Chapter 118
Falling Snow

.:Violet:.

The burden of the armour is so great that Violet couldn't think of anything but the growing pain in her shoulders and her back. Although it has provided her with protection again the power of the former Golden Weapons Violet didn't like it a bit. The weight of the armour would shift her centre of gravity which resulted the poor kunoichi to stumble over her own feet. She would prefer to go without it but she knew it would make the others worry for her more than they should. She wasn't a damsel in distress and she definitely wasn't a frail old leaf that would crumble at the slightest breeze.

But Violet's exquisite eyes caught sight of the people gathered around a man hole. After getting a closer look, she inwardly sighed with relief to see the Serpentine were helping them to get the people to safety.

Wait… since when was the serpentine on our side?

Last time she saw them was just before she pursued her solo mission to Jamanakai Village with the exception of Pythor. Maybe something happened while she was held hostage by the Overlord.

But once her family stopped, Violet immediately did too. Looking ahead, her sight was greeted with the view of Borg's building covered in thick strings of golden light – no doubt the power of the Golden Weapons. It spread out like a web and attached itself to all the buildings surrounding the skyscraper. To her surprise, the Overlord wasn't anything she imagined him to be. His black and purple humanoid form had a face slightly similar to the time he possessed Garmadon except there was no snout, just pointy jiggered teeth with fangs. His red eyes glowed out from underneath his helmet that held golden accents to it. He appeared to be sitting in a three-legged spider chair that was four times the size of delivery trucks with many golden aspects here and there… So if they were to touch any of the gold, they'll be touching the power of all five weapons combined. The caramel-haired girl could remember how Kai told her that one of the nindroids turned into a pile of ash upon touching the gold.

"We're too far!"

"No we're not. This distance is fine. Ready to show them what old timers could do?"

"Certainly brother," Garmadon replied and Violet watched as the two mentors moved with grace yet swiftly.

Garmadon hoisted his younger brother up into the air and threw a small white pill. Then, the tea-loving man quickly hit the pill with exact precision with his bamboo staff. Carefully, Violet watched as the white pill soared through the air but once it took a dip, she quickly flicked her wrist and sent a breeze to boost it up higher into the air. Now, it was aiming for the Overlord's mouth. However, just before it could enter, Pythor jumped out and shallowed the pill.

"No!" Cole and Jay cried out in unison while the rest of them gasped and scowled. Within seconds, the pill took effects and the large snake that Violet once knew shrunk until she couldn't see his exact figure from the distance they were at.

"That was it? That is all you got?!" The Overlord sneered.

His haunting laughter that was sounded seconds later resonated through the webs. The unfortunate buildings that were in contact with these webs shook as a result – including theirs. "Pathetic."

That one word made Violet clench her small hands into fists and her teeth grinding against each other. She wanted to retort but the golden strings suddenly moved and snaked around her waist. Within moments, they squeezed and lifted her into the air. A small cry left her lips at the pain that the threads inflicted onto her as they continued to squeeze tightly. It was like her stone armour was moulding into its touch! The sounds of her family did not go unnoticed by her. It made her blood boil despite her current situation.

"You're the pathetic one! You need the power of weapons forged by your former enemy to defeat us!" She shouted, immediately erupting gasps from her friends and family.

In the edge of her eye sight, the master of wind could see Wu sending her a warning look but she decided to go against it. She have done this many times before (even though they did kind of ended up with her getting electrocuted or just ignored) and she would do it again. She wasn't scared of him.

"Violet, remember what I said about doing rash stuff? This is it!" Kai shouted at her as the cord dangled him upside down.

"I know what I'm doing. I've done it plenty of times before," she barked back. Unlike the other's her string didn't place her upside down, instead, it bought her a tiny bit closer to the Overlord so their eyes could meet. Lilac eyes narrowed fiercely at the red ones. "You're the one who's pathetic! You're the one who's the coward!"

"Shut up you stupid little girl! I see you are still the naïve and weak girl who think she's stronger than she seems but you do not scare me!" The Overlord roared in his ghastly voice.

Upon his angering words, the threads squeezed tighter around her waist. Her stress fracture made itself known in instantly. Pain flared within her back and a strained groaned exited her lips without her permission. The cord then tipped her upside down and she could feel the blood rushing into her head, making her feel lightheaded. But barely, she could see a white figure graciously dodging the cords.

"Zane, watch out!" Lloyd's struggling voice met her ears while her eyes saw Zane just narrowly missing a cord.

Swiftly, her blonde brother jumped onto Jay's feet that were flailing in his attempt to escape. But not wasting time, he then jumped onto Cole's, Lloyd's, Kai's, Garmadon's, Wu's and then hers. Violet momentarily wondered what was going through her favourite nindroid's head – what was his plan? She tried to turn herself up-way up but failed miserably. Instead, she managed to wiggle around (while also putting more strain on her back) to only gasp once she saw Zane's grasp on the golden bars in front of the Overlord.

"Zane!" She immediately cried out.

