Special thanks to pacphys for editing.
Chapter 18 Trail of Metal
The door before them opened up into a strange hall of silvered walls. All around them they saw their reflections dancing about the walls.
"What trial is this, Leonardo?" Freyja asked uncertainly. Leonardo could tell that she was as paranoid as he felt. With all the reflections around it felt to Leonardo as if he were being followed.
"Metal, I think," Leonardo said. "Look at the walls. It looks like everything here is coated with silver, but I don't know what kind of trial we're going to have to face to prove our worthiness to theses beings."
"It is very hard to tell where we are going," Freyja complained. "There are so many reflections I cannot tell what is the true path and what is an illusion."
Leonardo nodded. "Just like in a fun house, but I doubt we're in for a fun time."
Suddenly Freyja found a barrier between her and Leonardo. "Leo!" She cried out, startled. "Leonardo spun around, and moved forward only to collide into the barrier between them.
"Freyja? What happened?" Leonardo asked.
"I do not know where this came from," Freyja explained, as the glass began to take on a silver sheen and go opaque and reflective.
"Freyja? Freyja!" Leonardo banged on the panel, but it did not relent, and it did not break.
They're isolating us from each other. I thought they said we needed each other to survive the trials! Leonardo wondered what this trial meant if they were going to have to do it alone.
He drew his sword, and tried to slash through the mirrors. "I thought we were supposed to go through the trials together?" He shouted to the unseen watchers. "Why are we doing this one alone?"
"Because you're selfish, Leo," a voice said behind him. Leonardo turned aroundto be faced with another ninja turtle. He stood there, his own swords drawn, with an angry impatient sneer on his face. Leonardo took a step back in shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
It was him!
"What is this?" Leonardo said uncertainly. "Who are you?"
Don't you know, Leo?" Leonardo's doppelganger answered viciously as he advanced on the ninja turtle. "I am you, the part of you that knows the truth. The part of you that's sick and tired of the way you've been treating the others!"
The pseudo- turtle lashed out at Leonardo with his katana. Leonardo did a back flip to get out of the way, and drew his own blades. He noticed that the narrow corridor had opened up into a large room. He and this odd reflection of himself did have enough room to fight, but it hadn't been like this before.
Did the walls move? Or is this an illusion in my mind like the first trial? Leonardo wondered. "What are you talking about?" He asked his copy. "I didn't get them into this! If Mikey-"
"Who let Mikey nearly get himself killed?" The false Leonardo demanded angrily, as he attacked Leonardo again. "Who woke up and found himself left behind because Don and Raph were tired of the way you've been acting? You know why they left you behind Leo? Because they were afraid you'd freeze up on them, or worse talk them out of it. Isn't that why you left Mikey behind, because you couldn't talk him out of what he knew was right?"
Leonardo wasn't getting room or time to attack his double. Illusion or some other strange magic, this fake turtle was faster and stronger than he was. "It wasn't like that it was-"
"You can't lie to me, Leo. I am you. I know everything you know. You left Mikey to get hurt because you didn't want to listen to him! You won't listen to anybody who doesn't want to do things your way Leo, and you know it!"
"That's not true!" Leonardo said parrying his double's attacks. "I–"
"You didn't even let Don and Raph make the decision to go off without you. You had to get involved then. Face it Leo, it's always been your way or the highway! You don't let any of the others do anything without your say so!"
Leonardo ducked under another blow, but within his own mind now, some doubts began to creep through. "What are you talking about? What do you mean?"
His double sneered and attacked again. "You're a control freak, Leo. You complain about how much time Donny spends on his inventions, you complain about Raph's adventures, and you complain about everything Mikey does. You try to get everyone to do things your way! If you had your way Mikey would never see his mermaid friends again."
Leonardo bit his lower lip as he dropped to the ground, and did a backwards tumble to get out of range of his double and his weapons. He had been thinking that when he and Don had traveled down to the mermaids' stronghold. Was he wrong? Suddenly he remembered this was a trial. He wasn't supposed to overcome not his opponent, but something inside of himself. "How can I trust the mermaids, if I don't know anything about them?" He demanded trying to strike back at his double.
