Chapter Six: The Burning
***
It has begun. The Burning. I had hoped that I could have defeated the Dragon Lord before this cycle, but I spent too much time recuperating. Wasted too much time. I can't fight in this condition, not against the Rank, and especially not against the Dragon Lord. Damn it all. I just wish there were a way around it.
Aura stopped typing. Her shaking hands made it nearly impossible to work the keys. She growled as she looked at her hands. The armor scales were more metallic than usual and the green shades of her skin were now brown, and by morning would be a bright red.
"Damn."
***
"Doctor!"
Quease nearly dropped the device he held and mentally cursed. What does that blasted dragon want now?
"I need you to find the female dragon," the Dragon Lord commanded.
"Why don't you send your army after her?" Quease snapped.
The Dragon Lord grabbed Quease by the front of his coat and lifted him off the ground. "Do not question me, human. I cannot send the Rank after her because she is in a delicate condition. I need to be the only one to go near her."
"And how exactly am I suppose to find her? My last invention was destroyed."
The Dragon Lord released the doctor. "Then build a new one. Her temperature will be very high. Higher than my soldiers."
He turned to leave, then said over his shoulder, "Oh and doctor, do hurry. Time is not on my side."
***
"We're stuck in the middle of a dragon gang war!"
The other turtles and Splinter sat quietly as Raphael ranted about their current problem.
"At least we're not targets," Michaelangelo said cheerfully.
Raphael glared at him. "I don't trust that dragon witch."
"She's not our enemy Raph," Mike argued.
"Neither is she our friend," Leo countered. "She made it clear that she doesn't really care either way."
"Why can't we just stay out of it?" Donatello asked.
"It is your duty to protect," Splinter said. "I doubt Aura and the Dragon Lord will keep their battle away from the streets."
Leonardo turned to Venus. "I don't suppose any of your books will help us."
Venus shook her head. "No. I've never heard of anything like this."
"So we're still flying blind," Raphael grumbled. He slumped down in a ripped armchair and crossed his arms.
Splinter tapped his chin. "Perhaps you should learn more about the situation."
"But Venus said that there was nothing in her books," said Mike.
"Then you should seek out another source. Perhaps a more direct one."
Leo turned to Raph. "Where exactly did you have your little chat with Aura?"
***
It was much too hot. Aura was lying on her bed with her mini fan. It was only sixty degrees outside but it felt like a sauna. Why did the air conditioning have to choose this week to break down?
She sat up when she heard someone out on her fire escape. No, has he found me? She listened carefully as her window was slid open.
***
"Are you sure this is the place, Raph?"
"Yeah, Leo, I'm sure. Come on."
Raphael stepped into the modest apartment. It wasn't really what he expected, but then again, he hadn't known what to expect. The room was dark and there was no sign of Aura.
"Maybe she's not home," Donatello said.
Leonardo scanned the walls and found a light switch. "Search the place. Don't mess up or break anything though."
***
Aura sighed. She should go see what they wanted before they tore her apartment apart. She got up from the bed. She reached for the doorknob, but it turned just before she touched it. She had to step back to avoid it hitting her.
"Whoa!" Michaelangelo exclaimed. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry," Aura said, not even bothering to fake sincerity.
Donatello turned around in her computer chair. He'd obviously been trying to access her files. Leonardo and Venus were by her bookshelves. Raphael was right behind Michaelangelo.
"We need answers," Raphael told her.
Aura narrowed her eyes, which, Raphael noticed, were red rather than her normal green. Her skin had also changed to red. She wore a short, thin nightgown that looked totally drenched. Raph pushed away the thoughts forming in the back of his mind.
"You need a question before you get an answer," Aura snapped back.
Raphael growled and was about to respond when Leo interrupted. "We need to talk."
"So talk."
Venus felt herself getting frustrated by this woman's attitude. "Is the story you told Raphael true?"
Aura put her hands on her hips. "I didn't tell Raphael, I told Wick. Raph was spying. But it is true. I should be on that throne, not the Dragon Lord."
Venus thought about this. If it was true, it meant that a big chunk of history had been left out of her scrolls. But why? Was it an accident? Intentional?
"Now get out."
Venus snapped back from her thoughts. Aura was staring straight at her, as if addressing her alone. Surely she meant the others as well.
"Are you all right?" Donatello asked, getting up from the chair. "You look…"
"My condition is none of your damn concern!" she snapped. A few strands of hair fell in front of her face.
Leonardo stepped defensively in front of Venus. "Fine, we'll go now. Maybe when you're in a more talkative mood, we'll come back." He gently nudged Venus towards the window. Donatello followed, but he still looked concerned. No…more curious than actually concerned. Raphael practically had to drag the gawking Michaelangelo away from Aura. Apparently, his opinion that she was babe had not changed, even in the presence of her current mood.
Raphael pushed Mike onto the fire escape. Raph was almost out when he ducked his head back inside.
***
"Where's Raph?" Leo asked.
The turtles looked around. "Eh," Don said. "He's got his bike. He's probably going to blow off some steam. He'll go back home when he's ready."
Leo nodded slowly and looked back up at the window. What are you up to?
***
"Listen here, dragon-girl, I can be as stubborn and nasty as you, so let's drop it, 'kay?"
Aura let her arms slip from her hips. "Fine."
They stood in silence for several moments. Aura crossed her arms over her chest. "I guess neither of us are any good at this kind of thing."
"I guess not." Raphael paused. "But seriously, what is wrong with you. I can see you aren't your usual colors, and your attitude is hellish."
Aura laced her fingers behind her neck and looked up at the ceiling. "It's personal."
Raph threw his arms into the air. "Oh, well, if it's personal!"
Aura dropped her arms and stepped towards him. "It's none of your god damn business!" she yelled back.
"It is. If we're going to be casualties in your little war, I think we deserve to know!"
"Stay out of my way and you won't get hurt!"
Aura suddenly noticed how close she'd gotten to Raphael. A tingle went down her spine and settled in her belly. She gasped and quickly backed away.
Raphael looked at her in confusion. Not only confused by her reaction, but by his own as well. He'd enjoyed arguing with her. It was exciting, not aggravating like his fights with Leo. It may be cliché, but she was beautiful when she was angry.
Aura pushed all her emotions away. "Leave now."
Raphael stood in place.
***