Having safely escorted Pixal to Nya's location, Cole decided to sit in on Zane and Jay, who – much like Pixal and Nya – were dancing, though for an entirely different reason, and in a much more secluded place than the ladies. The reason, Zane explained, was to prevent Nya from finding out what Jay was doing, as the latter was hoping to surprise the former at the gala. At first, Jay protested Cole watching their practice, only to be reminded by Zane that there would be hundreds of people at the gala, and if he intended to dance with Nya, then he'd have to get used to the idea of being observed. And having no counter argument, Jay soon relented.

"You need to stop looking at your feet." Zane scolded as they stood side by side, going over the steps.

"How am I supposed to keep track of my movements if I can't look at my feet?" Jay yelled.

"You will not need to look if you trust the music," Zane mentioned. "you are supposed to be leading, and leaders do not look at their feet, they lead with them."

"Yeah, Jay!" Cole snickered.

"Not helping!" Jay snapped.

"Perhaps you need to practice with someone…" Zane coolly said, glancing at Cole pointedly.

"Oh no, you're not dragging me into this!" Cole argued as he clocked onto Zane's line of thought.

"You already know how to dance; you would be the ideal person to help."

"I don't do closed position," Cole insisted. "personal rule."

"He would if Jasper was gonna be there..." Jay teased.

"At least I can dance; in fact, I could dance better than you with my eyes closed!" Cole boasted, crossing his arms confidently.

"Good idea." Zane agreed, pulling a length of fabric from his pocket and wrapping it around Cole's head like a blindfold.

"Hey!" Cole waved his arms and cautiously walked about, trying not to bump into anything.

"Wait… why did you have that on you?" Jay wondered.

"I was going to put it on you if you didn't stop looking at your feet." Zane replied.

Jay raised an eyebrow at that suggestion as Zane directed a now blindfolded Cole towards him. He didn't like this idea at all – sure, Cole would be able to be able to help, but there was always the chance that he would use the opportunity to show off. Zane directed them into the closed position, with a stern reminder to Cole that he was not allowed to lead; Jay needed to practice.

"Okay, from the top." Zane instructed, playing the music aloud through his head speakers.

What followed was the most awkward and uncomfortable attempt at dancing that Zane had ever seen; even Pixal was not this nervous when she was dancing for the first time. Cole was managing to maintain his composure quite well and was restraining from taking the lead much better than expected, but Jay was still looking at his feet. Zane shook his head.

"Perhaps I should procure an alternative arrangement." Zane sighed.

"You mean find a different person to practice with?" Jay asked hopefully.

"Not quite," Zane said as his eyes darkened. "I was thinking about putting pins in your collar…"

"Ha, ha! That would stop you looking at your feet!" Cole chuckled.

"Jay, a word in your ear." Zane gestured for him to come over for a private word.

Jay separated himself from Cole and walked over to Zane, slightly concerned.

"Is this really what you want?" Zane asked seriously. "You do not seem very interested."

"Yes!" Jay responded, full of enthusiasm. "I swear, I want to learn to dance! I want to impress Nya at the party!"

"Understand this, Jay; the gala is less than a week from now, if you are serious about learning these moves, you will put aside your nerves and you will practice." He sternly warned.

On seeing his usually relaxed friend glancing sharply in his direction, Jay was overcome by a chill – ironic given Zane's elemental power. Never had he seen the nindroid look so serious before. It was a stark reminder that beneath the icy, nonchalant veneer that Zane held, a fierce fire burned. Jay was also reminded of the tale of his friend's explosive reaction on Chen's island a couple years ago. The man was capable of great destruction, there was no denying that.

"Of course, I will do my best!" Jay insisted.

He returned to his previous position, with a still blindfolded Cole wondering where he was. Zane nodded and started the music over from the beginning. Jay, still feeling awkward and uncertain of himself, attempted yet again to replicate the steps Zane had shown him. Although not too confident, Jay did manage to give Cole a small kick when he started leading out of habit. His moves were definitely more assured than they had been – it appeared that Jay had finally acquired some sense of trust in his own capability, even if he was occasionally fumbling his steps.

Zane smiled. His harsh tone apparently had done the trick and gotten Jay to take this thing seriously.

"Okay guys, we've got the transport sorted..." Kai announced as he walked in on the dance lesson. "What the what?"

