AN: I hope you're as excited about this chapter as I am. I don't know about you, but I am not the biggest fan of OCs so I am eager to shove them over to the far side of the plot and get back into the " Oh my god, Donnie made something" drama.

Did anyone notice the new cover? I totally photoshopped a screen cap from episode 9...it's actually from inside the control room, when he's complaining about having to be paired up with Mikey. I bet you'd never guess, ehehehehe.

Another big thank you to my reviewers, I look forward to your words every time I update, and read each one as it arrives by email to my phone almost the moment it gets sent to me. I may not always reply, but I am deeply thankful for your input.

I also want to thank those of you who are simply watching for an update. You give me a solid reason to keep this up.

Well, enjoy the chapter!


Triangle Part 1- Leadership

Chapter 4


"Raph!" Leo couldn't restrain the cry that forced its way out as he flipped onto the rooftop. His brother was laying pinned on his stomach, held down by several of the mutants. There were two pinning him by each arm, his legs were already bound, still kicking as the mutants tried to hold him down. His cheek was pressed down to the ground, his head held down by the large foot of a rabbit, the mutant's sword's tip a scant inch away from his throat. The lion stood above him, hammer strapped to his back, waiting until the other fighters could finish restraining the fighting turtle. Swears and threats flew heavy from both sides as Raph fought fiercely to escape on his own.

With a yell Leo drew his blades and rushed the group, striking armor as he crashed through. With a sweep of Leo's blades Raph's right arm was freed, and that was all that was needed for him to wrestle his other arm free. The rabbit thrust the blade down, embedding it into the rooftop with a cry. Raph was faster, rolling to his back to dodge and then flipping his still bound legs upwards, kicking the rabbit in the chest and off the edge of the building with a cry. He returned to being on his back, using the little momentum he had left to roll forward into a crouch. " Leo!"

The leader swung his sword from over his shoulder as Raph rolled back and launched himself into a handstand. Leo's blade severed the ropes as his brother's feet swung upwards. Legs now free, Raph twirled himself upright, feet apart, finally drawing his sai, eagerly spinning them over his thumbs before settling in a combative crouch.

A low growl caused all of their attackers to suddenly retreat to the shadows. Leo's eyes shot towards the lion, who had been off to the side and had thus far made no move to attack. The massive creature took one heavy step towards the pair, pulling his hammer from behind. His dark eyes staring Leo down, mouth curled in a challenging smile. It again took a painfully slow, heavy step towards them. Raph flipped his sai once more, blades to his forearms, taking an uncharacteristically defensive stance with a growl. Leo positioned his blades, getting ready for a low, sweeping attack on this slow-moving tank. " Leo!" He heard his name called but he was already off in a rush toward's their enemy , " Leo, wait, he can-"

Just as Raph's voice cut off, the lion vanished. Leo skid to a halt, blades defensive. He began to circle, his eye scanning the rooftop, head whipping around as he tried to keep alert on all fronts. Raph was also gone. His eyes returned to where the lion had been. Had he slipped off, or simply vanished? Or maybe it was all an illusion. Leo grit his teeth. If that was the case, then the lion would be right in front of him. With a yell Leo struck out at the nothing ahead of him, right before a heavy force hit him from behind.


Donnie windmilled his staff in two hands in front of him, fending off the repeated assaults from Bey's spear. Despite the crudeness of his opponent's weapon, Donnie was having a tough time holding his own against the old bat. To add insult to injury, the bat continued to let out a high-pitched chuckle, mocking him. Striking out heavily to throw his attacker off, Donnie retreated back a few steps, panting. Bey's chuckle drew near as he took advantage of the opening with a stab. Sidestepping, Donnie spun to gather momentum and brought his staff down diagonally over the crude wooden spear, shattering it. Using his downward momentum against his weapon he flipped a kick into the bat's face, effectively silencing the damned chuckle. Bey slid across the rooftop before flipping himself upright by catching the air with his wings. The bat stood at the edge of the building, panting. Donnie didn't give him the chance to recover, and coming in fast he raised his staff above his head for the finishing strike. With a growl Bey stepped back, plummeting into the alley below as Donnie's staff struck where he had been a moment before.

