Chapter Nine

Later that evening, almost all of Mutopia were heading to bed.

As everyone was settling for the night, Leonardo and Tyroth made their way to the temple where the magical well resided.

As they walked, Leonardo thought it was a little weird, seeing how lively Mutopia was during the daytime hours, (or night technically since the Mutopians were nocturnal like them) now it was practically silent and empty, almost like a ghost village.

But still, if it meant he and Tyroth had some peace and quiet, then that was a good thing.

He had Kemeko's baby monitor with him, just in case, but he hoped all would be quiet whilst he and Tyroth tried this technique.


They soon made it to the Temple where the well stood and the water within rippled in a tranquil and peaceful way.

"Here we are." said Tyroth as he lead Leonardo to an area near the well and sat down.

Leonado sat in front of him and in the Lotus position.

"Okay Leo." Tyroth said placing his hands on Leonardo's shoulders "If you just start with your meditation and focus on Karai, I'll take care of the rest."

"Hai Tyroth." Leonardo said, getting ready to relax and breathe slowly "I hope this works," he thought "Oh man I do hope so."

He took a breath in and out, and tried to relax every part of his body, pushing away his worries and tried to focus solely on Karai.

It was hard since there were times he thought of Karai and all he saw in his mind was how the Shredder murdered her and how she had died in his arms and he was unable to do anything to save her.

There were flashes of Shredder's blades and his manic evil laughter as he tried to focus, but then he tried to think of the happy times, when Karai was proud of her ever growing baby bump, and her and Leonardo bonding, and her friendship with Pandora, her days at the farmhouse before she gave birth, and then finally those precious moments she had with her daughter, even if it was only brief, but those were the happiest of times.

Before long he was successful and he soon began to focus on Karai and trying to reach her.

"Please hear me Karai..." he prayed silently "Let me come to you, so I can see you, and talk to you once more!"


Seeing Leonardo relaxed and deep in meditation, Tyroth began channelling and shaping his mana for the purpose he wanted, silently praying that it wouldn't be in vain.

His signature red glow began flowing all over him, like soft flames that spread a warm glow.

He then let it spread to Leonardo, enveloping his blue masked turtle friend, then Tyroth began to also breathe in sync with him, all while he let his magical powers seep into their very souls...


As the mana spread over Leonardo, he could feel himself starting to relax even more, then he felt like he was floating.

He had felt the same feeling when he had been training in Japan, and the same when he tried to help Mona find her attackers.

He floated for a few seconds then he began to smell a sweet scent, like blossoms, fresh water and a cool breeze flew over his skin almost as gentle as a feather.

Leonardo slowly opened his eyes, wondering if he would find himself back at the temple in Mutopia, but no sooner had he opened them than he found himself in the most beautiful garden he had ever seen.

It was filled with blossom trees and flowers, and little streams of water with wooden bridges going over them.

It was like the many beautiful gardens of Japan, and Leonardo soon began to recognise it was like the garden he saw when he almost died those years ago and met Hatamo Yoshi and Tang Shen.


As he looked around he then saw someone standing on a bridge looking at the water as the blossoms flew around the area like snow.

Leonardo narrowed his eyes as he walked over to get a closer look at the figure.

He soon saw it was a tall woman with jaw length black hair and wearing a red silk dress and with black flowers on it.

"K...Karai?" he whispered.

As he spoke, the woman looked up and turned to him, a smile on her face and Leonardo felt his soul light up.

"Karai!" he smiled, tears of happiness coming to his mask.

"It worked!" he though triumphantly "By the Gods it worked! Oh Tyroth I love you!"


"Hello Leonardo-san." Karai smiled before bowing to him which Leonardo bowed back.

"Karai." Leonardo took her hands and looked up at her "I never thought I'd see you again, I hoped you would have found peace."

"And I have." Karai smiled "It's beautiful here, it's like the garden Chaplin and I married in back in Japan before Kemeko was born, one of the happiest days of my life, and we're here together, happy and safe, where Shredder will never hurt us again."

Leonardo blinked as tears fell.

"I was hoping you would find yourself in your perfect heaven." he said "And that warms my heart you found your way here."

"Shredder might have taken our lives." Karai said "But he never took away our chance to find peace, and happiness."

Leonardo sighed as he stood next to Karai as they looked at the stream, seeing the blossoms settle on the water and float with the gentle currents.

