Chapter 20: Unlocking

No.

This wasn't real.

This was all just a horrible nightmare.

This was all just a bad dream, and he would wake up very soon…

But it wasn't going away. Blood was still splattered across his face and chest from where it had sprayed out. Leonardo was still standing in front of him, his arms spread outwards. The blades that impaled him through his shell were still dripping with blood onto the ground.

Michelangelo's legs weakened, and he sank to the floor, his eyes wide and filled with pure terror.

"…L-Leo…?" he managed to choke out.

This couldn't be happening.

This wasn't happening.

Raphael and Donatello couldn't move. They couldn't speak. They could barely even breathe as they stared in sheer horror.

Leo had used himself as a shield.

The Shredder had stabbed him.

Leo was going to die.

The Shredder's cold, heartless laughter suddenly snapped them all out of their trance. "How pathetic!" he spat, "The young coward, trying to redeem himself? Pitiful!"

Leo ground his teeth together, glaring unyieldingly up at The Warlock as blood dripped down his chin and flowed out of his chest from the wound. He didn't move, nor did he cry out in pain. His body trembled, but he felt no fear.

"…you…are the one…who's pathetic…" he huffed, suddenly grabbing hold of the blades plunged in his chest, and without averting his gaze away from The Shredder, he slowly drew them out, little by little.

His eyes began to glow red, and his teeth narrowed to fangs. But there was no animalistic rage.

For the first time, he had pure control over his strength.

"I-If you're so…powerful…then why…are you wasting…y-your time…t-trying to kill…a so c-called…'weakling'…like Mikey?" he snarled.

Mikey let out a horrified gasp as he watched Leo slowly tug out the blades from his chest. Wasn't he in any pain? Did he use some kind of spell to heal himself?

No. He was still bleeding.

He was only standing because the blades were holding him up.

Blood, blood, so much blood, it's everywhere, it's coming out of him, oh god please don't let this be real…

Shredder however, was not so taken aback by this, and only continued to glare down at the blue clad turtle.

Leo ground his teeth harder as the pain became more intense, but he dared not show it. He refused to look weak any longer as he let out a low growl.

He had released the animal, but now he had tamed it.

"Whether I'm just a simple coward…or the leader I a-always wanted to be…I don't care," he hissed, "I will never…let you hurt my brother…ever…"

He tugged the blades right out and used the last of his strength to launch a kick that sent The Shredder flying backwards.

"AGAIN!"

Shredder skidded across the earth before landing at a crouch at his feet, glaring deadly at Leonardo. Leo stood huffing for air, bringing his hand to his chest as he struggled to breathe. His eyes returned to their normal hue, and his teeth blunted again.

Mikey shook himself out of his trance and immediately stood up. "LEO!" he cried, running in front of Leo just as he dropped to his knees and fell forwards onto the dead, dry earth, unable to stand any longer as the blood pumped out of his wound.

Raph and Donnie struggled to their feet and ran over to the two of them. "Leo!" Donnie cried out as he knelt next to them. He had never seen so much blood in is life, and it was sickening him to the very core. The air now reeked of the smell of blood as he drew nearer to the prone form of the older turtle. He gasped in horror at the two, large dagger shaped holes in his chest as he struggled to breathe. The wound was far too deep, and far too close to his heart.

He wasn't going to make it.

Mikey threw his arms around his neck and held him close, ignoring the blood that pooled around his body. "Leo…why…? Why did you…?" he said, his voice quivering as tears began to pour down his cheeks, "Why did you do that?!"

Klunk came padding over to him nuzzling the injured turtles' bloodied hand, as if trying to sooth him, heal his hurt, but she knew it helped but little to do anything. She knew the fate of the poor turtle had been sealed.

Leo grunted in pain, coughing up yet more blood as Mikey pulled away enough for the older turtle to look Mikey in the eye. And despite the tears that flowed from his dark azure eyes, he gave the young turtle a weak, but loving smile. "…I made a promise…" he said weakly, "before this all began…and I never…go back on my promises…"

"But you didn't have to die for me!" Mikey wailed, grabbing Leo's now fragile hand, gripping it with all the strength he possessed, "This can't be happening! You can't do this to me, you can't go!" he begged, "I still need you! I need you, Leo!"

"You've gotta hang on a little longer! W-we can fix this!" Raph cried, though he knew better than anyone that there was nothing any of them could do now. "You've gotta hold on, Leo!"

