Ancient Prophecy.

Chapter Sixteen:

"Reports are flowing in of the attack on New York city," the reporter said as the extended family watched from various positions in the room, "those who have escaped the city are reporting demonic like creatures that appeared out of nowhere, although the government fears that this is another alien attack despite there not being any reported signs from space detected." The screen showed an image of the city from across the river and showed that the majority was already in ruins despite the fact that it had only been a few days since Ursa had been revived, "The air force and ground forces have tried in vain to reach the city and provide the necessary retaliation. Any attempts to get close to the city are met with massacre. There have been no demands so far from whoever is behind this situation." Donnie held Elyssa closer to him as he watched the scenes play over the screen.

"All those people there." Lysie whispered. "Only a few hundred escaped."

"Any news from the justice force?" Casey asked cradling his baby.

"No, I can't get hold of them through my magic. . ." Elyssa started.

"And I've tried the communicator they gave me but no one answers." Mike told them wrapping a blanket around his shoulders to keep out the chill, Serena noticed and waved her hand at the fire which burst into life filling the room with warm air. "Don't let Leo see you using magic." He warned chuckling but it wasn't nearly as happy as usual.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him besides I'm pregnant not a damn invalid and he needs to realise that before I go witch on his ass." They all burst out laughing at her words and she blinked, "What? You all say things like that all the time why's it so funny when I say it?"

"I think it's just the accent Renie." April chuckled, "You don't get many Brits coming out with sayings like that."

"How many Brits do you know?" The black haired witch raised an eyebrow.

"Good point." April shrugged and looked over at her fiancé, "We'd better put this little lady to bed." Casey just nodded and left with her murmuring gibberish to his little girl as he went.

"Master," Mikey turned to his father after glancing towards the front door, "will Raph be okay?"

"Only time will tell my son," Splinter rose and stretched his old muscles, "I hope that with our help he will be able to move on."

"They were perfect for each other." Serena said rubbing her belly with one hand and hugging herself with the other.

"Just when something seemed to be working for him it's ripped away." Don said to no one in particular.

Outside Leonardo sat by his grieving brother and stared up at the stars that were so painfully absent in the city. They'd sat there for several minutes now and not said a word although the eldest knew what Raph was thinking about and he wanted nothing more than to let his little brother cry on his shoulder. He knew Raphael would never do that, that the walls he'd built around himself over the years forbade him from even admitting to them why he had resorted to injuring himself in a desperate way to cope with the torrent of emotions that were always locked so deeply within him. His brother had yet to leave Yuri's broken sword out of sight since he'd been given it that fateful night and it sat where his faithful sai would have sat, had Splinter returned the weapons.

"It's okay to cry Raph," Leo told him when the silence became too suffocating even for him, "you and Yuri were good friends. I mean I know I didn't trust her at first but she'd been through so much and yet she still fought for what was right even though it meant battling her own brother. I don't think I would have the strength to do that if it were me."

"She understood me Leo." Raph said quietly now staring at the grass just beyond the porch they were sitting on, "No one's ever really understood me before."

"And that made you feel better than before?" His older brother pushed.

"I didn't feel second best with her," he tried to think of how to explain it so that his brother could understand, "you've always been better than me and I know I'll never be on your level," Leo frowned hating that his brother thought so little of himself, "but when I told her that you know what she said?" younger looked at elder for the first time since they'd sat down out in the night air, "She said that I just have ta find my way and I could be as good as I wanna be," he looked away again, "she said that all I had ta do was believe in myself. Easier said than done, but when I trained with her I felt . . . I don't know it just felt right I guess."

"Did you love her?" Raph blinked at the question but one look at Leo and he knew his brother was asking seriously. With a few moments thought he blushed.

"I guess I did."

"Did you ever tell her how you felt?" Leo asked although he was sure he knew the answer.

"Like it's that easy! I ain't you Leo I can't do this feeling stuff, I'm not good with words." Raphael exclaimed, "I mean she was beautiful, and I'm . . . she deserved better than me Leo. Some prince charming with movie star looks."

"Maybe that's not what she wanted Raph," he put his arm around his brother's shoulders and squeezed, allowing a relieved smile grace his lips when Raph leant into his embraced and sniffling could be heard, "I think she cared a great deal about you Raph, she thought of you enough to leave you a note. She didn't do that for anyone else."

"That ain't makin' me feel any better bro." Raph pulled out Yuri's sword hilt and fingered the bindings as if somehow he could feel closer to her even though she was gone.

"I didn't mean it like that Raph." Leo sighed.

"I know that." Raph stood up and began walking off towards the woods then stopped turning his head slightly, "I need ta be alone Leo just for a little while, so don't follow me okay." He knew his brother was frowning but didn't turn fully to see it.

