A/N: Happy Halloween! It's almost over when I posted this, but still. If I didn't work all day, it would have been posted sooner. Enjoy the early glimpse of the next installment of my romance series! The rest of this will be posted up only when I've finished typing the whole thing (which shouldn't take too long as the rough draft's finished and this is a short one).

Prologue: An Ancient Tale

The lair was in typical fashion. The television broadcasted the evening news, alerting New Yorkers about an increase in gang violence that nobody was really listening to. Reclined on the couch, Donatello typed away on his laptop; lost in complex algorithms and other such things his brothers hardly understood. Voices drifted out of the dojo accompanied by the soft thumps of skin against fabric; placing Raphael and Leonardo around the punching bag hung inside.

The last of the four turtle brothers left his bedroom, his giggling voice drifting down to the lower level. He took the steps two at a time, his orange furred passenger mewing his protest with each jostling movement. "Come on, Klunkers! The Mikey express is on the move!" The tabby shifted position on his owner's shoulders, his tail twitching ever so slightly. "Hey Don!" Michelangelo stooped before his genius brother. "Whatcha working on? Is it some new awesome gadget? Like, maybe a jetpack? I hope it's a jetpack 'cuz that would be super awesome!"

Donatello's concentration never wavered from his screen. "You don't need a jetpack. You have a hoverboard. Don't tell me you're bored of it already."

"But…jetpack!"

"No."

"You're no fun!" He huffed in irritation. He opened his beak to plead more when an disgruntled mew sounded in his ear, reminding him of his earlier mission. He huffed instead. "Fine. We'll continue this important conversation later. Maybe then you'll see the error of your ways and realize your favorite brother needs a jetpack. Don't worry. I'll forgive this slight once that happens." With that, he turned on his heels and marched into the kitchen.

Once inside, he opened a cabinet door to grab the bag of cat food. Klunk's meows grew more insistent at the sight. He pawed at the bag as it came within his reach.

"I know, boy," Michelangelo cooed at his cat. He scooped out the food into the tabby's bowl and chuckled as the weight on his shoulders disappeared in a blur of movement.

"Mikey!" Raphael's voice echoed through the lair.

Ignoring his brother's call, he returned the bag to its proper place.

"You're dead, Mikey." Raphael's seething form suddenly filled the doorway. "I know it was you, dammit. You had no right!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Michelangelo turned, his gaze lingering on the bandages still wrapped around his brother's middle. It was difficult to believe it had only been a few weeks since Bishop nearly ended Raphael's life. It was something he hated remembering.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Raphael growled. "She's your damn friend!"

Michelangelo's look turned to confusion. "You mean Kimi? What about her?"

"She fuckin' called me, that's what! I told you not to give her my number!" He flung his arms out in his frustration, his shell cell clutched so tight in a fist, the casing threatened to crack.

"Oh, I thought you wanted her to have it." Michelangelo smirked. "Yanno, so your 'doctor' can do her checkups. And she did ask nicely."

"She won't stop fuckin' calling!"

"Then answer the phone." He grinned, enjoying his brother's discomfort. "She just wants to help, Raphie."

"I don't want her help!" He hissed through his teeth. "Tell her ta leave me alone."

He hummed with his finger against his chin. "I guess I can try." He bent to scratch behind his cat's ears. "Or you could just tell her yourself. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you."

Raphael fumbled for speech, but was spared from responding by Donatello's arrival behind him. "Ancient One just got here. Sensei wants us all by the televisions. Apparently, it's important."

Michelangelo watched them both leave before giving his cat one final pet. Then, in a burst of energy, he overtook his brothers and jumped over the back of the couch to sit next to the third. Leonardo gave him a serious look which only went ignored. "So what brings you state-side?"

"I fear I bring much worrisome news." Ancient One began. "As I have already informed Splinter back in December, it could mean a great disaster for your city. One that must be prevented at any cost."

"What's this bad news, then?" Leonardo asked what they were all thinking.

"Patience, Leonardo." The elder held out his chubby palm towards him. "This requires much needed preparation before I can reveal the reason I came to you this day. Something of this magnitude cannot be told backwards. I must weave the tale the way it is always done. From the beginning."

"Is it story time, Ancient One?" Michelangelo piped up.

"That it is, Michelangelo. And this is an old one, as well. One that has nearly faded from memory for most of Japan. Only a few know of it still today. Even less know the whole story. I am one of them. Today, you all will be as well.

"The tale starts centuries ago in an era ripe with war. A young man, barely fit for battle, discovered a treasure like no other. The medallion was said to be a gift from the gods. Anyone who wore it around their neck grew in strength and intelligence. Not a single battle was lost with this prize on their side. But it came with a price, as all powerful things do. The price of death.

"The medallion had a weakness. Hakkyō; he went mad with power. It changed him until he was a stranger to his family. He killed without honor. Soon, no one was safe if it meant a victory. Even his own family. He slaughtered them. Only after the deed was done did he realized the depth to which he sank. By then, it was too late for him.

"Others eventually took up the mantle upon his own inevitable death, all ending the same way. Years passed with the death toll only growing in number. Then the day came where it was decided to put an end to the curse. Many attempts were made, but only one succeeded. The medallion cracked in two, separating its power into its two strengths. This greatly lessened its power, allowing it to be used without the worst of its heinous consequences.

"Now for what I came here for." Ancient One's expression turned grave as he continued, "One half of the medallion used to reside in my protected stores until quite recently. It was stolen from me."

"Wait, that story was true?" Donatello piped up, incredulous.

"Hai. All legends have some truth to them. Some just have more than most." He tipped his head at the turtle's question before turning back to the room at large. "I do not know when next the enemy will strike, but once he has the other in his possession, he will be unstoppable. "

"Where is the other one?" Leonardo inquired.

"If the location of it was known, we would not be in as grave of a situation." He said, snidely.

"That is indeed troubling news," Splinter commented over Leonardo's affronted posture. "My recollection of the legend is dim, but I do remember the danger the medallion's halves carry on their own. It cannot remain in enemy hands."

"Yeah, well, how do ya expect ta find them?" Raphael grunted. "Do ya know who has tha one you lost?"

"Iie. I only know that it is somewhere in this city." Ancient One stood, his small, bulging frame barely gaining height from the movement. "Now I must get some rest. My journey has been long and I am spent. Is that alright, Splinter-san?"

"Of course. I already have the spare set up for you. I will show you the way."

"Gomen-nasai."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Just feed that review box! :D