How Can Someone Love Me?: Raph's Love Story

by TMNTFANGIRL1116

Raphael, is known as the loner, the hothead, the maniac, but there is more to the turtle's temper than meets the eye. Frustrated and alone, his life is about to take a turn into a different direction after saving an injured homeless girl off the streets. But how can this girl, who has a special gift change this angry teenager into the person he is truly deep down inside?

21. Chapter 21

Stella's Pov...
The sky continued flashing its lighting in complete anger. The Shredder stood in an almighty pose and spoke with his voice that completely rattled in evil. "The time for has games has ended. No more charades!", he said "You see me as I am and it will be the last thing you will ever see. Prepare to face your destiny and your doom!"

Fear was setting quickly into mind, but then something inside me snapped and a look of determination came to my face and I stepped boldly out in front of my husband and brothers, pushing past them all. "Yes Oroku Saki", I said "For we are about to face our destiny. But there is one thing that you are wrong about, you may of thought that you had gotten away with murder years ago, but justice is about to served tonight and it shall be us that will be the last thing that you will see!"

He laughed and smiled wickedly. "How fitting of you freak!", he said "You think you can defeat me, when you know you are just a weak little girl, nothing but a pain in the lives of those around you"

My teeth clenched as his words struck me. Everyone surrounding me backed up immediately as the fire around me began to engulf my entire body as I slowly looked up to him with my eyes glowing brightly. My fists tightened to where I couldn't feel the blood circulating anymore. "I am a pain?!", I said, angrily

Shredder looked at me a bit surprised suddenly seeing this fire as my hands slowly opened and orbs formed ready to release. "I am not a pain! I will show you what pain is!", I yelled

I let my orbs float up to my head and I jerked my arms out as the orbs went speeding off in his direction coming together into one huge orb and found their target dead in the chest knocking him back as he crashed on to the rooftop floor. A few of his soldiers came to his aid as he looked up to me and I could see the reflection of myself in his eyes as my fire still burned strong.

"Foot Ninjas! Attack! Destroy the freaks!", Shredder yelled

We charged forward as the Foot Ninjas attacked. Leo split kick two to the ground, Don knocked out one with an attack to the back of the head with his staff, Raph blocked a sword attack with one in the stomach, and Mikey was about to take down three when suddenly the Shredder came up from behind and kicked him to the ground, making Mikey slide in the water and slam his head against the barrier of the rooftop. "Michelangelo!", I yelled

I ran towards him throwing a few more orbs at oncoming ninjas knocking them back and flying over a brawl between Don and a few soldiers. I turned him over on his shell looking at him with fear. "Mikey are you okay?! Say something!", I said, concerned

"Is this heaven? Because you look like an angel", he said, looking at me dazed

I rolled my eyes playfully and helped him up to his feet, helping stand stable. "You are alright", I said, with a chuckle "Nothing can hurt that head of yours"

"Alright I'm good, back to kicking some ninja butt!", he said, running off

I smiled and I ran off to join the others in the fight once again. I was suddenly surrounded by several ninjas and I waited for one to make a move towards me as I stood firm in my stance. I wasn't afraid of them like I was before, I wasn't that same girl anymore. One came up followed by a few others as I blocked a few attacks flipping backwards forming an orb throwing it as it exploded sending them flying as the smoke from the energy of the orb lingered around my hands. The Shredder came up from the side and kicked me to the ground, but I jumped right back up on my feet growling angrily. "Why you?!", I yelled

Don twirled his staff knocking out ninjas left and right until the Shredder came up from behind, gripped his staff and picked him up and threw him to the side. A Foot Ninja raised his sword and brought it down, nearly slicing Don's head. I gasped and I threw an orb swiftly and it blocked the attack, knocking the weapon out of his hand before I attacked him with another orb, shocking him on the spot before he fell to the ground. "Watch your back brainac!", I called out

"Isn't that what I say most of the time?", Raph said, sarcastically

Raph threw the sword out of the ninjas hands and aimed it between Mikey and Leo who had their back towards one another. "Leo! Mikey! Low bridge!", I called out

The two ducked as the sword flew between them and stabbed into some equipment placed upon the roof, making it malfunction and light up in flames. The roof became engulfed in flames that rose up into the dark sky. I started to panic a little inside seeing that the fire had spread so quickly to where there would be no chance of us escaping from the blaze. Two Foot Ninjas then began to stalk towards me and one lunged at me and I side kicked one in the stomach and punched him in the face, sending him flying to knock over the other one. Suddenly the Shredder appeared in front of me knocking me down in the shoulder with his elbow forcing me on to my knees before roundhouse kicking me in the chest, making the wind out of me leave as I skid across the ground. I tried to get back up, but I was suddenly gripped in the throat and jerked up to Shredder's face.

