Chapter II

Anxiously, Leo waited until his brothers and Splinter were in bed. Weather the letter brought on a trap or some one was really wanting an alliance with him, he didn't know, but was willing to find out none the less.
Finally, close enough to ten, the restless Michelangelo retired to his own bed and Leo was given the chance to sneak out. He didn't bother with a disguise; not only was the subway abandoned, if this mystery person had seen him battle before, he was very well aware of Leo's slight abnormality.

He crept silently through the darkened sewers, checking his back to make sure he had no followers. The times he thought to have had a pursuer, he touched his blades to reassure himself that he was well equipped.
Finally, what had seemed like forever, Leo reached the porthole that led to the abandoned subway station. Hoping he wasn't late, he quickly climbed up and lifted the lid of the man hole and glanced around before climbing out entirely. It was completely abandoned, and the only light that shone was from the outside street lights and the soft glow of the moon.

"Alone?" he spoke to himself. "I hope I'm not too late..."
As the words escaped, the sound of something - or many somethings - could be heard coming from all around him. Instinctively Leo whipped out his two blades and waited for the intruders to show themselves.
Suddenly, from nowhere yet everywhere, ninja dressed in black jumped at him from the shadows, all equipped with wooden staffs. Leo easily pushed the first two away before battling with the others. One came at him and he was pushed to the ground before another started to attack.

'It's a trap!' Leo thought, kicking a ninja away.

But there was something wrong with this attack. Each ninja waited to attack until the other had been defeated, as if they had been given numbers and were waiting their turn to try to defeat the turtle. Leo noticed, but fought none the less and began to guess who would jump him next.
He was able to knock them all down - about 20 in all - but they were all soon up again and had made a tight circle around him. He stood ready, walking backwards in small circles so he was not attacked from behind.
Suddenly, a small gap was made in the circle and a large man in silver armor stepped through, his face masked by a silver helmet.
Shredder.
He laughed evilly and passionately as Leo's eyes narrowed at him in recognition.

"Well done, Leonardo!" he said, almost spitting it out.

"You!" Leo spat in rage. "I should have known this was a trap!"

Shredder shook his head, still laughing slightly.

"You are wrong, Leonardo," he said. "This was no trap; I wanted to see if you were still able to fight as well as the last time I had seen you."
Leo's muscles tightened; no matter what Shredder said, he still didn't believe him, and with good reason.

"Why should I believe you?" Leo questioned, eyes still narrowed and body still prepared to attack should anything jump him.

"Because I want your alliance," Shredder explained simply. "Do you think I would jeopardize an alliance with lies?"

"Did you want me to answer that?" Leo replied smugly. A ninja jumped at him, but he was easily pushed aside. Shredder laughed and shook his head again.

"You do know me well, don't you?"

"Why do you want me to align with you?" Leo asked, ignoring Shredder's last remark. "And do you seriously believe that I would even consider aligning with you?"

"Oh, you will Leonardo, I assure you," Shredder said.

"I will never align with you!"

Without a word, Shredder pulled something from inside his armor and threw it to the ground. A green gas began to seep through it at a rapid pace. Leo knew exactly what it was and tried to get away. It was too late, however, and the turtle soon found himself asleep on the cold cement ground of the abandoned subway.

"Take him away," Shredder ordered the ninja's who had been quick enough to escape the poisonous gas. "And be gentle - we don't want him to be mad at us for hurting him while he was asleep."
Two ninja's took Leo by the arms and carelessly began to drag him down the subway station, despite the fact that Shredder had just told them to be careful. A small, folded piece of paper slipped out un-noticed and fell face down onto the subway ground.

"We'll see who aligns with who now, Leonardo," Shredder muttered confidently. "We'll see..."

* * * *

Back in the turtle's sewer lair (the next morning) ...

Raphael aggressively shook Michelangelo awake, hoping to get some answer's from his brother.

"W-wha...?" Michelangelo asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes slightly.

"Mikey, wake up," Raph demanded. "Where's Leo?"
Mikey blinked a couple of times before sitting up, still tired.

"I donno," he replied. "Isn't he sleeping?"

"I didn't see him there, no," Raph replied.

"Ask Don, then," Mikey said, rolling back over to sleep. "Maybe he knows."
Raph sighed and shook his head at Mikey before running into the main area where Don was up and already working on his computer gadgets.

"Don! You seen Leo lately?"

"Not sense last night," Don replied honestly, shaking his head slightly. "Why? Is he missing?"

Raph didn't reply, but dashed towards Splinter as he made his way out of his own room.

"Master Splinter!" he cried. "Please tell me you sent Leo some where last night!"

Splinter frowned and shook his head.

"I have not, my son," he replied. "Has he gone missing?"

"I can't seem to find him!" Raph explained. "I didn't see him go to bed last night, either."

"Perhaps he has gone creating mischief, as usual," Splinter suggested. "Do not worry about it until night fall. Then you can begin to search for him."
Raph struggled not to punch the sewer walls at Splinter's response. Although, he probably had been right. Leo could take care of himself.