Chapter 2: Enter The Ninja

Making my way back home resulted difficult. It was 8:46 PM and the night was getting even darker. My levels of fear were still low, but whenever I heard any kind of sound it was frightening.

I thought of using some help, but that wouldn't budge. I was the new neighbor, so nobody knew me or has ever seen me in person.

I sighed. "Mom's gonna' kill me for this. If I could just-"

A clanking sound of a trash can made me stop. My eyes widened with fear. I looked around the spot to see if there was someone there, but again, there was nothing.

"You know, that joke's not good." I said out loud, interrupting the silence. "But if the burrow comes to Jenny, Jenny will go to the burrow... whatever that means." I shrugged.

I took cautious steps into the spot to find the source of the noise. I touched the trash can and then... a cat. A really cute one. I smiled and gently picked it up. It was purring.

"Aw, you're such a cute one. I never had such adorable thing before in my life! I think I should take you to my place... if I ever find it."

I suddenly saw something REALLY weird in the cute kitty. Its eyes flashed green and it dashed away as if it was scared of me. My small moment of happiness became a sorrow one.

"I get it, not even the animals like me. I'm such a jerk." I sighed sadly and kept walking.

I looked up to the beautiful night sky, admiring the shimmering of the stars and the brightness of the moonlight. The sky... it was my only source of happiness besides my parents. Whenever I was left alone or about to sleep, the sky was my only friend.

...

"Finally, I'm home!"

I sighed in relief and went to pick up some water in the kitchen. I grabbed a cup and went to the fridge. To my ultimate surprise, the cute kitten I saw minutes ago was sitting over the counter.

"Hey! So you really came!" I smiled and patted the kitten's head. "I think I should give you a name. By the way, I wonder if you're a boy or a girl."

I shook off the thought and pulled out a water gallon from the fridge, then I poured some into the cup and put the gallon away. Every sip of water going down my throat felt like fresh water falling on a cascade.

"Okay, let's go upstairs and prepare my school stuff." I said to myself.

I gently grabbed the kitten and hugged it in my arms, then went up the stairs and into my room.

...

"Wow... Mom sure bought the coolest stuff."

I organized my backpack with every school material and everything else. When I zipped the backpack closed, I heard occasional meows from the cat. The cat was actually sitting over my bed and I could guess it was staring at my red scarf.

"You want this, kitty?" I asked with a cute voice, holding up my scarf. "I'd love to play with it, but it's my favorite scarf... It really looks like the one the Ninja currently has."

The kitten raised its head up to me.

"You sure want to hear it all, don't you? Well, at least I have someone I can talk to." I said smiling.

I put out every single thing I had about the Ninja and placed them on the bed. Most of those things were drawings of the Ninja, and a set of drawings of myself as a Ninja too.

The kitten looked at both drawings of the Ninja and myself as a Ninja.

I chuckled. "Yeah... because I'm a huge fan of the Ninja, I made myself in a similar ninja suit. It's just so bruce whenever I see these drawings. I mean, these ninja stuff have been part of my life."


"Really? The Ninja? Part of her life?" Laughed McFist.

The little kitten Jennifer had caught was secretly a Robo Kitten created by the McFist Industries. It was sent as a robot spy to reveal the Ninja's identity or search for those who know about the Ninja. To their delight, they have found a similar scarf, drawings of the Ninja and other drawings of Jennifer as a Ninja in her room.

"It's clear that she has strong connections with the Ninja. She said herself that she's the Ninja's greatest fan." Said Viceroy, the "evil genious".

"If that is so, we must get that girl and reveal what she knows about the Ninja. She might be the key to find out who the Ninja REALLY is."

"I'm afraid nobody knows. That girl couldn't possibly know who the ninja is. And we've never seen someone like her before."

"No matter. Prepare the Robo-Apes and track her down."

"With pleasure..."


"Okay, I've got everything ready for next Monday."

After a few minutes of selecting which clothes I could wear for my first day, I was finally done. The kitty meowed again, this time to get its attention, and laid on my bed beside it.

"I still wonder how the Norrisville High looks like..." I said, softly rubbing the kitten's head and back. "You know, kitty, it's been a nice moment with you. You gave me company and listened to every word I said just like any other human does. Actually that's pretty impressive."

