Chapter 14 – Strike 1
"Try it again." Sir Albert commanded as he and Riley stood by the castle's lake and watched Lilly in the centre of the grounds.
Lilly nodded, sat down on the grass and closed her eyes.
"Now all you have to do is clear your mind." Sir Albert continued, "Block out your thoughts and the sounds around you and focus on your breathing." Lilly's body started glowing a soft yellow colour and it was lifted a few feet off the ground.
"Hey guys!" Kim yelled as she ran up to the trio.
Lilly cried in shock at the interruption, lost her concentration and she fell to the ground roughly.
"Ow." She moaned and looked up at Kim.
"Sorry!" Kim apologised, "I didn't know you were in the middle of something."
"That's okay." Lilly replied as she sat back in her position. "I'm trying to use my telekinesis to levitate."
Kim nodded and walked over to Sir Albert and Riley. "How's she going?" She asked quietly.
Sir Albert smiled as he watched Lilly carefully in case she fell again. "She's increased her control of her powers. She's found that her concentration must be improved to use her telekinesis, so we've been spending the last two hours working on concentration through meditation. So far she mostly has control and can move objects. Now we're seeing whether she can move herself or any other person."
Kim smiled and watched her baby sister. The soft yellow glow came back and surrounded Lilly's body, slowly lifting her up above the ground until she was soon levitating high above the trio on the ground.
"Lila you may now open your eyes." Sir Albert called out to her.
Lilly slowly and calmly opened her eyes. She looked around with a smile on her face, but when she looked down and saw how high she was she screamed in fright and lost her concentration. She began falling.
"Lilly!" Kim and Riley screamed, about to save their sister, when Sir Albert stopped them.
"Wait." He said
Lilly's eyes grew wider when she saw the ground coming closer. She quickly closed her eyes again and abruptly stopped. She opened her eyes and saw that she was a few feet off the ground and was alive. She sighed in relief, rearranged herself so that she was standing in the air and glided down to the ground.
Lilly looked at her sisters with a wide smile. "I can levitate now without using wind." She said
Kim and Riley sighed in relief before laughing at their sister.
"Good job Lila." Albert said before looking to Riley. "Ready to continue your lesson?"
"No." Riley replied and crossed her arms. "No way. You guys can't make me."
10 minutes later
"I hate you all." Riley grumbled as she stood in the archery training area surrounded by targets.
"Now just concentrate and destroy those targets!" Albert cried from a few metres behind Riley.
Riley rolled her eyes, glared at her first target and threw her hands in front of her. Instead of an explosion at the targets, she exploded the molecules in the air in front of her and the force caused her to fly backwards with a scream and land roughly on the ground.
Riley growled as she sat up. She stood up and concentrated on the target ahead of her again. She waved her arms again and exploded the ground ahead of her, but far enough that she didn't fly backwards.
"You must focus!" Albert cried
"I am!" Riley growled
"Don't get angry!" Albert replied, "If you start using anger as a trigger it will forever be the trigger! You must be able to control your powers in the state between happiness and anger."
Riley scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like that place exists."
Riley closed her eyes tight and focused on the targets in front of her and pictured them in her mind. She cleared her thoughts, trying to find that state of mind between anger and happiness.
"Mummy?"
'No!' Riley thought, but couldn't stop the vision entering her mind.
"Mummy? Is that you?"
"There has to be another way!"
"…I have nothing to believe in anymore…"
"…then believe in me…"
"Stop it!" Riley screamed and felt a surge of power overcome her body and she released it.
The power left Riley's body and caused the entire archery training grounds to explode. Riley screamed as the explosion forced her backwards again and she roughly fell to the ground and rolled her onto her stomach. This time she didn't get back up.
"Riley!"
Riley lifted her head and looked to her right to see her sisters and Albert running up to her. Kim quickly kneeled by Riley and saw numerous cuts and bruises on her face. She lifted her hands above Riley's face and they glowed a soft green but faded. Kim looked at her hands in confusion and shock.
"What the?" She gasped
"What happened to your powers?" Lilly asked as she kneeled next to Kim and Riley.
Kim looked at her sisters in shock and shook her head. "I have no idea."
Albert kneeled next to the group and placed a hand on Kim's shoulder. "You are not pregnant, are you?" He asked
"What!" The girls screamed
Albert smiled sheepishly. "An unborn infant can interfere with one's powers. It can stop them all together, change it into something else or cause a loss of control." He looked at Kim, "You are not pregnant?"
Kim shook her head. "No. Of course not." She said softly.
Albert nodded. "Then because of your powers of empathy you must be experiencing Riley's difficulty at controlling her new powers. You must block out Riley's influence and your powers will return." He looked over at Riley and spoke a soft spell in the language of Rayon and Riley's wounds were healed.
