Chapter 1
Small snores were heard coming from a house in the town of Norrisville. The moon and stars shone nicely in the sky as a breeze blew through the air. In the house, three boys were fast asleep in comfortable sleeping bags. One was chubbier, with bed head evident in his orangey-red hair. Another had messy light brown locks as he snuggled a pillow with a tiny smile. The last one was a teen with spiky purple hair who had only his head peeking out from the sleeping bag. Randy Cunningham and his friends, Howard and Dustin. Having spent yet another Saturday as juniors and a sophomore, they'd had a Grave Puncher gaming marathon and fell asleep once it had gotten too late. A book in the room had a faint red glow from where it rested on Randy's nightstand, the light fading and reappearing like a person breathing. Probably because the Nomicon was a person. Nomi, however, hadn't been overly interested in games that day and spent time studying and planning Randy's next lesson until he grew tired as well. They all slept soundly and peacefully, unaware of the events that would take place that upcoming year. A dark shadow took up the window as it materialized seemingly out of thin air. It slid cautiously into the room, opening the window barely a crack as it entered. Now stuck onto the wall, a pair of glowing, yellow eyes opened and a sneer appeared upon its face as what appeared to be hair floated around like the serpents that adorned medusa's own head. Slithering over the ceiling and to the other end of the room, the shadow stopped beside Randy's nightstand, staring down at the Nomicon with its hateful gaze. She stretched a claw-like finger off the wall and touched the book lightly at the center before she slowly began to dissolve. The yellowed eyes opened again and looked around a huge dojo. A few lamps were lit to provide some light, but still dim enough to let Nomi sleep alright. A smirk appeared on the apparition's face as she hurried off to find somewhere, along with someone, important. A familiar, boarded up building appeared before the being, to which she smiled. This place held exactly who she was looking for. Slipping a inside with ease, she looked around for what she'd come in search of. In an almost hidden cage, a teen sat quietly with a hood that hid their face from view draped over their head.
"Hello~" Semira greeted in a slimy yet smooth voice that sent a chill through the crowded room. The teen looked up, revealing messy purple hair and red eyes…an exact replica of Randy.
"Who are you?" He asked in annoyance.
"Dear Nomicon did a good job about making you, I must say. You look exactly like that pesky ninja!"
"The difference is that I ain't him. I don't follow this book's rules or act like Mr. Goodie-Two-Shoes." "
Oh, I've heard! Did you really enjoy your time in the real world?"
"Definitely."
"I can take you back there, free you, let you be your own person…" A smirk worked its way to Semira's mouth when she saw consideration swimming in the boy's eyes.
"You aren't serious…right?"
"Oh, I'm definitely serious. Even better, I can offer…payback."
"Alright, you have my attention. I'm listening."
"I can help you get back at Nomicon and his little Ninja for what they did, all while releasing you from your prison."
"Why do you wanna help me?" He asked suspiciously.
"We've both been in the same boat. I was imprisoned by them as well and seek revenge. Are you in?" Semira held a hand through the bars of the cage, a smile dripping with fake kindness adorning her otherwise featureless face. The teen sat there quietly, thinking the deal over, before shaking Semira's hand.
"Splendid! Let's start by letting you go, shall we?" Raising a fist over her head, Semira smashed the top of the cage and pulled the bars apart without hesitation as the teen crawled through the opening.
"We should be going. Don't want to waste any precious time." Semira grabbed his arm roughly and zipped away with him in her clutches as they exited the Ninja Nomicon. The teen growled inaudibly at the sight of Randy as he slept soundly and Semira held back a laugh as they flew from the window.
"So, what's your name, child?" She asked, dropping him onto the grass before landing softly before him.
"That Ninja and his stupid friends call me NomiRandy."
