Sometimes, reality doesn't feel real. I'll be doing something, like standing in front of the bathroom mirror and getting ready for school, and it'll feel strange. It's as if I'm in a dream and I know that it's a dream, but can't wake up.
It is real though.
There is a demon possessed businessman yelling on top of a desk. And there is a fellow classmate who is now a hellish giant spider heading straight towards me with murder in his eyes.
Whoop-dee-doo. Lucky me.
The spider chimera runs full speed through the area I used to be, first set of arms outstretched and fangs bared. I had put the scarf on just in time. My wings flap steadily, keeping me aloft for the time being. He circles below me and I can see a plan forming in his beady eyes.
The Sorcerer grins. He was so close to getting his revenge! Too bad the body transfer had made him weak, it was all he could do to make the semi-corporeal body of his old self to fight the previous ninja. Without his true form, he would never attain the same level of power again. However, there was more than one type of power. The political power he wields in his new host made up for whatever he had lost. People now do his bidding willingly and love him for it. Being 'human' was something the Sorcerer could get used to.
The chimera's numerous eyes blink in confusion. How was it supposed to catch something from the air?
I watch as it scurries up the wall and I feel fairly safe for the time being. Once I figure out how to unstank Julian, handling the Sorcerer shouldn't be too bad. He wants to negotiate? How about you leave us alone and then I won't punch you in the honking face? Sounds fair.
My train of thought caused me to lose sight of the Chimera.
Out of nowhere, something forces me to the cold, unforgiving floor.
"Aw cheese!" I finger a strand of the gooey white stuff that's pinning me on the floor, similar to a net. A horrible idea comes to me. "Is this a web? Schnasty, that came out of its butt!"
I hear Howard snicker. At least someone is enjoying this.
Fortunately, the wings had taken the worst of it, leaving my arms free to pull out my sword and cut my way out. Unfortunately, the wings had taken the worst of it and flying is no longer an option. The feathers are all stuck together and trying to fly is pulling them out. It's like when someone plucks a strand of hair off your head, only more painful.
The chimera lowers itself from its position on the ceiling by the way of a strand of silk. I'm glad I got the Tengu instead of whatever the juice Julian got. It's like Spiderman gone wrong.
The fight continues. I slash with the sword, defend with the eskrima and confuse with the smokebombs. Of course I use other weapons in my arsenal too. Chimera Julian's sticky hands wrested far too many weapons from my grasp so I had to improvise as I discovered the limits of the suit. Only one sword was available and maybe two copies of the smaller tools. The bombs and balls appeared endless though.
The chimera seems to dislike the 'hot balls' the most. Its flames dissolve his webs and sting his sensitive eyes. The hot balls show no sign of dying out despite the lack of fuel. Small fires burn all around the large office, making the shadows dance. I'm thankful for the light the triangular window provides; it makes the setting slightly less eerie.
Eventually, the hot balls do run out.
A column of fire separates me from Julian. The Sorcerer has resigned to sitting on his desk, the fighting lasting much longer than he had expected. Viceroy too was bored, roasting marshmallows by a spout of flame on the outskirts of the warzone.
"TAKE HIM OUT ALREADY!"
The sudden noise spurs Julian to action. He goes through the flames without hesitation, pinning me down by my shoulders. We are face to face, close enough for me to note that six of his eyes are typical spider ones… the central two are human.
The Sorcerer claps in approval. "Now remember, don't kill him! Just bring the Ninja here."
He doesn't want me dead? Wow, coulda fooled me.
Before my foe can drag me to an even greater enemy, I lash out with my remaining, unhindered limbs- my legs. The force of the kick on his vulnerable underbelly is devastating. His piercing screams ring in my ears and as he rears up in pain, I can see five, dripping slash marks on his abdomen.
Hurridly pushing myself into a standing position, I glance down; my monster leg is exposed. The ninja suit ends where it begins as if repulsed by the foreign presence. Its claws are what had wounded the chimera. I hope once I figure out how to change Julian back it doesn't hurt him too much.
Seizing my advantage, I throw whichever of the ninja balls the suit chooses to give me. In an ironic twist of fate, the ball releases a gooey substance not unlike the spider chimera's own webs.
"Ah ha! How'd you like a taste of your own medicine!" I crow and he roars in frustration, unable to move. Strands of goo attach him firmly to the floor despite his efforts to escape. The ninja ball is even stronger than his chimera webbing.
The Sorcerer is irate and stomps McFist's foot on the table, knocking over a pencil/pen holder.
"What am I paying you for? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!" yells McFist.
Viceroy is startled. "Sir-"
They argue. With a moment to finally think, I look around for my sword.
