Hello everyone! I'm so happy everyone is liking this arc, and are enjoying the new characters. I really stressed about making them decent lol!

Let's get back to the story, shall we?

"Donatello!" Leo's voice was raw, shredded by strain, "Run!"

Raphael barely saw Donnie get up and scramble away across the floor, his whole attention was once again on his oldest brother, watching as the creature cut off Leo's airway, squeezing the convulsing throat with a thick black tentacle. The familiar burn of protective fury sent the brawler's extremities tingling, as a red veil fell over his vision. That thing had a lot of nerve to think it could snack on his family. Their leader was already fading in and out of consciousness, one hand weakly tapping out, even as sapphire eyes dulled and began to roll into the back of Leo's head. Squaring his shoulders, Raphael bent his head down like a giant scaly, green bull, and with a bellowing roar, he charged the Eater at full speed.

The creature barely noticed the brawler.

One of its many appendages struck out, blocking the onslaught, and effectively slapping him away so to slam into the opposite wall on the other side of the device. "Raph!" Mona screamed, concern dripping from her tones, even as she dove to defend Venus from the Eater, "Raphael! Are you okay?!"

"Peachy," the red ninja groaned, peeling himself off the floor in pained movements.

Topaz eyes, squinting as agony rolled through his frame, desperately searched for his siblings, only to find they were out of eyesight. Panic gripped Raphael's heart, squeezing it in icy chains, and the brawler clawed his way back up. Ducking to swipe his fallen sai up from the floor, Raph sprinted around the machine, skidding around the corner in time to see Michelangelo crushed to the tile, his head giving a painful smack on impact. Leo was dangling in the monster's grip, but he seemed more coherent, as the interference from the younger brothers and the warrior Wyvern distracted the Eater from choking the life out of the eldest. The leader was kicking at the creature, feeble attempts to free himself that seemed almost a mockery of his true strength when compared to the inane nature of their enemy.

"I'm in the control room and rerouting the power now!"

…

The sound of Donatello's voice over the loudspeaker of the lab brought a swell of relief to Leonardo, as their headsets were once again useless when around the creature, the eldest still trying desperately to escape his captor. He wasn't sure if the power surge they'd caused was responsible for the lights dancing in his eyes, or if that was merely oxygen deprivation, however, going by the burn in his lungs he'd be willing to bet it was the latter.

Long legs continued to kick, Leo aiming for anything solid that he could reach. The leader released a low moan of pain as the creature pushed him further into the wall, putting strain on his carapace. Mona was still attacking from below, Michelangelo having picked himself up off the floor to rejoin the fight, as Raph ducked and weaved between tentacles stabbing and slashing in wild abandon. The blue ninja clawed at the rubbery appendage wrapped around his windpipe, the muscles in his throat and shoulders aching at the abuse, even as he strained to bring even the barest wisp of air into screaming lungs. Darkness was eating at the corners of his vision, before the lights in the laboratory miraculously sprang back into action, making him wince at the sudden brightness. Dully, Leo acknowledged the sparks coming off the machine, seeing Venus as she scrambled to type entire lines of code into the screen of the device, Donnie's voice coming over the speakers as he directed the younger Wyvern on his exact timing so they could synchronize on opening the rip.

That's when he felt that familiar feeling again, the one where the creature was feeding off his energy, even as it fended off the attacks of their ragtag team.

Leonardo grimaced as his body gave a spasm of agony, sapphire eyes rolling shut in guilt and shame. He'd been utterly useless this entire mission. A liability. They were a turtle down all because of his weakness and incompetence. How the eldest wished he could bring something of value to the team. However, it seemed his greatest skill lay not with ninjutsu or the art of the blade, but in holding his brothers back as he stumbled his way through life. How pathetic. An icy wave of fury seared the eldest's veins, he hated being helpless. He could hear the screaming of his siblings, hear the worried bellowing of Mona as she defended Venus from the onslaught, hear the crackling of electricity as the gate ripped the very fabric of reality within the steel arch. Energy from the machine that made his scales ripple, Leonardo shuddering at the foreign feeling.

This was when everything exploded.

