Here we go!

Leonardo had been having strange dreams lately. Well, for a little over six months, actually.

Not that he'd said anything.

In the very beginning they always started the same, with him walking alone through a dark void, feet whispering through the silky softness of water, gazing around the area as an unfamiliar voice called his name. That was all it really was for months, with Leonardo waking up confused and shaken. There was something inside of him that seemed to urge him that he answer the voice, but the turtle never seemed able to open his mouth while in the dream. After he'd decided to return home, though, it had changed. Now he was walking towards a starburst of light in the distance, the voice calling his name gaining both volume and clarity. In the two months that he spent finding himself again, Leo made a twilight journey in his dreams, always heading towards the light, heeding the call of the mysterious voice. However, the night he chose to reclaim his place as leader was the night the dream changed yet again.

He'd walked into the light, finally leaving the darkness of the past few months, and finding his eyes dazzled by what he found.

The waters he'd been walking through were clear and smooth as glass, meeting a cloudless sky far as the eye could see. In the very center of his vision, though, lay a lone island with lush green grass growing, speckled by flowers. On the island grew the loveliest weeping willow tree that Leonardo had ever seen. It was glowing, each limb a shining silver, while golden leaves grew from the vines. Its metallic sheen was in stark contrast to the grass and reflected off the waters surrounding the island. The eldest turtle wondered at its beauty, his mouth falling open slightly in awe as he took in the elegant vines growing from its trunk, pink flowers as delicate as snowflakes decorating the branches that swept the ground and blew gently in the wind. This was where the dream usually ended, with him staring at the tree and feeling the delicious spring breeze play and tug at his mask tails.

Come to me, Leonardo

The turtle jolted, realizing that he was currently back in said dream. With a rush, Leo remembered the fight, remembered the last three days plagued by seizures, remembered this latest one that had him slumped on the floor in exhaustion. Was that why the dream changed again? Were the seizures connected somehow? This was the first time the voice that had been beckoning him spoke beyond simply calling his name, its tones echoing around the vast expanse surrounding them, "He-Hello?" He asked, his voice tremulous, discovering that he now held the ability to answer, unlike before, "Who are you?"

Come to me

"But I'm already here," Leo countered, spreading his hands in confusion, "unless there's somewhere else I need to go?"

The tree

Leonardo had turned, sapphire eyes taking in the beautiful tree once again, lips pursing in thought, before slowly approaching the island. So, the voice wanted him to go to the tree? Okay. He wasn't sure why these dreams had been persisting for so long, only to culminate to this, but he'd try if it meant getting some answers. The leaves rustled as the young warrior stepped through the curtain of flowers and vines. The silver bark of the willow tree stood before him, and as the green feet walked across feathery soft moss, Leo gaped as he realized that the tree was pulsing. A heartbeat resonated within the canopy of golden leaves and silver vines, vibrating his timpana, tugging him deeper into the tree's embrace.

Calloused fingers reached out, aiming for the silky smooth bark of the tree trunk. Time seemed to slow, and Leonardo fought against an invisible force keeping him from reaching the tree, "What's going on?" He growled, jaw clenched with the effort to keep pushing his hand out to the tree, "I thought you wanted me here?!"

Come to me….come….to…..me….

Leonardo woke with a strangled gasp, bolting upwards as his chest heaved, hands clutching at the blanket covering him from where he lay on the couch. Despite not being scary or particularly traumatic, the dreams always elicited a response as if he were drowning, something Leo only did when coming out of deep meditation. That in itself was an odd thought, as he often wondered if he was dreaming, or somehow caught between the planes of sleep and the spirit realm. Master Splinter always did say that the veil between sleep and death was thin, which was why it was easier to have visions of the future while asleep due to the close proximity of the astral plane. That particular lesson had really freaked Mikey out, and the poor kid wasn't able to sleep for almost a week after that, afraid that his soul would get lost and not find its way back to his body. Thankfully, he'd recovered and was now enjoying his usual sleep routine, but that was a tough week on the baby brother. On the whole family, to be honest.

Leonardo pulled in a deep breath, steadying his nerves as he regained coherency. This latest dream was different than all the others he'd had before, and a lot more intense at that. However, the tremors were already fading, and the young warrior was now starting to realize that a lot more than his dream and the seizures was amiss. Glancing around, Leo noticed that the lair was in something of an uproar. His brothers and father were packing bags and gathering their gear as if preparing for a long trip.

Pulling the blanket off his legs, the eldest slowly stood, casting a befuddled look on his family, "Did I miss something?"

"You're awake!" Donatello exclaimed, pausing in his scramble to the lab, "How are you feeling?"

Leo gave a slight nod, uncomfortable at being coddled for poor health again so soon after reclaiming his role as leader, but no longer punishing himself either, "Better," the eldest smiled, "I'm sorry that this keeps happening."

"Don't apologize," the scientist denied his brother's word with a firm shake of his head, "everything is going to be fine, especially now that you're up, you're just in time!"

"Just in time?" The eldest blinked, sapphire eyes wide, "For what?"

"We're heading out, my dude!" Mikey threw in as he waddled over to where they stood, carrying dual duffel bags stuffed with odds and ends, "Mona said she's got some answers about your seizures and we're going to their dimension so they can take a look at you."

