Booyakasha! A new story appears! :D I am proud of this one!
This is an AU set in a traditional Japanese-esque land, and the turtles are… are… FEMALE!? AND TWO WILL BE ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED!? Yep, you read that right! Fem!Turtles! All the other characters are the normal gender, though.
So this is an AU, Raphaelle (Raph) is an ex-samurai and Leonida (Leo) is a priestess to the goddess of life. AND THERE WILL BE MAJOR LEO/RAPH! No like? NO READ!
I won't tell what the others are just yet! ;) And the goddess is not an OC! She is an actual character who will be revealed later! I try not to use OCs in stories like this.
This story was loosely inspired by "Confessional" by g33kg1rl, and a picture I found on the internet by iceicefangurl (who colored it) and raaset (who, I believe, originally drew it) on deviantart.
I do not own TMNT in any way. Nor do I own g33kg1rl's "Confessional".
However, I do own the cover art. I drew it, and you can see more like it on my DollDivine . com account under the username "Kida".
(EDIT: After a review from raph j, I changed Raph's genderbent name from Raphaela to Raphaelle. Thank you so much sweetie for coming up with it! :) I thought I should credit you for that, because I love to give people credit and you absolutely deserve it! I like it better than Raphaela by a long shot!)
If you have ever traveled places, perhaps you already know what adventure smells like. What it looks like. What it sounds like. Even what it tastes like. Adventure doesn't have an unalterable form, incapable of change; rather it is an ever-changing enigma that twists inside the mind of the beholder to create a woven tale that unravels before the observant eyes. Voyage is everywhere; it surrounds us, fills us, envelopes us. It comes into our towns and homes, our temples and our stores. It works its way into every fiber of our being, and when it presents itself on your doorstep, all bare and uncovered, the brave will reach out to it and welcome it into their lives. But not everyone is brave, and some folk, whether they yearn for a life set in stone or just fear the challenges that adventure brings with it, will close their doors and console themselves to peeking through the holes in their rice-paper walls.
It was one of these very enigmas that breezed into the little village of Suguk with the scent of leather, steel and sweat at her heels on the noon zephyr.
The town of Suguk was small, but not so tiny as to be neglected for the cities and kingdoms. After all, no one in their right mind would forget a town like Suguk, with its lush harmony among the wild greens of the overlapping forests. The tiled rice-paper houses seemed as though their wooden frames stemmed from the trees directly, the deep cherry lumber revealing the hidden knots and rings that once belonged to mighty giants. Not far from one another, but distanced to keep the space between neighbors comfortable, each home was painted with the calming inks depicting the family honor, history and loyalty, and the values they privileged. Indeed, it did rain here in Suguk, but the water ran harmlessly from the terra cotta tiles into the koi ponds, wind keeping its tranquility and leaving the houses whole. It was a sleepy kind of village, relaxed and at peace, but respected at the same time. Adventure had not yet tainted it.
Until the warrior strode in with her vibrant emerald eyes that pierced through to the quivering souls of the villagers. Then, she brought it in full-force on the shell upon her back. Anyone could see she was trouble, from the way her hands itched to the slender weapons at her sides, to the way she eyed the land with hostility. No one dared acknowledge her presence as she strolled into the main town center, her cloak rippling in the breeze behind her. Perhaps she would move on, this keen soldier. Until then, the villagers held their breath as their dusty streets were turned up under her feet, unaware that the stirring chaos of dirt signified what their lives would soon become.
Raphaelle ignored the stealthy looks the townspeople threw her way, used to their curious gazes in places like this. She didn't come from around here, and it showed. She didn't know what she was doing here anyway, chasing a wanted man for the shogun. How he even coerced her to take this job was beyond her. As far as she was concerned, she had quit her role as their little samurai-puppet weeks ago, retiring her armor that still had yet to see a war.
