Chapter One: Balloons and Peril
It was a Thursday like any other Thursday in videogame land. Bright colors splashed every which where, cheerful music singing seemingly from the ground, a sudden pop followed by barking and a loud splash.
"Ouuwaaugh! My beautiful hair! Ruined, you dastard Captain N! I just got this wonderful cut this morning!" Simon said as he flailed about in the water. Duke barked excitedly at Simon's antics, hoping it was time for swimming games.
"No, no Simon. You have to pop the balloons from the top, not the bottom!" Called a voice from a falling winged teen. Kevin landed on the lowest platform and grabbed Duke's collar, "No boy, no swimming here. That's dangerous water!" Duke whined and sat down, trying to convince Kevin to change his mind. Kevin gave Duke a few pats on his head as he waited for Simon to get back into their game of Balloon Fight.
The sound of rushing air over came the background music and Kevin looked up to see a warp zone appear. Kid Icarus flew out, looking panicked.
"Cap, Simon, we have a problem to the maximus! Hurry up!" Kid Icarus said. Kevin immediately reached down to help Simon out of the water.
"But my hair will take all day to get back in shape for an emergency!" Simon said, looking ridiculously pitiful for such a large man.
"There's no time for that now Simon, we have to focus!" Kevin said nearly reflexively, hardly waiting for Simon to finish. Kevin tightened his grip on Simon and used his power pad to jump them both through the warp zone, Duke loyally following. They landed on the other side in the throne-slash-operations room for the N Team. Lana immediately began speaking.
"We've just gotten word from our sources that a bounty has been placed on a strong ninja from Ninja World –"
"What does that have to do with us, Princess? Ninjas are awful and sneaky, hardly such dashing heroes such as my splendiferous self!" Simon said as he posed in what he felt was a dashing and heroic manner.
"This bounty was placed by none other than Mother Brain, Simon. This is serious! This ninja, Ryu, refused Mother Brain's offer to join her side." Lana said, clearly annoyed at being interrupted so.
"She wants to mega-take him out! He's really strong, if he's gone he can't fight against her ninja minions in Ninja World!" Megaman said, trying to bring home the point so that the somewhat selfish hunter could understand. The idea of even more work, of such dangerous quality, was enough.
"That wretched Mother Brain, how dare she condemn such a valorous man to being hunted like vermin!" Simon said as he posed and decried the N Team's nemesis. The N Team seemed unmoved by Simon's sudden change of heart. Duke lowered his head and looked away, clearly embarrassed.
"Well, what are we waiting for team, lets go!" Kevin said, running for the warp zone to Ninja Land with Duke at his side. Lana, Kid Icarus and Megaman quickly followed his lead. Simon stayed back and tried to look important.
"I'll make sure that villainous Mother Brain doesn't ambush the Palace of Power while you all are away!" Simon called.
Atop a high building a lone man waited. He was dressed in all black with only his emotionless eyes exposed. He had a most mysterious air.
"Such a dishonorable foe, this Mother Brain. Too cowardly to send her own minions against me! Tricking other's to fight her battles for her! Even the best ninja must sleep, I hope this Captain N will be enough to show the fools where their money comes from."
Allowing only a short time for his thoughts, he leapt silently to another building. On the move again, appearing as a barely noticeable shadow against the night sky. For half a moment, a figure was almost visible on the same route.