Perfect By Nature

Chapter XXVIII: Round Three

By: Michelle

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Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I'm just a crazy fan writing a fanfic with my favorite characters in it. This is written for fun only. I make no profit off of this.

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Leonardo gulped slowly. He could feel the sharp blade digging into his neck causing a small stream of blood to roll down. He knew Dragon Lord could kill him in a moments notice.

In the corner of his eye, he could see his family and friends. Donatello was half-dazed. He knew he was hurt bad and shouldn't have fought to begin with. Storm, Venus, and Raphael all had burns as well as numerous bumps and bruises. Colossus, Rogue, and Professor had bumps and bruise too. They were lucky was all they got. Michaelangelo was nowhere to be found. He hoped he got to safety if something happened to him. Wolverine looked like he rose from the dead.

"Looks like I win." Dragon Lord said baring his teeth.

There were many of them there, but none of them could help him except the one unaccounted for.

"Not quite." Nightcrawler said digging the end of Leonardo's katana in the side of Dragon Lord's neck.

Dragon Lord looked at Nightcrawler in the corner of his eye. He could feel the sharp tip of the blade in his neck and was thankful his thick leathery skin protected him being cut severely. "You think you are a match for me." He said tempting his opponent in battle.

"I think you underestimate me." Nightcrawler replied. "I'm far more skilled than I lead on."

"Is that so?" Dragon Lord threw an energy blast knocking Leonardo to the ground as he swung his sword around to have it CLANG as it met Kurt's. "We shall see."

Nightcrawler's eyes widened as their blades CLANG for the first time causing sparks to fly. It was too late to rethink this over as the sword fighting began. He kept telling himself it was like fighting one on one with Logan, but that was hardly the case.

Dragon Lord could see that slight glimpse of fear in Nightcrawler's eye. It was a weakness he welcomed with open arms.

Venus rushed to Leonardo's side. "Leo." She said as she touched the side of his cheek. "Leonardo."

Leonardo looked up at her worried face. "I'm alright." He said softly. "But Dragon Lord…Kurt's no match for him."

Dragon Lord and Nightcrawler fought back and forth. Sometimes Dragon Lord would have the advantage; other times Nightcrawler did. It seemed like a stalemate.

CLANG

Nightcrawler could feel his body tiring and wondered if Dragon Lord was feeling the same. He and his foster-brother would always sword fight during shows in the circus as well as for the hell of it, but it had been nothing like this. That was merely an act. This was life or death.

CLANG

Dragon Lord growled as Nightcrawler blocked another blow. He had to admit it. Nightcrawler fought extremely well, considering he was self taught. He had fought in many battles, but few have even been a descent match that Nightcrawler and Leonardo had given him. They were both worthy opponents. He had made one fall; now he needed the other.

CLANG

Storm wanted to faint so many times she watched Kurt nearly meet his end, but she knew she had to be strong. Strong for her team. Strong for him. Like the others, she felt so helpless. One on one battles meant dead and no one was able enough to jump in. Even Wolverine hadn't fully healed yet.

CLANG

Dragon Lord was getting tired of fighting an even match. He needed to break his opponent quickly. He glared into Nightcrawler's golden eyes with his ruby ones.

They turned slowly with their weapons locked in position. Dragon Lord held his focus and whispered. "I will kill you." Nightcrawler held his stare. "I will be painful I assure you. You will be alive when it is done." Nightcrawler held his ground despite the threats Dragon Lord was giving him. "First, I will open up your rib cage and watch your heart beat." Dragon Lord smiled baring all teeth. "Then, I'll remove your heart and crush it in my hand." Nightcrawler was sick at the thought, but wasn't going to show weakness. "And I will paint my palace with your blood." Dragon Lord's eyes glowed brighter. "Of course, this will all happen after I kill your precious Storm before your eyes."

Kurt blinked for a split second and the katana was knocked out of his hand. He backed up and got in a fighting stance.

Dragon Lord knew he had hit a nerve. "She is quite lovely isn't she?" He said waiting for a moment to make his move. "I might have to take her for myself before I kill her."

Kurt spun around, popping the sword out of Dragon Lord's hand.

"I've touched a sore spot I see. Your emotions can betray you." Dragon Lord laughed. "That's what makes us dragons so much more superior. We know how to disconnect them when fighting. It's a shame you couldn't learn the same."

They were now both weaponless, but Dragon Lord could care less. He was trained in hand to hand combat as well. However, he knew the fight wouldn't be as much fun as if he were to use his alchemy.

Dragon Lord smiled a toothy grim as Nightcrawler as his eyes brightened red. He glanced at the surrounding Turtles and X-men and blasted the ground around them with the power shooting from his eyes. This was going to be a private fight and he didn't want the interruption.

Dirt and grass flew all around them. Storm used her winds to deflect as much debris as she could from hitting them, but it couldn't stop them from loosing their balance.