Okay, so she was lying to herself. Raph knew why she was here. She had left the warrior way before the shogun and emperor could strip her of her honor for her disobedience. She didn't follow orders, and this mission was the shogun's only condition for her to retain her respect that she earned defending the lands. Truth be told, it was quite a lenient punishment for how grave a crime it could have been. Death would have been welcomed in comparison.
That didn't mean she thought it was fair. A sour look crossed her face as her hands drifted to the sais at her side, the only weapons she had retained from her brief time as a samurai. She had to smuggle them out to keep them, as she couldn't bear to part with them. They were the only things that still let her feel as though she could do good for the people of the emperor's lands.
She didn't like the way these people were looking at her, though. Raph supposed it was only natural; after all, turtles were rare as well as supposedly being the goddess's favored creature. From the way these villagers murmured almost-silent prayers, she could deduce that they held strong faith in the goddess. Now if only that would reward her with a place to stay for the night.
She sighed, sitting down on the edge of a bamboo fountain and gazed for a moment at the serene way the water ran through the hollow wood. Little turtles, ones that the goddess had not gifted with a human shape, frolicked among the lotus flowers and leaves, at ease in their aquatic environment. Raph felt a pang of jealousy at the sight. For them, honor was simple. When one shoved another from their log or stone, they would simply snap back.
If I tried that against Oroku Saki, the shogun, Raph thought with bitter humor, I'd have started a rebellion.
As tempting as the idea was, she knew there'd be consequences she wouldn't be ready to face. She stood up, her raspberry kimono rustling. She should really be looking for someone who'd be willing to help a complete stranger. Dusk would fall soon, and she had no place to stay.
She looked out at the people walking in groups as they walked into tea shops and the stores of merchants. Every now and then, she would meet eyes with a stranger, whether they were human or one of the goddess's gifted creatures. Every time she did, the stranger would quickly look at anything but her. It annoyed Raphaelle to no end.
The nonexistent hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and Raph realized that she was being watched in ways other than the villagers' curiosity. Carefully, she turned around, trying to assume a look that was not suspicious.
She caught sight of the person who was watching her out of the corner of her eye. Whoever it was wore a long blue kimono, an aqua veil hiding their face. Unlike most of the villagers, this person was staring at her directly from the edge of the town center's gates. They probably assumed that their veil blocked the evidence of their observant watch. Raph growled low in her throat. Idiot.
She turned around fully, fixing the veiled being with a glare that could have scared away any demon. It unsettled her when the only response she received was a tilt of the veil in an expression that seemed to say "You don't scare me". It almost felt like they were more curious than afraid.
Finally, after what seemed like years of challenging, tense silence, the figure turned, calmly walking from the village center. Raph looked away, seething at their cowardice. They couldn't even approach her. Raph would receive no help from them today. She almost hated that person more than the citizens who thought that they were being stealthy.
Raphaelle tried to shake away the feeling of importance. If they couldn't bring themselves to speak with her, then it didn't matter all that much. Still, she had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was going to happen.
A vendor in particular caught her eye, and she brushed off her thoughts of the stranger. This vendor was selling little trinkets, and he looked like he wouldn't think twice about accepting shady deals. He was a tall goose, gangly and lean, and his beak almost whapped people in the head as he tried to sell them a necklace he was claiming had magical properties. Raph grimaced at the manner this man had, but she had to try. She was tired, and if this guy had a place she could stay, she was sure as hell going to take it.
So she would just have to suck up her distaste. She could do that for one night, and resume her search in the morning.
The vendor had agreed to let her stay for a time, and she minded her tongue the rest of the evening as she was fed and given a room to sleep in. But for some bizarre reason, she kept dreaming of blue eyes hidden under gossamer veils, mystery and intrigue concealing a figure she simply knew must be beautiful.
Leaving this little town would be a lot harder than Raph had thought.
