Being a Ninja

Evil Mara

The Destroyer's POV

I walk through the main corridor of our new headquarters.

Anger...

Anger is boiling inside me...

That girl...

She ruined my plans again!

I step through a door. Akira, my daughter, Parker and Jameson are there, planning a new strategy.

"That girl must pay! I will destroy her!!" I say and crash the table in the middle of the room to release my rage.

"The girl can be useful to us, though" Akira says.

"What are you saying?!... Hm... Yes... Maybe she can be useful to me..." I say, thinking.

"The "key" not only unlocks powerful things, as also it gives amazing powers to its protector. If the girl was on our side, we could use those powers in our favor..."

"Oh! I think I understand! I think there is a potion that can control a person. I can go check it" Says Jameson and starts looking for some papers in his bag.

"I still don't understand! That thing has powers?!" Parker says.

"You never do understand a thing, do you?" Jameson says, still looking in the bag.

Parker roars.

"Aha! Found it!" Jameson says and starts reading the papers he's holding. "Though there are some complications..."

"What complications?!" I ask.

"Being the "key" inside her heart, some strong feelings may not disappear with the potion. So, if the girl is in love and you send her to attack her lover... she may refuse..." Jameson says. I laugh.

"Ah! All I want is she to attack those pests! And I doubt that she loves one of them! We have to catch that girl! And I think I already know where she will be..." I say.

Mara's POV

I'm playing videogames with Miclair. Things have been pretty nice since we made up last week. We skate together, watch movies together, read comics together and play videogames together.

Cain seems to have told the others that he saw me and Miclair making up. Now, everyone just gives us a cheery smile when they see me and Miclair together. It's just irritating! It's not like me and Miclair are boyfriend and girlfriend! Or is it?...

Ah! Who cares?! I don't!

Not everything is fine, though. Kitsune is still here and she can't open a portal to get back home. We already tried to get to the portal machine, but the doors are always being guarded by ninjas, and even if we could get there, I just can't take the "key" out again to open the portal. I would die if I do so!

An idea just popped into my head.

*What if I don't take the "key" out? Will it work?*

Miclair wins the game we're playing.

"Haha! I won!!" He says, making his winner dance.

"Duffers! You only won because I was thinking about something else!" I say.

"You just have to admit it, Mara! I'm better than you on all the videogames in the world!!" He says.

"You wish duffers!" I say to him.

Of course that, even being ok with each other, me and Mikey still have fights.

"Here we go again!" Luc says.

I kick Miclair on the head and turn to Luc.

"Say, Luc? Is there any possibility to open a portal without taking the "key" out?" I ask.

"Gash, Mara! I don't know" Luc says.

"And that's the first thing he doesn't know!" Soren says.

"I think it is possible, Mara, but we still need the machine" Kitsune says, emerging from the shadows with Master Itsuki.

"Still, it can be very dangerous. You might lose your life, even if the "key" doesn't come out of your heart" Master Itsuki says.

"I have to try! Kitsune can't stay here forever!" I say.

"I appreciate your bravery, Mara. But I can't allow you to take that risk for me" Kitsune says.

Miclair holds my hand and I can feel the three curious’ eyes on us.

"I agree with Kitsune. You can't take that risk, Mara!" Miclair says.

I look into his eyes and feel sorry for kicking him a moment ago.

"But I have to..." I say, still looking into his eyes.

He makes a sad face, but gives up. He lets go of my hand. I put a smile back on my face, though I'm not very happy.

"Ok! Then let's go!" I say and start walking to the door, but someone grabs my shoulder.

"Calm down, Mara. We need a plan before we go, or we'll get captured" Soren says.

"Ok, alright!" I say and sit on the couch.

~One hour later~

The night is already on. Our plan is impossible to fail and we're already in front of the building's door. As we figured, a ninja is watching the door. We get our plan into action.

Miclair steps forward and starts concentrating all the attentions in him, in a very stupid way. He attacks the soldier and he falls, without making a single noise. We all get into the building.

We run through many doors, until we find it. The portal machine it's still there, completely the same. I approach it closely and touch it. My hand glows a bright white and I take it out immediately. Miclair comes from behind me.

"You sure you wanna do this?" He asks.

"Yeah" I answer.

I walk to the place where the Piece is on.

"Prepare yourself, Kitsune!" I say.

I place both hands on my heart and concentrate. Light spreads from me. It illuminates the entire room and also the Piece.

A portal starts appearing.

