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I'd sooner not take the chance," Kai said, not looking away from Zane for a moment. "he's a stranger and cannot be trusted!"
Zane yanked his arm free from Kai's grip and took the opportunity to return to a bowing position, kneeling and placing his head on the ground in deference.
"Your Highness, please grant me permission to ask who had the audacity to mark your beautiful face," He asked. "tell me, and I swear on my life, I will find them and make them suffer!"
"Such a bold offer from someone that you consider untrustworthy," Pixal said to Kai. "if he is telling the truth about his training, no doubt he could've killed me long before you could stop him."
"I would never let that happen!" Kai declared as he took her hand in his and leaned down on one knee. "I would shield you with my own body!"
Zane was certainly confused by Kai's sudden protectiveness of Pixal. The last time he had seen either of them, they had a friendly relationship, but it was nowhere near the level he was currently witnessing. He wondered what had gone on in the world during his extended absence, but owing to the coldness of the tower, and the formalities everyone spoke in, he fancied it wasn't good.
"Rise, both of you," Pixal delicately insisted; both Kai and Zane stood up as instructed. "I am impressed by your dedication, Zander, you may stay – for now – until we can determine how truthful your intentions are."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zane bowed again.
"Hanasu," Pixal barked, as She who Speaks responded to the name with a courtly bow. "prepare 'level one' arrangements for our new arrival."
"Yes, Your Highness." Hanasu grinned widely and respectfully retreated from the shogun's presence.
"Miru, I entrust Zander to your care," Pixal ordered with a smile. "guide him, assist him, watch him."
"Yes, Your Highness." Miru bowed.
She took hold of Zane's arm, and they both respectfully withdrew from the room: backing into the elevator they had arrived in.
Kai grinned smugly, seemingly placated by Pixal's decision to be wary of this stranger; Miru acted as Pixal's external eyes, she was one of the three Senses, and she missed nothing. She could scan anyone and see their overall health, vital signs, and neurological status in seconds, even if they were in a building full of people. If Zander was a fraud, or a troublemaker, Miru would know soon enough.
"You may all take your leave," Pixal announced with a wave of her hand. "court is dismissed."
As the many court members gathered themselves and prepared to leave the room, the sound of rustling clothing echoed around. Even the five noble ladies at the side of Pixal's throne made their own way out. They bowed to her and left the room via a key card secured exit.
It was at least ten minutes before everyone had left the room.
With the court members gone and the guards back in their usual places, Kai approached Pixal and bowed.
"Forgive me, but I don't think it's wise to trust this new person," Kai asserted. "why did you accept him so quickly?"
"Oh Kai," She mewed, softly patting his shoulder. "do you recall the idiom of your sensei? The one you repeated to me when we took Skylor prisoner during the Siege of Chen's island?"
"You mean, the one about how to defeat your enemy by making them your friend?" Kai elaborated.
"That's the one… I cannot place it, but there is something about that stranger… something I have not felt in a long time," Pixal replied. "it would be incorrect for me to ignore what you would call a 'gut instinct'."
"I guess so…" Kai mumbled, not entirely convinced.
"Do you doubt me, dear protector?"
"I know you're always right Pixal, I just don't want anything to happen to you," Kai admitted. "I can't see you get hurt again."
Kai approached her and, just as Zane had, raised his hand to the eyepatch on Pixal's face. But this time, there was no one to stop him from lifting the patch so he could see her empty eye socket beneath it. The two musicians – still sitting at the foot of the throne – gasped and lowered their gaze to the floor. Kai's expression became pained and remorseful. He frowned sadly at the scar that marred her face.
"You still blame yourself, don't you?" Pixal asked, only to receive a weighty sigh in response.
"It's difficult to be reminded of my past failure," He confessed. "I often wonder why you haven't had it fixed."
"Rest assured, it is not to torment you, but to show solidarity with the people who fight by my side; wounds heal, and limbs can be replaced, but it would be an affront to their suffering to fix my own scars when they cannot repair theirs," She reasoned. "besides, you should stop obsessing over what cannot be changed and focus on what you can change now."
"Well, there is something that I've been trying to change for years," Kai smirked, taking her hand in his and kissing it. "it hasn't happened yet."
With that, Kai handed her the eye patch he removed, then followed in the footsteps of the guards who had left them mere minutes ago. He took one last over-the-shoulder glance at Pixal as she put the patch back over her eye, before he vanished from sight. The musicians finally looked up once it felt safe to do so, and they approached Pixal with some excitement.
"Your Highness, Lord Kai positively adores you!" One of them squeaked.
"He is a most respectable person, Your Highness, anyone would be thrilled to be pursued by him!" The other added fervently.
"As flattering as it is, I do not feel the same way he does; I have told him so many times, yet he refuses to give up," Pixal paused for a moment, then posed a loaded question to her ladies-in-waiting. "Peach, Cherry: do you think I am foolish for hoping that Kura-okami still exists? That he may come back one day?"
"You are never foolish, Your Highness," Peach insisted, bowing repeatedly. "we are simply stating the truth; that there is a man already here who worships you."
"On the other hand, it's ever so romantic that you still wait for Him," Cherry added. "we of course hope He will come back to find you."
"I will never give up hope," Pixal murmured as she once again sat in her gilded throne. "but waiting is so very painful."