Leonida ran through the strip of forest between Suguk and the goddess's temple, her breaths remaining even despite her quick agility. She darted into the pagoda, lifting her blue veil from her face now that she was safely in the home of her goddess. A few of the sisterhood looked over, startled at her urgency. Leonida was always the calm devotee, never in such a rush.
"Leo?" one of them called as she moved quickly among the pillars. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer. She just kept running. She had to get to the shrine. She closed the rice paper door to the shrine room, glad that none of the sisterhood was engaged in prayer or meditation. Leonida swiftly lit the incense around the statue of the goddess, the candles dripping wax illuminating the fragrant smoke.
When the room was filled with the scent of ginger and lavender, Leo sat on the tatami in the lotus position, focusing on her breathing until she calmed her racing heart.
After years of practice, Leo could slip into meditation with the ease that her sisters had tried for lifetimes to achieve. This time was different, as Leonida found it difficult to clear her mind of distractions. Only her determination allowed for her to slip into meditation.
Her blue eyes snapped open to the sight of the meditation room, but this was not a physical place. This was the spiritual reflection of the goddess's temple, and if anyone looked closely, they would see the aqua shimmer that bathed the room in an enchanted light. Leo inhaled the scent of cherry blossom, and she calmly looked up into the eyes of the goddess that sat in place of the statue.
Few were gifted with the ability to see the goddess, but those who have met her have had their confidence and trust reassured by her gentle nature and warm heart. She had long ebony hair, pale skin and a kind smile that could illuminate any room. Her elegant robes pooled around her like an emerald pool, ribbons twining from her obi in graceful streams. She fixed Leo with a gentle nod, and Leonida bowed in respect.
"Leo, you know that you do not need to bow to me every time we meet. You are my most trusted priestess, and I consider you an equal."
The blue-eyed turtle sat up, smiling slightly. "You know I am not really an equal, my goddess. I am still only a mortal, and a youth at that."
"Perhaps." The goddess acknowledged. "But you are very wise for a teenaged mortal. Immortality is lonely, and you are the only one of my daughters to keep me company when urgent matters have passed."
"Careful. You sound like I am your favorite."
The goddess of life reached over, tilting Leo's face to meet her eyes. "You are my favorite. Even a goddess may show favoritism to specific daughters. Now speak, child." She commanded gently, releasing her tender hold. "What is on your mind?"
Leo winced in surprise when she realized she had almost forgotten what she was here for. She fidgeted with the flowing sleeves of her kimono as she explained about the travelling turtle she had seen in the market.
"My goddess," Leonida spoke nervously. "She was a turtle, one of your sacred species. I could feel this sort of energy around her, like the kind that surrounds my sisters and I, but… different. Like a hero's destiny."
The goddess nodded in understanding, a knowing smile on her face. "You cannot sense your own aura, then, can you?"
"My… my own aura? My goddess, I don't see how my aura relates to-" The goddess cut her off with a raise of her hand.
"Leonida, if you could feel your aura, you would know that yours is different from your sisters'. No, I cannot tell you how it's different." She said when Leo tried to speak. "It is a part of your destiny for you to learn that on your own. As for the turtle you met today, she is tied to a destiny you can hardly fathom. It was foreseen as part of a prophecy written centuries ago, before I became immortal. I can't tell you what the prophecy was. That is for you to find out. What I can tell you is that there are four fixed to it. I want you to find them. Only when they are united will a looming darkness be conquered."
Leo nodded at the quest the goddess tasked her with, a myriad of thoughts and emotions running through her mind. "How will I know if they are a part of this destiny?" she asked anxiously.
The goddess wove her fingers through the smoke of one of the incense sticks, shaping the smoke into colored images.
"The first one, the turtle you saw today, is the pillar of Strength." The smoke turned a sultry red, morphing into the image of a female turtle with sais crossed protectively. "Not just strength of the body, but also of the mind. When all hope seems lost, her strength will protect the others in time of need."