I struggled to breath as the pressure tightened. I tried and grip his hand trying to get his hand off of my throat, but it seemed to have no effect on relieving any pressure. He slammed me into the ground as I heard my shell crack from the attack and continue as he pushed me deeper into the concrete. "Your punishment has yet to be fulfilled!", he said

"Get your hands off of her!", Raph screamed

Raph jumped up from behind, planning to strike at Shredder. "Raphael no!", I said, choking out

But Shredder sensed his upcoming attack and threw his arm with the side of the non-sharp blades of his razors and knocked him back sending him tumbling end over end till he was faced down. "Raph!", I cried, trying to reach out to him

I worried as he laid motionless, but I was relieved when I saw him get up to his feet quickly and he quickly kicked at a ninja that tried to attack him from behind. Unfortunately, he didn't see the second one before it kicked him in the stomach and sent him slamming against two other ninjas. "I will finish you off first!", he said

The Shredder raised his talons ready to strike me at any given moment. "Now you will pay for being such a pain to my clan and to myself!", he said

As my eyes squinted shut I opened them quickly again as the fire engulfed around me as Shredder yelled in pain as the flames burned through the metal of his armor. "I told you I am not a pain!", I said

My hands formed the orb as it built up quick energy and I yelled and released the orb sending the Shredder flying through the sky and he landed hard on the ground. I sat up and coughed regaining my breath as I struggled to get to my feet. The Shredder then slowly got up and faced me with a cold and evil look. "You!", he said "I will finish you off like the worthless being you are!"

"The only adversary I see who has no worth, or value, or even heart, is the one in front of me….you", I said, softly

The fire began to burn in fierce anger and excitement, consuming the roof until there was barely anything left that was untouched by the fire. The roof began to shake unsteadily and crack and cave in from the heavy fire. The entire building began to go down piece by piece. As the Shredder ran at me, I ran at him focusing my vision solely on my target. I suddenly spun around leaping off the ground flying towards Shredder as we crashed into each other as I flipped forward, walking up his armor before flipping off of him and roundhouse kicking him in the jaw sending him into the fire. I barely had time to escape the flames as I jumped off of the building and landed in front of my family landing on top of a crushed car. "We got to get out of here!", Raph said

"I know a place it's not far from here", I said "We will be safe there!"

"Let's move!", Leo said

I engulfed all of us in my fire and flew across the sky as I flew us to the location to where we can rest and heal from the raging battle. After flying for just awhile we were on the other side of the city we arrived at a fire escape and a closed window. "We should be safe here", I said, as I let my mist flow around the window to unlock it from the inside and the window opened

As I climbed inside the others followed in behind with Leo shutting the window, locking it and closing the curtains. Inside we were in a small apartment, which was a nice size that was just like any ordinary place, not too fancy nor too poor. "What is this place?", Raph asked

"This was the apartment my parents bought for future visits to America", I said "We were living here on our first trip here before the attacked happened"

But as I tried to walk into the living room, I started to lose my footing and I started to stumble forward feeling my strength starting to quickly leave me from the harness of the fight. Raph and Leo caught me in their arms before I could have fallen on the floor. "Easy baby, you need to rest", Raph said, guiding me to the couch

"We all need to and heal any injuries we might have", Leo said "We need to rest up as much as we can"

"There is a first aid kit in the bathroom down the hall", I said "It's in the medicine cabinet"

"I'll get it", Leo said

He walked off as Raph helped me on the couch and I let out a moan of relief as my tired body went limp. "Oh god", I said, rubbing my sore throat

"Stella are you okay?", Raph asked, kneeling in front of me taking my hand rubbing it softly "Are you hurt?"

"Just my pride, my chi is nearly drained, I didn't think I would have to use that much for just one individual", I said

Mikey and Don then began to explore the apartment as Raph sat down with me on the couch, letting my head rest on his shoulder. "So this was like a vacation home?", Don asked, taking some books off of the shelves from the book case

"Yes, something like that", I said "My father earned enough money to afford to where we can go and be in America for a while. It was a surprise gift for me when I graduated from high school, I was so happy on that day. How I loved it so much when I first took that first step down on American soil, it will be a day I will never forget. That long flight from Bavaria to New York was worth it, a dream of mine came true"

Raph squeezed my hand softly as we gave each other gentle smiles as Mikey went down the hall and stopped in front of a door on the right side of the hallway and looked inside. "Hey Stella, is this your room?", he asked

I looked up and I slowly staggered up to my feet. Raph stood up and he wrapped his arm around my shell and held my hand as I walked slowly over towards Mikey. I slowly pushed open the door more and I turned on the light to reveal a small room with my favorite ice figure skater posters on the walls, a full bed in the corner with a purple and blue cover and white and green decorative pillows on top, and a few of the trophies, with a few gold medals hanging off from a few, that I had won in ice skating displayed on my dresser. "I see you are a fan of ice skating", Mikey said

"It's my passion", I said "Still love it to this day, I was national ice-skating champion when I was a girl"

"Woah! National champion? You never told us that!", Raph said, looking at us surprised

