Thunder and lightning roared loudly in the sky as it began to rain in New York. Leo ran across the rooftops, leaping from one to the other. As he landed, he knelt down and drew out one of his katana blades.

LEO- There are times in your life when you draw on everything you have.

He growled in annoyance, frustration and anger as he was surrounded by Foot Ninja each of them baring weapons.

Times when you reach down into the deepest part of yourself, when you know you gotta give it your all cause anything less won't get the job done.

Leo stood and readied himself to face them, the Foot however moved aside and allowed Hun to walk up to the front who smirked at Leo.

It's in times like these that you find out who you really are.

Leo however smirked back and merely edged Hun to bring it on. The smirk dropped from Hun's face and he growled as another round of lightning and thunder roared in the sky once again.

That is…if you live long enough.

Leo leapt in the air as Hun roared and charged straight at him.

TMNT S01E17 The Shredder Strikes Back PART 1

The morning sun peaked over New York City and the sunlight beamed and entered the living room of April's apartment. Donatello sleeping on the top part of the couch, Mikey sleeping on the actual base of the couch, Raphael and Danny were sleeping on the floor and Master Splinter was on one of the arm chairs.

As Mikey slept, Donnie's foot fell near his face and he grunted in disgust at the smell, "Geeze! What died?!"

Master Splinter's eyes immediately opened as he heard the sound of the window opening behind him. He didn't need to turn around and look for he knew exactly who it was up early in the morning.

"You're morning training my son?" Master Splinter asked Leo as he stood by the opened window ready to head out.

"Yes Master Splinter, while the city is still quiet" Leo answered as Master Splinter stood up and faced him.

"Your discipline is commendable Leonardo. Have a good run" Master Splinter said, but just when Leo was about to leave he added, "But I trust you're not thinking of going back to scout the lair alone?"

That comment caught Leo off guard as his sensei had figured out that he was thinking of doing that. He turned to face him and said with slight anger, "Why would I do that? Just because the sewer tunnels are overrun by Foot Ninja and ghosts? That we're forced to hide out here at April's like cowards?"

Master Splinter looked at Leo calmly and spoke, "You ask a question that is not a question, if we are to succeed against our foes we will need to act together as a team and not as rash individuals"

"I understand Master Splinter" Leo said after calming down. "I am curious though; with Shredder and Plasmius gone, what are the Foot Ninja and those other ghosts up to?"

"Patience my son. I have a feeling we will find out all too soon" Master Splinter answered as he returned to the chair.

When he turned around Leo had left for his morning training and he sat back down and began to meditate.

Leo ran across the rooftops, one after the other unaware as he jumped over an alleyway a group of Foot Ninja below had spotted him and began their pursuit. Leo turned his head and saw the ninjas following him with swords and other weapons in their hands.

As one leapt at him ready to strike him with his blade, Leo ducked just in time and instead the Foot soldier crashed right into the wall and fell unconscious. Leo turned and growled at the other Foot Ninja, he pulled out one of his katanas and stood ready to fight against them.

He suddenly heard a noise and looked up to see more Foot Ninja standing on the ledge of a building behind him and realised it was an ambush. He looked around looking for a way to get out, his eyes caught sight of a nearby line and then looked down to see the Foot soldier that had crashed had begun to wake up and sit up on his knees.

He ran and jumped right on the ninja's back giving him a boost, he grabbed hold of the line and cut the rope, swinging across several buildings and landing on the roof of another one. He continued to run across the rooftops and the Foot Ninja continued to chase after him as they caught up with him.

Back at April's apartment the clock had struck at 6:45 in the morning and Mikey turned in his sleep, his hand hovered over his face until it landed and he yelped as he woke up which also caused Donnie, Raph and Danny to wake up and pull out their weapons believing they were under attack.

"What?! What is it?!" Raph exclaimed.

