Sorry I'm late, I've been distracted.

X)

Chapter 5: The Oracle

(Six Years Later)

It had been a while since the Yōkai had first arrived and Tang Shen had finally managed to convince them to take on the custom of clothes, which was a strange thing to watch, as they had obviously never understood a human's need to cover themselves.

At first they flat out refused the garb, throwing the things away and declared they were far more at ease as they were. But Shen was patient, taking their suggestions and fixing the clothing to fit them more comfortably, often using the excuse that it would help them stay warm, until finally they accepted the change.

In the end she'd had to make the clothes herself; eventually creating some strangely snug pants compared to the loose, flowing attire that was commonly worn in their land and once againutilized bandages and strips of cloth to wrap their limbs and chest, as they clearly preferred to keep their movements as unhindered as possible.

However, in regards to a shirt, it quickly became clear that any kind of soft material did not mix well with the sharp edges of their shells. But Shen eventually came up with a solution by crafting them simple sleeves, much like the armored kote often used by a samurai to protect their arms in battle.

But more importantly, with the passage of six years, they were now approaching the age of 10, along with Miwa, when they would finally be of age to take their ninja training to the next level and weld a weapon.

However when Yoshi found them on the morning of this most influential decision, he noticed immediately how they were all crouched nervously low to the ground which was an action they took only when something was terribly wrong.

"My sons?" He asked in concern causing them to turn to him. "What is the matter?" He added, kneeling at their level so they could speak.

"There is a disturbance father." Leonardo announced then.

"A disturbance?" Splinter repeated. "What kind of disturbance?"

"In the balance." Donatello put in seriously allowing the man to finally understand.

As animals they held a connection to the earth, to nature itself, and when something happened to disturb the delicate equilibrium that held it all together – they felt it.

"The Darkness?" Yoshi asked in a whisper and they nodded, which caused his heart to stop.

He had hoped to have more time, to train them longer. They were not ready to face this foe they knew nothing about. They were still just children.

"Come." He commanded kindly, getting up to rush to Hamato Yūta's room with the turtles at his side. "Father." He said respectfully as they entered to find the old man sitting up in his bed, with his eyes closed, but he looked up as his son came in.

"What is it Yoshi?" The man asked weakly.

"The darkness, father." Yoshi told him as he knelt to bow to his master. "It has come." This caused the man to close his eyes again as he took in this information. "What must we do?" Splinter added worriedly.

"Calm yourself my son." Yūta proclaimed. "It is not here yet."

"They are not ready father." Yoshi said sternly causing the man to turn to the Yōkai.

"Do not fear." He told them kindly. "The power you hold together is stronger than any darkness." He added causing them to nod in understanding.

"But father." Splinter complained only to be interrupted.

"Yoshi." Yūta said as he reached out to place a hand on his son's shoulder. "They need you to believe in them." He stated sternly before a cough racked his body, causing Donatello to rush over and check that he was alright.

Unfortunately they all knew the sickness he suffered under and no amount of Yōkai magic was going to fix it this time.

Yūta carefully took the young kame's hand and held it for a minute to insure the child that all was well before speaking again. "Yoshi." He said again causing his son to go to him once again. "You will need to lead the clan in this fight."

"No." Splinter begged; they could not lose their leader, not now. "Father, please!"

"You are strong Yoshi." Yūta demanded. "You do not need me anymore." He added before griping his son's hand and pulled him closer in order to speak into his ear. "You must see to The Oracle." He whispered sternly and Yoshi swallowed before nodding in understanding.

"Hurry my son." Yūta proclaimed weakly as he rested back again his pillow. "You haven't much time."

"Yes father." Yoshi agreed, before reluctantly leaving his master's side. He had always known that he would not get to be there when his father finally left this world, for he would be needed elsewhere.

…

"Master Yoshi." A ninja declared as Splinter and the turtles rushed down a hall toward the Water's of Spirit. "There is a great cloud approaching the walls." He announced causing Yoshi to quickly rush out into the courtyard and look up at the sky where he indeed discovered a billowing wall of black fog barreling toward their home.

"Gather everyone." Yoshi ordered quickly. "The barrier is weakened, prepare to defend the walls."

"Yes sir." The ninja accepted with a bow before rushing off to perform his duties.

"Come my sons." Splinter commanded, leading them toward the pond once again, where he quickly zeroed in on the door that lay behind the waterfall.

"Yoshi?" Tang Shen's voice called and he looked over as she and Miwa came running into the sacred area. "What is happening?"

"The Oracle is failing; father no longer has the power to raise the barrier." Yoshi explained in a rush as they all converged behind the curtain of water, where he quickly located a strange symbol in the middle of the elaborate door and proceeded to turn it a few times before utilizing several hand signs to manipulate the sensitive pressure plate underneath.

When finished the door rumbled slightly before roiling out of the way, revealing what rested behind it for the first time in many years. In the center of the room stood a rather normal pillar of stone, however it was what rested a top it that he had come to see.

A perfect sphere made of nothing but pure water

It became clear to Yoshi immediately that his son's knew exactly what they were looking at as he turned to speak with them only to find that they refused to enter the room. "You know what this is?" He asked and they nodded. "Then you know that with my father's death it will require me to take his place, provide it energy to sustain itself.

"Yes." Leonardo answered this time.

Though they had never seen the thing before, they had always known it was here, for it was made of pure Yōkai magic, given to the child of legend by their ancestor, made to protect the family that held it.

However if there was no heir to calm that protection it would fail. They would be vulnerable to anything that chose to attack them, including the darkness that now knocked at their door.

As the brothers looked at the oracle again, watching the water began to loose shape in response to Yūta's spirit coming closer and closer to leaving this world, they realized that their enemy had not chosen this moment for nothing.

"Miwa, you must do this with me." Yoshi told his daughter gently as he knelt to take her hands. "Do not be afraid, it will not harm you." She nodded nervously as he said this before they turned to look at the turtles again.

"We will protect you." Leo put in sternly before leading his team back out to defend the Waters of Spirit and the great treasure they guarded.

Chapter 6: Shadow of a Blade

(Coming next Monday)