Thank you everyone for your continued support, and I appreciate your love of this story.
On to the next chapter!
Leo settled himself on a comfortable chair, both he and Donatello gaping at the library they were about to take luncheon in.
It has enormous, the ceiling a full fifty feet high, with two levels of balconies hanging overhead holding thousands of books on every wall. They were seated around an elegant stone fireplace, an enchanted fire crackling merrily within but not exuding any uncomfortable level of heat. The marble floors were well polished, but the extravagance of the space was dampened by the cozy nature that the Duchess had obviously put into it. Instead of fancy furniture, and polished tables, the sitting area was set with overstuffed chairs and couches, covered with plush blankets and feather pillows. Michelangelo had set Nessa on one such couch, tenderly covering her with a blanket, and with a brief glance to ensure no one was watching, dipped down for a shy kiss to her forehead. The eldest hid his smile, pretending he hadn't seen. It was very sweet to see the youngest finally able to indulge in the joys of finding someone special. Turning from Mikey, the young leader took in the rest of the room.
In the middle of the sitting area was a spacious coffee table laden with food, teas, and desserts. Leo's mouth watered, but he waited until his family had sated their own hunger before making a plate for himself. The luncheon was a veritable feast, more food of luscious variety than Leo had every seen. Sandwiches, croissants, potato salad, with a delightful dish made of incredibly thinly sliced meat wrapped around a filling of vegetables. Pies, cakes and puddings accompanied the generous display, of which the Duchess made herself a plate, displaying a voracious sweet tooth. Leonardo stifled the chuckle at the image of the poised, elegant woman happily munching on chocolate silk pie with all the enthusiasm of a child.
Looking around, the eldest admired the library itself. There were more books surrounding them than Leonardo could comprehend, making the turtle long to browse the many titles, to touch the thousands of spines and lose himself in an afternoon of happy reading. A glance at Donnie told him that the scientist was also fighting the same urge. In between the many bookshelves were large bay windows on the west wall, thirty feet high and decorated in elaborate stained glass, welcomed the afternoon sunlight into the room, painting the space in a symphony of color. The windows showed various scenes, detailing a story involving a tall man of European descent, a willowy woman bearing a magnificent sword, and a dragon. Leonardo furrowed his brow, trying to work out the meaning but couldn't, although, it seemed familiar somehow.
"Admiring the tales of the first world walker?"
Kinuye's voice broke through the eldest's concentration, causing him to jolt before turning back to his host and blush in embarrassment over becoming distracted, "Yes," he stammered, "but I don't know why I feel like I know it, though."
The woman grinned, her eyes twinkling in sudden humor, "Does the name Arthur mean anything to you?"
Sapphire eyes blinked slowly, "King Arthur?" He choked when she nodded, voice strangled in shock, "As in, the knights of the round table King Arthur?"
Another nod, and Leonardo fell into stunned silence, unable to breathe. King Arthur? "I thought he was just a legend?!" Leo squeaked.
"Most world walkers turn out to become one, eventually," Kinuye shrugged, "whether in one world or another. Arthur is a legend that has touched many worlds, as he was the one who founded the Nexus, and was the first to bond to the world tree."
Another shock to his system. World tree? That's right, the Duchess had mentioned the world tree once before in the tower, but Leonardo had been too incensed to notice. The image of the willow tree in his dreams flashed before his eyes, and Leo wondered if they were connected. With how everything was going, he had no doubt that they very likely were. Frustration at how little they knew needled at his heart and mind, particularly at his patience. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now!
"Tell me," Leonardo started, voice shedding its prior surprise to be replaced with a stern uncompromising tone, "I'm tired of being in the dark. Tell me what a world walker is and how any of it has to do with me."
The woman watched the eldest for a moment, as if assessing whether she would consent to his demands, but then gave a solemn nod, "I suggest you get comfortable," she stated, "it's a long story."
The eldest leaned back in his chair, propping his ankle up on his knee, and crossing his arms. A silent invitation. The family copied their young leader, Michelangelo sitting on the floor in front of the couch where he'd placed Nessa, while Raphael sat on a comfortable loveseat with Mona. Splinter curled up on a large armchair, the rat giving a soft hum of contentment as he nursed his cup of tea. For her part, Kinuye pulled her legs up into the armchair she was seated in, draping a blanket over herself. The scene was uncommonly casual, as if the group had known each other all their lives. However, Leonardo didn't allow himself the opportunity to appreciate it, he was staring intently at their host, waiting for her tale to begin.
"Quite a long time ago, many more years than I have time to count," the Duchess began, "the worlds were in chaos and the world tree, whose roots connect all worlds, hung in the balance. It alone held the very threads of reality together, but they were quickly unraveling. Due to various races using magic and science to rip apart the barriers between worlds, holes were appearing, holes that swallowed entire villages and kingdoms, depositing them into alternate dimensions, parallel timelines, and even displacing them both into the past and the future. The tree, unable to withstand the stress, was withering, and with its death bring the end of the world as we know it. Something had to be done."