"We've all come this far, don't give up now! Not after all this!" Donnie cried, put a shaking hand on his shoulder and holding it fast, "You're gonna be okay, Leo! J-just don't be scared…"

Leo lifted his head and smiled at them all one last time. "That's the thing…" he said faintly. "…for the first time…in a long time…I'm…"

"…I'm not scared…anymore…"

He let out one last shuddering breath, and his eyes fluttered closed, and his head rolled limp to the side on Mikey's lap.

The turtles gasped in horror.

Klunk lowered her head in sorrow, letting out a small whine.

Mikey's violently trembling hand took Leo by the shoulder and shook him as hard as he dared. "…Leo? Leo?! Leo, get up!" he cried desperately, praying that this wasn't real, praying that he was going to be okay, praying for him to just answer him. "LEO! Onee-san, please! LEONARDO!"

But the blue clad turtle remained still. His eyes remained closed and his chest ceased to move. His body became cold as the warmth faded away from his limp and lifeless body.

Mikey's eyes went wide as the tears spilled down his freckled cheeks.

This wasn't a dream.

This was really happening.

Leonardo was gone.

"No…" he choked out, gently bringing the lifeless turtle into his arms and holding him tightly. "…no…No…"

"You don't have to worry, bro…I'll help you get through this. I promise I'll make that Wizard guy give you the courage and strength you need to carry on...and just like I said to Raph, I'm not leaving until you get your wishes. I promise."

Leo sniffed. "...thank you, Mikey..." he murmured into his chest.

Mikey held Leo tighter, just as the Leo from his world would have done when he was upset or scared.

"No problem…big brother..."

His big brother was gone. His brother was dead, and he had let it happen.

He had broken his promise.

Thick tears rolled down his cheeks and dripped down onto Leonardo's face.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Leonardo dropped his katanas to the dojo floor as he collapsed onto his knees, clutching his chest as he cried out in pain. What was going on? Why was he suddenly feeling his burning, piercing, excruciating pain? Why wouldn't it stop?

"Leonardo, my son!" Splinter called, immediately rushing to his eldest son's aid as he put an arm around his shoulders and his other hand grasping is as he helped him to his feet, only to have him collapse again. They were in the middle of a one on one training exercise when Leonardo had suddenly cried out. There were no injuries as far as he could tell, but his breathing was ragged and he was sweating profusely.

It was almost as if he had been stabbed. The thought caused a chill to run down his spine, but he brushed it aside. "Leonardo," Splinter said calmly, trying to reach out to his son, "breathe. It is all right. Calm yourself, my son."

Leo wheezed in and out, squeezing his eyes shut as he fought for control. The pain wouldn't go away, no matter how hard he tried. He ground his teeth together, his breathing coming out in ragged hisses as the pain intensified. "S-sensei," he rasped, "…I-It hurts…It hurts!"

"Be still, my son, be still," Splinter eased, though he knew it helped but very little. His lifted his head and called, "Donatello! Raphael! Come immediately!"

Within seconds, both turtles ran into the dojo, and upon finding their older brother in obvious pain, they rushed to his side. "Sensei, what's wrong with him?!" Raphael barked in worry.

"I do not know," Splinter replied, gently laying Leonardo on the floor on his back, allowing Donatello to quickly look him over. He watched in worry as Leonardo curled in on himself slightly, still hissing and groaning in pain through his clenched teeth.

"He has no injuries. It could be caused by something that's happened to Leo on the other side of the rift," Donnie speculated, putting a gentle hand on his brothers cheek, "Leo, I need you to calm down for me, okay? Listen to me," he said firmly but reassuringly, masking his worry for now, "Leo, where does it hurt?"

Leo weakly opened his eyes, "It…It's my chest," he wheezed, "It…burns…l-like I've been – URGH! – stabbed!"

Donnie's eyes widened. His breath hitched slightly as he turned his frightened auburn gaze to Splinter and Raph. "Raph…Sensei…something bad has happened to Leo in the other world…and it's affecting our Leo…" he said gravely.

"What do you mean, Donnie?" Raph asked hesitantly, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Donnie looked down.

"Guys…I think…I think Leo is dead…"

Raph stared down at the cold, lifeless body as Mikey held him close to his chest, sobbing into his shoulder as Donnie covered his face with his hands, tears streaming down his face. His eyes were wide and unbelieving.

Leo…

All he wanted was to be strong enough to protect the ones he loved. Bring honour back to his father and sensei…

But now, Shredder had taken more than that.

He had taken the chance of Leo ever getting his wish. He had taken the chance of ever living the life he had always wanted.

