Back in Japan, after having rested for the night and had breakfast, the team of eight acolytes went to the meeting place for their Shisho. They never knew who it was going to be. Sometimes they could be trained as a whole team, or they would be split up into different teams.
"Last one to ninja class is a rotten acolyte!" Mikey joked.
"Yeah, another day full of laughs with the Ninja Tribunal. Hold me back." Raph retorted.
"Well, we're here. Where is our Shisho?" Adam asked.
"Hope it's not Juto. Your lack of skill and ranking breath make me want to retch." Mikey joked. "Or, check it, Hisomi-Shisho: the ninja who ate Japan! Hmm! Hmm!" he started pawing the air, making it look like a monster trying to hunt the people of Japan.
Some of the others laughed at the joke, but when they saw Hisomi show up, they all bowed in respect. They knew when to quit.
"Send more sushi." Mikey went on.
"Mikey! Psst!" Leo tried to warn his brother, but he didn't hear him.
Mikey laughed maniacally, and then he saw how all the others had bowed their heads, making him realize his mistake. He gulped. "He's right behind me, isn't he?" he asked. Then he turned around, to see Hisomi glaring at him and crossing his arms furiously.
"Heh, heh, heya, Teach." Mikey chuckled nervously. Hisomi then started walking off. "Does this go on my permanent record? Hisomi-san?" Mikey asked.
Hisomi continued to say nothing.
All of the acolytes followed him to a bridge. It had the formation of dragons around it.
Hisomi gestured with his left arm to the bridge, and then a motion with his right hand, two of his fingers in a walking motion.
The acolytes could see that perhaps Hisomi wanted them to walk across the bridge, but do what?
Then Hisomi held up his right hand with three fingers, and he started taking them down, one at a time. And again, the friends all looked at each other and shrugging. They didn't know what he wanted or was saying.
"Um, Hisomi-Shisho, I don't understand." Mikey spoke up, then he felt a smack from behind him. "OW!" he turned around and saw the Ancient One behind him.
"If you spent less time talking, and more time thinking, perhaps you would." the Ancient One advised, a bit irritated. He bowed to the Shisho. "Master Hisomi." Hisomi bowed to him too.
"Ancient One." Leo said.
The little man jumped down from the rock that he had been on. "I will assist Hisomi-Shisho, as I too was once a student in the Shadow Art of Stealth." he walked by the turtles.
The turtles' eyes widened. That meant the Tribunal was even older than the Ancient One.
"Hisomi-Shisho does not speak, for he embodies the three bodies of Ninjutsu: Speed, Secrecy, and Silence, Michelangelo." the Ancient One translated for Hisomi's three finger movements.
Mikey tried to say something, but the man stopped him, "Blessed silence." The turtle silenced himself and closed his eyes.
Hisomi gestured to the bridge again. Ancient One translated for him, "He says today, you will learn how to cross the honored Tatsu Bridge, two hundred yards long, and do so, unseen."
That seemed impossible. Don examined the scene and spoke up next, "Zero cover, direct sun, creaky old boards…" Then there was a ZOOM of wind, making them all gasp.
Hisomi was on the other side of the bridge! And he hadn't made a sound! It had all been done in the blink of an eye at super speed!
"No way!" Don said.
"Yes way, young turtle." Ancient One replied.
"Whoa!" Mikey added.
"Incredible." Faraji agreed.
"That did not just happen!" Don exclaimed, putting a hand on his head.
"All things are possible when mind, body, and spirit are harnessed to think the same task." Ancient One explained just as Hisomi made his way back over like before.
"That did not just happen again!" Don said again. He was still in disbelief.
Hisomi then waved his arm over. "Hisomi-Shisho requires a volunteer." came the translation.
Leo and Faraji automatically stepped forward.
Behind them, Raph said in a low voice to Mikey, "Hard to be silent when you're making all those sucking up noises, Leo." Raph joked. Mikey was smiling up until Hisomi stepped up to him and Raph. Even Raph gasped at that.