"But why couldn't the tree stop it," Mikey asked, baby blue eyes heavy with both concern and curiosity, "since it connected the worlds?"
"The tree itself, while somewhat sentient, is neither a force for good nor evil," Kinuye replied, "it simply is, which means that anyone can take advantage of its powers if they are able to bond to it. With those using the forces of magic and science to twist its power, it lacked the ability to defend itself."
"Enter King Arthur?" Donnie grinned.
"He didn't enter so much as stumble," the woman chuckled, gesturing to a pane of stained glass, it showed the man falling through a shimmering blue portal, "I'm sure your legends also say that he was strongly connected to the fey realm through the Lady of the Lake and had a magical advisor named Merlin?"
Leonardo nodded, prompting Kinuye to continue, "The world he fell into was the nexus, and the lady of the lake was the Daimyo's great-aunt who married Merlin and assisted Arthur in founding Avalon…this castle."
"Then, Camelot?" The eldest asked in a hushed voice.
The world walker smiled as she inclined her head, "Actually existed, and in several worlds, to boot."
"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Donatello broke in, waving his arms confusedly even as Leo gaped in awe, "You're telling me that Arthur intentionally visited several dimensions and founded Camelot over and over, creating the legend of King Arthur? For what purpose?"
"I did say the worlds were in chaos, didn't I?" Kinuye replied primly, "For what is King Arthur most famous for?"
"Uniting all of Britain, or at least the tribes," Leonardo answered, showcasing the literary knowledge he possessed, "but no one knows if he actually lived or was actually responsible for accomplishing that."
"Then let me put it this way. It's not so much that he went about with the expressed wish to create the legend of King Arthur," Kinuye gently corrected as she offered clarification, "it is more that he visited many worlds in order to bring peace, and thus the legend of King Arthur was born as a result."
"But what does all of that have to do with me?" Leonardo sighed, head cocking to the side quizzically, blue mask tails rippling from the movement, "I won't lie, what you're saying is honestly the coolest thing I've ever heard, but I just don't see the connection. I developed powers capable of manipulating the threads of reality, awesome, but what's the big deal? I'm no King Arthur."
"Leo," Raphael growled, eyes narrowed scoldingly, "ya know how I feel about ya sayin' that negative stuff about yerself."
The eldest sighed, closing his eyes in acknowledgment of his immediate younger brother's words, before lifting his eyes once again to their host, "I'm not saying that to be self deprecating," he clarified, "but the point still stands. King Arthur was, as previously stated, a legendary figure. What could you possibly expect of me? In terms of comparison, we couldn't be further apart."
"It's not about comparison," Kinuye shook her head, "in fact, at this stage in your development, you're already stronger than I was at my peak. It's about who the World Tree chooses, and unless I'm mistaken, judging by your life threads you've already begun having certain dreams about a particular willow tree?"
The woman finished her question by waving vaguely in the direction of the stained-glass pane showing a silver weeping willow with golden leaves. Leo jerked back, shock widening his sapphire gaze. How did she know? She said something about his life threads, were his so different? Immediately the young warrior turned his eyes back to Kinuye, focusing his spirit sight to look on her life threads, and once again, felt sharp surprise rock him to his core.
"Your life threads…" he murmured, squinting as he examined them, "your aura is rose colored, but it's tinged in gold."
"And yours are a lovely royal blue," Kinuye smiled, "similarly edged in gold. It is the symbol of the world walker; however, do you notice anything else about my aura?"
Leonardo looked harder, trying to discern her meaning until suddenly he realized to what she meant with a startled gasp, "They're willow branches!" He exclaimed, "everyone else just has threads, but yours are willow branches!"
The woman nodded, "Proof that I have bonded to the world tree, and accepted the role passed down through the generations from King Arthur, all the way to me."
"You're a descendant of King Arthur?" Donatello asked, "but I thought you were from Chicago?"
The woman chuckled, a warm sound that rolled through her chest and shook her shoulders, "I am, but it is generally considered that all world walkers are, at least in spirit, a descendant of Arthur. So, I'm not related to him by blood, but through my gift bonding to the world tree."
"But…" the leader paused, unsure and hesitant, "your threads, the willow branches, they're withering?"
Kinuye sucked in a sharp breath, her smile diminishing into a look of sorrow, "Yes," she murmured, grey eyes dropping to the floor, "my bond to the tree is slowly dying, soon I will no longer be the Lady Amalthea Duchess of the Western territories, I'll simply return to being Kinuye Matsuo."
Mona startled, her caramel apple eyes wide as angry tears gathered in the corners, "Is that why you fainted?" She breathed, "Three days ago?"
Another guilty silence, before the human nodded, "Yes." She mourned, "Which is why I couldn't cast the protection spell around the castle. I lack the strength to do so. You've already seen the effects of trying to cast a large scale spell without the connection to the world tree. Leonardo's seizures are just one symptom of how using your own energy can kick you in the teeth."
"So why was he able to cast the shield when you can't?" Donnie asked.
