"We flew here and have been living with Maggie since then."

I told everyone my story after I was formally introduced to the turtles. From the science facility to Maggie. I even told them that my real name was Raven. Everyone was silent as they took in my story. April looked sad, Donatello looked both sad and interested, Michelangelo looked stunned, Leonardo looked like he felt sorry, and Raphael looked mad. Silence surrounded us until Raphael broke it.

"How could that happen?! How could they do that to you?! If I ever met them, I would give them a beat down so hard they would be hurting for months. You didn't deserve any of that."

I was shocked by Raph's words. I would have said something back, but Mikey sort of ruined the whole touchy moment.

"So your name isn't Shadow? That's crazy! Does anyone else find that crazy?!"

Raph sighed with annoyance. "Do you have to ruin everything with your stupid questions?"

Mikey glared at Raph. "What!? I just find it crazy that she is both Raven and Shadow. It's like she's two different people in one body."

Raph sighed again. "Am I gonna have to slap some sense into you?"

Mikey looked a little scared and didn't ask anymore questions. We sat in silence for a little more, but the sound of a grumbling tummy was heard. My cheeks turned red from embarrassment. April giggled along with the turtles. I joined in, finding my hunger funny as well. After sharing the pizza that had been waiting in the kitchen, I got more comfortable around the turtles. Each of the brothers was unique in their own way and I felt that I could relate to them somehow. Leonardo and I both were leaders, trying to do what we thought was right of our siblings. Michelangelo was sort of childish, but I could be too. I didn't really share anything with Donatello except for the friendship of April, but the brother I felt more close to was Raphael. We both had anger issues, we both had bright green eyes, we cared for our siblings even though we didn't show it, and even though we didn't say it or show it at first, we both had feelings for each other.

"Hey Raven? Do you wanna go on a patrol with us?"

I was laying on the ground, reading a comic that Raph let me read when Leo's words tore me from the pages. It sounded like a great idea. I usually did a quick patrol before going down to visit the turtles and would stay in the lair with April while the turtles went out on their rounds. I sometimes joined April in her training with Master Splinter. Sensei said that I didn't really need any training because I had a unique ability that allowed me to use moves that I had seen, even if the moves were quick. I looked at Leo with a smile and then joined the brothers by the stairs.

"I would love to join you guys. I could do with a break from sensei."

Leo laughed a little in understanding. Master Splinter could do some hard lessons sometimes and they really took a toll on the body. Besides, April could use some one-on-one time with Master Splinter. I followed the turtles while walking next to Raph, who smiled slightly. We went up to the surface and began our patrol.

The night air felt warm on my skin as we went from rooftop to rooftop. The brothers seemed like they were keeping an eye out for something specific but I wasn't sure. I followed in the back, blending with the shadows, not making a sound. The brothers stopped after a while and looked down at the town. They spread out so they could cover more space. I stood a little bit a ways from Raph and looked down at the streets. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and it was like that for a bit, but I soon had the feeling that I was being watched.

I looked over at the brothers, but they all were looking around still. I looked around, seeing nothing at first...but then, I noticed swift black shapes moving towards us. There was a lot of them and I started to worry.

"Raph?"

He turned to me and saw the worry in my eyes. Concern showed on his face.

"What is it?"

"There are black shapes moving towards us fast. There's a lot of them."

"What?!"

Before he could say anymore, we were surrounded. The black shapes had gotten to us and I saw that they were ninjas. All of them stood in fighting stances and seemed like they were waiting for some command. Then, a girl with short hair cut stepped up. Leonardo seemed the most angered about her.

"Karai! What are you up to?"

Karai smiled at Leo and stepped forward more. She seemed to enjoy the turtles anger towards her.

"I'm just doing something for my father. He's heard about the new vigilante. Hearing that she has unique abilities has him interested. He wants her on our side and will do anything to get what he wants."

I felt my stomach drop at what Karai said. Whoever Shredder was, he didn't sound like someone I wanted to meet and from the looks the turtles gave Karai, they didn't like him either. I started to get scared as some of the ninjas took a few steps toward me. Raph saw the fear in my eyes and stood in front of me, a protective shield against the enemy. I looked at Raph and saw something in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. A fierce need to protect filled Raph's eyes along with something else that I couldn't make out.

"Shredder isn't going to get her. As long as I'm alive that ain't gonna happen and I'll fight off anyone who tries to take her."

I heard the determination in his voice and felt a weird mix of feelings stir within me. Since the night I fainted in the lair and Raph held me in his arms, I knew there were feelings that we both felt for each other but nothing was said. But at that moment, I knew Raph felt something for me. Karai smiled, like what Raph said was funny.

