The first thing that woke Randy up was not the sound of his alarm clock, nor the sound of his parents waking up. Instead, it was the morning news.
Word spread about the Ninja getting a sidekick after the incident yesterday. When Randy arrived in school, everyone was talking admiringly about the two Ninjas.
The only person who wasn't happy about the newly-formed duo was Howard. He kept babbling on and on, asking questions on who this other Ninja was and when did he get a partner when he already has a Bro who's always there by his side (most of the time). He kept asking about the other Ninja even during classes. Of course, he had to ask in whispers in order to prevent any suspicions (only to gain odd looks from his classmates).
Finally, it was lunch time, and Randy had enough.
"And if that wasn't bad enough," Howard went on as Randy pulled him towards a secluded corner, "you never even bothered to introduced him to your Best Friend."
"Hi Randy's Best Friend." Hana suddenly appeared out of nowhere upside-down with her mask over her face, surprising Howard.
"Black Ninja, this my Best Friend and Bro, Howard Weinerman." Hana giggled when Randy introduced Howard, "Howard, Black Ninja aka Hana."
"Hana? That sounds like a girl's..." It was Howard's turn to chuckle... until Hana removed her mask, "Oh."
"Look; I shouldn't be seen near you." Randy whispered as Hana landed on the ground, "People would think I'm the Ninja and I'll be breaking the rules, and..."
"Relax. They can't see me." Hana assured.
"Hey!" Bash approached the three with his friends, "Gimme your lunch money or else."
Hana approached him and pulled his shirt over his face. Bash struggles to punch the one who pranked him but instead punched his friends and everything else in his blinded way.
Howard and Randy laughed their heads off only to be approached by their laughing classmates.
"You guys really pulled the shirt over his eyes." Bucky laughed, "Bash prank zing!"
"You barely even touched him." Julian winked, "You sly sorcerers you."
"Actually it was our friend here." Randy gestures at Hana.
"Oh don't be modest you guys." Theresa said.
"Yeah. It's not like you have an invisible friend to pull of this bruce-tastic prank." Debbie stated, laughing.
As the crowd kept laughing, Randy, Howard and Hana slipped away.
"They seriously couldn't see you?" Howard asked skeptically.
"I can let myself be seen by specific people." Hana explained.
"Girl, that was so bruce!" Randy exclaimed, "You have got to teach me that trick."
"But first; Shangri-Lunch!" Howard sang.
Howard and Randy led Hana to the lunchroom. It wasn't hard for them to win their table from Bash since he started to believe he was being haunted whenever he tried to bully the boys.
"May I interest you with the most finest delicacy this century has to offer?" Randy set a plateful of chili fries in front of Hana.
Hana eyed the food curiously. She never seen anything like it. She poked it, probably to make sure its not alive. She smelled it. The smell was something she never experienced before. Then again, she has been sealed away for 800 years.
Man. Has food preparation changed over the years.
She picked up a fry and flicked it with a finger before taking a bite out of it.
Now Howard and Randy would have love to dig in if Hana hadn't buried her face in the dish and gobbled everything up until the plate was licked clean. She gave the boys a wide, goofy chili-covered smiled.
"Your welcome." Randy took that as a complement. Luckily for him, and Howard, he got two servings of chili-fries.
Not everyone was happy with the arrival of another Ninja.
"There's ANOTHER NINJA?!" McFist bellowed upon reading the headlines.
"Well what do you know?" Viceroy mused, "Our masked 'friend' got himself a sidekick."
"Send out a robot! We don't want to see another Ninja ever again!" McFist commanded while hugging his stuffed owl, "Ain't that right, Odd Ozzy?"
Viceroy silently growled as he watched his boss snuggle his stuffed toy before sending a robot to destroy the Ninjas.
Howard and Randy showed Hana around the school from the gym, to the library, and even in the freezer. It was actually a boring tour for the two which Hana surprisingly found interesting.
