Welcome to my first fanfiction! Also my first story publicized to the world! Please be gentle on me, I'm not quite familiar with this system yet. Like, how do I get my indentations to work? I wrote the story with them, and now they are not here on doc manager. (I copied and pasted from Word.) Also, is there a way to add author's notes, or do I just write in bold before the story? Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated, but please no hate. I'll try to update this every week, depending on how people like it. Enjoy!

Zane could hear his family calling out to him from below, but all that he could focus on was completing his task. His last task. The one that would save the world from this utterly morbid presence. Zane could still hear them shouting. Brothers. Sister. Sensei. …Pixal… Pixal. He would be leaving her, alone to fend for herself in the cruel world. It's better than dying at the hands of this monster."I'm… a nindroid… and ninja… never quit! Go, ninja. Go!" Zane took all of the strength he had left in his body, and put it towards freezing the Overlord with his ice powers.

"What are you doing?! Let me go, you fool!" The Overlord begged Zane as he struggled to live himself. He cried out, his pain was just overwhelming. Was he going to die, too?

Zane stayed put, draining his energy and preparing to… to blow up. It was going to happen. He let his mind remember all of the good times with his family, the whole reason he was going to die. So that others could live. You were built to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Zane let a smile creep on to his face, content with his last minutes, last seconds of life. He closed his eyes, never to open them again.

Zane felt like he could be floating, but none of his other senses were being stimulated. It was like utter nothingness. An… an afterlife? I'm not supposed to have an afterlife, am I? What… what even is this place, with nothing in it? Is this what will become of my soul?Alone, without any meaning or purpose? His vision came slowly to him, blurred. As his quality of eyesight improved, he could make out what was in front of him. It was the top floor of the Borg Tower. I'm… I'm in the Borg Tower? What does that mean?

Zane tried moving, but failed. He couldn't move. If I cannot move, what can I do here? What could he do? He heard a woman weeping quietly, but it was hard to make out. Zane strained his ears to even recognize that it was a woman who sobbed, not a… Wait. I recognize that sound.

It's… it's Pixal. She must still be here.Oh, Pixal. I wish I could just say goodbye. But… maybe I can say goodbye?

Zane wanted to talk to Pixal more than he had ever wanted anything in his entire life. What should he try saying? Something sweet, like 'I love you'? Or should he just plainly say, 'Pixal, it's Zane! I'm here!'? He knew he was over thinking this. All he needed to say, was 'Pixal'. But would he even be able to speak?

"Pixal?" Zane's voice could be heard clearly over the computer's speakers. It wasn't exactly as it was before, coming out more monotone and rough. But it was a voice. A voice that could be heard.

Pixal stopped crying at the sound of Zane's voice. I'm… I'm hearing things. Get over yourself, Pixal. He's gone. She knew she should listen to her head, it was just that her heart wanted to believe that he was there. But he wasn't. Yet, could he be? It wouldn't hurt to entertain the notion. No. It most certainly would not. "Zane? Is that… is that you?" Although weak and unsure, her voice was loud enough.

"Pixal! I'm here!" Zane was ecstatic. He could talk to Pixal, after all! His mind didn't think of anything other than her. He didn't think of if he could ever escape, or where he even was. All he wanted to do was to talk.

"Zane! Oh, Zane! But how? Where are you Zane? I've missed you so much!" Pixal almost screeched out of pure bliss when she heard the sound of the recently departed Zane. She looked about her frantically. Where could he be?

"Pixal! Oh, I don't know where I am. I… I can see you, though. I can see your left side. If you turn a bit, maybe we can figure this out." Zane said, a little calmer than before, but he knew that if he was still mortal, he would be able to feel his heart racing.

Pixal complied with his request, rotating counter-clockwise to face the main computer monitor. "Can you see me all right now? I don't see you. I'm facing Mr. Borg's main computer system, if that helps you out at all." She was becoming more and more relaxed by the second, just talking to him.

"Thank you, Pixal. I can see you just fine now. What do you think that this could be?" Zane inquired, referring to his situation.

