Sorry this update is so late. There's been a lot going on here. Anyway, this chapter isn't as long as I would have liked but at least it's up. Many thanks to Lunar Ninja for proofreading this chapter. I've got about two more chapters to go then it should be done. Hope you all enjoy and as always, read and review please.

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Morning had come all too soon. Three of the four brothers had camped out on the living room floor in various areas. Master Splinter had been given the guest room and Michelangelo had bunked with Akio. Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael all found makeshift areas on either the couch or a chair.

Everyone was eating breakfast in the large living room. A coffee table had been moved to the center of the room. Akio, Ren, Donatello and Michelangelo were sitting around it eating oatmeal and sipping on hot teas and chocolate. A tray had been placed in front of Splinter while the others carefully balanced their bowls in their laps. While everyone carefully blew on their hot drinks to cool them, Raphael gulped his down. The others slowly and carefully ate their oatmeal so as not to burn their mouths. Raphael practically inhaled his, unaffected by the heat of the food and drink. By the time he was done, everyone else was still only halfway through his or her food.

Splinter eyed his son curiously. Everyone else just stared in disbelief.

"Told 'ya" Mikey whispered to an astonished Donatello.

"What?" Raphael asked.

Splinter gave a small laugh and then asked, "Were you hungry my son?"

Realizing his poor manners, Raphael looked at his empty bowl. "Uh yeah…" he stammered. He stood up to take his cup and bowl into the kitchen. "Sensei, if it's ok with you, I'm gonna' go outside." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and stopped himself before he began to rub at his arm.

Splinter nodded and Raphael left.

Leonardo finished his breakfast next. He collected his bowl and cup and took them into his kitchen. He dropped them in surprise from what he saw outside. "Whoa" was all he could manage.

Raphael had walked outside and immediately began to feel some relief but he still had some bottled up energy inside. He walked around the garden shaking his arms. Every few steps he would stop and throw a punch or a kick. It wasn't enough. He stared at a few small boulders in the garden. Might as well try, he thought to himself. He stared at the largest of the rocks at the far corner. He stretched his arm out with an open hand. He pictured the ground under the rock. He envisioned the ground rising up so it was no longer level. The rock rolled forward a little. A foot to be exact. "C'mon," he uttered. He wiggled his fingers to motion the sand to push forward. A sly grin came to his face as the large rock picked up speed and rolled over to where Raphael stood.

Two sets of eyes had been watching through holes in the fence. One set belong to a man wearing a dragon pendant. He had a small scratch on the right side of his neck. He turned to look at the larger man crouched beside him. Motioning with his head, the figures left in silence. There were on their way to tell Ryu what they saw.

Raphael stood there with his arms folded grinning at what he had done and jumped effortlessly onto the displaced boulder.

A third set of eyes had been watching Raphael through the window in the kitchen. Leonardo was silent. A few seconds after he dropped the bowl and cup, several others joined him. They were curious about the sound of breaking glass.

Splinter noticed the bowl fragments on the floor and his son standing motionless. "Leonardo, are you alright?"

Leonardo just pointed to his brother outside. "The…. rock…"

Yasuo looked carefully. "Ren?"

"Yes father?"

"Wasn't that large rock at the other end of the garden?"

"It sure was!" Akio piped up.

"Oh," Ren realized. "He must have moved it."

Everyone turned to look at Ren. Yasuo spoke for everyone. "How could he have possibly moved it. It's three times his size. Ren, it took a machine to put that rock into place."

"I guess we forgot to tell all of you," she shrugged her shoulders and grinned sheepishly. "Raphael can also control earth."

"Cool," said Akio.

"Majorly cool," Mikey agreed.

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Raphael stood atop the large piece of granite and breathed deeply. A cold wind wrapped around him. He smiled when he heard the voice that accompanied it.

You okay?

I'm fine Ren. I just had to come outside. That room got real small real quick. Plus I had to get rid of some energy.

Alright. I just wanted to make sure.

Who's watching me?

Everyone. Leo is the only one who saw you move the boulder though.

