Sir Fumblies reaches his destination from the previous roleplay.

Will he find what he came here for?

 
Assisted by Wilde

Several hours after the fight with Zinc and his minions Sir Fumblies and Wolf made it into Ninja Town. From the fight to town Fumblies couldn't help but ponder the importance of the now shattered pink crystal sword that had been left behind in the wake of Zinc's defeat. But he knew that the blade was important and the spirit of the ninja kid inside of him confirmed it. Stepping into the town Fumblies could see the finishing repairs from the whole machine and slavers rampaging through the area. It was at this point a ninja with a straw hat walked up to Sir Fumblies and the others.

"Hail, Sir Fumblies!" The strawhat ninja said. "Are you here for our end of the world sale? We've cut prices as if we were a ninja sword cutting a bad metaphor!"

''Not exactly, I am here for some training." Fumblies replied with a smile as he looked at the strawhat ninja for a moment. "And a crystal crafter."

"Ahh," the ninja replied. "Well, I'm sure you'll find an excellent deal on it."

He seemed to lose interest as he wandered off.

"Gee, that was helpful," muttered Wolf.

Fumblies shook his head in slight frustration before he moved deeper into town to look for someone to help him re-assemble the crystal shards. That and he had to find some who could help him become more intune with the ninja spirit in her gear. After all Fumblies knew that to master that connection would provide a potent weapon in the upcoming battle for the world's survival.

"Completely and utterly so." Fumblies replied with a straight face. He eventually did find another ninja who looked somewhat willing to help. "Can you point me in the way of the Spirit Shaman?"

A couple of teen ninjas looked at each other confused, yet the lightbulb seemed to go off for one of them. He pointed at a direction behind him. "Oh, yes, honored wizard. You must mean our honored kami master. He Of Spirits. It is just beyond the wicked looking 'The Konall's The Hut of The Eternal Flame Burning.' Just past this way, but like, left a little."

Fumblies nodded his thanks before going off in the direction indicated. This was going to be quite interesting to say the least. "Wolf you want to tag a long or meander around and find out what Ninja Town has planned for the upcoming battle?"

"I'd better 'tag' with," Wolf said. "I don't trust you not to start trouble without me."

"Hey now, I am not Konall." Fumblies retorted with a faint smile. "Just hope you don't get too bored."

With that, the pair quickly traveled to the aforementioned hut so that Fumblies could accomplish his goal. It was a simple hut, no where near as fancy as the eternally burning hut. And almost predictably, an old monk stood outside.

"Ah yes, I sensed visitors," the old monk said. "Welcome to my store, Galore. I sense you come here for the wisdom of the ages. Is this correct?"

'"That would be correct." Fumblies calmly replied as he looked the old monk over.

"Saving the. town? No." The monk paused only briefly. "I want to say.. world?"

"And those beyond." Fumblies clarified.

"Ah yes. I should have sensed that as well. My apologies."

"Amateur," Wolf mumbled under his breath.

"I have need of training to become more intune with the Spirit realm." Fumblies broke in before Wolf started a fight.

"Of course, no fee," the elderly ninja said. "I'll even spare you some supplies, no charge. But only if you promise to save the world."

He smiled. Well, it was a ghost of a smile.

"I will do what I can to save the world, or at least make sure it doesn't completely fall apart." Fumblies answered with a slight nod of appreciation. "Also would you know of anyone who can repair crystal objects?"

The old man paused. "I think I can help you with that, yes."

Fumblies nodded slowly as he carefully set down the bag full or crystal shards. "This used to be a sword."

"Then soon shall it be a sword again."

Fumblies at this point could feel the satisfaction that seems to radiate from the ghost ninja. It was going to be an interesting bit of training to say the least. He looked over at Wolf and nodded slightly an idea forming in his mind.

"Wolf, a bit further south of here there might still be a camp of Panda Monks. would you mind going to arrange a meeting with them for me?'

Wolf shrugged. "Sure thing, boss. But delivery service.."

"I know Wolf, I will figure it into your bonus." Fumblies cut Wolf's comment off with that. "Though didn't you tell me once that you had some experience the Panda Monks?"

