"Soooo... Now we will be getting into the action?" Kintaro asked excitedly, "They're going to fight, right?!"

Usagi nods, "Yes and I'll read to you their duel, but you must keep quiet," Usagi turns the page, "Leonardo and the Turtle in Black drew their weapons and faced one another, circling each other. They were waiting for the other to strike. Soon Leonardo made the first move with his sword."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

The two turtles' fight started slowly, circling each other and studying their opponent. Occasionally their weapons would clash but only for a short moment before both stepped away from one another. Their blades cross again and again. The sound comes so fast it's almost continual. Leonardo presses on, while the Turtle in Black retreating up a rocky incline.

"Don't you think the sais are a poor choice of a weapon to use against a sword?" Leonardo asked smugly.

"Not at all," the Mysterious Turtle answers, "I like getting up close and personal with my opponents."

The Turtle in Black found himself perched at the edge of the elevated castle ruin. Nowhere to go, he jumps to the sand. Leonardo stares him down and he goes for another attack.

"Well, I doubt you studied under a real swordsman."

"What makes you think that?"

With grace Leonardo flies off the perch, somersaults clean over to the Turtle in Black's head, and lands facing his opponent. Leo smiles with pride, "Because I have!"

"You like to brag, don't you?" The Turtle in Black glares.

Leo shrugs, "I wouldn't say I'm bragging. I'm just... informing you on who you are up against."

The two turtles continued their duel. They were almost flying across the rocky terrain, never losing balance and never coming close to stumbling. The battle rages on with incredible finesse. It was clear that this isn't just a duel between two athletes, it was more than that. These two mutant turtles are skill fighters and they are in their prime.

The action began going even faster than before as Leo found himself drawing closer to the deadly edge of the Cliffs of Insanity. Leo fights with all his might, ducks, and slashes towards the Mysterious Turtle. It all works, but not for long, as gradually the Turtle in Black keeps the advantage, forcing Leonardo back, closer and closer to meeting his death at the edge of the cliff.

"You are wonderful!"

"Thank you," The Mysterious Turtle says, "I've trained hard to get where I am."

"I will admit, you are just as good as me," Leo grins, "Maybe even better."

"...Then why are you smiling?"

"Because I know something you don't know."

"And what is that?"

Leo's smile grew wider as he said with pride, "I am NOT left handed!"

Pushing the Mysterious Turtle back, Leonardo quickly throws his sword up into the air and catches it with his right hand, switching his stance. Immediately, the tables of this intense battle have been turned.

The Turtle in Black was stunned by how Leonardo's form and skill have increased significantly. He was doing everything he could to keep Leonardo by the cliff's edge, but there was no use. Slowly, the Mysterious Turtle begins to retreat. Now Leonardo was in control of the fight and the Turtle in Black grew desperate.

The two turtles began going up a rocky staircase, leading to a turret-shaped plateau. The Turtle in Black retreated up the steps, he couldn't stop Leonardo, nothing could stop Leonardo. In a frenzy, the Turtle in Black makes every feint, tries every thrust, lets go with all he has left, but he fails. He tries one or two final desperate moves but they are nothing. Leonardo was too good of a fighter.

"Your skills are very impressive," the Mysterious Turtle says.

"After fifteen years, I hope I am."

The Turtle in Black was smashed onto a stone pillar. He was pinned there under Leonardo's sword, inching closer to falling down the cliffs he struggled so hard to climb up. He was nearing his fate.

"There's something I should tell you," The Mysterious Turtle says with a struggle, trying to push Leonardo's sword away from him.

"Tell me."

The Turtle in Black smiles, "I'm not left handed either," he kicks Leonardo away from him as he does a quick trick with his sais to show off his skills.

"How does that make any difference?!" Leo angrily shouts, "You dual wield! It doesn't matter if you're right or left handed! You are using both of your hands with two of the same weapons!"

"Huh, I guess you're right," he says, looking at his sais, spinning them around in his palms, "Alright, how about this. I'm a righty, but I punch harder with my left."

Leonardo looks at his opponent unimpressed.

"Well, either way," the Turtle in Black says with a cocky grin, "I will defeat you, and your friends, and take the Princess for myself."

Leo laughs, "You're an arrogant one."

"I'm many things," he smiles, "And soon I will be the turtle who defeated you."

To Leo's amazement, the Mysterious Turtle began forcing him back down the steps. He tries one style, another, but it all comes down to the same thing. The Turtle in Black has taken control of the fight and before Leonardo knew it, his sword was knocked clear out of his hand. Leo retreats, diving from the stairs to a moss-covered bar suspended over the archway. He swings out, lands, and scrambles to his sword. The Turtle in Black who watched Leonardo's stunt scoffs, then casually tosses his sais to the ground. He cracks his knuckles and grins before he copies Leonardo's stunt, but it wasn't copied exactly. He improved in the stunt greatly, swinging completely over the bar more than once and dismounts with a perfect backflip and sticking the landing with grace. He grabs his sais again and holds his head up high with a proud smile on his face for his performance.

Leonardo stared at him in amazement, "...Who are you?!"

"No one of consequence."

"I must know."

The Mysterious Turtle grins, "Get used to being disappointed."

Leonardo moves like lighting as he thrust forward towards his opponent, slashing and then darting back, all almost in a single motion. The Mysterious Turtle dodged and blocked his attacks and then thrusts forward in return, slashing out at him, but Leonardo wasn't able to keep up with his opponents attacks for long. Leonardo has given his all in this fight, has done everything a swordsman can do, tried every style and tactic, made every maneuver, but it wasn't enough. A strike of realization hit his face. He knew that he was going to lose this fight.

The Turtle in Black began moving in for the ending strike, blocking every attack from Leonardo. With a final attack from the Mysterious Turtle, Leonardo's sword was sent flying from his grip. Leonardo stood helplessly only for a moment as his opponent aimed his weapons at him, claiming victory.

Leo then drops to his knees, admitting defeat. He bows his head and shuts his eyes, "Please... All I ask is that you kill me quickly..." He pleads.

"I will not do that," The Mysterious Turtle explains, his words shocking Leo, "After all, you have a quest you have not yet completed. I can relate."

"You- You're on a quest for revenge as well?"

"Not revenge... True love." his voice grew more soft, throwing Leo off. For someone who was seemingly so aggressive and arrogant, for a short moment he presented himself as gentle and kind and... in love? But with who?

Leonardo wanted the Mysterious Turtle to elaborate, but before he could ask, the Mysterious Turtle continued by saying, "I'd hate to end your life when you have not yet avenged your father. However, I can't have you following me either, so..." He grips the heavy edge of his sai and hits Leonardo on the back of the head, hard, knocking him out and falling to the ground.

"I doubt our paths will cross again, but I wish you luck." The Turtle in Black says to an unconscious Leonardo before heading up the mountain to where Donatello and Leatherhead took Princess Mona Lisa.