The three turtles, along with Wick continued their travels along the path. With them they brought their horses, and the wizard brought his carriage full of spells.

"Oof!" grunted the wizard "Watch where you're going Wick."

"Yes sir." answered Wick.

"By the way, I never properly introduced myself." said the wizard "My name is Erigg."

"My name is Leo, and my large friend is named Rain."

"It is good to meet you Leo. Rain." greeted Erigg "By the way, where exactly are we heading?"

"I'm not sure." answered Leo.

"You're not sure?!?" gasped Erigg.

"Well not completely. But I know the purpose of which I travel." said Leo.

"And you trust him?!?" asked Erigg to Rain.

"Of course." answered Rain.

After the four traveled a couple of miles they came across a fork in the road. A wooden sign stood in the middle of the two roads. The left led to a spiraling narrow mountain. The right went straight on, into a valley of tall grass.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" complained Erigg "Let's get moving."

"Wait." commanded Leo "Something doesn't feel right."

Leo looked towards the valley. Within him, even though it looked like the safest way out, he sensed danger. He wasn't sure, but something was telling him to take the left and go up the dangerous mountain. Leo, trusting this feeling, pointed his horse to the left and continued on.

"We're taking that side?!?" said Erigg "The other side looks so much safer!"

"Trust me." said Leo, not turning back or stopping.

"Trust you?!? Trust you?!?" said Erigg "Do you trust him?!?"

"Yes." answered Rain, following behind Leo, leaving Erigg no choice but to do the same.

Within the valley however, behind the tall grass, Ixnus and Shadowlord's assassins hid, watching the four take the other path.

"They are going for the mountain. What now?" asked one of the assassins.

"Let them cross." answered Ixnus "We will ambush them in the Dark Swamps."

Hours passed, night began to fall, Leo, Rain, Erigg and Wick made their way up the narrow, crumbling mountain path.

"Careful Wick." said Erigg, looking in the wagon at his spells "This place is dangerous, just take it easy."

"Damned clouds seem to be gathering above." Rain pointed out "Leo, I think it might be wise that we hurry."

"If we go to fast we may fall off the edge, just stick closer to the mountain." commanded Leo.

"But if we don't hurry..."

"We'll be fine Rain, just..."

About midway up the mountain path Leo stopped dead in his tracks. His grew wider and he found himself in a deep dark area,

"Where am I?" said Leo "What is this place?"

"Leo..."

"Master? Is that you again?"

"Leo. Yes, it is I."

"Master, what is happening? Why am I here?"

"You are not here, but you are where you were."

"I don't understand Master."

"I come to you in spirit my son. Leo, you must not let your emotions dictate your judgment."

"Are you saying I made a poor decision?"

"I am saying you must be wary of the road ahead."

"I will try master.., I will try to make better decisions."

"It's not about you making decisions my son. It is about listening to others and trusting them."

"But master, I am so afraid..."

"I know. But you must fight through that fear."

"I don't know if I can master."

"You must believe in yourself."

"I can't."

"You must!"

"Master..." Leo cried, bowing to his knees "How can I extinguish the fear, when I can't make the right decisions."

"Sometimes our wrong can lead us on the right path." said Master Yoshi, placing his hand upon Leo's shoulder "Leo."

"Master?" said Leo, looking up to see his master slowly fading "I need you."

"Leo..."

"Please don't leave me master."

"Leo..."

"Leo! LEO!!!"

"Huh?"

Breaking from his trance, Leo looked around and saw that he, Rain, Erigg and Wick were still standing on the side of the mountain with dark clouds hovering above.

"Leo, we need to move!" warned Rain "The winds are picking up!"

"Come on, let's continue, quickly!"

Leo rode up the edge of the mountain with Rain, Erigg and Wick following behind. Before the storms could hit however, the four made it safely up the mountain.

"Now where do we go?" asked Rain.

"I believe we should head for the forest in the distance." answered Leo, pointing to a forest surrounded by fog.

"That's Mistwood." said Erigg.

"Mistwood?" started Rain "What is Mistwood?"

"Mistwood is where most of the Shadowlord's strongest assassins reside. Most of them who have suffered horrifying mutations." explained Erigg "I've heard tales of the place. Many go in, no one makes a out living."

"Poppycock!" scoffed Rain "It's all a bunch of made up legends and myths. None of it is real."

"Don't believe me? Very well, go on ahead. Wick and I will find a safer route."

"If you want to leave..." started Leo, turning to face Erigg with anger and annoyance written in his eyes "Then why don't you..."

Leo stopped for a moment, remembering the words his master had said to him earlier.

"You must let your emotions dictate your judgment."

"I must not let my emotions dictate my judgment." uttered Leo "Erigg... we need you... with us. We can't do this without you."

"Do you mean that?" asked Erigg, looking deep into Leo's eyes to find truth hidden behind "Very well. We will stay."

Leo nodded and turned to face the road leading straight to Mistwood."

In the valley below the mountain, Ixnus and his assassins rose from the tall grass.

"They didn't come through here."

"I know." said Ixnus "But no worries. They should be heading for Mistwood now."

"Mistwood? Isn't that the place with that monstrosity roaming around?"

"Yes. The Mutant of Mistwood is what they call it. Anyone who goes in never comes out... alive."