Chapter 8

Mei Pieh Chi had heard the clash of metal and thud of wood getting ever closer for hours it seemed, but now that it was all suddenly silent, she knew the Shredder had revealed himself. She saw a few of his injured ninjas make their escape through the alley below her, heading towards headquarters for medical attention. They looked pretty beaten up. "What awaits us up there?" she thought to herself, fear coursing through her again. "I must be strong. I cannot fail Chung I again. Shredder's enemy will distract him as I prepare to strike."

Suddenly there was a command yelled out in Japanese, and Pieh Chi followed her comrades as they quickly ran up to the roof. She stood in the centre of the group, and all she could above the sea of black was a man wearing some kind of mask, holding some sort of stick they used for sports in the west. He looked a little ridiculous to her but was careful to not become cocky. She tried to get a better view but the previous flanks of ninjas stepped in front, surrounding the man. She could just about hear the Shredder over the roaring in her ears.

"...this night shall be our night. We shall celebrate for years to come, the night of your demise."

"You talk too much, shred –head!" A rough voice barked back in reply, but not from the masked man's direction.

"This seems like a lot effort just to gain our attention!" Another voice yelled, lighter this time but still strong.

"Who cares Leo? I say we take down this whack-bag!" The former voice answered.

"Do you guys ever stop arguing?" Finally the masked man spoke, although his tone was playful.

"Enough!" The Shredder barked. "I can assure you, none of you will leave here alive. Foot Ninja, attack!"

And that was their cue. The sea of black suddenly dispersed, running towards their enemy. Pieh Chi had to move too, for fear of getting trampled. As the group separated, she was able to see more clearly. The masked man began whacking a load of soldiers with his stick thing, and next to him stood... she couldn't believe it. She froze as she comprehended what was stood in front of her: Four large, anthropomorphic turtles! Pieh Chi gasped and dropped her arms from the offensive position. "They look just like me!" The sound of swords being drawn suddenly brought her back to the present, with the Shredder leering ever closer to the turtles. "I must focus. My questions can come later." But she didn't have time to think as one of the turtles wearing a purple mask suddenly came into view and attempted to attack her with his Bo staff. Pieh Chi ducked and dived, studying the creature before being smacked to the floor. She saw the Shredder in the background, staring intently at the pair. "He's looking for my reaction." She had to play his game for a little longer, and so, now that the turtle was facing the other way, she did a right leg sweep, tripping him up. She then jumped towards the others. One with an orange mask was doing very well against a group of six soldiers, so she came in to help her comrades. He was fast, faster than she expected, and managed to catch her skull with his nunchucks.

Stars danced in front of her eyes as she crashed to the floor, and Pieh Chi knew she'd find a lump there in the morning. She pushed herself up, and quickly rolled to the left as she sensed something coming towards her. It was a red masked turtle, wielding a pair of Sais. She suddenly remembered that she was carrying a sword, and as she backed away, she drew it in front of her. Anger practically rolled off the creature in front of her, his eyes venomous with hatred. She shook a little with fear and he smirked. He struck but she brought her sword in front of her, blocking the blow. He tried again and again, but she kept blocking, aware that he was pushing her back to the edge of the building. He became more and more frustrated, hitting at her harder each time. She noticed the Shredder watching her again, and he shouted.

"Pieh Chi, focus!"

The masked turtle frowned in confusion, before smiling again.

"You Shredder's new little protégé? That was your first mistake." He lunged again and instead of blocking the blow, Pieh Chi repeated the move she tried on Shredder in her first weapons practice, resulting in her 'enemy's' Sai being flung to the other side of the roof. She then kicked him in the chest and ran into the crowd, knowing he'd like to exact revenge for what she did. Suddenly, a prickle erupted on the back of her neck. She was being watched, but not by the Shredder. She turned until something caught her eye. The last turtle, wearing a dark blue mask, had been surrounded by a group of 10 or so, and was fighting them all off seemingly with ease. They were desperately trying to wear him down but he kept dodging and attacking, his double katana practically dancing in the air. His skill amazed her. Pieh Chi heard another order barked out, and the two reserve units came into play. Another ten joined the group dealing with the blue masked turtle.

"Leo!" the orange masked one cried out, spinning his nunchucks wildly. "There's too many of them!"

