Hey y'all! So I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has read, commented, followed, or favorite my story J Also, I was thinking of doing a chapter from Leo's perspective. Since there has been some interest expressed in this I present without further ado… LEO!
"The one that is the turtle that is the turtle known as Leonardo will tell the ones known as the Kraang the location that is where the turtles that are not known as Leonardo will be found," cried the fleshy pink blob in front of me.
Inwardly I groaned. These things were just getting annoying now. Every day for what had felt like years but was probably just months, my day had started with a Kraang in my face asking me where the Lair was. Every. Single. Day. Today I responded, as I had every other day, "No I will not."
"The turtle know as Leonardo will tell the Kraang where the turtles who are not Leonardo are in order for the ones known as Kraang to destroy the turtles not known as Leonardo," droned the Kraang for the millionth time. I have to admit, they are persistent. My morning will continue this way until eventually they leave me. About an hour after that, my cell door will open and a bowl of something will be pushed inside the cell. I will eat, then the Kraang will come back in to interrogate me some more. Round two of interrogation usually involves some kind of torture, recently their favorite has been a type of hallucinogenic gas that makes me see horrifying terrible things.
Yesterday after they drugged me, I imagined that they had let me go because they thought I was useless and stupid. I ran back to the Lair as fast as I could but found they didn't want me anymore. They taunted me, insulted me, and Raph chased from the Lair brandishing his Sais. He threatened to kill me if I ever showed my stupid, worthless face again while declaring that he was the leader. It hurt more than I care to admit, and when I finally woke up from the hallucination I was bawling.
It's impossible to know when I'm under the influence of the drug until after its effects have worn off, and that's what scares me about it the most. I've seen my brothers die in my arms helplessly, I've watched failed rescue missions, I saw the Shredder destroying Sensei, and I've seen everyone I've ever cared about die while I can do absolutely nothing. I've seen all this and more many times, but each time it happens it feels real. I'm scared that I'm going insane.
The Kraang also don't allow me to meditate after discovering that I could communicate with my family that way. I fear that the one time I did manage to contact Sensei, I did more harm than good, especially when Raph saw me. I know he didn't mean it when he said he didn't need me, he's always spouting off like that, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. I need my brothers, but I never told them; I don't think I'm ever going to get the chance too. I think Raph is probably the leader now, and that makes me sad. He doesn't need that responsibility; he is supposed to be free to be crazy and hotheaded. I wonder how he is. Does he think I'm dead? It would be best if he did.
I think about Donnie and Mikey a lot too. Donnie never dealt with grief well, and when tragedy struck he always retreated to the lab. I was the only one who could get him out of there. He also would obsess on his projects without someone to guide him. I guess Raph has to do that now. I miss them both so much. Mikey, oh Mikey, he's the youngest one of us and the one who always brought me hope. He was always goofing off when he wasn't supposed to, but he brought happiness everywhere he went. I worry about him the most. Donnie, Raph, Sensei, and I always tried to shield him from the worst things. I hope he didn't lose that sweet innocence. I'm sure they're all fine, but I worry about them just the same.
"TURTLE! Is the turtle that is the turtle known as Leonardo listening with what the holes known as ears?" screeched the Kraang. Well, that's a new one.
"What?" I growl. They really are annoying.
"Today is the day that the Kraang have decided will be the day we show the other turtles that are not the ones that is known as Leonardo the turtle known as Leonardo. The Kraang have created that which is known as a "Plan B"," it screeched.
"Wait, what? What day is it today?" I asked in confusion. Were they planning on showing me to my brothers? They were planning on showing them that I was alive? Why would they do that- wait. They want to lure my brothers into a trap. I'm the bait!
"Today is the day which is the 29 day of the month which is known as September," the Kraang informed me. Clearly it had misunderstood my question, but that didn't matter. Today was my Mutation day. The thought was both extremely depressing and encouraging. On the plus side, I was sixteen today. I had lived sixteen years despite the impossible odds stacked against me. It also meant that the Kraang had only had me for about three months. This was both a plus and minus. I hadn't been held for nearly as long as I had thought, but it also made me feel guilty. I have been away from my brothers for far too long.
