Echo-Zane blinked, looking about at his new surroundings, the familiar sound of crashing waves meeting his robotic ears. He was back at the lighthouse. How on earth had he gotten back here? And where had everyone gone? He was a little sad to see them go. He didn't want to be alone again.

Hey, guys! First off, this is my first Ninjago fic, and I've only just gotten back into it. If you have never read any of my other stories, then hello! A pleasure to meet you. If you have read some of my other stories, then welcome back!

Me and GirlOfHerOwnWorld (or Sammie) started talking about the newest Ninjago season or, more specifically, just how cute Echo-Zane is. Then we formed headcannons of Zane and Pixel taking him on as their unofficially adopted child or Zane taking on a big bro role. And thus, this was born!

Chapter One:

Flicker

Gears shifted, making quite little whirring noises, accompanied by the creak of rusted parts. There was the familiar sound of waves crashing against rocks, of the seagulls squawking in their nest, the sent of a salty wind blowing gently across the sky.

Fogged yellow eyes blinked open, taking a moment to adjust properly. A stone ceiling with wooden beams going to and fro met his sight, and his first thought was that his legs must have malfunctioned again, seeing as how he was on the floor.

Echo-Zane blinked, sitting up and looking about the lighthouse basement in confusion. How on earth had he gotten back here? Where had everyone gone?

A whir sounded beside him, and Echo turned to look down at Gizmo, the little bot gently bumping against his side. A small smile spread across his metal lips at the sight of his friend, and Echo reached over and patted him on the head. He climbed to his feet, relieved to find that his legs were in fact not malfunctioning, and took another look around the basement.

It seemed perfectly normal, just like it had been when that boy and girl (Jake and Maya? No, that wasn't it) had got him out. But where were they now? They hadn't abandoned him like his father had, did they?

Electric blue eyes flashed across his memory unit, lit up in awe and excitement as they locked with his own, embedded in a shiny titanium face, near identical to his own. Echo felt like there was a stone stuck in his circuits again.

Where had he gone?

Gizmo beeped, bumping against his leg, tearing Echo from his thoughts. He glanced down at the little bot, a frown on his usually smiling face. "Where'd they all go?"

Gizmo gave a confused beep. Echo turned to the stairs leading up to the secret door and into the main part of the lighthouse, his smile returning. "They must be upstairs!" Echo stepped over Gizmo and ran up the stairs, the boards creaking under his feet. Gizmo zoomed after him, giving off a loud chorus of beeps.

He flipped the switch and slipped between the doors before they'd even fully opened, running up the stairs and not even noticing the gears and parts clattering on the ground behind him.

Skidding into the room Jay and Nya (Was that it? He couldn't recall) had been sitting in when they'd spotted him, Echo looked around expectantly, his smile slowly fading. The place was empty, just like it had been this morning.

"Hello?" Echo called, starting to make his way around the lighthouse, "Is anyone here?" Gizmo clambered up the stairs behind him, struggling to hold all the parts that had been dropped, beeping.

Echo ignored him for the time being, running his fingers over the table his two rescuers had sat at. They had been the first people he'd interacted with ever since he was left in the basement.

He was a little sad to see them go. He didn't want to be alone again.

A nudge to his leg made him look down again, Gizmo holding up one of the gears he'd picked up. Echo took it from him, staring at it for a moment, running metallic fingers over its edges. He'd almost had friends.

Gizmo beeped again, and Echo gave him a small smile. "At least I still have you." The little bot gave a series of agreeing beeps, running circles around his rusty friend, Echo's smile widening. "Let's go have some breakfast, then."

And so they went about like any other day, Echo making two bowls of oil and unitchips for breakfast, and then they played a few rounds of Hide and Seek. It was just like any other day, the lighthouse wasn't even damaged from the attack. It was as though it had never even happened.

Maybe it didn't.

It started raining a little while after breakfast, big fat drops that reminded Echo of human tears. He and Gizmo curled up at one of the windows with some of the worn books that were scattered throughout the lighthouse, with their yellow pages and coffee stained covers. Some were stories about adventures and heroes, some were completely scientific and even had little scribbles and notes around the edges from his father.

Echo found his mind wandering back to the people he'd fought alongside with, mainly the one that looked like an improved version of himself. In all the chaos, he hadn't even gotten his name, hadn't gotten any of their names really, they hadn't really gotten to introductions. They'd kept calling him Echo-Zane, so he supposed that was his full name. He wondered why it wasn't programmed into him, though. Must be one of his many faults.

But that was okay. He wouldn't be him if he didn't have faults.

He kept expecting them to show up again, to barge through the door and declare that they needed his help again. Throughout the entire day, while he was playing games with Gizmo, reading, making lunch, watching the seagulls flying through the rain as it slowly lightened to a drizzle, he just couldn't get his mind off these people- these Ninja.

As Gizmo powered down for a recharge, Echo climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse, clambering out the highest window with practiced ease, his feet sticking to the side of the tall building almost automatically. The rain had lightened enough so that it wasn't too cloudy, enough that Echo would be able to see the night sky with his robotic yellow eyes.