"And this, " Randy gestured to the Carp's Eye, "is where the baddest of the bad was sealed for 800 years."
"The Omni?" Hana asked in surprise.
"What? No." Randy corrected, "The Sorcerer."
"The schnastiest dude in school who turns almost everyone in town into stank'd monsters." Howard added, "Luckily he got his butt kicked."
"By this guy!" Randy proudly declared as he and Howard did their special hand shake and did a short celebratory dance.
"Howard!" Howard's sister, Heidi, complained when he bumped into her before talking back to her phone.
By that tone, Howard could tell she was in one of her moods and motioned his friends to slowly move out of the way. Unfortunately, they weren't fast enough.
"GAH! Telly Minnow!" Heidi screamed once she hung up.
"Telly who?" Howard asked.
"The most self-absorbed face in news-casting history!" Heidi fumed, "He just called just to brag about how his show has been getting a lot of hits just because he got a bruce-tastic clip of the new Ninja duo in action. Well I'll show him. I'll get an exclusive interview with those Ninjas, even if it kills me."
"You have got to teach me that invisibility move, sooner." Randy whispered as the boys and Hana watch her storm off in anger.
"O-kay. Let's get her out of here." Howard pushed Randy and Hana out of the school with the latter eyeing the Carp's Eye curiously.
"Now if there's something I learned as a Ninja is that the job's not easy. But, there's an upside;" Randy said a they entered the Game Hole, "You get to work, and have fun at the same time!"
Hana was confused and at the same time amazed by the advanced technology around her. Many were smiling and laughing just by pushing buttons and defeating foes without even laying a finger on them.
Randy and Howard spotted most of their classmates gathered around a single game and decided to check it out. Morgan was busting some moves on the floor as she was trying to out-dance the game's avatar. By the loud cheering from her classmates, she was getting the upper-hand.
Suddenly, the game's avatar exploded, leaving behind a ridiculously high score. Morgan smirked a bit while her classmates' cheers became louder.
"I can top that." Howard mumbled.
"Is that a challenge?" Unfortunately for him, Morgan heard it, and she didn't seam happy about it (nor is she happy about anything).
"What? Cunningham, are you crazy?" He nudged Randy, "You can't top Morgan."
Randy couldn't believe his Best Friend was making him take the hit. Just when he was about to protest, Hana nudged him, urging him to take the challenge. It was as if she had an idea. So, he did.
"Well... It couldn't hurt to try." The crowd gasped as he approached the stage. The gasps became louder when he turned facing the crowd. More specifically, Hana.
The game's avatar appeared on the screen, but Randy kept his back away from it. It was great that only he and Howard could see Hana. Hana followed the avatar while Randy followed her. It was genius. Everyone was cheering from him (except Morgan).
Then, the unthinkable happened...
Randy grabbed a hankie from one of his classmates and wrapped it around his eyes... even as he continued to dance!
Now Morgan was wide-eyed surprise.
Suddenly, the game beeped, signaling the freestyle round. Howard was surprised that Hana kept dancing despite the fact Randy was blindfolded. The present Ninja wasn't even fazed by the fact that he was still dancing, and following Hana's moves. He just moved to the beat and listen to the machine beep as his score was getting higher by the second.
Finally, for their finishing routine, Hana leaped high into the sky, twirl around and landed on the ground with just a knee and a knuckle, a feat perfectly followed and executed by Randy.
The machine literally exploded after presenting Randy's score... which was the highest score on the board!
Everyone cheered while Morgan fainted. Randy removed his blindfold only to be picked up by his adoring fans. Howard could only gawk in disbelief, spilling the contents of his drink in the process, as his Best Bro and Hana exchanged winks.
"That, was... impressive." Morgan admitted after the Dancing Fish helped her up.
Randy never thought he of all people would impress Morgan. Howard raised his hand just as his best friend was set down to the ground and raised his own hand, preparing for a high five. To his surprise, he high-fived Hana instead.