The Eater jerked, noticing the rip, and immediately began lumbering towards it. While certainly fortuitous, as that was what they wanted from the beginning, it was also carrying Leo along like some kind of snack for the journey ahead. The leader kicked ever more furiously, desperate to make it release him. Raphael snarled and Mikey screamed, both channeling every bit of strength they had to rescue their brother, and once again Leo was smothered by an angry fugue. He was so sick of always having to be rescued! The Eater was going through the gate, taking him with it, ebony jaws slavering for the energy it fed on, and slapping his brothers aside it skittered across the floor with Leonardo in tow.

"Leo!" Raphael bellowed, muscled hands gripping the dangling ankles of the eldest, straining to pull out away from the inter-dimensional monster.

The Eater responded by tightening its hold, making Leo give a strangled cry of pain, the blue ninja pulling at the tentacles restricting his airway. The hulking mass of creature approached the gate, electricity humming and visible arcs of energy shooting to every side. Leo jerked as the bolts shooting out shocked him, absorbing through his scales, making the nerve endings in his skin sting and tingle. Leonardo released a distressed cry from his abused throat, hating the weakness that brought him to the point, despising that he couldn't save himself. He just wanted to be strong for his brothers, he just wanted to protect the people he cared about. He just wanted to stop being so pathetic, and actually be useful for once! A wide sapphire eye craned around to see the rip inside the gate over a green shoulder, and as Leo's struggling increased, the eldest turtle felt an overwhelming sensation overtake him.

He was sick and tired of being weak. So disgusted with himself that he'd done exactly nothing during this whole mission. He was stronger than this. He was done being the damsel in distress, it was high time he took control of the situation.

Remembering the many lessons of the ninja tribunal, Leonardo sank into an almost meditative state. The world around him shrinking away, leaving a sea of quiet. He focused on the energy writhing through the air around him, feeling the way it played across his skin and sent his scales singing. If he could harness it the way they harnessed their chi, then maybe he could turn it against the Eater. Mona said that the same energy the creature fed off of could be used as a weapon against it. He just needed to wield it. Evening his breathing, loosening his grip on the thick tentacles, Leo called to the energy with his own chi, welcoming it into his body, bidding it to flow through him and follow the lines of his own veins. The energy leaping off the steel arch, somehow seemed to compound itself, absorbing into his limbs, and crawling across his arms, legs and torso. Leo wasn't sure how he was doing this. Wasn't even sure if it was a smart thing to do, but he was incensed with the need to protect his family, even if it meant putting himself in harms way.

He was the shield after all, and he'd protect the lives that truly made a difference in this world.

…..

Mona gaped, watching as the energy from the dimensional rip seemed to arc and cocoon itself around Leonardo, the way electricity embraced a Tesla coil.

The creature seemed just as confused, as it sniffed the air around its prey, the progress towards the rip halted at the sudden development. Even Raphael and Michelangelo were frozen, unsure of what to do. Glancing over to her sister, Mona could only nod when Venus gave a wide eyed look of wonder and concern. They only had a few minutes to keep the gate open, and they needed to get the Eater through it now. However, something was happening, something new and potentially powerful. From where she stood, Mona could see the sapphire eyes of the eldest glowing as the green lids fluttered open to pin a fiery glare onto the Eater. Leo was ticked off, and ready to fight, in spite of the fact that he'd been almost a cripple just five minutes ago, and now he seemed to have found the power to protect his brothers and defeat the monster.

With a bellowing war cry, Leo pulled the energy writhing across his frame, summoning it into his shoulders, the arcing electricity forming a crown or halo around his head, making his skin come alive with glowing blue markings, and then shot it like a cannon down his arms. A whomp, almost akin to the noise one hears when breaking the sound barrier, followed by an explosion, finished by the agonized screeching of the Eater. The first sound they'd heard it make since encountering the thing. Suddenly the monster was on the ground, its tentacles and legs skittering even as it convulsed in pain, Leonardo thrown across the room to land on the floor boneless like an abandoned toy; and still, all Mona could do was gape in awe and shock.

"The cascading stars technique, and without training?!" She gasped harshly under her breath, caramel eyes wide and uncomprehending, "That's impossible! Only one in five generations can do that….how?!"

With one last crackle, the gate powered down, leaving the rip to close up like a healing wound before disappearing into the ether, and then the entire facility fell into darkness. Venus stood in abject shock, jaw hanging, eyes the size of dish plates as she stared into the middle distance. No doubt trying to calculate the sheer improbability that was an untrained novice pulling off the cascading stars technique. The younger brothers weren't much better, both turtles blinking rapidly as they struggled to reconcile what just happened with their brother.

