Ancient Prophecy.

Chapter Nineteen:

The terrain was like nothing he had ever seen. There were no trees, no winding rivers, no breathtaking scenery to be found as was in Minerva. Everything had darkness to it so depressing that Raphael had to wonder how anything could survive in a place like it, in turn fuelling his paranoia with regards to Yuri and her condition. They had left Aradia behind at the point where they arrived and Archie was currently using his spells to find Sayuri using the so called link Raph had with her.

"I can sense her essence up ahead within that valley over there." Archie said not expecting an answer but wary at all times of what might be lurking around the corner preparing to jump out at them and devour either their bodies or souls. "From what you told me of the dream you had I believe that there may be some sort of structure there, possibly built into the hills." Raph acknowledged him by nodding but made no effort to speak to the mage; he didn't trust himself to anyway.

It took them a good hour to make their way stealthily to the bottom of the valley where they found there were indeed several holes bored into the hillsides. The closer they approached the caves the more difficult it was becoming to avoid detection from what Archie had said were the natives of the world. They stood a good seven and a half feet tall and were varying shades of red; their feet were designed like that of the carnivorous dinosaurs he had seen when he had visited that era with his brothers and Renet. The males were bald and very well built, so much so that they would put Hun to shame and the females had jet black hair growing out of their scalps and bat like wings which they could wrap around their shoulders, all wore varying forms of black material although they obviously saw no need to wear armour. There seemed to be no differences in rank between the two sexes as both were armed and watched over the slaves wondering around carrying out the hard labour expected of them.

"From here on out I think it would be best to work without my little location spell so that I can mask our presence with a few others I know." Archie informed him as he began chanting a new spell which caused Raph's skin to tingle.

"What'd you do?" Raph whispered still looking out at the scene in front of the caves.

"A simple spell really, it manipulates the light around our forms so that those around cannot see we are here."

"Handy." Raph shrugged and began making his way over to the nearest entrance slowly, "Do I have to be close to ya or does the spell stay on me if we're separated?"

"Provided we stay within twenty feet of one another I can keep the spell around us quite easily, but we still have to be careful," Archie placed a hand on Raph's shoulder, "while we can see each other no one else can, not even Yuri. So when we do find her then I will have to break the spell again and pray that we have enough time recast it." Raph nodded and carried on keeping as alert as he could with all of the wails that were now drifting on the air from the caverns. Before long something twigged in Raph's memory and the turtle began to feel that the particular caves they were now in felt familiar so he followed his instincts and lead Archie down some caves to his left which led to an opening he remembered from his dreams.

"This is where I saw her." He said simply and frowned, "Where is everybody?"

"Perhaps they have been taken elsewhere for food or rest?" Archie suggested. "We won't find out standing here though so let's keep moving." The mage studied the ground and grinned triumphantly, "It looks like several people were taken this way you can see their foot prints in the dust. Perhaps if we follow them then we can figure out where to go from there."

Elsewhere, a large group of people were being herded to another set of caves where they would be given half rotten food and a few precious hours of rest. One demon joined his comrades at the front and began to watch as the people filled past into the selected cavern. Every so often some of the younger and prettier women were selected and pulled from the group to be thrown at a guard who would drag them away. One such slave knew all too well what that meant and was not broken enough to allow that to happen, preferring death to what the demons had planned. The demon's eyes met hers and she knew she would be chosen this time, which meant she had very little time to waste. When he grabbed her arm and yanked her painfully to one side she grunted and then twisted to reach for its dagger. He didn't realise what she was doing until it was too late and the blade sunk deep into it causing a howl of pain to erupt from the creature's lips and he lashed out in fury throwing her across the cavern. She landed on the ground, mercifully not hitting the wall or anything else other than the floor and pulled herself to her feet readying herself for as much of a fight as she could muster and probably her death.

