Leo's mouth hung open, watching as the princess turned to address his interrogator, speaking in a language he did not understand. Though her tone was much softer, more refined, she also spoke in the guttural growls, clicks and yowls of their native tongue. The yellow fishman listened respectfully, wincing and shaking his head as he apparently disagreed with whatever she was saying. The azure turtle listened carefully, trying to pick up some form of pattern, straining to discern the logic in the language, but could only shake his head in defeat. While he was no stranger to studying a new language, this one was beyond his capabilities to learn.

Besides, he had more pressing matters to consider. Namely the trial.

The idea of appearing before a court and pleading for his life made Leo's heart rate skyrocket. However, the terrapin pulled in a steadying breath. He was going to be fine, he just needed to keep his temper in check, be honest, and they'll see it was all a big misunderstanding. He just needed to be patient and cooperate with his captors. Glancing up at his interrogator and the princess, Leo fidgeted as another wave of butterflies erupted in his stomach. He'd never felt this nervous before, at least not like this. Suddenly his mouth felt very dry, and every nerve ending in his body was zinging with electricity, not to mention his palms were sweaty. Was he sweaty? Oh shell, he hoped he wasn't starting to smell. Did he remember to put on deodorant today? Or was it yesterday?

Leonardo shook himself, he needed to stay focused, not be distracted by the pretty girl, er-princess. Yeah, remember that she's a princess. Meaning she's way out of his league. Besides, he was a prisoner, and about to go on trial for interfering with some sacred ritual. It was ridiculous that he be so affected by the presence of a (very) pretty Princess, when he should be worried about saving his neck. She's out of his league, she's out of his league, stop thinking that she's pretty! The turtle bit back a groan. This had to be one of the strangest, most awkward, patches of trouble that he'd ever fallen into. Thankfully, his brothers weren't here, or he'd never live it down.

Speaking of which, if his plan was to cooperate as a sign that this was all a misunderstanding, what would happen if said brothers were to charge in guns blazing? A spark of panic pulsed through his chest, and the terrapin hurriedly looked down to find his belt completely devoid of any of his gear. Leo's shoulders drooped. He needed to find a way to get his shell cell and fast, otherwise his brothers may only worsen the situation, but how was he going to do that? Another glance at the merman guarding him. Leo was confident that he had been making an impact with the warrior and could very well find an ally. Maybe if he asked them to help, and explained the situation, he could cut any trouble off at the pass. He could call his brothers and tell them to wait for him. That way he wouldn't inadvertently start an inter-species war.

Leo gave a small nod. He could do this, he just needed to convince the guard and the princess to help him get his shell cell.

…..

"Long-spear, we are not barbarians, you cannot leave him tied to a chair," the princess scowled, "he has done nothing wrong, and he meant no harm."

The guard sighed, turning orange eyes, wide and pleading, to the mermaid, "Your highness, the King commanded he stay bound until the trial. Considering that he has already defeated our most skilled warriors, it would be unwise to release him when we know nothing of his intentions."

"His intentions are honorable!" The royal insisted, "Last night he was only concerned for my safety, and kept checking if I was alright, or asking if I was injured. I believe him that he only intruded because he genuinely believed me to be in danger."

"Yes, I can see why you would feel this way, but as a member of the royal guard I have to follow the King's orders," Long-spear groaned as his argument failed to ease the anger burning in the royal's gaze, and in truth, the merman couldn't help but almost agree with her.

The strange warrior had been very gentle with the princess the night before, always stepping between her and danger like a shield. Also, despite his impressive skills that made him more than a match for their warriors, their captive had shown mercy, drawing no blood and taking no lives. He spared every single one of his enemies. The blue warrior was not what he expected of a malicious spy out to conquer their tribe. Even now, captive and at their mercy, the strange warrior was impressive. Yes, the outsider was understandably upset over being tied to a chair, and doubtless was afraid due to being a prisoner, but he hadn't been rude or aggressive. If anything, he'd behaved with a semblance of nobility, even apologizing for the previous night's actions and cooperating with the interrogation. All in all, the intruder's behavior, besides the walloping he'd given their warriors the night before, were not those of a scheming outsider.

Besides, looking at the intruder now, he didn't even slightly resemble the fierce warrior who'd defeated him the night before. Long-spear bit back a smirk. Unfortunately, it seems their new arrival had fallen to the same affliction that had been tormenting the young mermen of their tribe for the past sixteen years. Judging by the gobsmacked expression, glowing blush, and inability to speak, not even outsiders were immune to the charms of their princess. If things were less dire, Long-spear would be laughing his head off at the absurdity of it all. Truly, ever since her highness had been old enough to swim, she'd won the undying loyalty of every male her age, himself included. The guard couldn't help but feel pity for the young warrior.

Poor fool, not that Long-spear could blame him. They were both fools in this equation.

However, he did need to consider the new troubling fact that the intruder stated he'd shared a psychic link with the princess, even if it was brief. Long-spear's eyes widened in worry, this could be bad, very bad. Their culture had a very particular legend about such things, and if there were any truth to the folklore, then this would only make the situation that much more complicated. Which was even more reason to keep the intruder confined to his chair, but the princess was pleading with him to release the warrior, allowing their captive a more comfortable imprisonment. Something that really wouldn't be a bad thing to do, if the intruder was as honorable as he claimed to be, which the merman couldn't help but think he was. However, he'd been given explicit orders from the King himself that the prisoner was to remain bound until his trial. Long-spear groaned, caught between the dilemma of following orders and doing the right thing.

Rearranging the muscles in his throat, the mer warrior addressed their captive, "If I release you from the chair, do you give your word to act with honor and not attack?"

The blue masked outsider swung around to gaze at his captor in shock, sapphire eyes wide but also relieved, "Yes," he said, no hesitation or guile in his tone, "I give my solemn vow that I will not attack you or your people."

Long-spear pursed his lips thoughtfully, but a quick glance at the princess resolved any residual hesitation he may carry. Her green eyes begged that her would-be rescuer be released, and the merman could only groan in defeat, "Fine,"

…

Leonardo tried not to fidget, eager to be free of the chair. While he was personally very proud of himself for not freaking out over being tied to it, he was more than ready to be out. "Thank you," the terrapin breathed, "I understand that you're taking a chance by trusting me."

