DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN RANDY CUNNINGHAM 9TH GRADE NINJA NOR LIFE AND TIMES OF JUNIPER LEE
Randy, Monroe, and June scouted around the LARPing fields trying to get an idea of what they are up against, and it did not look good. There were thousands of people in the area, some of which June recognized along with more that she didn't. This meant they had to be careful to make sure no innocent people would get hurt in the crossfire. Thankfully Monroe is able to identify which ones were armed with real demonic weapons and those who just had fake props. Following Monroe's lead, the two humans found themselves back at the final castle being reconstructed, only looking a bit more sinister; and overseeing the construction, Ghoulian himself barking orders of how he wants his new palace to look. Naturally he wanted it to be darker, more edgy, decorated with skeletons and things so that it practically screams 'home of the evil sorcerer' on all over it. Now that their target has been sighted, they needed to come up with a plan. The first thing they needed to figure out it crowd control. How to keep innocent bystanders from getting caught up in this? Luckily the problem answered itself as the orchestrators of the event postponed most activities due to the damages and has ordered only authorized personal near the construction site. Somehow Ghoulian, most likely by magic, was able to convince them to let him and his crew to repair the castle. So now most of the LARPers were at the campsite awaiting the signal for the big war campaign. However in compensation for the delays, they were giving a special screening of Brock Octane's new movie, much to Randy's charring.
"What the juice, they showing the movie now!" Randy complained. "Um maybe we can watch a few minutes before facing Ghoulian?" he asked hopefully.
"Are you daft man? You're friend is making an army of humanized monsters and you want to procrastinate with a movie? One that's just a poorly made sequel if I might add." Monroe putting in his two cents.
"I know but the movie," Randy whined with big puppy dog eyes.
"Hey Randy, remember our little talk about doing our duty first," June lectured.
"Ha, ha you said doody," Randy laughed.
"Sheesh what are you 4?" June sighed while shaking her head. Forced in to being the mature one in her family, June has developed a low tolerance for childish gags and toilet humor.
"Still don't see why we can't watch at least the first ten minutes," Randy Pouted. At that point June started pinching his ear and dragging over to the castle. "Ow, ow, ow okay geez." Randy winched in pain as he reluctantly followed June. Mainly because he wanted his ear back.
The three hid behind some bushes that were about 15 ft from the construction and to where Ghoulian was standing. "Alright any ideas on how are we going to do this?" Randy asked massaging his ear to ease the pain.
"First off you need to get into your black pajamas," June instructed. Randy placed his mask on his face transforming into the Ninja. "Then I while I distract the other monsters; you sneak around behind Ghoulian and take him out." June ordered.
"Divide and conquer I like it," Randy said. But just as he took one step forward, he slipped on a branch that sent him rolling down to where Ghoulian was standing.
"Oh boy," June groaned. At this point she was unsure if this is the curses fault or Randy is just that clumsy.
"Ninja? What are you doing here?" Ghoulian demanded.
"Um I'm here to stop you," the Ninja said pulling himself up and putting up a false bravado to cover up that embarrassing fall.
"I see. Well I must say that even though you are a bit early, I am glad to see you." Julian laughed as his horde surrounded the Ninja. "So where's your partner?"
"Partner? You know I work alone." Randy immediately drew his sword ready for action. He glanced over at the bushes and shook his head at June who was getting ready to storm out. Even though June wanted to rush to the Ninja's side, she decided to hold back to see how this plays out.
"You want us to get him boss?" one of the monsters turned human asked. The others started drawing out their weapons making their way towards the Ninja.
"Halt!" Ghoulian commanded stopping his army from advancing on the Ninja. "I will deal with the Ninja myself. The rest of you, finish my castle and keep an eye out for the Te Xuan Ze."
"Aw daring to face me all by your lonesome. I'm almost impressed." the Ninja mocked, keeping one eye on Ghoulian and the other eye on the other monsters, expecting this to be some sort of trap.
"Well you know, sometimes a leader has to lead by example. Even if it means getting my hands dirty." Ghoulian chuckled as he got into a karate stance.
"What, you're not going to go all monster on me? Because you know you can't beat me in that form." the Ninja mocked, puzzled to why Ghoulian is staying in his human form.
"Oh I don't need to be at full power to beat you, but please feel free to use whatever you got against me." Ghoulian shot back doing the 'come here' gesture.
"Come on, don't let him bait you," June whispered from behind the bush.
