Ninjas

Gliding through the still night air, the girl in black was accompanied by three other companions: Aragon, Annabel, and Luke. They headed for a huge, floating mountain. Nothing was beneath it except air. Strings of moss and leaves spilled down it gracefully and created an old but majestic look. The rocks were jagged and smooth with water glistening on its many surfaces. Series of small black waterfalls lined the outer barrier of the mountain. The four flew through the wide gap at the mountain's bottom into the mountain's center.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The inside looked nothing like what it would have looked like in a normal mountain. There were series of small hills that were covered with soft green grass. Animals were everywhere; bunnies and deer in the meadows, cranes poised on one foot in the shallow water, crickets singing in their little homes, and wise old owls perched on thick tree branches. A large Japanese and Chinese temple with many rooftops and floors made this wonderful little world whole. A small hole at the top of the mountain let the white moonlight wash against the temple, creating a magical glow.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Heidi and the others touched down on a small stone trail that led into the temple. They followed it and went in quietly. They climbed up the newly rebuilt staircase and climbed and climbed and climbed. At last they arrived on the sixth floor and steped into their master's sanctuary.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Master Willow was sitting in front of a miniture shrine. The shrine was made of pieces of melted gold. The natural moonlight made it sparkle. The light's reflected off was like a lightshow. Shots of white moving and dancing across the old and once-beautiful walls. Before the minute shrine was the Buddha sitting crossed-legged, being enlightened. Master was sitting in the exact same position. He had flowers, chocolates, fruit, and candles on the table, ready to offer to the Enlightened One and the other Gods and Goddesses. Master Willows was very old and looked very frail, but he was strong and mighty and young in his own mind and heart, and in ours; that's what's been keeping him alive all these years.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Master didn't get up but spoke to them in a bored and calm voice, "It must be done."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Heidi, Aragon, Annabel, and Luke bowed and as silently as they had come, left. They ran over invisible stairs in the sky, climbing and climbing. They passed cloud after cloud as they climbed steadily higher. The many colors of the sunrise started to brighten like the new day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ninjas' katanas were at their sides, strapped tightly, with their elegant fans. Their bows and arrows were wrapped tightly against their backs, in case their most prized weapon was broken.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ninjas started to decend to the flattened ground. The air smelt of smoke, fire, and blood. The temple stood out against the vast forest that seemed to engulf the world. Its skinnied out at the top and created a point that looked sharper than anything they'd ever seen; even their blades. The madman already knew that they were here, so there was no reason to sneak in. They ran in through the tall and narrow passageway. The dark tunnel seemed to have no end. No other tunnels led on or split, it just kept going straight. And down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~