TMNT Ninja Tribunal

Chapter 4

Ancient One began Fire's life story.

" Her name was Rose before it was changed to Firewing. Rose Savig. Her father from Japan and her mother from Ireland. Rose had an older brother named Stephen. Her family then was not like others. Her family had worked for the Ninja Tribunal for many years and had many friends with demons." Ancient One said.

" Demons?" Raph asked.

" Yes. Her parents delt with demons of many different know kinds. Not in the same way Fire does."

" How does she deal with them?" Foragie asked.

" I will get to that!" Ancient One said. " Fire's parents delt with demons and the the underworld where demons come from. They were associates with many demons. In fact,  one demon had grown so close to the family, Fire grew up thinking he was her uncle. His name was Sazio. He loved the family with his soul and had pledged his allegiance to them. Protecting them. But, that soon changed. On Fire's eighth birthday,  while she was out side in the yard of there Manor home on the coast of Ireland. She heard a scream from  inside the house. When she went in to see what had happened, her life changed."

Everyone was hanging onto the words they were being told. Ancient One had stopped for a minute and drank some more of his tea.

" What happened?" Raph asked.

" Sazio was in the middle of brutally slaughtering her family."  Ancient One said. " The walls were covered in the blood of her father and mother. Her brother's life barely hung on the balance. When Fire screamed, Sazio finished off her brother by tearing his head clean off and throwing it down the steps to Fire's feet. He then went on to attack her. But she had grabbed the knife that her father had given her as a gift earlier that day. It was ment for killing demons. Somehow she managed to drive the knife through Sazio's heart. Sending him back to the underworld. But she was not able to kill him completely." He continued.  Leo couldn't breath. Why had Fire never told him this? Or told anyone? He could have helped her feel better by talking to her. But he could understand where she was coming from.

" On that day, she made a vow that she would avenge her family. Because her mother, father, and brother were all she had, she ran as far and as fast as she could. I was good friends with Shang, her father. When I received the news of his death, I searched for Fire. She knew who I was. And so when I found her, she begged to be trained to be an Assassin.

At first I thought she ment a ninja, but then she told me about her father. She knew what he had been. An Assassin, the way she ment it, was a demon assassin. Otherwise known as a Flame Hunter. She told me of her vow and I agreed to train her and teach her everything I could about the Assassins. But I could only teach her so much, for I did not know too much about them. I only taught her for three years. When she was eleven, the Monks of Tornishuno came to clam her."

" The Monks of Tornishuno?" Tora asked. " I thought they were only a myth."

" No. They are very much real. They are ones who train Assassins. They are not humans, but demons. They asked her if she was serious about her choice. They inl ink train the best of the best and loyal students. Once she made them believe she was ready, she left with them. I did not see her until she was 16. When her training ended, and she was a true Assassin. But there is something you must know about her. She not fully human. But half demon as well. It is how the underworld works. She kills demons and sometimes humans. It is how Flame Hunters work. Anyways-The Monks had turned her into this half-blood,  another name for Flame Hunter. It was their mark of the Assassins. She was given a power. This power is what casts her to the underworld. In order for her to kill demons, she must be part demon as well. When she tried to kill Sazio, he was only sent to the underworld. He can come back to this world. But, if he were to be killed by a Flame Hunter, he would no longer exists. Also, because she is half demon,  she gave her soul up. Which means she can travel to the underworld and back."

" Wow......" Joy said. " All of this to avenge her family."

" I have heard of the Assassins. I only thought them to be legends." Foragie said. "Is it true that their power is to change into a bird of pry?"

" Yes. It is true. " Splinter spoke up. " But Fire was given a special bird."

" Indeed.  She was given a power of great force and strength. The monks believed it suited her well. The power of the Phoenix." Ancient One said. " Strength,  loyalty,  leadership,  hardship, selflessness, and pain."

" No Assassin has ever been given the power of the Phoenix." Splinter said.

"When she was given this power, the monks changer her name, like all the other Flame Hunters. They changed it to Firewing. To represent her power. But all Flame Hunters can use. a different power as well. It is their form that they use in the underworld. It is not their bird form.When they are driven mad with rage, they can summon their 'otherside' and become very dangerous. More dangerous than they already are." Ancient One said.

"Wow." Adam said. Amazed at the story.

" So what's her beef with the Ninja Tribunal? " Raph asked. " She seemed pissed off when we first got here."

" The scars are very deep with the Ninja Tribunal.  Even deeper than Fire knows. Flame Hunters are hired to take care of demons that have committed a crime in this world. Demons not really supposed to be here. Flame Hunters exist to keep peace between the worlds. The Tribunal hired Moonlight to kill a demon, but the demon had ran away into the desert. She fought with it for three days before finally killing it. It had been a greater demon. A very powerful being. The first she had ever killed. This was only a few months after she was given her new name and new life.In the fight, Fire had received tremendous blows and fell into the sand. The Tribunal arrived not long after she collapsed. She was still conscious when they decided to leave her for dead in the blistering heat. She was saved by a local boy from a village. In return,  she took care of a demon problem the village had. Fire never forgave the Tribunal for their betrayal. But there was a reason why they had left her. A reason she does not know about." Ancient One said. His voice stern.

" What is it?" Leo asked.

Ancient One sighed, not sure if he should tell the secret. " If I tell you, you must swear never to tell Fire. Do you swear?" He asked looked everyone in the eyes. When they nodded their heads, He continued. " The Tribunal has the power to manipulate the minds of demons. They had taken control of Sazio's mind and forced him to kill Fire's family. " Ancient One said in a whisper. Afraid Fire might be around. " The only reason why Fire was able to send Saizo to the underworld was because he had fought against the Tribunal's orders. He allowed her to send him back, for he loved Fire,  he loved her family with all his soul. He never wanted to hurt them. But the Tribunal forced him because he was the only one who was close to the family."

" What?" Leo asked." Why would they do that?"

" Because her family held a secret that has been kept away for thousands of years. The secret to killing the Tribunal. Though her family was under oath, the Tribunal believed they could not be trusted. They had Saizo take care of the mess for them. Covering it up nicely. But Fire does not know ANYTHING about this.  She doesn't know about the secret either. And nor does she have too about either. The Tribunal knew she would be saved in the desert. But it wasn't until a few years ago that they realized that they would need her for this mission." Ancient One said,  looking at everyone. " She does not need to know. Though it pains me not to tell her, maybe once we have defeated this demon Shredder,  I will tell her. But not before. If she knows, she will leave, and jeopardize your mission. You all are important. If one of you leaves,  then you may fail your mission." He said." Do not tell her ANYTHING!" He said. He looked down at his tea but placed it on the table and let out another sigh." I worry for her though." His voice sounded said. And filled with an edge of anger.

" What is wrong my friend?" Splinter asked as he placed a hand on Ancient One's shoulder.

" When this is all over, if she does not die in the process of killing Shredder, the Ninja Tribunal will kill her."