The warm air in the city was thick with scent of body odor and stale hotdogs from the street vendors as people milled around the busy streets of New York. The black-blue sky above them was starless, half of the moon free from the thick clouds shining its pale white glow down onto the neon streets. To a tourist, or even once in a while a regular New Yorker, it seemed like the perfect time to freshen up in an air-conditioned home as they were pulled into the lull of dreamless sleeps.

However, he couldn't.

His good eye glared at the Kraang-creature darkly, his patience wearing thin as he held it up in a vice-like grip. The alien screeched madly as it squirmed its tentacles, attempting to break out from the man's powerful clutch. He vaguely understood that it was yelling at him in its odd language; but that only meant the eruption of his ill-temper, extracting the information he needed.

With cold eyes, as he stared down at the creature with indifference, as if it were nothing more than an annoying pet, he demanded, "Why were you hunting the turtles?"

The bright pink creature screeched in reply.

"They don't talk much outside their little houses."

Behind him, Karai was sitting on a small black table, her gloved hands patting gently a half-burned Kraang body which she and Danny found some months ago. She was truly enjoying the show from where she was seated. Father was short-tempered when provoked just the right amount. Anything right about now could unleash his wrath with the snap of a leash. And right now...with the screeching alien, piercing yellow eyes, writhing beneath his hold, and the blazing hatred burning behind his damaged irises, it seemed impossible for one human being to hold this much hatred over one being.

Except for Rowan and Jewel, of course.

Except it was now just Rowan who could accomplish such a feat ever since Julie was brutally murdered all those years ago. A death that was avenged a year ago when Karai found that bastard and showed a thing or two about her definition of torture. And unfortunately for the foreign creature, her father was glaring down at it with such vile hatred, and vice-versa. It was such a feat no other human being could accomplish except for her two friends...but now, tragically, it was just the one friend. A day that was engraved into Karai's young mind like a tattoo, both Julie and the monster gone forever.

She only hoped Rowan wouldn't face the same fate.

How naïve she was though.

Shredder shot his daughter a glare, totally galled with her but none word came out from his covered mouth. His hand threw in the alien creature who just sound off to his own language again until he got used in the half-burned robotic body. It took some seconds for him to activate the body but several minutes to realize that his hands and legs were missing. And that gave him one more hint to screech in complain as the robotic head lifted to Shredder's side. Puprle, emotionless robotic eyes shot him with a blank look, purple lights coming into court on the mouth.

"Kr-kr-Kraang is lacking the knowledge to answer the questions that the one known as Shredder is asking of Kraang." a passionless voice finally said and Shredder arched a burned eyebrow, concealed in his helmet. "Do they all speak like this?" he inquired with Karai silently laughing behind him. She completely forgot that her father knew nothing about the aliens, only from what she and Danny told him months ago when both first met them.

"Even if Kraang is possessing the knowledge, the one known as Shredder will never be getting that knowledge from Kraang." the Kraang continued, protesting against Shredder's will. Karai laughed again as she saw her father cursing in Japanese, anger, venom, and annoyance filling each word differently. A teasing smirk showed at the edge on her left side of her red painted lips, her amber eyes shining with joy. "You didn't have any other plans for today, did you?" she joked, earning another glare of his. One of his hidden blades came out from his gloved hand, the metal shinning under the moonlight, attracting its attention easily. "Let's try again." he suggested and pointed the edge of the sharp weapon close to the Kraang's head. "Why were you hunting the turtles?" he repeated as the alien widened its eyes in fear, teeth grinded. "The ones known as the turtles are protecting the life forms needed by Kraang, the ones known as April O'Neil and Rowan Fox." he replied, shocking Karai and satisfying Shredder a lot. He could use those two to make the turtles and their pathetic rat master come out from hiding and...finish with that story once and for all.

On the other side, Karai couldn't even believe what she heard some seconds ago. Rowan? Those bastards needed Rowan? For...their plan?! Along with a girl she didn't even hear of, they can be used of a plan for the end of the world. Unbelievable.

"Who is this April O'Neil?"

Her black and blond head turned at Shredder who seemed calmer and unheeded by his daughter's shock. "She and Rowan are the ones known as the Ones. They are the link which is missing in the plan which is the plan of Kraang." the Kraang replied with Shredder smirking behind his grey metal mask. Karai felt more awful than ever. Her best friend, in big trouble...No, no, no! This couldn't be real! Questions popped up in her head and stuck there like a sticker on a piece of paper and made her wonder:

Did Rowan know about that? If not, how did she even protect herself from those robots?

"So this April O'Neil and Rowan Fox are at the center of everything." she heard herself saying, momentarily, tears welling her eyes. Shredder turned to her, finally not being angry but there was a dangerous glimmer behind his good eye. Something that Karai didn't notice.

"Then perhaps we can use them to draw the turtles out of hiding. Karai, find the girls, and bring them to me." he ordered and his daughter nodded in agreement and respect, rising off her seat. As she walked away from her father, a tear slipped down her cheek, her makeup slightly smudging against the salty liquid. She couldn't let those creatures use her friend like a guinea pig only to accomplish their target. She won't let that happen. She cared about Rowan so much and she would protect her at any cost. Even if she had to go against her father's will.

Changing her current sadness into a happy smirk, she kept walking to the hall, a plan tallying in her mind.

Rowan's POV

For today's training section, Sensei decided that we all train altogether. And yes, that meant for Tania and April too. My pretty eyes scanned the Dojo, giving Tania the proper time to stretch her muscles. Blue was sparing with Donnie, both laughing and enjoying it a lot. Mikey and Raph were some meters away, ready to spar. Mikey was a bit anxious today just because he knew that Raph would beat him. But Raph was the normal, relaxed Raph; stretching his muscles, spinning his sais...the usual things he does all the time. Apes with Splinter were practicing some katas on the other side of Dojo. Mostly Apes who didn't apply everything I taught her by the way, and I was seriously thinking how I could punish her with a run in the sewers or lots of push-ups.

I knew that I had to train with her but I wanted to let Splinter to challenge her for a while so that he can see how much my methods worked. Honestly, I asked him for that. I just needed a second opinion from someone who won't tell me that I'm doing great just because he's in love with me, like Blue, he won't talk scientifically, like Donnie, he won't challenge and insult me, like Raph and he won't play around, like Mikey. Splinter was the best, to conclude and the only one who could help me.

I eyed Tania who had already finished with her small but important for her muscles warm up, coal black eyes looking at me back, shining with patience and a smirk transversed on my lips. "Ready for another beatdown?" I tossed, earning a grin and a scoff of hers. "Ha! I think I'll beat ya up today." she replied, setting her body into a fighting position, one of the plenty ones I taught her. With a roll of my eyes, I set my body at a defensive position, mind reminding to be a little friendly with her since it was her first time of actually fighting with me. Even if it was in a practicing and skill testing form.