He climbed to the top of the tower, little droplets pinging off his metallic form, passing the seagull's nest near to very tip of the lighthouse. Echo sat down, looking up at the sky and watching the stars, rain trailing down his face and neck. The sea crashed against the islands in white sprays, a harsh wind blowing and making the waves bigger. If Echo had been human, he would have been blown right off.

He sat there for a long time, the only light that of the lighthouse, it's bright glow going round and round in a familiar rhythm. The stars blinked and twinkled above him, and with the added rain it was almost as if they were crying. He wondered what it was like to cry.

Finally, Echo decided it was about time he went back inside and joined Gizmo in recharge. He stood up, his feet sticking to the wet building again, and starting walking back towards the window. Just as he reached the seagull's nest, however, Echo was abruptly blinded by a bright light.

He gasped in surprise, covering his eyes with his arm. The light shifted out of his face, revealing some sort of flying ship, the stern in the shape of a dragons head. His clockwork heart ticked faster at the sight of it, fear squeezing his throat. Flying ships.

The pirates.

Echo scrambled back through the window, tripping over the ledge and falling flat on his face, sending loose gears flying. The ticking of his heart was terribly audible, his legs and hands shaking violently. He needed to grab Gizmo, they needed to hide, there was no way he'd be able to fight them all-

Someone knocked on the front door, causing Echo's heart to tick even faster. He scrambled to his feet and ran down the stairs, taking two at a time, not even stopping to pick up the fallen gears. There was no time. He just hoped they'd mistake it for a mess Dr. Julian hadn't bothered cleaning up.

The rain, which had previously been a light drizzle, was getting heavier, nearing a full-blown thunder storm. There was another knock on the door, this time much harder and louder than the previous, accompanied by shouting that was drowned out by a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder.

Gizmo was already up, standing in the middle of the main room, beeping questionably at Echo. "We have to hide!" The robot hissed, looking about frantically. His gaze turned to the shadowed ceiling. The wooden beams would make an excellent hiding place.

He picked up Gizmo, holding him under one arm, and ran up the walls and onto the ceiling. The little bot beeped rapidly, but reluctantly fell quiet when Echo shushed him. He made his way to one of the dark corners as quickly and quietly as possible, hiding behind a large beam, brushing away cobwebs. Echo hugged Gizmo to his chest, planting his feet on either side of the wall, pressing his back to the beam. He placed a hand over his clockwork heart in an attempt to muffle the ticking.

There was a moment of silence, soon broken by what sounded like more yelling, multiple in fact, perhaps an argument. Then there was a deafening BANG! that sent Gizmo into a fit of shivers, and the sound of the storm outside increased.

"I'm glad we have a water ninja." someone said, as multiple pairs of feet walked into the lighthouse. From the way Echo was facing, he couldn't see them. "Otherwise we'd be completely soaked."

"Where did this storm come from anyway?"

"Does it matter?" Why did he recognize those voices? Maybe it's the pirates that he himself had fought. "At least we're away from the paparazzi."

"Maybe you shouldn't have kissed my sister in front of them."

"How was I supposed to know Dareth would pull a camera out?"

"Because he's Dareth."

"Where's Gizmo?" This one sound a bit... robotic. Maybe his hearing was malfunctioning again. "And Echo-Zane?"

Echo could have sworn his heart stopped. They were here for him.

"Maybe he's still in the basement?"

"He's definitely around here somewhere, Zane."

At the name, Gizmo started beeping. Loudly.

"Gizmo?"

Echo shook his head frantically at the little robot, but Gizmo was already wiggling out of his arms, briefly falling and landing on the floor. Still beeping excitedly, he zoomed towards the intruders, Echo having to use both hands to muffle his ticking heart.

"There you are!"

Slowly, Echo started to shift in place, gripping onto the beam and twisting his body to try and look under it to see what was happening. The robotic voice continued.

"Do you know where Echo-Zane is, Gizmo?" The little robot beeped a reply, and the sound of his wheels met his ears as he came closer. Echo's heart ticked faster, so fast that he was afraid that they'd hear. He tried to twist around again, to get into a position where he can climb onto the beams and hop to the other side of the room, but within moments Gizmo was right underneath him, pointing up with a clawed hand and beeping excitedly.

He came face to face with a spider.

A startled yelp tore from Echo's throat, and he lost his grip on the beam. Usually, he would have been able to hold himself up fine with just his feet on the wall, but from the way his body was positioned, he wasn't able to maintain much of a grip, be it on the beam or the wall.

He fell, landing right on top of Gizmo and sending even more gears and screws scattering, his right eye flickering and falling out of place, the only thing stopping it from rolling away being a single wire.

Startled silence filled the lighthouse, rain still pelting the rocks outside. Then, blinking his one good eye, Echo lifted his head, a smile splitting his face when he spotted, not pirates, but the Ninja. He raised an arm. "Hello. I am Echo-Zane."

"Wow." said Green, putting his hands on his hips and tilting his head to the side, "He's in pretty bad shape."

