Chapter 2
6 years later, Mei Pieh Chi sat with her father over a steaming pot of tea after their training session. Both were silent, although Pieh Chi's thoughts were restless. Her father's voice made her jump.
"I sense there is something troubling you, my child. What is it?"
The turtle sighed. "I do not understand why I cannot wield the power of the flame. I have managed to master the three other elements. Why does this one come with such difficulty?"
"I believe it has something do you with your nature."
"My nature?"
"Yes. You have always been a placid child, which is why you are able to focus easily. But to control fire, you must have a passionate quality. You must be able to feel anger."
"But I have no need to feel angry."
"You have in the past. Remember when I wouldn't let you explore the woods a few years ago? You got annoyed, claiming that I was trying to mollycoddle you and not let you grow up."
"Yes Master and I severely regret it-"
"But you were right, my child. I was trying to keep you safe, but in doing so I was suffocating your curiosity. And now I trust you to go out alone and protect yourself should the need arise. But in that exchange, I saw for the first time the zeal that lies within you. I have not seen it since though, and so that is our challenge: to rediscover it. Do you understand?"
"Yes master. But I do not know how?"
"We shall discover it together, but tomorrow. Now, I need some herbs for more healing elixirs. If you are to start wielding fire I best make sure we are prepared for burns." The old shaman smiled at his daughter before giving her a list and basket and sending her out into the forest. It would soon be dark, but the moon would be strong in the clear sky tonight, and so should grant his daughter some much needed energy in preparation for tomorrow.
Chung I walked over to the small pool in the centre of the temple grounds and began to meditate. But his thoughts were troubling him, and so soon found himself in the familiar dreamscape and in the presence of an old friend.
"Good evening Master Splinter. I hope I am not disturbing you."
"Not at all my old friend. But I sense there is something troubling you. Can I be of any help?"
"Perhaps. I was just wondering if the time has come for our children to meet."
"What has brought this on Chung I?"
"Mei Pieh Chi must learn to rediscover her hidden zeal, and I fear that the only way is to be surrounded by others who have a high level of it. And I think she should meet her brothers, if they are related in any way."
"Even if our children are not linked by blood, the two of you shall always be family. When do you think they should-?"
The rat paused as his friend suddenly went tense. "There is somebody here. A presence I do not recognise." Chung I whispered, before opening a mental link. Splinter could see his friend's beautiful home, and had long been in envy of his friends' traditional abode. But he too could feel something, something he knew.
The dim candle light made it hard to see in the dark, for the pair's eyes were not as good as they once were. But the unmistakable glint of steel suddenly flashed before the old man.
"Who is it that disturbs this peaceful home?"
A deep, grating voice replied, making Splinter's fur stand on end. "One who would cultivate your gifts. Come quietly, and I promise you shall not be harmed."
"I work for no one, especially those who would trespass on sacred ground."
"Fool!" There was a sudden flash of silver, and suddenly the mental link was severed, leaving Splinter in darkness.
Chung I had been badly wounded on his arm, and could feel the warm blood trickling down, but he could still stand. "Who are you?" he demanded, anger rising into his chest.
"I have many names, my original being Oroku Saki-"
Chung I suddenly gasped, and immediately regretted it. Splinter had told him of the Shredder, but he could not reveal their friendship, for the turtle's sake. The hidden man suddenly stepped out of the shadows, revealing his steel clad form, covered in metal spikes. His lethal gauntlet seemed to glint menacingly in the candle light.
"You know of me?"
"Your evil has even reached my old ears, Saki. The whole of Asia is ashamed of your antics, your treachery-"
"Then you should fear me. You should fear the name of Shredder, and for your own sake comply with my demands, Shinobi."
"I am not one of your weak followers. I am a shaman of the Shinobi clan, and I am bound to fight evil such as you."
"Foolish man. Then you shall suffer. Foot ninja, attack!"
Suddenly, a group of black-garbed ninja also stepped out of the shadows and attacked the old man. He may have not been trained in ninjutsu, but his training of Pieh Chi had reignited his fighting skills. Thusly, he was able to defeat the first group easily. But when the second, third and even fourth rallied, Chung I realised he lacked a vital thing: the stamina that came with youth. He was soon succumbed and held down on his knees. The Shredder crouched down, pointing his gauntlet at Chung I's neck.
"You will come with me and serve me or perish!" He roared. Suddenly, Chung I felt a familiar presence in the room, and the Shredder was abruptly kicked aside, smacking into a wall. His ninjas looked around frantically, but the adversary kept to the shadows, taking them all out one by one. Mei Pieh Chi then revealed herself to her father.
"Master! Are you alright? I heard noises coming from the temple on the way back, and sensed an awful presence, so I was cautious, but I should have got here sooner."
Tears pricked the turtles' eyes as she looked at her father's wound. He was worn out and badly bruised, and she feared that he wouldn't be able to fight any more. Chung I felt both fear and relief at seeing his daughter.
"My child, I am glad you are safe. But you must run. Grab whatever you can and leave. Go to New York if you can. You shall find safety there."
"New York? But Master, I am not going anywhere without you-"
"You must my child, go-"
"No! Father." Pieh Chi snapped back, before helping Chung I up and leading him to their living quarters. She placed him on his soft chair before running into her room. She grabbed a bag and placed inside the book of stories which she read every night, the box of herb medicine, vital magical scrolls and a photograph of her and her father from her 12th Birthday.