Understanding washed over Leonardo, with a heavy dose of relief, "Mona told you that?" He asked, eyes brightening with hope, "They can help?"

"Yeah," Mikey nodded, "but we gotta get there now because they're under attack, and Mona thinks that your stuff and their stuff may be connected."

"Under attack?" The eldest's jaw dropped, worry blossoming in his sapphire gaze, "Are they okay?" He asked.

"We don't know," Donnie grimaced, "apparently they've been in hot water for a while now, and we only found out because Mikey said to call someone named Nessa."

"Who's Nessa?" Leo was so confused, and nothing was making sense beyond that Mona believed she could help, "And how does Mikey know her?"

"I've asked the same thing, but the kid has yet to explain," the scientist replied in a dry tone, "maybe he'll spill to you?"

Blue and purple turned to Mikey, only to watch the youngest shrink, tapping his fingers together bashfully, "Well," he chuckled nervously, "Nessa is….shes kinda….we're kind of…she's my…girlfriend."

Donatello and Leonardo paused, blinking in confusion, "Wait…"

"Yer WHAT?!" Raphael's gruff voice bellowed across the lair, followed closely by the sound of his feet stomping over as he sprinted to join his brothers so to give the youngest a fierce glare of shock, "Since when do ya got a girlfriend, squirt?"

"That's…kind of a long story," the baby brother winced.

"Then gimme the cliff notes," the brawler growled, making blue and purple chuckle as they too leaned forward in interest.

"Uh, well," Michelangelo cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable with all the attention, "when Leo was gone, I was having a rough day about two months in."

Leo felt his shoulders slump at the reminder of his betrayal to his family, but a warm hand on his shoulder from Raphael reminded him that all the apologies had already been said and self recrimination was no longer necessary or allowed. The eldest breathed out the guilt, replacing it with the curiosity and surprise he felt over Mikey's big reveal.

"And I was…upset," the youngest continued.

The older brothers bit back a grimace. So, Mikey had been crying. That was the term he used whenever he was trying to avoid talking about it. This time, guilt flashed across Donnie and Raphael's features, as they realized that they had left their youngest hanging during those dark months.

"And then that's when Nessa appeared, just sitting on the floor next to me in the kitchen, looking just as upset as I was." Michelangelo smiled; a tender shy little thing that made his brother's heavy hearts warm, "That's how we met. She's the main reason I stayed sane during those months Leo was gone."

"Wait," Donnie cocked his head, sudden confusion darkening his gaze, "you're saying she was here? In the lair?"

"No, and kinda, yes?" The youngest groaned, dragging his hands down his face before diving forward into a rushed explanation, "She has the power to look into other dimensions, and can project an image of herself. Usually it's like a ghost, you know, can't touch her, but she's been working hard on training her projection skills so she can move things and stuff."

"While that's pretty cool, I have to ask," Donatello hesitated, not wanting to ruin Michelangelo's big moment, or immediately cast suspicion on his first girlfriend.

Leo had no such compunctions, "Why was she here to begin with?" The leader asked sternly, equally unhappy to ruin Mikey's moment, but not wanting brotherly sentiment to stop him from doing his job as protector of this family, "And more importantly, how did she know where to find us?"

"Well, she was kind of…spying on us?" Michelangelo shrunk even further, head dipping down slightly into his shell, "She said she'd been charged by the Duchess to use her ability to look across dimensions and keep an eye on Leo, watching over him as his powers developed to see if he would become a World Walker."

"The Duchess," Raphael asked, topaz eyes round with surprise, and hurt, "as in Mona's Duchess? Does that mean that Mona knew they were spying on us?"

The youngest turtle slumped, eyes downcast "Yeah," he breathed guiltily, "I asked about that, and she said that after Mona and Venus returned home, the Duchess asked Nessa to spy on us, but only so they could protect you, Leo!"

Sudden rage flowed through Leonardo, an incomprehensible flood of fury and spite as he thought about the timeline between the lab and that very moment, "So, she knew?" He spat, sapphire gaze crackling with repressed anger, "She knew about Kitsune, and the Shredder attacking us, and they did nothing?! I can understand them not helping with Kitsune because that was fought on the astral plane, but what about the Shredder?! They could have helped!"

"She wanted to help!" Michelangelo pled, holding his hands out placatingly, "She begged the Duchess to help, but Nessa was told that they couldn't intervene, that things needed to develop naturally with your powers. Then when you were gone, the Duchess said that you going missing was probably for the best because it kept you, and us, safe from Kitsune as your powers settled in. If we couldn't find you, then neither could she!

"Besides," the youngest continued, "they have an entire territory to take care of, the Duchess rules over a ton of villages and also protects dozens of other dimensions. When the stuff was going down with us, and you, that was around the time the attacks on the Manor started. And when you went missing, they were getting so bad, the Duchess couldn't even check in with her team regularly.

"Nessa was really worried," Mikey sighed, lowering his hands as his older brothers grew less tense, "but they didn't know what to do except put out fires as different crises popped up, which happened a lot. She was forced to choose between the safety of her people and us, and considering she doesn't know us, she chose to protect her people as they tried to find out who was attacking them."

