Heya Guys! I know it's been a while since I updated anything! But things have become more busy and stressful, especially since we're still in the middle of a Pandemic, but again I hope you're all staying safe and sticking to the rules!
I've had to stay safe, especially since I work in Healthcare and have to wear the right equipment to protect myself from Covid-19!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter!
Chapter Two
Later that evening, Kemeko and Pandora sat and watched their parents as they practised their training with Master Splinter.
After breakfast, they had spent two hours doing schoolwork with Donatello and Monalisa.
They had done Maths for an hour then Science, before being informed that History and Geography would be their next subjects in the afternoon.
After a morning of doing math problems as well as doing Chemistry, both girls were glad to have some time out to relax before doing their training with Master Splinter after the grown-ups were done.
"Can't wait to join the grown-ups." Pandora muttered as she watched Splinter call out instructions to the turtles and Mona and they followed along.
"Me too!" Kemeko agreed, "How marvellous it would be to fight alongside our parents against evil doers and criminals!"
"I've been practising hard with my rope dart every day!" Pandora continued with a grin "And I've been practising my ninja skills in the dark! After all! One must become one with the shadows!"
As Pandora said that, Kemeko gulped.
She thought again about last night and how she had been so scared of the dark.
She had awoken in the middle of the night after having a dream, yet she wasn't sure what it was about, and she had dropped her stuffed Panda to which she had leaned down to pick it up, and it was then she noticed just how dark her room was, and there were strange shadows on the walls.
What seemed familiar to her during the waking hours, such as her bookcase, chest of drawers, dressing table, her box of toys and wardrobe, it seemed to change during sleeping hours, into rather crooked and grotesque things, that seemed to stare at her and swell up into something menacing.
She had then didn't feel safe as she looked around and wanted to get away before anything that hid in the darkness would catch her, so she had quickly fled into the main lair, where there was some light which guided her around and made her feel secure, if only slightly, then made her way to her father's room which was conveniently next door to hers.
Once Kemeko had been old enough to have a room of her own, Leonardo had made sure the spare space next to his room was converted into a bedroom so she was still close to him if she needed him, and right now, she needed him most of all and had quickly gone into his room where he had welcomed her into his bed to protect her.
"Kemeko?"
Kemeko looked over to Pandora who was looked at her with her head cocked on one side.
"You okay?"
"Oh yeah, I am!" Kemeko replied quickly.
"You looked like you were away with the fairies!" Pandora said, "Granddad's going to be teaching us our moves soon! He'll be done with mum, dad and uncles soon!"
Kemeko looked back at the grown-ups and she soon saw Splinter was calling out some combo moves for them to practice, including some split kicks.
"And Finish!" Splinter barked tapping his cane on the ground to which the turtles and Mona bowed before collapsing in exhaustion.
"Okay!" Splinter clapped his hands "You five get cleaned up and rested! I will now start teaching the grandchildren!"
Pandora was all too eager to start training and leapt to her feet rushing to the dojo area before the grown-ups were even off the area.
"And once again Little Geisha is first in the queue!" Michelangelo blurted as he wiped some sweat from his forehead.
"Nothing surprises me!" Donatello chuckled.
"That's my girl!" Raphael smirked as he placed a hand on his daughter's head proudly to which Pandora grinned and Monalisa stroked her daughter's cheek with her finger as she walked past.
Kemeko skipped over as well to join Pandora and she smiled up at Leonardo who winked.
"You got this Lotus!" he said "Do me proud!"
"Will do daddy!" Kemeko smiled.
As the grown-ups filed to the bathrooms, the girls got into their positions before Splinter and after some warm-ups, he started calling out moves which they followed flawlessly.
Kemeko showed how high she could kick her leg as she demonstrated a side kick and Pandora showed her strength by kicking both legs in the air with one hand on the ground.
After some traditional fighting lessons, Splinter then requested the girls to do some freestyle moves to which they were both happy to oblige.
Kemeko demonstrated a skill which involved curling into a ball and rolling around before pouncing upwards, then she stood on her hands in a handstand and opened her legs before spinning like a top!
Pandora meanwhile crouched and began to lift her tail like that of a scorpion and started to jab along with her pointed hands like she had an extra limb to fight.
Splinter smiled proudly as he watched and nodded as the two girls continued to demonstrate their skills.
From afar, Leonardo and Raphael who had decided to wait to use the bathrooms whilst their brother's and Mona were using them, to watch the girls and both looked at each other.
