Chapter 37: Rite of Passage

A/N: This is a filler chapter that takes place before the newest episode since it hasn't aired yet. I wanted to do something like this for a while, and since things are probably going to be getting more serious for the Turtles and Tony, I thought that now would be the perfect time to do this. It's time for Tony to finally get a weapon, and I know exactly how I want to do this. Thanks to those who have read and reviewed thus far. Your kind words are the best.

Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters are property of Nickelodeon. I only own the plot of the story.

Vinnie was still missing, and though we really wanted to do all we could to try and find him, we had a feeling we wouldn't be able to. So life just kept on moving, and the guys kept looking for mutagen canisters. I focused on school, work, and practice, though I really wanted to help the guys out more. I felt like I could be doing more, and it frustrated me that I couldn't. But then Splinter wanted me to come to practice by myself while the guys were on patrol. I didn't have to work, but I was curious as to why Splinter wanted to just see me and not April and Casey as well. I told Uncle Gino where I was going and went to the Lair. Splinter was in the dojo waiting for me.

"You wanted to see me, Sensei?" I asked.

Splinter nodded. "Yes, Tony, I did," he said. "I have been meditating for a few days now, and I have a feeling that something is about to happen that is not good. I have worried over you for a long time, and now I believe it is time for you to truly join my sons and April as ninjas."

"What do you mean, Master Splinter?"

"It is time for you to receive your weapon, Tony. I feel that you need to prepared for whatever danger may come, and the only way you can truly achieve this is to have a weapon."

My eyes lit up. Ever since April told me the story about receiving her weapon, I anticipated the day I would receive mine as well. I thought it would be really soon, but Splinter kept saying I wasn't ready yet and that I had to be patient. I tried my best, but I always looked really wistful when I would see the guys with their weapons or April with her fan. Now it was my turn, and I really couldn't believe it.

"Are you serious?" I gasped.

Splinter chuckled at my surprised tone. "Yes, I am very serious, Tony. You have progressed well in your training and now you must move to the next stage." He pointed to a table where various weapons were laid out. "These are some weapons I thought you might like to try. Remember though that the weapon chooses you as much as you choose it. Yu must get a feel for this weapon, and it must become a second part of you. Now, which one would you like to try first?"

I scanned the weapons until my eyes fell on a pair of twin katanas like Leo had. Although I thought all of the Turtles' weapons were cool, I had a special fondness for Leo's swords and always wished I could have some like that. "I want to try the twin katanas first, Sensei," I replied.

Splinter nodded. "I had a feeling you would want those first," he said with a smile. "Go ahead and try them out."

I slowly picked up the weapons, loving the feeling of the handles in my hands. I tried to lift them up just as I'd seen Leo do, but they were pretty heavy, and I ended up falling as I lost my balance. Frustrated, I tried again, but the same result occurred.

"What am I doing wrong?" I grumbled.

"Nothing at all," Splinter replied. "These are not meant for you. I believe they are too heavy for you. Have you ever held Leonardo's katanas?"

"No, not really," I answered. "I always wanted to though."

"Perhaps you should try something else," Splinter suggested.

I saw a mace and thought that looked awesome, but that proved to be too heavy for me, too. Next I tried some weapons with two blades on each end sort of like an axe, but that didn't work either. This definitely wasn't a good day for me. I tried a few more weapons, but none of them seemed to fit. I sighed in frustration.

"Maybe I'm not cut out to have a weapon at all," I said dejectedly.

Splinter put a paw on my shoulder. "Do not give up, Tony," he said gently. "Your weapon is here. You just have to find it. Perhaps you would like to try these." He pointed to a pair of swords that were smaller than Leo's katanas.

"No offense, Sensei, but these look too small," I said. "There's no way I can beat an opponent with these."

"You may be surprised at what you can do," he replied. "Try them."

I took up these swords and started using them. For some reason, I really liked them. I ran at one of the training dummies and slashed at it, making a perfect mark. I backed up and threw one of the swords at the dummy, hitting it right in the center of its chest. A look of pride washed over my face.

"Wow! I can't believe I did that!" I said.

Splinter smiled. "I believe we have found you a weapon. The butterfly swords suit you, and I also think you would do well with these as well." He pointed to a bunch of kunai and had me throw them at the dummies. I hit each one accurately and smiled.

"I didn't know you can have more than one weapon," I said.

"It depends on the skill of the ninja, but multiple weapons are sometimes an asset. I believe you will do well with the butterfly swords and the kunai. I will have Donatello make you a belt for your weapons, but you can only carry them when you come here or if you go on training runs. You do not need to carry them to school as you could get in trouble for that."

