Dream Walker

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Heroes become heroes flaws and all. You don't have to be perfect to fulfill your dreams – Peter Mcwilliams.

Chapter Ten - Between Heroes and fools…

Jennifer:

I returned to my Aunt's place as quick as my feet could carry me, I gladly welcomed the brightness of the sun peeking into the windows, and the familiar pictures and order of my Aunt's place helped to put my mind at ease.

I quickly clicked on the TV, if only for some sound and flipped through channels until I came to a cartoon, mindless inane drivel, I sighed with relief as I placed the remote back down on the coffee table before heading to the washroom. On my way back to the living room I stopped to get a drink from the fridge, and helped myself to a couple of cookies from a container on the counter, then I went and sank into the comfortable sofa to relax.

My mind reeled at everything I had seen, I mean even now it seemed hard to believe that Splinter and the turtles actually existed. I couldn't wait to tell all my friends who were so into the turtles, they would be so jealous. They probably wouldn't even believe me but they would always wonder. It would scratch at the back of their minds. Then again maybe I'd just keep quiet where the turtles were concerned.

After all Akuma was real and I didn't want anything to do with that beast.

Yet the turtles seemed to think that I ought to be able to control it, or help in destroying it, that I could help them beat this monster and I knew I couldn't. I just didn't have that sort of talent, or curse, or whatever you might want to call it.

The turtles wanted me to help them because they thought I was capable of doing so much more, relating my gift to things that just, were impossible.

Besides I didn't want any more then what I had. It was bad enough that I was able to see the future, or certain aspects of it, why would I want any more added on, just so I could be more weird, and freakish then I all ready was? Uh-uh I don't think so!

I sat on the couch and raised my glass of iced tea, pausing to take my other hand from my mouth, I grimaced a bit as I realized I had been chewing my nails again. Bad habit I know.

I sighed and scowled, I wanted everything to be fine, to be normal but I couldn't make myself believe it, because I knew that I had all ready proven to myself, that the best and worst part of my dreams existed in reality. I wanted to run and to hide somewhere safe, but with Akuma around I doubted that there was such a thing as safe. I didn't want to see or hear about Akuma again, but I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to avoid it while visiting in New York City.

Dealing with Akuma was a job for a hero and I knew I wasn't a hero nor was I meant to be one.

Michelangelo:

What were we stupid, were we all a bunch o' idiots, were we actually so foolish, so suicidal that we actually felt that we could get the better of a creature like Akuma?

I'd have to say yes to all of the above, because we were going be hunting down what was now a badly wounded creature, one that had all ready proven that it was violent and extremely dangerous, without any injuries. Nothing was more dangerous then an animal that had been wounded, except for maybe a mother protecting her young. Course it was just for that reason that we did have to go after Akuma foolishness or not.

We cared for Don's and Raph's new injuries, cleaned up the lair as best as possible and now were waiting for a bit, so that everyone might be more ready to handle Akuma.

Waiting was never easy, and waiting before going on a mission of this magnitude really did a number on everyone, so while we might be able to rest, forget relaxing. I opted to do my resting in my bedroom, do a bit of writing, I found putting my thoughts down on paper sometimes helped in situations like this.

I was jotting down a bit about Jennifer how we met her and things like that, I also wrote down as much as possible, word for word her two visions that she had when she left us, I figured any other visions she might have around us, I would also try to keep track of just to see which ones came true and which didn't.

I paused in my writing and bit my pen as I looked at the paper, I knew her first vision had all ready occurred, or it seemed to have happened. I swallowed wondering if there was any way to keep Akuma from harming Splinter.

I hoped so, that was one future I could live without.

Jennifer seemed to suffer from a lack of confidence in herself, believing she could be no more then what she was. Either she will keep her head in the sand or she'll come to realize that there are two types of heroes.

Some are born destined to be great; everything they touch or do seems to show the inner greatness waiting to come out. Sure they can fail and stumble but when they do make it, they shine so bright, you forget about those setbacks.

Other heroes are made by circumstances, they are average every day people who face extra ordinary conditions, in the face of fear and terror they dig down deep within themselves and are able to give just a little more, when all others around them opt for running and hiding.

I leaned back on my chair glancing around my familiar, if messy room, I had my cot with the foam mattress and thin stained blankets for a bed, a nightstand with a lamp and my desk.

I shook my head a bit as I reflected that heroes really were the biggest fools and idiots ever.

Face it, the hero is doing something that is dangerous, and could very well be suicidal to him, to save another human who was in danger. If he did it he was a hero. If he dies to perform the rescue he is, still, a hero. A posthumous hero is almost always considered one of the best heroes of all, because they died to save others. But if the person died in a vain attempting to rescue and save no one, well most people would yell and scream " What an idiot. Didn't do a darn thing to help matters. Risking their life for nothing, and now another family has to mourn."

