Hahaha! I didn't expect you guys to call me out on the green eyes thing! But you did, and I'm impressed. And yes, it was intended. But how did they go from green to gold, you ask? Don't worry your questions will all be answered in this chapter!

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Adachi's POV

I was jerked from my sleep by a sudden burst of energy from the stone. It was the most powerful burst I had felt from it in a while. My eyes snapped open and I ran to the shrine, prepared to kill whatever intruder had dare to touch the stone, assuming he wasn't dead already. But it wasn't an intruder. Raphael! I told him not to come in here. I rolled my eyes. Teenagers. Assuming Splinter-san felt his son's jolt of pain he'll probably be contacting me any minute—

*Adachi, answer me! What has happened to my son?!*

now. I finished my thought. I gathered the teenage turtle into my arms and sighed as I realized that he already had a fever.

I told you it was only a matter of time, my friend. The stone has called him. He dared to touch it. Without the proper training it has backfired.

*Will he live?*

I frowned down at the strong green form writhing on the floor where I had laid him down. Undoubtedly the stone sensed the proximity of the chosen one and sent a jolt of its power and energy straight into him. But it has never hit anyone with that large of a charge before. Could it be that his ability to wield it will be even greater than mine? Unfortunately for Raphael since he doesn't know how to control the stone and conduct the impulses, he will have to fight through it himself.

That is for the spirits to decide. I told Splinter. I could feel how concerned he was, but there was nothing I could say to him. I, too, was concerned.

After my last student I had sworn that I would not allow myself to get too close to any future students. But I must admit, Raphael is slowly working his way past my walls of impartiality. He reminds me of myself at that age, and despite my greatest efforts, I am already treating him as my own child, rather than a student.

I kept a constant vigil over the teenager that night. He was delirious for the most part. His forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat as he twisted violent. He whimpered in pain. He must eventually work off all that excess energy the stone charged him with. I placed a hand on his forehead and closed my eyes. I was suddenly sucked into his thoughts. Images from his childhood. His brothers...In this moment of weakness on his part, I am able to feel how much he misses them. I can see their faces. I can feel his love for them.

Donnie! Donnie don't!

I watched the scene unfold and my stomach tightened. When Raphael was struck by the live wire, I realized why my friend Splinter had not wanted this to happen.

Raphael's life is now linked to the stone, just as mine is. Should anything happen to the stone, if it were destroyed, both of us would die. I have no choice but to train him now. I'm so sorry Splinter-san. I know that this will change your son dramatically. But without the training, the stone will continue transmitting energy to him that he does not know how to wield it, the excess power could kill him.

I sighed. Raphael has managed to get past the danger. I cannot help but swell with pride. He truly is the chosen one. Even without training, he has managed to dispel most of excess energy. For one so young, he is incredibly strong.

About a day later, he finally awakened. "Ugh...my head..."

I knelt by his bedside and shoved a cup of tea into his hands as he sat up. "You have delirious for a day and a half. How do you feel?"

"Sore." He grunted.

I put a hand on his forehead and he jerked away. "What the shell 'r you doin'?"

I rolled my eyes and frowned pointedly at him. "I was trying to see if your fever had broken."

An annoyed Hmph was my only reply and when I repeated the action he didn't move away. "Hm. I think you should be alright provided we don't train for the next day or so."

"Why not? You think I can't take it?"

I gave him a pointed glare. "I am much more concerned about your wellbeing at the moment than I am about your training."

He scoffed and I frowned at him. "And you started caring...when?"

My eyes narrowed and I whacked him upside the head.

"What the shell?!"

"I suggest you rest for the next two days. After that we will resume your training."

He sighed and began to sit up. I watched him carefully, just making sure he was alright. Then I caught his eyes and found myself growing curious.

"What are you staring at?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

I smiled at his suspicious nature and asked curiously, "Tell me, what color were your eyes before they changed?"

Raphael's eyes widened in surprise and he floundered for a few moments. "How did you—"

"All those under the influence of the stone exhibit similar traits, particularly gold eyes. What color were they and when did they change?" I asked again.

He answered slowly. "I was ten when they changed. And they were green. Neon green. But between the ages of seven and ten they got darker and turned almost brown before they lightened to this gold color."

I placed a contemplative hand on my chin. "Hmm. I see. That is interesting. My eyes did not change until I turned eighteen. The fact that yours changed earlier could be significant."

He raised an eye-ridge. "Why?"

