Chapter 76: Diamond

Leo groaned in frustration as he messed up the kata yet again.

"I just can't get this right!" he complained.

"Leonardo, may I speak with you?" Splinter asked him.

Leo nodded and was certain that he was going to be reprimanded for his outburst.

"I know you are frustrated by your inability to do the kata, but it will come in time," Splinter reassured him.

"But I should have mastered this already!" Leo protested. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be the leader of this team."

Splinter got up and went to one of his cupboards. He came back with a diamond ring in his hand. "Do you know what this is, Leonardo?"

"It's a diamond ring," he answered.

"Yes, and what are the qualities of the diamond?"

Leo scrunched his head up in thought. "Well, it's big and it gives off a lot of light."

"No," Splinter said.

"Then what do you want me to say?"

"A diamond is big and gives off light, but it is also unique in its own way. Each one is crafted carefully and is different. You are like a diamond, Leonardo. You are unique in your own way and you excel at your craft. It may take you time to perfect it, but once you do, you are a master of it. You are a diamond in the rough. Never let anyone tell you differently and always remember what I have taught you."

"Hai, Sensei," Leo said.

Years later, Leo sat in his father's room and studied that same diamond ring. Things had changed now and Leo was officially head of the family in his father's place. He wasn't sure if he could do it, but he knew he owed it to Splinter to try and find out.

He would be that diamond in the rough and he would lead just as his father wanted him to.

A/N: This prompt is my own and was inspired by the video package on WWE Monday Night Raw featuring my number one favorite wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. So, after I saw it, I knew I had to do a story using this prompt. I think both Leo and DDP have a lot in common and that's why I like both of them so much. Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.

Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon. I only own the plot. If there was a Ninja Hall of Fame, I would definitely put Leo in there.