"You think you have a say brat?" the demon snarled, "You think you are anything here?! You should be grateful to be chosen for the master! It will mean you will get some real food for a change and be treated less brutally. But I can see that it is pain you want. Very well," he stepped forward catching her unsteady roundhouse kick effortlessly and throwing her back again, "I will be more than happy to teach you a lesson slave." He turned to the other guards and the remaining slaves with a snarl "Leave now!" They soon scurried away leaving an outmatched Yuri with a demon who was a least three times her size and in the condition she was in there was no conceivable way she would win against him, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try. "We have had slaves like you before, trying things like this to ensure their demise." He advanced on her ignoring the still seeping wound on his side, "But we do not like to waste slaves, particularly ones the master might like. Of course those who have the gall to challenge the way of things are left to me to break." She began backing away but he grabbed her by the neck and forced her to the ground tearing at her clothes and relishing in both her struggles and her screams. That was until his eyes went wide and Yuri opened her own to see the ends of two blades sticking out of his chest, the demon's eyes went blank and she barely scrambled out of the way before he fell in a heap on the ground where she had just been. Looking up her breath caught in her throat and she almost pinched herself to make sure this was not a dream or that she was not dead. He leant down and brushed a few strands of filthy hair out of her face and left the hand on her cheek with his thumb gently stroking away tears she was unaware she had shed.

"R. . . Raph?" her voice was raspy and full of emotion and as soon as she had uttered his name she flung her arms around his necks and held on for dear life.

"It's okay Yuri," his arms snaked around her far too thin form, "he ain't gonna hurt ya now." She nearly leapt out of her skin when Archie placed his cloak over her shoulders, "This is Archie, he's a friend and he's gonna help us get outta here."

"None of you will get out of here alive." The demon Raph thought he had slain rose from the floor. Raphael pulled Yuri behind him and pulled out his sais again.

"You ain't touchin' her ever again, you hear me?!" Raph yelled but it fell on deaf ears as the creature charged, but a barrier appeared between him and his victims. "Nice save Archie."

"That wasn't me." He replied looking equally surprised.

"No it was me and we need to go. There are more coming and while I am more than capable of dealing with a few of these demons in this form I am nowhere near powerful enough to deal with an entire world of demons." Aradia appeared in front of them, her blood red eyes glowing.

"I knew it!" Archie shouted triumphantly, "I knew that was no ordinary cat. So what are you anyway?" The look he was given from his friends quickly told him it was not the time or the place, "Uh, right well we need to get back to the point at which we arrived."

"You would if it was you were casting the spell; however, while I need to be in a certain place on Minerva to bring us here, there is no need for me to be picky on this world." She chanted a spell in a forgotten language and the barrier turned into a bubble which began to glow. Raphael, Yuri and Archie all had to shield their eyes from the light and when they could see clearly again they were on the top of black dragon peak once more. "Let us get Yuri down to the tavern and tend to any injuries she might have." The two men nodded and Raph picked her up with a small protest escaping from her lips that was quickly hushed when he told her he was carrying her whether she liked it or not and the motley band of travellers made their way down the hillside to the tavern.

"Please Miss. Sayuri allow me to take a look at you, I am trained in healing magic and can right most problems if you'll let me." Archie coaxed as Yuri still held onto Raph's arm like a limpet.

"I thought Lysie said healing spells are dangerous." Raph said to no one in particular remembering the argument his eldest brother and Serena had had what seemed to him like years ago now.

"Only on certain worlds," Aradia explained, "on yours there is not enough natural magic anymore to sustain a full powered healing spell. Here it is very different. Those who dwell here know very little of the sciences your world speaks of and they still live by the old ways. Couple that with the fact that this world was created using the magic of the fairy race and you find that healing spells are quite common here, even the bigger ones."

"So it won't hurt someone to cast a big spell like that here?"

"No it won't Raphael." Archie said, examining Yuri's back, "These are some old and nasty scars my dear, where did you get them from?" Yuri's grip on Raph's arm tightened and the turtle knew exactly who had given her those particular scars.

"Her brother." He replied for her holding her hand and stroking it with his thumb.

"Not the nicest of people I suppose." Archie mused out loud as he chanted a healing spell of his own devising and her back glowed, "There, while you can still see the scars if you're looking they're not all that visible. As for the rest of you Miss Sayuri, mainly minor cuts and bruises, nothing major. Although I do think we need to get a few good meals into you, you are far too skinny."