The guard paused, looking at the turtle in bafflement before returning to his task, "Thank the princess," he murmured, "I was ordered by the King to keep you restrained until the trial. However, the princess feels it is barbaric to tie you up like this."

The turtle once again felt his mouth go dry, before daring a glance up at the mermaid, "Thank you," he stammered, voice barely above a whisper.

"You're welcome," the princess nodded, "besides, I should be thanking you. While unnecessary, your chivalry last night was appreciated."

"Speaking of," Leo bit his bottom lip, hesitation coloring his tone, before diving in, "what exactly was happening last night? I was told that I interrupted a ritual of some kind."

The princess sighed, ears drooping, "Yes, it was a sacred rite, one that commands for any princess born to take part in during their sixteenth summer."

"Yeah, that's what I was told by, um…" The azure ninja paused, turning to his interrogator, "what is your name?"

The merman smirked, allowing a brief huff of amusement to exhale through his nose, "I tie you to a chair, insult you, and even accuse you of trying to stage a coup against our tribe, and you ask my name?"

Leo shared the smirk with the fishman, giving a small shrug, "If it were me, and I caught an intruder in my home, I probably wouldn't be too gentle either." The turtle empathized, "The fact is, you listened to what I had to say, and at the very least you're letting me out of this chair. It is only polite that I call you by your name."

Another patch of silence as the warrior worked on the knots holding the straps in place, before the merman met Leo's gaze, "My name is unpronounceable in your tongue," he stated, though without any malice, "the closest translation would be Long-spear, or more precisely, Trident."

"Trident," Leo practiced, "is it okay if I call you Long-spear?"

"Do as you wish," was the only reply, the merman ducking behind the chair to loosen several more knots.

"Right," the turtle nodded, before finishing his thought, "anyway, that's what Long-spear had told me."

The princess nodded, then cast a playful gaze at their captive, "And what is your name?"

"Leonardo, although you can just call me Leo,"

"Leonardo," the princess hummed, testing out the ninja's name on her tongue, tasting every syllable, "a strange name."

"But fitting," Long-spear stated, his tone seemingly careless behind the kind words, "translated into our tongue, I believe the meaning is 'brave lion'. Considering your prowess in battle, it is quite appropriate."

Leo hunched shyly in his chair, "Thanks," he murmured, he didn't feel very brave right now, but he'd take any encouragement he could get. The terrapin went quiet for a moment, a sudden fierce battle raging in his mind on whether he should ask a particular burning question to a particular princess. The silence continued for several heartbeats until the teen gathered the necessary courage, "Uh," Leo glanced up at the female mer, his face suddenly bright with a blush, "am I allowed to know your name? Or should I just call you princess?"

The princess crouched next to the chair, nimble fingers working on the knots holding down his arms, "You may call me Glimmer,"

"No, he may not," Long-spear harrumphed, "you are a princess, and he is a commoner, it would be indecent for him to call you by name."

A sly smile quirked the edge of the emerald lips, and twinkling green eyes gave a subtle wink at their captive, "Only when we're alone, then."

"Which he will never be," the merman threw in, "alone with you, that is. Honestly, your Highness, have you no propriety?"

Glimmer sighed, "I have propriety," she sniffed, "I have never behaved in a way unbecoming of my station. However, I won't stand by and let this warrior pay for the sin of defending my life. Even if it wasn't really in danger. He should be treated as our guest, not our prisoner."

"I believe the King may see things differently,"

"Father sees many things differently," the princess stated, "however, whether our guest calls me by name and not by title is none of his, or your, business. You used to call me by name all the time."

"Yes, when we were children," Long-spear groused, "however, now that I'm a member of the royal guard I can no longer be so informal."

Glimmer drooped, her lovely features becoming sad, making Leo's heart constrict, "Well, I wish that someone could be," she murmured in a whisper.

The mer quietly went back to their task of undoing the knots, both having found one that refused to budge. The ensuing tugging pulled painfully, both against Leo's chest, ad his arms. The turtle leaned his head back, feeling another wave of trembling going through his body. He was honestly surprised that he hadn't fallen into a flashback from the cellar by now. However, his calm wouldn't last much longer, he could feel the panic creeping up the back of his spine, making his lungs constrict, and steal his breath. Between the cold of the cell, and the feeling of the chair, Leonardo's strength was unraveling. He wanted to scream that they let him out, to work faster, but they were already taking a chance in releasing him as it was, Leonardo didn't want strain their fledgling friendship by acting like a head case. He still needed a distraction from the rising terror, however.

"So," the turtle began, giving a wobbly half smile to his guard, "are you descended from the mer people created by the Y'lyntians?"

Glimmer glanced up, neon green eyes wide, "You know of the Y'lyntians?"

"A little," Leo nodded, watching as the princess struggled with the particularly stubborn knot, "my brothers and I faced the last remaining Y'lyntians some time ago, they thought that they should rule the world, and we disagreed."

Long-spear snorted in amusement, throwing the azure warrior and approving smirk, "If they are anything like folklore says, then it's good you were there."

"I can only assume that you stopped them?" Glimmer asked, giving Leo a shy smile, hands still tugging at the knot.

"Oh, we stopped them," Leo preened, allowing himself a rare moment to brag, "we even destroyed their entire secret underground city."

"Sounds like you and your brothers are a formidable force to be reckoned with," Long-spear gave the turtle a stern look, "any plans for this secret city?"

If Leo could have slapped himself, he would have. That's what he gets for trying to impress the princess, "Absolutely not," he shook his head vehemently, "we only attacked because they wanted to kill millions of innocent lives. We never attack without dire cause. I promise!"

"Good," the guard nodded, smirking at the way Leonardo deflated in relief, "and in answer to your question, for the most part, no. We are not descended from the Y'lyntian mer."

"You're not?" The terrapin cocked his head in confusion, "I don't mean to be rude by prying. It's just that my brothers and I helped some mer about a year ago, we rescued their eggs that were in danger due to a factory polluting the water, but I haven't met any beyond that. So, I just assumed that any mer in the ocean are descended from the original slaves that escaped."

Glimmer nodded, her features growing sorrowful, "We are familiar with them," she stated softly, "and have even accepted many refugees into our tribe. However, my people has been here long before the Y'lyntians or their creations."

