Like the Phoenix, I have risen from the ashes.

And into my fire, you shall fall.

It was warm for September in New York. The normal touch of crispness was absent from the air, even at 3am. The city itself was still awake, but just barely. Most of the bright lights were off, and would remain off untill 5. 'New York,' she thought, 'the only city in the world where dawn itself is controled by an electrician.' She smiled to herself. There was beauty here, almost a kind of magic in this time of night.

She shifted slightly, and felt the pressure on the palm of her hand equalize. The world looked odd upside-down, she decided, so that the city became the sky. But then, it was an odd perch; 200 feet up precariously balanced on one hand, on the head of a stone gargoyle. She reached up with her free hand and grabbed both ankles, pulling them down so that her back arched, and her spine stretched.

She pushed the images of the city away, untill all she saw in her mind was what she was doing now. She smiled, feeling a blanket of peace wrap around her, forcing her to relax,even as she balanced. Slowly, the noise around her dulled, untill the only thing she heard was the sound of her own heartbeat.

Not far away, on a high rooftop, four figures sparred. Katanas and Sai's flashed in the starlight, and the steady whirr of a bow staff and nun-chucks was constant.

Leo was silent, wearing a frown as he watched his youngest brother fight Raph. Michelangelo couldn't seem to land a hit no matter what. With a roundhouse kick, Raphael sent Mikey onto the tar roofing again.

"C'mon Mikey! You're not even trying!" Raph complained.

Mike stood and assumed the fighting stance again. He was quiet, and seemed strangely withdrawn from his brothers. Again, Raph came at him, and again, his movements seemed sluggish. Raph didn't even bother knock him down.

"What's the matter with you?" Raph stopped in mid-swing.

"Everything, it seems like."Mike responded crossly. "I'll be back later." He walked away.

"Where are you going?" Leo asked as Mike headed towards the edge of the roof.

"For a run," he replied unapologetically, "I've got a lot on my mind."

"What mind?!" Donny quipped with a grin.

"See you back at the lair." He didn't even bother to return a pun. He leapt silently, and was gone. Leo looked at Donny, who shrugged and set to spar with Raph.

...