Hello, fellow fanfiction addicts! I am Amy, and I am the Queen of Randomness, intergalactic explorer, friend of the Merfolk, and a whole lot of other crazy things. I'm also an MR fangirl in the extreme. So, watch as I attempt to wow you with a ten-year-old OC assassin and a whole lot of words. Oh, and if you think I own anything, you might want to get yourself psychologically tested. *nods*

Chapter 1 - Leizanna

Leizanna gasped for air as she ran on the treadmill, her mother shouting through the speakers, "Come on, Zanna, faster!" she yelled.

"I can't, Mama!" Zanna called out hoarsely, "It hurts too much!" She looked through the class window and saw her mother standing there, frowning.

"Do you want her to win?" her mother asked harshly. Zanna shook her head as she ran, her legs aching for her to stop. "Zanna, you need to go faster! You're better than her! You're stronger than her! But you need to run faster!"

Zanna gave out a small cry of pain as she picked up her pace, trying hard not to scream. Mama didn't like it when she showed weakness.

"That's it, Zanna!" Her mama called to her through the speakers. "Even faster!" Zanna increased her speed again, trying to remember her goal. Don't let her win, don't let her win. She silently chanted in her head. She couldn't fail now; she had come too far. Mama had promised her that if she passed this last test, she would get her ultimate wish.

Suddenly the treadmill came to a sudden stop, and Zanna leaned on the treadmill in relief. Grabbing her water bottle, she took a long drink. She heard the door fly open, and she turned around to see her mother walking over to her with a huge smile on her face. "Well done, Zanna!" She said, "You not only matched her speed, you surpassed it by another two kilometres per hour!"

Zanna grinned, pleased that Mama was happy. After all, she was the only companion she really had. Her mother continued, "Do you know what this means, Zanna?"

Widening her eyes, Zanna said quietly, "You mean..." her mama nodded, grinning back at her.

"That's right, Zanna," she said, pulling a package from behind her back and handing it to her. Zanna ripped open the package and opened the box. She gave a small gasp, and gingerly picked up the two sai that lay inside the box, their metal glimmering in the light. They almost looked like daggers, except that they were longer, more slender, and had prongs that stuck out from each side. Her eyes flared in excitement, and she held one up in the air so she could examine it carefully.

"It's perfect Mama," Zanna said, slicing one through the air, "I can already see this blade going straight through Maximum Ride's heart."