Training and Advancing

For the next few nights, the new alliance agreed to spend some time in the lair training and hanging out. The turtles and stars decided that the ninjas would patrol the city while the Stars continue their training to master the scrolls. After five days, the four stars decided to go to the lair and train with the turtles under the watchful eyes of their relatives and Splinter. First the mystic mutants would demonstrate their Kung Fu and personal weapons they brought with them. They will also show their skills in their elemental abilities and demonstrate how far they had come and what new skills they learned.

Sam was the first to showcase his skills. In front of the turtles, Splinter, the sifus, and the rest of the Stars, the tortoise first demonstrated his mastery in Tai Chi, and Drunken Fist. He even demonstrated some techniques from Bajiquan.

Next he put up a demonstration with his spear. Even though the turtles already saw his effectiveness with the weapon against the Foot, they were still in awe in the swift thrusts and rapid sweeps. Even Splinter was impressed, while his mother smiled with pride.

Then the Tortoise did something no one expected. He broke off the spear tip and broke his pole arm into a three section staff using his elemental power, with strings made up of soft bendable wooden strings connecting the three pieces of the shaft. As he demonstrated some techniques, the audience was left in awe. After he demonstrated his techniques, Sam straightened his weapon into a normal staff and reattached the spear tip with his wood powers. He then bowed to the audience earning him a round of applause.

"Amazing!" Said Donnie.

"Such skill!" Splinter commented.

"Radical dude!" Mikey cheered.

"You still got it, buddy!" Said Jet.

"You've done me proud, son." Said Mrs Mei.

Next it was Jets turn. He demonstrated powerful, ferocious strikes with his Tiger and Leopard Style as well as some Baguazhang techniques. Raphael was impressed by the power and ferocity of the White Tiger as he himself was the toughest and strongest of his brothers.

Jet then brought out his butterfly knives and showed off some rapid swings and stabs and mixed it up with swinging powerful kicks.Raphael was surprised and a little envious that the tiger was more like him than he thought since he too had knife like weapons that can cut, stab or disarm, but was astonished nevertheless.

Jet put away his weapons and demonstrated his earth based powers. First he got into a horse stance and jerked his fists up, and multiple sharp stone stalagmites erupted from the ground. Then he erected a wall of earth and formed spikes on it before launching it at a dummy. Finally, Jet punched his fists into the ground then pulled them out covered in rocks and stone to give them extra power. He then shrugged off the rocks on his fists and put back all the dirt and grime as well as the stone spikes deep into the ground, making the area spotless devoid of mess. Jet bowed and received a round of applause.

It was then Maggie's turn. She demonstrated her gracefulness and beauty with her Crane Style and Eagle Claw moves. Almost everyone was mesmerized by this. It was almost like the Phoenix was dancing. Ben in particular was completely entranced by his girlfriend's technique. His heart was pounding at the sight of it. To him it was like watching a beautiful Angel of fire dance.

Next she brought out her jian sword and demonstrated her grace and skill with her blade. Every swing and thrust was precise. And the Phoenix used flight to demonstrate creative new moves such as spiraling forward with the sword in front like a drill. Again, Ben was entranced by his lover's skill with the blade. Even before her mutation, Maggie was a skilled swordswoman, and Ben knew it. After all he watched her all the time.

Finally, Maggie demonstrated her skills in pyromancy. She thrusted her palm, shooting out a stream of flames. Then she conjured small birds made of fire flying around before returning to Maggie and disappearing. Finally the Phoenix closed her eyes and focus, spread her wings, as her body began to be lit on fire. She then took to the air as she was completely enveloped in flames. Streams of fire were launched from her taloned hands and beak. But a few moments later, she explosively combusts, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. But Maggie was completely unharmed as she descended to the ground as the light and flames slowly died down. Ben was entranced yet again as it was like seeing an Angel of fire descending from the heavens. She bowed and everyone clapped for her.

Ben was the last to go. He demonstrated his shaolin Kung fu as well as Dragon Style, Wing Chun, even Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do with blinding speed. As he did the many different punches, strikes, and kicks, the audience were having trouble keeping up with his movements, even Splinter and Leonardo were finding it difficult to see the technique being performed because Ben demonstrated them so fast. Yet many could tell the moves were powerful as well as fast.

Next he took out his staff and did swift, fast strikes and sweeps in the air. He mixed it up with swinging kicks. Donnie was smiling at how there's another staff fighter light him. And was eager to challenge him for a friendly rematch one day. Then Ben split his staff into his twin batons and did rapid strikes as well as kicks.

The final demonstration from the dragon is his elemental art. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard. Small pores opened on his palm and forearms. Then streams of water bursted out of the pores and Ben waved his arms in a fluid motion with the water streams following his movements. Then he launched one of the streams at a dummy and before it hit the target, the water froze into ice spikes and bombarded the dummy, covering it with sharp icy projectiles. Ben then had the other stream envelope his arms and harden into ice armor and the remaining water shaped and frozen into ice daggers. He shrugged off the ice which instantly melted. For a final demonstration, the Azure Dragon raised his head up, opened his mouth, and let out a large stream of water upward with the water falling on the dragon like raindrops.

Everyone was shocked and amazed by the display, and they suddenly cheered and clapped for the mighty dragon. Lei was especially proud of his nephew seeing how far the latter had come. Maggie was also proud of her boyfriend. She always knew he's one of the best. Ben smiled and bowed.

