NOTE: There will probably be grammar mistakes which I will fix later

Four days later...

"You nervous?" April softly asked her daughter, who stood in front of her mirror in her mother's old kunoichi outfit, which fitted her perfectly.

Shadow glanced back at her mother with a lopsided grin. "Nah. I'm excited."

"Well, you should be," April stroked Shadow's short hair and kissed the top of her head. "Tonight is a very big night for you."

"Were you nervous? At your kunioichi graduation, I mean?"

"Oh, yeah. It felt like my heart was going to burst through my chest 'cause it was beating so fast. But by the time it was finished, I felt great."

"Question: do I have to speak any Japanese at all like you did? 'Cause I suck at it."

April chuckled and shook her head. "Don't worry, I've already talked to Raph about that. He'll only speak in English."

"That's a relief, 'cause I really don't want to embarrass myself tonight."

"Sweetie, it's okay. You'll be among friends and family." She carassed Shadow's face and smiled warmly. "Just be yourself. And who you are is amazing. And wonderful. And beautiful." She then pulled her into a tight embrace and her eyes started to water as she rested her chin on her daughter's shoulder. "Oh, my baby...look at you now. You've grown into a strong, beautiful woman, and your father and I couldn't be more proud."

Shadow smiled to herself and affectionately rubbed her head against her mother's. "Thanks, Mom."

Just then there was a knock on the door and they heard Casey say, "You girls decent?"

"Yes, hon," April laughed. "You can come in."

The door opened and Shadow couldn't believe what she was seeing: her father, Casey Jones, was actually wearing a suit and necktie. "Oh my gosh...Dad...?"

Casey held baby Mikey in his arms and smirked at Shadow's reaction. "Hey, it's a special night."

"Well, thanks, but, it's not that special."

He walked over to his daughter and playfully ruffled her hair. "It is to me," he said softly. He then turned to his wife. "Anyway, Raph just texted me. Everyone's there waiting for her to arrive."

April nodded and took Shadow's hand. "Well, Shadow, it's time."

...

The dojo was quite crowded with friends and family attending the initiation. Slash, Gaia, Mona, April, Casey, and even Chompy watched as Shadow knelt before Raph in the middle of the room, with Donnie, Karai, and Leo kneeling behind her in a row. Lying on the floor between Raph and Shadow was a sheathed katana, the tsuba of which had the Hamato symbol engraved on it.

Raph cleared his throat before he began the ceremony. "Shadow Jones, as your sensei and the master of the Hamato Clan, I am pleased to announce that you have completed your training. I think we all can agree that you are finally ready to graduate as a kunoichi." His brothers and sister all nodded in agreement. He reached across the floor to grab the katana and gingerly held it in his hands. "This sword has been in our family for generations and I would be honored to pass it on to you. You've earned it, kid."

Shadow held her breath when he handed it to her and she accepted it with trembling hands. She gave him a quick bow before she unsheathed the sword and stared at her reflection off its blade. She finally made it.

"Shadow Jones, you are now a kunoichi in the Hamato Clan," Raph announced with a proud smile.

The moment he said those words, everyone else in the room cheered and applauded for the new graduate.

Raph bowed to her and she bowed to him, then she suddenly grabbed her uncle in a big hug, which he returned with a laugh. She stood back up and bowed to Karai and the two other Hamato brothers. Finally, she walked over to the shrine and bowed in respect to the late Michelangelo and Splinter.

She jumped when she suddenly felt Chompy giving her a slobbery kiss on the cheek. The teen giggled as she wrapped her arms around the space turtle's neck.

Raph smiled fondly at the two then turned to his brothers. "So...how'd I do? Was I rusty?"

"You did great, Raph," Donnie said as he patted his brother on the shoulder.

"Mikey and Splinter would be proud," Leo said with a grin.

Mona walked up to Raph, closed her eyes, and leaned in for a nuzzle. The one-eyed Turtle smiled lovingly at his lady and pressed his beak against her nose.

When Donnie saw that Casey, the former hockey vigilante, was wearing a suit, he began to laugh. "Well, well, the rebel Casey Jones in a suit, when you wouldn't wear one even at my wedding."

Casey chuckled and crossed his arms. "At least I didn't look like the Joker that day."

The smile on Donnie's face dropped. "What?! I did not look like the Joker!"

"Actually, you kinda did," Raph said with a shrug. "With your purple tuxedo and flower."

Donnie just shot his brother an indignant look.

Slash fist pumped Shadow in congratulations and Gaia gave her a hug. "You did it, kiddo," the giant turtle told her with a grin. "Congratulations. How does it feel?"

"Awesome," Shadow said excitedly. "Words can't even describe what I'm feeling right now."