A few moments of reflective silence passed, the older brothers considering Michelangelo's words. Donatello heaved a sigh, distaste still twisting his features, even as his brown eyes softened with compassion, "I hate to say I understand, aniki, but I do," he said softly, "they didn't know yet if you were a World Walker, and they were doing what little they could to protect us by putting Nessa in charge of keeping an eye on our family."

Leonardo's ire faded, becoming little more than a dull ache in his chest, but the turtle wasn't ready to fully forgive the mysterious Duchess yet, "I get it, Don," he huffed, "but that doesn't mean I have to like it. The idea of someone spying on us is bad enough, but after everything we went through with the Shredder, the least we deserved was an explanation. Then maybe things wouldn't have gotten as bad as they did if we had known."

Donnie sighed, "You're not wrong." He murmured, "So, do we still go, then? Can we trust this Duchess?"

Michelangelo kept his mouth shut, he'd said everything that was needed to be said, and while he firmly believed that yes, they needed to go, he also knew that his brothers wouldn't do anything they deemed unsafe for the family. All he could do was remain quiet, and hope they'd see it his way.

Raphael pursed his lips thoughtfully, "I can't say whether I trust the Duchess, or not," he finally rumbled, "but I trust Mona, and even though I'm frustrated that she never said anythin', I believe that they didn't mean ta hurt us. She probably wasn't allowed ta say anythin' and didn't want ta risk it."

"And I trust Nessa," Michelangelo blurted, relief shining on his face at Raph's support, baby blue eyes firm with conviction, "she didn't have to tell me their plan, but she did!"

"Okay," Leonardo pulled in a deep breath and then heaved a groaning sigh, "So, what is their plan?"

Mikey shrugged, "It was basically to protect you, bro." He answered simply, "Nessa said that being a World Walker is really rare, and any time someone discovers those powers, it's a huge deal and could put the person getting the powers in danger, but the Duchess didn't want to just kidnap you either. She said that it would be better for you to be in the comfort of home while you got used to the changes."

Something akin to forgiveness warmed Leo's heart, and he couldn't help but nod, "I can't say I don't appreciate that," the eldest murmured, "even the tribunal had few compunctions about kidnapping us for their own agenda."

"That's why I'm saying to give her a chance," Michelangelo begged, "Mona said the Duchess is sick, and they're under a lot of pressure from the constant attacks right now, and somehow, you're connected to all of it! That's why she's having us come to their dimension, so we can help you with the seizures and get some real answers about these powers and what they mean!"

Another heavy contemplating silence before the young leader groaned, "Fine, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt," he conceded, "it's not like I have any choice since all three of your girlfriends live there, do I?"

"Nope," Raph replied, a smirk on his face, but his features quickly shuttered with worry when he got his first good look at Leo, "Yo, Fearless, ya okay? Ya look a little pale."

Leonardo winced. These dreams he'd been having were, regrettably, not ones he's told his brothers about. The eldest felt guilty about keeping them a secret, but it's not like they were nightmares. They were just odd. However, maybe he shouldn't have kept them secret for so long? "Yeah," the eldest sighed, one hand rubbing the back of his neck self consciously, "just a weird dream."

"Oh," the brawler blinked, then after a long look assessing his brother, seemed to decide not to pry, especially since they just finished having a rather heavy conversation, "well, why don't ya get packed? Even Master Splinter is comin' and we don't know how long we'll be gone."

"Right," Leonardo nodded, he would tell his brothers about his dreams later, right now they had bigger concerns, "we should call April to let her know we'll be out of town for a while."

"Already taken care of," Donatello reported with a smile, "she said to be safe and let them know as soon as we get back home."

Raphael's shell cell began to ring, and the brawler glanced down at the screen before shooting his leader a wince, "Ya better make it quick, Leo," he reported, "because it's Mona and I have a feelin' they're about ta open the portal."

…

The family stepped through the shimmering blue circle into a lush garden, the eldest marveling at how the energy clung to him like static, sinking into his green scales, energizing him, "What am I, an overgrown battery?" He wondered aloud to himself softly.

"That's fascinating!" Donnie exclaimed, curious brown eyes watching as the energy danced across their leader's scales, "And that doesn't hurt?"

Leo shook his head to the negative, "It actually tickles," he admitted, "kind of like the feeling of drawing a feather across your arm, not unpleasant, but strange."

"And your equilibrium?"

The blue ninja paused, considering the question only to realize that he actually felt really good, great even! The nagging fatigue he'd struggled with that often accompanied the seizures had all but disappeared, "I feel awesome," Leo chuckled, "don't know why, but walking through that portal was like taking a hot bath, or I just spent several hours basking in the sun. My body feels refreshed."

"Interesting!" Donnie brightened, "I wonder if your body now craves dimensional energy?"

He never got an answer, as a loud explosion rent the air, making the mutants jump, bodies bending into defensive positions, "What the shell was that?!" Raph bellowed, topaz eyes dancing around the surrounding area, searching for the source of the loud noise, "are we under attack?"

"Isn't that what I told you?"

The voice pulled the mutant family's attention away from the explosion, and towards a feminine figure. Tenderness, accompanied by the frustration over her secrets, melted the topaz gaze, and Raphael found he could only breathe her name, "Mona,"

Mona and Venus stood nearby, the younger wyvern operating the large portal, while the older one jogged towards the group. The brawler stepped forward, gesturing towards their hosts, "Dad, ya remember Mona?"

