Chapter 7
Art of Surprise
.:Violet:.
"This is your air suite," the kabuki girl announced before leaving the room in a rush.
In Violet's opinion, this wasn't a room. It was like a house! Or even an apartment! The room was massive and adorned with exquisite decorations. The flooring was a milky white marble that reflected the room in its glossy coat. The walls were painted in a soft lavender colour with swirls painted on in a darker shade. The white roof had realistic looking clouds painted on and in the middle, a grand chandelier hung. The grand bed that was set up to the side of the room was a large canopy bed. Silky purple material draped over the frame and pooled by the edge of the bed. As Violet let her eyes to continue wondering over the place and taking in the beautiful decorations, she stopped to see a large painting. How she missed it before still remains a mystery but the sight of the painting took her breath away.
The painting was of Scarlett and her together. As tears pooled in the bottom of her eyes, Violet could remember it was the same photo that got taken on Cole's birthday. Scarlett had jumped onto Violet's back with a large smile plastered on her face. The blonde woman's arms were loosely wrapped around the younger sister's neck and both wore big and bright smiles as the photo was taken.
Fighting back the urge to cry, Violet slowly and cautiously walked forward. So many emotions consumed her at that moment; bittersweet happiness, sadness, grief and loneliness. The painting brought back so many sweet memories but as much as Violet wanted to grasp onto those memories, the death of her sister weighed heavy in her chest.
Once the ninja got to the painting, she let her fingers softly ghost over the paint that was on the canvas. She was so shocked to see how realistic the artist had painted her and her sister. In the background, the artist had perfectly captured the movement of the waves crashing softly against the sandy shore and the colours of the sky as the sun set behind the two sisters. Looking at herself, she was surprised to see how detailed the dress she was wearing that day was; the loose creases in her skirt to give it that flaring look when she would spin or twirl and how close the dress would fit her curves – even though back then they weren't as defined as they were now. Violet softly smiled and looked as her previous hair colour –caramel- cascaded down in waves to her shoulders yet it looked like pure gold from where the sunlight shone onto her hair.
The dress Scarlett was wearing couldn't be seen since the older girl was pressed against Violet's back but the female ninja could see the blue straps and the sweet heart bodice that adorned her sister's fair complexion. Looking between hers and Scarlett's face, they could be easily mistaken as twins! They wore the exact same features. The only difference between them though were the colours of their eyes and hair. Scarlett's light blonde hair was blown to the side and her sky blue eyes showed nothing but happiness.
No words could explain how much Violet missed her older sister. Yet, if she were to be here right now, would the blonde be able to recognise her? The female ninja knew she have changed drastically. Her hair was temporarily no longer the light colour it was but now a chocolate brown, a couple shades darker than Kai's brown hair. Her face no longer held the youthful chubbiness – her full cheeks were now hollow, defining her high cheekbones. She has definitely grown over the past year, about an inch taller but either way, she remained short.
"We probably don't look anything a like now…" Violet softly sighed as she walked away but not once have her mind left the painting.
How did they get their hands onto that photo?
.:Griffin:.
Gathering all the courage he could, the master of speed quickly walked to the room next to his. Ever since he found the beautiful woman crying this morning with that fire bending jerk, Griffin couldn't help but feel maybe he has a chance to be with her. He had a hard time trying to figure out what Violet found so interesting in that jerk that she was previously engaged to, but he was determined to be better than him. Such beautiful women like her were like an endangered species – especially those who weren't snobby or malicious. No, women who were beautiful and an elemental master were one of a kind!
There have been many women he tried to swoon in the past but never have her encountered such an angel. How could Kai break such a lovely heart of this poor maiden? If he was the master of fire, Griffin would have made sure to treat her with the upmost respect. Even though he doesn't know how Kai managed to seduce such a magnificent woman, the master of fire was lucky. How could he be so wasteful and just get rid of her? What did he find more attractive in that redhead girl?
Either way, he will show Violet that he will be the better man than Kai. Normally the girls the master of speed had swooned before liked his roguish or flamboyant personality but he reckoned Violet needed a gentleman to treat her right.
Courageously, he knocked at the door. He tried to contain the nervousness that was building up inside of him. He had never got this nervous around a girl before. What made Violet so different other than the fact that she was the most attractive person he had ever seen?