"Here we are," Hanasu announced as Zane and Miru entered the plush room prepared for him. "hopefully, this room is suitable for you, He who Defends."
"It is more than I ever expected, thank you." Zane replied, briefly bowing to Hanasu.
"Rest well, Zander, for tomorrow you will need to prove yourself to Lady Borg." Hanasu mentioned as she left the room.
"You appear to have fallen on your feet," Miru remarked, observing the opulence of their surroundings. "no previous stranger has been treated to these kinds of quarters."
"Does it mean that she knows who I am?" Zane asked hopefully.
"Lady Borg is our wise and benevolent leader, but she is not all seeing; clearly she senses something in you," Miru agreed, running her hands along the satin sheets on the bed. "though I doubt she remembers you specifically."
"So, what happened while I was gone?" Zane wondered aloud.
Miru glanced at him curiously, only to realise he wasn't just asking about general events, he was also asking about the specifics of Lady Borg's relationship with Lord Kai.
Kai, Master of Fire, was a highly respected member of Pixal's court and had been her immediate protector for several years, but he was also tremendously interested in Pixal romantically. Miru knew that Lady Borg was not that way inclined. More than once, Pixal had lamented to Miru about how much she missed Zane; how much she loved him, and how she refused to give up on one day seeing him again. But such information would remain a secret until this stranger had proved his identity to her – she would not be the one to raise the Shogun's hopes without good reason.
"If you are asking what major events have occurred in your absence, such a question will take more than one night to answer." Miru responded cryptically.
"Perhaps we could examine one event at a time?" Zane asked.
"Very well… The records say, that in the aftermath of the Overlord battle, wherein He who Sacrificed Himself did defeat the dreaded beast at the cost of his own life," Miru began. "Her Imperial Highness fell into a depression so deep that not even the unveiling of the memorial statue could coax her from her chambers."
"Records?" Zane wondered. "Were you not there at the time?"
"I have only been in service for five years," Miru shook her head. "I only know what I have learned retroactively."
"I see."
"In the days following the unveiling of the memorial statue," Miru began. "Lady Borg and Lord Kai had decided to go on a sabbatical together, arranged by Mistress Nya who – as I understand it – had been visiting Lady Borg in the aftermath of the main battle."
"Where are the other ninja now? Do you know?"
"Master Lloyd is a lord on the Imperial council, while Master Jay, Master Cole and Mistress Nya are part of the Imperial court, and they're all based in the Airjitzu temple with Sensei Wu," Miru explained. "as one of Lady Borg's equerries, Master Lloyd attends court meetings as the representative for the elemental ninja, and of course, Lord Kai continues to act as her main bodyguard."
"Wait… Mistress Nya…" Zane repeated. "You mean Samurai X, don't you?"
"No, as the elemental Master of Water, it is proper to call her 'Mistress'."
Zane was relieved that his friends were safe, and his teacher was still alive, but he could never have predicted that Nya would become an elemental master; did that mean there were other elemental masters? There were so many more questions he needed answering, so much he wanted to understand about this seemingly new world.
"And what of the Emperor and Empress of Ninjago? I thought a title like 'Imperial Highness' was reserved for them?" Zane asked pointedly. "How did Pixal come to be the Shogun?"
"Lady Borg is the active ruler of Ninjago, so that is the appropriate title to use, regardless of the Emperor and Empress – who are now merely figureheads," Miru explicated. "and the Shogunate was founded similarly to how they have happened in the past; do you not know how Shogunates are established?"
Miru made a strange face at him, and Zane mistook her bewildered expression for one of impatience and disbelief.
"I'm truly sorry if my many questions bother you," Zane started. "I am just extremely disoriented by how long I have been gone, how much has changed, and how formal everyone is."
"I realise that these changes may be frightening to you, but you will soon adjust to this Heian-like primness," Miru explained. "admittedly, the citizens of Ninjago go about their lives in a more modern fashion than those of us within the walls of Borg Tower, but they too show proper reverence to Lady Borg and Kura-okami."
"Kura-okami… people keep saying that, who are they referring to?"
Miru looked him straight in the eyes with a deadpan expression and raised a single eyebrow. It took a few moments for Zane to translate this wordless answer into an actual answer, at which point he gestured to himself and glanced at her with a puzzled face.
"Kami of rain and snow; ring any bells?" Miru goaded. "He who Sacrificed Himself had ice powers, and Lady Borg cried many tears when he died – it was only fitting that he be given deity status – so if you are who you say you are, then yes, you are Kura-okami."
As if the time-skip he had experienced wasn't enough to take in, his beloved was now a shogun, his friend was apparently now a love rival, Samurai X had become an elemental ninja, and he had been given the posthumous honorary title of a Kami. He sat on the bed and put his head in his hands. It was so much to absorb in such a short time.
Miru's expression softened. At first, she felt so put out by this random entity – her work now on hold because of her orders to shadow him – but now, seeing him mentally wrestle with the unexpected changes in the world, she felt compassion for him. There had been imposters in the past, claiming to be the fallen god, but none had ever pulled on her heart.
"I'll leave you to rest," Miru eventually said. "you've had quite a day and you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
"Okay…" Zane said dazedly. "Oh hey, Miru?"
She stopped at the door and turned to look at him.
"Thank you, for everything you've done for me, I would not have been able to navigate this alone." He smiled.
"You're welcome... Zane." She smiled back, before exiting through the door and leaving him to his thoughts.