Work Text:
Pixal hums to herself as she inserts a gear into the mechanisms of a machine. She works in a far corner of the Samurai X cave that she constructed beneath the Monastery of Spinjitzu.
A thud echoes in the distance. Pixal leaps to her feet, searching for the noise. She releases her held breath when she spots that the source of the sound was only Mr. Frohicky dusting the large computer. She turns back to her work and smiles at her progress.
Zane will love this. Pixal has designed a slim white motorcycle for her favorite nindroid, equipped with retractable ice blades that could disable his opponents with ease.
She cannot wait to finish it and present it to him. Assuming that—
Crash! Pixal jumps up, spinning around to find a teenager with pink hair tucked behind her large cat-eared headphones.
“Hi, Pixal!”
“Greetings, Sora…” Pixal steps backward, spreading her arms in a futile attempt to shield the motorcycle from the new arrival.
“Oh! What’s that?”
“I am constructing a vehicle for Zane…”
“Great! Well, it’s a good thing that I came! I can finish that for you in no time!” Sora waves her hands until they pulsate with pink, rippling energy.
“No! Wait!”
Sora thrusts her hands at Pixal’s half-finished vehicle. The parts of Zane’s motorcycle spin apart, reforming into an oddly-shaped miniature car. Pixal squints at it, wondering where the heck Sora managed to find two extra wheels, a windshield, and a license plate that spells “CATS!!” in lopsided letters.
“There you go!” Sora declares. “Problem solved!”
“But that was not my intention—”
But Sora had already run off, spotting Riyu chasing a ball down a nearby corridor.
No matter where Pixal decided to build, or what Pixal chose to build, Sora always managed to find her. And each time she turns Pixal’s half-finished creations into completed projects that Pixal had no use for or intention of creating in the first place. It has gotten so bad, that Pixal’s power core skips an interval each time she glimpses a flash of pink at the corner of her optical lenses.
But that is not the end of it. The ninja have stopped going to Pixal for vehicle and weapon requests. Instead, all but Zane turn to Sora for their needs who could create what they desire in less than a minute. And whenever Pixal offers to help them with anything else, they refuse and ask one of the apprentices with elemental powers to assist them instead. Even when she implored Mr. Frohicky if she could offer him assistance, he insisted that after months of work, he had “mastered” the role of being the Monastery’s Assistant Keeper and would not want a “legendary hero” such as her to do such work as cleaning the dishes.
Pixal feels like an old part lodged in a new machine: out of place and interfering with the workings of the other components.
“Are you okay?” Zane asked her yesterday when he caught her staring at her once half-complete combat car that Sora had turned into an unbalanced motorcycle. Pixal assured him that, yes she was fine and definitely not
But as Zane left her to her work, she could not help but wonder if she should have told him the truth.
No, she thought. He has enough on his mind right now. Besides, the last thing I want to do is prompt him to worry about me. Pixal recalls when she reunited with Zane after the long years of his absence. In the first few days of their reunion, they had both found reasons to grasp each other’s hands and give each other hugs frequently, as if to ensure that the other was still physically present and not a wishful hallucination.
No. If I tell him he will worry, her processor reminds her each time she considers talking to him about her problems. Her power source seems to clench in her chest as she remembers how Zane had also gone out of his way to keep her out of harm’s way after they reunited, fearing that he would lose her again. This led to a long conversation where she assured him that she Pixal assured him that, yes she was fine and definitely not upset about anything whatsoever.
continued her samurai training after the Merge and would be able to subdue many threats that could potentially endanger her. However, sometimes she catches him looking at her with worry in his eyes, despite his assurance otherwise.
But now, despite the joy that fills her when she is with Zane, with Sora altering everything she makes and the ninja not wanting her assistance, Pixal has begun to dread her time at the Monastery, so much so that she has reached out to her creator, Dr. Borg, to inquire if he would like extra assistance on a project, who, to Pixal’s surprise, expressed that he would appreciate her help, but only if that would not detract from her duties as a samurai.
No, Dr. Borg. Samurai X is no longer needed.
But then, as with every time she thinks of leaving, her thoughts return to Zane, the one person who never ceased appreciating her. The only reason why she would want to stay.
I must say goodbye to him. While the thought of being separated from Zane caused an ache to spread from her power source to her stomach compartment, she knows that deep inside her, she would not be able to continue living with the team if she is unable to contribute in a meaningful way.
And I will stay in Ninjago City so Zane and I can call and see each other when we wish. It is not like I am moving to a separate realm.
Pixal walks to Zane’s bedroom and knocks gently on his door. “Zane?” She whispers. No response. For a moment, she hesitates. I should not disturb him…But Zane would worry if he woke up to my absence without an explanation. I must tell him.
