So I just finished my search montage chapters in "Lilianna" and I am so, so, SO EXCITED to write the next few chapters in that story. But I wanted to write another story here first.

So when I wrote the chapter in "Lilianna" where Aumanil, her other identity, was born, I had imagined using this song to show just how empowered Lily/Aumanil felt when she flew freely through the city for the first time. But my shuffling on Apple Music fell on to this song and I thought, what if Lily somehow knew she had a power all along but didn't quite know what it was? So I created this story not just of her first adventure in the woods in upstate New York, but also her first adventure in finding who she is and what she's meant to do. With that said, enjoy the story!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "TMNT." Song is listed below. I only own Lilianna.

Song: "Wind in My Hair" by Mandy Moore/Rapunzel

Family: Donatello, April, Lilianna, and Splinter

Timeline: May 30 - 31, 2033

Setting: North Hampton, New York, USA

POV: Lilianna

This was my favorite time of year. I had just celebrated my ninth birthday yesterday with my family in New York City in the best way possible. Uncle Leo had made me spar with my entire family to see where I needed to improve within the next year. I easily won against my cousins Venus and Athena. Ryan was a tough opponent, but as always, I triumphed. Ryan had started to fight with me until his mother reminded him it was my birthday. In fact, the only family I could not defeat were Uncle Leo, my mom, and my dad.

Because I had celebrated my birthday yesterday, this week was a break from school. I had my Bible opened on my desk, but I had trouble reading it today. Instead, I kept staring out the window at the barn, which was opened, which meant my dad was working on his science experiments. I kept my eyes on the barn, wanting so badly to spar with my dad, using the new jo staff I got for my birthday.

With a grin, I closed my Bible and grabbed my jo staff. I excitedly ran down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out of the door to the barn. I knocked on the door. My dad turned towards me with his gap-toothed grin on his face.

"Hey, Lily Mae!"

"Hi, Daddy!" I replied, giving him my own gap-toothed grin.

"What's up?"

"Will you duel with me?" I asked. "I want to use my new jo staff."

"I'm sorry, Lily, but I'm busy with this experiment. Something's missing and I need to find out what."

"May I help you?"

"That was good asking, Lily," Dad replied with a kind smile. "But this is more complex than you think."

"Then can you please duel me? I want to--"

"Lilianna, I heard you the first time."

"Pleeeease?"

I took out my jo staff, swirled it around, and then slammed it onto the floor, showing that I was ready.

"I'm not taking no for an answer, Daddy."

My dad raised a brow at me as I gave him puppy eyes. He sighed.

"I guess I do need a break," he said.

He stood up, took off his lab coat, and grabbed his bo staff. He, too, swirled it around and slammed it onto the ground.

"Let's go."

"Yay!" I yelled happily, running out of the barn.

I heard my dad running after me. We ran a little ways into the woods but not far. We got ourselves ready to fight at a good distance from each other.

"Are you ready?" Dad asked.

"I'm ready, Daddy!"

"Hajime!"

We ran towards each other and dealt blows to each other with our staffs. I did most of the charging while he parried. We fought with grins on our faces, enjoying each other.

"You're doing great, Lily!" Dad encouraged me. "Keep fighting like that! But now, try to block my moves."

Suddenly, I heard a voice and I felt the wind blowing through my red hair to the north. I turned towards the north where the wind was going. But the voice was gone.

"What was that?" I asked out loud.

And just as suddenly as the voice came, I sensed my dad charging at me. Instead of blocking his staff, I dodged out of the way. I never used my staff again the rest of the fight as I dodged every single move from my dad. In fact, I finished the fight by performing a spinning kick to my dad's stomach.

"Wow!" Dad exclaimed, letting out a breath he had held. "Lily, are you okay?"

"Yes, Daddy. I'm fine."

"How did you avoid my blows?" Dad asked in bewilderment. "Actually, I really want to know why you didn't use your staff after you said you wanted to use it."

"Daddy, did you hear a voice with the wind?" I asked.

"Lily Mae, what are you talking about?"

I glanced back north, but the wind was gone.

"Never mind, Daddy. Shall we continue?"

"I think we're done for now. But we can continue when Mommy gets home, okay?"

"Okay!"

My dad took my hand and led me back to the house. I did my daily chores, which were dishes, cleaning my room, and cleaning the living room. Then I went back upstairs and attempted to read more of the Bible; I had ended up reading genealogies where the names were hard to pronounce.

Before I knew it, my mother had arrived home from work. I got out of my bedroom and crept down the stairs. Once my mother came through the door, I watched my dad run up to her and hug her affectionately. She returned the hug and my parents kissed each other.

"Welcome home, A," Dad greeted her.

"Thanks, D," Mom replied with a smile.

They kissed again. Then my mother looked up and saw me.

"Hey, Lily!"

"Hi, Mommy!"

I ran down the stairs and jumped into her arms. My mother was the strongest woman I had ever known as she lifted me up and twirled me around. I laughed with delight as I gazed down at her. Her blue eyes. Her short red hair with bangs. The freckles on her face. The yellow jumpsuit she was wearing and the yellow headband to match.

