Ptwista: It has been a WHILE. And SO MANY things have changed. One of them being my new found love for TMNT 2003. This is my first time venturing into this territory of fanficdom and I hope I do the series some justice. My progress on this story will depend on feedback; if I don't know if it's crap or good I won't continue so please read and review, PLEASE?

Chapter 1

Mirrors; they were everywhere. They lined the walls and made the pillars of the room gleam. The room was shrouded in darkness but given a shade of deep blue to ease visibility. On a raised platform stood one mirror grander than the others. It's frame emblazed with her planet's emblem and a message.

"In Somnis"

A young girl was in front of the mirror. She hugs her knees and gazed in wonder at the fabulous images before her: Performing in front of a million fans, the admiring faces gleaming with pride, the breathtaking views of the world's landscape, a home cooked meal with her mother and father, her sister and she pillow fighting and laughing, her whole family sitting beneath their favorite tree having a picnic, having her first kiss in the moonlight beneath the shady maple tree.

While she stared in wonder and longing, a young woman had her back to her and the mirror. She faced a far off window and stood still as stone, her eyes closed and unflinching as the little girl's laughter and sighs of desire echoed throughout the room.

The New York night was growing old. The sky was still a darkened violet and not as much of a victim to light poisoning. People and cars were in fewer numbers on the streets, and the city was as close to quiet as it ever would be.

CRASH! CLANG! went a nearby pair of garbage cans. An innocent bystander had taken a wrong turn, and found himself at a gangster's mercy.

The man, still weak from the attack, drew himself farther back into an alley as the gangster rounded on him. The gangster withdrew a strange weapon from his blazer pocket. It sparked and crackled menacingly. The man whimpered and felt his consciousness slipping. The weapon made contact with his chest and his screaming echoed between the buildings' brick walls.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Suddenly, his screams were replaced by several thuds and grunts of pain. A shadowy figure had leapt from the roof and used a blunt staff to fend off the gangster. The man managed to get to a wall for support and pulled himself up as he watched his attacker and savoir battle. Soon, the gangster fled the scene as police sirens wailed in the distance. The man's savoir leaned him against the outer wall to await the police, and then fled as well.

"We got another one," said one officer.

"Jeez," said the other. A paramedic examined the man's chest wound. "This guy's the fourth case today. What kind of sicko does this to people?"

"I don't know," the officer helped the man onto the stretcher. "But we better find out soon." As he was wheeled into the Ambulance truck, the man caught a faint glimpse of a person on the rooftop. His savior, after making sure he was on his way to being treated, then completely vanished as the man finally lost consciousness.

"Careful with that one, Casey," said April, worriedly. "All my best China's in there."

"Hey, no problem, babe," Casey said with a strained voice and he plopped the box of China on the floor.

Leo and Raph came in behind Casey with another box labeled "Knickknacks".

"Where d'ya want this one?" Raph asked.

"In the den," April pointed.

Mikey entered the new apartment carrying an area rug. He gave an appreciative whistle.

"Sweet pad, you guys."

"It will be," said April, "after we spruce it up a bit."

Donnie brought in and soon became busy hooking up the TV.

"How'd you find this place anyway?" asked Raph exiting the future den.

"It was my parent's old place," April explained. "They decided to take their skills as doctors to Africa, and needed someone to take this place off their hands."

"I never knew your parents were doctors, April," said Donnie.

"Where do you think I got my interest in science?"

A knock echoed through the room and gave the turtles their cue to hide. April and Casey approached the door slowly and found their visitor was a young woman. She had medium brown skin, brown eyes and tight curled black hair tied back into a ponytail.

"Hey," she chimed, "You must be the new neighbors."

"Uh, yes," said April. "Hi," she reached out to shake the girl's hand, "I'm April Jones and this is my husband," she gestured to Casey, "Casey Jones."

"Nice meeting you, April, Casey," said the girl. "I'm Rebecca; my sister Beth and I just moved here too." She peered into the room, slightly. "You guys need any help movin' in?"

"NO!" April and Casey said in unison.

Rebecca was taken aback.

"Uh…that is," April stuttered, "We don't have that much stuff. We'll be fine on our own. Thanks."

"Oh…" said Rebecca. "Ok, then… If you guys need anything, me and my sis are right above you." She pointed up.

Rebecca then turned around to leave but stopped when a strong smell slammed into her nostrils.

"Ugh!" she cringed. "Geez, what died down here? Smells like low tide!" She fanned the air to no avail. "Or…sewage."

"If Raph's smell is that impressive, wait 'til she sees him and faints," Mikey whispered from his hiding place. Raph was not amused, and gave Mikey a prompt smack upside the head.

"OW!" he cried. Then covered his mouthed hurriedly after realizing what he did.

Rebecca turned back to peer more into the room. "What was that?"

"Uh…"

"Rats!" Casey spat out.

Rebecca hesitated. "Rats?" she asked.

April and Casey nodded.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Rats that…say 'ow'?" She folded her arms.

"Um, you know what?" April said. "Maybe you CAN help!" She pushed Casey out into the hallway with Rebecca. "I have some old clothes in one of the moving boxes that I need somebody to take off my hands. Casey will show you where it is, OK?"

"Uh, OK," said Rebecca, "But—"

April slammed the door behind them both and sighed with relief.

"Talk about your nosy neighbors," Mikey said popping back into full view with his brothers.

"I don't know whether to like her or hate her," Raph said.

"Why?" said Don continuing on the TV.

"Well, on the one hand, she WAS stickin' her nose where it don't belong. On the other hand, she a'int stupid."

Rebecca grunted as Casey handed her the box.

"Got it?" he asked.

"Yep," she replied with a slight amount of strain in her voice. "Hey, um, Casey, right?"

"Yeah."

"You and your wife are hidin' something, aren't ya?"

Casey froze. Rebecca stared back at him.

"Maybe we are, maybe we're not," he replied.

"Right…" Rebecca said. "You know…I'm pretty good at keepin' secrets."

"Nothin' too interestin' to tell, toots."

Rebecca sneered at him.

"Ok, ok. Sorry if I was bein' a nosy neighbor. I guess it's just that…," they approached the elevator. "…I'm so used to seeing out-of-the-ordinary stuff. And with you two showin' a lot of the obvious signs of having a dirty little secret, it isn't TOO hard to get a LITTLE suspicious."

"You're not like other girls, are you?" Casey asked, suddenly getting suspicious himself.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," she said with a cheeky smile.

The elevator reached Rebecca's floor. "Well, this is me," she said. "I'll see you and the Missus around, ok?"

"Later, Rebecca," Casey waved as the elevator doors closed.

Ptwista: Ok, first chapter done. Seriously, don't be too brutal. It's my first time walking into this section of and some reviews and constructive criticism is encouraged. Flaming is not. :P