Lost and Found

Luna and Donatello returned to the lair and they all convened once again in the living room. Casey joined them, sitting by April and holding her hand. Splinter silently observed, worrying and listening as his family discussed the best way to go about freeing his absent son.

He worried because Serra was a despicable monster in every sense of the word. She had twisted desires and he knew she would find his son's innocence and unusual form irresistible. During his seven-year tenure in her palace, Splinter had seen many young men stumble fragmented from her bedchamber, and those were the ones who had gone eagerly to her door. Ones she took by force seldom rose again.

He could not stand to imagine his most joyous son, the brightest soul, among that company.

Not only for his sake, but for Trine and his daughter's as well. Trine was Michelangelo's match and they were destined to bond, but would it accept him if he had been despoiled? Luna would. There was no question of that, but could the pure soul bind itself to him?

Splinter shuddered to think what the results would be if Luna lost her temper over his treatment. Donatello's description of her rage during the wraith attack was terrifying. How much worse would it be if Michelangelo's spirit were truly broken?

"The fastest way to get there is using the ley-lines," Luna said, drawing his attention back to the conversation at hand.

"Charon will be watching them," Hades said. "Besides, your mates are mortal and so, dear one, are you. You will have to erect a travel sphere."

"Not a problem," Luna said.

"It could be. One large enough to take all of you will consume a lot of energy, and make a lot of noise. Plus you'll be restricted to the largest lines," Hades cautioned.

"How much energy? What kind of noise?" Leonardo asked, his inner tactician coming to the fore.

"Luna is the only one who could hold it, the rest of you aren't strong enough yet. Even in her newly empowered state," Hades smirked at Donatello, "she would be exhausted when you got there and helpless to defend herself."

Leonardo frowned. He was hoping Luna didn't have to go at all, though how he was going to broach the subject with her, he wasn't sure. What he was sure of? The idea wasn't going to go over well.

Despite that knowledge, he was going to insist. He had a horrible feeling about the mission whenever he thought of her there. Something more than his overbearing protective instinct told him she needed to stay out of it.

"Hades, could you do it?" Leo asked.

The elder god shook his head.

"Right now, this conflict is between two of Zeus' subjects over a mortal. A relatively minor affair by Olympian standards. But Serra's palace is the domain of my brother. If I invade it, it will be a declaration of war among the elders."

"And the noise?" Raphael asked.

"The 'noise' is an energy discharge which causes wave patterns," Luna said, "An object as large as the sphere can't ride inside the line, it needs move more slowly and hop along the top. Every time it touches, it will create pulses he can track."

Raph blinked at Luna and exchanged a glance with Leo. Hades and Donatello nodded.

"You wanna try and translate that down a few notches for the rest of us Donnie?" Raph asked.

"It's like skipping a stone on the surface of a pond," Don said, "We're the rock and when we bounce off the water of the ley-line it creates ripples that spread in all directions. Charon can sense them. They're 'loud.' Traveling that way would be like trying to sneak into Foot headquarters while sounding an air horn with every step, or letting Mikey sing into a bullhorn."

Raph shuddered. "Okay, I get it- loud."

"What if we don't go together?" Don said. "Trine sent Splinter back here on its own. If we divide up and each soul takes its bonded, we could travel inside the streams instead of on them. It'd be faster and we can use smaller conduits."

"How do we get Mikey home?" Raph asked. "You think Trine will carry him?"

"Assuming it's still there and we can free it," Don said. He turned a mental question inward.

Unlike his brothers bonded, Don and Medes could speak internally at anytime, no matter that Mede's currently resided in Luna's petite form. Don wondered if it was because the soul needed so much of his own to be complete. Whatever the reason, he was glad to be able to consult it at a moments notice.

Medes, can you guys carry double and still stay in the stream?

yes.

"Medes says they can transport two with no problems and still keep the noise down. We can take the whole Clan. Casey can ride with Raph, April with Leo and I'll take Sensei. We can go on separate lines and strike multiple locations at once."

"You know the palace, Master," Leo said. "Can you draw us a map?"

Luna leaned across the coffee table and placed a hand on Splinter's arm. Sensing her intention, the wise rat closed his eyes, focused his mind, and pictured the place. Luna waved her other hand and white mist appeared above them with a perfectly formed 3D model of the villa.

Without thinking, Don reached out to the mist. His hand glowed violet and abruptly contained a blueprint of the same structure. He blinked at it, startled, and smiled shyly at Luna before bending to spread it in front of them.

Leo, Raph, and the two humans stared as Don got out a marker to make some notes.

"What was that?" Casey asked, blinking as if he couldn't believe he saw the map form out of thin air.

"That is Donnie's main talent," Luna said, a twinkle of pride in her eyes. "Transformation of matter; from anything to anything."