"Don't take too long there's meant to be a storm tonight." Leo told him and went back inside leaving his brother to his thoughts. Raph turned back to the woods glancing up at the sky and wondering whether he should grab a jacket before he went to keep out the cold but thinking better of it. He kept the hilt in his hand and wondered aimlessly through the woods until he got near to old man Jenkins farm he blinked as he saw a younger woman he'd never spotted before helping a young man load things into a truck. Raphael watched for several minutes as the truck was loaded full of several belongings and then Jenkins himself came storming out looking less than pleased.

"I was born here, as was my father! I am not leaving because some aliens!" the old farmer huffed as the woman looked at him with an exasperated expression on her face.

"Daddy you are coming with us! Most of the farms around here have evacuated already along with several of the nearby towns. The government has advised everyone to get as far away from New York as possible so you are coming with us and that's final!" Raph snorted at the look the older man gave his daughter.

"Trust me Robert our farms twice as big as this and your animals will get on just fine we've opened all the gates and they can have the run of the farm until all of this blows over." The younger man explained, "And you're more than welcome to get stuck in with the working of our farm as well so you won't get bored."

"That's not a farm! All you do is oversee all your little workers! Real farmers get involved with the work and I mean the real work!" His daughter groaned and placed her hands on her hips.

"Daddy, get in that car or I swear I will force you like a five year old!" Robert grumble something inaudible that Raph was sure involved some choice words directed at the couple making him move, but still he stomped up to the truck and got in soon to be joined by his daughter and whom he assumed was her husband. Not long after the engine purred into life and they began to leave just as the first snowflakes began to fall.

"Great just what I need." Raph growled and began making his way back towards Casey's farmhouse. Halfway back the snow started coming down faster and he had to jog before he got caught out in a blizzard, of course as soon as he got to the edge, who was waiting for him but Leo with an annoyed glare directed at him. His eldest brother produced a warm blanket and bundled him inside whilst ignoring Raphael's protests. "You're gonna want ta hear about what I saw over at the next farm."

"That can wait till you're warmed up Raph, you know we can't go out in that sort of weather without getting sick! What is wrong with you!" Leo chastised trying to keep his voice down so that the he wouldn't wake the others. He led his brother to the kitchen where he had already prepared a hot bowl for Raph to put his feet in along with another thick blanket.

"You gotta hear this bro," Raph tried to get away from his brother's fussing but Leo firmly used his good arm to grab him by the shoulder and made him sit down, "I'm serious! Over at Jenkin's place he had his daughter there and I think her husband and they were making him leave. They said that everyone else round here is already gone and the government want people ta get as far away from New York as they can."

"That was quick." Leonardo said pouring some tea for them both, "Although the authorities have tried everything to get close to New York, so I guess they want to save as many lives as possible and pull back until they can figure out what to do."

"Yeah but they won't be able to will they I mean look at how effective Chaplin's weird weapons were against the demon shredder. They got rid of the regular ghouls but they barely touched demon shredder and Elyssa said that this Ursa's likely to be ten times as powerful, so what the hell are we gonna do?"

"Rose will be here tomorrow morning, she's using some spell to bring her extensive library here and she, along with Lysie and Renie are going to cast a protection spell around the farm and the neighbouring areas. If the other farms are deserted then they might be able to include them too and we can become self-sufficient whilst all this is happening. Serena told me that the spell they're going to use is the same one that protected our layer; the difference is that because there's a lot more natural magic around here it will make the spell even more powerful and with all three witches involved in the casting of the spell it will be virtually impenetrable. Elyssa says it will take a few days for them to set up but the demons attacking the city haven't been spotted leaving the city limits yet so I'd say we have enough time before we're in any danger." Leo stopped as he realised that Raph was staring at the sword hilt again and at some point Duchess had hopped up onto his lap purring away and curling up as if trying to warm the shivering turtle up a bit quicker. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just. . ." Raph frowned holding the hilt and feeling something that he hadn't noticed before, "Her sword, I think. . ." Duchess meowed and jumped on the turtle's shoulder, "I don't know maybe I'm imagining things." He sighed dejectedly and placed the hilt on the table whilst Leo was sure he saw Duchess roll her eyes.

"Come on let's get you to bed, Don's shoved a load of extra covers on for you." Leo guided his brother from the kitchen and up the stairs to the attic room where Raph shared the room with their father, Don and Mikey. As quietly as he could Leo helped his still shivering brother into bed and wrapped him up in the mound of blankets Don had provided, once he was sure Raph would be okay he slipped down to the room he shared with Serena and slipped off all his gear then got into bed himself. Wrapping his arms around his lover he slipped into a fitful sleep.

