Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Strike of the Dragon

Part 2

Prologue:

Time had never been her friend. She was never the strongest in her class or the quickest, but she had worked her butt off to get here. She just wished she had had more time. More time to train, more time to study, more time to grow.

Then, when it was time for her trial, she would be positive that she would pass it, that she would survive it, and then be even stronger afterwards when it was over.

But now, standing on the edge of the cliff looking out over the snowcapped mountains, waiting for the Dragons to call her in, she wasn't sure she'd make it.

She only wished she had more time.

"Ryu?"

She jumped at the voice speaking her adopted name, spinning on the snowy rocks, feeling awkward on the unstable surface. These mountains had never liked her. They were too hard, too cold, too unfeeling. Earth wasn't her friend, it was her enemy. Why couldn't the Sanctuary be located in a city like Tokyo or New York? Somewhere she was familiar with?

The woman standing in the door way had long white-blonde hair braided over one shoulder to her waist, a single flash of darker brown streaking through her bangs. Her cold eyes were pale blue like ice, but Ryu had come to know these stony eyes as her only family—her guardians.

The Dragon held out her hand to Ryu and the smaller girl took an unsteady breath. "It's alright, child," the Dragon assured her with a small smile, "You will survive. You are strong."

Ryu took her hand and together they walked through the doors. Her palms were sweating and Ryu knew the woman could tell.

The Dragon spoke comfortingly to her as they continue down the cave lit by a string of strange blue globes, "Twelve years old is a very trying time in any child's life, but you must keep your mind focused on your task. Do you understand, Ryu?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am," she stuttered.

They exited out into a bigger cavern, a long table set up with a white, silk tablecloth thrown over it. Five other Dragons were here too, scurrying around gracefully but in no hurry. She was helped up onto the table that was too tall for her to climb up on and instructed to lie down. Her heart started hammering in her chest, sweat building on her brow, her stomach twisted into knots; she suddenly just wanted more time.

"Relax, little Ryu," came a familiar voice. The man stopped beside her with a smile. A smile she knew. This was the man who had rescued her, brought her to the Sanctuary to train. He's the one who had held her why she had cried in front of the blazes that consumed her family.

She suddenly wasn't scared anymore. Ryu smiled back.

"I won't be able to call you little Ryu after this, will I?" he smiled.

Ryu shakes her head, "Nope. If I survive."

"You will," his smile vanished, "You are strong."

He held out a small vial to her and she sat up to swallow the gulp of shimmering blue liquid. It burned like cold fire down her throat as she sat back to wait. At first nothing had happened, then again she didn't know what to expect, but then there was nothing but pain. Pain like nothing she had ever felt before in her life.

All she had wanted was more time.

There was no way she was going to survive this—not pain like this. It was impossible! It ate at her, inside and out. Swallowing her alive in its frozen fire.

Then there was something that came to her, soft at first but then quickly wrapping her up in a snug embrace.

A song, a voice from deep below her, far beneath the frozen earth. Soft, warm, gentle.

A friend…