"Hmm… what's the first thing that you can remember? What happened after you…?" Pixal couldn't go on, instead horrified by her idea of what Zane must have gone through. She heard Zane make a slight noise, but cut him off from his explanation. "Wait, Zane. Don't answer that. I have a question for you, first."

"Yes, Pixal?" Zane felt a tiny bit awkward, but kept his voice strong.

"What did it feel like? Saving everyone? Dying? Facing the Overlord? Saving… me?" Pixal could feel tears swelling up in her tear ducts, but fought them.

Zane chuckled over the speakers. "That's more than one question, Pixal."

Pixal grinned, amused. "Answer it. Er, them."

"Alright. I'll be answering them out of order, if you don't mind. Facing the Overlord… it made me feel stronger, and more important. I had hope that I could defeat him, and in doing so, I could save my loved ones. Saving everyone… well it numbed the pain of dying, if you will. Saving you, felt like a feat so strong… yet at the same time, it hurt."

"Saving me, it… it hurt? Clarify, please." Pixal asked, fixated on Zane's words.

Zane spared no time getting right back to his story. "It wasn't so much as saving you, as it was leaving you. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you alone. I wanted to be there for you always, and realizing that I couldn't… well, it was… it was hard."

Pixal let a single tear flow down her cheek. "Zane… I just, I can't say thank you enough. You… you just, you did the unthinkable. I… Zane?" Pixal's cheeks warmed to a pretty lavender color. A blush. It was her first time blushing.

"Yes?" Zane's voice felt gentle. It did sound gentle, but one could almost feel the warmth flowing from his sound.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Pixal. I love you very much." Zane was happy. If he could, he would smile.

The room was silent for a moment, before the silence was broken by Zane, who was eager to get the conversation flowing again.

"Did you want to hear what I remember now?" Zane reminded her.

"Oh, yes. What do you recall after… well, you know." Pixal asked.

"I felt an odd sensation, or rather, a lack of sensation. It felt like I could be floating on water, or air. Something like that."

"Go on."

"Afterwards, I could see. Barely. At first it was blurry, indistinguishable colors. After a short time, I could make out this room. And then I could hear you."

"You heard me…?"

"Crying."

"Let me think about this for a moment, just hold on." Pixal mumbled, deep in thought.

Zane grunted in response.

"Ah. My suspicions were confirmed. I've run a security scan. Zane, you are in Borg's computer system… kind of. You're a sort of, um, program. I have good news, though." Pixal's eyes sparkled as if they knew what the news was.

"Oh?"

"There is a way to get you out." Pixal said, dramatically.

"How?!"

"I'll need Mr. Borg's help, but if we can manage to rebuild your body, you can be downloaded back into it." Pixal said.

"Are sure that that's possible? What about my energy source? We don't know what it's made of." Zane inquired.

"We never told you, did we? I know what your energy source is made of. My advanced substance recognizing programs revealed it was comprised of a chemical compound that before now, was yet to be discovered. We named it Oxyzalphien."

"Interesting. And it is easy to obtain?" Zane asked her.

Pixal nodded. "Extremely. Oh! I just thought of something."

"What is it?" Zane asked her a question for the sixth time in a row.

"The others. Should I retrieve them?" Pixal asked, her smile dropping slightly. Just slightly.

"Approximately how long will the construction of my new body and the download process take?" Zane asked, thoughtfully. Seventh time. Keeping track of how many sentences he had said in a row was slightly amusing to him. Although, I had said a couple things that were not questions, but… it doesn't even matter. Get your priorities straight, Zane.

"Hmm, probably about five days. The download process should be fairly quick. Why do you ask?" Pixal wondered.

"Do you think that we should tell them now, or wait and surprise them?"

Pixal pulled a straight face. "Let's see how things go. I want to make sure that there will be no complications before we start anything."

"Alright. Why don't you call Cyrus, then?" Zane asked, excited to be out of the computers and back with his family.

"Right. I'll be back soon, will you be okay?" Pixal told Zane more so than asking him.

"Of course. I'll be… here." His voice was tinged with playfulness.

