A/N: Hey everyone! This is the sequel to 'The Fifth Turtle'. I know in the last story, Cassi seemed like a Mary Sue. Celveliare may seem like one too, but I'm not really going to develop her character too much in this story. However, near the end, Cassi may not seem like one anymore! Even though she's gone, I'm going to develop her more. I hope you like this story!

Chapter 1

"Look out!" Cassiopeia screamed in terror as she pushed Leo out of the way. He staggered, then whipped around in time to see the flower box smash on the back of her head. She seemed to fall in slow motion. Then she was on the ground, unconscious.

"Cassi!" Leonardo yelled, sitting upright in bed, sweat running down his face. Gasping for breath, he realized he was still at home. He had the nightmare again the same one that had been haunting him for months. Cassi takes the blow for him, and then is knocked out cold with a serious head wound. Sadly, it had really happened, and it had been nearly a year since Cassi died.

After she died, the family of mutants began to crumble. Leo never spoke. Raphael argued with their sensei, Master Splinter, (a mutant rat) quite a bit. Michelangelo never joked or had wise cracks anymore. Donatello had been trying in vain to get everyone to move on.

---

"So?" Don asked his sensei as soon as the rat had returned from a trip.

"I was able to convince the Daimyo to hold the tournament a few months early."

Don grinned. He had a plan to get everything back together. "I sure hope this works," He said softly. Splinter nodded.

"As do I. Go try to find Leonardo and try to talk him into coming. I have a feeling he may not want to come." Don agreed and hurried off to find his brother.

Finding Leo was not an easy task. Often during the day, Leo liked to disappear. Sometimes he would go up to the surface, sometimes he would go to some of the places he and Cassi used to go to when she was alive. Lately, he would be somewhere in Cassi's old place. Her part was huge, so it took quite a while to find him.

Finally, Don found him in Cassi's bedroom. Leo was sitting on her bed. He was leafing through a photo album. After sighing to himself, Don came in and sat beside him. It had gotten harder every time to face Leo.

"Hey Leo." To his surprise, Leo answered.

"Hey." Leo didn't look up. He was staring at a picture of Cassi when she was a kid. She was holding two katanas. There were three other pictures on the page. She was holding Sai blades in one, nunchucks in another and a Bo staff in the last.

Leo turned the page and immediately both sets of eyes settled on the same picture. In this picture, all five of them were gathered around a birthday cake. They all looked extremely happy, especially Cassi. She had just gotten to meet the others for the first time in her life. Don sighed.

"That was a fun day. Everyone was happy and Cassi was still alive." Leo didn't answer, he was staring at Cassi. With her face lit by the candle light, she looked radiant, and full of life. It was hard to believe she was gone. "I miss her too."

There was a short silence between them. "The battle nexus is being held a little earlier this year, in a couple days in fact." Don finally said.

"I don't think I'll go."

"It'll take your mind off things for a while."

"Donny--"

"Leo, you've got to let her go."

"I know." He replied softly.

---

"Don't make me regret this." Leo whispered to Don as they walked over to the others. All four had beaten the qualifying round and were going on to the next stage. Now, however, it was an intermission.

Leo scanned the other contestants, hoping to see Usagi. Something caught his attention. One of the other contestants had a shell like he and his brothers had, yet the other three were right next to him. The owner turned and walked over to them.

She was a turtle as they were, and she looked very much like Cassi. She had big, bright eyes, but they were magenta. She wasn't wearing a mask like they were; instead, dark makeup framed her eyes. A magenta jewel was in her forehead. Dark brown hair flowed down to her shoulders and had magenta streaks. Her long magenta gown went down to her feet. She held a sai blade tightly in her hand.

She bowed to Master Splinter when she approached him.

"Master Splinter," She said in a voice that was identical to Cassi's, except she spoke with a Japanese-like accent. Cassi didn't. "How wonderful to see you again."

"My sons, this is Celveliare. Celveliare, this is Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo." He introduced them.

"A pleasure." She said smiling at them.

