{Location: Crystal Pass/Mayor home} (Seliel's POV)[Time:1 year later]

"Oh, I am so saving that." I play on my new borge phone. The tech wave has finally caught up to here and now I've learned some of the Ninja's names. The red one is Kai Dillard Smith-Flamy. The blue one is Jay Lance Walker. The White one is Zane Julian. The Green one is Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon. The Black one is Cole LaNae Hence. For some reason, lots of girls like the other ninja but leave the black one out. But he's got good fanart.

"How are you doing?" Mom sits on the end of my bed with a laundry basket. She smiles, a year into my training and I'm almost done with the basics. Mom has printed out small pamphlets for me in case something horrible were to happen, so I'll have those to practice off of. "It's coming together nicely."

I sit up and look at my half-finished armor, I'm not sure what I want my emblem to be. Maybe something will hit me. "I'm done with the belt. I feel like Batman!" I smile as she giggles.

"You always do say random things at night."

"I guess I'll have to start getting used to late hours, hm?" I smile at the idea of putting it on. I imagine the faces of people I'll help.

"Yes." Mom relaxes, "How's school?"

"Nothing too bad. I only have two classes." I smile as at the end of this year, I'll get my degree. "Easy peasy stuff."

"I'm glad." Mom looks at the floor, a frown overtakes her smile, "I'm getting the feeling you're wondering about who my Sensei was and why I'm training you differently than he trained me."

"I have." I've been dying for this answer but I can't help but stare at the poster of the Black Ninja.

"My Sensei was-" Mom's interrupted by a bone chilling scream.

We jump to our feet and look out my window. What looks like a robot ninja on steroids is destroying the town square. Smaller versions of them loot the village.

"Later." I pull away as more screams cry. I race outside and put on the sparring gear. It'll keep me safe as I run into the fray. "We need to stop them."

"Open the doors." Mom yells at Dad, who's sleepy-eyed from the rude awakening. "Get everyone inside." Mom tightens my ties and I hold still.

The helmet has a thick guard over it so my identity will be safe. Once Mom is done dressing me for war, I help her as quick as I can. I put a sword on my back, my kama on my hips and brass knuckles on my fist. We race out of the back yard and leave the gate open for people.

Marci is being kicked by a robot and I introduced his head to my right fist. I barely make a dent in its medal but he turns to me. "Who are you?"

I talk in a low voice, "I'm the Phantom Ninja. Leave this girl alone." I punch under his chin as Marci escorts a bloody looking kid to my home.

"The Phantom Ninja has no place in my data." The robot shoots a laser from his eye. It grazes over my shoulder but, oh my granite, it hurts.

"Well," I get in close and tackle him to the ground, below is a spike which I impale him on, "Put it in."

Mom's holding up better than me as she takes on three but more raid the mines. I run up to it, pulling out my sword, then jump and cut down the supports. Trapping the ones inside, crushing the one under it and making the ones outside angry. I do my best but these, whatever they are, are hard.

"Seliel," Mom throws one off the mountain, which takes out five more, "We're no good. We need to pull back."

"Is everyone safe?" I try to stab one with my sword but it shatters. Now I have a sword handle with an impressively sharp knife. "I won't leave until everyone is ok."' I see a power wire and stick the broken weapon in there and the robot shuts off.

"A few are left." Mom power kicks one and its head goes flying, "But our home is full."

"Put the others in the cave. The tunnels aren't on the internet, these guys won't know where to find them." I jump on one getting ready to crouch, jump on another one's head as my boot jerks a knife in its skull. I spring off him and dual kick two as I rescue three people. "Head to the caves or the Mayor's home."

They nod and run to my home. The police have now gotten the memo and are firing on the robots. The bullets sometimes bounce off or make a direct hit. But they can't do much more.

Mom and I rescue more people until almost every building in town has been searched through. Other than Mom's clinic, that place is a fortress. I breathe heavy, despite my armor, I have dozens of cuts and deep bruises. My left brass knuckle is cracked and I've dulled my right one with all the hits.

"We have to go." Mom is in better condition than I am as I know I can't help anymore.

"Ok." I pull my kama out just in case. We hobble race back home as two big people are slowly closing the door, "WAIT FOR US!" I push Mom in first and turn sideways to squeeze in. Mac and John close the doors as a loud thud hits it.

"Where's Doctor Dawn?" A woman, Sally Jenkins, holds a cut on her thigh. "These people need help." She points to more bloody people.

"She'll be here." Dad helps out little Thomas.