"In truth, the Y'lyntians tried to make ally's out of us," Long-spear explained, "however, the king at that time realized that they carried only evil in their hearts and declined their offer. It was only after that took place that the Y'lyntians chose to mass produce their abominations."

Finally, with a slap, the leather straps hit the floor, and Leonardo jumped from the chair. Long-spear tensed into a fighting stance at the sudden flurry of movement, pushing the Princess behind him protectively, however, the merman calmed when Leo made no move to attack. The terrapin walked towards the back of the cell, away from the chair, massaging his wrists. A harsh shudder stole through his body, and the turtle once again had to do breathing exercises to keep his emotions under control. Now was not the time to struggle with his weird aversion to wooden chairs. Especially ones he could be strapped down to. His odd behavior did not go unnoticed by his captor, and the Princess. Long-spear watched his prisoner curiously, while Glimmer's eyes overflowed with concern, both waiting for Leonardo to pull himself back together.

"Are you well?" Long-spear rumbled.

The turtle grimaced, turning ashamed sapphire eyes to the guard, "I'm fine," he rasped, "just not a big fan of that kind of chair, had a bad experience once."

Green shoulders hunched shyly, and Leo cursed his weakness making him vulnerable in such a tense situation. Thankfully, Long-spear merely nodded, a strange understanding making the orange gaze heavy with empathy, "I can understand that" he muttered, "I too hold an aversion to a particular object. I cannot stand the feeling of net. Bad experience."

Sapphire eyes bounced up to meet orange, and the shoulders loosened, relief coursing through the muscular frame. Leo couldn't express the relief in knowing that even a warrior from another culture, one that was a powerful and fierce fighter, also had his own personal demons to fight, "Sorry," Leo whispered, compassion making his heart ache, "it sucks, doesn't it? Having a fear of something that you can't really explain?"

Long-spear gave a humorless chuckle, dry and tired, "Indeed," he nodded, as he and the princess approached Leo, both sitting on the floor near him, "So, I know you have many questions, as do I. How about we trade information, and we can prepare you for the trial ahead?"

The ninja gave a grateful nod, sitting on the floor alongside his hosts, "First off," he began, "I'd appreciate an explanation of what kind of ritual I'm being charged with interfering in."

Glimmer suddenly blushed, green eyes cast down to the floor shyly, as she self-consciously smoothed her hair, pushing it behind her ear, "It was," she stammered, "what our people refer to as… the marriage ritual,"

Leonardo's sapphire gaze widened in shock, "Marriage ritual?" He asked, "What does a battle have to do with marriage?"

Long-spear drew in a breath, "Among our people, when a princess is born, on the full moon of her sixteenth birthday the mightiest warriors of royal blood will battle for the right of her hand in marriage. The mer who defeats all others, and also has the Princess at his side, will be considered the victor."

Suddenly things made sense, and now Leo felt a cold wave of fearful panic sear his craw and settle in his stomach, "Okay," he nodded slowly, voice merely a rasp, "I can understand why everyone was so mad now."

"Precisely," Long-spear sighed, "the entire tribe is in an uproar, and while I believe that it was a misunderstanding, there is still the King and the council to convince."

"I'm still confused about one thing though," the turtle continued, brows furrowed as he turned to the princess, "if that was what was going on, then…why did you ask me to save you?"

Glimmer fidgeted in discomfort, the blush staining her skin a deeper shade of aqua foam, "I didn't…" she stammered, "That is, I didn't mean to…uh," The female mer shot a shy glance at Leo, and then a scared glance at Long-spear, before she shook herself, sending ebony hair flying, "I can't say."

"Im not sure we should mention that to the council" Long-spear stated, understanding her reticence, "Whether she did or did not ask you to save her is a moot point, what we should focus on is the fact that it was an honest mistake."

"Right," Leo nodded, eyes still on the Princess as he filed away a mental note to ask her again, later, "so, what should I expect?"

….

"Donnie, please tell me ya got somethin'?"

Donatello groaned, "Give me a few minutes, Raphie, my scanner is trying to connect to Leo's shell cell."

Mikey looked over the genius' shoulder, watching as the animated circle spun, "Why is it taking so long?"

"Either Leo's shell cell is almost out of range, which is impossible after the last upgrade I installed," Don stated, fingers tapping impatiently on the tablet, "or there's something interfering with the signal."

"Somethin' like what?" Raph growled, his own impatience shining through with a healthy dose of fear for their leader's wellbeing.

"I don't know, it could be anything," Donnie sighed, "so please, just give me time!"

Michelangelo sighed, unhappy with the tension, but understanding because they're all feeling the stress of losing their big brother. For the second time in the space of a year. "It's okay Don, we'll let you work, and Raph and I will double check the meadow for anything we missed."

"No need," Donatello shook his head, features brightening, "it finally connected!"

Both red and orange scrambled to sit next to the scientist, waiting on pins and needles as the scientist read the data. Donnie pursed his lips, brown eyes wide, "Okay, I have good news and bad news,"

"Bad news first," Raphael muttered.

"Agreed," Mikey nodded.

"Okay," Donatello pulled in a breath, "the bad news is that Leo's shell cell is pinging offshore near the bottom of the ocean,"

"WHAT?!" Raph roared, topaz eyes wild.

"He DROWNED?!" Mikey wailed, hands gripping his head.

Don winced at the sudden volume, flapping his hands in a physical plea for them to quiet down, "Guys, GUYS! He's fine!"

"How do ya know he's fine?" The brawler heaved, straining to keep his temper under control.

"Because the fact I'm getting a signal from so deep underwater, is in itself good news." Donatello replied, placing a hand on Raphael's shoulder.

"I don't get it," Mikey quavered, shoving his shaking hands under his arms, "how is it a good thing that the signal is coming from the bottom of the ocean?"

"Because, while the shell cells are durable and are waterproof to a point," the scientist explained, pulling the youngest in for a side hug, "they aren't perfect. If Leo really had drowned, his shell cell would have been crushed by the water pressure or fried from getting waterlogged. The fact that the shell cell is still broadcasting its position means that, while still miles underwater, Leo is somewhere dry and safe."

Michelangelo absorbed the information, his whirling thoughts latching onto the news that Leo was very likely safe with the tenacity of a pit bull. Baby blue eyes, clouded with fear, slowly began to brighten as a remembered clue broke through the haze of terror, "Webbed feet," the youngest murmured.