"That was so bruce! It was like you were taking control of me." Randy said.
"Ninja-Link. As you put it that way." Hana replied as they exited the Game Hole.
"Welcome to the Brucest Place on Earth; WHOOPEE WORLD!"
Randy and Howard decided Whoopee World would be the next attraction to take Hana to. It reminded Hana of the old Amusement Park she used to go to with her brothers 800 years ago, except everything was mechanical and more exciting than 800 years ago. And the music...
Randy and Howard were nearly thrown off their feet when Hana let out an ear-piercing screech once she heard the Amusement Park's theme song.
"Can't blame ya." Howard remarked.
"You'd think they'd change that annoying song by now." Randy added. Hana smiled sheepishly as she removed her hands away from her ears.
The trio first rode the Bumper Cars, although Hana rode hers faster than her friends' that it left flames wherever it went.
Next, they had a little snack. They wouldn't have to go for seconds if Hana hadn't devoured all their food in seconds.
The trio then headed to the new Haunted House attraction. Randy and Howard were crept out by the mechanical monsters while Hana thought they were real and gave them friendly pats, and sometimes hugs.
They then entered a photo booth and took pictures. It was fun making silly faces at first, until Howard choked on a hot dog. The other two managed to get it off him, only for it to hit a wall and ricochet on his head, knocking him out and leaving the two Ninjas to smile for the last shot.
"This is it." Randy and Howard were filled with excitement, "The brucest ride of the century;"
"THE BARTH-A-CENTARI!"
Once the ride stopped to let the next batch in, Randy and Howard immediately rushed over to the first row. If only they got there in time.
"Out of our way!" Bash knocked the two away, but before he or his friends could even step foot on the ride, she came in the way, blocking their attempts to go in. It was if there was an invisible wall in front of them, causing them to run away in fear, "It's happening AGAIN!"
Hana winked at her friends who winked back as they approached the front row.
"Ah, ah, ah." Randy stopped Howard before he could take his seat, "Centuries old ladies first."
"Thanks, but you guys go on ahead. I'll catch up." With that last statement, Hana leaped away, leaving her two friends bewildered by her actions.
The two took their seats in the front row. They turn their heads around to see who was behind them; Bash sat in the last row alongside his friends, sucking his thumb. Julien sat beside Bucky. Debbie sat beside Theresa who waved at Randy, the latter waving back. Morgan was there as well, not giving a single hint of interest or excitement. Then, there was one person in the ride Howard never expected to see.
"Heidi?" He gasped, "I thought you never want to set foot in this ride."
"I don't." Heidi replied, "I just needed a high place where I can easily spot the Ninjas. And since mom won't let me buy tickets for a plane ride..."
As Heidi went on with her plan to get an exclusive interview with the Ninja Duo, she didn't know the fully black cladded one was standing beside her, invisible to everyone but Randy and Howard.
The ride began to move but Hana remained standing, unfazed while the others screamed with excitement, even when the ride gained speed and changed direction. Up, down, loop-de-loop... Hana kept her balance and never trips or falls. She even had no trouble sipping on a drink or eating a hot dog as she enjoyed the ride.
The ride went through another loop... causing Hana to fall off the ride!
Randy tried to catch her but failed... that is until he was tapped from behind. Hana stood beside him in the middle of the ride, safe and sound.
Randy sighed in relief before laughing along with Hana while Howard crossed his arms in jealousy.
The ride went on and was heading straight for a chimera-like robot with 6 arms. Everyone thought this was an upgrade to the attraction... until the robot sliced a part of the rail, leaving a hole for the group to plummet to their doom.
Everyone scream turned from excitement to horror. Hana reacted quickly and threw a ring at the control panel, effectively stopping the ride inches away from the gap.
