Flights Of Fancy

Disclaimer: Yes, we own no turtles, we own no ninja turtles today.

Chapter Twenty Three: A bo among sticks

Leo tried to get to his feet but found his legs wouldn't obey him and his stomach seemed to rebel the slightest movement he was able to manage, for a moment the scenery and beings around him seemed to blur into one mass of varied colours. Leo groaned and slumped back to the ground shutting his eyes and laying his head back against the tree that he was up against. Gimod nudged him gently.

"You okay Leo?" Mike asked worriedly, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Um, I think so I just need a bit, what happened to the Dwarf sword I know I was holding them and now I don't see that one but my katana is there." Leo mumbled in an exhausted fashion, he pointed to the katana a few feet away.

' Even though you have your soul back Leonardo, you will not get over the loss of it quickly.' Gimod crooned softly, '"However some food and drink might help you.'

"My soul?" Leo echoed his eyes shooting open.

Don gave a feeble grin "I don't think Leo needs to know that, right now, Gimod" he stressed giving the dragon a dirty look.

' The sooner he knows the better for he can't adjust or accept the idea until he knows. He can't be coddled like a young babe.' The dragon huffed, ' The Black Bucks are soul takers for the netherworld, when one battles them, the demons leave a feeling that lingers of sadness and emptiness, but there are times in a battle they opt to take an entire soul and not just a part of it.' Gimod explained, ' The demons decided they needed your soul more then you did. Your swords must have been knocked from your hands when they brought you down but I have not seen them.'

Lobo sniffed the air "Don't catch a scent of dwarf sword around here either, it's like it vanished. You were lucky that, " here Lobo paused glaring Marina's way not wanting to compliment the egotistical cat because he knew exactly what would happen if he did, " There was one who was able to assist you by returning your soul to you."

Mike stood with arms crossed "You guys aren't very good at keeping secrets are you?" he commented dryly. "Marina was the one who did it Leo, I don't know how but she came through for you in a big way." Mike was not opposed to giving credit where credit was due.

Marina sat up straight raising her head, and gently curling her tail around her feet she winked Leo's way "You owe me." She informed him.

Leo gave a weak smile, "I'd say we are even for I saved you from the Kraken and drowning." Leo recalled. "Though I am grateful for your help, either way Marina."

Marina blinked "The Kraken?"" she asked innocently as if she had no memory, whatsoever, of that event.

Gimod smiled at the cataflys wide eyes, I don't have the faintest idea of what you are talking about expression, 'Still I say we've had a victory and we could all use some food, so I am going get us a lizard, the Black Bucks won't be returning too quickly and we could use the energy that they could give us,' Gimod unfurled his wings in preparation of take off as he sat up on his haunches, gathering as much as he could into the hind end for the initial leap, ' Besides no one tells a dragon what is and isn't allowed for food.'

Raph nodded, food did sound good, even he was starting to get hungry and he could hear Mike's stomach rumbling and growling protest at not having anything suitable for the last few hours."While you hunt then Gimod perhaps the rest of us can see if we can locate, Leo's swords and find Don a suitable walking stick from the branches, to replace his bo."

Don looked at the branches on some of the trees, "We might find something to use as a substitute but it won't be as good as an actual bo staff."

Gimod turned his head, ' Don needs a weapon that will not disintegrate in fire. Sticks have a way of doing that.' He announced before pushing off.

Mike and Raph turned to watch Don grit his teeth, "It's not a stick" he mumbled under his breath. "There is more to it then that."

Mike raised a hand over his mouth as he nudged Raph "How much you want to bet Gimod is going to get a lessons in bo staffs when he gets back?" He mentioned quietly so as not to further upset Don, before he started to check the trees and bushes for any sign of the missing sword for they were sure it could not be further then the katana itself had gotte.