Casey's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

He rushed to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water.

"Can ya' make this into my favorite drink, bro?"

Don glanced hesitantly at Luna. She smiled and nodded. He needed to practice conscious control of his gift. Don furrowed his brow. His palm glowed again. The second his fingers brushed the glass it changed and Casey was holding a six pack of beer by one can. Raph blinked dumbly at them for a moment and reached across to snag one. He popped the top, took a loud slurp, grinned and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Donnie, that's one heck of a talent. But next time, make something a little higher quality, will ya'?" Raph said, eyeing the cheap beer in his hand.

"Casey said his favorite, Raph," Don objected. "Not yours."

"Could we get back to the plan?" Leo asked with a frown.

"Trine will be in the Oracle's private receiving room," Splinter said, pointing out the appropriate space on the blueprint. "Under heavy guard, no doubt."

"Raph, you and Casey will head there," Leo said.

"Are ya' sure about that, Leo? It's not like I have the best track record of talking to the 'lil guys," Raph said.

"You two are our heaviest hitters. If the way is blocked we'll need you," Leo said.

"Trine is not reticent, like the others," Splinter said. "It has Michelangelo's personality; vibrant and outgoing. It will speak with you. It recognizes our family and you will have Fina to help. All you need to do is release it from the orb."

Casey was confused.

"We find the orange glowing thing and bash it," Raph said and Casey nodded solemnly.

Splinter made sure both were paying attention before he continued.

"Michelangelo will either be in the detention block or..."

"Or?" Raph asked with a sinking feeling.

"Or in her dedicated pleasure chamber," Splinter said with a sour twist to his mouth and a furious twitch of his whiskers.

Luna's face hardened.

"April and I will check the detention area," Leo said, "Don, you and Sensei take the... other option, that way there will be medical and emotional support on both fronts."

"We'll free Mikey and Trine, take out Serra for good, and meet in the main throne room, here,"

Don pointed to a large room in the center of the structure. "We'll go out the same way we got in, the ley-lines."

"I like it," Leo said, standing and crossing his arms with a smile as he looked from the blueprints to the model and back. "In and out with no noise and Luna doesn't have to go."

"Wait, what do you mean, I don't have to go?" Luna asked with a raised brow.

Leo winced. He hadn't meant to let that slip. Unconsciously, his body shifted until he was standing across from her, one foot sliding out in a defensive stance. Raph started in recognition. Leo did that when his mind was made up and Raph objected to a plan. It meant impossible force was about to meet an immovable object and one or both of them usually ended up hurt. Except Luna really was an impossible force. Why was he going to fight her on this?

"I mean," Leo said, "you don't have to go."

He kept his voice calm but firm and stared over her shoulder so he wouldn't bow to those gorgeous eyes. Eyes flashing blue as the color drained from her hair.

"Let me get this straight," Luna said. "You want to lead my whole family into mortal danger against my enemy and you expect me to stay behind?"

The silence was deafening and all three of her mates flinched slightly as her shields slammed shut, cutting them off from the emotions surging beneath her heavy-lidded gaze. They didn't need it to know what she was feeling. Her breathing sped and icy waves of anger flowed off her. The feeling made Don's skin tingle with trepidation. It was like the sun had disappeared behind the darkest of storm clouds. Severe ones about to unleash holy hell on them.

"You cannot keep me here against my will, Leonardo."

Her voice cracked and echoed with cold, like an indomitable glacier.

"Leo, she's a goddess and more powerful now than ever. Why should she stay?" Raph interjected. "She can mop the floor with Serra and we can come home twice as fast."

Leo's eyes flicked to Raph and back to Luna. He shook his head. He didn't have an answer, but he held his ground, squaring his shoulders to his mate. Don frowned, staring back and forth between them.

"Why hasn't she moved against Serra directly before this?" Splinter asked the room at large. "Why haven't any of the others the Oracle has damaged?"

He was using his 'teaching' voice. The one that implied the answer was right in front of them if they would just examine it. Nobody spoke and at last Hades broke the weighted silence.

"Because Serra is a daughter of Zeus, despite being mortal. There will be... consequences for her death."

Luna shot him a look of deep betrayal and lowered her head, dropping her eyes to the floor.

"What kind of consequences?" Don asked, coming forward to stroke her arm soothingly. He hadn't wanted to get involved when she and Leo were squaring off, but he couldn't stand to see her upset.

She deflated, all the anger running out of her at once under Leo's unwavering gaze. His eyes softened as she wilted visibly in front of him, but she didn't answer and Hades narrowed his eyes, his mouth set in a grim line.

"Since she is already in exile, Zeus would be free to hunt her down and destroy her."

"No!"

