Leo leaned against Donatello’s desk, his arms crossed over his chest deep in thought. He had been watching his genius brother search through pages upon pages of tedious government documents trying to learn more about this new threat. They were aware of their existence even before they saw them. Bishop said something about a little birdie chirping in his ear about them, who could that be? Was it possible one of the police officers that had assisted them with taking down Krang informed the government about them? Rebecca had assured them their secret was safe.

 His name being called broke him from his thoughts and Leo looked down at Donnie still parked in his chair. “What is it Don?”

 “Do you think if they got a hold of us they would really dissect us?” his younger brother’s voice wavered with  the horrid thought of being strapped down to a metal table cut and apart like a lab rat.

 Leo’s large hand rested gently on his younger brother’s shoulder giving it a quick reassuring squeeze, “I would never let anyone dissect any of you. I would die before I would let that happen.” The vile images that raced through Leo’s mind of his dead brothers in pieces made his stomach churn making him feel sick to his stomach. It was true though, he would lay down his life in a second to save his brothers and die defending them to his very last breath.

 Looking up from Donnie’s brown eyes Leo saw Mikey and Raph saunter in towards the Leader and the genius. The sly smile on Michelangelo’s face put Leo on edge, the youngest had something up his sleeve and was ready to test is sway with his eldest brother.

 Reaching Leo, Mikey swung his arm up and over his shoulder pulling the blue leader to his side.

 “What do you want Mikey?” Leo sighed allowing the brotherly embrace.

 “Do you know what today is oh brother of mine?” Mikey cooed playfully slapping his palm against the hard plates of Leonardo’s plastron.  

 “It’s October 31st Mike.”

 “Yeah Brah, its Halloween and we wanna go out and enjoy the parade. We never get to go out and do anything fun.”

 Leo let out a heavy sigh shaking his head, “Mikey, I told you before, we’re ninja and we stay in the shadows. Going topside isn’t a smart idea.”

Raphael moved next to his younger brother and tilted his head eyeing Leo, “We know what we are fearless and we know we don’t belong on the streets. But today is the only day in the year we get to experience walking around with the humans unnoticed and safe. I think after all we’ve dealt with lately I think we deserve to go have a little fun topside.”

 Before Leo could reply the voice of their Sensei interjected stopping the conversation. “My sons, you are right, you have been so dedicated to the safety of this city that you have not been able to enjoy the spoils of your hard work. Halloween is the only day you can go up into the streets with no fear of hatred for your appearance or fear of scrutiny of your mutation. Please take this day to enjoy yourselves and unwind. Interact with the outside world but please be careful.”

 Leo and his brothers stared wide eyed at their aging father. He had just given them permission to go topside and enjoy Halloween. For the first time ever!

 “Besides.” The old rat continued. “You are old enough to make your own decisions and able to care for your own safety. Who am I to keep you from your destiny?”

 The atmosphere in the lair exploded as Raph and Mikey jumped into the air in excitement high threeing each other. Mikey turned to his genius brother beaming from his large skateboard chair and slide to his side smacking him on the back of his shell.

 “Tell them about that party you heard about Donnie. Maybe we could go there for a bit. Didn’t it say there would be food?” Mikey turned Donnie’s chair to face his other brothers who were now looking at him awaiting a response.

 “What’s he talkin about Donnie?” Raph quipped picking up a small trinket from Donnie’s desk flipping it over and over in his oversized palm.

 “I follow a local neighborhood watch blog and I guess someone bought that old church on the edge of town that’s been abandoned for years for a dollar. You know the one, the one built in the early 1800’s with all the missing windows? It’s been in shambles from all the vandalism over the years.  They have been remodeling it for the past year and finally finished a few weeks ago. They’re holding a neighborhood Halloween party for all the people in the neighborhood. There had been so many people stopping by during the construction to see what was going on, the owner thought it would be nice to let everyone see the work done to restore the old church. Supposedly there will be food too, which is what caught Mikey’s attention a week ago.”

 Mikey took out a lone nunchaku and spun it in his wrist circling Leonardo; he could tell by the confused look on his brother’s face he couldn’t remember the place. “You know that old church we used to play in when Master Splinter went to bed, we’d sneak out and play around swinging in the open rafters and hurtling the old pews.”

 Suddenly Mikey stopped in his tracks the blood in his veins running cold, he realized what he had just confessed in front of their father. Something he did not know about their past.

 “Mikey.” Raph growled in frustration resting his large head in his hands.

 With a grimace across his face Mikey slowly turned his head to face his father, dreading the death glare from the feisty old rat. The amused look on the rat took him by surprise, he wasn’t angry?

 Splinter watched his sons faces as they glared at their youngest brother then trained their gaze to their father to see how upset he was. When all their attention was on him he began to laugh, a good belly laugh he hadn’t managed to have in quite some time. “My sons you were only 6 years old when you started to venture out on your own. Your ninja skills were barely even tapped yet, so I heard you four leave each time. Instead of punishing your natural inquisitiveness for the outside world I just followed close behind to make sure you were safe. You boys will have hardships around every corner as you continue to age, who was I to stop you exploring your city. The more you got comfortable with your surroundings the more you could protect yourself; learn faster ways to get home. It was a very tiring time though, making sure I heard you each time, so I could supervise. Not a lot sleep when you were curious toddlers. But it did help your confidence and your bond with each other. You knew you had to rely on each other to get back home safely.”

 Their tense bodies relaxed as their father confessed he knew they had gone topside when they were younger. It was a secret they had promised not to tell anyone just in case it would get back to their father. As it turned out he knew the entire time and had followed them on each adventure.

 Leo let out a shaky breath realizing the wrath of his father would not come. A large bullet had been dodged and a small weight of the lie was lifted. “Yes, I know which church you’re talking about now. Yeah, I wouldn’t see why not, could be fun seeing the old place redone.” Leo scratched his chin contemplating their route; if they were going up to the streets they needed some sort of plan before they headed out just in case they got lost in the crowd. They still needed to be careful even though this was a leisurely outing. There was always a chance of running into some Purple Dragons at Halloween.

 To their surprise and delight it wasn’t difficult to get into the parade. With their great “costumes” they were pulled into the sea of people by several hands congratulating them on the detail of their work. At one point people on a parade float had tried to coax them up and onto the decorated trailer. Politely declining they moved back away from the reaching hands. That would expose them more than they already were. Thankfully their ninja skills had helped them mange to avoid any cameras as well.

 It was nice getting to know people, conversating and mingling with their fellow New Yorkers. There were no screams or flying insults, just random high fives and praises.

 “So life like!” One woman squealed running her hands over Raphael’s forearm excitedly and pressing down on his skin to feel the dense muscles beneath. “It feels like real scales; how did you do that?!”

 The red brute smirked when her wandering hands tried to encircle the impossible mass of his biceps. He allowed her hands to travel farther up to his neck, her touches giving his green skin a rush of goose bumps. “These hands are pure talent sweetheart in more ways than one.” He cooed seductively stepping into her personal space getting lost in the attention.

 Leo watched the exchange and figured it was a good time to pry the beast away from his prey before he sunk his teeth in too far. “Come on lover boy, let’s get moving before you bite off more than you can chew.” His hand hooked around the back of the brutes harness and started to pull him away from the unsuspecting female.

 The woman grew disappointed when Raphael was pulled from her groping fingers, “Come back! He’s fine, I like it rough!” She called after the retreating terrapins.

“Damn Raph, you attracted the girls real quick.” Mikey laughed giving a quick glance over his shoulder at the sad woman they had just left behind.

 Raphael turned abruptly ripping his harness from his older brother’s tight grasp and hissed in frustration. “Damn fearless, why you gotta cock block a brother.”

 “What were you gonna do Raph when she found that ‘costume’ doesn’t come off? When you got back to her apartment for a few fun evening activities?” Leo laughed as he moved around a poorly designed SpongeBob costume.

 “You never know Leo; she could have been cool with fucking a mutant turtle? Aurora can’t be the only woman who’s willing to spread her legs for mutant dick?”

 The comment made the leader stop in his tracks and the dense muscles in his neck bunch painfully. Slowly he turned to face his brother and the expression Raph was expecting was nowhere close to the look on the leader’s face. Pain swirled in the blue orbs of his eldest brother making Raph instantly regret the remark.

 “I-I’m sorry Leo, that was disrespectful to Aurora.”

 Leos’ eyes lowered to the city streets contemplating something and gave his muscled brother one final glare before returning his attention back to the mass of people in the parade.

 Donnie came up to the ashamed brother and nudged his shoulder gaining his interest, “You know you’re not wrong Raph. Statistically speaking there are plenty of woman out there who would be willing to bed us. There is a huge following of people online calling themselves ‘Furries’ and ‘Scalies’ that would prefer our unusual body types and larger…….physiques to normal human beings.”

 With a deep rolling laughter Raphael patted his genius brothers shell, “Thanks Don, I’ll keep that in mind next time I’m on the net.”

 As the parade came to a close they parted from the bustling crowd and headed towards the remodeled church that was holding the public house warming party. The walk was short but the anticipation for their first real party was staggering.

 Just as they remembered, the old church was surrounded by a large brick wall that towered even over them, perhaps 15 feet tall. It would require scaling it they needed to get over its walls. The old cast iron door they was barely holding onto its hinges was replaced by a massive wood and iron door. Its structure looked sound and secure not like the rickety old gates. This was built to withstand some heavy pounding and privacy.

  As they passed through the new protective doors they gazed up at the newly restored stained glass windows, marveling at the colors. When they were kids they remembered several kids throwing rocks at the beautiful glass shattering the window to smithereens. It was good to see them intact and cleaned for once; they seemed to sparkle in the moonlight.

 The once broken and uneven stairway up to the main door had been removed and replaced by fresh concrete and a new wood and iron hand rail. Gone were the tags from gang members and inconsiderate kids who defiled the old brick work on the outside of the ancient building. Someone had spent hours power washing the outside to rid the grey stone of the canned paint.

 Reaching the top of the stairs the old wooden doors that had been long torn from their hinges had been replaced by new metal doors. About half way up the thick doors were matching stained glass windows just above their eye line to complete the look of the exterior.

Donnie pointed to the almost invisible camera just to the left of the large front door, noting the advanced security system that protected the property. “So far I’m impressed, the tech is high end, like nearly impossible to hack and the outside is wonderfully redone. Even the shrubbery is trimmed and lush.”

 Raph’s large thick fingers wrapped around the elaborate handle and opened the door revealing the newly converted sanctuary. After all the years of abuse most of the pews had been burned or stolen so it wasn’t too much of a shock seeing the rows of benches gone. All of the religious relics were long gone as well; even the large wooden statue of Jesus that had hung above the pulpit had been taken years ago.

 The large spacious vaulted ceilings were repaired and refinished leaving no trace of the old roof’s leaks to see. At the back of the sanctuary was a huge circle stained glass window that sat high above the pulpit. It had been shattered long before they found the old building when they were tots so they never saw the vibrant colors inside the window. Now inside the round window sat a beautifully crafted piece of art, each little different colored piece of glass formed a dahlia flower. The large center piece was outlined with more flowers and stars with a background that transitioned from light blue to dark.

 Below the circle stained glass window was a large flat screen TV hanging from the wall with an oversized u-shaped couch just before it. Already people were sitting on it mingling and having conversations while snacking on plates of food.  

 The atmosphere was friendly and inviting and almost immediately people began to introduce themselves commenting on their ‘costumes’. That was when the aroma of delicious smelling food invaded their senses. Mikey was the first to grumble and turned towards the large kitchen sitting to the left, open to the expansive room of the old sanctuary. Atop the counters along with another large island covered in white quarts sat a plethora of foods and desserts.

 Mikey wasted no time and made a beeline for the kitchen and the foods followed by Raph and Donnie. Leo kept his attention on the transformation of the old church. They had never seen the space so lit up besides the beams from their flashlights. It was nice to see the old church fixed up and ready for its new life.

 Leo left his brothers to pillage the refreshments and continued down a wide hallway to look at more of the house. A bright sign with bold lettering was sitting on a stand just at the opening.

 “Please feel free to roam about the house. If the door is open you are welcome inside, but if the door is closed please respect the privacy of the home owner and remain outside.”

 Continuing down the wide hallway he peaked through each room that was open. The first room on the right was the old Library, it looked like it had been restored to its former glory. All of the busted shelves were whole and matching the rest of the wood perfectly. You wouldn’t have been able to tell of the previous vandalism which was nice, there had been too many swastikas lining the floor.

 Shelves took up every inch of space on the walls, from floor to ceiling it towered. Almost every inch of space was lined with books ranging from what looked like ancient to new. Colors splashed the shelves from their spines like an abstract painting making his fingers inch to pull a book from its home to read. They had their own library but nothing this expansive. His eyes and finger tips roamed over some of the spines and grew a bit envious at the rare books he only dreamed of reading. Some of them were ancient books from Japan dating back almost 200 years, he wondered if they should be in a museum not sitting freely on someone’s bookcase.

 Resisting the rising urge to pull a book from the shelve and take a spot on one of the lush chairs Leonardo took his leave and headed back out into the hallway. With a quick look the blue banded terrapin found his brothers hovering over the food thoroughly stuffing their faces. With a crooked grin he turned back and continued his tour of the renovated church.

 As Donnie and Raphael moved away from the refreshments Mikey stayed behind sampling a tray of fancy cheeses. This was a great opportunity to try different cheeses together to better his pizza making skills. Where else would be get chance to sample so many cheeses at once…for free?

 Putting a slice of munster and gouda on top of each other Mikey slid the concoction between his lips and found very unpleasantly the two did not mix. While his face was scrunched up from the awful taste the person behind the counter who had been diligently working to prepare a new snack turned around and nearly dropped the tray in their hands.

 Mikey’s hand moved over his mouth as he hurriedly tried to finish off the taste on his tongue, “I’m sorry.” He mumbled quietly before popping a strawberry in his mouth to mask the flavor. “Munster and gouda do not mix. Mistakes were made. Blerg….”

 The woman in what was a phantom of the opera costume set the plate of what looked like pizza pinwheels down next to the veggie tray and stepped back. She smelled of freshly baked breads and sweets, it was comforting and made his stomach grumble for more. Mikey ignored her unsure gaze and swiped up a pinwheel to pop it in his mouth.

 “Wait!” she cried out reaching for him as the pastry disappeared behind his teeth. “It’s still hot!”

 She was undoubtedly right; he could have sworn he heard the flesh on his tongue sizzle at the treat settled on the wiggling appendage. But instead of spitting it out Mikey huffed around the burning deliciousness trying his best to cool the food down and not drool all over himself. In and out he sucked in air desperately trying to bring the temp down. After a few minutes of rolling the burning dough around on his tongue it was finally cool enough to swallow. Mikey took a swig of his punch to sooth his throbbing tongue and eyed the now giggling woman.

 “Are you alright?”

 Sticking the tip of his tongue out he nodded, “I no longer have skin on my tongue but you know I’ll live drinking the rest of my meals through a straw.”

 She mumbled something under her breath but Mikey couldn’t make it out.

 “What was that?”

 “Ohh oh nothing, just talking to myself really.” The woman stepped back and leaned up against the counter, “So that’s a pretty elaborate costume you got there.” Her finger waged up and down alluding to his massive shell and green skin. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were a living breathing turtle man.”

 “Nope.” Mikey coughed popping a piece of cool broccoli in his mouth. “All foam and plastic. Can you imagine a giant turtle living in New York. Where would something like that live?”

 “The sewer?” she calmly remarked. “I can imagine there are a never ending slew of tunnels under us with abandoned train stations perfect for subterranean housing?”

 Mikey reached for a chicken salad sandwich and paused. “Don’t you think it would smell down there?”

 “Nah, it’s not that bad down there.”

 “How would you know?” His baby blues rose in surprise but found the woman gone and another plate of pizza pin wheels in front of him. “Hmmmm.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Leonardo made his way down the hallway and found a bathroom, two extraordinarily large empty rooms but only encountered two closed doors.  At the end of the hallway there were two large French doors open wide to a giant roaring fire. Taking his time to reach the large room he noticed an open set of stairs leading to the second floor to the old structure. Making a detour he began scaling the old wooden stair case noting the restored finish and carpentry work.

 His hefty green hand ran over the handy work with each unhurried step taking in the detailed craftsmanship. At the first landing there was another partial stained glass window that had been restored like the others along with a built in bench. Stopping to peer out Leonardo found a beautiful fresh garden with a massive water feature just below. The water poured out freely from a fountain that contained four large turtles perched on top of each other playfully. What a usual choice of animal for a fountain he thought in the back of his mind making his way up the last flight of stairs to the second floor.  

 At the landing Leo found the master bedroom just to the right. Like the large room below it had two ornate doors leading into a massive room and a large fireplace in the same spot as the first floor. Looking up he saw the only original stained glass window left sitting high on the wall. A massive circle with the virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus, the array of colors was stunning and as the moonlight filtered through the colored glass it left beautiful streaks of color on the white linen of the king size bed just below.

 A flair of jealously sparked through the leaders mind, to be human to be able to live above ground with such luxuries like windows and clean linen that didn’t smell like the dank sewer systems. To finally be able to sun themselves in the sunlight, would be a treat in itself. His fingers ran over the soft fabric and pressed down on the mattress enjoying the textures against his skin.

 He wandered around the room for a bit and ventured into the bathroom, his blue eyes wandered to the very large tiled shower and massive soaking tub. The tub alone looked like it could fit him and his shell plus another person comfortably inside. Taking his phone out Leo took a quick picture to show Donnie. What an improvement to the lair it would be to be able to actually have a tub large enough for them to immerse completely in, shell in all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raphael made his way through the open doors of the first floor, until he found the giant study in the back with a massive warm crackling fire in the gigantic hollow of the room’s main focal point. It radiated a welcoming heat helping the chill from the night’s air melt from his scaled skin. Looking around Raphael remembered most of the walls in this church had been crumbling stone. There had been small holes in the structure as time ate away at the history of the building. Now all the walls had been repaired and covered with sheet rock and no doubt insulated property for New York’s winters.