"It's so beautiful here." he said "So peaceful, so calm, I hope myself, my friends, and my family find our way here when it's our time."

Karai looked at Leonardo.

"And they will." she said "That's a promise, their deeds of honour, bravery, and compassion will earn them a place here."

Leonardo felt a light in his heart as he heard that.

"Mona told Pandora that you and Chaplin would find your heaven here," he said "After you died, Pandora didn't understand why you went away, and it was so hard to tell her."

"It always is with Children." Karai agreed "Always hard to explain death."

Leonardo nodded and stared at the water and at his reflection, he then looked up to see where the stream lead to and he saw through the many trees some mountains ahead.

"Karai..." he said softly "I know you're missing out on the things you wanted to do, but I'm doing all I can to make sure that I follow your wishes in your honour, including, being a father to Kemeko."

He soon felt Karai's hand on his shoulder and he looked up at Karai, who had a compassionate and proud look on her face.

"You're doing so well Leonardo." she said "I know it was difficult, but you took Kemeko into your arms and became the father you promised you would be. After Chaplin's death I didn't know who else would rise to the standard he could have been, but seeing you at my side when I carried Kemeko, making sure I was alright and when the time came for me to give birth to my precious baby, I saw the devotion and love in your eyes when you first held her, and I saw how she imprinted on you."


Leonardo remembered that day Karai gave birth, he had been there holding her hand and comforting her, like Chaplin would have done.

Then when Kemeko emerged, he had cut the umbilical cord and along with Karai was the first one to hold her, and he had seen the look in her pretty eyes as she had opened them and looked into his. He had felt the same love and want to protect Kemeko as any father would.

"She's the best thing that could ever happen to me." Leonardo said "I've been there for her every step of the way, feeding her, dressing her, putting her to sleep at night, and keeping her safe."

"And you do such a good job at that Leonardo." Karai reassured massaging his shoulder in a comforting way "I have seen you with her."

"You have?" Leonardo asked.

Karai nodded.

"I have seen how you care for her, and I couldn't have picked a better godfather for her."

"I do my best with her Karai." Leonardo said "But..."

"But what?" Asked Karai.

"I still fear so much." Leonardo said, "So many demons still haunt my thoughts, especially as I don't know what to say to her when the times comes...when I need to tell her about her origins, and about the Shredder."

Karai looked at Leonardo sympathetically.

"I'm scared Karai." he admitted "I'm scared that when I do tell her, she'll hate me, or she'll be so heartbroken, I couldn't bear it, I love her so much."

"I know you do." Karai soothed moving her hand up to cup Leonardo's cheek gently.

"I want to keep my promise Karai." Leonardo whispered.

"And you have kept your promise." Karai said "I believe it, and so do your friends and family, so you have so much support, more than I ever did before I came to you, and you should be grateful for that."

Leonardo looked up at Karai again and gave a weak smile.

"I have seen what wonderful friends you have," Karai said "Not just April and Casey, but also your mutant friends, I have to say, if I lived long enough, I would have loved to have met them, especially your dragon friend."

"Tyroth." Leonardo said "Yeah! He's a one hell of a warrior, one I admire so much."

"And I too." Karai agreed "I wish I could have learnt from him as well, had I got the chance to know him."

"It's thanks to him I was able to find you." Leonardo said "I wanted to see you, and talk to you one more time, I've been so lost since you've been gone,"

"Leonardo..." Karai started.

"No, Karai..." Leonardo said "I just...I just wish I could have done more for you, I wish I had stopped you from facing the Shredder, then you would have lived, been a mother to Kemeko, watched her grow, see her smile for the first time, hear her first word, celebrate her first birthday, everything! I've been doing all this, and her first birthday will come soon, you should be with us."

"I know." Karai said in a sad tone "And I wish I was too, but I'm always there, in spirit, and in my daughter's eyes."

Leonardo looked up at Karai again, tears filled his eyes again as he looked at her eyes, and saw the kindness in them, so much different from the harsh fighting spirit he had seen before in them.

"Come with me Leonardo-san." Karai said, still holding Leonardo's cheek and moved her other hand to his before grasping it gently, "And I will tell you, and show you how much you have done and if you keep doing everything you do, everything will be alright...Trust me."

So Tyroth's plan worked! Yay! And Leonardo was able to find Karai in the afterlife.

What will Karai show him? Well stay tuned to find out!