He had taken the chance of truly living…

Thick, black tears of oil rolled down his face as he ground his teeth together, clenching his metal fists in rage.

Shredder's cold heartless laughter echoed in his ears. "Do not worry, Michelangelo," he said lowly, drawing closer to the grieving turtles gathered around their fallen brother, "You and your remaining comrades will join the spineless coward soon enough. He had no place in this world, just as none of you ever will! I have spared him the fate of being forever an outcast! You will not be fit enough to live in my kingdom once I obtain the Scared Crimson Orb!"

Raph snapped his head around, his eyes filled with rage even as the oil ran down his cheeks. His breathes came out in enraged, ragged hisses through his teeth as he unsheathed his Sais from his belt. "You…YOU KILLED HIM!" Raph screeched, "WHAT DID HE EVER DO TO YOU?! WHAT DID ANY OF US EVER DO TO DESERVE WHAT YOU DID TO US?!"

Shredder only chuckled. "Because, Raphael…you got in my way." He then unsheathed his blades and prepared to attack. "Anyone who dares get in my way will suffer the wrath of The Warlock of The West!"

Raphael seethed in uncontrolled anger as he lifted his weapons, pointing their honed tips at the monster before them. Donatello joined him, his eyes ablaze as he stood in front of Michelangelo. They were in no condition to fight, but they would protect Michelangelo with all they had left, and avenge the death of Leonardo.

Shredder only laughed again. "Pitiful fools. Your 'love' and grief for the life of that foolish young turtle and the cowards will only –"

"Shut up."

Shredder was cut off abruptly by the sound of a hard, cold voice. Donnie and Rah turned around also, feeling a chill run down their spines at the sound. They found Mikey with his shell turned to them, still clutching Leo's body. He didn't turn, but he raised his head.

"Just. Shut up." He repeated.

Klunk's fur began to stand on end. She could feel it rising. It was…

He gently set Leo's body on the ground, touching his cold cheek one last time with his palm before standing to his full height. His fists clenched into tight fists as they trembled.

"…you think this is a joke?" he said, his voice barely above a harsh whisper. "…you think killing people…ruining lives…just to get what you want…" he snapped his head around sharply, his eyes ablaze with pure fury, "…is funny?!"

Suddenly, his body began to glow, golden light flowing from his chest and spreading like water around his body. All eyes widened at the spectacle before them. Raph let out a gasp; this was exactly what he had seen when Mikey was trapped in the poppy field.

But as they continued to watch him, the light began to turn a dark, bloody red colour as he grit his teeth together, thick tears streaming down his cheeks.

The light was tainted. And it was coming from his chest…

It was then that Raph finally realized with a gasp. The Sacred Crimson Orb was not an orb.

The Sacred Crimson Orb was Michelangelo's heart.

And it was breaking.

Shredder could feel the energy pulsing through the earth, and hear the thumping continuous rhythm, like the beating of a heart. His startled gaze shot up to the young turtle stood only metres away from him. Was this the true power of The Sacred Crimson Orb?

It felt glorious.

He slowly began to laugh again. "So, this is it? This is the power that you possess? It is truly glorious! But when I seize it as my own –"

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" Mikey screeched, his tainted light glowing brighter as his anger grew hotter, "You killed millions of innocent people…you ruined their lives…you killed my brother…ALL FOR WHAT?! A STUPID BALL IN MY CHEST?!" He then whipped out both of his nunchaku from his belt, and they seemed to burn in the fouled radiance of its wielders' aura as he spun them threateningly.

Raph and Donnie both stepped away from him and back to where Leo lay, in fear of what he was about to do, and in fear of his sudden burst of power. From what Raphael had heard from Karai, the orb was extremely powerful, and from what he was seeing, it reflected the emotions of the one controlling it, and then increasing their power tenfold.

Mikey was in rage. And rage was unpredictable.

Mikey glanced one more time behind him, to the dead body of his older brother as Raph and Donnie sat by him. They had fought so hard to gain what they had always wanted, but in the end, it all came down to this; one gone forever, and the remaining two were on the verge of death themselves.

They may not have been his real brothers, but they were just as much a part of him. And Shredder had ripped one away from him.

He turned back to The Shredder, snarling as he glared daggers at him.

"I WILL NEVER LET YOU HURT ANYONE EVER AGAIN!"

Mikey let out a scream as he charged, his red aura bursting with new found rage that the young turtle had never felt before. Shredder leapt forwards, and the two collided.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. This choked me up quite a bit. Listening to sad music killed me. Next chapter soon.