Me: YAY! I've got over a hundred reviews. And I finally beat the Heros story mode in Sonic Riders, I absolutely LOVE that game. I had so much adrenaline going through my body that I was twitching really bad. And I hope everyone had a great holiday season cause I sorta did.

(everyone snickers behind me)

Me: Why are you guys laughing?

Tia: Cause you get all four wisdom teeth pulled in 4 1/2 weeks.

Kelsey: And we're laughing at the pain you will be going through.

Me: Well, hate to spoil your fun, but I am going to be heavily sedated, meaning I won't feel any pain during the surgury.

Antauri: But you will afterwards.

Nova: While she's half asleep or after that?

Antauri: Both.

Sprx: I bet she'll be in pain for a week.

Crystal: I'll take that bet cause I'm thinking three days.

Me: Okay, while they're making bets and accusations, ON WITH THE STORY!

Training Complete

The winter holidays were over and Nova was currently standing out in the training grounds, Crystal beside her, watching her eight friends train with their new twin swords. It was her Christmas gift to them, giving them each a second sword that matched the color of the one they had, and with it came lessons.

Crystal had already mastered these techniques so she was helping Nova train the other eight in the double sword techniques. They had been training ever since Christmas, then took a break for New Year's, then picked up their afterwards, and it was close to the end of winter (that's two months, one week if you didn't know.)

Then Madam Zypher came up to the two trainers. "Nova, I need to speak with you." she said sternly.

Nova knew that tone. Something wasn't right. She nodded to Crystal, who blew a whistle, signaling for the others to stop.

"Take a breather." the brown simian said, watching as the eight collapsed.

Madam Zypher took Nova to the side and spoke, "Are they near completion?"

"They are just about ready to take the test. Why?" Nova retorted.

The tall cat sighed, "All that energy you put into the physical gem is almost gone. The sheild will soon disappear and Shenron has more than likely spent the winter season building his army."

"I know. And you should know better than anyone that I would do anything for the temple and that I'd rather die than serve that monster."

"I know, Nova, but something may happen to you it you don't reclaim the gems."

"Madam Zypher, it is not time." Nova spoke in an extremely firm tone, "I am not ready to reclaim the gem and I have no clue to the whereabouts of the spiritual gem. The only clue I do have is that it is with someone that I trust with my life. I trust a lot of people and they trust me. Take my friends as an example: I have taken it upon myself that, no matter what happens, I would protect them as if they were my young. That is how much I love and care for them."

"I guess that is how you survived when you released the gems. No one could have survived releasing that much energy, but your self-claimed responsibility to protect them gave you the strength to survive and carry on with your life."

"Yes, now if you don't mind, I'd like to complete their training by tomorrow night."

"Are you sure they will be ready by then?"

Nova looked over at her friends, who were laughing at a joke Tia and Otto just told. She smiled.

"I'm sure. I believe in them and they don't care about my background. They believe in me as I believe in them. And they see me as a great teacher...and a great friend."

Madam Zypher was stunned by her words, but she smiled, "Very well. I shall prepare the test."

With that said, she walked away.

Nova walked back to the others, her eyes to the ground. Then she was snapped from her thoughts by Sprx's voice.

"So...you really believe in us that much?"

Nova looked at them. A serious look was in each of their eyes. Nova felt a lump in her throat and cleared it, "So you heard."

"Yay, we heard that you believed in us and that you would do anything to protect us." said Chiro.

"And because of that, we are going to make you proud." stated Antauri.

Nova smiled, "Alright then. We've got a few more hours of daylight left. So let's get training."

Two days later

Nova, clad in her fire ninja outfit, complete with a fire cloak (given to her by Madam Zypher), her headband, and her two gold swords, looked at the sight before her. Her nine students, two humans (I know Jinmay's a robot, but she looks so human to me so she's human) and seven monkeys, stood before her wearing fire ninja outfits with their headbands and swords.

