Chapter 1

Welp. Hi there! This is my very first fanfic on .net and I'm so excited to see where it goes! This really has no desired time frame or version, you lovely readers can decide that for yourselves. I really don't know what I'm doing so feel free to point out any mistakes you see!

Thanks to EmilyGrace18 for beta reading this and getting me to write it. (Y'all should check out her stories…)I changed a few things after she read through this, so any present mistakes are all my doing.

Rated because I'm paranoid…

Disclaimer: I don't own them… If I did I wouldn't be writing this.

A cry broke through the still, New York night, followed by whoops and hollers. Leonardo watched from the shadows as his brothers engrossed themselves in a game of Ninja Tag. His immediate younger brother, Raphael, being the 'it', well, one should expect many screams from the youngest. Michelangelo ran and leaped across the rooftops as he taunted his elder brother. Blue eyes scanned the night in search of his genius brother, worry swelled in Leo's chest but was quickly diminished when Donatello rocketed from a nearby fire escape with a whop of joy.

A smile made its way across his face as he ran after his brothers, bandana tails flying behind him. "You're too slow, Raph!" Mikey taunted his older brother and Leo couldn't help but laugh as Mikey blew a raspberry in Raph's direction.

"Just you wait Mikey! You can't run forever," Raph let out a good-natured growl while steadily gaining ground. The orange-clad turtle shot a grin towards Donnie, who nodded in return. Leo had a sinking suspicion that the game was going to end very soon; a flash of color confirming them.

Leo saw Raph corner the two with the thought that he had won, "Told ya you couldn't run forever," Raph grinned as he took deliberate steps towards the younger turtles. "I win." Mikey and Donnie shared a look, "That's what you think, Raphie-boy." He watched as Mikey's face split into a grin, stretching ear to ear and Donnie's small, gap-toothed grin.

Without warning, Raph lunged only to be greeted with a bright green water balloon to the face. "Yeah boy! In your face, Raph!" The red-banded turtle stood dumbfounded, water dripping from his chin. It didn't take long for Mikey to fall flat on his shell while Donnie failed to stifle his own laughter.

Raph let out a low growl, "Ya think that's funny, don't ya?" The younger turtles froze.

"Now now, Raph… No need to be rash," Don held up his hands in a calming gesture as he and Mikey began taking slow steps back.

"Heh, this is gonna hurt you a lot more than it's gonna hurt me." Raph smirked as he cracked his knuckles, and Mikey let out a very girly-like scream, latching on to his older brother when the angered turtle began to advance. "C'mon Raph! It was just a prank!" Leo shook his head when Mikey used the age-old excuse, but he decided it was time to intervene when Raph began to lunge.

"Alright, Raph, that's enough. I think they learned their lesson." He jumped down from his perch and placed himself between his brothers.

"Ah, c'mon Leo! Let me at 'em," With arms crossed and a frown firmly in place, the eldest turtle just shook his head when Raph begged to smack the younger brothers. "Raphael, it's just a silly prank. You know how those two get when there aren't any, as you say, heads to bust." Leo smirked when his immediate younger brother surrendered with a few growls.

Hearing snickers coming from behind him, Leo turned with his hands on his hips. "So, which one of you is up for a run across the city?" The laughter stopped, all amusement draining from their faces. "You can't be serious, Leo! We just ran like… A lot!" Whined Mikey. "What, can't handle a few more rooftops?" Raph sniggered,

"You realize you're running too, right Raph?"

The turtle in question froze. "What?! Why do I have to? I did nothing!" Leo rolled his eyes at his brother's outburst, glancing over his shoulder.

"And Mike? I suggest you drop that water balloon." Said turtle halts, mid-throw, and his face slumps as he replies.

"You're not allowed to use your freaky brother-mind reading power around us, dude. It's not fair." Mikey frowned, dropping the balloon to the ground with a splash.