"You sure like magenta, huh?" Mike asked and Don elbowed him. Celveliare laughed.

"Actually, I have no choice as to what colour I wear. Where I am from, you are born with a colour. Magenta is my colour. No one else on Paerae bears magenta." She explained. At the mention of her colour, she noticed then how mournful they looked. "What is wrong? You all seem so broken hearted." She eyed them closer. "Especially you, Leonardo, is it?"

Leo nodded as she placed a hand on his forehead. The jewel in her forehead began to glow brightly.

"Are you--?" Was Celveliare reading his mind? She nodded.

"You have lost a loved one." She said as her jewel stopped glowing. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Leonardo, remember this; Cassiopeia may not be with us, but she is not truly dead until she is forgotten. She will remain forever in your heart, and in your mind in memories." Tears began to roll down her face. "She will remain in mine as well. She was as dear to me as a sister. I did not know…" Celveliare trailed off.

The sai blade in her hand began to change. In a few moments it had changed completely to a handkerchief. She used it to wipe her eyes. As she did, none of the makeup came off. When she noticed the strange looks on the four boy's faces, she explained.

"Yes, you might call this magic. I can change it to any item I wish. I will see you all later, and I wish you luck in the competition." Celveliare said as she turned and walked away.

---

When the next round began, Raph found himself matched up against Celveliare. At first he was a little surprised, but that soon changed. I've beaten opponents tougher than this, He thought confidently. This match will be over quickly.

"We meet again," Celveliare paused, trying to remember, "Raphael."

The starting bell rang. Raph was right. The match was over quickly, for him. Before he could react, Celveliare kicked him hard, sending him flying into the wall. She hurled her sai after him. The moment he hit the wall, the sai was there too. He disappeared before it hit him. Raph was eliminated.

Raph reappeared in the room that overlooked the arena. Walking to the edge, he could see Celveliare. She was grinning wildly and waving to the crowd. He groaned.

"She beat me!" One of the other contestants appeared in the room and heard Raph.

"You were up against Celveliare?" Raph nodded in response. "No offence bud, but you never had a chance."

"What do ya mean by that?" Raph snapped back.

"She was able to beat me nine Earth years ago. She is the best." The contestant grinned, obviously enjoying Raph's reaction.

"How old is she?" Raph asked, more than a little surprised.

"Why don't you ask her?" The contestant pointed behind Raph. Sure enough, Celveliare was standing behind him.

"Hello Raphael." She said, smiling warmly at him. "I apologize if I did not give you enough time to prepare."

"Oh…uh, that's okay." He stammered. Something about her, it made him feel somewhat strange. "Shouldn't ya be down there for the next round?"

She shook her head. "Most are still fighting. I have time before I must return."

"So, uh, can I take you for a drink?"

"Very well, if you let me pay." She said with a sly smile.

---

"How old are you?" Raph finally blurted out. The two of them were sitting at a table outside a small café. This question had been bothering him for the whole time they were there. The jewel on Celveliare's forehead stopped glowing.

"It took you enough time to ask." She said with a laugh. "Where I am from, I would say I am nearly thirty-six star cycles. On earth you would say I am nearly eighteen."

"What does that jewel in ya forehead do?" He asked, feeling relieved.

"It will glow whenever I am reading a mind. I was born with it, but I have never liked it much."

"I think it's neat."

"Thank-you Raphael. You are very sweet."

"Are we interrupting something?" Mike asked walking over to them. Raph was about to answer yes, but Celveliare shook her head and Mike and Don joined them.

"Are there not four of you?" She asked after a while.

"Leo's gone off by himself. I think you remind him of Cassi, Celveliare." Don replied. Truthfully, she reminded all of them of Cassi.

Celveliare nodded sadly. "Yes, I believe I do. Do not push him."

"What do you mean?" Mike asked.

"Leonardo has been badly wounded. Wounds need time to heal. He will heal, but it will take time, and healing is a painful process." They all finished their drinks in silence. A call came for all those in the next round to proceed to the arena.