Mona whirled to face Raphael, confusion etched into her features, "How long has your brother been able to harness inter-dimensional energy?!"

"Uh…." The brawler stuttered, still looking helplessly between the now still body of the Eater, and the even more still body of his older brother, "since now?"

"What?!" Mona was beyond befuddled, and opened her mouth to express this, but was cut off when Raph's headset burst into life. No doubt due to the fact that as the last dregs of the Eater's life drained away, so too did its influence over their coms, and the harried conversation taking place over the headsets was loud enough to make Raphael wince.

…..

"…..we don't have time, someone needs to start chest compressions NOW!" The normally soothing timbre of Anthony Lowrey said in an uncharacteristic bellow, "I'm on the motorcycle headed your way, why haven't we heard from Raphael and Mike?!"

"I can't reach them, the monster messes with the coms, and the power is out so I can't talk over the loudspeaker," Donatello's own tones were tight with stress, shaking with terror, "I have minimal power in the facility, and I can only access the security system right now. I'm using the backup generator connected to the control room to unlock the front door, you can use that to get to us, and then I'm heading to the lab!"

"Whoa! Wait!" Raphael broke in, "What's goin' on?!"

"Raph!" The purple turtle practically sobbed over the com, "you need to get to Leo right now!"

Topaz eyes blew wide and the brawler was scrambling heading for the unmoving form of his eldest brother, praying that his suspicions weren't true, "What's wrong?"

"The kid's heart stopped," Anthony supplied, voice jittering as he drove down a backroad, "Raphael, do you know how to do chest compressions?"

At this point the brawler had already flipped the eldest onto his shell, Michelangelo standing nearby, his baby blue gaze flooded with tears, horror dripping down his cheeks, "Yeah, I got it," Raph replied, snarling when he noticed that Leonardo had the audacity to smile while clinically dead, "Mikey, start counting!"

"Uh," Mikey whispered tearfully, voice stumbling as he gave a heavy blink, "r-right, I'll start counting."

The red clad ninja crossed his palms over the eldest's plastron, pushing down in rhythmic pumps, mouth set in a grim slash of determination, "Come on, Fearless, don't ya die on me! Don't ya dare die on me!"

Dipping down to breathe into the lax mouth, Raphael continued, arms already aching with the force he was pressing down on the eldest's chest. Over the headsets, Anthony's voice came back in, "I'm in the building, following the map Donnie sent my phone."

Donatello burst through the lab doors, sprinting to Raphael's side, dropping to skid the last few feet on his knees, "Has he started breathing yet?!"

The brawler jerked his head in a short no, intensity and focus coming off the hotheaded turtle in palpable waves. Michelangelo didn't pause in his counting, not allowing their sibling's arrival to hitch their timing. Donnie wasn't concerned about the lack of greeting though, he was more than a little preoccupied with saving their leader's life, "Come on, aniki!" He screamed, taking over compressions so Raph could rest his arms, "Just breathe!"

A roar echoed down the hallway, drawing Raphael's attention briefly, as the brawler turned just in time to see their aged guardian do an impressive drift around the corner, driving the motorcycle into the laboratory, "Ya brought the bike inta the buildin'?" Raph asked, bemused surprise bubbling under the terror of losing his sibling, suddenly venting into relief because a bonafide doctor had arrived.

"It was the fastest way to reach you," Anthony answered, voice clipped and professional, "now let me see him!"

Raphael scooted aside, more than happy to let the medical specialist take over. The purple ninja continued in his movements, neither he nor Mikey missing a beat. The veterinarian unzipped a large leather bag, pulling out a field defibrillator, "I'm glad I packed this," the man panted, hurriedly setting it up, "as soon as I saw Leonardo's heartbeat become irregular, I put it in a to-go bag, just in case we might need it."

With that being said, the human placed the paddles on Leo's chest and left side, pursing his lips in concentration, "Clear!"

Donnie leapt away from Leonardo, watching the still form jerk as electricity was pumped through him. Nothing. Once again, Anthony set the defibrillator, upping the voltage, then replaced the paddles, "Clear!"

Another jerk, hands and feet twitching, but still nothing.

Mikey was sobbing into Raphael's shoulder, gripping the muscled bicep like a lifeline, the brawler a mere spectator as he watched Donatello and Anthony fight for Leo's life. Raph felt the tears he'd been holding back well in the corners of wide topaz eyes and begin to soak his mask. "He can't die," he whispered in a prayer, "not yet, please, not yet."