But still, ever since I nearly died at the hands of Shredder, my mind replayed every single moment of it. Every small detail of it, even the ones after we turned back to the lair.

"Is she alright?"

"Leo, I already gave you an answer; She's out of danger."

"Thank God."

"Yeah, yeah. Now please, go. We have to let her rest."

Footsteps, a door closing and fierce talk outside the bedroom. Rowan flew open her eyes, edges of her vision gained a black color. Grunting, she sat up on her bed and her trained eyes looked straight on her red closet. Trembled breaths rushed out from her nose as her hands flew up to her purple bruised neck, gently rubbing it, fingers almost scratching it. Inside her mind, the moment of Shredder choking her playing in repeat. She thanked God that she was still alive. And she thanked her dumb luck that was beside her and just gave her only a couple brushes. And a soaked wet body and hair. "You're okay, Rowan. You're still alive." she whispered to herself, hands still rubbing her neck.

And with that, she fell asleep.

I found myself falling down to the mats and my thoughts shoved away like water does on your dirty body. My eyes fixated on Tania, a smirk crossing her lips. "What did you say before? Something about a beatdown?" she teased and I rolled my eyes, flipping myself up. "Okay, you've at least managed to beat me without my notice. Keep it going." I responded and attacked with a punch. She crouched and rolled away, getting up on her feet. Tania sprinted over to me, trying to high kick me but I grabbed her foot and threw her away.

"What you gonna do? What you gonna do?"

Tania stood up, her features almost cracking from a morph of pain. To my satisfaction, her body refused to collapse and give up fighting her teacher. Something that took me months and months of yelling to stick it in her head, so as April's.

Tania's coal black eyes narrowed for a brief amount of time before she did a handstand, front flip and land a kick to my face which I avoided my sliding on my left. She landed on her feet and I found my chance to knee kick her stomach, and punch her jawbone, dropping her some meters away from me. Smirking, I dashed to her side ready to give her another punch or kick, whatever came first. She already had flipped herself up and she snatched my wrist, turning me upside down but I managed to grab her own with my other free hand and turn her upside down with me. We both fell on the mats but quickly gained our own ground by flipping ourselves up and throw kicks and punches at each other.

Out of my corner of the eye, I saw Donnie and Blue looking at our side with wild interest lingering on their eyes; a flash of a smile of Blue started the heat of my body once again, filling my heart and emotions with love for this turtle.

Right on time, I dodged a punch of Tania's and managed to cast her away, across the Dojo again. Placing my hands on my hips, I looked at her rather angrily, brows linked. "That all you got? Stand on your feet, Tania! Do what I taught you! If you want to be a full-fledged kunoichi you should remember; never give up!" I yelled, fingers tapping around my waist. She looked at me with rage dancing on her pretty eyes and she arose again, fists clenching tight. "I'll show you who gives up easily." my ears caught her muttering before she sprinted over to me, her foot covered by her black biker boot met with my chest and that sent me towards the tree, close to Don and Blue. "Harder! That was nothing! Move those muscles girl!" I yelled again, ears caught her growling. Green flames encircled her fists, becoming a big ectoplasmic ball which flew towards my side.

With a yelp, I flipped away as the ball met with the tree, winces from the two watchers heard close to me. I saw Tania walking frustrated to my side but she couldn't find me. A smirk crept up on my lips as I saw her standing almost opposite the two turtles, eyes searching wildly for me. With a flip, I passed above the two turtles and kicked her face hard, causing her to fall down with a grunt. "Well, I think we're over for today, aren't we?" I asked; she eyed me with anger but agreed in the end. Blood flowed down from her nose as she stood up and gave me a thumbs up. "Yeah, I think you're right." she replied.

"Don't worry, stubby. You're not as horrible as he says."

I eyed Mikey who was looking at his middle toe of his right foot, a glare right on Raph who was smirking in triumph, probably from beating Mikey in their spar-fight. I rolled my eyes and I gave a side glance to Tania who had a blush on her cheeks, her eyes filled with concern, worry, and love for my little bro. I wonder, what will happen if those two get together someday? Maybe it'll be something like Jewel said to me sometimes, when we were younger. How did she say it? Oh yeah.

"The fatal demise of the universe as we know it".

So overdramatic. I found myself missing the phrase with a pang, and I hope one day that she'll and the guys meet. Someday.

Anyway, I looked back at Mikey, blankly. Splinter walked to his side, probably finished with April. "Michelangelo, why did you give up so easily?" he asked with Mikes raising his hand apologetically and morphing his freckled face with the same feeling. "There was nothing I could do." he replied with Splinter giving him a soft smile. "There is always something you can do." he said, passing in front of him. Mikes sat opposite him with me, Tania and April sitting next to him. Blue and Donnie observed from afar and Raph kept a respectable distance from sensei.

"Observe. Raphael, kannuki time!" he ordered to the surprised Raph, realizing what our sensei, master, and father told him to do. His body showed clearly his disagreement in that but he didn't have another choice. He lifted Splinter up, struggles of effort escaping each sec from his mouth.

"The key is to unbalance your opponent." Sensei said to Mikey whose none existed eyebrow uplifted, taking with it some amount of his orange mask. "But how?" he inquired, tone full of misunderstanding, confusion, and curiosity of what would Sensei do next, or reply to him. "However you can. For example..." he answered before his tongue licked Raph's face much to the Hothead's disgust. He let go of sensei, scaly, green hands flying up to his face, covering it and gags of disgust dispersed in the big room so that he couldn't even hear sensei's tail passing down to his legs and sweep kick him. Raph fell on the mats with me laughing at that and Mikey exclaiming in awe; "Whoa...". Sensei laughed slightly, his eyes effulgence with joy. "You see? There is always a way." he later said, clearing his mouth from saliva with a single movement of his wrist. "Blech and you need to take a bath." he added with Raph groaning in pain down him.

I laughed harder.

"The landing party is under attack by the digesters! We have to save them!"

SLAP!

"If we keep bailing them out, they'll never learn to take care of themselves."

An eyeroll was my reaction to that scene of that stupid kids show Space Heroes in which my boyfriend watched with a goofy, totally fangirl-y face. Seriously, this boy needs to grow up sometime. And have criticism on those lame ass tv shows. For his own good.

"But this is their first mission, and they don't even have weapons!"

"Then they'd better learn fast."

Screams of terror and a monster growling before it ate some humans came up to my hearing as I scrolled down my finger on my T-Phone, not even glancing at the T.V.. This show didn't deserve a simple look of mine or even every human's look. And it contained so much violence that children shouldn't even know about. I wonder why that channel canceled that show. Ugh, humans. Always selfish and motherfuckers, ignoring everything and all.

"Say, Doctor Mindstrong, weren't you in love with that one?"

"I...was, Captain."

"Well, it looks like you both learned a lesson today."

