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Sora groaned sleepily as 8-bit music filtered through the monastery, the early morning rays dancing through the open window. An unfamiliar open window. With a start she rolled over to take in her surroundings, wooden frames and the empty blue hammock belonging to Arin, her BFF and roommate going on five years, quickly becoming apparent. With an agitated mutter she realized that Arin was likely out in the courtyard with Lloyd, not one to shirk the ninja tradition of early morning drills. She could only be thankful Lloyd had shown her mercy after her previous, um, attempts at training early in the morning.
Sora’s internal debate on whether to get up or roll back to sleep was decided when the music registered in her brain – it was a wonder she hadn’t recognized it sooner! The familiar track was something she’d often play while hanging out with Arin or celebrating a big win or successful ‘borrowing’ of scrap. The sound was distinct, yet faint, as though it was coming from another wing of the monastery. Interest piqued, Sora committed to leaving her own bed, before promptly collapsing on the ground.
Groaning, she raised herself up and blearily shuffled towards where her headphones with stylized cat ears lay resting on a supply crate haphazardly shoved next to her bed, an attempt by the ninja to make them feel more like they were home rather than at the Monastery of Spinjitzu, before making her way out to the corridor.
Sora trudged through the monastery halls, stopping to peer into Lloyd’s and Kai’s rooms, looking for the source of the noise. She found no one there, nor the source of the music. Given that Arin, Lloyd, and Kai were not the cause of her favorite tune populating the monastery this early in the morning that left one remaining suspect. Nya, the Elemental Master of Water.
Sora had mostly avoided Nya since their adventures in the Land of Madness, Cloud Kingdom and the Imperium had concluded. She was afraid of what Nya thought of her due to Sora dropping herself and Nya when Riyu’s powers stopped working, and she hadn’t had time since to ask Nya about it during a mission, as she had been researching Merge Quakes in the Cloud Kingdom before ending up in Imperium’s portal gate. Lloyd and Kai had assured Sora at length that Nya is tough, and the boys have given her much more trouble over the years – she wouldn’t hold anything against Sora. However, given that much of the team was still missing, Sora wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t hesitate to replace her when they found their friends, Nya particularly, after her mishap nearly getting her killed. When Lloyd told her and Arin stories from before the Merge, she could recognize the bravery, courage, and competence of the old ninja.
Briefly shaking her head, she continued down the monastery corridor. While she hadn’t known Nya for long, she didn’t seem like someone who would blast music that sounded as though it belonged in a video game throughout the monastery.
Not wanting to risk harming her still fragile relationship with her new friends by appearing nosy, Sora made an effort to tread heavily on the monastery’s wooden boards to allow Nya time to prepare for her arrival. By the time Sora reached Nya’s room though, she found the door wide open, with Nya nowhere to be found. The music was audibly louder, and it continued increasing in volume the closer she got to the adjacent door. Knocking at the door as a courtesy, Sora stepped into the room to find Nya. She was standing on an old-looking platform that had ‘Dancy Pants’ splayed across the numerous interconnected panels. Nya didn’t make any indication that she had noticed Sora come in, so Sora coughed into her hand to get Nya’s attention. The other woman did not stir.
Concerned, Sora walked around to hug the wall near the back of the machine to get a look at Nya. While her body appeared frozen, Nya’s eyes welled as she gazed blankly at where a pixelated avatar moved through different dance steps. Confused and concerned, Sora leaned in and said quietly, “Uh, Nya? Are you feeling ok?” As though the softly spoken words were a shock to her mind, Nya started, blinking rapidly and scanning the room before her eyes landed on Sora.
“Sora, what are you doing in here?” Nya asked, not unkindly, but lacking the warmth that her words held when Sora had talked to her earlier. Shuffling her feet nervously, Sora replied, “I woke up and heard that song. I really like it, and I’ve never heard the others play it so I thought it must be you and when I went to find you your room was empty and now I’ve found you in here so-” Sora’s nervous rambling was cut off by Nya, “Sora, it’s ok. I was just surprised to see you.”
Somewhat reassured, Sora nodded towards the platform, “What is that?” Nya softly smiled as Sora continued, “Lloyd never mentioned anything about that thing when he gave us the tour.” Nya gave a sad smile. “This is ‘Dancy Pants’, a game that I used to play with Jay whenever we had time to go to the arcade. It was our way of escaping our hectic lives as ninja and where we could just forget about everything and work in sync as dance partners. Walking past Jay’s room I saw the machine the ninja got him – more like got us, for his birthday and couldn’t help myself. It has been a long time since I played this, and as soon as I started the game all I could think of is that Jay is gone and I am alone.”