"You don't want to know anything about them," The mirror turtle countered. "You just want them to go away. You could have asked Mikey, but you didn't want to. You just wanted him to do what you wanted. If you had your way you'd have him abandon the mermaids when they need his help the most."
That accusation hit the odd instinct Leonardo still possessed in the gut. Even when they weren't around he could feel the connection to them. Now that he was down here, in their home, he couldn't even imagine abandoning them now. "You know I can't," Leonardo said. "I don't have any control over how I feel about the mermaids! They could force me to do anything they wanted, and I wouldn't have a choice at all!"
"Like they would!" His double said with a snort. "If you'd start listening to those instincts you have you'd know they'd never do anything to harm you. You just don't like them because you can't control them!"
Was he right? Was he that much of a control freak? He never thought about it that way before. He was the big brother, the one who had to watch out for the others because they were far more often in trouble than he was. Yet as he thought about it, Splinter had not forbidden Michelangelo from coming here after the rescue. He only told Michelangelo that he had to do what was right. Was that some sort of subtle signal that he trusted Michelangelo? Bigger question, If Splinter didn't say no, why did I try to?
Leonardo thought about another secret Michelangelo had kept from them all, His friendship with the veterinarian Robert Thomas. Leonardo rememberedbeing angry with Michelangelo for making a friend, but they had needed him when Splinter had fallen ill. Was I angry because I didn't trust Rob even though we knew April and Casey were all right, or did I just do it because Mikey never told me about him?
Leonardo took a long look at himself, and how he had been acting around the others. He found he didn't like what he saw. He was a control freak. He hoped he wasn't as bad as this illusion was making him out to be, but he couldn't be sure about that anymore. He silently vowed to talk to Master Splinter about that when he got home, and find out how he could get over being such a controlling personality.
Until then, he thought as he blocked the blows from his opponent. I have to make good on my own.
"You're right," Leonardo said lowering his blade. "I don't trust the mermaids because I can't control them."
His double stopped attacking him, and looked at him expectantly. "And," he asked.
Leonardo took in a deep breath. "And Mikey and the others have every right to keep their own secrets, and make their own decisions in life. They don't need me hovering over them."
To his surprise his double smiled. "Yeah they do," he said. "It's just that when they've made up their minds you have to step back, and let them choose, and when they do choose you have to back them up, Even when they're wrong."
Leonardo sighed and nodded. He realized that this was about him, not the others. It wasn't going to be easy, but he vowed that this was a character flaw he was going to learn to overcome.
His double looked at him very pleased. "Good job, Leo," he said. "Only one more to go, but the next one is the hardest yet." With that, his double faded away leaving him in the corridor of mirrors.
Only now did Leonardo think of Freyja. What did she have to face about herself? What was she going through? He closed his eyes and tried to listen to the sounds around him. Sure enough he could hear the sounds of battle. Think Freyja, Leonardo thought as hard as he could. It's trying to tell you something about yourself that you won't like. Accept it, and you'll win. I had to face something about myself I have to change. Whatever your opponent is telling you, is right."
Leonardo wasn't sure what else he could tell Freyja that could help her. For several long minutes he listened to the sounds of battle, and he knew he could do nothing to help her.
Suddenly the mirrors on his left rippled and simply vanished. Freyja stepped out of the opening looking unsettled and uncertain.
Leonardo stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her. "Freyja?" he asked.
"Leo....Leonardo?" Freyja asked uncertainly. "I saw...I do not think you will believe me but-"
"You've been fighting with a slightly distorted reflection of yourself," Leonardo said with a slight grin. "It helped you see some flaw in your character that you know you have to fix when we get out of here."
Freyja looked at him startled. "She said that it is wrong for me to serve my mistress Badb because she does evil unto others, but she raised me from a child to be her strong right hand. She taught me to be strong and fierce, to crush my enemies beneath me. How can I abandon her?"
"But you had to agree with your reflection," Leonardo said. "Mine didn't let me go until I told him he was right."