Hisomi put a finger on Mikey's head. The turtle gulped nervously. "Oh boy." he walked over to the bridge nervously. He couldn't help but think that Randall, who had been left behind in New York, could do this for sure. He was good at stealth.
The Ancient One began to explain on how to do the task, "Focus inward, Michelangelo. See the world as only light, and fog." Hisomi pointed at the amulet he wore. "Find your chi, and imagine it to be rushing wind. Powerful, free flowing, invisible, and serious for once, yes." he gave a scold on that last remark. Then he walked back to the other acolytes.
"How are we going to learn anything from all the way back here?" Leo asked.
"Safety precaution, Leonardo. Remember your Japanese. Tatsu means?" the old man asked.
"Dragon." Leo replied. "The Dragon River."
Mikey began to begin his focusing. "Okay, breathing. Feeling the stealth. Sneak into my heart. Kind of." Hisomi pushed him towards the bridge. "Hey! I'm focusing here!" he snapped, then closed his eyes. "Silent, stealthy." he thought to himself out loud.
He had found his chi too, as the amulet glowed and it allowed some special orange marks to appear on Mikey's body. Just as it had done to Don a few days ago. He began to step onto the bridge.
His brothers couldn't believe they were seeing this.
Mikey was so quiet and not making a sound on an old bridge! He grinned proudly, then showed off, dropping his concentration and the chi marks disappeared. When he stepped next, there was a loud creak in the board, making it echo. Then there was a loud growl from below.
Mikey tensed and looked over the bridge. "Okay, whatever that is, it doesn't sound good." Then he saw a big blue creature come up at him. "Ah! It's not good! It's not good!" he backed away from the edge.
A giant, blue serpent-like dragon came up out of the water and started spinning around the bridge. "Oh shell!" Mikey whimpered as it started coming at him. He screamed in terror.
The dragon began spinning around the bridge again. Even the others were at a loss of what to do, but they would try to help him anyway. They took out their weapons. "Mikey needs our help!" Leo exclaimed.
"Form a perimeter." Faraji suggested.
The dragon tried to get Mikey, but he dodged. The tail of the dragon ended up striking Leo and Faraji away as if they were flies.
"Leo! Faraji!" Joy cried out.
"Let's kick some shell!" Raph ordered. He and the remaining standing ones tried to help Mikey, but the dragon came down at them too and he turned into water. The rest of them were pushed away hard into the rockside, or were grabbed in his tail's coils.
"Let 'em go!" Mikey demanded. "I'm the one who touched your stupid bridge!" He was willing to make the sacrifice. The dragon started coming at him again, making him cringe.
But when the attack didn't result in anything painful, Mikey opened his eyes and he saw Hisomi in front of him, stopping the dragon. The dragon snorted.
Hisomi bowed to the dragon, and the dragon did likewise. Then he flew into the air and turned into rainwater. Mikey clutched Hisomi's leg.
"Wow. You? Wow." Mikey exclaimed. It was only water.
The other acolytes began regaining their senses. They were all bruised up from the attack.
"Um, Hisomi-san, can I have a do-over?" Mikey asked. He could see the disappointed look on the Shisho's face, but then, there was a hard whack on his head. He turned and saw the Ancient One with a bamboo stick in his hands, shaking his head angrily.
"Geez, tough crowd." Mikey rubbed his head.
On the way back to the monistary, Mikey said, "I bet Randall could perfect what I was trying to do."
"Of course he could, Mikey. Randall's used to being stealthy when he has to be. And he has a serious attitude about it." Raph reminded him.
The Ancient One still didn't know all that much about Randall and all his abilities. For right now, he had to concentrate on the turtles and their training. The rest of the acolytes wondered about this Randall they spoke of. They were told more about him.