"Dr. Julian didn't really have the best equipment here, though." a women with braided grey hair observed, looking around the room, "It's amazing he was even able to build him at all."

Muffled beeping met Echo's ears, and he sat up, giving Gizmo an apologetic look. The little bot beeped at him angrily, before whirling away in a huff, probably to get their guests something to snack on.

Echo watched him go for a moment, before starting to try and pluck his broken eye back into place. The robot, the one that looked like an improved version of himself, walked forwards, kneeling down in front of him and popping his eye back into place with his shiny, metallic thumb.

It flickered back on, restoring the rest of his vision, and Echo gave the other robot a grateful smile. The robot returned it with one much wider than his own, his electric blue eyes even brighter than they usually were.

"So I take it we're staying the night?" The ghost said, rubbing the back of his neck, "'Cause, you know... the storm and everything..."

"Oh, yeah, yeah." agreed the black haired girl, a bit hurriedly, "The storm. Of- Of course."

"Well, if we're staying, might as well get some dinner going." said Green, turning to the black haired girl. "Nya, come help me get some stuff off the Bounty. The rest of you settle in."

The girl, Nya, nodded. "Sure, Lloyd." The two walked back into the storm, Nya raising her hands. From where Echo was sitting, it almost looked like they weren't even getting wet. How odd.

"I don't believe we've been properly introduced." said the robot, sitting cross-legged in front of him and regaining Echo's attention. He held out a hand. "I am Zane. Dr. Julian built me a few years before he was imprisoned in this lighthouse."

Echo shook the outstretched hand, looking at the robot- Zane- in wonder. "I am Echo-Zane. Built to protect those who cannot protect themselves. So we have the same father?"

Zane's smile was so wide it looked like his face-plate was going to crack in two. "Yes, it would appear so."

Behind him, Lloyd and Nya had returned, carrying bags in their arms. Everyone else had gone about setting the place up for the night, leaving the two newly-found brothers to get to know each other. Zane finally tore his eyes from Echo's, looking the other bot up and down, taking in the rusted parts and missing gears, his smile faltering slightly as he realized just how bad of a shape he was in. Echo's eye flickered, popping out of his socket again.

"Stay here." said Zane, a light frown on his features. He climbed to his feet and dashed out the front door, Echo watching him go, startled. Had he said something wrong?

It must have shown on his face, because the grey haired women turned to him with a kind smile. "Don't worry, he'll be back in a moment. He's probably just getting his tools."

Echo blinked at him, brow furrowing in confusion. He reached up and pushed his eye back into place, but it popped out again. "Why would he need his tools?"

Before she could answer, Zane was back, dripping wet and clutching a firetruck red tool box to his chest. He made his way over to the spiral staircase, gesturing with his head for Echo to follow. "Come on, then."

"Don't take too long!" the Green one called, as Echo followed Zane up the stairs, "Dinner'll be ready in an hour!"

Echo followed Zane without a word, his hand pressing his broken eye into place so it wouldn't pop out. The stairs creaked beneath their metal feet, and Zane kept stopping and opening doors, peering inside before closing the door again and moving onto the next one.

The shorter bot followed without a word, rusted parts creaking and gears squeaking. Zane opened another door and, seemingly satisfied with the room's contents, stepped inside. It was Dr. Julian's old, makeshift lab, where he'd first constructed Echo-Zane.

Zane sat his tool box on the bench, opening it and rummaging through it. Echo walked up behind him, looking over his shoulder and tilting his head curiously. "What are you doing?"

"Your wires are tangled." said Zane, not looking up from his box, "You're missing screws and gears. Your power-source is faltering, you're filthy, and that's not even half of it." He shook his head, finally turning to look at the other robot, "Why they let you go into battle like this is beyond my comprehension."

Echo blinked his one functional eye, still holding his other one in place. "I was built to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Zane stilled, a screw driver in his hand. After a moment, he turned to look at Echo again. "I know that, Echo. But who's going to protect you?"

"I have the ability to protect myself."

The titanium robot looked down, not saying anything. Then, silently, he turned back to his tool box, placing spare parts and surprisingly clean tools on the table in neat rows. He pushed the box to the other side of the the table, gesturing to the space he'd made by doing so. "Hop up."

Echo hesitated for a second, before doing as told, turning around and pushing himself up onto the wooden surface. His rust covered legs dangled in their, and he started to swing them back and forth as Zane took a closer look at his broken eye, which popped out again when Echo let go.

"Can you lie down?"

Nodding, Echo swung his feet up onto the table, lying back and watching as Zane placed his tool box on the floor to make more room. Picking up some pliers, Zane made his way up to Echo's head to take a closer look at his broken eye.

"So does this mean you're my big brother?" asked Echo.

Zane went still again, turning his attention to the only working yellow eye, a faint ticking noise filling the room. He smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest as though his power-source had abruptly decided it wanted to be a hot water bottle.

"Yes," said Zane, turning back to the broken eye with his smile still in place, "I suppose I am."

So, what do you guys think? It's alright for a starter chapter, isn't it?