Mikey chuckled and said, "Oh man! I slept on my hand and it got numb and hit my face and I thought someone slapped me. Don't you hate that?"

The others just looked at him in annoyance and Raph mumbled as they put their weapons away, "Word's fail me"

Raph was about to head into the bathroom but Mikey beat him to it and slammed the door in his face as he said, "I call dibs on the bathroom"

Raph merely groaned and sighed annoyed.

A few minutes later Mikey was in the kitchen cooking eggs on the stove, while toast cooked on the toaster. The others relaxed in the living room waiting for breakfast to be ready, the door to April's bedroom opened revealing her in a dressing gown and he hair down.

She yawned and said tiredly, "I really do have four turtles, a half-ghost and a rat sleeping in my living room and I thought I was just having a bad dream"

She suddenly smelled something in the air and asked, "Hey what's burning?"

"Mikey's cooking" Danny answered.

As the toast popped up from the toaster cooked, Mikey accidently broke the yoke of one of the eggs as it was cooking and then started scrambling all the eggs together as he asked, "Hey scrambled is okay with everyone right?"

"Again?" Everyone else asked annoyed as it seemed to be a bad habit Mikey had when cooking.

"Hey by the way where's Leo?" Danny asked.

"He's engaged in his morning exercises" Master Splinter answered.

'"If he doesn't get back soon he's gonna get soaked. That sky's looking angry" Donnie said as he looked out the window and heard the sound of thunder and lightning roaring in the sky as dark clouds formed.

Leo panted as he climbed up and stood on another roof of a building. He looked back to see if the Foot was still following him, but there was no-one there. He knelt down and continued to rest, but it was short lived as seven Foot Ninja stood in front of him suddenly and held their swords ready to fight.

Leo stood back up and held his sword ready as well. He walked back to the ledge and saw he had no other choice but to fight, he pulled out his other katana and stood ready as the Foot charged straight for him head on. Leo jumped in the air and stepped on a couple of their heads before delivering a split kick and knocked two of them down to the ground.

He continued to slice at their weapons with his katana blades, while delivering a serious of different types of kicks from roundhouse kicks to dragon kicks and in just a matter of seconds the group of Foot Ninja were taken down.

At first Leo thought it was over, however more Foot Ninja appeared on another roof just across from the one he was standing on. Lightning and thunder roared in the sky above him and then the rain began to fall as more Foot Ninja appeared from their hiding places. Leo growled in anger at the sight of them.

A plate flew across the room to the table where Raph caught it with his hand and called out as he placed it down, "Got it"

Mikey continued to throw the plates from the kitchen as April entered the room and her eyes widened that what they were throwing was her China plates.

"One more. Up high" Mikey challenged.

"NO! Not the China!" April shouted as Mikey threw the plate.

Unfortunately Raph missed catching it and the sound of the plate breaking was heard.

April sighed and said sarcastically, "Why should today be any different?"

"Kids" Master Splinter said as he was reading the newspaper.

"Sorry April" Mikey apologised. Raph then added, "Yeah really. Um….you got any glue?"

"Don't sweat it. I realise it's tough for seven people to share a one person apartment" April said as she, Danny, Donnie, Raph and Master Splinter sat down at the table.

"We'll be out of your way as soon as we can" Donnie said.

"Don't get me wrong. I love you guys, I really do it's just my place is too small" April said.

"We will leave as soon as the Foot Ninja are gone from the tunnels surrounding our lair" Master Splinter said.

The front door suddenly knocked and Danny got up and opened the door to see Sam standing outside the door.

"Sam hey. How's it going?" Danny asked as he allowed her to come in.

"Hey Danny. Hey guys" Sam said as she came in and sat down next to Danny at the table after placing her bag and umbrella down by the door.

"Hey Sam" The others greeted.

"I bought some movies over we could watch and after breakfast, April did you want to go downstairs for an antique for my grandmother's birthday?" Sam asked.

"Sounds great" April said.

