Chapter 32: Crystalline Risks

I carefully scale the wall to the spot Mikey showed me the other day, Leo close behind.

I jump up onto the ledge, sighing inwardly. "It's perfect…but only when you're here too" I repeat lamely to myself.

"Are you okay imouto?" Leo asks, concerned again.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

I quickly move forward and kneel down, tracing out Mikey's and I initials carefully. I then tug out the brick again and place my hand in the gap, noticing how much I'm shaking. Leo places his hand on my shoulder to show his support, smiling to me. I nod and pull my hand out quickly. I then open my hand slowly to reveal a small oval crystal, so red it looks like it's made of Ruby.

"Mikey…did you take this for me?" I wonder as I inspect the gorgeous rock carefully. I feel tears escape my eyes again. I close my eyes, trying to hide the fact from Leo. I once more look at the crystal, but have to double check as I swear I saw a flame within it. But as I re-check it, I can confirm it is clear.

"The phoenix crystal" I mutter, allowing myself to gently replace the brick in it's place and stand up.

Leo smiles, "Now we can save them"

I nod half-heartedly, knowing it's not that simple. "Should we really give him what he wants?" I ask slowly, "Mikey stole this away from him…what if it's dangerous?"

"Let's think about that later, we haven't got long before the deadline" he sighs, "But we don't know where we have to go"

I close my eyes, trying to visualize the dream again. I begin to focus on the surroundings carefully, and then speak slowly. "I think I know"

"Well, Don was working on tracking the shellcell signal, let's go check in with him and find out if it matches your idea"

I nod, beginning to run back to the Battle Shell with Leo. We enter the back quickly, almost bombarded with questions when we re-enter.

"We got it Donnie" Leo nods slowly. "Any luck finding them?"

He sighs. "Kind of…It's not precise, but I can tell they're somewhere round here" he points to a highlighted area on the screen.

I walk closer slowly, working it out in my head. "There" I point to a building on the map. "That's where I met him in the dream"

"Let's go" Raph growls from the front, quickly turning on the engine. "Next stop, foot scum central"

"We'll get them…I promise" Leo looks between Don and I sympathetically before moving to the front with Raph. Keiko and Splinter are sat further forward as well, here to make sure we don't get into too much trouble.

Don locks eyes with me, equally as scared as I am. I wipe my eyes dry again, still trying to hide my tears. Don stands and comes over to me, hugging me carefully. It's then when I realize he's trying to hide tears too…he feels the same as me. I hug him back, sighing slightly as I try to relax.

We move away from each other, exchanging a small smile. I nod to him and he nods back.

"We'll get them" he repeats Leo's statement, holding out his hand.

"Yeah" I take it, gripping it tightly.

The van suddenly comes to halt, both of us nearly falling over. We laugh before realizing it's time.

I check my tessen before inhaling slowly and heading for the exit.

"Please be careful" Don says suddenly, "You really shouldn't be doing this…it's too close to-"

"I know Donny, but I have to…for Mikey and Ciara"

I bolt out the back, hearing the others shout after me, but I don't stop as I run for the location, knowing I need to get there quickly. I use a fire escape ladder to scale up the building quickly, jumping over the top and landing on the edge of the rooftop.

Immediately, I see Mikey and Ciara tied up in the middle. I begin running forward, only to find myself surrounded by foot ninjas…just like the dream.

"Khan! Let them go, I've got what you want!" I shout at him angrily.

He folds his arms smugly, "I'm thinking it would be fair to offer one of them"

I freeze. Not again.

"After all, you're only giving me one crystal. So all I offer you is one life"

I shake my head. "I can't…"

He begins repeating what I've already heard from the dream as I look between the two. Ciara's fear, and Mikey's determination…all of it's identical.

"I…don't know!" I feel the tears escape. "What if…" I see Mikey become scared as I almost whisper, "…I offered my life instead?" I dip my head.

Khan laughs, "You? Why would you offer such a high price?"

"Please…I can't choose between them…I love them both…"

Mikey is so against this turn of events; I can feel how angry all of this is making him.

"Let's get the first order of business done then…my crystal" he holds out his hand.

I walk forward slowly, holding out the crystal. As I reach him, I hold it just out of his palm.

"Let the girl go" he orders, his ninjas kicking Ciara behind me. I drop the crystal only to receive a laugh. "You're a fool! I will now destroy the one you love!"

"NO!" I scream trying to attack him. He throws me down, before pulling the still tied up Mikey in front of him.

"Violet!" I hear Leo yell from behind.

I glance back and see Don tending to Ciara while the others fight off the ninjas surrounding us. I quickly look back to Mikey, his eyes saying a million words to me.

"Run Babe, please…you and Hima have to stay safe"

I shake my head frantically. "Khan…please…take me instead!"