In that moment of the night, I fell asleep. I hugged the kitten with one hand and held a drawing of the Ninja and me as a Ninja together with another. I had left the rest of the drawings and my scarf scattered in the bed. I never wore my pajamas since I was so tired, but I did removed my boots and socks.

In Jennifer's dreams...

I was running... never knew where I was going. The place was all empty and wide-opened. All I could see were the grass and some trees.

And my running speed wasn't a regular one. I felt faster than ever. I also felt stronger and very active. It was like adrenaline running through my veins...

I jumped to a tree that was less than 10 feet away from me. I never knew how I jumped like that. It felt like if I had some kind of special skill.

I heard loud thumps behind me and a huge shade covered the sun. I gasped. Whatever that was, it seemed huge. I finally decided to look at my enemy... a giant robo-kitten. But why was it a kitten? That was my question...

"Okay, giant robo-cat! Grab some Ninja Stars!"

I threw like three ninja stars, or shuriken, at the robo-cat. But why did I just said that? Why did I mentioned the word "Ninja" all of a sudden?

Without even making another move, everything around me turned black.

Then... a light.

"SMOKEBOMB!"

In front of me appeared the Norrisville Ninja. I felt my heart pound...

"Jennifer! Time to get up, honey!"


"NINJA?!" I screamed and sat up panting heavily.

"Jennifer, what was that?" My mother asked through the door as if there was something wrong.

"N- nothing!" I exclaimed and got up from the bed.

There's when I realized I still had all my drawings scattered on the bed... and the kitty was gone.

"Kitty?" I called. "Kitty, where are you?"

"Jennifer! Breakfast is ready!"

I sighed in desperation. "I'm coming!" Then I looked under the bed and into my closet.

"I made some french toasts for you!"

"I'll be there in a minute!" I yelled and searched again all over the room.

"Don't be too long, or they'll get cold!"

I sighed and sat at the edge of the bed. The kitty had disappeared.

"That's weird. I just found that kitty last night on the street, and now it's gone. I guess I'll just have to let it go."

After the long search, I left my room and walked down the stairs...

...

Sitting on a chair beside the counter was me, looking down at the table and tapping my finger. I felt a bit upset because of that kitty's sudden goodbyes. Mom placed a small plate in front of me. It had two french toasts full of syrup and below them was a curve of syrup. I guessed Mom wanted to cheer me up, because she made a happy face with the food.

"Jenny darling, what seems to be wrong?" She asked.

I looked up at her in alert. "Oh? Just thinking. Well... I was gonna' tell you about something I just had in mind for Halloween."

"Really? And what is that?"

"When my first customers came, I said that I'll be setting up a Halloween special, in which the candies will have a very special prize."

"I haven't come out with a mega sale... but that's a great idea! Better than picking up candies from neighbors. My business will grow then!"

My mind flash-backed...

"Did you heard that, Cunningham? She's gonna' have a Halloween special! We wouldn't have to pick cheapo candies from our neighbors. That's gonna' be so bruce!"

"That's what one of those boys just said. Oh, Jennifer, you're such a genius!" I smiled at the thought.

"What's with that big smile, sweetheart?" Asked Mom.

"Mom, I have the greatest... GREATEST idea EVER!" I said with yet a bigger smile. "You said that your business would grow with the Halloween special, right?"

Mom nodded.

"The two boys that bought candy yesterday just agreed with that! All I have to do is to meet them again in the candy shop, tell them everything about the special and to spread the word to others! Mom, with this special, the candy store will be a wonderful success!"

"Oh, Jennifer! That's a wonderful idea!" Mom exclaimed joyfully. "Just make sure you tell every neighbor too."

"Every neighbor shall be told. I have an idea."

...

I picked up my toy bow, quiver and a set of a thousand arrows that had that sticky circular thing, then went to my computer and wrote this down...

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL STARTS ON OCTOBER 1ST!

TASTE OUR DELICIOUS HIGH-QUALITY CANDIES FOR JUST FIFTY CENTS!

ALSO TRY OUR SCARY-LICIOUS ICE CREAM FOR ONLY A DOLLAR! EXTRA TOPPINGS ON FIFTY CENTS!