Mikey then came over with plates of scrambled eggs in his hand, shoulders and in the other hand he had jam and on top of his head he had a plate of toast. April eyed at him nervously and suggested, "Um…can I help you with that very delicate China Mikey?"

"I got it thanks" Mikey said with a smile.

Suddenly he threw everything up into the air, causing April to shriek and cover her eyes as she waited for the inevitable sound of breaking plates, however when it never came she opened her eyes and saw that everything was placed on the table and each of them now had a plate of scrambled eggs. There wasn't anything broken or smashed much to her relief.

Mikey smile proudly and said as he sat down, "Ninja training"

He smiled at the sight of the food in front of him and immediately began to dig into his breakfast with gusto along with Raph who simply said, "Say what you want about Mikey, the guy knows how to scramble an egg"

April was a little bit appalled by the way they were eating and suggested to Master Splinter, "So one would think that table manners would be part of their training?"

"One would think" Master Splinter agreed.

April then turned to Sam who was simply eating some toast and asked, "So I'm guessing you're used to seeing boys eat like this?"

"Trust me when I say, I have a friend who eats like this all the time" Sam said as she continued to eat her toast.

As they continued to eat breakfast, Danny then asked, "Shouldn't Leo have been back by now?"

"Hey out of the five of us, Leo's the one turtle you never have to worry about" Donnie said with confidence.

Leo charged at the Foot, jumped over one of them before kicking him in the back from behind and continued to block against the strikes of their blades before knocking them down from the ground and cutting their swords in half with his own katana blades.

He stood to the side panting as the Foot laid on the roof unconscious, he was starting to feel tired from all the fighting and running he had done most of the morning. He put his swords away and then suddenly heard a noise and turned to see not only three Foot Tech Ninjas, but Skulker as well standing on the ledge of another roof above him.

Leo jumped back as the Foot Tech Ninja and Skulker landed in front of him after leaping and flying from another building.

"Hello mutant. We saw you running and thought, 'Hey, how about we give him something to run from?'" Skulker said with a menacing grin.

Leo said nothing but pulled out his swords once again and stood ready to fight. Skulker nodded at the Foot Tech Ninjas and immediately, they pressed the buttons on their suits and turned invisible along with Skulker who turned himself invisible as well.

Leo's eyes widened and he cautiously looked around all his surroundings, remembering the last time he and his brothers faced these ninjas they were tough to beat since they could turn invisible and not only that, he didn't exactly have one of Donnie's high tech goggles to help him see them or Skulker.

Leo was suddenly kicked in the back and before he could have time to react, he was punched hard in the face and sent straight to the other roof behind him. Leo groaned as he sat up and then suddenly, he was punched once again in the face and sent crashing straight into a wall.

"All that ninjustu can't really help you if you can't see your enemy when they're about to attack" Skulker said as he turned visible and then laughed as he went invisible once again.

Leo started slashing around everywhere at random, when he was suddenly hit in the stomach and then the chin once again. He didn't have time to react or counterattack when he was suddenly picked up and flown over to the edge of the building, Skulker then revealed himself to the be the one holding Leo by his belt and without a moment's hesitation, he threw Leo off the roof and grinned as he heard him scream as he fell to his doom.

Leo quickly put one of his swords away and grabbed onto the ledge of another building and saved himself from becoming road kill. He climbed onto the roof and gasp at the sight and sounds of footsteps coming towards him.

He suddenly got an idea and spun his mask around over his eyes, completely blinding him and stood still with his sword in his hand. He heard the sound of something coming towards him and spun kicked the Foot Tech Ninja right in the stomach, damaging his control switch and revealing himself as he was knocked unconscious.

Leo spun his sword around and stood still once more. He heard and sensed another presence coming and swung his blade to the side hitting something, revealing the Foot Tech Ninja about to attack him controls were damaged and then was knocked to the ground by a kick to the stomach from Leo.