Gaia suddenly put her hand on Shadow's shoulder and smiled as she felt the joyous energy flowing from the teenager's body into her own. "No, but I can imagine," she joked.

"Gaia, if you don't mind me asking," April walked up to her with baby Mikey in her arms, "have you and Donnie thought about starting a family now that you're married?"

"We've talked about it," Gaia said softly. "But we feel that we should adopt instead of having children the natural way. Being half mutant and half human could make our child feel insecure and confused about himself."

"I don't think it would matter, Gaia," Shadow said. "I mean, when I found out that I was adopted and a clone, it really scared and devastated me. But then I realized that none of that mattered because I've got a family that loves me for who I am. As long as you two love your kid, he'll turn out just fine. I know he will."

Gaia smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek. "You're absolutely right, honey."

...

Later that night, in the babies' bedroom, Raph hummed a lullaby to Sandy and Angel as he gently rocked them in his arms. Once he was sure that they were both asleep, he placed them in their individual baskets next to Gio and David.

On a nearby table next to a burning candle was a frame that had a photo of the Hamato brothers when they were children, and standing behind them tall and proud was Splinter. Raph smiled to himself as looked at that picture, finding it hard to believe that he was now a father, himself, and that he was also the master of the clan.

"Awww, they're so cute when they're sleeping."

Raph turned to see Mikey standing over the sleeping babies, who of course, couldn't hear him. The freckled Turtle glanced up at Raph and smiled brightly. "I still can't believe that you're a daddy, dude."

The older Turtle chuckled and shook his head. "Believe me, neither can I," he whispered.

"This family just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I heard that Donnie and Gaia are thinking about having a kid, too. That would be so cool! A half Turtle, half human baby!"

Raph smirked and blew out the candle. "We'll see, little brother. Anyway, I gotta go. Patrol night."

"Oooh, fun," Mikey said sarcastically. "Say hi to Shadow for me."

"Will do." Raph tiptoed to the door and slowly closed it behind him. In the living room, Chompy snored loudly as he slept in front of the TV. He was out like a light and didn't hear Raph sneak past him.


Shadow let out a big yawn as she sat on a rooftop ledge, from which she watched for any signs of trouble in the city. Patrols were always so boring but necessary, she would tell herself every night, but since the Foot were now on the side of justice, there were no other hardcore criminals to fight.

Suddenly she felt something ice cold on her cheek and yelped.

Raph chuckled as he pulled the soda can away from her face. "You awake now?"

She punched him on the plastron and snatched the drink from him. "Jerk," she growled.

"Now is that any way to talk to your master, my kunoichi?" he jokingly asked as he sat down next to her and opened his can.

She scoffed and opened hers. "Whatever."

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their drinks and watching over the blinking concrete jungle that never slept. Finally, Raph spoke softly, "Well, you finally made it, kid. I akways knew you would."

"So you never doubted?" Shadow asked as she looked at him. "Not even once?"

"Nope." He rustled her hair and smiled at her warmly. "Always had faith in you."

"Well, I never would've made it this far without you. You've been at my side all the way, even in another dimension," she added with a giggle.

"Of course I'll be there for you, kid, no matter what."

Shadow took another gulp of her soda then said softly, "Yeah, but..."

"But what?"

"What would I do if I lost you? I mean, if something bad happened to you and I'm left alone?"

"Oh," Raph whispered, then he spoke louder in a soothing voice. "I'm not going anywhere, Shadow, and even if I did, you wouldn't be alone. You've got your Mom and Dad, and Donnie and Gaia, and the Mutanimals. They all got your back."

"Yeah, but," she leaned her head on his shoulder, "none of them understand me like you do. You knew my anger better than anyone else and taught me how to control it. My own parents almost gave up on me but you didn't. And you always know what to say whenever I'm feeling down or having doubts about myself. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're the best friend I've ever had."

Needless to say, Raph was touched by the teen's words and he wrapped an arm around her in a hug. "So are you." Then he cried out and pulled away when he felt a cold can on his cheek.

Shadow laughed at him. "You let your guard down, Master Raphael."

Raph chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah, I guess I did."

...

From the rooftop of another building several blocks down from Raph's, Donnie and Leo stared down at the streets, which were empty and quiet.

Donnie yawned and looked at the time on his Rolex watch. "It's already 2:00 in the morning. Looks like I'll be sleeping 'til noon again."

Leo also yawned, feeling just as tired as his brother. "Same here."

"As boring as this is, I'm glad that I'm doing with you again," Donnie smiled tiredly at him. "Just like the good old days. I really missed you, Leo."

Leo smiled back. "I missed you, too, Donnie. I'm sorry I ever left."

Donnie chuckled. "Leo, you've apologized like thirty times already."