"The stone does not allow its power to be given to just anyone. It has to be someone very special. As I say, those individuals usually exhibit golden eyes at some point before they are trained. That change should have indicated to your father that there was something very special about you, Raphael. Did he say anything to you on the matter?"

Raphael shrugged. "He told me that they made me unique to my brothers. But then again, the green had made me unique too. Personally I prefer the gold. I didn't like the green. They were too...bright. They glowed."

I smiled at him. "The more contact you have with the stone, the more they will glow."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh good. What's the deal with this stone, anyway?"

I sighed and my smile faded. It was time to tell him the truth. I lowered my gaze. "A long, long time ago there was a ninja master who devoted all of his life to his study of the ancient art. He trained in an old sanctuary in the mountains much like this. And one day, on an excursion to a cave, deep in the heart of the mountain he found it. A stone that shone as pure as gold and radiated a great power. It was not long before he learned how to wield. He learned that by allowing it's energy to flow through him, he unlocked the secret to limitless power."

He rolled his eyes. "I feel like you're telling me a crappy bedtime story."

I frowned sternly at him. "Raphael. The stone is incredibly powerful. And unfortunately there are those who would use its power to destroy the world." His gold eyes flicked up to meet mine and all aspect of kidding or disbelief was gone. Raphael realized how serious this was. "Only a chosen few are taught to wield it. And the stone chooses sparingly. It has chosen you, Raphael. But your father has asked me not to train you in that manner. Obviously he did not realize your potential. But now that you have made contact with the stone, I'm afraid I have no choice but to train you in the basics. You see, if I do not and the stone continues transmitting impulses of its power to you, you will have no way of releasing it and you will get sicker and sicker, until eventually you will expire."

He raised an eye-ridge. "So you have to train me how to use this rock because if I don't know how, I'll die?"

I frowned at his choice of words. "I would not say it precisely in that manner, but yes. That is the gist of it. Your foolishness has come back to bite you."

He went quiet for a few seconds. "So...I could have died?" He asked softly.

I stared at him strictly. His shoulders drooped and he stared at the ground.

"Do they—"

"What do you think?" I asked him rhetorically.

He sighed. "I guess I better meditate and make contact with them before it gets any later."

"Indeed, I believe that would be wise. Your father is most concerned about you."

He nodded vaguely and sat up some more. I put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not strain yourself. As concerned as they are I'm sure they can wait until we finish our conversation."

Raphael gave me a look. I fought the urge to chuckle at his look of annoyance.

"Tell me, Raphael, how old do you think I am?"

His eye-ridges furrowed at my unexpected question and he seemed genuinely surprised. He seemed hesitant. "Do I get in trouble if I get it wrong."

I mock-frowned at him. "That depends on what you say."

Raphael looked even more doubtful after that, but he put on an air of confidence. "Um...well, you're younger than my dad. So um...like 45?"

I smiled widely. Then I turned away from him. "I stopped aging at forty-five, little kame. I am actually a hundred years older than your father."

I let out a long, low chuckle as his jaw dropped in astonishment. Huh. I've spent so many years alone and in a deep fog of moroseness, I had almost forgotten what amusement felt like.

Raphael's eyes were wide with shock. "Huh?!" He sputtered.

A grin tilted the corner of my mouth upward. "The stone is very powerful. And its guardians are kept in their peak condition so that they might be able to protect it for a long, long time. It has been eighty years since the stone first chose a successor for me, Raphael."

The teenage turtle frowned at my words. "Well, what happened to him?"

I lowered my gaze. "The stone overestimated him. His heart was not pure enough. But I favored him and was too blind to see it. It was your father's master, Hamato Yoshi, who helped me see that he was banished forever."

"Splinter never told us about that." He murmured.

"He had no reason to and I didn't expect him to." I answered evenly, putting a hand on his shoulder. I lowered my voice. "But now, in an unexpected turn of events, the stone has chosen a new successor."

He frowned and stared up into my eyes. "But...what about my brothers? If the stone has chosen me that means..."

"That you will have to make a choice. Do not worry about that right now, young one. That moment will not be for a while yet. Tomorrow you can write a letter to your brothers and father. I will drive into town and post it for you. Perhaps then, if you feel strong enough you can reach out to them through meditation."

"But I can do it right now—"

I cut him off with a stern glare and placed a gentle hand on his forehead, checking one last time to make sure that his fever had gone down. "Get some sleep, Raphael."

I blew out the candles and made my way to the door, closing it behind me, leaving the young turtle thinking silently in the darkness.

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Well, how was it?