TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – War of the Beast Courts
Obligatory disclaimer: I do not own the Ninja Turtles. My name is neither Eastman nor Laird. If I did own the turtles...I'd be rich, and wouldn't be writing FAN fiction... please read and review.
PRELUDE: PART 1
"There are times in your life when you draw upon everything you have. Times when you reach down into the deepest part of yourself. When you know you've got to give it your all, because anything less won't get the job done. It's in times like these, when you find out who you REALLY are...that is...if you live long enough."
---Leonardo
The ninja's of the Foot clan surrounded their weakened victim, intent upon their kill. He was injured, unarmed, on the ground, and tired….but he was not helpless.
He was Leonardo.
He had lost his katana some time back, but he continued to fight. His strength was ebbing, but he continued to fight. It would soon be over for him...but for now, he continued to fight.
Something warm was tricking down his face, over his blue mask, and into his swollen eyes and he struggled to see clearly and stand back up as his enemies drew the circle nearer, weapons shining in the moonlight, eyes gleaming for the kill. "Come and get me!" he sneered softly. He would fight to end however bitter.
The Foot ninja started forward but suddenly stopped as Leonardo felt a pair of warm hands pull on his arm. A warm body that came with the fluttering of blue-black hair and the scent of honeysuckle stepped in front of him and brandished a glowing war-fan. He heard her voice. "Come no closer!"
The Foot seemed hesitant as the woman drug the turtle to his feet. She ducked under his arm for support before she leaped backwards off the roof with him to land heavily on the fire escape below. Too heavily, and Leonardo collapsed onto the girl who was no longer able to support his weight.
His brown eyes met large icy blue ones but he had little time to reflect as she hauled him back to his feet and drug him down the fire escape. He could hear the Foot following. Instead of continuing down the escape, she ducked with him into a window and ran down the hall inside the building as fast as was possible.
The Foot did not follow.
A short time later Leonardo found himself on a different rooftop alone with his mysterious savior who was busy wrapping his wounds. He felt slightly better and he sat up. Bad idea. He fell back almost immediately. She spun her head around towards him sharply and managed to catch his head in the crook of her arm before he could bump it on the concrete. "You are still very hurt kame-san; there is not much I can do." Her voice carried with it a slight, but noticeable, Japanese accent, "They are still looking for us. Is there someplace safe you can go?" She winced suddenly, holding her head in pain but pushed it aside.
Leonardo struggled to remain conscious through the pain gripping his body and gazed intently at her face. He tried to guess her motives, unaccustomed to human trust. He watched as she ripped up the bottom of her blouse. It looked expensive. Dark red, the color of blood, mandarin collar, gold piping...and a deeper red silk dragon embroidered along one side of the front. It was not the traditional ninja wear, but it was obvious she possessed some type of martial arts skill. The girl was young, 16 maybe 17, and was mixed oriental, Japanese American perhaps. Her deep blue hair was black in the shadows and fell around her soft oval face...which was close to his. Her breath smelled sweet, like peppermint. He coughed. "Second Time ...Around." he managed to rasp. "Shredder..." he coughed.
She put a finger to his bruised and bloodied lips gently, shushing him. "...is not here now. But we have got to get you moving." She glanced around nervously, they were getting closer, the headaches were returning, and their human scents had gotten a good deal stronger.
Leonardo struggled to help her and stand on his own. His body was covered with bruises, deep ones, and now that the adrenaline surge was wearing away he was getting weaker. "My...brothers. Master...Splinter..." he rasped.
The girl nodded at the turtle, hoping his jumbled words meant he had help, family, nearby. She peeked out of the alcove they had taken shelter in and ran off in the direction of the address. It was not wholly unfamiliar to her as she had seen that store before, many times on her nightly runs, though never from the rooftops and never very close. But she remembered and headed that way with Leonardo limping and on the brink of unconsciousness beside her. She could only hope her charge would remain alive long enough for help.
Brothers, he said. Master Splinter, he said. She looked over at the green turtle she held. He weighed a ton but still she struggled on. Something about him...she had never before risked so much for someone, much less a turtle, she didn't know. This wasn't like her. Surely she felt nothing for such a base creature as this, a mutant. He was supposed to be her enemy; she was supposed to hate him. She didn't and it annoyed her that she didn't understand why. A brief feeling of shame washed over her at her lack of personal control and understanding.
Before she knew it she found herself on the rooftop across from the store. She paused to catch her breath and suddenly a rough hand spun her around and her grip on the turtle failed. Foot soldiers. Beside her Leonardo groaned and looked up. His eyes went wide. "Shredder!"
A few minutes later...Leonardo's body crashed in the windows of April's apartment...into the arms of his brothers.