Summary: Rachelle Cunningham was your average girl but on entering High School she was chosen to be the next Norrisville Ninja, with Monsters and Robots out there she will be pressed to be the hero Norrisville needs while keeping it a secret from those around her.
Disclaimer: I don't own Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja or any of the characters in the show so no suing.
Chapter 02: Destanking 101
Rachelle sighed as both she and Howard stood outside of the gym brainstorming ideas of how to do something that would boost their popularity.
One of the ideas was covering themselves in their school colors and bathing suits before bursting in there to cheer and show their school spirit, but Howard called that a stupid idea.
And Rachelle knew that if Howard thought something was stupid, chances were it was, well that and she didn't want to wear a bathing suit in front of the whole school.
"There has to be a way to get into the Fish Cage." Rachelle muttered.
The Fish Cage was the place where the popular kids sat and no Freshmen has ever got in there with Rachelle and Howard wanting to make history as the first ever Freshmen.
'I bet if they knew I was the Ninja I could've gotten in.' Rachelle thought to herself hating the fact that she had to keep it a secret.
"Okay how's this," She said coming up with an idea. "We could try out for the teams."
"Uh Cunningham you want me to handle sports?" Howard asked with a quirked brow. "Aren't they already done with tryouts."
Rachelle glared at him. "Why don't you come up with ideas?"
They were both silent before they busted out laughing.
"I know it sounded stupid the moment it came out of my mouth."
Howard gave a nod accepting he wasn't the smartest out there. "Well there's Cheerleading, I mean that doesn't start for another week." He said with Rachelle hesitating.
Sure becoming a Cheerleader would be a ticket to popularity but she was a bit nervous of being in front of a crowd… While not wearing a mask.
'I mean I do flips all the time, I could handle it.'
"And as your best friend that gets me a ticket in there, we both win." Howard said with Rachelle rolling her eyes.
"You're just lazy." She teased with a good natured smirk.
But she knew he was right about the sports thing and even if they weren't done with try-outs Howard wasn't exactly the physical type.
Howard said nothing to deny that fact. "Hey how about we just go in and watch the game?"
Rachelle gave a nod and soon they were sitting on the bleachers watching their school team the Norrisville Cod playing a game against another school.
"Brr, it's cold in here." Howard muttered glad to not have gone with the swimsuit idea.
Rachelle looked at the Fish Cage a bit longingly in time to see someone try to sneak in only to be thrown out. "Nice try Doug." She said not even blinking as he landed near her.
"Well at least we're not sitting next to the Marching Band, that section has a Splash Zone." Howard said looking at them as the kids near them had blankets to keep dry as snacks and drinks hit the Marching Band who ignored it showing how often this happened.
The Triangle Player however-Bucky Hensletter began to tap his triangle more frequently and stood up making the other band members glare at him.
One of the band members known only as Flute Girl glared at him. "Bucky there are no Triangle Solos in this song or any song." She said with the crowd now booing them.
"Bucky what did I tell you about showboating?!" The band teacher Ms. Whickwhacker asked glaring as Bucky ignored her before she pulled him to the side. "Hensletter your triangle is writing checks that your dinger can't cash, you're benched until further notice!"
Unfortunately for Bucky she was shouting that making everyone stare at them as Bucky moved nervously his buck teeth showing a bit more in doing so. "But the triangle is my life."
"Put the dinger in my hand son." Whickwhacker told him as he reluctantly did so on the verge of tears.
"You may take my dinger but you'll never take my backup dinger!" He declared pulling a second one out of nowhere as he ran accidentally knocking the mascot over who flopped a bit.
As soon as he was out of sight, the Trombone player played a few sad notes.
"Ooh sad trombone." Howard looked amused as the whole gym laughed.
Rachelle gave a nod. "Yeah, ultimate band burn." She agreed but she looked to where Bucky left with some concern.
True she and Bucky weren't friends but the poor guy didn't deserve that humiliation.
Bucky slammed a door shut and began to sob loudly as he pressed his sleeves into his eyes to try and wipe the tears, the humiliation burning into him as he heard the sad trombone when he ran off.
How could he show his face now?