Though Sora couldn’t relate to what Nya was going through with Jay, she knew all too well what it was like to be lonely. Maybe this was a way to connect with Nya, make her feel better, and apologize all in one go! After hesitating briefly she spoke up, “Maybe you could teach me? I have two left feet, but I can give it a shot!” Nya chuckled wetly and answered by gesturing to the second platform and tapping something on the previously obscured screen, returning to the main menu.
“Ok, Sora. These tiles correspond to where your feet need to go.” Nya said as she gestured to the metallic pressure plates set into the platform. “And when the arrows on this screen reach this bar, that’s when you need to put your foot on the tile. By following the image on the screen you can know when you should be putting one foot, or both on the plate. It won’t matter score wise, but later steps in the dance will be harder to pull off if you don’t match the image as your feet can get turned around. To start stand on the middle tile.”
“Like this?” Sora asked as she stepped onto the tile marked ‘O’, watching as the character on-screen promptly lit up green. “Yes, Sora,” Nya replied as she readjusted herself to stand on her ‘O’ tile. “I know you like this song, but the moves are complex for a newbie. Would you like to start on an easier one?” Nya continued.
“Nah, I’d rather jump straight into the deep end. It’s how I like to solve problems, work by feel and then iteratively improve.” Sora said, thinking back to her numerous inventions she developed both in Imperium and in the Crossroads. Nya hummed before telling her to be ready as she pushed the ‘Play’ button on the screen.
Looking back on this moment years later, Sora would beg Nya to forget this moment – and for Zane to delete his backups of the monastery internal security cameras. She kept finding herself lost in the music only for the sound of missing a step to jolt her straight back into the moment, helplessly begging her feet to cooperate as they tried to land on the correct tiles. After the song ended, Sora slumped dramatically on the railings and groaned. “I suck at this,” she directed towards the floor.
Out of her view, Nya blinked, before fondly shaking her head and hooking her arm around Sora. “Hey, it’s your first time. Can you keep a secret from the boys?” she whispered conspiratorially. Sora rapidly nodded. “When I asked Jay to go to dancing lessons with me, I was a lot like you. He was totally out of my league. I was constantly stepping on his toes, bumping into him and the other people learning, all while everyone around me was completing the instructor’s exercises, Jay most of all flawlessly. I thought I was hopeless.” Sora watched as Nya’s face transformed into a wistful, nostalgic smile. “It took a few weeks of lessons, and a lot more sore toes, but thanks to Jay sticking with me and encouraging me to keep going because ‘ninja never quit’ eventually I started to get it. After that lesson, I asked Jay to take me to his favorite arcade as thanks for sticking with me all those weeks. That was when he introduced me to this old hunk of junk.” Nya grinned as she rapped her knuckles against the console.
Wow, she and Jay must have been really happy, Sora thought as she watched Nya’s smile droop slightly, before she forced it back up. “Before I merged with the sea Jay – don’t ask.” Nya said as Sora’s eyebrows pinched in confusion. “Jay and I kept challenging each other to make unique dance moves to play on similar machines to this, so we could perform them together. The last one we made together was what I called, ‘the Electric Jaya’,” Nya playfully looked offended at Sora’s snort. “I used the beat from this song for it, which is why I was playing it. Give yourself a few more weeks of practice, and I might be able to teach you.” Nya said cheekily as she stepped off the platform. Sora dreaded the idea of failing that miserably again, but a combination of Nya’s words and that she didn’t seem…totally upset and disappointed with her encouraged her to agree.
After she and Nya had left the room, Sora saw an opportunity to apologize as Nya was closing the door. “Hey, Nya?” Sora started, nervously wringing her hands together.
“Yes?” Nya said as she turned away from the now closed door, eyes fixed on Sora.
“I would…just like to say, I’m sorry for almost getting you killed in that fight with the dragons please forgive me!” Sora finished, her voice getting higher and faster as she continued, head bowed.
Sora’s head snapped up when Nya put a hand on her shoulder, feeling uncertain as to what the blue ninja would say. “Don’t worry Sora! I’m not mad, falling to an impending doom happens more than you might think as a ninja. Just ask Lloyd! I’m sorry if I made you think I didn’t like you, there just hasn’t been a lot of downtime lately to talk to you. If you ever want to talk, I’ll do my best to keep my room open.”
Sora swelled with gratitude towards the older ninja. “Thank you so much, I’ll totally keep that in mind!”
As ninja and student parted ways in the monastery corridor – Nya to go outside to help Lloyd with maintaining the monastery training course and Sora back to her room to get ready, Sora smiled and pumped her fist in the air. Nya liked her! Or at least didn’t hate her! The more she stayed here the more she felt like she was part of their family. Maybe Arin was right about being a ninja, it's starting to grow on her.