Pixal giggled, waving at the monitor. I need to get Mr. Borg here as soon as I can. I wonder where he is? It doesn't matter. I'll just call him and tell him to come right over. She stepped to the phone on Cyrus's desk, and dialed his cell number. She listened eagerly as it rang twice, before she could make out Cyrus's grief-strained voice.

"H-hello? Pixal? Is that you?" Cyrus asked, holding back sniffles.

"Yes. Mr. Borg, I need you to come, please. There's something important we must discuss." Pixal asked.

"Pixal, dear? You are aware of the fact that," Cyrus was cut off by Pixal's voice.

"Yes, I am well aware. Please hurry. It's very important." Pixal said, keeping a consistent tone.

"Alright, if you say it's important, then I believe you. I'll be there shortly, okay, Pixal? Just hold on." Cyrus stated at the other end of the line.

"See you then, Mr. Borg. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Pixal." The phone clicked.

Thank you. Pixal went back in to the main room where Zane was and told him that Cyrus would be there soon.

"Will you two be of need of my original blueprints?" Zane asked Pixal.

"I don't think so. We can make your interior like my own, if that is alright, and my memory of your previous appearance should suffice us to get along. Good enough?" Pixal asked Zane, looking up at the computer monitor even though she couldn't see Zane. She did it because she knew that he could see her.

"That's perfect. I sense that Cyrus is just about here, so you should probably greet him. I'll see you both in a bit."

Pixal nodded in agreement. "Goodbye." As she walked in to the elevator, because she wasn't in the mood to walk down multiple flights of stairs, she started worrying. What if we can't do it? What if something goes wrong? What if downloading Zane in to his body backfires? What if- The elevator beeped, and Pixal realized that she had run out of time to ponder the 'what if's, and would now have to see for herself what would happen.

Cyrus wheeled himself at a fast pace towards Pixal, who did not look as distraught as he had imagined she would, even with her puffy red eyes and tear stains. "Pixal? What's the matter?"

Pixal inhaled slowly, and put a hand firmly on Cyrus's shoulder, to prepare him for the news. "Mr. Borg," She started. "Zane is not dead. His body… it blew up. But his soul lives on, held within your main computer. If you will assist me, we can build him a body so that he may walk the Earth once more." Pixal said the words slowly and carefully, letting each syllable roll off of her tongue.

Cyrus was, as expected, stunned. "H-how?" Was all that he could barely manage to say.

"I know it does not make sense. But it is true. Come and see." Pixal walked behind Cyrus and pushed his wheelchair in to the elevator, mandatory for Cyrus.

Cyrus's expression turned a little more serious as he furrowed his brows. "Now Pixal," He started. "How can you be sure that it's Zane in the computer system? What if it's a hacker, or worse?"

Pixal closed her eyes to ponder his questions. How can I be sure? "I trust that it is him." She said bluntly. "You'll just have to see." Pixal rolled Cyrus out of the elevator as its doors opened, showing him to the main monitor. "Zane?" She called out, looking up at the screen.

"Hello Pixal, Cyrus. I assume that Pixal has filled you in thus far?" Zane said, casually.

"Zane? Is… is it you?" Cyrus asked Zane, looking around for some sort of indication.

"It is." Was all that Zane said, not realizing what Cyrus was implying.

"What happened after you defeated the Overlord? What do you remember?" Cyrus asked Zane, in a last attempt to prove to himself that the voice in the computer actually was Zane.

Zane filled Cyrus in on his story, explaining in detail his previous experiences.

Cyrus's eyes teared up, just as Pixal's had before him. "Zane," He started, voice trembling. "All that I can say is thank you."

Zane was quiet for a moment. "You're welcome."

Another quiet moment, before Cyrus's face brightened, as the prospect of Zane coming back dawned upon him. "All right, then. Shall we get started?" He said in his usual cheery voice.

"Mr. Borg, if you won't be of need of my assistance, I would like to stay with Zane. Is that all right?" Pixal asked Cyrus, hoping that the answer would be 'yes'.

Cyrus looked deep in thought as he mentally calculated the steps that he would need to take in order for this to all work out. "Oh, no, I don't think that I will be needing you, Pixal. You may stay with Zane if you would like, but I'll call you if I do need you."

