Chapter 10: The Foot Elite

Bree

When the Turtles had gotten off the Bucklebury Ferry, they were relived to find none of the strange riders in pursuit. They were pretty shaken up that there was more than one rider out there.

It was pouring rain outside as the Turtles, now wearing kasa hats to protect their heads from the rain, were hiding among a few trees in the woods.

From there, Leonardo looked around, glancing up and down the road in between the forrest and the gate entrance to Bree, searching for any sign of the mysterious riders. Once he saw they were not around, he sighed in relief.

"Coast is clear. Come on." Leo said, gesturing for his brothers to follow.

The four brothers quickly and silently ran across the muddy road, approaching the gated entrance.

"Dudes, we're reptiles! We don't do cold." Michelangelo cried. Not even the blood pumping through his veins could warm him up at this point.

Donatello looked back as they ran, giving his little brother a sympathetic glance at his cold younger brother. "Well it is near the end of September. And it should be winter soon. But don't worry, Mikey. Soon you can be in a nice house with a warm fire by your side." Donnie reassured him.

Leo knocked on the gate. Seconds later, a miniature door opened above them revealing an old platypus poking his head through the door. The platypus didn't see anything through the gate, so he closed the door and looked through another miniature door that was below the first one.

"What do you what?" The platypus, who was the gatekeeper, asked grumpily.

"We're headed for the Prancing Pony." Leo told him.

The Gatekeeper closed the window before opening the gate, approaching the Turtles with a small lantern.

"Turtles! Four turtles!" The Gatekeeper exclaimed, "Once more out of the Shire by your talk! What business brings you to Bree?"

"We wish to stay at the Inn. Our business is our own." Leo replied.

The Gatekeeper nodded, understanding. "Alright young sir, I meant no offense. My job is to ask questions after nightfall," He stood aside, allowing the Turtles to walk through the gate, "There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful."

The Turtles trudged down the muddy lane, walking past small pastures and houses. They rounded a corner, only to nearly be run over by a cart. They walked past several mammal people before Leo spotted a sign that said 'The Prancing Pony'.

Pushing past several people, they walked across the street before reaching the Inn. Leo pushed opened the doors as he felt a wave of warmth overcome him as he walked. Taking off their kasa hats, the Turtles looked around to see tons of people drinking, laughing and talking in a large room lit by several fires. The air wasn't exactly fresh as it reeked heavily of alcohol.

They then walked over to the bar, seeing the bartender who was a short humanoid mole.

"Excuse me?" Leo asked over the loud sounds of the inhabitants of the Inn, getting the bartender's attention. The Bartender looked down at Leo and his brothers.

"Good evening, little masters." He greeted kindly. "What can I do for you? If your looking for accommodation, we've got some nice cosy turtle sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to the little folk, Mr...?"

"Underhill." Leo stated, putting on his fake name. "My name is Underhill. And these are my brothers." He gestured to Raph, Donnie, and Mikey.

"Underhill, yes." The Bartender nodded.

"We're friends of Splinter the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?" Leo asked the bartender.

"Splinter?" The Bartender asked quizzically before his eyes widened slightly in realization. "Oh yes! I remember! Elderly rat! Brown fur, grey robes, green walking stick." Leo nodded in conformation. "I haven't seen him in, oh, six months or so."

Those words immediately shattered the Turtles spirits. Why hadn't Splinter come for them yet? Where was he? The relief in their hearts for reaching Bree was gone with fear and worry taking its place.

"What do we do now?" Raph questioned grumpily as they walked over to an empty table and sat down, gaining a few suspicious glances from the customers.

"Don't worry about it, Raph." Leo reassured, putting a hand on his shoulder. "He'll come."

Donnie sat down next to them, carrying a large mug of ale.

Mikey glanced at Donnie, his eyes widening at the sight of the huge mug. "Dude, what is that?!"

Donnie grinned, revealing his gap tooth, "This, my brother, is a pint." He then lifted it up and began drinking it.

"It comes in pints here?!" Mikey asked in astonishment.

Donnie stopped drinking, "Sure does!" He replied.

Mikey stood up from the table with a grin wide enough to split his face. "I'm totally getting one!" He exclaimed excitedly, rushing over to the counter to get a large ale.

"You've already had a whole half!" Raph called out to him, but of course, Michelangelo ignored him and sat down on a barstool at the bar.

Leo glanced over to his younger brother to see him looking quite worried, which was unusual for the red clad turtle.

"What is it, Raph?" Leo asked, concerned.

"That guy over there's done nothing but stare at us ever since we got here." Raph told Leo, pointing to figure who was sitting on the other side of the tavern, just staring at them. The figure was tall smoking a pipe, wearing a blue kimono top and navy blue pants as well as a pair of geta sandals on his feet. He had large straw kasa hat that covered his face from view.

Curious, Leonardo turned to the Bartender, who was already passing by their table. "Excuse me?" Leo asked, tapping the Bartender of the shoulder. The Bartender turned towards him. "That guy in the corner, who is he?"

