A/N: I KNOW IT'S BEEN SO LONG! I AM SO SORRY! Things will get better after today! Hoping to have the next chapter up by wednesday (but dont quote me on that!) I LOVE YOU MY DARLINGS!

And so the Battle Nexus TOURNAMENT BEGINS! :D

We appeared instantly on some sort of rock surface with the sound of deafening cheers filling our ears. I looked around myself in awe; I had seen pictures of dojos before, but this was like a dojo mansion. Like an old Japanese castle from the times of dragons and magic. Waterfalls thundered down from above, the water framing around a huge Easter Island-esque rock carving in the cliff face. Down from where we stood was a coliseum that would dwarf the one in Rome. In the middle of the flat, stone bottom stood about thirty creatures, raising their weapons and chanting for the Daimyo. Once he stepped forward, their chants turned back into cheers.

He held up his staff to address them, his voice booming across the gigantic coliseum. "Warriors! You have traveled from the most diverse universes', and I bid you welcome, to the BATTLE NEXUS TOURNAMENT!"

If the cheers could get any louder, they did then. People in the stands stood and pumped their fists in the air, screaming war cries into the atmosphere.

The Daimyo spoke again. "To those who have fallen in battle, I salute your bravery and courage!" I looked over to a group of people who bowed back to the honoured man. "And to those who have passed the preliminary round, I say congratulations! I warn you to brace yourselves for the combat to come. For now is the time for the next round of the Battle Nexus Tournament to begin!" He raised his staff to the cheering and fireworks went off above our heads. I looked up, my hands out and my eyes wide. I swallowed. I was so going to die.

Suddenly Leo ran forwards, stopping at the edge. "Traximus?!"

The others ran forwards as well, shouting. "Let me see!" I looked down to where they were pointing and waving. There was a large, orange…triceratops-man-thing that was waving back at them. I closed my eyes for a moment; I could feel muscle knotting in my back like rocks from the stress of trying to understand what the fuck was going on around.

The Ultimate Ninja stepped forwards then. "Please my friends, allow me to escort you to your next arena." He looked straight at me while he said this, and held his hand out for us to walk through the huge double doors of gold and into the dojo. I smiled at him back and followed first, the others coming in close behind me. Raphael walked right beside me, slightly closer then usual.

To get to the arena, we had to pass through a colossal hallway filled with statues. The statues were made of deep brown stone that looked almost gold, and stood on blue podiums with names marked under them on gold plaques. They seemed larger then life and I was in awe by their craftsmanship. The Ninja explained to us as we walked.

"As you can see, this is the Pavilion of past champions. Something of a hall of fame." He stopped five or six statues away from the exit door. "Here are some statues that might interest you." He held his hands up at two that stood side by side.

The turtles all stopped at the second one, hardly taking notice of the first. It was Splinter, his staff in his hand and a concentrated look on his face. "Imagine, our sensei has a statue in a hall of fame!" Don's voice was full of wonder.

They stared, marvelled at the large reproduction of the rat, but my eyes were only for the human man that stood beside him. I stopped right in front of the base and looked up at him. He was clearly Japanese, with a strong bone structure and short, cropped hair. He had a severe, sharp face, but even in stone his eyes looked kind. His robes were simple and practical. He stood sidewise with his feet planted apart, one fist held back and the other stretched out in front of him

I bowed to him, my fists clenched and my eyes never moving from his face. I had no pictures of my father, nothing to remember him by but childhood memories. I wanted to burn his face into my brain.

The Ninja only nodded before turning. "Come, we must go."

They all turned to leave, but Leo held back, noticing me. "If it's alright with you guys, we're going to hang back for a minute. We'll catch up."

They nodded before Mikey spoke. "Remember, Leo, don't touch anything."

Raph laughed with Mikey. "You break it you bought it, bro."

