Notes: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. They do work like magic, you know ;)
Black is another character that I'm introducing in an earlier part (Leonardo's Tale). Here is some information about him: Black is another mutant. He's a wolf. The guys first thought him an enemy but he turned out to be an ally. He was also raised and trained by a master but his master died recently and now he lives alone. He comes to the turtles' aid now and then and he's always there when they ask his help (though not without complaining). Black is older than our guys and much more skilled and powerful. His attitude is even worse than Raph's.
Unfortunately I don't have time now to finish the story so I'm posting my thoughts/drafts now just for fun. This is only for the time being. Chapter 2 & 3 are only drafts and scribbles. These chapters will be replaced as soon as I finish writing them. There are things happening in between
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Chapter 2: Confrontation with Evil
He thought "it" has ended long time ago, but now he knows how wrong he was. His past mistakes came back to haunt him, and now he'll pay for the wrongs he once committed. It is time for him to confront his worst enemy, and his worst fears.
Splinter wasn't sure he was ready for what lay ahead.
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"Say, Raph? When did you get that weird looking wound on your arm?"
Looking at where Mikey pointed, Raph blinked in surprise.
"Raph?" His brothers were looking at him expectantly.
"Uhh huh," Raph swallowed, "Guys, I… How did I get that?"
"Common Raph!" Leo was incredulous, "There's no way you could've gotten a wound like that without knowing about it!"
"But I don't," Raph scratched his head, confused.
Awkward silence followed before Don decided to end it. "Does it hurt?"
"Not at all," replied Raph while poking the wound.
"That's weird dude."
"I agree with Mikey."
"It doesn't matter."
They were interrupted by quiet knocks on the door. "Hey guys," April poked her head through the door, "Is Raph up?"
"Hey April! Common in. Yes Raph's up," Don invited.
"Hey April!" Raph greeted her tiredly when she entered the room.
"Oh, Raph," April rushed to his side and gave him a big hug, "I just found out about your fever. Are you feeling all right now?"
"Yeah, just terrific," grumbled Raph.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing's wrong April," Mikey grinned, "Old Raphy here is back to his old cheerful self, that's all."
"Shut up, Mikey."
"Actually, we were just trying to figure out where Raph got that big scar from," Leo offered pointing toward Raph's arm.
"It's quite a scar! How did you get it Raph?"
Raph frowned in response. The mention of the scar let alone the scar itself was beginning to irritate him greatly.
"That's the problem. He doesn't remember how he got it," Don explained with a shrug.
"That's strange!"
"Exactly my point," Mikey put in.
April gave Raph a studying gaze then frowned herself. "You guys have really worn him out," she scolded, "Look how tired he looks! What Raph needs now is rest and food. No more talking."
"I'm fine," Raph protested.
"April's right," admitted Leo as he stood up. The others followed his lead.
"Need anything Raph?"
"No. You guys go ahead."
"I'll fix you something to eat," promised April after giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams, Raphy."
"Shut up Mikey."
One by one they left his room closing the door quietly after them. Raph sighed with content as he buried his head deeper into the pillow. He was more tired than he let out. April was right; what he needed was rest; plenty of rest. And when he wakes up, everything would be back to normal. With that thought in his mind, Raph surrendered to sleep with a smile.
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Next Day…"When are you going to tell them?"
"I will talk to them today." Splinter felt more tired than he had been in years. Worry and guilt were piling inside him; tearing him apart.
Logan nodded his approval. He then turned to stare at the silent figure sitting not far away from them. "Why is he here?"
"Logan, Black is a friend. I asked for his help," Splinter explained, "We will need all the help we can get."
Logan shrugged and turned his attention back to the coffee in his hands. Don walked out from Raph's room and smiled.
"Good evening," he greeted cheerfully.
"Good evening, son."
Logan nodded his greeting
"This is a surprise," Don commented noticing Black, then added, "Good to see you Black," although not expecting an answer.
Don sat down in front of his master. "Master I need to talk to you about Raph. He …"
"Son," Splinter interrupted Don, "It is I who need to talk to all of you."
"About what Master?"
"About Raphael, he is in grave danger," Splinter admitted sadly.
"You lied to us then!" Leo stepped suddenly into the group, glaring accusingly at Logan, "You told us he was fine!"
That was when Michael Angelo decided to join them as well. He looked around, confused by Leo's outburst.
"Calm down, Leonardo."
"I did not lie," Logan defended himself grimly.
"Sit down, son," Splinter ordered, "You too, Michael Angelo."