"Now that I can agree with." The middle aged woman who owned the tavern entered the room followed by a maid who could easily be her daughter and a young boy carrying a wash tub "Put that down there Jason." She pointed to a vacant spot just off from the bed, "Once you've done that go and busy yourself elsewhere." She turned to Raphael and Archimedes, "The same goes for you two. Clara and I will bathe her, if you want to make yourselves useful then go and tend to your horses, I'll wave the fee for them if you do." The two boys looked at each other and Raph glanced at Yuri who was blushing. She wanted him to stay, but she was also embarrassed about bathing around him, she was sure she currently looked hideous. "Out now!" The woman they knew to be called Hazel barked, stomped her foot and pointed to the door, chuckling when they jumped to their feet and scrambled in a mad rush to get out of the room and avoid her wrath. "Now then dear, let's get you all cleaned up, shall we."

Xxx

The group on patrol was a small one in hopes that they would not attract attention. Mikey followed behind giving his remaining two brothers and Elyssa a death glare every chance they were not looking. Keeping up his facade of cheerfulness was beginning to wear him down and the news that Donnie and Elyssa were finally together was the last nail in the coffin that turned his attitude. Oh, he was still sweet, happy Mikey to their faces but when they weren't around he would be acting more like he'd expect his missing brother to act. It did not help in the slightest that to him they seemed to have given up on finding Raph completely and that was something Mike could never do, something told him his brother was alive and there was nothing on Earth that would change his mind about that.

"You okay Mikey?" Don asked frowning at the dark look he'd caught on his brother's features.

"Never better." Don didn't miss the slight undertone in his youngest brother's voice.

"Are you sure," the brainy turtle decided to push, "you've been a little withdrawn lately."

"It's nothing." He grumped and looked down the next alleyway all the while his mind screaming at his brothers that they should know damn well what was wrong and to stop asking stupid questions.

"I don't think it's nothing Mikey." Leo joined in, "You've been getting more and more withdrawn ever since . . ." Leo sighed and it hit him, the very reason why Mikey was getting worse, he really could not believe that he would have forgotten but he had. Years ago Splinter had allowed them to choose one day of the year each and that would be their own special day, "It was Raph's birthday today wasn't it?"

"Yeah and not one of you remembered. It's like he never existed!" Mikey replied accusingly bringing the whole group to a standstill.

"That's not fair Mikey, we've had a lot on our minds." Don tried to place a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder but it was shrugged away.

"Don't I know it?! Leo never stops cooing over Yoshi and I'll bet you just can't wait to get into Lysie's pants big brother!" He yelled.

"Mikey!" Lysie scolded blushing furiously wishing that they had not brought Joy, Adam and Feragi with them.

"It's true though right?!" he screamed at them, "But then what did I expect, I mean it's not like any of you ever really worried about him anyway! Half the time you guys never even gave him the time of day so I'll bet you're all glad he's gone!"

"Mike, we miss him as much as you do, but we're fighting a war and. . ." Leo tried to calm the youngest down so he didn't attract unwanted attention.

"So what! Raph's out there somewhere and all you wanna do is make sure the humans are safe when all most of them have ever wanted to do is open us up and see how we work!"

"Mikey that's not. . ." Don started.

"The point! I know but he's still missing and for all we know that creepy Ursa's got him and she's torturing him right now!" At this point he was in tears and backing away from the group, "Well guess what! I'm not going back to the farm until I've found him!"

"Are you insane Mikey?!" Don felt his heart in his throat.

"Maybe I am! But I'm going to find him if it's the last thing I do!" With that he turned tail and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. His brothers went to follow but were stopped by ten demons appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

"I'm afraid Lady Ursa has business with that one." One sneered and they instantly attacked.

"Little boy all alone." Mikey heard a disembodied voice call out to him in a sing song voice as he ran through the deserted streets. "Nobody to save him, nobody to care." The youngest turtle stopped dead in his tracks and tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. "I'm going to make you mine and you're going to do all that I desire."

"Wh. . .who's there?" he stuttered slowly spinning around desperately trying to find the person taunting him.

