Stars are Only Visible In Darkness

Mikey shook his head. "This is way too weird."

When the light collapsed, he found himself at the edge of a large lake, dark forest behind him. Leonardo and Donatello were at his side, all dressed in short dark kimonos and sando hats. There was no sign of Raphael or Jessie.

Donatello was scanning the horizon. He frowned. "It's strange. Do you….recognize any of this?"

Leo looked at him and then over the water. "No…yes? I don't recognize it, but it feels familiar."

Don nodded. "Yeah…that's how it feels to me." He turned as Mikey walked forward to the edge of the lake and realized on the back of Mike's robe was a crest…..it was a stylized rat, four turtles, and a cat all embroidered into the cloth, sitting in a circle facing each other.

He glanced at Leo and discovered he had the same crest.

Mike was looking over the water and pointed, "Look. There's a house!"

They all turned to see lights on the left side of the lake that flickered. They could see the dark shape of an inverted V roof that nearly touched the ground over a square body. Lanterns and firelight lit the windows in the square.

"Well, it's as good a place to start as any," Leo said, and the brothers began to head toward the building.

As they grew closer, Don was studying the building. "That's odd." he mused.

"What?" Mike asked.

"Well, the hats and clothes suggest mid-1600's. However, that house's exact style wasn't seen in Japan until at least 1820. It's an odd combination." Don said.

Leo started to answer, but the door of the house slid open, and an old woman stepped onto the dooryard. She had a paper lantern in one hand and wore a simple gray cotton kimono frayed a little at the edge. She peered into the dark. "Who is there?" She called out, "Are you such cowards you menace an old mother?"

The turtles blinked, and Leo stepped into the light. "Please don't be afraid, M'am. We mean you no harm."

The woman blinked. "Kappa? Huh…I have not seen your like in many years. Why have you come to my inn?"

Mike smiled, "Well ... we're kinda new around here."

The old woman blinked and then smiled a little kindly. "Well then, you best come in, and sit at my table."

"Thank you, M'am. My brothers and I are grateful."

"You may call me Grandmother." The woman motioned, "Come in, Kappa."

She sat them at the table. An irori was in the center of the room, with a pot hanging over the fire. The woman smiled and said, "That soup isn't finished yet, I'm afraid. Here…."

She proceeded to serve them a feast- rice, fish, tea, pickled vegetables, onigiri, Miso soup, okonomiyaki, and tamagoyaki. She laid out sliced cucumbers as well, bowing slightly as she joined them at the table.

"So, Kappa. You do not live in this lake, then? What brings you to this land?" Grandmother asked.

"Well, we're not actually sure." Said Don.

"Magic." Said Mikey. "We think this fox lady sent us here."

"A kitsune, you say? Which one?" Grandmother asked.

"We think it was Tamamo-no-Mae," said Leo.

"Oh, she's a wicked thing. It's said she seduced many powerful men. She was the consort of Emperor Toba. She took 30 of his servant women and stripped them of their clothes in the courtyard. Then she dropped 30 hives of hornets among them and watched as the women were stung to death. She said it was the most delicate dance she had ever seen."

"That's horrible," Don said.

"Oh yes, she is." The old woman sipped her tea. "In the court of the Chinese King Zhou, she took 100 children to serve her, making them her slaves, until they faded away as she drank of their life essence. She is quite evil."

Leo's face was grave. "Children?"

"Yes. She loves children. Especially those who are lost and desperate for affection. It's said she has dominion over the unwanted who have no father or mother. They are the most easily enchanted by her." The old woman made a face. "She has no honor at all. Even for something so wicked, she has no code."

The brothers looked at each other. "We need to figure out what's going on," said Donatello. "And fast."

"For tonight, stay here. Sleep, and at dawn, you may be off. The night is a dangerous time to be on the road." Said Grandma.

"Thank you, M'am." Leo said, "We'll accept your hospitality."

When they had finished eating, the old woman brought them to a room with Tatami mats. She left them with one small lantern and slid the door closed.