"Everyone out!" Seeing there was no point in hiding anymore, Hana made herself known to everyone in the ride and safely led them off the ride before the chimera-bot could make a meal out of them. Once she got everyone out, she brought out her sword and began to face the beast.
"Well what do you know? She got this covered. Now let's grab some..." Before Howard could finish, Randy slipped on the Mask and leaped towards the action.
The chimera-bot knocked Hana on the rail, but just as it was about to strike...
"Smoke Bomb!" Randy appeared in a puff of smoke and kicked the robot off its feet before helping Hana up.
"I totally had this under control." Hana said.
"Sure you do." Randy mocked sarcastically before the robot strikes again, causing them to jump off the ride.
"Oh my juice! Ninjas! Can I have a..." Just as she fished out her phone, the Ninja were already clashing swords and arms with the robot, "Okay! After the fight then!"
One of the chimera-bot's arms extended and wrapped itself around Hana. Luckily, Randy chopped it off, freeing her and catching her in his arms. The robot's remaining arms extended and whipped themselves at the Ninjas who swiftly evaded every attack. Actually, Randy did all the dodging as he had no clue that he was still carrying Hana. When he found out, he sheepishly put her down, blushing, before dodging another arm.
Hana landed next to a Cotton Candy Stand and placed an arm on the machine. The speed of the machine chopped another arm off the robot.
Randy continuously dodged another arm before grabbing it and tying it to the Barth-A-Centari. He fiddled with the controls, activating the ride that pulled another arm off the robot, leaving it with only 3 functioning arms.
"Ever jump roped before." Hana asked as they dodged the arms.
"Oh come on. That's so wonk." Randy remarked only for Hana to pull him out of the way before the arm could hit him.
The next thing he knew he and Hana were jumping and flipping away from the arms as if they were jump ropes. They flipped in different directions, the arms following them wherever they go. Suddenly, the Ninja Duo stopped and wrapped their arms around each others' necks, standing proudly as an arm tried to reach them but couldn't't as it was tangled in a metallic ball along with the other arms. The next thing the Chimera-bot knew, its heads were chopped off, leaving its body to fall on the ground.
Everyone cheered for the Duo before they smoke bombed away. Once they were alone, Randy took off his Mask and reverted back to his civilian form before performing his and Howard's special handshake with Hana. The moment was disrupted by the sound of a fallen object. They turned around, only to come face-to-face with Howard with a shocked expression on his face. His mouth was wide open as if he was intending to eat his hot dog. The contents of his soda lay spilled on the ground.
"Well, I see you two were enjoying yourselves." Howard snapped out of his daze acting cooly as if nothing happened and ate his hot dog.
"Sorry Howard." Randy apologized, "But I just couldn't let Hana beat the lights off that wonkin' robot alone. Not that I think you needed any help or anything."
"And the last time I heard was that someone was tired of being the Ninja." Howard reminded.
"I just didn't want to do everyone's errand." Randy countered, "Do you even know how it feels washing a total stranger's laundry? And besides; this was a life-threatening emergency."
"Which I can so handle on my own. I'm not an amateur you know." Hana said.
"See? Hana has everything under control." Howard wrapped an arm around Randy, "Come on, Cunningham. It's about time you let some ancient Ninja take-over and enjoy the rest of your teenage-hood."
Randy thought this over and began feeling guilty for Hana. All those times when his classmates were stank'd, he'd never neglected his duty to de-stank them, even though he had so many urges to do so. He wanted to be like other teens and have fun, but he had to sacrifice all of the to save many lives. Now he was given a chance to make his wish come true and hand-over his duty to a Ninja who lost her family 800 years ago due to her mistake...
"No." He released himself from Howard's grasp, "Not matter how many times a robot tries to kill me or how many times our friends make me do their wonkin' homework, I'll still be there for them, for I am The Ninja."
"THE NINJA?!"
Randy, Howard and Hana flinched in surprise upon hearing 7 familiar voices. They turned around, only to come face with the shocked faces of their classmates.