The next day, Zane was awoken at some ungodly hour by Miru. He barely had time to collect his thoughts, as she stormed in and started blustering around his luxury accommodation like a hurricane.
"What's going on?" He asked sleepily.
"You've been summoned to the council meeting!" She announced, forcibly sitting him up. "Some of Lady Borg's affiliates have heard of your arrival and wish to assess you!"
"Assess?" He looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"They want to meet you, evaluate your abilities, and pass judgement on your worthiness in joining Lady Borg's court!" Miru replied, as she gave him some carefully selected garments to wear. "It is critical that you make a good impression and fight like you have never fought before!"
"I thought Pixal was the Shogun? Surely she can choose her own court members?"
"You do not understand," She shook her head. "Mr Borg left a stipulation before he retired, that he would only step down if Lady Borg swore to surround herself with trusted people – people who would act in her best interests, serve her in battle, and aid her whenever she needed it."
"So, if they do not approve…" Zane began.
"You will be out on your ear!" She gestured dramatically with her hands. "You MUST make them see what you are truly capable of!"
Zane paused.
"May I ask why you are doing so much to help me? I do not mean to appear ungrateful, but you said yourself that you do not believe I am who I say I am, yet you gave me a new body, and introduced me to Pixal's court," He mentioned. "even now, you seek to protect me from being rejected by her associates: why would you go to these lengths on my behalf?"
Miru went silent for a moment and briefly looked at the floor.
"There have been all of 3 imposters since she took power; dubious people who sought to trick Her Imperial Highness – by methods I have seen before and for reasons I did not care to learn – and I refuse to stand for it any longer," Miru approached Zane, still sitting on the bed, and looked directly at him as she spoke. "however, regardless of my personal disbelief, your easily-accessed biometrics indicate that every word you speak is in fact the truth, and in that respect, Lady Borg needs to know you are back; getting you accepted by her council is a step in the right direction."
She stayed there to observe his sincere reaction and couldn't stop the smile that followed.
"That said, you need to get changed NOW!" She urged, quickly waltzing out of the room.
Zane grinned and looked through the clothes Miru had given him. It was, for all intent and purposes, just like the shozoku he wore the day of the battle against the Overlord. Though it wasn't white like his original one, it was a dark, platinum silver colour. He quickly changed from the one-sleeved uniform he wore, and into the shozoku he was given. It was nice to be back in some familiar clothes, even if he was still in an unfamiliar body. He would fix the hair once he had a chance, but for now the council was waiting, so he hurried out the door.
Miru led him back into the very same room he had been taken to yesterday, but this time he was faced with a panel of important people, as well as Pixal herself. Zane immediately recognised Lloyd – seated to the left of Pixal – and Kai, who was seated to her right. They both glared at him in a most censorious manner. The noble ladies from yesterday were also there, and going by their polite smiles, they were much less hostile.
Zane dropped to one knee, as he felt was appropriate. Miru nodded.
"Your Imperial Highness, I seek to gain your approval," Zane said. "grant me the prospect of joining your court and allow me the opportunity to protect you – it is all I strive to do."
"Lady Borg, I realise that I was not present at court yesterday, and have no right to question your authority, but would I be correct in saying you allowed this unknown to partake of your hospitality?" Lloyd asked.
"You are correct, Master Lloyd." Pixal replied with confidence.
"I will not doubt your judgement," Lloyd bowed. "however, it would be most advantageous for him to prove himself to the wider opinion of the council."
"My dear Zander," Pixal purred. "you have been challenged by one of the elemental ninja; do you accept such a challenge?"
"I happily accept," Zane replied confidently. "I would travel to the ends of Ninjago to prove myself to you."
"Hmph," Lloyd snorted in disbelief. "you are a brazen stranger, but I will not be put off by you."
Lloyd stepped down from his exalted place and stood before Zane in a battle-ready stance. Zane was aware of Lloyd's status, both as a trusted member of Pixal's council and as an elemental master who was now 6 years ahead of him in their training. Regardless, he was prepared to face someone with a higher skill set. Lloyd was the Master of Energy, but as the Master of Ice, Zane was armed to defeat whatever Lloyd threw at him. Even if he couldn't use his ice powers, he was ready to use his logical mind and indirect skills to outdo Lloyd.
