Note: Credit to Chip903 for his ideas!

Chapter Thirty-Six

A Place of Solace

A week past and the Ancient One tried to help Leonardo to help confront the evil and venom in his soul by meditation and mind control.

On the first night, Leonardo had woken from nightmares and the Ancient One had found him trying to meditate and find solace on the front porch under the moonlight but saw he was shaking in stress and fear.

The Wise Sensei tried to calm him and got him back to bed, but Leonardo was so stressed he found it hard to sleep.

The Ancient One sat in the room with him until he fell asleep again, sitting in a dark corner watching as the young turtle tossed and turned in his sleep.

It worried the old Sensei, it was worse than when they had last met and Leonardo had so much anger built up in him, this was worse, as he was trying to contain the fact that he had slipped into insanity.

"You are nothing like Mashimi Leonardo-san!" whispered the Ancient One as the seventh night took over and he was sitting in the dark corner watching as Leonardo slept.

"I helped you once, and I shall help you again! Even if it takes forever, I will not give up until you find peace and solace again"

The following morning, the Ancient One stood in the garden as watching as Leonardo was demonstrating some bushido moves.

As he watched the young turtle he could see the stress and anger building up in him as he tried to fight the insanity that was within him.

Even though the turtle seemed well in tune with his practice the Ancient One could still see that he was stressed and angry.

Leonardo then unsheathed his swords and began to swing them around, performing graceful yet deadly moves.

The Ancient One continued to watch him then gasped in shock as Leonardo thrust his sword forward then saw Leonardo looked horrified and drop his sword.

Leonardo then fell to his knees and stare at his hands then place them on his head in stress as he saw blood on his hands and his sword bloody as he saw again the image of Mona dead on the ground after killing her.

"Leonardo-san" said the Ancient One walking over and touching the turtle's shoulder. He could see tears forming in Leonardo's eyes as he saw him hold up his hands and study them.

"You think you have blood on your hands?" asked the old Sensei "You have no innocent blood on your hands!"

"I saw her..." Leonardo whimpered "I saw her...Mona...I killed her...Like Mashimi killed Tang Shen"

The Ancient One looked ahead at where Leonardo was looking and glared.

"It must be Mashimi tormenting you again" the Ancient One whispered softly. He tapped Leonardo's shoulders and made him stand up.

Leonardo shakily stood up and picked up his katana before sheathing it on his back.

The Ancient One then took Leonardo's hand and made him follow him.

"I know I place where you can find peace and solace Leonardo-san" said the wise sensei.

"Where?" asked Leonardo.

"Just follow me" said the Ancient One as he led Leonardo out of the garden and towards a hill that was just around the corner from the house.

As the young turtle followed the wise sensei, he looked up at the hill where there was a tree covered in pink and white blossoms and under it was two tombstones.

"The resting place of Hatamo Yoshi and Tang Shen" Leonardo whispered under his breath.

He looked down at the Ancient One as he led him around the hill. They walked for about ten minutes then the Ancient One walked a little further away from the hill.

Leonardo looked around still wondering where they were going until they stopped at a small lake with lily pads and lotus flowers in bloom.

Leonardo's eyes widened at the beauty of the lake seeing how beautiful it was. The Ancient One then pointed to a blossom tree at the other end that looked very much like the one that stood above Hatamo Yoshi and Tang Shen's graves.

"This is one of the places Hatamo Yoshi liked to meditate and sometimes he and Tang Shen spent time together here when he wasn't training" said the Ancient One "Yoshi always said this was a place he really felt at peace, especially with the blossoms from the tree falling around him when there was a slight breeze"

Just staring at the scene ahead, Leonardo felt a sense of calm flow over him. The rippling of the water, the soft breeze and the soft scents of the blossoms and the lotus flowers made him feel relaxed and calm.

All evil thoughts, insanity and thoughts of Mashimi disappeared from his mind and he felt the urge to walk over to the blossom tree, sit down and meditate and feel the peace and zen that Hatamo Yoshi felt when he meditated there.

"It's so beautiful" Leonardo breathed hypnotised by the beauty and stillness of the place.

The Ancient One looked up at the young turtle and let go of his hand.

"Hatamo Yoshi found peace here, and I believe you can too" said the Ancient One, he then encouraged Leonardo to walk over to the blossom tree.

"Sit under the tree Leonardo" whispered the wise old Sensei "And clear your mind and you will find what you are looking for, and you may find answers to questions you have wanted to ask"

Leonardo looked back at the Ancient One "You believe I will find solace again?" he asked, The Ancient One didn't answer but encouraged him to go over to the blossom tree "Only you will know the answer Leonardo-san" he said "You must meditate and find the answers you seek"

Leonardo nodded and walked over to the tree. He stood by the trunk and touched the trunk; he stroked it as if respecting it then sat in front of it facing the lake. He looked up and saw the Ancient One standing at the other side of the lake watching him.

Leonardo then crossed his legs and leaned against the back of the tree he then closed his eyes then began to take a few deep breaths, breathing in the soft sweet smelling scent of the blossoms and the flowers on the water and feeling the wind bow gently through the blossoms on the tree.

Some of the petals were blown off by the wind and began to flow around Leonardo some stroking his skin making him sigh in contentment.

Leonardo felt so relived within as he felt the calmness of the scene fill his soul, he felt like he hadn't felt such a feeling in a long time.

After months of feeling such pent up aggression and stress he was feeling a new feeling within, one he hadn't felt in a while and it was the best thing he ever felt. It was like a weight was being lifted off his shoulders.

Leonardo controlled his breathing and continued to try and keep his mind clear, blackness filled his mind as he felt peaceful and calm.

So what will happen now Leonardo's found peace and calm at last? What will he see in his meditation?

Stayed tuned to find out!