Violet was awfully surprised to see that he didn't disappear into a pile of dust like Kai told her so – instead, he glowed. Bright, blue light glimmered among his body as if it was the amount of energy that was flowing within him… a dangerous amount of energy.

"Let my friends and family go!" His beloved monotonous voice yelled.

Immediately, fear surged up in Violet's chest. No, no, no! I'm not losing anyone today!

"Zane!" She tried to call out from the tight cords that drew away her breath.

"Go where Doomed Ninja?" The Overlord asked with his voice sneering.

The purple kunoichi continued in watch in fear as Zane's body started to repulse and shudder violently as he still held on.

What is he doing?! Let go Zane! She wanted to yell but her light-headedness couldn't allow her words to escape her lips.

"The Golden Weapons are too powerful for you to behold. Your survival chance is zero!" She could hear the Overlord holler out but within seconds, she heard Zane's voice battling back.

"This isn't about numbers! It's about family!"

Upon these words, tears formed in her amethyst eyes. The golden cords soon turned green and limp, loosening their tight hold on her. She barely recognised it though. Her mind was too occupied replaying those words over and over again. When she hit the ground and pain flared up again did she finally tried to pull her mind away from these thoughts. She struggled to roll off her back but unsuccessful attempts did not go unnoticed by Wu and Kai. They quickly came to her aid and helped her up. Being off her back soothed the pain very slightly but it didn't matter to the girl, Zane did.

When she looked back up with teary eyes, a bright light erupted from Zane. His name fell through her lips as a wail. Her body was impulsively on auto pilot, already moving towards the building. She was stopped once firm arms grasped her waist. In moments, a broad chest met with her back; a chest she knew too well.

"Get off me Kai!" She cried out as she thrashed in his arms. This resulted Kai to tighten his hold on her.

"He's not even letting go! Zane, let go!" Lloyd's voice shouted from somewhere behind her but her eyes remained firmly planted on the nindroid's shaking and glowing form.

The violet eyed girl didn't want to believe that right now she was witnessing what would be Zane's last moments. One part hoped and hoped that he would make it out alive but a more rational side chided that this was his last moments; Zane was sacrificing his life to save theirs… But who would stop the Overlord afterwards?

No, I can't think like this.

With tears streaming down her face, Violet realised she didn't spent enough time with him. He was the first friend she'd made once she was taken off the street. She saw Wu nothing more than a friendly father-grandfather figure. Zane, on the other hand, already established himself to be her brother within two days she met him officially… How could this happen?

"Zane…!" His name once again slip from her lips in desperation

She frantically hoped that he would listen to her plea and let go; so he can hear how much she- no, how much they all needed him. They were fine now, he can let go but as the seconds go past, Violet could see he was holding on until the end. Such a thought caused her chest to tighten to a point breathing seemed impossible; just something of the past.

"I am a nindroid!" His strained voice brought tears to pour uncontrollably but Violet could tell she wasn't the only one. Zane's name was sounded around her in broken whispers or cries. "And ninja never quits! Go ninja… Go!"

And his hands finally let go before ice erupted in a big and continuous blast towards the Overlord.

"What are you doing?! Let me go you fool!" The Overlord screeched.

"Zane!"

"No Zane! No!"

"Let go!"

"Zane!" But their voices were drowned by the loud shrieks from the Overlord.

Within seconds, the ice and snow that was formed by Zane started to cause a chilled breeze to flow by and chucks of ice to float around. If they stayed idle for any longer, she was sure one of them would soon they hit in the head… they don't need any more amnesic people.

When she felt Kai tug on her waist, she resisted to move from her spot until his lips brushed past her ear and his warmth breath ghosted over her skin.

"We have to move."

"But we can't just leave him!" Violet argued back. She heard him sigh and suddenly, his arms that were around her waist tightened and he picked her up. Her stomach was then placed onto his shoulder and her upper body dangled over his back. "Put me down!"

She knew it would be pointless to thrash in his grip so she remained motionless. However, this thought of forlornness caused more tears to escape. Deep down the nineteen-year-old knew there was no point in waiting to see if Zane would make it out alive. A part of her still wished it would happen though, that they would be able to see him.

Kai jogged away at a brisk pace as followed the others. Zane's glowing figure shrunk and the Overlord's screeches diminished. When she felt Kai's arms tighten around her waist again, she knew he was going to put her down. Once he did, she turned around to see the others were climbing into a manhole. The stench of the sewers were awful but she knew it was better than getting hit in the head by one of Zane's ice. And just on cue, one just missed her head and hit the ground by Jay's feet.

"Come on Violet," Cole's voice urged her sadly as he was partly in the manhole. His hand was extended out to her, offering to assist her. Looking to the others, she saw they also giving her the same looks. So she quickly walked over and climbed down the ladder after Cole. "Be careful, a couple of the steps are gone."

"How do you know?" She asked softly, her mind still on Zane.

"We've been here earlier when the Overlord had both you and Lloyd…" He replied with the same softness she used. It surprised her to hear Cole not acting so tough. Their fearless leader always hid his emotions and cared for his team more than himself – taking all responsibility.