"Is there anything else you think we need?" Pieh Chi called out, but she got no answer. She cautiously made her way into their sitting room. "Father?" She gasped as she saw more ninja's heading towards him. He was stood up but swaying slightly. He did not have the strength to fight. Anger filled her. How dare they attack a wounded warrior? Did they have no honour? A feeling of protectiveness came over the turtle, and she leapt in front of Chung I, ready to fight.
"I will defend you father!" The girl stated, before initiating an attack. She had never fought anyone but her father, and was unused to the Japanese fighting style. But she soon adapted, intent on blacking all that threatened her father. Chung I looked proudly on at his daughter. She was truly a warrior in the making, but he knew she had to leave before the Shredder discovered her. Suddenly she was kicked full on in the stomach and flew into the next room.
"My daughter!" he yelled, before the Shredder loomed above him.
"One last chance old man, either you come and work for me, or perish." Chung I stared straight back at the figure in front of him, and summoned all the power he could. In one swift movement he blasted the Shredder in the chest with a stream of fire, who went flying up against the wall. Pieh Chi rushed to her father's side. He looked sadly at her face, which was covered in bruises.
"My child, you are hurt-"
"I'll be fine. We have to get you out of here-"
"Neither of you will leave here alive." The Shredder's voice suddenly grated through the air as he stumbled up. A black mark covered his chest, but he otherwise seemed unharmed. But when he saw Mei Pieh Chi, fury mixed with confusion erupted inside him.
"Another turtle?" He roared. "How can this be?"
Pieh Chi, ignoring his words, stood protectively over her father.
"You shall not harm him!" her voice was strong as she tried to feign courage, but the Shredder responded by swiping her aside with his gauntlet. She flew to the other side of the room and landed in a heap on the floor.
Chung I was horrified. "No my child-!" The Shredder suddenly pointed his gauntlet at him.
"How did you come by this creature? Why are there five of them? ANSWER ME!"
Chung I looked fondly at his daughter before raising his eyes to the evil before him.
"I shall reveal nothing." He stated, and felt his breath catch as three points of metal ripped into his chest. He felt pain, but also guilt as he saw Pieh Chi stagger to her feet. The gauntlet had ripped her plastron and she too was bleeding, just not as much as him. She was on her own from now on. Her horrified met his and widened.
"Father! No!" she cried, running towards him. "What have you done to him?" she shrieked at the Shredder, who simply pointed towards his ninjas.
"Seize her! She may prove useful to us." Pieh Chi was suddenly grabbed by six ninjas, who struggled to secure her as she fought them off and yelled in protest. Chung I could see anger flaring up in her; she had finally discovered her zeal. But now was not the time.
"My daughter, you must control your anger. If you do not command your power, it will overrule you. You will reveal your magic, and then the Shredder will try to exploit you. Do not let that happen my child. You must uphold the honour of the Shinobi clan."
The voice faded from Pieh Chi's mind and looked over to her father. A crimson stain covered his chest, and the urge to heal him became ever greater. But in her fleeting moment of distraction, a ninja took the opportunity to smack her on the head with his staff. Black suddenly filled her vision and she went limp with unconsciousness. The Foot waited expectantly for their master's orders.
"Take her to the chopper. She may not have magic like her tutor, but her obvious link to the turtles may be even more valuable." His followers complied, struggling with the heavy form. Another staggered from the turtle's room, clutching a bag.
"Master Shredder, the she-turtle was packing this. What shall I do with it?"
"Bring it with us. If she was planning on taking it with her then it must be important. Besides, if she is to work for us, a few home comforts may be needed to sway her."
The ninja nodded, following his fellow Foot to the chopper whilst rubbing his head slightly. The turtle had proven quicker than he anticipated. The Shredder crouched back down in front of the now pale shaman and smiled.
"If she does as I wish, no harm shall befall her. I shall train her to become a ninja, tidy her fighting skills until she is the lethal assassin I aim to make her. Then she shall help me destroy those freaks that would consider her family. You should be honoured," he rose to his feet, still smiling. "The last student I trained myself has grown to great success, leading my clan in Japan and living a life of luxury when not training new recruits. Then again, a lack of humanity may prove to be a disadvantage to your daughter. But I shall not judge her on her appearance, only on her decisions."
The Shredder then turned to walk out, until Chung I's rasping voice caught his ear, barley more than a whisper.
"And what if she decides to refuse you offer?" The Shredder turned and loomed above the dying man, a mix of malice and pleasure filling his eyes.
"Then she shall suffer a fate worse than your own. She shall join her familiars and they shall watch each other die, slowly, any future for their repulsive race wiped out. And then the rat will feel true pain, and I shall sit back and watch as the madness sets into his old mind. That, Shinobi, will be your beloved, freak-of-a-daughter's fate."
The Shredder then left the temple, and Chung I heard the rumble of a helicopter taking off. In his last moments, Chung I desperately opened up a link with Master Splinter, who had been trying repeatedly to reach him. The rat could suddenly see the destruction that defiled through the once sanctified temple, which had been a happy home and provided wonderful memories for both man and rat. But there was no sign of Mei Pieh Chi. He could see specks of blood on the tiled floor and sensed the pain within Chung I's chest, whose voice suddenly broke through the silence, thin and weak.
"Help her." He pleaded, before the link was severed and darkness consumed his weary mind.