---

Before anyone knew it, the finals arrived. Celveliare eliminated Mike earlier. Don was also eliminated the same round. All the boys were greatly impressed by how well she could fight, except for Leo. He hadn't seen her in action yet. He would soon; he was competing against her for the title of Battle Nexus Champion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our two final contestants are Leonardo of dimension third earth and Celveliare of dimension 26th Paerae." The Daimyo announced. The audience roared with cheers and applause. There were chants of Celveliare's name coming from different parts of the crowd.

"I seem to have acquired a fan club or two." She blushed.

"Or a dozen." Leo corrected her, looking around at the crowds.

The bell rang. Celveliare leapt into the air. She tried to attack Leo, but he blocked it. Quickly, so fast it could barely be seen, Celveliare changed her blade to a katana. Leo was able to block every attack she made.

Up in the crowds, Raph, Don and Mike were shocked.

"What is going on down there? She was able to beat us so easy!" Raph complained. Don just shook his head. Splinter was smiling as if he knew something they didn't, which he did.

Celveliare gripped her weapon tightly. A frightened expression washed over her face as she glanced down at her katana. She shook it slightly and it changed to a rope. From the way she was acting, the three turtles in the stands guessed her weapon was malfunctioning. Celveliare managed to avoid Leo for a while. They could see her mouthing the words, 'change! Change!', before Leo was able to knock her to the ground.

"Alright!" Mike cheered.

"Go Leo!" Don called.

"Do not cheer yet." Master Splinter said with a sly smile. "It is not over."

"What do you mean, Sensei? Leo is about to end it and--" Raph stopped. Celveliare had sat up and cracked the rope so that it wrapped around Leo's leg. She pulled it and he toppled. Moving in a blur, she changed the rope to a trident and lunged at Leo. Leo disappeared the moment before she would have stabbed him. Everything had happened in only a matter of seconds. The crowd roared once more.

"She was playing possum." Leo told himself as he looked down at her from the room above the arena. The others were thinking the same thing.

"I give you the Battle Nexus Champion, Celveliare from dimension 26th Paerae!" The Daimyo declared placing the victory wreath on her head. She was grinning madly when she accepted her trophy. All her fans gave a deafening cheer.

---

"Raphael! Raphael, wait!" Raph turned around to see Celveliare running after him. He was just walking around the city one last time before he and the others had to leave.

"Yo Celveliare!" His heart leapt. For some reason, she had been hoping to see her again before he left.

"What are you doing walking around by yourself?"

"I jus' wanted to have a look around."

"May I join you?" She asked. Raph nodded and she took his arm.

"You said that you and Cassi had been coming here for a while, earlier when we were talking." Raph said and Celveliare nodded. "How come we never saw either of you the last time we were here?"

Celveliare thought back. "I believe that was the year Cassiopeia and I were going to sign up as a team. Unfortunately, Cassiopeia took ill and was unable to compete. Neither of us competed, we stayed in the crowds and watched instead."

"You two were pretty close, huh?" He asked, noticing the sadness in her voice.

"Yes, Cassiopeia and I were."

Raph decide to change the subject. "You really had everyone fooled with your performance. Everyone but Splinter that is."

She smiled. "Your sensei knows me far too well. He is the only opponent I have never been able to beat."

The jewel in her forehead began to glow more brightly than Raph had seen it. A beam of light shot out from it. The light unfolded into a projection of a screen. To Raph, it looked like just a blue screen, but Celveliare's eyes appeared to be focusing on something.

"Princess Celveliare! Your father wants you home immediately!" A voice said. Raph froze. Princess?

"So soon?" She sighed. "Alright I will be home as soon as I bid farewell to my friends."

"Please hurry your highness."

"I will be home on Paerae as soon as I can." The screen faded away and the jewel stopped glowing. She turned back to Raph. He was still in shock.

"Princess?" He said finally.

