Flights of Fancy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Fourteen – Like to like
Tira reflected on the words Raph had spoken " It seems that you four were sent here by Renet to help us, in our time of need. You won't be able to return back to your home until the right time."
" You mean after we have helped you guys first, that is if we don't die" Raph huffed bitterly, " What makes you think that Renet sent us here specifically that travel thing of hers could have sent us just about anywhere."
Tira gave a coy smile " On Necron it is very rare for things to happen merely by coincidence. Great trouble is a foot and suddenly four strangers appear here that Merlin warns can't go home." Tira gave a light laugh, " Not to mention that if you wanted to return home you would have by now."
" Trust me I'm all for it 'cept Donny lost our only means of getting home" Raph complained.
" I didn't lose it Raph." Don protested.
" Things just don't disappear either" Raph countered.
" Actually on Necron things often disappear frequently" Tira stated cheerfully, " So your brother may be telling the truth. The sudden absence of this item, though makes it clear to me that you are meant to stay," Tira pointed out very tactfully " Besides you won't be alone you will be with your guides."
" So exactly who or what is our guides that we have to seek?" Leo inquired. " The poem or prophecy seemed to make it quite clear that we'd need them with us if we are to prevail."
" Leo tell me we aren't really going to do this" Raph moaned, wondering why he had agreed to this trip.
" I don't think we have much of a choice Raph. Besides Splinter taught us to use our skills to help out others, where ever we may be" Leo reminded Raph, " they quite obviously need our help and if, by chance, we are unable to find the travel cube Renet sent us we may have to rely on our new friends to get us home," Leo pointed out that fact as delicately as he could. " Besides I don't care for the idea of leaving trouble behind us that might end up looking for us."
' He has a point there turtle. For if the dark forces head into your world then there will be little of the light forces left to prevent it. They will bring utter chaos with them.' Gimod informed Raph.
" Fine, but will someone please tell me what magical creatures, who can do the kind of things we've seen them all do so far, need a bunch of ninja's help for?" Raph wondered.
Leo smirked " Even you know Raph that to the common person the ninja was magical, capable of transforming himself into animals, to read minds, to influence others thoughts, or even appearing and disappearing at whim." Leo stood up straighter as he spoke his voice full of pride " Besides Raph I always thought that you were the one who was always ready for action. The sooner we move the better."
Shanza bobbed her head ' Indeed for we have less then a month to find my son. The more time that passes the more spells can be cast and the next spell we might not be able to prevent' Shanza fretted uneasily raising her head and nickering sadly.
A few other unicorns answered her forlorn call offering hope and comfort but Shanza could take little from their reassurance, she would not be at peace until her son was home by her side.
Raph shrugged " All right I'll go but I'm not going like this and I have a bad feeling about the whole thing." He confessed in a low tone.
Leo narrowed his eyes at Raph's words, he knew his brother's usual pessimistic, volatile nature. But Leo was also aware that Raph had fairly good instincts and if he felt that uneasy about helping the inhabitants of Necron then it was best to take note of the fact now and be careful on the days ahead.
Don meanwhile had been puzzling over Leo's question as to who their guides might be " The prophecy mentioned like to like your guides you must seek. Meaning that whoever our guides must be they must share certain similarities with us." Don concluded. He paused shrugging " I am just not sure what sort of comparisons that we have to match to find them" Don apologized.
Leo frowned that meant they could waste more time trying to figure that out. " Raph did Merlin tell you any thing else?"
Raph nodded " Sure he said something about seeking my guide at the bottom of the tree" Raph flashed a grin " the toshe were at the bottom of the tree at the time."
Tira arched an eyebrow in surprise " You are aggressive, bloodthirsty?" She asked puzzled, naming the two traits that came to any one's mind where toshe were concerned.
Mike laughed " Oh yeah" he nodded his head in agreement, " that is my bro all right. Also bad tempered, spoils for a fight, easily insulted."
Raph had heard enough of this went over and thumped Mike.
Mike grinned " See what I mean, and he is actually in a fairly good mood at the moment." Mike gave a little shrug " Raph is also pretty smart and cunning when he wants to be and he never lets you down."
Raph smiled slightly " Merlin also mentioned that my guides were good in a pack or on their own."
Mike smirked " That is my brother, the lone wolf!"
Raph gave a mock growl in response.
" Seems Merlin was correct like to like, it is your natures that must be connected to your guides." She declared firmly " Raphael's guide must be the toshe pack." She paused looking towards Mike " What are your qualities or nature?"
