I was losing him, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to lose the turtle I had spent the last twenty-one years loving. We had been through so much, fought so many threats together. He had been my anchor, my lifeline, trainer, lover husband and a wonderful father to the twins and my own children. And now, ironically enough, it was those same twins that were pushing him into a severe depression. Just because he couldn't let them go.

He had always been overprotective, but this was more than that. His whole life had been devoted to his family, both before and after my arrival into the picture. Because his family had so much more to lose. They weren't your normal everyday family that you see on every street, city, and rural communities. They were one of a kind, and that uniqueness would cause them to be hunted, ridiculed, threats were thrown their way and more often than not those they have helped shunned away from their appearance those few times it became known. It was more than wanting to protect his family from the various evildoers, he wanted to protect them from a world that just didn't understand who they really were.

And now, that same world seemed to take his children from him. They had been exposed to someone besides their family and close friends, and they dove right in. Made their own friends and even found those who returned a deeper affection. This had grown well past the Ty beating him in training and into the world was beating him. That he couldn't fight against. For the first time in my life...I was watching Leo give up. And it broke my heart.

Still, he kept enough of his old self to focus on the task at hand. And that in itself was admirable in my honest opinion. I knew I wouldn't be able to function if I was facing what he was. But I wasn't. Unlike him, I could walk freely in this world. I didn't have those fears he did, though I did sympathize with why he had them. It was also my humanness that was letting me embrace what was unfolding in front of my children. I understood both sides of this fence, that didn't mean I wanted what I was seeing now. I severely wished Leo could look past his years of experience to see things the way the children saw them, but he couldn't. It had been so deeply ingrained into him, I don't think he could let that Father role go. Because to him it was more than just raising a child. It was protecting his species. The only thing I could do was hope that something would bring him around again.

But now, I was trying to keep from falling off of this damn volcano. The rock I was gripping suddenly gave way from the slope and I started to tumble down, fingers digging into the loose earth as I slid downward on my stomach. I could see Leo above me as he scrambled to try and get to me, but I knew he wasn't going to make it.

It was when I was passing Donnie that I noticed the light. Even as I slipped right by him, that glow from his pouch could be seen. Not as bright as Mikey's but still there. Then I slammed to a halt on a ledge that seemed to spit out of the side of the mountain. I was shaking as I stared at it. In part because I had come close to a very nasty fall, and also in part because I was damn certain that fucking ledge hadn't been there when I climbed up. Yup, creepiness factor was still in high gear.

Leo hit the ledge a moment later and for the moment, his depression seemed wiped from him as he looked at me with concern. "Are you hurt?"

"No Leo, I'm fine." Pysically anyway. I was shaking when he helped me to my feet.

"Ya gotta be careful' Vic." Jazz politely informed me. "Slope is a bit slippery."

"You don't say?" I grumbled at him as I once again followed Leo up. "But then, we are the only idiots that would try to climb this without any mountain gear! Shuko spike obviously aren't cutting it."

"And here I was thinking Cris was the grumpy one at high elevations." Mikey ruefully told Raph.

I glared at him a moment, then threw a rock at him and it bounced off of his head. The only reason I got that lucky hit in was because the slope was to precarious for him to try and dodge out of the way.

"Ow!"

"One of these days you will learn to keep your trap shut." Raph muttered as he climbed past his brother, helping a very pale Cris along. I did have time to notice that she absolutely refused to look down.

Will's troops seemed to have an easier time of it. But then, he had been smart enough to bring the proper gear for them. And the Bots themselves just dug their fingers straight into the rock to get their holds. Us ninjas were reduced to scrambling up and hoping not to set off a damn landslide. Sometimes my life sucked. This was one of those times.

And to make matters worse, we still had no friggin idea where in the hell we were going. Nothing was here. No buildings, caves, not even a damn signpost. There was nothing but volcano spread out around us and those darn clouds over us. If we go much higher we were going to start breathing that shit in. Really wasn't looking forward to that.

To say we were surprised to find a very large ledge not much farther up was an understatement. Donnie hung there, by his elbows as he checked every map and satellite image he could of this peak. But not one of them showed this particular ledge. He finally gave up when he was the last one dangling off of the side. "Something tells me that this is the place." He grumbled as he stomped over to us. "Fits in with the rest of the shit that doesn't make sense."

As if those words seemed to throw gas on that mysterious fire, their pouches began to glow again. All of them. Leo's expression was a combination of curiosity and wariness as he pulled that shining blue saphire out and held it flat in his palm. On an impulse, the others pulled out theirs and when they were all in the open, a beam of light shot from each gem. All of them heading towards one section of the slope to where they combined right before they hit the rock.

At least, we thought it was rock. We were wrong...again. That solid seeming surface wavered a moment like someone dropped a rock in a calm pool. The rings rippled outward from those beams in wider and wider circles before a large section just seemed to shimmer, and vanish. What was behind it was a tall, wide set of double doors, carved in ancient Japanese style art and a sun blazing brightly in the precise center where the doors met. That part was pretty enough, don't get me wrong, but what made my throat go dry was the fact that they were made from gold.

