The Thing Part 17
(Okay, I had some fun with this part, hehe. It did take me a couple of hours, okay then half the day, but it's done and I'm pretty proud of this part, even if it isn't good. I'm putting this bit at the top as I want to leave the bottom space empty, you'll see why if you read . . . It's just for the tension, hehe!)
The three caught up with Leo as he jumped down a staircase, obviously leading into a basement. Leo knocked a few Ninjas out at the bottom, and left two for his brothers. Donnie and Mikey got these two a second later, and continued after Leo. They were moving down a narrow corridor now, and every now and then a few Foot soldiers would step out from a room door, get knocked out and pushed back in again. Leo stopped and waited for his brothers to catch up.
"Okay Raph, you know where this big room is, lead the way." Leo ordered.
Raph stared at his brother for a second. ¦Heh, I get to lead. Geeze this must have a big impact on Leo's head, this whole Shredder thing¦ Raph led them down another set of stairs and recognised the familiar corridor. He started to jog and his brothers did the same. He knew what was at the end of this corridor. He stopped and looked down at the gap where the wall should be, down at what looked like an underground warehouse. There were huge crates dumped around the sides and crates on top of others. There was no tiles or anything except dirt on the floor, making it seem as though it was outside. There was no one, not one Foot member moving about. The four slowly made their way down to the floor and round the crates to the middle. All of a sudden the lights went off and they backed together. Shells to shells. The lights flickered on a few seconds later and the whole room was full of Foot soldiers. Some on the walkway/corridor they had just come from, some on the crates, others on the floor at the sides. The turtles stared around. And then, they all focused on one enemy in particular.
"Shredder," all four turtles breathed. They stared at the enormous being in front of them. Shredder, or SuperShredder, was twice his size than before. His gear was bigger, the spikes, sharper. His face, uglier. (Or at least the half you can see)
"Turtles!" Shredder laughed. "I trust you are well?"
"Well enough to kick you're a-" Raph started, but was elbowed in the side by Leo.
"Better than you!" Leo said. "Well enough to put you down for the last time, Shredder!"
"We will see, fool! But first, let me soften you up with my best Foot members. The most skilled in the clan, apart from myself."
About twenty, slightly different clothed, Foot members strolled into the, what the turtles were beginning to think, arena. The men were each holding weapon. They slowly made their way around the Turtles, making a circle, with the four brothers in the middle.
"Um, okay. Different Foot position," Donnie observed.
Then they attacked the turtles. When they did, the whole of the arena filled with the shouts of the other members as they cheered on their fellow Foot, and hissed at the turtles.
"Whoa!" Mikey exclaimed as one of them swung his Katana at Mikey's head with such force Mikey heard the air break and the wind pass. He whirled around and came up on the Ninja's right side, hoping he could get a whack in with his Nunchaku. But the Ninja jumped out the way and Mikey ducked another blow from another Ninja to his left. He darted in between two of them, then cart wheeled out of the way as they brought their own weapons across each other, one slicing the others neck, the other cutting the other's head in half.
"Ugh! Messy!" Mikey said, and brought his weapons up in time to stop an oncoming blow from another Katana from his left side. He threw them back, spun, ducked and brought his legs round to sweep the guy off his feet. The Ninja fell to the floor and Mikey brought his weapons round and behind him. Hearing a thud he turned and saw a Ninja on the floor, groaning in pain. Mikey grinned and kicked another in the face. ¦That was too easy!¦ Mikey brought his weapons round and met another pair of Nunchaku in the air. He pulled back and whirled them to the Ninja's side. The man dodged and swung his own, one round to the left, one round to Mikey's right. Mikey flipped back then cart wheeled to miss another blow. He landed and ducked, kicking the Ninja's feet out. He hit the dust and Mikey moved on to his next opponent.