TELL YOUR FAMILY, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS

AND VISIT OUR CANDY PARADISE SHOP!

HAVE A NICE SUGAR RUSH DAY!

I made exactly a thousand copies of that and printed them, then I rolled them around the arrows and used tape to paste it onto the arrows.

After the thousand arrows were done, I placed them all on the quiver and slung it around my back, then held my bow, put on my boots and exited my room.

"Mom, I'm leaving!" I called.

"Okay! You be careful, honey!" She replied.

...

I was happily riding my bike around the neighborhood, from house to house, shooting an arrow at each door or bell to call the neighbors' attention.

Each neighbor opened the door and looked at the arrow that was either on the floor or sticked on a door, wall or glass window, then picked it up and unwrapped the paper. I felt so excited when they read the paper and smiled at me.

"Have a nice sugar rush day!" I yelled nicely to every neighbor.

Right a few minutes after spreading the word through my neighborhood, I went to the city.

I saw a small empty establishment with obviously nobody inside, at the other side of the street, and pulled out another sticky arrow from my quiver. I strung it back at my cheek and aimed at the glass.

"This might be my greatest target..." I said.

I suddenly heard a conversation and gasped. Two people were walking to where I was about to shoot the arrow.

"...Or maybe we can buy more candies from that new candy shop." Said the boy I knew as Howard. "You should try those chocolate bars, Cunningham. They're way past delicious!"

"Uh oh... HIDE!" I whispered to myself and hid behind a trash can.

"Thanks for the offer, Howard. But I'm fine like this."

I took a peep at the boys and kept on hearing what they were saying. By then, Howard sure loved my shop's candies. I smiled at that and kept hearing.

"You're being such a wonk, Cunningham! What's with these candies that you don't like? Oh, I get it! It's the girl, isn't it?"

"Why did he mentioned me?" I muttered.

"Wha-? Are you serious? There's nothing between me and that kid. Besides, I've never seen her before!"

"You got that right, Cunningham." I said, preparing the sticky arrow in my bow.

I took another quick look at the place and took a blind shot with my sticky arrow. Then I hid again. Seconds passed after the blind shot, then...

"Ow! What the juice?!"

"Whoops!" I whispered and took a peep to see who I hit.

I gasped when I saw I just hit the same teenage boy I met in the candy shop. He removed the sticky arrow from his forehead and rubbed it.

"Oh my gosh! Now what do I do?" I asked myself in panic. "Ugh! Go for it, girl!"

I got out from my hiding spot and ran to cross the street. But a bad feeling swelled over me.

"That couldn't be-"

A robotic ape appeared from up a ceiling and landed in front of me. I shrieked and ran to get my bike and my archery stuff. I pulled out an arrow and held my bow. I strung the arrow back at my cheek and aimed, then fired. Too bad it was just a sticky arrow...

"And just who invited you to this city?!" I yelled.

The robotic ape stomped at me as I took steps back, until I was pinned against the trash can. I cringed. I felt trapped.

"H- HELP!" I yelled nervously and closed my eyes tightly.

"SMOKEBOMB!" I heard a male voice yell.

When I was about to run, somebody carried me bridal style and swung us to up a roof. I felt so nervous when that happened. My savior gently put me down as I breathed heavily.

"You alright?" He asked. "You know, you can open your eyes now."

I slowly opened my eyes and turned to see my savior.

It was him... it was the Norrisville Ninja.

Tears started forming in my eyes. My lifetime wish had been granted.

"Y- you're... th- the Ninja..." I said with a shaky voice.

The robo-ape tried to climb to the roof we were standing, I let out a tiny scream and covered my face with my hands.

"How will you beat that thing up, Ninja?" I asked a bit scared of the robo-ape.

"Just watch." He said and jumped.

I uncovered my face and watched as the Ninja sliced the robo-ape in two with a katana sword. My eyes widened.

"Wow..." I whispered.

"Piece of cake." Said the Ninja as he put his sword away and wiped his hands.

I smiled down at him, but my ears heard more stomping coming from the distance. I took my eyes on whatever came towards us and saw more robotic apes. I gasped.

"Uh... Ninja?" I called and pointed to the robots. "There's more of those things!"

"Great! Just great!" He said kind of ironically.