He stood still once again listening and waiting for his enemy to strike. Footsteps were heard and Leo didn't waste another moment as he jumped into the air and swiped his sword across below him, damaging the Foot Tech Ninja's suit and revealing him as he landed behind him.

The ninja pulled out his sword and was about to attack Leo, but when he turned around he was met by Leo kicking him straight in the face from the air and knocked him out. Leo stood waiting for Skulker to strike, he suddenly heard the sound of something coming towards him and jumped out of the way of the oncoming blasts from Skulker and jumped in the air and slashed his sword at something.

Skulker screamed as he revealed himself and was suddenly blasted away by his own jetpack, as Leo damaged one of the engines and caused it to go haywire and sent him flying across the city and away from Leo.

Leo put his sword away and put his mask the right way back around and looked down at the unconscious Foot Tech Ninjas that laid before him. He gave them a bow before walking away from them, hoping that it was over and he could start heading back to April's place however he was unaware that more Foot Ninja and the same ghost in medieval armour were following him and watching him from the shadows.

"The plan is succeeding. He is becoming more worn out with each new opponent" The knight ghost said. "And yet he fights bravely I will admit, but at the same time he is young, overconfident and not to mention foolish"

He then ordered the Foot, "Continue the chase"

Back at April's apartment Raph, Donnie and Danny were in the kitchen cleaning up, Master Splinter was mediating, Mikey was also in the living room and April and Sam were looking at a couple of antiques they had found from the shop in April's room.

"You guys need any help?" Mikey asked.

Suddenly April's voice was heard, "Keep him away from the dishes!"

Mikey merely smirked and said as he left, "Yes it worked"

"Is it just me or is he getting worse?" Raph asked as he passed a plate to Danny to put away.

They both looked to see more lightning in the sky. Donnie then said in concern as he passed another plate to Raph to dry, "Leo must be nuts to be out in this weather"

"Ah you know Leo and his training. Nothing stops him" Raph said.

Danny however was starting to get the feeling that something was wrong knowing that Leo was never usually this long when it came to his morning training as he continued to look out the kitchen window of the bad weather happening outside.

Leo landed on another rood and knelt down as he drew out one of his katana blades.

He growled in annoyance, frustration and anger as he was surrounded by more Foot Ninja. Leo stood and readied himself to face them, the Foot however moved aside and allowed Hun to walk up to the front who smirked at Leo as he cracked his knuckles.

Leo however smirked back and merely edged Hun to bring it on. The smirk dropped from Hun's face and he growled as another round of lightning and thunder roared in the sky once again. Hun roared and charged straight at him, Leo flipped over and dodged out of the way before he could punch him and landed behind him.

Before Hun charged at him again, he ripped off a huge piece of pipe and started using it as a weapon both their weapons clashed against each other. Leo leapt up and was about to deliver a kick, but Hun smashed him with the pipe and sent him crashing into the small shed, breaking it instantly.

Leo groaned in pain and sat up to see Hun coming towards him with the pipe, ready to deliver a final blow, but Leo quickly jumped out of the way just as he bought the pipe down. Leo stood behind him, Hun let off another roar of anger as he charged at him once again with the pipe, Leo moved out of the way and then punched him in the back straight into the brick pillar, causing it to break and fall over Hun, burying him in the rubble.

Leo then turned to the Foot Ninja and scared them off as they all fell of the side of the building. Leo then started running again, bruises were already forming on his arms and he was starting to really get worn out.

Back at April's apartment Danny, Raph and Donnie were sitting on the couch watching the sports news about the previous football game while Sam, April and Master Splinter were sitting at the kitchen table looking over a map of the sewer tunnels.

"Rams, bears, panthers, they even got dolphins. You'd think they'd have room for something a little more reptilian" Raph said as they looked at the teams playing.

"The Turtles? My friend unfortunately the lonely turtle has been saddled by society with the stereotype of being velocity challenged" Donnie said.