Leo swung his Katana, blocking a blow from a Ninja Boken. Leo spun and whirled his weapons in the air, bringing them down in time to stop a Bo from taking his head off. He used his other sword and brought it down with enough force that it broke the wood in half. Leo kicked this guy away and turned to another, who had a similar pair of Katana. Leo let out a battle cry and brought his swords down on the other's. The Ninja man blocked it and attempted to kick Leo in the stomach. Leo grabbed the man's foot and tossed his aside.
"Narh!" Leo shouted as he spun away in time as a Tanto whirled past his head. Leo kicked this man in the behind who ate dirt, and faced his next Ninja guy. This one had a pair of metal Nunchakus. He swung them in the air, circling Leo, Leo watching his every move. The man suddenly attacked, bringing his weapons round and aiming to hit Leo on the side of his head. Leo ducked and blocked the next blow with his own weapons, but the Ninja pulled back and faked as move and struck Leo across his face. Leo leapt back, but not quick enough. He did avoid a very serious injury, but he was still left with a stinging graze across is cheek. Leo got angry. He waved his weapons in a complicated circle, making sure the Ninja had his eye on the one doing the most twirling, then the turtle brought the other across the ninja's side, leaving a nasty gnash in the flesh. The Ninja cried out in pain and fell to the floor, not dead. Leo breathed heavily and turned to the next idiot.
Donnie twirled his Bo staff, waiting for the Ninja to make a wrong move. The guy lunged and Donnie caught him easily across his back and brought him to the floor. Donnie ducked and rolled up to another, leaving one man with a puzzled look on his face as he had just brought his swords down right where Donnie had been and then there was no turtle. Donnie didn't stop to look back. He ducked a swing from metal Bo and swung his own around and under the feet of the human in front of him. Donnie tripled somersaulted over this one as a sword swung where he was standing. Donnie landed and delivered a solid kick to the stomach area. The man fell on top of the other one. Donnie waited for his next opponent to come forward. Instead this one stood in front of Donnie, as if waiting for Donnie to move first. But the turtle in purple knew this trick and ducked as another sword swung where his head should have been. Instead it hit the other guy's head and Donnie jumped back to his feet, leaping in the air and lashing out both feet to the shocked face of the Ninja.
"Haha . . . Don't mess with the Master!" Donnie teased. He ducked a swing of a Bo from a smallish guy. "Missed me!" He ducked again and the guy got frustrated. "Missed me again!" This time Donnie ducked and rolled, coming up on the Ninja's right side. Before the guy could turn around properly, Donnie kicked him in the face and whirled his Bo. "Are you sure I couldn't fix ya up some nice glasses? Maybe next time you might touch your opponent!" Donnie laughed and gestured for another to come forward. This one was slightly wary of the turtle talking to himself. Donnie grinned and met this guy's Nunchakus in mid air. The both pulled back and sidestepped, watching the other's movements. The Ninja swung his weapons and Donnie blocked them again, spun and kicked the guy in the stomach. The Ninja doubled over, winded. Donnie sighed and met his next guy.
Raph jumped and kicked two in the face. He landed and ducked as a sword was brought over his head. Raph kicked the guys feet and he hit the floor hard. The turtle in red jumped up and blocked a pair of Katana with his Sais. He twisted them and the swords flew out of the Ninja's hands, landing painfully on - in - the guy he had just downed. Raph faked a stab and punch the guy with his other hand, while the man was busy watching his other swing back.
"Heh! Some of your best Foot soldiers?! Shredder . . . I'm surprised at you!" Raph gleefully shouted out to Shredder, though he couldn't see him, as he would never take his eyes off the fighting enemy. Three at once ganged up on him and he grinned, waving them forward. They all brought their weapons down at the same time, and Raph kneeled to the floor, the better to block. He kicked one man's legs out and sliced the next Ninja's arm. The guy momentarily stopped in pain but that was all Raph needed to punch his lights out and move on. Though when he did lash out with his fist, the third guy fell over the first and flailed his arms, which held a sword, which sliced Raph's lower arm. The next thing the Ninja knew was blackness as Raph pounded the lights out of him. Blood from his arm dripped over the dirt, but Raph paid no attention to his wound and happily continued his fight against the idiots who thought they could beat him. He brought his weapons round and blocked a Bo heading his way. He twisted the handle yet again, and again the opponents weapon was flung to the floor, leaving Raph to kick the face of a stunned Ninja.
