-THE BANDIT'S STORY-

Three days ago, I was napping under a tree in the grove, drifting in and out of dreams.

So I thought it was a dream when I saw him… Coming down the path, that goody-goody Samurai escorting this woman in pink.

She had a veil as a disguise. Probably some damsel in distress he was saving.

That's when… the fateful wind lifted her veil, revealing a glimpse of the rosy face beneath.

It was only then that I snapped awake! This was no dream, and this was not just any woman.

This was the Pink Princess of Little Olde Tokyo– getting all cozy with the Steel Samurai!

I thought, this was my chance. I could get to the Samurai by striking at his heart: his precious Princess. I couldn't take him down alone, but if I could get her to join me instead of him, he'd be at my mercy! Persuasion is a specialty of my clan, you know…

I set my plan into motion. While the Princess was off gathering water at the river, I snuck up on the Samurai from behind and used my handy stash of rope to tie him up to a tree. It happened so fast and so easily that I was surprised at my own strength!

With the Samurai out of my way, I went back to find the woman.

We met eyes through the branches. "…Samurai?" she questioned me.

"Nope, I'm a ninja. You can tell by my trademark shuriken!"

"Very funny. I mean, where is my Samurai?"

"Oh, him? I saw him resting over by a tree. I think he might be sick."

"Sick…?" There was such sappy emotion in her voice. Like, did she really care that much about him? All I could think about was showing her how pathetic he looked tied to that tree. Then she'd definitely wanna side with me!

Now, again, I'm stronger than I look. I scooped her right on up, Princess-style, and ran.

(What kind of mutant strength does this teenage ninja have!?)

Her veil caught on a stray branch along the way, and I could see her shocked face.

"Evil Ninja!" she gasped. "It's you! What do you think you're doing!?"

"I'm taking you to the dark side, Princess! You'll have no choice but to join forces with me instead!"

I set her down to see her helpless hero.

This is where things got weird… She looked at him, then back at me…

Suddenly, that innocent expression turned fierce, as she drew her rapier from her armor's sheath and started slashing at me!

Whoa! She really had me fooled with her goody-goody act! I laughed out loud, 'cause now I wanted her on my side even more. It was like a game as I danced around tree trunks, avoiding her swipes.

"Join me, and we could take down that stupid Samurai together!"

The rapier dropped slowly out of her hands and her face went dark. She repeated in a whisper, "Take down… the Samurai…"

"HAHAHAHA! My plan was a total success!"

SLAM! The prosecutor furiously pounds a hand on his desk. "Villain! You corrupted the pure heart of the Pink Princess!"

"Eh… It didn't last very long though. That heart of hers is weaker than a twice-picked lock."

She snapped out of it as easily as she'd snapped in.

"What am I saying…? I've dishonored both our states by even considering betrayal."

She gave me her rapier to cut the samurai's ropes. "You two worthy opponents must fight. I'll have no choice but to go with whoever survives."

And so, we faced off. I even waited for him to strike first! I may be a ninja, but I'm also an honorable gal.

I used the princess's skinny rapier to counter his legendary Samurai Sword. My skills are so great that I wasn't even at a disadvantage. We crossed blades twenty-three-and-a-half times. I remember because I was so impressed. No one's ever crossed me more than twenty!

THEN I GOT HIM! BAM! Right in the chest! I defeated the Samurai, fair and square!

When I turned around, the Princess was gone. The fighting must have scared her away.

I wanted an ally with a fierce spirit, but after all she was just a loser who couldn't handle a fight! So I wasn't interested anymore…

Still, while I claimed his sword as a victory prize, her rapier was probably just as valuable. It was pretty dumb of me to leave it behind!

"OBJECTION! …Didn't you say you don't steal anything but the truth?"

"Uh… Right, yeah, of course. Hahaha."

SLAM! The judge strikes his gavel on the bench.

"Prosecutor, you have a suspect who has directly confessed to the crime. Isn't this all the deliberation we need?"

He shakes his head. "Your Honor, as much as I wish to see justice done for our samurai's true killer… It is for this very reason that the trial must go on. We will hear the accounts of all possible witnesses, including the princess herself."

SLAM! The attorney shields his ears from all the clatter. At that moment, the courtroom door gives another dramatic burst.

The edges of the doorway shine with a hopeful light. From behind the barrier, a perfectly poised woman in pink makes her appearance on cue.

"Indeed! Though my lord's spirit is gone, long live the spirit of justice!"

"Princess!" the gallery cries. "It's the Pink Princess!"

With no veil to hide her painted face or her flowing hair, she confidently takes the stand. "People of the court… As much as it will pain me to do, a true account is exactly what I intend to give. Or my name isn't the Pink Princess, Warrior of Little Olde Tokyo!"