From the very first kick, it was apparent that Lloyd was in a similar position of allegiance as Kai, though on a slightly less emotional scale. Zane was able to avoid most of Lloyd's striking, if not catching the occasional blow. Falling back on his experience of fighting to get past the extensive internal security systems, Zane allowed himself to become as loose and flexible as he had in his digital form. From this point, Lloyd found it increasingly difficult to land a single hit on him. Zane's body had become as fluid as the data stream he once inhabited, swaying, and dipping out of harm's way, while Lloyd became more and more desperate to make a mark on him.
Miru was stunned by Zane's abilities; he had been out of commission for six years, but he was somehow holding his own against Master Lloyd.
"I say, isn't this a fun way to spend the morning!" Pixal giggled, nudging Kai with her elbow. "Perhaps you would be so good as to have some refreshments sent up."
"Yes, Your Highness." Kai replied as he bowed his head.
Kai rose to his feet and exited the room, leaving the energetic fighting behind him. One of the other council members sat closer to Pixal. She gently swished her platinum blonde hair and hid her elegantly painted face behind an ornate folding fan.
"Your Highness, do you favour the newcomer's chances?" She quietly wondered as she fanned herself.
"My dear Lady Rae, I think a better question would be, how could you not? He is standing his ground against a considerably stronger opponent," Pixal replied, before turning to the two fighters and shouting: "keep going Zander, I have faith in you!"
Encouraged by Pixal's praise, Zane proceeded to lay into Lloyd with a ferocity he had never felt before, switching from defence to offence and throwing himself into the battle. After several punches only just made contact, Zane changed tack and successfully kicked at Lloyd repeatedly, and forced him back into a corner. Full of the vigour of having Pixal on his side, Zane held his forearm against Lloyd's neck. Lloyd flailed for a moment, before prying himself free from Zane's grip and creating as much distance between them as possible.
A brief scan revealed that Lloyd's pulse was quickening, and his blood pressure was rising; the usually calm and centred Master of Energy was becoming more and more irritated. It was obvious that his mere presence had irritated Lloyd from the start, for reasons that Zane assumed were less to do with him as an individual and more associated with Lloyd's allegiance to Pixal. Now was the perfect time to use this to his own advantage. Zane once again faded into his evasive techniques, spinning, and flipping to avoid Lloyd's attacks, while taking pot shots at him as he passed.
Lloyd began instinctively throwing energy balls in response to every close-contact strike and was damaging the room's décor in the process; Pixal giggled and applauded as the elemental attacks tore through decorative screens, left dents in the walls and even destroyed a couple of ornamental statues.
However, Lloyd's attempts to hit Zane were getting a little too rough, and the nearby guards prepared themselves to break it up. Lloyd accumulated one final, ultimate energy blast in his hands – one big enough to show this defiant intruder that he was hopelessly, hilariously, outmatched.
As Zane clipped Lloyd in the ribs with his foot, Lloyd immediately spun around and let loose the devastating mass of energy, only to see that the direct target was not his opponent, but Pixal.
"Your Highness, watch out!" Lloyd shouted, horrified at his miscalculation.
There was a unanimous gasp among the council members, as Pixal held up her forearms to try and protect herself from the incoming attack. The guards rushed over to her. The resulting explosion echoed down the hall, and Kai – who was addressing a porter regarding Pixal's wishes – bolted back into room as fast as he could.
The smoke cleared, and everyone was simultaneously holding their breath, dreading what could've happened.
But it wasn't what they were expecting.
Pixal warily opened her eye, imagining the worst-case scenario of possibly needing another body part to be replaced… only to see Zander using his body to shield her. She had felt something make sudden contact with her body, and expected it to be the energy blast, but it wasn't – it was the stranger, with his arms curled around her protectively. He looked down at her with his once green eyes, that were now glowing blue, and he smiled sweetly, only to fall unconscious and hit the floor moments later.