"Just didn't know how to bring it up", I said, with a blush of embarrassment

"Did you win all these sis?", Mikey asked, pointing the trophies behind him

"Every single one of them", I said, walking up to him

I took one that was closest to the corner of the dresser and held it in both of my hands. "This was my first one that I had won when I was 8, I was so proud at that moment, after all those lessons I have to admit I was scared thinking that I was going to fumble up but to hear you won first place for your first contest, how do you describe the feeling?", I said "Sometimes you just got to take a risk to get where you want to be"

As I stared at a memory, I felt myself becoming faint as I rested my head in my hand about to fall over before Raph ran and caught me in his arms. "Hey take it easy, your chi isn't fully recovered yet, let's take get those other injuries of yours taken care of", he said, nodding towards my arm

I looked down to see a few scrapes and cuts and more littered along my body I didn't even bothered to look at. "Right we should", I said, looking down at them

Raph then helped me walk back to the couch and helped me sit down. After I sat down Raph then went to work on cleaning the injuries on me and he wrapped my arm up carefully and he rubbed it softly after he finished. "There all better now", he said

"Thanks sweetie", I said, kissing his cheek

Leo was near the window as he was looking out the window checking the alley to see if the coast was clear. "We are not going to be able to get out there without getting spotted on the rooftops", Leo said

"What do we do?", Mikey asked "I mean we can't just stay here"

"We need to get Splinter", I said "I'm barely being able to stand up, I'm just going to slow you all down"

"Stella you are not going to give up yet", Raph said, sounding determined "Not until we finish this, once and for all"

"I'll get Splinter and the Battle Shell and come back for you all", Leo said "I'll sneak in through the south tunnel"

"Just make sure you don't get spotted Leonardo", I said "Avoid them if necessary"

"Don't worry sissy, I will. I promise", he said

Leo jumped out from the window and disappeared into the alley. After a while of resting from the biggest fight of my life, I was soon able to stand on my own two feet without needing Raph for support. My chi was starting to become stronger as I practiced a few orbs in my hands to make sure it would be strong enough for the fight that would later continue. As the rest of us did our own thing while we waited for Leo, I walked around seeing old memories of my past. I saw pictures on the wall from when I was just a baby and a little girl. One really made me smile seeing my Mom and Dad holding me in their arms with me upside down smiling happily, with them laughing. I walked further down the hall past my old room into my parents bedroom as I went inside. The scent of them both filled my nostrils immediately as it made a warm wrap go around my heart. The bed was perfectly made and it laid untouched as it was never been stepped in upon. I noticed my mother's jewelry box on the vanity and I walked over opening it up as it revealed all kinds of jewelry from earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. I picked up one necklace in particular that was on top, that was my mothers. It was a dark red heart with a gold embroider around it and it was attached to a gold chain. She had shown me when I was a young teenager and would give it to me when the time was right. It saddens me that she wouldn't be able to live up to that, but I could make it happen by doing it for her, but not giving it to myself. I thought how the gold matched my daughter's eyes perfectly and thought that she could have apart of my mother with her like how I do.

I took the necklace and I tucked it into a space in my belt where it could be safe. When this battle is over and we defeat Shredder, giving this necklace to Judith will feel like a victory and peace that justice was served. I heard rumbling outside as I walked up to the window and peered out the blinds to see Leonardo backing the Battle Shell up into the alley. "Come on Stella, we are leaving", Raph said

"Okay hold on", I said

I looked around my parent's bedroom one last time before I walked out of the room gripping on the door knob. "Don't worry you guys, I am going to get justice for you tonight, you will be avenged", I said

I shut the door as I walked down the hallway and followed everyone out the window before shutting it. We started climbing down the fire escape till we were at the back doors of the Battle Shell. "Stella!", Mikey cheered, hugging me tightly

"Ow careful Mikey still healing from the scrapes!", I said, trying not to sound in pain

"Oh sorry sissy", he said, letting me go

"What happened to your ankle?", I asked, looking to see it was wrapped in bandages

"It's a long story", he said

"We were really worried about you Stella", Don said "We saw you nearly died while fighting with the Shredder"

"It's okay you guys, I'm better now", I said "But it's not over yet"

"Yes, you are safe now", Splinter said

Splinter stepped forward and looked at us softly. "Master Splinter, I didn't think you would be joining us", I said, surprised

"I convinced Leonardo to take me along and give you all some advice", he said "You are all only safe just for now though"

"But not for long", Mikey said, in an evil voice

Splinter suddenly then whacked him on the head with his walking stick. "Ow! What was that for?", he asked

"Why did he do that?", I whispered

"Be grateful it was just a smack with the stick", Don said, softly "We got slaps to the face, you just missed getting one yourself"

"You were all quite foolish for facing the Shredder alone", Splinter said "He is too powerful!"

