Pure Shadows

Pure Shadows is the story of young Nero Alon, a casual penguin that is given a destiny that he could have never imagined. Yet whenever things seem to be running smoothly,things will change. His will will be tested, and friendship will cause him to make choices, no penguin should make.

Prologue
No life, is ever meant to be normal. Especially one like mine. One moment, you're a socially awkward 9th grader, the next you're thrown into a world of assassins and chaos. To be honest, it wasn't so hard to adapt to it all.

It was an average day in an average art class. I was walking back from the supply closet, with a few cups of paint in my flipper. Half way across the room, some jerks showed up and surrounded me, pushing me around amongst themselves. I eventually lost my balance and the paint went flying onto the shirt of one of the fiends. Red paint all over a nice white shirt, poor shame.... Of course, that led to me getting beat up after school in the school parking lot. Such beatings made me more resilient to pain. After what seemed like hours, they finally lost interest in me and left me on the pavement.

I was pretty banged up, a few bruises on my torso, and a bit of blood coming from my beak and nose. I rose my hand to feel the blood and check how bad it was.It was pretty bad, as I looked at the blood on my fingers. I lay my head back down on the pavement, trying to soak up all the pain i was going through. As i shut my eyes, i began to feel an odd sense in the hand i had covered in blood. I looked at it, as it slowly rose itself, against my own will. No one was around, so I seriously began to worry what was going on. Suddenly, my bloody flippers met the surface I laid on, slowly and delicately drawing something I could not comprehend.

Being born and raised in South Pole City, despite being Finipino, only allowed me to recognize, that the symbol "I" was somehow making, was no doubt Finipino lettering. My flipper stopped its movements, returning control to me. Getting up on my elbows, I got a good look at the bloody symbol. At first it looked like a bunch of random scribbles, but then, it began to glow with its red color.

I next found myself standing in an empty area of a deep mist. By then, i was about ready to wet myself, in spite of all these recent events. Before i could call out for anyone, a mysterious voice called out to me.

"Nero Alon, we have summoned you." said the voice, and then the mist came together, forming a bald old guy with a long white beard. At that moment, i swear i had lost all faith in my sanity.

"Ummmmmmm... Who are you?" I asked timidly.

"I am Hisao Hiroshi. One of your ancestors." said the man. Clearly he was Japalandese, so I wasn't about to question the ancestral part.

"Why am I here? What is this place?" Obviously i was going to question that much.

"Patience boy, all will be revealed shortly. All you need to know, is that you come from a long line of ninjas. You are the one chosen from your century and generation, to join in this long tradition." Hisao said in a calm tone. This was a lot to take in, even though all he said was a few sentences.

"But why me?" I asked with a bit of doubt. I was never one to think I was destined for such greatness.

"It is your destiny young one, it is fate that brought you here today."

"I don't understand! How did I get here? How am I supposed to be a ninja?!" I exclaimed to the man before me.

"All in due time..... Young one...." Hisao faintly said. Things began to blur, and everything went dark.

I woke up back in the school parking lot, it seemed that not even a minute has passed when I blanked out. Looking back at the blood symbol i had created, it was now just a small mess of a blood stain. I painfully got back up to my feet, and looked around. As usual, I was alone. I felt my face to check my status on my blood loss. Odd enough, it had stopped, and any bruises I might have had were gone. What an odd series of events..... Letting out a heavy sigh, I began to walk home, waddling closer towards a beautiful sunset.

My name is Nero Alon, and this is my story.

=Chapter 1: The Family Business=

It was late in the afternoon when I finally reached my home in the suburbs. If I had come home with all the blood and bruises, my mom would have killed me. Opening the door, I hastily ran past the kitchen and up the stairs to my room. I burst open the doors and jumped into my swivel chair in front of my desk. From there, I rested my head on the arms, supported by the elbows on my desk. What on earth happened back there? Did I seriously just get visited by a spirit, or did I simply go unconcious and have a crazy dream? It was something to ponder on later, for my mom had called out for me from the kitchen down stairs.

"Nero, time to eat!" she called out. Because I don't want to lose my life, I quickly waddled down to the dinner table, where I nice hot bowl of ramen waited for me. Grabbing my spoon, I dove in. Hot or not, I swallowed without chewing.

"Mani! Get down here, time to eat!" bursted out my mother. Manila, also known as Mani, is my older brother, by a year and few months. We have the same black spiked hair, but he was a few inches or so higher, and a few centimeters wider than me. He casually waddled down the stairs and took his seat across from me, digging into his bowl of ramen. Because mom ate before she got home, she went up stairs after Mani took his seat, to get some sleep. She works at the local clinic, working from morning to the afternoon.