The two turtles did as they were bid. "You should not jump to conclusions, son. Logan did not lie to us."
"Then…"
"What's going on?" All eyes turned to the subject of their discussion. Raphael was frowning.
Logan was the first to speak. "You should be in bed."
"I'm fine," Raph scowled at him.
"Raphael, how are you feeling, son?"
"I said I'm fine," Raph snapped, "Now what's going on? And what is he doing here?" he shot Black a hostile look.
Splinter sighed. "Sit down, Raphael. I have a very important thing to say to all of you."
Raph sat down nervously. Splinter closed his eyes, took a much-needed deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by a beeping sound emerging from Don's room. Don jumped to his room without a word. Few seconds later he returned to the group, his face flushed with alarm, "Guys, it's April. She's being pursued by some strange ninjas. She needs our help."
All three turtles jumped to their feet. "You've got her location?"
Don nodded.
"Then let's go!" All thoughts of what Splinter had to say vanished as their fear for April consumed them.
"No!" Splinter demanded, "Raphael, you must stay."
The other turtles hesitated, looking worriedly at their brother.
"What!" Raph was incredulous.
"Raph, you haven't recovered yet," Logan stated, "You need to rest."
"I said I was fine!"
"Raph, they are right," Leo told Raph sternly, "You should stay."
"The hell I am! I'm going Leo, and you can't stop me!" with that, Raph took off.
The others followed his lead. "Raph, wait up!"
"It's him," Splinter confirmed grimly while he watched them leave.
The old rat's hands were actually shaking; Logan did not fail to notice.
"Don't worry," Black spoke suddenly, "I'll make sure red-band doesn't get all the fun." And with those parting words, he disappeared after the four turtles.
"Relax, friend. It's going to be all right," Logan assured the worried rat.
"We must hurry. I am not ready to lose one of my sons."
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April was running as hard as she could. She did not dare turn around; she already knew they were right behind her. Will her friends reach her in time, she wondered.
It all started when she decided to drop by the computer store to buy more papers for her stupid printer. She parked her car in a far place when she couldn't find a nearby spot and walked all the way to the store. Though she came to regret that afterwards, for the place looked unusually dark and deserted when she returned. She came to regret her action even more when she got inside her car and realized it wouldn't start. That's when those freaky ninjas decided to show up. They circled her car boldly so when she couldn't find something to use as a weapon, April did the only thing she could think of then, run.
Her breathing growing harder by the second, April kept running and wondering why she was being followed. Startled by a stray kitten, she stumbled over something and fell, coming to hard contact with the cold floor. This time she did turn around only to see them gather steadily around her. She gasped with fright. Grabbing the first stone her hand felt, April threw it at one of them. They did not react. Just stood there circling her without attempting to attack.
"What do you want?" She demanded.
When no answer was given, she climbed to her feet and attempted to run past two of them. April gasped in pain as one of them dug his steel fingers in her arms pulling her back. "Let me go!"
"LEAVE her alone, Clown!"
April turned with relief and saw her four friends coming to her rescue.
Leonardo jumped at the one holding her, katanas in hand. The ninja let April go then used his sword to attack Leo back.
"April, are you okay?" Mikey helped her to her feet.
April nodded. "Thanks to you guys." She watched anxiously as the others fought.
"April Go!" Don advised as he used his Bo Staff to hit one of the ninjas square in the middle.
"But…"
"No buts April! We've got this under control."
April nodded and ran away after short hesitation. Satisfied that April was safe, Mikey joined the fight himself with a 'Here comes Mikeeey!' yell.
The fight was a hard one; the ninjas were skilled fighters and a difficult match for the turtles. Ten minutes passed and neither side was close to winning.
"Hey, Leo? Do you recognize these clowns by any chance?" Mikey shouted as he brought his nunchaku hard against one of the ninja's backs.
"No!"
"We have not seen them before," Raph commented as he used his sais to block a back attack.
"What do you think they want from April?" Don shouted the question.
"Why don't you ask them?"
"Very amusing!" A voice thundered and the fight suddenly stopped. The ninjas abruptly stopped fighting and retreated back. The guys turned around and faced the man responsible for the fight's ending. What they saw was a very large man covered in red steel armor.
"Who the hell are you?" Raph demanded.
The man looked down at him with contempt in his eyes, "Funny you should ask. It is you I came for."
"Who are you?" This time it was Leo who asked the question.
The man's eyes narrowed at Leo. "Move away turtle and you will not be harmed."
It took Leo a moment to understand that the man was asking him to move away from Raph. "Yeah right!"
At that moment a sudden urgency to protect his brother consumed Leo.
