Flights of Fancy

Disclaimer: I don't own the ninja turtles of any age.

Chapter Thirty Three: Mountains will Move

Leo strode purposely towards his brothers, Mike had now finished his weaving and had his chucks back in his belt, he licked his lips trying in vain to wet them " I miss Shanza and the water she made for us. I could really use a chance to cool off" he moaned.

Leo arched an eye ridge, "Then I take it you don't want to practice huh Mike?" He inquired with a smile.

"Leo we are in the middle of a flipping desert. It is freaking hot out here, why in the world would any of us want to exert ourselves any more than absolutely necessary?" Mike demanded.

"I'm impressed" Raph commented casually, "Mikey used some big words in that sentence."

"I'm not. I can think of bigger ones." Don retorted.

"Yeah well, you're a walking dictionary there Donny boy." Raph jibed.

Leo shook his head listening to their banter, "We all have, essentially, new weapons we hardly even know what we have, or what we can do with them." Leo pointed out calmly, "I think if we are going into battle we ought to have an idea of what we can do with them. Also I have an idea that we might be able to find some water around here." He glanced towards Donatello, "I mean there must be ways to survive in the desert I've heard cactus holds a great deal of water in it."

Don nodded confirmation.

"Yeah right Leo you'll just point your magic wand and water will appear" Raph scoffed, "And by the way I'm not inta having a mouthful of needles."

Leo smiled mysteriously as he arched his eye ridges at his brother, "You never know Raph, anything is possible when you have magic," he replied cryptically.

The other three turtles glanced at one another possibly wondering what it was Leo was talking about, what did he suspect that he wasn't letting on, they didn't say a word but there was no doubt that there was a hurried conversation between the family about their leader and if perhaps a combination of the intolerable, suffocating heat, mixed with strange occurrences had caused Leo to have illusions of grandeur, or something as equally troublesome.

Leo gave a wearied sigh as he saw their skeptical looks, "You all know that Don and I created a shelter with our two weapons alone. Come on let's see what we've got together" he urged, as he turned to walk away, when he realized none of the others were following him, he glanced over his shoulder and turned to face his brothers. Leo stood up straighter, he crossed his arms over his plastron, and shot a meaningful but stunning glare towards the others "I said come on and that wasn't a suggestion or an option" he declared.

The other three scrambled to their feet and hastened to follow after Leo casting worried and concerned looks towards one another, not to mention the numerous silent questions that raced in their minds, they halted forming a circle and each pulled their weapons, Leo's sword softly ringing as he pulled it from the scabbard, Don spun his staff absently, "What is it you are looking for Leo?" he finally asked, voicing the one question they all wanted answered and yet, thus far, none of them had dared to ask.

"I am looking for us to be one with our weapons and training, so that when the time comes to strike. We will be ready, as a team; As we've always been Don" Leo insisted simply. "Now are you with me?"

Raph snarled a bit "Aw ta hell wit it we may as well git it ovah wit." He stated indifferently.

Leo detected that under it was a hint of interest, of course Raph loved a challenge and didn't care to back down from it, on top of that he was probably itching to give his flaming sais a true work out. Don and Mike gave small smiles towards one another and gave a subtle nod to one another, before they moved towards Leo.

Raph recalling Gimod's advice to think fiery thoughts, began to do so, it would be good to get his pompous, know it all when it came to ninjitsu, brother down. Raph slashed out with a sai, but before it could near Leo's weapon, Mike's chuck zipped in causing Raph to turn his attention to Mike or risk being hit by the wooden handle of the weapon. Irritated that Leo would have to wait, Raph tried his best to deflect Mike's blows or disarm him. He was aware of most of Mike's moves, they had trained together for so long that it was rare to be surprised in sparring by something their opponent might do. Still there were times one of them could get the other in a moment of distraction, and Mike distracted far too easily.

No matter how Raph struck with his sai, Mike's nunchuku blocked it and Raph found himself dipping further into his training blocking his thoughts while doing his best to try and get the better of Mike. Out of the four Leo and he were fairly even matched when it came to sparring, Mike and Don didn't spend enough time on sparring and studying. Raph would often go off with Casey Jones to bust up trouble, or heads, either or worked and of course Leo was practically married to the study of ninjitsu. Not that less practice made Mike or Don weak. Mike's high energy and creativeness in battle more than made up for the sessions he missed, while Don of course was busy figuring out what to do in instances where battle was of little or no use in obtaining their objective.

Raph's anger and irritation rose though, and as it did his sais began to flame with a steady regular light, the flames licking and lapping away from the metal. Mike back pedaled nervously as he spun his one nunchuk and struck with a fast sweep out at the other sai, the moment the wood touched the flame, Mike was sure that his weapon would go up in flame, leaving him nothing but ash, and a tiny stub of chain at that end of his weapon.

A great wind seemed to come from nowhere as if fanning the flames higher, spinning sand around in a tiny dust devil, and whipping their bandanna tails, but as the weapons broke off the wind died and Mike saw that his weapon didn't even bear a nick where the two weapons met. "What the?" Mike inquired befuddled as he gazed at his nunchuk in astonishment.

"Don't stop! Learn to control it," Leo barked as his sword swung towards Don's staff. Don back flipped and then jumped up and over Leo, Leo spun around to face Don before he could bring his staff in for a blow, the advantages of a longer weapon meant that neither of them had to get in close to hit the other. As Leo deflected Don's move his sword hit in to the staff.

Don smirked as he dived down dropping to his back and raising his legs, to catch Leo in the plastron sending him tumbling over his head. Leo didn't release his grip on the sword's handle, the tip of the staff touched the ground and suddenly, Don and Leo found themselves in a shallow pool of water. Both of the turtles were taken by surprise by this move and swallowed some water, they rose their head from the cold liquid, coughing and sputtering .

Don shook his head, getting the wet bandanna tails out of his eyes as he did so "I don't get this! It's impossible!"

Leo laughed, "Don't you get it dear brothers? What have we created with our weapons?"

Mike laughed, "Fire, water..." a mischievous grin crossed his face and a strange gleam came up in his eye.

Leo nodded as he stood up in the pool he dipped his sword in and the water began to rise "Earth can be so unmoving firm in it's beliefs" he muttered as he looked at Don, "But the wind fans the flames, or can calm them I'm sure."

Don blinked "You mean these weapons are almost manifestations of the elements themselves? "

"Gimod verified it Don, he said all magic beings on Necron took their power from some source of the elements itself, therefore it stands to reason that even the weapons of this world would carry some of the elemental traces." Leo replied as he gave his brother in purple a knowing look, he was sure Don would, at least once he understood the circumstances, be figuring out the entire ramifications and possibilities of such things.

Don gave a low chuckle as if he comprehended "But do you know what that means Leo?" he gasped his eyes growing large, "it means that..."

A low threatening deep growl was heard and Don cut off whatever he was going to say, the turtles turned to see, the pack with hair bristling and lips curled back into menacing snarls, Symbia was staying far away from them, and Demon Wing acted as if he might charge them in an instant, Marina was watching with rapt interest preening her fur in a fastidious fashion and licking her lips while fluttering her wings ever so slightly. Gimod sat with a concerned look in his eye.

"Hey I thought we were friends!" Raph snapped at the toshe.

"We thought you were too" Lobo replied, "What if we have been mistaken, to do even the slightest bit of what you have done here, is either great magic and we have no way of knowing how you intend to use it, or it is a sorcery trick in, which case you have fooled us for a very long time. Perhaps even been responsible for the damage done thus far."

Mike gave a negative shake of his head "No way we fight for what is right, truth justice and a bigger slice of pizza pie" Mike teased, then continued, Besides Shanza trusted me from the start, she was my guide and I want to get her back."

Leo glanced at his brothers, "It may be unnerving for you to finally realize or know what we can do. Our Master Splinter once told us that even a ninja's allies would be uncomfortable around him as if they feared being turned on. Ninja only used their knowledge and skills for the greater good, to use those skills for evil or wrong would be to lose their magic and power, becoming less than what they were." Leo explained, "We were sent here by Renet to aid you so the darkness that is brewing in this world at this time would not spill over. Perhaps Renet knows something of the timeline to be aware that without us here it could go to the worst possible scenario and quickly."

Symbia stomped her hooves, "It doesn't help that we are still afraid." She gasped her tail lashing.

Leo gave a soft smile, "if you are afraid then we are doing our job."

Marina yowled, and the turtles glanced at her, the catafly's hair stood on end "Do you feel something?"

Demon bobbed his head, 'It is like the build up to a powerful electrical storm.'

The phoenix rose into the air shrilling a sharp call as if startled by something. Marina, Demon and Gimod also launched almost at the same time, before there was a rumble and massive shaking that came from the Earth itself.

"Earthquake!" Don yelled.

"Well at least we don't have to worry about windows breaking or heavy furniture toppling on us" Mike remarked as the grounds trembling tossed him into Raph's arms.

"Look out there are cracks, fault lines in the ground if they open up" Don warned pointing.

The water in the shallow pool seemed to splash up all at once and disappear into a crack in the ground that opened beneath it. Symbia thrashed wildly a path of sweat showing on her haunches as Demon and Gimod swooped down to collect as many of the others as possible before the ground ate them whole as well. Demon managed to take Leo and Don on his back as well as Dawny. Gimod picked Symbia up holding her in all four feet, while allowing the rest of the pack, Mike and Raph onto his back.

Up in the air they were mere spectators, of the large gaping crevasses and shifting Earth, the jiggling sands, and rolling rocks that moved with every tremble from below. The phoenix let out a strangled call as it looked towards the Griffin's home ' The mountains they are falling,' it gasped swooping into a circle, ' Yet the volcanoes still stands.'

' It must be the second magic, they needed Shaman for. With Shanza in their power their strength has grown even more,' Demon lamented.

Gimod huffed ' The griffins will not be happy they have lost their home, and this earthquake could have caused other mountain ranges to fall as well, though I have a feeling certain dragon territories will be protected, much as the volcanoes are.'

Mike bowed his head, "That's terrible if only ranges that survive this are dragon ones; then where will the Pegasians, Griffins or other animals live?" Mike knew what it was like to be without a home, his family had suffered such a fate a few times, but at least they had the knowledge that some where in the vast subterranean sewers a home could be found. The inhabitants of Necron would not be so lucky, there would be no place for the others to find a home.

' I doubt even my home will be spared, for we aren't considered to be proper dragons to begin with.' Gimod mourned as he watched the Griffin mountain range set up a cloud of dust from the rolling debris. Gimod had never felt so lost or devastated, the dragon had to turn his head away because he couldn't bear to look any more. I have to wonder if this is how others feel when proper dragons cause so much trouble for a village. He mused silently to himself.

Symbia trembled in Gimod's talons, "When the fires rage where they never were, when mountains fall, and the oceans rise onto land, and the wind blows devastation then all will suffer the dark rule at hand"

'What is that?' Demon wondered for he had never heard such a thing before.

"Something we Centaurs are taught as children, something the stars once said would come to pass, certain signs we watched or learned from, yet none of us ever really believed it would happen for we saw no confirmation of when or anything like that" Symbia felt tears roll from her eyes, "It appeared just once and so it was felt that perhaps we had misjudged the signs, but for some reason, all centaurs were still taught it and to be on the look out just in case." She stammered in a halting voice.

Leo considered her words, fire, Earthquakes, water and wind those were of course elements, the dark forces were somehow using these elements to cause great devastation and havoc across the world, all to gain power. If they gained enough they could then seep into other worlds and increase their power insuring a dark reign over their world. Perhaps since they were using this power only ones truly skilled in the elements could prevent the dark power coming to pass. Leo glanced at their Necron Guards, these beings were to protect them, help them and they had done that. They would also aid in the battle.

"What if..." Leo began, "One of the spells could be reversed, or,made to be less then what it should be?"

"That is impossible!" Lobo barked sadly.

"Ninja are known for doing the impossible, we all ready know we have weapons that can draw upon the elements, we have trained how to use the elements to advantage. The void from which all things come and return." Leo murmured softly as if deep in thought.

The shaking was starting to ease up, and Gimod brought the others down to a safe spot the dragon had a hollow feeling deep in his gut and he could tell by the look of the other Necron inhabitants that they too seemed lost forlorn. The enemy had struck hard this time, and nothing in the dragon's mind could change the present situation.

"Be careful after something of that size and strength there is bound to be after shocks." Don warned.

Lobo whined, "Are we sure it is the Dark ones that caused the Earth shake?" After the turtles display he was suspicious that perhaps they may have caused it even unintentionally.

Symbia glanced his way," I am sure it was. The Magic to do that would need Alicorn elements, they must have been casting that spell even while the turtles practiced, which could be a good thing for by doing that they Dark ones may not be aware of what the turtles are capable of at the moment."

Mike went over to Leo who was pulling his dwarf sword, "Brothers, do you stand with me in this, lets see if we can change it or make it better. Meditate, picture in your mind the Griffin mountain range and other mountains throughout Necron, do your best. We will bring our weapons together and see what happens." Leo stated. "Gimod, Demon and Symbia if you could assist by giving a mental picture image of the mountain ranges it could help us."

"They can't be serious" Symbia whispered as she rolled an eye toward the dragon, "What do they think they can do?"

'I don't know' Gimod replied his eye ridges furrowed with concern, ' They may, for all I know, be ready to destroy all of Necron where it stands now to prevent evil from taking over. I do not have any idea of if they will be capable of it.'

Marina's eyes glowed, "They are creatures of mystery and they will do what they must." she remarked knowingly.

Lobo snarled, "Perhaps we should stop them," he declared not liking what was going on, especially in the climax of the earthquakes that had devastated the land.

Marina yowled "Just try it!" she threatened raising a paw and hissing at the pack.

The turtles seemed oblivious to the others around them, not even acknowledging their presence, fears or uncertainties. They sat in lotus position in a small circle weapons in hand. The turtles were aware of what was going on, but were not allowing themselves to be distracted by those around them, as one each slowly lowered their weapons into the middle of the circle. Due to how close they were sitting to each other, knees and arms, almost but not quite touching. Leo and Don had to insure their weapon didn't end up poking one of their brothers. Of course deep in meditation they were fully aware of where their brothers were the weapons touched, and for a moment nothing seemed to happen and yet everything happened all at once.

Gimod offered a mental picture of mountain ranges he was aware of, not sure if he should but he was willing for the moment to trust the four brothers in this move.

Everything fell silent and still, no one seemed capable of moving or even breathing as if those around the turtles were holding their breath in anticipation and anxiety, a high wind began to blow and a large hungry flame surrounded the turtles, sand and rocks began to move as if of their violation.

Demon snorted and backed up ' A tremor?'

"No!" Symbia replied but even she was frightened the whites of her eyes showing and she was gripped by an insane fear to turn and run for her life. She might have bolted then and there if all the world, everything around them became dark.

This was no ordinary darkness, not the blackness of night, or shadows this was something much more, it was deep, eternal, and almost alive. Gimod threw his head up and roared in fear, the toshe bayed long and loud their hair raising involuntarily on the back of their necks. One could not feel anything or see anything, it was as if all sensation had been ripped bodily from them, yet they could not escape from it they could only hope to be freed from it.

None of them knew how long this nothingness lasted, it could have been a second, a minute, a week. A century even for all they knew before all they had seemed to have lost came flooding back to them, in a giant turbulent crashing wave.

Demon sprang in the air, Symbia bolted her sides covered in sweat, her ears laid flat against her head, the toshe cowered and growled uneasily.

Gimod trembled, a dragon trembling like a fallen leaf, like a tiny rodent who knew it was about to fall prey to a stalker and had no way to escape or avoid his fate, Gimod, the runt wyrm knew that dragon though he was, he was still not even close to being equal to what had come over all of them here in this place. What surprised Gimod was the calm expression on the turtles faces as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, if anything they seemed taller, bolder, more sure of themselves then they had ever been.

Don smiled "Do any of you wish to confirm if something was done?"

None of the others seemed capable of moving just yet but Marina winked at him "I will" She purred as she flew up and headed towards where the Griffin's home had been, before it had been reduced to rubble and ruin. She returned some minutes later "It is true it is as if they have turned back time itself, or recreated what was from nothing but rubble many of the Griffins asked how their home could be returned when it had been completely destroyed" she called back jubilantly. "If they can do that then the enemies themselves ought to fear their coming."

Demon shook his head flying quickly to see for himself ' She speaks truthfully!' He gasped in awe as he saw for himself.

Gimod swallowed and looked at the turtles, Perhaps we ought to be lucky they are on our side. I have been through chaos before but I never thought I'd see the other side of the void. Gimod mused to himself, he took a deep breath and choked on some smoke and it was a moment before he was breathing normally. I only hope our enemies don't know what we have here, but after that display...Gimod's tongue flickered out and he rolled an eye.

How safe were they when their greatest allies could destroy all of Necron?

These turtles had proven they could do it and that more then anything caused the runt dragon to feel cold in even the hottest part of his body where the fire came from.

TBC