Happy New Year! time for a new story, you know the routine. Enjoy and peace. :)

Ch 1. An Unwilling Change

In the middle of a large green valley in the center of a large kingdom known as Mutantania, a very large castle loomed over surrounding villages of the terrapin clans, as well as several other various clans. Inside this large castle, a large grey rat dressed in a red kimono wandered the hallway quietly in serene wonder while stroking a long white beard. The rat, known by all as Splinter, roamed his eyes over walls where on both sides several portraits of past kings and queens and other royal occupants of the castle looked down upon him in regal glory. Eventually, his eyes came to rest on a portrait of his younger self standing behind another rat, slightly smaller with deep brown fur and kind black eyes. She was sitting down and smiling tenderly while her hands rested on her slightly swollen belly. Both rats seem to look down at Splinter with a tender soft look and happy smiles.

Splinter sighed sadly as he stared up at the portrait. "Ah my beloved Splendor," He murmured as he leaned heavily on a walking sticking while his right hand gently touched the bottom of the canvas. "How I do miss you."

He sighed sadly once again and continued down the hall and toward a room where a large humanoid turtle was currently addressing four other large humanoid turtles. The gentle rat smiled in mild amusement as the hazel-eyed turtle with a blue bandana around his head sighed in exasperation and leaned heavily on the table.

"I understand your concern lord Tokkra but I still believe that keeping our roadways closed to neighboring kingdoms will only cause them to become more hostile as well as fearful toward us." He pointed out. "If you would just come to the banquet and get to know the other clans before making a judgment you would see this is a good idea."

"You say this only because you are good friends with the prince of the lapin clan." The turtle known as Tokkra pointed out. "Are you not prince Leonardo?"

"That may be so but I speak for all the kingdoms within our realm, not just my friend's." Leonardo replied. "We need to extend friendship to their kingdom as well as to others so that we may begin a much necessary trade route." He looked from one turtle to the other. "All the other kingdoms that surround Mutantania are more than willing to extend their friendship to us." He pointed out. "And other clans within Mutantania are more then happy to accept their friendship." His voice raised slightly in irritation. "So far the terrapin clan is the only one that continues to refuse and you have yet to tell me why."

"And what of the human kingdom," Another turtle pointed out. "Do you want to open a trade route with them as well?"

Leonardo turned to him and nodded. "It would be something to consider Lord Tanaka." Leonardo tugged nervously on his blue kimono.

"But wouldn't that mean dealing with Oroku Saki." A third turtle pointed out. "He has been a threat to our way of life for decades and if we open the routes to his kingdom that may only invite trouble."

"Saki is only one human out of hundreds Lord Torlen." Leonardo addressed him. "The king of the human clan has sent word he would like to have a peaceful trade between our two kingdoms as well as the rest of the kingdoms that surround our land."

The other four turtles began to mummer between themselves as Leonardo sat back in his chair in obvious frustration. As he did, his eyes finally noticed the large rat standing in the doorway.

"Oh, your majesty," He suddenly cried out. Everyone in the room quickly stood and bowed as Splinter came forward.

"Your majesty," The other turtles greeted him.

Splinter bowed politely to the other terrapins and joined the turtle dressed in the blue kimono at the head of the table. "Are we still having a problem with opening up the routes to the other kingdoms?" Splinter looked from one turtle to another.

"We are still debating it." Prince Leonardo replied tiredly.

"Some of us still believe that opening up the routes will only invite trouble for our kingdom." Lord Tokkra responded. Splinter watched as the other turtles nodded their heads. "What is your opinion king Splinter?"

"For the past thirty years of my reign, I have attempted to persuade all neighboring kingdoms to open the road ways so that we may help each other." Splinter addressed them. "And certainly, trouble can happen weather we open the routes or not." He pointed out. "Many of the kingdoms have requested our friendship and it would be unwise to turn away from that. The other kingdoms offer much in the way of trade as do we and to dismiss it because of one human and his past attempts at destroying us could do more harm to our way of life then embracing a change." He watched as the turtles exchanged looks. "We will be having a banquet soon and all royal leaders from the other kingdoms and our clans are expected to come." He bowed to the turtles. "I am hoping you as well will be attending?" He said with a smile then turned to the prince. "It looks like this is a topic that still requires more discussion. Why not adjourn for now and continue this at a later time."