For Leo, he was glad that at least this time he wasn't going through special training alone. And this time, he wasn't here because of bad behavior. But why had this come about at all anyway?
When they got back, Don got some ice and put it in a pack for Mikey's throbbing head. Then everyone was allowed to split up to relax for the day. The turtles, Ancient One, and Splinter all met up in the room in which they stayed together.
Splinter was furious when he heard what had happened.
"If the Tribunal thinks a water burping dragon is a teaching aid, then sign me up for home schooling." Mikey complained. He had the ice on his head and took it off for a moment.
Splinter pushed the ice pack back on Mikey's head. "I can't believe you were sent against the Tatsu Spirit! It was rash and careless." he pointed out angrily.
The Ancient One knew Splinter had a grudge against what was going on.
"What's your beef with the Tribunal anyway, Sensei?" Raph asked. Don wanted to know too.
"Old wounds are slow to heal." Splinter replied. "Learn what you can from the Tribunal, for you will need it when the Dark One comes to battle, but remember, they will not hesitate to sacrifice you if serves their purpose! So here, more than ever, you must stick together as a family. Promise me, my sons."
"Yes, Master Splinter." the turtles all said in unison.
Every day, there was only one lesson per day, so if especially something had been painful, at least the acolytes could have some time to recover and take in what they had learned.
The next morning, it was Juto's turn to supervise and advise. They were in a workout arena so to speak.
"The weapon is not simply a tool." he began. "It is an extension of skill, of body. I can only pray that the great darkness never comes. But, if it does, you cannot fight it with bits of tin and wood. You need stronger weapons! Built to strike at your enemies, both physically and mystically!" he exclaimed, and a blue magical whip appeared from an arm of his and he reached into the ground.
Something began coming up from the ground. They all hoped they weren't going to be attacked again.
What came up looked like another dragon sculpted head, along with hands. Then, fire erupted in its mouth.
"It is the Spirit Forge, maggots." Juto introduced the forge. "Fueled by the breath of four great dragons."
"Shisho, or no Shisho, he better lay off that maggot business!" Raph growled angrily. He knew what they were really, and he hated bugs. He wasn't going to let this idiot insult him and the others as being compared to maggots.
"Those worthy will find what they seek within. Those unworthy; incomprehensible pain. Now! Who dares?!" Juto challenged.
They all looked at each other in worry.
"No one? Ha! I should have expected as much, from the rodent's misbegotten pets." Juto scoffed.
That made Raph snap. "That does it! I know you're not talkin' smackers on Master Splinter! You want worthy? Then get ready for mean and green." Raph challenged. He stepped up to the forge.
The fire started getting larger and it engulfed him.
"Raph! No!" his brothers all exclaimed.
When the fire loosened down again, Raphael stood there with his own new chi marks, and a new weapon. "That didn't tickle." he said.
"Well done, Simpleton. Indignant rage suits you. Show me what the forge gifts has granted." Juto ordered.
Raph turned and showed off his new weapon. "I got this." It was a weapon that had some blades on both ends attached to wooden sticks that were attached by a chain.
"Banrai! I cannot believe it!" Juto smiled proudly. He turned to the others. "Worms! Use the forge, now!" he demanded.
All the others came forward and put their hands into the forge, with serious looks on their faces to show it that they were worthy. Leo was the only one who didn't this time because there was no more room. But he would go after them. He wanted to see what they all got first.
"Excellent. The forge has granted you great gifts." Juto said.
Leo saw they all had something. Now it was his turn.
"By the gods. Inezuma: which commands lightning from the heavens. Byakko: the hungry ghost who calls the cleaving wind. Banrai: which can shatter mountains with its thunder. Gunshin: which commands the white flame of the Dragon King." Juto stated of some of the weapons' powers.
Don had the Byakko. Mikey had the Inezuma. Faraji had the Gunshin. Adam had the War Hammer. Joy had a Staff. And Torra had Sickles.
