22: Leo

WE ARE HAMATOS

The darkness isn't normal. Its' fluid and moving, not hard and still. I hear my brother, my father, Shredder. Their apologizes and confessions.

"Live," I say to nothing, fighting a strong pull. "I want to…live."

But I lost that chance. I'm shattered. I'm dead as death himself.

I let the dark consume me. There is nothing left for me to do.

No.

A voice. It is so calm and loving but it's powerful. I open my eyes, but all there is is darkness.

This is not your time, dear child. You have much still to do.

"But I'm shattered. And I'm a failure."

What world is this that you call your killer? For this is merely a realm of belief and dream. I believe and dream, dear child, as I sleep, you are alive.

I gasp as a red glow comes from my chest. A thump. Than another. I feel light as the darkness starts to fade.

In this realm, you're therefore alive.

The first thing I see is the Nightmare King falling to his knees below me. I can't believe it! I'm back! It's…impossible!

"L-Leo?"

I look to my left. Raph is sitting there, face tear stained and a pair of wings attached to his back. I move only a little and then see my white wings. I recall Sadie's words.

The wings of a survivor.

I bend down next to Raph. He stares at me with these big eyes. "Hey, buddy," I say, smiling.

Raph lunges into me, sobbing. "I'm dead!" he cries, "I'm dead! I'm not in hell! I'm with you!"

I hug Raph, "you're not dead, Raphie. Our hearts are beating. Hear it."

"Leo."

I look up. Splinter and Shredder are pressed against the door. The hounds they fought are staring at me in horror. Donnie is feet away, crying but smiling, clasping a dagger. I wink at him. His smile widens.

Raph curls into me right as the king howls, "You Suides! I'll destroy you, Leonardo!"

I sense it, the axe coming at my head. I reach up and grab it, then look at the King. His eyes are huge now. Filled with fear. With a monster of a kick, I send the weakening King into his throne, stealing the axe from him.

Turning back to Raph, I say, "You were always better with these than I was." Raph takes the axe. "We have to destroy the throne. Burn it twice and he will die. The others are doing so with the other two and we've got this one."

Raph looks over my face, then at the axe. His face contorts into anger. "Let's take him down."

"Hamato's," I say, raising my hand. Raph hesitates.

"Hamato's," He clasps it.

We turn to the King, walking side by side. The Kings glare burn me. Raph runs his hand along the axe while I stare the King.

"Hear me well, O'King," I say," I'm a good person. I don't kill unless it's a last resort. So I'm giving a chance for surrender."

The King smirks as if he knows something I don't. "You've never been innocent, boy. You have more blood on your hands than I ever will."

I swallow, but force myself to show no emotion. "Is that your final answer?"

His face doesn't change, "Don't pretend, Leonardo. Neverland was never a place of innocence."

"Fine then," I hiss. Raph moves to start cutting the throne up. I pick up the fiery whip from where it was thrown feet away.

Raph jumps up, arches back, and then swings the axe through the base of the throne vertically. The King collapses off of it. Raph swings again. I swing the whip like a baseball bat. The metal and fire meet and the throne explodes. Raph and I float above the throne, flying up before the flames hit us.

Our eyes meet.

"Again!" I howl. Raph throws the axe the same time I swing the whip, no emotion for the dying King and his crazed laughs.

WA-THOOM!

Then a BAM!

Raph and I slam into opposite walls as the throne explodes. The King must have kept explosives under the throne in case this happened. In the corner of my eye, I see that Donnie, Splinter, Felix and Shredder are out of the room. They are safe.

I hit the floor, my wings spread out, protecting my arms. My forehead bounces off the floor, and lets my world spin. I turn over onto my back and letting the smoke overwhelm me, choke me.

I still want to die. I still want to cut. I wonder if these wings don't only mean surviving, but also that we still have urges, there just not that strong. The mean we have a strong will to live. A living force.

I close my eyes, just wanting to breathe, to realize that I'm truly alive. To hear my heart beat to the echo of that mysterious voice…

"Leo?" I hear Raph moan, voice gravely. "Leo?"

I flinch in pain as I feel something touch my cheek," Leo?"

I finally reopen my eyes. Raph kneels above me. His wings drag over both of us, shielding us from the flames. His chest is burnt black.

"Your chest." I say.

He raises an eye," Your face. Your whole left side is burnt black."

"The King?"

Raph looks back for a moment, then at me, "Dead. His dark remains just evaporated."

I sigh. After a moment, I say, "It seems like this has been too easy."

Raph nods, "Maybe it has. But it's over. We can go home."

I nod. Home. What a weird thought.

Raph puts his hand on mine. He smiles. "You're not cold anymore."

I smile back. "Too bad. Cold hands, warm heart."

Raph snorts and lays his forehead on mine. I keep the smile, but inside me, fear is raging and I know that King not noticed it. It was why he was laughing. It's why I lay here now, smiling in a lie.

Don't pretend, Leonardo. Neverland was never a place of innocence.