"Mommy, would you duel with me, please?"

"Lily, relax!" Dad chimed in. "Mommy just got home. And besides, it's time for dinner."

"We just had dinner!" I shot back. "Please, Mommy?"

"Well, if it pleases you, then let's go!"

"Yay!"

I led my mother outside with my dad watching us. My mother prepared her weapons, a tanto and a tessen, while I got my jo staff ready.

"Ready?" Mom asked me.

"Ready!" I answered loudly.

"Hajime!" Dad yelled.

My mother and I charged at each other. This fight was more entertaining than my duel with my dad. My mother was fluid in her movements and even elbowed me once. But I didn't let that get to me.

"You fight well for your age," Mom complimented me.

I suddenly heard the voice again.

"Lilianna."

I turned to the north again as the wind blew through my hair.

"Lily, look out!" Dad screamed.

I quickly sensed my mother coming at me. Once again, I dodged every move of hers without ever using my staff. In fact, I didn't use my staff until the very end where I used it to knock her to the ground.

"Wow!" Mom exclaimed with surprise. "You actually beat me. I'm impressed!"

"She beat me earlier today, too," Dad chimed in, rubbing his neck. "Lily Mae, why don't you get ready for bed? Mom and I will be up to talk with you shortly."

"Okay!"

I got changed into my pajamas and sat patiently in my bed until my parents came into my bedroom together.

"Hey, Lily Mae," Dad greeted me.

"Hi, Daddy. Am I in trouble?"

"Oh, no!" Mom answered quickly. "You're not in trouble. We're just concerned. Was everything okay today? First, you got distracted when dueling Daddy and then you got distracted fighting me."

"I heard a voice calling my name," I explained honestly.

My parents glanced at each other.

"We heard nothing," Dad replied.

"Really? Is it my imagination, then?"

"That is possible," Mom answered with a smile. "These things happen from time to time. It's perfectly normal."

I blew out a sigh, thankful that my parents were understanding.

"Thank you for believing me."

"Of course!" Dad replied with a smile. "You're our little girl and we love you so much. If you say something is wrong, then something is wrong. We trust you."

"I trust you, too."

"Good," Mom replied. "Now, would you like us to tell you a story or would you like to go to sleep?"

"Oh! Could you tell me the story of how you became blind, Mom?"

My parents laughed.

"Well, alright," Mom answered before she started. "Once upon a time, Donatello, Michelangelo, and April were in the barn on this very property. Donnie wanted to test April's psychic powers to see just what all she could do."

I woke up the next morning and had a delicious breakfast before my mother left for work and my dad went to the barn to do his job. I found myself in my room again with my Bible opened.

"Lilianna."

"Huh?"

I turned around, expecting my dad to be at the door, but he wasn't there. I went back to my Bible, reading a chapter of Ecclesiastes.

"Lilianna!"

I gasped, turning around again. But there was no one there. I slowly put on my shoes and walked out of the bedroom. I slowly went down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out the door. I walked over to the barn and knocked on the door. My dad turned towards me and put a smile on his face.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"Did you call me, Daddy?" I asked.

"No. I've been taping my lessons for my students this entire time. I promise, if I need you, I will come get you."

"Okay, Daddy."

I walked away from the barn in confusion. If it wasn't my daddy that called me, then what or who did?

"Lilianna!"

I heard the voice again, and this time I knew with certainty it came from the woods. I walked towards the woods with uncertainty.

"Seems like I've spent my whole life hopin', dreamin' of things I've never tried, tangled in knots just waitin' for my time to shine."

And then curiosity got the best of me.

"What if the doors began to open? What if the knots became untied? What if one day, nothing stood in my way and the world was mine? Would it feel this fine?"

I felt the wind pulling my red hair to the north as I started to walk into the woods.

"'Cause I've got the wind in my hair and a gleam in my eye and an endless horizon. I've got a smile on my face and I'm walkin' on air. And everything life oughta be, it's all gonna happen to me out there. And I'll find it, I swear, with the wind in my hair."

I looked down and I let out a loud gasp. I was flying! But then I fell on the ground.

"Ow," I mumbled to myself.

"Get up, Lilianna."

"Huh?"

I quickly got up and I started to follow the voice deeper into the woods.

"So many roads I've yet to travel. So many friends I haven't met. So many new adventures, just around the bend."

With a grin, I ran towards a creek and stared at my reflection.

"Plenty of mysteries to unravel. Tons of mistakes to not regret. So much to see and to do and to be, a whole life to spend and it doesn't end."

"Lilianna."

I looked up and I saw birds flying above me and away towards a mountain. I grinned. I laughed. And I started to run as fast as I could.

"And I've got the wind in my hair and a song in my heart and the fun's only starting. I've got a skip in my step and I haven't a care."

As I continued to run, I felt the wind blowing my hair back. It felt... so good.

"That beautiful breeze blowin' through, it's gonna carry me to who knows where. But I'll take any dare with the wind in my hair."

I felt myself flying as I continued to run.

