By Kali Gargoyle
Chapter One: It Begins Anew
***
Outside, it still looked like an old warehouse. Inside, it looked like a palace, and in fact, that's just what it was. Brightly colored tapestries hung from the walls and rugs covered the floor. In one room, two figures stood ready for combat.
"Ready?"
Venus took a deep breath and nodded, burying her nervousness. She'd been studying with Aura for a month now and was gaining confidence, but there was still so much to learn. This was her first official magickal 'spar'.
Aura tensed as she pulled the energy into her for her attack. Without warning she threw a golden blast towards Venus. The Shinobi thrust her arms forward and the blast disintegrated in a flash of pale blue.
"Very good," Aura praised. "Of course, you should have absorbed the attack, to increase your own power."
Venus looked down at her hands, perplexed. Aura had been trying to teach her other magicks, to expand her abilities beyond the Shinobi arts, but Venus was having trouble.
Aura seemed to sense her insecurity and walked over. "It's all right, Venus, that block was good."
"I'm never going to be a true shaman," Venus sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly.
Aura lifted her chin up. "Sure you will, Venus, it just takes a little time."
"More time that I have," Venus moaned. "Look at how much you can do."
Aura bit her lower lip to fight back a chuckle. "I've had a bit more time than you. And experience."
"How much more time?"
Aura smiled mysteriously. "You'd never believe me."
Venus blinked, then began to ask another question. However, Aura interpreted.
"How about we call it a night?" the dragon queen said, showing Venus to the door of the room. "Ho-Long can escort you out."
The Rank soldier who was standing guard outside the door seemed familiar to Venus, but she couldn't place him until he spoke.
"Yes, my Queen?"
Venus gasped. "The Good Dragon! I thought you were sent into the mirror!"
Both dragons chuckled. "I let him out," Aura explained. "Now, I have duties to attend to. I'll see you next week, Venus."
"I look forward to it."
***
Venus looked around before approaching the manhole entrance to the sewers. She had to be careful not to be spotted. The only living being she spotted was a large black bird.
The bird's violet eyes followed the female turtle as she climbed down into the sewers. The cover slid into place silently and the bird took to the air. It circled the area once, seeming to look for something, before touching down on a rooftop behind a tall, thin man.
Dark feathers disappeared into pale skin and it finally took the form of a young girl.
"You were right, Master Hadrian, the Shinobi and the dragon's are both here."
The man nodded in acknowledgment. He gripped his staff tightly as the wind pulled at his dark robes.
Dextra stepped forward. "The dragon Queen is very powerful."
Hadrian turned. "Considering her background, I'm not surprised."
"And she is teaching the young Shinobi."
Hadrian tapped his fingers against his staff. "Then she will be gaining power. We will wait as long as we can."
***
"Welcome to the Sewer Hour. This is your host Michaelangelo. With tonight's co-host, my totally awesome bro, Raphael. Say hi, Raph."
"Hi Raph."
"Ain't he funny? He's joining us tonight 'cause his girlfriend's busy."
"You think I'd spend time with you if I had something better to do?"
"You mean someone, don't ya Raph? I'm tellin' ya folks, this guy is so whipped."
"That ain't necessarily a bad thing Mike."
"…"
"What? Speechless? Finally! I've been trying to get him to shut up since he started talking!"
"Shut up Raph."
***
Splinter watched his son intently. To any other observer it would seem that Leonardo was completely focused on his kata. However, the old master knew better, he knew his son. Leonardo had done this kata hundreds of times, he could do it in his sleep. Splinter had a nagging feeling that that was close to what he was doing.
Splinter gave the order to stop. Leonardo looked at him with a questioning expression. "Did I do something wrong, Master?"
Splinter shook his head. "No, Leonardo, you did it perfectly, as you do every time. It has become repetitive for you, and you are not concentrating."
Leonardo lowered his head. "Forgive me, sensei, I have not felt very motivated lately."
"I understand, but that is no excuse for the lapse."
Leonardo cringed inwardly, not allowing Splinter to see his shame. "Yes, master. I'm going to meditate for awhile."
Splinter nodded. "That is a good idea."
***
"I knew I shouldn't have left the lair tonight."
Donatello raised his hands over his head. He looked down the shaft of the crossbow aimed at his chest. Simon Bonesteel fingered the trigger.
"They let you out again?" Donatello exclaimed.
Bonesteel frowned. "No one can hold me for long. Besides, I got off on a technicality."
Don rolled his eyes. He flipped backwards, kicking the crossbow from Bonesteel's grip.
"Damn turtle!" Bonesteel pulled out a tranquilizer gun and cocked it. "I was going to make it easy for you, but now it's personal. Let's go, Eva."
Donatello stumbled and fell. He felt down his leg and pulled a dart out of his calf. This guy means business.
He got to his feet and kept moving. Luckily, there weren't any people in the area. Gotta get back to the Hummer.
Bonesteel was not making this easy for him. The insane hunter loaded up another dart and shut the gun.
The drug was fast, Donatello realized as the world around him started to blur. He felt weak, and nauseous. He could only take so much and he finally ended up bent over a trashcan.
He tried to shake his head clear, but that only made it worse. He heard footsteps behind him and tried to get to his feet. "Nasty, ain't it?" Bonesteel taunted. "I had to get the heavy duty stuff for the big prey."
"Go to hell," Donatello gasped.
"Been there, done that." He lowered the gun to Donatello's shoulder.
"Say goodnight, turtle boy."