Chapter 10: Strength Refined

(6 years later)

At nearly the age of 16, the Yōkai were considered full fledged ninja in the eyes of the clan, and though they usually spent many of their days training, this day Yoshi found them standing atop of the final wall of the complex, looking out over the land outside.

"My sons?" He asked them, quickly getting their attention as they looked down at him. "What is it?" He added, trying to hide his concern, for even he himself could tell something fowl was in the air.

"The Darkness is gaining strength." Leonardo responded. "It will come soon." Yoshi sighed as he took that in and motioned for them to come, which they did.

"You are prepared?" He asked and they nodded. For a moment as he looked at them; Splinter actually saw the four little Yōkai from the pond, as they had been during their younger days, but the moment passed and he looked up to see them as they were; strong, capable, destined.

"Go." He said simply. They already knew he had complete trust in their abilities, and that was all they needed.

"We will return." Leonardo added as they all bowed to his respectfully.

"I have no doubt." He responded as he returned the motion, causing them to quickly walk to the main gate to look out at the land once more. Their power was greater now, their strength refined, they could stand strong against anything, even their own.

There was no fear left in them to exploit.

"Oniisan." A voice called then and they all looked around as Miwa ran across the court yard, using her skills to jump over a pond in order to shorten the distance. "I am going with you." She insisted.

"No!" Donnie ordered, holding out a hand to stop her from approaching.

"This is our battle." Raph added sternly, when she was clearly about to protest, leaving Leo to walk up to her with a serious air about him.

"We need you here." He requested kindly. "We need someone to protect the Oracle."

"But –" She tried to counter only For Mikey to step forward this time.

"Please Imoto?" He begged quietly which seemed to finally soften her determination, but not before she made a request.

"Do you think you can save him?" She asked then, causing the turtles to blink in slight surprise. "He is still my uncle." She added sadly, causing them all to look at the ground.

"We will – try." Leo finally answered after a minute, before looking up at her again with a look that asked her not to hope, for they could promise no more than an attempt.

"I understand." She admitted with a slight nod before looking up at her father as he placed his arm around her shoulders.

"Be safe." He added simply as he looked back at the turtles and they nodded before taking a breath and finally turned to cross the threshold where they stood for a moment as they looked back at their family, before bowing once more and turned to run toward their enemy.

…

Imoto ~ Sister

…

As the turtles reached their destination they realized immediately that the cave was very different then the one they had escaped as children. Though it really looked no different, the evil inside had grown into a force that congested the area, making it hard to even breathe.

But together the brother's power was greater and it cut through the fowl as they entered the cave to hunt down their opponent.

The darkness hung in the air like a presence all its own, cutting them off from their water and the light their eyes needed in order to navigate. But their other senses made up for the loss as their traversed deeper and deeper into the caves in search of the shadow's master, until finally they arrived in a large room, known only to them by the echoes.

It would seem that Shredder had learned much over the years. No longer new to the craft, he had become one with his demon, one with the darkness; no longer needing the light to cast his shadow.

But they had grown as well, they were not the younglings he had faced and defeated so long ago. They were prepared.

"Well, if it isn't the Yōkai?" Saki spoke from the darkness causing the turtles to stop walking as they surveyed the area in search of him. But it was as if he was all around them, his voice coming from everywhere, yet nowhere all at once, confusing even their enhanced senses.

"Have you sensed my power?" He continued in an inhuman tone, as though there were multiple personalities speaking at once. "Have you come to stop me?" He asked with a laugh, clearly finding the idea amusing.

"You will not threaten the clan." Leonardo spoke up finally causing the creature to let out another loud laugh.

"And you think you can stop me?" Saki responded after a moment, which encouraged the turtles to finally unsheathe their weapons as they realized they would not be able to fulfill their sister's request; the man was too far gone.

He no longer existed.

"If you would stand against me –" The demon proclaimed as his presence finally made itself known in the room, leaving the turtles to take their stances in preparation of the fight. "Then you will not stand AT ALL." He called in a furry, just before the turtles found themselves devoured by the darkness as it converged on them from all directions in accordance to its master's control.

Cut off from their own source of power, the turtle's usual magic could do little to stop the assault, but they had one last advantage, the trump card they had traveled all this way to play and play it they did.

Not willing to allow the battle to rage on or give their enemy the chance to escape, the Yōkai entered the fight with their strongest attack, and even though, for a moment it looked as though it had not worked its power quickly grew as they combined their forces.

Even as the darkness continued to surround them in an attempt to snuff out the fire, it could not be contained; as the Yōkai gave everything they had to the light, before finally releasing the energy and letting it devour everything in it's path.

…

"What concerns you my love?" Tang Shen asked as she sat next to her husband at the edge of the Waters of Spirit causing him to sigh.

"I fear they will not come back." Splinter finally revealed, causing Shen to place her hand on his folded ones.

"You have trained them well." She insisted, but he only shook his head, leaving her to give him a confused look.

"It is not their life I am concerned for." He admitted before looking toward the waterfall where Miwa stood protectively in front of the Oracle; awaiting her brothers' return. "Their mission is complete." He finally elaborated.

"But –" Shen started only to stop as she realized what he was saying.

"This was what they came to accomplish." He continued sadly. "Miwa called them, I have trained them, but it was Saki who kept them here. Without a threat – they have no reason to remain."

"I'm – I'm sure they will return." Shen countered after a minute, though it was obvious that even she did not have hope that her words were true. However before either of them could say another word their daughter called to them in a panic.

"What is it?" Splinter stated as they rushed to her side, only to find her looking at the Oracle in shock as the water rippled violently as though an internal force were pushing it apart.

"Father?" She begged desperately, as they tried to find the cause. "What is happening?" But Yoshi could not answer, for he did not rightfully know.

However as they continued to watch the unnaturally form fall apart; he quickly retreated back to the pound where he used his sword to cut the top off one of the stocks of bamboo and returned to quickly collect what little of the liquid he could in its basin, before the magic finally gave out and the water collapsed.

I'm not good at fight scenes… DX

Final Chapter: {Coming Next Monday}