Suddenly I felt the urge to cry, but I didn't want the Kraang to see me weak; I wasn't that pathetic yet. Holding back a sob, I thought about last year's mutation day. It had been our first mission out of the Lair. We discovered pizza, the Kraang, and April and started on the road to becoming the vigilantes of New York. Last year had been great. I remember how proud of us Splinter was when we returned to the Lair; I remember how we thought pizza was a weapon before Mikey stuck it in his mouth; but even before that, I remember the moment when we were all gathered around Sensei in the kitchen eating and listening to the Mutation Story for what must have been the hundredth time. It had been such a happy day.
I squeezed my eyes shut to hold back the tears, then raised my head to look at the smug Kraang in front of me. "You will never get my brothers. I will protect them until I die!" I spat into the Kraang's face with all the anger, determination, and bitterness I could muster.
"Kraang will get the ones known as the turtles which are your brothers, and the Kraang will kill you turtle known as Leonardo," it replied coolly. With that, it spun its hovercraft around and sailed out of the room. My eyes widened in fear, and then I realized that the only way I could save my family was to contact Sensei and tell him not to come. The Kraang would hurt me, but it was worth it if I could save my brother's lives.
Inhaling deeply, I settled onto the floor of my cell and crossed my legs. Lightly resting my hands on my knees, I shut my eyes and imagined myself sitting in Sensei's room on the floor. I pictured every detail of the room, every knick knack, every crack in the wall, every spider web in the corners. I imagined the feeling of the wood on my skin, and I imagined the peace and safety I felt there. Then I opened my eyes and found myself face to face with my beyond stunned father.
"Leo… Leo… Leonardo! My son! You're alive!" He was stumbling over his words, and the joy and relief on his face was incredible. He made as if to wrap his arms around me in a hug, only to have his paws go through me.
"Oof," I muttered. That was a weird feeling. Sensei's face fell as he remembered that it was just my spirit and not actually me that was visiting. A thought occurred to him and he looked scared.
"My son, you are alive, right?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes Father, I am," I said with a smile. His toothy grin lit up his entire face.
"I am extremely glad to hear that. One moment please," he said as he rushed to the door. I watched him in confusion.
"Raphael! Come here!" he called as he pulled open the door to his room. I heard Raph's gruff voice respond from somewhere else in the Lair,
"No, Sensei, come here! April is getting ready to light the candles on the cake!"
"Ya, Sensei, come here please!" added a familiar nasally voice. I smiled, that was Donnie.
"Please, Sensei? You can light Leo's candle," came a meek but familiar voice. Was that really Mikey? He sounded so different, so… depressed. Sensei winced, clearly it pained him to know that Mikey and Donnie thought I was dead. He was also a little annoyed that no one was listening to him.
"Raphael, now! I will come out when I am done talking to you. Raphael, I need your help with the thing," replied Sensei. I laughed at his feeble attempt to get Raph into the room.
"What thing?" asked Raph as he made his way to Sensei's room.
"Ya know, that thing," insisted Sensei. As Raph came to the door, Sensei grabbed him by the arm and yanked him into the room. Raph looked at him in surprise; he still hadn't noticed me.
"What on earth is going on Sensei? Are you all right?" asked Raph worriedly. He looked older than he had last time I had seen him even though it had only been a few months.
"Raphael, turn around, and remember to stay quiet," instructed Sensei.
Raph slowly spun around until he was facing me. His jaw dropped, and he stood there staring at me in shock. Suddenly he was flying at me, an enormous smile plastered across his face. I help up my hands in front of me to stop him from running through me, and he drew to a stop.
"LEO YOU'RE HERE! Wait what's wrong?" he yelled. Then he realized that he'd yelled and he blanched. I heard the pounding footsteps of Donnie and Mikey approaching quickly. Raph looked at me in shock, his green eyes wide.
"Please tell me you're alive. Tell me I can tell them that," he said hopefully.
"I am," I replied as my two youngest brothers burst through the door. Raph looked at me with joy, shock, relief, and a little of his characteristic anger, and then turned to face Mikey and Donnie. April was standing behind them and all three of them were the picture of shock; it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, but I held back my laugh.
Mikey had his nun chucks dangling by his side as if he had been expecting a fight, his eyes were wide and he looked like he didn't quite understand what he was seeing. Confusion was written all of his face. Donnie was standing next to him. He had his hands poised in front of his face as if he was trying to catch something. Pure relief was on his face along with a smug grin; I guess he had told everyone I was still alive but they thought he was nuts. April was looking at me with equal amounts of shock, suspicion, and happiness. The three just stood there looking at me dumbstruck until finally Mikey stepped forward.
"Leo…?"