This is the first of four stories that I am writing with my OC. Basically, each one will feature a pairing. As they go on, they get shorter and less violent, because the pairings I like more are first.

This particular story features the pairing of Shadow and Leonardo. It is going to be multiple chapters, and it is rated M- violence, swearing.

Also, this is based (at the beginning, at least) off the plot of the 2003 series of TMNT, mainly seasons 1-3. There is also a plot point from the 2007 movie thrown in.

9 years ago, the world was unaware of the presence of the mutant turtles that lived under the streets of New York and the powerful man that lived in a large tower in the heart of the city. The Turtles were but tots when they stumbled upon something strange in the sewers- a young girl of 9 years. She was the same age as the young mutants, and she was alone.

Her hair, light brown and cropped short, was matted to her face. Her clothes were ragged to the point of being little more than rags, and her body was broken and battered. Though Master Splinter knew the dangers that humans posed, there was something different about this girl. If his instincts were right, she no longer had a home to return to.

Splinter's assumptions were correct, and the young girl joined their family. Her name was Danika. The Turtles scrounged up some clothes for her, and she started training alongside them. Though she was behind, she caught up to them after a few years. She was with them in every step of life, from birthdays to training. When the time came, she chose her weapon along with the others.

Michelangelo, being the wild and active boy that he was, chose to study the nunchuks further. Donatello chose the simple yet sturdy bo staff. Raphael's short and volatile temper lead him to choose the sais. Leonardo, seeking power, finesse and balance, chose the double katanas. Danika had a harder time choosing. After a bit of deliberation, she, too, settled on the double katana. Her and Leonardo trained often together, advancing together, failing together. Thus, their bond grew strong.

As the Turtles grew, their adventures became greater. With time, they encountered the Shredder. Their first fight ended with him being dropped off the side of a building, along with an entire water tower. Leaving him crushed under the debris, the Turtles went on with their lives. However, the Shredder had other plans.

The Elite Foot, on order of the Shredder, ambushed Leo while on a run one night. He was alone, and he was an easy target for them. It was a quick fight. The entire day, Splinter grew worried about his son and regretted allowing him to leave. Danika was just as bad. Just as her anxiety lead her to the window, with the goal of leaving to search for her beloved leader, Leonardo's near-lifeless body was thrown through a window.

The battle that ensued was one that drove the Turtles to their limits. Danika fought hard to protect Leonardo, while the others fought to survive. They barely made it out alive, and the next day was harrowing for them all.

Leonardo almost didn't make it.

The first words he spoke, though, brought the family back to reality. He was tough: a single defeat wouldn't and couldn't tear him away from his family. Danika stayed by him as he recuperated, and for the first time, she noticed that her feelings were changing. She loved her family dearly, and would do anything for them. The way she felt for Leonardo, however, was something that was reserved only for him. Of course, bringing this up would have, in her mind, only caused chaos in her family, so she let things be.

The days turned into weeks, and then months. Finally, over a year had passed, and it had definitely been full of action. The Turtles had fought the Shredder again, thinking that they had finally defeated him. Of course, they had learned after the fact that he was an Utrom and cutting off the head of his mobile suit had done nothing to him.

Now the family stood, once again, united before the Shredder. This time, it was for keeps. It was all or nothing, and they were not going to let the Shredder win.