Hey everyone. So I guess was hit with an "inspiration ray" or something because this idea came to me while I was going to my classes this week. This is for Zebralily999's community "TMNT 30th Anniversary Fics". It's my first time writing something like this, but I hope you guys all grow to like it. :) To my "Ten Seconds" fans, don't worry. I'm still working on that one as well, but this was very obstinate in wanting to get written.
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT.
-x-
Oroku Saki tossed and turned in his bed, groaning and muttering in his sleep as he was trapped in yet another nightmare. He woke with a start, his eyes wide, drenched in sweat as he drew in deep gasps trying to slow down his heart rate. "Not again," he grumbled to himself as he remembered the events in his most recent nightmare.
Saki had been fighting those blasted turtles yet again. He had captured the red one and had successfully lured the others into a trap. They were all caught in a net and he was slowly maneuvering the net over a collection of deadly sharp weapons and other objects. He had finally won! He was finally going to eliminate the four most annoying creatures from his life! He would finally have his revenge for when they tossed him into the back of a garbage truck a few months prior. And then…
He had forgotten about that rat sensei of theirs. Just before the net reached the pile of weapons, an arrow shot through the rope, sending them falling safely to the ground. Saki could only stare in surprise as he looked in the direction from where he had heard "Cowabunga!" before he noticed that the blue one crossed his arms and stated, "That's right, Shredder! You forgot! We carry insurance!" The orange one quickly continued with "Yeah. We travel with Splinter, dude!"
Infuriated, Saki heard himself yell, "Get them!"…
And then Saki had woken up. This was not the first of these types of visions he had had this week. It was not the fact he had just had a nightmare that weighed on his mind, it was that it felt so real that bothered him. Each one happened the same way. He would be so close to eliminating those freaks before his enemy Hamato Yoshi interfered. He knew the rat was Yoshi, but in those dreams, he found that he couldn't trust his memories. He'd see himself and realize he couldn't recognize his face! Even those turtles and Yoshi would look different!
A light knocking on his door brought him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he ordered feeling exhausted.
"Father, are you alright?" a young girl asked him. Her eyes were sharp, and her short hair gave her the appearance of being ready for action at a moment's notice. At the moment, however, she was wearing a nightgown and a pair of slippers. Definitely not the kind of outfit a person would wear to go out.
Saki met the girl's gaze, losing himself in the depths of concern her eyes held for him. 'Father?' he thought as his mind struggled to place just who this girl was. Finally, he remembered, "Karai…is that you?" When she nodded, he reached out for her hands as relief and horror swept through him. 'How could I forget my own daughter's name? These visions are taking their toll on my psychological well-being after all.'
"Father, you were screaming again. Were you having nightmares?" Karai asked him, her tone laden with her concern for her father's health.
"Forgive me, Karai. I did not mean to wake you. I am fine, I just need to get some sleep." Saki lowered his gaze back to his pillow. He didn't want his daughter – or was she his granddaughter? – to let his worries consume her. Even though he wasn't technically her father by birth, he had still raised her for years. He loved her, for she so closely resembled the love of his life that was now departed from this world.
Karai seemed to regard him thoughtfully, as if deciding whether or not to leave him be. Eventually she gave a small bow and left the room. Before closing the door behind her she whispered, "Get some sleep, Father. Don't forget that we are supposed to lay a trap for the turtles tomorrow." Then the door clicked shut, and the sounds of receding footsteps echoed in the dark and empty hallway.
Saki found himself grinning evilly as he imagined the pleasure of finally destroying his enemies tomorrow. As he laid his head back down on his pillow he found himself thinking about how long he had been fighting these enemies. 'Has it really only been a year? Why does it feel like it's been much longer, like thirty years? It must be those visions! They are responsible for my confusion! One minute I'm with two absolute morons named Bebop and Rocksteady, and the next I'm back with the idiots Bradford and Xever. I even had two mutants named Tonka and Rahzaar that thought I was their mother!'
He took in a deep yawn as he felt the tell tale signs of upcoming sleep start to take him in. 'Oh well. It'll all be over the instant I completely destroy Yoshi and those abominations that he calls family. Then my sanity will finally return to me.' With a final stretch, he closed his eyes and slipped into darkness…
When he opened his eyes, he found that he was yet again in the midst of one of the strange visions. "Not again!" he growled as he struggled to find the way out of this current dream. He saw his reflection in his gauntlet and realized with a gasp that, once again, he looked different. Raising his hand to the right side of his face, he couldn't believe what he felt. Or to be more accurate, what he didn't feel. Gone were the burn scars that covered the right side of his face. And he could see out of his right eye for the first time in years! He marveled over his reflection in wonder until he heard a Foot soldier call out to him, "Master Shredder! We have located the turtles over by the water tank on 5th."
Turning around in a flash, Saki regarded the soldier in front of him, confusion and pleasure at the news warring within him. "Are you absolutely positive that they are there?" he questioned in an authoritative tone.