"I know my reflection was right," Freyja explained. "I told her she was right, but when I told her it would be disgraceful to abandon she who raised me, she told me that was something I had to work out on my own. Then she released me." Freyja looked at Leonardo puzzled then said, "I heard you, you know."
"You heard me?" Leonardo echoed in question.
"I heard your spirit call to me," Freyja explained, "I...I did not want to admit that my reflection was correct, and that I was without honor for serving Badb, but then I heard your voice inside my mind telling me that I had to agree, and I knew I had to admit to myself that she was right, or I would be trapped in combat with her forever."
Leonardo wasn't sure what to think. "But...but I didn't even say it. I just thought it." Leonardo looked at Freyja and then at the mirrored walls around him. "What is going on with us in this place? How could you hear what I was thinking?"
"I do not know," Freyja said sympathetically. "I feel it as well. This place is changing us. Changing how we think about ourselves, and how we feel."
Leonardo nodded. "And there is more to come. Remember this pathway leads to the healing waters. I have a feeling by the time we go through those we won't be what we were."
"Let us take one thing at a time, Leonardo," Freyja reminded him. "We still must deal with the trial of fire. That will change us as well."
"I know," Leonardo said. "The Trial of Air was about what we want, and how it isn't what's best for us. The Trial of Earth, was about worrying about dwelling on things we can't change, and in this Trial we were forced to face something about ourselves we don't like."
"What do you think the Trial of Fire will be like?" Freyja asked.
"I hope you know yourself real well, Freyja," Leonardo said apprehensively. "Because there is only one thing I can think of that they would want us to face."
Freyja sensed Leonardo tense up. "What will they make us face, Leonardo?"
Leonardo sighed deeply and drew his katana. Holding them defensively he said, "we're going to have to face our worst fears."
Uncertain, Donatello followed the others into the chamber. It was perfectly round with a bench carved into the outer wall for sitting. The walls, all quartzite, glistened like they were made of ice. In the center of the room was a round pedestal on which floated a ball of light.
Michelangelo walked up to the railing surrounding the pedestal and bowed before it. "I call upon The Oracle, who sees what cannot be seen and knows what no one knows."
The light flared to life. "Welcome Michelangelo," The Oracle said. "Why do you, who know so much of the sea, seek knowledge here?"
Donatello backed up into Raphael surprised to hear a voice come from the light. "Raph, what's going on?" He whispered.
To his surprise Raphael simply hushed him. "Shhh watch," Raphael whispered back.
"You know what I know and don't know Oracle," Michelangelo answered back with a wry grin. "And you know what I want even before I ask it. What's happening to Leo?"
The Oracle sighed. "Michelangelo, you know I cannot tell you what occurs during the healing trials. No one must know prior to entry what it is they will face. "
"Aww come on!" Michelangelo argued back. "You know I don't care about the trial. I just wanna know what's happening to Leo!"
"He is alive, he is well, and he is succeeding. He has passed two trials already. I saw him where initiates are given counseling" The Oracle, said firmly. Michelangelo relaxed instantly, but the others weren't satisfied.
"Is that all you're gonna tell us?" Raphael asked sourly.
The Oracle flashed slightly. "And what is it that you wish to know, Raphael?" The being asked.
"Raph," Donatello whispered from behind him. "Don't get that thing mad at you."
Raphael ignored Donatello. "I wanna know what hoops we've gotta jump through to get him out of there. He isn't in there alone you know, and from what everyone here is tellin' me that ain't right."
The Oracle flared and flickered as if it were chuckling. "Ahh yes, the girl. It was determined that alone the girl would never escape the trials, so your brother was permitted to follow her. We know that he will not abandon her."
"As much as he should," Raphael muttered.
"But how do we get them out of there?" Donatello asked, finally gathering enough courage to question the glowing light.
"There is nothing you can do for Leonardo or his companion, Donatello." The Oracle said. "By their own wits and skills are they to succeed in the trials."
Raphael glowered at the glowing light. "With all due respect, Oracle, I'd like to know what the shell are we supposed to do until then!"
Suddenly the Oracle began to glow brighter and brighter, and hovered higher above her pedestal.