"Move away Leo," Raph spoke behind him, "This guy wants to fight me; why deprive him the pleasure?"
"I'm the one who's going to fight him Raph, so step back."
"I said, move away Leo! It's my fight!" Raph tried to push Leo away.
They heard a thunderous laugh coming from the armored man. "You truly are amusing!"
"Hey Dude, what exactly is your problem?" Mikey wondered.
The man raised his hand and on cue, the ninjas attacked again. Raph however was left alone. The red turtle stared at the man hard, a smug smile danced on his lips. "Ready to lose, Psycho?"
The man said nothing.
Raph, sais in hands, charged at him. The man did not take a step. He raised an empty armored hand and struck Raph across the face hard, the force of the strike throwing Raph into the ground with a thud.
Dazed, Raph shook his head to clear it. He collected his sais and managed to stand again.
"A lucky shot," Raph commented, "Try and block this one, Clown!"
This time Raph was not able to attack at all. The man had drawn a sword from its sheath the moment Raph stood and held it in an unthreatening gesture.
Raph's eyes widened in shock as a sudden unexpected piercing pain shot through his left arm. The pain was so intense; it sent Raph to his knees clutching and clawing at his arm blindly. Raph couldn't control the scream that escaped his lips.
"RAPH!" Leo called in alarm as he heard his brother's scream. He tried to run to him but his path was blocked by three more ninjas.
"Hang on Raph!" Don called to him as he tried to get rid of the ninjas in front of him.
"You cannot fight me," the man advanced the fallen Raph steadily, "In fact, you belong to me."
Raph bit his lips, refusing to let another indication of pain escape him. The armored man laughed. He raised his sword and brought it down. Raph closed his eyes, expecting the hit but what he felt was a weight being pressed against him and pulling him down with blinding speed.
Mikey saw the man raise his sword preparing to strike Raph and did not stop to think. He threw himself at his brother, shielding him with his body.
Through the haze of pain Raph saw Mikey fall after receiving the strike meant for him. "Mikey!"
Pain momentarily forgotten, Raph tried to climb back to his feet. "I… will kill you!" Raph vowed gravely.
In a flash, the man had a vice grip on Raph's neck. "What was that again?" he mocked and squeezed Raph's neck harder as he lifted him off the ground.
Raph tried kicking and hitting but was unable to free himself from the man's powerful grip.
"That's my mark on your arm turtle!" The man whispered in Raph's ears, "You are mine and no one can stop me from claiming what is mine."
"Wanna bet?" Before the man could turn, Black was on him, sinking his knives in the man's armored arm, forcing him to release Raph.
"Raph! Mickey!" Leo and Don, finally free from their attackers, ran to their brothers. Leo reached Raph, and helped him to his feet. "You okay Raph?"
Raph nodded shakily. "Mikey?"
"He's unconscious but alive," Don announced after examining Mikey.
Although Raph said he was fine, Leonardo supported most of his weight and knew if he let go, Raph would fall.
They faced the armored man with eyes full of anger.
"Hand him to me," the man growled the order.
As a way of reply, Black, Leo and Don stood in front of Raph and Mikey's unconscious form protectively.
"Then I will make you pay." The armored man stepped toward them, his sword lightening with strange power.
"ARMOR!" a voice suddenly bellowed.
"Master Splinter!" Don and Leo exclaimed, turning to face their master and Logan.
The armor smirked, glaring at Splinter with spite. "I was wondering when you were going to show up, Rat."
"Leave my sons alone," Splinter's tone was laced with warning.
"Not before I take what is mine."
"I will not let you take Raphael." Splinter was now standing in front of the group. He held his stick high making it clear that he meant to use it as weapon.
"You know you can't stop me."
"I will do anything… to save my son."
"He isn't your son anymore," The Armor told him, "He is mine. I marked him with my power. He belongs to me now and it's a matter of time before he realizes it himself. You know that, don't you, Rat?"
Leo felt Raph stiffen against him. He squeezed his arms reassuringly.
"Raphael will always be my son."
"We will see," The Armor challenged, "I will let him go this time, but he will come to me willingly old rat; you know it."
"Why are you doing this? This matter is between you and me. Let us end it here," Splinter offered in a pleading tone.
"Why, you ask? Eye for an eye Rat, that's why. I promised you once I'd return, and here I am. I'm a man of my word as you know."
Everyone watched in wonder as the man's sword started to glow brightly and then both master and his sword vanished without a trace.
"Raaph!" Don shouted in alarm as he saw his brother collapse in Leo's arms.
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