I have decided to start working on another of my story ideas. (I know, I know, I should finish what I start first, right.) However, this has been on my mind for a while, so I figured might as well start it. Hope you enjoy, and I promise to keep it updated regularly. This story is set during different time periods, therefore, look at the chap. names to find out how old they are

After a hard days work, Splinter warily tucked his sons into bed, feeling his muscles ache from the cold that was settling into the lair. He looked up after tucking Michelangelo in, only to see his two eyes peering at him. Splinter could not help but smile. He knew that Leonardo, his oldest, would refuse to close his eyes until he could see that his three younger brothers were asleep. Splinter watched his eldest for a minute, silently worrying about him. He knew it was going to be hard on the young one in a few years, but Splinter also knew that his sons needed a leader, someone to take care of them and guide them in case they lost their father.

Smiling, Splinter looked over at his youngest son. He hoped that Michelangelo would not wake up with a nightmare again, mostly because they disturbed Splinter a great deal. He could not help but wonder what they meant. From what his youngest son had told him, it seemed that Michelangelo had been having dreams about Yoshi's death. Splinter could not understand it. Had his son read one of his diaries, and pulled the truth from there? On the other hand, perhaps the little one had noticed his Sensei's way of avoiding talking about his Master, and had guessed at what had happened. From what Splinter had observed about the little one, it seemed that his youngest son was very sensitive, and could easily pick up on others feelings. Splinter silently wished that his son would always have that sensitive, caring side, and that he would always have that look of childlike wonderer around him.

Splinter turned his attention to Donatello, his second youngest. At his early age of five, Donatello was already proving himself the brains of the group. His uncanny ability to fix up anything that broke, including an old stove, a microwave, and the TV remote, quickly turned Donny into the mechanic of the group. Splinter was glad to have the handy turtle around, and knew that his son's skills would serve the family well in the next couple of years.

Finally, Splinter turned his attention to Raphael, his second oldest. Here was his problem child. At three, he was already finding ways to go stomping off somewhere, and often tried to leave the lair. The word no was not in this one's vocabulary, which irked his brother Leonardo to no end. Splinter could tell that these two would be having problems in the future, but he hoped that they would be something that the two would be able to work on.

Checking one more time to make sure that his sons were sleeping, Splinter closed the door, taking care not to wake them. He quickly and quietly walked to his room, sitting down on his bed, which consisted of a mattress with a few ratty blankets thrown on it. He wished, yet again, that he could have some real sheets to protect himself from the coldness of the underground, but he knew that he would sacrifice himself to keep his sons safe.

Smiling softly, he thought of his four children, knowing that he was lucky to have them. Even though he still mourned the death of his Master Yoshi, he knew that through these children, one day, he would be able to find out who had taken his Master's life, and get his revenge. Splinter looked over at the clock that he had found in a dumpster, wondering if he had enough time to meditate before he went to bed himself.

Realizing that he did, he folded his legs, and slipped into the Realm of Dreams, arriving at one of his favorite spots, a waterfall that led into a deep pool. This quiet, beautiful place was the one that he choose to think about his deceased mater, and of his pupils, his four sons whom had helped to cure him of the deep depression that he had found himself in a s he roamed the sewers. He loved those four dearly, and wished briefly that he could stay with them forever, and that no harm would come to them. Sighing, the rat ninja master sat down on a rock, careful to keep himself hidden, knowing that he could not let a human see him. He looked out at the water, watching the ripples that appeared as the smooth surface was disturbed by little bugs. Splinter was paying so much attention to his own thoughts that he did not even notice what was going on a t the other side of the lake.

Another man stood near the base of the waterfall, also looking towards the water. However, what he was watching was something much more precious to him than old memories. He was keeping an eye on his young daughter, Mei Phi Chi. He watched her play in the water, wishing that she could do the same in the ocean that was practically right outside their door. Unfortunately, he knew that was impossible. Looking away, he admired the view for a few minutes, before realizing that it was time to take her home and begin their lessons for the day. He was teaching his daughter to become a Shinobi Shaman, just like he was. "Mei Phi Chi, it is time to go."