So the line between being a hero and being a fool was a very, fine thin one at best. Remember that.

You think I play the fool for nothing? Being a fool means you can laugh in the face of danger and act like you aren't afraid.

Only problem was, I was afraid right now. I was terrified, but I wasn't about to let on, or allow my family to go through this job without me. Heck if this mission was going to succeed we would need a fool to point out it wasn't so bad, that we could really do this. If the fool felt that way then there was no reason for others to be worried, except if they stopped to consider they were listening to the court jester to begin with.

" Mike we're ready" Raph called outside of my bedroom.

I took a deep breath telling myself softly, 'I am ready for this. I can do this.'

Splinter of course decided we all ought to meditate briefly to center ourselves and hopefully gain the energy and strength we needed to finish Akuma off.

He led us into the dojo where we sat in a circle. I found it so hard to meditate, it didn't really seem to do anything for me and I found it rather difficult to empty my mind of everything, but I went through the motions.

About half an hour later Splinter told us to rise he gazed at each of us by turns, " My Sons we must not allow Akuma to escape we are ninja, and capable of anything. Strike hard, move fast, and keep always to the shadows. Trust your instincts to guide you." He advised, " You bring me, much honour my sons." He said with a low bow.

We bowed in return; Don straightened up from his bow, a hard determined look on his face. Raph was of course eager to get going, he'd been waning to hunt Akuma down for long enough and was chafing at the delays. Leo was calm and focused but his look was one that clearly said, don't mess with me. Splinter was hard to read at the best of times. Me I just felt sick.

Splinter took the lead and used all of his senses to his advantage, and ours, as he started to follow Akuma's trail. Rats of course have an incredible good sense of smell, never mind hearing, and Splinter's nose kept twitching and wrinkling, he moved at a fast pace, darting from shadow to shadow, making no sound, and we followed in his wake.

" We are getting closer" Splinter whispered as an ear flicked, " up ahead and to the right I believe."

As we neared the spot we could hear the low whines and whimpers ahead of us, the sound was only an echo, at the moment, sounds had a way of carrying down below the streets, but we all drew our weapons.

Our bodies seemed to tense up instantly. I looked at my brothers and saw that all of them were ready for what was about to come, but I was starting to wonder if maybe we were only making a huge mistake.

We moved with great stealth, trying not to betray our presence, and doing our best to still our hearts, thoughts and breath, wanting nothing to alert Akuma.

We were only a few feet away from the pipe that Akuma was holed up in, when the demon beast came charging out of the pipe towards us, it roared, snarling in fury. He reared up to full height roaring defiance at all of us before coming down to all fours and beating a hasty retreat in a different direction, Akuma's rolling gait carrying it quickly out of sight.

Akuma didn't want to stand and fight, a good sign to us that he was weak and a good time for us to strike. Also the worst time, because if Akuma grew tired of being chased or felt that he was trapped, he could turn on us in an instant.

" We have to catch up to it" Don snapped, " If it goes to the left it will head further into the sewers but a right turn could take it closer to the top, with a close exit in Central Park."

Splinter scowled " We can not allow it access topside, Michelangelo, Raphael try to get ahead and turn Akuma from that path, if possible we will herd it down into the sewers tiring it out first."

" But Master," I began concerned about leaving the others, especially with what Jen had said about Splinter being hurt injured by Akuma.

" Come on Mike move it" Raph snapped, all ready heading down a junction of tunnels that could be used as a short cut.

I groaned and muttered " Aw forget it. Later."

With that I hurried after Raph following him, but I couldn't help looking back over my shoulder just once.

It didn't take long for us to get into position to block Akuma's exit into central Park, then all we had to do was sit and wait, hoping Akuma didn't show up, because if Akuma came this way then we'd really be in major trouble.

Raph gestured to the pipe that went straight on from where we were " You know Mike, might be better to see if we can get Akuma into the dead end that way."

" No way Raph, where is your brain at? It is too close to topside to risk getting Akuma there." I countered. " Besides we both know things can go south in a hurry."

" Don't worry Akuma's all ready close to beat Mike."

I arched an eye ridge his way and smiled slightly " See what I mean about things going south? I believe I found your brain." I quipped lightly, though I wasn't really much in the mood. I just did it more because it was expected of me.

I didn't want to admit it to Raph but I didn't want to trap Akuma into a dead end, because I didn't know if Akuma or one of us would meet their end by doing so.

We lapsed into silence waiting in the shadows, I was almost growing bored enough to want my chucks just to play with a bit, if nothing else, when all of a sudden I heard an unfamiliar sound.

The noise grew louder it was the sound of grunting and heavy breathing mixed together, it seemed the others had failed to get Akuma to go the way they wanted it too.

