Disclaimer: I do not own the Ninja Turtles. I do own the Demon World and it's inhabitants, the Reapers and their respective identities (except for Don, of course), and the message Xawks. I'm not sure who Gaia belongs to, but it's not me.
A/N: Ok, so I lied again. I'm not busy yet, and as such, I'm writing. I really enjoy working on this story, and since I've been a good little student and got my homework done early, I figured it would be a nice to write more. I also managed to get the rest of the story outlined, which is totally rad.
----
[This idea of yours had better work.]
"It should, master...."
[We shall see.]
Ssylvar bowed his head; he didn't like being patronized, but he couldn't offend Rigai...he'd be nothing without him.
"If it doesn't work, we still have the upper hand."
[You are a fool.]
Orgo sauntered into the room. "So...what did he say?"
Ssylvar wrinkled his serpentine nose, "Nothing."
"I hardly believe -that-."
Ssylvar rolled his eyes, "Drop it. We have more important things to talk about."
"Ah yes," Orgo grinned, "Let us talk about what will happen soon. I do so enjoy speaking of death."
----
Shayl pulled up her tattered black hood and palmed an enormous machete. She was not looking forward to this death...she had already reviewed the images from the deceased, and it was -all- bad. She hadn't had one this terrible in...well, ever. She sighed and raised her hand to make a portal. Suddenly, her vision was obscured by the flapping of red wings. She batted at her face, but the little Xawk would not relent. Its cries were frantic, and Shayl had a hard time making out what it was saying. When she finally did, she gasped and snatched poor little Rudy right out of the air.
"Now, you listen carefully, you little snot," she said, her voice growling, "You get right back to Don, and you tell him to arm himself. This is -serious-. I have to go on a Messenger run, but I'll be with him as soon as I can. It's too late for me to avoid this job." She released Rudy and he fluttered above her head, anxious as ever, and disappeared. Shayl took a deep breath and left her house, her anxiousness to end this unpleasant errand even more heightened.
----
Don nearly leapt out of his seat when Rudy appeared in front of his face. It took him a few minutes to calm the creature down enough to communicate with it, but when Don got Shayl's message, he immediately adorned his 'scary' gear, including the giant sword. He tried to remain calm, but he felt trapped, depressed, and despite the presence of Rudy, horribly alone. He walked into the kitchen to get a drink of water, Rudy sitting stiffly on his shoulder. It was then that he heard Rudy's alarmed sqwaking. He whirled around, drawing his sword, and upsetting his little Xawk, who disappeared. Then, as Don gazed at the sight before him, he couldn't move a muscle. There, rushing toward him with weapons drawn, were Leo and Raph.
"Guys..." Don breathed, "What're you doing here?"
Neither of them responded, and Don realized that they were going to attack him. He jumped out of the way of Raph, who had been in the lead, and then barely avoided a slice from Leo's katanas.
"What is this!!?!?" Don bellowed, and backed up against a wall.
Raph stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with anger. "We're here to take you out, imposter!" He then leapt forward, and Don was barely able to duck out of the way. Leo was waiting for such a move and swung his sword right at Don's neck. Luckily, Don saw the sword coming and was able to turn his shoulder toward the blow. The katana sunk in deep, astonishing Donatello, who had gotten used to his Demonic stregnth. He wrenched away, blood pouring out of the wound in his shoulder. He turned and saw Raph coming in for another charge.
Don wanted more than anything to reason with them, but instead he panicked. He waved his hand, and a portal opened right in front of Raph...the startled turtle stopped his advance for a moment, and Don dove through, right under another swipe from Leo. The portal zipped closed, leaving Leo and Raph alone in the house.
"Well...now what?" Raph asked.
Leo shook his head. "Dunno...guess we're stuck here..." It was then that they heard a squawk and looked up to see a yellow Xawk hovering above their heads. It disappeared, and a few moments later a portal opened before them. Shrugging, they both stepped through.
----
"You failed!!" Ssylvar was livid.
"Look," Raph said, his temper rising, "He was -fast-, and he made one of those portal things before we could stop him. He wasn't some slow, inexperienced fighter. He knew what he was doing."
Leo nodded, "I agree. He moved like a ninja."
Orgo seemed deep in thought, "Hmm...I hadn't thought of this before, but it may well be possible, if that demon were truly strong enough."
"Hadn't thought of what?" Raph asked.
"I hadn't considered it, but it's possible that this evil Demon may have stolen some knowledge from your brother. It would make sense...he would be able to impersonate him better."
Leo looked skeptical, "How come you didn't think of this before?"
Orgo shrugged, "I didn't think he would be strong enough to do it...it requires a massive amount of power."
Ssylvar nodded, "It sure does...that doesn't bode well for the people of this world."
Raph frowned, "Ok then...now what?"
