6738 Miles

The Power Inside Him

Raphael's eyes flicked open with a jolt of energy. He was used to waking up early in the morning after a poor night's sleep by now. If that wasn't enough, there was always that little spike of wakefulness. Almost as though someone were poking him via an extrasensory mental connection. His eyes narrowed and he glared down the hall at the spare room where his teacher, Master Adachi, was—undoubtedly—already awake and awaiting him. He sighed and looked down at his brothers.

They had fallen asleep in a heap somewhere in the middle of Space Heroes IV, Leo's choice, obviously. He was such a nerd.

Getting out from under his siblings without waking them was going to take a significant amount of contortion. Raph's gnawed his lip as he concentrated on sending a tiny pulse of soothing energy through his older brother's body. It had the desired affect. He was able to wriggle out of Leo's grip without waking him. Moving Donny and Mikey was considerably easier because the two little brothers were completely knocked out.

Raph looked fondly back at the turtle pile, but another tug on the mental string between master and student broke his smile. He prodded gently in reply and proceeded to the spare room.

Adachi was seated in the center or the dim space, which was lit only by candlelight. Sensei and student exchanged no words. After bowing respectfully, Raphael took his place beside his teacher and joined in morning meditation.

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Leonardo turned drowsily, reaching blindly out with one hand. His fingertips felt the rigid curvature of a shell and his eyes cracked open. Orange...Michelangelo. His other arm was also wrapped around a shell. He turned his head. Purple...Donnie. He closed his eyes and his ears tuned in on their gentle breathing. One, two sets of breath next to him. Leo's heavy eyelids drooped as he listened to the deep, soothing pattern of breaths surrounding him.

Then he jerked forward. His eyes snapped opened all the way. His eyes looked from side to side. His breath hitched and his little brothers began to stir.

"Ugh." Don rubbed his head and looked up at his older brother. "Leo?"

"Where's Raph?" Mikey asked, his voice thick from sleep.

"Yeah. We got most of the way through Space Heroes III, and that's the last I remember seeing him."

"That's because you fell asleep first, D! I told you, you needed more caffeine."

"I did not fall asleep first!"

"Oh really? Then I guess all that snoring must have just been your movie commentary."

"I do not snore, Mikey!"

Leo's panicked breath evened out a little. Raph had come home last night. But then, where in the world...

As if in answer to the question in their minds, an unfamiliar voice, low and biting sounded through the quiet lair from the dojo.

"Where is your focus?"

Thud. Thud.

"Don't let your guard down."

Bang! Smack!

"I've seen far better from you."

Mikey shook off his sleepiness and said, "I think he's in the dojo."

Leo rolled his eyes. Donatello playfully smacked the back of their little brother's head.

Mikey giggled, "Seriously, though, D. You totally snore, bro."

"Do not!"

"Do to!"

"Do not!"

As his younger siblings continued this very mature argument, Leo crept over and slid the dojo doors open enough to see inside. He wanted to watch Adachi train his brother. The longer he watched the more his lips curled and he his teeth ground together like he was eating one of Mikey's experimental pizza recipes. Mikey and Donnie's argument was cut off by Leo's uncharacteristic growl. Perplexed, they joined him at the dojo doors.