Prologue

The sun shone brightly through the top floor window at 423 Walnut Street. Everything was quiet and peaceful until…, the alarm sang out the familiar, yet annoying sound of a rooster crowing. Gaia set the sound as her alarm on her cell, because it was the only thing she couldn't sleep through. She stretched, yawned and began her normal round of waking up her sisters. She usually only did this during school days, but today was special. It was the day of the annual family vacation. The Branson's made the trip each year to upstate New York to visit their family estate.

"Phoebe!, Vanessa!, Angie!, C'mon you guys we're going to be late! Mom and dad are already making breakfast, so you know what that means, check out time is NOW!" Angie slammed a pillow over her head and folded the sides down in an attempt to drown out her sister's voice. This would normally work, normally, but not today. Gaia crashed through the door like an excited child that just found out that candy castles really existed. "C'mon Angie, WAKE…UP! Wake up, wake up, wake up!" Gaia shrieked as she bounced on her sister's bed." Hard to believe you're 14 Gee-Gee, when you act like you are 11" "Hey We resent that remark" said two younger voices in unison. Now standing in the door way were Phoebe, and Vanessa who were actually 11."Well, well, well, If it isn't beauty, and the brain. Why don't you guys come help me wake Angie up?" said Gaia. "No need, I'm up…OK. Look, I'm moving and everything!" Angie said still groggy. "Good, then we'll see you down stairs." "Yeah-Yeah" Angie muttered back. Angie dropped to the floor and started her military-like exercises, which consisted of push-ups and sit-ups along with other non-girly calisthenics.

While exercising all she could think about was being able to go out and hunt with her father like they did every year at the estate. "This year I'm bringin' home the "Big Boy," she thought to herself. She showered, washed and de-tangled her thick brunet hair and exited the shower. Just as she was done dressing she heard a familiar voice bellow from down the stairs, "C'mon Angie Get a move on 'lil sis." Gaia was the only on she let speak to her in that tone and that was only because she was her little sister, even though she stood at least 4 inches taller than her, she was still a year younger.

Angie slid down the banister and landed with a thud, both feet planted firmly. "Perfect 10, and the crowd goes wild! I have arrived people so what's for breakfast!" After breakfast, it was time to pack up and head out. The van was loaded, and everyone was in their seats. The twins sat in the back next to each other as usual, and Angie and Gaia sat in the row of seats in front, playing their hand-helds, and text messaging their friends the entire ride.

Finally, Vanessa, and Phoebe could see the front gates of the estate and the big gold lettering on the main gate with the initials WB, which stood for William Branson, their grandfather. He passed away some years ago, and left the estate to the family. The van rolled up the driveway, the girls heard the cracking of the stones under the tires come slowly to a silent stop. "EVERYBODY OUT! All Ashore what's goin ashore!" John yelled in his best bad pirate accent. "Dad, you know, it's about time you let the pirate die. We haven't played pirates on a car ride in years; even the twins have out grown it." Angie said jokingly. "HEY! " she yelled back towards the van, "one of you midgets grab Samson, will ya?" "Got'em," Vanessa said as she grabbed the portable fish tank with the little green turtle inside, happily splashing. "Girls, if we hurry we can settle in and still have time to watch the meteor shower tonight so hustle-up." "Yeeeees mom," they all said as one. The Bransons settled in and had dinner. After desert and the usual sibling banter, everyone decided it was a good time to catch the meteor shower. "C'mon you guys hurry, before it starts" screeched Phoebe. The night air was warm and the sky, cloudless. Each star was visible. The family sat on the dock on the lake since it gave the best view, eyes fixed upwards, they waited for the celestial show to begin. Even Samson sat on his rock in the tank and seemed to be awaiting the excitement also. "Pass me Samson, I want him to see this!" Angie barked as she called down the dock to Vanessa. Vanessa reached in and grabbed the small turtle and passed him down the row until he'd gotten to Angie, by way of everyone passing him. The first meteor spit across the sky like a rocket, with a dazzling color stream of a tail. Then another, then another until the meteor shower was in full swing.

-That same morning-

"Raph! C'mon dude we gotta meet up with April remember? Donnie, Leo and Splinter are waiting for us!" Shouted Michelangelo from the lair entrance. "Hold ya shell on Mikey, I'm comin!... I'm comin!" Raphael barked back. "Gotta have these at all times, baby, never leave home with out'em" Raphael said to himself as kissed his sais and placed them snugly in his belt. and exited the lair to the Shell Raiser. "Ok… OK. Everyone's in the building, so, lets Rock and roll" shouted Michelangelo, he threw the Shell Raiser into gear and pulled off.

"Donnie, this better be worth it." said Raph in his usual un-happy tone. "What's not to like, it's a private estate open woods for training and a lake for swimming, and catching some R&R, and as a bonus there's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight!" Donnie replied excitedly "This shower only happens once every…""Yeah-Yeah brainiac…" said Raph interrupting Donnie. "Would it hurt you to be nice just once Raph, just once?" "I don't know I never tried, and I'm not sure I wanna. Besides "Captain Brain-Case, I was just joking. Believe it or not I'm actually lookin' forward to it since you've been mentioning it for the last month."

"Look there's April" Said Donnie "Mikey, pull over here." "You, Got it." he replied "Your chariot M'lady" Said Leo, bowing and opening the door for April. "You are too much, Leo" She said with a smile. April found a spot and settled in after loading her luggage onto the top rack, and once again the turtle-shaped van sped off.

"Are we there yet said Raph, We've been driving for hours." "It's just around this next bend," April said excitedly. "I haven't been here since I was a kid. It used to belong to my grandparents, wait 'til you see the inside." Whoa!" Exclaimed Mikey, "Geez Louise" Raph followed up, as they approached the enormous expanse of O'Neil estates. "You grew up here," Leo chimed in. "Yup. It brings back memories, just being here". April said fondly.

Mikey turned off the lights, and stopped the engine. They unloaded the van, and settled everything into their rooms. "We made it just in time to see the meteor shower " Donnie exclaimed, "Let's go!" "The dock is just down that path." April said "That's probably the best spot to see it." "Be carful My sons," warned Master Splinter from behind as he watched the four of them run off down the path. "It's good for them to get away from the city for a while, April, thank you for your gracious invitation for us to visit your childhood home for our vacation." Splinter humbly said. "Splinter, you guys are all the family I have left so who better to spend a vacation with."