Hi everyone. Well, here we are. We are now entering the climax of this iteration to the Frozen Turtles series. Tragedy has struck for the heroes as they had all lost the friend, ally, and father they had all come to know. However, this is not the end. The time to stand back up as come as our heroes finally learn the reason why they were called to the Enchanted Forest and set out to defeat the Shredder once and for all. With that being said, let's get started.
Spiritual Enlightenment
All had gathered in silent mourning just outside the Northuldra campsite. The people who called the Enchanted Forest their home stood alongside the Arendellian soldiers who were trapped with them; and while they once stood as enemies, now that no longer mattered. These people now stood together, ironically in mourning of a man they hardly knew yet both had nothing but respect for. Men, women, children; young and old all stood alongside each other, and even several wild deer had joined them. Mattias stood at attention alongside his men, the same manner soldiers of Arendelle would at a funeral; while Yelena, Ryder, Honeymaren, and the rest of their people carried small torches in their hands, despite still being light outside.
Standing in front of them were the Mutanimals; consisting of Slash, Leatherhead, Rockwell, Pigeon Pete, Mondo Gecko, even Shinigami stood with them, holding the operational head of Metalhead as they all paid their silent respects. But even that was nothing compared to the grief of those in front of them faced.
Leonardo, Elsa, Raphael, Anna, Michelangelo, Olaf, Donatello, Kristoff, April, Sven, Karai, and Casey stood in front of a coffin made entirely out of Elsa's ice magic. Engraved on the top of the coffin was the crest of the Hamato clan with the words 'Hamato Yoshi' written just below. This casket would preserve the body of Master Splinter until they returned to Arendelle to give him a proper funeral in front of the people, as they wanted.
Flowers laid around the ice coffin as torches were lit around it as well; despite the fire, the ice coffin would not melt, Elsa made sure of that. Tears were shed as those closest to them placed arms around each other, trying to provide what comfort they could. For the people of Northuldra and Arendelle, Hamato Yoshi was an honorable and wise warrior who fought to the very end, one they held in the highest respect. To the Mutanimals and Shinigami, who just barely knew him, he was an ally who respected them all despite their differences. But to the Turtles, royal family, and those closest to them; he was their father. He was a man who would shine a light of hope, courage, knowledge, and insight in their darkest moments. He loved them all as his family, and they loved him. Anna, April, and even Karai openly cried along with Olaf as Kristoff, Casey, Sven, and even Shinigami provided some form of comfort with embraces to each of them. The Turtles stood close together as Elsa, who didn't appear to shed any tears yet, walked forward and laid Yoshi's staff at the top of the coffin.
After some time of grief and mourning, everyone split off. The ice coffin was placed in the center of the Northuldra camp for safe keeping, in which Fuji quickly appeared to bury it so that none of their enemies would dare desecrate it.
At the moment, Leo stood alone as he appeared to wander the Forest, no set direction in mind, just moving from one tree to another before coming to a cliffside where he got a good view of the sunset. The sky was turning red as the sun lowered itself, creating a beautiful atmosphere with the forest below, but despite the beauty, it brought Leo no comfort as he sat down and simply stared.
He heard some brushes of foliage behind him as a certain queen soon joined him. He didn't have to turn around to know who it was as she sat down next to him.
"It's beautiful." Elsa observed the view.
"Yeah…" That was Leo's only response.
The two sat in silence together for what seemed like an eternity, which wasn't even five minutes before Leo spoke.
"A part of me is thinking… maybe we can fix this. Maybe we can… go back and change something… like before." He was talking about the battle in space against the Triceratons for the Heart of Darkness where the Fugitoid took them back in time six months. "But… deep down… I know the truth. He's… he's really gone this time."
"He is…" Elsa knew as well, her eyes already becoming misty.
"Are you okay…?" Leo asked.
She looked to him in surprise. "Me? What about you? Are you okay? He was your father! I… I knew him, yes. And… I'm not afraid to admit he was like a second father to me but… he was your actual father! He raised you since the moment you were mutated! You're…" She couldn't quite find the words, but she knew she hit the mark with him as she saw Leo's form shaking before she put a hand on his to calm him down. "You were always the one there for me… always there to help me in my darkest moments… a shoulder to lean on. But now it's my turn. You can lean on me, now. Okay?" She looked to him with a sad smile as tears were already coming down her face. "You don't have to be strong right now, Leo."
That was all it took. The eldest of the Ninja Turtles sobbed as he let Elsa pull him in close, wrapping her arms around him as he reached out to grab hers. Leo let it all out. He let all his grief and frustration out as the crying Elsa did all she could to comfort him; both of them looking to find some form of solace in each other's arms as the sun continue to set before them.