"Yo Howard, can you toss that over here?" I call. The weapon is much closer to him than me, it also is cooler if I catch it in midair than pick it up. Howard is pressing all the buttons by the mechanical door aimlessly now. None respond.
I sigh as his toss falls short and I have to move to reach it. In a single motion, I bring it from the floor to pointing at the Sorcerer.
"Negotiate with this!" I was hoping to come off as confident and cocky, but I'm pretty sure I didn't achieve it. Nevertheless, I advance.
"Is it really worth fighting for?" The Sorcerer's calm and composed question catches me off guard. I remain silent and he clarifies. "The Norisu. A long dead family of wisdom dispensing hypocrites. All that's left is that exasperating book." His eyes are filled with pity.
The tip of my sword lowers a fraction.
"What are you fighting for anyway? A book tells you you're a ninja with a magical scarf one day and points you to the nearest guy to do its dirty work? I've been here for half a year, minding my own business. Then you ninjas pop up out of nowhere, start fights and endanger civilians! Don't you see? That 'Nomicon' is the aggressor!
"Look kid, I'm sure you think you're special, that you're doing the right thing, but the Nomicon was backed into a corner. My minion had picked it off its dying host and you were the only one around. You were a last resort, a mistake. The book doesn't care about you, you were just there to bond with, to further its own goals."
My world slowly collapses. I've gone through all this… Howard… people could have died… but maybe if I hadn't tried to fight, no one would have been hurt. The chimeras, the robots… my fault? The Nomicon…
He smiles cruelly.
"You aren't special, you weren't chosen- you're just a little boy playing dress up in a big man's world. So give it up. Your devotion is pathetic. What did the Nomicon ever do for you?"
The Nomicon… Nomi… he… used me? Against my will, the sword tip pings on the concrete ground and I sink to my knees. I've never been the most self-confident person, though sometimes I act like it. I just wish I knew what to do; if what he says is true I might as well give him the scarf. Fingering the soft, red material around my neck, I desperately try to make sense of things.
The Sorcerer frantically looks around, the Kumo is out of commission, Viceroy rushed off to do something and… the ninja's friend is a perfect target. Pulling three chaos pearls out of nowhere, they hover above his open palm, glowing.
"He's right you know." A familiar voice says.
I turn to Howard, shocked.
"You think you're so bruce, using the ninja to get closer to Theresa. But what about me and all we went through together? I've been with you since day one of this craziness and have you said 'thank you' even once? No. It's always 'Theresa this' or 'Theresa that'!" Howard complains, the powerball resting unobstructed on his exposed skin. His eyes glow, just like McFist's.
I know it's not really him speaking, but his words still hurt. Was she really bothering him that much?
I regret not destroying the powerball, like Nomi wanted to. Since he hates it, I couldn't keep it so Howard continued carrying it around. However, if the Nomicon can't be trusted, then maybe it's good I didn't destroy it?
That makes no sense.
More feathers grow along Howard's arms, most orange, some blue. He becomes taller, much taller. In no time at all, my best friend has become a huge bird. Like most chimera's, the bird still resembles him in some ways. Unlike most chimera's, his eyes are red, not the usual human or green colored.
No.
I can still fix this.
The Sorcerer is wrong.
I was never fighting for the Nomicon, I was fighting for my friends! I was fighting to rid the town of a dangerous demon. He says he never harmed anyone, but he seems to have conveniently forgotten about McFist. He has no say over his own body right now. And Julian, how long has he been here? Theresa (and possibly his family) has been worried sick!
Finally, there's the ninja before me. He's dead.
I don't care if Nomi used me. The Sorcerer needs to go.
I stand up.
"Didn't you ever wonder why I had to use robots? It's because that boy you came here in hopes of saving was my connection to your school. With his defeat, the connection was broken." The Sorcerer's words slide off me like water on a raincoat.
He is full of lies. He must pay for endangering Howard- and everyone else. I save people from the creatures and robots he creates. How dare the Sorcerer say I'm the dangerous one.
My gait is steady. I stare him down as I walk, never breaking eye contact. Panic briefly flashes in McFist's eyes.
"But someone new found the pearl," The Sorcerer speaks quickly. "Yet I still was not able to restore the connection, until he connected with his darkest emotion- jealousy. I can still taste its bittersweet tang… Are you really willing to lose your friend over some old scarf?"
The Sorcerer retreats behind his desk, my sword point at McFist's throat. Beads of sweat drip down his oh so human forehead. I want him to know the fear in mortal existence, to know how fragile life is before his is taken away.
"You can't do this!" His voice squeaks. A rush of air behind me reveals the location of Howard's chimera. One signal from the Sorcerer and my best friend will turn on me.
