5: April

A New Allie

"When you six came here you all landed in one spot so you could be together by just going down your own paths. What you don't know is that two others entered this realm the same time you six did." Be 'Joke says.

We are walking through the middle of Abandon. Stores of different sorts pass us. Our guide is more jumpy now. He's in a hurry.

"Two?" I say, "Who else is here?"

"I don't know. All I know is ones across the realm coming this way, and one's here already."

"Is that where you're taking us?" Donnie asks, "To see this person."

Be 'Joke nods, "Yes. After this you must go find the other soul. Then you must all go to your anchor-"

"Anchor? What anchor?" Casey asks. I think we're all asking that question in our heads.

Be' Joke twists around so fast it scares Leo, who runs into Michelangelo that stumbles into Donnie who catches him before he falls. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT ANCHOR?!"

Raph meets Be' Jokes anger, "That's exactly what we mean! What anchor? You need to be more specific."

Be 'Joke Smacks his hand against his forehead, "Your anchor! It's what links you to your world. You just touch it and you sent home! Without it you're stuck here! You're telling me it's not with you!"

"Uh…no." Casey answers for us.

Be 'Joke groans, "Okay. Let's hope the other guy who came here made one. Come on. Keep walking."

We walk in silence for a while after that. I walk by Casey and Donnie. I feel so small compared to how tall they are. Raph is one the other side of Casey, glaring at the back of Leo's head. Leo walks ahead, Mikey on his heels.

One anchor for eight people. That anchor is going to be something we agree on. We all agree on. Depending on who these other two people are, we might never figure out what we have in common. Yelling brings me back to reality.

"Be' Joke! Hey, man! See you got a newbie! He want something to eat?" A brown haired man says from up ahead.

"Hey, Jasper. Maybe we'll eat some other time but right now we need to find the guy who dropped in here earlier."

Jasper has the looks of a nineteen year old but the smile of a five year old, "He's in back. You won't miss him…er…can't."

"Thanks, Jasper," Be' Joke says and continues walking. We follow.

"Is this an outside restaurant?" Casey asks aweing at the cook who's flipping what looks like chicken in front of the customers.

"Yes, in fact." Be' Joke replies.

"What do you do if it rains?" Donnie asks.

"We stay out here. We love the rain. Don't matter to us what happens to our food."

"Another point made," Leo says turning to us, "I love the rain."

I hear Raph growl. Casey slams his elbow into Raphs shoulder and the turtle becomes quiet.

We weave through tables and suides as with wings flapping with excitement. Finally we got to the table, but all we can see of the guy is his black boots and the giant black and sandy colored menu.

"Okay, here are the other fallers. Now all you have to do is find the eighth person and the anchor," Be 'Joke says. The man lowers the menu.

We literally jump back. The man's feet slip from the iron table. The table falls over with a clang as he stands up swiftly.

Raph points at him. Shredder points back and they both yell, "I AM NOT WORKING WITH HIM/THEM!"

"He tried to kill us!" Raph howls while Shredder says," They're the sons and disciples of my enemy!"

"HUSH!" Be 'Joke yells. Raph growls lowly at Shredder while Shredder glares at us. My heart is pounding so hard. Be 'Joke takes a deep breath. "Okay. I can see your enemy's. Great. Be enemy's back home. Here you are allies."

Raph starts to say," But-"

"SHIZUKA!" Be 'Joke howls in Japanese. Raph shuts up. "Now, hear me. It is obvious you seven lost your anchor. And you have someone to find so listen closely. You all have four days here till your anchor expires and you are lost to the ever changing dream world. That means twenty-four hours in your world. During these four days, you must find the eighth person, and then your anchor. And when you find it, you leave this realm before the Nightmare King finds you here."

"The Nightmare King," Mikey squeaks, and edge of fear in his voice. "Like the Boogeyman?"

Be' Joke looks sadly at Mike, "Oh, I wish, son. The Boogeyman is only one of his Hench men."

Mikey shrinks like he's going to curl into himself. Leo walks to him, and puts a comforting arm around his baby brother. His red and white wing moves with him, making double the protection," This Nightmare King ain't going to get us, Mikey. We'll be gone before he knows we were ever here. And if he gets us, I'll take him down."

"Promise, Leo," Mikey asks, snuggling into the elder.

Leo looks at Shredder. I think he glares at him because Shredder glowers down at Leo. "I promise," Leo whispers. He then walks halfway to Shredder, "And I am willing to work with you till we get home."

Shredder finishes the gap. Now their nose to nose. Or rather nose to Sternum. Leo is so short compared to Shredder that the armored man could just fall and Leo would be crushed.

Shredder looks down on Leo and I can't help but wonder what's rolling through his head. "You're wise for your age, turtle. All suides are. But you're making a big mistake."

"You don't touch any of them," Leo replies nodding his head toward us," And I think we've got us a deal."

Shredder looks back at us, eyeing us till he decides what he wants to do. I hope Leo knows there's a twist to this deal.

We all watch as Shredder backs up and sticks out his hand," This deal lasts for four days, boy. No longer than that."

Leo hesitates, "And what do you want?"

Shredder doesn't move, "Only a clear passage back to New York."