 He walked around the room running his finger tips over the antique wooden desk when a voice came from  behind him.

 “And there was two.”

 Spinning around her found a woman leaning up against the thick trim of the open doorway dressed as a female phantom of the opera. She was dressed in a nice fitting tux with a large flowing red cap, a black brimmed hat covered her hair and a white mask that covered more than half of her face. He vaguely remembered seeing the woman working in the kitchen putting out fresh food for the guests. Maybe she was the host?

 Resting his backside on the edge of the desk Raphael kept his sights on the woman as she moved forward into the room, “Yeah I’m here with my brothers. If you see two more less attractive pretend turtles they be them.”

 “Brothers?” She cooed. “Are you all as handsome? And who is the talent behind these amazing costumes?”

 He watched her shift close fingers trailing along the crevasses of Raph’s muscled bicep. As she passed by he could smell bread and sugar, the woman had been baking all day for the scent to cling her to her like that. A hint of pizza accompanied the delicious smell as well making him suddenly hungry.  

 Raph was ecstatic Fearless wasn’t there, he may not get to take anyone home but by the way the woman was circling him like a vulture he was more than happy to offer up a small meal to the woman. He deserved a little action. Besides it had been a while since he had kissed a woman and Raph very much missed the taste of her even if it was brief. “Yeah we’re blessed, but you’re lookin at the cream of this crop lady. It don’t get any better than this.” His arms opened flexing his muscles putting on a show for the enthralled female.

 The woman stopped a few feet in front of him and smiled, “Impressive. What brings you guys to the open house and not out winning some costume contest? You could win top dollar looking like that. Not that I’m complaining about the position I’m in.” closer she moved resting her hands on his thighs.  

 The lowered lights and flickering flames from the fire crackling in the background made it difficult to see her eyes but one thing was for sure, she was definitely eye fucking him. The signal couldn’t have been clearer. Raphael leaned back spreading his legs which shifted her fingers higher on his thick thighs, “You’re just lucky I guess.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As he finished his solo tour on the second floor Leonardo found three more empty bedrooms along with their own en suites with equally large shower stalls and soaking tubs. Each room even had their own fireplaces, most likely for heating the rooms back in the day when electricity wasn’t widely available. Exiting from the last room he saw Mikey and Donnie leaving the master bedroom still munching on hors d’oeuvres.

 “I can’t believe you did that Mike!” Don growled giving his younger brother a smack on the back of his carapace.

 Mikey gave an indignant huff and shrugged his broad shoulders, “What? I wanted to see if I could get in the tub. Don we need one of those in the lair, I think Leo would love to take baths in the winter.”

 “Please tell me you didn’t let him get in the tub.”

 Both stopped in their tracks and found Leonardo standing just down the hall from them, his thick arms folded over his chest in frustration.

 Mikey popped the last of his mini slider into his mouth and smiled sticky sweet to his older brother. “Omf corsh nomf ((swallows)) why would I crawl into a complete strangers tub to see if our shells would fit inside? I mean who would be that crazy and rude? You have such little faith in me brah.”

 “Of course he did,” Donnie cut in dryly. “Had to swat his hands away from the faucet to keep him from filling it up for a ‘test run’.”

 “Mikey.” Leo’s voice was low and threatening in its authority wiping the smirk right from the younger turtle’s face instantly.

 With one stern gesture from their fearless leader all three mutants headed back down to the main floor. Without a word Leonardo felt himself pulled subconsciously into the large room with the fireplace just to the right of the staircase, as if it called to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With delight Raphael allowed the enthusiastic woman to crawl into his lap straddling his powerful legs. Now with her so close the bread smell gave way to a familiar smell, the smell of a woman and her arousal. It was thick and clouded his senses as she leaned in, mask still covering her face. His large hands found her waist but didn’t stop her from advancing further.

 “God you smell amazing, it’s been too long Red.” And with that she leaned forward slanting her mouth over the brute’s beak claiming a kiss.

 The familiar taste flooded his senses and Raphael reacted gripping her tighter. His tongue pressed into her mouth plundering the warmth groaning as she whimpered softly grabbing his cheeks with her hands.

 “Fuck.” He moaned breathlessly between each engage of their lips.

 As their mouths connected Leo, Donnie and Mikey walked in on the pair stopping in their tracks. They watched Raphael’s enthusiasm skyrocket as the kissed deepened. Both large arms wrapped around the woman pulling her impossibly close returning the kiss with everything he was.

 Raphael’s large mitt ran up the back of her neck and ripped the black hat from her head and locks of blonde were wound up in his green fingers. Mouth open and dumbfounded the three brothers could hear his rumblings over the fire. Raphael was clinging to the mysterious woman like she was a life line.

 “Hey it’s the snack lady!” Mikey pointed out breaking the spell around the two entangled on the desk.

 The woman slowed their kiss and disengaged from the brute and the massive turtle slumped down on the desk panting with a punch drunk look on his face; lips still glistening from their activities. One hand reached to her cheek under the mask cupping the right side of her face lovingly.

 Slowly she reached for the mask covering her face and slipped it free. There perched above the content brute was Aurora. Her violet eyes met with all three brothers and grinned. “Welcome to my home boys.”

“Damnit.”

 She had left sometime in the early morning leaving him alone and unaware of her departure. Letting a heavy sigh leave him Leo flopped back down on the bed groaning in frustration. He had hoped that……who was he kidding, what did he really expect? That an apology and a few orgasms would set everything right in one night? Being alone this morning without so much as a goodbye was what he should have expected. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. Last night was more than miraculous, having her in his arms again, kissing her, hearing his name fall blissfully from her lips again was everything he had wanted, everything that he missed.

 Short lived as it was Leo would savor last night’s memory until the end of his days. He had just hoped it wouldn’t be the last time he would get to enjoy her in that way. He wanted forever.

 The walk of shame back to the healer’s quarters was agonizing. Once he entered through the threshold of the healer’s quarters Leo found his two youngest brothers sitting next to Raph who was now strong enough to sit up in bed. Thank god for the mutagen that coursed through their veins. As they saw him enter Donnie and Mikey jumped to their feet running towards their leader bombarding him with questions.

 “Where have you been?” Donnie questioned pulling his eldest back to Raphael.

 Mikey grumbled behind his brothers as the genius guided him towards their recovering brother. “We were worried sick about you!”

 Reaching the hothead Leo watched his younger brother eye him up and down as if he were gauging his current mood. Then Raph closed his eyes and Leo saw his nostrils flare and his tongue dart from his mouth. Ever so slowly Raph’s lips curling into a devilish grin. “I can smell her on ya fearless, you didn’t do what I think you did, did ya? Because that could possibly make things worse with her.”

 Donnie cocked his head giving both his brothers a puzzled look, “What are you talking about? Smell who on Leo?” Leaning towards his older brother Donnie scented the air around him and released an uncharacteristic growl. “Oh…” his three fingered hand came to rest over his mouth startled by his animalistic reaction.

 Mikey shrugged his shoulders copying Don and Raph and they watched their little bother’s eye dilate releasing his own deep rumble. “Aurora.”

 Raphael adjusted himself to face his red-faced brother. “Ya had sex with Aurora last night.”

 Donnie’s brown orbs flashed with anger; his mouth snapping shut in a thin line. Mikey’s baby blues burned into his soul showing disappointment in his brothers’ inability to take things slow. Their icy glares made him want to hide in his shell, something he hadn’t done since he was a child.

  “How could you have been so careless? Where is she now?” his genius brother growled angrily at his eldest for the first time in his life, the vibrations of his reprimand giving Leo goosebumps of shame.

 “I…I don’t know, she was gone when I woke up.” Leo felt so small right now with his three brothers glowering at him. Did he ruin everything by going to her room last night? He was the one who broke her heart, and he went to her room. But he had gone in fully intent on just talking to her, to apologize, hoping to repair some of the damage he had done a year ago. Sex had not been the plan. They had fought together; she had saved Raph and his lives. He thought it was a good change to mend fences, did he just mess it all up?

 “I can’t believe you did something so irresponsible Leo? You entered into her room in the middle of the night after an emotional battle. Did you actually think she would be able to tell you no? You broke up with her Leo, knowing full well she is still in love with you!” Donnie’s posture was tense, his fists clenched but he was looking down at the floor unable to look his brother in the eye.

 The last sentence stung, and Leo grew slightly angry himself. “I’m in love with her too you know! I didn’t plan on having sex with her; I just went in there with the intent on just talking and telling her I was sorry and that I still loved her. She had been avoiding me like the plague since we first saw her, I just needed to get her alone, to explain things. One thing led to another and it just…happened.”

 “Sex doesn’t just happen bro.” Mikey cut in dropping down next to Raph, his arms folded over his chest.

 The turtle in red grumbled testing his wound with a tentative push of his two fingers. “If you forgot Leo, we all love her, she’s not just yours…...” Letting out a frustrated huff Raphael pinched the bridge between his eyes. “All I know is it better not be another year before we see her again because you couldn’t keep it in your pants oh fearless leader.”

 Soon Gyoji and Master Splinter made their way into the large room. Gyoji stopped a few feet from the brothers while Splinter moved next his eldest.

 “My son,” He started. “Your brothers were worried when you disappeared last night. They insisted coming to find you, but I told them you would return when you had finished with what you felt you needed done. By the look on your faces, I gather it did not go as planned?”

 “No Sensei.”

 Splinter’s hand came to rest on Leo’s forearm making the leader look down at the aging rat, “We must remember my son, time heals all things. There is no manual for life, mistakes are bound to happen so we must be patient and learn from our failings. Give Aurora time, her love for you all is boundless and nothing will sway her from those feelings. Yesterday’s trials were hard, but they set us on the path for reconciliation. I will give you a bit of good news though my sons, you will see her yet again today.”

 The news brought smiles back to their faces as all expect Raph stood to hear more.

 Splinter turned to Gyoji who took the invitation to address the family. “Honored ones, the kingdom thanks you for your help in saving our Daimyo, we are forever in your debt.” Gyoji bowed to them in respect and continued. “Despite yesterday’s horrible events, the award ceremony for the Battle Nexus Championship will still be held in Michelangelo’s honor. It will be held when the sun is at its highest this day. The second-place winner will also be recognized.”

 Mikey got excited smacking Raph in the arm but regretted it instantly hearing his brother groan in pain. “Oh sorry bro! Dude, I’m so sorry…..so, she’s still here?”

 “Yes Ms. Yoshi is still present in the nexus and plans on attending the ceremony. You all will be allowed up at the podium with your brother as he accepts his award. The Daimyo doesn’t want you separated from each other. Raphael the healers have informed me you as well enough to be brought up as well so you don’t miss this joyous occasion.”

 Raphael rolled his eyes watching Mikey’s face nearly burst from happiness. “Yea, it’s joyous alright. He ain’t neva gonna let us live this down.”

 “Nope.” Was Michelangelo’s quick response brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulders.

 When the time came, Raphael with the help of his brothers was settled into a wheeled chair, gathered their belongings and made their way to the Daimyo’s platform high above the battle nexus’s arena. The other three brothers towered over their father but remained behind as the old ninja master lead the way.

 As they made their way up into the Daimyo’s personal perch above the championship the blonde and purple of Aurora’s hair came into view. She was currently kneeling before the seated sullen ruler speaking softly. Her right hand was resting atop his large one in comfort and the edges of his lips lifted to a small smile. He pulled it from beneath hers and rested his massive palm on the top of her head before running it downs the side of her face to give her a gentle pat on her check. The Daimyo nodded and spoke a few whispered words which in turn made the kunoichi smile.

 They watched the private interaction until the pair became aware of their audience and stood to greet them.

 Aurora was dressed in black pants with grey knee-high boots. Her upper half was covered in a sheer blue shirt with a white tank underneath and a long necklace that hung just below her breasts. The blue in her attire did not go unnoticed to Leo who found it difficult to keep his eyes off the woman.  Just hours before she was beneath him, naked, writhing…….calm down. This is not the time or the place.

 “My friends,” The Daimyo started softly, breaking from Aurora to approach the family of five. “I know this trip has been a mix of ups and downs.” The old man swallowed hard as if trying to bury his anxious sadness. “We are in your debt for your help yesterday and of course from a year ago. If it wasn’t for you five.” The Daimyo turned slightly to address Aurora as well who stayed a few feet away. “This dimension and no doubt the rest would be in peril. You will always be honored heroes of the nexus and are always welcome with the highest regard. But this day is a happy occasion; we honor Michelangelo for his triumph in the Battle Nexus Championship as well as Aurora for runner up.” His hands reached out for the pair. “Come, it is time to present you to the people.”

 Without hesitation Mikey approached the Daimyo, he was quick to bow and the ruler’s sad eyes brightened just a little at the youngest gusto.  Turning to Aurora the Daimyo held out his hand which she took and he pulled them forward to the massive opening bring them into view of the mass crowd below. As they looked down at the swaying masses the arena erupted into applause.

 The Daimyo took both their hands and raised them high which made the roaring thunder rise to near ear splitting decimals.

 “My fellow warriors!” the sorrow that filled his voice was gone. Strong and booming followed his words as he put on a show for the masses. “This year’s Championship was found with great success! You honor us with your courage and strength! This year we are graced with a new champion and runner up in their first year to compete. Not only are they fierce fighters but also part of a team that has saved its Daimyo twice! Our runner up is a human from 3rd Earth Aurora Yoshi!”

 He held her hand higher in his excitement virtually pulling her from her feet. She stumbled a bit trying to stay on her tippy toes but a palm to his side stabilized her enough until he realized her predicament and lowered her down to the flats of her feet. “Last year she stopped an arrow from finding its place in my skull and helped us defeat Tigerclaw and his army.” From his robes he pulled a bright purple ribbon with a silver medallion attached at the bottom. He lifted it high and passed the ribbon over her head settling it around her neck. “We thank you for your part in the championship and your help in keeping this kingdom safe.”

 Aurora nodded and was turned forward one more time to be presented to the crowd.

 As the Daimyo turned to address the crowd once again Mikey turned to find Aurora smiling at him. She held out her hand which he accepted getting a squeeze. He couldn’t hear her over the ruckus from below and the bellowing of the massive man before them, but he could read her lips, ‘I’m proud of you.’

 Then he was abruptly pulled from her view and brought to the edge of the platform, his hand was raised with the same enthusiasm and the crowd screamed. It started slowly; muffled words swelling into his name growing in volume until everyone in the arena was chanting. Mikey ate up the attention bowing and adding a little flare with a back flip.

 The Daimyo came up to Mikey resting his hand on his shoulder, “Michelangelo proved himself worthy yesterday to be among the hall of champions. He also along with his brothers alongside Aurora saved this dimension twice over with the defeat of Drako and… my son Ue-Sama yesterday and ending the war with Tigerclaw last year. We are forever grateful!”

 Pulling another ribbon from his robes, this time a vibrant orange to match his mask and a large gold medallion at its end the Daimyo presented Michelangelo with his award. Mikey bowed his head to accept the award with pride. As he stood back to his full height he found his family’s admiration beaming with each face he saw. “You honor your family with your skills and your dedication to your craft Michelangelo.  You should be proud of yourself because I know your family is.”

 With slow hands the ruler turned the young mutant to face him; Mikey could see the tears in his eyes. Despite the happy face he was showing the Daimyo was in pain, an immense amount that he was now struggling to keep contained.  His smile thinned and faltered so Mikey reached up giving him a much needed embrace. This was when he could feel him shaking and waved his hand to Aurora.

 The kunoichi took the cue and pulled the Daimyo from his grip and away from the prying eyes of the crowd.

 Mikey did one more bow and waved, “See you all next time!” before throwing a smoke bomb disappearing from the ledge getting another roar from the captivated crowd.

 The Daimyo allowed Aurora to escort him from the balcony and too Splinter and his sons. “I am truly thankful for your help yesterday, all of you. But I’k sure you all wish to return to your homes for rest.” His hand rose waving Gyoji over. “Aurora you will be sent home today, Gyoji will return you to the location he retrieved you from. Old friend I’m sorry but your son is not yet healthy enough to take the trip through the dimensional portal. The energy within would rip his wound wide open. Raphael must remain here until his wounds have healed more.”

 “We shall stay behind as well if that is alright with you?”

 “You and your family are always welcome.”

 Letting go of the large man Aurora went to her bag and swung it over her shoulder. “Thank you my Daimyo, and thank you for everything. I am sorry about Ue-Sama, I truly am. But I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him or Drako.”  

 “As a father I hope you are right about my son but as a ruler I hope you are wrong.”

 Leo could feel the panic rising in his chest. He hadn’t thought about what would happen when this was over. She was leaving again and they would have no way to contact her. How long would it be before they saw her again? He moved on instinct stepping towards her, his hand came out to rest on her shoulder. “W-when will….where?”

 At the contact Aurora looked over her shoulder and tried to keep her composure as his beautiful blue eyes bore into her soul. She knew what he wanted but she wasn’t ready to give them her location. Not yet, soon but not yet.

 Splinter’s paw came down on his forearm and Leo released her shoulder, “My dear when you are ready you know where to find us. Our door has and will always be open to you my child.”

 As the white portal opened to her destination Aurora turned to the Daimyo and bowed and turned to do the same to Master Splinter. “Till next time.” She called before slipping through threw the light and disappearing from their life again.

 The Daimyo saw the expressions on their faces as the portal snapped shut swallowing up their kunoichi. His hands came down on Leonardo’s and Splinters shoulders. “Come my friends let us go get lunch.”

 It took two more days for Raphael to be well enough to travel home. Gyoji conjured up another portal, the swirling white light meant home, a proper shower and pizza. The Daimyo face grew solemn and reached down to the old rat. His large arms wrapped around Splinter’s small frame but was careful to do no harm.