But Griffin was drawn away from his thoughts when the door opened to reveal the brunette. To his surprise, her eyes and red nose indicated she have just been crying.
"Are you okay Violet?" He asked softly.
"G-Griffin! I thought you were Lloyd, Jay, Cole or…"
"Or… Kai?" He questioned and immediately she looked away.
"Yeah…"
"Well… Can I come in?"
"O-Of course," she spluttered and an adorable blush adorned her cheeks. While she moved out of the way, Griffin walked into her room and took in the appearance of her room.
Everything was so purple but is suited her. His room was white with dashes of red here and there. But his eyes immediately settled onto the painting that was hanged up. While he had a painting of himself, hers was of two girls. He had to admit that they were beautiful but not as beautiful as the girl that was currently gracing him with her presence.
"Are they your best friends or sisters?" He asked curiously although he wondered if they were really Violet's sisters but why else would they be displayed here by a painting? They had nothing a like except Violet shared her mesmerising purple eyes with the younger looking girl. While they had full cheeks and soft features, Violet had stunning sharp and striking features. Plus, the two girls -he was certain were sisters- had light and fair hair compared to Violet.
"Me and my sister…" She whispered and immediately, he gave her a wide look.
"You? You're the one on the bottom?"
"Yeah," Violet said rather sadly. Maybe he hit a soft spot; maybe it was hard for the current brunette to leave her sister to embark on this tournament? The master of speed wasn't allowed to tell his family either when he received the invitation.
"How long ago? You look so different."
"Two years ago. I dyed my hair so I could hide my identity a little bit more. You know, since the team were the saviours of Ninjago."
"Were?"
"Our team mate, Zane, sacrificed himself to save the city… Didn't you hear the news?"
"No actually," he muttered while avoiding eye contact, "all I remember reading was the Overlord was back for the second time and tried to take over Ninjago but it all started off in the city and that the Ninja saved the day. I haven't actually heard much about your team; it was actually my first time seeing and knowing your names yesterday but never did I thought the Ninja were actual elemental masters."
"Well, we all learn something new every day," she softly laughed. "I didn't want to be flanked by the news press so I dyed my hair. Only during the past year did my features change."
"You look as beautiful now as you did back then," Griffin complemented with a charming grin and he was rewarded for his efforts with another adorable blush. "Your sister too. I thought you two were twins for a second."
"Yeah..." She muttered sadly and immediately Griffin frowned. This was definitely a soft spot for the beautiful girl.
"What's wrong?" He asked gently as he hesitantly reached out and placed a hand on her surprisingly firm shoulders. Then again, she was one of the members of the Ninja group… That means Kai too. How did jerk-face become a ninja?
"Remember that attack on the city two years back?"
"The first time the Overlord attacked?"
"No, when the big snake, The Great Devourer, attacked."
"A big snake attacked?"
"Yeah, he was some type of legendary snake of the Serpentine that grew with every bite he devoured. Because he was enormous he knocked down so many buildings. My sister was in one of those buildings."
"Violet, I'm so sorry," he said softly as he proceeded to give the girl a hug. At first he thought she would reject his hug but as he drew closer, she didn't move. When he did hug her, she was stiff as a board.
Maybe giving her a hug was a bad idea.
"Thanks… It's normally Zane who comforts me." Or not.
"What? No one else in the team? I thought you all lived together in a big flying boat."
"Yeah… Kai did," she muttered before slipping out of his arms and heading over to the table and chairs that were out on the balcony. Instantly, he rushed forward and opened the door for her. She flashed him the prettiest smile he had ever seen. He then quickly zoomed forward and pulled out her chair.
"Thank you."
"Anything for the prettiest woman on the world."
.:Kai:.
Kai's happy mood quickly ended. It was as if that little flicker of happiness was snuffed out. Instead, anger quickly boiled in the brunette's veins as he quickly went over to the doors of his balcony and slightly open it. As a result, what he wanted to hear was much clearer from the balcony located next to his.
"Anything for the prettiest woman on the world."
"Why that little prick," Kai hissed lowly. If only this sliding doors had windows! What gave that idiot the idea to think he can touch his girl! Or compliment her for that matter! The master of fire did his best to restrain himself from marching out onto his balcony and hurl fireballs at that bastard.