Because me and my brother never really liked each other, we ate in silence, thankfully, I finished first. I took my bowl to the dishwasher and bolted back to my room. I had no homework do the next day and it was gettig late, so i naturally jumped into bed, getting some sleep minutes later....

Why couldn't it have been a normal night of sleep? Why?! Again, I was standing in the world of mist, with that same old guy sitting on the ground next to me. Because we were already introduced, I took a seat across from him.

"Nero...." said the wise penguin.

"Ummmm ugh..... Hisao?" I replied, "What is going on?"

"Not much, how about you?" casually asked Hisao.

"Oh you know, usual beat up, bleeding, and being visited by a bald penguin in a spirit world..... Yep normal." I snarkishly reply to him.

"Well first off I'm not bald, you're just too naive to see my afro."

I didn't know what was more odd, the fact that he is trying to insult me in a dream, or that he's Japalandese with a fro. I shook the ideas out of my head, and regained focus.

"Are you even real?!" I asked. "Because you don't seem like you are." He replied with a swift smack onto my head. It was very effective in proving he was real.

"Okay, so you're real, probably, but why am I here again?"

"You are here to follow in the family business. Being a ninja."

"Ummmmm a ninja? Can you please explain?"

"Of course...." Hisao said, slowly moving his hand to move the mist around us. The mist cleared, bringing us to our feet, standing in the middle of an open plain. Looking around, I saw a small village behind us, and a small group of penguins covered in armor, armed with small and blunt swords. Hearing a loud horn, I looked forward, seeing a large crowd of soldiers, with better weapons and armor run towards us. They phased right through me and Hisao, for we were never really there. We both turned towards the village, to watch the battle.

Before a soldier could lay a hand on any of the villagers, all the invaders were shot from all around, with arrows moving at the speed of light. The soldiers fell over one another, dead. Looking around for the source of the arrows, I saw the archers step forward in front of the village. It was a band of 5 warriors covered in black garments. Ninja. They each carried a bow and arrow, as well as a moderately sized sword. They stood over the dead bodies looking over the horizon. Another batallion of soldiers came forth, and began their charge towards the village. The ninja resonded by drawing their swords, and ran forward to meet their enemies half way. The battle was like something I had never seen, sadly it ended quickly with the ninjas leaving an army of soldiers dead.

"Who are they?" I asked in amazement.

"They are your ancestors, the first ninja of our clan." Hisao replied, "They are the original Hiroshis, who founded the clan. They protected their home and drove back those who wished them harm."

"So they protected the innocent, but what from?"

"Those soldiers served Lord Igua, no one knows where he came from, but he was a powerful overlord, bent on taking over all of the region."

"Never heard of him." I replied, for i never read him in history class.

"It is because he constantly changes his name as time passes."

"Why? Can't he just stick with one name?"

"Not when you're immortal. You see, he achieved immortality many years ago. He is destinied to roam the land until his immortality is removed from his twisted soul." explained Hisao.

"Ok, but where is he now, in my time?"

"We do not know....." he replied.

"What do you mean WE?" I questioned. Hisao said nothing as he rose his flipper, yet again changing the scene with a shroud of mist. We again stood in the world of the dense mist, but we were not alone. There were other penguin who were aged just like Hisao, standing before us.

"These are my brothers. Icky, Taboo, Iganawa, and Kai." Hisao said, "We are the ninja you saw fight those soldiers. And we will be the ones who will show you what we know."

=Chapter 2: Inheritance=

"What do you mean you'll train me? This is all some kind of dream, it's not like you can meet me in the real world and train me." I said.

"We do not need to, we just need to show you what you already know. You see, are a rare case of the clan where you have our memories and skills built into your mind." said Icky, the tallest of the group. He then, reached over to me and poked my forehead. WHen we made contact, a large rush of light flashed before me. And with that, I jumped out of the dream, awakening in my bed. Looking at my alarm clock, I was a few minutes away from being late for school. I let out a heavy sigh, and got out of bed. I did my normal routine of getting dressed and cleaned up, then went down stairs to get some breakfast. Thank goodness it was Friday, I've been looking forward to the weekend since Sunday.

Finishing up a quick bowl of cereal, I heard the bus horn outside, so I bolted on board before they changed their mind on picking me up. Sitting in the back seat, I tried to get some more sleep but the speed bumps suggested otherwise.

By the time I got off the bus, my two best friends were outside the school waiting for me. Dex Garcia, and Emi Gonzalez, friends I have had since 6th grade. Dex greeted me with the usual flipper slap, and Emi a nice hug. Dex was a Ligurian a few months younger than me, we had similar spikes of hair. Emi was Japalandese, but you couldn't tell her japalan decent. She was pretty smart, always took advanced classes, but still took a few electives with me and Dex.

