I do not own the tmnt.


Chapter fifteen

Leah sighed as Prince Yida teleported them back to New York City. Their particles reassembled in a deserted alleyway much to Leah's relief. She could only imagine what people would do if they saw him. Climbing up a nearby fire escape they stood on top of a slum like apartment complex. Prince Yida wrinkled his nose.

"How do humans live in such an environment? Do they not care for their planet?" he asked as they began to travel south to Leah's grandmothers.

Leah just shrugged, "Some do, it's just most of us just try to scrap by," she answered then asked, "What's it like on your planet?"

"Our planet," he corrected and when he started to explain his planet Leah interrupted him.

"What do you mean our planet?" she questioned slightly taken back.

"You have royal blood and on top of that it's my blood. As my first born if you survive the change you are in line for the throne after me. You are as of now a princess of Metra Hul, and by law are required to do your duties," he explained.

"What!" she yelled, "Does that mean I have to leave Earth for good?"

Prince Yida frowned at her unwillingness to accept what she was, "Yes, of course. How would you rule our people from another planet? You can still visit if you would like."

Before she could respond though a beeping noise caught her father's attention and interrupted them. He cursed under his breath and stopped where he was causing Leah to stop as well.

"Leah stay quiet and do not move in view of the camera," he said in a rush, but before Leah could respond a large projected screen appeared in front of the prince.

"Yes father," he greeted the image with a bow. The figure was even more impressive than the prince was. His voice did not disappoint him either.

"Yida, my son, how much longer will you be? The Yalminch celebration is to begin soon. Metra Hul cannot celebrate without ALL of the royal family present," the king boomed, the urgency apparent in his voice.

"Yes, I know father, I am on my way," the prince replied and clicked the image away.

"Leah, I do not wish to leave you here. The change can be any minute. Come with me," Prince Yida begged.

Leah shook her head no, "I can't. Not until I speak to my brother first," she replied. In her mind, she didn't want to go to Metra Hul ever. She didn't want to leave Earth for good.

The alien frowned deeply, "I will not be long then. If your change begins, here," he handed her a strange gun-like device with a vial of thick red liquid.

"It is a vial of my blood. Shoot the needle into a vein on your body. My blood will make you strong enough to endure the change," her father explained as his eyes began to well up with tears.

"Are you crying?" Leah asked him amazed. She had only known him a short time.

The prince smiled, "I never understood the bond a royal had with his child until now. I understand what my father talks about. He says losing a child to the change is the most painful thing he ever went through. I now know why," he answered wiping the unshed tears away.

"Don't worry, I will make it," Leah replied awkwardly trying to comfort him.

He nodded, "I know you will," he said as he teleported away. He wasn't going to tell her his two older sisters perished to the change with more blood than he gave her just now, and to top it off she was only half-blooded. Her chances were slim to none, and he had a feeling this was going to be the last time he saw his first born.

Leah sighed holding the gun with care. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she began to continue to her grandmothers. Her grandmother should already be a work by now, and her brother was probably worried sick about her. The way her father abducted her wasn't at all assuring her safety. She saw lights on in the house as she came up to the door, when suddenly something didn't feel right. Her body went rigid with fear. Something was very wrong. She opened the normally locked door as worry flooded through her.

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened wide in a gasp. There had been a huge battle here. The kitchen table was broken in half, and anything that would be able to be knocked over was. A mess of her grandmother's flowerpot brought her attention to the blood. Her teeth ground together, and her hot tears fell in great amounts from her eyes. That had been her brother's last stand. He wasn't fully recovered to fight in the first place. She pounded her fist on the counter as a sob broke from her lips. Her thoughts went to her grandmother. Leah had to make sure she was okay.

Leah grabbed the home phone and dialed her grandmother's work. The manager picked up the phone, and assured her that her grandmother had made it to work just fine. A small load went off her chest, but she was going to have to go into the frying pan to get her brother back. She held the blood gun in her hands tightly. If she was going to ask the turtles for help, she might as well sign their death wishes. Her father had said the change was close, and she couldn't endanger them. Her thoughts went to Leo. She would never get her first date with him, but at least she had felt his touch.

She raced into her room for her sword, grabbing a holster for her blood gun, and raced out the door. Rushing across the building tops, she finally made it to the Foot headquarters. Her eyes studied the building, and she prayed the security system was still the same. Going to the rear of the building, she searched for the vent. It was hardly visible, but she finally saw it. She kept to the shadows carefully entering the building, something she thought she would never have to do. As she went through the ventilation, she tried to pull memories from her mind and remember how to get to the dungeons. That would be where her brother would be.

Picking a spot to hop into a hallway, she barely missed some Foot ninja dressed in business attire. A bead of sweat pooled on the side of her face. She was signing her own death wish being in the middle of the enemy's compound. Taking out the security cameras she went swiftly down the hall to the elevator and cursed under her breath. She needed one of the workers I.D. to get in. Letting out an impatient grunt, she knew there would be no way to get to the basement unless by elevator. Luck was on her side though, as a lone ninja came around the corner dressed like he was going out to battle, I.D. already in hand. Since the security camera was already out, she had no problem taking his identity. Leah stole his clothes, and shoved the unconscious man up into the ventilation.

She found the secret switch that would take her to the basement where the dungeons would be. As she entered she noticed a cell that was heavily guarded and knew instantly that was where her brother was. Mustering up the best male voice she could, she looked at the I.D. and memorized her "name."

"Master Saki says the girl has been located on the roof. It is time we kill what has killed so much of our clan," she said thinking she sounded ridiculous.

The ninja seemed to buy it though as they nodded, "Finally, some action. I'm so tired of guarding this brat," he replied as he and his buddy left for the elevator. The minute they were around the corner she knew she only had a limited amount of time to get Lee out of here.

She looked into the cell to see her brother chained to the wall. Obviously, they had prepared hard for her, "Lee!" she whispered furiously as his head snapped up.

"Leah?" he questioned then a small grin appeared on his face, "I should have known you would pull something like this. How did you get away from your kidnappers?" he said getting up the chains rattling with him.

"Long story. Explain later," she told him finding the keys hanging on the wall. She unlocked the cell, and then his bonds.

"Hurry, we don't have much time," just as this statement came out of her mouth the alarm began blasting.

She grunted and helped her brother off the floor. Cursing, she searched for another way out other than the elevator. It was then she noticed a stairwell. She frowned deeply, but had no choice. Lee was on the same page as her when he pointed to it. Leah nodded, and they both ran towards the stairs. They came to a door. Cautiously, she opened it and noticed it was a secret stairwell. She had literally just opened the wall.

"Come on," she motioned for Lee to follow and his nod indicated he heard her.

They stayed in the shadows best they could trying to find the vent that they had escaped from when they were children. The same one she had entered. They turned down the hall where it should have been only to be greeted by a thicket of ninja with an elite as their head.

"Finally, Leah, the Foot clan will claim what is ours," he told her. She could hear the grin in his voice.

She pulled out her sword and took her battle stance, "Over my dead body," she sneered.

As Leo was out on patrol with Raph by his side, he couldn't help but notice the Foot headquarters bright with activity. He knew patrol was useless tonight, but he had to find Leah. His greatest fear was realized when he saw the building. He knew Leah must have been the cause of it. They had her. Raph seemed to have read his thoughts or felt his sudden up rise of panic. Either way he knew exactly what his leader was thinking. He let out a great sigh.

"She's in there ain't she," he said the question like a statement.

Leo clenched his 3 fingered hands into fists, "Only one way to find out. Call Don and Mikey."


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