Ancient Prophecy.

Chapter Eighteen:

Aradia sighed as she sat on a branch watching her companion "playing hero", as she called it. A small group of travellers had been attacked by some bandits and Raphael had jumped in to save the day once more. The demon cat shook her head, she knew that Mab tended to choose those who were noble and pure of heart to be her champions, but she failed to see how it was necessary for him to save every person in distress on their journey. At the rate they were going they would never get to Sayuri before the next full moon, which would mean they would have to wait around for the next one in order for her to have enough power to cast the spell needed to find the correct dimension. She hopped down as the last two bandits ran off screaming profanities over their shoulders and Raphael helped an old man to his feet.

"Oh thank you kind sir." The man said with an English accent as he brushed his robes off.

"Uh, no problem mister." Raph replied nervously, unused to what he considered regular people not running and screaming at the sight of him.

"Are you done?" The white cat hoped down from the tree and landed gracefully on the turtle's shoulder. Raph simply nodded knowing that Aradia only let certain people understand her and he would look insane if he started to talk to his cat.

"Glad you and you uh, family are okay." He said returning to the path, "I gotta go now."

"Wait, please." The other man, much younger than the first approached, "You have saved my family's lives," the younger of the group approached him, "allow me to offer some form of reward."

"Forget about it pal," Raph shook his head and waved his hands a little in front of him, "It ain't necessary, it's what I do."

"So you are a warrior then." The young man asked interested.

"Ninja."

"Ah I see the art of deception and stealth, if I am correct," he nodded and Raph began edging away backwards again, "I am a scholar of sorts and I have long wished to study a master of this art, I also know some magic and am more than capable of fending for myself. Could I be some service to you in return for studying you train, master of ninjitsu?"

"Sorry mister," Raph said looking away and clenching his fists, "I ain't no master, at least not yet."

"Oh that is a shame, but you certainly seem to have mastered the basics and I believe that would be sufficient for my needs at least for the moment."

"Archimedes!" an older woman scolded pulling at the Archimedes' cloak, "I'm sure the boy would rather not have someone like you around, he seems to be trying to leave so why don't you let him. Thank you young man, may the gods shine upon you and bring you happiness." She began dragging him away.

"I could teach you some magic in return for this small favour and I swear on my life I will not get in the way." He yelled all the while being dragged along by the collar of his cloak, "Mother please will you stop that!"

"Tell him he can come." Aradia piped up at last.

"What?" he hissed out of the side of his mouth hoping that the travellers had not heard him.

"You learning magic to go with your fighting skills would be useful and if he's willing to teach you for simply watching how you perform ninjitsu then I say let him come." Raph gave her an incredulous look before looking back at Archimedes and almost groaning out load.

"You can really teach me magic?" He asked and the pair stopped fighting.

"Why of course, but I must warn you now that if you do not have magic within you I will only be able to teach you the most basic of spells. It would be impossible for anyone to teach some of the stronger magic to you if that's the case." Raph was approached again and caught the frustrated look from the other's mother before she threw her hands up in the air and continued on her way with Archimedes' Grandfather.

"How would you know that?" Raph asked studying the man properly for the first time. He was tall with light, sandy coloured hair that fell to just above his shoulders. He wore a white tunic with matching pants and leather boots that came up to his knees, at his belt was a small dagger that he'd never noticed before and lastly his cloak was brown.

"I can perform a few magical tests," he informed, "but don't worry, they don't hurt. They simply attune me with your aura and I can then sense if there is true magic there or not. I trained to be a priest you see, in healing magic that is, so I have been taught well."

"Why ain't you in a monastery or somethin'?"

"Oh I never actually wanted to become a true priest, although I do adore the scholarly side of it, but no, I crave adventure and to see things not seen for centuries, even that which has never been seen on this small world before."

"One last thing," Raph crossed his arms and glared, "I ain't callin' ya by yer full name, so it's Archie from now on okay."

"Oh thank the stars for that, only my family call me Archimedes and I can't stand that blasted name, oh and what do I call you warrior." Raph blinked at the old nickname Yuri had used for him and almost forgot he'd been asked a question until Aradia swatted him with her paw.

