Hello hello hello! Thank goodness I'm finally on Spring Break so now I had the time to type up this chapter. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far, but any and all suggestions or ideas are welcomed. Like always, I do not own TMNT, only my OC's. Enjoy:)

Chapter 10: Ambush

Leo's P.O.V.:

I got up early this morning feeling energized and eager to see Verena after our night out. The guys had wanted to ask her how it went last night, but she fell asleep after her shower so they decided to wait after she wakes up. As I was waiting, I made myself a bowl of cereal and decided to meditate for a while. It was easy to focus in meditation, even though I have other things on my mind; with it I couldn't let anything cloud my mind, everything had to flow with peace and silence. Feeling each breath run through my body like water in a stream. Having complete control of body and mind, heart and spirit. Nothing in the world is going to break my concentration.

Suddenly, I felt a familiar presence near me, but I didn't want to look or I'll break my focus. This presence felt warm, mature, honorable, and kind; whoever it was is sitting across from me. I could feel their spirit flow near mine; it almost feels like a soft breeze. Without a second guess I know who it is.

"Hey Verena." I thought to myself.

"Hi Leo." She said in my mind.

"What the shell?!" I was taken back that she can hear me.

"Relax. Do not be afraid, this is common during my meditations." Verena said to me.

"It is?"

"Of course. Master Splinter and I do this through most of our meditation sessions. I felt that it would be best to share this with you."

"Can anyone just do this?" I asked.

"Not exactly. The thing is you either have to have years of training for this or you have to be psychic like me."

"And you can speak to anyone?"

"Only if they allow me to. Like you Leo, you are familiar with my presence and given me the chance to talk through our minds. So now if we meditate, you can communicate with me. Does that make sense?" She asked.

"Yeah, it does." I said taking a deep breath.

"Good. Now that you know I should leave you to the rest of your meditation."

"You don't have to leave, Verena. Join me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Please, stay."

"Well… alright."

The dojo became silent again. I could hear Verena breathing as we focused, getting lost in our minds.

Later That Evening…

Verena's P.O.V.:

It was nice being on patrol with the guys again, but they told me that tonight we were going to do a training exercise. I'm trying to think about what it could be. All my curiosity makes me run faster, I don't know why, but I look back and I left the guys far behind me. I really need to learn how to control that. We jump a few more buildings and then we stopped.

"Alright guys, the exercise tonight is to test our stealth and invisibility." Leo said.

"Or as we like to call it…" Raph started.

"Hide 'n' Seek." Mikey finished.

"Hide 'n' Seek?" I ask.

"We figure that you would want to do something fun." Donnie said.

"And since this is ya first time, Mikey will be it." Raph said.

"Aww. No fair." Mikey said pouting.

"So what, Mikey counts and we hide?" I ask.

"That's right, but we hide throughout the city to make it more challenging." Leo said and he looked at his younger brother, "Okay Mikey start counting."

"Okay." He sighed and counted, "One. Two. Three…"

"Well, I don't know about you guys but I'm going to go." I whispered walking away, and Leo grabbed my hand.

"Just be careful." He whispered.

I squeeze his hand, "I will." I let go of his hand, "Good luck guys."

Taking a deep breath, I started to run and jumped off the building. I am looking all over the city, trying to find a good hiding spot; this is harder than it seems. Hide 'n' Seek was something that me and my sister would play when we were little, but to play it for training is kind of interesting. I finally find a giant sign to hide behind, in the shadows and it was near the docks. There is no way that Mikey will find me here. As I was waiting I felt something odd near me, it was cold and dark; almost feeling familiar to me. I put a hand on Timaeus's handle, waiting for whoever it was to appear. It's too quiet and I do not like it one bit. A moment later I stepped out of the shadows to look around and heard something move.

"Mikey?" I said.

No answer.

I was getting nervous. "Mikey?"

No answer. Another noise came from behind me.

I pulled out Timaeus, "Guys, if this is your idea of a joke it's not funny."

A dark figure appeared in front of me and others were on top of the sign.

