Ch.11: Fire's Awakening

Meanwhile, back at the Trial, Raphael woke up weary and confused to find himself lying in some strange, round cave. Glowing red stones shined brightly from the cavern walls, illuminating the whole space with an eerie, fiery glow.

"Where…where am I?" thought Raph, as he shifted to his knees, green eyes looking down at his palms. " Shouldn't I be…,"

Memories came steadily flowing back to the red-masked turtle suddenly as he remembered the strange creature he faced on the volcanic terrain, the devastating scream it unleashed, and his fear as he started falling off the edge to his doom.

"I should have been burned alive" said Raphael, remembering the magma's heat " Bet the Lady's Trial has something do with this…with me being here."

Whether because it was because of the Trial or not, Raphael was grateful that he survived, but, at the same time, the ninja felt sad because this trial felt like a test he had already failed.

"I couldn't save the young turtle" thought Raph " I should have…Ugh!"

A dark laugh suddenly echoed around the walls, and Raphael sat up, looking around with fear.

"Not yet," hissed out a voice.

"Wha…Who's there?!" yelled Raph, jumping to his feet.

"You haven't failed" continued the voice, as if it hadn't heard Raph's scream "Follow the stones. I can grant you a second chance."

For a moment, Raph stood confused, when all of a sudden a corridor to his left suddenly opened up and began lighting with stones, trailing down slowly, one by one, as they entered deeper into the shaft. Having no other better place to go at the moment, Raphael cautiously traveled down this mysterious new drift. His senses were on high alert, hands staying close to his sai. What new dangers was this Trial leading him into? A few seconds later, Raph guessed that he would find out.

The turtle's instincts were correct as his mouth gaped in amazement when reaching the tunnel's end. Carved into the wall was a giant statue of a lovely phoenix, painted with streaks of gold and had red crystals shining for its eyes.

The legendary bird was posed in a fierce posture, with talons clutching a mirror that stood leaning close to a pedestal's edge.

Raphael drifted his gaze down towards the mirror, as the image warped, showing him the most horrible moments of his of life. All of these dark memories, one by one, they were reawakened slowly in his mind.

The dark day of Slash's mutation, losing control himself and how his brothers were almost slain, how he killed Karai, and even the baby turtle he had just failed to save.

"Pathetic," a dark voice hissed, interrupting the red-masked turtle's thoughts.

Tensing, Raphael immediately ripped his gaze away from the mirror and turned around to face whoever had spoke. A gasp escaped from his throat as the stranger stepped forward, and Raph felt himself backing away a little in fear.

What stood before him was another turtle, but not just any turtle, the dark side of himself.

Dark Raph smiled smugly as he stepped into the chamber's glow, admiring his twin's fear.

"It's pathetic really" spoke Dark Raph, eyes glowing red " how easily you can be controlled. How often you let others influence you, pushing you to the darker side. It's all to easy, to easy for me. You do flatter me though, still trying to be good. A wasted dream. I am who you are. You would not exist without me."

"I don't need you!" Raphael, gathering his courage as angrily pointed a sai. " You caused me nothing but pain."

"You caused that to yourself, and you know it" said Dark Raphael " I am you. We are one and in the same. Accept that, and maybe I'll help you, rescue the baby turtle before it's to late."

"You know where he is?" asked Raph in surprise.

"I do" said Dark Raphael " Take my hand. I'll guide you there instantly."

Raph hesitated. He didn't like the smile of his dark counterpart as he raised up his hand. Was he really considering teaming up? There was no way he could trust his evil twin.

But what other choice did he have right now. He couldn't stay here in this cave. If he hadn't failed the Trial yet, maybe this was his chance to succeed.

So why did he feel like he was a deal with the devil as he took and shaked his double's hand.


Far away, in her own part of the Trial, Karai stood silently as she watched Saki become more distant, and her mother moving silently, closer and closer to Yoshi's arms. Oruko was obsessed that he barely paid attention anymore to his fading relationship, or how he treated his 'brother' and Tang Shen.

The Foot Clan was all that mattered now. He had to find out more. More about the clan he was kidnapped from. His nightmare had given him the key.

Finally, after hours of searching through the Hamato's sacred, history scrolls, Saki finally found the information he was looking for. Details about the last battle that had taken place between the Hamato and the Foot Clan, and where the Foot Clan most likely dispersed to hide.

The direction had been set, now only the journey stood in his wake.

Leaving a note behind so false family would know that he would be gone, Saki packed up bits of food and a few belongings, before slipping out of the dojo during the night, leaving everything he knew behind.

The scene shifted as the days passed, and Karai could only guess that it was morning as she watched Saki travel through the ruins of an abandoned village or town. It was obvious that this place had once belonged to the Foot Clan, as their symbol stained various piles of concrete lying around.

However, there didn't seem to be anything to gain by coming here. Karai wondered exactly what it was Saki expected to find.

A few minutes later, it seems like she received her answer, when Saki suddenly stopped, and an arrow rapidly whizzed by, narrowly missing his skull.

Someone was watching. Someone else was here.

Soon, dark figures popped out of the ruins, ninjas, wielding weapons, while one man stood tall and still, obviously the leader of the crew. A silver-plated mask depicting the Oni covered his face, only allowing human eyes to pierce through, eyes that looked like they were seeing into the depths of Saki's very soul.

"Intruder" stated the masked man " you dare desecrate the Foot's sacred ground. The Hamato mark on your gi means that you an enemy, and we Foot must eliminate all of our enemies."

"I am not an enemy" stated Saki, showing no fear as he turned towards the man " This mark only serves as a brand to the dishonorable villains who kidnapped me when I was young. They raised me like a fool, hiding the truth about my past. A demon has now showed me the light. I am Oroku Saki, rightful heir to Kaigin's throne."

There was silence for a while as the masked man and his men processed this. One of the soldiers looked towards his master, seeking permission to kill. The leader held up a hand to indicate patience, and looked directly at Saki, sensing no lies coming from the enemy's words.

"You spoke of demon. What is his name?"

"Kavaxas," said Saki. And once again, the scene shifted and changed.

Karai now found herself facing Shredder, sitting on a dark throne surrounded by flames. The ruins of the Foot Clan were gone, replaced by a chamber that seemed to be completely made out of volcanic stone.

"You have come," said Shredder.

"Always," hissed out an eerie voice, as a demonic vulture suddenly entered the room. An odd, pink, spiked baby turtle was crying, clutched in the creatures nasty claws.

"The Fire Child" the vulture hissed " He will come for it soon,"

"Yes" said Shredder " but for now, I think that it is time for me to meet my granddaughter."

With that the Shredder turned, directly facing Karai. Karai froze, shocked that she had been seen, as her feet crumpled before horrifying eyes.

"Yes girl tremble" said Shredder, drawing out his blades "Kaigin enjoys it when the enemy shows fear."