A lesson? Is he serious? That stupid kid's show showed life lessons? Captain Ryan is a jerk. Maybe the writers of that show were jerks. "Bullshit," I muttered, "Blue, shut it off." I said annoyed at my boyfriend who looked at me with question. "Why? Don't you enjoy this fine craftsman's ship?" he asked, a smirk thwarting his lips. "I don't. Shut it down, now." I replied chafed and gave him a glance full of anger. A roll of his eyes was his only reply to my reaction a turn back to watch his lame cartoon. A growl bubbled in my throat but I tried to swallow it down. I didn't want to argue with Blue again. It wasn't that useful, nor it meant something. We'll shout at each other, narrow our eyes and shoot words full of anger. After we're done, Blue will not even hear me and do his thing. And I will be mad with 'im again. The end.

"Hey, guys!"

My head snapped at Donnie's side whose face was bright from his big smile, ear to ear. "Guess what April and I have been up to." he announced while we gave him a blank look, totally ignoring his newest discovery. "That's right! Analyzing sewage." he continued with us still looking at him blankly. Seriously? Is that what the lovebirds do in that lab? Ugh, he makes me hate more science. "Who says you don't know how to show a girl a good time?" Raph joked as we all followed our genius brother in the big lab. April awaited for us, hands holding a cup with a green liquid filled it. She then handed to D and both moved to one of his desks where he placed it on a stack of pizza boxes.

"April and I were going through some files on the Kraang storage device. We found out that they're using a special process to change Earth's water into Kraang water." he explained to us but I just stared at him with a grumpy face. As much I like Donnie and his inventions, I really find his discoveries boring and sometimes, useless. All that 'stop an alien invasion' because the turtles love to be heroes is boring. Sure, save your planet from some stupid robots is important but, if you don't hit its heart, its base, nothing will work. Sure thing.

"They've already started the process." Apes continued, "We found a low concentration of Kraang chemicals in the sewage." I rolled my eyes while my hands grasped my hips fingers curling around my waistline. And that meant that we had to stop it, right? Ugh, nice. Another robot smash. "And I take it that's a bad thing." Raph complimented, hands crossing over his shell-chest line. Donnie grabbed a slice of pizza that happened to be there, holding it above the countertop of the cup. My eyes fixated there, almost being curious of what would possibly happen next. "Watch what happens when I dip this slice of Mikey's shrimp and sardine pizza into pure Kraang water." once again, our genius brother and friend explained before he dipped in the slice with it half burned like both Donnie and April applied acid inside the liquid- Kraang water. Mikey and Tania were the only ones who gasped this loud while the rest of us just stared at that.

Maybe I should've taken what I said before.

"How do you sleep at night?" Mikey asked in disbelief and I gave him a look. If he meant that for that stupid slice of pizza, I swear, I'm gonna punch his face. "Presently, there's only a tiny bit in the water supply, but the concentration is increasing, which means-"

"Every slice of pizza in New York will be destroyed?!"

With a growl of foil, I slapped Mikey's head as Tania shot him with a 'Are you fucking serious?' look. That kid needs new brains. "Along with anyone who uses water." April retorted annoyed and she earned a glare of Michelangelo's. "I don't want to live in a world without pizza." he then said, taking with him a box of pizza. Accidentally, he threw the cup of Kraang water on the floor, some drops falling on April and me, the closest persons to the desk and cup. As the turtles yelled 'Look out!' or just screamed, I took a look of my hand, waiting for it to melt. Like April did. Fortunately or not, the water didn't do something to both of us, only melting one of my bracelets.

I brought my hand closer to my face, observing an almost invisible white shield around it, vanishing every drop and protecting my sensitive hand from an oncoming danger. A confused frown raddled on my face, so as for April's and the turtles. What the fuck was that?! the question glued in my mind as I looked at the others, confused as ever. "Nothing happened to you two." Donnie pointed out, breathless shock twisted in fascination. "Maybe it's 'cause they're not made out of pizza." Mikey replied and I shot a glare at him. "Can you shut it?" I jeered, hands curling onto tight fists. I hate when people say bullshits all the time. Mikey's clever enough to understand some things. Being a total doofus, annoy everybody else and it grows a big desire to slap him or even kill him.

Donnie's computer beeped from another desk and Don ran to it, starting to type on the keyboard before he even sat on a chair. We circled around him, eyeing the big screen with interest. A dot was showing on a map a certain location on the south side of the city, inside the sea. "The scanners located the Kraang facility transforming the water supply, which is right here. We gotta stop it!" Donnie crowed with Blue taking a closer look to the screen. A dire smirk appeared on his lip area as he overlooked at April, Tania and me. "Looks like we got a mission. You coming, girls?" he then asked us. He eyed me, ocean blue piercing icy blue, those beautiful eyes shone with hope and anticipate for my answer. And I knew what he wanted exactly;

A positive answer from me.

Tania nodded fiercely and moved to the turtles' side, a sly smirk crossing her lips partially excited that she would go her first mission, especially underwater. Apes wore her brown messenger bag on her shoulder, a hand flying instantly on Donnie's chair. "Sounds like a blast," she said, an apologetic smile crept up on her lips, "but unfortunately, it's on the bottom of the East River, and equally, unfortunately, I have an essay due." Her crystal blue eyes glanced over at me, a flash of hope glided by.

"Plus I wouldn't mind a little human food." she added, marching away from us. She stopped when Mikey replied that pizza is human food and with a small smile, she looked back at him. "Not the way you eat it." she said, eyes glancing again to my side and my head titled on the left, eyes staring her back. I knew she wanted my company and I knew that I needed some girl time- no wait- relaxing time. A piece of me yelled to go with Apes, take care of her, watch her moves and stand by her side as it insisted that something will happen to her. The other piece pleaded to go with the turtles and Tania, saying that they were the safest option as the vision still sneered me. If I went with April, the chances of that vision becoming true were high and me ending up the unlucky.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... you're going topside?!" Donnie crowed, falling down from his desk in an attempt of standing up and reaching April. "You got your T-phone, right?" he asked with April rolling her eyes in irritant. "Chill Don. I'll be with her." I replied instead of her, finally taking my decision. After all, the kick-ass of Kraang's could put in a delay, right? And I couldn't help myself from discovering what would happen if I followed April instead of the others. If that stupid vision would come true.

Call me the curious whore.

Except for April, the others looked at me frantically, not believing what they listened. Blue walked up to my side, snatching both of my hands. The look he gave was cryptic, full of worry, concern and some sadness. "Promise me you'll be careful, okay? That you'll protect yourself." he said, bottom lip trembling. My smile was relaxing, total theatrical and my lips kissed the top of his mask. "Can't make promises. You know me." I whispered and he rolled his eyes. "I know." he said, a light kiss planted on my nose. "I love you." he added as I let go of his hold. Unseen tears gathered my eyes and my teeth bite my bottom lip. I knew that this was the last time I would see him, my brothers, the lair, sensei and my normal life.