"Say what?" Raph asked not understanding a single word Donnie said.

"People believe turtles are slow" Danny translated.

Mikey then walked up to them and asked, "May I have your attention please?"

Everyone stared at Mikey giving him their full attention, he then took a deep breath and let out a loud and fairly long burp. Everyone was silent but then Danny, Raph and Donnie gave a small clap for what he did as he smiled proudly.

"That's just gross" Sam commented as April covered her eyes annoyed and embarrassed.

"This is what I live with all the time" Master Splinter said.

"I can't believe I just clapped for that" Donnie said.

Raph frowned and then stood up as he said, "That's it. I'm gonna look for Leo so we can get this show on the road. No offence April but we really need to get back to our lair. I'm going stir crazy"

"You are going nowhere until your brother returns" Master Splinter scolded. "Sit"

Raph sit down mumbling in annoyance. Danny however stood up and said, "With all due respect Master Splinter, Leo has been gone nearly all morning. One of us should at least go out there to see if he's okay at least"

Master Splinter was silent at first but then said, "Very well. Daniel you may go and check up on Leonardo but then I want you both to come straight back and please my son, be careful"

"I will sensei. I'll be back with Leo as quick as I can" Danny said as he changed into his ghost form and phased out the window.

Danny's gut feeling that something was definitely wrong and he flew faster hoping to find Leo.

"Wherever you are bro, I hope you're alright and I hope I'm wrong that you're in trouble" He thought in his head as the rain fell on him.

Leo continued to run across the rooftops as the Foot, Skulker and Hun continued to chase after him. He was getting worn out by all the running and fighting he had been doing, but they wouldn't stop coming after him.

He stopped at the ledge of another building and turned to face his enemies that have been doing nothing but chase him down all across town, attacking him and wearing him down.

Foot Tech Ninja had also came down to join the fight and then the same knight ghost that they had seen looking through the sewers with the Foot for their home appeared next to Skulker.

"I will say this young one, you have fought bravely but now you are clearly outnumbered. Surrender or suffer our wrath" The ghost spoke.

"Who the heck are you supposed to be?" Leo panted out.

"I am the Fright Knight" The ghost who said was called the Fright Knight answered as he pulled out a glowing green sword.

Leo was outnumbered but he wasn't going to show his fear and so as he shouted in the sky, he leapt in the air and pulled out both his katana blades and started taking down each of the Foot soldiers that charged at him with their weapons, using every skill he had mastered from all his training.

Hun glared and then charged at Leo, but Leo landed near the edge of the roof and pulled back on the metal of a satellite and let it go, it hit Hun dead on and sent him down to the ground, giving him a cut on his lip.

Hun growled as he stood up and was about to charge at Leo again who stood ready to fight, but then he stopped and merely chuckled as he looked up and stepped back. Suddenly all the Foot Ninja, Skulker and Fright Knight bowed confusing Leo.

But he turned and saw standing on a roof on the other side of the building was four ninjas wearing black clothing, bamboo hats, red capes, red face masks that covered their face up to their mouths but showed their deep red eyes and each of them held a different weapon ranging from an axe, two types of spears and a double edged sword.

The Foot symbol were on their belts and Leo gasped at the sight of them for they looked like extremely strong, deadly and powerful ninja assassins,

Leo glared back at them and charged straight at them, however they disappeared in a cloud of smoke as he landed and he turned to see they re-appeared down below with Skulker, Hun, Fright Knight and the other ninjas.

Leo kept his stance ready to defend himself against these new ninjas that had come along. The Foot, Skulker, Fright Knight and the ninja assassins all turned to the side and bowed at something.

Leo looked in their direction and squinted his eyes to see two very familiar shadowy figures standing on a roof. The light from the lightning that struck across the sky revealed exactly who they were bowing to; the Shredder and Vlad Plasmius!

"NO!" Leo gasped in horror, fear and shock at the sight of them alive.