"What ya say, Mike?" Raph asked, cocking his head so to catch the gaze of the baby.

"Webbed feet," Mikey repeated, a tiny spark of triumph growing into a bonfire of hope, "the tracks in the meadow had webbed feet! They're probably merpeople, like the ones we helped with Casey and April!"

Donnie smiled, having drawn the same conclusion, "My thoughts exactly," he nodded, "and now that I've marked the position of Leo's shell cell, we can stage a rescue!"

"That sounds great an' all, but how do ya propose we get down there?" Raph asked, hands braced on his knees as he stared at the data still displayed on the tablet, "I may not know what those numbers mean, but even I know that it's goin' ta be hard ta swim ta that depth."

"Ah, not to worry, brother mine," Donatello grinned, waggling his eyebrows at the brawler, "because I've not only rebuilt the submersible, but she's better than ever and ready to rock!"

"Yeah, but doesn't that mean going home?" Mikey groaned, "Its gonna take forever to get back! I mean, once we get the submersible, hitch it to the battle shell, and haul it out here, we wouldn't be able to rescue Leo until tomorrow at the earliest!"

Raphael sighed, listening to his brothers as his head swirled with many worries of his own, however, Donnie was right. They needed the submersible to rescue Leo, and while he wasn't happy about having to wait, there was nothing to be done for it. Fearless would just have to hold out on his own for a little while longer. "I ain't happy about it, Mike," the brawler finally stated, crossing his arms with a disgruntled frown, "but we need the submersible ta rescue Leo. So, we'll go home, gear up, and haul it back here. We can drive through the night if we hafta, but we're going down there tomorrow, and we're rescuin' our brother."

…..

Leonardo looked around, chest heaving as he fought to stay calm, heart hammering against his plastron in increasingly painful beats. Less than ten minutes ago, he'd been led out of his cell by four brawny guards and escorted into a vast room with a clear glass ceiling, and a shimmering floor made of what looked like iridescent pearl and white alabaster stone. Glowing crystals lit the chamber, illuminating a large audience of hundreds of mer, all focused on his form as he approached the witness stand. The turtle gave a heavy swallow, mind numbing terror stealing his breath and making his hands shake. He expected to be nervous, but something about being in front of so many strangers, and without the soothing strength of his brothers behind him, Leonardo suddenly felt very naked and alone.

"Court is now in session!"

To make matters worse, they were speaking in their native tongue, and while Long-spear was occasionally translating for him, for the most part, Leo was clueless as to what was happening around him. Never before had a language barrier scared the terrapin as much as it did now. Shell, he wished Donnie were here. His brainy little brother would probably have picked up on the language immediately and would have probably even represent him before the court. Not to mention, even if all they were doing was making fun of him for stepping his big fat feet onto another land mine, what he wouldn't give for Mikey and Raph to be on either side of him. There was something about Michelangelo's optimism, and Raphael's strength, that was such a comfort to the young leader. However, his siblings weren't here, he was on his own, and that very thought made Leo feel like he was going to faint in fear.

Long-spear gave him an assessing sideways glance, orange eyes narrowed in concern, before ducking his head to speak softly, "Deep breaths, no sense in passing out before you've had a chance to tell your side of things."

Oh, right, breathing might help. Leo pulled in a stuttering inhale, even as he tried to ignore the feeling of the cold shackles cuffing his wrists together. What was he going to do without his brothers? Every bad thing that had ever happened to him, happened while he was alone. Every victory, every narrow escape, every miracle that they somehow pulled out of nowhere, were only possible because his brothers lent him their strength and skill. But they weren't here. No one was. In fact, Leo wasn't even sure if his brothers were able to locate him. He could very well be lost for good, never to rejoin his family ever again. The azure warrior stifled the scared whimper that was clawing at the back of his throat.

Closing his eyes, he took several more steadying breaths.

It was going to be fine. Worrying himself into a panic attack wasn't going to help win him his case. He needed to maintain his focus. The teen continued the breathing technique that the Ancient One had taught him so long ago, reigning in the terror screaming in the back of his mind. After he'd gotten his heartbeat under control, Leonardo once again opened his eyes to glance around the area. An elderly looking Merman was reading something off a tablet, his speech the clicks and yowls of the mer language, leaving Leo mystified as to what he was saying. However, his armed escort didn't seem to be paying attention, and even the guard who he'd befriended seemed to be dozing off.

"Long-spear," the terrapin whispered, careful not to interrupt the opening speech, "can you give me the layout?"

Long-spear replied with a small nod, talking softly so as to not draw attention, "To your right is the council, a selection of heads representing the most powerful families of our tribe. They consist of both royalty and nobility, they are similar to what humans would call a jury. They, alongside the King, will decide your fate."

"To your left is the Queen," the fishman continued, "and beside her the Crown Prince, older brother of the Princess, who, as you can see, is sitting next to him. Behind the bench, acting as judge, is the King."

Leonardo subtly glanced up at the royal family's balcony, noting that the Queen was an older version of the princess in coloring, and just as lovely. The Crown Prince was quite the specimen as well, with handsome features accented by jet black scales and shimmering gold tiger stripes. The fins for his ears, and on his thighs and calves were golden as well, and the male mer's black hair had a slight curl to it that framed pale yellow eyes. As if he sensed he was being watched, the Crown Prince turned, sapphire eyes met yellow, and the royal gave a smile to Leo, one that could only be described as feral. Suddenly, every instinct within Leonardo wanted him to look away, to pretend he hadn't been looking, or at least bow his head in respect in lieu of apology for staring. However, something else inside the turtle, an old wisdom that he couldn't describe, bid him not to blink. That if he looked away first, he'd lose a very important battle.

The ninja maintained eye contact, straightening his shoulders as if he were preparing for a fight. The Prince cocked his head curiously, smile diminishing while yellow eyes suddenly widened in interest. Leo lifted his chin, unsure of why he needed to stand his ground, but still feeling the urgency to not look away. The smile was gone at this point, but the uncanny gaze was sparkling with intrigue, the pale gaze seemingly asking a question that Leonardo had no idea how to answer. The Prince began to push by intensifying his stare, and an odd headache blossomed behind Leonardo's eyes, making him wince, but still, he did not break eye contact. After what felt like an eternity of staring, the Prince finally blinked, shaking his head in bafflement for a moment or two, then gave a small nod of approval, leaving Leo bewildered, and feeling slightly sick. Long-spear was gobsmacked, his eyes bouncing between the intruder and the Prince, his jaw hanging in shock before he grabbed the turtle by the shoulder to shake him.