The eldest brother somberly shook his head. "I could never apologize to you guys enough. What I did was-"

"Leo, Bro, it's cool. We've learned to let it go and so should you. We're just happy to have you back in the family." Just then the phone in his phone began to ring. "Excuse me for a sec," he told Leo as walked away to answer it. "Hello?"

Honey.

Donnie's auburn eyes widened at the sound of his wife's voice. Why was she calling him this late? She sounded troubled. "Gaia? What's wrong?"

I just woke up from this dream. I-I know it sounds stupid, but...it felt so real, like a precognition.

At those words, Donnie's heart immediately filled with dread. Sometimes Gaia would have precognitive dreams or visions of future disasters that nobody could prevent, and every single one of them so far had come true. "What did you dream about, Gaia?"

He heard her release a shaky sigh before she spoke. Leo was wearing his Serpent getup again, and he was confronting the police. He charged at them and then...oh, god...they...they shot him. They killed him.

He almost dropped the phone in horror as he listened to her description of this dream. Several months ago, he had the exact same dream. He watched as Leo committed suicide by cop, and he knelt over his brother's bullet-riddled body, weeping for him.

Listen to me, Donnie, Gaia urgently told him. You need to get Leo back home now. I have a really bad feeling about this.

"Y-Yeah," he nodded. "Me, too." He hung up and swiftly turned to face his brother, who was still standing at the ledge and keeping watch. But something was on his shell: a tiny red dot.

Donnie's heart skipped a beat when he realized that it was the red dot sight of a firearm.

He dropped his phone and sprinted toward his brother. "LEO!"

Leo turned around shocked and opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a grunt as his brother pushed him away from the ledge. Just as he landed to the floor, a bullet hit Donnie's left shoulder, which, unfortunately, was still flesh. The genius Turtle cried out in pain as he gripped his wound and dropped to his knees.

...

Raph became rigid as he picked up the faint sound of a firearm going off. He dropped his now empty can and stood up. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.

Shadow looked up at him puzzled and shook her head. "N-No. What is it?"

...

"DONNIE!" Leo screamed as he rushed to his wounded brother.

Donnie looked in the direction of the bullet and used his night vision implants to locate the shooter. Standing on top of the water tower about a mile away was a man dressed in black from head to toe and wearing a bullet proof vest. In his hands was a sniper rifle, and he pulled what appeared to be a combat radio out of his pocket and spoke into it.

Seconds later, the two Turtles heard a helicopter and in the distance a white light was heading straight toward them.

...

"Uncle Raph...?" Shadow pointed to the light that was heading in Leo and Donnie's direction.

Raph's face blanched. "No..." he said softly to himself.

...

Donnie immedatiely knew who they were. "Go!" he yelled as he shoved Leo away. "Get out of here!"

Of course Leo refused and firmly shook his head. "No! I won't!" He grabbed his brother's arm and tried to pull him up.

But then Donnie suddenly punched him in the pastron and sent him flying right over the ledge. The cyborg knew that there was an opened dumpster below and would cushion his brother's fall, and sure enough, Leo landed right into it.

The helicopter hovered over the building and shined it light down on Donnie then Leo, and without warning it fired its built-in machine guns at the dumpster. Leo jumped out in time and narrowly dodged the bullets that rain down on him. He disappeared into the shadows, but Donnie remained where he was and in plain sight.

As the helicopter continued to search for Leo, several SWAT officers barged in through the front entrance of the building. Donnie immediately ran to his T-phone that was lying on the ground and with one punch he crushed it completely. The men kicked the rooftop door open and pointed their guns at him.

"Freeze!" one of them shouted. "Hands behind your head now!"

He could only manage to lift his robotic arm as his left shoulder was wounded and he placed his hand behind his head. They surround him and two of them pinned him to the floor.

One of them noticed the smashed T-phone and kicked Donnie's side. "Hey, what's that on the floor?" he demanded. "What did you just smash?"

Donnie didn't answer and just smiled to himself. At least they wouldn't be able to track Leo or Raph down now that the T-phone was broken.

...

Leo stopped running in an alley and once he was sure that he was safe, he screamed in frustration and kicked a trash can.

They were waiting for him to come out into the open again so that they could finally shoot him down. He feared that they would torture Donnie for answers, and knowing his brother, he'd die before giving his family up.

This wasn't supposed to happen, but he wasn't exactly surprised that it did. As long as he lived, as long as the Serpent lived, his family would never be safe.

"Leo!"

Said Turtle slowly turned to face Raph and Shadow, who were running down the alley.

"Leo, what happened?!" Raph yelled in panic as he grabbed Leo by the shoulders. "Where's Donnie?!"

Tears started to well up in Leo's eyes and he hung his head in shame. "It's my fault," he said in a choked up whisper. "It's my fault."