"Kemeko is showing some skills there, especially with how flexible she is!" Raphael complimented "She's showing protentional as a strong ninja!"
"Thanks!" Leonardo smiled "Also, Pandora's showing how strong she is, she's got your aggression, in a good way of course!" he added quickly "And she has her mother's spirit!"
Raphael chuckled.
"That she does! Like her, I'm excited for the day she joins us! I know she'll be a great asset to our team, as well as with the Chicago Knights! Especially when Sonia, Freya and Loki become warriors as well!"
"Well Sonia's well on her way!" Leonardo confirmed "She's getting close to that age when she could be a Chicago Knight, if Tyroth lets her of course!"
"Well, she's got to start at the beginning, and learn to hold her ground, and find her special skills, as do all the kids." Raphael agreed.
"Bathrooms free!" Donatello's voice broke into the two older turtle's heads and they turned to see their purple masked brother, now clean and wearing a grey dressing gown head to his room to change.
At the same time, Michelangelo left the other bathroom wrapped in a towel to go to his room. Mona had retreated to the bedroom earlier (the turtles had let her go first to the bathroom, as it was polite to let Ladies go first) then after getting changed into a loose black dress had retreated to the TV area to relax.
Both older turtles looked back at the girls with confidence then turned to use the bathrooms planning to continue their observation of their daughter's later.
After a while, Splinter got the girls to spar each other, to which both ended with a tie, then they performed moves Splinter had asked them to rehearse before he tested them, then called out they were done with training to which the girls bowed to their grandfather and knelt before him.
As they did, the old rat leaned on his cane, as he looked serious.
"My grandchildren." He said in his soft yet sincere voice, "You are growing fast, and are showing true strength and willing to become ninja, yet if you are to become true ninja, it is not just learning to fight, and use your distinct weapons, you must also learn to adapt to your environment."
"Like learning to stick to the shadows?" asked Pandora.
"Indeed, yes my dear." Splinter said with a nod "But to also use what is around you to your advantage, I do have many stories that involve such things, some more daring and dangerous, yet you are too young to learn that."
Pandora frowned slightly in disappointment when Splinter said that.
"Don't give me that face Little Geisha." Splinter chuckled then looked serious again.
"Very soon, you will be given tests for adapting to your environment, one which I believe is most import is of course using darkness to your advantage."
"Cool!" Pandora grinned.
Kemeko meanwhile as she heard that, looked worried, though she forced a smile.
"Oh dear." She thought to herself.
Splinter looked at both girls.
"This test will take place within the lair," Splinter informed "then we will slowly move into the sewers, where your parents, and Uncles, or Auntie Mona in your case Kemeko, will be testing your skills in the shadows."
Pandora grinned more.
"This will be fun!" she exclaimed "When do we start?"
"In a week Little Geisha." Splinter answered "And from what I can see, you are raring to go, you are your father's daughter, always ready to dive right into the task!"
Kemeko looked up at the rat as she tried to look excited, yet a feeling of dread pooled in her stomach and her heart began to beat faster.
"I can see your concern Kemeko." Splinter said making Kemeko jump slightly and her cheeks went red.
Pandora looked over to Kemeko and raised an eyebrow.
"Grandpa?" Kemeko questioned.
"You are concerned child?" Splinter asked.
"No!" Kemeko replied quickly, yet she knew her reddening cheeks were showing she was a terrible liar.
"You nervous Kemeko?" Pandora challenged, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth, "I'm not!"
Splinter shot Pandora a frown to which Pandora shut up instantly.
Kemeko licked her lips as she tried not to look nervous, yet there was no hiding anything from her wise grandfather, and she looked around for her father, but she couldn't see him, as he was in the bathroom showering after his training session.
Splinter meanwhile noticed Kemeko's discomfort and turned to Pandora.
"Pandora." He said "You are dismissed, I wish to speak to Kemeko alone."
Pandora nodded and stood up before bowing and heading to her bedroom, but not before looking at Kemeko in confusion, planning to talk to her later.
Once Pandora had left, Splinter knelt before Kemeko and patted his knee urging Kemeko to sit on it which she did.
"Lotus Blossom." Splinter said in a soothing tone "Is there something you wish to speak about?"
So, it's not only Leonardo whose aware of Kemeko's nervousness about the dark, but wise Splinter has too! Will Kemeko open up to her grandfather about her fears?