"Because he has already touched the world tree, and it has accepted him as its new master," Kinuye replied simply.
Leonardo felt a cold wave of dread wash over him as realization raked its claws across the back of his mind, "Three days ago was when you said your powers began to grow weaker?"
Sapphire met grey, and when the two world walker's eyes met, the turtle knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was because of him that her powers were waning. "When I took out the Eaters?"
"You connected to the world tree," Kinuye confirmed with a solemn nod, "you are by no means bonded to it, that is an incredibly complex process that requires direct contact, but your spirit made enough of a connection that you drew from its power for your final attack."
The woman drew in a breath, but then a sparkle of humor returned to her grey gaze, "Something that should be impossible, by the way." She smirked, but then her features became serious once again, "Regardless, a world tree can only be bonded to one walker at a time, and when it felt your superior powers and determination, it chose to disconnect from me and transfer its strength to you. It has chosen you as its new master, just as it chose Arthur all those years ago."
Her statement hung in the air, echoing through the hearts and minds of all gathered, until Leonardo gave a frustrated sigh, "What does that mean?" The eldest asked, "You've talked about bonding to the world tree several times, and I'm still confused about what a world walker even is?"
Kinuye nodded, "A world walker is the person who will inherit the title tied to Avalon and stand guard over the many dimensions tied to the nexus, ensuring balance to the worlds, and protecting innocent lives from inter-dimensional threats. Just as Arthur and the knights of round table did."
"Are they required ta live here?" Raphael asked, topaz eyes serious.
"Yes," Kinuye whispered, features sorrowful but understanding, "they must stay near the world tree so to regain their strength after every mission, and heal from any injuries sustained in fulfilling their duty."
"Do they have to live here alone?" Mikey asked, his voice small and unsure, a fearful tremor in its undertones.
At this Kinuye was able to smile again, "No," she shook her head, "in fact they are encouraged to bring their families so that all may live in safety and security, providing a valuable source of support and counsel to the Walker."
"So, if a potential world walker had, hypothetically speaking, three younger brothers and a father," Donatello queried, in a not so subtle fashion, "he could bring them along?"
"Yes," the human confirmed, "the village nearby hosts a variety of races and species, not to mention all the dimensions connected to the nexus. A world walker from any dimension could happily live here with their family and still have access to their home world once they learn to open portals with their powers.
"In fact," Kinuye continued, "my husband is captain of the guard here, we met while I was on a mission in his dimension, and he came to live in Avalon after we married. He is my dearest and best friend, my confidant. He helps me see the world more clearly when I'm confused about where to go or what path to choose."
"Aw," Michelangelo gushed, face brightening in a smile, "that's really sweet!"
The woman smiled, a bright grin that lit her face and made the garish scar diminish, "He's wonderful," she said happily, obviously enjoying the opportunity to brag about her spouse, "we also have a son who…"
Suddenly Kinuye froze, lips parted even as all color drained from her cheeks and her eyes quickly grew misty. Mona visibly tensed next to Raphael, her clawed fingers seeking out his hand to hold it in a trembling grip. "He…he was," Kinuye breathed, eyes fluttering as she struggled to continue, but her throat closed up, prompting the woman to give a fierce shake of her head, "a-anyway, yes, family is allowed."
"So, to clarify," Leo interrupted the awkward silence that had followed, his hands resting palm to palm, index fingers tapping in careful thought, "a world walker is someone who protects not just this world, but also all worlds and dimensions connected to the nexus? They maintain the balance between dimensions, and also fight any threats that might overthrow that balance?"
"Exactly right," Kinuye replied breathlessly, still recovering from whatever that had been a few moments ago.
"And this what you desire for Leonardo?" It was the first time Splinter had spoken, his cobalt gaze cold and skeptical, clearly still assessing if she was a threat, "For him to bond to the world tree and become your successor?"
Kinuye pursed her lips, pausing to regain her composure before giving a nod, "It is what I would like, yes." She agreed, "especially since my powers are beginning to grow weaker. The fact that he has already been contacted by the world tree in his dreams tells me that the tree has already marked him as worthy, which in the past would have practically forced him to accept. Although, unlike some walkers before me, I am willing to allow him the choice to say no if he wishes."
The family perked up, Leo in particular. "I can refuse?"
The woman pulled in a deep breath, holding it, almost as if she'd gone days without the sensation, then released it in a slow exhale, "Yes," she replied firmly, grey eyes flashing with conviction, "when I fell into another world, and was forced to build a life with nothing but the clothes on my back, I felt compelled to give in to my previous master's designs for my life out of gratitude for him saving me. I left behind my parents, my siblings, everything I had, even my dreams, to become the world walker, and if I had had the option, a true option to refuse, I think I would have. I don't regret my life, but I do regret not being given the choice. In this, I wish to be different from those before me.
"Leonardo," Kinuye cast her stormy gaze onto the eldest turtle, reaching out to clasp his hand in her own, "the shield you cast for us is incredible, it will hold for days, if not weeks. So, I'm going to be selfish, and instead of demanding you become the world walker to save the manor, I'm going to follow my heart and ask that you simply live among us and consider your choice carefully.