I sighed and thought of something I could do to help the Ninja. I so wanted to do this, just like in a dream I had about me as a Ninja, in which the Norrisville Ninja and I were partners and fought to save Norrisville. I remembered myself using my bow and arrows. A plan came out of my head...

"Hey, Ninja!" I called. "I have a plan!"

"You know you don't have to do this! I can beat them up myself!" He replied.

I let out a sigh. "Can you please toss me my archery set that's right behind the trash can beside my bike?"

Without hesitating, the Ninja jumped to behind the trash can and picked up my bow and quiver, then tossed them up to the roof I was standing. I picked up the archery set and saw there were enough arrows.

"What's your big plan, kid?"

"I'll shoot them in the eyes with my arrows to blind them, and you'll attack them with your awesome ninja skills!"

"Okay. Sounds like a good plan." He admitted.

The robo-apes were now getting closer to us. With a hurry, I picked out one of my sticky arrows, held my bow in front of me and strung the arrow back at my cheek. And aiming at moving objects was difficult. I saw the Ninja pulling out two large katana swords and readied his fighting stance. The robots finally stopped.

"Go for it, Jenny!" I thought.

I fired the first arrow at one eye, then shot another at the other eye of one of the three robots.

"Go, Ninja! I'll cover you!" I yelled.

The Ninja advanced towards the blinded robo-ape and gave him an epic ninja kick, ripping its head off.

I took two more sticky arrow shots at the second robo-apes' eyes. The ninja proceeded with slicing it with his katana swords to a million pieces.

I fired two more arrows at the next one, then the Ninja grabbed the robot's arms using his ninja chain thingys. Then he pulled and the robot fell.

"Why isn't he attacking it?" I muttered. "Maybe he expects to get some answers."

"Okay, RoboApe. What is McFist up to?" Asked the Ninja with such a serious and malicious voice and removed the sticky arrows from the robot's eyes.

"Who the heck is McFist?" I asked to myself.

"I don't really know. He sent us out to kidnap a girl." Said the robotic ape.

"He wants to kidnap me?" I gasped, taking a few steps back in fear. "Oh no. This is not good. This is not-"

I hit my back with something and turned around. Another robo-ape. I took shaky breathings. This one was bigger than the rest of the others.

"Ninja Leap!" I heard the Ninja say.

I looked back at the Ninja, he was too busy fighting the robot off, so distracting him wouldn't help at all. It was then when one of his katana swords fell to up the ceiling I was standing. I smiled and took the sword carefully, then glanced at the bigger robo-ape.

"Say goodbye, robo-junk!" I joked and slashed the robot several times with the ninja sword.

It was a bit heavy, but it made such awesome cuts. Better than a cutting knife. When the robot was finally sliced up, I jumped aside.

"Ninja, get out of the- AAAHH!"

I lost balance and fell from that roof before the robot collapsed, and landed on the Ninja's arms. Then he got us out of there and the robo-ape hit the other one the Ninja was attacking previously.

I had a big blush in my cheeks and my heart fluttered rapidly. I couldn't believe this! I helped the Ninja (He usually fights alone.), and he saved me from that robotic junk!

"You okay, kid?" He asked kindly, looking down at me.

"Um... yeah. Thanks, Ninja." I responded with a shy tone.

He gently put me down and walked away. "H- hey! Will I ever see you again?" I asked, my smile widening.

"If another RoboApe attacks, then yes." He said joking. I laughed.

The ninja sword I just used fell from the ceiling and to the floor. I picked it up. "And I believe this belongs to you."

He grabbed it from my hands and hid it away. "Thanks! Now if you excuse me... SMOKEBOMB!"

A red smoke blinded the spot. When it faded, the Ninja was gone. A sudden laugh escaped from me. My lifetime wish, which I expected to happen for 9 years, had happened for real.

I picked up my bike and left the area. Unfortunately, I've lost my archery set and the rest of the papers I had to send all over the town. But I didn't care. At least I used the arrows to help the Ninja fight those robo-junks off!

"Mom's not gonna' believe what just happened today! I finally met the Ninja! And he saved me for the first time in my life!" I exclaimed happily.

I soon reached the entrance of my neighborhood and made my way back home.