Here's a companion peace from Karai's perspective. Enjoy!
Also, expect one from Raph's POV soon!
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Sword posed, I will myself to strike. Surely, my will alone will be greater then my commitment to this...creature.
I must think of him as nothing more then that. He's a creature, a monster, my father's enemy and nothing more. I swore him his life and the lives of his family for as long as the foot clan controlled the city. I am honor- bound to keep that oath. Yet my honor conflicts itself, for I have also sworn loyalty to Oroku Saki, The Shredder, My father in all ways but biological. I must choose, spare the life of an ally and uphold my honor...or uphold my loyalty to my family.
Leonardo's words cut me as deeply as my sword is capable of cutting him at this moment. He stands, perfectly still, arms slightly outstretched. He doesn't look like a man awaiting death. Weather this is because he possesses an inner courage or because he's simply not a man I remain unsure.
The eyes...orbs of pure white, there true color unseen behind the mask. The eyes bore into mine. How am I expected to believe those are the eyes of a simple animal? Reptile he may be, the thought that he may be more human than my own master comes unbidden to my mind. I instantly dismiss it. How dare I think such things? The Shredder would... Anger pulses through me for time so short I barley recognize it. The Shredder would kill me. His tone lately, he's not the man he once was. My sword comes down...I nearly find the courage to strike.
Then I freeze.
I cannot kill what I have sworn to spare. It is a betrayal of my family, but when honor and family contradict, a choice must be made. I have made my choice. The sword drops from my hand and my arms fall limp.
I was about to betray my word to a good man. Turtle he may be, but right now, I see him as the person he is. Again, thoughts come unbidden to my mind. Thoughts about what my father has become, thoughts about how close I came to doing something I'll regret for the rest of my life. I think about who I serve and what he has caused me to become.
It was not a monster I was prepared to kill.
The man I serve is the real monster.
Also, expect one from Raph's POV soon!
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Sword posed, I will myself to strike. Surely, my will alone will be greater then my commitment to this...creature.
I must think of him as nothing more then that. He's a creature, a monster, my father's enemy and nothing more. I swore him his life and the lives of his family for as long as the foot clan controlled the city. I am honor- bound to keep that oath. Yet my honor conflicts itself, for I have also sworn loyalty to Oroku Saki, The Shredder, My father in all ways but biological. I must choose, spare the life of an ally and uphold my honor...or uphold my loyalty to my family.
Leonardo's words cut me as deeply as my sword is capable of cutting him at this moment. He stands, perfectly still, arms slightly outstretched. He doesn't look like a man awaiting death. Weather this is because he possesses an inner courage or because he's simply not a man I remain unsure.
The eyes...orbs of pure white, there true color unseen behind the mask. The eyes bore into mine. How am I expected to believe those are the eyes of a simple animal? Reptile he may be, the thought that he may be more human than my own master comes unbidden to my mind. I instantly dismiss it. How dare I think such things? The Shredder would... Anger pulses through me for time so short I barley recognize it. The Shredder would kill me. His tone lately, he's not the man he once was. My sword comes down...I nearly find the courage to strike.
Then I freeze.
I cannot kill what I have sworn to spare. It is a betrayal of my family, but when honor and family contradict, a choice must be made. I have made my choice. The sword drops from my hand and my arms fall limp.
I was about to betray my word to a good man. Turtle he may be, but right now, I see him as the person he is. Again, thoughts come unbidden to my mind. Thoughts about what my father has become, thoughts about how close I came to doing something I'll regret for the rest of my life. I think about who I serve and what he has caused me to become.
It was not a monster I was prepared to kill.
The man I serve is the real monster.