"Clear!"

Nothing.

"Clear!"

A twitch, but no breath, no heartbeat. And then…suddenly….

Leonardo jerked, his body rolling with a violent spasm as he convulsed with one sharp breath. A ragged inhale that sounded like it was being drawn through shattered glass, followed by several more erratic pulls of air, quick and shallow, followed swiftly by an intense coughing fit. Donnie and Anthony rolled Leo onto his side, the war veteran crooning soft encouragement as he gave soothing rubs to the tense neck, "There you go, kiddo, deep even breaths. You're alright."

The brothers collapsed onto the eldest, each laying claim to a portion of Leo's fallen frame, the younger brothers shaking in relieved sobs. "Don't ya ever do that again, ya hear me?!" Raph growled, the harshness of his tone undercut by the tears streaming from liquid gold eyes, "Don't ya ever pull a stunt like that again, or I'll kill ya myself!"

"Wha-?" The leader's question was cut off by another round of coughing, before he rasped, "Wha' happ'ned?"

"You did, bro," Mikey wept, one hand swiping the moisture off from his chin and cheeks, "one minute you're monster food, and then next thing I know, you went super saiyan."

Sapphire eyes, squinted in pain even as he gasped for air, grew thoughtful, "It worked?" He wondered aloud, "It actually worked?"

"Ya bet it worked," the brawler grumbled, "whatever it was ya did, blew yerself and the Eater ta kingdom come. Honestly, what made ya pull a stunt like that, ya idiot?!"

Leo gave a weak grin, lips trembling with the strain it took to remain conscious, "Didn't wanna….be rescued….again."

"Ya killed yerself over yer stupid pride?!" Came the answering snarl.

The leader shrugged, sapphire eyes fluttering shut, "Seemed as good a….reason as any….at the time."

A soft breath, and then Leonardo slumped on the floor, exhaustion from his near death, almost death, terrifyingly close to death, experience draining the turtle, "And he doesn't even have the decency ta be sorry," Raph muttered, shaking his head in thinly veiled tolerance, "the guy should be on bathroom duty fer a month over this!"

Mona sat on the floor next to Raphael, a clawed hand resting consolingly on his shoulder, "I'm sorry, older siblings can be stupid like that."

The hotheaded terrapin jerked with an annoyed snort, "Ya don't have ta tell me that," he growled, before heaving a sigh, shoulders drooping with fatigue, "at least he's okay. It's a good thing the Doc was here."

"You're telling me," Donnie sniffled, his own body growing loose with relief as he watched Anthony check over their leader, happy to let the man do what he did best, "anybody want to fill me in on what Mikey meant by super saiyan?"

"When you and Venus opened the gate," Mona supplied, taking over the conversation, "the Eater was drawn to the rift, and was going to take Leonardo with it."

Donatello's jaw dropped, eyes flitting back to where Leo lay, battered but whole and still very much in their dimension. How that happened though, was still a mystery, simply because the creature was so unstoppable, "How did you save him?"

"That's what Mikey meant, Don," Raph said quietly, "I don't know how he did it, but somehow he…. I don't know…" the brawler foundered trying to find the words, "it's like he took the electricity from the gate, and turned it inta some kind of weapon?"

"Yeah!" Mikey warbled, the stress of their brother's heart giving out making the youngest wilt, even as the orange ninja strove to remain his cheerful self, "Remember when you did that experiment with the electricity and those big metal coils?"

"Tesla coils, yes," Donnie nodded.

Michelangelo gave an enthusiastic nod, "Just like that, but Leo was the coil, and he was flowing like with the tribunal, and then he managed to make the energy shoot down his arms like a cannon and it took the Eater out."

The scientist blinked….then blinked again. His big brother did what?

"It's called the cascading stars technique," Mona said, low voice still heavy with shock, "I've only ever seen it done once, but while unrefined, that was definitely it."

"Cascading star-?" Raph shook his head, "Didn't ya say that yer duchess told ya that ya had ta be born with that ability? So, how'd Leo do it?"

The ebony wyvern shook her head, "I don't know," she whispered, "it should be impossible, especially without training. To do something like that without it, and ignorant of how to harness dimensional energy, is…astronomical!"

Astronomical. That was certainly one way to describe Leonardo Hamato. Donatello shook his head, "Okay," he sighed, "the power should be coming back on soon, I'll send the girls home, but Anthony needs to get Leo somewhere safe."