"So Nero, I heard you took a beating yesterday, sorry I wasn't around to save your butt again." said Dex.

"Eh don't worry about it....." I said, "And what do you mean by again?" At that comment, Dex put a flipper on my shoulder.

"Remember to 6th grade lunch period?" stated Dex with a catious tone. With that comment I was remembered of a beating that I could never forget.

"Ok first off, how was I supposed to know she had taken self defense classes?!"

"I told you I had been taking classes," commented Emi, "and you said you hated my guts." Yep that was a true story. I hated her guts back then, and before Emi could kick the life out of me, Dex came in and interveined for me. From that day, we formed a friendship hat could not be broken.

"Well you only one because I don't hit girls, which is why I never hit Dex." I snarkishly said. Dex replied with a swift punch to my arm.

"Well whoop dee-doo, Nero is a gentlman, congratulations." Dex stated. After that moment, the school bell rang, signaling everyone class wil start soon. The three of us had different first periods, so I went off to history class, while Dex and Emi went in other directions.

Taking my seat before the next bell, I notice the group of chumps who jumped me yesterday walk in. They take notice of me, and seated themselves directly behind me. Later into the class time I try to take some notes, but I'm suddenly interrupted by a paper ball hitting the side of my head. Of course, I do my best to ignore it. Again, even more paper balls hit me. By that time, I was about ready to move my seat. Continuing with my notes, I suddenly heard the sound of paper crumpling behing me. But not only that, but the sound of it being tossed. Quick on my feet, or rear end, I spun on my seat, and caught the ball in my flipper. I had no idea what had happpened, but I casually slipped back into my desk and threw the paper ball into the trash can, like a pro. I don't know what the idiots behind me were thinking, but I bet the looks on their faces were priceless.

The class period ended in peace, and I sprinted out into the hall. How did I do that back there? But my train of thought was interrupted by the jerks that preyed on me.

"Hey, kid, we want to have a word with you!" announced the tallest of the group. With words like that, the entire hall way wen silent, and the rest of the students backed away from me, watching. The rest of the chumps surrounded me, and the tallest one approached me.

"You think you're cool with you're fancy ninja senses?" he asked me.

"Not at all." I reply, holding in my rage, for he was the one that used me as a punching bag the day before.

"Pfft, yeah well, try to get yourself out of this ninja boy." he replied, getting ready to give me a quick punch. Before I had any time to think, I reached my flipper out and grabbed his punch. He stopped dead in his tracks when I stopped him, we all did. Everyone around us, stared, dead silent.

With his fist still trapped in mine, he tried swinging his other wing at me. I block that attack with my other flipper, then quickly punched him in the face., knocking him to the ground. Speechless and amazed, I stared at his unconcious body. Then I heard something swing behind me, and caught another fist with my own wing. Turning my head to face my enemy, I spun his arm around, causing him to lose balance and fall.

After that one of the chumps came up from behind and bear hugged me, while another positioned himself in front of me. The guy in front tried to punch me, but I attempted a back flip, which caused the punch to hit the wrong person, freeing me. Sticking the landing from my back flip, I delivered a round house kick to the final guy.

I realize I might have gone a bit too far, for everyone around me was speechless, up to the point where they all cheered and applauded. I soaked in the praise, until someone further down the hall announced that Prinicipal Rick was approaching. From there we all acted casually, and I waddled away from all that had happened.

Later at lunch, I met up with Dex and Emi at our usual hang out, the roof of the school. It wasn't illegal, it's just that no one bothers to come up here but us. Not too far from the edge was a small bench, where Dex and emi were already waiting for me.

"Hey Nero, you hear what happened?" asked Dex, holding up a can of soda.

"What happened?" I said, walking over to them.

"Some guy took down the delinquent crew after first period. I heard it was intense."

"Seems like things are changing." I comment.

"Yeah well, who ever took them down, should watch himself." Emi said, "I don't want to beat another guy senseless."

"I DON'T HIT GIRLS!" I exclaimed. With that statement out there, we all couldn't help but laugh. I was still wondering how I managed to do all those things, never in my life have I been able to learn such things...... Or did I?

"So Nero," said Dex, "what have you been thinking about?" The question caught me off guard, but I shouldn'thave been, seeing as how I've been spacing out many times recetly.

"I've been thinking..... About ninjas." I said innocently. Dex and Emi laugh at my answer, as if I was a child. "What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing, Nero." answered Emi, "I guess we all lose our maturity every once in a while."

"I'm not being childish, I'm being serious!" This comment only made them laugh even more.

"Yeah well, when yo become a ninja, let me know. I want you to get me out of all my classes." suggested Dex. We all couldn't help but give a small chuckle about that last comment. Finishing our lunch, we went back to class, and the rest of the day carried on normally.

