Chapter 24

An army of stanked teens and staff charged towards the group, Nomi, Randy, and Lex sprinting towards them as well.

"Ninja kick!" Lex leaped high into the air, kicking one monster dead in the face and running across the other's heads.

"Ninja bee ball!" Randy threw the black and yellow ball at a group of five stanked people and bees swarmed around them.

"Ninja sword!" Nomi sliced around him with a pair of sai, keeping those who were stanked away from him and his friends.

"Dad! Howard! I need both of you to look for people who aren't stanked and get them away from here now!" Lex ordered, tossing an ice ball at another monster. The two nodded and headed into the school.

"Nomi, watch over Cunningham and control everyone out here. I have to go with Howard and dad." "Hai. Stay safe." Nomi nodded and Lex left.

"Oh, and Randy. Don't do anything stupid." Lex smiled over her shoulder before entering the school.

*Inside the school!*

"See anybody?"

"Not yet."

"Checked any garbage cans? Lockers? Classrooms?"

"Didn't think of that one."

"Then let's search. Yell if anything attacks you." Lex, Charles and Howard searched the classrooms and such for any hiding students. They searched every single room until they came across the metal shop room.

"Last try. Please tell me SOMEONE'S okay…" Lex held her breath and swung open the door. Lex yelped as a scythe was pointed in her face.

"Chill! I'm the good guy!"

"A…Ninja?" The metal shop teacher, S. Ward Smith, stood in front of Lex wielding a scythe that resembled someone that would belong to the Ninja.

"Yes! I'm Kasumi, nice to meet you…can you please put the sharp item down?" Mr. Smith lowered the scythe and smiled.

"How did you know I was a ninja?"

"Unlike the Ninja, you smell more like perfume than smoke bombs. Besides, do you think I'd be the sword smith for you two if I couldn't tell who you are?"

"Okay…that's odd. Well, there's some proof that those things stink. Is anyone else okay?" "I'd say so." He stepped aside and let the trio in, closing the door behind them.

"Wow." There was a large collection of students and teachers sitting in the room, each one looking afraid until they caught sight of the three new faces.

"Kasumi?"

"It's Kasumi…!"

"Does that mean the Ninja's here too?"

"They're here to save us!" Everyone muttered among themselves, staring at Lex hopefully.

"How many people are here?" Lex asked quietly, amazement in her voice.

"About…twenty to forty, maybe." Mr. Smith's apprentice, Brent, answered.

"Those are some good numbers, considering the circumstances."

"I'd say the circumstances are relatively good now! You're here! With Weinerman…and…?"

"Charles Rivera." He introduced.

"What about the Ninja? Is he here?" "Brent…" Mr. Smith warned, turning back to Lex.

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be fighting monsters?"

"We came to get anyone and everyone who hasn't been stanked out if here as safely as possible."

"How are you going to do that? There's monsters, like, everywhere!" Heidi questioned.

"Heidi? How…?" Howard shook his head in confusion.

"Howard? I thought you were stanked."

"Same here."

"Okay, it doesn't matter! We're going to de-stank everyone and get you all out now! The Ninja is outside fighting your stanked classmates and I have to help him!" Lex turned to Howard.

"Howard, I need you and Mr. Rivera to lead everyone out of here. Don't use the front entrance for obvious reasons and don't waste that last smoke bomb. Mr. Rivera," Lex got teary eyed and hugged her father, "please don't get hurt. I think you have two daughters to get home to when this is over."

"How do I know they'll both be okay?"

"I promise they'll be just fine." Charles nodded and faced the group.

"You heard her! Let's move!"

"Good luck." Mr. Smith said, patting Lex's shoulder.

"Thanks. I'm gonna need it."

"You don't need what you already have."

"I did say all year that you were the smartest teacher. You and Brent need to protect them. I recommend using that lovely little scythe you nearly sliced me with."

"I doubt we'd leave without it." And with that, Lex sprinted into the hallway to have a little family reunion.

*Nomi*

"Randy! On your left!" Nomi threw a ninja ring at another stanked kid that tried to sneak up on Randy.

"Thanks!" Randy called back, fighting back another two stanked students.

"How many did people did the Sorcerer get to?! Geez, the whole school's all stanked! This is wonk!"

"I believe a better term would be insane, impossible, or overall awful."

"…I really don't feel like now would be a good time to correcting me!"

"I'd say so. I will never be able to understand your slang terms you describe as 'the cheese'."

"Your timing on lessons are terrible."

"That isn't what I thought the day we built a snowman." Randy kicked another monster away and stared at Nomi in disbelief.

"I had a lesson that day? Why didn't you tell me?"

"…"

"What is with you and Lex?!"

"I…like like her, Randy. You know the affection and adoration I feel for Lex."

"We know she loves me though…"

"Enough with your childish attitude towards the matter! If your emotions get out of control, you'll be in the Sorcerer's control!"

"Whatever."

*Mordea?!*

From the roof of Norrisville High, Mordea stared down at the Ninja and his companion.

"Hello, Mordea."

"Ciao, Kasumi. It's quite a surprise to see you. I'd have thought you'd be hanging out with your boyfriends." Mordea said, turning to face the serious ninja.

