Raph ran down to the beach, pushing back the feeling to turn around and let the crazy mortals out of the cave. He knew it wasn't very nice to trap them like that, especially not when he was now planning on just leaving them on the island. He knew what it felt like to be trapped for faults that didn't deserve such an extreme level of punishment. He didn't want to end up exactly like the gods that he was beginning to despise, but he had to look out for his brother.
He and Donnie had dedicated their lives to serving the mortals, and it was because of them that they'd stolen the Heart of Miwa and ended up in this whole mess in the first place. Maybe he was being selfish here, but after everything they'd been through and everything they'd done, Raph thought that he and Donnie deserved to be a little selfish.
As Raph got to the beach he saw that Donnie was approaching the small boat, pulling a tree behind him. It seemed he hadn't needed help to get that wood afterall, which was great news. Now they could just get to fixing the ship and getting out of here before Leo and Mikey got out.
"Hey, Donnie, how long do you think this should take?" Raph asked as he ran up to his brother and grabbed the tree, pulling it the rest of the way.
"Well, assuming we both still know how to do this, it should only take a few minutes," Donnie said, and he sounded somewhat proud. Donnie liked knowing that he knew something, no matter how inconsequential and seemingly meaningless that information was. Knowledge was important to Donnie, but he also really loved being able to use that knowledge and show it off, even if the only person he was showing off to was Raph, who already thought that his brother was the smartest genius in the world.
"Let's get started," Raph grabbed his hatchet, which he'd actually had on him the whole time. He was surprised Leo and Mikey hadn't noticed. They were really oblivious about all of this. It was a wonder that they thought they could do any of this 'world saving' stuff that they were obsessed with.
Donnie could tell just by looking at the boat exactly what cuts of wood they needed to fix it. He told Raph exactly how to cut the tree to get the pieces that could join seamlessly with the rest of the boat. As Raph prepared the wood, Donnie pulled the pieces that needed to be replaced off the boat. It wasn't long before they were ready to replace the wood.
Donnie took care of the boat while Raph made sure that everything else was taken care of. The very second that Donnie gave the okay, they were getting out of here, without the others. Yes, it wasn't fair, but why should they be expected to play by the rules when life had dealt them an unfair hand in the first place?
Raph waited impatiently as Donnie worked his magic. Donnie didn't waste any time. It felt like a long time to Raph, but it was barely a minute before Donnie stepped back. "That should do it."
"Finally," Raph pulled his brother onto the raft and then gave the boat a strong push into the ocean. "Let's get off this place." Raph was relieved that the wind caught the sail straight away and the tide seemed to be in their favor. For once it seemed like things were looking up. They were finally getting out of here.
"What…" Donnie sat up and looked around. "What are you doing? We can't leave the others."
"We actually can, and we definitely are," Raph said. Donnie's eyes widened.
"You...Raph!" Donnie stood up, rocking the raft slightly. He tried to take the sail's rope from Raph, but he had expected this resistance. Raph used one hand to hold his brother back while he handled the rope with the other. "What are you thinking?!"
"I'm thinking that Mikey and Leo want to force us to help them on their ridiculous hero's quest, and I don't want any part of it," Raph said stiffly. He'd expected this anger from his brother, but Donnie would get over it. If they tried to fix their mistake and something happened to Donnie, that was something that Raph would never get over. Donnie may hate him for it, but Raph had to do what he thought was best for both of them, and this was it.
"Raph, we are not leaving them behind like this." Donnie said sternly, using that old 'I'm the smart one and I know better than you' tone. "Turn this boat around now!"
"Make me," Raph countered pettily. Donnie scowled and glared at him. He wasn't just mad, he was furious. Donnie clenched his staff tightly before he raised it in the air. Raph's eyes widened as he realized what Donnie was doing a moment before it happened. Raph had no time to brace himself before a strong gust of wind came in from in front of them, countering the natural breeze and stopping the boat where it was.
Raph and Donnie were both frozen where they stood, staring at each other in horror as they tried to process what had just happened. Ever since they'd been banished to the island, Donnie hadn't done a lot to manipulate the wind. He'd used hundreds of different excuses about it, but they both knew that he had done it for Raph's sake. Donnie didn't feel right in using his powers when Raph was unable to. Donnie only ever used his powers when he had a good reason for it.
This was the first time that Donnie had ever, ever used his powers against Raph. Even when their relationship was at its worst, they didn't turn against each other. A long time ago a mutant had tried incredibly hard to come between them, and yet it was two teenage mortals who seemed to be pulling it off.