Leo hesitates once more, and then grabs Shredders out stretched hand. They both say, "Deal."

Be' Joke claps his hands, "Okay. Now that that's settled, let's get this show on the road. I'll take you seven to the edge of the city, and then you're on your own."

"Why can't you come? " Raph growls. We can all see that he's struggling to keep his temper down. I don't blame him. I don't think anyone is happy with this arrangement.

Be 'Joke starts leaving the courtyard, "Because this is not my mission."

"Bull it's not your mission," Raph mumbles under his breath. That earns a scowl from Be 'Joke.

Abandon from the distance looks so small. Like a Ghost town in the old west. Really, Abandon is as big as Brooklyn and Queens combined. It doesn't seem to get hot here. Even if the city is made of pure metal.

As we walk, I notice Be 'Joke doesn't have wings. He is a suide, isn't he?

"Be 'Joke, "I call out to him, "You are a suide, right? So… where are your wings?"

Our guide looks back at me as he walks," I got them cut off by the Nightmare King."

My blood goes cold. I see Mikey speed up so he's walking with Leo instead of with us. I swallow hard,"Oh."

We continue walking for a long while. Casey and Raph whisper to each other. Don fidgets with his fingers. I just watch my friends and Shredder. Leo and Shredder glare a t each other. Mike grips Leo's arm till his knuckles turn white.

Slowly the big city buildings turn into houses. A sign comes closer as we begin to exit the town. I points down the path saying 25 miles to Three Crossing.

"Alright," Be' Joke says, turning to face us. We stop. "This is where we part. Up the road a few miles beware the-"

Our guide is cut off by the sound of neighing. Coming toward us is a big black horse. It has no eyes, just pitch black sockets. Its rider has black iron armor on. His face is pure white with red hair splashed with black. He has an evil grin on as he approaches.

"Oh no," I barley hear Be' Joke mumble," Aro."

"Who?" Mikey asks but doesn't get an answer.

The rider comes up, "Hello, Be' Joke. Still showing newbies around?"

"What do you want, Aro?"

"Just making my nine o'clock rounds. You know how you suides get. We don't need an uprising from you now do we?"

The man looks over us. He eyes me for an extra second then continues on till he sees Raph. His gaze flickers from Raph to Leo and back again. He now looks antsy.

"And these… seven…" the man says, "you are taking them to their anchor?"

"Yes," Be' Joke answers. Aro's lips twitch.

"Good. Our lord takes no kindness to…outsiders."

"That goon ain't gonna touch us," Mikey snaps. My friend flinches as Aro glares angrily at him.

"Be careful what you say, little boy," Aro's horse rears up and kicks its front legs at Mikey. Mike yelps and jumps back.

The horse lands with a thud and Aro bursts out laughing. "Oh, what a pathetic little turtle! OH!"

"Call Mikey pathetic one more time," Raph snaps, moving forward.

"I dare you." Leo adds on.

Aro scoffs, "Pa-the-tic-"

We all fall back as Leo's wings flare out, big and menacing. I can only imagine what he looks like from the front. And he must look scary cause the horse rears up in fear this time. Raph jumps over Leo and kicks Aro off the horse. He back flips and lands underneath Leo's hovering form. Aro lands on the ground with a thump. The horse attempts to run but Leo's wings flap, scaring it so it is petrified.

Casey, Donnie, Mike and I run up to stand by Raph. Him and Leo are laughing and high fiving each other.

"Oh, you got told!" Mikey smiles, "Nobody calls me pathetic!"

Aro coughs up dust and glares at Leo and Raph. He looks back at Be' Joke. "You and your little army may have won this round, Be' Joke, but your town won't be safe forever. Till tomarrow."

Aro hisses at us as he climbs back on to his horse. He glares at Leo and Raph (again) and rides off.

"Well…" Donnie says, "that was… interesting."

"Who exactly was that?" Casey asks.

"None of our concern," Shredder intervenes. He turns to Be' Joke while me and Donnie hold Casey back from hitting Shredder between the shoulder blades. "Do you have the location of our eighth person?"

Be' Joke stares after Aro, answering shakily, "No. It is up to you to find them. I give you good luck. You're going to need it."

"Thank you, Be' Joke," Leo says. "You've been a good friend. I hope to maybe see you again someday."

Be' Joke nods. Shredder and Leo start down the path. Mikey and Raph follow, whispering to their big brother. It looks like Raph put Leos' secrets behind him for now.

Casey and I start after them. Then I notice one shadow isn't cast over me.

Donnie.

I turn back around to see Be' Joke whispering to Donnie. He shoves something brown in my friend's hand. Donnie looks at it then back at Be' Joke. Our guide pokes his chest then leaves Donnie standing their looking confused.

"Donnie," I call to him.

Donatello snaps out of his trance. He looks at me then quickly shoves the brown bag in his belt. "Coming."

When he catches up to me and we start walking, I ask, "What did he want?"

"Nothing," Don mumbles. Not snarky-like but in a nervous way. I won't bug him till he's ready to tell me himself. Whatever Be' Joke wants, he wants Donnie to fulfill it. I have a feeling I'll know what it is sooner than later.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up but here it is. I hope you like it. The next will be up soon.