Leonardo caught Venus in his arms as she fell. She looked at him feeling protected and loved, but even more powerful than before.

Nightcrawler could feel the power behind the punches he was blocking from Dragon Lord. Even his bruises were starting to get bruises. He miss calculated a block and felt the steel like fist slam into his jaw.

Dragon Lord smiled as the punch caused Nightcrawler to loose his balance. It gave him a window of opportunity to summon up some power. He spun around and directed a roundhouse kick to Kurt's chest.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Nightcrawler saw the move and tried to bamf out of the way, but he couldn't. He tried several mover tomes, but it was like his body was frozen. Dragon Lord had power over him. He fell hard to the ground as the steel boot slammed into his chest.

Dragon Lord saw his opponent struggling to breathe after having the wind knocked out of him. He backhanded Nightcrawler as he tried to get up.

Nightcrawler knew he had fallen. He glanced into the settling dust to see Storm and the weak team of X-men and Turtles. His eyes felt so heavy, but he kept them open seeing the fear on Storm's face. He prayed she knew how deep he really felt for her.

"Kurt." Storm cried as Dragon Lord grabbed him by the neck. "No."

"Stand down." Dragon Lord could see the movements made by his enemy. They were going to fight to the death if they had to.

Nightcrawler knew he couldn't give up fighting. He tried to pry himself free from Dragon Lord's grip, but he was too strong. As Dragon Lord raised him higher in the air, he used his tail to wrap it around his neck.

Dragon Lord was not pleased. "And you stay still." He said shocking Nightcrawler with his power causing him to hang unconscious in his death grip.

'Kurt." Storm was so freaked out that her eyes pearled over.

"I'd think twice about that." Dragon Lord said to her. "Do you really want to kill the both of us by hitting me with a lightning bolt?" Then, he turned to Xavier. "Try as you might, he can not get through. My mind is far too powerful." He flashed a toothy grin at the others. "As for the rest of you, it would be wise to stay back, unless you want me to snap his neck."

The Turtles and X-men all back up except Storm and Venus.

"Dragon Lord, let him go." Venus said feeling the power flowing thru her.

"Go ahead Shinobi." Dragon Lord challenged her. "Cast your spell. Send us both back."

Venus clenched her fists. She knew he was right. Sending Dragon Lord back to his palace was impossible and what he wanted. I've got to do something.

Dragon Lord laughed. "That's what I thought." His eyes rolled back. Taking Nightcrawler's power now would enable him to defeat all of them. They had no way to stop him, especially when he began reciting the power transfer spell.

"Seeing thru your eyes like open doors

I call your spirit into my core

You've become so numb without out a soul ceasing"

"Someone do something." Storm cried. Dragon Lord was winning and there was nothing anyone could do about it. It was like he was freezing them in place so they couldn't get near them. "No Kurt."

Nightcrawler's unconscious body hanging in Dragon Lord's gripe glowed. His chest rose up as his spirit and power felt the calling.

"Now that I have you there is no doubt

You can't just leave me

Breathe into me and make me real

Bring me to life."

Dragon Lord's eyes glowed bright red as the spell began pulling Nightcrawler's spirit from his body. It was almost complete. "BRING ME TO…AAAHHHHHHH!"

The spell was destroyed. Dragon Lord dropped Nightcrawler from his grip. He looked at his wrist seeing an icy spike thru it. The cold wet ice mixed with his boiling red blood. Who did this to me?

The Turtles, the X-men and Dragon Lord's eyes widened as Iceman slid down on an ice slide he created.

"Bobby." Rogue cried out.

Leonardo glanced from Iceman to Dragon Lord. That was their chance to defeat him. "Venus now."

Green lightning flashed around as Venus recited her spell. She could hear Dragon Lord growling at her. He knew he was defeated.

"I WILL FINISH YOU ONE DAY SHINOBI!!!!!" Dragon Lord cried out as he disappeared.

"Not today." Venus said and fainted from over exhaustion.

"Venus." Leonardo caught her again in his arms. "I got you." He looked at her bruised face forgetting about the cuts and burns he had. He was just glad that she was going to be alright.

Rogue hugged Iceman proudly and carefully.

"We won." Raphael exclaimed. "We kicked those lizard asses out of here."

"Don't get excited yet Bub?" Wolverine said as he pointed to Storm and Nightcrawler. "This battle ain't over yet."

"Kurt." Storm cried as she felt his weak pulse. "Fight it Kurt, fight it. Don't leave me."

As the sun began to rise, a light rain tried to wash away all her fears.

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I promise. No one else is getting hurt. The fight scenes are over. I am so cruel to my characters.

Anyways, I got to get the X-men and Turtles to the med lab, so I'll see you next chapter.

Oh. The spell Dragon Lord was reciting is based off of Bring Me to Life by Evanescence.

Two more to go until…Sweet Little Lies

Thanks for all the reviews.

Michelle