Unknown to him deep beneath the school, only accessible by the vents, a dark figure was chained in there before lifting its head to show it was the same figure that spoke to McFist and Viceroy, with a skinny, bony figure and pale green skin wearing a brown tattered shawl a pair of green orbs around his waist as he had long claws and a forked tongue before sniffing the air, licking his lips in satisfaction.
"Mmm, misery with subtle notes of humiliation and just the slightest hint of jock sweat," The being said licking his lips again. "He'll do nicely."
Giving an evil laugh he gathered green energy and shot them into the vents as they surrounded Bucky making him hunch over in pain his eyes bulging out and turning yellow as his backup dinger glowed green.
"They'll pay." Bucky muttered his arms growing bigger with bulging muscles ripping his band sleeves up as the rest of his body began to grow. "They'll all-."
The door was kicked open as students ran out after the game unaware of the transformed Bucky behind it before the door closed as he was dazed with cracks in the wall behind him.
"Pay-." He tried but the door was kicked open again by a single girl who walked by not seeing him this time Bucky was stuck to the wall.
In the band room a tuba player was emptying his tuba into a bucket as some drinks got in it while everyone got ready to go home for the night.
"Good game tonight team, you played some strong D." Whickwhacker said with a smile at the band members. "Your P Flats on the sevenths weren't so bad either."
The trombone player made another sad note, annoying Whickwhacker.
"Cool it with the trombone jokes Steven." Whickwhacker began only for the room to shake. "What in the-?"
A large purple monster who was still recognizable as Bucky burst into the room giving a roar making the students scream loudly.
Outside in the hallways, Rachelle and Howard were getting ready to head home as Howard was going over some papers. "So I asked around and got the dates where the Cheerleading Tryouts are, you do this and we're both in the Fish Tank." Howard said with Rachelle sighing.
"I'm not to sure about that plan." Rachelle admitted with a sigh.
"Hey it's better than your swimsuit idea." Howard countered with Rachelle looking embarrassed.
"I was just throwing random ideas out there, I didn't think you would take it seriously." Rachelle muttered before they heard screaming in the band room. 'Ninja Time.'
"Oh sweet maybe we'll see the Ninja-," Howard turned to see her gone. "Okay this is seriously getting old! What the Juice, Cunningham?!"
Back in the band room, the students backed up as Bucky destroyed a tuba and lifted a Piano above his head.
"SMOKE BOMB!" Rachelle appeared as the Ninja, looking at Bucky with widened eyes, not expecting this. "Whoa okay."
But she said nothing else as the students cheered feeling safer with her there.
"Drop that Piano." Rachelle ordered only to grimace as Bucky lifted it higher and slammed it on her.
Slowly she cut her way out with the sword and groaned.
"I probably should've seen that coming." Rachelle muttered at her poor choice of words.
Rachelle's eyes widened as another tuba was grabbed and thrown with her dodging it but then a flute with a name on it was thrown and she just grabbed it out of the air before handing it to Flute Girl with a bored look.
"Princess Tootie I thought I lost you." Flute Girl hugged the flute in relief.
'She needs friends.' Rachelle thought a bit weirded out but refocused on Bucky who grabbed two clarinets to use as melee weapons.
Looking around as she dropped her sword while dodging she saw a student holding an appropriate item. "Cowbell me!"
Adopting a confused look the student got the picture and threw the two cowbells that Rachelle caught and spun around like nunchucks before rushing at Bucky at the same time as him jumping up to kick his face, shaking the Cowbell to infuriate him with the noise while smirking.
It worked as Bucky ran forward and slammed the clarinets against the Cowbells, the two making a rhythm before the last blow sent Rachelle sliding back but she quickly jumped up and slammed the Cowbells into the sides of Bucky's head making his head ring with the equivalent of putting a metal bowl over someone's head and smacking it with a wooden spoon.
As soon as Bucky, Rachelle got ready. "I have a question Bucky," She said surprising the band members that she actually knew his name before pointing at him in confusion. "What's going on… Here? In this general area."
She hasn't seen anything like this, sure she heard rumors of people changing into Monsters but she thought that part was just a rumor to scare Freshmen.
Bucky got too close and roared. "If I can't play the triangle in the band then no one will!" He snarled with Rachelle's scarf fluttering behind her while some spit landed on the suit making her grimace.