The Bartender turned to face the figure in the corner, his face turned serious as he turned back to Leo and Raph. "He's one of them ronin." The Bartender told him, "They're dangerous folk they are. I've never heard but 'round here he's known as Yojimbo."

With that the Bartender then turned to left the table. "Yojimbo.." Leo muttered, pondering the name. As he did, he subconsciously pulled the Ring out of his belt pocket and started to play with it in his fingers. The sounds the Inn seemed to be drowned out as the Ring seemed to whisper to him.

Hamato... Hamato... Hamato!

"Hamato?" The sound of Mikey's voice snapped Leo out of his dream like state. He turned to see Mikey sitting on a bench at the bar talking to several other suspicious customers, despite all this, Mikey seemed oblivious.

"Sure I know him! He's over there." Mikey said drunkly, gesturing to where Leo was sitting, causing him to look in alarm. "He's my brother. My big bro if ya get what I'm say'n."

Leo, Raph, and Donnie went pale, realizing that they were in danger.

Now on the verge of panic, Leo quickly got up from his seat and pushed his way through the crowd, something that seemed to catch Yojimbo's attention. After pushing and shoving past several people, Leo finally reached the bar.

"Mikey!" Leo said, grabbing Mikey's arm as he was drinking.

"Easy man!" Mikey yelped, startled at his older brother's sudden panic, shaking his arm and causing Leo to fall to the ground. As he fell, the Ring flew out of his pocket.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the customers shifted their gazes towards the fallen turtle. Leo reached to grab the Ring as it slowly fell towards him. He attempted to grab the Ring but missed as it slipped onto his finger. Everyone in the room gasped in shock as Leo completely vanished right before their eyes.

Mikey could only look wide-eyed in horror, the immense stupidity of what he had done finally setting in as Raph and Donnie looked just as horrified.

"Mikey, what have you done?" Donnie questioned in shock.

The Woodlands

The riders immediately paused, sensing the Ring calling to them.

Turning their horses around, the riders rode off to Bree.

And this time, they would get the Ring... and kill the one who carried it.

The Prancing Pony

Leo rolled over and stood up. He looked around to see himself in a sort of ghostly world. Everything around him seemed to appear as a windswept shadow.

And among all the noise, one was louder than all.

"You cannot hide." A deep forbidding voice said, echoing through the ghostly world. Leo looked to source of the voice.

Now Leonardo was not exactly an easily frightened turtle, but what he saw terrified him.

In front of him was massive flaming lidless eye, and in the pupil stood a figure.

The figure was a tall, muscular man fully clothed in armor. He wore bladed shoulder guards and gauntlets over his arms and a large bladed helmet on his head which covered his whole face except for his eyes.

Leo had no doubt that this was the Shredder himself!

"I see you," The Shredder continued as Leo stumbled back and fell down on his shell, crawling away in fear, "There is no life in the void,"

Leo then grasped the Ring on his finger as he tried desperately to pull it off.

"Only death!" Shredder finished as Leo finally pulled the Ring off his finger.

Leo gasped as he breathed rapidly. He looked around to see he was back in the Inn and that the Shredder was nowhere in sight.

Seeing that he was out danger, Leo sighed in relief. But his relief was short lived as he felt a hand grab him by the shoulder.

The figure then pulled Leo up from the ground, pinning him against a wall. Leo looked to see it was Yojimbo!

"You draw too much attention to yourself, 'Mr. Underhill'." Yojimbo told him, grabbing Leo by the shell and dragging him up the stairs.

Top floor of the Inn

Yojimbo opened the door on the top floor, throwing Leo into the room.

The room was small with a single bed and a desk by the window. The room was dimly lit by a fireplace as well as several candles.

"What do you want?" Leonardo questioned, standing up and putting on a brave face. As the Ronin walked in, he could see that Yojimbo easily towered over him.

"A little more caution from you," Yojimbo replied, "There is no trinket you carry."

"I'm not carrying anything." Leo hastily lied, though he inwardly cursed himself for sounding so suspicious.

"Indeed." Yojimbo agreed, walking past a surprised Leo and over to the candles near the window.

He then began snuffing out the candles with fingers, "I can avoid being seen if I desire," He said, "But to disappear entirely," He removed the kasa hat from his head, revealing himself to be a humanoid rabbit with white fur, his ears tied with a blue material in the shape of samurai kits, and a small scar over his left eye, "That is rare gift." He finished.

"Who are you?" Leo questioned.

"Are you frightened?" The Rabbit Ronin asked out of the blue.

Leo was confused now as he paused, "... Yes." He replied.

"Not nearly frightened enough," Yojimbo told him, "I know what hunts you."

But before he could go on, Yojimbo heard a series of foot steps coming up the stairs. He drew a katana from his belt as the door burst open, revealing Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Donnie holding a candle and Mikey holding a stool.

"Let him go!" Raph shouted angrily, putting his fists up. "Or we'll have you, longshanks!"