"Thank you, Cyrus. I appreciate you doing this for me." Zane said, grateful that he would have some company for the while that it would take.

"Zane, I assure you, it's the least I can do. Cheerio." Borg said in a lighthearted voice as he walked out of the room, waving to Zane and Pixal.

Ninja; Same Time as Last Section Ended

"What do we do now?" Nya asked them all, her chin buried in her hands.

They were sitting on a large rock in a small park, just a block away from the sight. The sight. The sight that no one was willing to discuss yet. Everyone was just being idle, watching and listening to the ice drip dry.

"Uh… does- does anyone know- where Pixal- is?" Jay asked no one in particular in between sniffles.

"At the Borg tower I guess. Maybe she doesn't like to grieve around people? I wouldn't know." Cole added, not sniffling, but he was still heartbroken.

"Should we check up on her? To see if she's all right." Kai quickly added. He didn't look up from the groove in the rock that he was so intent on staring at.

"Th-that s-sounds like a g-good idea." Lloyd stuttered. His stress took a toll on his speech, and the fact that he was crying didn't help it any either.

Jay, Cole, Kai, and Lloyd were the first to stand up, looking at Nya and Senseis Wu and Garmadon expectantly.

"You comin'?" Jay asked as he helped Nya to her feet. Nya complied, so she was coming.

Sensei Wu looked up from the melting ice quickly. The way that he moved, one could tell of his uncertainty. "Uh… no, thank you. We… we will just stay here." His voice reflected how unsure he was, of anything.

"Yes, you five go on. Take your time." Garmadon said, waving them off with his hand.

"Alright. See you later, then." Lloyd turned on his heel and headed towards the Borg Tower, expecting the other four to follow behind him.

They trailed behind one another, and their journey to the tall building was gloomy, with no words spoken amongst them. They kept their heads low, and their tear stained eyes kept the flow of tears alive.

"What floor?" Kai asked, looking at the buttons in the elevator.

"The top one, remember?" Cole answered, holding the elevator doors opened for Jay, the last one in.

"Oh yeah." Kai grumbled as he pressed the button for floor 74. "Up we go."

Nya rubbed her eyes, but couldn't contain the leak of tears as she started weeping.

Jay gave her a warm embrace, holding her head to his chest and making hushing noises. "It's okay, it's okay…"

Kai felt jealous, but didn't feel it the appropriate time to say anything. "We're here."

They walked out in to the room, and noticed Pixal laughing at the computer monitor.

"Pixal?" Lloyd asked. "What are you doing?"

Pixal gasped, as she didn't notice that the ninja had entered. How long have they been there? "Welcome, everyone! I have an apology to make, and also good news to bear. In fact, my apology is that I did not reveal the news to you sooner." Pixal said, in an upbeat voice as she grinned.

"Good… news? Uh, pretty sure that there can be no news coming close to good right now, but go ahead. We came to see how you were doing, but I guess you're doing better than any of us." Jay said, bitterly. He obviously wasn't catching on.

"I want everyone to sit down. Now." Pixal said in a playful voice.

"Pixal, are you alright?" Cole asked. Is she nuts?!

"Very much so. The news is… that our computer system is possessed by the ghost of Zane." She said, in a very kidding voice.

Everyone's mouth hung so far open that they could catch flies.

"Pixal! This… that isn't funny!" Jay yelled, stomping on the floor.

Pixal's expression turned serious as she tried to help him understand that it was a joke meant to mean something. "No! I'm sorry. Zane isn't possessing the computer. He's um… living in it. Sort of. He can hear and see us, Cyrus is making him a new body, so please don't be mad at me!" She pleaded. Pixal didn't want there to be grudges. This was a happy time. Or, it was supposed to be.

"Cyrus is… huh? Zane?" Cole looked up in to the computer, along with everyone else.

"She isn't lying! It's me. Hello, everyone. Pixal, that was incredibly rude. I don't want you to ever do that again." Zane said, trying to sound lighthearted yet serious.