Night arrived in its usual proces, and I went to bed, expecting the bizarre. I "woke up" again in the dream world, sitting with the Hiroshis.

"So how was school?" asked Hisao.

"I kicked the butt of numerous bullies, how's being a haunting spirirt for a 16 year old boy?" I replied.

"Oh you know same old same old, how does it feel knowing you got your butt kicked by a girl?" Icky commented. I remained silent, becaue I knew they were obviously talking about Emi.

"Ok changing subject, what did you guys do to me? How did I somehow gain the skill of a kung fu master over night?"

"We simply reactivated the genes you have inherited from us." explained Taboo, "You were born with our skill, and like those before you, we simply let them have their inner skill."

"So far, you've only scratched the surface of your inner ability. By practicing what you know, you'll be able to allow us to restore more of you're hidden talents." explained Iganawa.

"So, the more experience I get with these skills, the more you'll reteach me?" I asked optimistically.

"Pretty much." said Hisao.

"Perfect. I'm always up for a change in my normal routine." I said with a smile.

("Do you believe he is ready master?") ("No, not yet.")

=Chapter 3: Break Out=

Mani POV

It was early on a saturday morning. Who in the right mind does that?! I stretched, letting out a low groan as I got to out of bed. Waddling down stairs to get some cereal, I could still hear Nero's annoying snore from his room upstairs. Getting the milk out of the fridge, I was visited by an "old friend". It was Kai Hiroshi, my spirit mentor. He stood across the kitchen with his buzz cut of black hair and few wrinkles on his face.

"Yes sensei?" I asked him, for it was rare for him to meet me outside my dreams.

"You're skills are required." Kai said, "A group of penguin who can serve our cause were imprisoned not too long ago, I need you to get them out."

"It will be done sensei." I replied putting away my cereal and running back to my room. I reached under my bed and pulled out a small casing which contained my suit. I dawned the black gui and pants, topped off with the cowl and mask to conceal my face and identity. At the bottom of the casing, was the daggar my father gave me, before he died in the fire so many years ago. I equipped it, and went out the window.

Leaping from tree to tree, I reached the prison within minutes. It was heavily fortified, but nothing I couldn't handle. Sneaking around the back, I leapt over the wall, into the courtyard. No one noticed, and climbed p to one of the guard towers. I silently and quickly dispatched the only guard there with my blade, and then assessed my current situation. Guards were positioned all over, and prisoners 626-630, were out in the courtyard, lifting weights.

I needed a diversion, if I was to get to them. I stood on the roof of the guard tower, and summoned Shadar, my spirit animal. From within my chest, a black tatoo stretched from my fore arm to my wrist, changing its dimmensions. Forming into a physical shadowy puffle, that rested on my arm, waiting for its command. I looked at it, and pointed at the courtyard of prisoners. Shadar nodded its little head, and launched itself towards the prison courtyard. Getting closer, it took its real form. It grew to twice the size of the average penguin, revealing that it no longer was a puffle, but now a giant bird of shadows, with a beak and talons as sharp as my blade.

Shadar swooped into the courtyard, releasing a loud shriek. The prisoners fled, and Shadar tore up the place looking for its prey. Moments later, he returned to me, with four boys around the age of 17 like me, petrified with fear.

"You all are coming with me." I announced. I hopped on top of Shadar, and we took off, with our captives trapped within his talons.

At the usual abandoned warehouse by the pier, I brought them a change of clothes and some food. I have no idea what sensei saw in them, they seemed more like high school drop outs than warriors. I remained silent, until Kai revealed himself to them.

"Hello everybody." Kai started off. Everyone but me was speechless, but I'm usually quiet. "My name is Kai Hiroshi, and I have brought you here, to help you seek redemption." Again, those idiots looked clueless, one of them was actually drooling. It was so sad to watch, I had to dumb it down for them.

"He broke you out of the slammer to give you cool powers to kick butt." I said. They understood and nodded to each other.

"So when do we get started?" asked the shortest of the group. At that question, Kai approached him and grabbed his wing with an intense grip. From the grip, a tatoo formed on the boy, a tatoo that crawled its way under his shirt to the shoulder. Once at the shoulder, the tattoo covered his body entirely in the black ink in which it was formed. The tattoo consumed him, giving him a ninja suit similar to mine. Kai did the same to the rest. Minutes later, the group of misfits that dropped out of high school, were now a group of shadowy warriors like me. I was no longer the only one fighting for Kai's cause. The cause to bring peace to the land, by any means necessary.

Kai once came to me in my dreams on the night of my 16th birthday, requesting I follow the path of my ancestors. The path of the ninja. He trained me in the dream world, and since then I haven't left his training. He also gave me his chocie of spirit animal when my training was nearing completion. I chose the spirit of the hawk, named Shadar. Better than an average puffle anyday.