Shredder had had enough. He was ready to face them, and they looked softened up already. Sweating badly and for the case of one, bleeding. Shredder called the Ninjas back. They fought well, but not well enough to inflict any serious pain on these turtles. The remaining Ninjas gratefully backed off, dragging with them the bodies of the dead.
"You have won my group of Twenty," Shredder called to the turtles. "But only just. Now you will face me!" Shredder tore off his cloak and held out his hand. A Foot member rushed over and laid in his hand the same Staff as he had used before. Shredder walked slowly and deliberately into the arena. Twirled his Staff twice, letting the WHOOSH sound be heard. It was the only sound now, as all the other Foot members had stopped cheering.
SuperShredder really did match his new name. Mikey didn't know what hit him, it happened so fast, but when his vision returned to normal, he found himself on the floor in an extraordinary amount of pain. His head was banging and he heard another thud. Now the sound had come back he could hear the other Foot members were back to their cheering. The thud he heard was revealed a few seconds later to be Donnie. His brother was also on the floor, breathing hard and apparently in the same pain as Mikey. The turtle in orange painfully got to his feet and looked up to see Leo and Raph both taking on SuperShredder. They were faster than Mikey remembered them being in the dojo, but Shredder knocked Raph to the ground and Leo was all on his own, still fighting his ground.
"Donnie . . . Get up! Gotta help Leo!" Mikey pulled Donnie up and the pair rushed over to Raph, just as they heard another thud and Leo hit the floor where they were next to Raph. They heard laughter. Cruel laughter. The Shredder was laughing at them.
"You fools! You really thought you could defeat me?! I will get rid of you freaks now and you'll be gone from annoying me forever!"
Raph spat blood and got up. "Freaks?! Freaks?! Look who the freak is now! The day I call YOU normal pal, is the day YOU rule the world . . . Which is NEVER GUNNA HAPPEN!"
Leo, Donnie and Mikey got to their feet and watched as their brother limped up to Shredder, still insulting him. It seemed to anger Shredder and the next thing they were both in close combat.
"C'mon!" Leo cried. He charged. He got up to the fight just as Raph was thrown to the floor. Donnie and Mikey were close behind Leo and the three pushed at Shredder. But still he overpowered them and sent Mikey to the floor a minute later.
//
Splinter woke from his trance suddenly. He was in his armchair, the professor on the couch. They had been there since Raph and Mikey had looked around, told them it was safe and left. Frakly looked up, alarmed, as Splinter gasped. What he had just seen, sensed, was bad . . . Very bad.
"My son . . ."
//
Mikey crawled over to Raph, who was still on the floor.
"C'mon! Get up! We need you!" Mikey pulled his brother to his feet and handed Raph his Sais, which he had dropped. Both brothers turned to help their other two, but were thrown back as Leo landed on them. A second later Donnie flew into them as well.
"Face it, turtles! You can never overpower me!" Shredder laughed. "Stop wasting my time and give in! You have already lost! The only reason you are not dead now is because I have been playing with you! You're just a waste of breath!"
All four turtles narrowed their eyes in anger. As one they stood up.
"We are not defeated yet, Shredder!" Leo called. "Only a coward bluffs his wins, but a true Ninja never gives in!" With that they all assumed a position made of all four of them. Leo and Donnie gripped their weapons, glaring at Shredder, on the outsides of Mikey and Raph, who were half crouched in-between their brothers, baring their teeth, weapons held in position.