"I will train you in your powers," the human continued, patting the green hand, "regardless of your decision, I will happily answer any and all questions you have. All I ask in return is that you ask those questions and have an open mind to possibly consider this as your destiny?"
"Hypothetically," Leonardo began slowly, "if I were to say yes, would I just go to the tree and become the world walker?"
Kinuye blanched, taking a sip of tea from her cup, then setting it down, "No," she said with a fierce shake of her head, "you wouldn't be ready. Just like Arthur had his knights of the round table, you need to have a team you can trust who will assist you on your journeys into other dimensions. Bodyguards that will protect you, and give counsel, in your duties as world walker."
This made the younger brothers perk up, hope suddenly blooming in their eyes, "Ya mean," Raph stated, a slow smile brightening his features, "Leo gets ta choose a team ta go with him?"
"Anybody he wants?" Donnie continued.
"Including three incredibly handsome and talented baby bros?" Mikey finished; a smarmy grin stretched across his face.
Kinuye's shoulders shook as a wave of laughter rolled through her frame, "Yes," she clarified, "but you'd have to be tested, there's no way he can just choose his team and be done with it. There are sacred rites that need to be completed before he can even approach the tree, which include the testing of his sworn knights."
The woman shook her head, humor sparkling in the grey eyes before she once again turned back to Leo, "But you don't need to be worried about that yet. For now, explore the castle, visit the village nearby, talk to the people and learn the history. I'll be waiting, and I'll answer any questions you have."
…..
Kitsune seethed in her stolen body, glaring glumly out the window of the penthouse suite she was currently lounging in.
The foot headquarters had proven very satisfactory lodging whilst the fox spirit planned her next plan of attack. Karai, the body in which she resided, held much power and wealth, enough that even Kitsune was tempted to call it quits and simply enjoy living out the rest of this human's life in the lap of luxury. However, Kitsune had a much grander scheme in mind, a goal that far surpassed the mere benefits of living among the wealthy. She was going to find Leonardo, devour every last drop of his golden aura, regain her own powers, and then she would take command of the world tree. The nexus, and all the dimensions connected to it, would bow down to her. She would rule not merely as a duchess, no, she'd become empress of all the worlds, and reign supreme! She was so close to achieving her goal, too.
After opening the rip allowing scores of Eaters into Leonardo's world, Kitsune had set the turtle on the path to seeking out the tree. His presence will surely make Kinuye lower her guard, as the soft hearted idiot will undoubtedly put the child's needs first and immediately begin his training. To make sure the current walker was suitably distracted, though, Kitsune had gone so far as to use her ill-gotten strength to create an army of golems to attack the manor in ceaseless waves. A spell that was self sustaining, resurrecting each golem as they were destroyed. The only way to truly stop them was by burning them up entirely all at once and such a spell would require monstrous amounts of strength, not to mention energy. It would exhaust Kinuye's reserves, leaving her helpless. The time to strike and take her place as empress was almost at hand, she only needed one final piece of the puzzle to make her dreams a reality. A lucrative partnership.
Kitsune was not a strong spirit, in terms of physical prowess she was severely lacking. Her main strategy was always spun from the shadows, manipulating others to do her dirty work, and handle the heavy lifting. In other words, she needed a powerful ally who could take Kinuye and the turtle brats down while she made her way to the tree and ripped its influence away from the duchess. She knew just who to pick, too. Mordred Le Fay.
Karai's features twisted into a sickening grin.
He would be the ideal choice if she wanted to succeed in a hostile takeover of Avalon. The fox spirit knew all about the world tree, as well as its connection to the first world walker, King Arthur. In fact, she had initially trained with Kinuye, thirty years ago, but had been rejected by the tree when it chose the dirty off-worlder. That was the reason behind her determination to put Kinuye down and take what should have been rightfully hers. That kind of fury required a partner in crime who understood the depths of her bitterness, who'd be willing to assist her in taking over Avalon, someone like Mordred Le Fay. She could resurrect his spirit, just as she had Saki's, and then Avalon would hers, and most importantly, the world tree. She just needed to pop into the castle for a moment and steal just a bit more energy so she can raise Mordred, then all will be ready.
Raising a glass of wine to her lips, Kitsune allowed herself a dark chuckle. Yes, it was only a matter of time.
…..
Donatello walked through the nearby village, both he and Leo agog at the wonders surrounding them. It had been a week since the luncheon with the Duchess, Kinuye having busied herself in the wish to check on her husband and his troops now that they had a proper shield up and had time to breathe, and the mutant family had taken full advantage of her offer to explore the areas of the manor still protected by the shield.