=Chapter 4: I choose you=

Nero POV

It was finally the weekend, and I tried to sleep in... But Hisao had other plans..... Involving a gong, over my bed...... I jumped out of bed, and stumbled to the floor at the sound of the mallet making contact with the gong.

"Okay. NEVER, DO THAT AGAIN!" I said to Hisao, standing over me.

"If you are to be a ninja, you must discipline yourself, like one." he said, "Consider this day 1 of you're training."

"Ugh, yeah sure whatever..... So where do we start?" I asked him, getting up on my feet with what energy I had avaliable.

"We will start at the park. Parkour yourself there." By the time Hisao finished that statement, I was already dressed in a track suit, ready to go.

"Parkour?" I asked shyly. Hisao replied by whacking me over the head with the gong mallet.

"It is how ninja travel. It is the discipline which focuses on efficient movements around obstacles." Hisao explained, "Like jumping over walls." It made plenty of sense to me, so why not try it?

I stood outside on my front yard, doing a bit of stretches before I show off my skill. The senseis were there on a beach chair watching me with popcorn.

"You guys, won't be sitting for long. You'll be trying to keep up with my kind of speed." I said proudly. Sure I wasn't the fastest I know, but I was faster than most people.

I looked across the street towards the woods that was in between me and the public park. I counted myself down from five, and bolted forward. I got hit by a car just before I could get off the street. I flew to the side a few yards upon impact. I could hear the senseis laughing at me. I got up, surprisingly, I wasn't physcally in pain, no blood, no broken bones. I got up on my feet, and saw that the car that had hit me, had already left. I walked over to the senseis, still cracking up.

"Enjoy the show?" I asked. Holding in his laughter, Icky spoke.

"It appears, a spirit animal is what you'll need to help you train." he said.

"A spirit animal? What?"

"It is an animal that you will choose, to help you in your training." HIsao added. Next thing I knew, we were in the spirit world.

Taboo rose his arm, and out of the mist and ground rose 5 statues. The first was a hawk, taller than me. Next was a snake, that had emerald green eyes that looked into my soul. The bear standing next to it had extremely sharp claws. Next to the bear was monkey, that had arms longer than my own. At the end was a wolf, one that had teeth that could tear off my wings easily.

"What are they?" I asked.

"They are the spirit animals we had long ago." Iganawa said, "The hawk represents fear and intimidation. The snake harnesses stealth and speed. The bear utilizes strengths and ferocity. Monkey has agility and evasiveness. The wolf embraces instinct and guardianship."

I stood there amazed. "But you only get one Nero, having all can be dangerous." mentioned Hisao. That sorta ruined my mood. I approached the statues, thinking about the possibilities I had with them. After a good few minutes I made my choice. I walked over to the monkey and rose my hand to awaken the spirit. But I was quickly interrupted when the wolf statue rammed into me. I was knocked to the ground, with the stature standing over me. I looked at the senseis, and they just stared at me, still waiting for me to pick. I let out a heavy sigh, and decided to awaken the wolf with a pat on its nose.

Awakening the wolf formed a bright light, one that blinded me until the wolf took its physical form. When the light faded, a wolf with black fur and sharp teeth was next to me. It stared at me, and I couldn't help but do the same.

"Ummmm hi?" I said.

"You're the one the masters picked?" said the wolf, without opening its mouth. I jumped back a bit, surprised it could talk.

"Ugh, yeah.... What's that supposed to mean?" I replied with a bit of an attitude.

"Nothing. Senseis, surely you're joking with this idiot." replied the wolf.

"Hey I'm no idiot! My name is Nero Alon, ninja in training!" I announced. The wolf turned and faced me, with an annoyed look in its eyes.

"My name is Leslie Howard, ninja of the wolf." it said. How in antartica was I supposed to know the wolf was a girl?

"Can I get an exchange?" I asked.

Leslie then slapped me with her paw. "No, you don't."

I accepted my decision, but I feared it'd go bad.

"Shut up, I can hear your thoughts too." Leslie said.

Oh joy.....

"I heard that!"

=Chapter 5: Lone Wolf=

Back in the physical world, I was back on my lawn, with the senseis' spirits standing before me, and Leslie actually sitting next to me. Leslie being phyical in my world was not in my expectations. I stuck my wing out to pet her, but she replied with a firm NO.

"Okay, so how long do I have to deal with her?" I asked the masters.

"Until her duty is fufilled." said Taboo, "Isn't that right Kyuubi?"

"Kyuubi?" I asked.

"It's japanese, for nine tails." said Leslie, "I inherited it from my father. The original kyuubi."

"Oh well alright...... So should we get to the park?" I suggested to my new partner, if that's what you could call her.