The turtles lay down and looked at the ceiling. "We'll get a better look at the land in the morning. We need to figure out where this is, and then we'll find Jessie and Raph."

Michelangelo yawned, "Well, I hope they found a nice place to sleep too." He closed his eyes.

Leonardo looked over the city from the rooftop. He could hear sirens in the distance and tried to pinpoint where it was coming from. He turned to get a better look, and that was when Shredder stabbed him from behind, a hot pulsating pain in his left side. He gasped and drew his sword, but the strength was draining.

"Foolish boy. Did you learn nothing from the rat? You lead them to death." Shredder laughed.

Leo gasped and jerked awake. The pain wasn't there anymore, but the heat was still there. Something in his belt pouch was glowing with heat….the coin Jessie had given them. The heat was so strong it had reached through his dream.

The room was dim, but he could clearly see that one of the tatami was empty. Don was missing. Leo looked around, and then a very faint noise out in the main part of the house made him rise and head out to the main part of the house.

Don was laid on the floor of the main room, stiff as a board. His eyes were open but empty. He was breathing slowly, but he seemed to be asleep.

Grandmother was leaning over the pot, and when she turned back, she was no longer the kindly old woman. Her white hair was moving around her head in formations like tentacles. She looked at Don and grinned with a mouthful of teeth like a shark. Her eyes were completely black, and she was chuckling and humming under her breath. "Turtle Soup, Turtle Soup." she sang.

Leo stepped out. "You aren't going to touch my brother."

She grinned. "Ah, don't worry. I will have room for all of you in my pot." She said, and Leo rushed forward. The old woman met him, slashing at him with sharp claws of iron that clashed with his swords.

But his sword broke two of her claws. She jumped back, her eyes narrowing. "How did you do that?" She hissed and then looked at his belt. "What do you have? Why do I smell that meddling old fool on you?"

Leo circled around to one side without answering. He charged her, and she struck out at him with one arm. She made contact and threw him back with a strength that didn't match her frail-looking form.

He hit the wall dazed, and she was suddenly directly in front of him, hauling him up by his neck. "I'll cook you first." She hissed.

The warmth in his belt pouch suddenly shot throughout his body. The old woman's eyes widened, and she shouted in surprise and pain. Her fingers loosened around his neck, and he stabbed forward into her. She let go and stepped back, holding her hands to her stomach. "You…stabbed me," She hissed. "How dare you!"

Behind her, Don suddenly jerked and sat up. "Where…"

The blood flow was slowing, the wound vanishing, but the woman was still standing slightly hunched over. " Daikokuten sent you?"

Leo took out the coin. It was like a small star in his hand "No. But he gave us his favor. Who are you? Answer me."

"You don't know Yamauba? Stupid Kappa." She waved one hand, and the inn vanished around them. They were in a dark, damp cave. At the far wall, Mike still slept.

"Get up!" Yamauba snapped, and Mike woke immediately. "There's no point if HE's involved. Get out."

Leo shook his head. "Where are we? Where is this place?"

The old demon woman blinked. "Where? You're here. Soon to not be, so get out."

"You know something about Tamamo-no-Mae. Are you helping her?"

Yamauba made a face "No. I told you, she has no honor at all. I won't lower myself to that. Travelers are fair game for my pot, but I follow the rules." She looked around at them. "You truly don't understand where you are? What this is?" She winced at the light of the coin and stepped back. "You are fools. Have you never been taught anything?"

"I was taught not to beat up old ladies, but I'm willing to make an exception," Leo said casually.

Don hadn't taken his eyes off Yamauba. "Do you know anything about her mirror?"

Yamauba smirked. "I know that the little thief made the wrong choice." She said, "Now get out before I change my mind and eat you anyway."

She clapped her hands, and suddenly, the cave was plunged into darkness. The only light streamed in from in front of them, and the three brothers headed to the mouth of the cave to find themselves looking out into a bright summer morning overlooking a large lake surrounded by grass and, further back, a forest.