Wolf nodded. "Some."

"Perfect."

~*~*~*~*~

A few days later, Fumblies looked at the elderly ninja intently trying to learn the last piece of knowledge from him.

"Remember, focus on your inner self," the monk said. "This is how you will control your new powers. Siphon the universe through you. I entrust you with your repaired sword and leave the world in your fate. Be warned: I sense time runs short."

"Thank you Sensei." Fumblies took the repair crystal sword carefully. As his hand touches the handle the ninja ghost entered the blade causing it to glow faintly for a few seconds. "When this is over I will return to seek out more training."

"I look forward to it." With that, the old ninja turned, walked into his hut and put up the "Now open" sign.

Fumblies smiled and took the moment to depart the village knowing that his time was short. He had much to do before the end. As he departed the village, Wolf couldn't help but smile as he pondered the situation, wondering how much time they might have left as he turned to ask Sir Fumblies, "So what did you learn, anyway? What was all that training for?"

"To better channel the spirit of the ghost ninja who became part of my gear." Fumblies replied in a matter of fact tone. "So how did your meeting with the monks go?"

"I've set up a meeting with them," Wolf said. "In fact, you're late for it. You should get moving."

"That is where we are headed Wolf." Fumblies nodded in a matter fact manner as he started down the path to where he last encountered the Pandas.

Wolf nodded. "Well, you'll definitely be getting your money's worth. These guys have some exceptionally dark and dangerous knowledge. My kind of thing."

Fumblies nodded in reply as the pair walked the rest of the way to Panda camp in silene. Upon arriving, a dozen monks immediately surrounded them.

Wolf nodded to Fumblies and then the monks. "We're back as promised."

"State your business," the head monk said.

"Well as you may have gathered, the end of existence as we know is looms. I come seeking your aid in the battle to come." Fumblies decided the straight to point no build up approach was the best way to go in this situation.

A different monk asked, "Why should we help you?"

"The fate of existence hangs in the balance." Fumblies repeated trying to sound sage like as he spoke.

Yet another asked, "Why should we trust you then?"

"I seek to keep the balance from being destroyed." Fumblies looked over at Wolf briefly the back at the monks. "Plus I go to do battle with one of the Darkness' great champions."

Yet another monk and yet another question. "How do we know you're worthy of our training?"

"Fair question. I have one been used by the forces that seek to destroy and enslave this world. I seek only the means to redeem my tainted actions." Fumblies replied as he looked at the head monk intently.

"You seem to be qualified for this," the first monk said with a slow nod. "There are, however, three questions that you must answer to be trained."

Fumblies nodded slowly having somewhat expected something like this to happen. "And those would be?"

"Answer carefully as these will determine the fate of the world," the second monk said. "To what ends is power?"

"Power for the sake of power merely corrupts. However, to use one's power to help those less fortunate is to be truly powerful." Fumblies was by now working off autopilot and had said the first rationale thought that came to him mind.

A new monk spoke. "What is our responsibility to evil?"

"To redeem if possible or to eradicate it before it can spread." Fumblies smiled slightly. "However, evil must be defined or we all become that which we seek to eliminate."

"Very good, maybe you should be training us," the head monk said good heartedly. The others laughed the same way most people laugh when the boss is clearly trying to be funny. "The final question and please think importantly - why do your value existence? This must be a comprehensive answer."

Fumblies blinked a few times as he tried to form the the words need to answer this question. He had parts of it but didn't know if would be considered comprehensive by any means. "I value existence because it allows one the chance to find Love. Beyond that I must admit that I would probably be unaware if I ceased to be. Or more importantly had never been at all. After all, how does one mark existence without experiencing it?"

"We shall train you," the head monk said without hesitation.

Fumblies nodded his thanks and prepared to take a crash course in the way of the monk.

Writing Assisted by Wilde

Yup, he found what he came for. I enjoyed helping with the writing for Wolf and the ninja NPC's here. I always have fun with the ninja village, of course.

Hard to believe there's still one more piece to tackle before the Finale. It's an important bit of story to the mission, and it's up next.