"I'm not reading your mind, Mikey. I've just been unfortunate enough to live with you for fifteen years to know when you're thinking something stupid.

He falters, his face molding into a pout, "That's fair… I guess."

"Good," Leo says. "Now let's move!"

It was nearing early morning by the time Leo and his brothers came to a stop, each breathing hard. "Ugh… Did you have to make us run so far?" Leo watched as Mikey dramatically flung himself across the rooftop, nearly tripping Donnie in the process.

Donnie stumbled before regaining his balance and he placed his hands on his knees, breathing hard."Man, Leo, when you said a few more miles…" A pause to catch his breath, "I didn't think you meant… across the entirety of the," A huff, "City…"

"Oh come on guys! It wasn't that bad, was it Raph?" When he didn't get a reply, the turtle in blue turned to find his brother snoring soundly against a water tower. "Well, I guess it was a bit much," Leo sighed and sat down, leaning against the ledge of their current rooftop.

"I don't understand why you insist on these runs, Leo." Donnie, who finally seemed to have a steady breathing rhythm, questioned the blue-banded leader.

Leo turned to stare at his genius brother, "What do you mean by that, Don?" Donnie shook his head. "What I mean is that Splinter pushes us hard enough. Don't you think you should lay off a bit?"

Leo scowled, feeling a twinge of irritation. "Master Splinter says that we have to stay on our toes. The Foot could strike at any moment and we have to be prepared."

He heard a scoff from his awakened hotheaded brother, "Really, Fearless? I ain't buying that. You just want to be able to boss us around like the stuck-up turtle you are,"

Leo threw his hands up in the air, "Time and time again I have told that that isn't the reason, Raph! I'm just trying to fulfill Splinter's wishes!" He paused, taking a deep breath.

"I'm trying to protect you."

"Like shell you are! We can protect ourselves just fine, Leo!"

"Says the one who's always running headfirst into battle? The one who attacks first, asks questions never?" Leo huffed angrily. Now was not the time to be having another argument with his brother. It was almost past curfew and if they didn't get home soon, Splinter would have their shells.

"Look Raph, Splinter wants us to be prepared for anything. It's not my fault he's overbearing and overprotective. He wants to keep us safe."

Before the other could give him a heated reply, the temperature dropped. The four of them stood rigid, argument forgotten as they began to shiver, and Leo frowned when he saw their breaths begin to fog up in clouds. "What the shell…" He vaguely heard Raph let out an angry mutter as he stared up at the sky.

The moon had disappeared, along with the stars, a thick layer of clouds casting overhead. The street lamps surrounding the building they currently occupied had gone out, leaving them in the pitch-blackness of night. Any traces of light had just up and vanished from sight.

"This doesn't make any sense! It's the middle of spring. It shouldn't suddenly get this cold." Leo turned to see his brother examining the sky as he rubbed his arms. "What does that mean, Donnie?" The genius shot him an incredulous look, "It means that there is something seriously wrong with the weather right now. The temperature just doesn't drop like this and clouds don't appear out of nowhere."

Leo shook his head and walked to the edge of the building, looking out across the city. He did a double take. Not a single light shone throughout the street, not even from the apartment windows where at least some humans would be awake; considering the hour. He was truly confused, and was sure his brothers were too.

"Donnie…" The small and quiet voice of the youngest cut through the silence like a knife. "What's going on?" All eyes turned to Mikey, seeing his blue eyes full of fear and confusion made their own panic sky-rocket.

"I don't know, Mike. None of it makes sense. The lights, the weather, shell, even this silence… It's… Unnerving to say the least." Donnie continued to scour the rooftops and skies for any explanation to the strange phenomenon occurring. If one could even call it that.

"Is it magic?" Mikey piped up again, "'Cause I read something like this once… April gave me a book on it, I think." Raph let out a laugh, a tense and forced laugh, but a laugh none the less. "So, what? Evil warlocks are behind this? I find that hard to believe, Mikey."