So painfully and agonisingly, he listened to Violet's and Griffin's conversation. They exchanged nothing but minor details, birthdays, where they were born and favourite colours but to his surprise (and Griffin's as well from the gasp he heard), Violet's favourite colour was actually a scarlet red. Kai wondered if the main reason she loved that colour wasn't just because of Scarlett but… because of him too?
Come on Kai, don't give yourself false hope. She made it pretty clear the other night that she doesn't want anything to do with me… Kai thought sadly. After another minute or two, the master of speed and air went back into Violet's room and quickly, Kai went to the wall separating him from Violet's room and placed his ear against it.
"I should get some rest… Since I didn't get some last night."
"Of course. I'll see you at dinner okay?"
"Sure," Violet said with what sounds like a bit of happiness. Her angelic voice was obviously muffled by the wall but Kai wanted nothing more but for her to speak to him like that; not a voice full of anger. But after that, he heard footsteps travelling to the door and then a click indicating the door was opened.
"Violet?"
"Yes?"
"If Kai does anything else to upset you, please don't be hesitant to tell me. You deserve much more than what he's been treating you like recently."
What?! Kai thought angrily as the anger inside of him intensified, like a volcano erupting. That bastard! I wish he was in my section so when I verse him I can kill him! How dare he?! Who does he think he is?!
But deep inside, he knew what Griffin said was true… If he didn't go off and started to look like he was attracted to Skylor, then this would have never happened! Ugh, Jay was right. He was the stupidest person on Ninjago…
"T-Thank you for your concern Griffin." Violet's voice didn't sound the same as before. It was soft, quiet and sad.
A part of him soared at the fact that Violet may still love him but what if he mistaken it? What if she was just touched that Griffin would offer her such support? He can't jump to conclusions because last time that happened, it made Violet hate him even more. How was he supposed to fix this?
With a head full of swarming and swirling questions, Kai quickly went to the doors of his balcony and threw them open before storming over towards the rail. He then leaned over it while placing his head over the cool metal.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid stupid stupid stupid!
"Kai?" Skylor's voice called out to him from his left. In a flash, he lifted his head up to see the girl without her cloak on. Her red hair was in a high pony tail and fell down straight.
"O-Oh, hi Skylor! Looks like we're neighbours."
"That it seems," she smiled at him before turning his gaze to look at the view. "It's a beautiful view isn't it?"
"I know some things that are even more beautiful," Kai whispered, his mind already taken away to Violet. Unfortunately, he wasn't quiet enough.
"Kai, you're too kind," Skylor chuckled and immediately, he wanted to do nothing but slap his head.
Violet could be listening right now! Ah, she's probably going to hate me even more!
.:Cole:.
The ninja in black growled softly as he walked over to the room of the possibly most annoying person on the world. Right before they left the boat, Jay told him that they needed to talk about something important.
No doubt about him asking me to let go of Nya. Cole thought as he stormed over. He had just found out there was a massive stash of Master Chen's noodle goods in his room. He was about to eat it all before he remembered that Jay wanted to speak with him.
The master of earth didn't want to let go of Nya. Never. Yes, in his opinion that it was rather cruel of him to take a part of Nya's heart away from Jay but he couldn't help it. She was truly the first girl to ever really talk to him apart from Violet. Sure he and Violet talked but the way that Nya talked to him was just filled with so much kindness. As a kid he was constantly bullied for not being able to dance correctly or whatsoever and when he left, girls were the last thing on his mind. Sure he got a few admirers but they were girls who only liked what they see; Nya on the other hand realised who he really was. If he were to let her go now, who else would be there for him?
Once he arrived at the room, he knocked on it and immediately, the door was swung open and he was pulled in.
"What the heck Jay?!"
"Did anyone follow you?"
"What? No! You have better called me here for a good reason-"
"Trust me I have!" The man with blue eyes suddenly squeaked before looking straight at him in the eye. "Who is Violet to you exactly?"
"Violet? Really Jay, you're trying to hook me up with Violet so you can get Nya? Look, I'm sorry but I'm not letting her go any time soon-"
"What?! No, I don't want you to date Violet! Plus the idea of you letting Nya go sounds really good but this isn't what I want to talk to you about!"