"B-But my new no showboating policy, he was showboating you all saw it." Whickwhacker defended herself seeing that she most likely caused this transformation in her annoyance.
On hearing that Bucky roared and pushed over a shelf of instruments towards the Maraca Boy who was shaking in fear making Rachelle's eyes widen as she jumped in the way to stop it but her superhuman strength wasn't as good as she had hoped because she was only delaying it before noticing that Maraca Boy was still there.
"I'm going to drop it." She said snapping him out of his fear before he took a step back right as she let go, the bookcase falling on her before breaking through it enraging Bucky.
Instead of fighting however Bucky ran and broke through the wall, leaving with Rachelle feeling proud of herself before a cymbal fell and she looked around seeing the property damage as everyone was looking at the Ninja, destroyed instruments embedded into the wall and desks shattered.
"In hindsight I probably should've lured him outside," Rachelle muttered in embarrassment as they still stared at her before she grew uneasy at the awkward silence. "Uh… SMOKE BOMB!"
Rachelle sighed as she was back home barely making it for curfew.
She couldn't find Bucky anywhere, you would think a giant mutated monster would be easy to find but on a school night it was impossible.
"Rachelle is that you?" Rachelle heard as she closed the door.
"It's me Mom, sorry I'm almost late." Rachelle answered as she entered the kitchen to see a young woman that looked like an older her only with red hair that went down her back.
Sabrina Cunningham looked at her in worry. "Is everything alright sweetie?" She asked seeing Rachelle looking down. "I'm guessing that you and Howard didn't make it to that Fish Tank you were talking about?"
"No still working on that," Rachelle said crossing her arms as she leaned on the table after taking her shoes off before her head shot up. "Howard!"
Oh juice she left him hanging after changing into the Ninja, he probably thinks she ditched him.
"I'm guessing there was another incident at school today?" Sabrina asked as Norrisville was well known for these attacks and the people who grew up there were the most used to them.
"Yeah Bucky-a band member turned into a monster after being humiliated in Gym," Rachelle said with a groan. "I got out of there without telling Howard again."
"As you should, I know you're a fan of the Ninja but your safety is more important." Sabrina said with a nod.
Rachelle looked a bit chastened as the only reason they didn't move out of Norrisville was because she pleaded her Mom with being a fan of the Ninja and all along with her friendship with Howard.
If her Mom found out she was the Ninja she would freak out. And Rachelle loved being the Ninja.
Seeing her look chastened, Sabrina smiled and placed a hand in Rachelle's hair rubbing it a bit, pulling some strands out of the ponytail. "Just stay safe okay dear?" She asked with Rachelle giving a nod, feeling terrible for lying like that.
This was so wonk.
…
After that scene, Rachelle was in her room with the door closed as she wondered how to find the monster Bucky and turn him back to normal before snapping her fingers.
"Alright Nomicon," She said pulling the NinjaNomicon out of her bag. "If there's anything you need to show me it would be now."
She eventually found a saying.
"Severing the puppets strings… What the Juice?" Rachelle asked before flipping through more pages. "You've got to D'Stank them, Sis… Again I ask, what the juice?"
That was when she was pulled in, her eyes rolling to the back of her head in the process before she saw some words next to a warrior holding a fan. "The Evil Funk possess the most vulnerable using that which he holds most dear." She read before seeing a Ninja approached the fan holding man that turned into a monster, after seeing the fan destroyed the monster turned back into a man and she was kicked out. "I have to D'Stank them Sis!"
She said that louder than necessary because a second later Sabrina spoke up. "What was that Rachelle?"
"Oh uh playing some Grave Puncher!" Rachelle lied out of her teeth.
"Well get to bed it's a school night."
"Not cool Cunningham." Howard said the next morning as they were entering the school. "You ditched me!"
"Come on Howard you know how my Mom gets with the danger," Rachelle said feeling bad. "Besides I'm apologizing now right?"
"It's the principle of the whole thing," Howard said looking at her. "You don't just ditch a bro like that, what's more you're practically the only Freshmen who hasn't seen the Ninja, that's the main thing that'll kill your chances at popularity."
Rachelle hesitated because the other night she made a plan to lure Bucky out of hiding but knew that Howard wouldn't agree with her idea in fact it would be the equivalent of throwing gasoline into a fire with this.
