A/N: hey guys! Birdie (Donata) here! just letting u all know that this is the prologue to this story - sorry for any confusion caused *gives cookie to "a better name" for the heads up* thanks mate ^^

also, u might wanna head over to my profile if u want to know what the heck is going on with this and my other story, Dark Angel

(ps. suggestions in regards to Dark Angel will be gladly appreciated *puppy-dog

eyes*
~Birdie

She looked at Leo, horrified at what she had almost done. "Charlie?" Leo asked as she collapsed in a heap in front of him. The forest was quiet, as if still in shock at what had unfolded only moments before in its tranquillity. "Charlie," Leo said again as she started crying. "What's happened? Why are you doing this? What have I done?"

"It isn't you," Charlie replied through tears, "to answer your question: me. I was fighting myself, sensei." Leo was shocked; this isn't like Charlie at all. He started to have a sinking feeling he knew where this was heading.

"Go on."

"My foe, fear, inner turmoil and love. I was fighting all of these." Charlie looked up, tears glittering in her butterscotch eyes. "All these things make up me. I imagined you were me when we were duelling, master. I felt a blind rage build up inside of me, and I did the one thing you practically drilled into me not to do: I gave into it." She looked down, shaking, "I had let my anger consume me," Charlie looked up and looked deep into Leo's eyes. "I'm sorry for injuring you, master."

Leo looked at this young woman whom he secretly loved and who painfully reminded him of his family back in New York, especially Raph. Stop it, Leo thought and shook himself inwardly. Leo closed his eyes and when he opened them, he saw Charlie kneeling before him, trying to compose herself; not his younger brother staring back at him on the rooftop that night. Stop it! Leo thought again and forced himself back into the present. "The wounds will heal. I have sustained worse blows from Raphael."

Charlie looked at him in disbelief, "but I almost decapitated you! I sliced the top of your shell off and I gave you deep cuts all over your body!"

She started to cry, but Leo knelt and held her hand, stopping her. He didn't like it when she started beating herself up like this; sometimes he wished she would just grow up. And this was one of those times. "My wounds will heal Charlotte. As for my shell… don't worry about it. Physical injuries are unimportant. What is important, however, is one's wellbeing. Now, what's the matter?" Charlie looked at him for a moment, then stared at the ground, silent.

After what seemed like eternity, when Leo thought she was going to keep quiet, Charlie said, "Alex. I hate myself Leo. I left Leon with Alex. He said 'If you don't leave this second, I'll kill Leon with my bare hands. Then you will share the same fate!'" Charlie looked at her sensei, "Alex was gonna kill him, Leo! I was so angry I left my son with him that I lost control. I'm sorry, master."

"Charlie, it takes someone with courage to realise their mistake; but it takes someone who tempers this courage with humility to actually come out and speak of their mistakes to their sensei." Leo simply said. He allowed himself a small smile at remembering how many times his own master spoke those same words as he calmly studied her reaction: faces of anger, hopelessness, guilt, then finally resolve.

"Master, what should I do?"

"You still have much to learn, child. In time, you will answer your own question. But first, let's get to the temple and reflect upon our actions."