"Guys?" I walked closer and the figures started to glow, "What the-"

Before I can say something, a bolt of lightning came towards me. I back-flipped, missing it just in time. They are definitely not the guys, but who could it be? I know those Foot Ninja don't have that kind of power, not even the Purple Dragons have it. But if it's not any of them, then who- No! No, it can't be. It can't be. My heart is racing just thinking about it. The only people that I know can do that are my people, and there is only one group that would want me dead. Those blasted Dark Benders found me.

The one in front chuckled as he appeared, "Well, well, well. What have we here? A lady caught off her guard?" His skin is pale like the moon, his eyes glowed red, and he is muscular all over.

I tightened my grip on Timaeus, "Not likely."

He smirked, "You seem to be doing well here, my dear. Oh, but wait, you have done nothing but hide here on this dull rock while your people suffer."

"That's not true." I said angrily at him.

Isn't it? You come and stay here like a coward instead of facing your people. They will all perish because of you." He said.

"You're lying." My hands were starting to shake.

"Aww, I think the little princess is scared. Are you going to cry to your mother and father? Oh wait, that's right, they are not here to protect you: a sorry, weak child that is nothing more than a poor excuse of a princess."

"Shut up!"

"To think with you here, everyone on Kennistar will be slaughtered. Their blood staining the ground, corpses perfuming the air, yes, it will be beautiful. And do you know the best part of it all? Your weak parents, sister, and grandfather will die because you couldn't save them."

"That's it!" I can't take it anymore.

I made a light orb and threw it near them. In a second they were blinded by my light magic; a Dark Benders great weakness is the light. With their eyes shut I started to attack, sending their sorry hides to the ground. I'm starting to get the upper hand until their leader tries to slice me with his axe, so I started to block his attacks. We were holding our ground and he blew powder in my face making my eyes burn. I was trying to rub it off when I felt a punch on my face and fell to the ground. I get back up, but I still can't see; I heard footsteps coming from my right and kicked them in the chest. Another one came to my left and took my arm, I elbowed him in the face and flipped him on his back; two charge at me from my left and right, and I jumped and did a split kick. My eye sight came back, I can see everything clearly and I can see them all on the ground except their leader.

"Is… that… all… you got?" I said panting, trying to catch my breath.

"My dear," He had a big grin on his face, "I'm just getting things started."

I see him taking out a black gem and whispers a spell into it. The gem started to glow black all around and rocks started to come together, forming a giant man-like figure. It stood about eight feet tall and had big arms; a head came together and the eyes were red. The monster that formed is a golem, not like the ones here; Kennistar's golems are very strong and are almost impossible to take down. This golem, however, was enchanted by Black Magic, which means double the difficulty. I need help. Reaching on my belt I pulled out the Shell Cell Don gave me to call them, but the golem shot a rock through it and it shattered to a bunch of pieces. It roared to the sky, echoing through the city, and looked at me.

I pulled Timaeus close to me, "Bring it you overgrown statue."

The golem charged at me, its fists in the air as they came down to crush me, but I jumped back missing them. It swung an arm and I blocked it with Timaeus, but I didn't see his other arm and it grabbed my leg and threw me on the chimney of another building. I groaned in pain and got back up to my feet, but the golem punched my stomach and I fell to the ground. Its master just stood there and grinned like a cat eyeing a bird. I gathered my light magic into an orb and hit it, but it didn't work. Instead it grabbed my arms when I tried to hit it again and the light shot up into the sky; it threw me back and forth, lifted me up and punched me down on the roof.

"I hope the guys saw the light." I thought to myself as I'm being lifted up.

Leo's P.O.V.:

"Found you Leo." I heard my youngest brother from behind me.

"Good job Mikey." I said looking at him and the others.

"Thanks!"

"Now you just have to find Verena." Donnie said as we turned to get going.

Suddenly we heard a loud sound that spread through the entire city. It was something that we have never heard before; no way that could have been a normal animal, especially with a noise as loud as that was. We looked at each other and around to see where it came from, but it faded. A bright light soon was shooting in the sky right behind us near the docks.