"I am very proud of all of you. In your nine weeks of training, you have completed everything I nee to teach you for you to pass this test, but be cautious. No one test has every been the same. Each one is created from scratch, creatively designed to challenge one's strengths and weaknesses. Some tests require offense and defense to be balanced. Others require quick changing of the two. But all tests need adaptation to be swift and graceful, for the environment might change at any time. Your opponent is unknown, so be ready for anything."

"Yes, ma'm"

"Alright, I'll leave until the end of your test."

The yellow monkey turned and began to walk from the room. Just as she was about to close the door, she popped her head back in and said, "Oh, and Tia, Otto. Next time, stay away from the candy."

Then she closed the door. Everyone looked at the two, finally noticing the sugary residue on their muzzles. But before they could say anything, the ground began to shake. The test had begun.

BLAHBLAHBLAHTHETESTISN'TTHATIMPORTANT.IFYOUCANREADTHIS,YOU'REGOODANDVERYBORED.

It was the day after the test and Nova was in front of the concil of masters as they previewed the footage of the test. She was respectfully on her knees and was able to watch a backwards version of the footage from a reflection on a glass wall behind the masters. She had to admit to herself, they did better than she expected, but it wasn't her decision if they passed, it was the masters before her.

As the footage ended, Nova tightened her headband and her swordbelt as she anxiously waited for their decision. All she heard was mumbling as they exchanged their comments about the test. She tried to make them out, but even with her acute hearing, the voices were still mumbled. Soon the voices faded and only one spoke in a low tone.

The yellow monkey glanced up briefly and saw that it was Madam Zypher speaking. The other masters gave her a bewildered look. One, Nova recognized it as one of her spiritual trainers, spoke to the orange cat. Madam Zypher's ears flattened as one master rose to announce their answers.

"Nova, your students..."


Nova walked into her room, where her nine students, fully clothed in their ninja outfits (headbands and all), were waiting. All eyes locked on her, hoping for good news. Their gold friends looked at them. Her eyes were hard to read as she spoke,

"The masters wish to see you in the Grand Hall."

Her voice was a little shaky as she spoke. They all began to leave except Nova.

"Nova are you coming?" asked Chiro.

"I'll join you shortly. You go on ahead."

The nine gave her a weird look, but did as she said.

"What do you think is wrong with Nova?" questioned Jinmay.

"My guess would be that something happen during her meeting with the masters that might have upset her." said Kelsey.

"I bet it revolves around our results on the test." stated Gibson.

"Well, whatever the results, Nova will be proud of us." Crystal said firmly.

They walked into the Grand Hall, only to be greeted by darkness. Once they reached the center of the hall, hundreds of candles flickered to life. The nine were in the center of a circle, surrounded by the Fire Primate masters. The nine looked at Madam Zypher, taking notice of Nova kneeling on one knee next to her.

The yellow monkey pulled out her swords and Madam Zypher placed her paws on them. The gold swords burst into flames and Nova walked towards her students. Her students were frozen with confusion. Nova looked at them in the eyes, a faint spark flashing in her eyes.

"The decision has been made." The gold monkey stated.

Then, without warning, Nova jumped at them and slashed her flaming swords nine times in an 'x' formation. The nine covered their eyes, waiting for the fire to burn their skin/fur...

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Antauri: WHAT IS NOVA DOING? SHE'S GONNA KILL US ALL!

Me: She's not gonna kill you, she's just doing as the ritual requires.

Antauri: WHAT RITUAL? THE ONE WHERE WE ALL DIE?

Me: No, and would you please STOP YELLING IN MY EAR!

Antauri: Sorry.

Me: No biggy. R&R and I'll update when I can... (starts bawling) but I have exams next week and college starts up again tomorrow. WAH!

Antauri: Uh... I'll try to calm her down so she can update. Read and Review. Bye.

Me: WAH! I HATE EXAMS!