"You're doing it, Mara! You're doing it!" Luc says and the portal is now completely open.

"Go, Kitsune! I can't hold up much longer!" I say, with a weak voice.

"Thank you, Mara" She says and gets inside the portal.

As soon as she is back to her home I fall to the floor, exhausted, but Miclair catches me before I hit the ground.

"You ok?" He asks.

"I'm fine, Miclair. Just a little tired, but I'm fine" I say and I fall asleep in his arms.

Miclair's POV

Mara just fell asleep. Man! She must be exhausted! I hold her up.

"We have to get out of here!" Soren says.

We all run to the main entrance, or should I say, to the way out!

But someone is there waiting for us.

"Destroyer!" Cain says, preparing his knives.

"Miclair! Protect Mara! We'll distract him!" Soren says.

"Yes, bro!" I say and run away from there as fast as possible.

But I have to stop running. There's another person blocking my way.

"Stand back, dude! I have my weapons and I'm not afraid to use them!" I say to the guy.

"I'm not planning to make you use it, either, despicable brat!" Says a horrible voice.

From behind the shadows, comes The Destroyer. My jaw drops.

"But-but- you were right back there!" I say, pointing.

"The one that your stupid brothers are fighting is not me. I could presume that you would want to protect the girl, so I came after you instead" He says.

"You won’t take her! Not while I'm alive!" I say, holding Mara even closer.

"We can fix that!" He says and attacks.

I dodge it and put Mara resting against a wall. I get my weapons out and attack!

I strike him but he attacks back and I hit the wall close to Mara. I get up again, but before I can fully get up, the Destroyer strikes me and I go flying against another wall. This time I can't move with all the pain.

The Destroyer gets close to Mara and grabs her, putting her on his shoulder. Mara wakes up and starts screaming and kicking at him, but I'm unable to hear what she's saying.

I try to look at her, but she seems to be far away, now. The Destroyer is taking her, and I can't do anything.

"MICLAIR!!!!!!!!!!!" I hear Mara’s voice, but I can't hold on much longer and faint right there.

Luc's POV

Me and my brothers are still fighting the Destroyer. His movements seam less powerful, though.

The Destroyer steps back and gives a laugh, but there is something different...

The laugh is from a girl. He takes out the helmet.

For our surprise, Akira is the one under the helmet.

"Akira? What the shell are you doing here?!" Soren asks.

"Distracting you from what we really want. You are so predictable!" Akira says.

"Oh no! Miclair!" Cain says and starts running to the place where Miclair and Mara had gone.

"Wait, Cain!" Soren says and we run after him, leaving Akira behind.

She didn't seem interested in following us. We all continue running.

Suddenly, we see a shadow next to the wall. Cain runs to it. We do it too.

It’s Miclair. He is unconscious and extremely hurt. Mara is nowhere to be seen.

"Miclair! Miclair!! Wake up!" Cain says, shaking him.

Miclair murmurs and opens his eyes.

"Mara... The Destroyer took her..." He says in a weak voice.

"We know. We have to go back to the lair, now. Then, we'll come back for Mara" Soren says, holding Miclair up. Cain holds the other side.

We walk back to the lair, avoiding the ninjas. Once we're there, I heal Miclair's wounds and get him to rest in his bed.

*Poor Miclair... He lost Mara and got hurt in one single day! Poor guy...* I think and dive in my computer, making a research on where Mara could be.

Mara's POV

The Destroyer is taking me through a small corridor, still inside the building. I'm still fighting to free myself from him. I hit him on the back, hoping that he will have enough.

"That's enough!" He says and throws me to the floor.

I immediately hit him in the legs and he falls. I get up and run! I stop, suddenly.

He is in my front.

"But- he-..." I say, watching him come closer.

I step back and hit another thing or person... I look back.

Another Destroyer is behind me!

"What the-?" I start.

But my mouth is covered by a cloth with a strange smell. I fight for a little bit, but I can't hold on and faint. This really has to stop happening to me...

*Dream*

I'm in a dark place. In here, there's only darkness and there’s no light in sight. I can barely see myself, but I look around, looking for someone.

"Hello!!! Anybody there?!" I scream, but I can only hear my own voice back.

"I'm here" A voice says, behind me.

With an impulse, I turn around.

"Wha-? But-? This makes no sense!" I say.

The person that’s in front of me is no more no less than myself.

"But- you're me!" I say.

"Good point there. Though there is a difference between us" She says.

"I don't understand! What difference?! Who the hell are you?!" I ask.