However, their moment of grieving came to an end as Elsa heard it. She heard the sound of a woman singing, the very same sound that drew them to the Forest in the first place. At the same time, the Wind Spirit known as Gale gave a whistle as it blew around Leo to get his attention. The two pulled apart and stood up.
"Guess who's back…" Leo commented as Gale blew around Leo, giving the blue-clad Turtle a slight tickle across his skin, causing him to chuckle slightly. Elsa had a small smile herself at the display as she heard the sound yet a second time.
"I can hear it…" Elsa said, getting Leo's attention. "I hear the sound."
"You… said you thought it was the fifth spirit, right?" Leo recalled.
"Yeah." Elsa confirmed. "I think they're calling me somewhere." She looked in the direction of the north as she heard the song a third time. "Yes, they're definitely calling me."
"Why now though?" Leo asked. "Now of all times…?"
"I don't know." Elsa replied honestly before turning to him. "Leo… I…. I know this is a terrible time. And we… you especially… have every right to mourn. But… he would want us to continue. We came here with a purpose, and you know he would want us to see it through to the end."
Leo nodded. "You're right, he would." He wiped his face one more time before getting serious. "Let's go, we can…"
However, Leo was cut off as Gale blew in-between them, generating a stronger breeze that turned Leo in a separate direction, one moving away from Elsa, much to their confusion.
"I… I'm thinking Gale wants me this way…" Leo wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
Once more, Elsa heard the sound of the woman singing, causing her to look north again. "I think the spirits want us in separate locations." Elsa guessed. "I don't know why, but that's what trying to do." Almost to confirm her theory, Leo heard Gale's whistle as the Wind Spirit blew around him before blowing out toward the forest below, showing that was the direction he was supposed to take.
"Elsa… I… we'll find a way through this." Leo told her. "We came here to free this forest, and that's what we'll do. It's what Sensei would want."
"Right." Elsa nodded before walking over to give him a quick kiss on the lips before the two went in separate directions. Elsa followed the sound, traveling north; while Leo leapt off the cliff into the forest below.
Raph sat alone by a small campfire just outside the Northuldra campsite, staring into the flames with a sad expression, unsure of what to do now. He sat there alone in silence for a long time before he felt an embrace on his side. The red-clad Turtle glanced to see it was Olaf giving him a hug, but Raph made no attempt to swat him away.
"Nobody should ever be alone when they're sad." Olaf said. "I know you're hurting Raph, but I also know you're not the type to talk about your feelings. So… I'll just sit with you. Keep you company."
Raph said nothing, but there was a brief smile of gratitude before he resumed his stare into the fire. When it looked like it was about to go out, Raph absentmindedly threw some wood into it to keep it going.
"Why are you staring into a fire?" Olaf asked.
"No reason." Raph replied.
"That can really be bad for your eyes, ya know?" An elderly voice spoke up.
Both the Turtle and snowman turned around to see Casey, Slash, and even Mattias approach him before sitting down next to him.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Mattias said first. "I didn't know him very long but… I can tell he was a strong warrior and a caring father. He was a good man."
"Yeah, he was." Raph nodded.
"The best man I honestly ever met." Olaf added.
"Even after all the stuff I did, he still welcomed me into your home." Slash said. "He treated me like a normal person, offering wisdom whenever he could."
"I was afraid of the guy when I first met him." Casey also said. "And… I didn't quite get into the ninja-wisdom stuff but… he was an absolute badass. At least… at least he went out in a blaze of glory."
Raph chuckled at all their attempts to support. "Yeah… Master Splinter really was something, wasn't he?"
Suddenly, the fire in front of them turned from its natural orange to a vibrant pink color before, much to their surprise before the Fire Spirit appeared in front of them as the flames died out.
"Aw, Bruni's here too." Olaf smiled.
"Hey little guy." Raph waved with a sad smile. "You hear to grieve too?" In response, Bruni scurried across the ground and up Raph's leg before stopping on his lap to stare at him. "Something you want…?" He asked. "Look, I'm not exactly in the mood for any spiritual stuff right now so can you…"
Suddenly, Bruni lit himself on fire to give Raph a minor burn, startling him to his feet. "Yow! What the hell's your problem?!" Raph exclaimed to the Fire Spirit as it narrowed its eyes toward him on the ground before scurrying away slightly, coming to a stop to turn around and motion with its head to follow.
"Um… seems like he wants you to follow him." Mattias guessed.
"Not today, okay?" Raph tried to deny it. "I just don't want…AH!" Raph gave a small scream as a pink fireball was spat in his direction, causing him to look toward Bruni who carried a stern expression.
"Doesn't look like he's gonna take no for an answer." Slash commented.
"Maybe you should go with him, Raph." Casey told him. "I mean, if he's one of the main spirits of this place, it's gotta be a for a reason, right?"