"We might as well break for now," Zane sighed defeatedly, looking over at Jay. "but you must practice!"

"Did I miss something?" Kai wondered.

"I am teaching Jay to dance, but you must not tell anyone." Zane replied.

"Okay, but why not?"

"It is supposed to be a surprise for your sister." He explained.

"Jay, how many times do I have to tell you?" Kai sighed. "You just need to be yourself and stop trying so hard."

"Hey, it's a gala, he needs to know how to dance anyway." Cole intervened, stepping away from Jay and stumbling in the general direction of Kai's voice.

"So why are you blindfolded?" Kai asked.

"I'm helping Jay to practice – I already know this stuff, so it was a good way for me to help out," Cole mentioned before falling over. "can I take this stupid thing off now?"

"Allow me." Zane offered, removing the fabric strip from Cole's face.

"Ah, thank you!" Cole grumbled as he stood up and brushed himself down.

"Maybe we could all have some dance lessons before the big day." Kai suggested. "I mean, Nya and Pixal are practicing for their dance, we should too."

"I think between you and me, we could whip these guys into shape," Cole bragged, turning to Zane with a smile. "can't have half the team showing us up, after all."

"Agreed, perhaps a group lesson is long overdue," Zane nodded. "and if we time it to coincide with Nya and Pixal's dance practice, they will be none the wiser."

"You're really clinging to this secrecy thing, aren't you?" Cole sighed.

"I do not condone keeping secrets from one's teammates," Zane clarified. "however, when used correctly, it can produce extremely positive results; I could not have surprised Pixal with her new body if I had not opted for maximum confidentiality."

"And if used incorrectly, it can cause more pain than is necessary." Lloyd chimed in, having walked in on the tail end of the conversation.

"I am well aware of the risks involved in maintaining secrecy," Zane shamefully admitted, reminded that he should've told his friends of his survival when Pixal originally suggested it. "but we are not talking about a life-or-death situation here, merely taking the opportunity to do our own training while Nya and Pixal are preoccupied with theirs."

"Yeah, Lloyd, I've seen you dance, you of all people could do with a lesson or two." Cole chuckled.

"What's this then? Not planning a mutiny, I hope." Wu joked as he too entered the fray.

"No, sensei," Lloyd replied as they all bowed to their master. "we were just discussing the upcoming gala."

"Ah, yes, I was meaning to speak with you all about that," Wu began. "we have never gone to anything as prominent as this before, perhaps it would be wise to brush up on your social skills and basic etiquette."

"Funny, we were thinking something along those lines ourselves." Kai grinned.

"Does this mean you're not coming with us, sensei?" Lloyd wondered.

"Nothing has come up to prevent me from going, but I haven't decided either way," Wu shook his head. "Misako will be going though, so I expect you all to be on your best behaviour."

"Yes sensei." They all responded in unison, bowing as Wu left the room.

"Well, you heard the master, we need to practice." Lloyd said with a smile.

A couple of days later, Sensei Wu was walking by the front door, when he heard some voices coming from outside. The ninja had not long left to go training, so he wondered who it could possibly be. He moved to a nearby window, where, on the doorstep, two suited gentlemen were arguing among themselves. He went back to the door and leaned against it to get a better idea of what their argument was about. Perhaps he, being an old master, could assist them.

"No, no, a thousand times no!" One voice rang out. "I don't care how funny you think it would be, we're not doing the portmanteau introduction – not to an important pick-up like this one."

"Aww, come on, she's got a sense of humour, she'll think it's funny!" The other voice spoke. "Those two singers do it all the time, and it's hilarious."

"For the last time, they're twins, it works with them – we look nothing alike, it wouldn't work for us."

Sensei Wu opened the door.

"May I help you?" He asked, briefly startling the two men to the point that one of them fell backwards into the snow.

The man who remained standing helped the other to his feet. They dusted off the snow and straightened up, attempting to at least look professional in the wake of their casual doorstep banter being cut short.

"Good morning, sir, my name is Harry Hedges, this is my associate, Bailey Benson," one of the men said, as they both bowed to him. "we have come to collect Miss Borg and Miss Nya."

At first, Wu was a little confused, but then he remembered Pixal saying that she and Nya would need to leave for Borg Industries, something about a fitting and a dress rehearsal; for the gala, he presumed.