"I don't think you should have asked that, Raph," Donatello said. Together they backed up against the wall.
"Hear this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," The Oracle intoned formally. "Badb is coming with her final wave of warriors to take the Rhinegold from the colony. I know that which no one else knows, and I tell you this. If Badb takes the Rhinegold before Leonardo touches the Waters of Healing This colony will be destroyed(2) and all within it."
Benten who had been silent throughout the interview put her hand to her heart and shivered. "No," she whispered.
But The Oracle wasn't finished. "But if so much as a scale upon Leonardo's toe touches the waters before Badb seizes the Rhinegold then the colony will be victorious."
"He'll never finish the trails before Badb reaches the colony." Murial said sourly. "The colony is doomed. We must evacuate now Benten"
"Shows what you know Murial," Michelangelo said as he drew his nunchucks. "The Oracle didn't say when Badb gets here. She said when Badb gets the Rhinegold. All we have to do is make sure she doesn't get it."
"You're mad," Murial said. "You can't fight Badb and win! She's a secret sorceress! She'll strike you dead where you stand!"
"So why are you complaining?" Michelangelo asked. When the others stared at him blankly he raised his voice and said, "You still don't get it! We don't have to win! All we have to do is stall for time! If Leo's finished two trails already he's halfway there."
"But the trials get harder the further on you go!" Lillian said. "You don't know how long it will take him to finish the trials."
"You don't know Leo the way we do, Lil," Raphael said. "Mikey knows your kind and us equally. If he says Leo has a chance, we have a chance."
Benten looked torn. "My young friend, your faith in Leonardo is commendable, and fills me with hope, but you cannot ask me to put the life of the whole colony and our charges at risk on your faith."
To her surprise Michelangelo agreed. "Of course not, Benten!" He said. "Take the girls and go! I just want the chance to stall! You heard what The Oracle said. If Leo finishes first we've got a chance!"
Benten sighed deeply. "Michelangelo," she began. Before she could get another word out Michelangelo looked up, and his voice became uncharacteristically serious.
"I'm not leaving Benten. I'm not going, and you can't make me. You have to protect your own people, and that's cool, but Leo is my brother."
"That goes double for me!" Raphael said standing by Michelangelo's side.
Donatello took up position on Michelangelo's other side. "All of us," he said.
Lillian glanced at Benten. She then turned to look at the three turtles. With a deep breath she turned, and took her place next to Raphael. "With your permission Benten," She began uncertainly. "The turtles have been my charges for over ten years. I would stand by them, and defend my home."
"Susan, a brown haired pixie of a mermaid with deep liquid green eyes, moved over to Lillian and the three. "I can fight, I want to stay too."
Two others also moved to Lillian's side. "I want to stay too!" Christi said.
"I can fight too, I want to stay!" Megan agreed.
Benten looked at the determined mermaids. "How can I say no to my brave younger sisters, and yet how can I leave you behind. If you wish to fight by the sides of our friends, how can I do less?" She turned to Murial. "Take the others, the animals, and go. When it is safe, we shall summon you back."
Murial frowned. "I think you are making a mistake, Benten. "I mean of courseif the turtles wish to fight a hopeless battle that is their choice."
Michelangelo smiled amused. "You're all heart, Murial." He said.
Murial glared at Michelangelo but then turned back to Benten. "But you should not throw your life away on a foolish hope. We have to go now!"
"No!" Benten said firmly. "If Lillian and the others wish to fight, it would be faithless of me to leave them. Take the others and go, but I shall fight beside our sisters, and our friends. That is my decision!"
Muriel sighed, and bowed. "You are the matriarch," she said simply.
Sylvia suddenly piped up, "I want to stay and fight too, Grandmother!"
At that Michelangelo shook his head. "No way, Siv. You're going."
"But," Sylvia began.
Raphael shushed her and said, "Sorry, small fry. This is no place for a kid."
Sylvia screwed her face up, but Donatello said, "You've got to take care of the animals. We're counting on you to take care of our cousins out there."
Sylvia looked at the three of them sadly. "But I don't want to leave Grandmother!"