"Well," Ssylvar said, "We'll have to track him down again, which won't be easy. He knows he's being watched now, and he'll be wary. We'll have to think about this for a while."
Orgo nodded, "I agree. Perhaps you two would like a break? You could go back to Ssylvar's home until we come up with a solution...it will most likely involve some sort of magic, which will undoubtedly bore you."
Raph continued to frown, "Oh..so get rid of the two thugs until they're needed for the grunt work again, is it?"
Ssylvar put up his hands defensively, "We mean no offense. Please, if you have a way to track this Demon down, please share it."
Raph didn't like the tone in Ssylvar's voice...it was rather close to sarcasm. "No," he said, "I don't have any idea." Raph growled angrily, "Make your stupid portal then. We'll wait around like good little thugs until you need us."
Orgo made a portal for them, "We don't think of you as thugs," he said as the turtles walked toward the portal, "You're invaluable to our efforts."
"Whatever," Raph said, and they disappeared through the portal.
----
Shayl stepped into Don's living room, but it was deserted. There was blood on the floor, and signs of a struggle, but nothing else. Then, Rudy appeared in front of her.
"Where's Don?" she asked. The little Xawk informed her that he couldn't find Don. Shayl shook her head and said, "Xawk!" A little black Xawk appeared.
"Blackie...go find Donatello." The little black Xawk disappeared and Rudy informed her that if he couldn't find Don, then why on earth would -her- stupid Xawk be able to? Shayl decided not to comment on that. A few moments later Blackie returned and told her that Don could not be found.
"Both of you," she said impatiently, "Go look for Don, and don't come back until you find him!" Each of the Xawks whined piteously, but then, in a flash, they were gone.
Shayl sighed heavily and left for her own home...it wouldn't do to stick around here...if Don -had- been attacked, she didn't want to be here if his assailants returned. If they could make the Siyem bleed, well...they'd obliterate her.
----
"what would you have us do, master?" Ssylvar was prostrated on the ground...Orgo was watching him from the couch, an amused expression on his face. He couldn't hear Rigai, but he could guess at what was being said.
[Fool! I knew your plan wouldn't work, and now your quarry has escaped to Earth!]
"Earth? How did he get there? It's forbidden to travel to Earth unless you're on escort or Gaia gives you permission..."
[DON'T tell me about things I already know. Gaia favors him...of course she gave him permission!]
"But..." Ssylvar cringed at Rigai's tone, "We cut him off! Gaia has no power..."
[She still has power, you fool! She is weakened, but she is still a threat to us. Now that the Siyem is in the living world, you cannot reach him. Gaia lives there, and she will not allow you to get him.]
"Then...what should we do?"
[There is a way. First you must kill the Wiyem...that task at least should not be too hard for you. Once he is dead, I will provide you with a way to bring the Siyem back here.]
"Yes, master. I will do as you say."
[You'd better.]
----
Mike trudged through the monotonous sewer tunnels, starting to feel more and more dread about Leo and Raph. He'd been searching all night, and though he had told Splinter he wouldn't stray far or stay out long, he'd become determined to find them. He'd called home to inform Splinter of his plans, and now, here he was, still not finding anything. Mike stopped and sighed. Maybe he should just return home. He turned around and then stopped short. He was standing directly underneath the alley where he'd found Don.
Mike shuddered...just what he needed to remember tonight. He started to walk away, but he stopped again. He had a weird feeling, like...maybe he should go up there and look.
"No," Mike said, "I don't want to go up there." Still he didn't walk away. He stood underneath the manhole for several minutes, telling himself he didn't want to go up there. Then, he took a deep breath and climbed up the ladder, lifted up the manhole cover, and stepped out into the alley where his brother had died.
There was something on the ground a few feet from the manhole. Mike squinted, but he couldn't make out what it was...it was nothing but a black blob...a -large- black blob. Mike blinked. The black blob was wearing a huge sword! Mike cautiously walked closer and realized that this was most certainly a body, and there was a hood covering the face. Mike told himself that he should just leave, go back down the ladder and go home. He reached out his hand toward the hood, slowly, carefully, afraid this body would begin to move.
He grabbed onto the hood and pulled it back slightly; then, with a gasp, Mike compulsively pulled it the rest of they way back.
"Don!" he exclaimed, feeling a thousand emotions coursing through his body all at once. He immediately thought that this must be some horrible dream; he was reliving the death of his brother all over again. Then, Don gave a pained groan and Mike realized that this was indeed real, and that Don, or whoever this was, was indeed alive. Hurt, but alive. Without a second thought, Mike knealt down, picked up Don in his arms and carried him over to the manhole.
He then slung him over his back and slowly made his way down the ladder. Mike was in a daze...had he really just found Donatello? It couldn't be him...it absolutely couldn't. Still, as Mike carried him through the sewer tunnels toward the lair, he felt a strange sensation. A sensation that almost felt like hope.