"Try all you want. Shredder always gets what he wants. At least when it comes to getting a new follower."

With that, Karai signaled to the ninjas. A few went straight for me but Raph blocked them. He fought off the ninjas but was soon against more. I looked at the others and saw that they were fighting as well. Leonardo was fighting Karai while Donnie and Mikey fought the ninjas side by side. I wasn't sure what to do, but I didn't have time to think. Four ninjas had surrounded me and attacked. Instinct overcame me and I fought back.

I jumped over the ninjas and landed lightly on my feet, into a crouching position. They came at me again, but I had the upper hand. Besides making chains appear, I can turn the chains into things. Quickly, I made a metal staff. The ninjas seemed startled but they didn't stop attacking. I jabbed and thrusted my staff at the ninjas, hitting them in various places, until all four lay on the ground unconscious. I looked around and saw that most of the ninjas were unconscious on the ground. The brothers were still fighting the ninjas that were still standing, but I grew concerned when I saw that Karai was nowhere in sight. I looked around, but didn't see her. I tried to look some more but a few of the remaining ninjas had attacked. I fought them as best I could. It seemed like I was going to win, but a warning cry from Raph and a blow from behind ended my winning streak.

I hit the ground and my vision blurred slightly, but only for a moment. I got up, turned to face my attacker and came face to face with Karai. She was smiling like she had won.

"Bet you thought you would get away. Think again. Shredder gets what he wants and what he wants is you. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice."

Karai smiled again and waited. I backed up a bit but sensed that a few ninjas were blocking my way. I looked down, trying to think of a way out. I couldn't think of a way that would allow me to get out without fighting, but nothing came to mind. Karai huffed in annoyance.

"Time's up."

She charged at me, her katana ready to cut me down, but I still had my staff and blocked her attack. We went one on one for a little bit, but Karai saw that I was getting tired. I blocked each attack, but my moves were getting slower. At one point, Karai knocked my staff from my hands, sending it to the other side of the roof, where it disappeared in a burst of flames. Then, with a roundhouse kick to the side of my face, Karai knocked me to the ground. I felt blood burst inside my mouth and blood drip down the side of my face. Karai laughed with triumph and placed the tip if her katana under my chin.

"Thought you had the upper hand. Well, sorry to disappoint you. Now, get up."

I did as I was told and stood. My legs were shaking and my body ached, but I showed no defeat. I glared at Karai, who only smiled. She then made a small signal with her hand and I was grabbed by two ninjas. They held my arms tightly, making escape no longer an option.

Karai smiled and stepped closer. She held something in her right hand and brought it up so I could see. It was a syringe filled with some sort of liquid, exactly like the ones at the science facility. Memories of painful injections and other terrible things came back to me and I broke. I frantically tried to get away, but couldn't. Panic and fear swallowed me as the needle got closer. I heard Raph call out to me, but I was too lost in the fear to reply. I could only stare at the needle. I continued to struggle and then suddenly, I felt a burning sensation fill my body.

Time went by fast but I saw everything. I felt myself being engulfed in flames and then saw Karai and the ninjas that held me fly backwards in a blast of fire. I was surprised and looked around. The ground beneath me was black and smoking. I looked back at the brothers and saw that they were equally as surprised as I was. I smiled a little, but turned back as I heard a shout. Karai had gotten to her feet and was glaring at me.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

With that, she ran off, followed by the ninjas that had regained consciousness. After Karai was gone from sight, I let out a sigh of relief and turned to the turtles. They looked like hell but they seemed ok.

"You did great for your first fight against Karai and the foot."

I smiled at Leo's words and then joined the brothers as they started back for the lair. I let the brothers go ahead before going after them. As I started to follow, Raphael came up next to me.

"You ok?"

I looked up into his eyes and saw concern. I smiled back at him and nodded.

"Yeah. I'm okay. Just a little sore."

Raph smiled and then placed an arm around my waist. He pulled me closer to him and we stood side by side. Raph rested his head against mine and I felt him sigh with slight relief.

"I'm glad you're okay."

With that, he gave me a light kiss on the head. I smiled slightly. Then, Raph let go and stood in front of me. He had a sort of playful look on his face.

"Bet you can't beat me back to the alley."

He smiled teaslingly at me. I smiled back and joined him at the "starting line".

"You're on."

We got into running positions. Just as we were about to start, Raph had one last thing to say.

"There's just one rule you have to follow: NO FLYING. This is an all leg race."

I laughed and then raced after Raph. It was nice to know that I had a boyfriend who enjoyed playing games, even after we just fought a bunch of foot ninjas.