"Ah, yes, please wait here a moment." Wu closed the door and turned to see Pixal excitedly running down the stairs.

"Hey, wait up!" Nya called after her, carrying a packed weekend bag in her hand as she too descended the stairs.

"You have been expecting these gentlemen, yes? Wu asked.

"Yes, sensei," Pixal replied. "they are friends of mine."

"I suppose this means I won't see either of you until the gala." Wu smiled.

"So, you've decided to go after all?" Nya smiled back.

"I've never attended such a momentous event," He tipped his hat and gave a subtle wink before clearing his throat. "and one of my students taking the stage? I wouldn't miss it!"

"Nya has done well to learn the dance, you will be proud of her." Pixal asserted.

"I'm sure I will be proud of all my students," Wu responded as he approached the front door to open it. "after all, you will all be on your best behaviour."

"Miss Borg, Miss Nya," Benson smiled warmly as the door opened. "how good to see you both."

"Mr Benson," Pixal beamed. "and Mr Hedges, I'm so glad you're working together again."

"May I take your bag?" Hedges offered.

"Thanks." Nya grinned as she handed it to him.

"Safe travels," Wu said as the young ladies left the temple. "I will see you both at the gala."

They bowed to him and headed toward the helicopter parked nearby, with Benson taking the lead and Hedges behind them. Pixal excitedly walked next to Benson, chatting and laughing with him. Nya walked alongside Hedges and glanced over at him occasionally. He maintained a professional coolness as they approached the bird, much to Nya's surprise, given that the last time she saw him, he had approached Zane quite casually and even used a nickname. As if sensing her curiosity, Hedges turned to her.

"One of us has to stay professional." He stated, gesturing to Benson, who was still gabbing away with Pixal as though he were on holiday rather than an important client pick-up.

Benson slid the side door open and assisted Pixal and Nya onto the helicopter. He and Hedges climbed in and began the routine for safe departure; door correctly closed, everyone strapped into their own seats, luggage stowed away securely. With a thumbs up from Hedges, the pilot began the take off.

"The girls are so excited to have you back for the winter dance this year." Benson said to Pixal.

"As is Mr Borg." Hedges added.

"Do you guys get to go to the gala as well?" Nya asked.

"Yep, we're normally on security detail but Mr Borg-"

"Our shifts have been covered by other officers who owed us a favour," Hedges interrupted. "we've been allowed a plus one this year too."

"I'm bringing Jack," Benson grinned from ear to ear. "he's a lot better now, his hair has grown back and everything."

"What about you Mr Hedges?" Pixal wondered.

"I'm still unattached, but Jasper will be joining me this year." Hedges mentioned.

"That's his neighbour," Benson whispered to Nya. "she designed one of his tattoos."

The hushed mention of tattoos was enough to cause a mildly uncomfortable silence between the two security officers. Pixal and Nya didn't need to know the details, but it went without saying that the Anacondrai tattoo on Hedges' back was indicative of some strain between the two men. Their friendship had been through worse bumps, and everything worked out in the end, but Benson had yet to get a tattoo of his own as a result.

The remainder of the trip passed fairly quietly; Benson and Hedges hadn't said a word, though Pixal and Nya had discussed a number of things over the half an hour it took to reach New Ninjago from the temple – ninja training, dance practice, their new domestic arrangements, their hopes for the New Year. The helicopter came in to land, and Pixal was flooded with the memories of a few years ago: fetching Zane's blueprints from Dr Julian's underground home and rebuilding him on the city defences floor. She sighed wistfully.

The bird came to a stop and the propellers gently slowed down. Hedges assisted Pixal and Nya in disembarking from the helicopter, while Benson retrieved their bag from the hold and deftly handed it to Nya.

"You should see Mr Abakhan in textile manufacture before you settle in." Hedges suggested.

"Thank you for escorting us here." Pixal bowed.

"It was our pleasure." Benson responded, as he and Hedges bowed to them both.

Pixal and Nya walked over to the elevator and pressed the call button. They got in and made their way down to the textile department. Given that most of the machinists were still on their winter break, Pixal was only expecting to see Mr Abakhan on that floor. Then the doors opened and Pixal was met with a sight she had not seen in a while; three of the ladies she usually danced with were all gathered around Mr Abakhan, and one of them was being fitted with the outfit for this year's fuyu no odori.

