Family is Forever

Lair Games: Part 1

{A/N: New season, new video!!; Skipping to 'Lair Games' since I don't see Aria's presence having any significant changes in the other episode}

Aria's POV:

Draxum & I are standing in a clearing away from the Hidden City.

Draxum: "Close your eyes, breathe."

I follow his instructions with a hand extended towards a part of the grass.

Draxum: "Blend with your surroundings. Feel the Earth beneath your feet, and imagine the possibilities beneath the soil. Now, picture what you want to achieve, and let the rest come naturally."

I focus on the task at hand, feeling the calm grass growing beneath my feet, and a purple vine grows from the ground towards me with a flower sprouting at the end.

Me: "Yes!"

Draxum: "Excellent!"

I smile in accomplishment when an alarm on my watch goes off.

Me: "Oh, man. I'm gonna be late!"

Draxum: "Late? For what?"

Me: "The Lair Games. April wants to film it again this year, and I promised to help her this time. It's a full-blown war among four cocky brothers that started a month before I met them, and they've been doing it ever since. I'll be back first thing tomorrow, though. I promise."

Dad remains silent for a moment before giving a permissive nod in agreement.

{Time skip}

April & I begin the interviews with the turtles.

April: "Ok, we're rolling. So, tell us, what are the Lair Games?"

Raph's Interview:

Leader of the Team, been in 2nd place 5 years in a row.

Raph: "Ah, well, it started 6 years ago, one month before we met Aria, when we got swept up in the water bottle challenge."

Mikey's Interview:

Youngest brother, ballet master

Mikey: "The Lair Games are the single greatest day of the year! It's better than Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday..."

Raph's Interview:

Raph: "It's a one day, 16 event, brother vs. brother competition."

Mikey's Interview:

Mikey: "Me Finding a Quarter Day, Me Finding a Quarter Anniversary Day..."

Raph's Interview:

Raph: "It challenges you both physically and mentally."

Raph tosses a water bottle that lands upright behind him.

Raph: "And this year is gonna be the craziest year ever."

My Interview:

Me: "Raph says it'll be the 'craziest year' every year. But this time, I'm hoping he's right. Watching the same thing happen almost every year gets a little boring, so I'm up for anything as long as no one gets badly hurt."

Arena (AKA Living Room):

Splinter, Leo & I stand atop a stage before the other turtles while Shelldon films everything from behind them.

Splinter: "As is tradition at the annual Lair Games, the winner of last year's-"

Leo: "As 5-time champ, I'd like you all to stand when I speak."

Raph's Interview:

Raph: "Ugh, losing to Leo is the worst. You know how they say act like you've been there before? Leo never read that book."

My Interview:

Me: "I love these guys, Leo included.-*smirks*-As does the interviewer, if my memory serves correctly."

April: *clears her throat* "You were saying?"

Me: *chuckles* "Right. Leo's great, best same-age-sibling I could ask for. But he can be a bit overconfident."

Arena:

Leo: "When I say 'King', you say 'Leo. King-"

No one says anything.

Leo: "Leo! That was great. Ok, but enough about my numerous victories, there are many. This year, in an effort to inspire you to be as great as I am, I'm offering up the biggest prize yet. My room, AKA the best room."

Leo pulls the curtain to show off the characteristics of what may soon be someone else's room.

Raph's Interview:

Raph: "It's not about the room. It's about taking something away from him. Something he loves."

Mikey's Interview:

Mikey: "Man, we're just tired of losing, and nobody loses worse than Donnie."

My Interview:

Me: "Yeah, Donnie's always gotten the brunt of losing to Leo. That's understandable, given that they're twins, but this is more than that. Last year, seeing who could break a watermelon open with your fist was challenging, and Donnie nearly broke his. Then, two years before that, there was the 'Pizza Toss Challenge', and Donnie's somehow ended up on his face instead of the bullseye. I wasn't there for the first Lair Games, but based on the tape they showed me, I can understand Donnie's phobia of beachballs."

Raph's Interview:

Raph: "No one wants to let Leo chump them again this year. We're ready for war."

Let the Lair Games begin!

TO BE CONTINUED