"Yes, I am of royal blood. I am sorry I did not tell you, Raphael, but I did not want you to treat me differently." Celveliare paused and sighed. "This is why I don't like my jewel much." She muttered. "I suppose I had better be going. Please say good-bye to Master Splinter and the others for me. Good bye and thank-you for the lovely time Raphael." She turned and disappeared before his eyes.

"Good bye, Celveliare." He whispered.

---

Later, after they had returned to Earth, things went back to normal, normal as in Leo keeping to himself and not talking. Mike still couldn't make jokes but he smiled a lot more. The only thing that really changed was that Raph didn't argue with Splinter anymore. Raph's mind was elsewhere.

Raph had fallen completely for the warrior princess. She was almost always on his mind. Although he didn't know her very long, he felt as if he did. Now I know how Leo felt about Cassi. Jeez, why did we go and screw that up for him? I'm surprised he didn't kill us for it. I may not have liked her, but he sure did.

All this time, I've hated Cassi. She completely changed our lives. Maybe it wasn't her I hated, but the change itself. Nah, she was a worm, lying to us all the time. Well, she had to be better than that somewhere inside 'er. After all, Leo fell for her. Nah, Leo's got bad taste in women. He was the sucker who fell for Karai.

Don was thinking about Celveliare too, but for another reason. He was thinking about something she had said. "Do not push him. Leonardo has been badly wounded. Wounds need time to heal." That was exactly what he had been doing, pushing Leo to heal. He figured he owed Leo an apology.

When he found Leo, Leo was once again in Cassi's room. This time he was reading Cassi's journal.

"I'm sorry, Leo."

Leo looked up. "For what?"

"For pressuring you to move on. I realize now that you just need time."

"Thanks Donny. That's all I ever really needed."

"Can I… ask you something?" Don said hesitantly, remembering something that had been bothering him.

"Sure."

"I heard you talking in your sleep a while ago. You were saying something about letting Cassi down. What did you mean?"

Leo didn't answer right away. He flipped through Cassi's journal until he got to the page he wanted. He handed the hard cover notebook to his brother. Don read:

Visions:

Transform to human

Dead at 16

Child stolen

"I don't understand. What does this mean, Leo?"

"Do you remember the night Mike screamed and Cassi picked his mind?" When Don nodded, Leo continued. "There was more to the dream than Cassi told you. He had three visions, about her; Cassi turning to human, Cassi dieing at age 16, and the foot stealing her child. When she told me about them I…" Leo's voice broke as he remembered the promise he didn't keep. "I promised I wouldn't let them happen." His eyes stung as he tried to fight back his tears.

"I'm sorry Leo. I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's okay, Donny. I just need to be alone right now." Don nodded, and got up to leave. He stopped at the doorway and turned to see Leo putting a line through a vision in Cassi's journal. Don shook his head. His brother was healing, but it was going to take time. I just want life to go back to the way it was before.

Leo closed the journal and set it down on Cassi's night table. He walked over to the other side of her home and went into the recording studio. In one corner of the room, there was a small booth. Various instruments occupied the rest of the space, as did a couple couches. Leo picked a guitar off the rack and sat down on one of the couches along the wall.

The seventeen year old had been teaching himself to play guitar ever since the day that Cassi died. It sometimes helped eased the pain, just a bit. He could really only play one song; the song Cassi sang on their last date. Sometimes, he thought he could almost hear her sweet voice singing along.

The melody just seemed to float around him. Whenever he heard that song, a strange feeling of peace washed over him. It was almost as if she wasn't gone. Almost.

Unknown to Leo, he was being watched. A teenage girl had slipped inconspicuously into the room. Leo was turned away from her so even when he topped playing, he didn't know she was there. Leo did know who she was however; he had no idea that he'd see her again anytime soon. The girl brushed her long brown hair out of her bright eyes.

"I miss you so much." Leo murmured to himself.

"I have missed you too. I did not know you play guitar Leonardo. You play very well."

"What are you doing here Celveliare?" Leo asked, nearly jumping off of the couch. He was still in shock from hearing someone answer him.

"Turn around Leo, I'm not Celveliare."