Don clutched Luna close to his chest then pushed her back to stare into her face; his deep brown eyes wide and frightened. He shook her gently. "Don't do it Luna! Stay here, love, please!"

Leo was stunned. She had been planning to go in and eliminate the woman without telling them that doing so would sign her death warrant. Suddenly, he couldn't breath.

"Will the same apply if we take Serra out?" Raph asked. He stared across at Luna, pain in his face. She kept her eyes on the floor.

"If you kill her, yes," Hades said. "Anything less can be excused as familial right in regaining your brother."

"New plan," Raph said, his fingers twitching over a sai. "The bitch lives, but I'm leaving her screaming."

A corner of Hades mouth twitched up and Casey gave Raph a high five.

"I will bring Michelangelo back to you, Luna. I swear it. But I cannot have you risking yourself," Leo said, his voice fierce as fear for her practically froze his blood in his veins.

"Leonardo is right, my child. If there is any chance this is a trap, and Zeus is waiting to take you down, you shouldn't be there," Splinter said.

Luna looked up into seven pairs of concerned eyes and relented. "I will stay here-"

Deep ringing tones, as of the oldest bells on Earth, resounded through the room; cutting her off. Luna's head snapped up and her whole body vibrated in response to the sound. Don released her and backed rapidly away as she stiffened and burst into multi-colored flame.

"What's going on?" April shrieked.

Casey jerked her away from the burning goddess and the others scattered reaching for their weapons. Hades cursed in a dozen languages unspoken for a thousand years.

"What is it?" Raph demanded, shaking his head, trying to clear the ringing from his ears. "Is she under attack? Why didn't the shield stop it?"

His own red flames began snaking out over his arms and he spared a quick glance at each of his brothers. Don, coated in violet, was consulting one of his tablets. Leo held a katana in one hand, a plasma bolt in the other.

"Nothing's touching the shield!" Don yelled. "It's not coming from the outside!"

"It's not an attack," Hades roared over the cacophony of bells. "It's a prayer! A soul plea from a loved one in dire distress!"

The next few seconds were seared forever into their collective memory.

Luna's eyes flared. Red, blue, then violet flashed across her irises before they settled on solid orange. Her arm shot out and she expelled Sol, Fina, and Medes into the room as balls of colored fire from her open palm. The flames coating her became pure silver.

An implosion of power centered on the goddess as she pointed at the floor and connected to the crystal resource under her feet, ruthlessly stripping it of energy. Her mortal body began to convulse as more than it could possibly handle surged through her. She ignored its protest.

Her gaze focused upward.

A huge rush of air pushed everything and everyone away from her in a ten-foot radius and whipped her burning hair into a frenzy of tangled flame surrounding her face.

"Michelangelo!" Luna screamed. "NO!"

She thrust both hands into the air and fury erupted from her small form. Silver light shot out of her fingertips straight through the ceiling, taking her consciousness with it.

The bells fell silent, her eyes dimmed, and she collapsed; hair and body still aflame. Without her celestial presence to shield it from the raw energy, she was actually burning. Her clothes turned to ash and the rank scent of charred flesh and burnt hair permeated the air.

Don made a grab for her as she fell, but Raphael shoved him out of the way. As Don rolled with the unexpected blow, the trailing tip of his bandana touched the silver flames and all he could concentrate on was the fire right next to his face. He ripped off his mask and beat the flame out with his staff.

Raph caught the goddess inches from the floor and waved everybody back, coating her in his own fire-proof aura. He smothered the out of control flames with the sheer force of his will. The moment the fire was out, he peeled back his red light and rolled her gently face up.

It was bad. The surface skin was crispy and flaked. Her long hair singed so short she was almost bald. Her cheeks sank in and her eyes clenched shut.

"Leo, she's not breathing!" Raph cried, and his brother's glowing blue form thrust him out of the way.

Leo extended one hand to Sol, laid the other on her forehead and poured his soul into her healing. With Donatello now in the bond, all their talents must have strengthened, for in front of Raph's eyes Luna's face filled out and her skin formed anew. The old layers flaking to dust around her and the burns vanishing as if they never existed. Another moment and her hair was long and full again, but she didn't breathe.

With a roar of raw pain, Leo released Sol, clenched his hands palms together and brought them down on her chest in a hard blow. A low, thu-thud began to echo through the room as he jumpstarted her heart. She drew a breath, then another. In seconds, she regained normal respiration, but she did not awaken.

"Luna," Leo moaned low, "Don't do this! Where are you?"

"Yamete!"

Splinter's voice brought all the frantic motion in the room to a halt.

"She is not here, my son," Splinter said more gently to his eldest. "She is defending your brother and we have no time to spare. We must join her and stop her from killing the Oracle! Hades will stay and guard her mortal body, but we have to go!"

