Resting peacefully in the dark depths of space is a small vibrant world called Tortuguan. This planet resembles Earth in many ways, but the technology is far more advanced and the environment in better health. Also, the inhabitants of this planet are mixes of many alien races who have immigrated to this paradise over the centuries. The native people are, however, still in control of the planet. They have the form of turtle-like humanoids.
Within the capital of the planet, Drearis, is the Planetary Highness's palace. It is in the center of the great citadel, and it towers over every building. Although it lies in the city's center, it, and its grounds are closed off from the commoners by great iron gates. Within the palace itself lives the Planetary King, Queen, and the four Princes.
The eldest, Leonardo, was sitting in one of the high towers while his holographic teacher lectured him on his daily lessons. Since Leonardo was the oldest, he was next in line for the throne, and therefore needed more advanced lessons than his brothers. Today, Leo's teacher was testing his knowledge of the geography of Tortuguan, the planet he was destined to rule.
Leo sighed as he finished his test in record time, and submitted it into his teacher's computer memory for processing. After it showed him his perfect score, the program shut down for the day. Quickly, and silently, Leo slipped out the door and stole into the spacious hallways. He was a ninja, after all.
The Tortuguanians were, and always have been, ninjas. Now, with the mingling of aliens among the natives, martial arts were reserved for the royal family and the royal guard. Leonardo found that while his brothers excelled in other areas: Michelangelo in speed, Raphael in power, and Donatello in academics, Leonardo transcended them all in ninjutsu.
Planetary Prince Leonardo Hamato was a tall turtle with light green skin and an especially muscled body. He was currently wearing a tight black skin suit with a golden symbol on his left shoulder. The symbol consisted of two triangles, one upside down and the other right side up, whose tips intersected and overlapped. A bright blue mask wrapped around his face and tied into a graceful knot. The blue cloth was decorated with swirling golden patterns. Around his green on his right arm was welded gold that wrapped in a swirling motion around his muscled arm all the way up to his shoulder. It wrapped around his hand, only leaving openings for his three thick fingers. On the back of his hand the twin triangle symbol was welded on top of the swirling golden sleeve. Within the triangles by sapphires to symbolize his blue mask color. When Leo had been name Crown Planetary Prince and heir to the throne, he had been fitted for the technologically altered metal. Since it was given to him at the age of seven, the metal was altered so that it grew and adjusted to his growing muscles and size.
Strapped onto his back in an x-shape were two katanas. Their hilts were wrapped in blue cloth identical to the one wrapped around his head over his eyes. The blades were sharpened and polished to perfection. Their sheathes were black with the gold designs wrapping from top to bottom.
As quickly as he could, Leo dropped his holo-texts off in his room, and raced out to the gigantic, lush grounds of the castle. They were Leo's favorite place to hide when the pressure began to mount up too high. As Leo rounded a corner around a thick grouping of trees, three pairs of eyes watched his every move. Baby blue eyes blinked and sparkled with childish excitement. Calculating hazel eyes darted from Leo to the path in front of him, trying to find his route. Finally, hard chocolate eyes flitted up and down Leo's figure, almost as if they were sizing him up.
Leo ambled along the dirt path in the direction of a thick grove of exotic trees. He smiled when he felt the eyes examining him from the sides of the path. Inwardly he counted down from three, and as soon as he reached one he stopped and allowed himself to be tackled down to the ground by a large green blur. He fell onto his shell with a clunk. A turtle in an orange bandanna was perched on his plastron, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hi Leo!" The turtle said happily.
"Hello Michelangelo." Leo replied a little breathlessly. The turtle above him had on an orange mask with white whirling designs akin to the ones on Leo's mask. Instead of gold weaved on his arm, white gold was weaved between his two toes and up to his knee. In the center of his shin was a white version of Leo's symbol and inside the triangles sat orange gems. Covering his sea green was the same black skin suit as Leo. His baby blue eyes sparkled as they gazed into Leo's golden orbs. They depicted his energy and childish nature, but his slightly smaller, leaner muscles contradicted them as a warrior's body.
Michelangelo was the Planetary King's youngest son, which was illustrated by his white, metallic adornment on his shin. He took the mandatory lessons required for royalty, but his energy made it hard for him to stay still and concentrate. Although Leo had a hard time to spend with his brothers he knew everything about them. He loved his baby brothers with all his heart.