Shredder growled and walked into the battle this time. He swung his Staff, disarming Donnie of his, but this only left him with his free hands, which he used to deliver a good solid punch to the chest while Shredder was busy with Mikey. Shredder growled out as Mikey's Nunchaku battered his arms and face. Shredder was now busy with Leo, who was using every skill he could to keep Shredder busy and keep his Katana in hand while his brothers worked together around him. A few just a minute or so of intense combat, the turtles had pushed Shredder back against a two piled crates. Leo took a swipe with his Katana at Shredder, but he ducked and Leo's swords went through the crate, shaking the one on top slightly. Raph's Sais met Shredder's Staff and the Shredder pushed the turtle back, and ducked again as Leo attempted another slash at his face. Raph took his chance and sliced up one of Shredder's arm, who practically roared with anger. Raph grinned but stopped when grabbed his by the neck suddenly and threw his as hard as he could against the crate behind him, slightly to his left. Raph fell to the floor, his whole body winded and was still.
"Raph!" Leo yelled and ducked under Shredder's fierce blow, which knocked the side of his head and Leo stumbled back. ¦No! We can't stop now¦ We have him backed up!¦
Donnie ducked as well as Shredder swung his huge, thick arm. Donnie jumped back as the metal Staff nearly sliced up his stomach. He watched as Mikey got a few beats in, and avoided those from Shredder. Donnie eyes landed at the crate behind Shredder. The bottom one was sagging under the weight of the top one, which was only three quarters on the bottom. A thought struck him and he pulled Leo to his feet who just landed next to him.
"Crate!" Donnie hissed at Leo. He couldn't say any more as Shredder growled and took a swipe at the two turtles. Leo looked back at Raph, who was still on the floor, then at the crate behind Shredder. His face set as he realised what Donnie was on about. He ducked suddenly as the Shred Staff whirled over him, and Leo had a go with his own weapons. To his slight surprise he managed to slice Shredder across the chest. ¦He must be tiring!¦ Leo went ahead and did an obvious swipe to the head. As he thought, Shredder ducked, and Leo's swords slashed at the weakening wood of the first crate. It groaned but Shredder didn't notice. Leo had to quickly duck and back away after that slice as he got to close.
Mikey caught on to what Leo and Don were doing. Although he didn't have sharp weapons, he could still at least try to weaken the wood even more. Mikey swung one weapon at Shredder, who ducked, and gave Mikey and Leo a chance to swipe at the wood.
It all happened in slow motion. The wood groaned and creaked, which lasted for several unreal seconds. In those seconds Shredder turned to the crate, which was leaning closer. He looked in horror at it. He threw his hands up but it was too late. Leo, Donnie and Mikey dived back in such slow motion. They watched as everything slowed down, every sound slowed, stretched and sounded three times louder. Leo realised in horror about something and tried to dive past his brother, who also had seen it. They knew it was too late and they stopped him, pulling him back as he crawled on the ground, trying to get to the crate. They knew he would get crushed, too. Shredder shrank smaller as in slow, slow motion the crate pushed him to the floor as it fell. Shredder hit the floor and the crate burst and broke into splinters and planks as it impacted with the dirt floor, covering Shredder like waves on a pebble at a windy beach. Leo was still fighting to get to the mess, which was still, in that slow, slow motion, falling. The above wood was still falling, crushing the Shredder under so much weight . . . And . . .
Sound and movement once again returned to normal. The rest of the crate fell quickly as gravity and reality returned.
The turtles froze, eyes and faces a mask of disbelief at what they did. Yes they did the world and themselves a great favour. The Shredder was dead. For sure this time. After all of that wood that fell on him, as much and as heavy, maybe more than the jetty, would have surely killed him. But the turtles stared not at the spot where the Shredder had fallen. Not at Casey, April and M'reagro who had just run in and froze; not at the Foot members as they ran out, fear of no leader and of the beast that chased them out . . . But they stared at the spot, under all that heavy wood, where the being with the name disappeared. The name that Leo shouted, and still was shouting . . .
"Raaaaaaappppppppphhhhhhhhhh!"