"I've got a smile on my face and I'm walkin' on air! And everything life oughta be, well I know that it's waiting for me out there. And I'll find it, I swear, with the wind in my hair."

I found myself at the base of the mountain and I looked up in awe. Was this voice calling my name calling me to this mountain?

"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone there?"

"Lilianna."

I turned and suddenly saw this... human-like rat standing proud and tall.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Your father and mother called me Splinter," the rat answered with a smile. "I was their father and sensei. You have a rare gift inside you, Lilianna, just like your mother. It's what led you to this mountain and to me."

"Hai, sensei," I replied in Japanese.

"Continue training with your father and mother, and you will soar in the sky like the birds."

Just when it clicked that this was the Splinter my mother and father talked about, I heard another voice in the distance.

"LILY? LILIANNA MAE, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Uh-oh," I spoke nervously. "That's my daddy."

"Then go," Splinter told me. "We'll see each other again soon."

I could not help but give him a hug. He chuckled, hugging me back. Then I ran back through the woods looking for my father.

"LILY? LILY MAE, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"I'm here, Daddy!" I shouted back.

After a few seconds, I found my dad armed with his bo staff. He turned around and had a look of relief on his face.

"Oh, Lily!" Dad exclaimed happily, running towards me.

"Daddy!" I yelled excitedly.

We ran into each other's arms and he held me tightly. And suddenly, my father wasn't so very happy. In fact, he was angry.

"Lilianna Mae Hamato, why did you decide to go into the woods by yourself?"

"I heard someone calling my name again," I explained, feeling guilty. "And so I followed it."

"Did it ever occur to you that the voice is probably in your head?" Dad angrily asked me. "Lilianna, you could have gotten yourself killed going out there alone! You're only nine years old!"

"But I didn't! I'm here safe with you now. And Splinter was with me on that mountain."

My dad scoffed, not knowing what to say at first. His angry expression returned.

"You are going to go back to the house and go to your room. Mommy and I are going to have a talk about what you did and then we'll come talk to you."

Dad pointed his finger towards the house.

"Now, go."

I had already changed into pajamas by the time we were supposed to go to New York. I heard knocking on the door to my bedroom.

"Lily Mae, we have to leave for ninja lessons!" Dad told me.

"I'm not going!" I yelled back.

The door opened and my dad walked in the room with a frown on his face.

"Lily, why are you in your PJ's?" Dad asked. "It's only five o'clock."

"Because you're mad at me for running into the forest by myself."

"Oh, Lily..."

Dad sat down on the bed with me.

"I'm not mad at you."

"You're not?" I asked with surprise.

"No," he answered, putting a hand on my small shoulder. "Lily, you're my little girl and I love you. But I'm also worried about you. First you hear someone calling your name and then you say you saw Splinter, at the mountain of all places! Sweetie, Splinter's been dead long before you were born. How could you possibly have seen him?"

"He was there! I don't know how, but he was! He's the one who's been calling my name. He said I have a gift but he didn't say what it was. Just to keep training with you and Mommy."

I glanced up at him.

"Daddy, do you know what this gift is?"

"No, sweetie, I don't. Your mommy has a gift too. But we didn't figure out what exactly this gift was until we came here for the first time. It's possible you have the same gift she does and you just haven't discovered it yet."

"Daddy, can people fly?"

"Uh, well, no. Not usually."

"But Wonder Woman did. And Superman. And I did, too."

My dad laughed.

"Sure you did, Lily Mae."

"I'm serious, Daddy! I looked down and I was off the ground."

"Lily, Mommy can't fly. And you can't either. Okay? Unless you're gifted with that kind of power, you cannot fly."

I felt saddened, but I knew my dad was always right.

"Okay, Daddy."

"Did you still want to go to ninja lessons?" Dad asked me.

"Yes, Daddy. I need to change clothes."

Daddy kissed me on the forehead and then started going out the door.

"And, Lily?"

I looked up to find a frown on his face.

"Mommy and I talked and we do not ever want to see you out in the woods alone again. Do you understand?"

I felt like crying then, and I started to cry.

"Yes, Daddy."

My dad closed the door behind him and I went into my closet to take out a white shirt and a pair of white pants. Once I put them on, I wiped away my tears and walked to the window where I saw the same mountain up ahead.

"Back to life after happily ever after. Stuck inside once again and I'm gazing out."

"True, I'm in here with those I hold dear, surrounded by their love," I started singing along. "And for some that's more than enough, no doubt."

I continued to gaze out and listen to the birds sing, flying free and without worry. I decided I wanted to be like a bird someday. I suddenly felt confident that I was going to fly someday. I felt confident that I will find what this gift is that I have. With a bold heart, I continued to sing.

"But I got the wind in my hair and a fire within 'cause there's something beginning. I got a mystery to solve and excitement to spare! The beautiful breeze blowing through, I'm ready to follow it who knows where. And I'll get there, I swear, by the wind of my hair!"

I closed my window and happily walked out of my bedroom and ran down the stairs, ready for another lesson with my family in New York City.