"You know there's no point in this. Controlling everyone through fear and sorrow like the Sorcerer won't change anything! You need to let the past go, Mordea."

"Like you supposedly have?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not as stupid as you think, Alexandria. I can recognize my own sister."

"How…? Never mind…Mordea, you need to stop this. Don't you see what you're doing?"

"I'm getting what I deserve and so will you, dearest sister." Mordea launched at Lex, trying to attack her with a punch that was dodged.

"You don't have to do this!" Lex shouted, dodging and blocking every attack Mordea launched her way.

"I don't have to…but I want to." Mordea growled, trying to hurt her sister.

"Mordea! Think, would mom want this?!" Mordea stopped for a moment, staring at Lex in shock. She seemed conflicted and looked down at her feet.

"Don't throw that at me. I know what mom would've wanted…"

"Then you know she'd never want us fighting. She'd never want you acting like this. She never wanted to leave us." Lex walked over to Mordea, setting a hand on her shoulder.

"SHUT UP!" Mordea slapped Lex, sending her to the ground and coughing as she tried to stand again. "OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'D SAY! You were always the favorite…what was I?"

"…my big sister." Mordea stared down at Lex, tears clouding her vision as she crumpled to her knees.

"Mordea…I'm sorry." 'She's…what?' Mordea thought as she stared at Lex and her hand. The one she'd slapped her sister with. 'I've always wanted to hear that…I've wanted to make her suffer like I did, too, but…how can I?'

"I…" Lex stood up, holding a hand out. Mordea reached for it, unaware of the one being who was watching. The Sorcerer himself.

"I forgive–"

"NO!" A green mist immediately surrounded the two girls and they screamed.

"No! No no no no no no no!" Mordea slowly started to change, tears streaming from her eyes as it occurred. Her teeth sharpened and became jagged while black fur sprouted over her growing body. Nine bushy tails appeared and her ears became sharply pointed as her eyes became a vicious red. The large, fox-like creature that was once Mordea snarled menacingly, it's ruby red eyes glaring at Lex.

"Mordea…Mordea, it's me! Lex!" Mordea hissed and snapped at Lex, who jumped back as fast as possible.

"You pesky ninjas will NOT ruin this for me!" The Sorcerer yelled, laughing maniacally as Mordea tried to catch Lex.

"Mordea! Stop! This isn't you!" Lex continued trying to get through to her sister as she jumped from the roof, landing feet first on the lawn. Mordea landed right behind her, growling and snarling as she attacked Lex.

"Stop this!" Mordea swiped a massive paw at Lex. She dogged again, but fell and stared in horror as Mordea prepared to strike.

"Ninja block!" Randy jumped in front of Lex, holding Kusarigama out at Mordea that was, so far, preventing her from squashing Lex.

"C'mon! I need to get you out of here!" Nomi picked Lex up bridal style and ran behind the school, Randy pushing Mordea back and holding his Kusarigama out threateningly.

"What happened?" Nomi asked gently, still clutching Lex close to him.

"I…Mordea…we were yelling and…the Sorcerer…he…" Lex stumbled over her words and hiccuped.

"Shh…it's okay. We're going to change her back. Don't cry." Nomi whispered calmingly, wiping away tears Lex didn't even know were there.

"How?"

"I don't know how, but I am promise you that we will. Did she hurt you?"

"No. I mean, she slapped me, but–"

"I can't let you get hurt again then. Stay here."

"But I need to help!"

"Lex…my world would crumble to pieces if you weren't there. I can't let you get hurt." Nomi set Lex down and kissed her cheek before leaving to help Randy. 'I'm the only one who can stop her…it is my fault this happened anyway.' Lex thought, standing up peeking around the side of the school. More stanked teens were surrounding Randy and Nomicon as they fought off them and Mordea. To top it all off, the Sorcerer was using all of his tricks to make this even more difficult for Lex's friends. A look of determination set on her face, Lex walked out with her spiked fan and worked her way over to her friends. Stanked kids and teachers alike tried to stop her, but Lex fought them off and jumped at every attack meant to weaken her.

"Get away from my friends!" Lex kicked another stanked person away and stood in front of Nomi and Randy, Mordea looming over her.

"Lex, I told you–!"

"You need to learn that I don't like sitting around and doing nothing. I was the damsel once, I'm not being it again." Lex winked and grinned before facing Mordea.

"Only I can do this. You two need to worry about the Sorcerer."

"But–"

"No buts!" The two boys looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Lex put her fan away, holding her fists out. "Now Mordea, I think we need to fix this whole thing without any weapons." Mordea only hissed in reply as she instantly snapped her jaws at Lex. Lex leaped up, ready to hit Mordea's head, but she saw it coming and ducked. Lex grabbed onto her fur and clung on tighter when Mordea began jumped around to throw her off. She snarled and snapped as she ran around, knocking over many other stanked people in the process. Lex spotted Randy and Nomi fighting off the the Sorcerer not far from her. They were trying to lead him back to his dungeon, or, really, the gaping hole in the lobby's floor. 'He goes back down there…'

"Then all of this will stop!" Lex pulled on a patch of Mordea's fur, making her stop to try and scratch the pest away. Lex leaped off and prepared to face Mordea again when a massive tail (or nine, to be exact) smashed Lex into the wall. Mordea closed in on the poor girl, setting her paw on her back, ready to crush her. Lex looked up in pain, her pained violet eyes locked on the unrecognizable red orbs that belonged to a monster.