Raph eager to get Mike back jumped right in " He's young goofy and stupid."
Don shook his head " Mike is naïve, gentle hearted. He likes to make people laugh and just enjoy life." Don considered for a moment " He is very empathic."
Mike drew back a bit a hurt look on his face " That isn't a nice thing to say Don."
Don tried not to laugh, " Empathic means you relate well to others feelings." He explained.
Mike chuckled " I take it back."
Don did laugh a little " What did you think it meant Mike?"
Mike ducked his head " I'm not saying." He muttered.
Leo smiled " Mike has a good heart and a fair fighter when he needs to be."
Tira nodded understanding " Then Shanza must be his guide. Unicorns are full of love, laughter, and gentleness they do not wish to fight but prefer to use their horns to help, however they are fierce fighters when they need to be." Tira glanced at Shanza " Nothing is more pure of heart and soul then a unicorn or a newborn."
Mike beamed as he heard that news " Shanza my guide? Really?" He glanced at the unicorn " I like that."
Shanza blew out a puff of air ' I like it too, besides I am going on this mission one way or another might as well be matched up.'
" Now you Don?" Tira gave him a questioning look and the turtle shrugged looking away.
" He knows all sorts of stuff. A real brain and very handy." Raph admitted.
" Donny knows stuff I've forgotten" Mike claimed.
Raph scoffed " Everyone knows stuff you have forgotten Mike."
Don didn't care to talk much about himself it just wasn't his way and while his brothers spoke of what he was like he had an urge to hide away from the attention.
Leo noticed his brother's embarrassment " Don spends a great deal of his time alone working on projects or learning about things but there are times he will join us. He doesn't care to fight but he is a good ninja." Leo continued.
" He's shy too, look at him blushing!" Mike interjected.
" I am not!" Don disputed as he glanced the other way scuffing his foot in the dirt, while wishing for a hole or some other place to hide in.
Tira scowled no creature she could think of seemed to match the qualities of this turtle. Tira spent a great deal of her time helping many of the animals of Necron in exchange for small favours from them, so out of all inhabitants of their world she would probably know of the guides needed.
Tira cast her gaze out over the meadow when she spotted Marina, who had grown bored of the talk and was at present, stalking the fairies in the meadow grass and having a great time rolling in some catnip, which the fairies kept leading her to. It was hard to say who was enjoying the game more.
Tira silently reviewed what she knew about cataflys, they were suppose to be one of the most knowledgeable creatures on Necron, while they lived in large groups they were, for the most part, solitary seeking company once in a while. Cataflys were small enough that they hardly seemed a threat, and yet, when they were cornered they could be quite ferocious, or so it was said. They seemed to be unassuming beast easily missed, and yet when they wanted attention, they made sure the spotlight was on them.
" I think that Don's guide could very well be the catafly you brought with you" Tira announced.
" Marina?" Leo asked uncertainly. He shook his head " I don't know somehow it just doesn't seem right to me."
Tira gave a firm nod of her head " I am sure they are one of the most intelligent creatures to be found on Necron."
" Yes but she also seems to be fairly fickle, self centered and highly unreliable and Don is not like that" Leo declared backing his brother up.
Tira gave a small smile " I have a few questions for you then Don, tell me when you get curious about something will you try to learn everything you can about it? Does that object consume you, if the answers you receive seem to lead you directly into danger or harm's way will you stop to preserve your own skin?"
Don smiled and gave a negative shake of his head " I have gone days without food or sleep when something grabs my attention. I will stop at nothing and do everything I can to figure it out" He admitted, " You might say I become obsessive about it."
Tira gave a satisfied look " Catafly it is then, for they are truly the same way. The need to know in them is so strong they will follow it anywhere until they are fully satisfied. She followed you into dragon territory a place that most cataflys avoid because they fear dragons." Tira explained " Haven't you heard that old saying curiosity killed the cat, information brought it back? Cataflys live that."
Don glanced over to watch the playful Marina fluttering about racing and playing with the fairies. He thought a bit of how brave she had been when facing the dragons, Marina had not shown an ounce of fear as she smartly told Gimod he owed her a favour, and she had tried to battle the one dragon who had spotted her in the first place.
" I don't mind having a catafly for a guide" Don said reflectively, truthfully he rather liked the fact she wasn't so big and overpowering or dangerous as some of the creatures he had seen thus far. " But can I trust her?"
The toshe snickered " Trust a catafly that is a joke" Traba howled rolling over in his mirth.
