Chapter 35; The Ominous Horizon

Emma POV

The saying; 'shop till you drop' does not compare to what Cece put Laura, Anne, and I through.

Searching through every store, walking miles after miles, looking at every article of clothing in our sizes, was all for the 'perfect' outfits.

In the end it was worth it.

Cece wore black leggings hugging her legs tightly. She had on a red Jacquard sheath dress-shirt with splattered on black and white dots. The shirt was midway above the knee and had a tulip-style skirt that flatted her curvy hips. The velvety red fabric and gold necklace made her green eyes pop. Her neck collar was a V-neck but with cap-sleeves. Her hair was curly and framed her face and she wore black boots.

Laura found an olive-green dress that had a pencil skirt right at the knees. The dress had a flutter sleeve tunic top and little black buttons down the front. Her straight brown hair landed gently on her shoulders and she had on gold-colored heels.

Anne has on a lime green Empire waist silk dress. Right below the breast was a dark black ribbon. The dress was a bit below the knees and was sleeveless. Anne straightened her small bob with a head band. It does not look as crazy as it normally does.

I wore an indigo dress that was more on the blue side. The Bertha collar exaggerated my neck and shoulders. The dress had a bit of a modern-Victorian twist. I had Juliette sleeves, long, tight sleeves with a puff at the top. The fabric glided down my torso with a silky texture. It reached a bit past my knees.

"Where do we go now?" I ask sipping some iced tea. We already went shopping and got our hair cut. Yet I cannot shake this intuition. This seems like something Cece would just do randomly for fun, but I still have a feeling that Cece is up to something.

"We should be getting back to the bounty," Cece says.

"That seems like a good idea." I say and get up from the stool. Leaving the tea shop, we enter the busy crowd. It takes us a while but eventually we make it to the exit of the huge mall.

Walking back to the docks, I looked up at the bounty. The sails stirred in the chilly breeze as the ship teetered in the sea slightly. We walked on deck and beneath my feet; I heard the titter-like clicks of the wood caused by my foot steps. Cece opened the door and we stepped inside.

Opening the door to the dinning room was like a slap to the face.

"SURPRISE!" jumping back, my wide eyes saw everyone besides the Cosmic Legion who was behind me yelling at me. Looking around the room I see cake and lots of iced tea.

Perplexed, I realize the long silence. I laugh seeing the Ninja's faces even more surprised. I give Cece a high-five. She did a good job finding our outfits. Zane is the first out of the daze and walks up to me.

"Happy birthday, Emma," Zane says and takes my hand. He puts it up to his face and I feel his soft lips gently kiss the back of my hand. His steal-blue eyes look up when I no longer feel the soft touch on my skin, "You look absolutely extraordinary." His rich voice resonates smoothly and I feel my face flush. He straightens up and gestures for me to sit down in a chair on the table.

I look around and see the nervous and dumfounded ninja, infatuated with the outfits of my sisters.

I laugh at Kai's ridicule given to him by Cece; she will not let this go, ever.

Lloyd looks even more love struck around Laura. He has been aged for a while so I suppose he is not really a little kid anymore. Even though he has matured faster than most kids he still has a really bad and uncontrollable temper. Kai helps him with that normally, even though that is like the pot calling the kettle black. Yet still, I feel pity for him. He must be so perplexed. Though I do feel Laura has an even harder time because it seems she is quite petrified and puzzled. Not sure why that is.

Cole is trying to hide his blush and tries to keep his cool while Anne stands around awkwardly.

After so long, is Zane and I the only couple really dating?

"Well Emma, dinner will be ready not for a while, but we were thinking we could give you our presents." Zane says and I turn to look at him. I smile.

"I was only joking about the Snapples… nobody had to get me anything…" I say.

"Of course we do Emma; it is your birthday after all. We would not be where we are at now if it was not for you." Zane says. I look at him with clouded eyes.

"A-Are y-you s-sure..?" I ask and Zane nods his head. I frown.

"Ok, now, close your eyes. The guys and I, excluding Zane, pitched in to get you your present." Coles says and I close my eyes. I hear a few noises and grunts like four guys carrying something really heavy.

"You can open them now." I hear Cole say.

I open my eyes and wipe away a single tear.

I-It's so beautiful.

I could hear angels singing.

"TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEA!" I screech loudly tackling the basket filled with a lot of different types of tea. "White… green… oolong… black… herbal… rooibos… mate… OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS A LOT OF TEA!" I say hugging the Tea-Basket.

"And…" Zane says and he holds up two six packs of Snapples. I scream like an obsessed-Ninjago-fan-girl-watching-the-new-trailer-for-the-first-time and jump up where I was standing. I grab Zane by his shirt collar and kiss him. He sets down the Snapples on the dining room table behind him and kisses me back. Utterly infolded, we stay like that for a few minutes until Cece kicks my chin.

"Man Emma, you really love tea." Cece says.

"It is like liquid happiness." I retort.

"It looked like you were about to kiss anyone for giving you all that tea. At least it was Zane…" I squint at her.

"I think it is time for dinner." Zane says. I open up one of my Snapples and sit back down in my chair. Zane enters the room with delectable beef stew and rice to pour it on. I look back at my Snapple and see it empty.