But there was no time for turning back.

"I love you too, Leo."

Apes and I walked down to the fussy and busy streets of New York, our traces left on the concrete along with all other residents and tourists. April wanted to have a meal at Murakami's, her eyes pleading me to follow her in. But I refused that since I wasn't hungry and, I wanted to keep the area clear from the Foot or Kraang. And that had to be outside the restaurant. Of course, I didn't tell her that. I wanted her to feel relaxed for once and free from training and pressure. Just to clear her mind, man.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in? Murakami won't mind if you don't eat something." April asked as the small Japanese restaurant appeared in front of us. My head shook in a negative answer. "Thanks but I prefer to stay outside today." I replied and then, something popped up in my mind like a notification on my T-Phone. "Hey, since you're going in, you mind grabbing some gyozas for the guys?" I asked and Apes nodded. "Yeah, sure." her reply came out simply and we split up. She stopped some inches away from a vending machine and she looked at it with curiosity. My shoulders shrugged and I headed on a wall, opposite the machine but close to the restaurant. I wanted to watch April's moves and be next to her in case something happened to her, which I was sure it would.

My back touched the hard surface of the concrete wall and my hand pulled out from my pocket my T-Phone. My fingers scrolled down on the screen, eyes looking at the random posts and stories from Instagram. People passing by in front of me, a coin inserting in the machine, a female voice and wooden hit against metal came up to my ears as my eyes and fingers were focused on typing a text to Jewel.

Me: I'm just standing on a wall, waiting for April to finish her Happy Japanese Meal. 'm bored.

Fire Queen: So basically the usual routine of your life. I don't understand how you can even stand the smell of sushi without throwing up.

Me: Good thing I'm not hungry then. Plus I wanna keep an eye on Apes. I think that Shredder is hunting her down too.

Fire Queen: If you're expecting me to be surprised, I'm not. Just make sure you don't do something stupid and get yourself captured. The sick fuck's everywhere.

I rolled my eyes skywards and sensed someone staring at me. Shutting down my phone, I lifted my head and turned it on my left, where Karai was staring me with a grateful look before she followed April in Murakami's restaurant. My eyes widened to saucers and I placed my T-Phone in my pocket, walking straight to the shop. Before my hand could grab the knob, a cold and strong arm snatched my jacket and top, pulling me back and throwing me down to the ground. My mouth let a huge 'ooof!' to go as the splat of my body hitting the hard surface heard all over me. I looked upwards, to a pair of shadows and my eyes slowly got used to the dim light. "Couldn't be any better." Blacky's terrific familiar voice joked above me and I narrowed my eyes at the two vampires. "You got that right, Andrew. This is my lucky day." Browny replied, a grin crossing his lips. My hands helped me to sit up and do a flip away from the two creatures of the night.

"Here we are again, little bird. Ready for another fight. But this time, there's no other escape for you or your friend." Blacky said making me clench my fists. "Tell Karai to leave Apes alone. Shredder wants me, not her." I retorted, hands reaching my tanto. Both laughed, enjoying my last phrase. I removed my hand from my tanto and created an ectoplasm ball which, I threw right on them. That sent them flying on a wall, brown and black eyes glaring me. Smirking in triumph, I placed my hands on my hips and looked over to them with tease. "Actually, I'm gonna escape this time." I said as they both stood up. Then, they super sped to me, knocking me away with a kick. The bell rang from the restaurant and we three froze hearing the noise. I looked at April who was staring the vampires, mouth dropped open and eyes widened. Blacky had his claws out, ready to give me a blow while both had their fangs out. Apes took a step back, eyes being stuck on them and her body started to shake from shock.

"Rowan?!"

My legs super sped to her and with a grab of her wrist, I moved her away. Accidentally, I threw my friend down but she seemed to ignore the pain as her panic grew stronger. My eyes glanced at the vampires and Kara who were coming up to us with murderous dispositions and then back to April. "Apes, listen to me. I need you to run as fast as you can and call the turtles and tell them that you need their help." I ordered, shocking more my friend who stared at me like I've grown another head. "And you?" she whispered.

I took another glance at our enemies and shook my head. "Don't mind about me. Do what I've told you and forget completely me. Okay?" I asked and she nodded, following my orders. I, however, decided to follow my strategy and fight those three. Karai, though, ran behind April and left me with the two vampires. Browny chuckled dryly, clenching a fist as I took one of my plenty fighting positions, hands close to my gun. Blacky cracked his knuckles, a smile of satisfaction crossing all over his lips and the two attacked. Every punch, every blow, every kick had been avoided except a powerful knee kick to my stomach which sent me flying away, out of the alley. I groaned and held my stomach, morphing slightly in pain but I managed to stand up. "What did you thought Fox? That you'll run away from us? Ha! Play time's over girl." Blacky retorted and attacked again with me flipping away.

He was right for one thing though.

I could run away and hide for a while. To take my time to recover and think of my next movements. I knew that this wasn't something that Splinter suggested me and the turtles do but it was the best I could. Especially that time. Throwing a smoke bomb on the road, I super-sped away and reached the closet alley, climbing on a wall up to the roof. After taking a small relaxing breath of relief, I started to super speed again, knowing that my pursuers would come up there at any time.

That day was hot and I schooled myself for wearing my jacket but I felt the air hitting non stop my uncovered parts of my skin and my legs were, metaphorically, on fire. Good thing was that none of those two were in sight and finally, my muscles relaxed and my sped became a normal run and flip across the roofs which let the hot sunlight to hit them and me. I thought that I was safe again like I was in my childhood. I really needed all of these crazy things to stop. I wanted to take a break.

"Have you forgotten something, little bird?"

My face slammed onto the hot concrete floor and my body caved in pain. I turned my head to the left and groaned in pain. A foot stomped on my back, forcing me to stay down. Another groan strained from my lips and my eyes shut closed in pain. "And I thought that you would do something besides staying down." Browny said above me with boredom, giving me the idea to turn invisible and fell down to an empty apartment. My eyes scanned the empty area cynically and my feet moved around, soft and quiet. My claws scratched some walls and the terrible noise my tanto made with every move of my hip, annoyed and worried me if the vampires would come in.

CRASH!

The sound heard so close to me, so close to my taste and automatically, I crouched down, avoiding every piece of glass it was flying here and there. One sliced my right arm and a bark of pain wheezed from me. "You can't hide from us." Blacky teased humorlessly and a hand grabbed my neck, lifting me in the air like Shredder did a couple of days ago.

But I was ready this time.