"We all get you're very sad, and you have right to be, Raph." Olaf added. "But… don't you think Master Splinter would want you to sit here and sulk? I think he would want you to get back on your feet and do what you need to do."
Raph looked towards the small snowman in surprise. "Huh, you know, for a guy who literally doesn't have a brain, you can make serious sense sometimes." He then looked towards the Fire Spirit. "Okay Bruni, where to?"
Bruni smiled as he scurried off deeper into the forest, leaving a small trail of pink flame for Raph to follow, which he did as the red-clad Turtle ran after him.
Donnie stood at a table inside a tent as he worked on Metalhead's repairs, focusing solely on the robot in front of him. He used whatever tools he could to get the robotic turtle back up into fighting shape and didn't appear to show any signs of slowing down. That is until Dr. Rockwell placed a hand on his shoulder…
"I think you should take a break, Donatello." The mutant monkey scientist told him. "I can work on Metalhead from here."
"I designed him myself, Doc. I know what I'm doing." Donnie said as he tried to get back to work.
"Donnie… please." April's voice called to him from behind, causing him to glance back in her direction. "For me…"
The purple-clad Turtle gave a sigh as he put his tools down and joined April, who helped escort him outside. She led him a bit outside the camp to where Kristoff, Sven, and Ryder were.
"Hey Donnie. You doing okay?" Kristoff asked.
"No…" He responded immediately.
"Yeah, neither are we." Sven replied.
"Listen… Donnie I… I'm sorry." Ryder told him. "I can't even imagine… what that must be like…"
"You don't have to shut yourself in your lab again, we all know what you're going through." April told Donnie, putting her hands on his arm for comfort. "He was like a father to me too. He trained me to be a kunoichi, made me feel at home in his lair… he even considered me a daughter. I know you were the one he raised but… he was there for all of us too."
"He gave us plenty of advice." Kristoff added. "Showed us how we can be the best of ourselves… or even just something small. He even gave me some tips on how to propose to Anna before this whole thing started."
"Look, the point is… we are your friends. And we're for you, Donnie." Sven told him. "You're not the only one mourning right now."
A sad yet grateful smile formed on Donnie's face. "Thanks guys."
However, their moment came to an end as the ground beneath them began to shift and shake, getting their attention. They looked down to see a path in the dirt clearing and leading away from the campsite and toward the mountains. One glance in that direction, and the group could scarcely make out the figures of a pair of Earth Giants in the distance as they pointed in that direction.
"The Earth Giants? What's going on?" Ryder wondered.
"I think they want us to head to the mountains." Kristoff assumed.
April tried to reach out with her psychic powers and was able to get some sort of message. "No… not us. I think they want Donnie there…"
Everyone looked toward Donnie in surprise, but none were more shocked than him. "Me?"
"Well… you did kinda tame the Earth Spirit." Sven said. "So maybe it wants to talk to you or something?"
"Seems like pretty bad timing for that if you ask me." Donnie commented with a small hint of resentment in his voice.
"Maybe it is a bad time, but… I really think you should go." April told him, causing Donnie to look at her in shock. "I get it, trust me, I do. But… it has to be for a reason, right? The same reason we were called to this Forest in the first place? I know with what happened… this is probably the last thing you want but… I really think this is something you have to do."
"Master Splinter would want us to keep going. I know for a fact he would." Kristoff added.
Donnie looked in the direction of the mountains to see the Earth Giants in the distance. Even though they were rather far away, there was a connection there. It was almost as if they could look into each other's eyes despite the vast distance between them. Logically, Donnie's mind told him that now was not a good time; but something in his heart told him that he had to do this.
"Alright. If the others ask…"
"We'll tell them, don't worry." Sven assured.
"Thanks guys." Donnie gave a brief smile before running off toward the mountains.
Mikey walked out toward a river, following the sounds of sobbing before spotting the lone Karai by the riverbank, hugging her knees close. The youngest of the Ninja Turtles looked in sympathy as he walked closer to his adoptive sister. When she noticed his presence, she sniffled, trying to wipe her tears away and put on a straight face.
"What is it, Mikey?" Karai asked, but Mikey said nothing as he sat down next to her. "I'm fine, you don't have to be here. Just go." Again, Mikey said nothing, which only caused Karai's frustrations to grow. "Why are you here?! Go! Leave me alone!"
She was caught off guard as Mikey pulled her into a hug. "It's okay Sis… you don't have to act tough… this is what family does."
Karai's tears and sorrow resurfaced as she returned the embrace, burying her face into her youngest brother's shoulder and cried. Mikey shed tears as well, but he felt that his time would best be used to comfort Karai right now. She had only recently gained her real father back, at least compared to him and their brothers, but now she had lost him all over again. Mikey may not have been the brightest, but he knew best thing he could do right now was be here for her.