"Give me a sec Mikey!" the other one yelled back, trying to block four swords at once. Pieh Chi guessed he was the leader by the concentrated force upon him. He also had a great calm around him, despite the situation. Suddenly he turned to look at her. "He sensed me staring." She realized, as he frowned at her in confusion. But she was also being watched and just dodged before a form flew into her. It was the masked man.

"Foot-scum!" he cried, almost insanely, before lashing out at her. It was evident that he was strong, but didn't have any particular skills. "He fights, but is not trained." She concluded, as she kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into the purple masked turtle.

"Casey!" a rough voice yelled, and the red masked turtle came back into view, attacking Pieh Chi fiercely. Only her reflexes allowed her to dodge him, but he suddenly caught her right arm with his Sais. She dropped her sword and the turtle kicked her across the roof top, causing her to smash into the air vent outlet. She rubbed her head, thankful that he hadn't seen fit to follow her, and crawled round to the side of the metal box, hoping for some shelter whilst she inspected her arm. The wound was deep and stung a lot, but there wasn't too much blood. She'd never been injured like this before, but then she went to touch the top right of her plastron though her ninja garb. There she could feel three prominent gashes, from when the Shredder slashed at her with his gauntlet the night Chung I died. The night she was kidnapped. The night everything changed.

Anger flared back up within her, her palms feeling incredibly hot for some reason, when she suddenly felt someone staring at her again. She looked around before ducking as a grey form jumped over the outlet and stood in front of her. It was a large rat. He stared at her intently, and Pieh Chi sensed great calm and wisdom about him. She readied herself defensively, but the creature merely spoke.

"You are hurt." He stated, gesturing towards her arm.

"Yeah, no thanks to one of your cronies." Pieh Chi spat back, trying to mimic the idiolect of her comrades. She sounded ridiculous.

"Yes. Raphael. He can get...hot headed, making him rash." Pieh Chi frowned in response, not sure why he was telling her this. "It is a great hardship, to lose a loved one." His words caught her off guard. She tightened her position.

"I wouldn't know." She growled back.

"Oh I think you do, Mei Pieh Chi." Her eyes widened in shock. How did he know who she was? She bunched her hands into fists. It didn't matter; he was delaying her getting to Shredder. She went to attack him but he dodged. She tried again and again but he was too fast, and surprisingly lithe for an old...rat. "Do not let appearances deceive you." Chung I's lesson rang through her mind, and she changed tactic, slowing her pace down, breathing deeply and focusing. The rat attacked this time and she dodged, catching his legs with a sweep of hers. He landed on the ground, at her mercy.

"Sensei!" The blue masked turtle cried out, looking over to his master whilst trying to hold off more ninjas. The concern in his voice made Pieh Chi stop in her tracks. The pain of having Chung I taken from her flooded through her, causing her eyes to prickle. She could never grant another being that suffering, especially not willingly. The rat used her pause to kick her to the ground behind the vent outlet, pointing his, what appeared to be a walking stick, towards her neck.

"Stay down young one. I do not wish to harm you." The Asian lilt in his tongue made Pieh Chi pang for her father even more. But she was determined not to cry.

"You have a funny way of showing it," the shaking in her voice betraying her upset.

"Deception is a vital lesson in the ninja's training. One you have not quite mastered yet, shinobi."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Pieh Chi snapped back, a little too quickly. She jumped up, causing the rat to stagger back. She went into the defensive again.

"I refuse to hurt an innocent."

"Then that shall be your downfall. Not all are what they seem."

"A wise lesson." Pieh Chi had had enough. She readied herself to strike. "One I taught an old friend of mine." The turtle raised her fist. "Chung I." She froze, her breath catching the back of her throat. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. Questions just railed through her mind, making her head throb. Or was that the lump that was surely forming on her scalp?

"H-h-h-how?" the question rasped through her throat.

"I know he is gone Mei Pieh Chi. I know he was taken from you. And by your presence, I know who by."

"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" She suddenly screamed, shocked at her own outburst.

"But I do Kame," she winced at the Japanese word for turtle. "I know what it is to lose your beloved master, and to lose him to the Shredder. We are here to fight him, not you. We shall not harm you. I promised your father that many years ago, and he did me concerning my sons. We vowed to protect each other's children. And so I offer you nothing but help and a home, as your father would have wished."

