The sky darkened above eleven year old Morris. Rumbles started, soft at first but then louder and louder as black and blue lighting flashed in the sky. She marveled at the sight even though she'd been taught to fear the big sky.

"Morris!" The thundering voice came as she was picked up and carried away, her doll dropped but she knew it would get replaced. Whenever the big sky went off she'd always find her doll and even the tops of trees split in half and singed.

"But daddy, I like the sky." Her father sighed as her mother glided in. She took the brown hair brush to Morris's hair and brushed it.

"We know you do honey, but the sky is dangerous. You must promise me to never go out when the big boom comes."

"Yes mamma." Morris said, but she was only half telling the truth as a gleam started in her eyes.

(Five years later)

The wind howled upon Stonia Mountain. Footprints winding their way up disappear in the snow wiping out the existence of human. The climber made their way to the tippy top, her all blue attire which was of silk leggings, a cotton shirt and a leather jacket buttoned up with five brass buttons stuck out like a sore thumb against the white galaxy of snow. She squatted, staring out over the kingdom of Matcha, with jade green eyes, pieces of black hair fell from her braid and wriggled across her olive colored skin. Her snub nose turned pink from the cold.

"Help!" A faint cry came. The woman paused and waited

"Help!" It came again. Pulling the black cloth back over her mouth, she jumped into the air and grabbed the invisible bar that hung from a wire which came visible with touch. The thin black line went across the open canyon, then disappeared into the mountain. With a determined look, the woman flew at lightning speeds over the canyon, her braid swung violently back and forth as she catapulted down. She landed barefooted on the other side before the bar reached the platform. She took out her board and sailed down the side of it until she came to a small village inside the kingdom. She clipped the board to her back and with light feet snuck through the village. The woman was known as The Ninja, but better yet as The PeaceKeeper. There were some that despised her because some say that it should only be men that protect and save, which only made her more determined.

Hearing a clatter, she reached for her side and made a drawing motion and instantly a sword appeared in her hand. Gold metal with a brown hilt, a rose insigna carved into it as it belonged to the Kingdom of Matcha, the kingdom of magic. She followed the noise to an abandoned flat roofed square building, she kicked the door open which banged loudly, but that would alert whoever was there that she was there.

Inside, her eyes peered into the dark as her ears strained for movements and then she heard it, the hollow breath of a Zuki. A Zuki has no nose and therefore must breathe through a hole in its nose, one turns into a Zuki by having too much greed toward something. Morris knew that it was probably watching her every move so she put her sword away.

"What do you want? I know you summoned me here for a reason." She says turning in a slow circle. Then a whispering raspy voice says

"I need help."

"Well come out and let's talk."

"You not kill me?"

"Do you see my sword?" Shuffling could be heard and then there was a thunderous thump, Morris turned to see the beast behind her. It had white glowing eyes, thick grey colored skin. It stood on two powerful hind legs and had a long spiky tail. A rack of horns filled his head with human teeth hung on a string between them. It's body heaved up and down as it breathed. Morris took a careful step towards it, a way of showing that she did not mean harm to it. It pointed a bony curled finger at her, its nail long and v-shaped.

"You make move, I kill queen's daughter." It threatened. Morris pulled down her mask, her lips in a grim line.

"Does the queen know you have her?"

"Yes."

"Are they hunting you?"

"Yes." Morris's heart went out to the Zuki.

"Then let's hurry, what is it you need?"

"You know the third kingdom finds weakness and turns us Zuki?"

"Yes. And then they sell you to the second kingdom. It's just cruel." Morris said, curling her hand into a fist.

"Yet you work for them."

"I do, but to help turn zukis free of the magic, like ones that still have a heart." Morris paused a bit then looked at the beast, "Like you." It laughs, but then turned somber,

"My wife taken, she will turn too. We have son who is on own now. He will die."

"What can I do?"

"Take son. Help him grow, deserve good parent."

"Do you not want me to try and get your wife back?" The beast shook his head

"No, she is turned. I can feel it here." He placed a hand to his heart

"Yes, I can help. Where can I find him?"

"House, old, on hill."

"What color house?"

"Yellow." Morris bowed at the waist

"My help is at your disposal."

"What about girl?" The beast asks. Morris tapped her chin. She couldn't let the daughter know she helped Zuki's.

"I will have to pretend to kill you. Here, lay down." The Zuki did so. Morris dug into her satchel and produced some red berries. She squished them and red dye came out, she painted the beast on the side. The zuki's skin was a leathery feeling.

"Done?"

"Yes. Now all you have to do is bellow." And bellow he did. The house began to shake and crumble. Morris drew up her mask and ran into the back of the house and into a little room here the princess sat bound and gagged. Morris took off the gag

Oh good, The Calvary !" She wails, her Golden locks in disarray, her green eyes red from the tears. A tiny scratch graced her right cheek. The bellowing stopped

"Come princess, let's go." She held out a gloved hand towards her and helped her up.

"Is the thing dead?" The princess asked timidly

"Yes you have nothing to fear." Morris said with a nod. Walking out the way she had come, they climbed under beams and hopped over parts of the roof. Morris paused for a moment to look at the Zuki who lay under the rubble. She knew of course that it was not dead as it was indestructible, except for the blade, but still that took several stabs to kill.

"Do you have a horse?" Princess teeka asked , interrupting Morris's thoughts. Morris turned and watched the princess lift her silky tattered gown over a nail

"No, I'm sorry." She said as they stepped outside. The princess scoffed

"What kind of peacekeeper doesn't have a horse?" Morris fought down a growl as hooves sounded. Looking up she saw the Second kingdom's guards dressed in their blue and white silks and leathers. Their capes billow in the breeze.

"Your highness, are you alright?" First in command John Ryder asked.

"Yes, the PeaceKeeper saved me."

"Thank you peacekeeper." John said as he placed his arm over his heart and laid his fist on his shoulders. Morris simply nodded.

"Come let's get you two back to the palace." Second in command Nyle Jeers said as he smiled at Morris. You see he was the only one who knew her real identity, after all they'd been friends since birth. Nyle held out his hand which Morris took, he swung her upon the pale colored horse. Princess Teeka got into her open carriage and they headed for the kingdom of Matcha.