Splinter nodded his grey head, "It is good to see you again, my daughter."

Mona blushed at the term of endearment, the rat's quiet way of stating he approved of the relationship between her and his son. Her caramel eyes softened, however, when they settled on the brawler, and the young warrior strode forward to throw her arms around Raphael's neck, "Despite the circumstances," she murmured, words muffled against his shoulder, "I'm glad you're here, I missed you."

Leo watched as the anger Raph had over their being spied on flared and died in the same moment within the liquid gold gaze of their hotheaded brother. The leader didn't need to be psychic to see why. Obviously, Raph had met his match in more than one way. The brawler apparently decided that this one disagreement wasn't worth fighting over. They'd already stated they understood the Duchess' reasoning, and Raphael acknowledged that Mona's hands were tied. So, what was the point of dredging it all up again? They would probably talk it out later, but Leo couldn't help but give a proud smile at the brawler and how much he'd grown emotionally over the last year.

"Yeah, well," Raphael coughed, returning the hug with a slight blush, "what's a guy ta do when his lady asks fer him ta come over?"

Mona giggled, but her words were drowned out by another explosion echoing over their heads, making the group flinch. The wyvern leaned back, casting her concerned gaze on Leonardo, "You need to follow me," she stated, tone serious and grim, "we need your help."

The eldest cocked his head, confusion shining in sapphire eyes, "My help?" He asked, pointing at himself and seeing the wyvern nod, "But what can I do?"

Another explosion overhead, but this time Leo had the opportunity to see that it seemed to bounce off an invisible force field of some kind, causing a shimmering ripple in the sky, "That barrier?" Mona said, gesturing upwards, "That is Nessa's doing. The Duchess fainted three days ago and hasn't been able to cast her usual protection spell ever since."

Three days? That was…a strange coincidence. Three days ago he'd taken out all those eaters and started having his seizures.

"Okay," the blue ninja nodded, "so what do you need us to do?"

"Not your brothers," Venus spoke up as she shook her head, "just you."

"I reiterate," Leo sighed, "what can I do? My brothers and I can help with fighting, but I'm lost on what I, specifically, can do to help the situation."

"Follow me, and you'll find out."

The turtles blinked in confusion as Mona turned and began to strut away down the hill, leaving her sister behind, and towards a path leading to the front of the medieval looking castle that was apparently behind them this whole time. With a sigh of resignation and mutual befuddlement, the brothers and their father followed the wyvern down the path, wincing at every explosion overhead.

Casting a playful side eye onto Raphael, Leonardo smirked, "Your girlfriend always this mysterious?" He asked drily.

"Sometimes," the brawler grumped, "honestly, she can talk yer ear off one minute, and be silent as the grave the next. Depends on the topic of conversation I guess."

"Probably doesn't want to waste any time," the eldest murmured, "especially since they're obviously under a lot of pressure."

Another explosion sent the magical barrier rippling, emphasizing the leader's point. Raphael nodded his agreement, then turned his liquid gold gaze back to his girlfriend, "I can't say I'm not worried," he said softly, "Mona looks rough."

Leonardo assessed the wyvern, concern curling in his gut at what he found. Mona's hair, normally an attractive waterfall of ginger hair and feathers, was disheveled and looked as if she hadn't had time to wash it recently. She appeared thinner than when they had met her, and now sported several new scars while stress lines hung in heavy bags under her eyes. Explosions aside, he could tell that whatever had been going on in this dimension had been difficult on their friends. The young leader made no mention of his observations, though, he merely continued following Mona, sapphire gaze drinking in the new world surrounding them.

The Wyvern was correct when she said the western territories the Duchess ruled over resembled Europe.

From the imposing stone castle to the lush forest and rolling green hills with snow capped mountains in the distance, the area was beautiful. The castle itself reminded Leo of what he had once imagined Hogwarts would appear to look. The fact it was also currently surrounded by a magical barrier and being defended by a mix of wyverns and dragonmen only made it seem more fantastical. An odd stirring fluttered in Leo's chest, a longing to stick around and explore resonating within his heart. However, the turtle squelched it. They had bigger concerns and he needed to focus. This determination was shot to shell, though, because Mona then approached a section of wall and placed her hand on one of the large stone blocks. The family watched in amazement as the ivy that had been covering the castle in elegant vines crawled up, the blocks rearranging themselves until they revealed the archway of a door.

"Whoa," Leo breathed, an inane burst of excitement fluttering in his chest.

Guilt constricted his heart, but it was swiftly drowned out when flaming torches sprang to life inside the magical door, lighting the way up a winding staircase made the turtle shiver with anticipation. He really shouldn't be feeling so happy, especially when they had walked into a literal war zone, but the turtle couldn't suppress the odd feelings of suddenly belonging. Like he'd come home. That thought was a concerning one, as Leonardo had thought that the lair was the only place he'd ever feel so at ease in, and he'd only been in this world a whole ten minutes at most. However, that didn't stop the tugging down to the very depths of his soul that there was something important here, something he was connected to. It scared Leonardo to realize this, the young leader analyzing the feeling, not enjoying the lack of control that it brought. With a shuddering breath, the eldest pushed the strange feelings down, refusing to garner any more joy from his surroundings.

They were on a mission to solve his seizures, and also help Mona and Venus out along the way, that's it. After they accomplished their goals, he would go home and forget all about this place.