Leslie turned in the direction of our destination. And then ran towards it. I took that as my cue to go chase after her. I ran across the street, and this time, I jumped over the car that was about to hit me.

Entering the woods, I ran over dead leaves, and ducked under many branches. My speed must be at its highest, for I had caught up to Leslie, but not enough to pass her. Deeper into the woods, things became more and more dense, so I decided to mix it up a little. I made an immediate right turn, where as Leslie continued going straight. Making the right, I gracefullly ran up the side of a tree, getting my feet onto one of the higher branches. From there, I leapt form branch to branch, quickly (re)catching up to the wolf. I was getting the hang of parkour real quick. We were nearing the edge of the woods, when Leslie leapt into the branches with me, and tackled me down back to earth. I'm surprised I didn't lose consciouness. Leslie sat across from me, as I sat on the dirt rubbing my aching head.

"You lack resilience." stated Leslie, "You need to be able to take hits if you're going to be a ninja."

"Yeah well.... Ugh, I'm not expecting to take hits from my friends." With that crude comment, Leslie pinned me to the floor, showing me her teeth.

"Trust nobody. Ninja must always be alert!" she snarled.

"Okay okay! Geesh, are you always this harsh?!' I yelled.

Leslie ignored my comments, and pulled me back up with her teeth on my suit. She remained silent as we continued walking over to the park. The sun was bright and the park was serene as it could be. Some people were walking around, having picnics, stuff like that. Leslie dragged me over to a secluded tree where she'd start my training.

"I want you to punch the tree until it breaks." demanded Leslie. I looked as if she was crazy, but she was dead serious. I didn't have the courage to object, so I gave the tree trunk a roght hook. And the doctor (minutes later) gave me a cast for my right wing. I used so much force on that tree, so much that it broke my flipper. How could I get hit by a car, but a tree can put me in the hospital?

It's because the car that hit you, was a spirit care Icky put to hit you.

Oh right, spirit items have little effect in the real world. Well I went home that day. Day 1 of training... FAILED. Mom flipped when she saw me in that cast, but was happy to know I was alright. I wasn't prepared to tell Mom that i was adopting a wolf, or "puffle", but Leslie had a more interesting idea.

The door knocked, and I opened it to see something I had never seen before. It was a beautiful penguin around my height. She had long dark emo hair that partially covered a bit of her eyes. Her skin was pale, but it somewhat matched her grey eyes with gold flecks. She wore a plain black tee and some shorts. I was speechless as I stared at her, mouth wide open. I tried to play it cool, and urged myself to talk to her.

"Why hello there." i said with as much charisma that I could harness, which wasn't much. She replied by smacking me upside the head and growling at me, shwoing her teeth.

"Oh, ummm, hi Leslie." I said.

"Yeah hey." she replied, "Seeing as how I have to play baby sitter for you, by order of the masters, looks like I'll be sleeping here at your place."

"Who is this Nero?" Mom asked. I looked at Leslie, and she did the same. I openned my beak to speak, but I couldn't form any words. Leslie managed to improvise an excuse.

"I'm his friend, that's here to ask him if I can spend the night." Leslie said. Mom stared at us for awhile, trying to get her own assessment of the situation. But she went along with it.

"Okay, well feel free to freshen up in one of the bathrooms. Nero show her to the guest room." Mom ordered. Because Leslie was prepared in a way, she had a bag with her to carry her essentials. I brought her to the guest room, next to mine a with a bathroom in between. I opened the door for her and let her in like a gentleman.

"So remind me again why I need you here?" I asked her.

"The masters want me to keep an eye on you, so you don't end up killing yourself with that hand."Leslie replied, inspecting her room.

"Well we just had supper... So lights out later okay?" I announced. She nodded, and began to pack her bag. I left her to her things and closed the door behind me, walking down the hall to my room. I opened my door, and was nearly given the heart attack at the sight of Leslie in my room, unrolling her sleeping bag.

"How the hell did you get in here?!" I asked her immediately. She said nothing as she continued going through her stuff, only rasing her hand to point at the hole in my wall. It was a hole big enough for two, that went from the guest room, to thhe bathroom, then mine. Mom will have my head for this.

"It's too dangerous for you to sleep in a room alone, so I'll be hear to watch out for you." she responded. I wasn't about to disagree, especially because I was talking to Leslie.

About 2 hours later, lights out. It was around 11 at night, so no one had much complaints. I lay on my bed, looking at the ceiling, as did Leslie, only from the floor. Awkward much?

"Sooooooo." I randomly said, "Tell me about yourself." At first Leslie remained silent, but she decided to speak up for once.