Not wanting to waste more time, Donnie returned to Mikey's side. His breathing was more stable, and some of the bleeding had stopped, but his head wound was still open and he was losing a lot of blood. A light rain was beginning to fall, the water mixing with the blood in a flowing pool. Standing at Mikey's feet, Donnie grabbed his brother's wrists and pulled him up, twisting himself so he could carry him over his back. Mikey's head flopped down over Donnie's shoulder and he flinched at the feel of warm blood running along his neck and his front, contrasting the cool rain. Focusing, he took a running start and leapt to the next rooftop over, where he could hear sounds of combat.


Raph hadn't wanted to get his shell bashed in another time, but visions of Mikey being blasted off into next week fueled his desperate attempts to reach Leo, who was caught up in their foe's freaky hypnotism. His muscles coiled and released, launching him into Leo's shell, knocking them out of the lion's path just as the hammer came down. They both went tumbling behind the lion. Raph flipped himself onto his feet and went into an offensive stance while Leo recovered. As he was about to strike, a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Donnie stood at the edge of the building, Mikey hanging unconscious on his back like a grim cape.

Raph wasn't the only one who noticed, the lion took off running with a roar, abandoning his hammer with a crash. Low to the ground Raph followed in pursuit, He caught up easily and launched a flying kick at the back of the mutant's knees, crumbling him to the ground. Raph dodged to the side to avoid being hit by the flailing creature's limbs, before turning his head to a frozen in place Donnie. " What're you waiting for? Get outta here!"

"R-right!" Donnie wasted no more time, vanishing into the distance as he fled with their injured brother.

The lion pounded his fist into the rooftop with a growl of frustration, and Raph leapt between him and where his brother went, spinning his sai threateningly before taking a combative stance. The lion's fist came down at him and he rolled to the side to dodge, countering with a thrust of his left hand. Steel and bone collided as Raph's point struck the lion's ribs. He jumped aside to dodge the mutant's enraged fists, but wasn't able to get far enough, fast enough. He dropped his sai and braced himself for the impact. The fist struck him in the middle, and as he began falling back he gripped the lions thick wrist in both of his hands, using the momentum from the blow to pull the creature down with a flip. Winded from taking the blow, Raph sank to his knees trying to draw a breath as his right hand found one of his dropped weapons, his left over his middle where he could feel his broken ribs throb.

The mutant lion recovered faster than he did, and brought his fist up across his chest with the intent to strike. Raph crossed his arms in front of him, preparing to take the second blow but it never came. With a shout Leo slammed into the lion's chest, knocking it off-balance. Swords a whirl, Leo managed to push the lion back several paces before Raph regained his footing and gathered up his other sai. Reunited with his weapons, he gave them a quick flip and, arms out from his sides, rushed in with the intent to deliver the final blows as Leo held their opponent off.

Raph never got the satisfaction. The lion, weakened by the wound on his chest leapt back suddenly with a roar and fled to the next rooftop, and soon vanished into the rain. His fists tightened around his weapons before Raph resigned himself to returning them to his belt. " Let's go!"

With a leap Raph cleared the building to the next, following the very clear trail of blood being left by Mikey's wound. He paused as Leo called his name, landing on the rooftop beside him.

" Raph, that isn't the way back to the lair" Leo motioned in the other direction, " We're done out here, we can't afford to run right into another ambush, or did you forget there are others out here in wait!"

Raph couldn't keep the rage out of his voice, " If Donnie gets caught out there then he's done. Mikey too. We can't just run away every damn time."

" Donnie is resourceful, they'll be okay. Have faith in him Raph. We're in no condition to fight anymore, if anything we'd bring trouble to them." Leo turned, indicating his orders were final.

" Screw that!" With a dash and a flip Raph continued on his own course, leaving Leo behind as the rain began to fall in heavy drops.


Donnie had chosen a roundabout method to get back to the lair, wanting to be certain he wasn't being tailed. He wasn't too pleased that this turned out to be the right decision as he dodged another strike from one the numerous mutants chasing him. He could only run, he didn't have the energy to fight them all, and he was afraid to set Mikey down. It was beginning to get difficult to see in the rain that was beginning to turn into a downpour, and it was slowing both sides down. Panic was beginning to set in; Donnie was exhausted, and he knew it was a matter of time before he was dragged down as well. A rogue thought entered his mind, reminding him he'd have no problems getting away if he just left Mikey, leave one to be captured instead of both. He gripped his brother's arms tighter, shaking off the thought as it brought a wave of nausea, but also a stronger resolve to shake their pursuers.