Next to come into his line of vision was the third oldest turtle prince, Donatello. He was also wearing a black skin suit identical to his brothers' and a purple mask laced with bronze designs. In bronze metal, wrapped around his waist in an almost belt-like fashion was his design, complete with the triangles. In the center of the triangles were purple gems akin to amethysts. His skin had an olive tint. He frowned down at Leo.
"You knew we were coming didn't you?" Donny asked with a small frown.
"Hai Donatello, I heard you coming, not to mention you guys jump me every time I come out of my lessons." Leo smiled as Mikey got off of him and Leo got up.
"Yeah, Yeah our Fearless Leader knows all!" A roughly accented voice said gruffly.
"Hello Raphael." Leonardo said wearily as the second oldest terrapin pushed forward. He was almost as tall as Leo with more muscle and dark, forest green skin. A red bandanna with silver swirling designs decorated his head. A round his chest plates of his plastron was a silver swirled chest plate In the center were two silver triangles, both containing red rubies. He also wore a black skin suit like his brothers. His face was twisted into an angry frown, and his brown eyes glinted dangerously. Raphael was always grumpy.
"Whatevah…" Raph grumbled.
"Hey Leo, why are you calling us by our full names?" Mikey asked.
Leo shook his head as if to clear it, "Sorry Mikey I didn't realize that I was doing it."
"It's okay Ani*!" Mikey replied energetically.
"Hey Leo! Did you save your lesson for me?" Donny asked eagerly, his hazel eyes aglow with excitement and intrigue.
Leo reached into the small pouch attached to the black belt around his waist and whipped out a glowing blue computer chip, "When do I ever let you down Don?" he asked as he smiled at his younger brother. Donny's face lit up and he took the chip from Leo.
"Wow Ani* I can't wait!" he crowed happily, placing the chip in his own belt. Raph snorted indignantly and Leo glared at him.
"Prince Leonardo! Prince Leonardo!" a high reedy voice called and the brothers groaned in annoyance.
A small red alien with dark purple dots all over his body raced towards them, clutching holomaps and other holographic documents.
"Yes Mirtu. What is it?" Leo said warily. Mikey grinned mischievously and slid behind the alien, mimicking his movements.
"Your Highness, I bring wonderful news!" he gushed, a smile nearly breaking his skinny face in half. Behind him Mikey bore a huge, fake grin. He lifted his foot and batted his eyelashes. Donny snorted and Raph grinned slyly.
"What?" Leo barely got out as he strove to keep hold of his control.
"I-" Mirtu's eyes narrowed and he held up a scolding finger, "What are you up to?" Mikey stooped down low and shook his finger comically. Donny laughed silently into Leo's shoulder, while Raph's smirk twitched. Leo's grin widened and Mirtu glanced at him suspiciously.
Mikey, determined to make his Ani* laugh, put his hand on his hip and made kissy faces with his eyes crossed. All three brothers burst out laughing and Leo barely held up a hysterically laughing Donny.
"What?" Mirtu turned purple with fury and rounded on Mikey who looked sheepish and held up his hands in surrender, "You Highness!" Mirtu growled, "Please! I have exciting news for Crown Planetary Prince Leonardo!"
"What… is it Mirtu?" Leo grinned and embraced Mikey breathlessly. His arm was slung around his Ototo's** shoulders casually. Mikey grinned at Leo and leaned into the embrace. While he could never voice it out loud, Leo was Mikey's favorite brother. Even though he was the heir to their world, Leo respected everyone and was very humble. Being embraced in such a manner by his role model gave him a thrill.
"Your father, His Royal Planetary Highness, has found a suitable bride for Crown Planetary Prince Leonardo!" Mirtu's news hit Leonardo like a fist to the face. His smile disappeared and his arm retracted. He couldn't believe it. For months now Leo and Planetary King Splinter had secretly been arguing about Leo's choice in a wife. Leo wanted to marry for love while his father just wanted a new queen for when Leonardo ascended the throne. The law states that he must marry by his twenty-first birthday in order to become king. Leonardo turned twenty-one in one week.
"Excuse me." He growled, and stalked toward the palace, leaving three worried brothers and a flustered advisor in his wake.