Leo waved them off with a smile. "Go on. I'll be right behind you." He watched them walk away before turning to me. "The best way to preserve his memory is to honour him. By fighting, whether you win or lose, you continue his legacy. In our world, blood doesn't matter. Only family. Here, you are his daughter no matter who you were originally born to."

I slowly stood to my feet, taking off my scabbard and then my destroyed sweater. I let them both fall to the ground before reaching into my little bag and pulling two throwing stars from it. I stepped forwards and placed one on the foot of his statue. I used the other to carve my name into the first before putting it back into my bag. I then shoved the carved star into the foot of the podium. "I will not win. I doubt I will even survive. And I swear to god my head feels like its going to burst from having to deal with all of this fucked up shit. But seeing this, seeing my fathers face painted in such a light, it makes it all worth it."

We stood there, side by side, both of us placing our fists in our hands and bowing. However, our eyes both flew open when a sound of a cross bow hit our ears. I dodged to the side and Leo turned, lifting his arm to deflect the arrow. It hit off of his leather arm band and flew straight into my father's chest. I snarled and lurched forwards to my scabbard to draw my sword. "Oh hell no."

From the shadows jumped ninjas dressed as….shadows. They looked like men who had been subject to a rain of black paint. There seemed to be no seams in their clothing…as if the material really was just shadows. The material sprung out from behind their heads in what looked like pony tails but without the bands. Something told me that these creatures were not really men.

"MOVE!" I complied without thought and jumped and rolled to the side, avoiding the deathly arrows of the creature's crossbows. Dodging them was not easy, and gymnastics was not an option for me like it was for Leonardo. So I just ran around in circles like a chicken with its head cut off and prayed I wouldn't get hit.

I slid down the ground and raised my sword as one came straight at my heart. It lodged into the edge of my sword, stopping the momentum and protecting me. I looked up at my father. "If that was your doing, thanks." I rolled to the side again and stood, running back towards Leo. I witnessed him catching an arrow in his hand, but pushed him to the side as one came straight at his back. We hit the ground hard and rolled. When we stopped he looked at me and nodded. "That's twice you've saved my life. I owe you."

I was about to respond when a multitude of throwing stars swung down from the ceiling towards us. "Owe me later! Run now!" We both scrabbled to our feet in different amounts of grace, and split in two different directions.

One jumped in front of me, startling me and sending me backwards. Another landed behind me and hit something into my back hard, sending me flying. I landed against the wall with a groan. Not two seconds later, Leo landed right beside me, much in the same fashion. We helped each other up and prepared to fight again…but there was no one left to fight.

We looked around, bewildered, still tense from the attack. "Okay, where the shell did everyone go?"

I just shook my head. "Something tells me those things aren't human."

Leo looked around for a moment, and then grabbed a spear off the wall where we stood. A whip came out of no where, snapping in the air and twisting around the handle, pulling the turtle forwards and into combat with two of the creatures.

I had to move and dodge flying stars as they came at me. One barely missed carving a matching scar into my face as my arm as I ran to the side. I held my sword in two hands and ran forward with a yell, driving it towards the heart of one of the creatures. He jumped to the side and behind me, kicking me forwards and causing me to fall and shoulder roll back to a crouching position. I jumped forwards again just as another's weapon came at my neck, blocking it with straining muscles.

I heard a smack against the wall and used my leg muscles to push up and away, causing the creature's sword to fly out of his hands and giving me momentum to slide through his legs. I jumped up and ran forwards to the fallen Leo, who was trying to lift himself up after his heavy slam into the wall. I stood over him with my sword held high, a snarl on my face.

The creatures collected in front of us, surrounding us. Their eyes were bright red and narrowed, murder held within them. I swallowed. "I really hope you can stand, bud, because there's no way in hell we're getting out of here unless you do."

Suddenly, just when I thought all hope was lost, a sword swung down and threw the creatures to the side. My eyes shot upwards to see a samurai dressed in all blue…a rabbit samurai. His voice held a thick accent and there was a look of disgust on his face. "You fight with no honour, assassin!"

