Chapter 1: The lesson

Leonardo looked Master Splinter in the eye. He was holding one of his katanas tight in his hands. Splinter looked calm and seemed to know what Leonardo was thinking. He knew everything about Leonardo's tactics because he had trained him.

"Leonardo, I'm waiting."

Leonardo wanted to use different way to attack. Suddenly he took also his other sword and attacked Splinter but Splinter had been prepared for that, and soon Leonardo was lying in the floor, and his katanas were in the nearest corner. Raphael and Ninjara looked at Splinter without saying a word, and Donatello took Leonardo's swords and gave them to him.

"Master Splinter!" Raphael sounded both upset and admiring.

"That was really cool!" Michelangelo said.

"Are you a telepath or something?" Ninjara asked.

"No. I just know Leonardo so well that I could see in his eyes what he was going to do."

"Wow! That's cool!" Michelangelo repeated.

Leonardo didn't say a word. He had been beaten by Master Splinter once again. He wanted to become as skillful as Splinter but it was impossible because Splinter knew always his plans. He went to his room silently and sat down on his bed. He sighed. He had to train harder and without Splinter. He had to make up something even better.

"OK, what's next? I'm bored!" Raphael growled.

"Well, I guess we could have lunch now", Splinter replied.

"Lunch? That's a brilliant idea, sensei! I'm already hungry!" Michelangelo laughed.

"Somebody has to bring Leonardo here", Splinter said.

"I can do it", Donatello promised.

"Do that, Donatello", Splinter asked. The others went to the dining room, and Donatello came to Leonardo's room and knocked it.

"Yes?"

Donatello entered Leonardo's room. When he saw his brother just sitting on his bed, he got worried.

"Leonardo, are you alright?"

"Yes. Why do you ask that?"

"Because I'm worried about you. Are you depressed or something?"

"Maybe. What do you talk about?"

"We have lunch time now."

"OK, I'm coming."

He stood up, smiled at Donatello showing him that he was OK, and followed him to the dining room. They sat down. Leonardo's place was next to Splinter, on his right side. When they were eating, Leonardo whispered to Splinter:

"I want to talk to you after we have eaten."

"OK. We'll go to my room after the lunch then."

When they had eaten, Splinter led Leonardo to his room. There they could talk in peace. Splinter couldn't read Leonardo's mind but he that something bothered him.

"Leonardo, what's wrong? You can talk to me. I understand and support you."

"Well, it's this ninja thing... again. What's wrong with me? I try hard to be like you, a good ninja, and someday a ninja master. But everytime when we practise, you beat me! What do I do wrong? How can I fix my mistakes? How can I be as good as you?"

"Is that your problem, Leonardo? Does that bother you so much?"

"Yes, Master Splinter. I thought you could help me."

Splinter smiled at him and looked much older than he really was.

"Leonardo, you are already as good as me, maybe even better."

"But... I don't understand..."

"You could beat me if your fear to hurt me wouldn't be so strong. Yes, Leonardo, I know how much you are afraid of your skills. You don't want to hurt me, even accidentally. I can see it in your eyes."

"So... I have a fear. How can I get rid of it?"

"It's up to you. I can't affect on you. You have to find the way if you want to be like me. You have to dare to beat me. Don't think that you hurt me- think what is important to you. That thing is to become a ninja master. I have never hurt, am I right?"

"No, Master, you have never hurt me."

"You won't hurt me if you beat me. You have to believe so. It's only practice, not a real situation."

"OK."

"You have to find courage. You are very brave and you are theoretically ready, but you can't be a ninja master until you beat me."

"OK, Master Splinter. I understand."

"Good. Is everything OK now?"

"Yes. Thank you, sensei."

"Thank you, my son."

Leonardo left his room, and suddenly he felt relieved. He had got the answer that he had looked for. He could relax now. Now he know the reason, and that made him really happy. He had never felt happier than now. He went to his room and looked his reflection in the mirror- he actually smiled!