My nails pierced into his skin and my legs gave him a kick straight to his nuts. Blacky's face twisted in pain and he dropped me instantly, Browny running to him. I turned into my ghost form and flew out of the broken window. My arm stung like hell and I wondered why my healing powers weren't curing the injury. Still, I remembered what Donnie told me some time ago; my ghostly healing ability and vampire healing are one and since I wasn't fully bloomed, they were slower than death itself. Weird, I know but I had to wait the day I would bloom. And then, everything would be alright.

I landed on a roof, panting before my ghost form replaced with my normal self. I took a look at the next rooftops, calming down a bit. But then, without even noticing it, electricity showered down on my body hard and shocked me. A female scream of pain pierced my ears as I fell on the ground feeling numb. A dark chuckle loomed above me and then a male voice talking fast, like when a bullet comes out from a gun. Electricity hit again my numb body and the female scream pierced once again my ears, and I realized that this terrible scream belonged to me. Another chuckle; another laugh; a crack; my eyes shut closed.

"Sweet dreams, little bird..."

And then...

Silence.

No One's Pov

The four turtles and Tania jumped in a hall of the Kraang underwater facility, clearly relieved that the difficult part of their plan was over within some minutes. "We're in." Leo whispered to the rest of his team, hand automatically reaching out to hold Rowan's...

Yeah, he thought bitterly, Rowny's with April for some girl time. He then clenched it in a fist as he remembered her soft voice whispering the "I love you too" tone almost cracking from something he couldn't even understand. He shook his head; he assured himself that Rowan will be alright. After all, she's strong and trained by both Splinter and her deceased father( something that she mentioned when they were twelve).

"And that thing is back." Tania whispered, her eyes locked on the sea monster out of the facility, a guard of the Kraang like Donnie told them back to the submarine. Wow, she thought, that thing's bigger than the Loch Ness monster! It surprised her that this monster was a Kraang-y creature. But, she wasn't afraid of it. It was just an addition in her totally weird life that started when she was eleven. When her parents divorced and she discovered her ghostly side. She got used to it. She loved it even if some things drove her crazy, like her mother warning her to be careful at night or Rowan yelling at her to fight harder, pressuring her to do every move well. But now she's in that "becoming a kunoichi" thing, she can't get out and quit that easily. Not at all.

"How are we gonna get out of here?" Raph asked Leo who glanced skeptically at the window and then back to the empty hall room on his left. "We'll worry about that later. Right now, we've got bigger fish to fry." he replied seconds later and ran away with Raph and Donnie and Tania following him suit. Mikey looked at the large window with an almost seen twinkling smile coming up to his lips. "I don't think we're gonna find a bigger fish than that." he then said, finger pointing at the window; his bothers groaned in disbelief and irritation while Tania snickered at that. Well, that thing was indeed funny, she thought. She snatched her phone from her jeans pocket and wrote a quick text to Rowan, telling her what Mikey said;

You really miss the best moments here! Mikey just said a hilarious pun and the others just groaned. Jeez, you gotta see Raph's face! Too unlucky that you're not with us.

She then placed it back, following the turtles as Mikey made a small compliment about his brothers' reaction. But she couldn't understand why they underestimate Mikey's jokes. He always tries to make them laugh and get in a better mood than the one she's used to every day in the lair. And, Mikey was cute.

Tania frowned slightly as she realized what she thought only some seconds ago. Well, yeah she had a crush on the orange-clad turtle but she couldn't think herself of actually loving him or... being a couple with Michelangelo. Not that it sounded weird or something. Rowan and Leo are a couple and they have fun even though those two are different personalities; Rowan's rebellious, look for danger and she's not afraid of someone or something. She's always armed and ready. Unlike to Leo who seems more calm and reasonable. A peaceful person, eh... turtle. But, her with Mikey? Sounded a little awkward for her, not to mention that if her mother learns that she has a boyfriend... well, it'll be her end.

"Tania? What's wrong dudette?"

Momentarily, she blanked out of her current thoughts and turned at Mikey, clearly feeling out of space. "Huh? Yeah, yeah. I'm okay Mikes." she assured and kept running, praying for her blush to stop and her body cool down or she'd go out of the facility and swim all day long. Why? Why couldn't she hide her feelings? Why the hell she's so extrovert? No fucking idea.

The five teens flipped into the control room, upon a step where they could take a better view of their enemy. "Okay, we have to be quiet." Leo ordered in a whisper, earning an eyeroll from Donnie and a curt nod from the others. "Do you have to say that every time? We're ninjas! We know how to be quiet." Donnie complained before his T-Phone went off with the happy ringtone spreading all over the room. The others widened their eyes to saucers, each one thinking of how stupid Donatello was; why he didn't mute the tone in first place.

The Kraang below them started to shot laser with their laser guns and the team flipped away in order to avoid the shots.

"April, hi! It's not a great time!" Donnie said to his T-Phone while his legs ran and flipped around automatically with elegance training with Splinter gave him. "Donnie, Karai's after me! And Rowan's nowhere!" April's panted and full of shock voice almost barked on the other line, shocking the genius turtle. His heartbeat increased as he felt his whole system to wake up again, adrenaline running through his veins like a drug. "WHAT?!" he screamed by the time Leo knocked him away, saving him the last second from a laser shot. The two brothers fell on the floor; Donnie down and Leo above him a glare piercing Donnie's widened reddish brown orbs. He knew that his older brother wanted him to focus on that damn fight against their alien enemy but... April? Couldn't he know what's going on with the girl he likes?

"Karai's after April! We gotta help her!" Donnie yelled, catching Leo by surprise as he knew that Rowan was with April. Why didn't he tell something about his girlfriend? Leo's face twisted in a shocked frown, eyes shining with worry and fear for Rowan. A slight smirk cracked on Donnie's lips as he knew that his words hit Leo's sensitive spot; Rowan's safety.

He waited for him to order them to fall back; swim back to the submarine and go straight to April and Rowan. He was so sure that Leo would do that. After all, he knew how overprotective he could be with Rowan. He loves her.

But no.

Leo didn't break down that day.

"And who's gonna help us?" he demanded before he flipped away; Donnie shot him with a shocked look, mind couldn't understand what happened seconds ago. What the-? Did Leo lost his mind?! His girlfriend was in danger! How could he just keep fighting the Kraang while the girls were in danger?! What if Karai captured April? Or Rowan? Ugh, he gotta talk with his big brother about that sometime.

Leo gave a glance at his younger and intelligent brother, talking again to April and screaming at her to run for her life. Regrets filled his heart. He knew that he let both Rowan and April alone, fight the Foot clan without their help. But, there was a mission they had to accomplish. And the world depended on their survival on them. Even if they didn't notice it. For all he hoped though was Rowan to help April the best she could and save her from Karai's deadly hands.

He truly hoped.