Initially, Michelangelo had chosen to stay by Nessa's side, nursing her back to health, while Raph snuck away with Mona. Donnie would have spent time with Venus, but the young scientist was neck deep in various projects, and while Donatello offered his help, she had said it would take too much time to get him up to speed enough for him to be a benefit at this stage in the process. Which left blue and purple to their own devices. Leo and Don had gone in search of their missing crimson clad brother, and eventually found the couple tucked away in a corner of the garden, caught in a passionate embrace. Upon seeing their brother quite occupied, the two quickly departed, exchanging secret smiles as they snuck away, leaving the brawler to catch up with his girlfriend. After a couple days, though, the duo had already explored every inch of the castle, which only left the village.
It had been a perfect day, as the sun had been out, the rays rippling through the shield that Leo had erected over the castle and its surrounding villages. The residents eagerly taking advantage of the newfound peace and quiet as they hurriedly rebuilt sections of the town destroyed by golems, as well as continuing in their daily business practices necessary for their living. True to her word, the village was indeed packed with many different races and species, all startlingly different, and yet they coexisted in a cozy small-town way that made Leo feel nostalgic for the fishing village he'd lived in during his exile. Not only that, but word must had gotten around about who was responsible for the reinforcing of the protective barrier, as Leo experienced multiple villagers coming up to thank him for his contribution. In fact, the brothers quickly found themselves laden down with bags of baked goods, sweets, sandwiches, and various gifts from the grateful people of the village.
It was most certainly a change from the usual reception they received.
"I gotta say," Donnie chirped, happily taking a bite out of a meat pie, chocolate brown gaze positively sparkling in joy, "it wouldn't be so bad to live here, Leo."
The older turtle gave a hesitant nod, his own enjoyment dimming ever so slightly, "Yeah," he agreed, but then heaved a sigh, "but what about New York? It's still one hundred years too early for Bishop to turn over a new leaf, so we need to keep the city safe from him. And what about April and Casey and little Shadow? They need our protection, too."
Mask tails rippled in the breeze as Donnie gave an understanding nod, "True," he murmured, "but what with the technology at the castle, we'd be able to stay in contact with everyone, and Kinuye is already training you to use your powers and said it won't be long before you can open portals into other worlds. So, really, New York is just a portal away. As easy as walking through a door into another room. Plus, who's to say they can't come visit? I may not know her all that well yet, but Kinuye definitely has doting grandma vibes."
Leo's features shuttered as he considered his brother's words. He'd never thought of it that way before. Donatello was right. Once he mastered the ability to open portals, he and his family could go anywhere they pleased at any time, with little to no fuss. Visiting April could truly be as easy as opening a door and walking through it. They also had discovered that the science department in the castle (a large section of rooms taking up an entire wing of the castle, which had sent the scientific turtle into unintelligible gibbers of excitement) had developed special communication devices, the same ones Mona had given to Raphael, capable of connecting across dimensions. So, they were still merely a phone call away. If anything happened to their friends, such as an emergency that required their immediate attention, they were reachable. To be honest, they'd be far more accessible here due to his new powers than they were before when they'd have to contend with New York traffic or hopping roofs just to get to their friends' side.
"Besides," Donatello's voice was far too casual, and Leo braced himself for a cheeky comment, to which he was not disappointed, "I heard Glimmer tell you that Coral was doing a fantastic job as Queen of the Mer, giving the princess a lot more freedom. So, the possibility of Glimmer coming to live here with you is also something worth considering."
Once again, Donnie made a good point, "But would you want to live here?" The eldest finally asked, turning concerned eyes to his brother, "I don't want you to give up your scholarship, especially after finally enrolling into the online courses for MIT."
Donnie gave a warm chuckle, patting his leader on the shoulder consolingly, "Don't worry, aniki," he grinned, "I still plan on finishing college, and I have full intention of helping April start O'Neill Tech, however, you have to admit that in terms of safety, this place really would be the best option for us."
Leonardo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow ridge at that statement, taking a contemplative bite out of his baguette, "Explain?"
"Well, Bishop can't attack us if he can't reach us," Donnie said, wiggling his eyebrows, "Which means no more living in fear on when we'll inevitably have to get up and move again while our home falls apart around our ears. No more living in the sewers, no more mourning not having a real life topside, no more fear beyond the trouble we'd find while on missions with you in other dimensions. Plus, I can attend the university here with Venus, Raph and Mikey can start enjoying a true dating relationship with their girlfriends, Father can retire in comfort, and you can fulfill your destiny as protector of the cosmos!"
The baguette caught in Leo's throat, the turtle choking, a green fist pounding his plastron in an effort to dislodge it, "You don't have to make it sound so….grand," he muttered, voice slightly strangled as he still struggled to breathe, "I'm not all that special."
Donnie gave a healthy roll to his brown eyes, "I don't know, aniki, evidence seems to point to the contrary." He snorted, "Besides, is it really so bad? Everyone, including the Tribunal, always said you were special, that we all had destiny on our shoulders. This isn't just about your calling, but Raphie, Mike and I would get to stand by your side as your sworn knights. Between studying interdimensional phenomena with Venus and going on adventures with you, honestly, there's no other way I'd rather spend the rest of my days."