He must be putting the blame on himself…

"It's not your fault Cole," she whispered.

When her foot didn't hit the step, she knew this was where the steps were gone. So she tried to gather the wind that was inside the dark tunnel to assist her down. She also heard a gasp sounded from Cole, confirming he has been putting the blame on himself.

"But even so, we should of thought of a backup plan… I should have done something else to prevent this," the raven-haired man sighed.

"Knowing Zane, if we reversed the hands of time he wouldn't have changed anything. This is his decision and we have to respect it…" Violet muttered.

"But do you respect his decision as well?" Jay's voice was sounded from above her. With a heavy heart, she shook her head and voiced her answer.

"It hurts…" She heard Cole admit as he reached the bottom. Violet landed next to him and soon Jay. Before she could reply, Wu's voice was sounded from above them.

"I know it hurts but Zane wouldn't want this," the old but wise man stated with Lloyd, Garmadon and Kai following after him.

After that, silence hung over them as they waited…

.::.

Ninjago City has suffered the worst. It was a beautiful city with tall buildings and many parks before the Great Devourer knocked most of it down. As a result, it killed many innocent people including her sister. The city was instantly rebuilt and any evidence of destruction vanished… until the first battle between the Overlord and Lloyd. Earthquakes split the rebuilt city apart and the Garmatron building was knocked over and deceptively killing her and the Overlord. Soon after, it got rebuilt into new Ninjago City to only gain more destruction and finally, a snow field.

Violet's mauve eyes wondered over the snowy terrain. She could roughly make out the outlines of cars, fire hydrants and other objects slightly protruding out of the surface of the snow. Hesitantly looking upward, the sky wasn't covered in black clouds but instead, wispy grey clouds with tiny flakes of snow falling – reminding her a lot of the dream she had when she first got captured.

Her eyes followed the silvery flakes as drifted down right in front of her. She could see the intricate patterns on the specks of ice, each and every flake having their own design. They floated weightlessly downward from the white sky above. Each flake swirled and danced as an icy wind blew past. The chill caused goose bumps to rise on her thinly covered skin. Taking a deep breath, Violet could feel the cold air flood in her lungs, sending a tickling sensation. She didn't focus on that however, she focused on trying to find Zane.

Wordlessly, she and the others walked away from the manhole. Violet shivered as her ribboned wrapped feet contacted the cold snow and sunk in it. Her arms crossed over her chest underneath her breasts as her hands rubbed the side of her arms hoping to get warmth back into them. Her eyes drifted away from the snow in front of her feet and looked to the left to see more and more snow. With a sad sigh, she closed her eyes to try and get rid of Zane's glowing and uncontrollably shaking figure. Just as she opened it, she felt something hard underneath her feet, not the usual soft and crunchy snow. Violet immediately looked down and lifted her feet to only gasp to see a part of Zane's face.

It was the right side of his face with a large and irregular crack showing where the other part would connect to it. With shaking fingers, Violet squat down and carefully picked up the metallic yet soft piece of metal. The one of the only features she could see were his strong arched brows and thick eyelashes - so thick it could be illegal. Underneath them weren't ordinary sky blue eyes. They weren't even the colour of blue paint flaking off the old shed in the back of the field or even the forget-me-nots that grew in the school gardens. No, Zane's eyes were an icy blue.

The ninja could feel her breath caught in her throat as tears resumed to glisten her violet eyes. She could feel her body starting to shiver. A warm presence was quickly located by her side but she didn't acknowledge the person. Instead, she kept her eyes to the broken face in her hands. A soft sniff was caught by her ears which was immediately followed by the person wrapping his arms around her and engulfing her whole body in warmth.

As much as she tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. The beads of water started falling down one after another, without a sign of stopping. The muffled sobs wracked against her chest. The world turned into a blur, and so did all the sounds. Zane was gone. Gone…

Ahhhhh! This chapter was so hard to write! I absolutely love Zane! But amazingly huge thanks to NinjagymnastgirlK, CarlyShi208, WowWhatALongUsernameIHave, Kai4Ever, ElementzGirl7, Natalie Singe, Blondie and MortalNinja for reviewing but also to everyone else for reading! And massive thanks to WowWhatALongUsernameIHave for being my 1600th reviewer! You all are just wonderfully amazing I couldn't have asked for better readers and supporters!

Kai4Ever: I will try my hardest ;)

Natalie Singe: Yes, I do requests but sometimes I can't do them all. Whenever a new season comes out, I immediately plan what would happen for Violet's series (I literally have no idea what to call it now XD) but when I go by to writing them, I tweak things. But I'll happily take requests! About the humour, I have realised the humour is starting to fade back that is all because no one would really humour in such a dire situation; especially when the end of Ninjago is rested upon your shoulders. But in Underestimated, it'll definitely be there. As for the accidental kiss? Genius idea! I got a perfect spot for it believe it or not.

It feels surreal that the next chapter will be the last for this monstrous story. I'll see you all soon with the defining chapter though! Xoxo – ZaneLoverFan88