"What the shell is that?" Raph asked.

Donnie pulled out his Shell Cell and dialed a number, "Verena isn't answering and her phone seems to be disconnected."

"You don't think…." Mikey started to worry.

"I hope not." I thought to myself and looked at my brothers, "Come on." I said and we headed in that direction, "Please be okay, Verena."

Verena's P.O.V.:

"You blasted golem!" I yelled at it, slashing it with Timaeus, "Be a good mountain and go down."

Just as I'm going to stab it in the center, it grabs my throat and chokes me. I start to lose my breath as the golem tightens the grip around my neck. The Dark Bender looks at me with a giant grin, pleased by his pet's action. I'm looking around to see what I can use and spot a bucket of water; I lifted my arm and use my water-bending to form a spear to shoot at the golem's hand. I aimed and shot it, going through its arm, disconnecting it from the rest of the body; it roared in pain and I fell on my back catching my breath. This golem wasn't happy and neither was its master, yelling at it to finish me off. I am slowly getting on my knees to get up, but the Dark Bender hits me with his lightning; the bolt was stinging and burning my body as I scream from the energy of it. He kept on doing it until the golem was behind him, waiting for his command. My body is in so much pain, and my skin burned from the shock; I can't get up and I stare at both of my attackers. The golem was going to stomp me until something pushed it back so hard that it fell on its hide.

I look up and see four familiar figures, "Guys?" They turned their heads and it was them, "Guys!" I am so grateful to see them.

"You okay Princess?" Raph asked with his sais out.

I nodded, "I'll be alright." I tried to get up and I felt Mikey put my arm over his shoulder, lifting me up.

"Verena, what is that thing?" Donnie asked backing away from the giant brute.

"It's a golem. An enchanted rock creature that has extreme strength, they are very difficult to destroy, and this one is made from Black Magic." I let go of Mikey.

The Dark Bender chuckles, "You are very observant, my dear. Such a shame to have my pet hurt you, but as they say good things must come to an end." He pulled out his axe.

"Who are you?" Leo demanded my attacker with an angry tone.

"Isn't it obvious? I am an old friend of hers." He said giving an evil grin.

"Yeah right." I thought to myself putting Timaeus away. "What is it that you want from me?" I demanded.

"Tis not I that want you, but then again that can change. In fact, you do not need me to tell you the answer that you seek, but rather if your freaks right here will make it." He was talking about the guys.

I got angry, "You leave my friends out of this. They have done nothing to you or your clan."

"That tis not my problem." The Dark Bender said.

"Oh it will be. You will not threaten my friends or harm them, not when I am here." I said giving him an evil look.

His face went from sly to mad, "You would dare threaten me? I am your worst nightmare. As long as I live you will not live to see your sorry family ever again."

"That's enough!" Leo yelled at him. "Don't you ever, EVER, yell at her."

"You mess with her, you mess with us." Raph said.

"Got that right." Mikey said.

"Diddo." Donnie said.

They all surrounded me for my protection. I am so shocked, "Guys… I-I…"

The moment was over when we heard the Dark Bender laugh, "Isn't that sweet. Oh well, as I say: the family that stays together, dies together." His hand turns black and the golem came forward. "Finish them my pet. Let us see how skilled you really are."

The golem had his fist raised and slammed it down almost crushing us. Luckily we jumped out of the way, and I countered with my earth-bending, binding its legs to not move, but its master hit me with a lightning bolt and the golem broke free. I fell to the ground and the guys surrounded me while fighting the golem. Leo's helping me up and we soon see the other Dark Benders surrounding us.

"Great, more creepy guys." Mikey said.

"Uh, how do you normally handle this back home?" Donnie asked.

I looked at all of them and their leader and gave him a grin, "Like this." I lifted my hand and shot a light in the sky, blinding them, except the guys. "Get them while they cannot see."