"Well, NomiRandy, I believe it's time to start planning their demise. Listen carefully…"
Nomi awoke with a start. He'd been having a reoccurring dream turned nightmare. It was the same thing, every night. A dark cave with a waterfall at the end of it and a person facing away from him. They would always be saying something, but he could never make out what as a light emanated from the person. Without warning, the scene would dissolve and Semira would appear, an insane look in her eyes and a sinister grin that cut her face in half. "Where's your Norisu Nine now, dear Nomicon?" She would mumble in that sickening voice that echoed through the chilled air. Nine figures, all unidentifiable, lay on the ground, as motionless as Nomi. Before he or Semira could do anything, the scene would fade with a flash of light and he would wake up. He looked around the dojo, rubbing his arms due to how cold it was and yawned sleepily. He heard Randy, Howard, and Dustin talk as they began to awake, smiling to himself at them. He'd known two of them for almost three years now and Dustin for one, nearly two. It pained him to think that they'd have to forget him in another year. Being the Ninja Nomicon, he had to erase the memory of the current Ninja and all of those who knew his identity about the Ninja, their moments as or with the Ninja, and…Nomi. Nomi tried not to think about it, however. They still had time together, and he was willing to spend all his time with his friends. He heard Dustin leaving the room, his mother waiting for him downstairs, as Howard shut the door.
"Is the book awake?" He whispered, staring down at Nomi from where he rested.
"Yes, I'm fully awake, Howard." Nomi answered as he changed from a book to a teenager, sitting quietly on the nightstand.
"Why were you stuck in here, studying? It's not like you even go to school!"
"I prefer a book to Grave Puncher."
"This is why I'll never understand you."
"Likewise."
"Weird how you're friends and talk like you're strangers." Randy chuckled.
"He's the one responsible for Ninja No Show." Howard stated, crossing his arms.
"Just as much as you're a cause of Randy's recklessness."
"I try my best." Nomi rolled his eyes as Howard laughed and Randy shook his head with a smile.
"You are both unbelievable. It explains why I'm more responsible than the entirety of our group of companions."
"You've had 800 years to become responsible, unlike us!"
"I believe seventeen years has been enough for you to become even slightly mature, but I can make mistakes."
"Ninja Nomicons don't make mistakes."
"Remember Howard, I'm only human."
"But aren't you a book? That's how I was introduced to you, anyway."
"Every book holds a story, Howard. You just don't know mine."
"What is it?" Randy asked.
"I…prefer not to discuss it."
"Why not?"
"Reasons."
"What kinda reasons?"
"Reasons you don't fully understand."
"Can you tell me them so I can understand?"
"…I will eventually. I give you my word on that."
"Aww, but I wanna know now!" Nomi chuckled as Randy whined in a childish manner. 'Some things never change.' He thought with a smile. 'But would I ever want them to?'
"Enough complaining, Randy. We were meeting Lex for something today, weren't we?"
"Oh yeah! We gotta do that!"
"What is this meeting for, anyway?"
"You'll find out." Howard said with a wide grin that imitated Randy's own perfectly.
"If it's another one of your ideas on how to get Shoob Tube famous, I'm out."
"There goes our other meeting topic…" "It's much more important than that!" Randy exclaimed, grinning as Nomi raised an eyebrow, curious as to what they were talking about.
"Sup, little high schoolers!" Mordea greeted the trio that stood on the porch.
"Hello, graduate!" Randy said.
"Come in! Lex's upstairs, blaring her music as usual." Mordea stepped aside, letting them enter the house before shutting the door softly behind them.
"Have you been accepted into Norrisville University yet?" Nomi asked curiously.
"I sent the application and all that other important stuff, so it's only a matter of time before I get the results of it."
"We're here to discuss something important Nomi! Not Mordea's college ideas!" Howard stated.
"I believe college is quite important in the life of an individual who just graduated with honors role and probably more so than whatever you have planned."
"Not true!" Nomi rolled his eyes and Mordea chuckled.