Donnie flinched first. He still looked horrified, but while there was an apologetic look in his eyes, there was no regret. They both knew exactly what Donnie had done, he'd chosen two strangers over his brother, and he seemed willing to do it again if he had to. "Raph-"
"Is this really all that important to you?" Raph asked, his tone quieter than it normally would be. He wouldn't even look at his brother. "Are they really that important?"
Donnie sighed. Raph felt a gentle breeze go through his hair. It was normally the kind of thing that he found comforting, but this time it felt more condescending than anything. "I'm tired of it being just the two of us against the world. I don't want to be hated by everyone we come across, and I don't want to have to watch our backs all the time."
"It's not our fault that the world is against us." Raph said, repeating a sentiment that he'd been saying for the past five hundred years, and in the past Donnie had agreed with him, or at least hadn't argued with him.
Donnie hummed slightly. "Well, taking the Heart of Miwa pretty much doomed the whole world. It makes sense that it wouldn't like us very much."
Raph's eyes widened and he looked at his brother in shock. "You saying we deserve all this?"
Donnie scowled. "Don't put words in my mouth," Donnie's gaze softened. "Look, it doesn't matter what we deserve or who screwed who over. We can't just look after ourselves and nobody else for the rest of our lives. Not only is it ridiculously lonely, but it's also ridiculously hard. We need more help, but if we expect others to help us, we need to be willing to help them in return."
"But why do we have to help them with this?" Raph asked. "Give me any other good deed to do, and I'll do it without complaint, but...this?"
"Look, I don't really want to deal with the Heart of Miwa either." Donnie said. "That much is up for debate. Helping the others, that's not." Leo and Mikey seemed just as passionate about using the Heart of Miwa as Raph was to avoid it. They weren't going to take no for an answer. How could Donnie not see that bringing those brothers with them was basically the same as saying 'sure, we'll help you'.
"Raph!" The two of them turned and their eyes widened in alarm when they saw Leo and Mikey riding right across the water. It was similar to what Raph used to love to do with the ocean, using it as a mode of transportation. Seeing it, Raph felt conflicted between screaming and yelling in fury, or curling up and shutting out the world for the rest of his life.
In the short time since meeting Leo and Mikey, Raph had known that they were the ocean's new favorites, but this was the moment that it felt real. It was one thing to see the ocean interacting with the mortals and being friendly with them, but to see the ocean actually allowing itself to be used like this, to be sharing Raph's powers with a couple of humans, it hurt. It actually physically hurt.
Raph didn't know how to respond to what he was seeing, so he didn't respond at all. He just stood there numbly and watched as the ocean practically tossed Leo and Mikey onto the boat. The first thing that Mikey did was crawl over to the storage area of the ship, which he promptly opened. Mikey reached in and pulled out, to Raph's shock, his cat. They had to find a new place to put that thing, because Raph had no idea that Mayunk was in there.
Leo had his attention focused completely on Raph, and he wasn't happy. "What was that all about?! What is wrong with you?" Leo snatched the rope from Raph's grip. "Were you seriously going to leave us there?"
"I wouldn't have had to if you weren't trying so hard to get me and my brother killed." Raph growled.
"We don't want to get anyone killed," Mikey said. His gentle tone both calmed Raph, and made him feel infuriated as well. "That's why we're here. Our island and the people in our village are in real trouble. People can get really hurt if we don't do something." Raph felt bad for them, but...but why should this be their responsibility? Why couldn't someone else put their necks on the line and be selfless?
"We can make a new name for ourselves," Donnie reminded him. "This is a chance to get a clean slate."
"Or a chance to fail and end up dying in the process." Raph said.
"I thought you guys were some all-powerful demigods?" Leo crossed his arms.
"Yeah, but here's a newsflash for you; Karai is a god," Raph glared at Leo. "That's kinda a step up from demigod. As for all-powerful," Raph looked at Donnie, who was holding his staff stiffly and watching him cautiously. "Right now, Donnie's the only one with powers. I'm basically useless without my sais and the ocean."
"Wha-now, hang on!" Donnie stepped towards Raph. "You're not useless." Maybe not, but if Raph didn't have his powers, he was little more than a mortal who'd been alive for a long time. He wasn't useless in general, but up against a goddess, they didn't stand a chance.
"What if you had your sais again?" Mikey suggested. "You lost them in the sea, right? Maybe the ocean will bring them back to you?"
"The ocean isn't about to do me any favors," Raph grumbled. He knew that much for sure.