I glanced at Raph as we braced ourselves for what we knew, had to be a point of attack, everything came down to us turning Akuma from this one path.

Suddenly the noise stopped, and I wondered if Akuma might have turned down a different junction of the sewers. I looked towards Raph to see what his verdict was.

He shrugged, and then pointed to his beak, silently communicating that Akuma may have scented us; in spite of the precautions we'd taken.

I held my hand up palm down and wiggled it side to side telling him, 'maybe.'

Raph nodded and we both returned to waiting.

Suddenly Akuma came barrelling around the corner, heading straight towards us, his head was up and opened wide, his eye socket was dripping a strange ooze, Akuma swiped out with a paw and I felt something sink into my leg.

I bowed my head to see what Akuma's paw swipe had sent flying into me, because I hadn't even seen any object coming towards me, I was shocked to see a shuriken embedded in my leg.

Damn! Akuma could throw shuriken now!

Great! Just what genius had gone and taught the demon that!

Oh, right either Baxter or Shredder himself had to have planned that stunt.

I ignored the stabbing pain, knowing I had to worry about pulling the shuriken free later, right now turning Akuma and getting him back into the sewers took all priority. Besides Akuma wasn't done yet, not by a long shot.

It swiped out a paw towards Raph, roaring a bit as Raph's katana came down cutting it, with a massive swipe he sent Raph flying into the concrete wall of the tunnel.

Then almost instantly Akuma's head came down and towards me, grabbing me by my injured leg, he reared up and wrapped its front arms around me, trapping me in a proverbial bear hug. Then Akuma began to bite down on my leg, and shake his head back and forth until I felt that my leg would break.

I could feel Akuma's teeth biting into my leg and felt the blood run down towards my upended plastron. I was writhing in pain and trying to break free, knowing that while Raph might be unconscious at the moment, I wouldn't be of much use until I did break loose.

I knew the rest of the family couldn't be far behind, but at the moment I was very much aware I was on my own.

I was suddenly, unceremoniously dropped straight down into the water, managing to keep just enough wits about me to ensure, my head wasn't the first thing to connect with the concrete. I could do with out a killer headache.

Then before I could gain my feet Akuma was running right over top of me, it sharp claws digging into skin or shell.

I could see Raph sitting up shaking his head, he realized that Akuma was making a desperate bid to escape into central park; sore as he was he managed to get up and ram his katana into Akuma's right side.

Akuma yelped but didn't turn to face Raph, instead it shifted its weight and body towards Raph, hoping to pin him against the sewer wall and possibly crush him there, like a tiny bug.

Raph had enough common sense to use his ninja speed to escape that move, but in doing so he had to allow Akuma a lead in the direction of his escape. Once Akuma gained that lead there would be no way to stop it or prevent it. We could only watch with heart sickening dismay as Akuma moved quickly for the exit, trying to do something about it now would be like trying to stop an unmanned out of control bulldozer from not demolishing whatever was in its path.

Actually I think I would have preferred going against the bulldozer.

The rest of the family suddenly put in an appearance just in time to watch Akuma burst from the sewers into central Park, we could hear screams and a loud roar and we knew we couldn't go after it in broad daylight, not like this.

We had made a terrible foolish mistake by going after Akuma, we had just unleashed a hurt dangerous beast on the citizen's topside, and any death Akuma now caused would be on our hands.

It was clear to me, there were no heroes today, just a bunch of fools.

TBC

Lunar Ninja: Ninjitsu is not just of the body but also of the mind, and the finger knitting exercises of the kuji kiri strengthen the mind. Oh Don can handle a broadsword, just because he prefers a shorter sword doesn't mean a thing. After all as Ninja Splinter would not allow his sons to be clumsy in any weapon. A gratitude for your insight.

Pacphys: An injured and ticked off Akuma is not a monster I would care to face, but one must defend themselves too so injuring Akuma in the fight for survival was necessary. While I haven't had a psychic dream for years, at least none that I recall, I do remember the ones I had when younger but those two psychic dreams of mine, I recall with vivid clarity. The roller coaster one still freaks me out, while the rabbit one gave me my first pet. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Being impulsive does not necessarily mean you lack in intelligence. In fact in many fics, Raph often acts as second in command to Leo, or as leader in Leo's place. Ah Splinter has trained all of his sons to fight and so he has all the moves, I much prefer using him fully in this story instead of leaving him at home. Everyone is entitled to a good line so that was Donny's one. A gratitude for your insight.

Goddess of twilight: Well I think I answered your question on the books in a separate e- mail. Personally I feel all knowledge is useful or can be used somewhere along the line, it might take some creativity to use it, but it can be used. A gratitude for your insight.