Kim and Lilly helped Riley to stand and they looked around at the damage she did to the archery grounds.
"Wow." Lilly mused, "Your powers are destructive."
"Yes." Albert agreed, "I believe we are finished training for today. Now run along while I clean up."
The girls smiled sheepishly before they waved and orbed back to Earth.
"Why am I stuck here working on invitations when I could be sleeping?" Raph grunted as he, the guys and Violet sat at the kitchen table creating wedding invitations.
Violet looked down at her watch in surprise. "It's 2 in the afternoon." She said, "You'd be asleep?"
Leo ignored her response and looked at his brother. "You're here because you're a nice brother that wants to help me finish these as soon as possible." He smirked, "And because I'd do the same thing at your wedding."
Raph glared at his brother and continued making invitations, grumbling under his breath as he did so.
Ring, Ring, Ring
"Sorry!" Violet gasped as she took out her mobile and answered it. "Hello?...Yes this is she. Who am I speaking to?...Good afternoon Victoria, how may I help you?...Yes…I see…Of course! We'd gladly perform! What date?...Okay, no worries we'll see you then. Goodbye." Violet hung up the phone and noticed her friends looking at her in confusion.
"Who was that?" Donnie asked
"A woman named Victoria Jennings has organised a small concert next week in Central Park to raise money for charity. She asked if we could write two new original songs and perform them at the concert as special guests." Violet explained
"That's great, dudette!" Mikey cheered, "What songs will you be performing?"
"They have to be two new original songs, Mikey. We have to write two new ones in the next few days." Violet sighed, "And Kim will be too busy to write anything."
"Why don't you write something, Vi?" Donnie suggested
Violet looked up at Donnie and smiled. "I've never tried it before." She mused, "But I guess I could give it a try."
"Give what a try?" Lilly asked as she, Riley and Kim orbed into the kitchen.
Nobody jumped at the sudden intrusion. They were too used to the orbing in and out of rooms that it didn't shock them anymore. Violet smiled at her sisters.
"We're playing a charity concert next week in Central Park and we need to write two new songs and perform them. I'm going to try and write one myself, if that's okay." Violet explained
"That's great!" Riley smiled, "It's okay with me."
"Me too." Kim agreed
Violet looked over at Lilly. "Since you did such a good job at 'Kissing You', why don't you write the last one?" She suggested
"Alright!" Lilly cheered, "No problemo. Consider it done." She looked over at Kim sheepishly. "But I don't know how to play guitar or piano. Can you teach me?"
"Sure." Kim replied, "But I don't see why you want to when you wrote your last song by playing your drums and just writing the music."
"Yes, but I'm thinking it'd be much easier on guitar. Can you teach me guitar, please?" Lilly begged
Kim giggled. "Of course I'll teach you. Want to start now?"
Lilly nodded, grabbed her sister's arm and orbed away. The remaining group looked at each other in confusion.
"So what do we do now?" Mikey asked
"Invitations." Violet replied
"Why?" Riley asked as she looked at the invitations on the table. "There are 33 invitations here." She looked up her friends. "You guys made more than enough."
Raph groaned and glared at Leo. "I thought you were keeping track!"
Riley placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "How about a movie?" She suggested as Violet collected the invitations and placed them into her binder.
That night, while Riley, Kim and Violet were hanging out with the guys at the lair, Lilly and Mikey were cuddled together on Lilly's bed in her apartment. Lilly was resting her head on Mikey's plastron while he rested an arm around her waist protectively, keeping her close to him. Lilly smiled as she listened to his heartbeat under his plastron. She looked at the moon shining through her window beside Mikey and watched how its rays surrounded the pair.
"Thanks for helping plan Leo and Kim's wedding, Mikey." Lilly said, her voice soft so as to not disturb the peaceful atmosphere they created.
Mikey looked down at Lilly with a smile and used his other hand to play with her hair.
"It was my pleasure, babe." Mikey replied, "I'm always happy to help. I'm just sorry your parents won't be there."
Lilly turned her head so that she was facing Mikey.
"That's okay." She replied with a sad smile. "In a way they'll be there. I just wish I could have my dad walk us down the aisle."
Mikey's eyes widened and he smiled. "Us? As in plural?" He smirked
Lilly's eyes widened and she blushed. "No!" She cried, "I mean yes! I mean, you know, if it was ever more than Kim. Not that I'm saying I wouldn't want to marry, I mean I'm not opposed to-Argh!" She cried and buried her head in Mikey's plastron, trying to hide her face.
Mikey chuckled and lifted Lilly's head so that he could meet her eyes. Lilly blushed when she looked into Mikey's eyes, but he wouldn't let her hide again.
"I-I wasn't insinuating anything or trying to-"
Whatever Lilly was going to say was cut off as Mikey kissed her. Lilly smiled and kissed him back. Eventually they had to breathe so they pulled away and Mikey leaned his forehead against Lilly's.
