**

"Mom, it's not that I don't want to stay," Jay protested. "There's just way too many of us to stay in the trailer."

"Oh, I know, dear." Edna assured him. "I'm sure your father and I could whip up a nice place for you to stay, but I understand. You all need your space." She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Besides, Mrs. Walker, we'd just get in the way." Cole jumped in. "We have to train day and night. We'd be keeping you awake."

"And the dragons aren't exactly junkyard-trained." Kai agreed. At the edge of the junkyard, Rocky was currently chewing on an old car.

"S'ppose you're right." Ed stuck his hands in his pockets. "Where'll you be stayin', then?"

"I have an idea." Lloyd spoke up from where he stood beside Zane. "I know a place. Don't worry about us."

"Alrighty, then." Edna nodded, patting her son's arm. "Just don't forget to visit us, okay?"

"Yeah, mom, sure," Jay shifted uncomfortably. "I'll call you as soon as I can, okay?"

"We'll make sure he does." Cole gave his brother a pat on the shoulder. "Come on, guys. Lloyd, lead the way." Lloyd nodded, glancing up at Zane where he was petting the falcon perched on his arm. It was supposed to be Zane that showed them the Destiny's Bounty, not him, but the falcon seemed more interested in sticking near to his friend than showing him the way. So, Lloyd headed towards the dragons.

The Fangpyre were supposed to appear at some point and attack the junkyard. But, of course, without Lloyd to free them, they would never be released? Right? He had thought that about the Hypnobrai and clearly been incorrect. But the Time Twins wouldn't be foolish enough to release another group of Serpentine after the first had hypnotized them, right? It would probably be good to check.

"We're going to the Sea of Sand." He told them as Zane helped him into the saddle of his dragon. "Our new home is there." His spirits rose slightly at the thought of seeing the original Bounty again. It had been destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times over the years, meaning it barely resembled the original anymore.

"The desert?" Jay made a face. "I hate sand. It's rough and annoying and gets all over everything."

"Don't worry, we won't be in the desert for too long." Lloyd assured him. "Let's go." The ninja mounted up on their various dragons, and they took off, heading for the great desert.

—

Acronix groaned quietly, a forearm over his face as he lay on a cot on the floor. Krux sat next to him, rubbing a bruise on his own arm. What a stroke of luck that they had found this place.

Krux had dragged his injured brother all the way to Ninjago City, where they managed to find a small tea shop run by a woman named Mystaké. Though she was quite gruff and had initially turned them away, she eventually agreed to help them, under the agreement that they would pay her back later. Krux had lied, of course. Short of getting a job and earning it, he had no idea where he was supposed to get money.

"Drink this." Mystaké entered the room, holding a warm cup of tea in both hands. Acronix pushed himself up enough to take it, wincing and stiffening as pain shot through him. He was wearing a hoodie and jeans, now, instead of his armor. Krux had stolen some casual clothing from where it was hanging out to dry on their way here. He figured it would make them a lot less recognizable.

It truly was a shame that they were forced to abandon their fight against the ninja - they seemed to have been winning. But without the Hypnobrai's influence, Acronix could no longer fight through his injuries, and Krux likely could not go much longer either. If they had stayed, they would have been captured, and Wu was sure to recognize them. So, they ran.

"Thank you." Acronix croaked out, taking a sip. It took effect almost immediately, and he sat up, sighing as the bruises on his face started to fade. Mystaké nodded gruffly, and left the room again.

The brothers were quiet for a few minutes, Acronix drinking his tea, before he eventually spoke up. "So what now?"

"I don't know." Krux kneaded his forehead. "I suppose we wait for a chance to jump in. Now that the Hypnobrai are released, it will have a domino effect on the rest of the Serpentine. History will likely continue as normal."

"Ah." Acronix sighed. "So for now, we are ordinary men."

"We are." Krux nodded. "I suppose we could go back and continue the role that I am supposed to be playing."

"That of historian?" Acronix asked. Krux nodded. "That would work. Where are you supposed to be living?"

"The museum." Krux sighed. "I lived out of there for many years. Fortunately, it survived the Great Devourer... and the Overlord... and the Golden Master..."

"I've certainly missed a lot." Acronix took another sip of his tea. "So we cannot ally ourselves with any of the Serpentine."

"It is unlikely," Krux agreed.

"And after the Serpentine...?"

"Lord Garmadon continues in his plot to take over Ninjago." Noting the look on his brother's face, Krux continued. "Yes, the same Garmadon that helped seal us away. It is possible that we could join him, since he is now consumed by the evil from the Great Devourer's venom, but I find it unlikely."

"And after?"

"The Overlord attempts to take over Ninjago, and is stopped by the Golden Ninja." Krux frowned. "Perhaps we should let the ninja live long enough to deal with him."

"Agreed. I don't fancy being taken over." Acronix nodded passively.

"After the Overlord's defeat, Ninjago rebuilds for a year." Krux mused. "I suppose we could make our move then?"

"How?" Acronix challenged. "We are powerless." Krux sighed.

"We'll figure something out."