"Raphael, it's Raph for short."

"Interesting name, I've never heard it before." Archie pondered for a few moments before carrying on, "So, Raph where are we headed?"

"We need to get to Black Dragons' peak." Aradia told her companion who repeated her.

"Now that does sound intriguing, and what takes us there pray tell?"

"A friend of mine is stuck in some hell dimension; I'm gonna save her and bring her home." The red banded turtle clenched his fists and tried not to think of what Yuri might be going through whilst he was talking to his new friend.

"I see, I see, well then we'd best be going," Archie told him and began a quick pace down the path Raph had originally been walking, "In order to traverse to and between hell dimensions you must do it on certain nights, the best being that of the full moon."

"He may be more useful than I thought." The white cat said to Raph sounding impressed.

"We have two more days to the next full moon and the peak is another four when on foot," Raph groaned, "Fear not my friend, I have ample money with me and there is a village nearby. We can purchase some fast horses and be there just in time."

"I ain't ever ridden a horse before." Raphael thought out loud and nearly growled at Archie's chuckle.

"It does take a little getting used to but I have heard that those who learn the way of balance are naturals at it." The younger of the pair wasn't convince but if it would get him to Yuri faster he was more than happy, he would just have to put up with learning to ride and learning magic.

Xxx

Donnie sat at a chair in his makeshift lab that was currently being powered by a generator he and Elyssa rigged up using magic and engineering to use solar power coupled with the earth's natural magical energy. He was currently working on one of the smaller parts of another generator they had found on one of their now frequent patrols with the other fighters gathered by the tribunal beyond the barrier. The only trouble is that it was broken and he was trying to weld it back together. Donnie cursed as he dropped the small piece from fatigued hands and he threw the small welding torch at the wall in frustration. Leaning back in his chair he closed his eyes for a moment to try and regain his composure and almost leapt out of his skin as a pair of humans hands began rubbing his shoulders to knead out the knots that had formed in his tired muscles. Don couldn't care less who was responsible, all he knew was it felt far too good to make them stop. The hands worked efficiently around his shoulders and neck for some time before the hands began to slip down his plastron and he felt someone hug him from behind.

"You're exhausted genious." He smiled when he recognised Elyssa's voice, "Why don't you go to bed? This'll still be here in the morning."

"I have to get it finished, with the humans the patrols are saving each time they're out and all the warriors that the tribunal are turning up with we'll need to use those six other houses that you and the other witches included in the protection barrier." He leaned into her despite herself taking in her scent but never once opening his eyes.

"Why won't you take care of yourself Donnie?" Lysie asked leaning her cheek against his, "You're running yourself ragged trying to get everything done, but do we really need all of this stuff? Why can't you realise how special you are Don?" He opened his eyes to that and looked at her, feeling the blush that crept onto his features. She was so close, her lips so close to his, he would only have to turn his head slightly to . . . but he chastised himself at the thought. They had yet to find any trace of Raphael and to even think of love or any kind of relationship was selfish to say the least right now. But his heart ached so much when he was near his white witch and she smelt so good, felt so nice he couldn't stop the chur that occurred making his blush deepen. He briefly wondered if Leo managed to control that animalistic part of himself that created the rumbling noises they all could create with their throats but realised Elyssa was now crouching in front of him and looking up into his eyes, when that had happened he was not entirely sure. "Let me take care of you Donatello, someone has to if you won't." He noticed a small blush on her features as well as she stared up at him and he guessed she must know what the churring meant. Her hands began to stroke along his upper legs and he closed his eyes again relishing the attention she gave him, he felt the offending appendages slip up his plastron and rest on his chest before he looked at her. She was so close again. He licked his lips as he glanced at her eyes and then at her lips and back again. She moved slowly towards to allow their lips to meet. A moment or two passed as the genius' mind registered what was happening and for once he let instinct take over, allowing himself to lean into the kiss. One hand slipped up her back whilst the other found its way to her cheek as they deepened the kiss and he churred once more. "Do you want me to take care of you Don?" She asked as she broke the kiss a silent plead in her eyes as she looked at him.

