***
MeiPieh...
Venus was startled from her meditation. She heard someone calling her but there was no sign of anyone. The strange thing was that the voice used her real name, not the nickname everyone around here used. She decided to end her meditation early today.
"Did someone call me?" she asked.
Don didn't even look away from his computer to answer. "No, I didn't."
Venus frowned. "I could have sworn that I heard someone calling me."
"Maybe someone's sending you a psychic message," Michaelangelo joked, placing his fingertips on his temples. "Like from beyond the grave." He began making eerie noises and got hit in the face with a throw pillow. Mike threw the pillow back at Raph and a small fight erupted.
MeiPieh...
Venus jumped when someone placed their hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry," Leo apologized. "Are you all right?"
Venus nodded her head while trying to slow her heart. "I think...I just need some air."
"I'll go with you."
Venus agreed and they left. Even though she wanted to be alone, she knew it was dangerous to do so. They had forgotten that for awhile, after the Dragon Lord's defeat, and as a result Don had been captured. A reminder that they still had enemies. Now, none of them left alone, except maybe Raphael.
"Where are we going?" Leonardo asked after they had been walking for close to twenty minutes.
"Chinatown."
"Why?"
Venus stopped and reached up for the ladder. "I don't know."
Leo gave her a doubtful look.
"Someone is calling me," she tried to explain.
Leo watched her go up the ladder. "When was this? I don't hear anything."
"Of course you don't," Venus whispered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Venus stood up and looked around.
"MeiPieh!"
Leo pulled himself up. "That I heard."
Venus stood wide-eyed as a human hurried towards them. "Mother?"
"Mother?" Leo repeated as the woman reached them. She looked Chinese, in her mid-forties. She smiled as she embraced Venus.
"Oh, MeiPieh, I was afraid I would never find you in time."
"Amelia?" Venus couldn't believe it, she hadn't seen Amelia in years, and now here she was.
"Excuse me!" Leo waved his arms to get the attention of the two females. "Would someone please fill me in?"
Venus cleared her throat. "Leonardo, this is Amelia Cheng, a student of my master Chung. She was with him when he found me."
Amelia bowed respectfully. "It is an honor to meet a friend of MeiPieh."
Leo bowed in return. "You seemed panicked earlier. Is something wrong?"
"Yes!" Amelia cried, as if she'd forgotten and just remembered. "MeiPieh, you are in great danger."
Venus smiled sadly. "I am always in danger."
Amelia gave her a sympathetic look before continuing. "I had a vision while meditating. Your father contacted me."
Venus let out a surprised sob. "My f-father? I've tried, but..."
Amelia hugged the young turtle. "Shh, I know." She pushed back. "This is important. There is no time to waste, we must hurry."
Leo wasn't sure if he believed her, but if it was true, they couldn't risk not listening to her. "I think you should explain more."
Amelia let out a frustrated sigh. "There is an evil being after Venus. He already knows where you live, and he'll stop at nothing. We have to prepare."
"What do you mean, he already knows where we live?" Leo asked.
"He's found you," Amelia repeated. "Please, take me to your sensei."
Venus gave Leonardo a pleading look. Leo sighed. "We'll take you. Venus trusts you, and I trust her."
***
"Blast!"
Hadrian shoved aside his work, letting the glass vials and potions smash to the floor.
A moment later Dextra ran into the room. "Master Hadrian, I heard a crash, are you all right?"
"Do I look all right, you vile sprite?" he snapped, gesturing to his withered form.
Dextra shrank back.
"Another mystic has detected me," Hadrian mumbled to himself. He paid no attention to Dextra as she went about cleaning up his mess. "I must get to the Shinobi before they do, but the spell is not ready."
"Why the Shinobi?" Dextra asked. "She's only a beginner after all."
Hadrian turned with speed his body shouldn't have possessed, and slapped her hard across the face. The pain was nothing to her, but the shock was enough to force tears from her.
"Don't question me, shifter! I need her because she has the potential for limitless power. Her master saw this, but he never told her. She has no idea of the power she possesses, and it must be mine. We must prepare."
***
Splinter greeted Amelia like he had been expecting her. Maybe he had, Leonardo thought. Splinter even had tea set out for them.
"Thank you for the tea," Amelia said even before she had sat down. "But there really is no time. MeiPieh's life is in great danger."
Splinter gestured for Amelia to sit. "Tell us what you know."
Amelia took a deep breath. "During one of my meditations, I was visited by Chung I."
Leonardo noticed that Venus tensed at the mention of her father.
"He told me that a sorcerer was attempting to target MeiPieh. Chung I managed to disrupt his attacks on the spiritual level, but now he is going to try a physical attack."
"We'll take anything he throws at us," Raph cheered.
"What does he want with Venus?" Leonardo asked.
"Her power," Amelia answered. Don let out a disbelieving snort. "I know it may not seem like it, but MeiPieh is heir to incredible power."
"No way!" Mike exclaimed. "Our little V, a powerhouse?"
Amelia nodded and looked to Venus. "Your father never told you of your power. He did not feel you were experienced enough. Now, it is time."
Venus swallowed nervously. "Time?"
"To show you your destiny."
***