Ultimately, it was a staff very much like his own that brought Donnie down. The strike to the back of his legs sent him rolling, Mikey bouncing off to the side and landing next to the door to a rooftop stairwell. Donnie swung himself back to his feet, twirling his staff in response. He wasn't given time to recover, and was promptly thrown into combat. His staff met his attacker's and he grunted, anticipating more than he had received. Blinking back raindrops he tried to get a good look at his attacker. She was smaller than himself, long, black hair hung down past her shoulders, and although damp it seemed to hold it's curls. Donnie might have found her attractive if the curly hair hadn't grown from most everywhere on her body. Her staff was wielded with a mutatious combination of hand and hoof. Donnie pushed her back, rotating himself for a more forceful strike. The little sheep girl met it with enthusiasm; too much it seemed because her staff snapped in two from the strike which sent her flying backward. She landed after a flip and spun each half as she rushed him with a bleating yell. Donnie spun again, launching her into a group preparing to rush him. There were too many more. He began preparing himself mentally for the assault that was about to happen. He'd be dragged down and restrained, and carried off without a trace. They'd be kept alive at least; Bey had said he needed them. He'd probably even have Mikey healed. Donnie braced himself as the mob began their rush, hoping it would be over swiftly.

The charge didn't go as planned by either side; The angry Raph who entered the melee made sure of that. Water splashed as he joined the battle with a harsh cry, fists dropping creatures all around. Donnie joined in immediately, hope renewed. He fought to his brother, his staff cracking bones and dropping mutants all around. He was about to reach him when suddenly Raph was torn down below his sights, under the crowd. Spinning, Donnie swept the mob from him, and Raph promptly returned to his feet with a stagger. Both sides retreated, panting. With a sidelong glance Donnie caught Raph grimacing in pain, his arm clutching his ribs. With the way things were going, they wouldn't survive another charge. Making up his mind, Donnie spun his staff and took several grim steps forward. " Raph, get Mikey out of here!"

Raph took a step forward, " There ain't no way I'm leaving you. We do this together"

Donnie glanced over his shoulder at his brother with cold eyes, " You don't have a choice, Mikey isn't going to last too much longer, Raph. If you don't go now they'll get us all. I can hold them off. Trust me."

Raph glanced back at Mikey, and Donnie could see that their brother's bloodied condition was enough to make up his mind. Raph hoisted Mikey onto his back and turned to Donnie with a shout," You hang in there Donnie, Leo is coming." words spoken, Raph retreated from the rooftop and into the veil of rain.

The group came at him in a rush and Donnie did everything he could to hold them off. His staff spun and struck until it shattered, and when it did he continued the assault with his fists. He was completely surrounded, and with little energy left he was falling fast. He just hoped Leo wouldn't arrive to find his bloodied corpse left behind. A spinning kick pushed Donnie into the side of the stairwell, his head striking the wall. Shaking the black spots from his vision he returned his focus to the mob in front of him and his eyes went wide. Standing in directly to his front, shadowed by the rain, was the little sheep girl, a grin on her face, a dagger in her hand. With her free hand she pinned his arm to the wall next to his head. All the fight was rushing out of him, there was no energy to struggle and where his might used to be rushed full of fear. This was it. Donnie felt weak, his legs threatening to give out on him. The blade flash as it struck, breaking through skin as Donnie released a pained and fearful scream.


End chapter 4


AN: Whew, I'm sick of everybody getting hurt. Those broken ribs are going to be hurting Raph the whole damn story over. I'm about done injuring all the characters; Except for Leo. I need someone on the team to not ache like an old man every time he does something though. Fortunately mutants can heal quickly, so I can hurt them again later on in the fic if I choose. *evil grin*

In the next chapter we get some Splinter in on the magic...oh and we get to find out a little bit more about what Donnie was making. YAY! No more suspense! * looks up* oh... We also get some Leo actually being a good leader for a change.

Anyone have predictions? I wanna hear 'em! Poor Donnie seems to have given up hope. At least Mikey's safe now...right?