Leo began approaching and Juto pushed him out of the way as he stated, "These are Fangs of the Dragon, forged for champions. Legends!"
"What about Leo?" Faraji asked.
Juto glared at Leo, daring him to try his luck.
Leo went to the forge and kneeled, expecting to get a weapon too, but instead, the flames went out on him. He didn't like this. "What happened? What does that mean?" he asked.
Juto just turned away from him with no explanation. He began talking again, "With the Fangs of the Dragon at your command, you'll discover powers rescendant of your wildest imaginings." Juto explained.
Leo looked back at the forge, hoping it would come back on, but it didn't. It looked like he was still stuck with his normal katanas. But did it mean something more?
Then, there was some shaking and a whisk of wind as the other three Shishos rushed into the room. "Juto-Shisho! The first artifact has been found!" Chikara declared.
"The one that was stolen?" Raph asked.
Kon then jumped down. "The artifact lies on the banks of the Kuiwashi River. Guarded by Kapa Tengu."
"The dark one's heralds are poised to claim our prize!" Chikara yelled angrily.
"Excuse me. Did she say, 'demons?' Mikey asked, scared.
"The appearance of the Fangs is an omen." Juto said. "Send the urchins." he demanded.
"Do not return without the cask. For if it falls into the hands of the dark one's heralds, they will be one step closer to resurrecting their master." Kon explained how urgent it was.
They were told where to go to get the artifact back in location. The eight acolytes ran to get on the ship they had come on, only this time, they were fly-sailing it.
"We won't fail you." Faraji assured the Shishos, and Splinter was standing with them as the ship departed.
Splinter walked forward worridly. He hoped his sons and their friends returned safely. He looked back at the Tribunal, who just turned and went back inside. All they could do was wait.
Faraji flew and landed the ship at a place that was close to where they were supposed to go. Then they stealthily went to go find the artifact's cask. They soon came to the river where it was said to be. The acolytes hid in the bushes alongside the river.
There were a bunch of ugly blue-green monsters in the river guarding the cask sitting on a rock in front of a waterfall. They all had shells, somewhat in the shape of a turtle's shell, but with spikes coming out of it. They had webbed fins sticking off their arms, and they had sharp teeth too.
"There it is, the stolen artifact." Don pointed out.
"And a whole lot of ugly." Raph added.
"Come on, Raph. That's no way to talk about your real family." Mikey joked. He did often call Raph ugly as it was.
"They are Kapa Tengu. River demons." Torra said.
"I forgot to bone up on demonology before we were shanghaied. Any ideas?" Don asked.
"Hit hard." Leo said, with Faraji adding, "Hit fast."
They all smiled, knowing they had each other's backs. Then Mikey had an idea.
"I know, stealth mode. I'll pull a Hisomi and snatch the cask at ninja speed before Bobo can say banana!" Mikey declared, holding his amulet.
"Having a fancy pair of chucks doesn't make you Hisomi, Mikey. Let's stay in the real world." Leo stated.
Mikey put his Inezuma away before he began focusing. "Real world this." his marks appeared again. He zoomed up to the rock where the cask was, and none of the demons had even seen him!
"How cool is that? I love being a turtle!" Mikey shouted happily. He had lost his focus once again, and the marks disappeared.
But that was when the demons noticed him from him shouting. Mikey saw them advancing on him and he acted like a monkey.
The other acolytes came out of hiding. "Alright, it's go time. Get Mikey and grab the artifact!" Leo ordered, and he jumped into the fray. The others followed him into the water.
The Kapa Tengus noticed them too and vanished into the water. The acolytes were shocked.
"Huh? Where'd they-?" Leo asked.
The demons suddenly appeared again, surrounding the eight friends. And in way more numbers than before.
"Someone tell me that's Kapa for, we surrender?" Raph asked.
The Tengus roared at them. The friends charged and tried to fight the demons, but the demons changed into water quite a bit.