"Hello everyone," Pixal smiled. "how nice to-"

"PIXAL!" They exclaimed, dashing over to her enthusiastically and enveloping her in a group hug.

"Looks like you were missed." Nya chuckled.

"Oh Pixal, we're so glad to see you!" A lively redheaded girl beamed.

"We heard you got engaged, congratulations!" Professed a blonde girl who playfully batted at Pixal's shoulder.

"Thank you, Rae," Pixal happily said. "allow me to introduce you to Nya, she is joining us for the winter dance this year."

"Nya? As in, the Water ninja?" A third, brunette girl excitedly clapped her hands.

"That's me." Nya smiled.

The three girls fell about into a chorus of exuberant bouncing, excited squeals and coquettish giggling as they stood before Nya. They were so thrilled to be meeting the Master of Water, that for a moment they forgot themselves; Ruby shushed her two companions and then all three respectfully bowed to her.

"Nya, I'd like to introduce Ruby, Rose and Rae," Pixal gestured to the redhead, the brunette and the blonde respectively. "Ruby works here in textiles, Rose is from the gemmology department and Rae is the lead scientist in endocrinology."

"It's nice to meet you all." Nya declared.

"We offered to take the place of two dancers who backed out," Pixal mentioned, briefly looking around. "where's Marilyn and Shiro?"

"They eloped…" Rae said.

"Yeah, with each other." Ruby gossiped, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"Oh my…" Pixal squeaked in shock. "but Marilyn was engaged to someone else, wasn't she?"

"He left her for another woman – the swine," the brunette girl growled. "Shiro was picking up the pieces for months afterward; I guess they got closer than we thought."

Ruby and Rae nodded in agreement.

"Ladies, please!" Mr Abakhan intervened as he too came over. "Rose, what have I told you about idle gossip?"

"That it's unbecoming of an odori dancer." She repeated the oft quoted phrase, favoured by the aging tailor, and flicked her shiny brown hair to one side.

"Exactly, even if Marilyn's ex was a dubious stain on humanity, we don't gossip on this floor," He stated, before turning to Pixal and bowing. "Miss Borg, how lovely to see you again."

"Mr Abakhan, it is good to see you also," Pixal replied. "and may we congratulate you; we saw your Destiny Collection in the department store recently."

"Thank you, dear, truly it was the pinnacle of all my worldly tailoring experience," Mr Abakhan gestured to Rae, who was being fitted just as Pixal and Nya had come onto floor. "and what do you make of this year's winter dance uniform?"

"Wow, it's really pretty," Nya commented. "are they gonna be in different colours?"

"Tch, of course," Rae chimed in before Mr Abakhan could speak. "Rose is insisting on crimson and amber, but I wouldn't be seen dead in anything other than sakura pink."

"Yes, we're all well aware of your preferences Rae," He laughed, patting her on the shoulder. "she's right though, you may choose your own fabric."

"I know it seems a strange combination, but can you do maroon and light blue?" Nya wondered.

"It's certainly doable." He nodded.

"Mr Abakhan is the most talented designer in all of Ninjago, if anyone can make a colour combination work, it is him." Pixal spoke confidently.

"There is one minor catch," Mr Abakhan admitted, looking at Pixal. "unfortunately, your colours have been pre-determined."

"That's hardly fair, is it?" Nya argued. "If anyone should be able to choose their colours it should be Pixal; her dad owns this place, you know?"

"Please accept my apologies, Miss Borg, but as the leader of the dance you must stand out," Mr Abakhan bowed deeply, his eyes fixed upon the floor. "as such, the task of choosing a suitable colour fell on me."

"It's quite alright, I do not mind," Pixal said, gently touching his shoulder. "I am sure whatever you have chosen will be most acceptable."

"Thank you, Miss Borg," He replied, standing upright and smiling at her. "believe me, I have selected the most exquisite fabric available – all eyes will be upon you."

"We're all just so happy to have you back, if only for a few days," Rae declared. "and we can't wait to meet your fiancé!"

"And the other ninja too," Rose added. "especially the Master of Fire."

"Yes, Rose, we're all well aware of your preferences too." Mr Abakhan said as he rolled his eyes.