"I.... Don't know what to say." she started. "I'm just your average spirit animal, doing her duty. But one thing you should know is that I didn't start out as a spirit animal. Most spirit animals start out as animals, then learn to take penguin form. For me, it was reversed. I was born and raised a simple girl with loving parents, but with the blood of a wolf. The blood my father had within him." I stood up from my bed and stared at her. "I grew up as a normal penguin, disciplined in the way of a ninja. But I was offered immortality as a spirit at the age of 17.... And I accepted...."

"How long have you been at this?" I timidly asked her.

"300 years....." she slowly told me. I was amazed, for she had a life with no end. As I was thinking, she continued. "300 years I've lived on this earth, never free to leave, or live a normal life...." Her words became heavy as she got more into her sorrow. Looking back at her, I swore I might have seen a tear, so I felt like I had to cheer her up.

"But on the bright side you'll always look beautiful." I commented. That made her laugh a little and wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Gee thanks Nero..... So how long did the doctor say you'll have that cast?" she said with a smile.

"Just until Monday, the damage wasn't so bad." I replied, getting back in my comfy spot, "Best that we get some sleep, we have training tommorow."

"You're right. Good night Nero."

"Good night Leslie."

Leslie POV

I awoke in the middle of the night, in a state of panic. Sweat running down my back, a deep panting leaving my mouth. I looked forward and there he was.... Shadar..... My ex-boyfriend.....

"What are you doing here Shadar?" I asked. He paced the floor, with his dark blue hair bouncing with each step.

"Just checking up on you." he replied with a smirk on his face. I stared him down, waiting for him to face me. "So this is your new student huh? Pathetic." He stopped and looked at Nero, watching him sleep.

"He will be the one to carry on our legacy." I said with much hope in my voice.

"Well he will not save you from you're fate. No one can." Shadar said, finally making eye contact with me. Shadar always rubbed in how we were never free to live our normal lives as spirits, for he knew that it would get to me.

I went out with him after becoming a spirit. He actaully wasn't so bad back then. But he preyed on the weak, hurting those he saw as inferior to him. I eventually became that way to him, and he left me for that, leaving no remorse.

"He has the skills necessary, so he will survive." I assured. At that remark, Shadar looked at Nero's cast and smiled.

"With your training,I'm surprised he made it this far." Shadar said. With my training.... Some lives were lost. Lives I regret training, only for the sole purpose of knowing I had gotten them killed.

"He will become ninja. And will be the best I have ever trained!"

"Whatever, it's not like you will always be there to protect him." Shadar commented, "Well it was nice to see you again, but I got to go." And in a flash of darkness, he was gone.

=Chapter 6: Chaos Entity=

Nero POV

Because I was handi-capped, Leslie didn't make me train the rest of the weekend. When school reared its horrible head, my cast was finally off. Monday morning, I packed my bag and hopped aboard the school bus. When we got there, Leslie was surprisingly waiting for me with Dex and Emi! I tried not to act so shocked, but the fact that she'd follow me to school was crazy.

"Hey Nero, I believe you know our new friend here?" said Dex.

"Yeah, hey Leslie." I said.

"Hey." Leslie said with a timid smile and movement of her hair covering her eyes.

"So Leslie, what are you doing here.... AT MY SCHOOL?' I said.

"Ummmmmm....." Said Leslie, for she was not prepared for this. "The head MASTER accepted me into the school, and said I should stay."

"Oh right........ The master always knows what to do." I comment, with an annoyed tune. Why would the masters want Leslie this close to me?

"Well aren't you going to introduce us Nero?" asked Emi.

"Oh right.... This is Leslie Howard my....... Neighbors cousin."

"Oh well nice to meet you Leslie, I'm Emi, and that's Dex."

"Nice to meet you. SO how long have you guys known Nero?" asked Leslie.

"Oh we've known each other" started Dex, "ever since-" But I ended it with my wing on is big mouth.

"Since 6th grade." I said.

"That's cool." said Leslie. Just then, the first bell rang, and we headed inside the bulding and to our classes. Dex and Emi diverged at the usual corridor, but Leslie remained right behind me. She followed me to history class. Of course. We took our seats, Leslie next to me, and opened our books. She kept her eyes on me as I did the work, thanks goodness we had a sub that day.

"I don't like the look of this." whispered Leslie from her desk. I looked up, and saw that the sub was staring me down. I ignored and emersed my self back into the text book in my flippers. Moments later, the sub got up from the desk he sat at, and slowly walked towards me. By then, I had laid the book on the desk and stared back. When the sub reached my desk, he slammed his flippers on the table portion and forceively ripped it out of its hinges of the chair. I actually did feel fear just then.