"Hai, Sensei. What about missions?"

"I do not believe you are ready for that just yet," Splinter said gently. "But do not worry. In time, I am sure you will be able to. You still must master your weapons before you can be allowed to go on missions. Is that understood?"

"Hai, Sensei," I said, bowing to him. "Thank you for giving met these weapons."

"You are welcome, Tony. You have earned it."

I smiled and left the dojo, happy that I had finally achieved a goal I had been wanting. I now had weapons of my own, and I was determined to use them wisely and make Splinter proud. Then maybe I'd be able to go on missions with the Turtles if I did well with them. At least, that's what I hoped would happen.

22222

"Okay, Tony, try and block my strike," Leo instructed. He swung at me with my katana, and I tried to block it with my butterfly sword. It worked, but I could tell that my grip was slipping a little on the handle.

"Nice try, Tony," Leo praised me. "Just try to hold your sword tighter so it doesn't fall out of your hand."

"Sorry, Leo," I apologized. "I guess it's because I'm nervous."

He smiled at me. "Don't be. You're doing great."

Splinter had instructed Leo to help me in my training since he was an expert swordsman and could teach me how to handle them. I didn't mind as it gave me time to spend with Leo, which I didn't have much of lately. The guys had been so busy with finding mutagen canisters that I felt like I barely saw them.

"Try again," Leo instructed, and I did as he asked. I was getting better and learning how to make it so my grip was tighter on my swords. I blocked Leo's attack again even though it looked like my swords wouldn't even hold up against an attack like that. I sighed in frustration again.

"Tony, what's wrong?" Leo asked. "You're doing fine."

"I just wish I could have the twin katanas like you," I answered.

"But you told Sensei you liked your weapons," Leo reminded me.

"I did, but now that I see what you can do, I just feel like these swords just aren't as cool as yours. I know I have to deal with it, but it's still hard. I was really hoping that the twin katanas were the ones meant for me, too."

Leo put a hand on my shoulder. "I get what you mean, Tony," he said gently. "Raph was the same way when he was presented with his weapons. He wanted the swords, too, and he was mad when Splinter gave them to me. He was given his weapons and thought they weren't good enough for him. But over time, he really began to like his weapons, and now he thinks they're so awesome. You'll feel that way, too, once you've taken down some enemies."

"Fat chance of that happening," I grumbled.

"It'll happen one day, Tony, but you have to master your weapons first. Plus, you have no idea what the Foot and the Kraang are capable of. You have to be careful."

"I know," I said. I hated sounding so whiny and ungrateful, but I just couldn't help it. It was how I felt, and that made me feel even worse. I should be happy that Splinter granted me weapons at all. And I should be even happier that Leo was the one who was helping me in my training. Yet, the only feelings I had were anger and resentment.

"I think we're done for today, Tony," he said. "We'll pick this up tomorrow."

"I can't. I have to work late tomorrow and I've got a math test to study for."

"Then we'll pick it up when you have time," Leo said. "Don't beat yourself up, Tony. It's normal to have feelings like this sometimes."

"You don't have them."

"Yes I do. Sometimes I hate being the leader and really wish that I could just do things without having to worry about my family. I hate having to be responsible and having to protect my brothers all of the time. I just get so frustrated."

"So how do you deal with it?" I asked him.

He smiled. "A lot of meditation. Maybe you could try that, too."

"I will, but right now I have to get home to get some homework done. I'll see you later, Leo."

"You want me to walk you home?"

I shook my head. "Nah, I'm good. I've got my weapons now, remember?"

He laughed and waved as I exited the Lair and headed for home. Leo was definitely onto something, I realized. In life, we aren't always given the best hand, but we have to deal with it and wait until something better comes along. My weapons may not have looked as cool as Leo's swords were, but I knew that they were the best fit for me and that I could still deal out punishment with practice. And the sooner I did that, the sooner I could go on missions. But little did I know that there was another reason Splinter was giving me weapons. Things were going to get pretty serious soon, and I would be dealing with something I never thought I'd have to deal with before I became a ninja. It wasn't going to be all sunshine and roses, and I knew I'd have to do whatever it took to protect my friends.

A/N: Yep, that's the filler chapter. I wanted to give Tony weapons because things are going to get serious soon from what I've seen of episode descriptions. And I have a special plan for the episode "Vengeance Is Mine" based on the description I've read for it. But that'll have to wait for a few weeks. In the meantime, feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.