"Don't drink it all at once Emma." Anne says and I roll my eyes. Zane sits across from me. Before we begin eating, my uncle walks into the room with my aunt, Tabitha. She is actually German with bleach blonde hair but kind light blue eyes. She is beautiful but does not have that snooty model look.

"Happy birthday Emma!" my uncle says and plops a large basket right between me and Zane on the table. I look inside the basket.

"Yay, Soaps!" I say looking at all the bath soaps and salts. I give my uncle a hug and thank him for the gift. He sits down and we begin to eat our dinner right when the clock strikes four. A bit early but I recall eating lunch early too. I put the soaps down beside me and finish eating the stew. Soon we just converse with each other.

"Hey Emma…" I look up to see Zane's eyes looking at me with a passionate and determined stare.

"Yes Zane?" I reply.

"Could we talk for a moment in privacy?"

"Sure." I smile and we both get up from the table. Right before I leave the room I look at Cece perplexed as she gives me a 'kitty claw' hand gesture. I roll my eyes and follow Zane out of the room. "So what did you want to talk about Za—?"

"Wait here and close your eyes." Zane orders

"Ok…" I say and close my eyes. I hear Zane leave my presence. I am given time to think. All these gifts are beautiful and amazing. Yet, I know in the deepest corners of my mind that all these efforts are futile. Why does everyone waste such love on me? There is no point to it. I cannot give anything back, nothing but pain. Yes, that is how these poor unfortunate souls will be repaid, my pet. But I think I know why. Being dealt the worst cards, I will have to pay the biggest price for nothing. I will be hurt the most.

'Unwavering full depth and falling into a black pit.

You fall forever in melancholy'

Why me? What is the outcome of this? What is on the horizon? I do not know.

"Emma, why are you crying?" I open my eyes to Zane with a gift in his hands. He puts the wrapped gift on a shelf nearby. He steps towards me and I smell crisp winter frost. He holds my face in his hands. He wipes the tears away with his smooth and silky thumb as his eyes, the color of water from a lake frozen-over in a winter wonderland, stare down at me. It was like an illusion, like staring dumfounded at a blizzard outside your window. Feeling a deep coursing heat throughout my being, my heart was in a race and it was winning by miles. The tears still streaming down my visage stung strolling down my red-hot cheeks. My sky blue eyes could never waver from Zane's pensive and penetrating stare.

There is too much life inside those eyes. How can Zane be an 'untrue being'?

So, 'does a soul strive through the clockwork of gears…?'

Do you honestly believe that the heart you carry inside your being is truly yours to keep?

You already carry a big enough burden.

I hear you ask if there is an end to your suffering.
Yet the only way to answer that question is to wait and see.

But be careful, Estrella, Emmanuel, Emma.

It is dark inside.

"Emma, why do you weep? What do you see across the ominous horizon?" Zane pleads and I blink a few times.

"I do not have words to speak. I have nothing to give. None of it is mine. I do not even own myself." I say in a monotone to Zane with a melancholy rich visage.

"No Emma. You do have something." Zane says and grabs his gift. "Robot, human, or untrue being; you have me." Zane says and hands me the gift. I feel my eyes water.

Tears are all you have.

"Zane…"

"Please open it." Zane says and I look at the box. Unraveling the ribbon and paper, I hold a brown box. I look up at Zane unsure and he waits for me to open it. I look back at the box and open the lid.

I gasp.

I hold the finely crafted gift in my hands and drop the box. It is a beautiful navy blue tea-pot with white snowflakes painted on it. I see a deep blizzard inside tempestuous winds.

Not just some dainty snowflakes suspended in time.

"Zane, it is beautiful." I cry happy tears not because of my love of tea, but of the profound piece of craftsmanship.

"There is a surprise inside." Zane says and I raise my eyebrows.

Swiftly, he opens the lid.

OH MY GOODNESS I JUST WROTE A WHOLE CHAPTER WITH ONE POINT OF VIEW!

Emma; that deserves a round of applause

Yes!

*Zane tied to a chair claps his hands terrified.*

Emma; we aren't going through this again, are we? *unties Zane who shivers with horror." What does a Nindroid do to deserve this?

Don't get me started on that!

Emma;*0_o* ok

You are not going to argue with me?

Emma; why should I waste time doing that? I don't have a long time to drink all this tea I got for my birthday.

Good point. Nevertheless, thank for all the kind reviews! And please, if anyone has any dares or truths for the ninja or Cosmic Legion please send in either a PM or review.

Thanks mystery for the cookies! *Zane hands you thank-you cookies*

And to respond to mykindleisawesome;

Its ok, I don't like Kai much either. Though I like writing about Zane so as long as you don't mind… But hey! Lloyd and Kai are my least favorite characters but I love reading fluff about them!

If I update any sooner than Sunday I will get really behind on my prewritten chapters.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR REVIEWS! HERE, HAVE SOME COOKIES! (::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)(::) (::) (::)

"The only thing you're destined for is a more inflated ego." ~Cole to Kai

SergeantSarcasm7 at your service!