With a look full of disbelief and shock, April hanged out and placed her T-Phone back to her messenger backbag. She couldn't even believe that the turtles just left her alone. With the deadliest, as Donnie told her when he and Mikey first met her, kunoichi of the Foot. She wasn't even well-trained to fight Karai! April knew that this moment gave her the chance to do what she truly wanted to do all this time; fight with an enemy. So... Why was she so stressed about it? Afraid of Karai might beat her up? Oh, yeah, she knew why all these mixed feelings tortured her that badly. She knew.

She loved to play the princess of the whole situation.

Especially when she learned that the Kraang were after her. And Rowan of course but this was another issue she had to discuss with Rowan herself. Ever since she was younger, she and her dad played the prince and princess of the castle where she pretended to be the poor princess locked in her high tower(her bed) and her father-prince came and saved her. Then, they married and...

April shook her head; Forget him now Apes, you have other things to do! her mind commanded to her and she kept running. A glance behind her terrified her more as Karai was getting closer to her. Terrifically close. She looked forward, her legs not stopping to run. A red scooter with a delivery boy some meters away from her switched on a light bulb into her head. She ran closer; close to the scooter and close to complete a part of her plan. "Is that pizza for O'Neil?" she instantly asked the boy opposite him who shot the red-haired a small, almost seeable confused look. "Nah, it's for, um..." the delivery boy replied, eyeing a small piece of paper stuck on the box of pizza he was holding. April found the chance she wanted and ride the scooter faster she could, the boy behind her complaining and asking her what she was doing. A "I'll bring it back! I promise!" was her response as she increased the speed of that uncomfortable scooter. Man, she had to think of a better transportation.

Meanwhile, Karai's run halted when she saw April driving away. Oh, you want to play a game? her thoughts asked in her head, let's get it started O'Neil. As a sly smirk crept up on her ruby red lips, her feet changed their direction to an alleyway where she found a motorcycle. Riding it, her trained hands started the engine and she drove off, knocking away the delivery boy. Sure, this girl had nuts but she was better than this stupid little princess of Kraang. She liked chasing a girl that doesn't even know the basic stuff on fighting. That she depended her safety on four reptiles and a rat. Maybe this day wasn't that bad.

Amber eyes locked on the red scooter of a pizzeria; they locked on the shocked face of a teenage girl. She saw April driving away and passing a bunch of cars which almost crashed. Karai rolled her eyes, her lethal smirk stuck on her lips as she increased speed, following the red-haired suit. She reached out her hand and tried to hurt her with no results as her "enemy" drove on a pedestrian and turned into one of the million alleyways New York had. A truck was moving back, cutting the traffic in there. April managed to pass by the truck the last second but Karai didn't and she stopped there, cursing underneath her breath.

But she didn't lose hope.

I'm gonna catch you, princess. You won't escape.

"Donnie, focus! April can take care of herself."

His glance was full of anger and his face was set into a "you gotta be kidding with me Leo" expression. Near his left ear, his T-Phone was calling April while his brothers and Tania kept fighting the Kraang. Donnie didn't care about them; he cared about April's safety. Well... and Rowan's in a way but more about April. After all, his sister- like they all concise her after years of staying with them- knew how to protect herself and fight against the enemy. She's trained for those situations from the best of the best ninja master in decades. April was still at the beginning of becoming a kunoichi and, especially, a full-fledged kunoichi.

"Against Karai?! Are you kidding?! I've gotta help her!" Donnie barked at his brother as Leo kicked away two Kraang. "You're not gonna be much help if you get blasted in the head." he then said and ran away. Donnie looked at his left side where a magenta laser shot straight to his head. Yelping, the purple-clad turtle lowered his head, hanging out his T-Phone since April wasn't answering to his call. "Good point!" he then said and helped Leo.

Mikey and Tania on the other side of the room, knocked down two robotic aliens, a smile of triumph and a high-three followed next. "That's a twofer!" Tania exclaimed raising two fingers of her right hand. Mikey high-threed her again. "Thank you, and thank you-" he added as Raph sliced the two ex-beaten Kraang behind the two. The two teens turned back and said in unison; "And thank you."

Raph glared both, hands sheathing back his sais and walked up to Mikey since he couldn't tell something to Tania. It was her first ever mission and it was somehow acceptable to act like that. But, Mikey?! Sometimes, he wanted to take Rowan's gun and shot a bullet on his head just to shut up. Speaking of Rowan... well, screw her. She was always that stupid girl who didn't care about her friends. He was happy that she wasn't with them that day or else...

"How many times have I told you? No celebrating 'till the fight is over!" Raph yelled at his younger brother, a finger jabbed his head with anger but not harming him. Mikey narrowed his eyes and pointed too a finger at Raph, angry for the fact that his brother yelled and scolded him out of blue. "How many times have I told you, I assumed it was over?" he fired back with his finger jabbing Raph's shell. A green hand flew up to Mikey's hand and cracked the index finger leaving the turtle to yelp in pain and Tania punching Raph's shell. "Is that brain workin' anyway?!" she barked as Donnie ran to their side, ending the quarrel. "Children, children! We have to go!" he jeered, mind always running to April. His sweet April.

"Um, have you forgotten about a little something called "completing the mission"?" Leo retorted with a look of irritation drew on his face. He ignored his heart yelling at him to stop this mission and go straight to his girlfriend. Save her and protect her from the upcoming danger. Or even search the city to find her if she was hiding. He truly, badly wanted to do that but...

"But April's in danger!" Donnie crowed with wrinkles of shock looming all over his forehead as it creased. Raph rolled his eyes. "If we leave now, the Kraang will poison everyone in New York, which, last time I check, includes April." he retorted with a grumpy expression on his face. He never understood why people fell in love with the first sight. And he'll never do since all the girls he met were just a bunch of different personalities that didn't even suit him. April is kind and always doubtful. Tania is always happy, strong but pretending the bad girl. Rowan is the bad girl with a small sensitive side; she loves arguing with someone and she's aggressive with him all the time. So... none of these were into what he was looking for. "Think, Donnie. How do we take this place out?" Leo asked Donnie whose eyes scanned the area, a plan creating in his intelligent mind. "Well, uh, the chemical is highly explosive." he replied, hands locked together and fingers tapping against each other.

"How do you know that?" Mikey interrupted.

"Partly because it has a hydrocarbon on its outer ring, and partly because of that sign." the genius turtle replied and showed a label which wrote Warning: Explosive chemical. Scally green hands held a random laser gun and uplifted to his chest, eyes looking at Raph, the closest turtle to him. Tania walked closer to Donnie, eyeing the gun with interest. Well, this looked like a shotgun only in a smaller and purple edition. It was cool either way. "Raph, do you think you can get this blaster open for me?" Donnie asked his older brother who span one of his sais on his hand, clearly bored of everything. "With pleasure." he replied with exasperate and prepared his hand and weapon to do what Donnie asked him to. "But before you do, be careful you don't-!" Donnie yelled as Raph stabbed his sai on the laser gun and opening it. Donnie opened his eyes, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. " Oh, good. We're still alive. Now I'll short out the power supply and leave it by the chemical tanks. It'll overheat, and the whole place will go boom!" he said, eyes switching to one of the three tanks and back at his brothers and friend. Mikey smiled at that so as Tania and they both prepared to dance in victory, yelling, "Victory dance!".