"She's waiting for you in the tower,"

Mona's low tones echoed down the staircase as they trudged up, step by step, jolted Leo from his worries. Sapphire eyes returned to their silent trek, lit only by the flaming torches.

"While I applaud the ambiance," Donnie attempted conversation, his mellow voice surrounding them in the dim space, "aren't torches kind of low tech?"

Mona released a small chuckle, "My Lady has a fondness for the fantasy genre," she confessed, "and while we have electricity and a plethora of modern conveniences, in a fit of childish determination she insisted that secret passageways ought to look mysterious."

A startled bark of laughter escaped Leo's lips, even as his brothers chuckled, "I mean," Mikey giggled, "she's not wrong?"

"I'm confused, though," Raph stated, nudging his girlfriend with a playful elbow, "all this time ya made the Duchess sound like this mysterious, hardcore warrior, and now yer sayin' she's….a geek?"

The caramel apple eyes of the Wyvern blew wide in shock before the staircase was suddenly inundated with peals of laughter, the female having to pause so she could lean against the wall as she clutched her stomach, "I've never thought of it that way before," She snickered, wiping tears of mirth from her cheeks, "but she really is!"

"Sounds like someone else we know," Michelangelo coughed, casting a teasing glance to their leader.

Leonardo scoffed, but allowed a smile to stretch across his face, "Well, I can't say she's all that bad if she thinks fantasy is cool," he confessed, "but isn't that a bit weird to say? That she likes the Fantasy genre when she lives in a dimension with dragons, Wyvern, magic and alternate dimensions? That sounds pretty fantastical to me."

"Funny you should say that," Mona grinned, having finally regained her composure enough to continue walking up the stairs, "like you, she is not from the nexus."

The mutant family blinked in surprise, Splinter casting his cobalt gaze on the wyvern, opening his mouth but unable to ask the question they all dearly wanted to know. Mona smirked, easily divining the unspoken query, "She is from a world that she says is devoid of magic. It is utterly, boringly, normal."

"If it has no magic, how did she end up here?" Donnie asked, ever the pragmatist.

The wyvern shrugged, "Even she doesn't know," Mona replied, "her Grace told me once that she comes from a place called 'Chicago',"

"Chicago?!" Mikey exclaimed; shock evident in his baby blue eyes.

"You know it?" The mutant family nodded, and Mona continued her story, "Well, one night she's walking home from school, a kid of fifteen or sixteen years old, and she said she suddenly felt like she was falling. Next thing she knows, she's waking up in another world and with no way home."

"Know that feelin'," Raphael grumbled.

"A little too well," Donnie agreed.

"Is that when she became a world walker?" Leo asked, staring intently at the wyvern as she came to a stop in front of an elaborately carved wooden door.

Mona smiled at the young leader, understanding for his curiosity in her caramel apple gaze, "Why don't I let her tell you the story?"

The turtles and rat stepped through the door, eyes widening in wonder. Inside lay the top of the tower, the majority of the roof a majestic circular skylight with wrought iron curling through the glass. A large balcony looked to the east, and in the middle of the room, seated on feather pillow on an ornate and plush Persian rug was a dragon maid, eyes clenched shut in concentration, her diamond third eye glowing with power. A thread of magic drifted up from the girl and through the skylight, feeding into the shield protecting the castle. Leo could tell just by looking that the girl was exhausted, her pink hair limp and wilted, reptilian ears drooping, and scales dull as her wings trembled with fatigue. Sweat dotted her brow, and the slim shoulders seemed weighed down with the strain of keeping the shield up.

"Nessa!" Michelangelo exclaimed, proving the eldest's assumptions on the girl's identity correct.

The youngest burst forward, but was blocked by Mona, the wyvern giving Mikey a sympathetic gaze, "Don't touch her," she whispered, "she's the only one capable of casting the barrier right now, if you break her concentration, it will disrupt the spell."

"But…" The youngest bit his bottom lip, visibly debating on whether he'd obey, worry and fear swimming in the baby blue gaze. Finally, after several seconds of silent deliberation, he stepped back, "Okay," he sighed, "but I think I'll just stay nearby, you know, just in case."

In case of what, they didn't know, but Leo could understand the wish to be near the one you love when they were struggling, even if only as emotional support. So, they merely nodded, and then ventured further into the space. Leonardo gaped as he drank in more of the room, seeing a floating translucent map of planets, names of each hanging underneath each orb, but then the image would change, flickering across the dimensions and their connecting worlds. The map stretched across the room, almost touching the ceiling, displaying several dimensions and their planets. Looking down, the walls were decorated in elaborate murals, each one displaying a different figure, following that person from youth to their death. Sapphire eyes followed the line of pictures, until they rested on the closest mural, and the woman tracing the brush strokes of the figure with forlorn fingers.

The woman was older, probably in her forties, with long silver hair that shimmered like starlight over ivory skin. Her eyes were a stormy grey with hints of emerald curling through their depths. She had a slim, athletic build, and a short frame, but what held Leonardo's attention was the jagged scar marring the smooth skin on the woman's face, the old wound running down from her left temple down to her chin. What could cause such an injury was anyone's guess, but it made a cold wave of shock wash over the eldest turtle. He'd seen his fair share of scars, was no stranger to them, but it was different to see one on a female fighter, especially when it was on the face. The woman bore it with grace though, not hiding her features under the sweeping curtain of hair, nor lowering her head to prevent the scar being seen. No, her shoulders were straight, and head held high.

