Compatibility Revisited: A Nindroid Romance

A Nightmare and a Surprise

At the palace of the Ice Emperor, the view pans from Akita's frozen figure to an enraged Ice Emperor who points his staff at Lloyd. A fierce blast of ice freezes the green ninja just as his friends storm into the room, and the Ice Emperor, laughing madly, charges at them one by one: first Kai, then Jay, Cole, Nya and eventually Pixal are covered in ice.

Zane: Noooooo! (He wakes up, panting, and sits up in his bed. Moments later, Pixal opens the door to his room, dressed in purple pajamas, and rushes towards him with a worried look on her face.)

Pixal: Zane! What's the matter?

Zane, still confused, looks about the dark room.

Zane (in a hoarse voice): I ... I froze you. All of my friends. I froze you, Pixal.

Pixal (perching herself on the edge of his bed): No, Zane, you didn't. I'm here. You're in your bed. You must have been dreaming.

Zane: It was so real. So terribly real.

Pixal: Your dreams often are. Sometimes they are visions. Sometimes it's about something that happened in the past. And this time ... it was that show we watched on TV. You remember?

Zane (calming down, relief in his voice): You are right. It was just a dream. (He sinks back onto his pillow.) I'm sorry for waking you up.

Pixal: Your friends are always there for you.

He closes his eyes, and his breath slows down. She waits until she is sure that he's dozing off, but just as she wants to get up, he stirs in his sleep, moves his hand over hers and holds it tight.

Pixal (looking down at him with a slight smile): Alright, my nindroid. I'll give you a few more minutes. But I'm getting a little cold and uncomfortable. (She tries to find a better position for herself, careful not to pull her hand away from his, and eventually simply slides under the blanket next to him.) Just a few minutes.

***

The dim light of the early morning fills the room when Zane wakes up, yawning and stretching. He gives a start as he suddenly realizes that someone is lying next to him. In utter surprise, he sits up and looks down at Pixal.

Zane: Pixal!

She opens her eyes and gasps.

Pixal (embarrassed): Oh no! I'm so sorry. (She sits up.) I had no intention to ...

Zane (with a curious look on his face): No need to be sorry. It was no unpleasant surprise to wake up to the sight of your face. But how ... (He starts to remember.) You came to my room last night. Did I have a nightmare again?

Pixal: Yes, and I heard you shouting. So I sat with you for a few minutes until you went to sleep again. But when I wanted to leave, you ... (She pauses, not sure what to say.) I ... I couldn't get up. I must have ... just fallen asleep next to you. This must sound so illogical. I'm really sorry I've embarrassed you in this manner.

Zane: You're not embarrassing me. It was very kind of you to come here last night. And I don't blame you for falling asleep. Not at all. (He smiles at her.) Shall we get ready for breakfast?

Pixal (swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and getting up): Sure. I'll be dressed in a few minutes.

Just as she is about to leave the room, someone knocks at the door.

Lloyd (outside): Zane? I'm on breakfast duty and can't find ...

Zane: Come in, I'll tell you.

Pixal politely steps aside to let Lloyd enter. Nevertheless, he almost bumps into her and looks up at her in surprise.

Lloyd (confused): Oh. Uhm ... sorry! (He looks back and forth between her and Zane.) I didn't mean ...

Pixal (with a friendly smile): Good morning, Lloyd. Never seen a female nindroid in pajamas?

Lloyd stares after her as she leaves.

Zane (slightly smiling to himself): Neither had I, to be honest.