"MIKEY!"

"TANIA!"

Both stopped and looked the floor in shame as the other three turtles fired a death glare, eyes turning completely white. Tania gave a small elbow hit to Mikey; a flash of smile appeared on her lips as she whispered to him, "Maybe later."

Mikey returned the smile, more warmly than hers.

Donnie ran towards Leo and Raph, his hands tightened around the laser gun which was ready to explode. His brothers gave him a boost and helped him to jump up on a chemical tank where the purple cladded turtle stabbed the gun with a grunt. Landing on his feet, he snatched his T-Phone and called again April, telling his brothers and Tania, "In about 90 seconds, this whole place is gonna blow." Leo nodded affirmatively and ordered them to move.

"April, what's your status?" Donnie asked as soon as April answered his call.

"Could be better!"

His face morphed onto a relaxing expression when she told him that as he followed the others. "Okay, we're on our way. We'll be there soon." he said relieved. A hatch in the middle of the room opened with the monster-guard of Kraang creeping out of the water, a growl spread all over the room. The five children screamed in affright and hugged each other tightly as the monster came closer to them.

"Actually, it might be a slight delay."

"Actually, it might be a slight delay."

Once again, April hanged out at the same time Donnie did, cursing her bad luck for all of these. She wanted to turn back to the lair and watch a movie with Rowan... Wait a second, where the freak was Rowan? She didn't even give signs of life after they split up, nor April called her to see how she was.

She grasped her phone from her back and dialed fast Rowan's number, hand holding it near her ear. It rang once, twice, three times, four...

Hey, it's Rowan. If I'm not answering 'cause I decided to ignore you completely, leave your stupid message after the noise. Please, don't call me back.

"Rowan, where are you?! I need your help! Please call me back when you see this." April said and hanged out for the hundred time that day. Seriously, Rowan didn't answer? What happened? She always responded to a call! Great. She had to face Karai all alone because her friend ignored her completely. Thanks, Rowan. she thought bitterly.

A big black shruiken threw on her right side, stabbing on the small mirror and April grasped in fright again as she saw Karai chasing her from the roofs. She increased speed and turned in a dead end with Karai leaping down from the roof. She walked up to the shutdown scooter, hands reaching her helmet. She pulled it off; her senses yelled that April was sprinting at her. Karai let go of her helmet and dodged a hit of April's red helmet and then another one before the red-haired threw it towards her. Karai slides on her left, cracking her knuckles and a malicious smirk on her lips. "You've got nuts." she admitted, "Let's see if I can pound that out of you." April drew out her tessen, the sunlight falling on the Hamato symbol and on Karai who looked at it with both surprise and interest. Seems like Splinter taught her something. Let's see..

Her smirk didn't vanish from her ruby lips; it grew bigger. "A tessen? Beautiful. Unassuming... but very powerful. In the right hands." she tossed April who attacked without a second thought. It seemed though that Karai had the upper hand in that fight as she managed to take April's tessen and knock her down. April stood up, refusing to give up like Rowan always yelled at her during their training. If one part of your body shows its weakness, your whole body is weak. And you? You just lose the fight, your precious life. her friend's words echoed in her head as April set her body into a fighting position, one of the million Rowan showed her and Tania.

Don't let your body to shut down, like a machine.

I won't, she replied in her head as her legs sprinted over to Karai, punches, and punches landing on her but it didn't harm her. Use your motherfucking foot! How many times do I have to tell it to ya?! Don't always depend on your goddamn hands! Rowan's commanding, full of anger and fury voice became her one with her thoughts; it demanded her to fight. April high kicked Karai's mouth and the kunoichi stepped back, finger sweeping away some blood. "Good one." she commented with April narrowing her sky blue eyes. "Glad you enjoyed it." she retorted, remembering to thank Rowan for that. Karai chuckled dryly; her eyes looked lethal now. "Now it's my turn." she shot back and cracked her knuckles.

Now's your chance. Show that you're more than a princess. her own voice said in her head and she attacked again. Karai kicked her away; April landed on a wall where Karai punched her plenty times. She tried to fight back but she was weak and Karai beat her up with much ease. With a kick, Karai sent her out of the alley; she smirked again. She's just a dump. Nothing. She doesn't deserve to be a kunoichi.

April grunted in pain as she sat up on the concrete floor. Karai walked closer to her side, eyes now narrowing at her like it was her fault that she had to do all of these shitty things. "What makes you and Rowan so special?" she demanded to kick her down again. "You're both the center of an alien conspiracy," she glided by her, "protected by mutants and trained by a great ninja master. Why?" Saying those words, Karai's heart broke again. She remembered Rowan and their happy childhood before it ended with their arguments and Rowan quitting the Foot and flying to New York. She felt bad that all of these awkward and crazy things happened to her best friend. She wanted to protect her the best way she could.

And kidnapping her was the only way.

April attacked from behind, grasping her hair so as Karai hers. That reminded Karai strongly how she, Rowan and Jewel fought whenever they found another girl insulting them. It was funny to hear to that little girl screaming in fright when Jewel snatched her long or short hair and threw her on Rowan who punched her face and then Karai kicked her legs badly. The trio high-five each other before Akio, Tom and Ann showed up and grounded the three girls, locking each one in their houses and bedrooms.

"I don't know! I don't know about Rowan! All I know is I'm flunking trig! Mine and Rowan's friends are mutants! Aliens got my dad!" April fired back as Karai rolled down and threw her down, cracking her left wrist. "And I lost my mother!" she yelled with Karai widening her amber eyes to saucers, clearly not believing what the red-haired told her. "What? You lost your mother?" she asked as April remembered something she heard from Splinter earlier that morning; The key is to unbalance your opponent.

Grabbing Karai's jacket, April threw the kunoichi on the subway stairs where she heard her enemy grunting in pain. She stood up; right-hand holding left arm as it strained badly. Eyeing for last time the stairs, she murmured to herself; "Not bad for a nobody."

Karai held her hurt limbs, eyes locked on April and her retreating form with the red scooter and sympathy filled her heart. Maybe... she was totally innocent. It just happened for her to mix in that life. It wasn't her fault that all of these were happening to her. She just wished for a normal life. I don't know about her, she thought, but I think she's much stronger than she considers.

And with that, she took her way back to her father's lair.

And her best friend.

Hours passed and Leo only grew more frantic.

After praising April for her victorious fight against Karai, he asked her if she knew anything about Rowan. All he gained though was a negative shake and a "She hasn't contacted me". Trying to hide his shock and the strong urge to scream and demand the truth, he murmured his thanks and hid in his room, locking the door behind him.