Leo smiled, a burst of respect warming his heart. She held no shame for her scars, despite their ugly appearance. That alone was admirable.

"Thank goodness," the woman smiled, a sweet but tired smile stretching her features, "in my effort not to move too quickly, I almost waited too late. Thankfully, the powers settling inside you have not caused too many complications as of yet."

In graceful, silent footsteps, she approached the mutant family, grey eyes searching them, assessing them. Leo fidgeted under the intense scrutiny, but froze when he noticed her gaze land on him, the stormy gaze narrowing as they seemingly looked into his soul, "Oh," she breathed, leaning forward allowing her fingertips to brush the left side of his plastron, "you're hurt."

"Wait, you're hurt?!" Donatello whirled on their leader, Raphael and Michelangelo mirroring his look of betrayed frustration, "Why haven't you said anything?!"

"No, I'm not." Leonardo glanced down, confusion furrowing the green brow, insisting on his health to cool his brothers' ire, "I promise, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are," she sighed, holding her hands mere inches from his chest, "this won't do, not when you have so much life to live. Let me fix it."

Her fingers twitched, and that was when the eldest realized that she was able to see his life threads, and shockingly that she'd just connected to them. This woman must be the other world walker.

A violent jolt rocked the turtle, making his mouth yawn in a silent scream before clicking shut into a clenched snarl. It was certainly a switch to be on this side of the healing process. He knew it was an uncomfortable procedure, had seen it on the faces of his brothers, but to feel it for himself was a shock to the system. As the woman moved her fingers in delicate movements as if she were weaving in midair, Leonardo's eyes shot open in shock as he realized when what she was doing. His heart, she was manipulating the threads surrounding his heart! He could feel her smooth away the scars, healing it, renewing it, rewinding all the stress he'd inflicted on the organ and reviving it back to full working order. It was strange. Leonardo knew he had a weak heart brought on by all their experiences, however, he'd never realized how weak it was until it was beating in his chest with the strength and vigor it should have always been capable of. All of a sudden Leonardo felt like he could breathe, a ten-ton weight removed from his chest, leaving his limbs weightless with relief, brain buzzing in surprise.

"There," the woman leaned back, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at a now sweat beaded brow, "that should make things easier for you."

Amazed sapphire eyes fluttered open as Leo placed a trembling hand over the left side of his chest, "You healed it," he murmured, looking from his hand back to the world walker, "you used the threads to heal my heart?"

The family surrounding their leader gasped, Donnie clapping a hand over his mouth to stifle a sob at the news. Splinter released a breath, weary shoulders drooping with relief, even as Mikey and Raph gave unison chokes of shock and happy surprise. Leonardo, himself, was numb, "How did you know, through?" He asked, "The threads have never shown me specifics about injuries."

"That comes with time and training, as well as practice," The world walker merely smirked, "It's frustrating that we cannot heal ourselves, isn't it?"

"You're telling me," Leo grumbled, reveling in the ease of drawing a full breath without pain, "otherwise I would have taken care of it myself."

"So, you can see the threads of life, hm?" The woman asked, humor sparkling in the grey eyes, "At least I have an idea of how far along you are," she smirked, "it will make the job of training you in your abilities easier.

"My name is the Lady Amalthea, Duchess of the Western Territories," she announced grandly, inclining her head respectfully to her guests, "but my friends call me Kinyue."

"Are we friends?" Leonardo asked, cautious suspicion borne from a lifetime of protecting his loved ones still holding a place in his heart.

"I should hope so," Kinuye chuckled, "especially when I dearly need to take you under my wing as an apprentice! Just looking at your threads tells me that your grasp of your powers is already wondrous, but there are certain aspects that will appear in the future which would be easier for you with a little…guidance."

The woman paused, "That is," she murmured, "if you'll allow me the privilege?"

Leo opened his mouth, ready to demand she explain what being an apprentice meant, but was interrupted by Mona, "Your Grace," the wyvern whispered urgently, "I hate to interrupt this tender moment, but Nessa is exhausted and the only person capable of helping her is finally here. Can't we take care of erecting a proper shield first, then continue your chat?"

Kinyue grimaced, one hand reaching up to grasp her head in guilt, "Right," she agreed, then turned back to the azure turtle, "how about a demonstration?" She suggested, gesturing towards the balcony, "I can show you what I can offer, and you'll help us by erecting a stronger shield and allow Nessa a much deserved rest?"

He didn't have a choice. Not only did Leonardo want to see what she meant by training, and not only was the castle under active attack, but the pleading eyes of his youngest brother to help Nessa was enough to convince the young leader.

"Please, Leo?" Mikey whispered, still standing near the exhausted form of the dragon maid.

"Don't worry, otouto," Leonardo smiled gently, "I already decided I would."

A smile of relief and joy lit the once somber features, making Leo chuckle as he lifted a hand to ruffle the youngest's mask tails. "Alright," the eldest said, giving Kinuye his undivided attention, "what do I do?"