"Shouldn't it be me looking after you?" He asked dropping his head forward and resting it on her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I love you Don." She felt him tense up against her, "I know you probably wouldn't love a girl like me but even so, until you find someone, please let me take care of you. If you keep going the way you are then you're going to wither away and I don't want that." His mind spun at her words, always returning to her declaration. It wasn't long however before the rest of her speech registered and he moved so that he could hold her at arm's length and look at her properly.

"Why would you ever think I wouldn't love a girl like you Lysie?" He brought a hand up to her face, "If anything I thought it would be the other way around, I mean look at you. You're a blonde bomb shell that would put any Hollywood actress to shame, but you're also smart and funny, kind, loving," he blushed unable to meet her gaze through embarrassment, "you're a real hero too, not like the ones in Mikey's comic books and not even like the Justice force. You don't seek recognition for your actions, although you don't have to hide like we do, but you still do what's right and fight to protect your friends and family no matter what the cost. How could I possibly not love someone like that?" He almost jumped out of his shell from her sudden squeal of delight and the girl threw herself on him and wrapped him in a tight hug. "I'll make a deal Lysie. You can take care of me if you promise me you'll let me take care of you in return okay?"

"It's a deal sweetie."

"Elyssa!" Little Anna's voice could be heard from the ground floor of the barn they were in, "Donnie! Leo and Rose want you!" The couple sighed and rose from their place.

"We're coming." Lysie shouted down slipping her hand into Donatello's and receiving a warm smile for her trouble.

"They said to hurry!" The little girl called back trying to get a glimpse of the two grownups she had been sent to retrieve, "Serena's making funny noises and they said to say it was time. What's it time for?" Don and Lysie took one look at each other then raced back to the farmhouse leaving a thoroughly irritated Anna behind who merely shrugged and went to find Klunk to play with.

"It's about time!" Leo snapped as the pair entered, "What the shell were you up to? Never mind I don't want to know, Serena's in labour."

"Where is she?" Don asked and ran up stairs behind an irate Leonardo. The eldest brother led the other two to the room he shared with his lover and went to her side to take her hand. "How far apart are the contractions?"

"Not far, looks like the little one will be out in no time dear," Rose assured the expecting parents, wiping the young witch's brow with a cloth. Splinter and Mike appeared behind Lysie but were soon shooed out and told to wait until it was over so that they could have room to work. Don frowned as he felt Serena's stomach, he'd read all he could on the delivering of babies and something didn't feel right and he was sure the infant was in the wrong position. "Lysie please could you help Donnie with whatever he needs, I'm going to aid Serena with the pain." She glanced at a very pale Leo, "As for you young man, keep talking to her, she needs to know you're with her." Leo nodded and took the cloth to continue mopping her brow.

"I think the baby's breached!" Don whispered urgently to Lysie who placed her hands where Don's had been moments before. She frowned knowing where she should be able to feel a head and it wasn't there, it felt more like the back.

"I'm going to try something Don," She told him rolling her sleeves up, "be ready to go and grab Marissa for me if she's needed for a healing spell or anything majorly medical, okay?" He nodded and stood back to let her work. The blonde witch concentrated on the infant in the womb and gently pushed out her magic to envelop it. Once she was sure she had a firm hold, she began the slow and tricky process of turning the baby. Donatello had not been the only one to be reading up on deliveries and Elyssa had made sure to read all of the texts her grandmother owned on the subject whether they were magical or not and the spell she was currently using was an ancient spell used for centuries by traditional midwives before they all had to go into hiding from the Christians. Once she was sure the baby was in the right position she created a flexible shield to keep the baby from turning again and opened her eyes, "Okay Renie, now it's your turn. You have to push okay?" Serena just nodded and held onto Leo's hand as if her life depended on it. "Don, I have to keep the spell going so it doesn't breach again so you'll have to do the messy part." He simply nodded and switched to doctor mode as he kept a careful eye for the baby's head. Her screams were almost deafening and Leo got paler the longer it took but with Elyssa and Don's coaxing a head was now visible and a grin appeared on Don's features.

