Disclaimer: The Turtles aren't mine.

AN: A response to a Fic Challenge by Donnie Kashi On Stealthy Stories. She was looking for a Donny and Splinter moment when Don was the leader. It's not the greatest, but I like it


"You must be strong where your brothers are weak"

Donatello stared after his retreating sensei. His brown eyes, magnified by his goggles, narrowed in confusion. Strong where his brothers were weak?

With a sigh and a glare sent in the general direction of Raphael, Don pulled off the goggles, and followed Splinter into his room.

"Master Splinter, I don't understand what you mean." He said, kneeling before the wise rat. Splinter looked at his intelligent son, and then looked at the picture of his family.

"My son, your curiosity knows no bounds, and when Leonardo was the leader, he used your knowledge to aid him, as he used Raphael's strength and Michelangelo's agility." Splinter sat down behind the table, aware that Donatello was watching him "Leonardo is gone, and you have been chosen to be the leader."

"Sensei, I still don't understand."

"Donatello, think of what qualities your brothers lack. What does Raphael need?"

With a snort, Don answered "Brains." At Splinter's reproving look, he bowed his head "I am sorry, Master."

"You are angry, my son, but you have tempered that anger with intelligence, and you know that anger isn't the solution to your problems. Raphael is filled with anger, but has not yet discovered what you have, he acts upon his frustrations. Anger is a powerful force, but only when one need not rely on it all the time."

"So Raphael lacks control?"

"Yes. You have that control, but you choose when to use it. In order to be a great leader, you must always use control. Now what does Michelangelo lack?"

Donatello frowned, thinking. In his mind, he saw Mike flitting to one project after another, rarely completing what he had started "He lacks focus, Sensei."

"Very good, my son. To be the great leader that I know you are, you must be focused and controlled."

"Hai, Sensei." With that, Donatello stood, bowing. He didn't fully understand, but he thought that he would soon enough.


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