Xxx

The next day Casey was up bright and early and was found out at the back of the house studying the building. He and April had discussed building an extension to the house so that each turtle had their own room, they would also change the upper levels in the barns into a lab for Donatello. He rubbed the back of his neck and walked over to the barn where he kept all the tools he had. When they had first discussed moving to the farm with Splinter he had called the local town's hardware store and had a load of new gear he thought he might need delivered. Now that the town was a virtual ghost town he was glad he'd for once had the foresight to do such a thing.

"Casey, you are not going to do all that work alone," April told him sternly, crossing her arms as she leant against the barn door, "I'm sure the boys will help you once Leo and Don are fully healed."

"But there's nothin' ta do here and Raph ain't up ta wrestling with me," the tall man sighed truly feeling bad for his best friend but not sure how to help him, "all he does is mope around all day."

"He's just lost Yuri and It's hurt him! Don't be so insensitive Casey!"

"I know, I know I just wish there was somethin' we could do for him." Casey rubbed the back of his neck again and blinked as April closed the distance between them then wrapped her arms around her fiancé.

"Come on Rose will be here any minute and we'll need those muscles of yours to help sort all her stuff out not to mention all the books she was talking about bringing."

"What're they gonna do?" He moaned knowing he'd be left to do all the hard work alone.

"Start setting up the spell that's going to keep us hidden from all the killer demons that have torn New York apart." April shook her head a laughed as he finally got it and made a face to show it. They joined Leo in the kitchen who had Serena on his lap and both were deep in conversation with Elyssa who was making breakfast. "Hey guys what's up?"

"We just saw the news, DC's been attacked along with several other cities, the national guard and all available forces have been sent out but they lost communications a few minutes ago." Leo informed them.

"That's when the TV reception went dead." Serena added.

"You mean there's no TV either?!" Casey yelled and received an elbow in the ribs.

"This is getting serious guys," Elyssa piped up putting some bacon on a plate and placing them on the table along with some toast and hash browns, "at this rate it won't be long before the whole country is under Ursa's control." She visibly shivered.

"I'm sure Rose is fine." Renie assured rubbing her expanding belly.

"I won't be happy until she's here though," she ran her hand through her hair, "but it's not just her my big sister's practising medicine in Chicago and I've got a cousin in Toronto and that was one of the cities attacked!"

"They witches too?" Casey asked sitting down and pilling food onto his plate.

"Sophie knows enough to take down lower level demons, and Marissa's a bit better. I just hope they're able to keep safe and what if Ursa keeps going and my parents are in danger? They're in the middle of nowhere! They won't know until it's too late." She paused and took a couple of deep breaths to try and calm herself but it wasn't working, "I'm sorry April could you finish this."

"Sure Lysie." April took the girl's place and watched as the girl went back up to her room. Elyssa pulled on some warm clothes and slipped back downstairs to go for a walk out in the fresh air, passing Donnie on the way.

"Lysie? You okay?" The turtle frowned as she kept her head low as if trying to hide behind her thick blonde hair.

"I just need some air." He was sure she was near to tears.

"What's wrong Elyssa?" He asked making her look at him.

"There was a news report," she said beginning to sniffle, "they attacked . . . more cities . . . and the TV went out and my family . . . and. . .And," she couldn't hold it in any more and flung her arms around his neck sobbing her heart out. Donnie did his best to quiet her and led her out of the house so that she wouldn't have to deal with anyone else bothering her. Out in the garden he sat her down on the wooden seat on the porch and held her close offering her words of comfort every now and then but otherwise he stayed quiet and let her cry. "I'm sorry Donnie."

"Don't be we're all worried about friends and family." He told her stroking her hair, "I didn't have the time to warn leatherhead or Angel, and April's worried about her uncle Augie and her sister, Casey's mom was still in the city and he couldn't get hold of her when they left. We all thought we'd have time to get our friends and family out before anything major happened but we didn't."

"And now it's too late." She sighed and snuggled closer to him.

"Not necessarily, we don't know what Ursa's done with all the people yet. Those who didn't fight may just have been imprisoned," he rubbed her back and squeezed a little, "which means there may be a chance that they're all still alive and if that's true then once we've got this place sorted and made it safe we can start figuring out how to rescue them and bring them here."

"I guess, are Raph and Mikey up yet?"

"I last saw Mikey playing with Anna and Shadow. Raph was still asleep, last I checked." He replied still keeping his arms around her revelling in how nice it felt and wondering if it was how Leo felt whenever his older brother held Serena in his arms. "Leo said he got caught out in the start of that storm last night and got real cold last night. We may be warmer blooded than regular turtles but we still have problems in cold weather."

"Maybe we should go back inside so my Donnie bear doesn't get cold." She said in a sickeningly cute and teasing voice Don blushed very hard.

"Excuse me?" Just as the words left his mouth and Lysie was about to reply there was a flash of light on the grass.