“My friend please treasure your sons for you never know when it will be the last day you will see them.” They could hear his old voice struggling with his words as he clung to the old rat. Then his head lifted and looked at the four brothers and smiled passed his sorrow. “Give her time, she still loves you all. I could see the inner turmoil tearing her apart.”

 “Until we meet again my old friend. I shall do my best to come see you more often. My sons are grown and require less observation so I should be able to get away.”

 A gentle smile lifted the ruler’s lips, “I would love that my old friend. I look forward to it.”

 With one final bow the family of five said their farewells and stepped through the portal into the large space below the city streets that was their home.

 As they crossed over the threshold into the lair Donnie’s com rang and a very worried April came over the speaker into the genius’s ear. Pressing his finger to the device in his ear he began to listen to their friend. “Yes April, Raph is doing fine. Thankfully the mutagen in our blood has sped up his recovery tremendously. He’ll be back to giving us hell and crushing skulls in a week or two. How did you know? She what? For how long? I see, yes you can come over. See you in 20.”

 “How did April know about Raph already?” Leo asked helping their Sensei to the kitchen table.

 “Aurora…..I guess she’s been in contact with April the past couple weeks. Aurora called her yesterday when she got back to our dimension letting her know about the fight and to check up on us. She’s ahhh coming over with pizza for us and sushi for sensei.”

 Leo looked back at Donnie as he filled the kettle for tea, his mouth open in disbelief. Aurora had been missing for a year and she had started talking to April a couple of weeks ago and April didn’t tell them? The blue leader was upset but refused to vocalize it since he himself might have dashed their chances to reconnect with Aurora themselves. Finishing up filling the kettle Leo started the burner and set the kettle on top of the stove. His attention returned to his injured father helping him to the bathroom.

 “You’ll feel better after a shower Sensei, and your tea will be ready when you get out.”

 Weary and tired Master Splinter thanked his son before closing the door. He was looking forward to a hot shower and his own bed tonight, of course after a hot cup of soothing tea. After a few moments Leo heard the shower start and the shower curtain pull closed. Assured his father was ok Leo returned to the kitchen and started to prepare the tea leaves and steeper for his father’s tea.

 Looking up from his task Leo found his brothers scattered over the lair. Seeing Raph sitting on the couch pressing his finger to his covered wound Leo sighed making his way over to his brute of a brother.

 Sitting down next to him Leo grabbed Raph’s hand preventing another jab to the bandage setting it down on his lap, “What the shell are you doing Raph?”

 “Feeling.” Raph grumbled crossing his arms over his chest wincing at the shooting pain in his side. “Is that ok with you?”

 “Why w…” before he could finish, the whirlwind of April tore through the lair heading straight for Raph and himself. In her left hand she carefully balanced four pizzas and on her right slung a bag from their favorite sushi stop. Setting the goodies down on the coffee table April sat down next to the two turtles and immediately started fussing over Raphael. After a few moments Raph visible softened to their human friend and allowed her to clean his wound with the fresh supplies Donnie had just brought over.

 April had gotten into the familiar rhythm of taking care of her friends each time they came home from patrol battered and bruised. Over the past year as the operations of the purple dragons increased she saw more blood and dark marks on the brothers than she cared to witness. Thankfully none had been life threatening until this day. This was the first time a wound could have been mortal. When she had gotten the phone call from Aurora she could tell Aurora had been worried. The attack on the family was troublesome and set her on edge. Even the hitch in Aurora’s voice as she gave a short detail of the attack sent a heavy chill through her body. Looking to the Leader next to Raph she took note of his bandaged hand and winced remembering the story behind it.

 That hand saved them both, Raph and himself by grabbing the business end of a sword. The sharp metal sliced through his palm and fingers like warm butter before coming to a halt from the pure strength of his grip. It was a testament to Leo’s commitment to his never ending training and continuing pursuit to perfect his body. Leo was always looking to get better, always ready to defend his family and had proven many times the dutiful leader always putting himself in danger to keep his family safe. Splinter had made the right choice to put the blue banded terrapin in charge.

 After ever bit of food she had brought into the lair was consumed by the guy’s ravenous appetite April watched Leo shift in his seat suddenly looking a little suspicious. His bandaged hand ran over his blade crown and released a long drawn out sigh. Even before he said anything she knew who the question would be about.

 “Have you seen her since she contacted you?” His usual commanding voice wavered at the subject of his question.

 “I haven’t seen her yet but I know she’s back in the city somewhere. She keeps promising to meet up for dinner but her current project has kept her pretty busy.”  

 “Current project?” Donnie cocked his head at the notion from across the kitchen table.

 “Not sure yet, she’s being pretty secretive about it but she assured me I’ll get to see it when it’s done. Not gonna lie, I’m super stoked. It’s been way too long. How did she look?”

 Leo watched April from across the table asking about Aurora. He could see the hesitancy in her features like she was playing with something fragile. She didn’t want to upset him but she wanted to know. Then the soft smile turned excited and she nearly jumped from her chair.

 “Wait! Who won the Battle Nexus Championship?!” Her big beautiful eyes scanned each brother waiting anxiously for an answer.

 “You mean SHE didn’t tell you?” Raph laughed leaning back on his chair testing the strength of the old metal on the vintage chair.

 “All she told me was it was someone I knew.”

 Mikey’s sudden push of his chair sent the thing teetering dangerously on the kitchens platforms edge as he stood. His thumbs hooked under the straps of his harness and pushed them forward as if they were suspenders. The soft ridges of his eyes wagged as he stepped away from the table and took a sliding side step towards April. “You anglecakes, have the privilege of looking upon a bona fide multi dimensional battle nexus champion.”

 April could barely contain the squeal of excitement for the youngest brother. Jumping from her chair she ran into his arms giving him a long hug. “Mikey I’m so proud of you! I knew all that extra training would pay off! Did you get a trophy or something?”

 “Yeah I got a gold medallion and there will be a statue made in my likeness in the hall of champions. You should have heard the crowd, it was killer!”

 “Who did you beat to win?” April asked letting go of Mikey returning to her chair.

 “Aurora.”

 “Oh damn.” April gawked at Mikey.

 “Yeah tell me about it.” Mikey’s smile grew.

 Donnie shifted in his chair trying to get the woman’s attention and leaned towards April setting his chin in his hands batting his big brown eyes, “So are you going to give me Aurora’s new phone number?”

 April gave him a half hearted smile shaking her head, “Sorry guys, she told me not to give you the number yet. She’s not ready yet and Don if you hack my phone to get it none of us will hear from her again. Don’t push the issue and let her come back on her own time. I could tell by the tone of her voice the other day she was struggling with seeing you guys, she misses you all, just know that.”

 April stayed for another hour before having to return home to get ready for work in the morning. Soon after, the lair was dark as the turtles and their sensei retired to their own beds for some rest. It had been a stressful few days and the comfort of their own sanctuary brought sleep early.

 It had been a few weeks since their return from the battle nexus championship and things were returning back to normal. After two weeks of highly resented rest Raphael was healed enough to be able to return to patrols with his brothers.

 Their current location was running over rooftops heading towards the newest lead their genius brother had figured out for the Purple Dragons. The chill in the night air indicated the change to fall, from what trees that were dispersed around the city started to change colors.

 “You better be right about this warehouse Donnie, wrestling was about to start.”

 “Yeah yeah Raph, from what reliable sources I found something big is going down with the Purple Dragons tonight. Rebecca wanted us to check it out first before she sent in the Calvary. The one word that kept popping up in the black market chat sites kept saying something about weapons.” Donnie used his bo staff to help himself vault over the next roof landing just behind Leo who had stopped holding his hand up in a silent order to halt.

 As they crept over to the warehouse in question the four brothers looked down into the alleyway finding several large trucks with their doors open awaiting their unknown cargo. There were only a few bodies below watching the trucks so Leonardo signaled the move to the roof of the warehouse to get a better look. A skylight in the far corner of the roof gave the best vantage point and they made their way over peering down below.

 “Jackpot.” Raphael whispered happily pulling his sai from their holsters on his harness. As usual the large mutant was itching for a fight.

 Below was the largest gathering of the Purple Dragons they had seen so far. From what they could see there were at least 50 of the scumbags crowded around a hulk of a man. The first thing they noticed was his stark white long hair braided midway down his back. With the stature almost comparable to Raphael and with a large purple dragon on his left arm that spanned from his shoulder all the way down to his fist, this guy looked like bad news.

 The promise of a challenge made Raph giddy with excitement.

 “That has to be their leader, Hun. We’ve never seen him before and from the way they are all looking to him screams man in charge.” Leo mused scanning over the inside of the warehouse finding several large crates on the opposite side of the gathered Purple Dragons.

 Catching their attention a door adjacent from the gang members swung open and several heavily armed men filtered into the large space below coming to meet Hun. Soon after, a tall but well built man in a black leather coat and dark aviator sunglasses entered moving his way through the armed men coming almost nose to nose with Hun.

 Leo looked to his brothers and held his finger to his mouth needing silence and carefully lifted the skylight giving them a chance to hear the exchange from down below.

 The man in the leather coat spoke first pulling his glasses from his face addressing the gargantuan boss and his lackeys. “Hun, I presume.” He started, smiling when he got a quick nod from the large man. “I presume we have a deal then? I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but your reputation and size of your operation makes you a valuable ally. Plus, I need results sooner than later. If I give you these weapons you and your men will keep an ear to the ground and report back to me any type of unusual activity in the streets.  After that large ship assembled itself above Manhattan a few years ago the government has been on high alert now fully aware we are in fact no longer alone in this universe. There has been a little birdie chirping in my ear and there has even been talk from your own men of four large green mutants taking out your operations lately. I want to know if there is any truth to these accusations and if so I want them taken alive. I would like to study them to find out what makes them tick. From what I’ve heard they were highly trained and have enhanced strength. They could be some use to me.”

 Hun eyed the large crates with interest all the while cracking his oversized knuckles. “So you’re telling me the government is gonna give us these weapons to be their look out? All we gotta do is keep an eye out for the weird freaky shit and let ya know?”

 The man sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, “No, this isn’t coming from the government you idiot. If they knew I was supplying a hostile territorial gang with weapons, my funding would be cut. This is under their radar, off the books you hear me you big baboon. This cannot get back to me you hear me.”

 “No need to get nasty, I hear ya. How do I get a hold of you if I come across these….freaks?”

 The movement to quick to see the man pulled a small white card from the breast pocket of his jacket and handed it to Hun. “Call this number and ask for the name on the card.”

 At those words Leo turned to his brothers giving them a tight frown. Not only were these animals about to get weapons from some government reject but they were looking for them as well? This wasn’t good. Leo moved away from the opening and addressed his three brothers quickly, “We have to stop this, those trigger happy idiots can’t get their hands on those high tech weapons. We need to figure out who this guy is and what section of the government he’s part of. Donnie contact Rebecca and get some back up over here asap.”  

 Donnie nodded and turned away to contact the chief of police and Leo turned to his other two brothers who were awaiting their instructions. “Once Donnie is done we’re gonna cut those lights and take them out. We know the skill set of a Purple Dragon, but those government men look like they’re expertly trained along with those weapons, so be careful with them. The plan is just to keep them busy until the Calvary shows up, they can take it from there and keep things legit. Stay safe and alive.”

 Donnie hung up his com turning back around, “They are on the way, should be here is 10-15 minutes.”

 Returning their attention back to the gathering below Leo motioned for the genius to do his thing. With one push of a button on his wrist the large space below them was plunged it into darkness. The reaction was almost instantaneous bringing loud and angry cursing from within the pitch black void.

 Taking their cue Leo lifted the skylight fully and the four brothers drop down into the darkness ready to stop the exchange no matter the cost. Thankfully with all the confusion of the lighting failure their presence to the unwitting party had gone unnoticed. This gave them the upper hand and the element of surprise which they took full advantage of and attacked. Quickly and quietly the four turtles took out the first 10 Purple Dragons before the rest of the large room’s inhabitance became aware of the threat.

 As flashlights were found and turned-on, streaks of green whipped by in the streams of light startling the men.

 “It’s them!” Someone yelped in the darkness before being silenced by Raphael.  

 “Someone get those goddamned lights back on now!” Hun growled before being tackled to the ground by the hurdling weight of Leonardo. Immediately the large man began to fight the unexpected weight holding him to the ground. Leo watched the man’s eyes widen in shock blocking a blow from his fist. Hun couldn’t make out too much in the darkness, but he could see his large silhouette hovering above him. “Get off me!”

Finding that Hun was stronger than he anticipated Leo was able to get a few blows in before he was unceremoniously thrown over Hun’s head landing on two Purple Dragons. Getting to his feet he avoided as much of the lights that desperately searched for the hidden attackers. Leo leapt from the ground swinging up into the rafters to find his brothers who were now scattered around the warehouse.

 Mikey was the farthest way taking on four gang members single handily.  Donnie was fiddling with something by the crates hopefully figuring out a way to keep the guns from the Purple Dragon’s greedy hands. And then there was Raph who had just found Hun and like two unmovable forces colliding Leo could have sworn he felt the shockwave from their kinetic energy.

 Then Leo noticed the strange man and his subordinates staying back away from the fight. One of them was working on a tablet just behind the man in the glasses. What was he doing?

 Thankfully most of the Purple Dragons were down for the count not including Hun who Raph was still working on, so all they needed to deal with was the governments men. When the lights hummed back to life engulfing the once dark space Leo knew what the man was working on. To Leo’s horror Mikey and Raph were out in the open exposed in full view of the strange government man and his men. He watched the man pull his glasses from his face and wicked smile curled up his wide mouth.

 “So you are real?” he laughed manically stepping closer to the two visible turtles.

 Hun looked up at the beast he was fighting and stepped back in shock, “F-freak! There are freaks in the city!”

 “Freaks?” Raph growled at the large man. “You’re the freak asshole. You’re the abomination to this city, stealing and killing for financial gain.” His large fist reared back and slammed into Hun’s face sending the man sprawling back head over heels.  

 Now Raph and Mikey stood in the middle of the room weapons in hand ready to continue the fight. Leo watched from above, his attention on his two brothers and on the genius high in the pile of crates. Donnie finished and turned to look at his eldest brother giving him a thumbs up.

As the cluster of men started forward towards Raph and Mikey, Leo pulled a kunai from his hip and threw it down embedding into the floor of the warehouse. The blade a warning stopped the government men in their tracks. Their eyes rose to the ceiling and followed the large green mass land a few feet from them blocking their view from the other two turtles.

 “Another one? Interesting? How many of you are there?” the man cooed stepping over the blade to face the large mutant in blue.

 Leo stood his ground folding his arms over his chest, “What kind of government official hands over deadly weapons to a gang well known for their brutality and violence?” his voice was dripping with venom taking a step forward.

 The men behind the new threat took notice and started to engage but the man held his hand up stopping their movement.  “What are you? I must know.”

 “That is none of your business and you will leave us alone.”

 “I’m afraid I can’t do that mutant. It’s in my nature to know the unknown and you are making my head spin with excitement. I’ll find out what you are and if I have to dissect you to do that, then so be it.”

 Leo growled at the thought of his brothers tied up opened up like a can of sardines. His hands clenched into fists ready to wail on the man but Donnie waved at him getting his attention. Signaling the emanate explosion Donnie swung up into the rafters waiting impatiently for his brother.

 The strange man followed Leo’s line of sight and found another mutant swinging up to safety, “And there was four.” He hissed returning his gaze back to the mutant before him.

 Leo side stepped and looked back to see Raph and Mikey already gone. Pulling a smoke pellet from his belt he threw it to the floor engulfing him in a dark blue smoke. In the confusion he slipped to safety. As Leo was clear Donnie detonated the bomb sending debris flying everywhere, flames roaring over the crates engulfing them.

As the men got to their feet they all converged on the leader helping him to his feet.

“Sir, we have to get out of here.”

“Bishop!” another called.

“Yes, yes let’s head back to base. I have a report to write.”

When Aurora finally got the door open, the kunoichi rushed into the unknown room followed by a handful of their attackers. They were persistent obviously not keen on them entering that space. When she called out for them, Donnie knew The Daimyo and Master Splinter were being held inside, he just hoped they were alive.

Aurora swung her blades breaking the binds that kept the Daimyo connected with the cold brick wall. He landed on his feet softly for a man his size following Aurora to his old friend who was in need of help. With another swipe of her mystic blades Master Splinter tumbled into Aurora and the Daimyo’s outstretched arms.  

Master Splinter moaned in pain being release from his confines but sighed when the heavy metal no longer cut into his limbs. He looked up into Aurora purple eyes grateful to see her concerned face but where were his sons? He needed to know they were alright, that Draco had not succeeded in his threat. “My sons?” he whispered past parched lips grabbing her to in desperation.

“Mikey Donnie!” she called again out to the two brothers and returned her attention back to their hurt father. “They’re just outside the room Master Splinter, I unfortunately don’t know where Leo and Raph are. Donnie lost contact with them a little bit ago.”

Mikey came tumbling into the room his nunchakus swinging and stopped dead in his tracks seeing horrid sate his father was in, “Sensei!” he cried out launching himself forward to take his wounded father into his arms.

Aurora allowed the young turtle to take his father and stood back up heading for the door, where was Donnie? They needed to get out of the bowels of the palace and now. Just then Donnie ran into the room colliding with Aurora. Before she fell from the collision Donnie’s arms were around Aurora steadying her body against his plastron. The first thing she saw was a thick trail of blood running down his plastron. Donnie was hurt! Following the crimson trail up his body she saw the large gash on the top of his cranium. Blood was smeared over his green skin covering his forehead and beak.  Somehow the blood had stayed out of his eye, thank god.

“Donnie, your head.” Reaching for the wound Aurora found her momentum stopped by his large hand midair pulling it back down to his chest.

“I’m fine, how is Splin……” his usual steady voice broke seeing his father lying broken in his younger brother’s arms. Gently moving Aurora out of the way he hurried to their side pulling down his goggles to scan his sensei.

“Father.” He cooed softly touching his father’s limbs tentatively checking for any broken bones.