She couldn't take it in. She was practically sobbing, her mask becoming soaked. But clarity pierced through her grief, and there was a similarity about the creature before her. He seemed akin to her own master, and she could sense grief developing within him too. He was telling the truth.

"I believe you." She whispered, and she gently pulled the mask off her face. Master Splinter looked at her and smiled, relief coursing through him. He thought he'd heard the Shredder cry her name when she had fought Raphael, and was glad that Saki hadn't corrupted her. He could see her eyes were glistening underneath her light blue mask, so similar to his son's. She was slightly smaller in stature, but plainly strong. She suddenly winced and clutched her arm, and in anger ripped the cloth off surrounding it, before removing the rest of the garb. She felt suddenly free with the red emblem removed from her chest. Splinter frowned at the gashes on her plastron, but Leonardo's cry caught his attention.

His son was being heavily overwhelmed by a group of about 20 Foot ninja, but he was also clutching his left arm. It had a deep gash running down it, and was steadily losing blood. He kept on fighting, but the wound had seriously weakened him. Pieh Chi gasped behind the old rat.

"This was his plan," began to explain, worry flooding her face. "To repeat a strategy he used before. He planned on injuring your leader. He said it would dispirit and distract you. He believed I would be important to his plan. I didn't know why, but now I realise that my appearance would unnerve your students."

Master Splinter was deep in thought, looking upon his son in concern. Pieh Chi too was thinking, and didn't realize the Shredder was right behind her and had heard every word.

"You!" he roared, spinning her round before grabbing her by the neck and lifting her into the air. "This is how you repay me for all I've done?"

"You have done nothing." Pieh Chi gasped, pulling at his hand.

"I let you live." He barked, before throwing her into the midst of the battle. She landed on the ground, her shell making a cracking sound against the cement. The surrounding soldiers froze. Splinter looked at her in despair, wanting to go to her. "Help your leader," she pleaded, reaching out to his mind. The rat obeyed.

Pieh Chi then focused her attention of the looming figure above her, his deadly gauntlet glinting maliciously. She stood shakily, only to be kicked heavily in the stomach. She landed on her shoulder, but immediately began backing away from Shredder, who never stopped moving. She felt something sharp beneath her hand, and realized it was her sword. As the Shredder brought his gauntlet down, she raised her katana, causing the air to ripple with the clang of metal. He repeated his move, as did she and she managed to push him back slightly, giving her time to stand. She positioned herself in the defensive, Shredder in the attack. He roared.

He made a swipe with his gauntlet, but Pieh Chi met it hard with her blade. She then attempted to kick him in the stomach, but he pulled back, grabbing her leg and slamming her to the floor. She landed in a crouch, and swept her leg under his, but he jumped out of the way. He brought his gauntlet back down but she rolled to the side and rose to her feet in the defensive again. He would not win. She wouldn't let him. A great hush developed on the rooftop, a circle enveloping the Shredder and Pieh Chi. Until a familiar voice rang out.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?" It was the red masked turtle, Raphael.

"Another turtle?" the orange one asked.

"Impossible!" the purple masked one cried. They dotted themselves around the circle.

"Dude, that's another you!" The masked man yelled out.

"What are you playing at Shred-head. What is this?" Raphael growled, drawing his Sais.

"Your demise." He smirked in reply.

"ENOUGH!" Pieh Chi snapped. They fell silent, staring at her in a mixture of anger and awe. They were becoming distracted. She only hoped that their master had reached their leader in time. The Shredder considered her.

"You are brave, Hen'i-tai, I will give you that. But you are a fool, just like your pathetic master."

"DO NOT TALK ABOUT MY FATHER!"

She raised her sword, hatred flushing through her. They moved at the same time, Shredder drawing his sword just before she struck him. But she was ready, and twisted to the side, hitting his blade before jumping backwards, landing where he started. He snarled and they began again, parrying constantly. He was stronger than the turtle, but she managed to twist his sword out of the way before he pushed her to the ground. Her anger increased with every hit, and she could feel her body temperature rising, probably from exertion. The clash of metal filled her ears, causing them to ring, and her muscles ached from pushing against the Shredder's sword. But determination fuelled both her strength and despise. The pair seemed to fly at each other, raising their swords in attack. They hit them hard, when the sweat that had developed on Pieh Chi's palms caused hers to fly out of her hand. She landed straight and swiftly turned. But the Shredder was too fast, and slashed at her right shoulder, catching her collar-bone, the strength behind the hit sending her soaring to the edge of the circle. She winced and she pushed herself up a little, clutching at her shoulder. It couldn't hold her weight, and so she slumped back down to the floor. A shadow loomed above her.