"But Raph and Mikey…" Leo murmured, eyes downcast, uncertainty still staining his gaze.
"Raphael was just telling me about how he'd gotten close with Kinuye's husband, and the man thought Raphie has what it takes to become the next captain of the guard," Donnie cut in, "I've never seen the turtle so excited. And Mikey has been making friends with the kitchen staff, as well as every mythological creature in the forest. I swear, I saw our sweet baby bro talking to a unicorn the other day, and he looked completely in his element."
Leonardo was running out of excuses. "Master Splinter?"
"Hasn't left the library," Donatello giggled, seeing he was winning the argument, "especially when he discovered that Kinuye has a weakness for Korean dramas, with an impressive video library to prove it. He's been holed up watching Princess Hours all week!"
Still the sapphire gaze was pinned to the road beneath their feet, and the scientist heaved a patient sigh. Lifting a green hand to grip Leo's shoulder, Donnie forced his leader to pause in their walk so to look deeply into the eldest's eyes, "Aniki," he said, voice stern and yet soft with affection, "remember when we were blasted into the future?"
Leonardo slowly nodded, unsure of where Donnie was going with this, "Yeah."
"When we arrived in the future, the lair wasn't a wreck or destroyed, but it was empty." the engineer continued gently, "I've puzzled over it ever since we were sent into the future, and I assumed it was because a hundred years had passed, and so had we, but if that were the case then something of us should have been left behind. I searched the internet, and there isn't even a mention of our names in local newspapers, city hall records, or even on the dark webs. It was like we completely vanished."
"We're ninja, Don," came the deadpan reply.
"Turtle ninja," Donnie emphasized, "turtles have extraordinary lifespans, and with our genetic mutation from our original turtle DNA it stands to reason that even a hundred years in the future, not only would we still be alive, but even still in action and capable of being ninja."
Well, that was a bombshell Leo wasn't ready to deal with yet, "Not my point," the eldest waved away with both hands, "I mean, it's our job to vanish into the shadows. If we were traceable, then we'd be pretty bad ninja."
"Yes," Donatello acquiesced, slapping Leo's hands down with irritated fingers, "but the point I was making, was that even if we still were pulling a ninja vanish despite living in a world that we could walk around without fear (which is completely illogical), why would we be missing from Cody's life? Where were we, Leo? We should have still been around, our DNA combined with the mutation could potentially mean we will live for hundreds of years, so where did we go?"
That's…an excellent point. The eldest paused, sapphire gaze slowly widening in realization, "You think it's because we came to live here?"
"Yes," Donnie nodded, dark gaze firm with confident conviction, "it stands to reason that we found a place that we could live, and after significant passage of time, decided to gracefully bow out from the lives of Casey and April's descendants."
"Something we couldn't do unless we had concrete evidence that everything would be just fine without us," Leo finished softly, tone reduced to a mere breath of revelation, "which we do. Cody will accidentally pull the past us into the future, Darius Dunn will go down, Sh'Okanabo will be dealt with, and we can peacefully live out the rest of our lives here."
"Precisely," the scientist nodded, beginning to walk down the path towards the castle again, "like I said, this is the most logical decision for our family."
Leo wanted to believe it. To be honest, he'd been battling with himself since they arrived. The idea of spending the rest of his life going on adventures with his brothers as protectors of the multiverse was not just tantalizing, it was downright irresistible! That they could live in the sunlight and never have to be afraid of having their home destroyed. Well, kind of. Obviously, the manor was under attack right now, and things were tough, but going by the conversation with the villagers and members of the castle staff, this wasn't something that happened very often, if ever. The current attack aside, this place, the castle, the forest, the village, how happy it made his family; it pulled at the protective side of him that begged he put his family's needs first and accept the position. However, he was still insecure, feeling like an imposter. Donnie seemed to sense this as he cast his Chico plate gaze back onto Leo.
"Aniki," he asked softly, "what is really holding you back from wanting this?"
Good question.
"Maybe," Leonardo pursed his lips, "I do have some level of insecurity, I guess."
"Like, you don't think you can do the job?"
"Something like that," the azure turtle sighed, "I don't know. The past year and a half, I haven't exactly been a paragon of strength. I just can't see why the world tree would choose me, when I'm sure there's better options.
"Or," Leo continued, "they don't have any other options, because as Mona said, the power itself is extremely rare, and they're just waiting for the real warrior they actually want as the new world walker and, just like with the tribunal, I'm just a placeholder for someone more qualified?"
Donatello breathed an exasperated sigh, "Just how were you a placeholder?" He scoffed, "If anything, Faraji was the placeholder, not you!"
Leo was already shaking his head, "No, no he wasn't." The eldest denied, "He was a stronger, more honorable warrior than I ever was, plus he was the one given a weapon by the Dragon Forge, not me."
"And yet, he's the one who fell, and you're the one who led us to victory." Donnie said, not unkindly, "in spite of having no weapon, in spite of the sheer adversity that, as far as we knew, had claimed the lives of our fellow acolytes and the Tribunal; you were the one who held it together and led the charge that allowed us to transform into dragons and beat Demon Shredder."