All of them had been looking for a few minutes, though Lobo and Shea were staying close to Leo to help him and watch over him until he got his strength back, Marina was lounging on a tree branch the catafly could easily see Leo's missing sword but she was in no hurry to help out as she figured she had done her good deed for the day, and she felt it was rather amusing to see the rest of them running around looking for the weapon that was right in plain sight. In fact Mike wasn't that far from it at the moment, and the catafly was getting immense enjoyment out of how often the turtle seemed to miss it.

Mike scanned the bush he was looking at, when he was sure he heard a giggle, he looked up and around, only to see the catafly watching him. " Typical cat has to supervise everything" Mike remarked with a shake of his head, "Klunk often has to supervise our sparring sessions."

Marina smiled, "I didn't laugh, I think there are a few Dryads around here." She confessed.

Lobo raised his head sniffing as he turned in a circle "I don't smell Dryads but they are not the easiest people to discern. Still if they are nearby perhaps they can aid Donatello in his search for a new weapon."

"What the heck is a Dryad?" Raph demanded, as he searched a copse of trees, "Man this is more ridiculous Leo then looking for a needle in a haystack, in fact I think we could find the needle quicker. Your weapon Leo is as much a pain in the shell as you are."

"Dryads are tree spirits, most of them are quite friendly but there are a few that grow twisted and evil and I wouldn't trust them." Shea barked a reply, "Due to them being tree spirits they smell much like trees and shrubs."

"Exactly" tittered a voice from near Mike, startling the ninja turtle into backing up and falling on to the ground, Mike felt something under him, "What the..." he muttered as he stood up and reached for the ground, he picked up Leo's sword, for a moment all could see the weapon then, suddenly Mike yelped dropping the things, "OW it bit me" Mike claimed.

"MIKEY! What did you do that for you idjit, the swords have disappeared again" Raph snapped coming over to thump Mike. "Like we have nothing better to do wasting our time looking for the swords Leo lost."

"I couldn't help it Raph. It gave me a shock, my arm is tingling and all pins and needles." Mike protested.

"I'll give you pins and needles Mikey" Raph threatened as he waved a fist.

Traba bobbed his head "More dwarf magic I think, Leo told you not to touch his weapon so now it won't let you hold it." the toshe essayed, "The fact it camouflages or becomes almost invisible also must be some sort of magic to keep it from being taken by the wrong person when not on Leo's being."

Raph gave Mike a dirty look as he bent down and felt for the sword trying to find them by touch was not an easy task for if he wasn't careful he could hurt his hand or fingers but he managed to find the weapon near Mike's feet. "That isn't much of an asset, especially under these circumstances." He grumbled as he took the twice retrieved weapon towards Leo. " Is there some way we can make it a little more useful to us?"

Leo shrugged, "I agree with Raph it is good that the wrong person won't be able to find the weapon, but if they slow us down in searching for them then that could be trouble, not that I'm in the habit of losing my weapons all that often." Leo tried to stand again and once more gave it up as a lost cause, groaning wearily.

"Poor chelonian he needs a drink. Purest water will help cure many ills." whispered a low voice nearby.

Raph pulled his sais, "Who said that? Come on show yourself, if you are friends you have nuthin' to worry bout."

A strange being stepped from a nearby tree, it looked almost tree shape in itself, slender and brown, with rough skin, green leaves for hair, and long branch like fingers, the being moved as if it was caught in a light breeze. "We Dryads are all around we can not hide, for we are the trees and the trees are us, if you see a tree, shrub or bush then be sure to know that we are nearby too." The being answered, "Willow, do you have water to spare for the ill chelonian?"

"I was getting some" replied another dryad, this one's hair branched out like a willow trees, she carried a bowl shaped from a type of fungus that grew on some trees and held water, the fungus had a symbiotic relationship holding water for bushes and trees that did not often get enough of the life preserving liquid, while the fungus grew from certain nutrients that only the plant could give it, Willow bent near Leo, holding the large bowl of water to his lips, "Drink this it will help you feel better."