"Their demise comes with yours, Hen'i-tai. Your father's sacrifice was pointless after all." He raised his gauntlet, but Pieh Chi was too weak to care. At least this way she would be re-united with her father.

"NOOO!" A flash of green suddenly came in front of her, with the sound of steel against steel. The turtle's leader had brought his katana down at exactly the right time and caught the Shredder's gauntlet.

"You!"

"You will not harm her." He stated, anger clear in his voice. Mei Pieh Chi could see the blood dripping from his shoulder and the bruises developing on his skin. He had taken a harsh beating.

"Leo, what the heck are you doin'!" Raphael shouted. "She was just trying to kill us! She's one of them!"

"Raphael! Be quiet. You do not know her story." Master Splinter suddenly commanded, breaking through the circle, evidently tired after assisting his son.

"But he is right, rodent. She is working for me."

"Well not anymore." Leo spat, raising his blade higher across his chest.

"You cannot have her, creature!" The Shredder roared, slashing his gauntlet through the air. Leo met it with his sword, but Shredder kicked him hard in the stomach before throwing him to the other side of the circle. There he landed in a heap, smacking his head against the ground. The Shedder turned away from Pieh Chi and stalked towards Leo, grabbing him by the neck as he had done with Pieh Chi a little while ago. He raised Leo in the air, whose eyes were closed in pain.

"Leo!" His brothers called out.

"First I shall destroy you, Leonardo, and then your precious family shall face the same fate." Leo's eyes snapped open, never leaving the Shredder in defiance of his fear. His brothers, father and friend were kept back by the sheer number of Foot soldiers. In his weakened state, he accepted his fate.

Mei Pieh Chi was horrified. She had just discovered others of her kind, and the one who had just saved her was about to be slaughtered in front of his family. The Shredder's cruelness made her shake in anger, the memory of Chung I dying right in front of her piercing through it. She would avenge him, and repay the turtle Leonardo. She held such hatred for the Shredder, which mingled with the grief she felt for her father. Deep within, she felt the embers of a flame suddenly ignite. Her body temperature rose up, her palms became heated. She stood up, her feet steady, her eyes almost red. She raised her arms in front of her and aimed the fire within her, her zeal, outward and directly at the Shredder.

"What is this?" He asked, surprise at the turtle's defiance showing in his voice even though he tried to hide it. But it was all Leo needed. Whilst the Shredder was distracted, he wrenched himself free of his grasp, kicking him and then falling to the ground, gasping air into his lungs.

"What are you doing?" the Shredder demanded, the slight trickle of fear in his voice fuelling Pieh Chi's revengeful state even more so. She fired. A great flame erupted from her palms and engulfed the Shredder. Leo cried out and scrambled out of the way towards his brothers, who now stood, along with everyone else, watching in awe. They could hear the Shredder laughing, which only made Pieh Chi even more angry. She would finish it. She would avenge her father by destroying this creature. Hatred flooded her mind, but a voice cut through.

"My child, you cannot destroy hatred with hatred. If you attack a creature such as this with the same malice that he shows everyone, then he will only win. You are wasting your energy, weakening yourself. You have discovered your hidden passion that allows you to wield a flame. Chung I would be proud. But do not waste your strength and new found power on a creature such as this."

Master Splinter's words rang through her head, and her father's last command mingled with them.

"You are the safety my father told me to seek?" she asked the rat, her voice raspy from her dry throat. The Shredder just kept laughing.

"Yes. I have known about you for many years Mei Pieh Chi, and your father knew about us. We are your secondary family."

Pieh Chi looked at the rat, who smiled, encouraging her to let go. She nodded. Splinter summoned his sons to join him, with Casey following behind. Pieh Chi concentrated. She had wielded the flame, now she had to control it. With a jerk, she released the stream of fire, and followed it with immediately with a jet of water. Thick steam engulfed the roof, clouding everyone in a fog of confusion. The turtles, Casey and Master Splinter used this as a chance to escape, leaping down the fire escape and down a side alley. A few seconds later, the roar of the Shredder rang out over the city.