"You are telling me", Don said "I've got bruises that have gotten bruises"

"You have stirred the hornets' nest and he will not rest until he finds us all", Splinter said

"What should we do Master Splinter?", I asked

"Let him find us….I have long wished to avenge my Master Yoshi, and I know you have longed to avenge your parents Stellaluna. Now is the time", he said

"But what do we do?", I asked "We barely made it out of there with the scales on our shells"

"How exactly do we let him find us?", Leo asked

"Sit still", he said

"I don't know Master Splinter, sitting still isn't one of our fortes", Mikey said

But then Splinter gave him a glare from the side. "Right! Sitting still it is! I like sitting still! Sitting still is good!", he said, grinning nervously

"Oh brother", I said, face palming myself

"Stellaluna", Splinter said, putting his paw on my shoulder "Are you ready to face the man and bring justice to your family?"

I sighed softly before I looked at him with determination. "Yes Splinter, I'm ready", I said "I'm ready to face the Shredder!"

The night was calm and quiet. The wind, which once fierce and harsh became a gentle breeze. The rain no longer poured and left a muggy warm atmosphere. I sat against the legs of the water tower we hung around, waiting for the Shredder and his Foot Ninjas to appear. Raph came up and he sat against beside me as I looked out into the distance. "You okay?", he asked "You nervous?"

I sighed quietly and I looked down. "I am", I said "I am scared, I will admit but I have to do this, I can't be afraid my whole life, I need to face this demon and be the kunoichi that I was trained to be"

He placed his hand on my thigh. "Stella you are strong, brave, smart and beautiful. You can do this, I know you can. I believe in you", he said, smiling softly "We are all in this together"

I looked up to him with a warm smile and placed my hand over his own. "What would I do without my Big Softie?", I asked

"I don't know what would you do?", he asked, with a chuckle

But before I could answer, out of nowhere Foot Ninja's appeared and jumped up on the roof with the Shredder jumping up and landing in front of us. They had found us. He raised his talons to show them glisten to the sharpened tip. I gulped hard in nervousness and I squeezed Raph's hand on my thigh. "There is more than last time…", I said, quietly

"We got this Stella", Raph said, softly "They can't beat us….never"

The stare from the Shredder felt as if he was setting my soul ablaze, trying to tear me up from the inside out. I shook my fears aside and my face scrunched into a glare, my fire was beginning to heat up quickly. "Let the butt kicking begin", Mikey said, whirling out his nunchuks

We jumped up and we pulled out our weapons in stood in fighting stances. My fire was glowing bright and raging just like how my temper was climbing up. This time, we all meant business. "Foot Ninja! Attack!", Shredder yelled

I stayed by the water tower close to Master Splinter, as the guys battled against the Foot Ninjas. "Remember my children", Splinter said "Even the mighty oak, bends before the raging storm winds"

"Huh?!", Mikey asked, jumping over a Foot Ninja

Splinter sighed and shook his head. "He means be careful! And do not be over confident!", I said

Raph completely tackled himself over two Foot Ninja's as if he was some kind of football player, ant then kicked another one down. Leo jumped up high and jumped on top of the Foot Ninja's head then kicked down several ninjas to ground. A Foot Ninja swiped down his sword at Mikey, but he quickly caught it and wrapped it around the swords it around the swords blade before kicking him down with his injured ankle. "Ow!", he said, holding his ankle while jumping with one foot "Ow! Ow!"

Suddenly he was thrown to the water tower from a harsh kick the Shredder had given him and collapsed next to me. "Yeow!", he yelled in pain, scarring a few pigeons

"Mikey are you okay?", I asked, kneeling down to him

"Yeah never better sissy, I just love hurting my injured ankle", he said, sarcastically smirking

"Get them!", Shredder yelled

"Yipe!", Mikey said

He picked me up out of harm's way as jumped away from shooting throwing stars. He quickly set me down and kicked a Foot Ninja away from the both of us. I watched as Don was battling several ninjas, blocking several attacks with his staff. "Hold your staff higher!", Splinter called out "Sweep from the left foot from the position"

"Now you are backseat ninjaing me Master Splinter!", Don called out

The Shredder suddenly came up and smacked and punched Don sending him flying into the air and skidded up next to me. "Don are you alright?", I asked, helping him sit up

"I'll be fine sissy", he said, groaning in pain

A Foot Ninja suddenly appeared and I quickly acted without thinking. I kicked up Don's staff caught it in my arm and blocked the ninja's attack before swinging and kicking him away with a grunt. While I was up I saw Leo holding his own against several ninjas, and then the Shredder was sneaking his way behind him and raising his talons to strike at him.

I gasped and I grasped at Don's discarded staff and aimed the staff at the Shredder. "Leo heads down!", I called out

I quickly threw Don's bo staff and Leo heard my warning and quickly ducked out of the way. The staff had hit the side of the Shredder's helmet and caught it as it bangarang back towards me. The Shredder suddenly turned his attention towards me, adjusting his helmet. I twirled Don's staff in my hands guarding in front of him. The Shredder suddenly appeared in front of me as if out of nowhere and kicked me out of the way, sending me crashing and skidded across the ground. "Luna!", Raph cried

I pushed myself up on my back but my shell was suddenly stepped on and a heel dug into my hard carapace. "I should just squish you like the bug you are!", Shredder said

"No! Luna!", Raph yelled

I looked up and I saw the Shredder catch him as he lunged at him for an attack and threw him against the thick concrete wall Don sat at, creating a cracked crater from his impact. "Raph!", I screamed

The Shredder crushed his foot deeper into my shell and I whimpered in pain as I gasped for air. "You are worthless! You are not even worth the dirt on my foot!", he said

"Leave my little sister alone!", Mikey yelled

Mikey swung his nunchucks at the Shredder but he was smacked across the head and thrown against the concrete wall as well. "Mikey!", I yelled "Alright that is it!"