They would soon be joined by Shinigami and Anna; the later wrapping her arms around the duo as she also shed some tears, while Shinigami simply placed a hand on her childhood friend's shoulder in comfort of her own. They weren't alone either as Honeymaren and Yelena were also present, but they maintained a distance away to let the group grieve and comfort one another.
However, the group heard the sound of water rushing and waving as everyone looked towards the river to see the Water Spirit, also known as the Nokk, Neptune, arise from the surface of the river and actually walk toward the bank, stopping just shy of the land and staring at the group.
"Neptune? What's he doing here?" Anna asked as the four of them stood up to gaze at the Water Spirit.
"You want something?" Shinigami asked the Nokk, unsure of what else to say.
Neptune directed his gaze towards the orange-clad Turtle, causing everyone to look in surprise toward the equally shocked Mikey.
"Huh? You wanna talk to me?" Mikey asked, taking a step closer towards Neptune, who turned slightly on the side and motioned for Mikey to mount his form.
"I… I think he wants to take you for a ride." Karai told her brother.
"Wait… can you even ride it?" Anna asked. "I know it's magic and all, but you can't really stand on water."
"It is possible." Yelena said, stepping forward with Honeymaren. "Before the Forest was cut off from the rest of the world, those in the past have ridden the Nokk before."
"But nobody has been able to do it since." Honeymaren added. "If the Water Spirit is here for someone to ride it now, then it must be important."
Karai looked more than a little irritated, even a bit offended. "Really? Now of all times?!" She turned her ire towards Neptune. "Where the hell were you when my father was fighting for his life?! Hell, where were the other god damn spirits?! Huh?! Where were you?!"
"Karai!" Anna tried to pull her away, but Karai wouldn't have it.
"No! You guys called us to this place, right?!" She yelled at Neptune. "Why?! Why did you call us?! No… why in the hell did you let Shredder of all people enter this place?! Why?! Why did you let our father die!?" She exclaimed, tears flowing from her eyes.
"Perhaps the Water Spirit is here to answer that for you." Yelena suggested, with everyone turning towards the elderly woman. "Listen to me, I am truly sorry for your loss. Nobody should ever have to go through that sort of pain. But… if one of the four spirits that has been protecting this forest since its creation is here now… I know it is for a reason."
"She's right." Anna seemed to agree. "We were called here for a reason, and I think this is how we're going to figure out what that reason is."
Mikey then walked up to Neptune and faced him again. "You got answers for me and my family?"
Neptune gave a single nod in response.
"Okay." With that, Mikey leapt and mounted Neptune as if it were an ordinary hoarse.
"Mikey…" Karai tried to speak.
"Don't worry about me, Sis. I'll be okay." Mikey assured.
"Good luck Mikey." Anna told him. "Be careful out there."
"And do come back." Shinigami added. "Life would be pretty boring without someone as lively as you."
Mikey gave a smile before the Nokk ran across the surface of the water, proceeding further down the river with the orange-clad Turtle riding on top.
Elsa had traveled north to a very familiar part of the Forest; it was the location where her parents' ship was once located before it was utterly destroyed in their first confrontation with the Super Shredder. The scars of their battle laid all across the area, along with the streaks and broken fragments of the black ice from Super Shredder's attacks.
The Queen of Arendelle felt her heart sank once she entered the area. It was here she learned the circumstances surrounding her mother and father's death, though she knew it was not her fault, it was still heart-wrenching all the same. Even more so because just recently, she had lost someone that could be described as a third parent to her. She almost broke down in tears once more, falling to her knees in the middle of the battlefield…
That is until she heard the song again.
"What…? This isn't the place…?" Elsa wondered aloud as she stood up. This was where the voice, and the other Spirits, first directed her and her friends. But now that she thought about it, she understood why they were directed here back then. The Spirits wanted to show her what had happened to her parents, because of it led to the confirmation of Ahtohallan existence.
"Ahtohallan…" Elsa said in realization. "That's where you want me, isn't it?" She asked the voice, hoping it could hear her. However, so much had happened since then, with the arrival of the Super Shredder, April being possessed by the corrupted Aeon, and the death of Master Splinter. She also remembered Shredder saying that he had been to Ahtohallan… but why would he be there?
The voice echoed in her head once more, saying that she would get her answers if she continued north. "Alright… just follow the voice in my head." Elsa said to herself, before giving a hallow chuckle. "Really feel like someone who belongs in an asylum right now." She then continued her journey further north.
Donnie had made it to the mountains, having followed the trail that Fuji had left for him. He climbed his way up one of the smallest mountains in the area. However, he almost lost his grip and would have fallen…
Had an Earth Giant not caught him in its palm, looking toward him with a smile.