"And why not?" I hiss.
The half demon takes a moment to prepare his defense. "You see, I can exist without the ninja, but the ninja will disappear without me. You kill me, and everything stays the same; only, you will not have the scarf to stop the monsters. And trust me, your friends are not the only ones."
"You're bluffing."
"No. The Norisu scarf exists only to eliminate me and when I'm gone the best it can do is keep its wearer warm in the winter." The Sorcerer leans back into Mcfist's plush office chair. "Face it, you need me to save yourself and bird boy number two over there. Are you sure we can't make a deal?"
McFist's real hand raises, but instead of making a grab for the scarf, Howard's powerball flies from the other side of the room to his hand.
"You give me the scarf and everyone is de-possessed. As an added bonus, I'll give you the newest McFist Industries technology. Only a fool would refuse."
A ninja must prepare to accept the consequences for his actions.
The multi-colored doodles spell the words out above McFist's head. Consequences… I think the Nomicon said something like this before. Let's see…
Option 1: Get rid of the Sorcerer right now, the scarf will stop working and Howard might stay like this forever.
Option 2: Give the Sorcerer the scarf, there will be no ninja, but Howard will be human again.
I try to think of ways to solve the problems of option 1, but I realize I can't risk it. The endless ifs and maybes are too uncertain. The Sorcerer can be defeated later under more favorable circumstances. I can only hope the Nomicon will be able to forgive me.
"Under one condition," I state firmly. "You unstank everyone and swear not to ever stank the citizens of Norrisville again."
"And you will give me the Norisu scarf of your own free will?" The Sorcerer licks his lips in anticipation. "Deal."
With a sigh of defeat, I unwrap the scarf from my face. The magical lights disappear with the ninja suit and plain old me is left in its place. I swear this will not be the end. I, Randy Cunningham, vow to rid Norrisville of the Sorcerer- someday.
"You first," I propose, sure that he will not honor the bargain if he gets what he wants without doing his part first.
The Sorcerer, using McFist's non-robotic hand, snaps once. I lose my balance, gripping the edge of the desk to keep myself upright. I feel… lighter.
"Cunningham!" I'm relieved to hear his voice.
The scarf is snatched from my hand and the Sorcerer waves it above his head.
"IT IS MINE! After all these years, I will finally be able to repay the Norisu family for the sufferings they have inflicted upon me!" His hands pull the scarf in opposite directions. The red fabric begins to fray and then it snaps in half.
"NO!" He just… destroyed it. I didn't think… why?!
He laughs and laughs and laughs. His green eyes are wide with madness. I try to back away, but I fall on my butt. Howard helps me up and I lean heavily on him.
"Thank you for your co-operation," the Sorcerer says slyly, still chuckling like he made a joke. "McFist Industries will excuse you from school and provide transportation to your homes."
"Co-operation? What the juice! You never said you were going to rip it apart!"
"The agreement was that you gave it to me of your own free will, not what I could or couldn't do with it after." Like a child, he stuck out his tongue and continued to tear strands of the scarf off. "Viceroy!"
The scientist doesn't come right away, annoying the Sorcerer. While we wait, I ask a question that's been on my mind.
"Why didn't you just take it from me in the night or something? I'm sure Julian told you who the ninja was." I say angrily.
"Didn't your precious teacher tell you this? It cannot be taken without the wearer's permission or else it won't work. I would not have been able to use it or harm it because it would be loyal to you. The book deserved what it got if it was that careless."
I lurch forward, aspiring to punch the Sorcerer in the face. Howard holds me back though.
"You're in no condition to be beating people up Cunningham."
You would think I would've realized this sooner, but I am once again without half a leg. Wonk, how am I going to explain this to mom?
The next half an hour is spent with Viceroy, away from the Sorcerer. Julian was pried from the sticky mess and first aid was given to all three of us. Julian was very confused, so Howard made up some ridiculous story that Julian actually believed in the end.
Viceroy whipped up a prosthetic leg and made an appointment for me to come back in a few days for a better one. The scientist apologized for what had become of his boss. I think he's a good man underneath the evil scientist lab coat.
However, just before we are about to leave, 'McFist' comes down and greets us. The employees here will probably never known what happened; we're just some kids on a field trip. The Sorcerer slips a small box into my hand and then we are on our way home.
Later, I open this box. In it is a powerball with a note that reads:
"Just in case you ever want to make another deal."
a/n wow I can't believe I reached the end of this! Don't worry, a short epilogue will be up in the next couple of days. This isn't exactly how I wanted it to go, but I was getting bored of this fic. Thank you again for all of your support :)
more info when the epilogue is posted