"Wait, it isn't?" Cole asked with a raised eyebrow. If Jay wasn't talking about his romantic relationship… then what?
"No, of course not. Look, I know we aren't on the best terms but I need your help. Kai is a big no-no and Lloyd doesn't know anything."
"First of all, I have no idea what you're talking about so really I'm as useless as Lloyd and why not Violet?"
"Because this is about Violet and Kai!"
"Let me guess, you're playing match maker."
"Come on Cole, this is serious and normally I'm the one that isn't serious!"
"That's true."
"I've been counselling Kai for the past day on how to win Violet back but nothing is working! And before you ask any questions, he's not flirting with Skylor to get her to like him but he's doing it so we can find out what her powers are so none of us will be at a disadvantage when the time comes. But anyway, we both know how stubborn he could be so when I gave him advice, he tried to use it but it went all wrong and turned out into that fiasco last night!" The blue ninja ranted as he quickly paced the room back and forth.
"And you need my help for what…?"
"Answer my first question: how close are you and Violet?"
"Not that close. Lloyd is even closer to her than I am. Why?" But instead of answering his question, the blue ninja did his infamous rants.
"Are you serious?! You're not that close with Violet?! I thought you two would be close since you both were like team captain before Lloyd became the golden ninja! I can't have Lloyd do this because doesn't know anything about romantic relationships! This team is falling further apart; first our little dispute, Zane's death and now, Kai's and Violet's epic break up and aftermath battle.
"I just want everything to go back to normal! We're trying to save Zane so that's great but Kai and Violet are just becoming worse! And I suppose we're getting better… Ugh, I'm getting off topic. Look, what I want you to do is just try and help Violet through her feelings because she literally has no one to talk to. I would prefer for a girl to talk to her but there's no one here that we know."
"Jay, I can't do that! I've only been in one relationship and that's with Nya! That's not even a relationship because we're somehow sharing her."
"WHAT?!" Jay shouted and suddenly, his blue room sparked and electrical devices popped out of everywhere. "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?! ARE YOU TELLING ME THE BRILLIANT PLAN I HAD IN MY MIND AND BEEN THINKING OF FOR THIS WHOLE DAY IS FOR NOTHING?!"
"Ummm… I think so?"
"How can you not be in any other relationships? You're Cole for crying out loud! You have… umm… Abs!"
"A six pack…"
"Whatever! Surely you had girls dying over you!"
"Nope." And Cole watched as Jay started to yell his infamous rant once again about working hard. Within a couple seconds, the master of earth could feel his ears starting to hurt. "Okay, shut up! Look, I'll do it okay? You're right and wrong. Yes we need to get Violet and Kai back together because as much as we sort of hate each other, theirs is just ridiculous and too loud; I need my sleep. But Zane might not be here, it might be a trap and we both know things aren't going to be fixed between us."
"Yeah… You're right."
"But I suppose it doesn't really hurt if we work together to bring those two together."
"Plus it's Kai's relationship right? Maybe once it's all fixed he can try and help our relationship with Nya."
"Whoa whoa whoa, you're the one counselling Kai! That's unfair! Wait, you know what; this conversation is over. I got some delicious food waiting for me and we have discussed what you wanted to talk about so goodbye!" And immediately, Cole turned to leave.
"Don't forget to talk to Violet!"
Violet can wait a little… I need to make some sweet love to those noodles waiting for me!
Cole may as well date food XD. Anyway, I know 1 major problem I faced with Undercover was that I didn't involve a lot of the other characters so I'm trying my very best to fix that. I dearly hope I didn't mess up Griffin's and Cole's POV. Now, I have some depressing news to tell you all. These past 7 chapters were written way before I posted the very first chapter of Underestimated but ever since, I've collided into his massive writer's block. Unfortunately, I can't tackle it at the moment because school is a pain in the rear end. I'm sooooo sorry! Massive thanks to: NinjagumnastgirlK, Guest, KaitheHotHead1, FlameNinjaofDarkFire, Kai4Ever, MortalNinja, Natalie Singe, CarlyShi208 and ElementzGirl7.
Guest: Awwwwww thanks!
FlameNinjaofDarkFire: It's all good! Unfortunately, you caught up at the wrong time.
See you all soon! Xoxo - ZaneLoverFan88