"Heh, thanks." Donnie nodded to the Giant as it helped him to a ledge that led to a cave. Donnie took a moment to look inside the cave before glancing back toward the Giant. "You want me to go in there?"
The Earth Giant gave a confirming nod.
"Alright… here I go." Donnie entered the dark cave and traversed through the winding tunnel. It didn't take long for him to be submerged into complete darkness.
But that was no issue for him. He was a ninja; he was used to the darkness. All he had to do was heighten the rest of his senses; touch, hearing, even smell, and he could easily navigate through this tunnel. However, he would soon find that he might not need to. Suddenly, multiple crystals along the walls, floor, and ceiling all lit up with a faint purple glow, illuminating the entire cavern and showing Donnie the way.
Though he instinctively reached for his staff, something inside Donnie told him this was no ambush or anything. He was not in any danger, but that didn't make him any less nervous. Deep down, he knew this was likely the doing of Fuji. Though he wasn't sure what the Earth Spirit wanted from him, it called him for a reason, and he needed to find out what that reason was.
Without any delay, Donnie continued to follow the illuminated path deeper into the caverns. After several turns, he came before what he could only assume was his destination. It was a large cave, one so large he couldn't see the ceiling, even as several crystals lit up along the walls to illuminate everything for him.
Donnie then heard the sounds of stone and rocks moving and turned to his left to see several pieces of rock come together before taking the crude shape of his recently lost father.
"Sensei…?"
"If you think too much about what is coming, you loose sight of what is." The statue of Splinter spoke, in the exact same tone and words as Splinter himself, much to Donnie's shock. "You must be fully in the moment so you can fight without thinking."
Suddenly, several more stone and rock statues of Splinter appeared all around the shocked-Donnie, each speaking one at a time with a different phrase.
"You are very intelligent, but in a fight, you cannot be… up here." The Splinter-statue pointed to its head for emphasis.
"You are responsible, yes. Responsible for destroying the mutagen, responsible for saving the people of the city, responsible for defeating advanced technology using only ingenuity, bravery, and a stick."
"Never lose hope, Donatello."
"Donatello, you rely too much on your mind, and not on your body. Be strong, like the mountain."
"What… what in the hell is this?!" Donnie exclaimed out loud to the Earth Spirit that he was certain could hear him. "Fuji, or whatever you call yourself, I know you can hear me! How do you know all this?! This stuff didn't happen in your world! Unless… unless you're seeing into my memories! But how does that even work?! I mean… magic and all... but even magic has logic to it, right?! What… what kind of madness is this?!"
"Madness, or insight?"
That caught Donnie's attention. That voice did not come from any of the Splinter-statues, as they all sank into the floor. Heck, the voice didn't even sound like Splinter. It sounded like a woman, her voice speaking into his mind, which he could tell because he could not hear the echo in the caves around him.
"Who are you? Are you the Earth Spirit?"
"Not quite. I am connected to the one you have dubbed Fuji, but I am not the Earth Spirit itself. You seem to think each of the Spirits as separate entities, and while that is true in a sense, we are all connected together; as everything else is."
Donnie's eyes widened as he came to a realization. "You're the fifth spirit, aren't you? The one Elsa has been hearing?"
"Donatello, why do you think you heard the voice of your father just now? Why would Fuji show you memories of what has happened in the past?"
"To... remind me of Splinter's teachings? Now that… now that he's gone…?" Donnie replied, looking down in sadness.
"That is one perspective. However, it is also to remind you of who you are. And why you and Fuji share a connection." That got Donnie's attention. "You are quite intelligent, perhaps the most intelligent individual we've encountered. However, it is not just your mind that is strong. Your body is as well. You were taught to make yourself unmovable, like the mountain; and you have become just that. Earth is a force that represents stability, nourishment, security, health, and even home. You learn and grow with each discovery you make, and yet, you stay close with your family and your friends, to ensure that you don't lose yourself to your intelligence; so that you don't forget your heart, which is just as important as your mind. In a way, you have grounded yourself."
"Some could say that is a bad thing, to keep yourself grounded." Donnie commented.
"True, but it also ensures that you don't lose sight of your roots, and you haven't. You have experienced a great loss, and yet… his teachings will remain with you, so long as you don't forget; with either your mind, or your heart."
A stern and determined expression formed on Donatello's face as he stood straight. "I'll never forget them. So long as I do remember, Hamato Yoshi and everything he taught, will continue to live!"
"Well said. With that in mind, Fuji has a gift to bestow upon you."
The ground in front of Donnie began to shift as it turned from solid rock to sand and gravel, a bright purple light shining up through it. He didn't need to think for this one, his heart knew that Fuji wanted him to step into it. Without taking a second thought, Donatello stepped into the sand as the purple light shined over him.