Soon it was decided that it's time for sparring. First, Donnie up against Sam. The two locked eyes with their pole arms held at the ready. Sam was the first to make a move, attempting to do an overhead strike on Donnie's head but the brainy turtle blocked the attack. Then the tortoise attempted to thrust his spear at Donnie, but the turtle blocked and dodged every jab. Don then hit Sam in the stomach and swept him off his feet making him hit the ground. Yet the tortoise immediately rolled away and got back up. Don attempted to swing at Sam but the latter ducked and used the blunt end of his spear to trip him and held the spear tip at the turtle's face, ending the match.

Everyone clapped. Sam helped up Don and they bowed.

"Bravo, son!" Cheered Mrs Mei.

"Good try, Don!" Said Mikey.

"There's a reason he's called the greatest pole arm fighter in town." Said Ben smiling. "Even I had trouble against him during our staff sparring matches."

Next it was Mikey against Maggie. Mikey was grinning, and swinging his nunchucks while Maggie held her sword in a relaxed stance, her eyes focused. Mikey made the first move, jumping into the air and swinging one of his chucks at the Phoenix, but the latter simply evaded by hopping backwards. She then attempted to thrust her sword at the turtle, but the latter somersaulted over her and immediately jumped around whenever Maggie tried to strike at him with her blade.

"This warrior is more difficult to hit than I originally thought. Need to anticipate more." Thought the Phoenix.

Mikey suddenly tried to hop at the bird and swing down one of his chucks at her but Maggie stepped to the side and slapped the weapon out of his hand causing him to fall down. As he got back up, the party dude then swung his remaining nunchuck around and attempted to overwhelm Maggie with a flurry of attacks but the bird was unfazed and dodged flawlessly until she finally slapped the weapon out of his hand with her sword before hitting him in the stomach with the flat part of the blade causing him to fall down.

Maggie offered her taloned hand and Mikey took it gladly. They both bowed to the audience. The audience clapped.

"That's my girl!" Cheered Ben.

Ms Ying nodded. "I taught her that." She said proudly.

Up next was Raphael versus Jet. Raph held up his sai while Jet took out his butterfly knives. Raph and Jet both charged at each other. Both were aggressive in their attacks and tried to slash and stab at each other. Yet both combatants dodged every attack. While both were full of ferocity, Jet was more collected and focused.

The audience were worried of this match, especially Splinter, Leo, and Ben. They knew how aggressive and ferocious they could be when fighting and feared they would accidentally hurt each other, or worse.

The hot headed turtle and Tiger continued to stab and slash at each other, used the bottom parts of their weapons for more blunt attacks and even threw in some kicks until they eventually locked blades. They struggled for minutes until each fighter relieved the other of one of their weapons from their hand and flicked them to the side. Raph then tried to jab at Jet with his remaining sai but the latter caught it with his remaining butterfly knife before palm striking him to the chest sending the turtle flying backwards with his sai still stuck in the knife. The White Tiger turned to the audience and bowed.

The audience gave a round of applause. Raph recovered and went over to Jet who removed the sai and gave it back.

"You're even tougher than I thought, man." Said Raph.

"Just keep practicing and keep cool. You'll get there, buddy." Replied Jet.

"Excellent control, son!" Said Yao.

"Nice try Raphie boy!" Said Mikey.

"Thank god you didn't hurt each other, Raph." Said Leo.

"Well, like his father just said, he has great, excellent control." Said Jet.

Finally, all that's left was the match between Leo and Ben. Both warriors bowed to each other before taking out their weapons. Ben believed he should fight with two weapons to be on par with Leo so he broke his staff into his twin batons. Both warriors locked eyes at each other daring for the other to make a move. At the sound of a nearby water droplet, the fighter charged. Their weapons clashed as Leo tried to slash at the dragon but the latter intercepted and blocked every attack with his sticks.

Splinter and Lei both watched extreme seriousness. They knew these two fighter were the best of their team. They were the most tactical, strategic and focused.

After a while of weapons clashing, Leo swept Ben off his feet making him fall but the latter responded by kicking the turtle back in the midsection before getting up. Weapons clashed once again but a minute later, Ben used one of his sticks to hit one of Leo's hands making him drop his sword. In response Leo clashed at one of Ben sticks with his remaining sword so hard it made the dragon drop his weapon. Now fighting with one weapon each they clashed again, mixing their attacks with kicks. It went on for minutes until Leo swung at Ben neck while the latter aimed at Leo's temple but stopped mere inches before they actually made contact, as they knew that if either of them hit, the blow would be fatal. As such the match ended in a tie.

The audience was dumbstruck for a few moments before they gave a huge round of applause and cheered. Both Lei and Splinter smiled and nodded at this outcome.

"That was a great fight, love!" Cheered Maggie.

"You are and always will be a badass!" Said Jet.

"Amazing as always, buddy." Said Sam.

"Badass Leo!" Said Mikey.

"I didn't expect anything more or less." Said Donnie.

"You did awesome, bro! No one could do it better!" Said Raph.

Leo and Ben bowed to each other then turned to the audience and bowed again to them.

It was then time for the Chinese warriors to go home. Both they and the ninja turtles and splinter said their goodbyes and the turtles and Stars agreed to all go on patrol together tomorrow night. If only they knew what or who will be waiting for them...

That was some badass demonstrations from the Four Stars, huh. I took some inspiration from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The Sparring matched were pretty good too, especially Raph vs Jet and Leo vs Ben. Those two fight were close.

And they all agreed to patrol together the next day at nightfall, but if you read the last couple chapters, then you might know who'll wait for them when they do.

Stay tuned for next chapter!

MergingEmperor7, bowing out.