Splinter was worried. As he should be. We were going to face Oroku Saki. The Shredder. Leonardo was supposed to give Saki an answer and after so many days of contemplation, I was sure he understood what the silence meant. We weren't going to join him and his army of ninja.

I didn't understand why Sensei didn't join us. Wouldn't it have made sense? Sensei decided to stay back and let us use our trainings. I didn't hear the rest of his reasoning as I zoned out in deep thought during his talk with us. We were about to face the biggest enemy our family may ever have and my father was skipping out. My brothers and I were ninjas but we certainly weren't prepared for something this big so early in our lives. Splinter didn't want me to go. I was too young, not ready for such a foe. Not that any of us were.

I insisted. I used the argument of my past to get me a very wary blessing. Raphael was to stay by my side constantly.

To make matters worse, Leonardo and I still weren't on good terms. I didn't exactly avoid him throughout the day but I didn't speak to him. As selfish as it sounded, I wanted him to come to me first. I deserved the apology anyway. Even Donnie was a bit surprised when Leo never approached me.

Now we were walking the rooftops in silence. I felt dejected being on such terms with my brother before going into this feud. I was sure he did too. I had a gut feeling this night wasn't going to turn out real great.

As if awaiting Leonardo's decision, a large group of Foot ninja's stood on the rooftop of Saki's dojo. They didn't move at the sight of us and said nothing as we approached. Raph instinctually kept himself a step ahead front of me, muttering a reminder to stay beside him. I didn't argue because quite frankly, I was nervous. We all were. Raph just didn't show it as much and it made me feel more safe.

Leonardo stepped forward, "Tell your master the answer is no!"

It was the answer they expected. Not even a second passed before every Foot ninja jolted forward in a heavy attack. Raph stayed back to back with me. We didn't make a bad team at all. Usually, we weren't partners during our training sessions but I was thinking maybe we should be more often. Our continuous cycle of tag team attacks were near flawless. The Foot were hardly a real match it seemed, the only upper hand they really had were their numbers. Take out one and three more were there to replace'em. Though, as the battle progressed further, Foot soldiers suddenly thinned out. I didn't understand why as across the rooftop, Donnie, Leo, and Mikey still had plenty of bodies advancing toward them.

"Oh, great," Raph muttered.

"What?" I turned to see what he was grumbling about.

A massive man. Large, broad shoulders and muscles that looked like they could pick up a whole semi without shaking. His blonde hair was strung back and hung loosely down his back in a ponytail. His most distinguishable feature was the Purple Dragon tattoo along his entire right arm.

The man cracked his knuckles, "I've been looking forward to this rematch, freak."

Rematch?

"Who the hell is that?"

"Hun."

Knowing his name didn't really answer my question. How did they know who this guy was? I would have remembered fighting someone like this on patrol.

Donnie was close enough to add on, "We fought him that night our old home was demolished."

That would have been nice to know.

Hun grinned as he'd heard what Donnie had just explained, "Yes. But I'm sure I don't remember a girl with you the last time. You must be Jade."

I lowered my chin. Stranger danger, it freaked me out, "Aaannd… how do you know me?"

"Stockman spoke highly of you when he told the Master of your unexpected reappearance after all these years. You and him have much to catch up on."

"Uh, I'm not much of a party person. Pretty introverted, actually," I replied, trying to keep myself as nonchalant as humanly possible. Hun saw right through it.

"The Master will accommodate such needs," Then, another battle unfolded. Raph told me to not to try anything with Hun, to watch his and Donnie's back from any Foot that tried to catch them from behind. I did as he said but I had a hard time not straying too far. The Foot were more than many and without Raph, I was finding it a difficult time to stay on the offensive. What made it even better was the sword that was swung into an electrical box beside me. Sparks flew and flames were an instant. Some Foot were caught in the initial blaze, the first few flames were my ally but before long, the fire was on its own side. Now I was separated from all my brothers, let alone just Raph and Donnie.

The orange blaze was more of a wildfire, flames rose high above my head and cackled at my helplessness. I couldn't get around, not without attempting to burn my entire body. The Foot and Hun had my brothers completely occupied and I couldn't help but wonder if this was the whole idea all along. Separating me from them? My answer was so clear after I was left alone with a certain individual. I couldn't see his face behind the silver mask he hid behind but I didn't need to. I knew who he was even if I'd never seen him in this getup before.

Oroku Saki. The Shredder.

"So after all these years, here you are. I was wondering where you'd run off to. Stockman shouldn't have left you to wander by yourself."

I played it stupid, "What are you talking about?"

"We have unfinished business. Surely you remember your stay with Stockman and his team of... Colleagues. He said he recognized you when you and your... Turtles insinuated his Mouser operations. Jade? Is it?"

He knew who I was and yet I still tried to play stupid. I just wanted answers, "Who are you?" The question was so broad. He could have been anybody since he's apparently played so many parts in my past.

"We only met once when you were very tiny so I cannot blame you for forgetting me but I am the reason you are what you are today. Would you like to know what happened to you all those years ago?"

I took a step back and he took a heavy step forward. My heart began to race, "No," It was the only word I could choke out. I felt fear and panic begin to rise in my stomach. His voice cut my courage like the sharp corners of his armor. His appearance, not just physically, but his whole presence was dark and sinister. I was terrified of this man.

Oroku Saki chuckled, "You're still as much of a child as you were the last time we met. Fear makes you weak, little one. I can make you stronger. You have more potential than you realize."

I took another step back but found myself closing in to a wall of fire. I couldn't go with him. I wasn't going to be tricked like Leo had, "No."

I could see his eyes go dark, maybe annoyed with my persistence. I was sure I could imagine a frown form on his thin lips, "You are making a mistake. I will spare your friends if you come with me now."

It was daunting. I wasn't sure if he was really telling me a lie or if he would leave my brothers alone if I walked away with him now. Yet, my brothers and I have been keeping our ground fairly well. We risk our lives with every fight we walk into but none have ever threatened our well beings too harshly. My brothers would be handle themselves if I chose to walk with the Shredder now and they would be able to handle themselves if I declined.

"I will not be your prisoner again," I muttered lowly.

Saki shook his head, "You have clouded judgement. That is an issue that can be easily dealt with."

I was barely able to block the quick attack that was aimed for my skull. His skills far outreach efforts mine. Attack after attack, I could already feel myself on the edge of a loss. His black katana was deadly. I wouldn't be able to keep up with him for long. I wasn't even sure if Shredder was breaking a sweat. It almost like he was toying with me.

An explosion caught the both of us off guard. A partial of the building on the other side of the rooftop had collapsed. There was an insistent yell belonging to Mikey but I didn't catch what he had said. Saki returned his attention to me in an instant. He didn't seem to care that his dojo was on the verge of becoming a pile of charcoal and rubble. What I knew was that this building fire wouldn't go unnoticed for much longer. I was sure that someone would call 911 soon, if someone already hadn't.

Ten seconds after that initial thought, I felt the crack of the roof close to Saki and I. A shift in movement and there was only a second of processing before the ground went out from under our feet. I swore I heard a pitched scream but I wasn't sure if it came from me or someone else.

I just fell and was welcomed in a dark embrace.