Sorry, I'm late again... this week isn't agreeing with me for some reason.
Chapter 8: Contradiction of Fate
The turtles remained unconscious for several days after the incident, but all the while Tang Shen, Miwa and Yoshi tended to their injures; which was how they discovered that Donatello and Raphael had sustained strange burns as well, and looking through his father's many writings, Yoshi eventually found the cause to be magic.
It would seem that Saki had somehow learned how to capture and manipulate them through the use of dark power and had likely been trying to steal their own magic.
Though for what reason still remained unknown.
"Yoshi." Shen called one morning causing him to start from his restless sleep and bolt to his feet to see what she needed, only to find that Leonardo had finally opened his eyes.
"My son." He said in relief as he knelt to take the little one's hand, but pulled back again when Leo winced. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." He lied before looking around for his brothers and carefully reached out to touch each of them to ensure they were alive.
"Why did you not tell me?" Yoshi asked causing the child to look at him sadly as he fully understood the question.
"We cannot speak of it." He explained again.
"Why, what holds your tongue?" Splinter asked kindly.
"I – cannot say." He answered again sadly as he turned to look away from them.
"Is it The Oracle?" Shen asked and Leo nodded. "It imprisons you here?" She stated in distress and he nodded again causing her to close her eyes as she tried to keep her tears from falling.
"What can we do?" Yoshi demanded gently. "How can we free you?"
"Free?" Leo asked as if he couldn't understand the question. "We – protect."
"But you should not be forced." The man answered sternly leaving the Yōkai to look down in shame.
"You are – displeased?"
"No." Shen immediately proclaimed as she reached out to comfort him. "We just don't want you to be trapped here. You should be free."
"Free?" He repeated again, once more acting as if he couldn't comprehend its meaning.
"Please tell us how we can help you." Yoshi begged but the child just continued to look confused, causing the man to close his mouth around his next words and look up at the doorway behind which rested The Oracle.
With a sudden determined scowl he stood once again and marched toward the waterfall. "Yoshi?" Shen stated in shock as she made to follow him. "What are you doing?"
"I am going to destroy it." He proclaimed sternly as he reached the doorway and began to open it again. "Whatever benefits it may offer are not worth the price." He explained angrily as the rock roiled away leaving him to glare at the once beautiful orb of water.
"No Yoshi, you can't." Shen demanded, grabbing his arm to hold him back.
"Why should I allow this?" He asked her sternly.
"You shouldn't." She admitted. "But you do not know what this will do. Their lives are connected to this power; if you were to destroy it you may destroy them."
This finally gave him pause as he realized the truth behind her words and pulled away so that he was no longer threatening The Oracle. "But if –" He started to refute before looking around to find Leo leaning against the doorway to watch them.
"If this could harm you why would you not stop me?" He asked the turtle kindly causing him to once again look at the ground in shame.
"It is your right." He answered weakly.
"Leonardo." Yoshi stated in shock of that response before walking over to kneel in front of his son. "You are not a slave and I will not have you speak of yourself as one."
"Father." Leo spoke up after a minute, looking at the man as tears formed in his eyes due to the sudden contradiction in their fates. "I do not know what to do." He admitted causing the man to quickly bring him into a hug.
"We will find a way my son." He answered around his own sadness. "I promise."
Chapter 9: Burden to Bear {Coming next Monday}
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