"The next is the pillar of Intelligence." Purple smoke took on the form of another turtle, this one holding a staff with energy radiating from it. "She will devise the most intricate of plans when all routes seem to be dead ends. Trust in her logic will be very wise among these heroes."
"Third is the Heart." Orange smoke contorted into a leaping figure, a warm feeling settling in Leo's chest at the sight of it. She had to force back a laugh at the happy aura it possessed. "Heart keeps hope alive. Without this hope, the heroes will fall apart and darkness will win."
"Now the last pillar," The goddess began, twining the blue smoke into another turtle shape, this one raising dual blades in defense. An unusual sense of familiarity struck Leo. "The last pillar is Bravery. Bravery will hide right beneath the noses of the others, and will be the last to reveal herself. But you will know when she is found. " The smoke dissipated into the air, a lotus scent lingering in the room, and Leo had to blink to adjust to the lack of vibrant color.
The goddess gazed into her blue eyes with a look of trust, and she placed a hand on Leo's shoulder. "Hamato Leonida, I task you with the responsibility of uniting the pillars to fight this growing evil. Make me proud."
Leo closed her eyes and bowed her head, the new knowledge stirring in her mind like an angry swarm of bees.
"I will do my best, my goddess."
Slowly, the weight of a hand on her shoulder and the scent of cherry blossom petals disappeared, and only after it was replaced with the smell of lavender incense did Leonida look up. The goddess had vanished, replaced on her seat by the bronze statue. She was back in the physical world, still kneeling before the goddess's shrine. Physically, she had never left.
She remained where she was sitting in lotus position, trying to process all that she had learned. The quiet sound of the door sliding open caught her attention, but she didn't turn around. Only one member of the sisterhood was brave enough to walk in while Leonida was alone. The others feared her deep connection to the goddess.
"Leo?" Karai's voice asked softly as she closed the door and kneeled beside her on the mats. "The sisters said you ran here in a rush. Is everything alright?"
Leo did look up this time, meeting blue eyes with Karai's brown ones. Her red veil was off and her deep kimono folded when she sat. Leo sighed, her deep kinship with the other priestess urging her to tell her what she learned. Only the knowledge that the goddess would have told the entire sisterhood if she wanted them to know held Leo back. For whatever reason, the goddess wanted Leonida to keep this prophecy a secret, and as much as she hated lying to Karai, she would keep quiet.
"I'm fine. I simply needed the goddess's consultation on… something I saw earlier today."
Karai seemed to understand that this was something Leo needed to keep secret and she nodded respectfully.
"Well, whatever was bothering you, maybe it would be easier to think it over with a cup of tea." She offered, standing up and extinguishing the incense. Leo let her words run through her mind, focusing on them instead of her jumbled thoughts. Slowly, she nodded.
"Maybe you're right." She stood up, fixing her kimono. "I just need to think things through a little bit."
"Don't think too hard." Karai joked as they left the room. "I still need my sister with a working brain."
Leo smiled at that, walking alongside the other priestess with a lightening mood. Maybe she didn't need a cup of tea, but some good company to distract her.
"Actually, Karai, do you think we could train together for a bit? I've been neglecting the tessen for my katanas."
"Absolutely." Her companion replied, and they walked down the hall to the dojo.
For now, Leonida would just have to push aside the thoughts of pillars, heroes and green-eyed turtles. She would handle them in the morning.
The enigma that breezed into the tiny village of Suguk had a big destiny ahead of her, and the villagers, sensing the adventure following her, closed their doors to watch safely from the sidelines. She would receive no help from them, and their part to play would be small and insignificant.
But Leonida would not say no to this adventure, for she was now just as much of a part of it. So sleep quietly, little priestess and little warrior. It will soon be time you are needed, by the innocent townspeople, the other heroes, and, most dearly, to each other. Sleep now, content alone, for soon sleeping without your other half will become near impossible.
Just be sure to wake soon. Adventure does not wait forever.