Ch.3: Shredder's Ambition
Karai could hardly believe her eyes as her mysterious guide led her into the Nexus. The Nexus truly was a beautiful place. Sparkling waterfalls fell down from high, stone cliffs, as beautiful vegetation bloomed everywhere very colorful to the eye. A gilded palace, shining red and gold, stood out like a jewel on high mountaintop, looking over all the land.
It was the palace Karai was being taken to right now, and she wondered just what kind of secrets could lye waiting inside.
She did not have to wonder for long as she and her guide finished climbing up the stone steps and entered the palace doors. The inside was amazing. Beautiful, orient, mystical. None of the old shogun palaces Karai had seen in Japan even compared to this.
"Lady Daimyo" said a large, brown-colored fox, bowing as the two women walked up " Welcome back my Lord."
"Thank you Ninjara" said the silver-eyed woman " I guess you and Alopex did alright when I was gone?"
"Of course Milady" said Ninjara " Who is your guest?"
"This is Karai" said the Lady Daimyo " I believe that you're already aware of her."
"Yes" said Ninjara, then bowed to Karai " It's nice to meet you. Your friend Shinigami has put in a request to visit, but before she arrives…Milady I think that you should be informed on what's happening down on Earth."
"Yes, please explain," said the Lady Daimyo.
So Ninjara did as they walked, entering into the Turnstone Chamber. She explained about the Triceratons current invasion on Earth, and also about the Shredder moving in on his dark plans. The Lady Daimyo frowned, disliking both sets of news, while Karai was stunned, worrying about her family. Was this the chaos her death had left behind?
"We have to help them," she said to the Daimyo.
"We cannot" the woman responded " Some events can't be changed,"
"You can't even stop Shredder?" said Karai " What kind of dark plan is he brewing anyway?"
"The same ambition he inherited when he was just a child," said the Lady Daimyo.
"What do you mean?" asked Karai.
"Child" said the Daimyo " there is more to Saki's story than just Tang Shen."
With that said, she directed Karai's gaze to the Turnstone, which stood on a pedestal nearby, and images began to form in the sphere as she began to tell her tale.
"Before the name Shredder was ever taken by the Foot Clan, Oroku Saki's father, Oroku Kaigin, lead the ninja clan strongly and fearless."
"During war times, different ninja clans would choose sides to support in order to gain more power and land. There were those who weren't so greedy, but the Foot Clan wasn't one of them."
"For many years, they grew and spawned through this tactic, outlasting their rivals, and killing all who stood in their way. This destiny could go on forever though, as the birth of a new ninja clan began to arrive, the Hamato."
"The Hamato Clan promoted peace, and quickly became enemies to the Foot. Oroku Kaigin was furious as day after day, more and more of his people were killed. His clan was dying. The Hamato's were destroying everything he worked for. He made a bargain to destroy them."
"The Shredder was now born, seeking the destruction of the entire Hamato Clan. The Foot attacked the Hamato's home, killing all who stood in their wake. The battle was terrible, and heavy losses stained both sides."
"In order to stop all the destruction, Splinter's father had no choice but to kill Oroku Kaigin. Once the Shredder fell, the Foot Clan gave up and dispersed, defeated and scarred."
"The battle was over, and the remaining Hamato's could breathe a sigh of relief. But while cleaning up the wreckage, Splinter's father made an important discovery, that the Foot had left something very important behind."
"A baby on the battlefield, helpless and crying, the enemy's son. This baby was Saki, Kaigin's heir. He had snuck in one of the supply carts the Foot brought in to store their weapons as they attacked. No one had noticed him, hell-bent on their rage, and the child had no knowledge that his father was dead."
"For a moment, Splinter's father had no idea what to do. This child was the blood of his enemy, and yet had done nothing wrong in his life. Killing him would be wrong. So, in an act of mercy, Saki's life was spared, and he grew up in the Hamato Clan, being raised by Splinter's side."
"As I mentioned now, there is more to this story than Tang Shen. Before your father and Saki would even fight over her, discoveries had to be made."
"Growing up, Yoshi and Saki were very close. They were perfect siblings, roughhousing and playing like brothers should. They excelled quickly in the martial arts, becoming the best fighters the Hamato Clan had ever seen. Yet, as they grew more competitive, jealously and hatred began to brew."
"Now Tang Shen appeared. While in the city one day, Yoshi and Saki met her, saving her from harm. A crush grew, and both brothers pondered, wondering how to make Tang Shen theirs. A lot of silly tricks were played in order to gain her affection, until finally, Saki made the first move."
"Tang Shen accepted his invitation and they began to date. Yoshi was very disappointed that he didn't get the girl. His disappointment turned into hatred for his brother, and Yoshi complained to his father that it just wasn't fair."
"Sometimes" he said " I wish he wasn't my brother,"
"It is dangerous to think such things" said Yoshi's father " Like it or not, Saki is your brother, even though he may not be of our blood."
"What do you mean?" asked Yoshi.
"Then, his father explained, telling how he took Saki as a child and raised him to be like Yoshi's kin. Yoshi was shocked at the truth, and outside the dojo doors, unaware that someone had listened in, a young Oroku Saki was stunned as well."
"Anger instantly flooded through Saki's mind, as he thought about the conversation that he had just overheard. Had he been lied to his whole life? Been tricked into believing that this was the family he was raised in, when his true origins lied with another clan, a clan that had been wiped out by the Hamato's?"
" For a while, his heart tried to deny it, while his head contorted with confusion and pain. His personality fell, pushing Tang Shen away from him, and into Yoshi's arms. He started hating his brother to the very core."
"Then, one night, Saki had a nightmare, coming from a hostile spirit that promised him revenge. Revenge for every wrong done against him and his former clan, and blood for blood as he killed anyone who stood in his path."
"The voice haunted Saki, stirring up the darkness within his soul. Quietly, he began to seek out the secrets of the Foot Clan, determined to reform them, and began to carefully plot his revenge, ready to act when the perfect time arose."
"In time, he had all he needed to exact his vengeance, but there was one more thing his heart desired, Tang Shen. His first love, which he lost to his false brother, he would take her back."
"Tang Shen had settled down comfortably with Yoshi and had a baby, but the slow death of the Hamato Clan made Yoshi distant, desperate to maintain it, creating a fissure between the pair."
"Saki tried to exploit that fissure, but failed. The rest of the story, you already know Karai."
"Yes" said Karai " but what does this have to with what's going on?"
"Shredder's eternal desire for revenge" said the Lady Daimyo " have made him weak, vulnerable to the same dark force that influenced his father. The demon is seeking payback. It wishes to be revived, brought back into the physical plain. Oroku Saki is close to that goal."
"Then why not stop him?" said Karai.
"It is not our fate to stop him" said the Lady Daimyo " but it could be yours. If you earn a second chance Karai, you must vanquish the shadows that engulf Saki's heart."
"Easier said than done," said Karai, crossing her arms.
"Yes" said the Daimyo " it will not be easy, but in the end, fire illuminates all."
