Ninjago: One More Ninja

Chapter 7: Tick Tock

"And their's no known cure" Aria said sadly

"we cannot change the past, we can only look to the future. That said, I am going on a journey, alone" Wu said

"what no" Aria said holding onto his arm

"It must be done" Wu said patting Aria's head "it is a place you cannot follow"

The Ninja are all taken aback, but they and Nya oblige, dropping Wu off at a nearby mountain. Afterwards, the Ninja decide to go to Jamanakai Village to post signs about the missing Fangblades. As Zane is posting signs, he sees the Falcon.

The Ninja travel through different terrains to reach the Falcon's destination. Eventually Jay, Cole and Kai become too tired to go on while Zane and Aria proceed into a frosted forest.

Zane looked up at the falcon "Where are we going, my mysterious friend?"

The Falcon falls from the sky and twitches, with sparks coming out of it. 

"Is it ok?" Aria asked as they approached it

"You're a...a robot?" Zane questioned before he puts the Falcon next to a tree and sees a robot.

"Intruder! Intruder! Prepare to be terminated!" The robot shouted and Aria hid behind Zane

"Ninja, go!" Zane partially buries the Juggernaut with snow.

"Intruder! Intruder! Prepare to be terminated!" It shouted

Zane disabled it and sees the same symbol on the Falcon "The same symbol. Where have you brought me, my Falcon friend?" He spots another symbol on a tree and opens it, revealing the Hidden Workshop "So, this is your home, my mysterious friend"

"I-Is it safe?" Aria questioned shivering

"It should be" Zane replied taking her hand "come, it should be warmer for you in here"

 While searching through the building, he finds a blueprints for the falcon. He uses the blueprint to fix the bird. "You brought me here, but why?" He pulls out another blueprint from under the Falcon's. "No! It can't be. No! Noooo!"

Aria ran over to him "Zane what's wrong" Aria gasped when she saw the blue print

"I am not..." Zane shook his head in disbelief

The rest of the Ninja arrive and find Zane on his knees with Aria kneeling beside him.

"What's wrong?" Kai asked

Zane stood up and opened up his torso, he's a robot "All this time, and I never knew"

"Uh, guess this explains why you're always acting so weird. Right? Hehe" Jay laughed nervously

Zane shook his head "The reason I never had a sense of humor was because my funny switch wasn't on"

He turns it on and starts singing and dancing stupidly "Hello, my baby. Hello, my honey. Hello, my ragtime gal. Send me a kiss by wire"

Jay and Aria laughs while Zane turns the funny switch off and sighs.

"Uh, it just makes you more special. You're still the same Zane. Just more, uh, gears" Cole tried to comfort

Kai put his arm around him "No matter what you're made of, you're still our brother"

"Really?" Zane questioned

"Of course you are, why would this change anything" Aria said "You're still Zane"

Jay smiled "Yeah, and how cool is it that I can honestly say My brother is a Nindroid?"

"A Nindroid?" Zane questioned confused then sighed "Thank you guys, but I wish to be left alone right now"

"Come on Aria" Kai said taking Aria's hand and leading her out of the workshop with them

They are soon attacked by Treehorns. They dodge their attacks at first, but are unable to defeat them and are quickly subdued.

In the workshop, Zane takes another look at his blueprints and, realizing he has a Memory switch, flips the switch on. He remembers his father, Dr. Julien, and the different things he taught him over the years.

His father explains to Zane that he was built to protect others, and wishing to save his son the pain of heartbreak, turns off his Memory switch before passing away of old age. Zane, having regained his memories, sheds a tear for his father.

"ZANE" he heard Aria yell

Zane rushed out "Leave my friends alone! Ninja, go!"

He quickly rusher out to help his friends. Together they defeat the Treehorns, but things take a turn for the worse when the Queen arrives. Zane backs down a bit.

"Zane listen to me, you're not just a robot you're our friend, our brother, our family. All families are different, our family is very different and we come from different places but that's what makes our family so special, it's what makes us a family" Aria said

Zane smiled and turned to the queen treehorn "You will not hurt my friends. There is nothing that will hold me back. I know who I am" Zane starts to turn light blue

"What's happening to him? Was he programmed to do that?" Kai questioned

"I've never seen a robot do that" JAy said

"Zane's unlocked his True Potential" Aria said

Zane freezes the queen and falls "What happened?"

The ninja cheer and rush over to him.

"That was awesome!" Jay shouted

"You should've seen yourself" Kai said

Cole smiled "Heh, I've never seen anything like it"

"This must be what Sensei meant by unlocking our hearts. I remember now. I remember everything. I remember my father and how he cared for me. I remember where I came from. And I feel stronger for knowing" Zane said "I may not have my father anymore, but I still have my family. Thank you Aria"

Aria smiled and hugged him "I'm so happy for you Zane"

"We have our very own Nindroid!" JAy shouted excitedly and everyone cheers.

"Watch out, Pythor. We're coming to get you" Zane said

Aria walked over to the frozen treehorn and stared at it "So that's the true power of an elemental"