Ninjago Advent Calendar 2017 [Complete]

Day 11: Snowy Day // Zane x P.I.X.A.L. (*)

So, this is the story that was supposed to be posted on Saturday. But better late than never I guess 😄.

This oneshot is set in my post-HoT universe, around 3 months after Jay and Nya's wedding. In this storyline, P.I.X.A.L. (being the new Samurai VXL and engaged to Zane) is now living with the Ninja.

My Snowflake // Zane x P.I.X.A.L.

Today was the first day of winter. The snow had started falling during the night, at 2:34 precisely, and the grounds surrounding the floating Temple of Airjitzu were now covered with a soft and fluffy white layer.

Taking a glimpse out of the kitchen window, Zane could feel his element call him to go outside, but his strict programming demanded the Nindroid to first set up the roast for their Sunday dinner, before he would be allowed to go outside.

When Zane eventually returned to the Ninja's living room, he found only his beautiful fiancée there. P.I.X.A.L. was standing in front of the big glass window, looking out onto the temple garden. Zane walked over to join her and saw that his impatient teammates had already gone outside without him, and they were obviously enjoying themselves in the snow.

While the four male Ninja were fighting each other, mainly trying to shove snow down the collar of their coats or rub it into each other's faces, Nya was sitting on one of the low garden walls. After quite a bit of arguing with her brother and her husband, the Water Ninja seemed to have finally accepted that she could not join in all exercises anymore. And she was now making the most of the fact that none of the others would dare to attack the pregnant woman, alternating between throwing well-aimed snowballs at her teammates (mainly at Kai and Jay) and taking pictures of them with her phone.

"I would have never expected to see grown-up men, especially four of the famous Protectors of Ninjago, rolling around in the snow like this." P.I.X.A.L. remarked, having noticed his presence without turning around.

Zane wrapped his arms around her from behind. "As you may recall, our brothers sometimes tend to act like young children rather than adults. But I can tell you from experience that this particular activity is a lot more enjoyable than it may look from here. Would you like to try it yourself?" He suggested.

"I understand that you desire to be close to your element. I, however, prefer to stay here and watch you." P.I.X.A.L. replied. "And I will prepare some hot chocolate for the six of you."

"Do you not like the snow, my dear?" Zane asked slightly worriedly. Were they not as compatible as they had always thought?

"Of course I like the snow, because I associate it with you. And I appreciate the beautiful symmetrical arrangement of frozen water molecules in a snowflake or in an ice crystal. I do, however, not like to feel them on my skin."

"And why would that be?" Zane was perplexed. To him, this was the most perfect sensation he had ever experienced, other than holding his girlfriend in his arms that is.

"As you know, I was originally created to be merely an assistant droid. Until the Digital Overlord corrupted me, my original form had never been outside the Borg Tower at all. Of course, my new body has a weather resistant skin and was designed for more physical activities [no, don't get any dirty ideas, this is just referring to P.I.X.A.L. being the new Samurai VXL]. But..." She swallowed, sadness showing in her emerald green eyes. "I have truly experienced snow only once before."

P.I.X.A.L. established a link between their minds, and Zane's processor was immediately flooded with data. Memories that she had never shared with him and images that he had never seen before himself. Because these were scenes of snow falling over New Ninjago City, after the defeat of the Golden Master.

"While I was inside your system, I would always secretly disconnect myself from your touch sensors whenever it came to snow and ice, for example during our excursion to the Wailing Alps. Even just seeing it is painful yet still bearable, but touching it triggers this memory and too many sad emotions." She explained. "I do not want to be reminded of that time when... I thought that I had lost you."

"I am so sorry, my love." Zane stated. "But why did you keep this secret to yourself?"

"Because it is unreasonable for a robot to let myself be that affected by my emotions. And because I know how much your element means to you."

"And you mean just as much to me. Maybe even more. And I promise, you will never lose me again." Zane replied, hugging her tighter. "Tell me, how do you feel right now?"

"This feels... good."

"Even though you are watching the snow outside?"

"Yes." She confirmed. "Because I am watching it with you."

"Then, please, come outside and feel it with me. There is a 99.9% probably that you will enjoy that experience as well." Zane took P.I.X.A.L.'s hand into his own. "Let us replace this sad memory with a new one. And let this be just the first memory of many more to come."