"It might if it means the world will be right again," Leo said. "It's worth a try, isn't it?" After five hundred years of little to no response from the ocean, Raph didn't think that it was worth a try at all, but if it would get these guys to shut up and leave him alone, he'd humor them.
Besides, if there was even the smallest chance that he could get his weapons back, he was going to go for it.
Raph frowned and knelt at the edge of the boat. He saw Donnie offer his staff out to him, and Raph knew if he was smart he would take it. The staff and the sais were connected, and it was also a symbol of their status as demigods. The ocean might be more receptive if he communicated to it through the staff. Raph knew all this, but he still pointedly ignored the offer. If he was going to be getting his weapons back, he was going to be doing it on his own.
Besides, Donnie had just used that staff against Raph. He wasn't ready to so easily get over that.
Raph took a deep breath and put his hand in the water. The instant that his fingers touched the surface a kind of glow rippled through the water. It was a sign, Raph just didn't know if it was a good one or a bad one yet.
"I know what you want from me," Raph said. "You have a funny way of asking for help, and I can't guarentee that I'm entirely on board with this stupid plan, but…" Raph closed his eyes and pushed everything that he was feeling, the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, the fear, into his words. "If you want me to do anything, I'm going to need my sais back. This isn't just me being selfish here, you know it's true, so please. If you talk to me and return my sais, I'll...I'll think about it," That was all Raph could promise. It was more than he thought the ocean deserved.
Raph waited tensely for a few long minutes. He was worried that he wouldn't get an answer, but he wasn't going to let that fear get the better of him already. If the ocean was testing how much he wanted this, he wasn't going to fail.
He heard some shuffling behind him, maybe it was Leo, maybe it was Mikey. He ignored them though. Raph's attention was just on the ocean, waiting for an answer.
Just when Raph was reaching the limit of his patience, he felt something. The cool ocean water felt warm around his hand. The ocean didn't say anything, as even when their relationship had been at its best the ocean had never actually spoken to him. Raph had the feeling that the ocean was actually perfectly capable of speaking, it just didn't like to. The ocean had other ways of communicating, it was just a matter of knowing how to understand it.
Though Raph's eyes were closed, he could see what the ocean was trying to show him. Not like someone could see with their eyes. It was really hard to explain, but what was important was that Raph was able to get a sense of what the ocean was showing him. It was like he was having a vision of what the ocean had seen. Raph could tell that it wasn't happening in present-time, but was something that had happened in the past. How long ago, he didn't know, but he didn't think it mattered.
There were his sais at the bottom of the seafloor, the tips embedded in the sand. It was like they had been thrown away and forgotten. It made Raph sad and angry to see it. His sais meant the world to him, and it hurt to see them treated so disrespectfully. Raph felt horrible seeing this whole thing, but then it got even worse.
There hadn't been a sign of life near the sais, like the ocean was protecting them, but then someone showed up. A large figure, moving awkwardly through the water as though it wasn't made for swimming. The figure made its way straight to the sais, like it knew exactly where they were. The very moment it touched the sais, the vision cleared enough for Raph to get a good look at the figure, and he felt his insides tighten because he knew that guy. He knew him all too well.
Raph gasped and his eyes flew open. He snatched his hand out of the water like he'd been burned. Raph stared out at the ocean, too hurt to even consider being mad. The ocean had ignored him for five hundred years. It had replaced him with two mortals, and it had been treating him pettily all day, and yet this...this was the biggest betrayal.
"You...how could you?" Raph's voice cracked slightly. It felt like he'd been punched in the gut. "You gave them to him?" Raph knew the ocean really well. It may not have handed the sais to the thief, but Raph knew that it had guided him to them.
"Him who?" Mikey asked. "What did the ocean say?"
"Where are your sais?" Leo asked. His voice sounded strange, like he was trying to sound sympathetic, but he just wanted to know what the problem was so they could solve it and move on.
Raph felt Donnie come up behind him. "Raph, what did the ocean do?" Donnie had seen Raph's reaction to the ocean all this time. Donnie knew that for Raph to get like this, it wasn't for no reason.
"It gave them away," Raph said, still feeling numb and in shock about this whole thing. He knew sooner or later his anger would catch up to him, but right now fury was about the furthest thing from what he was feeling. "He has them."
"He who?" Leo asked in frustration. Raph just turned and looked at his brother. Donnie held his gaze for a moment. Raph didn't say a word, but Donnie seemed to get the message just fine. His eyes widened in horror.
"He...are you sure?" Donnie asked, his tone almost begging. Donnie seemed to want anything to be true except what he seemed to suspect.