The orange-clad turtle let out a huff, "That's not what I meant, Raph!" Wrapping his arms around himself, Mikey pointedly turned his head, causing Leo to sigh and crouch down in front of him.

"Mikey, what was in the book that April gave you? What did you read?" His brother glanced down at his hands before meeting Leo's gaze.

"I can't remember it very well," He began, ignoring Raph's mutter of "Some good that does us.". "It said something about Shadow Demons or Itzcoli…uhqui… Yeah. Itzcoliuhqui. They bring with them cold and darkness." His brow furrowed as he concentrated on remembering what the book said. "They show up unexpectedly, the only warning being the sudden… departure of light and a drop in temperature…" As he continued talking, Leo unconsciously reached for his katanas, Raph and Donnie reaching for their weapons as well.

Sensing their brother's unease, Mikey quickly shook his head. "The book said that they don't show themselves unless they have something to tell the receiver. They're leader… Jezebeth, I think it was, will refuse to lend a hand to those who want it but do not need it. Or if she needs to reveal a falsehood raised as a truth, or something like that." Leo watched as Mikey struggled with trying to explain what the book meant. "I… I think that these creatures are very violent and secretive when it comes to their missions," A sharp intake of breath later, "I think they want to tell us something."

"Alright, I've heard enough." Leo, Mikey, and Raph whipped their heads around to stare at Donnie. "Come on! You two seriously can't be believing this, can you?" Leo stayed silent and Raph let out a grunt, "Magic and 'helpful' demons? Sounds like a load of bull if you ask me. When are demons ever helpful towards us?" Leo opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it when Donnie shot him a glare. "That doesn't count, Leo, and you know it. And another thing, I have looked into Greek mythology, Roman mythology, heck, even those children myths we heard of as kids! Not once did I ever come across any Itzcoliuhqui or any demon goddess named Jezebeth!"

"And you have a better explanation for it, Donnie?"

"Well… Uh- no, I don't."

"Then this is the best we've got,"

Leo inhaled and exhaled before turning back to the youngest, who had dropped his gaze back down to his hands. "Mikey, do you still have that book?"

He nodded. "It's in the dojo. Master Splinter told me to keep it in there."

Leo gave his brother a smile, "You did good, little brother." He felt warmth spread through his chest when he saw the mischievous glint return to Mikey's eyes and he let out a chuckle. "You hear that, Donnie? I knew something you didn't!" Mikey stuck his tounge out at the genius.

"Shut it Mikey!

The two brothers laughed, momentarily forgetting about their current situation. But then it came crashing back, and the four of them lapsed into silence.

Time seemed to drag on and still, nothing happened. No horned devils popping out of the earth. No shadows creeping up from behind. No magical sparks of light dancing through the air. Just- nothing.

And then it struck. That single beam of light set it all off. That beam of light had darkened and expanded, growing into a thick and dark mist. Small blots of black goop dotted the rooftop, those too growing to larger proportions. The ground began to tremble, and Leo shot to his feet, his brothers following suit.

Weapons drawn, back to back, they stood on the defense. Leo's gaze flicked to and fro as dread settled in his stomach. "Mikey, if you're right about this, and these guys are who you say they are… I hope this doesn't end how I'm imagining it." Shaking his head he gripped his katanas firmly in his hands, silently charting escape routes if need be.

Steeled and ready, they watched as figures began to rise from the puddles of darkness, taking shape. Leo tilted his head as he watched, they looked like the silhouettes of normal people, completely harmless; then he realized shadows don't have hideous deformed body structures or glowing red eyes.

The two sides stood stock-still. Turtle and shadow in a standoff. Neither side advancing. The silence dragging on forever. All seemed perfectly fine, despite the ominous feeling of death hanging over their heads.