Donnie soon felt his body sinking into the sand and gravel, but he didn't resist. The light shining around him glowed brighter and brighter, the deeper he sank. Once his legs were fully sunk, and the sand up to his chest, his eyes closed. Just before his head was completely submerged with the rest of his body, Donnie's eyes opened to reveal a bright purple glow before his whole body sank. Then, that spot and the entire cavern shined a bright purple as a tremor shook the whole mountain.
Meanwhile; Raph followed Bruni through the woods, the little Fire Spirit leaving a trail of pink flames so the red-clad Turtle could follow.
"Hey, hey! Wait up, will ya?!" Raph called out to Bruni as he moved through the thick foliage of trees, with Bruni bouncing from rock-to-rock, still glowing as the pink flames burned on its back. Bruni didn't even stop to turn around as Raph tried to follow him, but it was getting more difficult as the trees around him came closer and closer together.
Deciding to get a better vantage point, Raph leapt to a tree branch and jumped from that to get to the canopy of the trees before leaping to the next tree-top, glancing down with each leap to see a pink glow that he knew was Bruni as he continued to follow.
"Slow down! Come on!" Raph exclaimed as he continued to leap. "I know you can't talk or whatever, but can you spell something on the ground that says where you're going…AAAAHH!"
Unfortunately for Raph, he was so busy looking down as he leapt from tree-top to tree-top, that he failed to notice his next leap was into a clearing where there no trees, resulting in him falling and landing on the ground. Though he reacted quickly enough to land on his feet, taking a moment to observe his new surroundings.
It seemed the red-clad Turtle was in the middle of a perfect circle of trees, the clearing around him was completely flat. And yet, there was no sign of Bruni anywhere.
"Hey! Come on out!" Raph called out but got no response. He groaned in annoyance. "Look, I get that you probably wanna play or something, but I'm not in the mood! I just lost my father in case you hadn't noticed!"
That actually earned a response as a column of pink flame erupted from the tree directly in front of him. However, the flames took shape as what appeared to be a vision of his late father appeared in the middle of the burning fire.
"Master Splinter…" Raph looked in utter surprise.
"I could have chosen to ignore him. I could have chosen to let his words wash over me, like a river over stone. But I let him anger me, it was I who made his words into weapons."
"Wait… I remember that." Raph muttered before more of the trees around him were lit aflame, and each flame took the form of a different vision of Master Splinter that spoke the words and lessons that Raph once heard before.
"Anger is a dangerous ally; it clouds your judgement. You need to control it, lest it controls you."
"Now you see the price of leadership: responsibility."
"Raphael, do you know what I do when I miss my loved ones from the past? I focus on the friends I am surrounded by in the present."
"Raphael, your temper is like a fire that you must learn to focus for power."
However, the more he heard this, the more irritated Raph was becoming. "What?! Are you trying to remind me of all the times I screwed up?!" He yelled to whoever could hear him. He wasn't sure who he was yelling at, be it the Fire Spirit or somebody else, he needed to yell at something right now. "All the times I made a mistake!? All the times I failed!? Well I don't need you to remind me of that! I know I'm a screw up! I'm a failure! I ALREADY KNOW!"
Raph yelled in rage as he pounded the ground with his fists, right before the flames vanished and everything calmed down around him… before a voice spoke.
"A failure? Who is calling you a failure?"
Raph didn't recognize the feminine voice that he heard in his head, causing him to look around. "Who is that…? Who's there?"
"Why do you call yourself a failure? What exactly have you failed?"
Raph gave a hallow chuckle. "What have I failed? Should be obvious, right? I failed my sensei, my father! He was always there for me, even when I didn't deserve it! And where the hell was I when he died?!" He pounded the ground again. "If I could have been there I… I know things would have been different…!"
"Raphael, your father's death was not your fault. You had no control over any of that, Hamato Yoshi knew this, and I can promise he holds no grudge towards you. Nobody does."
"Well, I do…" Raph muttered as he gave a deep sigh, sitting down and rubbing a hand down his face.
"Your anger has always been a defining part of you. Whether you control it and use it as a weapon, or you lose yourself to it. Like a fire, you rage can burn away anything in your path, be it friend or foe. However, it can also consume you if you continue to hold your guilt over yourself. The anger you feel is toward yourself because you believe you weren't strong enough."
"Yeah… well apparently letting my anger get the better of me is my specialty." Raph commented.
"However, you have since acknowledged that your anger can be your enemy as well as your ally. And you have taken steps to better yourself and become stronger, you are stronger, Raphael; both in body and mind. And your anger comes from a good place; a desire to win, but more importantly, a desire to protect those you care for. Fire can be destructive, yes. But it can also provide warmth, strength, safety, and even love. Your heart beats with a flame that gives that warmth to your loved ones. Don't let this lose douse your flame. Use it to make yourself stronger. Are you going to give up? Are you going to stop protecting your loved ones?"