In the underground prison the figure paused as a rat scuttered beneath him before he grabbed it. "Why hello there I don't think we've met," He said knowing how insane he might sound but being trapped underneath here has made him desperate for any type of contact but he focused with green energy only enough to heightened the rat's intelligence a little bit. "I am the Sorcerer, I have been trapped here for 800 years, you've probably heard of me."
The rat shook its head, understanding him.
"Makes no difference I shall be here no longer, my latest creation is up there spreading Chaos," He said the green orbs around him glowing with that word. "Chaos gives me power and once I have enough power I shall break free of this prison and destroy the Ninja once and for all."
Oh he knew that the current Ninja wasn't the same one that imprisoned him but every Ninja after him was responsible for his continued imprisonment this one not being so different so he viewed all of them as his mortal enemy.
With that said he began to give an evil laugh, the rat joining in making the Sorcerer pause. "Are you laughing at me or with me?" He asked as it made a squeaking sound sounding like the words 'with you'. "Just as long as we're clear."
Howard sighed as he was at his locker later that day taking stuff out.
Maybe he was a bit too harsh on Cunningham earlier, yes he was annoyed at the constant ditching that she seems to be doing but she was his best friend.
"Hey Howard." Speak of the Devil.
"Hey, look about earlier-," Howard turned to apologize only to give a bit of a shriek as Rachelle stood there in the School Band Uniform. "What the Juice?! Why are you wearing that?!"
"I joined the Marching Band." Rachelle said wincing as she expected that reaction.
Howard looked dumbfounded and placed his hands on his head. "Why are you saying that?!"
"... Because you asked." Rachelle quipped not sorry for that one.
Howard looked around before shoving her in the locker and going in with her, making sure no one was around before he closed the door.
"Uh Howard is this necessary?" Rachelle asked weirded out.
"Forget that how did this happen?" Howard asked in disbelief.
"I auditioned," Rachelle said thinking back to how she was a shoe in for just dinging the triangle without showboating. "Bet you didn't know I was musically gifted huh?"
"Why on earth did you audition? You're throwing away your chances at popularity!" Howard practically yelled taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"... Well I-wait I'm throwing my chance?" Rachelle asked a bit hesitaintly.
"Cunningham you're my best friend and all but I can't be seen with you while you're wearing that geek uniform." Howard said looking away as Rachelle looked at him in shock.
No matter what happened Howard has never said that before.
"Give me your word that you'll stay in here for ten seconds until after I leave."
"Not falling for it." Rachelle said angrily pushing him to the side and stomping out, relieved that no one was around as she slammed the locker shut on Howard.
Bucky snarled as he was in his room that evening, sneaking in as it was the only safe place for him to be before his Mom knocked on the door. "Bucky aren't you performing tonight?"
Giving a roar, Bucky broke through the wall towards the school as his Mom opened the door in disbelief not being told what happened to her son.
Back at the Gymnasium, Rachelle sat with the Marching Band during the girl's Basketball game looking a little miserable but still dinging the triangle when she had to.
The reason she did this was because of what Bucky said about the triangle and knew he would show up if someone else was playing so she was making herself bait.
It was all for the greater good with being the Ninja but now she wished she thought of something else before seeing Howard walking by to sit in the bleachers with a red bucket next to the Marching Band and she smiled before he spoke.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm just here for the snacks." He said placing the bucket on his head and a pair of goggles on his eyes, the bucket opening up to fill with popcorn.
Rachelle looked at him in disbelief as he ate some of the Popcorn. "Really?! You can't be seen with me?" She asked gesturing to how he looked. "How wonked are you?!"
A loud banging made everything go quiet as something was slamming against the doors before Bucky burst through the wall growling and looking at one person in particular.
Rachelle who was currently holding the triangle. "Suddenly I regret my life choices." She said as she had to get away to change while people screamed.
But she used that to her advantage as people made for the exit, purposely falling beneath the bleachers where she pulled the trusty ninja mask on.
A second later she jumped in between Bucky and the other members of the Marching Band the guy looking for her.
"Bucky, I really don't feel like beating up a Band Geek but-oof!" Rachelle was interrupted as Bucky grabbed the Basketball and chucked it at her gut sending her into the Snack Bar.