The older world walker nodded, then strode over to the balcony, beckoning Leo to follow her. She waited until the ninja was standing by her side, "Close your eyes," she said, tone pitching into a low, almost hypnotic, tone, "imagine the safest thing you know, a shape that offers ideal protection. For me, it's an unbreakable steel dome, but what do you see?"

Leonardo's brow furrowed as he considered the question. Normally he'd say a turtle shell, as that has been where he and his brothers had felt safest their entire lives. However, concern curled in his gut. Their shells weren't indestructible, what if it wasn't strong enough? Kinuye seemed seemed to sense this, as strong hands briefly squeezed his right shoulder, "Don't worry about the material yet," she murmured, "we're focusing on shape."

The turtle relaxed, giving a slight nod, "Right,"

"Have you got a shape in mind?" Kinuye asked, waiting for another nod, "Good, now you can focus on what it's made of. It can be anything you want; you are not bound by the physical realm. The only thing stopping you is the limit of your imagination."

If he could choose any material, regardless of it being fact or fiction, then Leonardo knew exactly which one he wanted. Mithril. True, it was a fictional metal from his favorite book series, but it was the strongest material he knew of, as all other materials he'd seen, be it real life or in his books, had a weakness. But not mithril. That kind of shield would be impervious. In his mind, Leo imagined a giant turtle shell covering the castle, shining in the sun like polished silver, its domed crest covered in whorls and ridges, ending in thick scutes. He envisioned all the ones he loved, and their new friends, safe inside, without even the sound of the explosions to disturb their peace.

"Very good!" Kinuye's voice was warm with the praise she was giving, "Now that you've got the image in your mind, pull the energy out, similar to when you channeled it into your sword."

Leo's brow furrowed from where he stood with his eyes closed, "How do you know about that?"

He was rewarded with a soft swat on the head, certainly a scolding but not hard enough to cause any pain, "Don't get distracted," Kinuye warned, "you're losing the image of the protective barrier, focus!"

Adequately chastened, Leo returned to the task at hand, rebuilding the mental picture of a mithril turtle shell, "I've got it."

"Just so," an affirming pat on his shell, congratulations for his obedience, "as I was saying, pull the energy out, focus it, channel it, not into your sword this time, but around the castle in the shape of the barrier you've imagined."

At first nothing, but as Leo focused, he realized his skin was starting to feel hot. A prickling sensation dancing across his scales, making them ripple.

"Dudes," Michelangelo breathed behind him, awe evident in his voice, "he's glowing again, but the marks look different than before."

He was glowing? That explained the inexplicable heat, but he couldn't afford to keep getting distracted. Leonardo gave his head a swift shake, mentally swatting away the extra noise around him, focusing inward. A giant turtle shell, hovering over the castle, big enough to envelop all within the safety of its dome.

"Well done," Kinuye said, giving him another pat on the shoulder, "now, cast your power into the sky, just like you cast it into your sword! But don't lose the image in your mind!"

Gathering the energy he could feel buzzing through his very nervous system, making his muscles sing and quiver, and then focused it into the shape he held in his imagination. The power sparked and crackled around him, causing his mask tails to whip through the air as if blown by a sudden storm, before like a streak of lightening, it shot upwards through the skylight and then exploded into a starburst of light. Startled gasps burst from all around the eldest turtle, and for a second Leo worried he'd done something wrong, but the comforting warmth of Kinuye's hand on his shoulder giving a happy squeeze reassured him that he most assuredly had not.

Suddenly Leo was aware of many things at once. He could feel the breeze coming from the mountains down into the valley where the castle dwelt. He could physically feel the attacks on the shield, and was able to repel them, igniting the surface of his barrier with ruthless electricity, causing the military forces battering against it (what were they, zombies?) to burn up in white hot flames. He opened various sections, allowing Wyvern and dragon to retreat within the safety of the bubble, and then, once all were safe, Leonardo pushed the boundary of the turtle shell, expanding it. His intention was to engulf the majority of the area surrounding the castle, allowing them enough space to live inside and prepare possible countermeasures. However, Leonardo was gifted with pleasant surprise when he found the electricity he'd imbued the barrier with had stuck around and continued its vicious onslaught upon anyone who dared make contact with it.

"Leonardo, that's enough, you've done well."

No, he hadn't done nearly enough, not now that his shield could also function as a weapon. The young leader couldn't resist the snicker of satisfaction as the barrier hit the forces surrounding the castle, and then proceeded to burn through them with all the mercy of a death ray from the sky. He didn't know what the foot soldiers were, they weren't human, and they didn't seem to be alive. If anything, they appeared to be puppets made from wood and clay, magically motivated into deadly locomotion. Knowing this, the turtle expanded the shield, further and further until it covered several miles in all directions. It was intoxicating, this ability to wipe out entire swaths of an enemy with only a thought. He felt he could go further, maybe even just use the shield to destroy the rest of the enemy. Leonardo nudged the barrier even larger, exhilarated from the power held in his hands.

"Leonardo, I said stop!"

The comforting grip on his shoulder turned savage, squeezing until he gasped in pain, sapphire gaze jolting open so the teen could whirl on Kinuye, "What was that for? I could have dealt a massive blow to your enemy!"

"And kill yourself in the process," Kinyue scowled, reaching forward to flick blood off his nose, "I instructed you to create a barrier to protect the castle, not attack our enemy head on! While I applaud taking the initiative, you're not prepared for such a large scale maneuver!"