Splinter's head popped up in surprise, for he had not expected someone else to be here with him. Looking over, he saw an old man holding out a robe, obviously made for a small child. Splinter watched as a small form appeared out of the water, and did a double take. This young child was a turtle, a mutant, just like his sons! Standing up quickly, he silently approached the end of the water, knowing that it was important not to let anyone see him. He almost made it, but right before he reached d the edge of the reeds, he slid, and fell into the water.

Two heads looked over when they heard the splash, surprised at the sound. Mei Phi Chi clung to her father, afraid, for he had warned her about letting other humans see her. Her father smiled at her, and then gently squeezed her shoulders. "My daughter, I want you to go home, I will talk to whoever that was, and find out what they have seen. Mei quickly nodded, grabbed her robe, and concentrated, sending her mind back to the real world, leaving her father alone by the shore.

Once she was gone, the old man raced across the shore, knowing that the other person had not yet come up from the water, and he feared that they might have hurt themselves. Coming towards the reeds where he had heard the other fall n, he bended near the water, looking for a body to pull up. A surprised look covered his face when he noticed that somehow, whoever had fallen in had been able to get out. He could not understand it. After all, he had been watching the spot since he and his daughter had heard the fall, and he surely would have noticed if someone had been able to climb out. All of the sudden, he heard a noise behind him, and turned around in a panic, wondering who was there.

Splinter looked at the man he had seen with the other turtle, and approached him quietly. He hoped to himself that he had not scared the little one by falling in, for she was no longer there, and he was sure that her father had warned her about having humans see her. However, right before he was able to put a hand on the older man's shoulder, the man turned around, and looked Splinter in the eye. A shocked expression came over the other man's face, and he stood there with his mouth wide open, not knowing what to say. Splinter looked at the man for a moment before extending his hand. "Even though I do appreciate you coming to help me, I know you don't want to get your clothes any more muddy than they already are." Splinter said as he helped the other man out of the mud he was standing in. The other man just stared at Splinter. "Who are you?" He asked Splinter, looking the rat up and down in disbelief.

"My name is Splinter, and I live in New York City with my four sons, Leonardo, Michelangelo Donatello, and Raphael. While I am a mutant rat, they are turtles." The older man's eyes lit up. "You mean there were more of the? When I found my daughter, Mei Phi Chi, she told me something of the other four, and I never understood what she had meant." Splinter laughed, and then extended his hand. The other man shook it, and then smacked his forehead. "How rude of me, after all of this talking, I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Chung I, and I live in China with Mei Phi, in a small cottage." Chung I smiled at Splinter before asking, "So, how did you find your sons?" Splinter sat down on a rock, motioning for the other man to follow him. Once they were settled, Splinter told him the story of whole story,-- of his master's murder, of his living in the sewers, and of finding the baby turtles swimming in a puddle of ooze, which turned them into their current state.

Chung I stared at Spinster. "That must be what happed to my daughter. I found her swimming around with some kind of green 'ooze' as you called it, in New York City. I was there on business, and walked by her. I did not want the poor thing to die, so I brought her home with me. When I finally brought her to my house, I saw that she was growing. I thought that I as going crazy, so I left her in a box, and went to bed. The next day, I found her sitting on my dresser, even bigger than before. Over the next few months she kept on growing, and eventually, she gained a name, Mei Phi Chi, my beautiful turtle of energy."" Splinter smiled at Chung I for a moment before standing up and stretching. "I'm sure that your daughter is looking for you. "Chung I laughed then stood up. "Perhaps you are right my friend." I hope to see you soon." " Of course you will, and I look forward to meeting your daughter." Chung I smiled then looked away. "My only request is that you don't tell your sons about my daughter," He said, looking back at Splinter, who nodded. Splinter knew what Chung I was worried about, and he was silently wondering about it to. "Then I shall see you soon" Chung I said, shaking hands with Splinter, then, he turned and left.