"I saw him," Raph insisted. "He has my sais."
Donnie's expression darkened dangerously. It was a look that Raph didn't see on his brother very often. "Why does he need your sais? He doesn't even use weapons! He'd rather run around and fight like a brute."
"I think he wants them because they're mine," Raph said. "He knows that I'll come after them."
"What? No! Absolutely not!" Donnie said coldly. "We're not walking right into his lair!"
Raph rolled his eyes. "He doesn't have a lair. He's not some evil mastermind."
"He tried to kill me," Donnie said, and he definitely wasn't amused. "And then he tried to kill you when you tried to stop him."
"It's been five hundred years, maybe he's calmed down after all this time," Raph said, though he didn't even believe it himself. He was mostly looking for his brother to give him reassurances. Unfortunately, Donnie didn't get the hint.
"Are you kidding me? If he has your sais he's just as obsessed with you as he ever was." Donnie muttered angrily. He glared out towards the ocean like it had personally offended him. Donne held his staff in a way that showed that he was ready for a fight and the wind picked up around them, reflecting Donnie's anger. "What is wrong with you?! Do you seriously hate my brother that much?" Raph flinched. It was something that he'd thought for a long time, but hearing it being said by his brother, it made it much more real.
"Guys!" Raph and Donnie turned towards Leo, who was glaring at them. They'd nearly forgotten the others were there. "What are you talking about? Who has the sais?"
Donnie scowled and crossed his arms. It seemed like he was leaving the explanations to Raph. "An old friend of mine-" Raph begin, and Donnie immediately scoffed.
"He was never your friend," Donnie said bitterly. "He's a jealous monster who doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer."
Raph gave his brother an annoyed look. "Did you want to tell them?" Donnie shrugged and went back to glaring at the ocean. Raph continued on. "He's not a monster, he's a mutant. His name is Slash."
"Do you know where he is?" Mikey asked. "Maybe if we asked he'd be willing to give them back," Donnie and Raph exchanged a disbelieving look. "Or, you know, not," Mikey amended.
Raph sighed. "Yeah, I know where he is." Nearly all mutants lived in the same place. They may come out into the mortal world for a little bit, but they never stayed for long. They liked their own home, and Slash was no exception.
"So let's get going," Leo said. "We don't have time to wait."
"Now, hang on," Donnie looked alarmed. "You guys don't know Slash. Messing with him is a mistake. He's dangerous. We can't go."
"We have to," Raph said. "I need my weapons. That isn't up for debate."
"Raph, you don't need them," Donnie pleaded. "I can give you my staff. I can show you how to use it. You don't need your sais, and you don't need the ocean," It was an idea that Donnie had mentioned before, but this was the first time that Raph could feel the sincerity. Donnie really meant it. He would give Raph his staff and his powers. Raph appreciated the thought, but Donnie didn't get it. They may share weapons, but their separate weapons were still theirs individually.
"You don't have to face him," Raph promised. In fact, it was what he preferred. "I'll deal with Slash myself."
"Not on your life," Donnie said stubbornly. "You're not meeting with Slash...at least, not on your own." Raph knew how much Donnie hated Slash. For his brother to be willing to stand by his side at such a challenging situation, it meant a lot. It meant everything, but it wasn't what Raph wanted. Slash was volatile at the best of times, but when Donnie was so much as mentioned he got even angrier. Donnie had only met Slash the one time, and Raph didn't want a repeat of what had happened. He'd rather deal with Slash on his own.
Arguing with Donnie about this though would do little good. They could fight and argue all they wanted, and just never get anywhere. Raph planned on keeping quiet for now, letting Donnie think he'd won the disagreement, and then just go behind his brother's back when it really came to it.
"So, where are we going?" Mikey asked.
"Home of mutants and yokai," Raph took the sail rope back from Leo. "The Hidden City."
A/N: I considered having our teenagers face off against Baxter Stockman and his army of mousers, the way that Moana and Maui have to fight off the kakamora coconut creatures. However, it just seemed like it would come out of nowhere and serve little purpose. In the movie the only purpose for that scene I can think of is to show that lots of creatures are obsessed with getting the Heart of Te Fiti, and I can show that in the Hidden City.
Speaking of the Hidden City, this is another instance where Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles elements are coming in. I thought about using Dimension X, but...I just didn't like it. Dimension X was just kinda a boring location for me, which is why I chose to go for the Hidden City. I don't even know which mutants and yokai will show up there, so those chapters should be fun to write.