Other Side of Ten // Ninjago Echo Zane

Built With Purpose

Stepping on his own two feet felt different. His own weight pressed on his heels made him all aware that he had gravity. Before the switch, walking felt like floating, but clumsily stumbling across the stones. Now, the grain of the stones pressed against his heels made taking each step difficult. It was as if the very ground was resisting him.

"I'm up. Now what?" He said, tilting his head down to Tai-D. It was a miracle he was able to speak full sentences again. Before, he could barely exhale his counting. Father was right. Every second he was getting more used to it.

Beeping, Tai-D pointed to a bucket and a rag.

"I've been down in this basement for months and now you want me to clean?"

Tai-D nodded. He was always obsessed with a clean standard. But he would humor his friend. That was all he had to do in this light house.

"Very, well."

Getting close to the soapy water, the stone turned smooth. Losing his footing, he quickly reacted trying to catch himself. His jerky movements made his knees move faster than he would've liked. Grunting in pain, his legs miraculously found their footing on their own. Trying to catch himself hurt, but it was better than actually falling. Or at least he imagined. He never really knew what falling down felt like.

Withdrawing a breath, he noted the soapy water even had a feeling to it. It wasn't painful, but it was notable. Cold, wet, slippery, and smooth. He never knew it had its own unique sensation. Maybe that was why he was always falling before. This watery smooth feeling beneath feet was like a warning.

Bending down, his knees burned. Gasping, he finally got down to get to the bucket. Taking a break, he looked around at Tai-D. He was silently cheering him on. If it wasn't for his friend he wouldn't be standing again.

Dipping his finger into the water, he swirled the bubbles. They glistened, reflected and popped to his touch. Sloshing the water around, it felt soothing to his metal skin. He never felt something that was good.

Tai-D tapped him, but it felt much more intense than how he did before. It stung a little, but that fizzled out into chills. He was very gently grazing his ankle, but it was an intense experience. Shivering, he laughed quietly.

"I know, I know. I'll hurry.  This is just all so new to me."

Lifting the bucket, his muscles engaged. His joints felt like they were going to pop out of place. Maybe that was another warning sign. He stopped exerting his energy, reassessing.

"I think this is too heavy for me." Tilting the bucket he spilled some water onto the floor. The soapy bubbles gathered under his feet. As much as he liked to touch the water, it was getting slippery, so he stepped back.

Now with the load lighter, he lifted it, his joints still aching, but not on the verge of breaking. Taking the bucket out of the room, he set off to start cleaning.

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He cleaned the lighthouse slowly. His heightened senses took some getting used to. Plus his constant dull pain reminded him that he was still on the verge of breaking. But he had to admit, this was better than naively sitting, rotting, and wasting away in that basement. While he still wouldn't dare say pain was worth it necessarily, it was the reason he was able to spend another day cleaning and doing the things he loved with Tai-D.

There was a box of some of Father's possessions. Opening it, dust and cobwebs filled the air, making him cough.  Rebellion trickled in his throat like a lump. He wasn't allowed to touch this box. It was something just for Father to have. So Zane wouldn't feel left out, Father built a smaller box for Zane to keep his own possessions. It was something Tai-D, and Father wasn't allowed to touch.