"Like I said, I am you, but I'm evil and obey the Destroyer, while you are the purity. Your purity has been holding me off for the last 15 years, but now, with the help of this potion, I'll be the one holding you off!!" She says and attacks me.

I avoid it and strike back. She disappears right in front of my eyes, right before I could hit her.

"Wha-?" I say.

Suddenly, something sharp goes through my heart. I slowly look down and see that one of my Kitty Girl's claws is trespassing my chest.

"Now you won’t interfere!" Evil Mara says and takes the claw out of my heart.

I fall to the floor, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to do anything. My vision starts to blur. I see the other Mara getting down to face me.

"It will be a pleasure to kill your little boyfriend and your friends!" She says and leaves, laughing into the darkness.

"No... Guys... Miclair..."

I pass out, but I'm not dead. No... I would be dead if this was the reality, but it is not. Only my pure soul is gone. My body is now gonna be controlled by the other part of me...

The Evil Mara...

*End Dream*

I slowly wake up. I'm in a large room. I sit on the bed.

Someone walks in.

It's the Destroyer, followed by Akira, Parker and Jameson.

"Are you ready to take my orders without protest?" The Destroyer asks.

"Yes, master" I say, with an evil grin.

Miclair's POV

I wake up in my bed. My wounds are much better. I'm ready to fight again! I jump from my bed and head down stairs.

"Morning, Miclair!" My brothers compliment.

"Morning!" I say. "Any news of Mara?"

They all get their heads down.

"No..." Luc says.

I sit at the table and start to eat breakfast. Maybe it will cheer me up.

The alarm starts ringing! We all run to the main computer.

"MARA!!!!" We shout at the same time, very happily.

Mara is on the screen, without a single scratch and with her head down. Soren looks a little suspicious.

"Don’t you think she's way too good to be true?" He says.

"No way, Soren! She probably just got away before they could hurt her!" I say, running to the entrance.

My brothers follow me and we get to the tunnel where Mara is.

There she is, like she hadn't even made a move. She's way too still, but I don't care! I run and hug her and she doesn't even hug me back, but I don't care! I'm so happy to have her back.

"Miclair! Get out of there!" Soren's voice shouts.

I let go of Mara and look behind. My brothers are surrounded by ninjas. I look back at Mara. She lifts her head.

My jaw drops. Mara doesn't have that nice look she used to. Now, her face is evil and she's wearing an evil grin, and those bright red eyes just crept the hell outta me.

"You are SO predictable!" She says, with a voice that doesn't even seem like Mara's.

I step back and I can hear my brothers fight with the ninjas behind me.

"You're not Mara!!" I say

"You're wrong in that point. I am Mara. Just not the one you know" She says.

"Then where is she?! What happened to Mara?!" I scream.

"The Mara you know is long gone. But I'm still here, and I'm ready to finish you off!!" She says and attacks.

I dodge. Her weapons are some claws that she holds in her hands.

She attacks again, but I keep dodging her attacks, unable to attack back.

My mind is still confused with what just happened.

*This girl is not Mara! Then what happened to the kind Mara?! She said she’s gone... No! That can't be possible!* I think.

With all my anger, I jump at Mara. We roll over until we get to the end of the tunnel, which is where there is that big whirlpool on the bottom.

Mara gets up and jumps to one pipe above the whirlpool.

"Come and get me, if you want your dear Mara back!" She says.

I jump to the pipe she's on and I start fighting her.

My brothers appear in the tunnel right at our side, but they don't dare to jump to help me. This pipe is too small and it would fall with so much weight in it.

Mara makes me trip and I nearly fall from the pipe, but I hold on to it and climb back up.

Once I'm back on the pipe, one of Mara's claws threats my neck. I'm forced to stand still and look up at Mara.

"Now, I shall destroy you, so you won't be standing in my way or my master's!!" She says and her claw goes up to strike me harder.

My brothers are protesting and telling me to get out of there, but I can't move.

Is this really the end? Killed by the one I love?

The claw starts coming down with extreme velocity. I get my head down, ready to face my destiny.

*NO!!!!!*

The claw stops, right before it hits me. I look up again. Mara is with a shocked face, as if it wasn't her controlling her arm.

A c***k comes from the pipe. It's about to break.

"Mara, let’s get outta here!" I say, but I get no response. Mara still doesn't move.

"Mara!!"

It's no use. The pipe breaks and I nearly miss the tunnel where my brothers are, after jumping off.