"How do you know?" Leo argued, frustrated that he was being treated like a tot, "I've been training on my own for months trying to get used to these powers."

"The only way to safely pull off a stunt like that is to be bonded to the World Tree," Kinuye countered, propping her hands on her hips, "attempting it otherwise is tempting fate, you ridiculous child!"

"I'm not a child!" Leonardo spat.

The grey eyes grew stormy, and she paused, "Maybe not," she agreed, "you've obviously been forced to grow up too soon, however, that experience does not always lend to wisdom, young one."

Leonardo flinched. What she said had not been intended cruelly, but it was a sharp reprimand, nonetheless. The azure ninja sheepishly wiped the rest of the crimson liquid from his beak, shame filling him at his outburst and the arrogance that had momentarily controlled him, "I-I'm sorry," he apologized, sapphire eyes downcast, "that was uncalled for, I don't know what came over me."

Kinuya slowly gave the teen an understanding smile full of sorrow, "The same thing that overcomes us all when we learn just what we are truly capable of," she murmured soothingly, "however, the true test of any world walker is to face that side of yourself and conquer it. Learning the valuable lesson that just because you can doesn't mean that you should."

Leo grimaced, feeling like a tot being scolded by his father all over again, "Sorry."

The woman regarded him, grey eyes weighing the apology before Kinuye gave warm chuckles, "Don't worry," she grinned, "that's not even the worst that a budding world walker has done. Once, while still in training, I put myself in a month long coma after using my powers to heal a land afflicted by drought. When I woke, I was raked across the coals by my master for being so stupid."

Green shoulders loosened, and Leonardo felt relief rush through his veins at the woman's consoling words, "Were you able to stop the drought, at least?" He asked with a shy smile.

Kinuye exploded into peals of laughter, nodding in confirmation of his question, "Yes," she chuckled, "I was able to stop the drought, but that doesn't mean that what I did wasn't dumb. You have talent, Leonardo, and I wont lie and say that I'm not hoping you'll become my apprentice. I'm impressed at how quickly you latched on to the concept of creating the shield. However, I implore you to listen to what I have to teach you, I'd hate for your family to lose you due to over enthusiasm."

"About that," the azure ninja frowned, "I came here to get my seizures to stop, not to get press ganged into an apprenticeship. I don't even know what being a world walker means."

The silver head nodded, grey eyes soft, "I can understand how you feel," she murmured, "how about we take this conversation downstairs while dear Nessa can rest from her long watch?" Kinuye turned to Michelangelo, nodding him in encouragement, "Why don't you tell her the good news?"

A bright grin lit the youngest's face and he scurried to the side of his girlfriend, falling to his knees next to where she sat. Tender hands cupped the slim shoulders, pulling them into his arms against his chest, "Nessa?"

The dragon maid's eyes fluttered open to reveal alexandrite orbs, "Michelangelo?" She breathed, exhaustion making her slump bonelessly against the youngest, "You're here?"

"Yeah," Mikey grinned happily, "I dragged Leo here, and your boss lady helped him make a new shield, so you can rest now."

"Oh," the reply was a breathless sigh, head swaying with fatigue even as the girl fought to stay conscious but seemed to be quickly losing the battle. A delicate hand reached up to caress Michelangelo's cheek, "I'm so happy you're here, it's really nice to feel your arms….this is the first time….you've been able to hold me."

Nessa crumpled in a swoon, the orange ninja holding her tightly. Mikey returned the dragon maiden's caresses with a tender touch of his own, tracing the line of her jaw with his thumb, before gathering her into his arms, "Is there anywhere I can take her where she can be more comfortable?"

Kinuye had watched this scene with a loving gaze, approval shining in her grey eyes, "Of course," she agreed, "why don't we all go downstairs? The library has a very comfortable chaise that Nessa can rest on, and I'm sure we could all use something to eat."

"Are you sure?" Donatello asked, uncertainty in his features, "you're under attack, but you're inviting us to, what, brunch?"

"Don't worry," the world walker consoled, "the fine shield your brother has crafted will give us more than satisfactory protection for some days, which will allow us time to discuss all our common concerns. I have a very important proposition to make, I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to say, and I'm sure you all have questions. Conversation like that should never be attempted on an empty stomach."

The mutant family shared a brief chuckle, and soon everyone was on their feet, however, Leo hung back, his face uncertain.

It was no secret that the Duchess had designs on his future, her ulterior motive out in the open for all to see. That was comforting in a way, because she was not being sneaky or manipulative in her ultimate goal of convincing him to train under her, and he couldn't lie and say he wasn't interested in in the prospect. He still felt caution, though. She was nice, and she was willing to teach him to create a shield which would prove incredibly useful in the future regardless of what he chose to do, but how would she take refusal? Was she truly as kind as she appeared, or was there some darkness in her that the world Walker had mastered in masking?

Softly, the blue ninja followed his family and their host through a separate door and down the flight of stairs. Whether she be genuine ally, or yet another snake in the grass for them to deal with, only time would tell.

I'm so sorry it took so long….its been a very difficult couple of weeks. My husband and I are doing our best to survive in this economy and it's been really stressful.

Thank you for your continued support! Please review as your comments would really cheer me up during this difficult time.