A/N: Ok, so I lied again. I'm not busy yet, and as such, I'm writing. I really enjoy working on this story, and since I've been a good little student and got my homework done early, I figured it would be a nice to write more. I also managed to get the rest of the story outlined, which is totally rad.
----
[This idea of yours had better work.]
"It should, master...."
[We shall see.]
Ssylvar bowed his head; he didn't like being patronized, but he couldn't offend Rigai...he'd be nothing without him.
"If it doesn't work, we still have the upper hand."
[You are a fool.]
Orgo sauntered into the room. "So...what did he say?"
Ssylvar wrinkled his serpentine nose, "Nothing."
"I hardly believe -that-."
Ssylvar rolled his eyes, "Drop it. We have more important things to talk about."
"Ah yes," Orgo grinned, "Let us talk about what will happen soon. I do so enjoy speaking of death."
----
Shayl pulled up her tattered black hood and palmed an enormous machete. She was not looking forward to this death...she had already reviewed the images from the deceased, and it was -all- bad. She hadn't had one this terrible in...well, ever. She sighed and raised her hand to make a portal. Suddenly, her vision was obscured by the flapping of red wings. She batted at her face, but the little Xawk would not relent. Its cries were frantic, and Shayl had a hard time making out what it was saying. When she finally did, she gasped and snatched poor little Rudy right out of the air.
"Now, you listen carefully, you little snot," she said, her voice growling, "You get right back to Don, and you tell him to arm himself. This is -serious-. I have to go on a Messenger run, but I'll be with him as soon as I can. It's too late for me to avoid this job." She released Rudy and he fluttered above her head, anxious as ever, and disappeared. Shayl took a deep breath and left her house, her anxiousness to end this unpleasant errand even more heightened.
----
Don nearly leapt out of his seat when Rudy appeared in front of his face. It took him a few minutes to calm the creature down enough to communicate with it, but when Don got Shayl's message, he immediately adorned his 'scary' gear, including the giant sword. He tried to remain calm, but he felt trapped, depressed, and despite the presence of Rudy, horribly alone. He walked into the kitchen to get a drink of water, Rudy sitting stiffly on his shoulder. It was then that he heard Rudy's alarmed sqwaking. He whirled around, drawing his sword, and upsetting his little Xawk, who disappeared. Then, as Don gazed at the sight before him, he couldn't move a muscle. There, rushing toward him with weapons drawn, were Leo and Raph.
"Guys..." Don breathed, "What're you doing here?"
Neither of them responded, and Don realized that they were going to attack him. He jumped out of the way of Raph, who had been in the lead, and then barely avoided a slice from Leo's katanas.
"What is this!!?!?" Don bellowed, and backed up against a wall.
Raph stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with anger. "We're here to take you out, imposter!" He then leapt forward, and Don was barely able to duck out of the way. Leo was waiting for such a move and swung his sword right at Don's neck. Luckily, Don saw the sword coming and was able to turn his shoulder toward the blow. The katana sunk in deep, astonishing Donatello, who had gotten used to his Demonic stregnth. He wrenched away, blood pouring out of the wound in his shoulder. He turned and saw Raph coming in for another charge.
Don wanted more than anything to reason with them, but instead he panicked. He waved his hand, and a portal opened right in front of Raph...the startled turtle stopped his advance for a moment, and Don dove through, right under another swipe from Leo. The portal zipped closed, leaving Leo and Raph alone in the house.
"Well...now what?" Raph asked.
Leo shook his head. "Dunno...guess we're stuck here..." It was then that they heard a squawk and looked up to see a yellow Xawk hovering above their heads. It disappeared, and a few moments later a portal opened before them. Shrugging, they both stepped through.
----
"You failed!!" Ssylvar was livid.
"Look," Raph said, his temper rising, "He was -fast-, and he made one of those portal things before we could stop him. He wasn't some slow, inexperienced fighter. He knew what he was doing."
Leo nodded, "I agree. He moved like a ninja."
Orgo seemed deep in thought, "Hmm...I hadn't thought of this before, but it may well be possible, if that demon were truly strong enough."
"Hadn't thought of what?" Raph asked.
"I hadn't considered it, but it's possible that this evil Demon may have stolen some knowledge from your brother. It would make sense...he would be able to impersonate him better."
Leo looked skeptical, "How come you didn't think of this before?"
Orgo shrugged, "I didn't think he would be strong enough to do it...it requires a massive amount of power."
Ssylvar nodded, "It sure does...that doesn't bode well for the people of this world."
Raph frowned, "Ok then...now what?"
"Well," Ssylvar said, "We'll have to track him down again, which won't be easy. He knows he's being watched now, and he'll be wary. We'll have to think about this for a while."