"What if I take the bike and bring the Rv back here?" Raph asked, "If I hurry, I can be back before the power comes back on and they won't even see us on the security cameras."

"Good idea," Donnie nodded.

…

It was nearly two hours later that Mona was watching Donatello get the machine back up again, Raphael standing guard. Michelangelo had stayed behind at the Rv park with the doctor to help take care of their leader, however, the red clad ninja chose to come back so to ensure that Donnie made it out safely. "Okay, once we get it trained on your home dimension, you need to walk through immediately, so we don't cause another power surge."

The older Wyvern nodded at the brainy turtle, smiling her appreciation, "Thank you so much for taking care of us,"

"I could have done it," Venus pouted, "I could have gotten us home."

"You are getting us home," Mona reminded her baby sister, "however, Donatello was the one that freed us from our cages, remember?"

"I know," the younger sibling sighed, "I just wish it wasn't always me getting rescued all the time. I'd like to contribute a bit more, and not feel like the backpack you lug around for sentimental reasons."

Mona jerked as she released a startled laugh at the analogy, "I promise, you're not a backpack," she chuckled, before wrapping her arms around the smaller female in an affectionate hug, "and even if you were, you'd be the kind that always has just the thing I need in any situation."

The ivory ear tufts perked up, "Really?"

"Absolutely,"

The gate once again crackled to life, and the purple turtle turned, "Well, ladies, your carriage awaits." He said, gesturing to the rip.

Mona was ready to jump in, but paused, "What are you going to do with the Eater's corpse?"

"Nothin' we can do," Raph shrugged, "after it kicked the bucket, the thing disintegrated, turned inta sand or somethin'. Donnie picked up as much as he could, but that thing is toast."

Venus' eyes widened, and she whirled on Donatello, "Can I have a sample of that sand?!"

Donnie grinned, presenting two test tubes full of the powdery substance, "I made sure to grab enough for both of us, you know, for science."

The younger Wyvern squealed in joy, grabbing her test tube, "Thank you!" She gushed, stretching up on her toes to place a kiss on Donnie's cheek, "I can't wait to start examining this!"

With that the younger sister dove through the gate, eyes sparkling with her new project, leaving Donatello dumbfounded. Mona chuckled at the expression, shaking her head, "I guess Venus found herself an admirer," the female grinned, "not that I disapprove. Your brother is really nice, and I think they'd be cute together."

Raphael cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously, "Yeah, well, she's not the only one who's got admirers."

Mona startled, turning to meet Raphael's topaz gaze, "Oh?" She asked, "And who else does?"

The brawler scuffed his foot on the ground, looking down shyly, before once again meeting Mona's gaze, "You do," he answered simply.

The wyvern didn't answer, and as Raph blushed, he rushed to explain himself, suddenly worrying that he'd said the wrong thing, "I mean, why wouldn't ya? Yer strong, and cool, and the way ya fight is awesome, but ya also care a lot about yer sister, and I just-"

Mona dove forward, cutting Raphael off by planting a kiss right on his lips. The wyvern lingered, allowing the heat from her draconic lineage to warm the terrapin, before leaning back, "Trust me," she said in a low sultry voice, "the feeling is mutual."

Rubbing noses with the shocked turtle, Mona giggled then pulled away so to sashay towards the gate, "Once again," she called, looking over her shoulder briefly, "thank you, oh and Raphael?"

"Yeah?" The red ninja replied, voice slightly strangled.

"I'll call you." Mona winked, then walked through the portal.

…

"Mona!"

The wyvern pulled up short as the distressed voice of her duchess called out her name, "Your Grace!"

Mona paused, bowing from the waist, even as strong arms enveloped her in a hug, "Where have you been?!" The human woman exclaimed, "You know what, never mind, Venus has been trying to tell me and I'll let her explain. Just tell me you're both alright?"

The wyvern pulled out of the hug so to smile on her employer. The Lady Amalthea, Kinuye to those closest to her, was a human of average height in her early forties, with long silver hair that swept past her hips, though currently tied in a loose ballerina bun. Grey eyes, the color of the sea during a storm, gazed out from the youthful looking face, heavy with past hurts and battles barely survived. Although, one side was marred with a jagged scar that traveled down from her left temple, ending at her jawline, "I'm fine, your Grace," Mona smiled, "just happy to be home."

