Missing scene from the fourth episode of the "Big Brawl" storyline of the 2003 series from close third person Usagi's POV. I own nothing and make no money from this.
Usagi listened to the family reunion from behind silk screens while standing guard at the Daimyo's feet. He noted out of the four kame brothers Donatello had told him of earlier, he had now at least heard the voices of three. He tensed upon wondering about the location of the fourth.
If the nezumi father, and at least one of his kame sons, had already become targets of this conspiracy against the Daimyo, could all three of the other kame sons have remained untouched? Donatello had fought against it. He'd been tossed about, but he still walked and spoke clearly. His scales were not discolored or pierced. What about the fourth brother?
Usagi saw the nezumi enter the private healing chamber. He bowed to him. The old warrior smiled at the sight. "My old friend! Thank you, for defending both the lives of my sons 'and' the Daimyo this day, as you once defended mine."
Usagi bowed to the nezumi again with a smile this time. Leonardo's head spun around to stare at his father. His voice took on a hard edge. "When did this happen?"
A third, taller, and darker green kame in a red mask stepped through the silk screen's door. "Yeah, it was Traximus and I that got you out of jail just now!" Leonardo and Donatello then "both" turned intense stares upon their brother.
Splinter answered with his smile undimmed. "That is true Raphael, but," the old rat nodded toward the Yojimbo whose eyes had also widened at Raphael's piece of news, "'This' is the young warrior who came to my aid, when I was attacked by shadow warriors and Drako the night after my first competition in the Battle Nexus Tournament three years ago."
The new kame in red added behind the nezumi. "You mean, after you 'won' the last Battle Nexus Tournament."
Usagi noticed Donatello and Leonardo stared at "him" with wide eyes now. Then Splinter spoke again. So, Usagi turned his attention back to him. "My old friend, we must waken and help the Daimyo take back control of the Battle Nexus. His own son came to me today, along with Drako himself, to brag of how they were both taking control of this place and would kill the Daimyo and my son Leonardo. That is why I was so worried."
Despite all earlier evidence brought up to indicate the Daimyo's son, Usagi's mouth dropped open. He was shocked a son would admit aloud to anyone, even a prisoner, he had attempted to have his father killed. He had also not imagined, yet, that Drako was involved. Three eventful years had passed since, but the night he'd first met and fought off the shadowy assassins and had had Drako's clawed hand wrap around his waist and lift his feet into the air remained a vivid, chill-inducing memory.
Still, Usagi sighed. "Splinter san, I hate to force our host, the Daimyo, to wake and rise from his mat in the condition he is now in."
A gnarled, clawed, yet soothing hand landed upon Usagi's shoulder and gently squeezed. "I know, Yojimbo, Samurai, I know … But just as the Great gain privileges like the protection of warriors such as you and my sons, they also gain great responsibilities, which require them to risk much themselves in order to set things right for others."
Usagi looked up to meet the nezumi's gaze. His eyes flooded with unshed tears, but he clenched both his jaw and fists and nodded. If the Daimyo's son "and" Drako were both grasping hold of all the power the Daimyo had once wielded so well, much was at risk. Fixing it was the responsibility of the Daimyo.
The only way he could rest, and yet all those he led remain safe, was if another usurped his power. And that, Usagi would not do, nor, it seemed, would any here. They must wake the Daimyo.
What do you think?
God Bless
ScribeofHeroes