"Ah, so the mighty turtles finally make an appearance…" A woman's voice echoed across the rooftop; it sounded resonant and it had a slight hiss to it. "Now I wonder if what the Oracle says is true. We shall soon find out, won't we my little pets?" A low chuckle sounded throughout the shadow creatures, sending shudders down Leo's spine. It seemed wrong, all of it. He didn't know if it was because of that woman, or the fact that this could very well end horribly. Whatever the cause, he knew that whatever that book had said did not matter as of now. These creatures were not friendly. Leo had a feeling that whatever was going to happen, it wasn't going to be good.

"Who are you?" The voice laughed and the shadows parted to reveal what had become of the earlier mist.

A woman dressed in a long and flowing black gown stepped from the crowd. Two shining black wings unfurled from her back and ivory horns sprouted from her head. Her night-black hair went down to her exposed, pale waist. Skin deathly white, eyes ruby red, she truly looked like a queen of the underworld.

"You should know, turtle, given that your baby brother has already told you so much about me and my disciples." She spoke with a smug smile and a tone that would suit those of royalty. "But if you must be so dense, I shall tell you." The woman regarded the brothers coolly, and Leo did not enjoy the look in her eyes as her gaze settled on him. "My name is Jezebeth, and I am known throughout the Spiritual Plane as the ruler of the Itzcoliuhqui, mistress of the Purgatory. I have control over darkness and shadows; I gain power from sorrow and anger. One does not simply encounter me and return to their dwellings unscathed. I am the bringer of not only death, but also the truth of one's upbringing."

Leo stared at the woman, "What do you mean by 'the truth of one's upbringing'? What does that have to do with us?"

Jezebeth laughed, "Oh, Leonardo," She shook her head and clasped her hands together. "Naïve boy, I have so much to share with you! Starting with your origin story," Her eyes turned cold as she glared at the brothers. "You, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo began as ordinary and tiny baby turtles, yes? And your… Master, began as a man?" She let out a satisfied hum when Leo nodded, confirming her claims. "Yes, and you came to be as you are now by the glowing, green ooze you Terrenes call Mutagen." Leo nodded again, not quite grasping what this woman was getting at. "Raised in the art of ninjutsu, beneath the turf of the humans; truly believing that rat to be your father." She chuckled, "Well, Turtles, I am betting that you would be very astounded to hear that your whole life is a lie." She was met with dead silence.

When she didn't get a reply, Jezebeth let out a sigh, "Such disappointment, I was expecting more from you." Shaking her head, the witch snapped her fingers, and the shadows leapt. Screeches and grunts erupted from the rooftop. Leo had given to order to run, but his voice was drowned out in the fighting. He saw Donnie and Mikey standing back to back with weapons, Nun-Chucks and Bo-Staff flashing out into the creatures, barely leaving a scratch. A flash and a scream later, the brothers fell, taken down for the count.

"Mikey, Donnie!" Leo started towards the duo but Raph beat him to it,

"You stay away from them, you freaks!" Raph's enraged shout could be heard above the screeches of the creatures and Leo watched as he stabbed his sai through the demons; thinking Raph could hold his own for now, Leo slashed his way through the crowd, hoping to reach the demon lady responsible for this. His katanas ripped through a wall of the shadows to reveal Jezebeth, standing in all of her smug glory.

Just before he could charge another scream split they air. Leo's blood froze and he turned ever so slightly to see his immediate younger brother backhanded to the asphalt. "No! Raph!" Gripping his swords with new found strength he ran at the wicked woman, determined to take her down.

He didn't get more than a few feet before she lashed out with a blue flame and he crumpled to the ground. He feebly reached for his nearest katana, but alas, it was kicked out of reach and Jezebeth grinned widely. "Sweet dreams, Leonardo." He vaguely heard her sugar-coated sarcasm as the world began to fade to darkness, "All will be revealed in due time…" And the last of the light his blue eyes could detect shrunk and finally, disappeared into the black.

TBC

Well… What do you think? Let me know if I should continue…