Leonardo nodded and turned to the other turtles. They bowed to one another and the other turtles left the room while the king and prince stayed behind. After they were gone, Splinter watched as Leonardo sat back down in exasperation.

"Why is my clan being so difficult?" He threw up his hands in anger, stood up and began to pace. "What is the big deal of opening our routes to the various kingdoms and extending friendship to them that can be helpful to us as much as we can be helpful to them." He adjusted the blue bandana around his head and rubbed his tired eyes. "I'm not surprised the leader of my tribe did not want to stand behind me but the other leaders…why are they being so difficult?" He turned to Splinter. "Do you think…."He looked away for a moment. "Could it be because I'm an orphan?" He wondered and shook his head. "I don't foresee them coming to the banquet." He said sadly.

Splinter watched the turtle with a sad smile. "My son, change can be very difficult for many." He told him as they began to walk out of the room. "You are asking your clan to open the roads to kingdoms they know nothing about and it frightens them."

"I suppose your right father." Leonardo responded. "If only they'd come to the banquet and got to know the leaders of the other kingdoms, then maybe things could change." He mused. "The other kingdoms have been trying to establish a relationship with our kingdom for several years, why can't they just give it a chance?"

"In time perhaps your clan will." Splinter said. "But for now, let us forget about the diplomacy side of your life and think of something else."

Leonardo gave a little chuckle. "Like what father?"

Splinter turned his head to him slightly and the young prince was certain he saw a twinkle of mischief in the old rat's eye. "Do you remember your birthday my son?"

"How could I forget?" He responded with a bright smile. "It was the first birthday I had that was exactly what I wanted." He laughed. "A day of sparring with you, a nice relaxing dinner with my favorite type of cake and then a quiet evening with a good book," He sighed in contentment. "It was perfect."

"Yes, I was expecting more for your twentieth birthday but since it is what you wanted, I was happy to give it to you." Splinter looked up at his son with a proud smile. "Now we must think of your twenty-first birthday."

"What?" Leonardo looked at his father in surprise. "Father, that's over six months away!" He exclaimed. "Why must we think about that now?"

"Because you only have five months to get a mate," Splinter smiled slyly.

"Oh do we have to talk about this again?" the prince shook his head. "I already told you father, I do not wish to have a mate."

"Leonardo." Splinter took hold of his son's arm and forced him to stop walking. He made him turn and looked up at his son sternly. "The law is clear and it states you must choose a mate before your twenty-first birthday."

"But father that's not fair," Leonardo clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes angrily at his father. "You didn't have to have a mate after your first….." He stopped speaking when he saw the hurt look in his father's eyes. Leo lowered his eyes and turned his head. "Forgive me father." He whispered. "I didn't mean to say that."

"Leonardo," Splinter squeezed his arm gently. "After I lost my beloved Splendor and child I never expected to find happiness again." He smiled up at him. "But then I was fortunate to find you and raise you as my own. To have an heir as wonderful as you was the next best thing that could happen to me." The two continued to walk down a long hallway. "But I followed the law set by our predecessors and that is something you must also do." He looked at his son with interest. "And you know that upon your twenty-first birthday, you become ruler of Mutantania and you must have a mate before that happens."

"Very well father." Leonardo sighed in defeat. He then looked at his father and his face brightened. "But if you recall, three months ago I was introduced to several turtles from the other three tribes and not one of them was to my liking." He shrugged his shoulders. "And I know my tribe leader does not wish to give me one of his daughters as a mate, so what else can you do?"

Splinter shook his head at his son's smug attitude. "Yes my son I have taken all that into account."

The young turtle looked at his father with narrowed eyes as they stopped in front of a set of large double doors. The two guards in armor that stood on either side of the doors came to attention and opened the doors for the king and prince.

The two walked in and the prince looked around. Directly in front of the double doors was a long red carpet leading to a dais with several steps. Inside the dais were two large golden thrones with high backs. Red velvet cushions adorned the seat and back on both and at the top of each ear was a golden lion head with their mouths wide open in an angry roar.

As Leo and Splinter made their way into the room, the prince cast his eyes to the outside entrance and saw three humanoid turtles walking in and looking around the room in awe.

"Whoa dudes." One turtle with a gruff voice and an orange bandana around his head addressed the others. "This place is huge!"

Leonardo turned to his father with a look of disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me."