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The streets of Ninjago’s city market was the perfect place to get lost. Each month, vendors from across the city and neighboring towns gathered in Ninjago Park to sell, barter, and trade their wares. With a quick tongue and a bit of luck, one could get the rarest of items at a thief’s price. Pixal had enough of both to make the market her personal playground. Most of the aftermarket sellers knew her by name—and knew better than to try and upcharge her—those that didn’t soon learned that she was not an easy mark.
This month, she focused on acquiring parts for a project that would improve her efficiency and allow her more free time, something she desperately craved. Between her work as Samurai X and aiding her father in his projects, she had precious little time to herself and one unexpected emergency could steal that away. She learned that after spending weeks repairing her mech after the Pre-Eminent escaped from the Departed Realm. She also learned two other things. One: one-woman repairs were frustrating and time-consuming. Two: Samurai X could not go out of commission. She was ready for the Pre-Eminent, but what if something had appeared while she worked on repairs? She was a competent fighter, but anything beyond petty mortal criminals left her unsure of what she would do.
Which was where her new project came in. No one-woman jobs if you’re not just one woman, right? This was the reasoning that drove Pixal through the stalls filled with spare mechanical parts and scrap, scanning piles of old metal and hardware to assess their condition and value. She found a near-perfect motherboard among a pile of new ones. The price point was a bit high, but she’d brought some old tech from failed projects to barter, maybe she could talk the seller into a deal…
“Mommy! Mommy, look! It’s Samurai X!”
The excited cries of a little girl broke Pixal from her internal spreadsheets. She glanced behind her and spotted a young girl bouncing up and down and pointing at her while an older woman tried to discreetly calm her.
Pixal felt her internal temperature rise. She’d never gotten recognized by a stranger in public. The city had awarded her for her defeat of the Pre-Eminent, yes, but official ceremonies were different from a stranger’s individual attention. It felt… special. No, that wasn’t the right word. Whatever it was, it made it difficult for Pixal to return herself to stasis.
“It’s rude to point at people. Leave her alone, she’s busy, honey.” Pixal caught the words this time, snapping her out of her thoughts. The child was protesting while her mother tried in vain to guide her to another stall.
Pixal decided to make her job a little easier. Smiling, she approached the duo. “Actually, I have a bit of time.”
Both turned their heads to her and Pixal’s smile grew as she watched the little girl’s face light up like the bright sun above them. She squealed, resumed her jumping, and let the words spill from her mouth. “It really is you! Oh my Creation, you’re like the coolest ever—”
“Slow down,” her mother chastised, though there wasn’t much force behind it.
Pixal found the girl’s joy infectious. She chuckled. “It is a pleasure to meet you. What’s your name?”
“Amethyst!” She shouted, startling even herself. Clearing her throat, she said again, “Uh, sorry. My name is Amethyst. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Amethyst? That is a beautiful name.”
“Thanks! My mama said it’s because it’s her favorite gem. I like it cuz purple’s my favorite color.”
“It’s mine too.” Pixal crouched down, putting herself eye-to-eye with Amethyst.
“I made a mech suit just like yours! Except it’s bright and purple. I use it to fight bad guys, like my brother!”
Pixal laughed. “Is that so?”
“Yeah! I gotta train so that I can be a good fighter and protect people just like you when I grow up!”
That took Pixal by surprise. She was already reeling from the adoration this girl heaped upon her, but now she felt like she was at a complete loss. “Really?”
Amethyst nodded. “You’re my hero!”
While Pixal still tried to recuperate herself, Amethyst’s mother leaned down and murmured. “Why don’t you ask if she has any advice?”
“Oh! Um, do you? How could I be a hero?”
Pixal blinked, mouth slightly agape. She paused, pondering. Amethyst looked about ready to burst.
“Well,” Pixal finally said, “a hero should always be brave. We’re responsible for taking care of people. We make sure they’re safe from danger.”
“Like huge monsters!” Amethyst interjected.
“Yes, like huge monsters,” Pixal agreed, then continued, “and we are supposed to be good role models for other kids, like you, so we should always be kind too.”
Amethyst nodded. “What else?”
“Well…” Pixal closed her eyes and thought.
What’s the most important part of being Samurai X?
The answer was so obvious she couldn’t believe it hadn’t come to her sooner.
“Remember the people you love. Your family and friends. They are who we do it for. They are why we keep fighting. Your mom, your brother, anyone you care about. They will always be there for you and you should always be there for them, okay?”
Amethyst clasped her hands together and gave a single, serious nod. “Okay. I promise.” She glanced at the ground and scuffed her shoe. “Could I please hug you?”
“Yes, of course.” Pixal opened her arms just in time to catch Amethyst as she barrelled forward, almost knocking the nindroid off her feet.
“‘M gonna be the greatest hero ever, just for you!” She pulled away, a giant grin plastered on her face once more. “Oh! Could I please have your autograph?
“Yes, yes,” Pixal once again found herself returning the girl’s unabashed glee. She had never given an autograph before. “What should I sign?”
Amethyst turned to her mother and gestured to her purse. She pulled out a notebook with a purple cover and a purple glitter gel pen dangling from a white ribbon attached to the spine.
“This is my vision book, I’m gonna use it to take notes and I’m gonna write down everything you told me!” She flipped open the cover and offered Pixal the pen. Pixal took it and in neat, print she wrote:
Amethyst,
Bravery, Kindness, Love. Remember your promise!
Your friend,
Samurai X
She let the pen drop and Amethyst gave her a final hug. “Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this.”
“Neither will I,” Pixal told her, giving her a final squeeze before letting her go again.
“Amethyst, honey, why don’t you go ahead? I wanna say goodbye to Samurai X too, okay?” Her mother asked.
Amethyst nodded and skipped off, still wearing her jumbo grin. Her mom turned to Pixal, also wearing a warm smile, though considerably less broad than her daughter. Pixal could make out their similarities.
“Thank you,” she said, “for… all of that.”
“Anytime. If we ever run into each other again, I’ll be sure to check in on her. That’s my promise.”
Pixal swore she saw a slight shine in the woman’s eyes. She glanced down the winding path of booths. “I should go catch up with her before she gets lost.” She started to walk away but turned back to Pixal once more. “Thank you, again.”
Pixal raised her hand in farewell. She watched for a moment as Amethyst’s mother disappeared into the crowd, then for another moment longer. The warmth in her heart lingered, going out slowly like a fire with its final coals.
In her pocket, her phone buzzed. She checked and saw a text from Nya, asking when she would be back. She sent a swift reply, keeping vague about what she intended to buy—this was supposed to be a secret project, after all—and returned to the table she’d been browsing previously. Despite the space between them now, Pixal still felt Amethyst’s joy hanging on to the air around her.