The eldest sighed, unable to move past the hurt of how he'd been treated by the Tribunal, "I don't know Donnie," he murmured, "I couldn't even get my lessons right during that time. I wasn't good enough."
Donatello furrowed his eyebrows, then lunged forward to flick his brother firmly on the beak, "Stop that!" He exclaimed, wagging said finger in Leo's face, "You are good enough! And I'm not going to let some pompous old farts make you think differently! Just because they're the self proclaimed Ninja Tribunal does not make them automatically right! So, get your head out of your shell and look around!
"There are people who do think you're good enough right here!" The scientist continued, voice rising passionately, "The negative voices of your past have no power over your future unless you give it to them! Just because the person who said those things to you are respected doesn't mean that they're right!"
Donnie's shoulders heaved as he panted for breath, "Look," he said, returning to a more sedate tone, "there are times in our lives that we need constructive criticism, because without that we can never grow as people. However, you don't have to listen to all of it, especially if it isn't true.
"You're a mighty warrior who cares about his family," the purple ninja said, face stern and immovable, "you've proven time and again just how far you're willing to go to keep us safe. You've also been forced to grow up too fast because you've shouldered the responsibility of what it means to be leader. If you were some bum that laid around the house, devoid of the integrity and character that I know you for, complaining about how everyone treats you badly that would be one thing, but you're not!
"You're aniki!" Donatello finally finished, "You work hard to provide for this family, and you are the most honorable person I know. If anyone deserves to be given this destiny, it's you. So, the real question is, do you want this?"
Leonardo froze, sapphire eyes wide as he considered the question. Did he? It was the most logical choice to protect his family, so did his opinion really matter? He opened his mouth, head still stuck on his family's comfort, but the genius turtle was three steps ahead, "Ah-ah!" Donnie stopped the leader from talking for just a moment, "Don't answer with our thoughts and feelings in mind, I'm asking Leonardo Hamato what his personal feelings are on this. Is. This. Something that YOU want?"
What did he want? Such an uncomfortable question, one that Leo realized he still hadn't truly confronted yet. However, the more he considered it, even after the incredibly difficult task of taking his family out of the equation, Leo realized that yes, he did. Joy, excitement, anxiety, intimidation, and anticipation all rolled up into one stomach roiling wave of emotion washed through the eldest. This was by far the biggest decision he'd ever made, and possibly the most selfish, but Leonardo couldn't deny it any more. He wanted to become world walker. He wanted to travel the multiverse with his brothers at his side, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life having adventures and giving his father the retirement the aged rat deserved. He wanted it so much; it made his heart ache.
Surprised shock bubbled up in Leo's throat as a giddy laugh, "I do," he replied breathlessly, "I do want this. More than I want to admit."
Donatello's face lit up with a bright grin, pride at his Leo's progress in allowing himself personal happiness glowing in the chocolate gaze. "Well, then, why don't we go talk to Kinuye, then?"
….
Kinuye sat in her bedroom within the castle, the balcony doors open allowing the evening breeze to flow through translucent curtains, a large harp balanced on her shoulder, calloused fingers plucking at the strings to produce a melancholy melody. She was dressed in flowing silk pajamas, stormy grey eyes closed as she leaned into the wooden frame of the instrument, hands moving in elegant circles as she played.
The woman hadn't been allowed the freedom to play since the trouble began with the golems attacking the castle, and Kinuye was taking advantage of the opportunity, soothing her frazzled nerves. Normally the simple act of playing her harp would comfort the human, but tonight, she found very little solace. Too many thoughts whirled through her mind with the force and confusion of a sandstorm. The arrival of Leonardo, and his subsequent creation of the shield, had been a great source of encouragement to the Duchess, however, her gut told her not to let her guard down. Between the reports of the Eaters suddenly arriving in New York, and the attack on the castle, Kinuye knew that there was surely more at play in the shadows. Someone was targeting them, targeting her. Kinuye shuddered, unable to discard the feeling of being watched, making her fingers fumble as they played.
"Hello, Kinuye,"
Grey eyes shot open with a startled gasp, and the harp hit the ground with a resounding bang as the woman whirled around, only for Kinuye to snarl in fury, "Kitsune," she hissed between clenched teeth.
She may be wearing a borrowed face, but Kinuye could spot those life threads from a mile away. The fox spirit stood in her large bedroom, clad in the body of a young woman in her late twenties. The Asian woman's life threads trembled weakly from the trim frame, overwhelmed by Kitsune's own life force. It broke the walker's heart to see it, as it was proof that the fox spirit had adequately tamed the spirited nature of the kunoichi, training her into submission. A flash of sympathy made the compassionate heart of the Duchess give a pang, knowing that if this human were to ever regain her freedom, she would never be the same. However, Kinuye blinked hard, returning her attention to Kitsune. Regardless of who the spirit had taken hostage, she was still a real threat, and the body she wore would inevitably bear the brunt of their battle. It was sad, but she couldn't lose herself in that fact, she needed to focus.