"I know." Was all Mikey whispered and gave Lilly a chaste kiss. "But you know, Master Splinter could always walk you guys down the aisle." Mikey suggested, trying to change the topic of their conversation so that Lilly wasn't so embarrassed or uncomfortable anymore.
Lilly nodded half-heartedly. "I appreciate that, but he's your father. You know? I'm not trying to insult Master Splinter or anything but it wouldn't be right." Her eyes widened, "Not that him walking us down would be bad, but-"
"Lilly!" Mikey chuckled, interrupting his rambling girlfriend. "Well, aren't you nervous tonight."
Lilly blushed a little and Mikey kissed her again to calm her. Lilly smiled at him when they pulled away and she snuggled her head back onto his plastron.
"What was Splinter like when you were growing up?" She asked
Mikey's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question. He smiled, pulled her closer to his plastron and continued playing with her hair gently.
"He was great." Mikey replied softly. "He's a great father. I mean…he gave us a home and raised us by himself. He didn't have to look after us, but he did. He didn't pity us. He cared. He's the most caring person I know."
"What do you mean?" Lilly asked
Mikey leaned back into Lilly's pillows and his face had a wistful expression as he delved into his memories.
"What started out as a normal day turned into the start of something awesome." He began, "My bros and I were baby turtles in a pet shop and one day a little boy bought us. We were placed in a glass jar and he started carrying us home. We were at an intersection, waiting so he could walk across the street when this old blind guy from the street beside us was walking across and didn't see this oncoming truck heading towards him. A guy standing next to us saw that he was about to be run down and ran over to help him, saving his life from the truck, but the truck swerved, trying to stop from hitting either of them. The guy accidently pushed the little boy and he dropped us down the sewer drain, and the truck dropped a canister of ooze down the sewers as well and it fell on top of us."
"While we were down there a rat saw us and he grabbed an empty coffee can and gathered us up and placed us inside it. He took us to his burrow and when we woke up we were larger and more intelligent. Even then he didn't get rid of us. Instead, he cared for us, fed us, gave us a home, and taught us ninjitsu so that we could learn the art of hiding in the shadows, so that we could be safe."
Mikey looked down at Lilly with a smile. "He didn't have to do any of that, but he did."
Lilly reached a hand up and wiped away a tear that was running down Mikey's cheek. Mikey smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. He released her hair and gently grabbed hold of her hand and held it to his plastron.
"He tucked me in and turned off the light at night." Mikey continued, "He kept me safe and sound every day and every night. While I was training or exploring the sewers with him, he was always right there watching me when I looked back, always keeping an eye on me so that I would be safe. When I couldn't sleep at night from nightmares he'd help chase my fears away and hold my hand." Mikey chuckled slightly, "Can't believe how time goes by so fast."
"Soon you'll leave the nest…so to speak." Lilly said softly.
"No way." Mikey replied, "I'm not going anywhere."
"My father used to say that all little butterflies eventually fly away." Lilly said, "We start off as little caterpillars but then in time we grow to butterflies and we eventually must spread our wings and fly, make our own decisions."
"Doesn't mean I have to leave Splinter." Mikey smiled mischievously.
Lilly giggled and nodded. "Agreed." Lilly whispered, her eyes falling closed. "He's like another father to me, and I'm not leaving him either."
Mikey looked down at Lilly and saw that she had fallen asleep. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
"You don't know how much that means to me to hear you say that, babe." He whispered before he followed Lilly and drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Kim, Riley, Lilly and Violet spent the day in Rayon. It was review day, a day where Kim would review the royal guards, an event that allowed the heir to become acquainted with the army and check to see that things were in order with them, such as uniforms, weapons, leaders, etc.
Lilly wore s pink lace floor-length dress that had light pink sleeves on her shoulders. The dress had multiple layers and was brought in at her waist to outline her shape well. She wore silver heels and her hair was straightened.
Kim was wearing a lime green floor-length ball gown that had a v-neck and went around her neck, leaving her back exposed. There was beading at the end of the v-neck and the dress came in at the waist to outline her shape. She also wore silver heels and her hair was let down and straightened, framing her face.
Violet wore a strapless blue floor-length ball gown that had unattached sleeves from her biceps to her hands. The ball gown had silver detailing on the top of the sleeves, along the bodice and at the bottom of her dress. The dress came in at the waist to outline her hips, she wore blue heels and her hair was let down and straightened.
Finally, Riley wore a black floor-length ball gown that wrapped around her neck and was zipped up at the back, exposing only her shoulder blades. The bodice had silver detailing and a black ribbon around the waist, bringing the dress in to show off her hips. She wore a thin diamond necklace, black heels, diamond earrings and her hair was curled and pinned with a diamond hair beret so that her hair fell down her right side only.