They all turned back at Leo and suddenly the four ninja assassins disappeared once again in a cloud of smoke and re-appeared behind Leo immediately beginning their attack, Leo tried to block and defend against their attacks, but although he blocked some of their strikes, they managed to punch and hit him with their weapons and their powerful skills.

Leo fell down to his knees, exhausted and groaning in pain as the four ninjas circled him. He growled, he wasn't going to go down without a fight and with a shout he jumped and although he fought against them with all his might, with one final strike from one of their weapons, his swords were knocked out of his hands and he shoved to the roof floor below him with a scream of pain and anguish.

Danny had been flying across the city for almost an hour but still had found no trace of Leo until suddenly….

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Danny heard at the sound of that scream and instantly recognised it as Leo's and shouted as he flew towards where he heard the scream coming from, "LEO!"

He continued to fly and gasped at the sight of Leo lying on the roof of a building, barely conscious, battered, cut and bruised and standing before him were the Foot, Skulker, Fright Knight and the assassins who had took him down.

He then looked in the distance and saw Plasmius and the Shredder standing on the roof of a building and gasped, "NO! It can't be!"

One of the assassins walked up to Leo and was about to deliver one last strike to finish Leo off once and for all, until Danny immediately flew down and stood in front of his brother shouting as he put up a shield around him, "NOOOOOO!"

He quickly dropped his shield and grabbed Leo but as he took off, one of the ninja assassins threw his spear at Danny which gave him a cut on his leg, causing him to scream in pain but continued to fly on towards April's apartment.

"Danny…." Leo whispered.

"Hang on bro!" Danny said as he winced in pain from the cut that spear had given him.

Back at April's apartment Raph, Mikey, Donnie and Sam all looked at the clock and saw it was almost 11:40 am. Danny had been gone for an hour and they both still hadn't returned.

"Hey guys, I'm really starting to get worried. Danny should have been back with Leo by now" Mikey said concerned.

"I know this is a first but I'm thinking Mikey's right" Donnie said also feeling worried.

They all turned to Master Splinter who was standing beside April and then Raph asked, "Master Splinter?"

Master Splinter looked really worried about Danny and Leo. He sighed as April placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Go"

"I'll come with you guys" Sam said. "I hope nothing really bad happened to them"

Suddenly Leo and Danny screamed as they came crashing through the living room window causing them all to gasp in shock as they landed on the floor hard and unconscious.

"Danny! / Leo! / what happened?!" They all shouted in fear, shock and concern as they saw Danny had a cut on his leg and Leo was seriously injured.

"WHAT?!" Raph shouted as they all knelt down to them. "Who did this to you?!"

Mikey held Leo's head up as Raph asked again, "Bro who did this to you?"

"Danny's been cut on the leg by some kind of weapon" Sam said as she looked at the cut. Danny groaned as he woke up slowly and said, "It was an ambush"

Raph growled in anger and pulled out his weapons and stood at the window, "I'm gonna find out who did this"

"No Raph! It was the Foot" Danny shouted.

"What?" Everyone said still in shock.

"Wait" Leo's weak voice spoke.

Raph came back and knelt down beside Leo as he spoke, "They're back…..The Shredder….Plasmius"

Everyone gasped in shock, fear and terror after Leo had told them that and fell unconscious. Danny then said as Sam helped him sit up, "It's true. The Shredder and Vlad Plasmius are back. They're the ones who did this to Leo"

Back outside on the roof of a building near April's apartment, the four ninja assassins knelt before Shredder and Vlad Plasmius as they stood in front of them. One of them handed Leo's swords to Shredder who grabbed them and held them in the air in victory, he then threw them up in the air and Plasmius sent a powerful ecto energy blast at them, destroying and shattering them into a million pieces.

They both laughed evilly into the air as the rain around them continued to fall and lightning and thunder roared in the sky,

TO BE CONTINUED...