It's a long chapter but it should be worth it since there's a special guest.

Enjoy!

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As two conflicted lovers finally settle into battle,
Below the ghost town of Norrisville,
A being senses a shift.

A shift, in which, is in his favor.

"What's this? The Ninja, feeling scared?" His tongue slitheres out and hums in delight, "Feeling... hopeless as well."

His mouth curves into a crooked evil grin, waiting for this oppurtune moment to happen: the day wherein the ninja fails and he, the most powerful sorcerer of all, shall arise and rule the all over the world.

That momment will arrive soon enough.

×----×----×

Randy's POV

It's too late.

"Stop!"

She's gone.

"(Y/n), please listen!"

And it's all my fault.

I shook my head as an attempt to keep these thoughts at bay- feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to make either of our situations any better. I'm hiding behind a makeshift shield of debris of what used to be the furniture of my living room when I had the most craziest idea: I got up to reveal myself and threw my hands towards the ceiling as a sign of surrender (again).

I expect to be face to face with a faceless, glitching being but she's no where in sight.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

She must be hiding somewhere... and I silently hope that she's listening to what I've got to say.

"(Y/n), I'm sorry; I don't know how many times I've got to say it, but I'm sorry. I really am." My eyes sting with sadness but I still kept my guard up. I can't be seen too vulnerable right now. We're still in a battle (emotionally and physically).

"It was my fault. I did this to you."

No response from her as both grief and guilt continued to consume me. I still continue to look around and try to say my apology.

"Let me fix my mistake. Let me try to fix you; to fix us."

I paused, not because I was lost for words but because she reappeared just a few inches away from me.

She's just standing there, glitching and waiting. Her eyes finally showing the (e/c) glow and looks like she's being restored to her normal self as few green fumes release from her body and bit by bit, I could her face clearing from glitching. It feels as though a heavy brick has been lifted from my shoulders.

I smile, staring to feel a lot more hopeful that she's listening and that she's still in there.

"(Y/n), I-"

However, all my hope faded away as she retreats back into her glitching form and cuts my words off by lounging towards me then quickly grasp my left wrist. Her touch feels like hot, boiling water had grazed my skin and couldn't help but hiss in pain.

Her eyes were filled with emptiness as I try to look at her through glossy eyes,
"Fix yourself."

That was the last thing she said as the grip she had on me grew stronger and as did the immense pain I felt. My face contorts as I try to pry her hands off but as my other hand came in contact with hers, the pain grew and I yelp in response.

In this moment, an emotion came that (Y/n) gave me the first time she was here: fear.

I was afraid of her.

After a few seconds, (Y/n) finally lets go of my wirst but the glitching never ceased. It began to consume my entire arm and continues to spread across my body. I couldn't do anything but just groan in agony but it turns to a whimper as I felt the glitching reach my chest; affecting the way I breathe: shallow inhales, quick exhales. My legs weaken all of sudden as I feel the familiar burn on them; as a result, my knees buckle out but my hands caught me in time before I could fall face first on the floor.

There was no doubt that few tears have fallen but through all that, I see her silhouette standing over me.

Her hand stretches towards me and in this very moment, I knew that one more touch from her would certainly be the last thing I would feel; and I'm terrified to leave this world behind- especially leaving her or Howard like this and all the people that believed in me.

I don't wanna go just yet.

So, I did one thing I was good at:
Smokebomb.

Instantly, red smoke fills the room along with a smell that I'm not fond of. I heard her starting to cough then stepping away from me. Now that she's distracted, I push myself up while clutching my chest since it's still hard to breathe; especially with the smokebomb I had just thrown.

In retrospek, that wasn't such a good idea after all.

I climb off the broken window and using my ninja scarf, I swung far away as much as possible from her while swallowing a lump of pain down my throat. Once there only building on sight, I hoist myself up on top and started jumping. However, pain just got worst. My vision starts to blur and shake, but I kept pushing myself: telling myself to move forward and jump. That is, until, as I jump off, my foot missed an inch on the ledge of the next building.

Gravity quickly took hold and dragged me down; I fell right onto the hard, cold cement in an alleyway with a loud thud as I heard an uncomfortable crack from my back.

Insult to injury, I guess.

My body refuses to get up nor move a muscle as I try to lift any of my fingers. I avoided to let painful groans give away where I am since I know that (Y/n)'s probably looking for me.

I'm force to look at the dawning sky above me; its clouds mock me as it continues to move freely and wonder without a care in the world.

I'm so tired.

I would often close my eyes and let out quiet, frustrated sighs every often until my eyelids no longer had the strength to stay open anymore.