"Your Highness! Are you okay?" Lloyd hurried over to her and threw himself into a dogeza bow. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"
"He… he protected me…" Pixal breathed out, dropping to the floor next to the defeated droid and hovering her hand over his face, as he had done to her yesterday.
She looked at his body with a wide, enamoured eye; his clothing was torn and scorched, and there was a smoking dent carved into his back from the sheer force of Lloyd's attack. She looked up at Kai with a stunned expression.
"A total unknown… someone who arrived here only yesterday… essentially sacrificed himself for me."
"Well, he did say that he had trained for years to protect you," Kai begrudgingly admitted. "I guess he was telling the truth."
"I have been periodically scanning his vital signs," Miru mentioned. "I have not seen anything to indicate any falsehood in his words."
Two of the council members whispered to one another behind the privacy of their folding fans, observing Lloyd's slow rise from his extreme pose of deference. Although no longer on the ground, he continued to look at the floor; utterly ashamed that he allowed himself to be played in such a way. To be manipulated was one thing, but to fire an attack on someone he had pledged to serve was humiliating, no matter how accidental it was.
"I must admit that he outweighed my expectations," Lloyd agreed. "even if I felt goaded into such an uncontrolled attack, a random stranger wouldn't be so quick to expend himself for something he didn't truly believe in."
"Lady Borg, if we may intervene," a red-haired councilwoman stepped forward and bowed, followed by the other four court ladies. "we do believe that to cast out someone so loyal and truthful would be a grave mistake."
"Lady Ruby is right," added another councilwoman, flipping her brunette hair and gently waving her fan. "far be it from me to step on the toes of Lord Kai and Master Lloyd, but for Zander to make this kind of gesture is quite outstanding; he is clearly true to his word and should be treated as such."
"I propose a vote," Lloyd suggested. "all those who believe Zander should stay and be officially inducted into Lady Borg's court, say aye."
All five councilwomen, Lloyd, Pixal, Miru, and even the guards, all responded with 'aye'. Their eyes fell upon Kai, who thus far had not given his verbal vote. For all his personal misgivings, he knew that Zander must have been sincere about his intentions; no random person would have done what he had unless they truly meant it.
"Aye." He eventually said.
"Miru, I leave it to you to arrange a new, custom body for Zander; I will come by soon and make recommendations," Pixal smiled and gestured to two of the nearby guards. "Benson, Hedges; if you would be so kind as to take Zander and escort Miru to the main manufacturing floor."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The men replied.
Hedges and Benson lifted Zander's motionless body, and they left the room with Miru.
"I suppose this means we will be having another Lord presentation ceremony," Lady Ruby baited. "the first since yours three years ago, am I right, Lady Rae?"
"Correct," She agreed. "at the time, it was thought that I would be the last one."
"It was not an intentional snub, I assure you." Lady Borg grinned.
"I would never think such a thing, Your Highness," Lady Rae bowed humbly. "I am very grateful to have been appointed."
"Wait a minute," Kai interjected. "who said anything about a new Lord?"
"Can you think of a more appropriate reward for someone who so willingly sacrificed themselves for Lady Borg?" Lloyd countered.
Kai said nothing, and merely fumed where he stood.
"Then it is decided; we shall begin to make arrangements for a presentation event for the new Lord," Pixal declared. "Lady Ruby, I trust you to contact my events equerry in the textile department – tell her to come to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness." She replied, bowing, and taking her leave.
"Evie will handle the logistics of the event, but what about the special object required for the induction?" Lloyd asked.
"Normally such an article is crafted from the finest jade," Lady Rose intervened. "however, owing to a recent commission, we currently do not have any in-house."
"That's a problem…" Kai mentioned. "What other gems do you have?"
"If it pleases Your Highness, we recently acquired a piece of natural star sapphire embedded with amethyst shards," Lady Rose suggested. "it is a beautiful pale blue with flashes of purple deep beneath the asterism effect; would this be a suitable alternative?"
"Perfect!" Lady Borg smiled.
"I don't mean to poke holes in this balloon," Kai bowed. "but the anniversary celebration is just six days away and Christmas is the week after; do we really have time for a Lord announcement in between?"