The more Raph heard this voice speak to him, the more it felt like it was speaking to his soul. Time and again, Splinter was there for him in his darkest moments. For him, it seemed like Master Splinter was a fire himself, one to burn away the darkness that had threatened to consume his soul many times. Raph had taken each of his lessons to heart, and he was not about to let any of them be forgotten. He glanced forward and down to see Bruni approach him on the ground. The tiny lizard that was the Fire Spirit looking up at Raph with a curious and expectant look. One look into Bruni's eyes was enough to solidify Raph's own resolve. His father may be gone, but his brothers, sister, and friends were all still here; and he was not about to let the flame they depended on die out.
"No. Not a chance in hell." Raph stood up straight. "It's gonna take a lot more than that to keep me down!"
"Glad to hear it. Don't ever give up the fight, I'm certain Master Splinter wouldn't want that either. Now, if your pride will allow it… Bruni has a gift for you."
Raph looked towards the little Fire Spirit, seeing its tail wag as the salamander looked up to him with excitement. It was eager to give him whatever gift it had. Raph couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright… lay it on me!" He accepted, extending his arms out, expecting something big to come his way.
Immediately, Bruni leapt towards Raph's chest, clinging to the position that was directly in front of his heart before lighting himself on fire. The pink flames began to spread from Bruni to all around Raph's body. Raphael closed his eyes and allowed the flames to consume him, he didn't even flinch as these flames didn't even burn or feel hot in the slightest. It almost felt… natural. Right before his entire body was consumed… Raph's eyes shot open to reveal a vibrant pink glow.
As his whole body was engulfed, a bright column of fire shot up into the sky like a towering inferno, one that would light up the night sky that had fallen upon the entire Enchanted Forest.
Meanwhile, Mikey continued to ride on top of Neptune as the Water Spirit galloped across the surface of the river. "So… where we going?" Mikey asked the Nokk, but apparently got no response. "Look Neptune, I like this cryptic mystery stuff as much as the next guy, but I'm kinda going through some important things right now… so I'd appreciate a straight answer."
Right as he said that that, Neptune turned down one path, continuing along the river straight towards a cliffside with a waterfall falling down over it.
"Whoa boy…!" Mikey gasped and braced himself as Neptune entered the waterfall, soaking Mikey in the water before revealing they were now inside a cave, one with water all across the ground, and six smaller waterfalls along the circular walls, in addition to the larger one just outside the entrance.
"Wow…" The orange-clad Turtle looked in awe as Neptune came to a stop in the center of the cavern, and looked toward him with a gesture to dismount, which Mikey did, revealing the water below as actually quite shallow, ankle-deep to be specific.
"So, like, where are we?"
Suddenly, the waterfall that was directly in front of Mikey began to shift and change, before revealing the form of his adoptive father in a transparent-like window of the water, much to his shock.
"M… Master… Splinter…"
"I must commend you on your resolve, Michelangelo. You thought you needed to improve yourself, but you had everything you already needed inside. In here." The vision pointed toward Mikey, specifically to the spot on his heart.
"Hey, I remember that." Mikey recalled. "That was the time when I got those gross turtle-zits."
The other waterfalls around Michelangelo all began to shift and change as well, revealing transparent visions of the memories of Master Splinter, and Mikey recalled each and every one of them.
"There is no monster more dangerous than a lack of compassion."
"That's when we first brought Leatherhead into the lair."
"You must find the space between your thoughts and learn to live there, that's what Michelangelo does."
"Ah yeah, fighting without thinking bro!" Mikey smiled. "Though that was more Donnie's lesson. I pretty much got it right off the bat."
"Michelangelo, your mind is overrun with distractions. Learn to be strong and calm, like the forest."
Mikey's smile faded. "Yeah… that was during the whole spirit quest thing." He gave a sad sigh. "I miss you, Sensei."
"And it's alright to miss him."
That caused the youngest Turtle to look up in alarm. "Whoa… what's with the echoey lady voice in my head?" His eyes widened. "Wait… a lady's voice? Are you that lady that's been singing in Elsa's head?"
"My, you are far more intelligent than your brothers would have had you believe." The voice said with a hint of humor. "But your greatest gift, is not your intelligence. It's your heart, Michelangelo."
"My heart?" Mikey asked.
"You are the most empathetic of your family. While most people see something or someone that appears dangerous as monsters, you try to look for who they are inside. Even when the rest of your family says otherwise, you stand your ground because you trust your heart. When those around you are in pain, even those you barley even met, you do everything you can to help remedy their pain, if only just to smile and laugh."
"Whoa… it's like you're reading into my soul…" Mikey said with wide eyes before a sad look on his face. "I just wish I could do that for me right now."