He laughs at my audacity and merely pushes me back down. "NOW! I will bring back the one true Shredder with the power of the crystal!" he cackles. "But all powerful items need an energy source" he narrows his eyes, grinning sinisterly at Mikey.

He lifts the crystal, the red aura of it expanding drastically. I watch in horror as the red reaches out to Mikey and shocks him.

Khan, once done, throws Mikey into me. I quickly wriggle round and hold him carefully.

"Mikey…we're going to be okay now…" I whisper, "Please be okay…" I see tear droplets begin to hit him. "You can't leave me! I need you!" I bawl out desperately, "I didn't leave you, so you can't leave me! You can't!"

Mikey lifts his head slightly, and with a grin mutters "My little flower…" but quickly collapses, looking so pale…almost…dead.

"Mikey don't go, you have to stay, because…" I close my eyes, pulling him closer, "Mikey…DAISUKI DAYO!" I cry out, not noticing how cleanly and naturally the Japanese escaped.

A pink mystical pattern begins to spread from my hands, engulfing my body slowly…I guess now everyone will know about the tribunal stuff. It reaches my face, and I lift my head, looking up to the sky as a giant bird made of yellow flames lifts me away from Mikey and off the ground.

As I reach the sky, the firebird surrounds me suddenly, making gold armor appear on my body. Almost immediately I hear both Splinter and Keiko gasp. A sudden tingling feeling appears around my face and a bird head shaped helmet appears on my head. Then, the most amazing thing happens, a pair of golden-feathered wings sprouts from my back.

I land carefully back next to Mikey, glaring angrily at Khan. I pull out my tessen, which become flaming weapons as soon as my power reaches them.

"For what you have done…I will never forgive you" I hiss, unsure whether it's in English or not.

I fly at Khan, attacking viciously, using powerful fire attacks to swipe at Khan. He dodges most, but is quickly weakening.

In a desperate attempt to change the odds, Khan holds up the phoenix crystal and claims he'll destroy it.

I hesitate, but soon a grin appears on my face as the crystal begins forcing itself over to me. Eventually, Khan can hold it no more and it lands in my hand.

"Game over" I growl as I unleash a powerful fire attack on Khan, which once it disappears, Khan is gone.

I land next to Mikey again, sitting next to him, picking him up into my lap. I hold the crystal in front of him, trying to force his energy back, but nothing happens. "No…"

Leo moves slightly closer. "Violet…it's over" he sighs. "…Come here"

"NO!" I hug him closer. "Mikey…I tried my hardest for you…I thought I needed you most…but now I know…you needed me more" I stroke his head delicately, crying again. "Daisuki yo zutto"

I hug into him, gripping the crystal tightly in my palm as I cry more. I can hear my brothers all upset as well. I squeeze the rock tighter and it shatters in my hand, the shreds cutting it badly.

"I feel it…" I inhale slowly. "Mikey-kun"

I lean in slowly, kissing him gently, letting my breath run through him.

As I pull away, I see his eyes flutter open gradually. "Babe?" he blinks carefully. I hug him into myself tightly.

"MIKEY!" I can't help but still cry. "I thought I'd lost you…"

"Nah…I'm not easy to get rid of Babe" he grins, coughing slightly. "Am I in trouble?" he asks cheekily as the others move in closer.

"I've missed you too" I nuzzle him again. It's then when a pain suddenly invades me. "Oh crap…" I mutter.

"What?" he asks, sounding scared. "Did he hurt you?"

"No…Mikey…the baby…" I grit my teeth.

"CRAP!" he tries to jump up, but is still low on energy. He holds his plastron as he sits himself up. "We've got to get home" He then realizes my appearance. "Babe…" he gasps. "You look like an angel"

I hold my front, "Less talk, I need to get back"

He grabs my hand. "Let's get back together" he says determinedly. "You can fly, it will be the quickest option"

"Fly?" I hiss. "Do you know how much pain I'm in?"

"I can help you with that" he promises.

I quickly pick him up and begin flying. "We'll meet you back at the lair!" Someone yells to us.

He presses a point on my side and a lot of the pain eases. I sigh.

"What?" he grins, sticking his tongue out, "Pressure points, every ninjas friend!"

I smirk, "Nearly there…" I begin to feel my control on this form waning. "Mikey…if I land, can you help me get the rest of the way?" I ask.

"Of course!" he nods.

I let myself descend to the ground, my armor dissipating to smoke. My wings disappear leaving a few feathers on the ground. I scream out as more pain hits me.

"Now it's my turn" he grins at me, picking me up and running, even though he's as low on energy as I am.

"Mikey…" I hug into him.

"Just hold it together for another minute" he hisses, still carefully pressing the pressure point for me.

Soon, I'm found myself dumped in my nest where a lot of pain hits me. The tortures of child birth begin.