"Of course, we do!" Lady Shiro squeaked in shock. "It's tradition!"
"Lord or Lady announcement ceremonies must take place within two days of the decision, to curb the potential for rumours," Lloyd quoted. "need I remind you of the storm that followed the rumours surrounding my addition to the council?"
"Master Lloyd is quite correct," Pixal calmly said. "we must begin the preparations."
Having stopped by the manufacturing floor to give Miru additional instruction, Pixal made her way to one of the palace gardens with Hanasu, where they admired the many birds that were flitting from tree to tree. Hanasu began to imitate the calls of various songbirds, and a couple of wrens descended onto Hanasu's left arm, only to be frightened off by a sparrowhawk who flew to Pixal and landed on her shoulder.
"Hello friend," Pixal chuckled. "what beautiful feathers you have!"
The sparrowhawk gave three consecutive cries and flicked its tailfeathers.
"I'm so sorry, Your Highness, I was trying to attract the falcon," Hanasu apologised. "I keep forgetting that there are other birds of prey who may respond to the cries of songbirds."
"It's quite alright, dear Hanasu, we will find him one day," Pixal assured her, petting the wild bird. "it is simply a matter of time."
Another person soon joined them, and the sparrowhawk swiftly flew away.
It was Evie, Pixal's events equerry. Pixal had several equerries, the key one being Lloyd, as he was the one that she relied on most frequently, but Evie was also a very important member of staff.
"Good morning, Evie." Pixal regally waved.
"Good morning, Your Imperial Highness," Evie bowed. "you summoned for me?"
"Yes, I did, thank you for your promptness." Pixal smiled.
"Of course, Your Highness, I wouldn't be so bold as to purposely keep you waiting!"
"How devoted you are," Pixal nodded. "please, come with me."
Evie happily followed Hanasu and Pixal as they left the garden and headed back indoors, strolling towards one of the meeting rooms.
Though she was only 24 years old, the short blonde seamstress had recently been promoted to senior machinist – second only to Mr Abakhan, the head of the textile department. Pulling double duty in textiles and as an Imperial attendant wasn't easy, but Evie handled all her duties with the dedication and grace of Pixal herself, back when she was a personal assistant.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Evie" Pixal declared. "no doubt it was well deserved."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Evie briefly bowed her head. "it was a total surprise, I thought for sure it would've gone to Mr Warwick."
"So, he wasn't mad at being passed over for the job?" Hanasu queried.
"Not at all, in fact, Mr Abakhan said it was Mr Warwick's idea to put me forward for it." Evie clarified.
"As I understand it, being promoted would mean being separated from his close work friend, Mr Stanford," Pixal interjected. "such loyalty is to be admired."
"Aww, that's so nice!" Evie nodded.
They approached the designated room where Pixal liked to discuss event details with her equerry, and the guard standing nearby bowed and opened the door for them. Pixal entered, thanking the guard as she went, and sat at a sparkling redwood table. Evie gave a curtsey and sat beside Pixal, while Hanasu remained standing. As Evie readied her tablet and stylus to make notes, a young woman in a maid's uniform entered, carrying a tray of hot tea and soft cookies. She had long white hair tied back with a claw grip and delicate red eye makeup.
"Pardon the intrusion, Your Highness," she flawlessly curtseyed while holding the tray. "may I offer you some tea?"
"Thank you, Miss Harumi, I'd love some," Pixal beamed. "how about you Evie?"
"Yes, please." Evie nodded.
Harumi set the tray delicately on the table and went about pouring the tea.
"I must say, your hair is beautiful in this style." Pixal commented, as Harumi placed the teacup before her.
"You're too kind, Your Highness," Harumi smiled. "one of the kitchen porters suggested I clip it up this way, to keep it out of my eyes."
"That's why I tie my hair up too," Evie mentioned. "it's much easier to get detailed tasks done when you can see properly."
