The Ancient One

"The Ancient One" is the 92nd episode of the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), which originally aired on December 10, 2005.

Information
Major Characters:
 * Leonardo (Michael Sinterniklaas)
 * The Ancient One (Sean Schemmel)

Secondary Characters:
 * Donatello (Sam Regal)
 * Michelangelo (Wayne Grayson)
 * Raphael (John Campbell)
 * Splinter (Darren Dunstan)
 * Giant Yeti

Voice-over introduction
Leonardo : I've traveled thousands of miles looking for an answer, only to wind up here, halfway across the world in the middle of nowhere, battling it out with four nasty creatures, more ghosts than man, but who's steel is all too real. Meanwhile, my traveling companion, some gross slob who attached himself to me like a bloated tick, doesn't do a thing to help out. He just sits there, grinning like a fool, leaving me to fight for both our lives. I've journeyed all across the world in search for answers, and instead, all I'm gonna get is my head chopped off.

Plot synopsis
Leo is furiously fighting against Splinter. Each time he wins, Splinter demands they fight again. Leo is angry that he has not been taught something he doesn't know. His anger injures Splinter. Splinter tells Leonardo to journey to Japan to train with a new master, the Ancient One, who taught his previous master, Hamato Yoshi.

Arriving in Japan, Leo walks to the icy mountains and encounters two sword-holding yeti. He fights them but ends up defeated and the yetis taunt him, but let him pass. Confused about the sudden change of the path of ice to a jungle, he continues on until he reaches a desert and meets a short fat man, demanding any food he has. The man leads Leo on a short cut, though they are supposed to stay on the path. As night comes, demon ghosts come near. Leo thinks of fighting but the man insists that they do nothing and let the demons go on their way. Unfortunately, the man farts, alerting the demons. Leo fights against them but loses his swords. The man tells him he must surrender. Left with not choice, Leo gives in and the demons depart.

After much hardship, Leo and the fat man reach the Ancient One's temple, where Leo must face his greatest enemy, a rock creature. The creature taunts him that he will always fail. Leo experiences brief flashbacks, visions of when his family begged him for help. He admits he tried, and slashed through the creature's face, revealing it to be his. The man asks why he punishes himself. Leo comes to the revelation that the man is the Ancient One. Learning his lesson about not trying too hard, the Ancient One tells him the story of Hamato Yoshi, who walked a path, not too dissimilar to his own...

Quotes

 * The Ancient One : You got dollar, give me dollar! You got yen, give me yen!
 * (Leonardo and the Ancient One have made it up the mountain to the temple where the Ancient One lives) Ancient One: Only those who are worthy can pass into the temple. Think you're worthy, kumquat? Leonardo: (dead serious) I do. Ancient One: Okay. Your funeral.

Miscellaneaous

 * This episode has many references to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. When Luke Skywalker first encounters Yoda, he does not realize it is the great Jedi master as he displays unfavourable characteristics which he doesn't display later on. Also, when Yoda sends Luke into a cave strong with the Dark Side of the Force to confront his fears, Luke fights an apparition of Darth Vader. When he cuts Vader's head off, the helmet comes off and reveals itself to be a mirror image of Luke's face.