(Okay, I had some fun with this part, hehe. It did take me a couple of hours, okay then half the day, but it's done and I'm pretty proud of this part, even if it isn't good. I'm putting this bit at the top as I want to leave the bottom space empty, you'll see why if you read . . . It's just for the tension, hehe!)
The three caught up with Leo as he jumped down a staircase, obviously leading into a basement. Leo knocked a few Ninjas out at the bottom, and left two for his brothers. Donnie and Mikey got these two a second later, and continued after Leo. They were moving down a narrow corridor now, and every now and then a few Foot soldiers would step out from a room door, get knocked out and pushed back in again. Leo stopped and waited for his brothers to catch up.
"Okay Raph, you know where this big room is, lead the way." Leo ordered.
Raph stared at his brother for a second. ¦Heh, I get to lead. Geeze this must have a big impact on Leo's head, this whole Shredder thing¦ Raph led them down another set of stairs and recognised the familiar corridor. He started to jog and his brothers did the same. He knew what was at the end of this corridor. He stopped and looked down at the gap where the wall should be, down at what looked like an underground warehouse. There were huge crates dumped around the sides and crates on top of others. There was no tiles or anything except dirt on the floor, making it seem as though it was outside. There was no one, not one Foot member moving about. The four slowly made their way down to the floor and round the crates to the middle. All of a sudden the lights went off and they backed together. Shells to shells. The lights flickered on a few seconds later and the whole room was full of Foot soldiers. Some on the walkway/corridor they had just come from, some on the crates, others on the floor at the sides. The turtles stared around. And then, they all focused on one enemy in particular.
"Shredder," all four turtles breathed. They stared at the enormous being in front of them. Shredder, or SuperShredder, was twice his size than before. His gear was bigger, the spikes, sharper. His face, uglier. (Or at least the half you can see)
"Turtles!" Shredder laughed. "I trust you are well?"
"Well enough to kick you're a-" Raph started, but was elbowed in the side by Leo.
"Better than you!" Leo said. "Well enough to put you down for the last time, Shredder!"
"We will see, fool! But first, let me soften you up with my best Foot members. The most skilled in the clan, apart from myself."
About twenty, slightly different clothed, Foot members strolled into the, what the turtles were beginning to think, arena. The men were each holding weapon. They slowly made their way around the Turtles, making a circle, with the four brothers in the middle.
"Um, okay. Different Foot position," Donnie observed.
Then they attacked the turtles. When they did, the whole of the arena filled with the shouts of the other members as they cheered on their fellow Foot, and hissed at the turtles.
"Whoa!" Mikey exclaimed as one of them swung his Katana at Mikey's head with such force Mikey heard the air break and the wind pass. He whirled around and came up on the Ninja's right side, hoping he could get a whack in with his Nunchaku. But the Ninja jumped out the way and Mikey ducked another blow from another Ninja to his left. He darted in between two of them, then cart wheeled out of the way as they brought their own weapons across each other, one slicing the others neck, the other cutting the other's head in half.
"Ugh! Messy!" Mikey said, and brought his weapons up in time to stop an oncoming blow from another Katana from his left side. He threw them back, spun, ducked and brought his legs round to sweep the guy off his feet. The Ninja fell to the floor and Mikey brought his weapons round and behind him. Hearing a thud he turned and saw a Ninja on the floor, groaning in pain. Mikey grinned and kicked another in the face. ¦That was too easy!¦ Mikey brought his weapons round and met another pair of Nunchaku in the air. He pulled back and whirled them to the Ninja's side. The man dodged and swung his own, one round to the left, one round to Mikey's right. Mikey flipped back then cart wheeled to miss another blow. He landed and ducked, kicking the Ninja's feet out. He hit the dust and Mikey moved on to his next opponent.