She opens the door, ensuring that it would not screech upon its hinges.
Zane’s silver hair peeks out from his rippled covers. She approaches his bedside, reaching out a hand to wake him. Zane’s soft breaths ruffle the covers. His face, which is usually creased with worry, emits a peace that Pixal has not seen from him in many years.
“Oh, Zane.” After a moment of thought, she returns to her room, deciding to write a letter to him instead. On the paper, she tells him of her plan and takes care to emphasize that she will be safe in Borg Tower and Zane could call or meet with her whenever he wished. She seals the letter and places it on his nightstand.
“Goodbye, my Zane.” She leans towards her sleeping love and her lips brush his cheek. A smile forms on his face.
“Mmm. Pixal kisses,” Zane murmurs in his sleep. Then he rolls over and snores into his pillow.
Pixal covers a giggle with her hand. “My sweet little nindroid. I will miss you so much.” Pixal strokes his forehead one last time before exiting, taking care to shut the door quietly behind her.
Pixal retrieves her suitcase and backpack from her old room then walks through the Monastery’s dark halls. With each room she passes, memories flood through her. Though many of the rooms have been altered since the Coalescence, many of their original features are still intact, rendering them recognizable. She pauses when she reaches the family room in particular, recalling countless days she and her friends spent together, relishing a break from saving Ninjago through playing pointless, yet enjoyable, videogames and other activities.
She shakes her head and continues forward, emerging into the courtyard. The moon bathes it in a silver glow. Dark shadows pool in corners where the moon cannot reach. Lloyd perches on his meditation carpet, still as a marble sculpture. His eyes blink open at the sound of Pixal’s feet on the courtyard stones.
“Pix? What are you—” Lloyd’s eyes find her suitcase and backpack. “Are you leaving?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean…” Pixal stammers.
“But why?” Pixal fingers her suitcase handle and sighs.
“You would not understand.”
“Try me.”
Pixal inhales, looking from Lloyd to her suitcase.
“When all droids are created, they are aware that one day, newer models will be built, rendering them obsolete. But after I joined your team, I guess, I always assumed…I could not imagine that here, one day too I would be unable to contribute. But now, that is the case.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am not needed anymore. Sora is now able to construct vehicles much more quickly than I ever could. Samurai X is not required because the ninja team has grown significantly larger with more strong, capable elemental masters than ever before that have their own mechs to fight in. And I cannot even help with the chores because that is Mr. Frohicky’s sole obligation.” Pixal clenches her hands on the handle of her suitcase. “The only one who seems to care that I am present is Zane and I cannot tell him about this because then he will worry and he already spends too much time worrying about me.” She pauses as a cherry blossom lands on her shoulder. She rubs its soft petals between her hard, metallic fingers. “I just want to be useful and it is clear that I am not so here. I will be close by if you ever need me or wish to see me, but…” She shakes her head. “I do not want to stay if I am not wanted.” Lloyd rises and places a hand on her shoulder.
“But you are wanted. After the Merge, we missed you so much. Our team is not complete without you.”
Pixal forces her lips into a smile.
“But it is. You have many new and strong ninjas now. And you have been able to conquer challenges without me. I am not an elemental master and what I used to be able to contribute—building vehicles and fighting in mechs—can be more easily fulfilled by others. I would rather be somewhere where I am valued than somewhere I am…not.”
“Pix, you are valued. It may not seem like it right now, but you are. I have no doubt that we might need your quick thinking skills and Samurai X fighting techniques sometime soon. Who knows, maybe you can help the kids with weapon training in the future? But, for now, if you feel like leaving is best for you, then you should. But never forget that this is your home too. You will always have a place here, builder or not. Samurai or not. Ninja or not. This is your home, Pix and you can always come back.”
“Thank you, Lloyd.” Her words wobble in her mouth. “That means a lot to me. And if you do need me…You can notify me. I gave Zane my contact information so he knows how to reach me.”
Lloyd nods. “Will do. And, Pix? Don’t thank me. It’s the truth. This is your home and it will always be.” Pixal nods, giving Lloyd a smile that she does not have to force. Lloyd nods at her and returns to his carpet, raising his tea cup to his lips. Pixal approaches the gates, her suitcase wheels rattling against the grooves in the courtyard stones.
She steps through the gate. The raw liquid carnelian of the new sun rushes into her optical circuits. She blinks to adjust them to the orb’s glare. The great steps wind below her into gray, churning mist. And somewhere beyond that mist lies Ninjago City and its pinnacle, Borg Industries.
She turns to look back through the gates. Lloyd has returned to his meditative stance. The sun pools into the courtyard, painting the wooden walls with her ruby glow as she rises.
Pixal returns to the staircase below. She fills her artificial lungs before taking the first step toward her future.