"You'll have to debrief me how that came to be later," Kinuye sighed, patting Mona on the shoulders as if she wanted to wrap her into another motherly hug, "but for now, go see Marguerite, she'll be more than happy to march both of you down to the kitchen and feed you as much as you can stomach."

"Yes, please!" Venus begged, "I'm so hungry, and the scientists that captured us don't even know the meaning of decent food!"

"Scientists?" Kinuye blanched, stormy eyes flashing with lightning, "Captured?!"

"Don't worry," Mona cut in, "we were saved by some very kind warriors, they got us out and are the reason we've come back home."

"One of them could even do the cascading stars technique," Venus said absently, a clawed finger flicking the test tube holding the Eater's remains, examining it in the sunlight, "used it to take out an Eater."

The duchess froze, "The cascading-wait, how is that possible?"

Mona shook her head, "I don't know, and I wouldn't have believed it if not for seeing it with my own eyes, but he did."

Kinuye pursed her lips, a slender finger tapping her chin thoughtfully, "Interesting," she murmured, "but I haven't been told by the world tree that another bearing the mark of world walker had awakened their power."

"I don't think he has," Mona shrugged, "not yet at least. He seemed really surprised to have accomplished the cascading stars, I don't think he even knows what it was he did."

"That's not good," the duchess sighed, "in fact, that could be dangerous."

"For us?" The older wyvern queried, unease at their friends possibly being an enemy blossoming in her gut.

"No, for him," Kinuye replied, causing a whole different sort of discomfort in the ebony female, "I think we'll need to keep an eye on him, because if he's awakening the sacred power connected to the world tree, then his life will inevitably be in danger.

"Nessa!" The duchess called, power flashing through the grey gaze making it glow briefly, "Report to me, right now!"

"Coming!" A bright voice replied, seemingly floating in midair.

A strand of gold glowed before the gathered group, swirling like sand caught in a desert tornado, before it grew bigger and bigger, forming into the shape of a young dragon female the same age as Mona and Venus. Her hair, a bouncing curly mane of bright pink, framed a lizard like face with humanoid eyes, nose and lips. Gold horns curled down around webbed ears, like a sheep's, ending right under her earlobes. Alexandrite eyes sparkled in the sunlight and accented the alexandrite scales covering her body, wings and tail. A slim frame wrapped in a bright pink kimono finished her look, that being of a teenage dragon maiden with a sunny disposition. However, the most interesting thing about her, was the third eye set inside her forehead that sparkled with a mysterious power, "Reporting for duty!" She chirped happily with a cute salute, "What can I do for you, your Grace?"

"Nessa," Kinuye said, voice low and grave, "I need you to keep an eye on these warriors that saved Mona and Venus."

"Particularly the one with a blue mask," Mona threw in.

The duchess nodded, "He may be awakening the sacred power, we need to stand guard to make sure nothing bad happens to him or his family."

Nessa jerked, eyes widening in amazement, "You mean, your power?" She asked, "The power to control dimensions and their energies?"

"Yes," Kinuye replied.

"But!" Nessa face blanched as worry consumed her features, "But if he's awakening, then he should really be here, close to the world tree! The powers could destabilize as they try to settle into his body and harmonize with his life energy!"

"Nessa," the duchess interrupted.

"He could start developing health issues, and it could make him emotionally unstable, not to mention the sheer agony of the energy trying to absorb itself into his body!"

"Nessa!"

"He can't stay in his dimension, he-!"

"Nessa!"

The dragon maid paused her panicked rambling, detaching the clawed hands from where they had wound into the hair close to her scalp, "What?!"

"That's why I'm asking you to use your third eye to watch over him," Kinuye stated, placing soothing hands on the girl's shoulders, "we can't just swoop in and spirit him away to the manor. For one thing, it will scare him half to death. No one would enjoy being kidnapped by strangers. Plus, the best thing for him is to allow the process to proceed as naturally as possible, in the place he's most comfortable. When the time is right, we'll check in, and see if further action is required."

"But what if-?" Nessa broke in but was cut off when the duchess shook her head.

"We can't intervene, not yet" she insisted, "we can't even be sure that he's awakening the sacred powers. It would be unwise to jump the gun before we know for sure."

The dragon maid drooped, but gave a resigned nod, "Fine, I'll watch over him and his family."