Tira glowered at the pack for their enjoyment " Don't mind them toshe feel any cat is fairly useless." She informed Don.
" Only because it is the truth" Shea remarked with a wag of his tail.
" As long as she is curious she may follow you anywhere and try to help you out of trouble if only to learn what she wants to learn from you" Tira advised " You would do well to hold back on things she wants and dish it out slowly."
Leo scowled " I still don't think she is going be that trustworthy and we are going to need help of all our guides according to what Raph told us."
Tira looked at the turtle in blue " I understand your concern Leonardo, You said you met Marina on an island off the mainland, she wasn't going help you until you spared her from a kraken." Tira reviewed what they had told her, " That started her up because in her experience no animal or person on Necron would bother to help a catafly. Then when you headed into dragon country she came after you. You really have her curiosity up but I have a feeling Don with his knowledge can maintain that level of curiosity and then some" Tira replied sweetly, " Thereby keeping her by you. She may prove useful when you least expect it. Of course you will have to convince her to join you for no one can make a catafly do anything it doesn't want to do."
Don grinned, " Leave that to me I have an idea."
" If she is truly your guide then you will be able to do it better then any one else." Tira affirmed, she then turned her gaze on Leonardo " Now how about you Leo?"
" He is Mr. Perfect, the perfect son, our great and noble leader" Raph had been waiting for this " Teacher's pet."
Leo scowled his brothers way " Enough of those bothersome nick names Raph you know I don't like them."
" Our fearless leader" Mike suggested earning a glare of his own.
" A leader of your brothers then" Tira said glancing his way.
" Well yes" Leo admitted, " and when our father can no longer be leader I will take his place."
Tira smiled slightly " Leaders can not always afford to make mistakes, and so they learn quickly. A leader can not afford the luxury of fear so they must hide it. I have a feeling due to your position that you are the best of your brothers in battle" Tira stated, " And your enemies are a little afraid of you."
" A little, no way most our enemies won't dare face Leo alone" Mike insisted his voice full of pride.
" Intelligent, crafty dependable" Tira murmured.
Leo nodded slight agreement while his brothers added their input or comments to her words.
Shanza pranced her eyes glowing brightly as she tossed her head ' Only another leader could relate to a leader.'
Gimod sat up on his haunches using his long tail to balance, he unfurled his wings and raised his head to the sky letting out a low bellowing roar. When he came down he lowered his head to gaze into Leo's face ' Looks like you and I are to be together for a while.'
Tira nodded " You are suited like to like" She said simply.
Leo stared into the yellow reptilian eyes wondering silently if there was any way he could deny this match that the others had all ready approved.
Gimod gave a low growl that ended in a loud snort as he picked up on Leo's thoughts 'There is a great deal at stake we do not have the time nor the luxury to fight against what must be. If we do that we lose sight of the true battle.' he declared to Leo alone.
Those words gave Leo a great deal of assurance, for Splinter had told him years ago, during his training, just such a statement, perhaps not phrased the same way, but fairly close to it. Besides he often used the same sort of words, to encourage his brothers in certain situations where they often, began to lack the focus and bickered amongst them selves instead of focusing on what needed to be done.
Leo smiled at Gimod bowing towards the dragon " I'd be honoured for your help."
Gimod bowed his head in return a pleasant rumble coming from his throat telling the others, the dragon was quite pleased.
Leo turned back to Tira " I suppose the next things we need to know for this mission is where we are going and how we get there?"
Tira scowled sighing heavily " We don't know where the dark forces have hidden Shanza's son as of yet. When the other sorceress and sorcerers arrive we can try to find out." She shrugged, " It won't be easy but with the unicorns help we ought to be able to find out the area on which they may be hiding. As for getting there you might be able to teleport close to the area, but will have to walk the rest of the way as the dark magic will prevent you from going right in."
" Can we take others with us or expect help from any one along the way?" Leo wondered.
" Any of the light forces will help you, but beware those of the dark for they can be very deceptive." Tira paused " Demon Wing Shanza's mate and the sire of Shaman will join you in your search for he knows the abilities of Pegasians and I doubt he'd be willing to stay behind. Symbia might also be of some use to you as centaurs are helpful during time of chaos."
The centaur female pawed the ground and half reared " I'll help them where I can Tira" she vowed.
Tira gave all of them a wistful smile " I suggest you take the chance to rest and recuperate now for you won't get many chances after you leave here."
Leo knew that it was wise advice and a suggestion that he was more then willing to follow for he had a feeling that Tira was right.
TBC