There was a large statue of some kind near the crest of the grassy stretch. They left the cave and walked up to see what it was. Soon, it was clear, not a statue but several. Mushrooms made of bronze upon them sat the statue of a little girl dressed in a long-flowing Kimono. There was a statue of a man on one side of her dressed in the manner of an Edo-era merchant, and on the other side, a statue of a rabbit with a hat like the turtles wore.

"This is impossible," Said Leo.

It was the Alice in Wonderland statue from Central Park but changed to Japanese characters.

Raph stopped after they had walked for over an hour, and they both sat beneath the trees to rest. The night had seemed impossibly dark, and Jessie leaned her head back. Raph gathered wood and started a small fire.

They settled in, and Jessie attended the fire. "Okay," She said. "We should make a plan. How are we going to proceed tomorrow?"

"The road has to go somewhere, right?" Raph said. "So what I'm thinkin' is…"

"Good Lady." A young boy's voice spoke off the path, "Would you share your fire with one such as I? My travels home have gone longer than expected, and I am cold. I will paint your portrait in payment."

They both looked over. There was a Japanese boy about Rabbit's age. He had a large pack on his back, and he looked at them with a hopefully friendliness. He saw Raph and bowed a little to him. "Indeed, good lady, you must be quite powerful to have a yokai in her service."

"He's not in my service." Jessie said, "He's my friend." The kid looked harmless, but she was versed in enough fairy tales to know that was not a good way to judge these things.

Almost without thinking, she touched the little embroidered rat on her robe. Master Splinter? Is he okay?

She was warm, as if someone had wrapped a soft blanket around her. Any uneasiness was gone.

"He's okay." She said to Raph, "Sure, kid. Come on over. I'm afraid we don't have any food…."

"Ah, good lady. Mighty Kappa. I will gladly share." The boy came and sat and went into his pack. He produced a wrapped paper package of rice balls and handed them around. Jessie bit in and found them much better than she had expected. The rice was fragrant, and red bean paste was in the center.

"What is your name, good lady?" The boy asked, "I am Haru."

"I'm Jessie. This is Raph." She said.

"Thanks for the food, kid." Raph polished off his rice ball.

The boy took out a small book of rice paper sheets and a small lacquered box containing an ink brush kit. He began to work as they talked.

"Can you tell us where we are?" Jessie asked.

"The royal forests. All of this, the empress rules." He frowned. "She dwells in the city beyond the gates, and I would have care if you seek her. She is wicked. It's said she gathered some of her handmaidens in the courtyard and set hornets to sting them to death for her amusement."

Jessie's eyes narrowed. "I know this empress."

"We all do," Haru said softly, looking back at the book he was working on.

"What can you tell us about her?" Raph asked.

"She is powerful. Like all her people, she relies on her magic and shadows to control what she wishes." Haru shook his head. "If she wishes you to see her dreams, you will."

"Why does she want children?" Jessie asked.

"No one really knows. It's said they serve her till she has no use for them anymore." Haru said, "I think, in some strange way, she thinks she is doing good by taking them. They are the lost and unwanted, and she wants them. She twists it, but I think she does think of them as her children of sorts…she makes a mockery of it. Truly, she can love no one but herself."

Jessie looked away, her eyes dark.

Haru looked at her. "You are very strange, Lady. You are not a child, but I see that you are like them. One of the lost. But….not unwanted, I think." He looked at Raphael. "You are loyal to her?"

Raph looked at him. "I….owe her. I made a mistake a while back, and I…." He frowned. "I don't wanna talk about it, kid."

Jessie shook her head. "You don't owe me anything. Water under the bridge, okay?"

Haru smiled a little. "Yes. You were lost, but no longer." He said, "That gives you power she won't expect. But you are still vulnerable, Lady. Take care. Remember your clan and the Spirit that stands beside you. She will try and make you forget."

She looked surprised. "You….you can see him?"

"You can't?" Haru smiled a little. "I am an artist, my lady. I see everything, and my brush lays it for others to see. An artist must see the truth of all things. And I believe I see an artist in you." he nodded at Raphael. "As I see a noble guardian in you." he motioned. "And with you is a proud sensei and father." He smiled at the air just to Jessie's left.

