Chapter 86
Swimming In Fears

.:Violet:.

Violet went to open her eyes despite the stings and saw darkness around her. Her limbs flailed around in the water, hoping this movement is still classified as swimming but the surface of the water was getting away, further and further away. Suddenly a cold force pushed her away, making her dark surroundings spin and spin and spin. Her lungs burned and shrivelled, wanting to grasp the fresh or even salty taste of air. Violet's fear of drowning drowned her. She could easily hear her pulse in her ears over the muffled roar of the waves crashing down on her, making her sink further into the water.

Her eyes stung too much, she had to close them but Violet was afraid if she did, she would never be able to open them again but the salt was too much. She closed them. Her mouth opened; no longer can she keep the carbon dioxide in her lungs. Instantly, water flooded in, making her feel cold on the inside like she is on the out. Her body was still thrown around like ball. She gave up on swimming back to the surface; it was only making her more tired.

It wasn't until she felt warmth engulf her body and the throwing of her body was stopped. It made the tamer of air wondered if she was already dead but her lungs felt like they were about to burst any moment. Then the warmth disappeared and her body was yanked like she was a lifeless doll as if death wanted her to suffer more. Violet wanted it to end; she didn't want to be the play doll anymore. All of a sudden, everything above her waist felt like it was being stabbed by little shards of slightly warmer coldness. The pulse in her ears dulled down but the roars of the waves and ocean became unbearable. What was worst she could hear Kai's yelling voice in her head.

I'm dreaming it… I'm dying…

The girl thought forlornly as her body was then been thrown back and forth. But she couldn't shake of the voice was that booming in her mind, now louder than the waves. It wasn't until seconds later her mind finally took in the words. They were her name, being called over and over again. Her body felt numb and cold than ever before. Just then, light penetrated through the darkness her closed eyelids display. The light wasn't even that bright, just mixtures of dark grey, greyish-blue and a really dark red. Then darkness took over again and warm covered her body but the throwing never stopped and her lungs were so close to bursting. Then again, the cold came back and the throwing stopped. Then it was like heaven, salty air flooding back into her lungs but they squeezed and contracted painfully to remove the water. It didn't last long when water flooded back in before air took over again.

"Open your eyes god dammit! Wake up!"

Kai..? Violet wearily mentally asked. The warmth… Kai? And she opened her eyes, the image was bury as warmth tingled into her limbs but she felt so far away, like she was about to be shut out.

"Kai…"

Then the lights turned out.

.:Zane:.

He felt… not good. What's the word? Terrible? Miserable? Grief? Depressed? Zane softly sighed as he peered from the window and out to the ocean, hanging to the string of hope that Kai and Violet were still alive… but his processor ran every possible outcome that they would be alive and it was less than five percent. Not only drowning could kill them, the cold, the lack of sleep, too much sea water inhaled throwing the salt and carbohydrates off (I learnt this a while ago so I'm not sure if carbohydrates is right), the Leviathan could kill them, other creatures, fatigue, swimming the wrong way and so many others. Not only was the Nindroid was effected but everyone. Wu refused to talk unless it was necessary, Nathan stayed mute the whole entire time here, Nya would occasionally shed tears for her brother and best friend, Lloyd was blue for the company of Violet provided for him was gone, Cole of course felt the toll of his fallen teammates taking the blame on himself and with Jay and Misako, Zane didn't take a proper look. Jay would always comfort Nya by bringing her into his arms and mutter words of comfort but they would never work since she would just break down completely in his arms. Misako would stay by Wu's and Lloyd's side, patting their backs in sympathy and provided them both with tea.

"Zane..?" His father's voice was easily heard in the ninja of ice's ears as everyone else ate sadly down below.

"Yes father?" Zane asked softly.

He had to admit, he was overjoyed at the fact that his father whom he thought was dead was very much alive. Even if he built the stuff for the Skeletons, Zane could never be mad at the man who gave him life. Zane was happy that his family was now completed with his father in the imaged but the grief of the loss of Kai and Violet over powered him and the inventor could tell.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you and you friends."

"It's okay father… I suppose we have to move on because Violet and Kai wouldn't want us to mourn over them." The Nindroid quoted their famous saying. He sighed and let his eyes linger on the ocean before turning his head to the elderly. "If there was one person I would have to introduce you to, it would have been Violet."

"Tell me about her." Dr Julien smiled softly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"She's the only person I know that went through much harsher things than me, she's really inspirational. Her sister whose four years older than her passed away from a rare cancer but her spirit was merged with Violet's mind when she was a month old. When she turned six, her parents were murdered and she lived on the streets for more than a decade before Sensei Wu trained her to become a ninja like my friends and I." Zane informed, smiling softly at the fond memories of his first introduction with her. "Although she was his student two years longer than me so she's really skilled…" And Zane moved onto how he first met her and their adventures together, a smile still on his face with all the good memories of his sister until the ones a month ago. "And now that she's gone… I don't know how to react to this. A part of me wants to go and search for her; one part wants me to cry while another wants me to stay strong for her... But I feel this way to Kai as well but it's not as strong."

"She's very close to you then?"

"I've seen Violet as a dear sister- no, she still is." Zane corrected himself. "But father… If I wanted you to make a change in me… would you?"

"A c-change?"

"More like an alteration."

"But Zane, you're perfect! I could never make you any better than you already are."

"But I see no reason for me to have a memory switch," the Nindroid answered, "I happen to like my life and I don't ever want to forget about you or Violet… If I'm in a situational where I'm powerless, someone can open my panel and flick that switch, all the memories I created with everyone who are so dear to me will be gone… I can't have that happen."

"Don't worry my son, we will both never forget and I can reassure you that no one will ever do that to you. I can see in your eyes that these friends are more than friends, they're your family and I cannot express my gratitude of them being your family when I wasn't there and able to however I'm so glad you found me." And upon these words, Zane couldn't help but throw himself onto his father.