“My sons, I knew you would find us. I am alright, nothing is broken but we must hurry to find your other brothers. We were given a grim threat by one the masters of this treachery.”

“Who? Do did this to you?” Mikey growled venomously.

“Can you stand Sensei?” Donnie asked helping Mikey lower his feet to the ground.

“I will tell you on the way.” With unsteady feet Master Splinter stood with a little help from Mikey’s arm. He pulled at his sons arms towards the exit eager to see daylight and find his last two sons. He watched Aurora move past them into the main room meeting with the final minions of Draco taking care of them with hast.

As he observed her move through the threat, her stance, her follow through there was no doubt over the past year her technic had improved significantly. It made his heart swell with pride; he missed her presence and the happiness she brought his sons. He hoped this was the beginning of her returning to their clan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything hurt, every inch of him ached and his lungs protested painfully ready to pull in the water surrounding his mouth. Leonardo could feel all their hands holding him below the fast current of the waterfalls pull. He was going to drown; he was about to die. The pressure above him lessened suddenly and then again, then a large hand grasped his holster yanking him from the water and his lungs burst gasping and coughing for oxygen he desperately needed.  Before him was Raphael holding him just above the water his massive body battered littered with cuts and soaking wet.

“Thanks Bro.” Leo coughed settling his feet back beneath him. This trip had not turned out like he thought.

“Don’t thank me yet, we’re not out of this by a long shot.” Raph handed him back one of his katana he had lost, and the familiar hilt shifted under his strengthening grip. Returning his gaze to their watery battlefield Leo sighed at the new wave of shadow ninja surrounding the two tired turtles and prepared for another fight.

“Stay alive Raph.”

“You too fearless.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Aurora took the lead up the stairs finding the onslaught of ninjas thinning out and ending as they reached the main floor of the palace.

“My lord!” they heard several guards call from down the hall their armor clanging loudly as they neared. They tried to usher him to the healers but he waved them off pushing forward to the main door. “There is no time, Leonardo and Raphael are in danger. Gather what men you can find. Where is my son?”  

The guards had no idea where Ue-Sama current location was, “We hadn’t seen him since he ordered most of the guard out into the countryside to search for you my Daimyo.” One guard stumbled over his words scanning the Daimyo for injuries

“Which means there are limited guards in the palace…….it makes no difference.” The Daimyo growled turning to Donatello. “Where did you say your brothers were the last time you heard from them?”

“Above the palace at the waterfall.”

The Daimyo turned to the guards next to them and grabbed one firmly by the arm, “Go, gather the rest of the guard in the palace. There is trouble up on the waterfall for our friends Leonardo and Raphael, they require assistance now!”

With a quick nod the guards took off in search for the rest of their fellow soldiers leaving the small group alone in the hallway.

“Master Splinter, pleases stay here with the Daimyo while we go to Leo and Raph.” Mikey pleaded helping his father sit on a bench a few feet away. He knew his father wouldn’t’ stay but he had to try.

“I will not sit idly by while two of my sons are in danger. I am alright, let us go to their aid.” The old rat used his arms to push himself up and to his feet refusing help from anyone and started down the hallway. “There is no time.”

Aurora watched the old stubborn rat get to his feet pushing away the worried hands of his sons and head for the exit. He was a true testament to his sons, and she knew where they got their strength and stubbornness from. Splinter had most certainly been beaten for quite some time from the look of his body but still refused to be left behind when it came to his son’s safety. She could see his unsure footing and the slight limp in his left foot. He was in pain, but it didn’t matter he was going to help.

There was feeling in her gut that had been festering for an hour now, her stomach was twisted in knots. They had to be quick, something was wrong. Picking up the pace she made her way to the front just before Master Splinter, she would be the first line of defense. Aurora had no idea of the Daimyo’s fighting skills and Master Splinter was in no shape to fight himself and god knew Mikey and Donnie were focused on their father more than the danger in front of them.

Moving behind the palace away from the village they headed up towards the top of the waterfall on the Daimyo’s private pathway. If they weren’t in danger Aurora would have loved to take a leisurely stroll up the path. The colors on the trees and the view out to the countryside were breath taking.

Thankfully this path was a short cut because time was of the essence. As they neared the top Aurora reached for her blades removing them from their sheaths. Soon the muffled sounds of fighting reached the ascending groups ears making Aurora’s heart jump into her throat. Then a loud bellow of pain echoed over the top of the waterfall followed by Leonardo’s scream for his brother in red.

“Fuck!” Aurora took off like a rocket leaving the four behind her running as fast her legs would carry her. “Please be ok. Please be ok.” She kept repeating to herself as she neared the top. When her feet found the top of the hill Aurora stopped in her tracks mouth open in horrified shock.

There in the middle of a large circle of shadow ninjas stood Leonardo weaponless clutching Raphael’s motionless hemorrhaging body. In one hand he struggled to keep the brutes head above the rushing water and his other was wrapped around a blade stopping it from impaling him in the chest. There was so much blood, it seemed to pour from Raphael’s side, the blade still protruding from the wound. She could barely hear the rest come up behind her screaming for the two hurt brothers.

She felt it deep in her stomach first, the hot bubbling sensation that matched the same intensity as that night in Japan. It bloomed quickly spreading out into every limb like wildfire. Her vision blurred when Leo’s terrified eyes met hers, finding quick reprieve in her sudden presence. All at once his bright blue eyes widened in shock. His mouth opened to call out her name, but his voice never reached her ears.

The thundering rush of blood in her veins was all she could hear and red-hot rage burning inside her seeing two of her loved ones covered in blood. Then an intense tingling started at the end of every limb coursing through her body in an instant and the leather beneath her fingers creaked with the strength of her tightening grip.

Leo was helpless to help his brother when the long blade pierced his side sinking deep into the soft tissue of his muscle. He had been a few feet away tending to his own impending doom. Raph’s thundering howl of pain ripped through Leo as he lunged forward dropping his katana to catch Raphael before he collapsed into the coursing river to be swept away.

There was no reprieve when another blade came for him aimed for his chest intent to kill. With no other options his hand shot out catching the shape blade in the tight grip of his hand. Leo hissed in pain as the blade sliced through the soft flesh of his palm and the tender pads of his fingers. Almost instantly blood ran from his unwavering grip but thankfully he was able to stop the blades momentum, for now.

The fact that there was no movement from his brother terrified him to no end, “Raph!?” he called looking around at the slowly enclosing circle of enemies. The pressure on the blade increased and he winced as the sharp metal sliced through her hand further. Was this it? Was this the end of Raph and himself? The smiling faces of his two youngest brothers flashed before his eyes, he would never get to see them again. Tell them he loved them, was proud of them for the men they had become. Then Aurora’s face invaded his mind, her mesmerizing purple eyes and her unwavering love for him a mutant turtle. He would never get to kiss her again; tell her he was sorry and what a fool he was. Or feel her warm body under him again. The hot sting of tears pricked his eyes as his heart filled with unchecked sorrow. He wasn’t ready to die.

Then movement from the edge of the river brought him back to the present and his eyes locked on Aurora’s, she was here and she was alright which meant so were Donnie and Mikey. She would have made sure they were fine. Her face soured in horror and the purple light he hadn’t seen in a year swirled in her eyes making his heart jump unexpectedly. When the purple flame of her powers engulfed his kunoichi Leo nearly dropped the dead weight of Raphael into the water.

Donnie, Mikey, Splinter and the Daimyo reached the top of the pathway as Aurora’s power erupted sending the cascading fire to consume her frame. Her hair floated about her shoulders with the force of the purple aura giving Splinter the first view of her abilities.

“By the gods!” Master Splinter gasped under his breath grabbing for his sons arms to steady his surprise, even the scrolling on Aurora’s swords were illuminated. His sons had told him of her powers, explained what happened in great detail, even seeing on video in japan but seeing it first hand was something else. Words did not do it justice leaving him captivated by the display of shear power that flowed through her small frame. If this two sons weren’t in mortal danger several yards from him he wouldn’t have been able to pry his eyes from Aurora. But that was just it, Leo was trying his best to hold his unmoving brother above water while still defending them both with his bare hands, quite literally.

As everything came bubbling to the surface Aurora screamed with fury sending a purple shock wave forth. Her other hand re-sheathed a katana and came up her fingers curling just slightly creating a protective barrier around Leo and Raph barring them from the advancing shallow ninjas. The force of the shock wave sent every ninja hurdling in the opposite direction leaving Leo and Raph safe within the protective barricade.

Now that they were out of harm’s way Aurora turned her unbridled rage to the recovering shadow ninjas. Unsheathing a katana she screamed, the sound echoing over the water in a determined battle cry. She launched forward trudging into the river current dead set to even the score.

The blade in Leo’s bloody grasp snapped in the barrier and Leo finally collapsed to his knees still keeping Raphael’s head above water. With a splash the remanence of the weapon slipped from his grasp and dropped into the water leaving Leo’s hand lacerated and blood soaked.

Now safe Leo turned his attention to his fallen brother shaking his body trying to revive him. “Raphael! Brother! Wake up Raph!” His eyes landed on Raph’s plastron looking for any kind of movement. Was he still breathing? Finding his pulse point with his two fingers Leo hoped to find a pulse. Letting out a heavy sigh the weak but still there steady thump against his fingertips sent a rush of relief through him, Raphael was still alive.

Looking up he saw his family staring at him waiting for any word Raphael was still with them. With a shaky smile he gave them a bloody thumbs up giving them the ok to breathe once again.

With their two brothers currently out of danger the rest of the group entered into the fray behind Aurora who was decimating the large force of ninja.

With one hand Leo gingerly pulled the blade from his brother’s side and pressed his fingers to the gushing wound stopping the flow of blood. Sinking them farther into the cold water Leo hoped the temperature would slow the blood flow. Raphael had already lost too much blood for his taste and until Donnie was able to look at him Leo’s was Raphael’s life line.

As the battle raged on around them Leo felt helpless watching them all fight for them. If he left this protective bubble Aurora was managing to keep securely around them it would leave Raph alone with no pressure to stop the bleeding. How was she managing this anyways? He found her not far from them the breathtaking display of power still radiating around her, but she was only using one katana? The other was still securely in its holster and her one free hand was outstretched towards them curled as if holding an invisible ball.

He came to the realization she was fighting and concentrating on keeping them safe inside the bubble at the same time. How she was managing it he would never know.    

This was the first time she had used her power since Japan, she had refused to use it when it nearly took them from her. But when she saw Leo gripping that blade with his bloody bare hand and Raphael limp in his arms bleeding profusely, she felt it come to life taking over whether she liked it or not. They were in trouble and that was all that mattered, and she let it consume her willingly.

Aurora could feel the power emanating within her making her faster and stronger, giving her the power she needed to bring every last one of these shifty ninjas down. She took out the ninjas with one hand and kept Leo and Raph safe with the other. It was Leo’s job to keep Raphael alive while they took care of the rest of these scum, at least until Donnie could get to them.

Thankfully the fight ended faster than in the palace’s dungeon, with the open space they were able to move freely unhindered by walls and tight spaces. With one final swipe of her katana the last of the shadow ninjas fell disappearing into dust. All that could be heard was the rush of water beneath them and heavy breathing from her friends. All eyes flew to Aurora who returned her katana to its holster and let her hand drop ending the protective bubble around Leo and Raph.

Donnie, Mikey and Master Splinter rushed to their side giving Leo the reprieve he needed. Donnie’s hands found the wound at Raphael’s side and cautiously removed Leo’s blood-soaked hand examining it. Pulling down his goggles he observed Raphael’s heart beat and blood pressure taking note of the uneven breathing his brother managed to be taking.  If they could stop the bleeding Raphael should be fine he hoped.

Before he could vocalize just that they heard the startled yelp of Aurora behind them. Turning their gaze, they found Aurora in Ue-Sama’s grasp a knife to her throat and a hooded figure doing them same with the Daimyo.

“Aurora! Daimyo!” they screamed scrambling to their feet to notice another batch of ninjas closing in.

“Shell.” Mikey signed pulling out his weapons again. When would this end, he was tired and wanted to go home.

Before they could move the purple protective bubble surrounded them all keeping them safe from another onslaught of attacks. Looking to Aurora they saw her hand back in the position making the barricade with her curled fingers but keeping her hand down out of Ue-Sama’s eye sight.

Donnie got to his feet pulling his bo staff free as well while Mikey readied to fight once again but were stopped by the solid barrier. Their green hands pressed against the purple wall trying to break through, but it was no use. There was no getting out as long as Aurora held that barricade. They began pounding on the wall pleading for her to let them out.

They watched as Ue-Sama leaned down pressing his tongue to her cheek licking a wet stripe across her skin. “Let them out my love, let them meet their end.” He cooed pressing the blade harder into her throat. “I want you to watch them all die, and then we can finally be together to rule all we desire with the war staff and your power.”

Aurora could feel the power draining from her quickly. After the initial loss of adrenaline she felt the her whole body sag from exhaustion, but that was normal. After the danger was over she usually passed out. But when Ue-Sama caught her by surprise she tried to hold onto it, to bring it back, the danger was not over. It was already too far gone but she refused to let that barrier break, she had to protect them at all cost. They were the most important people in her life and she wasn’t going to let anyone hurt them while there was still breath in her body.

“If you think I’m going to let you kill them and then expect me to fall into your arms from grief you are sorely mistaken. I could never love you.” She spat still concentrating on keeping conscious. “You’ll have to kill me before I let you harm them further.” She heard him growl in anger dragging the sharp metal across her throat finally drawing some blood.

“Kill her, and then them my Daimyo. Let’s get this over with. Do not doddle.” The figure in the dark hood hissed pressing the struggling Daimyo to his knees.

“Please my son, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?” The Daimyo pleaded trying to make eye contact with his son.

“Shut up father, you’ve been Daimyo long enough it’s my turn to rule. I will bring this world to its knees and they will worship me! And you will be mine Aurora whether you like it or not. The war staff must be able to help me with that.” Reaching behind him Ue-Sama pulled the war staff free lifting it into the air.

“No you fool!” The hooded figure pulled his hood back revealing Draco as he lunged for the inexperienced young Daimyo releasing the current Daimyo in the process. But it was too late; Ue-Sama concentrated and started a red swirling portal above them that soon started a horrid unholy sound within it.

“My son no! You don’t know how it works you’ll destroy us all! Your inexperienced mine will conjure things you have no control of!”

With Ue-Sama distracted Aurora made her move bursting free of his hold tumbling clumsily into the water. In her weakened state her hand finally dropped the barrier when it connected painfully with the rocks below the surface setting them free.

Draco knocked Ue-Sama to his knees grabbing the War staff which made the red swirling portal open faster bringing the suction of its pull to the ground.  The first to feel its pull were the shadow ninjas who slid from their feet flailing helplessly towards the portal, each one disappearing into the vortex.

The Daimyo leapt for Draco grappling for the war staff rolling onto the embankment. He was the only one who could stop the unstable vortex. He had to get it back and stop this madness before it consumed them all.

Soon the pull reached Aurora taking her from the water; her hands grasped wildly for the slimy rocks or anything to stop her ascent towards the portal.

Leo laid Raphael in Donnie’s arms and lunged for Aurora grabbing her hand and turned to reach for Mikey who had a hold of something beneath the water. Donnie and Master Splinter reached beneath the water as well finding the large root Mikey had found. As the pull of the vortex intensified they began to lift out of the water stretching to their limits.

Aurora watched Ue-Sama lift into the air failing to grab anything to keep him grounded. Then the sound of a roar brought their attention to the Daimyo and Draco to find The Daimyo holding the war staff once again and the red dragon flying towards to portal that was growing rapidly in size.

The Daimyo gripped the war staff and concentrated on closing the portal. His will faltered seeing his only son hurtling towards the opening but knew it was too late, there was nothing he could do to save his son, his main goal was to stop the portal his son had so foolishly created, everyone here in this dimension was relying on him. His eyes lifted to see several guards making it to the top of the walkway stumbling as they got caught in the pull. He had to stop this now.

Aurora’s hold on Leo’s wrist was slipping, the water and blood that coated his skin made it difficult to get a good grip. Below, his eyes were focused on his family next to him making sure they all were still holding on. The drag was so strong she could feel her pants start to slip from her body; just then a boot slipped free sailing towards the portal. Then her fingers slipped farther down his arm sliding into his hand catching his attention. His eyes shot to their failing connection and then to her eyes.

“Hold on!” he screamed over the horrid sound coming from the portal. “Don’t let go!”

“What do you think I’m trying to do!” she yelled back intertwining her fingers with his.

Unexpectedly Splinter slipped free and flew passed Leonardo in a flash. “Sensei!”

Aurora watched Splinter come sailing by and managed to grab a hold of his leg stopping his climb into the abyss. Gritting her teeth she felt both her shoulders protest at the sudden strain threatening to pop from their sockets. “Fuck!” she cried out but kept her grip on the furry ankle. “Daimyo please! We’re slipping!”

In the distance they could see his struggling to stay grounded his eyes closed both hands wrapped tightly around the war staff. His mouth moved whispering inaudible words and then with a burst of blue light the portal snapped closed ending the unbearable sound and strong pull, sending everyone crashing to the ground.

Aurora burst from the surface of the river gasping for breath thankful to still be in this dimension. Searching the water she found all four turtles around her along with Splinter. Next she found the Daimyo on his knees on the embankment staring up into the sky the war staff cradled in his lap.

Her eyes searched the water and embankment and found no trace of Ue-Sama or the large red dragon. They must have passed through the portal before he could close it. Aurora was thankful it was over but her heart went out to the Daimyo, he had just lost his son to his own demons. Those emotional wounds would take a long time to heal.