"That might be one reason on why they don't want anyone to find the place." Dennis mumbled to me in awe.

I just nodded like a big dumbstruck dummy.

The beams didn't stop there though. Even as the last flickers of the illusion vanished, the beam hit the door and they slowly opened to reveal a cave. A cave that was already conveniently lit so we wouldn't stumble our way over our own two feet.

Well, I had assumed we would be going with them. I tried to follow Leo in and something was obviously blocking my way if my faceplant into the unseen wall was any indication. I sat on the ground, blinking up at him in confusion as I rubbed my now sore nose.

"Now you know how we felt trying to go into those towns." Epps grumbled as he looked down at me.

"Oh...shut up."

"The calling has been meant for the gem holders only!" A voice boomed from out of the cave. It wasn't the same voice that had talked to us earlier. "None other than them shall be permitted besides the leader of the mechanical men!"

That didn't go over well. Leo immediately bristled like a pissed cat and stepped right back out and helped me to my feet. Then he turned to the opening and crossed his arms. "Fine! You come out here then. We've been targeted twice by these...things, and not to mention the Cons paid us a visit. I am not leaving my family exposed out here. You want us? They come too." He narrowed his eyes. "All of them. Soldiers also."

"You insolent mortal! You dare dictate to me what to allow? They are not wanted here!"

"Uh oh." Mikey muttered. "That doesn't sound good."

I was starting to get nervous myself now. Anything that started calling other creature 'mortals' was something not to tangle with. Unless you were Leo, and he wasn't budging.

"It is a reasonable request." The familiar voice spoke up then. Now that we were closer to the source, I could definitely tell that it was a female's voice. "He merely shows concern for his family and comrades. It would be selfish of us to not grant his request."

"The mortals defile our sanctuary as it is! Must we let more inside?"

"Enough!" The female voice snapped. "If this is what must be done to appease him, then so be it!" We all winced at that tone. She obviously was the one in charge here. "Come my champion, and bring your companions and comrades. All shall be allowed inside."

Only when he heard those words did Leo walk back in again, this time holding my hand. And he slowed down to make sure I wasn't going to do another invisible wall faceplant. Shit...the last one still hurt. I was half expecting my nose to be broken and I kept rubbing it to make sure it wasn't. "Stupid, pain in my ass invisible doors." I grumbled as we made our way deeper into the cave."

"Wouldn't that be pain in the nose invisible doors?" Mikey asked with a wide grin.

"Ok, that's it!" I pulled out an asp and I was seriously trying to hit him with it while Leo still held my other hand.

Amy watched with a very amused expression as Mikey danced around my one armed and Leo hindered swings as I tried to whack him, then looked at April. "I am sure we are making a very good first impression to whoever is in here."

April nodded her agreement as she tried not to laugh.

I'm guessing Leo had enough of my antics by the way he yanked me next to him and glared at Mikey to settle down. I didn't pay him any attention, I was in a bad mood and I seriously wanted to take it out on Mikey's head. And in doing so I completely missed the fact that we were out of the tunnel and standing in a large chamber. Leo brought it to my attention by firmly turning me around, and my eyes grew wide.

Ok, I take that back. It wasn't large, it was huge. A big room with more gold lined along the walls and more of those sun emblems carved into it. But that wasn't all that was here. In each corner of the room a large flat bowl was set. Each easily big enough to where Raph could lay in it, stretch out his arms and legs spread eagle, and he'd still have room. One held a mound of dirt and rocks, another had a fire burning in it, a third was full with water so pure and clear I was getting thirsty just looking at it. The last you couldn't see what was in it, but the flames were flickering wildly from the torches that were along the wall in that section. I bet if you put a leaf in there, it would go swirling around on that unseen air current.

But what held our eyes were the five individuals standing in the middle of the room, four men and one woman. The men were flanking the woman with two on either side, and all of Asian origin by the looks of them.

The woman stepped forward then, a gentle smile on her face. "Welcome all. We have been waiting for your arrival."

Leo's eyes narrowed a bit, obviously not trusting her. "And who might you be exactly, besides the woman who has been leading us around by our noses?"

She didn't back down from that glare, but she did stop her advancement. "My noble champion, the need for that has passed, and I may now reveal my identity to you. I am Amaterasu, also known as the Goddess of the Sun."

We all just stared at her like she was crazy. She had to be crazy. Was she crazy?

"Ok! That's it!" Raph flared. "Let me off of this crazy train right the fuck now! I'm leaving!" He turned to stomp back out, and promptly was lifted into the air, by apparently nothing at all, and set back down next to Leo. He blinked a few times at that.

"You do not have to believe, but I do ask that you listen to my words, for I fear we are all in grave danger. And if I can not persuade you, then everything we love here will be lost."

We all looked stupefied at each other. How could you say no to that?