—

"There!" Lloyd shouted, pointing to a shape half-buried in the sand. "The Destiny's Bounty." He could hear murmured exclamations from the other ninja, but the wind rushing in his ears was too loud for him to hear clearly. The dragons began to descend, circling downwards until they landed in the desert beside the old ship. It was clearly in disrepair, sand built up on the decks and cracks in the old boards, but it was enough of a shelter for now.

"Wow!!" Jay leapt off his dragon as soon as he had settled on the ground. "Look at this!! This must be decades old!" He dashed off towards the ship, and the other ninja followed with slightly more leisure. Lloyd slid off of Zane's saddle, losing his balance and falling when he hit the sand. He scowled.

"Here you are." Zane's hands hooked under his arms, pulling him to his feet.

"Thanks." Lloyd dusted himself off, hurrying over the sand to join the others. His black hoodie was quickly getting too hot in the desert heat. He needed a change of clothes.

The ninja chattered excitedly as they looked over the new ship - except Zane. The nindroid went to the kitchen instead, quietly looking it over, checking to see if everything was functioning.

"We need groceries." He said simply when Wu came to find him. "I can take Shard to the city."

"Indeed we do." Wu nodded, pulling a stack of bills from a fold of his robes. Lloyd watched as he counted out a few, then handed them to Zane, who nodded, and headed back outside.

"Hey," Lloyd spoke up as Zane passed by. "Can I come? I've been, uh, hoping that I could get some new clothes." Zane gave him a long look, appearing to consider this.

"Alright." He nodded. "Come on."

—

"Hmm." Zane held up a package of blackberries, then looked at Lloyd. "What kind of pie do you think the others would like?" Lloyd made his way up to the fruit display, looking over.

"Honestly, I don't think they're gonna be picky." He said with a shrug. "Kai likes apple, Jay likes blackberry, Cole is more of a cake person. But they've just lost their home, they're gonna appreciate something sweet." Zane nodded placidly, picking up a package of blueberries as well.

"I'll make apple-berry, then." He set the packages in his basket and kept walking. Lloyd trailed along behind him as he made his way over to the apples, hands in the pockets of his new jeans. He had been hoping to get a chance to speak with Zane, but the nindroid was more closed off than ever after the revelation that he was... that.

If Lloyd remembered correctly, in the original timeline Zane had been treated to the memories of his father right after learning of his true nature. Lloyd wished he could reveal those to him - Zane hadn't seen the memory switch yet, hadn't known to switch it on. But if he revealed it now, Zane might not correctly reach his true potential. That could have disastrous consequences.

"Hey, Zane." Lloyd hurried up to walk beside him, cursing his short legs. "Are you, um... feeling okay?"

"You've asked me twice already, Lloyd." Zane responded with a sigh. "Let me assure you that I feel perfectly functional."

"That's not what I mean." Lloyd stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop and look at him. "I mean, how do you feel? Assuming you were one thing all your life only to be told that you're another must be... stressful."

"I am disoriented." Zane answered calmly. "But I can manage. Now, let us finish shopping so we can return to the others."

"Are you upset?" Lloyd pressed. "You seem... sad." That gave Zane pause. The nindroid looked away for a few moments, seeking out his falcon, who was perched on an awning outside the shop.

"I don't know what I feel." He confessed at last. "Or if I feel anything at all. Or, if I do feel something, if it's even real, if it's only made up of gears and circuits." Lloyd's face saddened, and Zane continued. "I feel as though I've been lying to everyone, including myself. I don't know how I never saw this before. Of course I never fit in with them. I've never been one of them." His eyes were misted, and he blinked, then quickly looked away. "I apologize. I don't mean to put my burdens on-"

"Zane, nothing's changed." Lloyd interrupted. "You said you could hear us while you were shut down, right?" Zane nodded, giving him a mystified look. "Then you know how hard Jay worked to try to fix you." Lloyd insisted. "How Cole sat with you all night to keep you company. Heard how upset Nya was that you were hurt." Zane looked away again.

"They don't like you because they thought you were human, Zane." Lloyd insisted. "They never did. They liked you because you're you- quirks and all. You're their housemate, their teammate, and most of all their brother. They don't care if you're made up of gears and circuits or blood and guts - which, by the way, are both perfectly viable methods of feeling things." That teased a small smile onto the nindroid's face. "Look," Lloyd grabbed his free hand, the one not holding the basket. "I know, okay? I've lived with you for six years. All of you. You're a wonderful ninja, and an amazing friend, no matter what you're made of. Okay?"

Zane gazed down at him for a few moments, before drifting down to look at himself. Finally, he knelt down and dragged Lloyd into a hug.

"Thank you." He murmured as Lloyd wriggled into a comfortable position. "You are very wise."

"W-well I was in training to become a Sensei before I was sent back here." Lloyd said with a grin, managing to wrap his arms around Zane's neck. The nindroid chuckled slightly, letting him go.

"I believe you." He straightened up, subtly brushing away a tear on his face. "Come, let's finish our shopping trip. The others must be hungry."

"Yeah." Lloyd took his hand again, and they hurried off towards the register to pay.