There was no sign of Ue-Sama when they pasted the dining room on their way to the lower levels. It was still in disarray with a few servants trying to clean up the damage. There was a knot forming in her stomach, she did not like this one bit. With the door to the basement in sight Donnie hurried forward and brought his giggles down over his eyes. His hand shot up and waved back signaling them of guards coming up the stairs. The three disappeared easily into the shadows waiting for their opening. With a loud clamor five more guards barreled up the stairs heading to the main hallway. Slipping silently down the poorly lit staircase to the basement and the dungeons, she noticed Mikey and Donnie staying close to her keeping her between them as they descended. They stopped at the first level scattering to cover more ground faster.

“Be careful, yell for us if you find anything or need help.” Donnie gazed down at her with a worried look while his large three fingered hand rested on her lower back.

“Will do.” With a half hearted smile she nodded to the two turtle brothers and ran in the opposite direction in search of any clue of the disappearance of the Daimyo and Splinter.

~~~~~~~~~~

Master Splinter groaned in discomfort as he came too. His skull felt like someone had cracked it open with a sledgehammer. He needed to rub his temples to release some of the pressure but found his arms immobile. In fact when he finally opened his eyes he found he was hanging from a brick wall in a dimly lit room by his wrists that were stretched painfully tight on either side of him. Due to the lack of height he was hanging suspended off the ground. His weight was pulling at his old limbs making the predicament even more excruciating.

A soft cough next to him alerted the old rat he wasn’t alone in his dilemma and his mind went to his dinner companion and the series of events that lead them to this dark musty room. They had been enjoying each other’s company about to start dinner when he tasted something foreign in his soup, something that wasn’t supposed to be there. Dropping his spoon his hands thrust forward disengaging the spoon from his friend’s hand toppling the bowl of soup with it.

Before he would warn the Daimyo about the unknown substance in their food they were attacked. Dark shadowy figured came from everywhere and converged in on them showing no mercy. They fought them as best they could but in the end there was too many and were knocked unconscious. Now in the present they found themselves at the mercy yet again of their captors.

“Splinter?” the groggy voice of the Daimyo hit his fury ears.

“Yes, my old friend I am here with you. It looks like we have found ourselves in quiet a predicament. I wonder who our host is?”

As if on cue a large hooded figure emerged from the shadows with bright red eyes glowing under the heavy hood.

“Who are you? Why have you done this?” The Daimyo scowled yanking on his confines. “Release us at once!”

Rough as gravel, a deep twisted laugh rumbled from the mysterious cloaked figure. The movements so smooth it seemed their captor floated across the room on air, stopping a few inches from the old rat. Two large scaled hands emerged from the large sleeves pushing back the hood.

“Draco!” Splinter hissed through clenched teeth.

“Yes you sniveling rat! How long I’ve waited for my revenge against you and this old fool. Years of planning and now my patience will be rewarded. I will take from you what you love the most in this life and rip ripe apart your son’s bodies using their bloody hollow shells as foot rests. And then after I’ve shown you their mutilated carcasses I will end you!” the red dragon spat at Splinter, his face mere inches from his.

The usual gentle features of the old ninjutsu master hardened and an ominous growl rolled from his lips, “You will not touch my sons.”

“Oh on the contrary you old fool, as we speak they are scattered around the grounds looking for you, two with that little bitch the young daimyo has his sights set on and your two eldest heading to the falls and right into my trap. I have several of my shadow minions at my disposal all ready to attack and dismember each and every one of your sons.”

“What of the woman?” the Daimyo quickly cut in, trying to pry a little more information out of Draco. “And why do you call my son young Daimyo?”

The dragons head snapped to the old man hanging from the wall just next to the giant rat, “Your son seems to have plans for her. He talks about some sort of power that she possesses that could help him. He covets your throne old man hoping having her at his side will solidify his place upon it. Either way it doesn’t matter. I will have my revenge then that brat can have his kingdom.”

The Daimyo’s eyes widened in shock, letting the dragon’s words roll over him. Again his wrists pulled at the metal shackles holding him to the wall. “M-my son……. Is behind this? How can that be?” the sorrow apparent in the old man’s voice trying desperately to hold onto the hope Draco was lying.  

“Your son is an idiot; he couldn’t orchestrate this by himself. He is an overgrown child throwing a tantrum that he can’t have the throne right now. The woman is something new though, he fell for her a year ago when she quiet literally fell into your laps. But there is no way she would be persuaded to go along with his plans; she’s too smart for his games and won’t do anything to hurt you. He just refuses to see it. So she will need to be eliminated as well. Which is a shame really, someone with powers would be convenient to have on my side. The idiot already tried wooing her by kissing her after the tournament today but she rejected him. He’s too blind to see she only has eyes for his son, the one in blue, Leonardo is it?” Draco’s red eyes shifted to Splinter. “But that is neither here nor there now and makes no difference. None of them will survive this. I need your son compliant so a strong headed woman is out of the picture.”

“They will find us and foil your plans. You will not succeed.” Splinter smiled; with Aurora at his son’s sides once again they would defeat Draco and Ue-Sama. He was sure of it.

“We will find out now won’t we, because the party is about to begin.”  

~~~~~~~~~

Aurora turned down another hallway searching the final group of rooms coming up with nothing, yet again. Each room she had checked her fingers skimmed over every nook and cranny for any hint of a hidden door. Someplace someone could hide two unwilling victims. Finishing with the last room she headed back to the stairs to meet up with Mikey and Donnie.

With her mind spinning with worry she didn’t hear the shadow ninja creep up behind her. By the time she sensed it’s presences it was too late. A hand reached out grasping her long hair pulling her back and down to the ground. Her shriek of surprise echoed through the halls reaching the sensitive ears of Donnie and Mikey but unfortunately they too were in their own battle for their lives. Surrounded by several dark shadowy ninjas Donnie reached for his com calling for his older brothers.

“Don?” the familiar calm voice of their leader came over the speaker on his shoulder.

“Leo we’ve been ambushed in the bowels of the palace. We need back up.” Donnie called into his com anxiously blocking a blow with his bo staff. “They came out of nowhere and have no faces! They look like shadows!”

Knee deep in the falls high above the palace Leo and Raph stopped in their tracks listening to their genius brother in distress. They had come up empty, no tracks or any kind of clues to the whereabouts of Master Splinter and the Daimyo, when Donatello’s frantic call came over their coms.

“Donnie are you alright? Where is Mikey and Aurora? Are they with you?”

After a few seconds Donatello came back over the com, his labored breath telling them it was imperative they hurry. “Mikey is just outside in the hallway with his own party of ninjas. And I don’t know where Aurora is but we did hear her scream a few minutes ago. We can’t get to her! Mikey!!!” then the com went eerily silent.

“Don! Donnie! Are you there?! Donatello!!” Leo felt his heart jump into his throat and looked to Raph with terror in his eyes. They were in trouble and needed their help.  

Raph heard the fear in his brother’s voice making the already burning rage inside him increase to an uncontainable inferno. The grips on his sai tightened and he caught his brother’s eyes that held the same wild fury. Someone had kidnapped their father and now were attacking their two younger brothers and Aurora. But then like a light switch Leo’s demeanor changed and lunged forward tackling his larger brother into the water.

Bursting from the surface Raph tried pushing Leo from him, “What the shell Le…..oh!” his eyes immediately narrowed in on the kunai now rooted deep into the top of Leonardo’s shell. Leo had just saved his life for the thousandth time. Reaching up he pulled the offending item from his brother’s shell and they both scrambled to their feet pulling their weapons out. Just like Donnie had described them, they looked on in shock at the weird shadow figures surrounding them. There had to be at least 40 of them closing in on them fast and it didn’t seem like they wanted to play nice.  

“Shell, looks like they’re not getting the back they need.” Leo growled readying his katana.

Raphael readied himself as three of the figures launched themselves at him bringing down their weapons on his waiting sai. With a grunt he took the brunt of the force faltering on the slimy rocks below the surface of the water.  “Looks like we might need that back up now.”

Reeling back Donnie swung his electrified bo staff forward connecting with two of the ninjas sending them flailing against the wall disintegrating like a puff of cigarette smoke in the wind. The last of his attackers were beside him but with expert balance his long leg shot up colliding with its head making it explode in a cloud of smoke. Without skipping a beat he headed out to help his little brother who was on the ground holding off three of the shadowy figures with his nunchaku.

“DONNIE?!” they both heard Aurora shriek from farther away then they’d like.

Mikey’s gaze snapped to Donnie and they both took action. With a swift kick of his legs Mikey sent the three assailants over his body crumbling to the ground. With the momentum of his legs coming down and his pelvis rolling up into the swing he was on his feet. Then Mikey and Donnie took care of the rest of the dark ninjas with a swift determination to get to their friend in trouble.

Taking off towards the sound of Aurora’s worried cry, they hurried through the halls in search of her. They could hear sounds of metal on metal and exasperated grunts from beyond the bend. Before they rounded the corner two of the shadowy ninjas came sailing out into view colliding with the wall. Taking the corner, they saw her pressed against the wall, eight figures on her ready to drive a tanto blade through her heart.

“A little help guys!” she cried out ripping a hand from one of the them punching it in the face.

They were on them in a second ripping Aurora’s attackers from her body one by one. Mikey lurched forward grabbing the blade poised for her heart and threw it down the empty hallway, the sound of the metal clanging across the ground echoed in the large halls.

Aurora took advantage of the distraction and placed her feet on the wall and pushed forward taking three of the ninjas with her. The back of their heads slammed into the hard surface of the wall behind them making them disappear beneath her momentum. She caught herself before she fell to the floor getting her feet under her. “They’re skilled but break easily. I’ve never seen anything like them; it was like I was fighting shadows of smoke. What the hell are these things?” Aurora groaned picking up her blades taking care of another ninja.

Donnie electrocuted the last one ending their current fight. Mikey went to Aurora making sure she was alright. His eyes moved over her body assessing damages, touching and pushing at her skin.

Her fingers found his quickly easing his overzealous attention to a halt. “I’m fine Mikey.” Aurora tried her best not to be too cold with the two brothers but didn’t want to act like them being together in this moment felt right. She couldn’t let herself get used to their presences; this was a temporary mission to save the Daimyo and Master Splinter. After this was over Leo would no doubt end this as well.

“They put up quite a fight, we must be getting close.” Donnie calmly stated using his goggles to scan for heat signatures on the level they were still on.

“Agreed, let’s move to the lower level.” Aurora moved around Mikey who was still looking at her hopeful. His baby blues tore at her soul, she wanted to tell him all would be alright but time was of the essence and they needed to move.

The three of them descended to the lowest level of the palace, this time sticking together. The silence that hung around the dungeon was a bit unsettling. No guards what so ever nor any prisoners. The uneasy feeling within each of them grew. This was too easy.

“Shell!” Donnie broke the eerie calm. “I called Leo for back up a while ago; he should have been here by now.” His fingers flew to his com calling for his older brother. No response came so Donnie called again this time for Raphael. Still nothing, a deafening silence that made the already chilly dungeon seem suddenly colder. “I don’t like this.”

~~~~~~~~~

Draco landed another blow to Splinters jaw continuing his unrelenting assault on the old rat. With each strike the metal chains moaned from the sudden movement of the body it held. Blood was running down the dark fur of the old sensei’s mouth but showed no sign of discomfort.  The Daimyo beside him pleaded with the large dragon to stop his assault but if fell on deaf ears as another hit connected with Splinters gut.

Without warning several dark cloaked ninjas appeared behind the angry dragon. His attacks ended as one whispered in his ear. The smug smile slipped from his face into a frustrated scowl.

“They’re down here already?! They took out how many of you? SIMPILTONS!! Yes, send more to stop them! I can’t have them ending this plan just as it begins!” as quickly as they came the ninjas vanished into the shadows leaving the dragon with his two helpless prisoners. Reaching to the wall he grabbed the cloak he had removed when he started his assault on Master Splinter and swung it back around his shoulders lifting the hood to conceal his face once more. “You’re lucky I have other things to attend too you old fools, but I will be back to finish this. I have some turtle flesh to filet.” His wicked eyes flashed and retreated out the hidden door in the wall leaving them alone.

“My friend! Are you alright?” the daimyo immediately called to his battered friend. A soft cough alerted him to fact the old rat was still in fact breathing. The chains creaked when Splinter shifted uncomfortably spitting out a mouthful of blood.  

“Am I my friend, a little worse for wear but I am alive. Do not worry my sons will free us, they will stop this madness.”

“They have too.” The daimyo started. “If they try and use the war staff without proper training they will bring upon destruction to this dimension and all who reside here.”    

~~~~~~~~~~

The pull for air made his lungs burn as Leo fought the many hands that held his body submerged under the current of the river feeding the massive waterfall several feet down stream. There was far too many of these shadow ninjas for Raph and himself to defeat. They seemed to come out of nowhere like the never ending flow of water they fought in.  