During the course of the day, Kim couldn't get Renaldo out of her head. She was constantly worried about what he could be planning for her wedding, for Rayon. Currently she stood in the courtyard about to review her own personal army, the land army. Majority of the royal court were outside and so far throughout the day she hadn't caused a scene or angered them. She had one last job and then she could leave with her head held high.
"Your highnesses."
Kim, Violet, Riley and Lilly looked up and saw Vladimir bowing before them.
"It is time." He said, motioning for Kim to saddle her paladin, Sapphire.
Kim walked further out to the courtyard so that all could see her. She was to ride Sapphire across the castle grounds in front of ladies-in-waiting, members of the royal court and the remaining armies of Rayon as she reviewed the royal guards and her personal army. Kim sighed nervously and got up on Sapphire with her bodyguard Jo following her in case something happened.
'You'll do great!' Lilly said comfortingly through Kim's mind.
'Don't worry. Everything will be fine.' Violet assured as Kim passed her sisters towards the guards, that were standing at attention to Kim's right.
"Hear ye, hear ye!" A guard called out as Kim rode by, "Princess Kimberley reviews the Royal Guard of Rayon."
On the other side of the castle, Lord Renaldo and Charlotte walked over to a humanoid lion with silver eyes dressed in brown pants, a long black shirt, brown coat and a black hat. Renaldo walked subtly over to the lion and held out a bag of money.
"You're the paladin trainer?" Charlotte asked
The lion nodded and subtly took the bag of money from Lord Renaldo and placed it in a bag hanging from his shoulder.
"Now, the last time we spoke, you mentioned that Princess Kimberley's paladin, Sapphire, gets easily spooked by snakes." Renaldo began before pulling a fake snake from his pocket. "So let's get it really spooked, shall we?"
"This is a fake snake." The lion said as he took the snake from Renaldo.
"Oh, you're very observant." Renaldo sneered, "That's rubber, yes. But it will spook the paladin. Now go do what we paid you to do."
The lion nodded and started walking over to the procession. He walked past the royal guards, Sir Albert, Lord Drake and Vladimir before he stepped into line with Kim and Sapphire, holding onto the Paladin's reigns. Kim smiled at all of the guards and looked them over, internally pleased that things were going well. All of a sudden, Kim's paladin stood on its hind legs and started screaming in fright.
"Sapphire!" Kim screamed, "Oh! Oh my goodness!" She cried as the paladin continued to stamp its front hooves on the ground and make noise. "Oh, my...Easy. Sapphire, easy!" She screamed once more before her paladin buckled and lifted its front legs into the air.
"Princess!" Jo cried, "It's okay, Princess. I'm here." He cried, trying to control Kim's paladin and calm it down.
Unfortunately, the paladin got even more startled and roughly buckled and stamped its hooves. Kim lost her grip on the reigns from the last rough action and she fell sideways off the paladin, causing her to land roughly in the mud. Kim looked up and saw all of the members of the royal court, the ladies-in-waiting, were laughing hysterically at her. She looked wildly around her and saw that the guards were trying to stifle their laughter, Vladimir was barking orders at his guards and insults for laughing at the princess, and saw Jo was successfully calming Sapphire down. Kim looked down and let a few tears fall down her face. She stood up and ran, running past her sisters as she did so and ignoring the Lord Drake calling for order.
Turtles Lair
Mikey was playing video games in the living room of the lair, Leo was reading quietly on the couch, Donnie was in his lab, and Raph was in the dojo when the sound of voices arguing with one another echoed throughout the lair. Donnie poked his head out of his lab and Raph exited the dojo and looked at Mikey and Leo in confusion. The two shrugged before Lilly, Violet and Riley orbed into the living room.
"It's not my fault!" Riley cried
"We're not blaming you, but we should have done something!" Lilly yelled
"Guys!" Leo cried, interrupting the feuding sisters. They looked up at him, startled, and stopped their fight. "What's going on?"
Riley scoffed angrily and crossed her arms. "Kim fell off her paladin during the ceremony and fell in the mud. And what does everyone do? They laughed at her!"
"Is Kim okay?" Leo asked worriedly.
The sisters all looked at each other in confusion before looking back Leo.
"She was upset and ran." Violet quickly explained, "We thought that she'd come here."
Leo shook his head. "No, she isn't here."
Lilly looked concerned at her friends and family. "Then…where is she?" She asked
Kim stood in front of her bathroom mirror in her ensuite bathroom back at her apartment and continued washing the mud, makeup and tear stains from her face. When she was finished, she just stared at her reflection sadly.
'What happened?' She thought miserably, 'I was doing so well! How could I have failed?' Her eyes fell, 'Anymore stunts like this and the court will never accept me.'