His failure hung around Raphael's neck like a thick, choking chain as Karai made her report to Master Shredder, describing the Mafia's treachery and the losses they had suffered. Three Foot ninja had been killed during the battle, though they had inflicted greater damage by taking down seventeen of their foes. Several of the Mafia's underlings had escaped when they realized that this was not a battle they could easily win, and that the Foot was likely to have reinforcements on the way.

Shredder remained silent through most of this, his hands steepled in front of his masked face. Occasionally he asked Karai a pointed question about the combat they had endured, and any evidence from the bodies that the Foot had brought back from the warehouse. Karai's voice echoed faintly in the throne room as she responded promptly to each question.

"And this Marino?" Shredder rumbled.

"He escaped. Raphael was unable to apprehend him," Karai said, her eyes betraying a glint of malice.

Raphael kept his head bowed, not daring to look up. But he stiffened as he heard Karai's tone.

"Raphael was the only one to pursue him?" Shredder inquired.

A glimmer of dismay appeared in Karai's eyes. "Yes, he—he was the one who tried, and failed, to stop Marino's escape. Perhaps, if he cannot cope with the challenges, he is not ready to take part in our missions."

Raphael could feel her eyes burning through his shell, but he forced himself to stay still and silent.

"A ninja not even fully trained was able to pursue Marino, and yet my second-in-command was not even able to do that much," Shredder said, his eyes piercing like daggers. "Why is that?"

For once, Karai seemed to be at a loss for words. Out of the corner of Raphael's eye, he could see her face flushing as she bowed before her grandfather. "I was engaged in battle at the time," she said.

"I see," Shredder said. "And Raphael was not?"

Karai gritted her teeth.

Shredder leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes slowly moving from the young woman to the mutant turtle, and then back again. His fingertips tapped lightly together, as if he were lost in thought.

"Karai, contact Antonio. I will permit him an explanation for this treachery, if he delivers us Marino and his conspirators." His gaze swung back towards Raphael, whose eyes were still fixed on the floor. "In the meantime, leave me with Raphael."

A cold, clenching sensation rippled through Raphael's chest and stomach, almost stealing his breath away. He barely noticed that Karai had excused herself, with an oblique glance at him, and vanished from the room. All he could think of were those terrible seconds when he had failed to capture his quarry, and the question of what Master Shredder would do now. Was his master angry? Was he about to be punished?

"Raphael, look up," Master Shredder ordered.

Raphael swallowed convulsively and did as he was bidden. His master's face was still covered by his mask, which effectively hid most of his expressions unless he was enraged.

"I'm sorry, Master," Raphael said hesitantly. "I didn't mean—I almost had him, but I—"

"Silence."

Raphael fell silent, almost deafened by the roaring in his ears.

"I am not here to speak of your failure in apprehending Marino. I am here to speak of what else you did in that warehouse."

"What else—I—"

"The warehouse has extensive security cameras that recorded the entire battle," Shredder said, leaning forwards on his throne. "Including the fights that you participated in."

Raphael's eyes darted across Shredder's masked face, searching for some sign of what his master was thinking. He couldn't remember much of the fights he had been in, but he knew he had won them — he had stabbed, slashed, kicked and struck until the men he had pursued were dead or badly injured, using the training that Toshiro-sensei had drilled into him. Had he somehow done it wrong?

"Raphael," Shredder rumbled, "I was pleased."

Raphael blinked, not entirely sure what to say.

"You fought with skill and precision, but above all with strength — the strength that is needed to crush your enemies, to destroy them without holding back, without weakness." Shredder rose from his throne, and descended towards Raphael, his cape flaring around him. "I saw you fight as you are truly meant to fight — not as you fight in practice, or against other Foot whom you spare for the clan's sake, but with ferocity and power. You fought as a true warrior."

Raphael's breath caught in his throat at the praise.

Shredder placed one bladed hand on Raphael's shoulder. "You are a sword meant to slay the Foot's enemies without mercy, Raphael. When your training is complete, you will be a formidable ninja."

Relief flooded through Raphael's b0dy, and he felt slightly weak at the knees now that he knew he wasn't about to be punished. "Thank you, Master," he said quietly.

Shredder dismissed him, and Raphael bowed and left, feeling his spirits lift now that he knew he had his master's approval. Despite Karai's best efforts, Master Shredder had seen how hard he had fought, and thought well of him. That was all he could ask for.

Once the initial thrill of Shredder's approval faded, Raphael found that he was tired to the bone, and his arm still ached where one of his enemies had cut it. It wasn't a very deep slash, but it had bled a great deal on the return journey to the Foot's headquarters, leaving streams of dark blood on Raphael's green skin. He made his way to the medical clinic the Foot kept in the lower levels, and sat silently as one of the doctors disinfected his wound — which hurt more than the wound itself had — and, after deliberating on whether he needed stitches, bound it tightly in bandages.

From there he limped back to his room. He thought briefly about going to the dining hall and finding something to eat, since he had probably burned off anything he had eaten earlier, but at this time of night it would be at least half full of ninja. He didn't feel up to being scrutinized by a few hundred people when he was bandaged and splattered in dried blood.

His guards were already there, waiting for him.

"Good night," the more talkative of the two said to him.

"G'night," Raphael mumbled, almost falling through the door.

He quickly stripped off his belt, wraps and mask, and quickly washed himself to get the worst of the blood off his body. Then he collapsed into his bed, scrabbling under his coverlet as his eyes drifted shut. Finally, some peace and quiet…

"Have you come to see me again, my son?"

He found himself in the garden again, surrounded by tall waving grass and wildflowers that bloomed between the trees. Mother was standing there as well, smiling and inclining her head towards him.

"Y-yes, Mother," he said hesitantly.

"Come, walk with me," she said, holding out her arm. Raphael took her hand, and let her lead him onto the winding path that rounded the pond. A cool wind was blowing through the garden, wafting the scents of the many flowers over them, and for a moment he just listened to the rustle in the trees and the faint song of unseen birds.

"You seem so tired, my child," Mother said, her face concerned. "Tell me what has happened to you."

"I went on my first mission, Mother."

"And what happened on this mission?"

He told her about the experience — about how they had been betrayed and ambushed, and how he had fought and killed his way past his foes. Mother listened to every word intently, her deep, dark eyes growing sad as Raphael described what had happened to him, his fear of punishment by Master Shredder, and his relief when the jonin had praised him instead. When he finished, she looked down at the blossom held in her hands, and sighed.

"What's wrong, Mother?" he asked, surprised by her sadness. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, my son, you have said nothing wrong. I only worry for you, and for the dangers you are facing."

"Don't worry about me, Mother," Raphael reassured her. "I know how to take care of myself."

"You do know, my strong boy," Mother said, finally smiling again."When you have those who love you and protect you at your side, you will be invincible."