Changing the Past

by Danish Pastries

When one turtle dies, another wishes he could bring him back. One day, he finds a necklace that leads him and his brothers to a group of people called The Gifted, who tell them that the necklace will let them travel through time, but at a terrible price. Determined to bring their brother back, they embark on a dangerous mission and get more than they bargained for.

1. The Death of a Leader

"The Death of a Leader"

Fear flooded through Mikey as he saw his oldest brother Leo stumble weakly into the Lair and collapse on the floor. Blood was gushing out of a nasty gash on his right arm. Too much blood. Donnie and Raph were rushing around the Lair, desperately trying to find something that would help him. Mikey gently picked up his brother and set him on the couch, then checked his brother for more injuries, finding another cut on his cheek and several minor cuts and bruises along his legs.

"Oh Leo, don't die, don't die!" He pleaded quietly as Donnie hurried over and wrapped gauze around the gash in his arm. But that barely helped, for the blood soaked through almost instantly. Leo gave a weak cough, spattering small droplets of blood over his plastron.

Raph came over with more gauze, fear coursing through him. "Come on," he growled. "I ain't gonna let ya die!" He put on more gauze, only to pale as the blood soaked through that as well. "Dammit, Leo! Stop bleeding! Be strong! Come on!"

Leo coughed up more droplets of blood. "It's... Too late, Raph..." He coughed again, only this time, more blood came out of his mouth.

Raph shook his head. "Stop saying that crap!" He snarled, panic overwhelming him. "You're gonna live, whether ya want to or not!"

Mikey's eyes were brimming with tears as he watched Leo weakly shake his head. "No..." He coughed up more blood. "Raph, listen to... To me... There's nothing... You can do..."

Mikey placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, the tears streaming down his face. "No... Leo, don't say that..." He whimpered.

Leo struggled for breath. "Just... Let me die..." He whispered. "I deserve it..."

Donnie looked at his brother. "No you don't, Leo! Don't die on us..." His voice turned into a whine. "Please!"

Leo shook his head. "Yes... I... Do..." His voice was barely above a whisper. By now, all three of his brothers knew that he had lost too much blood, but still they urged him to stay alive. Leo shook his head weakly at their protests. "Don't... Bother anymore..." His chest fluttered as he took another breath, which was now a major effort for him. "I love you guys..." He croaked feebly. "And Splinter too..." His eyes focused on something that his brothers couldn't see. "Goodbye... My brothers..."

"NO!" All three of his brothers cried simultaneously.

Horrified and helpless, they watched as Leo's eyes went dull and his chest heaved with the effort of giving his final breath.

And then, the four became... Three.