"Finally the child is talking sense," Murial said. "You can't stay and leave your granddaughter."
Benten shook her head no. "You will take Sylvia to Hawaii to be with her mother, Murial." She ordered. "I will not leave the others to fight without me."
"Then I want to stay too!" Sylvia begged.
Michelangelo's face suddenly grew thoughtful. "Raph, gimmie your sai a minute," he whispered. Puzzled, Raphael complied as Michelangelo called Sylvia over. "Siv, come over here."
Equally puzzled Sylvia came over to Michelangelo. He held his right hand palm up. Sylvia's eyes widened and she looked at Benten in question. Benten slowly nodded with a proud smile. Reassured, Sylvia held her own hand out.
Michelangelo sliced with the sai across his palm just breaking the skin. He did the same to Sylvia's hand then held it securely in his own wounded hand. "My hands are your hands," Michelangelo said formally. "Where I walk, your footsteps will be heard beside me. Where my spirit goes, yours will follow, and when my hand strikes your hands will strike with mine, and my heart will be strengthened when I feel your heart beat next to mine." He drew her in for a hug and whispered gently in her ear. "I promise I won't let anything happen to Benten."
"That goes for us too," Donatello said.
"If Badb wants your grandma, she's gonna have to get through the three of us first," Raphael affirmed.
Sylvia was still surprised that Michelangelo had offered her this oath. She looked up at the other two with tears in her eyes. "Thank you," she said.
Benten nodded. "So, and just so." She nodded to Muriel. "Swim to the waters under Manhattan. If the colony is destroyed, take our people and go South to the Potomac. The colony there will inform the council, and send a message to the turtles' friend April. She will inform their master."
The three turtles tensed at that thought, but none of them were willing to back out of their plan. "Just make sure to tell our sensei that we died with honor," Raphael said firmly.
"I'll make sure," Sylvia said firmly.
As Michelangelo handed Raphael back his sai, Donatello grabbed onto Michelangelo's hand. "Let me bind that up before–" Donatello stopped in mid sentence as he saw that neither Michelangelo or Sylvia had a wound.
"Huh?" Donatello asked confused. "But I know you-,"
Michelangelo smiled smugly. "It's mermaid magic, Don. I saw one of their old warriors do that once when she had to leave someone behind. I figured it would make Sylvia feel better."
"Wait a minute!" Raphael insisted. "Are you telling me you just actually did something?
"Mermaid magic?" Donatello echoed.
Benten came forward and place a motherly arm around Michelangelo. "In his case it will not change things too much. He has been an elder brother to my granddaughter for so long they already share thoughts and strength, which is what the bond oath accomplishes." Then she hugged him and kissed his cheek. "It was well done, my young friend."
Michelangelo blushed at the complement. "It was the only way I could think of to get Siv to leave, Benten." Michelangelo said shyly. "I don't want her to get hurt either you know."
"I know," Benten said gently. "And I know that Sylvia loves you as her elder brother, and she is just as concerned for you as she is for me. Now we must prepare, my friends, Badb will be here before we know it.
Suddenly a noise outside the great hall caught their attention.
"Or sooner," Raphael said with a growl.
Coming Soon Chapter 19 The Trial of Fire
"Freyja," Leonardo said. "I'm sorry. I can't help you now."
"Leonardo no!" Freyja said concerned. "You are fighting an illusion! There is nothing there!"
"They're not an illusion," Leonardo tried to explain. "You just can't see them. It's like our reflections. It's this place that's generating them, but they're just doing it for me. I bet you can't see them because your trial is different, or connected. Either way, I can't help you conquer your fear, and I'm sorry. I don't like letting people down, but this time I don't have a choice."
"Leo, don't talk like this!" Freyja begged. "Just come back over to this side of the pit, and we can work this out."
Leonardo looked at the hoards of little lobster creatures crowding both sides of the ropes, and knew what it was that he had to do. "I don't think so, but don't give up. You can do this without me. Good luck."
With that Leonardo, closed his eyes, stepped off the rope, and allowed himself to fall down into the bottomless pit.
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