I rubbed my hands quickly together till smoke was coming as the fire was now a dark blue and clasped my hands around Shredder's leg. He screamed in pain and released his foot from my shell. I jumped to my feet and spun kicked him away from me. I was about to run towards the guys before the Shredder caught me by my mask tails and hung me up in the air. "You want to be where they are? No problem!", he yelled

But before he could throw me towards my husband and my brothers, my hands formed a huge orb as it grew bigger than my whole body and my eyes glowed brightly as the Shredder looked at me horrified. "I don't think so!", I yelled "Take this!"

I threw the orb at him and it sent him flying back and he skidded across the ground seeing volts of electricity leave from him. My eyes slowly faded back to my icy blue ones and I started to run for my family. But then they looked at me with horror. "Stellaluna behind you!", Leo yelled

I gasped as I looked behind me and Shredder kicked me down to the ground and he pinned my chest with his heavy boot and I struggled underneath him to get loose. "Get off of me!", I screamed

"None of you will leave here alive!", he yelled

He raised his talons at me getting ready to strike and I looked at him with horror and I gasped, as my family screamed. But then I shook the fear away from my mind determined to not let myself fall back to that same scared girl before and I used my foot and I kicked his ankle and he fell to his side, before stomping on his leg hearing bones crack as he yelled in pain. I somersaulted backwards as Shredder faced me as I stood in a fighting stance.

"You destroyed my family once! I will not let that happen again!", I screamed

"No man or freak can defeat me!", The Shredder said

"Wise man you shouldn't let your words get the better of you!", I said

The Shredder sliced his talons at me and he sliced my shoulder slicing through the bandages, now causing a new wound to appear, three long open wounds to start to seep immediately. I yelled in pain clutching my arm, but before he could do it again, I then jumped forward and I strike from the side before jumping over by the water tower. I heard the sound of the collapse of the water tower. The bending of the metal and the shattering of the wood and the wave of the water, falling over the side of the building. I could hear it all around me. "Stellaluna!", Splinter yelled

I quickly jumped off the water tower and landed on the roof and saw the water tower come crashing down and parts of it landed on electrical wires causing a burst of electricity that broke off from the wooden poles supporting it and they landed around me, causing a spark and then a huge fire ring surrounded me and the Shredder blocking Splinter off before he could reach me. Like the fire there was furry in my eyes facing the murderer of my family. I let my own fire burn angrily in my hands as the Shredder faced me with a cold and evil look. "Murderer", I said, slowly walking to him

"How I waited for this day to come, to have my revenge", he said, walking slowly towards me, unsheathing his talons

"You don't deserve the will to live Shredder", I said "How monstrous you have let your soul become"

"What are you going to do?", he asked, coldly "Do you think killing me will revenge your parents? Your master's sensei from this freakish of a family you so call?"

"No Shredder, I am nothing like you", I said, with a glare

"Well I am glad to see you have not come to that conclusion", he said "And just what is your plan for me?"

"For you, just run", I said, softly "Run away Shredder, and never ever return"

"Yes", he said, walking past me slowly

I kept my glare and eyes on him as he walked slowly away from me. "Your most honorable", he said, with his voice getting louder "Kunoichi!"

He then came back out at me with his talons and I quickly turned and took a small knife, my father's pocket knife that I had taken from our home, in my belt and I unsheathed the blade and I struck him in the lower abdomen and he suddenly stopped as the blade struck him and I kept it in him as I saw blood drip from the blade. "You will never hurt another living soul again Oroku Saki, for you will now pay for the crimes against Hamato Yoshi, Tang Shen and my parents Rowan and Judith Collins. May you deserve for everything for the demon you have become", I said, softly pushing the blade in deeper as he grunted in pain "May you will not have mercy on your soul"

I quickly took out the knife as he fell against the rooftop face down as blood started to pool from him. He was finally defeated, the person who destroyed my world was no more. He no longer could hurt me or anyone else innocent ever again. The blood glistened from the glow of the fire from his body and from my hand holding the knife as I stared down at him with a face filled with no emotion. "Shredder is no more", I said, softly to myself

I suddenly felt so weak in my legs that I could barely stand up, like my legs had turned to jelly as I tried to keep my balance. I felt my grip on the small knife loosen as it dropped out of my hand to the rooftop, bouncing on the ends until it stopped as I fell to my knees, then my body fell against the rooftop. I saw the blood from the wound that Shredder given me from his talons and more blood started to pool out from me as much as I tried to stop it with my hand, but it was useless. I was losing too much. All I could see was the surrounding fire, the warmth of it stinging in my jade skin and the smell of smoke filled my nostrils. My hearing sounded muffled and my vision was starting to blur. I looked around as I tried to sit up, but my head felt very heavy and I saw the Shredder's lifeless body in front of me, then I heard a sound.