Leo dealt with one, but it got away from him. Two more grabbed onto Adam. "The water! They can travel through the water!" he exclaimed. Mikey got knocked away from it next.
None of them were faring well against them. Raph and Joy were running for the rock next. They were both knocked down.
Joy was pushed underwater. "Joy!" Raph cried out, and the same happened to him too. He growled, and was pulled up out of the water. "Come on, focus!" His marks appeared again.
Raph jumped into the air. "Bonrai!" he yelled angrily and started to use his new weapon. He turned into a spinning saw and got the demon off of Joy, releasing her. The monster dropped off, probably into the water, with the water splashing around her.
Adam and Torra were both being strangled by some demons. Don was getting more than ticked at these horrible creatures trying to kill his friends. "Adam! Torra!" he called out and his marks appeared too.
Donatello ran up and was going to take them out. "I hope this works. Cleaving wind!" He was up in the air and it was like he was a tornado. It got the demons to let go by picking up the water. Adam and Torra held their throats in relief.
When Don released the water, he said, "Normally, I would want to understand how an arsenal of magic weapons works before using it, but today, I'll make an exception."
Mikey was picked up next. He tried fighting them off, but it didn't work under normal circumstances. He had to focus and his marks appeared again. "Come on, Inezuma!" he shouted.
The water demons were thrown into the rocks, making big splats.
Mikey was proud of himself and his new weapon. "I'm never giving these back!" he announced.
Leo dodged through the Tengus and got to the rock where the cask was. "I got it, guys. Let's get out of here!" he ordered.
He put his swords away just as two more Tengus appeared before him. He grabbed the cask and jumped off the rock as they charged at him. When he landed in the lower parts below the rocks, the Tengus all vanished down into the water.
"It's the water! Use the Dragon King's fire, Faraji!" Leo exclaimed.
"To stop a river, that's impossible." Faraji said.
"Nothing is impossible!" Leo said angrily. He put the cask down and he grabbed Faraji's sword. His focus was sharp and his own chi marks finally appeared.
Leo ordered the Gunshin to destroy the river with his mind, and it fired its mighty power.
The river was wiped out, taking with it the Kapa Tengus. What was once a riverbed, was now a dry area. The area around it was smoking everywhere.
The power had also become too much for the acolytes too. The others began to get their bearings. Leo was still lying on the ground. Faraji fell to the ground. "Leo!" Raph cried out as he ran to see what was wrong with his eldest brother. He cradled Leo's head.
Leo couldn't help the whines of pain he let loose. He was in extreme pain. The power had been a bit much for him.
Leo's brothers carried him back to the ship and put him on a bed in one of the houses. Adam made sure the cask was secure. He carried it. Don tried to take care of Leo the best he could. He wiped some cool water on his forehead with a cloth. Raph and Mikey wouldn't leave Leo's side either.
Faraji was also put in a bed too. Joy attended to him.
This time, Torra drove the ship back to the monistary.
It was evening when they got back, Faraji was helped to walk on to the bridge by Torra and Joy. The three other turtles carried Leo. Adam carried the cask.
"Yo, Shishos! We got wounded!" Raph called out.
"My sons!" Splinter and the Ancient One ran up to them. "Leonardo! Put him down." Splinter ordered his brothers, who gently put him onto the bridge.
Splinter took out a jug full of water and he got down next to Leo. He held his head as he encouraged him to drink. "Drink, my son." he said.
Leo gladly swallowed the water. He was so sore he could hardly move.
The Tribunal then stepped out to see what the commotion was and to see about their precious cask.
"The cask. Is it opened? Is it damaged?!" Kon demanded angrily.
Hisomi pushed hard on Adam and grabbed the cask. He took it to the other Tribunal members, who went to look it over.
"But Master, Leonardo is injured." Faraji pointed out.
"You should have left him if it put the cask in jeopardy!" Juto proclaimed.
The others looked at them in shock. How could their mentors not care about their state of health?
