CHAPTER 13: NEW

Julie woke up, but she didn't open her eyes, she was too tired. But then she noticed that she wasn't in the ice cold water anymore, but that she was resting her head on a warm, soft chest.

"Leo?" She said with a tired, exhausted voice.

"Julie! You're alive! Thank heaven!" Yeah, it was Leo. But his body was different. His chest, instead of being a little bit hard since he was a turtle, it was soft and warmer than usual. But Julie was too tired to open her eyes; she continued resting in his protecting arms.

Meanwhile on land, the creatures had disappeared with Kokkai and the others were waiting for Leo to return. When he came, everyone looked strangely and shocked at him.

"Who…who are you?" Mikey said with doubtful eyes.

"Mikey! Have you hit your head too hard? Can't you see I'm Leo?" He laughed.

"I'm sorry Leo, but you're VERY different than usual…" Donnie said.

"What do you mean?" He said with a curious tone.

"Guys! What's happening?" Julie said tired.

"Hi Julie, are you all right?" Leo said laying his forehead on her. This time Julie opened her eyes. She had a BIG surprise.

"AAAAAH!" She screamed desperate. "Who are you? Where's Leo?" She tried to get down.

"CALM DOWN! Julie, it's me, I'm Leo!" Julie looked shocked at him. But then she recognized his beautiful chestnut brown eyes and that fabulous smile. Yes, it was Leonardo. He let her go and said:

"Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Look at your reflection in the water, and you'll see…" April said. Leo went near the water and looked at his reflection. It scared the crap out of him. His reflection wasn't showing a 16 year old turtle with a blue mask, but a young human teenager wit black, curly hair and soft, chestnut brown eyes. He had a blue t-shirt and jeans. What had happen?

"I…I'm human!" He said shocked looking at his hands. "How could this happen?"

"We don't know, we better go home and ask for help…" Donnie said. "We have already taken the Water Temple fragment" They all nodded and walked towards the castle. Leo was still surprised over he's new looks. Julie looked at him with sparkling, curious eyes and a sweet smile.

"You're so beautiful when you're human too!"

"Thank you!" He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I can't wait to just lay down only bed and rest forever…" She yawned and they walked the rest of the way holding hands. When they were in the Lap of the Gods, the Ninja Tribunal said:

"It seems that your wish was so powerful that the fragment felt it and granted it…" Chikara said.

"Is there a way to turn him back to normal?" Mikey said hopeful.

"Yes" Yuto said. "You must throw the complete Pearl of Jade in the Jade fountain tonight, in the night of the falling stars. Then you have to wish to become turtle."

"It's simple! You won't be human for a long time!" Raph said happily.

Later, Julie went to her room together with Leo. He closed the door and sat at her side as she lay down on the bed with a happy sigh.

"So, what's like being a human?" She asked curious.

"It's a bit strange…now that I don't have the shell anymore!" They both laughed. Julie looked better at him. He was so handsome. Leo smiled at her, coming closer and caressed delicately her cheek.

"You're beautiful…" Julie laughed.

"Thank you! You're not bad either!"

"I owe the pearl my new looks!" He said joke fully and Julie laughed so much. Leo loved her innocent smile. All he ever wanted to give her was a happy and serene future, just like that smile.

"You know what? At least there's something I can do better when I'm human than when I'm a turtle…"

"What?" Julie asked. Leo came closer. He looked deeply in her eyes and came more close to her. Her heart started beating fast. Leo dragged her delicately close to him, to his chest and warm, beating heart…

"TICKLING!" He shouted as he started to tickle her. She laughed to tears.

"Hahahahaha!...stop!...hahahaha….I'll get a heart infarct soon!...hihihihi..AHA!" She said as she started tickling him. They both laughed a very long time like crazy. Suddenly, he became serious.

"What is it?" Julie asked worried.

"Nothing….it's just that…" They were both in front of each other, very close.

"I just want the best for you…I want to give you a happy future…" He caressed her hair and kissed softly her forehead.

"Leo…I trust you…" She hugged him and he held her tight to his chest.

"I won't let them hurt you" He said with a decided and sincere voice.

"Leo…"

"Shhh…" He came closer, leaning in for a kiss. Julie's heart almost stopped…

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and they both parted quickly. Julie could hear her heart beating hard and her breath was a little bit heavy. She had been so nervous…Leo opened the door. It was Donnie, and he said:

"Ehm…Leo, Splinter wants to talk with you, he's in his room." He nodded and walked to his master's room. He knocked and went in.

"Welcome my son, sit down." He said looking at his eldest son as he knelt down in front of him.

"I wanted to talk to you about something very important…"

"I'm listening, Sensei" He smiled.

"What did you exactly think when you saved Julie?"

"That everything I ever wanted to do was save her, so I could be with her forever and see her happy again."

"Then I understand…the pearl fragment transformed you into human because that's the best solution if you want to be with Julie forever…the other expect you to return a turtle, but I know too that you love Julie more than your own life, so…I've decided to let you choose."

Leo couldn't believe what he just heard.

"R…really?"

"Yes Leonardo. I don't want to keep you away from the girl you love. I just want the best for you. Follow your heart and don't feel forced to anything."

"Of course…" He said silently. He thought about it. He just wanted to give Julie the future she deserved…

"Master, I…" Splinter answered as he had read his mind.

"I understand…don't worry, I'll talk to your brothers. Leo nodded. Splinter hugged his son.

"I wish you the best, my dear son."

"Thanks father." Suddenly, Donnie rushed abruptly in the room:

"Nisshoku is trying to take all the fragments we have! Hurry!" The all ran in the pearl hall. Everyone was there, the Ninja Tribunal too.

"You won't take the fragments Nisshoku!" Kan said.

"Oh really? Try to stop me then!" He moved the arm forward and poisonous smog came out of his hand." Chikara created a barrier and protected the others.

"That smog melts everything" He said.

"Don't worry, we'll fix this!" Raph said. They all jumped forward with their weapons ready to attack.

"TEAM ATTACK!" But Nisshoku was fast as lightning and made a nerve blocking attack. He touched everyone's neck. Thy all fell to the ground, they couldn't move a muscle.

"I would love to stay here, but I have a wish that has to be granted!" He transported himself away, with the fragments in his hand. Yuto released himself with a special technique and released the others too.

"He was too fast! I could barely see him!" Mikey said sadly.

"Exactly!" Donnie and Raph said together. When April was released, Donnie ran to her.

"Are you ok?" April hugged him tight, being very shocked.

"Oh Donnie! It was a horrible feeling! It was like my heart had stopped!"

"Shhh…you're alright now…" He whispered comforting her.

"What do we do now?" Julie asked.

"It's clear that Nisshoku is stronger now. We have to go to the Jade Fountain as quickly as possible, it opens tonight." Splinter said.

"To be precise it opens in 30 minutes!" Donnie said worried.

"How much time do we have except for the half hour?" April asked Donnie.

"The fountain works an hour after it is opened, because the fountain needs to absorb moonlight to work.

"It's perfect! In less than an hour we'll beat that moron and his jerks and Leo will go back to normal!" Raph said satisfied.

"Then let's not waste more time! Let's go!" Leo said decided. They all walked towards the cage of the fountain, where the final battle would have taken place. Now they were all ready to face the evil powers once again.