"Stella!", Raph called out

I turned my head towards the sound and I saw Raphael looking at me with horror as he saw me in the flames and the rest of my family looking at me terrified. I saw Raphael jump through the flames and he came running towards me, but then I started to fall unconscious and darkness took over me as I saw Raphael leaning down to me looking at me with fear and deep worry. "You will be okay Luna…you will pull through", he said, softly as his words echoed in my ears

Raph's Pov...
I turned Stella over on her side to see her unconscious and not moving. I checked her pulse to feel she was still breathing, but was in bad condition. I picked her up in my arms and I carried her close to my chest as I ran back towards the others as the flames engulfed where Stella was once laying. I jumped through the flames as the flames rose up in the air exploding and I protected Stella with my body as I fell to my knees.

I regained my breath and looked at her relieved seeing she wasn't burned from the fire and I ran back towards the others. "She is losing blood fast Don! We gotta do something!", I said

"Lay her down carefully!", Don said

I carefully laid Stella on the rooftop as Don examined her as Stella breathed shakily and hard, as she struggled to stay alive. I took off my eyemask and wrapped it tightly around the wound on her shoulder to try and stop the bleeding. Her beautiful eye mask was torn and burnt from the battle. Stella looked broken. She was battered and bruised everywhere on her small body. She had cuts along her face, arms, chest, and plastron and they were bleeding slowly out. She looked even worse on the night I found her in the alley. "Oh gosh! Stella!", I said "Hang on baby, please hang on for us!"

"We got to get her home, we need to get blood in her before she goes into arrest!", Don said

"Let us move now my sons! We need to get Stellaluna back to the lair for treatment!", Splinter said

I picked up Stella in my arms as we heard thunder above our heads then rain quickly started to come down on us as we jumped down from the rooftop, as the rain doused the fire on the rooftop leaving behind the deceased Shredder. We ran across rooftop eager to get Stella back home. I looked at her seeing she was still not waking up and my heart started racing faster out of my chest as I ran faster across the rooftops not wanting to lose Stella in my arms.

We finally managed to get back home and I quickly laid Stella on the couch as Don ran back towards the lab to get the things he needed of for her. He came running back with the first aid kit and began to patch up the wounds all over Stella's body. I held her hand tightly into mine looking at her with deep worry that she wasn't going to wake up and that Shredder might have done too much damage to her to save her. "Come on baby please be okay", I said, softly "Don't give up on me"

I held her hand tighter into mine and I pressed my head against hers. I couldn't believe what she had done, she had proved to me what she was more than capable of doing, she killed the Shredder herself and finally took care of an enemy that's been apart of our lives for years. Her bravery, courage, and will to take matters into her own hands to defeat someone who was almost impossible to defeat, she was a hero, a true hero for doing us a favor of relieving us from this clutch of evil. As Don finished up his work on Stella, she was more wrapped up than before and a blood pouch was set up beside her giving her back what she had lost in the fight. "How is she?", I asked, concerned

"It's too early to determine", he said "She just needs to rest. I gave her painkillers and her body temperature will start to burn them off soon. Her breathing is now steady and all we can do now is just wait and see what happens"

I looked to her worriedly but I felt Don's hand go on my shoulder. "She is a fighter Raph, if she can stop Shredder she can get through this", he said

"Man I hope you are right", I said

"Daddy?", someone said

I turned and a look of concern came to my face as I saw Judith standing by the stairs holding her blanket and stuffed turtle, looking curious towards her mother on the couch. "Judith", I said, softly

"What's wrong with Mommy, Daddy?", she asked, looking concerned "What happened?"

I walked over to her and I knelt down to her level, letting our heads touch together softly. "Mommy got hurt from the fight with Shredder and Uncle Don just helped fixed her up to get better", I said "She just needs sleep, she is really tired"

"Will she be okay?", she asked

I sighed quietly not wanting to think of what could happen to Stella and how the outcome will be, but I managed to give Judith a small smile, not wanting to put in any fear to the situation. "She is going to be okay honey", I said "Your Mommy is very strong and she can pull through anything"

Judith smiled. "Okay Daddy, love you", she said, as she threw her arms around me

I chuckled and hugged her tightly to me rubbing her shell. "Love you too munchkin", I said

"Daddy?", she asked

"Yeah honey?", I asked, pulling away from the hug

"Could you tell me one of your stories like you always do? While we wait for Mommy to wake up", she asked

I smiled and chuckled softly. "I don't see why not", I said, picking her up in my arms "Got a good one for you tonight, it's about how your mom defeated Shredder"

"Awesome! This one is going to be a good one!", she said, as I climbed up the stairs to her room

