Chapter 12: The Final Lesson
Though relieved that Raphael is healthy once more, Leo continues to meditate almost obsessively . . .
Out in the forest, Leonardo was meditating once again. Just then, Michelangelo arrived to where he was. He couldn't stand his pain any longer. "I can't stand this, Leo! I'm sick with guilt. We did everything Splinter taught us not to do. We failed him," said Michelangelo. "I know. And now, with him gone . . . ," said Leonardo. He looked down to the ground. "He never taught us what to do without him," said Leonardo.
Time passed slowly and each day, Leonardo would sit in the woods and meditate on what he was most worried about; Splinter. One day, as he was meditating, he thought he could hear Splinter trying to speak to him. "Leonardo," said Splinter. Leonardo snapped out of his meditation and gasped. "He's alive . . . Splinter's alive!" said Leonardo. And he rushed back to April's farmhouse.
Leonardo's brothers were playing Trivial Pursuit. "What Russian novel, embracing more than five hundred characters . . . is set in the Napoleonic Wars?" asked Raphael, reading one of the question cards. "War and Peace," said Donatello. Suddenly, Leonardo burst into the house. "He's alive!" said Leonardo. He was so excited that he careless disrupted the current positions of the playing pieces of his brothers' game. "Hey!" said Don & Raph. "Thanks, spaz," said Michelangelo. "Splinter's alive!" said Leonardo. Donatello got up and put his hand on Leonardo's shoulder. "We know, Leo. Of course he is. We all think he's alive. How do you know, Leo? We all hope . . . but . . . ," said Donatello. "I don't think. I know. He spoke to me . . . calling . . . " said Leonardo. "Huh?" asked Leo's brothers.
That night, the TMNS gathered around a fireplace in the forest. Ninetales was present since she was the one who helped make the fire. Michelangelo blew at the flames. "He will speak to us all. We have to concentrate, with all our strength," said Leonardo. "Leo, if you dragged us out here for nothing . . . ," said Raphael. "Don't worry. I came prepared," said Donatello. He took out a bag of marshmallows and a stick with some burning marshmallows. He chuckled. "Put those away," said Leonardo. And Donatello did. "There will be time afterwards," said Ninetales. "Everybody close your eyes and concentrate. Concentrate hard," said Leonardo. The TMNS closed their eyes and they began to concentrate in their meditation. "Harder . . . harder! He is alive!" said Leonardo.
Suddenly, the flames started to turn blue and an image of Splinter appeared in the middle of the flames. For they had telepathically contacted their sensei using their ninja mentality. "I am proud of you, my sons. Tonight you have learned . . .the final and greatest truth of the ninja . . . that ultimate mastery comes not of the body . . . but of the mind. Together, there is nothing . . . your four minds cannot accomplish. Help each other. Draw upon one another. And always remember the true force that binds you . . . the same as that which brought me here tonight . . . that which I gladly return with my final words. I love you all, my sons," said Splinter. And the image of Splinter disappeared and the flames went back to being orange. The TMNS then opened their eyes. Tears poured from Michelangelo's eyes. Donatello put a hand on Mikey's shoulder. Ninetales then wiped Michelangelo's eyes with one of her tails.
After their night in the woods, everything changed . . . the Squirtles had new purpose . . .
The next morning, the Squirtles were training once again. "This is the way we always fight," said Donatello as tried to kick Raphael. Raphael blocked the kick. "Okay, hold it, hold it . . . Stop trying to overpower each other! Remember what Splinter said," said Leonardo. "Next he'll be askin' us to snatch pebbles from his hand," said Michelangelo.
"All right, look . . . ," said Leonardo. He turned his mask backwards so that he couldn't see. "Now . . . all three of you . . . attack me!" said Leonardo. "Aw, you'll get hurt, Leo . . . ," said Raphael. Suddenly, Leonardo slapped Raphael. "Ow! Cut it out!" cried Raphael. "C'mon, you wimps!" said Leonardo. "Grr! Get him guys!" said Raphael. However, Leonardo managed to beat them without having to see them, one by one. "Whoa! Just call me 'grasshopper'!" said Michelangelo. "This is the lesson Splinter told us we would have to learn . . . the nest level we must reach. Now . . . let's begin . . . ," said Leonardo.
The days pass quickly with the boys training hard . . . we hardly see them. But I'm not really lonely . . .
Back at the house, April and Casey were on the porch, talking to each other. "So you actually played professionally?" asked April. "Before I got hurt. Less than a year," said Casey. "I'm sorry," said April. "So was I . . . but hockey wasn't for me anyway. Too many rules," said Casey. "Mmm . . . Beautiful sunset, isn't it?" asked April. "Yeah . . . I could get used to . . . ," said Casey. Michelangelo coughed to get the two humans' attention. "Just a minute. Guys, I told you . . . I hate it when you do that, all right?" asked Casey. April noticed the serious look on the TMNS' faces. Ninetales with with them. "What is it?" asked April. "It's time to go back," said Leonardo.
This will be my final entry at the farm. I wonder what new road my life will take now?
The TMNS have learned the final and greatest truth of the ninja and now they're ready to go back to New Tork and rescue Splinter. Anyway, I may not be able to upload the next chapter right away cause my family and I are going to my grandpa's funeral all the way out in Wheaton, Illinois. Until next time, peace out.