Leo noticed that the toshe were not acting in a vicious or unmannerly way, decided that the Dryads were trying to help him for if they were intent on doing some harm they would surely put a stop to the Dryads, so Leo gratefully drank the water. It was cold, and delicious, and he could almost feel new strength reaching his limbs. He turned to Willow "Thank you I think I can manage now" he took the bowl from her hands, "We still have to figure out something about the sword."

Marina smirked "Told you so" She announced, "I knew there was Dryads, and besides I could see the sword all along."

Raph whirled glaring at the cat, "Why didn't you say so then?" he fumed thinking murderous thoughts concerning how many ways there were to kill a certain catafly.

" I didn't feel like it" Marina replied simply flicking her tail" It was much more fun making you guys look for it." Marina retorted, "Besides I don't see why I have to do all the work."

Don rolled his eyes, Marina could be infuriating with her smug attitude and know it all behavior, but she had proven she could be useful and a valuable asset to the team when she desired "Marina, I know we'd all appreciate it if you would let us know where Leo's sword is next time, at least until we can figure out the magic around it. I'm sure you wouldn't want us to endanger ourselves or others simply because Leo's weapon is playing hide and seek on us." He hinted kindly.

Marina sat up straight "I'll think about it." she offered.

"She's too kind." Raph muttered, "Well I can always threaten her with dire circumstances next time she decided to watch us make fools of ourselves looking for the invisible weapon."

Trina trotted up to Don, "You want a good replacement for your weapon, talk to the Dryads, no one knows wood quite as well as they do. But they do not care for many weapons." She advised.

"Thanks for the tip I'll see what I can do." Don acknowledged quickly.

Other Dryads were coming from the trees and shrubs, some tall, slender, others short and stout looking, some medium sized but thick in build, all of them carrying bowls of water for the gathered to have a nice long cold drink, the toshe felt that it was second only to unicorn water and far surpassed many other drinking water that could be found on Necron. It was a welcomed treat for all of them, and the water did seem to help them feel a bit stronger then before.

Don went up to the Dryad who had first revealed itself to them, after Raph's challenge " Thanks for the refreshments it is appreciated but I'm wondering if you or your people might be able to assist me in another way." He suggested.

"Perhaps we could chelonian for we know those of the shell, are lovers of water as are we Dryads, and while I and the others have never seen chelonians such as yourselves here on Necron we know that water is still your life's blood."

"That and mutagen" Mike quipped to Raph.

"I need to have a weapon to assist me to protect my friends and family on our travels. The Black Bucks destroyed mine in the fire." Don continued.

The Dryad shook a bit and backed up "We do not care for weapons. Weapons are often used to hurt trees, cutting us and causing pain, sometimes trees are killed by weapons." The Dryad declared.

There was a strange rustling of the leaves around the nearby trees as well as among the Dryads who were standing nearby, it sounded like a wind moving through branches, there were creaks and groans of wood as it rubbed together it was clearly a sound of displeasure and much unhappiness. Other smaller Dryads appeared on tree branches tossing nuts at Don and the toshe, as if angry at the very mention of a weapon being used. Though the Dryad Don was talking to quickly put an end to that.

" Be still my friends, whilst you must travel into danger I do not see why the need to supply you with means to a weapon."

"Please, my weapon is not meant to cut, it isn't a knife, sword axe or anything that could damage a tree. My weapon is just wood." Don explained reverently, "Even Mike's nunchukus have metal to bind them, mine is just wood, preferably hard wood."

The Dryad furrowed it's knotty brow and rustled some of the leaves on it's head " Wood is not meant to be a weapon. Trees give life weapons take life."

"I admit that I have killed with my bo staff in the past but killing is not my way. I, and my brothers as well have been taught by our father to value all life. We never take a life unless it is a situation of killing someone else to protect family or an innocent who may be killed." don urged, "In fact the bo staff is not a very deadly weapon, it is more passive, meant to knock down."

The Dryad smiled it was a reflective almost sorrowful smile, "You do not seem to grasp our hurt or pain, but you are not a Dryad so you can not understand the trees. Any piece of wood must be broken from a tree or shrub or once existed as a living being, perhaps not sentient but it still lives and feels. You break off a part would be like a tree ripping off your arm, yes the wound will heal but it takes time for trees age slowly. You will snap off the wood you need for your own use." the dryad accused Don.

"Not necessarily I can make use of wood that has been broken off long ago." Don corrected, "As long as the wood itself hasn't grown weak with rot that is."

The Dryad glanced around her companions Willow sidled up to the two "Aspen, perhaps we ought to offer some of the nonliving wood to see if it suits his purpose for they do have much to do, you have heard the trees whispers from the Unicorn meadows, and we all know that these beings travel with the unicorn. we Dryads do not fight it is not our way, we burn with the fire or are tossed by the wind to the ground when we grow weak, but if we can supply this one with a weapon it would seem as if we did something of importance." Willow whispered. " It is the least we can do. Is it not?"

Don perked up a bit his astute hearing catching the low tone passed between the two Dryads. "He goes to face Dragons and Wizards..." Aspen remarked.

"Exactly we all know the Wizards care not for us Dryads they come and break huge branches off to make their magic staffs, they have killed many trees, in their greed. As for the Wyrms, how many have set fires to our forest killing hundreds who live in the woods? None of these things is to our wish or desire but we can't stop it either, perhaps if we give this one with our blessing then perhaps it can be used to aid and save lives, and isn't that our mission?" Willow countered.

Don smiled as he realized Willow was on his side, and she was debating and bringing up far better points then he could, simply because Willow knew Dryads better then he did. He was grateful for her help and was quite willing to sit back and allow the two tree spirits to continue, while he remained silent.

Aspen trembled all over finally she glanced at the Dryads surrounding the area, making note of how many made gestures for or against giving the chelonian a bit of dead wood, none would agree to live wood.

One Dryad stepped forward, this one had ghostly white bark, and the other Dryads moved making a path, bending a bit before it as if they were meeting some sort of tree royalty. " I can give him some deadwood, it broke off a tree during a thunder storm a few months back it is about five feet long, and would fit easily, I think in his hand." it offered willingly, "That is if he wants it, he may have it."

Don nodded five foot, fit easily in his hand, he didn't know if it would have the balance he would need for it," It may very well be exactly what I need but I'd like to see it first if possible" Don replied.

The new Dryad assured Don "It will be here soon enough, for all of us Dryads can call to us any bit of wood from any of the bushes we are born to."

"So what wood are you?" Mike asked laughing at his own joke, while Don shot him a dirty look, it wasn't that Don wasn't curious about the same thing but he didn't want to insult or upset the Dryad who had been so willing to help.

Aspen didn't seem too amused by Mike's joke " This is the Entendra Dryad, that wood is the hardest wood on all Necron. Did you not hear what he said a branch that broke off during a thunderstorm, means a lightning bolt had to hit that branch from close by, and yet the only damage is one branch to fall. Entendra trees are practically impervious to fire, in fact there is little that can destroy them, and any part of the tree that breaks off continues to live on it's own though it has no root."

Marina perched on Don's shoulder "That would be a weapon suited to you here."

Don felt a thrill of excitement, such as he felt when he was suddenly inspired in his lab and he would hurry to write his idea down because it was far too good to forget, or ignore. He practically held his breath waiting to see this branch from the Entendra tree.

The item appeared near Don's feet, it was about five foot in length, thicker around in the center then was normal in bo staffs, and it didn't seem very straight either, meaning the balance could be off, but Don was pretty sure he could compensate for that, it might be difficult to get the right requirements of a bo staff here, he just needed a substitute that might work until their adventure was over. He tried to balance the staff on his fingers lengthwise and noted one end dipped down, meaning the balance was off.