His subordinate – was he? – didn't even flinch as he replied, "Yes, Master. We saw the van that we have previously observed them using to escape in the past parked nearby. One of our scouts reported that he saw four figures at that location as well. We have no reason to believe we are mistaken in our report to you, Master Shredder."
Saki grinned as he ordered, "Very well. We will go there at once." With that, he ran toward the water tower, his glee and excitement increasing with each step he took that brought him closer to his prey. When he found them, he noticed that they were waiting for him. As he prepared to take them down, he felt his heart respond by beating faster, pounding to the point of desperation to ensure every one of his muscles was well supplied with blood and oxygen. How Saki loved the pre-battle tension that always hung in the air whenever he encountered the turtles.
Speaking of turtles, he took a moment to realize that they too looked different. They looked taller, more muscular and held none of the naivety he had grown to expect with the turtles he was used to encountering. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze traveled over all four of them. He was not sure, but it seemed that the orange one had something missing from his face, and something about the purple one's smile threw him off. Saki dismissed the concerns with a mental shrug. It wasn't like he really cared about each turtle's individuality in the first place, so why let it bother him?
The orange one spoke first, exchanging a quick glance with the blue one, "Dude."
Then the red one added, "Let the butt kicking begin."
Finally the blue one drew his weapons and got into a battle ready position. Saki couldn't help but grin as he ordered, "Foot ninja, ATTACK!"
Then the battle began. Saki had to admit that these turtles could fight very well. They were a tad more polished and practiced than the turtles he was accustomed to. Eventually, Saki had decided he had had enough of standing by on the sidelines. So when an injured foot distracted the orange one he sent the freak flying into the water tower, reveling in the cry of pain that escaped the lips of the beaten turtle. Saki waited to take out the purple one until it was distracted by a conversation, but he easily sent the fool flying with a few quick punches. He was just about to take out the blue one when the red one got in the way. Unperturbed, Saki grabbed the red one and sent it to join the purple one by a small wall. He was surprised when he saw that the orange one had started fighting again, but he was still mostly unimpressed by how easily he defeated it for a second time as it was sent flying yet again. Now he was finally free to focus his attention on the blue one, and boy was he glad when it jumped right in front of him without realizing its mistake. With a grin, Saki sent that one flying toward its companions, enjoying the sweet taste of victory.
'I have won!' Saki thought, feeling joy as he slowly approached the huddled and injured turtles, relishing the panicked expressions on their faces. 'Yes! After all these years! All I have to do is end their lives and the visions will end!' He raised his gauntlet, preparing to put an end to the turtles as he promised, "None of you will leave here alive!" As he swung down, an all too familiar voice sounded from behind him. As usual, he had forgotten about the rat!
"Shredder! Nooo!" He heard the rat cry as the rodent dashed in to defend the turtles. The rodent brought up his cane to block Saki's gauntlet as he hissed "You destroyed my family once. I will not allow that to happen again!"
Saki yelled, feeling furious with the old rodent, "No man – or freak – can defeat me!"
Yoshi – was the rat Yoshi? – growled, "That remains to be seen!" With a flourish of the wrist, the rat shoved Saki aside and Saki felt pain as the cane struck his side.
The rat led Saki closer to where the water tank stood, and Saki let himself feel confident that he was defeating this rodent at its own game. After all, it wasn't fighting back, but was just moving about in a defensive manner, dodging and jumping. Meanwhile Saki's gauntlet was slashing through the support beams.
Saki should have known it was a trap. After all, rats are very tricky. When the water tank began to sway due to the sudden lack of support, Saki watched in horror as the rat yelled, "This is for my master, Yoshi!" and launched a jump kick at the severed beam. Saki tried to get away, but the tank burst and he found himself being swept away in a giant wave of water.
When Saki awoke, he found that he was no longer able to sustain a clear line of thought from beginning to end. 'Was Yoshi alive? Was he a rat? Am I a father? Am I a grandfather? Are those turtles even real? Did I control that blue one for a time?' Then Saki grinned, his mind pulling up memories of different visions he had witnessed over the past several days. "I see," he muttered to himself, "I understand clearly now. I must avenge all my fallen comrades who have been tormented by the presence of such horrendous monstrosities! This was a message from destiny! Time for me to destroy the turtles and that rat once and for all! Yes! YES! Tomorrow, they will all come to an end!" He felt something in his brain snap, and then a maniacal laugh exploded from him. He had no idea what time it was, and he found he didn't care. There was only one thing he cared about now – revenge.
His mad laughter echoed throughout the halls of his house as he began to plot the perfect way to destroy his most hated enemies.
-x-
So I referenced a few different incarnations of the turtles in this little chapter (Secret of the Ooze, 2003 series). ;) The story itself takes place after the season 1 finale of the 2012 series. 2 weeks to be exact. Anyway, let me know what you guys think ;) I love hearing what thoughts/concerns you guys all have. Hahaha! See you guys next time :D
- Ariane