"Are you insane?!" He hissed.

"Possibly," Leo grimaced, feeling slightly dizzy, "I'm not really sure what just happened."

"You're not really sure-?" The merman scoffed, but then found himself stunned all over again when he realized that the intruder was sincere, "You really don't know what just happened?"

Leonardo shook his head softly, wincing as his temples gave another sharp pang, "No, but I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with this headache that came out of nowhere."

The guard shook his head, chuffing out a disbelieving huff, "That was what we call…" the mer gave a series of clicks with several growls, "roughly translated, it means alpha battle."

"Which is?" The ninja asked.

The male mer deflated, pursing his lips as he struggled to piece together a complex part of their culture, before straightening up and diving in, "For centuries our people have been something resembling psychic, it's not as common anymore as bloodlines have weakened, however, there are still some skills that are prevalent among the royalty." Long-spear huffed as he hurriedly explained, "One of them is the Alpha Battle. In which case a male mer would instigate by making eye contact with the one they wish to intimidate."

"It's a…staring contest?" Leo drawled, lifting an eyebrow in incredulous silence.

"It's much more complicated than a staring contest," the mer replied dryly, quirking his own eyebrow, "particularly because the royal family holds the strongest bloodline in regards to psychic power. When the Crown Prince instigates an Alpha Battle, he has the power of his bloodline behind him, meaning that meeting his gaze and holding it is extremely difficult."

Leonardo nodded, though still not comprehending, "And?"

Long-spear stared at the young warrior, eyebrow twitching as it seemed that their guest wasn't picking up on what he was saying, "And," he emphasized, leaning in so to ensure privacy, "no one that I know of has ever lasted through one with the Crown Prince, much less made him blink first. The mental stress alone caused by the psychic onslaught makes it an almost insurmountable task, so the fact that you did so is either very impressive, or you consider yourself equal to the royal family, which is a massive insult, and thereby have a death wish."

"…oh…"

The ninja was speechless, more than that, he was flabbergasted. What is it with him and sticking his foot in his mouth by committing cultural faux pas here? First, he ruins the sacred ritual that results in him getting captured and put on trial, and now he's insulted the mer's royal family? So much for Master Splinter's diplomacy lessons, he couldn't wait to go home and report to his father that he insulted the Crown Prince in front of hundreds of mer people. Raph would never let him live it down, and neither would Mikey, Donnie might defend him, but he was just as likely to join in on the ribbing. He could hear them now, here comes our fearless leader, a mutant turtle capable of effortlessly offending an entire race without saying a word. Now that's talent.

"Now we come to the matter of the outsider," the elderly merman had evidently finished his speech, and was turning towards Leo, "would the accused stand to give his account of the happenings last night."

Leonardo startled out of his thoughts, sending a panicked look at Long-spear, silently mouthing, "What did he say?"

"He asked that you stand and give your side of the story," the guard answered, jerking his chin in a gesture that Leo stand, "start by introducing yourself, then proceed to explain your actions, they will ask you questions as you go."

The turtle rose to his feet, swallowing down a wave of nervousness, before angling his head up to address the King and council, "My name is Leonardo Hamato," he began, voice strong and smooth despite the shaking in his knees behind the witness stand, "I am the leader of my clan, which only consists of my father and three brothers, and I live in the city of New York."

"On land?" The King questioned, leaning forward in interest, "How do you survive among the humans?"

"We survive by living in secret," Leo answered honestly, "my family and I live underground, away from humans. The only time we go above ground is when we patrol the city at night, and fight against the humans who commit crimes or hurt the innocent."

"Is that how you received your training?" The King said, leaning back in his seat, "I'm assuming your father taught you to fight?"

"Yes, your majesty," Leonardo nodded, "my father trained my brothers and I in the art of ninjutsu, but solely for the intent of protecting ourselves and the lives of the innocent."

A member of the council stood, a middle-aged male mer with red scales covered in black spots, the elderly mer bowing to the council member, "The court recognizes council member Sea-snake,"

Sea-snake nodded to the court clerk then turned to Leonardo, "If you live in the city among the humans, then how do you explain your presence here?"

Leo paused, then inhaled to answer, "I'm on a camping trip with my brothers." He stated, "We were going to spend the week along the shoreline and had plans to simply enjoy a relaxed vacation as a family."

"Do we have anything to corroborate this?" The council member asked, turning to Long-spear.

The guard glanced at Leo, the turtle looking confused at the sudden change in language, before addressing the council member, "After we were able to capture the intruder, I did scout a small encampment nearby," Long-spear replied, "and confirmed the presence of three other outsiders who resemble the accused."

"And what were they doing at this time?" The King asked, features stern.

"They were sleeping, your highness," Long-spear stated, "as far as I could see, they were not armed for battle, and their campfire had the remains of a meal. It did seem very similar to human recreational camps we've seen in the past."

"May I also state for the record," Long-spear continued, head held high and shoulders back, "that while the outsider did indeed defeat both me, and all our finest warriors, he did not spill one drop of blood. He used purely nonlethal strikes, and while we lay helpless at his feet, he spared our lives, choosing mercy over death. Surely this is not the behavior of an enemy?"

"An excellent point," the King murmured, "but with such a show of strength, how did you manage to bring him in?"

"Cone snail venom," the guard answered, "we had to use a dart blowgun to inject him with it so to render him unconscious."

Another nod by the monarch, "Any further questions?" The King asked, turning to the council box.The Councilman shook his head, appeased for the moment, then sat down.

Long-spear breathed out a long sigh, shaking is own nerves out of his hands, then tapped Leonardo, gesturing him to continue his testimony. The turtle nodded in understanding, "As I've already stated," he continued, "I'm here on vacation with my brothers. We arrived yesterday and set up camp, then prepared dinner. I can't remember what time it was after everyone had fallen asleep that I decided to go for a walk, but I wasn't tired, and I wanted to enjoy a walk in the forest before turning in."

"And it was during this walk that you encountered our warriors?" The King asked, black and grey scales, lined in gold wrinkling as he frowned thoughtfully.