He jumped from his place on the statue and into the middle of the swarm of them. Instantly they retreated, climbing the walls and into the shadows they resembled so clearly. He sheathed his sword as he walked towards us as I helped Leo to his feet. "Are you warriors alright?"

We both nodded and I responded. "For the most part."

Leo rubbed his head. "Thanks for saving our shells."

The rabbit, who was as tall and muscular as Leonardo, bowed to us. "You are very welcome, comrades."

Leo spoke and gave the rabbit a deep bow. "I am Leonardo, and this is Charlotte."

I nodded my head to him. "We are in your debit."

The rabbit bowed back once more. Ninjas bow a lot. "I am Miyamoto Usagi, a contender of the Battle Nexus Tournament. I was passing by into the arena when I saw you two being set upon by those dishonourable assassins."

"We're very lucky you did. If not, we wouldn't be alive to compete." I walked over to my father's statue to grab my sweater and scabbard. I sheathed my sword and then swung it onto my back, tying my sweater around my waist.

"Luck has nothing to do with it. It is all about skill and control of your energies. Your mind and your weapon must be as one or you will certainly perish."

Leo scratched his head as I walked back over. "I know. Our sensei is always telling me the same thing. Any other advice?"

The rabbit nodded. "Yes. Duck."

We both hit the ground as a throwing star flew through the air and over our heads. Miyamoto Usagi drew both his long and short swords and jumped forwards, deflecting the oncoming stars. Leo pulled a shield from the wall and held it up. I merely ducked and rolled, dancing away from the death that flying towards me.

I stood and raised my sword as Leo sent the shield flying towards one standing in the rafters. I locked swords with one, and lifted my leg to kick him aside while he was focused on his weapon. Leo's voice was loud and strained as he shouted. "Who are these guys?"

I dodged another lethal blow, falling to my knees. "Better yet, what are they?"

Usagi fought between two, his eyes trained on their weapons, unable to answer. I slid forwards to avoid the slashing whip of another ninja. My sword was sent flying out of my hand and to the other side of the room. I cursed and ran towards the wall of weapons, praying not to get hit with a star.

I grabbed the first two handed katana I saw and ran back into the slew of battle. Before I could think, I was dodging to the side and avoiding the weapon of another creature. I pushed him off, but three took his place. I turned in a quick circle, swallowing. It took me a second to think of Master Splinter's training session before we left. I remembered how he had jumped from wall to wall. As the three closed in on me, I figured I didn't have much more of a choice. I ran forwards and jumped, landing with both feet on the chest of the one right in front of me. I pushed off and kicked blindly towards the one behind me. It sent them both flying backwards. I raised my sword to fight the third, but he turned and ran, along with all the rest.

Usagi sheathed his swords. "They are gone. Vanished." His tone was ominous and his eyes were narrowed.

Leo turned to him. "Again, thank you for your help, samurai." I nodded as well.

"Do not thank me yet, warriors. Fate may pit us against each other in the tournament."

Leo shrugged. "I have to say, Usagi-san, the way you fight, I'd rather not go up against you if I can help it."

Usagi chuckled. "The feeling is mutual."

I laughed as well. "And don't worry about me. I'm about as skilled in ninjutsu as I am at breathing underwater."

Usagi put a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't say that, warrior. You are not far in your training, I can tell, but you have a warrior's heart. You have potential to go far in this competition."

Leo nodded. "He's right, Char. I've never seen you fight that well. I knew you had it in you." He gave me a beaming smile and threw his arm around my shoulders.

Before I could respond, blue light flashed beside us and the Kiotchi appeared. He held Leo's katana in his hands. "Master Leonardo, your swords have been repaired. I trust you will find them worthy."

Leo stepped forwards and took them in his hands, holding them as if holding his newborn son for the first time. He smiled wider then ever before, and bowed to the transparent man. "Thank you."

Kiotchi only nodded. "You three must hurry. The next stage of the Battle Nexus Tournament is about to begin!"