Orgo nodded, "I agree. Perhaps you two would like a break? You could go back to Ssylvar's home until we come up with a solution...it will most likely involve some sort of magic, which will undoubtedly bore you."
Raph continued to frown, "Oh..so get rid of the two thugs until they're needed for the grunt work again, is it?"
Ssylvar put up his hands defensively, "We mean no offense. Please, if you have a way to track this Demon down, please share it."
Raph didn't like the tone in Ssylvar's voice...it was rather close to sarcasm. "No," he said, "I don't have any idea." Raph growled angrily, "Make your stupid portal then. We'll wait around like good little thugs until you need us."
Orgo made a portal for them, "We don't think of you as thugs," he said as the turtles walked toward the portal, "You're invaluable to our efforts."
"Whatever," Raph said, and they disappeared through the portal.
----
Shayl stepped into Don's living room, but it was deserted. There was blood on the floor, and signs of a struggle, but nothing else. Then, Rudy appeared in front of her.
"Where's Don?" she asked. The little Xawk informed her that he couldn't find Don. Shayl shook her head and said, "Xawk!" A little black Xawk appeared.
"Blackie...go find Donatello." The little black Xawk disappeared and Rudy informed her that if he couldn't find Don, then why on earth would -her- stupid Xawk be able to? Shayl decided not to comment on that. A few moments later Blackie returned and told her that Don could not be found.
"Both of you," she said impatiently, "Go look for Don, and don't come back until you find him!" Each of the Xawks whined piteously, but then, in a flash, they were gone.
Shayl sighed heavily and left for her own home...it wouldn't do to stick around here...if Don -had- been attacked, she didn't want to be here if his assailants returned. If they could make the Siyem bleed, well...they'd obliterate her.
----
"what would you have us do, master?" Ssylvar was prostrated on the ground...Orgo was watching him from the couch, an amused expression on his face. He couldn't hear Rigai, but he could guess at what was being said.
[Fool! I knew your plan wouldn't work, and now your quarry has escaped to Earth!]
"Earth? How did he get there? It's forbidden to travel to Earth unless you're on escort or Gaia gives you permission..."
[DON'T tell me about things I already know. Gaia favors him...of course she gave him permission!]
"But..." Ssylvar cringed at Rigai's tone, "We cut him off! Gaia has no power..."
[She still has power, you fool! She is weakened, but she is still a threat to us. Now that the Siyem is in the living world, you cannot reach him. Gaia lives there, and she will not allow you to get him.]
"Then...what should we do?"
[There is a way. First you must kill the Wiyem...that task at least should not be too hard for you. Once he is dead, I will provide you with a way to bring the Siyem back here.]
"Yes, master. I will do as you say."
[You'd better.]
----
Mike trudged through the monotonous sewer tunnels, starting to feel more and more dread about Leo and Raph. He'd been searching all night, and though he had told Splinter he wouldn't stray far or stay out long, he'd become determined to find them. He'd called home to inform Splinter of his plans, and now, here he was, still not finding anything. Mike stopped and sighed. Maybe he should just return home. He turned around and then stopped short. He was standing directly underneath the alley where he'd found Don.
Mike shuddered...just what he needed to remember tonight. He started to walk away, but he stopped again. He had a weird feeling, like...maybe he should go up there and look.
"No," Mike said, "I don't want to go up there." Still he didn't walk away. He stood underneath the manhole for several minutes, telling himself he didn't want to go up there. Then, he took a deep breath and climbed up the ladder, lifted up the manhole cover, and stepped out into the alley where his brother had died.
There was something on the ground a few feet from the manhole. Mike squinted, but he couldn't make out what it was...it was nothing but a black blob...a -large- black blob. Mike blinked. The black blob was wearing a huge sword! Mike cautiously walked closer and realized that this was most certainly a body, and there was a hood covering the face. Mike told himself that he should just leave, go back down the ladder and go home. He reached out his hand toward the hood, slowly, carefully, afraid this body would begin to move.
He grabbed onto the hood and pulled it back slightly; then, with a gasp, Mike compulsively pulled it the rest of they way back.
"Don!" he exclaimed, feeling a thousand emotions coursing through his body all at once. He immediately thought that this must be some horrible dream; he was reliving the death of his brother all over again. Then, Don gave a pained groan and Mike realized that this was indeed real, and that Don, or whoever this was, was indeed alive. Hurt, but alive. Without a second thought, Mike knealt down, picked up Don in his arms and carried him over to the manhole.
He then slung him over his back and slowly made his way down the ladder. Mike was in a daze...had he really just found Donatello? It couldn't be him...it absolutely couldn't. Still, as Mike carried him through the sewer tunnels toward the lair, he felt a strange sensation. A sensation that almost felt like hope.