"Yes, your majesty," Leo nodded, taking a steadying breath as they began to address the heart of the problem, "I heard the sounds of a fight, and as eldest it is my duty to protect my brothers, I felt I needed to investigate so to ensure their safety."

"Commendable," one of the council members murmured, though Leo could not understand his words.

The King nodded in agreement with the council, never taking his yellow eyes off their prisoner, "And what did you find?"

This was where Leonardo felt the most concern, because he could not remember the previous night all that clearly, and it was hard to explain why he felt the sudden urge to protect the princess. Well, other than that it was the proper thing to do, as he had been trained by his father. "I found a battle, your majesty," Leo answered earnestly, "I was unaware that it was a sacred ritual of your people, and I apologize for interfering. However, to the eyes of an outsider, all I saw was an innocent girl being thrown around and fought over by large, male mer."

"This was when you made the choice to fight them," the King asked softly, "in defense of the Princess?"

"Yes, you're majesty,"

The King tapped the arm of his throne with a thoughtful finger, before once again turning pale yellow eyes onto the defendant, "Why? You could see she was not of your tribe, why risk your life for an unknown mermaid?"

"My father taught me," Leo said, ducking his head, tone softening while speaking of his family, "that the strong are duty bound to protect the innocent and the weak. To defend those who cannot defend themselves and offer shelter to those who need it. While I fully admit that I misunderstood what was happening and thereby unknowingly insulted your culture by intervening, my sin was due to my conviction in my father's lesson."

The turtle raised his face to the King, looking him in the eye briefly, then humbly bowed at the waist, "I apologize for my arrogance," straightening up, Leo then turned to face the balcony where Glimmer sat, and bowed once again, "and I apologize for insulting the Princess by my actions. No matter how well intentioned, I should have never interfered."

The court murmured approvingly, the council nodding at the honorable display, even prompting the King into inclining his head. Long-spear also allowed himself a small smile as well. Without a doubt, this turtle was certainly impressive.

…

Glimmer listened as Leonardo gave his account of the night previous and was subsequently questioned. Her heart pounded in fear for the brave warrior, fearful that he may be punished for the crime of interfering with a ritual that, realistically, should have been outmoded centuries ago.

"You seem awfully concerned about a stranger you only met mere hours ago,"

The princess jumped, startled by the voice of her older brother, "Of course I'm concerned," she sniffed, turning away so not to display the blush she could feel burn across her cheeks, "he's an innocent caught in a terrible misunderstanding. I would think our culture would have progressed past something as trivial as this, he does not deserve to pay the price for our shortcomings."

"Maybe," sharkish teeth gleamed in the glowing crystal light as the Crown Prince smirked, "but a little minnow told me that you and he shared a psychic link last night, a matter of great consequence, no matter how brief."

Green eyes widened, and the Princess' fingers curled self-consciously, "That's an old fish-tale," she scoffed quietly, "everyone knows that sharing thoughts without physically touching is impossible."

"Unless you're soulmates," the Prince teased.

Glimmer squawked, then shook her head violently, making their mother cast a sharp reprimanding glance down the balcony, "Princess Precious-light, you will behave! Haven't you caused enough problems for your Father already?!"

The Princess' jaw dropped in indignation, but she quickly deflated then did as she was told, returning to the regal poise she was expected to carry at all times. For a moment she listened to the council member speak to Long-spear, but then quietly returned to the conversation with her brother, "We're not soulmates," she hissed, "he's just an honorable warrior, who saved someone he thought needed rescuing."

"Liar," the Prince snickered, "you can't fool me, little sister, he's much more than that."

Glimmer pouted, annoyed at her older brother and his uncanny skill at sniffing out a lie, "Fine, he's the first male mer I've met that didn't protect me because I'm the princess, he put his life on the line without even knowing my title. He valued me, not my crown, or the advantage it would give him. It was…nice, being looked at like a mer, not as a royal."

The Crown Prince gave a thoughtful hum, watching their father as the King listened to the outsider's testimony, "Father believes him, I can tell." Glimmer brightened, turning hopeful eyes to her brother, but the Prince could only sigh, "unfortunately, in cases such as this, our laws demand that a pardon can only be given with the full consent of the council, and you and I both know that Great-fish will never agree to it. He was banking on his son winning your hand, and the scab has been fuming over it ever since."

The neon green gaze turned stricken, widening in fear and sorrow, "Isn't there anything we can do?"

Silence, then, "Are you asking me to save him?"

Glimmer wanted to say yes, her entire being begged her to say yes, but there was something about her brother that scared her. His cold calculations as he prepared to take the crown, the way he never truly took a side, and could seemingly betray his friends, only to find that he'd manipulated everyone into doing what he wanted, ultimately saving the ones he cared about, but in the scariest way possible. Glimmer was afraid of her brother; however, she couldn't deny that she trusted him, and more importantly, she trusted that he cared about her and her happiness. He would be an ideal ally in this endeavor, but she couldn't help but feel like she may not like the price his cooperation cost.

Watching Leonardo bow to her father, the Princess knew she only had one option, "Are you offering to save him?"

…..

"The court recognizes Council Member Great-fish,"

An elderly mer stood, bronze scales lined with red stripes, "While he does have very pretty manners, this is still a trial concerning the egregious trespass of an outsider interrupting a sacred ritual, one we've upheld for millennia!"

Leonardo listened, praying for some kind of miracle that would allow him to understand what was being thrown his way, but still all he could hear was the usual noises associated with the mer language. The turtle cast pleading eyes to his guard, and fast becoming friend. The guard merely replied with a grim look of his own, making Leo tremble. Something bad was happening, and he couldn't even defend himself. What was worse, he heard the crowd, along with several of the council members making sounds of agreement while nodding their heads. Things were going south, fast.

"The bylaws of our people state, that interference with the sacred rites by anyone outside of the ruling class, is punishable by death," the mer barked venomously, "and I think we can all plainly see that he is lowborn filth! Look at him, his scales are dull, they hold no pattern to indicate noble blood of any kind, and he is all of one color. To pardon one of his class of such a serious crime would be positively despicable, and it would only encourage others of the same rank to behave above their station!"

