The Adventures of Penny, Part IV

Penny and Hazel crawled surreptitiously out of Penny’s window so that Penny’s mother wouldn’t hear them leaving. After letting go of a low tree limb, they each hit the sidewalk hard, making a loud “thump, thump”.

“Before we go confront the zombie ninjas, I want to stop by my guru’s house.” Said Penny.
“Your wha?” said Hazel, confused and annoyed. She wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. “No more delays!” said Hazel, overreacting yet again.
“Oh, we’re going.” Said Penny firmly. “We’re going or I’m not helping you.”
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Penny knocked firmly on the guru’s door, creating a heavy, hollow sound. She was breathing deeply, trying to calm her nerves. She had vowed never to return here after what Galadana had said to her. Unfortunately, today’s situation was bringing her to her knees. She had no choice but to return.

“Yeeeeessssss” answered a deep voice within the tiny wooden shack.
“It’s Penny.” Penny’s voice was confident and loud.

The brass handle turned and the door swung slowly open, revealing an incense-laden room and a tall, slim man with a pencil-thin moustache and black hair. Without saying a word, he waved his arm slowly in the direction of the interior of his shack, summoning Penny and Hazel into his home.

“Hello, Galadana.” Said Penny, her discomfort evident.
“It has been a long time since I saw you, Penny…. If I remember correctly, I haven’t seen you since I told you th –“
“Thank you, Galadana, but I’m here on urgent business. I hate to interrupt your chit chat, but I need your advice on fighting zombie ninjas. Are you familiar with them?”
“I would advise against fighting them at all, Penny. They cannot be defeated. And not by the likes of you, that’s for sure.” Galadana said, making intense eye contact with Penny, and wearing a worried expression on his face. There was something about his expressions and demeanor that made Hazel think that Galadana didn’t receive many visitors. He was overly intimate and intense. He didn’t keep a polite distance (emotionally or physically) from Penny or herself.
Hazel looked to Penny’s face for guidance. How was she reacting to Galadana’s attempts to dissuade her from the fight? She could only hope that he wasn’t succeeding. Penny’s face was cold and emotionless. Though she held Galadana in her gaze, she didn’t warm to him. Suddenly, she turned on her heels and made for the door.
“You always dabbled with the dark side, Galadana. You just couldn’t resist it, could you? I used to trust you and admire you, you know. If anything happens to us, never forget that you neglected to help us.”
Hazel rushed out the door to follow Penny. Out of instinctive politeness, she turned to face Galadana as she left his home, and she noticed a tear fall from his eye. “I’m sorry.” He said. Hazel gently closed the heavy door and ran to Penny, directly toward downtown Pentragopolis, with the question still heavy in her mind: “who was that?”

Right now.

Never underestimate the power of your optimism.
Right when you think things are bad, something absolutely amazing happens.
If you're open to the possibilities and your own personal power, opportunities are endless. Great things are happening to you and me all the time!

The Adventures of Penny, Part III

I didn't manage to conclude Penny's saga in part 3, so this won't be a trilogy after all. Thanks to Jon, Zombie Ninjas have entered the plot. Hope you enjoy how I managed to work them in! Ellen, your plot twist will come in during part 4!
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Penny was speechless. Now she was going to have to help Hazel with her crazy plan?

“But wait, Hazel. Just wait !” said Penny. “Couldn’t we just make Skippy throw up? You know, then the chocolate poison won’t harm him any more.”
“Oh, I already thought of that, Penny, but Skippy’s inhaled and digested too much of the chemical for that to work. I induced vomiting about half an hour ago, and it didn’t work.” Hazel said, matter of factly.
It shocked Penny how calculated and methodical Hazel had become all of a sudden.
“So, what is it that I would have to do, if I were to help you?” Penny asked reluctantly.
“Well, there’s these Zombie Ninjas…” Hazel began.
“Zombie Ninjas??!” Penny asked, shocked. “Are you feeling ok, Hazel?”
“Penny, your funny logic isn’t gonna be of any use at the moment; and believe me, I would know. So, just go with me on this, o.k.?”
Penny regretfully nodded her head, not fully trusting Hazel.
“Anyway,” Hazel continued, “the Zombie Ninjas…. There are gangs of them in downtown Pentragopolis, creating all sorts of trouble. Anyway, to stay alert and out of the watchful gaze of the P.P.D., the Zombie Ninja Gangs have an underground market of Nutty Neurosa Nectar. It keeps them awake and alert if they need it. They have to be completely on their toes at all times to execute their complicated ninja moves! Now, here’s the part that makes it interesting for us: the Zombie Ninjas have also perfected the system for creating the antidote!”
“But why?” asked Penny. “Why would they want the antidote? Nutty Neurosa Nectar isn't life threatening for humans, is it?”
“No, it isn’t. But, the Zombie Ninjas can’t sleep without the antidote. They’ve become so hooked on it that they need the antidote to calm down. Don’t you see, Penny? They’re our only hope.” Said Hazel, with a tear in her eye.
“Ok, so why don’t you just pay them off for the recipe for the antidote?” Penny asked.
“Because, Penny!” Hazel exclaimed, frustrated by Penny’s lack of knowledge about the underbelly of the criminal world in Pentragopolis. “Because the deal could go sour… and these are ninjas… they could hurt me… and I’d be willing to bet they aren’t always cool, calm and collected.”
Hazel lowered her voice a little, then continued. “And you, Penny... You exhibited some killer fighting skills on me earlier. Didn’t you get combat training as a kid?”
“Yes.” Penny acknowledged reluctantly. She always knew that some time the day would come when she would be forced to enter into a real fight, one that mattered, with her combat training. And this was the day.

Without another moment’s delay, Hazel and Penny snuck out of Penny’s bedroom window. The sun was beginning to set, making both Penny and Hazel secretly wish that this had turned out to be a simple, easy day like any other. Penny also hoped against hope that it wouldn’t be dark by the time they got to downtown Pentragopolis.
At least I’ll have the element of surprise on my side against the Ninjas, thought Penny.

LOST

I know... Penny is lingering in some sort of stage of flux. Her destiny is unclear and hanging in the balance on an oh-so-gossamer thread of literary precariousness. She needs your help. According to one source, there is something called a "zombie ninja" who will appear in her future. Will she be able to use her once-forgotten combat training to save the day?
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FYI: LOST is the greatest show ever. Writing for it would be a dream.
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