"And I'm glad you made me."

Knock knock.

"Hey Dr Julien, I know this is a dumb question but were you expecting more visitors than us?" Jay's voice was heard from below in the main housing area where everyone else was eating.

"N-No, I don't know who this could be... Hide everyone!"

"But if it's the skeletons father, we can handle them." Zane reassured his father before walking down with the inventor hot on this trail. As Zane marched down to the front door, everyone else followed, grabbing tools for makeshift weapons since they all just took a break from finishing the Bounty.

At one point in time, the old inventor overtook the Nindroid and rushed to the front door and straight to the computer and camera however the Nindroid didn't stray a step or two. Once they got to the computer screen, Dr Julien's hand went to the joystick to adjust the camera to see two figures huddled together. Their darkish hair stuck to their sickly pale face like a second skin. If it wasn't for the ninja gi they wore Zane was sure he couldn't be able to recognise them.

"Father, its Violet and Kai!" The Nindroid exclaimed. The once negative feelings were replaced with happiness and joy, his artificial heart soaring in his chest.

The whispers of excitement were heard from the others, their fallen features lit up upon his words and already, Zane went to lift and unlock all of the locks and barricades the inventor set up. Once they were all gone, he swung open the door and immediately went to hug the shivering ninja in purple just like how his own father did when he opened the door.

"Violet!" He exclaimed, picking her up and twirling her around. When he settled back down, he looked over to Kai who was trying his best to console his wailing sister. Zane then stood back to join his father to let the others have their turn.

"How did you guys survived?" The Nindroid couldn't help but blurt out as they tried ushering the two inside, not wanting to gain attention from the leviathan.

"It's such a long story…" Kai groaned in response and as he was about to open his mouth, the wail from the leviathan was heard and both Kai and Violet looked alarm.

"I think their arrival didn't go unnoticed. We have to leave now." Dr Julien demanded, ignoring the confused looked Violet and Kai gave him. "Now!"

.:Scarlett:.

The blonde merely sighed as she laid in the wildflowers that blossomed on the hill like a plague and she looked up to the sky. Ever since she had died the second time, things were much more boring. Perhaps it's because Scarlett missed the times when she and Violet would hang out, not just her being a voice in the younger sibling's head. Now that the connection was lost, she had no more powers to be in Violet's head or transfer her here. All of that power now remains in the younger sister. It's not that it matters to Scarlett but at least she could still watch over her sister.

Not only has she begged to the First Spinjitzu Master to allow her to have contact with Violet on the Shoujouhi Moon but to always watch over her sister and now, the blonde has what you may call a magic ball. However, the recent events that kept popping up stressed Scarlett to the core. At first, when she saw Wu gave her sister the mission, the girl thought 'oh yeah, Violet can easily deal with this'. But as the mission stretched on, Scarlett ended up running away from the ball, unable to take it in anymore.

"Oh Violet…" Scarlett sighed softly as she closed her eyes, blocking out the blue sky. She wanted all of that out of her head.

Suddenly, the ping of the oven alarm went off and Scarlett immediately bounced onto her feet. Yes, despite the fact of being dead, Scarlett still feels hunger, thirst and exhaustion. However for food, every day, the pantry would be stocked with something new. The twenty-two year old pulled out the biscuits and tossed them onto the cooling rack. It wasn't until the glow of the magic orb made its appearance. Scarlett sighed once again for the umpteenth time that day and walked over to her coffee table and picked up the orb.

Last night, the orb showed her of the ninja, Violet, Nathan and the two old mentors with someone else having a narrow miss with the Leviathan and onto the new Bounty. Now, the orb displays the team at the Dark Island, just like they're supposed to be. The orb only displays what is happening around Violet and no one else; Scarlett can't even tell what Violet is thinking of! But it was clearly obvious that the younger sister was avoiding Nathan while they disguised the Destiny's Bounty. What the heck, Scarlett is still surprised when he kissed her!

Scarlett observed the young girl as Sensei Wu called them in as he said Misako wanted to tell them about the Temple of Light. She stuck rather close to Kai and away from Nathan. The samurai looked rather… out of place. From what Scarlett could tell over the past month and a bit, the only person Nathan has got close to was Violet, occasionally talking to Cole. But looking closely at Violet's face, Scarlett could tell the female ninja was still haunted from the amount of fear she felt throughout the past two weeks.

Of course the blonde knew Violet's fear from being inside her head for nearly the girl's whole life. Number one, drowning. Number two, being unable to save innocent lives that look up to her. Finally, number three, losing those who are dear to her. Remembering all the times Violet cried or broke down, they were because of her biggest fears. Okay… perhaps Violet didn't cry when she was drowning but she completely freaked out. This is Violet, she rarely freaks out!

For now, Scarlett could only wish the best for Violet.

I'm so so so so so sorry everyone! I hit this massive writer's block that I stopped writing for two weeks. I've finished this chapter when I've posted chapter 81 so I'm fairly far ahead but that's why I switched to Scarlett's POV, I couldn't write the Leviathan attack or the landing at the Dark island. I don't know why. Plus Queensland (Australian State) hasn't had snow for 31 years and it finally snowed in some parts! Where I live right now the windows are frosting up, no one have snow jackets in Queensland so everyone is so cold…. I love it anyway but I'm just not used to it. But big thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing: Ninjagymnastgirl, Darkrainbow, Applejack ninja lover, LightningDanino23, Mihoshi 2.0, ALookIntoMyWorld, CarlyShi208, Lady Psychopath, ElementzGirl7, ShadowNinja27 and all the silent readers ;)

Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon (hopefully on Friday (AU time)). Xoxoxo – ZaneLoverFan88