The dark god gave a sharp nod and crossed the room to kneel by Luna's side as Leo hesitantly stood.

"Sol, Fina, Medes- take up your bonded and follow your mistress!" Splinter commanded.

The souls whirled and expanded into perfect spheres, swooping down on their mates and partners; engulfing them in light. Sol enveloped Leo and April sprinted fearlessly to his side. They disappeared in a flash of blue. Fina followed with Raph and Casey.

As Medes lunged toward Don and Splinter, Donnie held up a hand.

"A moment, Medes."

Donatello leaned over his beloved on the floor and laid a glowing palm against her cheek. When he backed away, her beautiful form was no longer bare. She lay in state, dressed in stunning white robes on a soft pallet; resting atop a marble bier in the center of the room. Her heartbeat was loud in the silence and her chest rose and fell evenly.

He bent and kissed her, ever so gently, lingering on her lips before rising to give Hades a weighted stare.

"Take care of her."

He nodded to Medes and they were gone.

Serra hovered over him, a lascivious smile on her lips as Michelangelo thrashed beneath her hand. She continued stroking him, reveling in the hot liquid flowing out to coat her palm. She had yet to get him to reveal himself, but he was so close now, it would only be a matter of moments. She inhaled his scent and moaned with lust.

Michelangelo's eyes snapped open as she dropped her wet hand lower between his wide spread thighs and brushed against his tail. He jerked and whimpered in horrified arousal as she caressed it, pinching him between two wet fingers and dragging them along it's length.

She gazed up at his unique body, her eyes tracing over his shell and natural armor as he twitched. She had never had a conquest like this before and thus wanted to drag the experience out as long as she possibly could. The anticipation was driving her wild.

She locked eyes with him as she repeated the stroking motion on his tail and leaned in to taste his desire. Slowly, she extended her tongue and brought it to bear against his lower plastron, sealing her lips over the seam in his plates and sucking hard. He shut his bright blue eyes tight and turned his face away in shame, fighting against his bonds as a tortured groan escaped his lips.

Serra achieved her goal. She pulled back, her eyes wide, as he lost the battle of will against body and rose.

With all her attention focused on Michelangelo, she did not register the presence of the shimmering silver outline forming next to them. Instead she reach a greedy hand towards him, mouth dropping open in lust.

A shriek of unadulterated rage pierced the air and Serra turned face first into a plume of molten silver fire. She screamed as the heat drove her backwards off the bed. She rolled away and crossed the room, her hand clutching at the protective amulet her father, Zeus, placed around her neck. It was the only reason she was still alive and whole.

Lances of silver energy shot across the space, and Serra ducked and wove among them, calling for the guard, for Charon -anybody who might distract or corral this enraged goddess.

Luna's silver outline swelled to twice her normal size. She towered over the room, more than ten feet tall and her voice hissed with wrath as she strode with deadly intent toward Serra.

"You DARE?" she roared, her accusations punctuated by bolts of blazing silver fire. "You dare to assault and abuse a member of the Heliades family? You dare to force one that I love?"

The room trembled in response to her fury and Serra stumbled, falling back. Luna was on her before she even hit the ground. Her hands glowed and Serra screamed when Luna grabbed her, leaving marks burned deep into her biceps.

"You are vile!" Luna snarled. "A demon who preys on the innocent and I should have done this long ago."

Human guards burst through the door, and started towards them, spears raised.

"Kill the monster!" Serra ordered, through teeth clenched tight in pain. Even her amulet could not stop the full force of the goddess' will, and Luna was willing her pain, plain and simple.

The humans turned and headed for the bed. Luna released Serra and spun, thrusting a hand toward them. A huge blast of pure power shoved them against the stone wall. None rose a second time. More humans ran in, some rushing to the struggling Serra, other's heading for Michelangelo.

While Luna was dealing with them, the guard captain reached the monster and drew a knife, pushing it hard against the thing's throat with a gleeful smirk. Blood leaked out and dribbled on the bed.

"Unhand the Oracle or I'll slit his throat!" the captain yelled.

Luna locked her fiercely glowing gaze on the man and overwhelmed his mind. She forced him, muscle by muscle to lift the blade from Michelangelo's neck then drove it towards his face. The captain screamed as he saw the knife approaching but couldn't stop himself. He collapsed with a gurgle and fell back, the knife still lodge in his skull.

She whirled around and leveled a deadly glare at the rest of the room occupants, counting the hundreds pouring in around her. She turned back to Serra and grabbed the girl's head in both hands, her grip crushing. Luna drew her to eye level, lifting her off the floor, leaving her feet dangling.

"I warned you," Luna whispered, "and Charon, and your masters..."

Serra glared back into burning eyes that held no softness, no mercy.

"Now I'm going to destroy you."