Another short, possible missing scene from the last episode of the 2003 TMNT series storyline "The Big Brawl," from which I own nothing. Please enjoy anyway, it is free, because I make no money from posting it. :)

After a few moments of silence, Usagi lifted his head and ears. His eyes seemed to pierce through the screen in the direction of the door. He stood to his feet and drew both swords. "Someone is coming, my friends."

Leo drew his katana. Donnie drew out his staff and held it up in front of himself. Leo's low voice asked the question, "Who?"

Usagi replied. "Someone with very large feet." His nose twitched. Then his eyes widened, "And … one who smells and walks like you." His ears twitched again "only his steps are louder."

Leo and Don glanced at each other. Then they lowered their weapons slightly and spoke together. "Raph."

Don raised an eyebrow. "Who would Raph be with who has large feet? Unless …" His eyes widened. "Traximus! Leo maybe he's with Traximus."

Usagi asked without looking away from the rectangle of light shining through the silk-screen, "Who is this 'Traximus?'"

Leo answered. "Another competitor in the Battle Nexus Tournament we met a long while before we got here. We fought with him in another arena where the stakes were much higher."

Usagi finally looked away to raise an eyebrow at Leonardo. "Much higher than 'this?'"

Donatello muttered under his breath in reply. "Believe it or not … yeah."

Usagi looked back through the screen again. "You must tell me this story if we live long enough and find a moment of peace."

Donnie broke in, "It's kinda long."

Leo continued, "And convoluted, and we don't have time for it now." He began to stride toward the doorway of the silk screen partitions. Donnie followed cautiously a few steps behind. Usagi moved until he stood facing them but remained just in front of the Daimyo's feet. All of the warriors still held their weapons, but low, not ready to attack in a second, but ready to raise them and attack in two.

Then Leo peeked around the edge of the doorway, waiting for Raph, or Traximus, or anybody to show themselves, friend or foe, or … Father! It was neither Raph, nor Traximus, but Splinter who entered first and immediately looked to the mat Leo had gotten up from minutes earlier.

Immediately, the rat's eyes enlarged, and his mouth opened. "NO! My son!"

Raph burst in. He stopped just beside and a little in front of their father, holding up his sai. And sure enough, Traximus, the Tricerton Alien, came in behind him holding his ax and baring his teeth, much like Raph was baring his. So, Leo smiled and stepped out. "Father, Raph, Traximus, it's alright. I'm here. So are Donnie, Usagi, and the Daimyo. We all just survived an assassination attempt on the Daimyo by fighting it off together."

Splinter rushed to him, eyes wet. Leo thought the old rat's movements a little stiff. It was as if he'd just been through something that "made his old bones ache" as he said, when it was just him and his sons, and sometimes April to hear him. Leo stepped forward and embraced him. His father embraced him back. He'd really scared everybody.

Then Splinter looked over Leo's shoulder. Leo glanced back himself. Donnie stood in the door frame of the silk screen smiling at them. Leo could only appreciate the sweetness of the moment for that moment, however.

Suddenly, he felt himself being crushed in Raph's embrace. The other turtle shouted in his ear making it ring. "Whatcha been doing getting yourself poisoned while I wasn't there to do nothing about it, bonehead?! Don't ever do that again! I'm warning ya this time around!"

A shadow fell over them both. Leo looked up to see Traximus towering behind his father and brother. The Triceraton still clutched his ax. His triangular, orange, three-horned and frill-backed face looking slightly relieved, though also serious. He stared down into his face. Leo felt his heart ache.

Wow. He had made "everyone" worry family and old friend alike. Leo next fixed his attention on his father who had drawn back and was speaking to him. "Leonardo, where is the Daimyo?"

Leo gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. "Back there, sensei. Usagi thinks he'll recover, but he had a pretty serious cut, when he got here. He's still resting."

The Rat's eyes looked a little wet, but his voice was firm. "I fear we must wake him, my son. Much has been happening. And I fear much is to happen still."

What do you think now?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes