A Million Miles Apart

A/N: Hello! So, I'm going on some interviews about a job this week and in two weeks. Hopefully I'll have some luck, but the reason I'm saying this is because at this point I'm trying to get a job. So I don't know how this will affect my writing or when I'll be able to update. I'm just saying.

Anyway, I'm giving you a new chapter and I hope you'll like what I'm bringing you. We might see a familiar face from the past. I hope you'll like this chapter and please review, favorite and follow!

Chapter 57, An Answered Prayer

When I said I was going to gather more firewood, I was lying. Okay, I had gathered up some more dry sticks to put on the fire, but not because we needed it. We had plenty of kindling left, so it wasn't really necessary, but I really needed some time away from the guys and some time for myself. Traximus' story and everything we had discussed up until now had made the wheels in my head turn at 100 miles per hour. I had felt a little uneasy revealing my backstory at the prison and Donnie's support had made me feel even more uneasy, but also a bit comforted. But it still didn't change the fact that I still felt scared and unsure about what I was doing.

I sighed and picked up another stick, placing it under my arm. The last few months had turned my whole world upside down and I still had no idea if I was doing the right thing. I had gotten myself involved in a war that didn't concern me at all and if I made the wrong move, it could affect my planet, too. But if the Triceratons won, what's to say they won't try to destroy other worlds after Earth? And they were still tyrants and needed to be stopped before they went over the line. I mean, okay, they already kinda had gone over the line- but I meant even further over the line. But to what lengths was I willing to go to make sure Earth wasn't destroyed? I had put my life on the line for people I didn't know, had no connections to whatsoever, and would most likely leave after the mission was accomplished. If it was accomplished, that is.

Then again, how could I just stand by and let innocent people die when they had done nothing wrong? The Triceratons wanted to destroy Earth because the Kraang were hiding there; they didn't care about the people who got killed in the process. No matter how small-minded they seemed to be, they didn't deserve to die because of a vendetta between two alien races that didn't care about them at all.

I sighed again and sat down on a rock. The sticks I had gathered up were lying in a pile at my feet and I was resting my face in my hands. I was feeling very conflicted and all my instincts were yelling at me to fly back to Filione and stay safe within our little bubble, like the Salamandarians had done for hundreds of years. But something inside of me was telling me to stand up and be strong for a change.

Much as I tried to not give into it, it was natural for me to play it safe and never take any risks; stay in my comfort zone. I had also made it a habit to never do anything before I knew what the best tactic was and I rarely acted on instinct, except for when that instinct told me to play it safe. But now I was in a situation where I couldn't really do that. I was starting to do better, Jhanna was respecting me enough to not make fun of every single thing I said and did, and Starlee had really taken a liking towards me for some reason. Maybe she thought it was nice to talk to someone who didn't act like an entitled jerk all the time. She had both me and Donnie to talk to when Jhanna didn't suffice.

Except for Starlee, I can't say I was too friendly with anyone else on the ship. Jhanna was acting better now, ever since Zerij when she got yelled at and the crud beaten out of her. But I still had problems with her attitude and her anger issues, even though she was loyal and had her moments of being kinda nice. I had respect for Traximus and The Professor- Traximus in particular, since I had seen him fight ever since I arrived at the prison. He had been the only one to look out for me that hadn't died. But Traximus had looked out for a lot of people, so it hadn't meant that much. And he had been in a severe state of depression since the day he had wound up in prison. The Professor just seemed a bit scatterbrained for a scientist, but he meant well, I guess. And Donnie…

Donnie was certainly special. Yeah, he was nice and all, but there had been a few instances where I wondered what he was hiding. He acted like he was way out of his element and that it should be someone else in his place. But I still was unsure what to think of him. Sure, he was kind, caring and compassionate and had more than enough intelligence to be able to get by. But he was also irrational, reckless and he was still a bit naïve. Not to mention that he was picking fights with the worst possible alien race in the galaxy and we were on the verge of a gigantic war all because of him not thinking before speaking. -Yeah, I know it was an accident, but still.

I looked up at the moon as it appeared on the dark sky and started to think back to the Aeons. The Aeons had been the only ones giving me hope during my time in prison and I had a feeling that they had brought Donnie and Jhanna to the prison to save us all from the Triceratons. They were brought to us for a reason. And they most likely knew how Filione was doing when I came back home and wanted me to find a way to stop the Triceratons from ruling the galaxy. And since I was so deadset on staying out of the war, they had to convince me through other means.

Everything happened for a reason, and I was sure I was on this mission for a reason. If the Aeons had sent me on this mission, had made sure these exact events had happened, then I was sure the reason would reveal itself with time. And if there's one thing I am, it's patient, and if there was a reason I was still alive after so many had died, after I had seen almost all my loved ones die, then I would wait until I knew why. I had spent almost ten years in that prison and by all logic I should be dead now. But I wasn't, and I was sure there was a reason for that. I was a part of something bigger than myself now, and I wanted to see how it all played out. What part I would play in all of this.

"The Aeons kept you alive for a reason, Mona, and you are also here for a reason. You'll find out what that reason is eventually- just wait and see," I muttered to myself and gathered the sticks in my arms again. Time to head back to the others before they started to worry.

After Mona Lisa came back with more firewood and Donatello came back from his little walk, we kept sitting around our fire and talked about things. It varied from how we thought the food had tasted, to how we saw the prejudice on this planet. On that specific subject we could all agree that it didn't feel very well to be yelled at or for people to show fear or hatred towards us. Mona Lisa didn't say much; she just sat with her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin on her knees. Her eyes were locked on the fire, but it seemed like they were in a completely different world. Donatello seemed to be in a better mood now and talked, smiled and laughed a lot more, which was a welcomed change of pace. One could only wonder what had happened while he had taken that walk.

But the conversations eventually got quieter and slower as the night went on and eventually Donatello and Mona Lisa started to yawn and their eyes drooped more and more. I smiled softly at them and threw a few more sticks into the fire.

"I believe it's time for you to sleep. It's late and you will need all the energy you can get for tomorrow." Donatello shook his head despite how he was yawning so much that it looked like his jaw might dislocate itself. Mona rubbed her hands over her eyes.

"No, no, we're fine. We can stay up just as long as you can." I shook my head and gently led them towards the cave, where we had already prepared for the night with leaves covered with heather and grass for bedding and pillows. They didn't put up much resistance and just let me lie them down on their beds without any complaints. "Sleep now- I will follow you shortly. I just want to make sure the fire will survive the night." If they heard me, they didn't show it. But I highly doubt that they did, as they fell asleep the second their heads touched the pillows.

I walked back to the fire and sat down, making sure it was still burning strongly. The night was surprisingly cold, considering how warm it had been earlier today, so I wanted to make sure no one would be cold during the rest of the night. But there was still quite a bit of firewood, so there was no risk that would happen. And I was used to being awake for several days on end. It was a part of my training as a warrior in the Triceraton army. So, should the need rise, I could stay awake for the whole night.

I placed a few more dry sticks on the fire and turned to look over my shoulder at the children sleeping a few feet behind me. Mona Lisa had her back to me and her breathing was soft. Donatello rested his head on his arm and a soft whistle was heard from the gap between his teeth. They looked so innocent and childlike while asleep. Both of them were quite mature and levelheaded for their age, and sometimes I had to remind myself that they were, in fact, children. And I also had to remind myself of the war that would most likely start because of this mission. A war is no place for children, no matter their age or how mature they are.

Donatello in particular should not be a part of this. He was just a boy, a child; he should not be faced with the responsibility of the fate of his planet and his people. It shouldn't be happening to anyone at all, but it should definitely not happen to a boy his age. Whereas Mona Lisa, Jhanna and Starlee had agreed to help him, and they were just as much children as he was, they did not shoulder the same responsibility that he did. How many times during one day did he question himself on whether he could lead his team to success? How many nightmares did he have of seeing his world destroyed?

I sighed. He should not be here. He should be at home with his family and not even be aware of what a Triceraton was. None of the things that had happened to him should have happened. I would have gladly stayed the rest of my life in that prison if it made sure that he wouldn't be here in the first place.

Then again, if he had not shown up on D'hoonib that fateful day, chances are all our lives would be nothing short of miserable. Professor Honeycutt would still be chased by his own people, Jhanna would still be a prisoner on her own planet, Starlee would be blissfully unaware of what the Federation truly was and Mona Lisa and I would still be prisoners of the Triceratons. So, in a way, he had improved our lives and given us a choice on whether we wanted to help him or pursue our own happiness. And, I have to admit, while I had not known him for very long, I was starting to grow fond of the boy. He had a warrior's spirit somewhere deep inside of him, I was sure of it. But I also admired his kind heart and compassionate nature. While it was clear he had the potential to be an amazing warrior, it was also clear that was not his biggest desire. He was a warrior in a protective sense; he fought to protect loved ones and not because he wanted to. And sadly there were not many warriors who fought for the right ideals anymore.

I looked up at the sky. During my imprisonment I had given up hope that I would ever see the light of day again, and had begun thinking that I would be fighting inside that arena until the day I died. I had given up hope that the Aeons would answer my prayers or that anyone would come to break us all free. But then came Donatello, as if sent from the Aeons themselves, who tried to convince us to fight back and take back our lives instead of letting the Triceratons rule over us. And now, my faith was starting to be restored once again. If anyone could watch over that boy and make sure he made it back home again, it was the Aeons. He had made it this far and was still intact physically and mentally, but would need someone to watch over him and make sure he didn't lose his way along this journey.

"Great Aeons, hear my prayer. You have to watch over this boy; he will need all the help he can get on this journey. I know he doesn't say it, but he's scared of what's to come and he will need support." I paused and turned to look back at him again. He shifted slightly in his sleep and removed his arm from his head, placing his hand under his cheek instead, letting out a small sigh before the whistling commenced once more.

A soft smile graced my lips and I turned back to the fire again. "I am doing what I can to help him. I will teach him everything I know and give him all the advice I can, and I will try to be a good mentor for him, but I don't think that will be enough. He's still young and needs someone to help him and make sure that he stays on the right path. His father is not here to guide him, so I am doing my best to be there for him. But I am not his parent and there's only so much I can give him."

Another thought hit me and I added, "Please, watch over him and let him live. I know I'm old and I someday, I'll be gone, but it should not come after his death. He's just a child; he has several years ahead of him. Let him live and let him go home once this is all over. Watch over him; let the boy live and let him see his family again. And if it costs me my life, so be it. Just be there for him, that's all I ask."

There was no response to my prayer, so I just placed the rest of the sticks on the fire and walked into the cave so I could get some sleep as well. But as I lay down on the soft bed of leaves and heather, my eyes fell on Donatello once again and only one thought was on my mind before I fell asleep.

"Let him live."

I slowly became aware of my surroundings and opened my eyes. But I wasn't lying in a cave on a soft bed anymore. I sat up and looked around. I was lying on soft green grass under a large cherry tree in full bloom. A soft pink flower fell from a branch and softly floated down to the ground in front of me. It looked like some kind of garden, with a small creek a stone's throw away from me, with a small wooden bridge going over it, and on the other side was something that looked like a hedge maze. A thin path also went from the garden maze, stopped at the bridge, but continued on the other side and kept going into the woods behind me. It also seemed to be dusk or dawn, it was hard to tell which one, but it was still light enough for me to see everything. But there was no one else in this garden; I was all alone.

I stood up and looked to see if there were any signs of life here, but found nothing. "Hello? Is there anyone here?" A soft breeze blew through the garden and it ruffled my mask tails, but I still saw no one. Then I saw a bright light in the corner of my eye and turned around to see what it was, but it was like looking straight into the sun- it stung my eyes and I had to shield my face with my arms so I wouldn't be blinded. When the light started to fade and I lowered my arms again, I saw someone on the path at the edge of the dark woods. It was a strangely familiar sight, but I couldn't understand why.

It was a woman, with long black hair that flowed around her like she was underwater. Part of it was tied into a bun on top of her head with a kanzashi through it with pink cherry blossoms decorating her hair. Her slightly slanted eyes were bright brown with a hint of ember in there and they seemed to radiate kindness and wisdom. She was dressed in a long, flowing pink dress- no, it wasn't a dress, it was a kimono, with dark purple obi tied around her waist. She also had naturally red lips and just a little bit of eyeliner and mascara. All in all, she looked beautiful but in a very modest way. This was a naturally beautiful woman, but seemed to have dressed up for an occasion. But despite how young she looked (she couldn't be older than thirty) she also seemed to have an elderly, wisdomly air about her. And even though I was sure I had never seen this woman in my life, there was something incredibly familiar about her.

I realized I was standing there with my mouth wide open and immediately closed it. I didn't know what to say or do so my instincts just kinda took over and I bowed in respect to her. She smiled, came up to me and placed a soft hand on my shoulder. "You don't have to fear me, Donatello. I promise you, I mean you no harm." Her voice was gentle and she had a soft Japanese accent, but what she said startled me so I didn't really notice at first. Okay, so she knew I was a little scared, I could get that. I mean, I did just see a woman appear out of the blue from a bright light, and that's not something you see everyday. But how did she know my name? I looked up at her smiling face, but still couldn't get myself to speak.

She pulled her hand back from my shoulder and gently grasped both her hands, looking down at me with a motherly smile. It was as if she knew me and was waiting for me to realize who she was, but I had no idea. Finally I managed to lick my lips and form a coherent sentence.

"I… I'm sorry, do I know you?" She let out a soft laugh, reached her hand and stroke my cheek with her soft, yet amused smile.

"Maybe not personally, but I have been watching over you and your brothers for quite some time. Unfortunately I have never been able to see you- our power is not what it used to be- but I know you very well. And I believe you know me too, in a sense." I felt my body stiffen a little when she touched me again, but for some reason it didn't feel weird that this complete stranger was touching me like this. I didn't understand why at first, but it was similar to when Master Splinter was trying comfort or reassure me that everything was gonna be alright after I had woken up from a nightmare when I was a kid. It was nice and comforting and out of absolute love, which made whatever problem I had feel small or insignificant. But I still didn't understand who this woman was or how she knew me and yet something about her still felt so strangely familiar. It was something about her eyes. I narrowed my eyes and took a closer look at her. Her long shiny hair, her pale skin, her red lips and her amber brown eyes. I paused at her eyes and then, just like that, all the pieces fell into place. I knew where I had seen those eyes before. For fifteen years I had seen them in a picture in the dojo back home and- more recently- on a sly, conniving girl that was constantly out to kill us. My eyes widened and I took a step back.

"You're… you're Tang Shen." Her smile widened a fraction and she nodded softly. I looked her over and swallowed. "How- why… how are you here? Didn't Shredder-? Am I… am I dreaming this?" Tang Shen straightened herself a little and her smile became a bit more serious.

"Not precisely. You are in fact asleep, but this is not entirely a dream. Earlier today you asked the Aeons for a sign, and here I am. They have finally allowed me to visit you." My jaw fell wide open again and I blinked several times, trying to process the information she had just given me.

"You're an… an Aeon? They're real?" She nodded. I put a hand on my head and tried to make sense of what she'd said. So, apparently there were beings that existed in everything living, just like Traximus said there were; but how did it work? I looked up when I felt Shen's hand on my arm and she smiled down at me.

"Don't try to wrap your head around it, Donatello. You will only confuse yourself more. Aeons exist in everything alive, that's true, but we're more like spirits than actual beings. We exist because the people we love still remember us, thus we exist AS they remember us. It is a little complicated, but that's the best way I can explain it to you." I tilted my head to the side and tried to my best to understand what she was saying, but it still didn't make a whole lot of sense.

"So when you die, you become an Aeon because the people who love you remember you?" Her face remained neutral, her smile neither fading nor growing.

"Not everyone can become an Aeon, Donatello. Only the beings deemed worthy can make that transition: those who have done very good things in their previous life, or those who honor life in every way they can, those who protect it and care for every living thing. That's what we do- protect and watch over everyone and everything." I stared up at her and once again tried to process all the information. It was a lot to take in, but considering everything that had happened to me and everything I had seen, it really didn't surprise me that spirits existed anymore.

But Tang Shen didn't look like she was here just to explain how Aeons worked. Her smile had turned into a serious frown and she looked me straight in the eyes. "You have ended up in quite a mess, Donatello. You are only a few steps away from starting a war with the Triceratons, which will no doubt complicate things for you. They will not give up the Black Hole Generator so easily." Oh, great; she was coming with one of THESE talks. I sighed and folded my arms over my chest.

"Yeah? Well I'm not going to give it up so easily, either. You say you've been watching over us for a long time? Then you should know that I'm not one to give up. Giving up is not an option, especially not when my planet is at stake."

Shen smiled and nodded. "Oh, I am well aware of your dedication and tenacity. But I warn you, if you think your journey has been hard up until now, it will only become that much harder. You have to make sure you stay on the right path, the path you have chosen for yourself, the path that feels right for you." I blinked a few times and then looked down at the ground. She was right about one thing; my mission was only going to get harder. But I didn't understand what she meant about staying on the right path. But before I could ask, I felt her place a hand on my shoulder and when I looked up, she smiled at me.

"Which is why I am here. I know you feel alone in the world, but you should know you have friends who care about you very much. Traximus has asked us to help you and guide you, and that is what I will do. If you ever need help or guidance, you need only ask me. I will do everything I can to help you, and make sure you will make it back to Earth again." When she mentioned my friends and what Traximus had done, I felt a warmth grow in my stomach and a smile spread over my face. It felt good to hear that he cared about me enough to want to make sure I stayed safe and alright through out the journey. I looked up at Shen and raised an eyebrow at her.

"If you've watched over me and my brothers, why haven't tried to reach us before?" Shen's smile fell and she looked a little sad for a moment. She sighed and looked up at me.Shen's smile fell and she looked a little sad for a moment. She sighed and looked up at me.

"Once I became an Aeon I tried to reach my Yoshi, but because our powers have become so weak over the years, we can't reach out to whomever we please. We can watch over them as much as we want to, but we cannot speak to them. We save our power for the special cases. And apparently the Aeons find you special enough to gain most of our attention. We have been looking and searching for someone with the bravery and strength to find and destroy the machine, and I was hoping it would be all four of you. But now, it is the way it is. And I want you to know that you have the Aeons on your side."

That felt pretty good to hear, but then one sentence caught my attention. She said the Aeons had been looking for someone to destroy the Black Hole Generator, right? Did that mean that the fact that I fell through that portal back home and ended up on D'hoonib was apart of some big plan? Was it all meant to happen?

Shen's lips quirked amusedly. It was as if she had read my mind, but considering she was a spirit, it wouldn't surprise me if she could. "I'd like to believe that you are the one to finally bring an end to this senseless tyranny that the galaxy suffers under. I believe in you, Donatello. And so many others do too." I stared up at her in awe and her words seemed to confirm my theory; that everything that had happened had happened for a reason. That this WAS my fate. Shen placed her arm around my shoulders and walked with me, over the bridge and up to the hedge maze. She looked me straight in the eyes.

"Now, before I leave you, I have only one thing to tell you. I understand that this new world is exciting and that you may learn many new things about yourself and others, but you must never forget your roots. As much as you may come to love the worlds you'll see, or the friends you've made, never forget where you come from. Remember who you are, just as much as the people you have left behind on Earth." Her words reminded me of what Traximus had told me earlier:

"You can work as hard as you have to and do what you have to do in order to succeed with your goals, but never, ever, lose sight of who you really are. Always keep your morals and ethics in your mind and your loved ones in your heart, and remember where you have your roots."

Tang Shen smiled down at me and removed her hands from my shoulders. "You have a wonderful mind, Donatello, and you have untapped potential deep within you. But your greatest gift is your heart." She placed her hand on my plastron, just above my pounding heart. "You have filled it with the love of the people around you: your father, your brothers and your friends. That love has shaped you into a wonderful, loving young man. Never change that, Donatello. Love and care are such rare attributes these days and you can make such wonderful changes with your compassion."

I was frozen in place and could only nod once she finished. "I'll try." She smiled again and reached into her belt.

"Good. Now, I want you to have something." She grabbed my wrist and placed something in my hand. It was a necklace, with a large, round silver locket with a familiar black crest on it; the crest of the Hamato Clan.

"Yoshi gave it to me on my birthday the year we became a couple. I had planned on giving it to my daughter when she grew up, but that can never happen. I want you keep your family close by, now that they're so far away." I opened the locket to find it empty, but I knew I could fill it with a picture once I got back to the ship. I looked up at her and bowed again, only this time it was less stiff and mechanic.

"Thank you, Tang Shen. I will do my best to honor our family." She smiled and brushed some hair out of her face.

"Good. Now, I must go. Take care of yourself and remember what I've told you tonight." She turned around to leave, but first pointed to the maze behind us. "Go through there. Then you will wake up in that cave again, but I must leave you. Sayōnara." I waved at her, then a thought entered my mind at the last second and I reached out to stop her.

"Oh, w-wait, Tang Shen!" She stopped and turned back to look at me. I swallowed and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the worst. "How is my family doing?" Her facial expression dropped and she suddenly looked very disheartened.

"They are very lost at the moment. You have left a gaping hole behind and they have a lot to work through. They feel… they feel betrayed... by Miwa." What? What had Karai done this time? It must have been bad if it made them all feel betrayed. But Shen looked so sad at the mention of her daughter and what had become of her that I decided not to ask any more about that. I turned towards the maze, smiled and gave a quick 'Arigatō' again before I turned to walk through the maze, Shen's necklace in my hand. But then, just as I saw a light headed towards me, I heard Shen's voice call out behind me. But it was so faint and far away that it was hard to hear what she said. All I managed to hear was:

"Beware the darkness!"

"Shen? Shen, what are you saying? Shen? Shen!"

"Shen!" I jerked up from the bed and looked around me to try and see where Tang Shen was, but when all I saw was a small cave with daylight starting to seep in through the opening, I realized what had happened. It was all a dream. Mona Lisa and Traximus were still asleep and I was still tired, so I decided to try and sleep for a few more hours before I had to get up and start the day. I sighed dejectedly and made myself comfortable again before lying back down.

"Still, it was the best dream I've had in months," I muttered to myself, when I felt something on the ground beside me. I looked down... and saw Shen's locket beside the bed, as if it had been thrown there. I must have dropped it when I woke up. I narrowed my eyes, sat back up again and looked it over. No, there was no doubt about it; it was the exact same locket from my dream.

"It wasn't a dream. She came to me." I smiled widely and placed the locket in my belt before I laid back down to get some more sleep. Shen's warning was completely forgotten.

A/N: With so much talk of the Aeons, I felt it was time we actually get so meet one. And I liked the idea of making the Aeon that watches over Donnie Tang Shen. But I didn't want to seem like she was just watching over him, so I added in some sentences where she mentions watching over the others.

I hope you liked this chapter and please review, favorite and follow! G'night everybody!