A/N: This is the final end of Monster World that I imagined all those years ago. It's pretty dark, but to me it makes sense. If you want to write about what happens during the time Raph leaves New York to now, PM me for permission. TMNT is not mine, it belongs to Viacom.

Monster World: Exile

There were no more monsters left. Winters and the generals had ensured that. Life was slowly returning to normal…but it was different. Heaving a long and slow sigh, he walked over to the porthole and watched the Earth below. It was dumb luck that he and his family were able to board the shuttle before the final stage. They had lifted off while feeling the ground shudder beneath them. They had barely cleared the atmosphere when the sky had ignited.

Now, the Earth hung in space. It was completely cleared of monsters…but it was also cleared of life. Apart from the five thousand odd humans aboard the shuttles, the human race was extinct. Returning to the planet wasn't an option as the Scientist had told him the ignition of the atmosphere effectively meant there was no more atmosphere to contain what oxygen was left.

It was up to him. He had lead them this far, through all the sacrifices and the pain. All for…what? He didn't know where to go from here. The supplies on the shuttles wouldn't last forever either. Maybe they had been better living in the world below. Sure, it was crawling with creatures, but they could still breathe free air, drink unrecycled water and eat real food.

Raph stared at the stump of his left hand and sighed once more, closing his eyes. With his free hand, he lifted the "hard light" gun and pressed the barrel to his head. Over the continued roar of the engines, he thought about ending it all. Don and Mike would still be able to lead the remnants to safety and would be able to stop worrying over him. Just one squeeze and it would be all over.

Shaking his head, he let the gun drop to the floor with a clatter and reached up for the locket that hung around his neck. With trembling fingers, he opened it to stare at the photos inside – one of the group taken before the raid on the base and the other before the Leader had…well, before everything had happened. It was time to cast aside the mantle of the Exile and the Night Watchman and better himself. Even if it killed him, he would find a place in the galaxy for the survivors to settle.

The Exile had turned into a leader and saviour, but there was no denying one simple fact.

He had saved them from Paradise and driven them to Hell.

End.