Stella's Pov...
I grunted as I shook my head slightly with my eyes slowly starting to flutter open and I looked to my side to see I was back home, in the lair. I don't remember anything after seeing Raphael jumping through the fire to save me and nothing more, I was wondering how the aftermath was after I knew I had seen the Shredder was killed from the knife wound I inflicted. I just hoped everyone was alright and no one was injured. I looked to see I was on the couch in the living room covered in a blanket and saw I had many bandages wrapped around my arms and shoulders. I slowly sat up and groaned feeling my head pounding with immense pain and I felt a small bandage wrapped around my head. That was probably the hardest battle that I had ever faced in my years of learning Ninjitsu. "My god, my head", I said, softly, rubbing it

"Stella!", someone said

I slowly looked to the side and saw Raphael coming running towards me and he hugged me tightly to him. "Softie", I said, softly

I hugged back softly and winced in pain as he held me tight. "Easy Raphael, this really hurts", I said, tapping his shoulder

"I'm sorry, I am just so happy you are awake", he said, releasing me

I slowly laid back down on the couch as he covered me up more with the blanket and held my hand softly in his own giving it a kiss. "I was so worried about you honey", he said "I thought I had lost you"

"He is gone Raph…Shredder can't hurt no longer hurt us", I said, softly "We don't have to be afraid anymore"

"I know, I saw him, you took out our greatest enemy and you avenged our family and yours too, you are a hero Stella", he said, with a grateful smile "You are my hero"

I smiled weakly and he stroked my cheek and kissed my forehead. I carefully pulled him to him as we hugged each other carefully, happy to be together again. We can finally live the life that we always wanted, filled with peace. "I was so worried, if he had taken your life I don't know what I would of done", he said

"I wouldn't let him, nothing will ever come between us", I said "Nothing"

I heard the sounds of little but quick footsteps and I looked and saw Judith with her stuffed turtle in her arm come running towards me and Raph.

"Mama!", Judith called out

"Judith", I said, softly

She came running over towards me, crawling up the couch and hugged me tightly around my neck. "Oh sweetheart", I said, hugging her with my arm

"Are you okay Mommy?", she asked

"I'm okay Whirlwind", I said, softly "I'm just pretty sore and tired, but I will be okay"

"Did you defeat him? The bad guy? Is he gone?", she asked

"Yes love, we defeated him", I said "The Shredder is gone now and never will return"

"Alright Mama! I knew you guys could do it!", Judith cheered

She hugged me tightly and I giggled and kissed the side of her head and I rubbed her shell. Just then the others and Splinter came walking into the living looking happy and relieved I was awake. "Well it looks like you made it through Stella", Don said "I guess that means you are going to be okay"

"Well still feel like road kill at the moment, but I will take your word for it", I said, with a giggle

Mikey came over kneeling down and hugged me tightly to him. "Glad you are awake sissy!", he said

"I am too bro, but you need to let go of me, you are hurting me", I said, trying not to sound in pain

"Oh sorry", he said, sheepishly letting me go

"How are you feeling Stella?", Leo asked, kneeling down beside me

I giggled and smiled. "Hurt quite a lot, but it won't be long before I am back on my feet again", I said

He chuckled. "No need to worry about that, you need a good long recovery after tonight, at least you are okay", he said "You finally defeated our long-known enemy and now you have made our lives turn for the better. Thank you"

"Your welcome Leo", I said, softly

Just then Splinter stepped forward and he looked at me softly. He reached his paw out and he stroked my head softly and I smiled softly and I stroked his paw on my face gently. "You have avenged my Master Yoshi Stellaluna and your family committed by the Shredder, you have taken a burden off of our shoulders to have a better and more peaceful life", Splinter said, placing a hand on my forehead "I'm proud of you my daughter"

"Thank you, sensei", I said, tiredly

"The fear of the Shredder is no more and Stellaluna has found inner peace", he said "Now we must let her rest"

Splinter and the boys left after they each gave me a sisterly hug before leaving me to rest. All but Raph and Judith stayed behind with me and Judith hugged me around my face.

"I love you Mama", Judith said, softly

"I love you too sweetheart", I said "I'm so proud of you honey"

"Thank you Mommy", she said

"You will make a fine kunoichi one day", I said "When your time comes, I know you will be ready"

Judith smiled as I remembered something from earlier that I was meant to do when the battle ended. "Judith, I have something for you", I said

"What is it?", she asked

I tried sitting up and Raph helped me sit up by grabbing my arms gently. Judith crawled up on my lap and she sat down and I reached into the side of my belt. I was relieved it was still there where I had last put it and didn't lose it in the battle. I felt the necklace I took from my mother's jewelry box still inside my belt and I took it out and I held it out and revealed it to Judith. "What is that Mommy?", she asked

"You know when I told you that my necklace was the last thing that I have of my mother?", I asked

"I remember you telling me that", she said, with a nod

"This is for you", I said "It's your own necklace that your grandmother had that I had managed to find. Mine always kept me going because it gave me strength from her cause I had a piece of her. Now you have a piece of her as well and maybe it will give you the strength like she had did for me"

"It's very pretty", she said, holding it in her hands

"But it's very valuable honey", I said "Do you think you can take good care of it?"