It had been almost an hour since Donnie had called them for help and they were ambushed on top of the waterfall. He hoped all three of them were alright. They had to be, he didn’t know what he would do if he lost his two younger brothers and Aurora. But the way things were looking they might lose him, there were so many on top of him keeping his head below the water drowning him. The strength was leaving him as the lack of oxygen to his brain began to affect his dexterity, he was losing this fight.

~~~~~~

Aurora could feel it, something was horribly wrong. More wrong then what was happening in the dungeon with Donnie, Mikey and herself fighting off an infinite flow of these damn ninja. Every cell in her body was on alert, something else was happening, something was happening to Leonardo and Raphael.

“Guys!” she screamed over the thunder of clanging metal and grunts. “We have to get to Leo and Raph! Something’s wrong!” Blocking another tirade of attacks Aurora flipped up landing just behind the shadows slicing through them with her katana.  

As Donnie fought his goggles scanned the walls for false walls and air drafts. They had to be down here judging by the massive assault they were receiving. Then something flashed in his goggles when he turned to deliver a shock from his bo staff. Quickly turning back he saw two warm bodies behind the wall, a large form and a smaller one hanging midair.

“There!” Donnie screamed pointing to the small wall just a few feet from where Aurora was.

Immediately Aurora sprang for the wall feeling with her hands for anything to open the hidden door all the while keeping the growing mass of ninjas as bay.  Out the corner of her eye she saw the blade gliding through the air aimed for her throat, determined to hit it’s mark with extreme prejudice. Before it could find its target the hilt of Mikey’s nunchaku stopped its momentum pushing back the assailant.

“I got your back angel cakes!” the orange banded turtle smiled at her while taking down anther ninja with his band hands.

The battle in the dingy basement was deafening, she couldn’t hear herself think. A shove behind her sent her sprawling against the cold brink of the wall she was searching. But with a stroke of luck the hit brought her fingers in contact for the latch for the door making the brick door shift open revealing the entrance to the hidden cell.

The heavy scrapping of the brick door opening brought the Daimyo’s and Spinsters eyes to the entrance of their confinement.  Expecting the tall hooded dragon to appear they were surprised by two spinning blades followed by Aurora as she fought her way in.

Her eyes snapped to the old men hanging on the wall. The state Master Splinter was in sent her blood boiling. Battered and broke he was bleeding from several parts of his old furry body; someone had worked him over pretty good. Thankfully the Daimyo looked unharmed for the most part besides a busted lip and his white hair askew. “Donnie! Mikey!” she bellowed ending the five ninja currently before her. Whoever had hurt Master Splinter would pay, would pay dearly.

A thin layer of sweat covered his green skin from his earlier victorious battles. The icy blue pools of his intoxicating gaze locked in on her purple ones and for a moment she forgot to breath.  Involuntary she let out a whimper grasping her katana tighter, the leather creaking beneath her strength. She knew there was a chance she would face one of them in here but why, why did it have to be him? And why did he have to look so good? This was going to be harder then she had originally thought.

Almost instantly Leonardo’s famous concentration broke and his blades lowered. “Aurora..” he began sheathing a katana to reach for her. Leo ignored his role in this tournament and tried to talk to her but Aurora shook her head stopping the terrapin before he could continue.

“Don’t Leonardo.” She virtually snarled, “Please…… don’t do that. I can’t deal with you right now. I need to concentrate, we need to concentrate. I don’t want to hear it anyways. You made your point loud and clear this morning.” Not giving him another moment to rethink his strategy Aurora dove for him, blades aimed for the soft spot between his carapace and his plastron. The soft corded muscles that she had loved to touch, to kiss. “Stop that!” she scolded herself concentrating on her fight she was determined to win.

His full name from her lips stung more then he cared to admit. She looked beautiful as ever, the year away had been good to her. He was fascinated with the purple streak in her hair; it seemed to enhance her features but he figured she could have done anything and he would be enthralled. It was true what they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder.

He could feel his body begin to ache. It all came rushing to him realizing how much he missed her, how much he still loved her. Even the harsh tone of her voice made his heart beat faster with longing. There was nothing more he wanted to do then gather her in his arms and kiss her, claim her, mark her. Kiss her deep enough that she would forgot about everything he had foolishly done and be part of their lives again. But there would be no easy fix, he could see the resentment and pain in her eyes, Aurora would have none of it right now, maybe not ever again. Suddenly her eyes darkened, and she lunged for him with such ferociousness that it caught him off guard. The sheer force of her blow sent him stumbling back trying frantically to regain his footing before he fell on his shell.

She was on him in a second, their blades grinding against each other creating sparks from the immense friction. But the large body in front of her made her weak, made it extremely difficult to think clearly, especially being so close to him. Even his god damn smell was distracting! If she didn’t get a hold of herself she was going to lose to him and that just wasn’t an option. Not after everything, she had to win she had to prove to him, to herself she was strong and didn’t need him to be happy. Every ounce of her pain flowed through her, engulfing her in the warmth of her thundering passion for the blue terrapin, fueling her resolve. Focus!

Ue-Sama watched high above the nexus championship his eyes trained in on one battle and one battle only. Aurora attacked Leonardo with everything she had taking the large mutant by surprise. He barely had to time to defend himself as she struck again and again determined to win. It took Leonardo a few minutes to gather himself and start to attack back but Ue-Sama could tell by Leonardo’s reaction time he was not focused on the battle but on the woman. The woman who looked like she wanted to end him with every swing of her blade and thrusting kick of her leg. She had the power within her to do it too, he knew it, saw it when his father tapped into it with his staff. The raw power that flowed within her small frame was enormous and he wanted it, needed it. She had no idea how to harness the power she possessed, and he could mold her into what he needed her to be. Aurora would be a crucial part of his plan and he had to figure out how to keep her here with him. And with how she was looking at the turtle at this very moment he didn’t think it was going to be as difficult as he first thought.

When she was brought to the palace by Gyoji this morning his father had asked where the turtles were. Much to his delight Aurora told them how Leonardo had ended things between them urging her to move on with her life finding normalcy. It had been a year since she had seen them and was trying not to interact with them as much as possible. She knew there was a chance they would meet in battle but hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Now she was wiping the floor with the blue leader wearing him out ready to end the inevitable. Or could it be he was letting her win? He shook his head, it didn’t matter either way she was upset with him and maybe would be inclined to stay with him.  

Moving from the balcony that over looked the battle Ue-Sama sauntered back into the palace and headed towards his wing opening the door to his personal dojo. In the far corner lurked a large cloaked figure it’s glowing eyes fixed on the young prince.

“My lord.” It smiled wickedly stepping into the light, its hulking frame towing over Ue-Sama. “I think this woman will only cause trouble with your plan. If she is anything like the turtles and that blasted rat she will not be persuaded to help you over throw your father as Daimyo. She is growing rather fond of the old coot and I would doubt she’d wish any ill will on him.”

“Quiet your tongue you insect! Remember your place here, you are my counsel nothing more. I do what I want, and I want her. You didn’t see the power, the shear raw energy within her body.  She will be a pivotal part in all of this and she will have to agree. She’ll see what’s at stake and will want her own piece of the pie. Woman always want to be in control, to be part of the power of a Daimyo. My father had no problem finding wives. She won’t be able to resist me once I’m Daimyo.”

The large figure narrowed its eyes in frustration lowering its body’s height in an awkward bow to show submission, “As you wish my Daimyo.” It cooed softly before shifting back into the shadows.

Leo had definitely gotten better since the last time they had squared off; she was out of breath, her chest heaving from the effort she had to put into defending herself. With the back of her hand she wiped the sweat from her brow. Every flex of his impressive biceps or pulse of his thigh muscles sent heat rushing between her thighs. Even his goddamned heavy breathing was affecting her. “Fuck!” she screamed internally. He shouldn’t be affecting her this much. It had already been a year! He swayed nimbly on the balls of his feet, his katanas out and ready before him. She could tell he was ready to strike the coil of his calves gave him away. Ready for his next move Aurora sheathed her katanas and slid forward on her knees ducking below his next attack grabbing a hold of his wrists pulling him down and over. Sailing between his open legs she pulled him into an unsuspecting summersault making him land on his shell. Aurora didn’t give him time to react; she spun him on his carapace to face her and straddled his narrow hips. Pulling a kunai from her thigh holster she brought it down on his plastron.

Before it could connect with the plates of his chest Leo’s eyes widened in shock and his body disappeared beneath her in a blue dust taking him from the competition. As her body settled on the ground Aurora let out a shaky breath closing her eyes holding back unshed tears.

Leonardo reappeared in the medical wing of the palace with Raphael looking down on him with a shit eating grin. “Who took ya out?” he laughed helping Leo to his feet.

“Aurora.”

“Oh shell! Man that’s rough! Did she say anything to you?”

“I tried to talk to her but she wasn’t having any of it. You should have seen her Raph; it looked like she wanted to actually kill me. But shell, it was hard to concentrate having her so close.”

“Well fearless you did break up with her and then the first time she sees you , Asuna has her tongue down your throat. I can’t say I blame her.” The red banded turtle didn’t help as he patted his older brother’s shell.

“Yeah yeah, I got it, I messed up. If I could go back in time I would.” Leo waved his brother’s hands away from his back while they made their way out into the halls of the palace to watch the rest of the games from the contestant’s row.

Donnie lasted two more rounds while Aurora and Mikey dominated defeating each of their competitors with ease. Begrudgingly Donnie took up the seat next to his brothers sitting down with a frustrated huff his arms crossed over his chest. Leo put his arm around his brother pulling him into an awkward side hug before playfully pushing back away with a deep chuckle.

Raph was intently watching their younger brother flip and maneuver around his latest victim, there was no doubt that little shit was faster than the rest of them, and way more flexible to boot. He was without a doubt holding back during practice. He turned his head to face Leo but his eyes remained on the dizzying display of talent just below them. “You know if he wins this thing, we’ll never hear the end of it…..you know that right?”

Leo and Donnie smiled nodding as they watched their little brother use all of his training bringing his nunchaku down ending yet another fight. They watched their orange banded brother search the crowd for their faces hoping they were watching him. The grin that spread over his face when he found each one of them howling for him couldn’t have compared to the brightness of the sun.

He bowed to them and returned his gaze to Master Splinter who had the very familiar proud papa gleam. Mikey bowed to his father as well, a silent think you for giving him the tools he needed to get this far.

As the rest of the matches ended the partitions retracted revealing the last of the contestants. Mikey stood near his brothers in the arena as Aurora was revealed farthest away just as she was sheathing her katanas. A large purple anthropomorphic pig to their left lifted his hands above his head letting out a triumphant roar and crablike alien turned a few times hyping itself up but made no noise. The roaring crowd died down when the Daimyo and Ue-Sama rose.

“Congratulations to our final four warriors! You have come a long way to get to this point. Your skill and stamina is a true testament to the hard work you’ve done to get where you are today. We thank you for sharing your talent with us all this day. Now there are two more matches before we declare a new battle nexus champion and I’m sure you all are excited to see this championship to fruition. When this battle is over and two remain the walls will drop and will go directly into the championship. Good luck to you four.”

Aurora made quick eye contact with Mikey as the partition rose giving her a quick playful wink before he disappeared behind the large wall. This time Aurora wasn’t engulfed by the light and stayed where she was. After a few seconds the blue light swirled in front of her and the crablike alien appeared before her. It looked her up and down all the while snapping it’s pinchers and began to laugh, a deep crackling laugh that reminded her of a sputtering diesel engine.

“This will be easy, a stupid human woman cannot beat Klarkapil!” its pinchers snapped quickly in front of his large awkward body before he shuffled forward on his many thick legs.

Aurora roller eyes at the alien wondering how something so large and awkward could have gotten so far in the tournament? The answer soon came when its pinchers came at her with impressive speed snapping at her throat. With a quick yelp of surprise Aurora dodged the alien crustacean’s snappers rolling to the right pulling her katanas free.

“Yes woman run away from Klarkapil! Tremble with fear at my size and speed!”

This thing was way too cocky and was beginning to annoy her as it circled around clucking about how good it was and how scared she should be. Maybe that was part of its shtick, to annoy her into submission?  Again a pitcher lunged for her this time snapping at her leg but she managed to evade the snapping appendage. She had to be careful this thing was fast and vicious. Despite the alien’s bulky frame it was able to move very quickly and its pincher’ aim was precise.

As it rattled off more sexists insults Aurora figured out how she could avoid its pinches and end the battle. It seemed too concerned with putting her down to come up with any kind of strategy let alone pay attention to what she was devising. He was too cocky and wouldn’t be able to resist her trap. Blocking another pincher she flipped through the air and landed several feet in front of him and sheathed her swords and knelt on the floor closing her eyes and waited.

Almost immediately the crustacean laughed and rushed forward ready to claim his victory. Its pinchers reared up and snapped in preparation before they came down ready to crush the woman below. As they connected with hard ground he gasped in surprise seeing the spot where she had just been empty.

Aurora rolled beneath the large circular body and popped up behind pulling her tantou free from its sheath behind her back. Crouching down she sprung forward onto the aliens back landing just behind’s its head. As she brought her blade down she whispered into the once smug alien’s ear. “You were just beaten by a woman.” Before the blade connected with its shell its scream of dismay disappeared with its large body in a blue dust of defeat. When her feet connected with the ground the crowd roared with a thunderous applause as she stood to her full height. Looking around the spectators she saw happy ecstatic faces, especially from all the females. Sheathing the tantou behind her back once again she took a moment to celebrate and raised both hands into the air with a shout.

Turning around she saw Master Splinter smiling down at her his furry hands clapping with the crowds applause. He looked so proud of her as if he had watched her grown up and develop into the woman she was now. Her heart broke a little at that thought; would she ever be able to spend time with the old rat again? She had a feeling she could still learn a few things from him.

The movement of the walls indicated the match beside her had ended and she was about to see who she would be fighting for the championship.  Soon the familiar green scalp of Michelangelo appeared as the partition began to recede into the ground. Then his baby blue’s framed by his signature orange mask came into view as his eye ridges waging with mischief. She would be fighting the youngest of the turtles for the win, adjusting her stance she placed her hands on her hips waiting for the turtle to be fully exposed to her. Before it was fully recessed in the ground Mikey stepped over the wall and into her space closing the distance between them, his nunchaku hung loosely from his fingers.

“Fancy seeing you here Angel cakes. Long time no see.” He cooed stopping a few feet from her.  

Tears began to prick her eyes threatening to spill as she took in the warm sight of the young turtle. She missed them so much it hurt. Being this close to him was ripping every bit of strength from her tearing away at her sanity. Her lips began to quiver but bit her bottom lip to stop it. She needed to get this over with so she could win or lose and go home. Pulling her katana from her sheaths she readied her stance. Doing her best to blink away the offending tears in her eyes she gave him a small smile. She didn’t want to be mean to him he just didn’t understand how much it hurt to see him and not be able to touch him, hold him, kiss those rosy cheeks of his.

“Hey Mikey, are you ready?”

“For you? Always.” He started spinning his weapons with his wrists. “Ladies first.”

Mikey could see the pain flash over her face as he got close to her, could see the tears welling up glossing over her purple iris’s. It actually pained her to see him and that tore at the very fibers of his being. The last thing he wanted for her to feel in his presence was pain let alone him making her feel that way. Leo needed to fix this and fast. He wanted to touch her to tell her how much he missed her but unfortunately this wasn’t the time. He had a championship to win and Aurora was the only one standing in his way. He wouldn’t like defeating her but if that was the way to prove to his father and brothers he was an equal part of this family then so be it. He had been training for a year for this moment. He wasn’t going to let it pass him by even if it was Aurora in his way of his victory. He could do this.

Leo, Raph and Donnie were standing now with the rest of the audience, there was too much sweet anticipation running through the crowd to stay seated. Below them their baby brother and Aurora were about to fight for the title of Battle Nexus Champion.

“She’s gonna mop the floor with him.” Raph laughed gripping Leo’s shoulder a little too tight.  

“I don’t know Raph, you’ve seen him the past few matches. This is the best I’ve ever seen him. I think he has a chance against her. It might be slim but there is still a chance.” Leo winched feeling Raph’s fingers bite into the soft tissue of his shoulder. His fingers reached up prying the three digits from their perch.

“Oh sorry Leo, just a little excited. Man, I need some popcorn.”

Instead of attacking Aurora began circling the orange turtle, it had been a year since she had taken him on. Leo had improved significantly and had almost won, there was no doubt Mikey had gotten better as well. Hell, he had made it to the end and not his brothers. That alone was a sobering thought. How good had Mikey gotten? This was going to be fun figuring it out.

His eyes never left her as she circled him watching him move. No doubt looking for some sort of tell or a moment when he wasn’t paying attention. But if she was waiting for that she was going to be sorely disappointed, she was the only thing on his radar. She had his full attention. The clink of his chains on his nunchaku while they spun were the only sounds in the arena, the crowd was eerily quiet fixed on the two final warriors of the championship anxious for a winner.

The ball of her boot shifted across the ground scraping against the sand and dirt. Her fingers flexed with the tightly bound leather and silk of her katana handles. Aurora was ready as she’d ever be, it was time. Bending at the knee she dug her foot down and launched forward.

If Mikey had a strategy she couldn’t figure it out. With each attack she doled out his wide but nimble body flipped and darted away. She wasn’t landing nearly as many hits as she wanted too by now. His speed had increased and his ability to perceive what his opponent was going to do next was finely tuned. Mikey was quickly becoming better than his brothers. She was seriously impressed. Even his flexibility had gotten better.

“Jesus Mikey are you made of rubber?” Aurora laughed landing behind him, giving his carapace a swift kick sending him forward onto his knees.

“This turtle got skills yo.” He chuckled lifting his nunchaku up taking the brunt of her katana.

Aurora jumped up and swiped her leg across his body hitting him square in his chest. While he tumbled backwards onto his back she flipped forward landing on top of him bringing her blade down once again “Well color me impressed.”

Catching her blade on the chains of his weapon his legs came forward wrapping around her neck, his feet locking around the back of her head. He heard her startled gasp when he rocked forward bringing her down on her back with his large hand pressing down on her abdomen holding her in place. Her purple eyes wild with shock he raised his weapon above his head ready to make the final strike. Mikey grinned down at her squished face when a smile crept over her flushed checks. She was pinned and could nothing more to stop him, the fight was over. His hand hesitated faulting just above his head.

Her voice broke though his jumbled thoughts. “Do it Mikey, you won, end this.” Her eye filled with pride she nodded but he could tell she was still trying to break free even though he had her immobilized indefinitely.

Bringing down his nunchaku she disintegrated into blue dust eliminating her from the tournament leaving him the battle nexus champion. The crowd broke out into a deafening roar as he stood claiming his title. His eyes found his three brothers in the stands all on their feet screaming for him. They looked so proud.

Aurora found herself lying on the floor of the healer’s quarters in the palace with three healers hovering over her. “I’m fine. No injuries. Just a bruised pride.” She reassured the three concerned healers who nodded and let her be. She sat there for a moment catching her breath with her forearm over her eyes. At least she made it to second place, after all the competitors she saw today, she was lucky to get that far. At least she lost to sweet Mikey, he deserved it, the lovable goof.” Again, emotions bubbled up from her gut, she had been so close to Leo and Mikey reminding her what she had lost a year ago. “Fuck.” She mumbled under her breath holding back tears for the fourth time today. She needed to get out of there, she had no doubt they would come looking for her and that was something she wasn’t ready to deal with just yet. Especially Leo, she knew she couldn’t trust herself around him. Just being a few feet from the tall muscular turtle in blue sent her traitorous body into heat. But the swish of a long tail across the floor told her she was too late. Removing her arm from her face she sat up to meet Master Splinter’s warm stare.  

“You did splendid my dear.” He cooed as he watched her get to her feet.

Retuning her katanas to their sheaths she bowed to the old rat. “Thank you, Master Splinter. Your sons fought well today, they have improved significantly. Your training has paid off.”

Master Splinter’s dark iris’s seemed to flood with emotion as he neared the woman he hadn’t seen in a year. His small furry hands came out and took hers; he could feel her tense a little at the contact. With a little tug he urged her to lower to his height, after a few moments she obliged the old rat and met him eye to eye.

“They have trained hard this year plus the extra patrols around the city because of the rise in crime have kept them in top physical form. Leonardo has been pushing them to better themselves, to keep their minds moving. He has been trying to keep his mind from wandering to something he lost, something he regrets letting go.”

Splinter didn’t need to say it, she knew he was talking about her. Pulling her fingers from his hands she stood back up to her full height and turned her gaze from the old rat. “It was good to see you Master Splinter.” And with that she turned from him and disappeared down the hallway.

She flew down the hallway running for the room she was provided for the tournament by the Daimyo, for some privacy. As she turned down the final hall she ran smack dab into a tall sturdy body. Arms grabbed for her steadying Aurora’s rocketing form. She pulled herself away from the warm body looking up to see red hair and green eyes.

“Ue-Sama. I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking to wh..”

“Aurora I’ve been looking for you. I am sorry you lost to one of those troublesome terrapins. Are you alright?” his hands rested on her hips keeping her close to him.

She didn’t fight it for now, but she still wanted to be alone, and she especially didn’t want to deal with Ue-Sama’s bullshit right now. “I’m fine, Mikey deserved to win, he did an excellent job today.”

“Then why are you running? You seem upset, is there anything I can do to help?”

Aurora put her hands on his chest pressing gently trying to discreetly let the red haired ninja aware she wanted to be released from his grasp. But it went unnoticed; actually it felt like he pulled her a little closer. “I’m not upset because I lost; I’m upset because seeing the turtles for the first time hurts, hurts more than I thought it would.”  Again she pushed, a little harder but his determined hands remained on her hips.

With the speed of a true ninja, his arms shifted from her hips and enclosed around her back spinning them, so he could press her up against the wall. The sheer speed of his movements along with being caught off guard sent her mind spinning unable to stop what happened next. Ue-Sama leaned down and slanted his mouth over hers pressing his tongue into Aurora’s mouth moaning as his questing tongue found hers.

His knee slipped forward parting her thighs pressing up against her core grinding his crotch against her thigh. Her mind reeled at the unwarranted advance. His lips were rough and impatient taking the kiss, nothing like Leo’s. There was no passion, no gentle urging just pressing and pushing, taking. Leo’s kiss sent heat coursing through her body making every part of her tingle with anticipation. This was nothing like that, she didn’t want him, she wanted Leo, god she missed Leo.  

Everything rushed back to her and she panicked pushing against his chest frantically desperate to end the kiss. She tore her mouth from his gasping for breath. “Ue-Sama!” she yelped looking up at him in dismay. Pushing him further from her Aurora glared at the red haired ninja.

“Please, I’m sorry for that, I just can’t help myself. Let me help you, help you forget him, help you forget them.” He moved forward reaching for her yet again.

Aurora held up her hands stopping his advance. “Please stop, I appreciate the offer, but you can’t just do that Ue-Sama. I gave you no indication I wanted to be kissed. Just a few seconds ago I told you that I was clearly not over…… I - I just can’t do this right now.” Without giving him a second to respond she spun around and ran to her room escaping inside.  

Ue-Sama was fuming when he finally reached his room. His hands were clenched trembling with the force of it. A large cloaked figure emerged from the shadows edging up behind the red haired ninja.

“What troubles you my Daimyo?” it smoothly questioned it’s red glowing eyes flashed behind the dark cloak.

With a pained grunt Ue-Sama’s fist collided with the rough walls of his massive room. “I will never have her if those pesky turtles are still around. Even after a year she still has feeling for them, especially Leonardo, curse that turtle! I kissed her, I kiss her with all the passion within me and she pushed me away like I was on fire.”

“Maybe it’s time to let her go my Daimyo? She will never go along with your plan and once she finds out she will tell the turtles and they will do all that they can to stop us. I believe it’s time take care of the meddlesome turtles before they become wise to our plans, while their guard is down as they celebrate. I can send my shadow ninjas to take care of them, take care of them all.”

Ue-Sama strode to his window and looked down at the arena filled with the contestants of his father’s tournament. His heated gaze narrowed in on the four turtles in the center of the arena celebrating with the rest of the competitors. His anger grew as he stared at the turtle in blue patting his younger sibling on the back. How did Aurora find that monster of a mutation attractive and not him? He was a prince in his own right, primed and ready to take over the throne from his father. He had so much more to offer her then a smelly sewer, three brothers and a giant rat? He would have the throne and Aurora with her power if it was the last thing he did. He spun around to face his counsel and growled his order, “Destroy those turtles and you can do what you will with the rat as promised but do NOT harm the woman. After they’re gone she’ll have no one and will fall into my arms. Especially when I am sitting on the throne with the war staff in my hand and control the Battle Nexus Championship.”