If Long-spear frowned any harder, Leo was certain his lips would fall off his face. The council member had not stopped talking, and judging by the sharp glares he was receiving, each one burning with an intense hatred that Leo had only seen a handful of times before, the turtle knew his case was unraveling. He kept turning to his guard for a translation, but Long-spear would only sigh, and shake his head softly. Leonardo could at least catch the gist that whatever the male mer was shouting, wasn't something he'd enjoy, however, that didn't mean he didn't want to know what was being said! The turtle closed his eyes, sending a prayer skyward that he wouldn't be separated from his family, that somehow, he'd end up on the other side with the King judging him as an innocent.

"And so," Great-fish concluded, "I cannot in good conscience, for the sake of our culture and for the good of our society, agree to a pardon. It is my opinion that this outsider should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. That he should be sentenced to death!"

…

The crowd broke into an uproar, some council members audibly shouting in disagreement, while others nodded in approval. Glimmer gasped, her delicate hands clapping across her mouth, and tears stinging her eyes. "No," she sobbed, then turned to her brother, "please, he doesn't deserve this!"

The Crown Prince watched his sister, taking in the tears streaming down her cheeks, "Then answer me this," he asked, "answer honestly, and I will save him."

Glimmer stiffened, but then nodded jerkily, "Anything."

"Did you truly share a psychic link with him that did not require physical contact? And did you ask him to save you?"

The Princess' eyes widened, slim shoulders trembling in fear.

The Prince sighed at her hesitation, knowing that she had good cause to feel so. He doesn't pretend to be a pleasant mer to be around. After he began his training to inherit the crown, he'd come to understand just how corrupt and evil the monarchy had become. His father was an honorable King, however, even one such as his father would find it difficult to rule his people well when the council was determined to do otherwise. Their council had family bloodlines that had become nothing more than stagnant pools, filthy smelly swamps, determined to keep their power at any cost necessary. The Prince was determined, that after he took the crown, he would bring this corruption to an end, and the only way to accomplish that was to become something of a villain himself.

He wasn't ashamed of the underhanded tactics he'd had to adopt in recent years. He'd done what was necessary to protect his sister, and to fulfill his duty as future king. However, this outsider was something of a pleasant surprise. Not only for the alleged psychic connection with his little sister, but also for the sole fact that the turtle withstood the full force of his stare. He was the strongest Crown Prince in centuries, the strength of his mental power whispered about in awe, but this warrior from the world above was able to return it, glare for glare. To say the Prince was impressed would be an understatement. It was a shame that he would have to play devil's advocate in order to save the intruder's life. Something that his little sister knew, without him needing to say a word.

He hated that he'd made his own sister fear him, and fear asking him for help. However, that wasn't important, right now he needed to know the answer to his questions, so that he could go forward with his plan. Placing a calloused hand over his sister's and intertwining their fingers, the Prince connected their minds, "My dear little sister," he said tenderly through thought speak, "I would never wish you to fear me, and believe me when I say, I only want what is best for you. I would do anything to ensure your happiness. Please, answer me honestly."

The tears dancing on the edges of her lashes finally spilled over, and Glimmer gave a quiet sob, nodding her head softly before returning her thoughts, "We did share a brief connection, it scared me, because I didn't try for it to happen; and Im sorry to say I did ask him to save me." The thought speak broke, the Princess desperately trying to stifle the cries wracking her small frame, "I didn't want to marry someone I don't love, and I was so scared, I foolishly allowed myself to exploit our brief connection to ask him to save me, and in doing so I betrayed my people by neglecting my duties as Princess."

The Prince pulled his little sister's trembling form into a brief embrace, then gently pushed her away. Slowly the Prince stood, raising his hand to be recognized by the clerk. The mer nodded, slamming the butt of a staff on the ground, the sound echoing through the chamber, as the clerk attempted to regain order, "The court recognizes Crown Prince Strong-wave,"

As the council calmed, the audience turned their eyes to their future sovereign, expectation sizzling through the air like an electric current. The Prince smirked down at the council, and then inclined his head in a respectful bow to his father, "A rousing speech from Councilman Great-fish," he chuckled, "quite eloquent indeed, it's no wonder you've a career in politics. However, I'd like to inform the court of one thing, that no trespass was ever committed."

"What?!" Great-fish screeched, "Of course a trespass was committed, my own son was left unconscious on dry land, brutalized at the hands of that…that…peasant! How was a crime not committed?!"

"In the simple fact that the ritual was, in fact, fulfilled," The Prince stated with a smarmy grin, "the rite stated that mer of noble blood may battle for the hand of the princess, and based on the evidence, a mer did indeed battle and won."

Glimmer gasped, shaking her head softly, reaching out to clasp the silver tunic adorning her brother, only to be brushed off, "Strong-wave, what are you doing?!"

The scales on Great-fish's face puffed in indignant shock, "He is notof noble birth! Have you even looked at him?! He holds none of the markings of nobility, and he's an outsider, he's not mer kind!"

The Crown Prince waved away the councilman's words as if her were flicking at a pesky fly, "He is not human, he has scales, and is an exceptional warrior. We should be honored to have such a mer among us," the prince paused, gathering his thoughts, before smirking at the fuming merman, "as your son found out last night. According to my sources, he was one of the first to fall to Brave-lion's blades. Hardly put up a fight."

The audience snickered, a couple loud barks of laughter echoing across the room. Great-fish gripped the wooden banister in front of him, the material creaking under the force of his claws. "He is still not a member of this tribe," the mer spat, "if he were to marry the Princess, and then betray our existence to the outside world, we could be flirting with destruction!"

Strong-wave gave an empathetic nod, "You make a good point, however, once he is married into the royal family, he would be required by law to live here. Any freedom to travel, or go home would be rescinded with the expectation that he, and his family, will live here for the rest of their lives. Wouldn't that be protection enough?"

"Possibly, however," the Councilman hissed, red eyes burning with furious hatred, "this still does not make up for his lack of title. He is not qualified to take part in the ritual!"

"Didn't he just say that he was the leader of his clan," Strong-wave mused, tapping his bottom lip thoughtfully with a dark claw, "leader would translate to Chieftain, and as a Chief to his clan, that does technically make him of noble birth. No matter how small the clan, he is still technically of the ruling class."

Great-fish's jaw dropped, unable to refute or argue his point. The Prince merely chuckled, "So, with that settled, I move that as all requirements have been met, that the ritual has been fulfilled, and my sister's future settled."

"No! No, this is a disgrace!" Great-fish bellowed, casting around for someone who would side with him, "To allow a union such as this would be obscene!"

