| IX | Morning Spiels

                                    

                                          
   *Zane's POV*
                          
     The snow blew past me, the wind harsh. But I managed to stay on my feet, walking on the mountain, my feet making imprints in the ground.
                          
     However, as soon as I stepped onto the ice, it broke right under me and I fell into the hole with a shout. My arm even fell off in the process.
                          
     I grabbed it and re-attached the titanium metal as if it was nothing. I soon found myself in a very large ditch, icicles hanging from the top.
                          
     I then heard the faint sound of a beast, but I paid no mind to it. The growling grew louder, and a large, white dragon appeared in front of me.
                          
     My eyes widened, my mouth gaping open. Fear took over me and I backed up against the ice, panting.
                          
     The dragon roared loudly, making me shout and hope for an escape route. I found nothing—only the voice of a woman, calling out to me.
                          
     "Zane? Are you still there? If you can hear me, wake up. You need to wake up!"



                          
   *No POV*
                          
     Zane opened his eyes, gasping heavily. "It was only a dream."
                          
     "It's amazing you dream. I've always wondered what it was like." The woman, again. "You've always been special."
                          
     "Where am I? Who are you?" the nindroid asked.
                          
     "I'm... PIXAL, a friend," she answered, as if he was supposed to know—or remember, for the matter. "And you're in danger, and have to get out of here. Your memory drive is out of sorts and your elemental power—"
                          
     He had no idea what she was talking about. "Elemental... power?"
                          
     "You're a nindroid, Zane. A ninja. And your friends are here to save you—but they can't do it all," PIXAL explained. "You have to remember who you are."
                          
     Zane shook his head, trying to remember. "Friends?"
                          
     "Remember, Zane. You saved your friends and then rebuilt yourself. There are things about you that you don't understand. That you have yet to discover. But if we're ever going to get out of here, you have to remember."
                          
     It took him a few seconds of thinking, but when it hit him, he smiled softly. "PIXAL... we are... compatible?"
                          
     This brought happiness to the droid. "Yes, Zane. Yes we are."



                          
     "Next!"
                          
     Garmadon held his breakfast tray, looking at the chef. But the latter shook his head, crossing his arms. "Nothing for you."
                          
     The sensei only sighed, unfazed. "There's a valuable lesson here, Son. If you turn your back on your first evil sensei in an effort to go straight..."
                          
     "Next!"
                          
     "... you may not be served creamy biscuits." And he walked off.
                          
     "Well, I know what we're being served—a whole bunch of baloney. Shitty baloney, for that matter." Lloyd sighed, shaking his head. "This isn't a fighting tournament! It's an alibi for Chen to steal everyone's powers."
                          
     "Ah, but technically, it is a fighting tournament," Scarlett popped in, standing next to Kai with her own tray—her arm already looking better. "Just... for a bad reason. And I can't believe he's—" Her voice lowered to a whisper. "—stealing powers."