"Not long now Renie," he assured, "I can see the head, just a few more pushes and it'll be out I promise." She nodded again and pushed with all her might another couple of times before the small child was finally free from its mother's body. Elyssa used her magic to cut the umbilical cord as Don picked up the child to wrap it in a blanket, smiling as the child began to wail at the top of his lungs.

"Congratulations Leo, Serena," Don said carefully placing the child in its mother's waiting arms, "you've got yourselves a healthy baby boy." He grinned and they all looked down at the new addition to the family. Leo's new son was the same colour as his father, he also had three fingers and two toes just like the turtles. However, there was an obvious lack of a shell and there were tiny wisps of hair growing out of his scalp. Rose shoed them out for a few moment assuring both that she had used magic to make sure that Serena was perfectly healthy after the birth of her first child and gave the lovers a moment alone.

"He's beautiful." Serena whispered as she gave her boy his first feed.

"Just like you." Leo leant down and kissed her cheek then proceeded to gently stroke his son's head with a feather like touch. They stayed like that for what seemed like ages. When their little boy was finished Serena handed him to a very proud Leonardo who cradled his child in his arms with more care than he showed even his katana.

"Wohoo! Nice going bro! Mikey bounded into the room careful not to be too loud in case he should startle the baby, "Woah, awesome he's green like us. So you think of a name yet? Ow!" Splinter's walking stick collided with his head just before the old rat entered the room just as eager as Michelangelo to meet his grandson. He entered the room and approached his eldest to take a look.

"I had never dreamed that I would be a grandfather," Splinter admitted eagerly taking the newborn in his arms when his son offered, "I thought it would be a fruitless dream." He turned to Serena and bowed, "Thank you for making my son and this family so happy child, my daughter." If Serena hadn't been exhausted she probably would have blushed at the new status given to her, but as it was she only managed a smile before she rested her head to one side and was soon asleep.

"Man and I thought she'd want to see him more." Mikey cocked his head to one side watching the slumbering mother and received a smack on the head from Donnie who had returned with some tea for Leo and his father.

"She's tired." Don snapped rolling his eyes and giving one cup to Leo then placing the other safely to one side for when his father had put his grandson down.

"So would you be if you'd just given birth, Mikey." Leo said sipping his tea not hiding the loving smile directed at his son.

"I just need to change those sheets and then I'll leave you to it Leo." Don said as he approached the bed hoping he would not wake his friend.

"Yes my son, all three of you need your rest." The old rat happily rocked the child back and forth as he lay peacefully in his grandfather's arms, "Michelangelo, help Donatello so that they can do this." Mikey nodded and followed Don to the bed when he did as instructed and gently picked Serena up and held her as his brainy brother quickly changed the sheets and bundled them in his arms to take down to wash. Once Mikey had placed the girl back on the bed the two boys left leaving Splinter holding the baby and Leo sipping his tea.

"Do you have a name for him yet my son?"

"Well we had discussed a few," Leo admitted and looked at his father, "I know Serena and I were fond of one name but we wanted to wait until we knew it was definitely a boy before asking your approval." Splinter raised an eyebrow at the odd statement but did not interrupt his son, "We wanted your permission to call him Yoshi, Master Splinter. In honour of your master. Serena said that she never met her grandparents but it was traditional to name the children of her family after relatives and so thought that Yoshi would be a good name, but I mean if you would rather we didn't. . ." The young leader looked up and saw a glistening in his father's eyes.

"Nothing would make me happier than for you to name your son after Master Yoshi, Leonardo. You have my blessing." He took the baby over to the cot that had been made by the acolyte Adam specifically for them and placed the child gently inside before turning to leave, "It is time for you to rest my son. I am proud to see you become a father this day, and I am sure that Yoshi will grow to be as strong as his father." With that the old rat left the room and his son who soon slipped under the covers with his girl and fell fast asleep.

Xxx

Raphael had to admit he got on with Archie relatively well. Not that they really talked all that much about things other than magic or ninjitsu, but the guy was a good companion. He'd found out reasonably quickly that he'd been hurt badly by a young woman when he was younger but despite the pain the girl had caused, the mage was still perfectly nice about her and insisted it was not her fault she had fallen for another, saying that if he'd had any sense that he would spent less time studying and more time paying her the attention she had needed.