"I second the motion," the mer Councilman who had questioned Leo spoke, "he behaved honorably, and let it not be said that we are barbarous monsters who know nothing of honor."

"This is utterly ridiculous!"

….

"Let it be decided that the ritual was fulfilled," The King decreed, "therefore, the accused is no longer classified an outsider, but will be henceforth known as Princess Precious-light's fiancé. As per our traditions, the wedding will take place tomorrow at sunset. This case is dismissed."

Long-spear sat in utter shock, jaw hanging and eyes bugged wide.

What?

Leonardo watched him, clueless as to what just happened, but heavily concerned for his friend and himself. "Long-spear? Come on, man, answer me. What happened?"

The mer shook his head, disbelief radiating from his features, "I can't believe it," he said, "I just….can't believe it."

That's when Leo's knees finally gave out, making him collapse into the chair behind him. "Long-spear, am I…did they….did they say I'm guilty?"

The merman grimaced, unsure of how to answer, because while it was great that he's not going to be executed, the guard didn't think Leo would like this result any better. Unfortunately, Leonardo took his wince the wrong way, as a thought horrible and cold, pierced his heart with all the destructive capability of a lead bullet. He was going to die. They had sentenced him to death, and he'd never see his family again.

The turtle looked down at his shackled hands, unsure of how to proceed. Normally, he'd fight his way out, and he had complete faith that he could easily do so and escape. However, if he did go with that plan, then he'd be putting the mer at risk, because his actions would absolutely make the already strained tensions explode. Which would inevitably lead to war, as they no doubt would chase their prisoner, hunting him down for his crime and the violence committed against their people. Which would devastate the mer, as there was no way they'd survive a war against the humans, because Leo couldn't imagine a scenario where the humans wouldn't get drug into this mess, and then Glimmer would have to watch the destruction of her people and her culture, and Long-spear would likely die in battle, and it would all be his fault!

Leonardo groaned, burying his face into his hands. He had no choice, he had to die. Not like that was an ideal choice either, as his family would inevitably find out, and it would either go with the mer killing his family as they tried to avenge their leader, or his family leaving heartbroken. The turtle clenched his teeth, fury with himself igniting in his heart. He was so stupid! How could he be so dumb? For someone with a, supposedly, great destiny, he sure was exceptionally skilled at failing his family, and those he loved. Green knuckles rapped the scaly skull, tugging mournfully at his mask. He was a disgrace. He didn't deserve to be son, brother, and leader to his family. The only thing he was good for was causing problems!

Leo was about to beat his head with his fists again, but was stopped by Long-spear unlocking the shackles adorning his wrists. The ninja frowned, do they normally set prisoners sentenced to die free? It didn't seem like a very safe policy. The turtle looked up at the guard to ask that question, but curiosity quickly turned to shock when the mer pulled him up and began to lead him out of the court room and away from the crowd. Was Long-spear in charge of taking him to the executioner? Or was he helping him escape? He couldn't possibly be trying to help him escape, right? Wordlessly, face still unreadable, the yellow and black fishman continued down the winding halls, until they were outside a door flanked by two smaller male mer.

"The Princess' future husband will be resting here until the ceremony," one of the mer stated with a bow, "we are his valet, and will assist him in preparing for the wedding."

Leonardo glanced between the three mer, features blank as he was once again left out of the conversation. Long-spear gave a weary nod, "Thank you, I will assist Brave-lion for the moment, please wait outside until we call for you."

Once again Leo was grabbed and dragged through another door, sapphire eyes utterly confused, "Long-spear, what are you doing? Are you helping me escape? I mean, I appreciate the thought, but if they know you helped bust me out when I was sentenced to death, I think we both know it won't end well."

The turtle suddenly fell silent, mouth falling open in stunned silence as he took in the room he had been pulled into. It was huge, almost the size of their old lair. With a high clear ceiling, elegantly carved walls, a large fireplace, and the biggest bed Leo had ever seen, it was impressive. However, he still wasn't understanding why he was there. If he was going to die, then why bring him into such a lavish setting like this? Suddenly a thought struck the turtle, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. Eyes going to where Long-spear stood in front of the fireplace, muttering to himself in the mer language, Leo slowly crept backwards to stand behind a large, cushioned chair. The movement must have startled the mer, as he glanced up to shoot a curious glare at mutant ninja turtle.

"What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Leo shot back, "I mean, as far as I'm aware, I've been sentenced to death and right when I'm resigning myself to being brought to the executioner, you bring me here! Into a room with a bed!"

The turtle hunched, eyes uncomfortable and slightly afraid, "What are your intentions? Because, I don't care if I'm supposed to die, I'm not cooperating in anything…dishonorable."

Long-spear blinked.

Then blinked again.

The dark lips pursed, then they were bit. The broad shoulders shook, and the mer dropped his head, one clawed hand covering his mouth. The sight was almost concerning, if not for the fact that Leo was already extremely concerned for his own safety. This continued for another few seconds, until the mer suddenly burst out in uproarious laughter. The guffaws were so loud and so powerful, that the warrior was quickly bent doubled over, hands braced on his knees. The guard laughed so hard, he collapsed into the chaise lounge chair in front of the fireplace, one hand weakly slapping his thigh. Right when it seemed the merman had gotten a hold of himself, he'd take a look at Leo, and start laughing all over again at the concern written on the turtle's features.

At this point, Leonardo was scowling with a slight pout. "Okay, I get it, I'm funny," he groused, "but I'd really appreciate it if someone would tell me, what the shell is going on here?!"

Finally, Long-spear calmed, gathering his composure enough to talk to the ninja, "I assure you," he giggled "my intentions are honorable."

Leo rolled his eyes, then walked around the chair to collapse into it with a huff, "So, what was the verdict?" He asked, crossing his legs so to rest an ankle on his knee.

"I'll tell you," Long-spear nodded, chuckles dying down, "but you're not going to like it."

"Am I sentenced to death?"

The mer shook his head, "No, you are not going to be executed,"

"Then I'm sure I'll like it just fine," Leo asserted.

Long-spear chuckled, "Your funeral, or should I say, wedding?"

The turtle blinked.

Then blinked once more.

"Come again?"

I had to write this, and the chapter got…..really long.

Either way though, I hope everyone enjoyed it!