Leo swung his Katana, blocking a blow from a Ninja Boken. Leo spun and whirled his weapons in the air, bringing them down in time to stop a Bo from taking his head off. He used his other sword and brought it down with enough force that it broke the wood in half. Leo kicked this guy away and turned to another, who had a similar pair of Katana. Leo let out a battle cry and brought his swords down on the other's. The Ninja man blocked it and attempted to kick Leo in the stomach. Leo grabbed the man's foot and tossed his aside.
"Narh!" Leo shouted as he spun away in time as a Tanto whirled past his head. Leo kicked this man in the behind who ate dirt, and faced his next Ninja guy. This one had a pair of metal Nunchakus. He swung them in the air, circling Leo, Leo watching his every move. The man suddenly attacked, bringing his weapons round and aiming to hit Leo on the side of his head. Leo ducked and blocked the next blow with his own weapons, but the Ninja pulled back and faked as move and struck Leo across his face. Leo leapt back, but not quick enough. He did avoid a very serious injury, but he was still left with a stinging graze across is cheek. Leo got angry. He waved his weapons in a complicated circle, making sure the Ninja had his eye on the one doing the most twirling, then the turtle brought the other across the ninja's side, leaving a nasty gnash in the flesh. The Ninja cried out in pain and fell to the floor, not dead. Leo breathed heavily and turned to the next idiot.
Donnie twirled his Bo staff, waiting for the Ninja to make a wrong move. The guy lunged and Donnie caught him easily across his back and brought him to the floor. Donnie ducked and rolled up to another, leaving one man with a puzzled look on his face as he had just brought his swords down right where Donnie had been and then there was no turtle. Donnie didn't stop to look back. He ducked a swing from metal Bo and swung his own around and under the feet of the human in front of him. Donnie tripled somersaulted over this one as a sword swung where he was standing. Donnie landed and delivered a solid kick to the stomach area. The man fell on top of the other one. Donnie waited for his next opponent to come forward. Instead this one stood in front of Donnie, as if waiting for Donnie to move first. But the turtle in purple knew this trick and ducked as another sword swung where his head should have been. Instead it hit the other guy's head and Donnie jumped back to his feet, leaping in the air and lashing out both feet to the shocked face of the Ninja.
"Haha . . . Don't mess with the Master!" Donnie teased. He ducked a swing of a Bo from a smallish guy. "Missed me!" He ducked again and the guy got frustrated. "Missed me again!" This time Donnie ducked and rolled, coming up on the Ninja's right side. Before the guy could turn around properly, Donnie kicked him in the face and whirled his Bo. "Are you sure I couldn't fix ya up some nice glasses? Maybe next time you might touch your opponent!" Donnie laughed and gestured for another to come forward. This one was slightly wary of the turtle talking to himself. Donnie grinned and met this guy's Nunchakus in mid air. The both pulled back and sidestepped, watching the other's movements. The Ninja swung his weapons and Donnie blocked them again, spun and kicked the guy in the stomach. The Ninja doubled over, winded. Donnie sighed and met his next guy.
Raph jumped and kicked two in the face. He landed and ducked as a sword was brought over his head. Raph kicked the guys feet and he hit the floor hard. The turtle in red jumped up and blocked a pair of Katana with his Sais. He twisted them and the swords flew out of the Ninja's hands, landing painfully on - in - the guy he had just downed. Raph faked a stab and punch the guy with his other hand, while the man was busy watching his other swing back.
"Heh! Some of your best Foot soldiers?! Shredder . . . I'm surprised at you!" Raph gleefully shouted out to Shredder, though he couldn't see him, as he would never take his eyes off the fighting enemy. Three at once ganged up on him and he grinned, waving them forward. They all brought their weapons down at the same time, and Raph kneeled to the floor, the better to block. He kicked one man's legs out and sliced the next Ninja's arm. The guy momentarily stopped in pain but that was all Raph needed to punch his lights out and move on. Though when he did lash out with his fist, the third guy fell over the first and flailed his arms, which held a sword, which sliced Raph's lower arm. The next thing the Ninja knew was blackness as Raph pounded the lights out of him. Blood from his arm dripped over the dirt, but Raph paid no attention to his wound and happily continued his fight against the idiots who thought they could beat him. He brought his weapons round and blocked a Bo heading his way. He twisted the handle yet again, and again the opponents weapon was flung to the floor, leaving Raph to kick the face of a stunned Ninja.
