A/N- Okay guys, so this is a sequel to 'A New Feature'. It's a short piece that was fun to write and while it doesn't seem to serve any real purpose, I think it allows insight into how Venus and the guys all interact with each other. The chapters are quite short and there will probably only be about five altogether but please try and give it a read and remember to review. Enjoy xxx :)

Chapter 1

"Are you sure about this, Leonardo?"

"Yes Sensei. I believe she is ready to train on the surface. She needs to learn to utilize unfamiliar surroundings if she is going to truly become part of this team."

"You are right, my son, and I trust your judgement. But tread carefully. She is now as much of a target as you four. And she is still learning to control her magic thoroughly."

"Don't worry Sensei; we'll keep an eye on her."

Leonardo bowed and took his leave. Master Splinter looked on fondly as his sons grinned at their brother's news. They high-three'd, grabbing a slightly stunned Venus by the arm and dragging her into the elevator. He was thankful that she was smiling.

Venus had been with them for around two months now and had joined in with their training sessions avidly. She was patient when trying to master new skills, not letting frustration get the better of her. Although Master Splinter oversaw the majority of her training, his sons were eager to also try and teach her. She spent a week with Splinter alone, honing her original skills and the ones taught to her by the Shredder into the fluid form of ninjitsu they practiced. He focused on the basics, building her strength and teaching her the differences between offensive and defensive, along with the fundamental practices of Bushido. Then she began to join in with the boy's training sessions, each of them giving her a crash course in their best skill. They were eager for her to learn how to wield their weapons, but she just couldn't work out how to use Michelangelo's nunchucks or Raphael's sais. She explained that the Shredder hadn't been able to teach her to use them either due to her lacking coordination.

"What about the Bo staff?" Master Splinter had asked.

"He wouldn't let me try it. He said it was too lowly a weapon for one of his ninjas to use."

"Well you aren't one of his ninjas now," Donatello had suddenly stated, his pride obviously a little hurt. As he gave Venus his staff, she avoided correcting him: she had never been one of his ninjas.

She took to the staff well, using both hands to wield a lot of power in her strikes while controlling it in a lucid manner. Donatello showed her some 'moves' and how to be aware of not hitting people, enjoying the teaching experience. He was happy that she was good with his chosen weapon, giving him one up on his brothers; Raph didn't seemed too fazed about the whole thing, but Mikey seemed a little hurt and jealous that he couldn't teach Venus. Splinter took him aside.

"Each of us are born with different natural skills. You have mastered the nunchuks both because you have been training with them since you were an infant, but also because you have a natural aptitude for their flare. Know this my son: Venus us unable to use your weapon not because you are an inadequate teacher, but because she doesn't hold the particular required for wielding them, unlike you. And as we get older, it gets harder for is to learn new things. Do you understand?"

Mikey nodded, returning to the dojo to witness more of Venus' training. Leonardo was next; he knew she was perfectly competent with one sword, but he wanted her to be good with two. It was soon plain, however, that she just didn't have the strength to wield the pair. Her left hand was considerably weaker than her right, her training with a single weapon stopping her from developing the balance Leo relied on. He kept trying to push her but Master Splinter stepped in before his determination became bullying.

"My son, would it not be better that Venus learn to master one blade that to be merely competent with two? I am sure you can develop her skills even more so."

Leonardo had relented, jumping at the chance to be Venus' sword-trainer. Venus agreed to the guys also training her, and Master Splinter was impressed with her demeanour and patience with his over-eager sons. He knew why they were acting this way, and he suspected that Venus did too: They were trying to show off:

Two weeks after her arrival, Venus had fallen ill with a nasty cold. Although she assured them it was due to the sudden increase of pollution in her breathing system, Donatello had insisted on taking a blood sample to check for any viruses. The tests had come back all clear thankfully but did hold an interesting piece of information.

"Venus isn't our sister." Donatello had announced one breakfast.

"What?" Raphael replied.

"She's not related to us. Her genetics aren't the same."

"They aren't?" Venus had asked, frowning slightly.

"Nope."

"Then why were we all in the same jar together?" Michelangelo questioned. Master Splinter had seen his genius son blush a little before responding.

"I don't know. Maybe there were only five left and the shop owner wanted to get rid of us ?"

"What, like a 'buy four get one free' kinda thing?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Raphael snorted while Michelangelo shrugged the news off. It didn't seem to particularly bother any of them, actually, which Master Splinter was quite glad about. He imagined the situation could have been made a little awkward for Venus, but apart from the little showing off from his sons (which he suspected was due to her being a new team member rather than her gender), nothing had really come up.

The group were getting on well, and their newest member was settling in surprisingly well considering she had been raised in rural China, isolated from the rest of the world by tall mountains. New York City was completely different, although Master Splinter hadn't let Venus topside much; only when they went to visit April much to the boys' complaints. But their sensei was acutely aware that Venus didn't have complete control over her powers, still being young and only just mastering fire. If she flared up, she would be as much of a danger to herself as to his sons. She had trained magically in the lair, but when she was overtaken by her own strength, only Master Splinter was able to reach her, although the guys tried.

He couldn't fault her dedication though; she used every training session to improve herself, pushing herself to her limits. But her new sensei couldn't help notice the angered frown that pinched her face when struggling with a task, or the tension and frustration that occurred during her strengthening exercises. Venus was hurting badly, and used her training as a distraction against the pain of losing her father. Another reason why Splinter had refrained from letting her go up to the surface. She needed to come to terms with her loss and accept it with compassion, letting fond memories flood her thoughts, not vicious retribution. Only Leonardo's insistence that she was ready had let him relent, and the knowledge that his son knew the danger she was in. And now that the Shredder knew of her abilities, she would continue to be targeted.

Splinter feared for his new student's safety, but knew he had to trust his sons to assist her.