"But Sensei," Faraji let go of Joy and Torra and fell to the floor. He was a little hurt himself. "He saved our lives, Master. Without Leonardo, the cask-"
"Your lives are meaningless compared to these artifacts, Acolyte!" Juto exclaimed angrily.
"You heartless monster! Have you no compassion for those who would give their lives for you?! You are no better than the snarling retches who serve the evil one!" Splinter snapped at the Tribunal.
"Our ways are our own." Kon said, his hands in fists. "But, you and your sons deserve to know this…"
Hisomi started using his mind powers to open the cask carefully.
"The evil that threatens this world overshadows everything! Compassion; our own lives; even honor. If we fail, the world will fall, to Him." Kon explained.
The cask's lid was lifted and the artifact was risen out of it. The turtles and Splinter easily recognized the look of the helmet that had been in the cask. The shape of it.
"The Shredder!" Leo cried out in fear from his prone position on the floor.
Just when they thought they were done with one Shredder, there was another that could possibly be unleashed! And there was another back in New York that had taken over for the Utrom Shredder. One called Yogami. They had yet to know that Randall had taken care of him.
Leo and Faraji were taken into the monistary so they could get some rest for the night. They would see how they were in the morning.
At least the Tribunal had one more artifact back in their custody now. That was one less of them in the hands of the servants who were evil.
There was some dinner served for a job well done, despite the scoldings from the Shishos. Leo and Faraji needed their strength back.
Later on, before preparing for bed, Chikara came by all the rooms to say that tomorrow, the acolytes could have to recover and rest from their injuries since getting the cask had taken so much out of them. But as the injuries weren't much worse than what they were, the injuries were likely to be much better waiting forty eight hours or so.
They would be grateful for the day of rest.
…
In his dreams, Master Splinter began to have a bad dream. He and his sons were in danger from this demon Shredder. But it was more like a premonition rather. He hoped it wouldn't come to pass, but it haunted him greatly. Even his own Master Yoshi was in it. He was slain by this Shredder again, even though he was already dead.
During the day of recovery, while his sons slept, Splinter all of a sudden had a connection to Randall in the astral plane.
"Randall, what are you doing here?" Splinter asked.
"Hi, Splinter. I know I don't meditate much, but I had to come to tell you something. Since I don't know where you are, or when you'll be back, this was the only way I could reach out and get a message to you. Whenever you come back to New York, you won't have to worry about Yogami anymore. I took care of him for you guys." Randall said.
"That is wonderful, Randall. Thank you for telling me." Splinter said. "Is there anything else?"
"It's dullsville without you guys here. What's been going on over there?"
"The Ninja Tribunal is very hard on my sons and their new human friends. They are being trained in magical ways, none we have ever seen before. They are being trained to stop an ancient evil that is threatening to return if some evil heralds get their hands on some artifacts." Splinter explained.
"I talked to Karai too, and she and the Foot are beginning to prepare for this threat too. I told her of what happened about the crystal the turtles brought to Agent Bishop. It was called the Heart of Tengu, and if it would be destroyed, it would unleash the Mystics to do something terrible." Randall explained.
"I think I know what it is, but then, it couldn't be them." Splinter thought.
"Who?"
"The Foot Mystics. They all have elemental powers. It's not easy to simply fight them. It takes a special focus and strength to be able to withstand them, at least here in the astral plane. But it was good that you got through to me to let me know what has been done." Splinter said.
Splinter was grateful that Randall did know how to meditate.
"It was good talking to you, Randall, and I hope we'll be home soon. Until then, take care of things back there and be careful." Splinter said and came out of his meditation.
Splinter was glad to have finally talked to Randall. And he would be glad that his sons weren't being attacked by Yogami anymore once they did get the chance to go back to New York. He knew even his sons would be so proud of Randall.
Sometimes I may spell Joy or Joi. And Tora or Torra. They're still the same character as in the show of course.