Glimpses

Chapter 1: Fallen From Grace

A/N: Hey, I'm back with another story. I know it's been awhile, but I've been busy. I graduated from college and am in the process of trying to find a job. Therefore, I've been preoccupied and unable to write any Turtles fan fiction until now. I actually got this idea from seeing the final episode of Back to the Sewers. I hope you enjoy it.

Summary: A series of one-shots featuring the TMNT's villains and allies.

Disclaimer: TMNT aren't mine although it would be cool if I did own them. They're property of Mirage Studios, Inc. I only own the plot of this story.

Karai sat and thought bitter thoughts. She couldn't believe the turn her life had taken. She had once been the leader of the Foot Clan, respected by those she had led and admired for her loyalty. Now she was dependent upon someone else so she could have a home of her own.

How had this happened? How could one man who had served her father and had served her take away her destiny? Was her father trying to send her a message from the beyond? What would he say if he could see her now?

She knew what he would say. He's say she was a disgrace to let a man defeat her like that. But hadn't Leonardo defeated her a number of times? Yes, but he was a mutant, not a man. It was a bit different in that respect, but it was still a big blow to her pride.

Weak. Foolish. Khan's words echoed in her mind. He had told her that she wasn't strong enough to lead the Foot, that she was a disgrace to her father's memory. Those remarks had led to a furious battle for supremacy that she had unfairly lost. Defeated, she had left the place that had been her home and had begged Dr. Chaplin to take her in. The man had graciously accepted after he heard her story.

Karai knew what she had to do. She had to reclaim her place in the Foot and make Khan pay for his insolence. He would tremble before her after his defeat and beg for mercy, but Karai wouldn't give it. She'd send him away just as he had sent her away, or she'd kill him. Either way, he would be destroyed, and the Foot would be reborn under her leadership.

"Karai, are you okay?" a voice asked. She looked up to see Dr. Brendan Chaplin looking at her with concern. Ever since Karai had come to his doorstep, he felt it was his duty to look after her.

"I am fine," the woman replied. "I was just thinking about what I want to do next."

Chaplin looked a little confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Don't you like staying with me?"

Karai smiled at him. "I'm very grateful that you have allowed me to stay in your home," she said. "However, there is something else I must do now."

Chaplin didn't have to ask her what that was because he already knew. "You can't do this, Karai!" he said. "Khan's won. Just accept it and move on."

Karai grew angry. "I will not!" she said. "Khan stole my position from under me. It is my duty to reclaim my place as leader of the Foot Clan. My father would want it."

"He'd want his only daughter to risk getting killed?" Chaplin asked in astonishment.

"Yes, he would," she replied. "My honor must be restored."

Chaplin said no more. He knew that there was no way he could change her mind. Once Karai's mind was set on something she wouldn't give up until she achieved her goal.

Karai left the apartment and went up to the rooftops, thinking about her goal. She had to secure her position in the Foot. Khan was abusing it and ruining what her father had created. Anger coursed through her veins as she thought about Khan. Her determination was the thing that was propelling her forward.

As she leapt from one rooftop to another, she caught a glimpse of someone. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the form of Leonardo. Why was he here? Where had he been all this time? He was obviously alive, but where were his brothers?

Leonardo looked surprised to see as well. They hadn't seen each other since the defeat of the Tengu Shredder. Although a temporary truce had been enacted, Leo wasn't quite sure if she was still angry with them or not. Judging by her expression, she seemed more shocked than angry.

"So, you are alive," Karai said by way of greeting.

He looked wary as he took in his surroundings. He expected a horde of Foot Ninjas to be on him soon. He certainly wouldn't put that past Karai. He fixed her with a level stare.

"So are you," he countered. "I wasn't expecting to see you, Karai. What are you doing here? Are you planning to attack me since my brothers aren't here? Did you know I would be here?"

Karai shook her head. "No, I did not," she replied. "I thought you were dead. It has been a whole year since I saw you. Where have you been?"

"We took a little unexpected vacation," Leo said and left it at that. He wasn't going to tell her exactly where they had been since he didn't trust her. Those days were over. "What about you? Why aren't you leader of the Foot anymore?"

"I lost that position in a duel with Khan," Karai answered. For some reason she felt the need to be honest with him. Her attitude toward Leonardo and his brothers had changed after the Tengu Shredder had been defeated. She had realized that it was foolish to hold a grudge against the Turtles when she had bigger problems to face. Shortly after this, Khan had taken over the Foot and had dueled Karai for supremacy. "I have chosen to try to reclaim my role as leader of the Foot," she continued.

'I don't think that would be wise, Karai," Leo told her. "Khan's too powerful, and he has many reinforcements. He'll kill you."

"At least I would die with honor," Karai retorted. "My father would want me to do this."

Leo quirked an eye ridge at her. "Would he?" he asked. "Maybe you should rethink that for a minute. While he was in New York, did he care about what you were doing? Did he ever inquire about your well-being while you were in Japan?"

Karai thought about this. No, her father had never been in contact with her when she took control of the Japanese branch of the Foot, but he had been busy. She chose not to reply to Leo's question, but he could tell from her expression what the answer was.

"Do you know why you failed as leader of the Foot?" he asked her. Karai was about to retort, but he continued before she could, "It's because you aren't a bad person. You have too much honor to do any harm. Think about all the times you tried to destroy us, but were unable to."

"I destroyed your home," she reminded him. "I almost killed your family."

'Yes, you did, but I gave you a second chance," he replied. "Despite your anger towards us, you helped us to defeat the Tengu Shredder. After that, we heard nothing from you. Do you still want to destroy us, or have you given up on that?"

Karai thought about what he had said. She had given up on destroying the Turtles because her anger had diminished thanks to Chaplin. She figured that maybe someone else had destroyed the Turtles since she hadn't heard from them in a year. She remembered how sad she had felt at the thought that the Turtles had been vanquished. In that moment, she knew her feelings towards them had shifted.

"I have given up on that idea because I have better things to do," she answered. "I am going now to reclaim my place in the Foot Clan." She turned to go, but Leo grabbed her arm.

"Karai, this isn't a good idea," he insisted. "Khan's way too powerful. If you go there, he'll destroy you, and the risk won't be worth it. I know you hate the idea of defeat, but sometimes it helps you to learn. Besides, the Foot won't want you back if you don't want to destroy us. They'll think you've betrayed them. Is that what you want?"

Karai could see the sincerity in his eyes. He was right as he always was. She no longer had a vendetta against the Turtles, and the Foot would resent her for that choice. She remembered a time when Leonardo had tried to reason with her. Then she had listened to her anger and hate instead of his reasoning. This time, she would heed his words.

She nodded and bowed to him. "Thank you," she said. "I am grateful for your advice. I hope we will meet again soon."

"So do I," he said. He bowed to her and then leapt off the rooftop to make his way back home.

Karai watched him go with a smile on her face. She only hoped that she could be friends with Leonardo and his brothers one day. With that thought in her head, she went back to Chaplin's apartment and knocked on the door. When he answered she noticed the look of surprise on his face.

"Did you win?" he asked.

"No," she replied. "An old friend helped me to see the light. Come, let us go to bed. It is late." She took his hand and led him to the room they shared. As she looked into his eyes, she realized that things had turned out good in the end. She had fallen from grace, but she had also risen above evil to greater heights. She had a home, a purpose in life, and people who cared for her. She didn't need anything more than that.

A/N: Okay, not the best ending, but it was the best I could do. So, what did you think? Did you like or hate it? Please leave a review and let me know. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but I'll try to get it up soon.