AN: I was never a fan of GI Joe, but I saw the movie recently. I figured that any mistakes that would annoy fans would pass right by me and I could enjoy a mindless action movie. Now, despite some (ok a lot of) things that did irritate me, it was fun to watch. Having never watched the show when I was a kid I only had a vague notion of who the characters were, but it must be said that the ninjas rocked.

This is obviously set in GI Joe: Rise of Cobra, pre-movie, but hopefully it can fit into any continuity. (I think I kept it vague enough.)


In a large, empty room Stormshadow knelt, as he always did at this time, facing west. An observer would notice he wore just his mask and a simple sleeveless gi and carried only one weapon. But most of those in the hidden fortress were too intimidated, or simply too involved with their work so that there was no one to see, as suddenly, as if on some hidden signal, Stormshadow leapt up into the air drawing his sword and sated a graceful yet deadly dance.

In the GI Joe headquarters known as The Pit, Snake Eyes knelt in one of the training areas facing east. There were a few others in training there but they all kept well away. The kata Snake Eyes preformed every week was quite a sight, not lest because it was the only time most saw him in anything other them his combat gear. The simple black gi and cloth mask was no less impressive, however. He was asked about this ritual once and in reply, simply pointed to the symbol of the Arashikage Clan he wore. To the Joes that meant it was obviously a ninja thing and he wasn't asked again. Still, even when it was expected, the moment Snake Eyes leapt into the air drawing his sword still made people jump.

Maybe if someone could have witnessed both Stormshadow's and Snake Eyes' performances they could have discover the true answer. Their movements were perfectly synchronised but not always mirrored. If someone was watching they might have noticed the times were one was still the other would move, were one struck high the other struck low and all the while their blades danced though the air with deadly efficiency. But there was no one.

No one to notice the two ninja, separated by distance, loyalties and histories, lower their swords and bow to an opponent (a partner) who wasn't there.