"Future importances. Right now, Howard's right. Currently, anyway. You'll see what I mean when you see Lex." Mordea smiled and winked, walking away as the trio went upstairs towards Lex's room. Just as she'd said, music was heard from the room right along with Lex's singing, though she was quiet. Randy opened the door and Lex looked up from where she sat on the bed, smiling as her friends entered the room.
"Geez, and I thought you'd never show up!" Lex joked.
"This is an interesting song choice of yours." Nomi commented, staying quiet as he listened to the music coming from Lex's CD player.
"Like it? It's one of Levander Hart's songs."
"Levander Hart?" Randy and Howard asked in unison, looking at each other before turning back to Lex.
"Yep! He's just amazing! I have a couple of his albums, well, from before his fame went down the drain." Randy and Howard looked at each other, staying to stifle their oncoming laughter…and failing.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, you don't know Levander like we do!" Howard laughed.
"You know Levander Hart and you never told me?! That's so awesome sauce!"
"It would be if he knew how to sing or play guitar."
"Hello? Have you not listened to his music?"
"We have. Then I destanked him and was reminded how he actually sounds." Randy said, smirking as Lex's jaw hit the ground.
"What do you mean you destanked him?"
"The Sorcerer had given Levander talent and stanked him and that's probably the reason you like his music. Having actually been in a band with the guy…yeah, he can't play."
"Thanks for ruining Levander Hart for me. Really appreciate it."
"Hey, you asked."
"Gotta admit though, he was pretty good when the Sorcerer had a hold on him." Howard said.
"Tell me about it. He was so cool!"
"Cooler than Randy?" Nomi asked, smirking as Randy listened closely for Lex's answer. Lex seemed to catch on and smirked mischievously.
"Definitely. I mean, that spiky pink hair and those blue eyes really work. Not to mention his voice." Randy pursed his lips, fuming slightly as Lex continued talking about Levander.
"Hello? Remember me? Your boyfriend?" He said, crossing his arms as he looked away.
"Hmm? Oh, hi Randy! I was just telling Nomi how dreamy Levander is." Lex joked, pretending to have not noticed Randy.
"I think you've got some competition, Cunningham." Howard chuckled, Randy pouting as he turned around as to not face anyone in the room.
"Aww, Randy, I didn't mean it. There's no need to get all jealous." Lex said with a apologetic smile.
"I'm not jealous."
"That's why you're having a staring contest with the wall."
"It's a nice wall." Lex rolled her eyes, smiling as she walked over to Randy and hugged him from behind.
"There's nothing wrong with being jealous, Randy." She kissed his cheek and chuckled as his face turned red. "In fact, it's kinda cute."
"You two done yet? This meeting is more important than your lovey-dovey nonsense!" Howard said, rolling his eyes as he looked through Lex's collection of CDs. Lex released Randy, much to his dislike, and walked over to Howard and Nomi.
"What is this meeting about, anyway?" Nomi questioned curiously.
"Only the most important thing ever!" Lex said, a broad grin on her face.
"The Battle of the Bands!" She, Randy, and Howard shouted in unison.
"I was brought along for you to discuss a musical competition?"
"Yes!" Nomi sighed, taking a seat at Lex's desk and facing the three of them.
"So, what do you plan on doing?"
"Entering 30 Seconds to Math, with our new member!"
"You can play an instrument?" Nomi asked turning to Lex.
"Not many, but I'm skilled with the electric violin and pretty good with the guitar."
"Interesting. What do you plan on performing?"
"That's what the meeting's about! We've been trying to work on a song and practicing too! We just can't find the words."
"May I hear what you have so far?"
"Sure! Let's go out back first. Dad's working and probably won't be too thrilled if he's distracted by our awesomeness."
Look at that! Another Ninja has returned with the third installment! I've been wanting to do this forever, but, ya know, writer's block! I only hope it can hold up with the first two, but I'll try my best! Hope you all like this one and until the next chapter! SMOKEBOMB!