I hang in the extreme of the tunnel, with my brothers there to help me up. I look behind to see Mara.

She didn't make up. She's falling to the whirlpool still with the same shocked face she had a while ago.

"MARA!!!!!!!!!!!!" I scream.

Mara hits the water and vanishes.

I get up to the tunnel, tears coming from my eyes. Someone taps my back.

"It's ok, Miclair. Everythin’s goin’ ta be ok" Cain says and places his arm around my shoulder.

We all walk back to the lair, passing through the unconscious ninjas.

*Evil Mara's Dream*

Darkness is around me, but that doesn't mind for I’m used to the darkness. I'm angry... Very angry! I wasn't able to stab that punk! All because of that stupid girl!

I walk until I can see someone. I walk closer to her.

Mara is barely on her feet, holding the wound in her heart. I'm surprised how she can still walk. She seems so completely defenseless!

"You stood in my way for the last time!!" I shout.

Green ropes hold her arms, legs and torso. She screams in pain.

"You see, with the potion running through our veins, you cannot take control of our body anymore! Stop my arm from hitting your lover was the best you could do! But next time... You won't stop me from killing him!" I say.

The green ropes holding her start tightening. She faints after a while of t*****e.

I turn around and leave to my body. Ready to come out alive from those waters.

*End Evil Mara's Dream*

Evil Mara's POV

I swim, with all my strength, back to the surface and take a deep breath. I swim to land and regain my breath.

After a while, I get up and get out of the sewers. I walk in the shadows back to the new main building of the Destroyer.

I get in the room where the Destroyer, Jameson and Akira are.

"Ah, Mara! Can you explain me what happened to you and my ninjas?" The Destroyer asks.

"I had a small problem, but it is already fixed" I say.

"I hope so. I don't want another failure in this other mission" He says.

"Tell me what is that mission and I shall accomplish with what you want, master" I say.

"Since they already know you have knowledge of their hiding place, we will prepare them a trap" The Destroyer says.

"What do I have to do?" I ask, grinning.

The Destroyer smiles and starts telling me the plan of the trap.

Miclair's POV

I'm lying on my bed, thinking of what happened yesterday.

Mara’s gone...

And even if she was alive, she would be on the Destroyer's side...

I spent the whole day crying in my room. I don't think I ever cried so much!

But now I know I don't have any more tears to cry. I'm going down stairs to face my brothers again.

I get up from my bed and head down stairs.

As usual, Soren is meditating, Cain is kicking his punching bag, Master Itsuki is in his room, probably meditating, and Luc is in his computer.

I smile. Nothing changed, after all. Except for the absence of Mara...

Cain looks at me with a worried look, but he doesn't say a word.

I walk to the TV and turn it on.

My jaw drops.

On the screen, there isn't any usual program, just the Destroyer!

"Hey, dudes! Come here!" I say.

My brothers come running to me.

"What's the matter, Miclair?" Soren asks, but then he sees the TV.

The Destroyer starts talking.

"I have good news for you, brats. Your friend Mara is not dead, and she's not even by my control anymore. Here's the proof"

The screen shows an unconscious Mara, now. She seems to be ok, though.

"I have an offer to give you. Come here by midnight today and I will deliver you your so dear friend. If you don't....well... then you can say goodbye to her!" The Destroyer says and threatens Mara's throat with his knives.

The screen goes off and we all stay in silence for a while.

"We have to go save her!!" I say.

"I don't know, Miclair... It sounds like a trap" Soren says.

"I don't care! I have to help Mara!" I say and run to the front door.

But Master Itsuki is there, blocking my way out.

"You will not go anywhere! It's far too dangerous and you still aren't completely cured from your last fight with the Destroyer!" He says.

"But-but-" I start

"You can't go and that's final! I fear for your safety" Master Itsuki says.

Many hours passed by and it's getting dark. I'm playing videogames now, but I still can't stop thinking of Mara. *Was it really a trap? But I have to go save Mara!* I think.

I turn the TV off and pretend that I yawn.

"I'm tired! I'm going to get some sleep" I say and walk to my room.

"That's weird! Since when did Miclair go ta bed so early?!" Cain says.

I wait in my room for a few hours. I hear that no one is in the living room any longer, so I tip toe to the front door.

When I am almost getting out, someone touches my shoulder. I jump and scream, but the one that touched my shoulder covered my mouth.

"Shhhh! Do ya want Masta' Itsuki ta wake up?!" Cain says, still covering my mouth.