"The Snack Bar!" Howard shouted from the stands as Rachelle pushed herself up. "Make him pay Ninja!"
Rachelle resisted the urge to glare at her 'best friend' but straightened out her priorities right as Bucky grabbed and shook her. "Got to destank this guy quickly." She muttered feeling like a rattler.
'That which he holds most dear.' Rachelle zeroed in on the back up dinger that was attached to Bucky's band sash. 'Bingo.'
Struggling as she was shook, Rachelle finally freed her arm and pulled out two balls. "Ninja Flash!" Throwing them they were shown to be flash bangs that made Bucky roar in pain as Rachelle quickly flipped away throwing her scarf out as it wrapped around the dinger. "Ninja Snatch!"
Before she could pull it however Bucky grabbed the scarf and pulled Rachelle towards him but she used that to her advantage by flipping and kicking him in the face making him let go and landing with the dinger rolling in front of her.
Seeing his most prized possession, Bucky roared and ran at her but she kicked it up, pulling her sword out and sliced through it.
The effect was immediate as Bucky shrank with green smoke billowing out from him.
Bucky whimpered from underneath the uniform as students crowded around the Ninja cheering as she gave a pleased look. "Thanks, see you all next time-."
She was about to use a Smoke Bomb but saw Bucky moving underneath the uniform and felt bad so she walked over to him. "Here I'll get you out of here to save some embarrassment alright?"
Grabbing him she threw a smoke bomb again and soon enough they were in the Band Changing Room as Bucky stuck his head out. "W-What just happened? Why do I smell farts-Ninja?!" He asked in shock at seeing the Ninja of Norrisville who quickly looked away.
"Pants." She muttered with Bucky blinking before looking down.
"Why am I naked?!"
"Long story short you were stanked and turned into a monster, I turned you back and decided to get you out of there so you could get some clothes." Rachelle said happy that Bucky used the torn Uniform to cover himself. "You should have an extra uniform in here right?"
Seeing him nod, Rachelle smiled. "Alright, SMOKE BOMB!"
With that she disappeared while Bucky coughed. "Why does that smell like farts?!"
Rachelle sighed as she was back in her usual clothes quitting the Marching Band as Bucky was back-it seemed that the Ninja disappearing with him boosted his popularity a bit while Howard sat at the bleachers so she sat with him.
Howard looked at her and saw she was out of the uniform. "Bad time?"
"Nope, did what I was asked," Rachelle said smirking at Howard. "I joined because the Ninja needed Bucky to be drawn out."
That made Howard look at her in shock. "Wait the Ninja asked you to be bait?!"
"Well no, I offered," Rachelle said with a shrug wincing. "Please don't tell Mom."
"Huh, well I guess if it was for the Ninja I can forgive you for joining the Geek Squad." Howard said but he stopped talking when Rachelle glared.
"I'm still mad at you," Rachelle told him. "I can't believe you said that."
Howard winced and looked down a bit chastened before chuckling. "Huh wow you did the Ninja a favor, I bet that would make you popular."
Rachelle frowned and shook her head. "I'd rather not have people know because it could get back to Mom."
"... Good point." Howard said not wanting an angry Sabrina after them for her daughter being 'bait'. "So still buddies?"
Looking at him, Rachelle chuckled. "Still buddies." She promised because as mad as she was at him she didn't want to lose that friendship.
With that they fist bumped.
To Be Continued…
Haha this was pretty fun to type, it's been awhile since I've seen RC9GN so I couldn't remember if his Mom ever showed up, once I found no info on that I decided to do something about it-hoped you enjoyed how I had her Mom be in this as well as the differences with Howard not knowing she's the Ninja.
As for that end with Bucky I felt really bad for him throughout that episode so I figured Rachelle would help him out a little at that point instead of leaving him to be naked in the Gym like Randy did.
Plus one of the things that tie into the series is that Rachelle easily forgives people like Randy does although she does hold a small grudge as well, but not too big of one.
Now for the Reviews.
iamgoku: Sorry about that, the story kept saying the link didn't exist and I've been working on trying to fix it, I think it's finally fixed now.
Lala Norisu: Thank you and I hope you enjoyed this chapter like the first one.