×---×---×

I woke up to the sound of water continuously dripping against the concrete in a calm rhythm.

Must be raining all of a sudden.

I try to breathe deep for a moment but the raindrops falling on my face prevented that but my chest feels a lot more light. My vision is taking its time to adjust and all I could see was a mix of cold raindrops and blurry silhouettes of buildings.

All of a sudden, I felt sturdy hands grab both of my shoulders. Wary of the sudden touch of a possible enemy, I pretend to be unconscious  and let my body go limp. I closed my eyes for awhile, and relied on my hearing senses to hear this stranger'a voice; but nothing came.

Without warning, my body is now dragged off. I felt my back rest against the cold brick wall with my head hung low. I felt a finger raise my chin up, forcing my head to face whoever this is. The touch disappears, but now their hand rests on top of my head. I await for their next move, but somehow this junction comforts me.

My eyes shot open when their hand pulls off my mask, making the ninja suit retract with it and revealing my identity. I caught their hand with a strong grip just in time, along with a menacing glare, "Give it back." 

But as I stared at the stranger, I noticed some of their features were familiar. His shoulder length hair is dark as the night. Glowing emerald eyes stare back at mine and for some reason, I could see a mix of kindness and disappointment behind it. The strangest thing about him was that he was wearing what appears to be a ninja suit like mine, but his mask covers only half of his face. Also, the patterns that spiraled and decorated his suit looked awfully familiar. Almost like..

"The Nomicon?!" My mouth fell agape as my grip on his hand grew limp, in complete shock while in response, he nodded back. I reached for my chest and feel the large pocket where I sometimes keep the nomicon only to find it empty. Was this why my chest feels light earlier?

He quietly sat with his legs crossed and immediately avoided eye contact as he gave back the mask while I blurt out stuttering questions which I didn't even understand but when I was only answered with uncomfortable silence, I shut my mouth in embarrassment. The nomicon must be confused as I am; I shouldn't push on further. He took notice that I was finally quiet and faces me once more. His hands raised towards me and in a second, his palm lit up with a bright golden hue, too bright that I kept my eyes shut.

As the brightness subsided, I feel as if all my strength was restored and felt like I could continue on with my mission to restore Norrisville, including (Y/n). I clench and unclenched my hands, seeing all my bruises to be gone and my back no longer hurting. I look back at the now, human nomicon with a smile, "Thank you."

He nodded once again and I could see from his eyes that he was smiling. But all of a sudden, his mood changes as he stares straight through me with a menacing glare; and I knew exactly what that meant.

I gulp, suddenly nervous as I look down at the puddle I'm currently sitting in, "Nomicon, I'm so sorry for not seeking advice from you lately. It's just I've been-" I lift my head up for a peek to see if my apology was working; but once I saw that his expression remained the same, I decided to just tell the truth and avoided to say a dumb excuse.

"I've been... distracted." I ended with a deep sigh, "With the alien thing going on, I thought I was doing the right thing. Guess I should've called for a second opinion." I shrug and laugh sheepishly which Nomicon just nodded again.

"Can't you speak?" I asked trying to get up, but Nomicon stood up fast and offered a hand which I took but at that moment, he began to glitch. I shrug my hand off in terror and backed up against the wall, panicking from the trauma and pain that I'll feel if I got closer to the glitching.

Nomicon had his eyes wide as he glitched, but doesn't seem to be fazed enough to be considered in pain or in a panicked state as I am. But curiosity got the best of me, as I stood up by myself, still staring in awe.

"How?"

"Why?"

In that moment, vibrant letters each having their own font appeared behind Nomicon which read: "Other than love, fear and doubt can often be one's restless doom."

I pace back and forth while I process what those words mean but eventually, I gave up and shift my gaze back to him, "Hey, do you think you can give me a ninja clue?"

I froze as I looked around for Nomicon who was now, nowhere to be seen.

"Nomicon?" I took a step forward when suddenly, I stepped on something. I look down to what's under my shoe only to see the Nomicon, back to book form. Guess human form has some sort of time limit; or maybe he doesn't want to give me any ninja clues.

Great, I still have no idea what to do.

I recollect everything that had happen before and try to connect it to Nomicon's words.

First of all, I know that her phone is her "proof" which can only mean that it's the thing that she holds most dear. 

Second, when Nomicon glitched, he wasn't afraid. So that means, the glitch freezing thing only works when you're scared or in doubt.

A plan might be brewing but it's all just theory for now which I hope will reach a good ending: Norrisville will be normal again; including (Y/n).

I just hope as well that I'm not killed in the process.