I sprang out of my seat, and took position next to Leslie, who was also at the ready. The rest of the class remained silent and watched. We all watched as a tattoo from somewhere on his body spread, and covered his right wing, forming a long and sharp blade. And with that, my fellow class mates screamed and ran out the door, leaving me and Leslie to our foe.

"Any idea what's going on?" I asked.

"I don't know... But obviously he's after you." stated Leslie. The man came at us with his arm blade, so we side stepped and dodged his charge. His fail charge led to a desk being sliced in half. He turned around and faced us both, growing out another blade on his left wing.

Leslie growled a bit and took a knife out of god knows where. It sorta surprised me, when she passed me one of her knives. Looks like we had to take this guy out. Leslie let out a fierce bark and leapt at our foe. She swung her knife but the sub ducked and swatted her to the side of the room.

After Leslie was cast aside, the sub refocused himself on me, the apparent target. I stared him down with knife at the ready, and dashed forward. He swung, but I ducked and stabbed him in the torso. The creature let out a roar of pain with a volume none could expect. While screaming he flailed its arm blades, I had to get on the floor to avoid being hit. I covered my head and closed my eyes, for the scream and movement of the blades was terrifying. Then at one sudden movement, it all stopped. I looked up to see no one there, and looking to the side, I could still see Leslie a bit dazed against a few desks and text books. Getting up, I got over to Leslie and check if she was alright. She was alive, just a bit dizzy from the hit, so I picked her up and carried her out the window.

After the whole attack what not in class, school was closed that day for the investigation. Since my Mom wouldn't expect me in a few hours, and Leslie was still out cold, I went to the lake in the park, with Leslie's sleeping body at my side. A tree stood by the lake side, which is where I let my partner continue her slumber. With her safe, I sat on one of the tree branches, gazing into the lake.

What had attacked me? Why me? Will it return? I obviously might have over done the thinking. I stared at the knife Leslie had given me. It was sharp and shined of silver,allowing my reflection to be seen perfectly. Engraved on one of the sides was Kyuubi. Must have been her fathers. The pondering state I was in was happily interrupted by the sound of Leslie coming to. I dropped down from the tree and saw her stretching from her little nap.

"Rise and shine my dear." I said, waiting for her to come to her senses, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'll live..... What happened?" Leslie asked of me, rubbing the side of her head.

"You got cast aside and knocked out, but I showed that thing who's in charge. Thanks for the knife by the way." I stated, handing back her weapon.

"You just got one hit on him and he ran away, right?" she replied taking back her weapon. My annoyed expression on my face answered her question which was replied to by a small chuckle from her.

"Yeah well, at least I know how to dodge an wing." I snarkishly said, giving her a playful shove. She didn't take my remark kindly, and punched me in the head. I let out a small "Ow" and softly hit her back with little effort. This time she knew that I was messing with her, and shoves me with her elbow as she stared at the lake before us. I elbow her back and look at the lake too. The shoving quickly died out as we sat silently facing the lake.

"What was that thing that attacked us?" I asked my spirit animal.

"It was a being known as a chaos enitity. They are a violent race of spirit warriors that live to ruin the lives of many. Why one is targeting you specifically, I don't know."The area was silent, both of us deep in thought....... Until Dex came in yelling my name.

"Neroooo!" yelled Dex.

"What is it you screaming idiot?" I said, mocking his excessive outburts.

"You hear what happened to Mr. Jackson's class?! It was attacked by some psychopath or something!"

"Well that's interesting.... Any idea who did it?" commented Leslie.

"The cops have no clue. But school has been cancelled for the investigation until further notice." said Dex. Emi approached us on her bus not long after Dex's sentence.

"Some day huh guys?" asked Emi, obviously speaking of today's events.

"Yeah... Crazy right?" I mention, "At least school's cancelled."

The rest of the day was spent hanging out in the park, enjoying what nature had to offer. Toward sunset, we went our seperate ways, Emi and Dex to their homes, and Leslie and myself to ours, or should I say mine. After supper, we went to bed, getting some much needed rest. Me in my bed, and Leslie in her sleeping bag next to it. I closed my eyes waiting to enter dream land, but something ominous whispered in my ear.

"I will end you!" whispered the being. And with that I jumped out of my bed, and looked to the side to see my stalker.

It was a tall being, shrouded in a mist of black aura. His feet, if he had any, were also shrouded in a cloud of black. On his head all you can see was a menacing pair of glowing white eyes. In his extended wing he had Leslie dangling by her neck, struggling to get free. I got up on my feet cautiously, watching my foe for any sudden movements.

"Let her go." I said, bottling my panic. He nodded and tightened his grip. At the sight of my friend gasping for air, my panic broke free. "What do you want?!"

"You must come with me." The Chaos Entity said.

"Where?!" I asked.

The entity dropped Leslie onto the floor and approached me. "To the land or torment, The Underworld."