@imthegreenfairy88​ @alonia143 @ravn-87 @bluesakurablossom​

“I can’t believe you beat Aurora!” Raphael laughed smacking Mikey’s carapace sending him stumbling forward with the force of the blow.

Mikey was ecstatic, he had won, they were never going to hear the end of this he chuckled to himself taking a high three from Donnie. The only thing that could make this triumph better was if Aurora was there celebrating with them. Even though he had beaten her in battle he could tell their kunoichi was proud of him as she vanished beneath him. It was a bittersweet victory that was for sure.

After the crowd filtered into the arena Mikey was happy to see Usagi and even his friend Gen when they found them in the crowd and congratulated him on his win. But when Asuna appeared a few minutes later staying a few feet from them, her eyes always on Leo, his high quickly faded. Nonchalantly he moved his body in between her and Leo blocking her eye sight of his eldest brother.

As the arena started to clear out, it was announced there would be a giant feast prepared for the contestants and would be ready in an hours’ time. The turtles moved about the thinning crowd and headed towards the palace. They found Master Splinter with the Daimyo in the throne room along with Ue-Sama. When they entered the massive room the Daimyo’s eyes lit up with pride.

“Michelangelo, I believe there are congratulations in order for your win today young man. You should be very proud of yourself as should your family on this day. You have defeated the best in the universe to become the Battle Nexus Champion. There will be a ceremony tomorrow in your honor, where you will be presented with a trophy for first and Aurora for runner up.” The giant man came up to Mikey and rested both hands on the young turtle’sshoulders; his smile was from ear to ear.

“Speaking of Aurora, do you know where she is? I’d like to congratulate her as well. It was neck and neck for a while.” Mikey asked sheepishly looking up at the Daimyo.

Leonardo watched Ue-Sama out of the corner of his eye looking for a reaction from the Daimyo’s son and got a sour reaction when Mikey asked for Aurora’s location. The red haired ninja squeezed his fists in frustration and stepped forward ready to respond for his father. “She is fine and does not wish to be disturbed by you.” He hissed lowly glaring at Leonardo even though he didn’t ask the question.

“Myson, please show some respect to our friends and honored guests. They are heroes in these lands and should be treated as such.” The Daimyo snapped quietly at his son. “If she doesn’t want to see them she will need to tell them herself. We do not meddle in other people’s business. Aurora is a good woman and is not a poor sport. Let her decide is she wants an audience with Michelangelo and his family.”

The green eyes of Ue-Sama grew dark and bowed to the four turtles and their rat father, “My apologies, the last time I saw her she was entering her room. But I have a feeling she will be attending the feast shortly, so you could probably find her there.”

“We shall find her there; we will leave her to get ready.” Master Splinter smiled respectfully at the angry ninja retuning the bow before ushering his sons from the throne room.

“My friend!” The Daimyo called after them catching the old rat before he left. “Please join me for dinner this evening while your sons enjoy their feast and merriment with their fellow competitors. They do not need their fathers hanging around.”  

“I would be most honored Daimyo.”

Leonardo sat next to Usagi at a large table in the middle of the large town square. Mikey and Donnie were across from him and Gen and Raphael were talking one person down from Usagi. The meal was brought out and devoured by everyone. They had yet to still see Aurora at the feast, but they couldn’t find her face in the mass of bodies. An hour passed after the meal had finished and the tables were cleared,and a gigantic bonfire was lit along with a band that played upbeat music.

Several people got to their feet dancing happily to the steady beat of the band in the distance. The flames of the roaring fire seemed to sway with the bodies that moved around it’s towering inferno. Donnie and Raph had moved from the table to mingle with the people of the city and warriors of the tournament. Gen had wandered away earlier looking for more food to eat.

Usagi stayed beside his friend in blue watching him and Michelangelo banter back and forth over the table. A smile played over his lips watching the two brothers laugh and reminisce longing for the close connection he never had when he was growing up. The more he hung out with the turtles the more he envied their closeness which made him want to spend more time with them. More so the blue leader who he seemed to have a lot in comment with, very quickly they were becoming close friends. And for knowing him for such a short amount of time he could see the sadness in his eyes. Leonardo’s gaze floated over the crowd searching for that one face, the one he longed to have back in his life. Actually, he could see all four of them searching for Aurora. Even fully focused in on the conversations they were having, they still looked for her face in the crowd. His long ears twitched sensing someone watching them, turning around in his seat his cold glare found Asuna just behind them. Her fingers pointed to herself and back to them indicating she wanted permission to join them. With an angry huff he shook his head and turned back around to his terrapin friends ignoring her. That stunt she pulled earlier today was cold and calculated something he would not forget or soon forgive.

Leo laughed at his little brother who had just made a joke at Gen’s love of food. The rhino had eaten his full meal plus part of Leo’s and Usagi’s, yet still wandered away for more. His love of gambling was apparent as well when he tried to make a wager with Usagi about who could eat their roast faster. Usagi chuckled but politely declined his friend, knowing full well the rhino would win. “My friend you know that would be a foolish wager to take.”

Usagi was a little older than him but Leo was finding he enjoyed the ronin’s company. He could tell even with the short time in knowing him he was a trustworthy ally and quickly becoming a good friend.

Out of the corner of his eye Leo took in a sharp breath, the face he had been looking for all night finally appeared past the dancing flames of the bonfire. Aurora had finally made an appearance at the celebration. Out of her gear she had a dark grey skirt on with a slit up the side ending mid-thigh and a dark blue shirt that hung off one shoulder semi exposing some sort of marking, a tattoo perhaps? She was talking with a few of the contestants oblivious to him and his brothers.

Mikey could see the change in Leo’s demeanor and followed his line of sight finding Aurora just on the other side of the fire. His muscles flexed as he stood from his seat eager to get to her. He could feel the air shift behind him telling him Leo was now standing as well. Quickly they maneuvered around the table making a beeline for their friend. A few females stopped in front of them trying to get Mikey’s attention gaining a few moments of their time.

Ending the conversation quickly they bid the three females goodbye and continued their trek to Aurora’s location but when they reached the spot she had been previously their kunoichi was nowhere to be found. Frantically they searched the faces again and found Raphael a few feet from them pointing across the way. She was now on the opposite side of the fire nearly the same spot they were in talking to Usagi. She laughed at something he said and gave the large samurai rabbit a hug.

Moving as quick as possible without bringing attention to themselves, Leo, Mikey and now joined by Raph raced towards where they had left Usagi. But again she was gone and Usagi was sitting back at the large table.

“Where did she go bro?” Mikey called coming up behind the rabbit.

“Who? Aurora? She was just here a few seconds ago.” Usagi stated looking around a little confused.  “She just wanted to say hi but took off rather quickly.” Usagi looked up at his frantic friend searching the crowd for their friend and chuckled. “I think she’s trying to avoid you my friends. Might be smart to let her be.”

Raphael let out a frustrated sigh, “Screw that, I wanna see her and I wanna see her tonight.”

Soon Donnie came jogging up to his brothers, “Hey I just saw Aurora over there, I tried to get to her but she disappeared.”

“Yeah we know we tried too. She thinks she can avoid us but she’s got another thing coming.” Leo smiled formulating a plan in his head.

Aurora had successfully avoided Donnie and was hiding behind a large statue of a large unknown warrior having a discussion with the one of the warriors she had fought today in the tournament. It was going to be a busy night keeping tabs on the turtles to keep them at arms distance.  She couldn’t bare being around them, their smiles, their smells were too painful to endure. Her two incidents with Leo and Mikey proved her body couldn’t be trusted when around them. It was drawn to them and it was something she couldn’t help. After Japan everything was different, it felt like they were a part of her, an extension of her being. She found the year without them had left her feeling hollow and unfulfilled, a feeling she had never felt before. Like she was missing part of her soul.

A new song started from the band a little slower then what they were usually playing. The beat soft and slow she found herself swaying a bit with the melody. A large hand tapped her on her shoulder and she turned around to face a large rhino man with a white kimono with two red claw marks on each breast. His hand came out offering it up to her.

“This is my favorite song and I was wondering if you’d like to dance?” He asked quite sweetly.

Aurora cocked her head and smiled, if she was dancing she wouldn’t need to worry about the turtles talking to her. Taking his hand, she agreed, and he immediately brought her to him wrapping his arm around her waist and began moving to the beat around the large fire. For such a cumbersome being the Rhino was a rather good dancer.

“The name is Murakami Gennosuke, but you can call me Gen.” he started with a sly smile. “You’re very gifted with the katana. I thought for sure you would beat the orange terrapin today, but I could see you were a bit distracted. Why was that?”

“Ummm, he was a friend. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. So, it was a bit difficult to fight him.”

Gen looked down at her puzzled as his arm pushed back dipping Aurora, “Was? You don’t seem the type of human to lose friends. Plus, you’re here in a tournament with every species and alien known in the universe so I can’t imagine it’s because he’s a large green turtle?”

“It’s a long story I really don’t wish to get into, it’s rather painful. But I do miss him, and his brothers more than they could ever know.”

The sly smile on his face widened as he curled her into his embrace, “Good cause they miss you too!” With a push he spun her out into the crowd landing squarely against a hard chest. The first thing she saw was sunglasses and a large chain necklace. Her hands rested on the hard plastron of Mikey who was looking down at her with a wild pleased as punch grin.

“Hey angel cakes.” He cooed wrapping his arms around her waist before she could move away from him and started to sway with the music forcing her to continue with the song.

She felt his large three fingered hand spread open on the small of her back pressing her firmly into his chest. She knew she shouldn’t, but she looked up into his baby blues anyways and felt herself melt into him pressing her forehead into the crook of his neck. There was no point in fighting it, her body moved on its own hooking her fingers around the top of his plastron as he moved them to the beat. It just felt right, like she was home.

Michelangelo could feel Aurora tremble against him once she realized she had been caught. Her fingers lightly grazed over his plastron feeling the groves of his scutes. Slowly she let out a shaky breath finally pressing into him grasping at the top of his plastron. Leaning down he nuzzled his nose into the top of her head taking a long pull of her scent. God, he had missed her. Aurora allowed him to move her around the bonfire keeping with the soft melody. He had no notion of letting her go but he could feel their eyes boring into his shell. After a few minutes he looked up to see his three brothers looking at him longingly at the form in his arms. Letting out a long sigh he reached under her chin with a single digit pulling her purple gaze back to his. Leaning down he placed a quick kiss to her trembling lips lingering longer then he had planned and spun her out of his arms into Raph’s open awaiting embrace.

Everything spun as she was hurtled across the dirt ground once again, arms quickly encasing her.She didn’t even need to look up to know it was Raph she was pressed against. Raphael had a certain smell, thick and earthy no one could reproduce. A low rumble in his chest soothed her trembling hands as his fingers enclosed around the back of her neck and just above her butt. He didn’t’ speak just kept moving with the momentum of the song, keeping up with the rest of the people dancing around them.

“I didn’t know you guys could dance?” she asked quietly refusing to look up at the hothead.

His chuckle was deep, vibrating his plastron against her palms, “We’re ninja, we need for our movements to be smooth and fluid. Master Splinter thought it would be a good idea to learn how to dance to help with the lesson. Let’s just say it was a bit awkward slow dancing with your brothers.”

It was her turn to laugh, but she quelled it quickly feeling his arms tighten around her possessively and then he began to tremble a bit himself. The big bad turtle was shaking; she never thought she’d see the day. Finally, she gatheredher courage and looked up finding him staring down at her and to her surprise there were tears in his eyes. Tears from Raphael.  

“Oh Red.” Aurora gave him a tentative smile lifting her hand to his cheek. The hand wound up in her hair came up to the back of her hand pulling it from his face, so he could place a kiss to her palm.

“We miss you.”

Before she could react, Raph spun her once again into Donnie’s impatient long arms. With a quickness the genius pulled her to him pressing a warm kiss to the top of her head. She could hear him smell her hair and let out a heavy sigh holding her just little tighter.

“Just like I remembered.” He whispered almost to himself. His hands smoothed over her back his warm palms gaining as much friction as possible. Strangely it was almost sensual the way Donnie’s hands worked over her as if to memorize the contours of her back.

She was becoming very aware of the heat rising in her body. Their smells, their hands, their bodies, even their voices sank into her soul bringing up the emotions she was trying to suppress all day. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, she had been in Mikey, Raph and Donnie’s arm. There was only one left, one turtle that was waiting patiently for his turn to hold her. Like a flash of light, the scene from earlier today with Asuna and Leo kissing made her emotions do a 180, anger bubbled over the heat rushing through the sadness. Like hell he was going to touch her, if he wanted that damned bunny he could have her, but he couldn’t have her anymore. She wouldn’t let her body melt into him, he didn’t want her anymore. Donnie’s arm loosened around her ready to spin her to Leo but her fingers found the edges of his plastron preventing him from launching her from his grasp.

“No.” she said matter-of-factly looking up into his brown eyes.

Before he could question her, a ruckus began to spread in the city.  Guards and people moved anxiously around stopping the celebration in its tracks. A mummer rose in the crowd, but they couldn’t make it out.

Aurora turned from Donnie to see Leo a few feet from them in position for her but his head was now turned paying attention to the disturbance. Aurora reached out grabbing a guard as he whizzed by. He grunted losing his momentum and stopped to look at the woman who had grabbed him.

“What’s going on?” She asked still holding onto his uniform refusing to let him budge until he answered her question.

“Please Ms. Aurora the Daimyo is missing. He was having dinner with a friend and when one of the servants went in with the main course they found the room trashed with neither of them to be found. I have to go please release me.” Ripping his chest plate from her grasp he ran towards the palace.

Her gut suddenly felt like it had rocks inside of it pitting a heavy weight at her center. The Daimyo was missing? Turning back to Donnie she could see the worry in his eyes as they moved from brother to brother.

“What is it Donnie?”

“Master Splinter was with the Daimyo having dinner.”

All at once the mood shifted and they moved together rushing towards the palace with Usagi and Gen in tow. Weaving around guards they made it to the dining room finding it in disarray. The Daimyo’s large head chair was in pieces his mask lay broken in the ruble. The chair right next to it wasn’t in any better shape, in fact there was blood splattered over several parts of the broken wood.

A few seconds after they arrived Ue-Sama came clamoring into the room his mask sat on top his head his eyes scanning the carnage. Then something strange hit her, in his left hand Ue-Sama had the war staff clutched tightly. Why would he have that in his possession, she thought, only the Daimyo was able to use the staff?

“My father! What happened?!” he began screaming hysterically distracting her from her train of thought.

Something was off about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Four large bodies beside her showing their own panic brought her back to the present. Aurora moved past Leo and Raph around the remains of Splinter’s seat to where the Daimyo would sit. His bowl of soup half spilled across the table in a certain direction grabbed her attention. Dipping her pinky finger in the contents of the bowl she brought it to her lips testing it with her tongue. She caught Ue-Sama eyeing her from the other side of the room warily. A bitter taste hidden in the vegetable soup made her spit out what was in her mouth.

“There was something in the soup, I’m not sure if it was poison or a sedative but Splinter noticed it and stopped the Daimyo from consuming it by pushing it from his hands.” She mimicked what the old rat did by brushing the bowl away spilling more of the soup over the wooden surface.“I’m guessing whoever was behind this was watching them and attacked knowing they were onto the substance in the food. Which in turn started a fight for their lives. The food is still warm so whoever has them can’t be too far.” Not waiting for a response Aurora dashed around the turtles ignoring their astonished looks and headed towards her room.

She could hear heavy foot steps behind her no doubt the turtles following her. Closing the door in their faces, she stripped of her current clothes pulling on what she wore for the tournament and reattaching all her weapons she had discarded. Ripping the door back open all four of the turtles, including Usagi and Gen were on the other side staring at her waiting impatiently for her to finish. Leo was standing in from of them his eyes searching hers.

“How did you…..?” he questioned Aurora keeping her from exiting her room.

“Part of my training was to detect foreign substances in food. Now get out of my way Leonardo, we’re wasting time.” With a hard shove to his plastron Aurora pushed Leo out of her doorway and into Raphael. She waited for no one and broke into a run down the hall.

Mikey looked to Leo who was still watching Aurora disappear down the hallway, “Do….do we follow her bro?”

After a few suspenseful moments Leo swallowed licking his dry lips and nodded before taking off after her. Rounding the corner they saw Aurora next to the door of the dining room keeping herself hidden from prying eyes. What was she doing?

Aurora peered through doorway at the hysteria still bustling in the room. Ue-Sama still hadn’t made any orders for the guards to start looking for his father. The way he walked around the room he didn’t seem too much in a hurry to find his father. She could tell the guards were getting a bit antsy wondering what the Daimyo’s son was going to do about the attack. Then Ue-Sama seemed to calm down a bit looking out the window.

Aurora could feel him come up next to her, the heat from his body permeating into her skin when his warm hand rested precariously on her hip. He was so close as he leaned over her she could feel the puffs of air from his mouth hit her neck inciting goosebumps across her skin. Leo was waiting for her to make the next move.

“Something’s not right……. I don’t like the way Ue-Sama is acting nor the fact he already possesses the war staff. I have a bad feeling about all this.”

“I do too. I have a feeling we need to do our own thing here. We need to find Master Splinter.” Leo whispered inches from her ear. She felt his three fingers lift from her hip and curl around her arm pulling her with him.

She didn’t resist the pull of his hand, following the large turtle leader past his brothers and down the hallway to the main entrance where they met up with a worried Usagi and Gen. Leo took the lead informing them of what happened and their concerns.

“We need to split up to cover more ground and we need to do it now. Usagi and Gen I want you to go to the east side of the palace and then make your way to the north. Donnie, Mikey and Aurora I want you guys to search the castle but keep a low profile. If our suspicions are true I have a feeling Ue-Sama has stashed them in the palace somewhere, most likely in the basement near the dungeon. Raph and I will take the east side of the palace and make our way up to the falls above the castle. But we have to move fast we don’t know what the end game is for them.”

Donnie reached into his belt and threw a small device to Usagi, “If you happen to find them and need assistance press this button and we’ll come running.”

Usagi turned the device over in his paws studying the thing and then tucked it safely into his pouch hanging on his belt. “Good luck my friends.”  

Each group hurried off into the directions they were told determined to save the Daimyo and Master Splinter from whatever plan that was made before it could come to fruition.

The battle nexus championship was a just a week away, and everyone was beside themselves with excitement. Leo looked forward to seeing his friend Usagi again, along with showing what he and his brothers could do in the tournament. He was determined to have at least one of them win the championship, they had been training hard and hoped they deserved to at least make it to the finals.

Master Splinter was going to accompany them to the Battle Nexus but was not going to participate in the tournament, but he was looking forward to seeing his old friend the Daimyo. Leo sat on his bed sharpening his katana when he looked to the side of his bed and rested his eyes on the special bonsai tree that sat proudly on his night stand. Well maintained, green and lush, he took pride keeping the tree alive and well. It had been almost a year since they had seen Aurora last; her last painting had sold in Egypt for a substantial sum. Most of the proceeds were given to a local charity which didn’t surprise him in the slightest.

He hoped she was well and happy. Maybe she had a boyfriend? Maybe she was married? The thought suddenly made his heart drop into his stomach, rolling over on itself at the mere thought of her in someone else’s arms.

Shaking the unpleasant image from his mine he didn’t need to think about that. Besides he was the one to let Aurora go so foolishly, so he needed to stop thinking about her and learn to deal with the consequences. He allowed the tree to remain by his bed side as a reminder of the love they shared, that he had, had a glimpse of happiness for at a moment in time. He never wanted to forget the smell of her, the taste of her lips, the sound of her voice. Each of those precious memories were slowly slipping away as time went by. Vanishing from his senses like dust in a storm. It hurt to lose them like he was losing a part of himself as they faded from his mind. Selfishly he hoped she would attend the Battle Nexus championship, so he could see her once more, maybe refresh the happy memories of her sound and smell but knew she most likely wouldn’t. He imagined she had moved on making a new life for herself and wouldn’t trouble herself with a championship of mutants and aliens.

Leo imagined her lying on a beach in Egypt curled up on someone’s arms nuzzled into their armpit like she once did with him, kissing his lips. Shaking his head of the unpleasant thoughts again he finished sharpening his katana and made his way to the kitchen were Mikey had just finished preparing dinner for the family.

The entire family sat down at the kitchen table as Mikey set the large casserole dish filling with something delicious smelling on the makeshift trivet in the middle of the too small for four mutant turtles kitchen table.

Splinter leaned forward taking a low pull of the pleasant aroma his eyes closing in delight. “My son, your cooking skills have much improved over the past year. What is this dish called?”

“Shrimp and White Bean Cassoulet sensei.” Mikey smiled sitting down next to Raph who was already dishing up a sizable helping for their father.  

The old rat took a spoon full of the helping he was given and took a tentative bite. Mikey watched his father chew the food he made and waited with baited breath to see if he liked it or not. After what seemed like forever his father’s swallowed what was on his mouth and a giant smile broke over his face and took another bit bite. “You have outdone yourself Michelangelo. It is very good.”

After the approval of their father the rest of family eagerly dug in filling their bellies with Mikey’s new talent.

Raphael leaned back rubbing his now fully belly and gave his little brother a thumbs up. He could get used to the home cooked meals; he was beginning to get tired of pizza nearly every night. His eyes wandered over to his eldest brother, their leader. He seemed a little distracted as he played with his fork from across the table.

He was still angry with him but after time passed he begin to understand why he did what he did. Aurora deserved to be happy and if it was without them then he was ok with it. But damn did he miss her. “Penny for your thoughts fearless?” he finally asked tossing his napkin at the distracted turtle.

Raph smiled when his older brother caught the flying projectile without even looking up, his senses had definitely gotten better over the past year. Leo had been training pretty much nonstop most likely to keep his mind off of the forbidden subject in the lair. Aurora’s name had barely been mentioned since last Christmas. Leo took care of that bonsai tree like it was his child, tending to it every day without fail. He would admit he had spent a few times sitting on Leo’s bed staring at the tree imagining Aurora near death laying beside the small fragile sapling fighting with her body to stay awake, to stay alive. He would give the tree a mist of water before running his fingers over the green foliage before returning to his day. He knew Mikey and Donnie did the same, he had caught them both staring at the tree several times as well.

Finally Leo looked up from his fork and locked eyes with his hothead brother.

“Just thinking about the Battle Nexus Championship, trying to mentally prepare for it I guess. Looking forward to seeing Usagi as well, it’s been a year since we’ve seen him.”

“What about little bunny foo foo?” Mikey playfully cooed running his fingers up his older brothers arm. “I’m sure she’s gonna be happy to see you bro!” His eye ridges waged suggestively.

“Yeah she’s gonna be happy to find out your single.” Donnie chimed in taking another bite of casserole directly from the dish still sitting on the table.

Leo grunted in frustration at the nickname Aurora gave Asuna and shook his head letting his fork drop with a clang onto his plate. “Not interested, she’s the one who put doubt in my mind when we were there last.”

“What?” Raph suddenly got irritated eyeing his brother. “What did that fucking rabbit say about Aurora?”

“She asked me how long it would take for Aurora to realize that I couldn’t give her a normal life. I can’t marry her, can’t give her children. I can only offer seclusion and a sewer.”

“That bitch.” Both Raphael and Mikey growled.

“What makes you think you can’t give her a child?” Donnie cut in questioningly.

“Um..I’m a mutant turtle and she’s human.”  

Donnie leaned back in his chair and hummed his disappointment in his brother, “In theory there is no reason we can’t have children with humans. You forget we ourselves are half human with human DNA. I’ve analyzed my semen and found it nearly identical to humans. There’s no guarantee but it’s not impossible.”

“Donnie my boy, I don’t wanna know how you got your hands on human sperm to compare to your own.” Mikey laughed gathering up the remains of dinner before shuffling it off to the sink to soak the dishes.

“Sperm banks Mikey.”

“Ewwww!” the orange banded turtle grunted in disgust from the sink.  

Donnie shook his head pushing himself away from the table and began helping Mikey with putting away dinner. Gently nudging his younger brothers from the sink he took over the duty of washing the dishes.

Leo ignored his brothers, his thoughts lost to the pleasant thought of Aurora’s belly swollen with child…. their child. Lying in his arms her back resting against his plastron as his hands rubbed lightly across the taught flesh of her extended belly feeling their unborn child shift beneath his fingers. A genuine smile tugged at his lips as his fingers splayed across the table rubbing the formica top.

“Leo?” a deep voice broke him from his thoughts.

“Hmm?” Leo looked up to see Raph eyeing him cautiously.

“After we digest all this shrimp you wanna train?”

“Sure Raph.”