"Very good." Kinuye turned to walk away but stopped when the pink dragon spoke again.

"But your Grace," Nessa began, one finger raised in curiosity, "what will we do if he is awakening the sacred powers?"

The duchess merely smiled, but her eyes were troubled, "What will we do, indeed?" She murmured, then proceeded to walk away towards a large mansion framed against the setting sun.

…

"Leonardo, we need to talk, kiddo."

The eldest turtle sat on the cot of a large device, having just been scanned by the veterinarian. After their rather frightening experience, Anthony had insisted on doing a full medical check up on all four turtles, however, the younger brothers knew who in particular the older man was concerned about. So, after several phone calls, and cashing in multiple favors, the war veteran snuck the boys into a clinic after hours, and proceeded to do x-rays, CAT scans, MRI's and a solid round of blood work. The process took hours, and by the time they were done, everyone was exhausted. At the moment though, Leo wanted to run away, fatigue and all. The concerned look on Anthony's face, the way the old man closed the door of the room, ensuring privacy from his brothers. All gave the leader a feeling of foreboding that whispered ominously in the back of his mind.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah, kiddo," Anthony sighed with a grieved shake of his head, sitting down in a nearby chair, "why didn't you tell me that you've been having heart problems?"

Leonardo jerked, "I'm not…. I mean, they're not…. they're not that bad….are they?"

"To put it simply," the man answered, "yes, they are."

An icy cold wave of dread drenched the turtle from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, "How bad?" He rasped.

"Bad enough that I need to put you on medication, from here on out," Anthony replied, his own voice quiet, "we need to keep your heartbeat at a regular rhythm, otherwise you could get a pulmonary embolism, and trust me, kid, that ain't pretty."

Green hands clenched, and Leo closed his eyes as intense self-loathing sent his frame trembling. "Will it effect my leading the team?"

"Possibly," the man nodded, "but only if you don't take your meds the way you need to. However, if you stay faithful, you might not even notice a difference. It might even make your day to day better."

Leonardo nodded meekly, unhappily resigning himself to a lifetime of meds, "Do….do we have to tell my brothers? Or my dad?"

The veterinarian scowled, "Young man," he scolded in an uncharacteristic growl, "you keeping secrets about your health is what landed you in this mess! Do you know what I found? Scars! On your heart! Years worth of scars left by stress and abuse! You're too young to suffer like this, and it grieves me that you're in this situation, but I won't keep any secrets from your family, not about something this serious!"

The eldest turtle drooped in self recrimination, nodding again, "Right," he sighed, "then, what do I do?"

"First, we're going to have a family meeting," Anthony stated, voice stern, "I'm going to explain the results of your tests, and then detail a treatment regimen that can help you maintain a normal lifestyle comparable to what you're used to.

"Then," the human continued, "I'm going to prepare the prescriptions you'll require, and make sure you'll get as many refills as you'll need to keep you healthy. From there, you'll take your meds, and monitor your health, telling me everything any time you feel the slightest bit poorly. Understand?"

Leo felt his heart give a pang, even as it sunk in guilt, "Yes, sir,"

Anthony paused, then sighed, standing up so to wrap his arms around the struggling teenager, "You're gonna be alright, kiddo," he reassured, "I promise. I'm here, Donnie is here, Raphael and Mikey are here, and you got your dad, too."

"Yeah, I'm causing problems for all of you," Leo spat bitterly.

"Hey, now!" Anthony leaned back, giving Leo a stern look, "Don't you be thinking that! You're not a problem, and you're not a burden. You just listen to me, and lean on your brothers, and you'll find that everything is better than you think. Yes, this is a scary diagnosis, but that doesn't mean that life is over. We can get through this."

Once again, the elderly man hugged Leonardo, patting the carapace with his hand in a soothing rhythm, however, Leo was far away. His mind was drowning is guilt and anger, frustration nipping at his heels. He was a liability. A disgrace. He always knew it, and know he had the doctor's note to prove it. Tears that had nothing to do with his heart welled up in his eyes. The eldest hated how he always seemed to hold his brothers back, but now with this diagnosis, he was successfully dragging them down.

Oh dear, poor Leo. This ends the arc for Rip. What are your opinions? I hope it lived up to your expectations!

And unfortunately, things will only get worse before they get better. Any thoughts? I already have the rest of the arcs planned, and let me tell you, our blue baby is about to go on a wild ride. I'm so mean lol!