Pixal looked disappointed, and put her head down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to,"

Zane cut her off, trying to chuckle. "I'm just kidding!"

Pixal blushed a little bit. "Oh."

The team just stared with their jaws dropped as they listened to… to Zane. They didn't think that they would ever hear his voice again, and now he's making jokes?

"What the heck… Zane? Is that really you?" Jay asked, his eyes looking hopeful as he gazed at the computer. I wish that I could see him.

"Yes, it is. Please don't be sad, any of you. I'll… I'll be with you as soon as Cyrus completes my body." Zane said, with his soul smiling at them. They couldn't see it, of course.

"Zane!" They all yelled in unison as they ran towards the computer. It took much less convincing for them to believe that this was Zane than it took for Cyrus.

Lloyd, Jay, and Nya started crying. Cole and Kai were trying to stay strong.

"Why, Zane? Why did you do that?" Lloyd asked with glazed eyes. He started fingering the stitches on his gi.

"I did it for you, and for everyone in Ninjago, because… because I love you. I needed to protect those who could not protect themselves, and," Zane started, but was soon interrupted by Kai.

"But we could protect ourselves! You didn't have to, Zane!" Kai told him, yelling weekly as he stepped forward.

"I know you could. But what about everyone else?" Zane answered, referring to the citizens of Ninjago. "Nya, I haven't heard anything from you, yet. How are you?"

"How am I? You were dead, but now you're not and we're just supposed to continue on a normal conversation like nothing ever happened?"

"Um… yes? I don't know. Would you rather the conversation be painfully awkward and full of unnecessary topics?" Zane asked, hoping he didn't come out too straight-forward.

"Unnecessary? I don't think that there would be unnecessary," Nya started.

"Guys!" Jay yelled out, interrupting Nya in her sentence. "Zane is freaking alive! This is awesome! When, uh, when can he come out of there so that I can give him a freaking hug?!" Jay exclaimed.

Lloyd started laughing. "Jay's right. C'mon, guys. Lighten up." He patted Jay on the back, and then turned to Pixal. "Oh, yeah. So, when can he come out of there, Pixal?"

Pixal looked at Lloyd thoughtfully. "You know what," She started. "I don't know. Let me call Mr. Borg, and then I'll have an answer." She ran out of the room to the phone, and started talking to Cyrus, who was probably working downstairs in the factory.

"You are right." Nya said, looking at Jay. "Sorry, Zane. I just… thank you, for doing what you did. It must have been unimaginably horrific."

"Ditto," Kai said.

"Me, too. Thanks so much, Zane." Said Cole.

Lloyd and Jay smiled and nodded in agreement, just as Pixal came back.

Lloyd raised an eyebrow at her, and grinned. "And…?"

Pixal nodded in acknowledgement. "He said it would take a few days, but, if he had help, say, from maybe a few… I don't know five, people, he could get it done a whole lot faster." Pixal looked up to Zane and smiled at him.

"Sure we'll help! Zane, we're going to mess with your insides." Jay said, playing with the back of Cole's hair. Why does he keep it so long? No. It doesn't matter. I'm going to build my friend! Heehee.

"Dude, don't!" Cole scolded Jay, trying to smack his hand off.

"Um, that's uh… comforting. You know you have true friends when they put your artificial guts together piece-by-piece." Zane said.

"That's the spirit!" Kai said, standing up and walking towards the door.

Lloyd, Cole, Jay, and Nya trailed behind in that order, excited on beginning their new project.

"He's on floor number 49!" Pixal called out to them from where she stood.

"Gotcha!" One of the ninja yelled back. They were a chattering bunch, a far cry from the group that had entered earlier.

"You're not going?" Zane asked Pixal.

"No. If you don't mind, I'd rather stay here with you." She looked up and smiled at him, and she then sat down on the laminate flooring.

"I don't mind at all." Zane was smiling on the inside, where it mattered, as he recalled his day. It had been an unbelievable day, which had a sweet and fairly believable ending. And now, he would have Pixal all to himself, to talk to and laugh with. Which was all that he needed.

So... how did you like it? Don't worry, things will get way more interesting later in the story! Please review!