"We don't want that, do we?" Luc's voice says and he appears from the darkness, followed by Soren.

Cain takes his hand off my mouth, which is now wide open.

"We already left a message for Master Itsuki not to stay worried. Now, let's go!" Soren says.

"T-Thanks, bros!" I say and we run our way to rescue Mara.

We jump in the rooftops of the buildings to find some ninjas. We passed through Amelia's house and Jack came along with us. We need to find a ninja so he can lead us to where the headquarters are.

We find one in no time. He's standing at the entrance of one building.

"You think it is down there?" Luc asks.

"How 'bout we ask him... nicely?" Cain says.

"Sounds good, but don't be too rough on-" Soren starts, but Cain is already halfway to the ninja.

Cain grabs him by the collar and pushes him up.

"Are these your headquarters?! Answer me!" Cain shouts.

"Y-yes..." The ninja says.

Cain drops him and he runs inside the building.

"Ok, let's go!!" Cain says and enters the building.

We follow him and run through the corridor. Like the other headquarters, the corridors have lots of doors.

We enter one and find only one more corridor with more doors.

"Man! Don't they know how to choose a place that's not a labyrinth?!" I say.

"It's a perfect alibi, though" Luc says.

"A perfect what?!" We all ask.

"Never mind!" Luc says.

We continue running.

"If you want to have your friend back, come to the room fourteen, on the corridor seven. Me and Mara will be there waiting for you...Hahahahahah!!" The Destroyer's voice says, followed by an evil laugh.

We all stand still.

"Where tha hell is room fourteen?!" Cain shouts.

"On corridor seven" Soren finishes.

We all look at each other and then look at the door that is in our side.

It's written: "Room twelve, Corridor five"

"Oh! So that's what the guy wanted to say!" Jack says.

"Ok! We already know where we have to go! Now, we just need to get there!" Soren says.

We nod and run all the way to Room twelve, Corridor five. We stop once we get there.

"Ok, guys. You ready?" Soren asks, preparing himself to open the door.

"Ready!!" We all say.

Soren opens the door and we all get in there. It's a large room, leading to many tunnels and doors.

In a small metal bed, lies Mara.

I run to her and try to touch her, but my hand goes through her body and she vanishes. I glare and take my weapons out.

"I knew it!! It's a trap!!" Soren says.

"Come out from wherever ya are, Destroyer!!" Cain screams.

We hear his evil laugh.

"It's not me who you will fight today, brats!" The Destroyer's voice says, but we can't see him anywhere.

A shadow starts appearing in one of the tunnels. My brothers and Jack take out their weapons.

The shadow comes closer and closer, until we can see who it is.

All our jaws drop.

It's Mara, but with a ninja suit.

"M-Mara..." I say.

"I'm not that easy to kill, and, this time, I won't hesitate in killing you" Mara says, with a voice that doesn't seem like hers.

I gasp. My brothers and Jack get ready to fight.

Mara runs forward and attacks Soren. Soren blocks and continues fighting Mara. Mara has no weapon. She's just fighting with her fists.

Mara and Soren finish the fight as Mara jumps back.

"Where're your claws, missy? Ya can't fight without a weapon!" Cain says.

"I have a new weapon today" Mara says, with an evil grin.

Mara moves her hand forward and, from her hand, appears some kind of a thunder ball. She throws the ball to us.

It hits Soren and he is blown against the wall.

"Soren!!" Luc shouts and runs to him.

"Who wants to be next?" Mara says.

"How 'bout ya?!" Cain says and runs to Mara, his knives in his hands.

He tries to hit her, but she dodges and throws him a thunder ball that makes him fly through the air, hitting then the ground. Jack strikes next, but he’s not luckier than Cain. Mara didn't throw him a thunder ball, though. She just hit him really hard on the stomach. Jack falls to the floor, moaning and holding to his stomach.

"Three down! Two left!" Mara says.

"L-Luc... Take M-Miclair and r-run away from here..." Soren says, in a weak voice.

"We can't leave you three here!" Luc says to Soren.

"M-Mara... She's too powerful. You have to go. These balls can kill!" Soren says, with all his strength.

Luc nods and starts running and I run after him. We get into one of the tunnels and continue running.

We are still running, when Mara appears in the ceiling in front of us.

We stop running, looking at her. She can teleport and stay backwards too!

Mara creates another thunder ball and throws it to Luc.

Luc flies back and hits the ground.

I look up at Mara. She gets to the floor and starts walking closer to me.

"Now it's just you and me, punk!"