"Grandma, Sophie, Marissa!" Lysie squealed in Don's ear making him wince slightly and the girl rushed to her family members to pull them into a big hug.

"Hello Lysie dear," Rose waved her hand and several bags, along with several piles of books, appeared behind her, "Donatello why don't you find some more healthy young men to help us with all of this whilst us girls work on the protection spell." Don nodded wanting to know who the be-speckled sandy haired woman who looked to be in her late twenties and the younger looking blonde was, instead he went inside and went to find the women some help.

Xxx

Upstairs a flash of white entered the still dark room, thanks to the pulled curtains, and hopped up onto Raphael's bed. Scratching could be heard as the cat climbed onto his plastron and made herself comfortable. Not long after, the teen's head began to toss as he slept and the odd whimper could be heard.

"Where the hell am I?"He said to himself as he walked around, soon he came to a cave were several people dressed in rags were working. Most looked like they hadn't had a good meal in years, those that did had a haunted look in their eyes as if all hope had left them, "What is this place? Some sort of hell?" He spun around at the sound of a child's giggle.

"Actually you are correct young warrior," the voice told him, "this is one of the many hell dimensions that exists in reality."

"So either this place is real or I'm having a really weird dream." Raph crossed his arms and scanned the area for the one who was talking to him, "Who are you anyway?"

"First things first Raphael," she said sounding bored, "take a look at the people here, is there someone you recognise?" Raph frowned and began scanning the workers positive whoever the voice belonged to was insane.

"Why the hell would I. . ." he stopped when he saw a flash of blue and as if in a trace he approached the worker who had fallen, when she didn't get back up a large beast stalked out of a tunnel and pulled her to her feet and threw her to the wall.

"No stopping slave!" He snarled. Raph saw a familiar flash in her eyes but it was only for a moment as she turned away and began working again.

"Yuri?" He went to grab her but his hands went straight through as if she were some kind of ghost, "What's going on?! Who are you?!" The voice stayed silent, "Show yourself!" He screamed at the top of his lungs and he was suddenly floating in nothingness, "What?" He looked around him but there was nothing to see until a small girl who looked to be around eight years old. She had pure white hair and blood red eyes, not only that but she had a pair of white furry ears sticking out of her hair. "Who are you?"

"My real name is Aradia and I was once known as the keeper of the lost, I am a demon who was blessed by the light. But you know me by another name little boy."

"I ain't no little boy and I'd remember you if I'd a met you before!" He yelled trying to get his temper under control.

"Oh but in the waking world I no longer take this shape, in fact I was banished to a much smaller form by Ursa many moons ago when your world and Yuri's home world were one. It was I who helped Queen Mab of the faerie folk to separate the worlds and create the void like prison she was banished to."

"So why are you here! Why is Yuri in that place? I thought she was dead." His voice teetered away towards the end and he looked away from Aradia.

"Your Sayuri was not killed by Ursa that night. She was sacrificed to the god of this hell dimension so that Ursa would be given the power to resurrect her demon army. There is a way to rescue her but we must be swift, your friends will raise a protection spell that will mean they will know if you leave, they will even be able to use the spell to track you beyond the spell's limits." Aradia pointed behind her and a cavern could be seen behind her. "This cavern is found deep beneath your city and it houses an ancient gateway that I can open to Yuri's world where I will have the power to get us to that hell dimension."

"Why me?" Raph asked staring at the cavern. He was positive he and his brother's had been there before, maybe when they'd been to the Elintian underground city.

"Because you are the one I choose!" The child demon replied irritably, "Now wake up already!"

Raph sat up quickly panting and looking down at the white cat, which had been dislodged as he'd moved and was now licking her paws whilst sitting on the floor. He growled and reached under his bed where he knew a duffle bag could be found. He shoved some warm clothes in and some blankets, he then went over to Mikey's bed and pulled out his younger brother's secret stash of food Mikey had hidden under a loose board. Once the food was in the bag he pulled on his warmest clothes and slipped over to Don's bed where he knew he'd find a pen and some paper, he didn't write much just explained what he was doing and telling them not to follow him. Then he threw the bag over his shoulder and opened the window.

"You comin' or not?" Raph asked not turning to look at the cat he now knew was called Aradia. She hopped up onto the sill and out the window soon to be followed by Raph who didn't look back until he reached the outskirts of the woods.

"We should hurry before you family and friends realise what has happened." He heard Aradia tell him and before long he was running towards the nearest town hoping he could find an abandoned car that would at least get him to the borders of the city.

Well another one and this one was kinda long! I hope to get another one out before next week as I start college again Monday and won't have as much time but if I don't I apologise for any future delay in updating I'm probably stressing over deadlines! Hope you like it and as always please review either way! Toodles Angel xxx