Perfect. Well I guess I'm gonna really give 'em something to stare at.

Raph, what are you going to do?

Jus' gonna' get a little release.

The flames started small. More of a flicker really. Slowly, the turtle allowed a little more energy out with each passing second. Soon he stood atop the large rock, his entire body engulfed in flames.

Sweet, Ren heard him say.

After a few more seconds he made the flames die down and then disappear completely. Ren was on her way to where he stood when he saw her. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she had a sly grin on her face.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," he said emphatically. He was walking towards her as he spoke but stopped when he thought about the tone in her voice and the look on her face. "Wait a minute. Why are you asking?"

"Oh, nothing," she replied sweetly. Immediately a strong gust of wind blew at Raphael and knocked him off his feet. As soon as he tried to get up, he was pelted with about 30 snowballs.

Raphael rolled out of the way of more snowballs. He placed his hands on the ground behind his head and sprang back up onto his feet. This time he was able to repel the attack with little streams of fire. The two were enjoying themselves, jumping over and behind rocks in a mock battle. Soon though, it was evident Raphael was getting the upper hand.

Splinter eyed his remaining sons. "Leonardo, Donatello."

"Yes Sensei?" they answered in unison.

"I believe Ren could use some help. You may have a few minutes outside." He grinned at the two turtles. They immediately ran out the door shouting battle cries at their brother.

"Michelangelo" Splinter said sternly.

"Yes Sensei?" Michelangelo whimpered while giving his father his best puppy dog look.

Splinter let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "You are still grounded when we get home."

Michelangelo immediately turned to Yasuo who was fighting off a pleading look from Akio.

"Oh…… Alright." He finally gave in.

"WAHOO!" Michelangelo quickly grabbed Akio and ran outside.

Looking through the large picture window the two fathers eyed the scene before them. In the center of the garden stood Raphael. He was flinging little balls of fire trying to ward off his attackers. Akio was on Mikey's shoulders shouting taunts at him. Ren was now occupying the large rock that Raphael had once moved. Raphael was greatly outnumbered. As soon as someone threw a snowball at him, Ren formed another one in their hands.

"Kids," Yasuo muttered.

"Indeed," Splinter agreed. Both parents smiled.

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Ryu eyed the two figures before him. He sat behind his large oak desk. A single lamp let of a yellow glow. Ryu said nothing. The silence made the two men nervous. Ryu was a thin and wrinkled man. His hair was graying and his fingers were long and bony. The only movement in the room came from the cigarette smoke as it wafted through the air.

"So," he finally spoke. "You saw this … turtle…. the people have been going on about?"

"Yes Master Ryu," Dong spoke. He rubbed the scratch on his neck as he thought about the turtle. "He is the one they say will stop you."

Ryu's lips curled in a snarl with the last statement. Dong was wishing he hadn't mentioned the last part. His boss was a greedy man with no sympathy. He would surely punish Dong for repeating those words.

"I will not be stopped!" His voice grew louder with each word. He slowly rose from his desk. Thin or not, he was an imposing figure. His yellow teeth shown from behind his curled lips. "This town is mine. I own these people. Their money is mine, their homes are mine, even if I have to take it all by force."

"But sir," Dong interrupted. "They refuse to pay now. They say that since this Raphael is here, they don't have to pay you ever again. They say he has special powers and can't be stopped."

"What powers are you talking about?" Ryu sat back down. He was intrigued now and wanted to know more about this turtle that threatened his livelihood.

"We saw him move things. A large rock, bigger than Zhan," Dong pointed to his partner. "He did it with seemingly no effort."

"It's true sir," Zhan finally spoke. "He moved it as if it were a pebble."

"And where did you see this?" Ryu's hand extended forward, his fingers wiggled.

"In the garden behind Yasuo's restaurant. The turtle is staying with them."

"What?" Ryu was clearly angry now. "That creature is staying under the same roof as Ren? I will have his hide for this. Ren is mine," his fist pounded on the desk. "I want that creature, that freak of nature out of the way. Kill him. And when he is gone, Ren will be mine."

"Yes sir," they both nodded and left.