She nodded up to me and I smiled. "Okay then", I said "It's all yours"

I took the necklace and I clipped it behind her neck and Judith smiled looking at the little heart in her little hands, looking up to me smiling. "Thank you Mommy", she said

"Your welcome Judith", I said, with a soft smile

She smiled and hugged me tightly and I hugged her back softly rubbing her shell gently. "I love you Mommy", she said

"I love you too baby girl", I said

Judith then pulled away and she yawned sleepily as she laid against my chest. "Sounds like someone is sleepy", I said "You sleepy honey?"

She nodded slowly and her eyes began to flutter closed. "Mmmmmhmmm", she said, rubbing her eye

She then began to curl up in my arms as I hugged her to me and Judith slowly started to fall asleep. "Here let me take her up to bed and I'll come back and get you", Raph said, taking her in his arms

Judith snuggled into Raph's shoulder as she clung on to him like a little koala. Judith began to snore softly sleeping soundly as she snuggled into her father for warmth. "For such an energetic little girl, she can sure go on for a long time", I said

"Well she does have my looks, but she gets your personality and energy", Raph said

I giggled and smiled then Judith snuggled closer into Raph's neck as she placed her hand over his heart. "Good night sweetheart", I said, rubbing her head gently

Raph kissed her forehead and she smiled slightly in her sleep as he took Judith in his arms upstairs to her room. After he took Judith to bed, I saw him come out closing her door softly and he walked back downstairs over to me. I made room for him on the couch as Raph sat down next to me and I laid up against him.

"I think now with Shredder gone, you won't have to no longer see those visions ", he said

"I believe you are right, now that I have come to terms that I know who caused all that pain years ago is no longer here, who can never hurt us or anyone ever again, peace will find me and relieve me", I said

"I know you lost so much and I can't tell you how sorry I am that you had everything taken away from you", Raph said, taking my hand gently into his own "I only wished I could of done something about it"

"But you know, there is some grace in this", I said, softly

"What do you mean?", he asked, curiously

"If we hadn't been in that confrontation and if I hadn't been on the streets that year, I would have been back in home in Bavaria and I would of never knew of existed", I said, with a small smile "I would of never met you in that alley when you found me, I would never met your family, learn the ways of the ninjas, get married or have our children. I would have never been able to go on this adventure where it has been filled with excitement, healing, love, laughter, and happiness. So yes, it is sad that I lost my family, it is a tragedy, one that can not ever be forgotten, but you, you were Raphael were that grace that I have always cherished since that day you brought me home. I may have lost a lot, but I gained so much in return"

His face seemed to look like he was taking in what I was saying and he slowly began to smile and nod in agreement. "You know I would never thought of it that way", he said "You are right, I suppose this is kind of bittersweet"

"Yes bittersweet for sure, but I wouldn't have changed a thing", I said

"Not one thing?", he asked

"Not one thing", I said

He smiled and he slowly brought me into a warm and sweet kiss. "I love you", he said, softly

"I love you too", I said, softly kissing him in return

The kiss last for a few moments till I began to feel sleepy once more as I snuggled closer to Raph laying my head on his shoulder letting my eyes flutter closed as he chuckled stroking my cheek. "Sleepy?", he asked

"Mmmmhmmm", I said, softly

It was all that I could manage to say, I was exhausted after a long and brutal fight, one that I nearly lost my life to and I just wanted to sleep to start my recovery so I can soon be back where I want to be. I felt Raph put his arm around my shoulders and his other under my legs lifting me up in his arms bridal style letting my head rest on his chest. "Let's get you to bed", he said

"Raphael?", I said, softly

"Mmm?", he said, softly

"Thank you…for everything you have done for me", I said "You…you are my hero"

I could sense Raph was smiling down at me and he pressed his head against mine as I felt him carry me upstairs. I heard the sound of a door closely softly and soon felt the soft and warm sheets greet me cradling me in comfort. He laid me down carefully as I felt him lay down beside me, not releasing me from his arms and gently covered us up and hugged me closer towards him and kissed my forehead softly, then he rested his head against mine. "I love you Stellaluna, I always have from the start and will to the very end", he said, softly

I smiled slightly as sleep finally took me over hearing those words and my thoughts began to wonder unconsciously about the battle tonight. How Shredder, the one who caused me such great pain all those years when he killed my family in front of me and left me homeless for a year with no one there for me, is now no longer alive and got what he deserved. I thought about that night that I lost my parents and how I heard his voice in my ear and that I had faced him all those years ago. It would be something that I would never forget, but it was now in the past and I could look forward to a brighter future that justice had been served tonight and lives can be given peace knowing a threat is no more. There will be more challenges ahead as I know it with crime and other enemies, we have yet to defeat to keep our home safe, but at least now I can take it by storm knowing I have got my family by my side. I couldn't wait to see what more awaits for us and what new adventures will come, and what memories will be created.