"Your new master little boy." It replied. The young turtle turned around and yelped as he was face to face with a tall grey demon with long string like hair and a long hooded cloak covering all but his long bony hands and crooked nose, everything else was in shadows. With a yelp Mike tried to run but the demon released a cloud of smoke. As the smoke cleared Mikey stopped again and felt panic begin to rise in the pit of his stomach when he recognised the foot building and none other than Ursa standing no more than two feet away from him.

"Michelangelo I believe." She sneered, "Hex tells me that you are Raphael's favourite brother." Mikey frowned backing up a bit then let out a yelp as he walked into the demon that had brought him there. "Now your brother has been up to some rather infuriating things of late, including the liberation of Zuko's sister."

"Yuri? She's alive?" Mikey said allowing a small smile at the thought.

"Oh trust me I rarely kill those against me, I would much rather keep them alive and break their spirits first. As it happens I needed to make a sacrifice to the demon god of my home dimension in order to regain some of my power and she was it." She leaned forward and grinned when the boy she was taunting tensed and quivered slightly, "You're going to help me destroy your brother and his friends and you won't be able to do a thing about it." She whispered relishing in the fear that simply oozed off of him like a well made perfume.

"No. I won't help you ever. I swear." He whimpered. Ursa pushed him back roughly and he was caught by the grey demon that began chanting something in his ear. Mikey gasped as his body began to get cold and his vision grew dark; he felt himself falling before he hit something solid beneath him. When he looked up he was in some sort of prison cell suspended in nothing but darkness with a single pocket of light just beyond the prison walls.

"Is he under your control?" Ursa asked.

"He can do nothing unless I instruct him to; his soul is trapped deep within the recesses of his mind."

"Good, be sure that you hunt down his brother and that boy dirties his hands with Raphael's death. That nuisance will never expect his own brother, especially not this one." The demon bowed to his mistress, "Now go." She turned and opened a portal, stepping to one side she watched as her demon ordered Mikey to follow and floated through.

Xxx

Raphael watched as Yuri tossed and turned in her bed. They had yet to leave the tavern on dragon peak and were not planning to until Yuri had regained enough of her strength to travel without tiring herself too easily. He and Archie shared the room next door but tonight he'd heard her mumbling in her sleep through the thin walls and decided to make sure she was okay. That led him to her bedside watching her toss and turn as she battled with whatever monsters she was seeing in her mind's eye. After five minutes he decided that she was not going to wake up any time soon so he edged closer and gently shook her shoulder muttering her name and assurances to coax Yuri into consciousness. With a gasp she snapped her eyes open and bolted upright, breathing heavily as she franticly scanned the room for any danger.

"It's okay Yuri," Raph said rubbing her shoulder, "it was just a dream." She looked at him and visibly relaxed.

"Some warrior I am, I've let a few monsters do what my brother never could." She looked away ashamed of herself.

"Hey, you're just a little shook up s'all." He shrugged, "We're all allowed ta be afraid sometimes, it was you that told me that remember?" She smiled at him.

"Why did you come after me?"

"What?" he blinked at her and felt his face flush making him very glad he had left the candles unlit.

"Why did you come to save me? You came with only Aradia for company leaving your family behind. I know how much they all mean to you, so why would you do it? Why would you risk so much just for me? All I've brought you and your family is trouble." She pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around herself telling herself she would not let a single tear fall.

"Yuri, I . . . you see I . . . what I mean ta say is . . ." He sighed trying to think of how to explain exactly what he wanted to say, but he had never been good at speaking about his thoughts and emotions, now was not any different, "First of all you ain't brought us any trouble, ya hear?" He snapped gaining a startled look from her, "Second, you've saved me and my bros more than once so I owed you big and third . . ." his blush deepened, "Third . . . well when I thought you were dead I . . . I really missed you and I . . . um . . . what I'm trying ta say is . . ." He stopped when one of her small hands met his face and she made him look at her.

"Thank you." She smiled and leant forward giving him a kiss. "I missed you too warrior."

Woo hoo another chappy, I really should be doing assignments but hey ho! I hope you like this one, I'm not all that sure about it as I think it's a bit choppy but I got things out that I needed to so I could get the story moving a tiny bit quicker. As always good or bad reviews are welcome, oh and thanks to all those who've tagged this as a fav, I'm honoured! Toodles, Angel xxx