"Well this is the place," Archie said shielding his eyes from the midday sun and looking up towards the peak, "black dragon peak. The horses can only get so far, there's supposed to be an old tavern half way up. We can leave them there and carry on by foot for the rest of the journey."

"What then?" The ninja asked pulling his horse to a slower pace to match Archie's. The mage had been right, he did not find riding a horse all that difficult and found himself silently praising his Master for the lessons on balance he and his brothers had had to endure over the years, although that did not stop the pain in his thighs that Archie claimed was called being saddle sore.

"Well when we get to the highest point of the peak, there is an alter of sorts and a stone gateway where we will perform the ritual. That is where I will need to perform that spell on you that we talked about. It won't be anything that will cause you pain, a slight discomfort perhaps but nothing a seasoned warrior such as yourself couldn't handle. The spell will allow me to use your connection to Yuri to find the dimension she's in and open a gateway relatively close to her. Once we're in we find her and get out as quickly as possible and return to the point at which we appeared to repeat the ritual in order to return back to this world." Raph simply nodded and felt mixed feelings about the coming mission. On the one hand he was ecstatic that he would be seeing Yuri again after several months of uncertainty but on the other, he had no idea what to expect when he got to her. Would she still be alive when he found her and if she was would she still be her or would they have broken her by now. What if all he found when he got to her was an empty shell of a person who no longer resembled the skilled fighter he had known, would that matter to him?

"She will be alright my friend, even if she has been mistreated. With a friend like you then she will be just fine." Archie smiled at him knowing just what the mutant was worrying about, they had discussed it once or twice, or rather Archie had bugged Raph until the younger man was forced to relent and reveal his thoughts. A part of him remembered when he was harder to crack and wondered just when the change in him had happened, when had he become so soft that some guy, who acted more like a dithering old man, could get more out of him than his own family had in a lifetime.

"I wish I could be so sure Archie." He replied studying the road ahead of them and absently scratching between Aradia's ears as she lay curled up on the horse's withers.

"When we do find her and she is safe," Archie cleared his throat before finishing his sentence and kept his eyes purposely directed away from his green companion, "perhaps it would be prudent to confess to the girl how you feel about her?" The older of the two had made sure to make the question sound as much like a suggestion as he could and hoped the hot headed individual he had come to consider his friend would not take offense.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about Archie, I already told ya she's just a good friend in need. That's all."

"Stop fooling yourself boy." Aradia piped up still not allowing Archie to understand her.

"I highly doubt that," Archie shook his head, "after all the times I've gotten you to tell me about her you get a far off look in your eyes that is the unmistakeable sign of a man who's heart belongs to another. Believe me, I know. My mother will tell you that it is exactly how I looked when I was speaking of Talitha when we were still engaged."

"Wouldn't matter if I did tell her, it's not like she'd ever love something like me in return so what's the point?"

"There you go again, why must you insist on putting yourself down all the time?" Archie shook his head, "I mean really, perhaps you are not the traditional knight in shining armour that I'm told all girls wish to come and sweep them off their feet. But you my friend are a real hero and a good man, if she doesn't want that then quite frankly Raphael you're better off without her!" Raph stared at Archie for some time before the mage became uncomfortable with it, "What I'm trying to tell you Raph, is that you have far more chance with women than I do!"

"Yeah right." He harrumphed.

"I'm serious. Women like adventure and excitement and seem to want a man to give them both. You fit that bill perfectly, I on the other hand am merely a failed priest and a boring scholar who will probably end up having nothing but my books as my companions in my old age." Archie looked forlornly at the sky before shaking his head and spurring his horse onto a fast gallop for the last part of the trail before they had to leave their horses behind and make their way to the top of the mountain, Raphael following close behind.

Well another chapter! I hope you liked it and I finally got Don and Elyssa together! Talitha is the name of an old friend of mine I haven't seen for years, I'm not sure where the name comes from but I know her parents told me it meant 'little girl' so I wanted to use it somewhere in the story. Anywho, if you liked it then please review, if you didn't then I also ask you to review, provided its constructive criticism! Thanks to all of you who are reading this, till next time. Angel xxx