"You don't want to do this." Mordea's cold, glaring gaze softened at Lex's vulnerable form and she raised her paw.

"I know you." She sat down, pain, regret, and worry flashing through Mordea's eyes.

"I want my sister back."

"What are you waiting for?!" The Sorcerer yelled, tossing Nomicon and Randy aside easily. "Finish her!" Mordea's eyes turned their familiar green and, just before she became herself, she gave a loud roar and launched herself at the Sorcerer. He stumbled back in surprise, teetering precariously on the edge of the hole in the floor.

"What are you doing?! We had a deal, you foolish human!"

"The deal just expired." Mordea said with a smirk.

"How do you plan on ending it when I can just as easily end you?!"

"With a double ninja kick!" Randy and Nomi seemingly appeared out of nowhere and sent the Sorcerer down the bottomless pit.

"NOOOO!" He yelled as he fell, becoming smaller and smaller before he was out of sight.

"Just one more thing." Mordea smiled, taking a chaos pearl from her pocket and smashing it on the ground. The pearl shattered, releasing a light green gas into the air. Once stanked people slowly became themselves again and cheers broke out.

"We did it! Wonkin' Bruce high five!" Randy and Nomi high fived in triumph, both grinning from ear to ear.

"You two work pretty well together. For nuisances, of course." Mordea commenting with a laugh.

"We did. But we couldn't have done it without…! Lex!" They all turned back to where Lex was lying and rushed to her side. The people around them finally seemed to notice one of their heroes was down and crowded around them. Among the crowd, also, was Howard and Charles, both looking just as worried as Mordea, Randy, and Nomi.

"Lex? Lex, please tell me you can hear me! Lex…please. Please be okay." Randy whispered, holding Lex in his arms gingerly as he tried to wake her up.

"It's all my fault…" Randy shut his eyes and hugged Lex with strength he didn't know he had. The crowd was silent, their rejoice turned to worry and silent hope for Kasumi. He suddenly felt another pair of arms wrap themselves around his torso, hugging back gently. Randy lifted his head, opening his eyes to meet another pair that stared back at him in adoration.

"Did you really think I'd be done that easy, Randy?" Lex laughed weakly, cupping Randy's face with one hand. He leaned into her touch, smiling wide as tears of relief flooded his vision.

"I almost did."

"Randy Cunningham, you are an idiot sometimes." She lifted the bottom portion of Randy's mask and did the same with her own.

"That's why I like you." She pressed her lips firmly to Randy's, his eyes widening immensely. He slowly melted into the kiss, eyes fluttering shut as he wrapped his arms tighter around her thin form. The crowd seemed shocked first but eventually started clapping and a few cat calls were heard among them. Lex pulled away, blushing shyly as Randy opened his eyes slowly.

"Unbelievable how my first kiss was in front of a crowd of people while we're both ninjas. Awkward, huh? Especially since I know you don't feel the same, but I had to–" Randy pulled Lex into another abrupt kiss, surprising her this time. He pulled away with a lopsided grin that made Lex laugh as they pulled their masks over their mouths again.

"That's where you're wrong, 'Kasumi'. That was perfect. What I'm trying to say is…I-I-I l-love you." Lex blushed pure crimson and smiled.

"Same here, Ninja. Same here."

"Hey, hands off. Not until the third date." Mordea joked, helping them both up.

"I have to agree!" Charles said, pulling his daughters into a hug. "But still…I'm just happy you're both alright."

"I made a promise, didn't I?" Lex laughed.

"I'm happy you kept it."

"WOO! We did it!" Howard proclaimed, patting Randy on the back.

"We? What were you doing?"

"I was saving innocent citizens!"

"With Mr. Rivera's help!"

"Ah, tomato potato." Nomi walked up to Lex, giving her a sad smile.

"Nomi…" He hugged her, pulling back and holding Lex's shoulders. She could read what he wanted to say from his facial expressions.

"I'm sorry, Nomi, I–"

"Don't apologize. I was foolish for thinking I could make you love me more than him. It was a choice for you to make, and you made it. All that matters to me is your happiness."

"Thank you, Nomi. You're still going to be my best friend though, right? Life would be boring without you."

"I wouldn't dream of abandoning our friendship. No matter how awkward this may start out."

"That's my Nomicon! We need a group hug up in this piece!" They all gathered around the two and hugged, feeling nothing but happiness as everyone around them cheered in rejoice of order being restored.

"I love you guys."

*sniffle* that was beautiful! *blows nose obnoxiously loud into tissue* Well, the day is saved and I apologize for any annoyance caused because of my cliffhangers. I can't help it, okay! So, yeah! That was Another Ninja! Any final and general reviews are awesome so I know what you all though of this. Until next time…

*smoke bomb*