We were attacking the Dark Benders with all that we had. Their bodies falling to the concrete below or on the roof. Most of them were out cold until the golem slapped us from behind, scattering us; Donnie and Mikey were on one roof, Leo on another, and Raph and I were together. That golem maybe big, but it can really hit; its strength is so strong that it could crush your bones with one slam.

I saw Raph get up and was going to help me when the Dark Bender and the golem showed up. He turned back to them and attacked the golem with his sais, stabbing and slicing it, but not penetrating its rock solid skin. My body felt numb, but I manage to lift myself up, sitting up. I look at Raph, fighting, but my eyes soon went to the Dark Bender, who was charging his lightning in his hands. That mad-man's going to kill him with that shock. I gathered all my strength, got up, and ran to Raph, praying that I get there in time. The Dark Bender released his lightning, but I push Raph out of the way and the attack went to me. I scream in pain, the lightning pierced my body all over and it was eating me alive.

Raph turned and looked at me, "Verena! NO!" I heard him yell.

Everything started to burn. My skin had marks all over from the lightning and my heart started to race. I wanted to hug my body and take this horrible pain away. The Dark Bender gave me a wicked grin as he continued to shock me, increasing the power. It made me scream louder than before. I turned my head to Raph and soon the others came to him, their mouths and eyes widened.

"VERENA!" I heard Leo yell, but I couldn't see.

The pain is getting worse. I can't take it any longer. If I give up this Dark Bender will get the satisfaction that he wants and I won't allow it. I raised my hands and focused my mind, creating a force field that made the lightning bounce back at him. It was a relief to stop him, but I fell back to the ground, clenching my body together. The guys ran to me, worried about my condition. They were so busy on me that the golem came up from behind ready to strike. I took out Timaeus, pushed the guys out of the way, and stabbed the beast in the heart. The light from my sword drained away the darkness in the golem until it was nothing more than an empty husk.

I look over and see the guys fighting the Dark Bender. From the looks of it they were trying to kill him. He was super fast and pushed the guys at each other. I see him run towards the guys with his axe raised and I blocked his attack with Timaeus; with enough force I disarm him and punch him in the face. He looked at me so angry.

"This isn't the last you've seen of us." The Dark Bender said backing up. "Do you hear me?! This is not over!"

I put Timaeus away and ran to him. With all my strength I jump and kick him a few times in the chest until he fell off the roof. There was no scream, no sound, no sign of him or his goons anywhere. I took a deep breath knowing that it was over, for now at least.

"Verena?" I heard Mikey call me, "You okay?"

I had my hand on my forehead as everything all around was blurry and my body was weak, "I'm… fine…"

My eyes shut and I black out. Not long after I open my eyes and I feel someone holding me. It was Leo as I look up at him with the guys in back. I raise my hand and put it on Leo's cheek. His hand soon met mine on his face. My body began to go numb and I shut my eyes, giving into exhaustion.

Two Hours Later…

Leo's P.O.V.:

We've been waiting outside Don's lab for a couple of hours now. After Verena passed out, I carried her all the way back home. Mikey was able to find her broken Shell Cell so Don can repair it, but it'll have to wait until she is healed. We were starting to get worried about Verena, especially me. I am such an idiot. Master Splinter had told us to never leave her alone when we went topside and that's exactly what we did. Now look where she is, lying on Don's table all because of me. It should be me there not Verena; I'm the leader and I couldn't even follow sensei's rule. When she wakes up, I have to apologize big time.

The lab door opened and Donnie came out. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. I can tell that he was tired from whatever he did to Verena, and I can't blame him. It must have been that bad to take that amount of time.

"How is she Donatello?" Master Splinter asked.

Donnie looked to the door and back at us, "Verena's torso was burned pretty bad by the lightning, so I cleaned and wrapped it; her other injuries were just cuts and bruises. For now, she needs rest and a whole lot of it."

"But if those were her only injuries then how come it took ya so long?" Raph asked.

"Her body was too weak. If I had treated her right away, it would have harmed her even more. I waited until she had more strength in her system before I did anything." Donnie said calmly.