The boy looked at his work and smiled a little. He reassembled his brush kit and closed the box. "I will show you the work in the morning, Lady. It grows late."

The boy leaned back against a tree and closed his eyes. "Goodnight, Brave Lady and Noble Kappa. Goodnight, Wise teacher." He said and was asleep in a moment.

"This place is so strange," Jessie leaned back. "Sweet kid, though, you have to admit."

"Get some sleep. I'll watch everything," Raph said. "I gotta say, really tired of riddles."

She was sitting on a cushion at a low table. She was in a room in the lair, one she had only seen once. Splinters chambers. Two cups of tea sat there, delicate ribbons of steam rising like tiny dragons from the surface.

Splinter sat across from her, looking at her mildly.

She sighed. "I screwed up. I thought if the mirror was her…I don't know ... .gateway…..then shattering it would do the trick."

He smiled faintly. "It was not an unreasonable assumption. It was just wrong." He sipped his tea. "Ask yourself…what is a mirror. What does it do?"

"It shows you your reflection," Jessie said.

"Yes." he said, and then "Think on that. I believe it will help you."

She nodded. "I will, sir. Thank you." She looked around. "Is this a dream? Or something….more?"

"What does your heart tell you?" He asked, a little amused.

Jessie returned the smile. "With all this weirdness? More."

"You are becoming wise." He nodded, and the humor in his voice made her feel better. "There are many dangers here. But you will also find allies. I will try to help guide you as best I can. It…tires me to intervene in the world. Easier to stay unseen with you. But when you need me, I will appear. I promise you. You are not alone, Child. We will never abandon you."

"It's okay. It's funny. This whole time, I could almost feel you there. Like I can almost see you." She tipped her head. "What I don't get is why it's not the boys. Why me? I'm not…I mean, they're your kids."

"My sons did not speak of it, but they, too, feel me guiding them."

"Yeah, that makes sense." She considered, "But why me? Why does the talisman work for me? I'm not…." She trailed off.

"It was made for you. My sons have other gifts." He said.

"But why did it become a talisman?" She asked.

He smiled very slightly, "I have answered that question before. Think on what I have told you in the past days, and you will have your answer."

"Boy, you like being cryptic, don't you?" She said, amused, and that made him chuckle.

"There is only so much you are allowed to say in dreams." He admitted.

"I suppose that means you can't tell me what to do? I'm not….I'm way out of my element here. I'm not a warrior…I'm a liability."

He placed his hand over hers for a second. "My sons are all skilled Ninja. They do not need another. What we need is what you are. Do not doubt yourself, child. Know who you are. You will complete our circle." He smiled gently. "I have faith in you."

She opened her eyes and found herself looking up into the canopy of a forest on a summer morning. She felt the echo of Splinter's hand on hers for a split second. And then it was gone like the dream itself.

The fire was out, Raph was asleep leaning back on a tree, and the boy was gone. Where he had sat was his book of paper, his brush kit, and a note folded on the top and held in place by the lacquered box on top of it.

Raph suddenly started and sat up. "Oh damn! I fell…." He exhaled, frustrated.

"Nevermind. It's okay," Jessie said. She opened the note.

The message was painted in broad strokes with the brush in black: "Good Lady, I have begun your portrait, but you must finish it. I have left you with my tools, one artist to another. May this help you on your quest. Haru." And beside the boy's name was a skilled little painting of a cat.

She opened the book. There was only one painting in it, dried and about 3/2 done. It was a detailed painting of a cat….dressed in the same Kimono Jessie wore, with markings that suggested her hair and features. It was smiling a little, almost amused.

"I….I think I know who that was…." Jessie said, a little awed.

Raph looked at her. "I uh….did you….dream….." He shook his head. "Never mind."

Jessie looked back at him. "Splinter?" She said.

"Yeah. You had it too, huh?" Raph asked.

She nodded. "I'm not sure what any of this means. But…..at least we're not alone in it. Let's get going."