Yojimbo simply stood up straight, "You're bravery speaks of heroic hearts, young turtles," He told them, sheathing his sword, "But that will not safe you." He then turned to Leo, "You cannot wait for the wizard any longer, Leonardo. They are coming."

Gates of Bree

The Gatekeeper sat in his chair in the gatehouse, smoking his pipe when he heard the snort of a horse outside his gate.

Curious, he walked over to the gate, opening the top window of the gate and gasped.

Suddenly, the gate was knocked down by four of the riders, crushing the Gatekeeper underneath as they rode into Bree.

They rode through the muddy streets before arriving at the Inn.

They then walked into the Inn, swords drawn to their sides as the Bartender hide behind the bar, frightened.

Bedroom

The Turtles slept rather peacefully in their beds as the Riders walked silently into their room, their jagged katanas held upright in front of them. Quietly, the riders slowly walked over to the beds, standing next to them before poising their swords to strike.

They then stabbed the beds relentlessly, intending to kill the Turtles.

Once they stopped stabbing, they removed the covers to make sure they were dead.

But to their hidden shock, the Turtles were not in their beds. Instead was a bunch of pillows that were now ragged with feathers falling out due to the stabbing.

The riders screeched as the turned over the beds, enraged, they had been deceived!

Across the street in another building, Yojimbo sat by the window, watching as the riders screeched and search the other bedroom, sighing in relief that they had left the Inn just in time.

The screeches were so loud that they woke the Turtles.

"What are they?" Leo asked.

Yojimbo turned to the Turtles, "They were once mortals," He replied, "Great Emperors of Mortals. But then the Shredder, the deceiver, gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness." Yojimbo looked out the window to see the riders now mounting their horses, "Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Foot Elite. The Ringwraiths. Neither living, nor dead, they are the deadliest of warriors, lethal assassins." That statement greatly unnerved the Turtles as Yojimbo spoke with utter seriousness, "At all times, they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One. They never eat, they never sleep, and they will never stop hunting you. Which is why you need to leave."

"How do we know you won't try to steal the Ring from us?" Leo questioned, still slightly suspicious.

Usagi walked closer to him, "Because if I wanted the Ring for myself, I could have now." He replied, drawing his katana and holding it at Leo's throat.

He then lowered his sword towards the group of shocked and slightly frightened turtles, "Now, get some sleep," He said, walking over to his own bed, "You will need all of your strength for tomorrow."

Woodlands, the next morning

After having a very quick breakfast, Yojimbo led the Turtles out of Bree and into the country side with their only horse named Bill following them.

"Where are you taking us?" Michelangelo questioned as they walked past fallen trees

"Into the wild." Yojimbo replied as he led the group.

Raphael then turned to Leonardo, "How do we know we can trust him? How do we even know he's friends with Splinter?" Raph questioned, suspicious.

"We don't," Leo replied "But we don't have a choice, Raph. Right now, Yojimbo's our only chance to get us where we're going. Besides, he might be our only defense against the Foot Elite."

"Yeah, but where is he leading us?" Donatello asked, also suspicious.

"To Rivendell, Donatello-san. To the house of Bishop." Yojimbo replied, having heard their conversation. Of course he understood their initial mistrust, as he was a complete stranger to them, but they were going to have to trust him if they wanted to survive.

"Dudes! Did you hear that?" Mikey exclaimed excitedly. "We're gonna see the elves!"

For a few more hours, they continued to walk through the country side, exiting the woodlands before putting on their winter coats and kasa hats and climbing up a snowy hill.

The group then stopped to catch their breath as Yojimbo looked around the landscape, searching for a safe way to go. As he did this, the Turtles sat down by the horse, getting out their pans and cooking utensils.

Yojimbo turned back to them, "Gentlemen," He spoke, catching the Turtles attention before they could start a camp fire, "We must not stop until nightfall."

"What about breakfast?" Mikey asked.

Yojimbo paused, "You already had it." He replied, slightly confused.

"Yeah we did have one," Mikey said, "But what about second breakfast?"

The Rabbit Ronin frowned in annoyance, was this boy seriously going on about this now? He turned and continued on.

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast." Donnie said, glancing at Mikey and putting a bag on his shoulder as Leo and Raph began putting everything else on the horse.

"What?!" Mikey questioned in shock. "What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea?! Dinner?! Supper?! He knows about them, right? Right?!"

Donnie put a hand on Mikey's shoulder, "I wouldn't count on it." He said, grumbling slightly.

Just then, an apple flew over a bush, landing in Donnie's hand, surprising them both. Being generous, Donnie handed the apple over to Mikey, who happily excepted it. Another apple then flew over the bush, this time hitting Mikey square in the head.

Knowing that they had been given food, the Turtles continued to follow Yojimbo to Rivendell.

Now the casting was tough when coming up with this fanfic, so much so that I almost gave up on this story. But here I am continuing to update with new chapters, so stay tuned.