"Thank goodness you're alright." I thought to Verena, taking a deep breath.

Everyone's silent. We are not sure what to do, but the only thing that I'm worried about is Verena. I can sense it in the others too.

"Can we see her Don?" Mikey asked.

He nodded, "Yeah, but not until we put her in her room. I think she'll feel better there than on the table." Don opened the door, "Come on."

All of us follow him inside to see her, but when we get there I stop. The sight of her covered in marks from her neck down to her arms and the bandages had started at her chest and ended to her hips. I feel horrible. Master Splinter put a hand on my shoulder to help me keep it together. I took a deep breath and joined the guys. Verena isn't moving; the only thing you see her dos take deep breaths. We looked to Donnie so he can tell us what to do.

"Okay, everything seems to be good so we can move her now." Don said.

"I'll carry her back to her room." I told them.

They nodded in agreement.

I went around the table. Don nodded, giving me the okay to pick her up. I slowly put my arms under her body and lifted her up. Once I had her secured in my arms we started to walk. Verena's breathing is slow and I can feel her breath on my skin. It was nice and warm. We get to her room and I lay her down on the bed carefully. I put the covers on her after she is settled. The room was so still and all we could hear is her breathing.

"Come, my sons, we must let Verena rest." Master Splinter said, but looked at me, "Leonardo?"

I looked at them, "I wish to stay with her for a while. With your permission, sensei?"

"Very well." He said.

"If you need anything, we'll be out here." Don said.

"Okay." I said and they left us alone.

With the door closed I looked back at Verena. I didn't take my eyes off her as I sat on the bed. She was breathing softly and with each breath her chest moved up and down. My gaze went from her to the des, seeing the flower that I gave her in a vase. I'm happy that she kept it. The lotus flower is a big part of Buddhism, it symbolizes our rebirth. It is said that we are born into suffering, the past experiences; if we banish the evil thoughts from our minds then we can break free from our pain. I gave her a white lotus flower because it is a symbol of purity of the mind and spirit. Verena is full of life and her soul is as pure as light. If there's anyone besides my brothers and sensei that can get through anything, it's Verena. She's strong, caring, a powerful warrior, and a beautiful girl. I look back at her and took her hand gently into mine.

"Hi…Verena." I rub my thumb on her skin, "It's me, Leo. I-I wanted to talk to you… alone. What happened earlier with that rock monster and those Dark Benders…I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I never meant to leave you, but I did. If you didn't shine the light into the sky, we wouldn't have found you in time." I shook my head and took a deep breath, "I feel so bad for all of this. I was told to not leave your side when we go to the surface, to protect you, but I couldn't even do that for you. It should be me all beaten up and lying on a bed not you. Verena, I promise that I won't let anyone hurt you again and I promise that I won't fail you. I will do whatever it takes to safe because I-I care about you." I squeezed her hand a little, "I wish I know if you can hear me."

A second after I felt my hand being squeezed lightly. It was Verena; she did hear me. I know she won't open her eyes, but I'm relieved that she responded back. Hopefully the danger is over and she can recover. I leaned to her and kissed her forehead, then I got up and covered her arms with a blanket so she won't get cold. I got to the door and look back, watching her sleep, and left shutting the door.

"Hey." I look to see Raph near the door.

"Uh, hey." I said as we stood there, "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough." He said putting a hand on my shoulder, "You okay bro?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I looked down at the floor.

Raph sighed, "Look Leo, I know you feel like this is your fault, we do too, but ya can't think like that around her. You have ta believe me when I tell ya that it's not your fault. She's safe from those goons." I look at him, "Ya did what you could and I think ya know it too bro."

"He's right." I thought, but I still feel bad. Raph smiled and I did back at him, "Thanks Raph."

We leave Verena's doorway and head to our rooms so we can all rest.

There. Well, what do you think? I realized that these chapters are becoming more difficult to write and type down, but I don't mind a challenge. Please R&R and more chapters will be up soon. Until next time:)