Shredder had had enough. He was ready to face them, and they looked softened up already. Sweating badly and for the case of one, bleeding. Shredder called the Ninjas back. They fought well, but not well enough to inflict any serious pain on these turtles. The remaining Ninjas gratefully backed off, dragging with them the bodies of the dead.
"You have won my group of Twenty," Shredder called to the turtles. "But only just. Now you will face me!" Shredder tore off his cloak and held out his hand. A Foot member rushed over and laid in his hand the same Staff as he had used before. Shredder walked slowly and deliberately into the arena. Twirled his Staff twice, letting the WHOOSH sound be heard. It was the only sound now, as all the other Foot members had stopped cheering.
SuperShredder really did match his new name. Mikey didn't know what hit him, it happened so fast, but when his vision returned to normal, he found himself on the floor in an extraordinary amount of pain. His head was banging and he heard another thud. Now the sound had come back he could hear the other Foot members were back to their cheering. The thud he heard was revealed a few seconds later to be Donnie. His brother was also on the floor, breathing hard and apparently in the same pain as Mikey. The turtle in orange painfully got to his feet and looked up to see Leo and Raph both taking on SuperShredder. They were faster than Mikey remembered them being in the dojo, but Shredder knocked Raph to the ground and Leo was all on his own, still fighting his ground.
"Donnie . . . Get up! Gotta help Leo!" Mikey pulled Donnie up and the pair rushed over to Raph, just as they heard another thud and Leo hit the floor where they were next to Raph. They heard laughter. Cruel laughter. The Shredder was laughing at them.
"You fools! You really thought you could defeat me?! I will get rid of you freaks now and you'll be gone from annoying me forever!"
Raph spat blood and got up. "Freaks?! Freaks?! Look who the freak is now! The day I call YOU normal pal, is the day YOU rule the world . . . Which is NEVER GUNNA HAPPEN!"
Leo, Donnie and Mikey got to their feet and watched as their brother limped up to Shredder, still insulting him. It seemed to anger Shredder and the next thing they were both in close combat.
"C'mon!" Leo cried. He charged. He got up to the fight just as Raph was thrown to the floor. Donnie and Mikey were close behind Leo and the three pushed at Shredder. But still he overpowered them and sent Mikey to the floor a minute later.
//
Splinter woke from his trance suddenly. He was in his armchair, the professor on the couch. They had been there since Raph and Mikey had looked around, told them it was safe and left. Frakly looked up, alarmed, as Splinter gasped. What he had just seen, sensed, was bad . . . Very bad.
"My son . . ."
//
Mikey crawled over to Raph, who was still on the floor.
"C'mon! Get up! We need you!" Mikey pulled his brother to his feet and handed Raph his Sais, which he had dropped. Both brothers turned to help their other two, but were thrown back as Leo landed on them. A second later Donnie flew into them as well.
"Face it, turtles! You can never overpower me!" Shredder laughed. "Stop wasting my time and give in! You have already lost! The only reason you are not dead now is because I have been playing with you! You're just a waste of breath!"
All four turtles narrowed their eyes in anger. As one they stood up.
"We are not defeated yet, Shredder!" Leo called. "Only a coward bluffs his wins, but a true Ninja never gives in!" With that they all assumed a position made of all four of them. Leo and Donnie gripped their weapons, glaring at Shredder, on the outsides of Mikey and Raph, who were half crouched in-between their brothers, baring their teeth, weapons held in position.