Mom and I worm our way to put our stuff away. I take her things off first and she gets back inside with her medical kit, "EVERYONE WITH A LIFE THREATENING INJURY, STAY WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL SOMEONE CAN HELP YOU. FOR LIGHTER WOUNDS, LIVING ROOM. EVERYONE ELSE, EITHER STAY OUT OF MY WAY OR HELP CLOSE A WOUND!" She orders as the house gets in order.

I take my armor off as my phone rings a new jingle I found, "Depend on the ninja." I think Dareth's voice speaks, "They'll always protect you."

"Where are they?" I don't doubt them. They know of the threat and will sweep in and save the day. I put my helmet away and answer my phone, "Hello?"

"Seliel," Marci is crying, "Where are you? Are you ok?"

"I'm ok Marci. Where are you?" I get back inside and head to the garage, Mom keeps painkillers back here, she'll need to use them.

"I'm at the Mayor's house. What is going on? Where are you?"

"I'm here too. I need to help my mom, do you have any cuts?"

"I'm hurt but I can help." Marci shows up at the door and hangs up.

I grab a big cardboard box and tear it open, "Help me bring in two more of these." I lift with my legs and make beep noises as I place it in the kitchen.

Marci helps as I grab a dozen needles for injection. I place the syringe in the bottle as Mom's clothes are bloody from the people. Her midnight blue shirt is now red and stains the white and purple lines in it, her blue jeans are torn for emergency tourniquets, "Over there and there. They need two bottles." Mom rushes off to help more as I find Mrs. Glad. My second-grade teacher. Her body will be scared when this is over.

"Help," She take a deep breath as I poke the needle in her forearm and press it, "Me."

"I am." I empty it and she sighs. I turn to her husband and do the same.

Mom, Marci and I keep going like this for hours. I've lost count of the people I've helped as my mind has a dozen of different scenarios of the Ninja coming to save us. The robots don't want to hurt us but they don't leave. What do they want?

I soon sit on a stool as some people sleep, "There. All drugged up."

"I don't want that to happen again," Marci sits on the counter, we had to use up all three painkiller boxes and most of our clothes are ripped up and are soaking up blood, "Ow!" Marci holds her stomach.

"Let me see." I pull her arms away, a light gash is bleeding heavily. "Arms up," I order and I stand up and take a dish towel and wrap it around her cut.

"I'm fine." She winces as I pull to make sure it's secure. "On second thought, I could use a bottle myself."

"I'm hoping you mean medicine," I duck out and repeat the process, "There." I inject into her shoulder and she sighs.

"I'm just going to take a nap." Marci lays down and sleeps as I walk around tangled limbs and help out with small things. Everything is being used, my winter sweaters are covering people as blankets, small kids who are too young to understand what happened are holding on to my action figures like toys and some people sleep on the floor. I soon make my way outside. The robots are still here with how their metal feet echo in our homes.

"Where's the Ninja?" I listen as the gate creak open. I look to see Mom trying to make a quiet get away, "Mom? Where are you going?"

"I left your plans in the clinic." Mom looks at me, her face coated in other people's blood. In her hands are two twin siah and a gun in her belt, "If the robots get them, they'll be unstoppable."

"So let them," I walk up and grab her wrist, "Please don't go. The clinic is a half a mile away. There's no way you'll make it there and back."

"There are other things there too."

"The clinic is a safe house, the robots will get in there when the Overlord comes back." I want to cry but I'm tired, "Please. Don't go."

Mom kisses my cheek then rubs it, "I know it's safe here. But I have to. They won't come here. They have another mission." She hugs me as hot tears drip on her, "Keep your father company. Don't let him worry his hair out." She lets go and looks me in the eye, "I love you, Seliel."

"I love you, Mom." I whimper as she opens the gate and disappears into the night.

"Seliel," Thomas rubs his eyes, a baby blue blanket in one hand and a black action figure in the other, "Will we be safe?"

I walk over and pick up the boy as Dad opens the fridge for food, "Don't worry." I still believe my fantasy of the Ninja saving us, they promised. Now I need that promise to be kept, "The Ninja will come. They'll keep us safe."

Dad smiles as Thomas rests his head on my chest smiling, "Ok. Do you think they'll autograph my lego sets of them?"

I snort, "Maybe." He needs them too. "But now it's bedtime." I set him down next to a little girl and they cuddle. I walk to the stair and sit half way up. People, both bloody and clean sleep on the floor and hold each other. They need the Ninja. The kids, the adults. Me.

I need a savior.

My world needs a hero.

My home needs hope.

I just hope they will come soon.