Randy stood there perfectly still. While every fiber of his being told him not to hold back and attack Ghoulian with everything he's got; his pride as a fighter wouldn't allow him to go all out against an unarmed man. Even if that man is a monster in disguise. So the Ninja put away his sword and got into a fighting stance as well.
"I knew you wouldn't let me down," Ghoulian grinned. The Ninja charged straight at his foe, but before he even reached him, the Ninja slipped on a water puddle, which sent him sliding across the ground, crashing into a ladder, and having all of the paints on it falling on top of him.
"That was so not the Bruce?" the Ninja groaned as he crawled out of the pile.
"What was that? Oh man you are killing me." Ghoulian laughed. "And here I was hoping to crush you myself, and you go crushing yourself for me."
"Yeah well I wouldn't be this messed up if it wasn't for that stupid wish of yours!" the Ninja complained as he cleaned the mess off of his suit.
"My wish?" Ghoulian thought about it for a second, and remembering what Jean-Claude told him. "That's right, I wished for your destruction. So now the Monkey's Paw has cursed you!" Ghoulian gloated as he took the Monkey's Paw out of his pocket. Holding it high in the sky in triumphant.
The Ninja groaned at his mistake of letting Ghoulian know of his situation, but his resolve is still ever strong. Seeing that Ghoulian was far to busy laughing at him, Randy figured that now was the best time to get the drop on him. However just as he took one step, a boulder roll down out of nowhere and started chasing the Ninja around! "How is this even possible?" the Ninja screamed as he desperately ran away from the boulder.
Off to the side, Ghoulian was laughing his head off at the hilarious sight. "I can't believe that my wish is coming true." Ghoulian laughing so hard that his sides were starting to hurt. "Still this is rather unsatisfying. I kind of wish that I didn't make my first wish so that I can destroy the Ninja with my bare hands." Ghoulian sighed. Just then the Monkey's Paw flashed for a second just as the boulder ran over the Ninja. "Victory!" Ghoulian cheered.
"Oh no!" June cried as she jumped out of her hiding place and rushed over to where her friend got flattened.
"Ah the Te Xuan Ze, I was wondering when you would come out." Ghoulian boasted. June ignored him and ran up to the boulder, hoping that she wasn't too late. But just as she reached it...
"Ninja slice!" the Ninja voice yelled out and the boulder came apart. "Man that was too close," the Ninja breathing a sigh of relief.
"What the? Paper mache?" June said as she examine one of the pieces of the so called boulder. Apparently it was just another prop for the LARPers.
"What? NO! But how, my wish?" Ghoulian stuttered.
"Oh did you miss the part where you said you didn't want him to be cursed anymore?" Monroe mocked.
"Ghoulian recalled himself accidentally saying something in that regards. "But, but, that shouldn't have cancelled it that quickly!" Ghoulian argued.
"Maybe not, but I'm not complaining," the Ninja laughed.
"Then I will just curse you again!" Ghoulian declared holding the Monkey's Paw up in the air. "I wish..."
"Ninja Ring!" the Ninja throwing one of his rings at Ghoulian knocking the Monkey's Paw out of his hand. Sending it right next to Monroe, who then quickly placed it in a small bag.
"There, I'll make sure no one will be making any wishes on this thing any time soon." Monroe swore.
"I'll destroy you and get my amulet back!" Ghoulian roared getting ready to attack the little pug.
"Not so fast Ghoulian, we still have a duel." the Ninja said jumping right in between his foe and the dog.
Ghoulian growled at the Ninja before calming down for a bit. "You know what, I'm actually pleased at this result. Now I can have the satisfaction of destroying you with my bare hands." Ghoulian smiled.
"Same here," the Ninja echoed putting his weapons away and getting into a fighting stance.
"You need help?" June asked even though she knew the answer.
"Yeah, keep those guys off my back." The Ninja pointing to the other human/monsters that were now gathering around them since June showed herself.
"Gotcha," June winked. "ALRIGHT IF ANY OF YOU DORKS KNOWS WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU BETTER STAY OF THIS OR YOU'LL BE WEARING THESE SIZE THREES!" June warned showing them the underside of her boot. Most of the monster/humans started to cower in fear since they still have the imprint of her boot on their hides from the last time she kicked their butts.
"What are you waiting for? Destroy her and the dog and get by amulet back!" Ghoulian ordered. Despite their reluctance, they cannot disobey their master so they proceeded to attack June.
"I was hoping you'd do that," June grinned as she cracked her knuckles in preparation for fighting the horde.
Once his army began attacking the Te Xuan Ze, Ghoulian turned his attention to the Ninja. Not waiting he started throwing a series of punches at the Ninja. The Ninja managed to block the punches and countered with a few of his own. Off hand it seemed like they were equally matched, but then Ghoulian started pulling off a series of complicated katas resulting in him landing several punches on the Ninja, finishing off with an uppercut that sent him flying.
"Ra-Ninja!" June screamed as she punched another of Ghoulian's minions in the stomach. She then rushed over to the Ninja's side knocking away any monster that got in her way.
"Ninja are you alright?" June asked.
"I'm fine," Randy said surprisingly calm. "Man where did Ghoulian get those moves?" Randy couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something familiar about Ghoulian's newly acquired fighting style.
June scope out Ghoulian and noticed one piece of clothing that she missed before. "That's the Belt of Wong," June recognized.
"The Belt of wha...?" the Ninja asked.
"Close enough," June shrugged. "The Belt of Wong is a magical tool that we Te Xuan Ze used to have before it was lost. It gives the wearer skills of the old fighting styles." June explained.
"Ooh," the Ninja's eyes widen with realization, finally figuring out why Ghoulian style was so familiar and how to beat him.
"Look he's too tough like this. We should double team him and take that belt away." June advised.
"No, I've got this." the Ninja winked confidently. June wasn't sure what he's up to, but she could tell that he's figured something out. Besides she still had half a horde to amuse herself with.
"Back for more?" Ghoulian chuckled confident that victory was his.
"You just took me by surprise," the Ninja shot back.
"Only losers says things like that," Ghoulian mocked.
"We'll see," the Ninja challenged. Ghoulian charged again, throwing various chops and kicks. Only this time the Ninja was blocking every attack with only one hand. "Swan style kata no. 3," the Ninja identified. "Now you're going to swing with your right arm, kick with your left." Ghoulian did exactly what the Ninja said he would still blocking with only one hand. "Then you're going to slide forward, leaving your left side exposed!" Just as he called, Ghoulian slid forward, and the Ninja countered by kicking him on the left side. Sending Ghoulian flying back.
"What? That's impossible. That was just a fluke." Ghoulian said as he got back up. "Yes there's no way he can stop this." Ghoulian renewed his attack using one of the most powerful fighting styles within the belt, the Rising Phoenix style. This time the Ninja was using both his arms, and sometimes his leg, to block the attacks, but he still called every move and countered exactly when he said he would. Knocking Ghoulian back down.
"How?" Ghoulian groaned, picking himself up. "The Belt?"
"Quite simple really. You see when I was training to be the Ninja, I spent hours learning different fighting style." the Ninja explained. Randy thought back to all the time he spent in the nomicon learning different katas and sparring with different doodle warriors. Those countless hours taught him different fighting styles have their strength and weaknesses as well as the means to counter them. "The belt may have given you all those Bruce moves, but you don't have the knowledge or experience to use them to their full potential." the Ninja lectured. "That's the difference between having powers and having mad skills."
"Wow I can't believe he figured that out before me." June whispered clearly impressed with Randy's observation skills.
"He's right though. That is why that belt is only used as a training tool." Monroe added.
"Impossible!" Ghoulian yelled in defiance. He charged at the Ninja again, only this time he tried using three different styles at the same time, hoping to throw the Ninja off guard. Sadly the belt would only allow him to switch styles after one kata cycle was finished. Meaning that the Ninja had plenty of time to figure out which moves he was using and how to counter them before Ghoulian could switch to another.
"Surrender Ghoulian. Now that I'm no longer cursed, you're no match for me." the Ninja declared.
"Surrender? Never!" Ghoulian laughed. "Minions, give me all your powers!" Ghoulian commanded. All of the monster/humans that June was fighting, and some who were still working on the castle, raised their swords, or whatever weapon or tool they had, into the air. They may have been turned into humans when they got stanked, but they still have monster magic inside of them. The magic released from their bodies began to collect inside Ghoulian, causing him to transform into a giant monster. The new Ghoulian is now four times bigger than the last time, and much like his previous stank form, he had a spider-like body, only this one is white. He also had dragon type wings with a skeleton face.
"Oh boy," the Ninja gulped. "I don't suppose you want to borrow my mask for this one?" he asked hopefully. June was far too speechless to respond.