Shredder growled and walked into the battle this time. He swung his Staff, disarming Donnie of his, but this only left him with his free hands, which he used to deliver a good solid punch to the chest while Shredder was busy with Mikey. Shredder growled out as Mikey's Nunchaku battered his arms and face. Shredder was now busy with Leo, who was using every skill he could to keep Shredder busy and keep his Katana in hand while his brothers worked together around him. A few just a minute or so of intense combat, the turtles had pushed Shredder back against a two piled crates. Leo took a swipe with his Katana at Shredder, but he ducked and Leo's swords went through the crate, shaking the one on top slightly. Raph's Sais met Shredder's Staff and the Shredder pushed the turtle back, and ducked again as Leo attempted another slash at his face. Raph took his chance and sliced up one of Shredder's arm, who practically roared with anger. Raph grinned but stopped when grabbed his by the neck suddenly and threw his as hard as he could against the crate behind him, slightly to his left. Raph fell to the floor, his whole body winded and was still.
"Raph!" Leo yelled and ducked under Shredder's fierce blow, which knocked the side of his head and Leo stumbled back. ¦No! We can't stop now¦ We have him backed up!¦
Donnie ducked as well as Shredder swung his huge, thick arm. Donnie jumped back as the metal Staff nearly sliced up his stomach. He watched as Mikey got a few beats in, and avoided those from Shredder. Donnie eyes landed at the crate behind Shredder. The bottom one was sagging under the weight of the top one, which was only three quarters on the bottom. A thought struck him and he pulled Leo to his feet who just landed next to him.
"Crate!" Donnie hissed at Leo. He couldn't say any more as Shredder growled and took a swipe at the two turtles. Leo looked back at Raph, who was still on the floor, then at the crate behind Shredder. His face set as he realised what Donnie was on about. He ducked suddenly as the Shred Staff whirled over him, and Leo had a go with his own weapons. To his slight surprise he managed to slice Shredder across the chest. ¦He must be tiring!¦ Leo went ahead and did an obvious swipe to the head. As he thought, Shredder ducked, and Leo's swords slashed at the weakening wood of the first crate. It groaned but Shredder didn't notice. Leo had to quickly duck and back away after that slice as he got to close.
Mikey caught on to what Leo and Don were doing. Although he didn't have sharp weapons, he could still at least try to weaken the wood even more. Mikey swung one weapon at Shredder, who ducked, and gave Mikey and Leo a chance to swipe at the wood.
It all happened in slow motion. The wood groaned and creaked, which lasted for several unreal seconds. In those seconds Shredder turned to the crate, which was leaning closer. He looked in horror at it. He threw his hands up but it was too late. Leo, Donnie and Mikey dived back in such slow motion. They watched as everything slowed down, every sound slowed, stretched and sounded three times louder. Leo realised in horror about something and tried to dive past his brother, who also had seen it. They knew it was too late and they stopped him, pulling him back as he crawled on the ground, trying to get to the crate. They knew he would get crushed, too. Shredder shrank smaller as in slow, slow motion the crate pushed him to the floor as it fell. Shredder hit the floor and the crate burst and broke into splinters and planks as it impacted with the dirt floor, covering Shredder like waves on a pebble at a windy beach. Leo was still fighting to get to the mess, which was still, in that slow, slow motion, falling. The above wood was still falling, crushing the Shredder under so much weight . . . And . . .
Sound and movement once again returned to normal. The rest of the crate fell quickly as gravity and reality returned.
The turtles froze, eyes and faces a mask of disbelief at what they did. Yes they did the world and themselves a great favour. The Shredder was dead. For sure this time. After all of that wood that fell on him, as much and as heavy, maybe more than the jetty, would have surely killed him. But the turtles stared not at the spot where the Shredder had fallen. Not at Casey, April and M'reagro who had just run in and froze; not at the Foot members as they ran out, fear of no leader and of the beast that chased them out . . . But they stared at the spot, under all that heavy wood, where the being with the name disappeared. The name that Leo shouted, and still was shouting . . .
"Raaaaaaappppppppphhhhhhhhhh!"