He took a few steps back and began a few of the traditional bo katas, followed by one he had thought up.

The Dryads watched the turtle perform whipping the wood around and about in his hands, sweeping it this way or that, jabbing out suddenly. A hushed silence fell over the woods to be broken only long minutes after Don came to a halt.

The Entendra Dryad stepped forward, "I see the wood is not separate but a part of you, and that branch answers to every move you make with it as if it knows what you do and why. It fills your energy and strength and compliments it. You may not see or feel it, but all of us Dryads did. If you can use that as your weapon then it is yours to use."

Don felt the smooth wood under his hand while he had been working he had almost felt something, that he had never felt before, he couldn't describe what he felt or why, he only knew that while this staff was not quite a bo, it would be very suitable for what he needed it for, and Don knew he didn't want to look any further. "This is wonderful, it is more then I was hoping to find and it ought to suffice for our my needs here. Thank you, if there is anything I can do for you..." Don offered.

"Use it well and wisely" The Entendra Dryad declared, "And I assure you as a weapon it will care for you."

Gimod returned then glancing at the Dryads who gave the runt dragon leery, suspicious looks, Gimod had a large lizard in his claws 'Talking with tree spirits now huh? Well lets all return to Shanza and the others for I have a meal here for us and I don't want to leave her alone. After we eat we can head into the mountains.' The dragon declared, 'I see you found a new weapon, but why must it be another stick one burst of dragon flame and it will be ashes all over again.'

The stick jerked hard in Don's hand as if intending to smack the dragon "Listen you Wyrm, this isn't a stick, and your fire won't touch it" Don growled.

'No but there are other dragon's where we are going.' Gimod replied undaunted. 'You don't have to worry about my flame gobbling it up.'

The Entendra Dryad glared "Think that then flame it boastful Wyrm, you will find it is no ordinary stick."

Gimod rolled an eye, then shot out a carefully controlled flame towards the weapon, when the smoke and flame died the staff was still in Don's hands not even singed. The dragon let out a mighty roar that caused many Dryads to tremble 'Now that is weapon.'

XXXXX

The turtles flew back on Gimod's back and the toshe, dragon, catafly and turtles made the most of their meal rendering the large lizard to very little, much to the distaste of Demon Wing, Shanza and Symbia by the time they were finished their meal it was late afternoon and all of the group decided to spend the night in the meadow, and move on in the morning.

'More chance of trolls roaming at night and while we can't avoid night travel through the mountains, I am willing to wait till morning so we can see where we are and check for that sort of danger if we can.' Shanza stated.

"Leo could use a bit more rest too" Don declared willing to put off the trip if only for a few hours.

Leo after having something to eat was feeling much better, of course Shanza had also worked a bit of her magic on him, just to insure everything was all right. He turned and faced Don "I'm all right. I can manage now."

"It won't hurt to rest either Leo." Don insisted.

Leo didn't answer "Can I see your staff Don"

Don handed it over knowing Leo had to be feeling better, if he was trying to check out the weapon, he waited eagerly for his brother's comments on it " It does taper a bit, just not enough and it is a little heavier on one end so the weight is balanced, but considering it isn't a proper made bo it ought to be adequate enough."

Don sighed resting back he'd been hoping for something else from Leo but he wasn't going to say so.

"Still on a world full of magic and things you and I can barely understand," Leo remarked, "I think this sort of staff will be far more useful then a regular bo staff anyways."

Don grinned "That was my feeling" he agreed, "Leo do you really think we'll run into trolls?"

Leo shrugged, "Don right now after all we've been through since coming here, I'd say we could run into just about anything here and that is why it is so important to have good weapons we can rely on." Leo remarked cryptically as he handed the staff back to Don.

Don caressed the smooth sides of it and silently welcoming the darkness of the night shadows as they closed in around him.

TBC