~~~~~~~~~

The four brothers sat in the poorly lit alleyway and watched their father draw the mystic symbols across the old bricks of the vacant building with white chalk. Each swipe of the chalk was smooth and calculated as his furry fingers drew the symbols from memory. Finally finished Master Splinter handed the chalk to Donnie who quickly placed it into his duffle bag. Taking a deep breath the old rat pressed his palms together in a praying pose and began to recite the incantation.

Slowly the water that lay in the alleyway rushed towards the symbols rolling up over the chalk outline merging and swirling into what looked like a water door. After a few moments the water congealed into a watery doorway and began to glow with a light blue hue. Splinter wasted no time and passed through the liquid passageway followed shortly by his four sons.

As the white light of the portal faded they found themselves in the bustling city of the Daimyo’s kingdom. The streets were teaming with anthropomorphic animals buying and selling wares seeming unfazed by the sudden appearance of five bodies through a portal.

Hoisting their bags over their shoulders they made their way through the market towards the Daimyo’s palace. They were invited by the Daimyo himself to stay in his home as they attended the battle nexus championship.

As they passed by the carts of goods eyes began to follow them, fingers pointing in their direction followed by excited mumbles. Young females of all species lined up on the street to stare at them eyes bright with enthusiasm.

“What was that about?” Mikey whispered to his older brothers eyeing the eager gazes in the crowd. The young turtle could feel the adrenaline start to race through his veins. This was exciting; it looked like they had been expecting them and thrilled to meet them, his baby blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Reaching the gates the large doors opened allowing the passage into the court yard. The main door slide open revealing the large ruler his arms outstretched in welcome as they approached.

“It is good to see you old friend.” The large man rumbled with laughter as his eyes beamed with happiness.

“My old friend it has been too long and for that I apologize, the past few years have been….busy. And I am sorry it wasn’t me that introduced you to my sons last year. How have you been? How is your son?” Master Splinter grinned up at Daimyo his hips tiling as he bowed out of respect.  

“Nonsense Splinter, there is no need for apologize our meeting a year ago was destiny I am sure of it. Ue-Sama is good, healthy and eager to learn. His skill advances everyday and looks forward to his time as Daimyo. Sometimes I think he’s a little too eager to take over. But that is here nor there. Now I’m sure you’d like to see where you’ll be staying for the tournament? I hope you don’t mind sharing a room, it is big enough to accommodate all five of you and has been set up with five beds but rooms this week are scarce in the palace as you might have guessed.” The Daimyo smiled ushering them into the large door of the large palace.

Leo stepped next to his father and spoke up, “We are grateful for your hospitality Daimyo and will take whatever is available to us. We are used to sleeping in the same room so it is no trouble.”

The Daimyo slowed and looked down on the blue leader while he led them through the great hall. His aged eyes flashed with something but quickly returned to his joyful demeanor before answering him. His large came down resting on the top of his carapace, “Leonardo I look forward to seeing you and your brothers competing in the tournament this afternoon. There have been stories of you four and your skill and bravery from last year’s battle. You four have become rather popular with the ladies.” A deep rumbling laugh escaped the ruler’s throat opening a door to what looked like their quarters for their stay.

“Yes we noticed the stares as we passed through the market. We were wondering what that was about.” Donnie said setting his duffle bag on one the farthest bed from the door.

“Yes don’t be surprised if you become very popular very fast. Now if you will excuse me I need to make final preparations for the tournament this afternoon. Please make yourself at home and don’t hesitate to ask Gyoji if you require anything. Please present yourself to the battle arena for registration at 2pm your time. You all must take part in the qualifying round before you enter the tournament. But I have no doubt each of you will succeed. I’ll see you all on the arena. Good luck turtles.” And with that the Daimyo exited their room disappearing down the hallway.    

Leo sat down on the bed he chose and set his bag down next to him. His eyes moved to his brothers as they settled in. “Does anyone want to join me in the market? I’d like to wander around for a bit before we register. I’m hoping we can run into Usagi, would be nice to see him before we go.”

All three of his brothers were happy to go but Sensei wanted to stay behind to attend to a small matter, but promised to meet them at the arena at the given time of registration.

The street loud with conversation they looked over the wears and food for sale. Every once in a while they were stopped and gushed over, random hands brushing up against their shells and fingers lingering on their arms. Most of the admirers were female but they did get a few males come up to them shaking their hands thanking them for their help last year.  

Mikey and Raph soon broke off from the other two wanting to find something warm to eat and Donnie got distracted by some old artifacts.

“I’m gonna be a bit, go ahead and keep going I’ll meet you back at our room in an hour.” Donnie waved his eldest brother on turning an ancient metal tool over in his fingers.

Further down the street Leo was buying a sharpening stone when his name rang out behind him. Turning around after completing his purchase his eyes narrowed in on a familiar female rabbit.

“Asuna.” Leo forced a smile waving to the cheery rabbit as she jogged towards him her arms outstretched for an apparent hug. Bracing himself he let the rabbit practically knock him on his shell wrapping her arms around his carapace.  

“It’s so good to see you Leonardo. It has been too long! Are you and your brothers here for the tournament?” She smiled sweetly up at him her chin placed on the top of his plastron her eyes sparkling with adoration.  

Returning the hug awkwardly he gently pushed her from his body. “It’s good to see you too Asuna. Yes my brothers and I are here to participate. Hey have you seen Usagi? I was hoping to chat with him before everything starts.”

Her fingers remaining touching his forearms and nodded quickly pulling at his arms. “Yes he’s down by the stables talking to Gen. Here I’ll take you to him. He will be very pleased to see you. He has also expressed his excitement in seeing you today.”

Being led by his arm Leo had no choice but to follow the eager rabbit doing his best at keeping the young female from brushing up against him as they weaved through busy streets. He was finding it very difficult to keep her from touching him, her hips brushing up against his, her grasp pulling a little too hard so his arm would brush across her breasts. She was incorrigible.

After a few silent moments being dragged by his arm she finally slowed giving his arm reprieve. Her white furry fingers began dancing across his pebbled skin of his bicep and he could tell she wanted to ask him something. He didn’t have to wait long.

“So is Aurora here? I figured she’d be by your side.” She asked almost in a whisper her eyes training on his looking for any emotional reaction.

Letting out deep sigh he shook his head. “I have no idea, I broke it off with her a year ago and we haven’t seen her since. And that’s all I’ll say about it so I would appreciate the topic not being brought up again.”

Her head turned no doubt keeping the happy grin to herself at the news he was no longer with Aurora. He really didn’t want to see her nor spend any time with the meddlesome rabbit. She was conniving and calculating her mind scheming, she was nice enough but he didn’t trust her. True it was still his fault his relationship with Aurora ended due to his poor judgment but she had planted the poisonous seed of doubt that grew into a snarling demon in his mind.  The sooner they got to Usagi the sooner he’d been free of little bunny foo foo.

As they rounded the corner Asuna’s body tensed and pushed him back around the corner pressing him carapace back against the brick building. Her eyes darted to him and back to the looming corner they had just been.

“What? What’s going on?” He asked feeling annoyed at the close proximity to the female rabbit.  

A smile spread across her face and she struck with a quickness he couldn’t prepare for. Her furry hands cupped his cheeks and leaned forward her lips slanting over his. Her tongue pressed into his mouth catching him off guard he couldn’t even make his mind move fast enough to push her away. Her warm body pressed firmly to his her breasts compressing against his plastron.

His mind began to process what was going on and his hands rested on her shoulders ready to push the conniving rabbit from his body when he saw why the rabbit was kissing him.

In what seemed like slow motion Aurora in all her glory rounded the corner nearly running smack dab into them. His mind still in a confused fog he was unable to react fast enough as her purple eyes focused quickly in on his.

Not quite registering what she was seeing she smiled awkwardly at the kissing duo but realization struck her like a runaway bull hitting her in the stomach. Her eyes widened in shock then pain watching helplessly as the rabbit’s mouth assaulted his. Leo noticed her body go rigid her hands clenching into fists at her side as her breath hitched in her throat. The sorrow that played over her startled features soon was replaced by anger as her purple eyes flashed for a second with their brilliant light.

It all seemed to happen slowly dragging on before his very eyes as he tried to get his body to respond with his minds commands but in all reality it all happened in a matter of a few seconds. Getting his hands to move Leo finally pushed Asuna from his body their mouths popping as their lips parted.

“Aurora.” Leo gasped for breath wiping their mingling saliva from his mouth with the back of his hand. But time began to run at normal speed again and as quick as she was there she disappeared back around the corner leaving his eyesight.

“Asuna, what the shell were you thinking?” Leo growled trying to go after the retreating Aurora but was slammed back against the wall by Asuna who pressed back into him her eye hooded with excitement no doubt pleased with her display.

“Let her go Leonardo. She’s human, your animal, you should be with an animal, you should be with me. I’ll treat you right, I’ll love you, I’ll obey you.” She cooed trying to run her fingers down his cheek but was abruptly stopped by Leonardo crushing grip. A yelp of pain pushed past her lips as her smile faded from her face.

“I can’t believe you did this, your advances are unwarranted. I told you before I was not interested in you Asuna but you still pulled this inappropriate display to blatantly hurt Aurora. Please leave me and my family alone.” Not giving her a chance to object Leo pushed Asuna with force nearly sending her into a cart behind her.

He wiped around the corner fully intent to find Aurora as she retreated but found her gone. As fast his legs would carry him he darted down the street searching the busy crowd for her. How difficult would it to be to find a human in a street filled with animals. Very, apparently, he had no luck locating her doubling back twice to make sure he didn’t miss her.

True to her nature she had vanished into the shadows like the skilled kunoichi she was. At least he knew she was there, no doubt getting ready to take part in the battle nexus championship.