"I haven't seen you since you banished me to the astral plane," Kitsune snarled, baring her teeth, "all for merely wanting to take what is rightfully mine."
"No," Kinuye stood, hands clenched at her side, "I banished you to the astral plane because you tried to take over Avalon, after our own master banned you from ever returning for your heinous behavior."
"I almost succeeded, though," Kitsune sighed, "however, the body I possessed was too weak. The slightest touch of his world walking powers, and he burned up like a penny candle. Pathetic."
"That body you so callously destroyed was my son!" Kinuye bellowed, tears gathering in her eyes and streaming down the marred cheek.
Kitsune snorted, eyes cold and apathetic, "That's right," she drawled tonelessly, "he was your spawn, wasn't he?" Suddenly the fox spirit burst into dark giggles, "That explains why his power was so pitiful!"
Kinuye's limited energies rose up around her, crackling through the air, biting and snapping, like flames flying off a raging bonfire, "Don't you dare talk about my son," she spat, "besides, I'm still more than a match for the likes of you!"
"You?" The fox replied sardonically, cocking her head in mocking confusion, "I'm the one who gave you that scar when you were at your strongest, and I can say with full confidence that right now you are not even half the warrior you were on that night. The tree is abandoning you, don't think I haven't noticed!"
The Duchess drew in a shuddering breath, but did not rise to the bait, instead she focused on channeling her power into her right hand. The energy crept like ice down the skin of her arm, swirling and crackling, until it began to form the pole of a large death scythe in her palm. Kitsune watched, content to allow her enemy the time she needed to summon her weapon, even as a glowing blade was summoned out of thin air. Hard grey eyes were bleached white by the power rushing through her frame, matching the silver of her hair.
"I don't know how you got though the barrier, Kitsune," Kinuye growled lowly, hefting the death scythe so to whirl it threateningly around her body, "but you're not leaving here alive."
"I believe that's my line," the fox smirked, before ducking forward in a savage lunge.
The steel of Karai's short sword met the crystalline blade of the walker's scythe in a shower of sparks, Kinuye releasing a grunt of effort as she parried the attack, silken robe billowing behind her. The body that Kitsune now wore was agile, though, and younger. In less than a second she had dodged the following counter, blocking the scythe and parrying it aside, a clawed gauntlet headed straight for the tender belly of the older woman. Kinuye gave a snarl, bringing the scythe pole down to block the claws, twisting her weapon in an effort to slash her enemy with the large blade.
Kitsune reeled back, black hair floating to the floor as she narrowly missed being beheaded, "Heh," she chuckled lowly, taking a few steps backwards, "you're still as monstrous with that thing as usual," she sneered, "I've always hated how inelegant it was. Such a pity you're so weak when it comes to the power a world walker is known for and have to rely on brute force. It's really no wonder that your face looks like a patchwork quilt!"
"I'm choosing to take that as a compliment," Kinuye panted, twirling the scythe into a more defensive stance, "in my home world patchwork quilts are considered works of art."
Kitsune rolled her eyes, sheathing the short sword, "I already know I'll lose if I continue trying to challenge you with nothing but my physical prowess," the fox spat, "I'll have to use other means to take you down."
"How will you manage that?" Kinuye scoffed, "When our master banned you from Avalon, he sealed your ability to naturally regenerate the power. You have no access to the dimensional energies anymore."
A sly look glinted in the stolen body's caramel eyes, "I cannot generate it anymore, no, but he didn't steal my ability to channel it," she purred, "I just had to find the means to scavenge it, absorbing it into my own body."
Kinuye's grey gaze widened in horror, "Leonardo," she gasped, "you're going to…!"
"I'm going to absorb every last drop of energy that he has left," Kitsune confirmed, "but not yet. I'm going to let him continue to ripen until he'll be just as delicious as a fresh plum plucked from the orchard."
Dread curled in the walker's gut, "Then you have other plans?" She whispered in a low hiss, "Plans that include me?"
The smile on the younger woman's face was positively feral, "Always."
Red chains shot out from Kitsune, wrapping around Kinuye, and shattering the scythe. Grey eyes glared rebelliously at the attacker, even as the walker struggled in her bonds, desperate grunts and groans slipping between clenched teeth. The fox merely chuckled, "I always was stronger than you when it came to channeling the dimensional powers," she murmured, sauntering towards her prey, "why the tree chose you over me is beyond my comprehension."
"Probably because you're a psychopath," Kinuye groaned.
Kitsune sneered, "While I applaud your bravado, it won't do you any good." She growled, "The same power I stole from that turtle brat is what helped me portal here, it's also the same power that I used to capture you, and now I'm going to steal your power so I can reclaim Avalon."
Grey eyes widened, but Kinuye was powerless, weak as she was, she could only watch the cold pale hand descend upon her forehead and pierce her very soul.
Well….that escalated quickly.
Thank you for the continued support and I'm so grateful for all your kindness towards me through your advice, prayers and encouragement.
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