He checked his messages on his T-Phone. The ones he sent to her hours ago. Leo took his phone and read them once again;

Rowny? Are you okay? Why don't you answer our calls?

Sent at 16:04

What the fuck happened honey? Why don't you call back? Want me to come and find you?

Sent at 17:30

Come on Rowny. Don't make me nervous! Call me, please.

Sent at 18:35

Where are you?! Are you alright?! Splinter's worried about ya!

Sent at 19:45

Babe, come out from hiding. The Foot is gone. There's a hot pizza waitin' for you to eat!

Sent at 20:49

No reply, no call just a bunch of messages and calls that possibly she hadn't even seen or noticed if the tone was in mute. His sapphire eyes locked on the clock of his phone. It wrote 22:17 and nothing else. Leo sighed in defeat and shut closed his mobile device, throwing it across the nightstand. His shell rested on the soft mattress of his bed, eyes locked on the roof above him and mask tails lying on his left. What happened to Rowan anyway? Did those vampires still chase her? What if they captured her?

A hand slapped his cheek and Leo let a small cry of pain to escape from his lips. Stop thinking about the worst scenarios! a voice reverberated in his ears, You gotta show strength. Happy thoughts, okay? Happy thoughts. Rowan will show up. "Yeah, she will" he said out loud and calmed down. His eyes closed and he let the sweet sleep to lead him in ways his dreams make...

Ta-daaa...

His eyes snapped open, body sat up on his bed, hands grabbed the ringing phone. Leo ignored the pain on his muscles as his eyes shone with relief when he saw Rowan's picture on his T-Phone popping up. His big finger swiped on the right and his hand placed the device close to his right ear, a smile of relief creeping up to his lips. "Rowny! Thank God you answered! What happened? Where are you?" he asked happily but the other line was silent. Leo raised an eye-ridge but he thought that his girlfriend was playing with him again. "Okay, honey. I know it's you-"

A muffled female voice cut his phrase.

Cold sweat loomed on his spine as his ninja instinct told him that something was wrong there. He tried again; "Rowny? Are you alright?" Again the muffled voice shrieked on the other line. Leo clenched a fist, nails, and fingers becoming a green ball around his blanket. The voice shrieked again; Leo understood to who this voice belonged. Tears gathered his eyes but his lips set in a thin line, the thinnest he could do. "Don't worry baby, I'll-"

"You're gonna stay where you are Leonardo." a cold voice said; a voice he could recognize from miles away. Sapphire blue eyes narrowed; a tear fell down to his cheek and then to his chin. "Andrew." he snapped, cold and heat of fury and anger filled his voice. His heart broke in shutters when he heard Rowan's muffled shriek again. "Indeed, turtle." Andrew replied with a silent chuckle following next. "Let Rowny go, now! You're gonna pay for that!" he threatened, his fist rising and falling on the mattress with fury and anger. Andrew laughed; his laugh mixed with Rowan's shrieks which seemed to be heard closer to Leo's taste. "Say, Rowan, don't you love it here?" Andrew asked and Leo could hear a smile cracking on his lips. A teasing smile.

"I'd enjoy it more if your soul burned into the sweet fire sof hell."

Leo smiled in relief when he heard her characteristic voice snapping at the vampire an insult. He was proud of her. That she didn't give up even if she was captured. "You little whore...I'll teach you manners." Andrew said, frustrated by her words. "Let her go, Andrew! Or-"

"Or else what, Leonardo? You don't even know where you're precious girlfriend is."

Rowan scoffed and Leo's hand tightened around his phone. "Don't listen to 'em, Blue. You know where to find me. You always knew." she replied with Leo raising a curious nonexistent eyebrow. "Where?" he asked but Rowan didn't reply as he heard grunts and growls far away. "Rowny!" he yelled in terror as more tears flowed down to his cheeks, traveling down to his jawline and neckline. "Let her go! Please...leave her alone..." he pleaded as he forced down his upcoming sobs. Andrew laughed again and Leo grinded his teeth. "Don't worry, turtle. She's in good hands." he then said and hanged up with Leo yelling Rowan's name and sobbing.

His bedroom door opened wide and Splinter rushed in, towards his son's side. "Leonardo, what happened my son?" he asked, red crimson eyes shone with worry and concern. Leo lifted his head to his sensei, too many tears flowing down to his face. "Rowny...she's been kidnapped." he managed to force out, surprising Splinter. He sat next to him and hugged him with Leo responding to it real quick. "It is alright my son. Rowan is strong. She will survive, I am sure." he said and Leo shook his head fiercely. "No, sensei. You're wrong. Shredder will...will..." he tried to say but Splinter shushed him. "Do not lose hope, Leonardo. You will see, Rowan will be alright. But you must stop crying. I think she will not like that." he said with care and Leo snuffed. "You're right. I have to be strong. For her." he replied and let go of his sensei. Splinter stood up, hand pointing at the opened door. "You should announce it to your brothers and friends." he calmly said and Leo nodded in agreement. "Okay. Just let me go...wash my face." he responded as his sensei walked away, silent like death.

By the time he did that, Leo grabbed his T-Phone from his bed and switched it on. His fingers tapped on the images app and he searched through the lots of pictures he captured. In the end, he found one with Rowan sitting on the edge of the roof, scarlet red hair flying back so as her blue tresses. A smile, a so nice and angelic smile brightened up her beautiful features, each pale white feature of her perfect made face. Her eyes, shining with happiness and tease that brought new tears to Leo's eyes. One finger touched the screen like it touched his girlfriend's face; a tear slide down. "I promise, my love, I'll save you from Shredder and his sidekicks. And everything will be okay." he whispered, hoping for her to listen to his words, whenever she was.

He then switched off his phone and walked out o his room, wiping away his tears and trying to hide the crack of his heart and his sadness. For her sake.

When he reached the living room, he saw his brothers and two human friends watching TV, losing themselves into a random movie that they didn't notice the blue-clad turtle. Only when he cleared his throat, five pairs of heads snapped at him, question mixed with worry and annoyance from Raphael filling their eyes. Leo sighed heavily, hands clenching again in fists and he gulped down a sob and upcoming tears. "Leo? Did Rowan call you?" Donnie asked and he eyed him. A nod transferred relief to the others, except Raph who didn't care about Rowan. "So? She's on her way here?" April asked next and Leo bit his bottom lip. His heart raced inside his chest and adrenaline ran through his veins as his mind showed again his conversation with Andrew and Rowan inside his room. The way his face twisted in shock and fear of happiness and relief.

"Dude, what happened? Is Rowan coming home?" Mikey asked and his older brother blanked out from his memories. His eyes looked at each one, each sec filled their heart with anxiety. Another sigh came out from Leo's lips and his fists became green balls again. He opened his mouth, prepared himself to say;

"Rowny's been kidnapped by Shredder."