Evie didn't interact with Harumi very often – their jobs took them in opposite directions – but she always tried to be friendly when their paths did cross. There was something very peculiar about the Emperor and Empress' adopted daughter becoming a maid for the Shogun, and Evie couldn't help but wonder why they would allow it. Were they trying to teach Harumi the value of hard work? Or was it part of the conditions of the Emperor's surrender…?
"Chocolate chip or lemon drizzle?"
Evie was snapped out of her train of thought by Harumi offering her something from the plate of cookies.
"Oh, yes, thank you." Evie stammered, selecting a cookie and taking a bite.
Harumi bowed and obediently stood to one side, awaiting potential orders from Pixal.
Evie wondered about the potential conflict of loyalties for Harumi. The Emperor and Empress were her adopted parents, surely the white-haired young lady would be tempted to report to them about whatever Pixal was doing. But betraying her employer, the active ruler of Ninjago, would be considered treason – a crime that came with some of the heaviest punishments.
Perhaps the agreement between the Shogun and the Emperor required Harumi to enter indentured servitude for a certain amount of time…
"Now then," Pixal announced, startling Evie. "it has been decided to hold the event the day after tomorrow; this falls within the 2-day window but allows for maximum preparation time."
"A very wise decision." Evie agreed.
Evie pulled up the checklist from the last induction ceremony 3 years ago on her tablet, then went partially on autopilot as she pointed out each item and discussed with Pixal what would need to be changed or done differently. She kept every itinerary, checklist, and planning document from every event she'd ever planned for Pixal – even before the droid had become the Shogun – and as such, had all but memorised the details of how each event ran from start to finish.
Lord announcements used to be a relatively small occasion when Pixal was simply the leader of New Ninjago, and the guest list would be confined to attendants from within the city. In fact, the last addition to Pixal's council happened right before the foundation of the Shogunate, so although this announcement would have the same basic structure as the earlier ones, it was going to be a far grander affair.
There had been many other extravagant celebrations since Pixal took power, so Evie wasn't intimidated by the task, but she was very curious to meet the man that was to become the new Lord. So far, precious little had been said about him beyond the fact that he was being inducted, and no one knew what he looked like. Well, the throne room guards knew, but they weren't gonna tell anyone for fear of punishment – confidentiality was incredibly important to Pixal.
"More tea, Your Highness?" Harumi politely offered.
"Yes please." Pixal grinned.
Harumi reached out to grip the teapot, but accidentally touched it where it was still hot, and cried out in pain. As she retracted her hand, the teapot was jostled, and hot tea splashed on the table.
"I'm so sorry!" Harumi squeaked.
She attempted to mop up the spill with one hand and shook her other hand to try and cool her fingers.
"Goodness, are you alright?!" Pixal asked sincerely.
"Yes, Your Highness, I'm fine," Harumi whimpered. "I'm so terribly sorry about the mess!"
"Never mind that, I'm more worried about your hand; Hanasu, come here."
Hanasu trotted over and placed her hand over Harumi's, and Harumi squeaked as she felt a sudden cold sensation on her skin. All droids in the tower were programmed with first aid knowledge and carried a small selection of supplies in their left thigh cavity for just such an incident. After a few minutes of soothing the injury, Hanasu retrieved a cloth bandage and wrapped up Harumi's fingers.
"There, is that better?" Pixal smiled.
"Uh, yes, thank you Your Highness," Harumi muttered as she bowed. "and thanks to you as well, Hanasu."
"If it suits you, Your Highness, I shall pour the tea to prevent further injury to Miss Harumi," Hanasu asserted, glancing at Harumi. "you should stick to doing the milk and sugar for now."
Harumi nodded gratefully and did as she was told.
Evie watched this entire scene and was once again reminded that Pixal's polite demeanour extended to her staff. As the daughter of a higher-class family, Evie was well aware of how cruel the upper echelon could be to their domestics; her own mother would've punished Harumi severely had this incident happened at home, but Pixal's caring reaction to Harumi's clumsiness was indicative of her level-headed nature.
However, Evie knew for a fact that Pixal wasn't averse to doling out appropriate punishments to those who deserved it. One look into the brief history of her rule over New Ninjago – and Ninjago as a whole – made that crystal clear.