"You have suffered a great loss, but you cannot let that loss consume the purity of your heart. Do you know why the Nokk has taken an interest in you, young turtle?"
"No…?" Mikey replied.
"Because water is a symbol for healing, change, clarity, and even dreams. You embody each of those with your actions. Whenever someone is hurt, physically or emotionally, you do everything you can to help heal them. You're open-minded when it comes to change; and you're willing to admit when you make a mistake, giving you clarity. Your dreams of happiness and joy with your family help keep that very same family of yours going. You refuse to give up on any of that."
A serious look formed on Mikey's face. "Well yeah. I may be a goofball, I might mess up, heck I'm the furthest thing from a scientist, but I ain't a quitter!"
"So, do you intend to quit now? When your family needs healing the most?"
"Definitely not!" Michelangelo answered without any hesitation at all.
"Then brace yourself Michelangelo, for the Nokk has a gift to bestow upon you. One that is sure to aid your family, friends, and so many other innocents in this perilous time we all face."
Mikey then turned back towards Neptune as it stared at him with glowing blue eyes, and the youngest Ninja Turtle looked more than ready.
"Alright Neptune, give me a splash!"
Without a second thought, Neptune lunged at Michelangelo, changing its form into that of a sphere of water that completely engulfed the orange-clad Turtle, whose eyes had been closed. However, Mikey didn't appear the least bit worried, no fear of drowning whatsoever. In fact, the water sphere began to condense around him before it took a more humanoid form around his own body. The second Mikey's eyes opened… they were engulfed in a navy-blue glow.
Leonardo climbed toward the top of a large hill, following the whistle of Gale before making his way to the summit. From there, he stood on the tallest spot in this area of the Forest, and at the moment, it seemed Gale has vanished. There was no whistle to be heard, no leaves or anything that flew with the wind, nothing.
"So, what… now?" Leo asked to whoever he thought could hear him, hopefully the Wind Spirit. "Do I just sit and meditate?"
He got no response from anyone but seeing as there was little-to-no other options presently, that was just what he did. He sat on his knees, took a deep breath before putting himself in a trance. He tried to enhance his senses, particularly his hearing to see if there was any kind of message that the Wind Spirit was trying to give him some other way.
Unlike the other elements, air was not a force one could see, it was a force of nature that one feels, that one hears, or even smells in some cases. Either way, there was no way he could see anything in the air, so instead he tried to focus on his other senses to find what Gale wanted from him.
"As a leader, you will learn that there is no right and wrong, only choices."
Leo's eyes shot open in surprise. "Father!" He got up to look around but heard nothing. He had been foolish to get his hopes up, he already buried his father. Wait… was this the message Gale was trying to give him? With a reluctant sigh, Leo got back down and resumed his meditation, where he heard more of his father's voice in the air around him.
"All leaders must face the fear of losing their team."
"Impressive, would you say you have mastered your fear? No? And that, Leonardo, is why you are a great leader."
"Leonardo, a true leader doesn't always impose his will, but helps his followers flourish, grow."
"My son, how can your brothers believe in you as leader, if you do not believe in yourself?"
"Remember, giving guidance to your brothers and friends does not come from here. It comes from here."
"Leonardo, you must be the leader in body and spirit. Let nothing weigh you down."
The blue-clad Turtle's eyes opened with a sad expression on his face. "Yeah, I remember all that. I remember everything you taught me, Sensei. But now… you're gone."
"Even if he is gone, you are still here."
The eldest of the Ninja Turtle heard the sound of a woman's voice, one he did not recognize, causing him to look around to find the source. "Who are you?"
"Your father may no longer be among the living, but that does not mean he is truly gone. You are still here; you, and the rest of your family. His teachings live on through you. So long as you remain true to them and pass them on to worthy students of your own, Hamato Yoshi will never be forgotten."
"I'm guessing you're the fifth spirit. The one who's been calling Elsa." Leo assumed.
"You'll understand soon enough, but not at this moment in time. Right now, the ones you love need you."
"But… I don't know if I can be there for them… not in the way he was for me." Leonardo made his worry and concerns known. "I wasn't too worried when I led back then… because Master Splinter was always there to give me advice. Without him… I… I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to know everything. The purpose of a leader is to provide support for his followers, but that is not always in terms of battle. You must be there to lend emotional support, and you are more than capable of doing that. You've shown time and again that you don't always need your father to guide you every step of the way. Just look at how far Elsa has come from your words and example alone."
"Everything I've done… has always been modeled after him."
"And there is nothing wrong with that. You've followed enough of an example, that you know what is truly right and wrong. You accept your flaws and mistakes, learn from them, and use them to help push and propel you forward, like the wind. You allow nothing to hold you back, so why start now?"
"Well… what am I supposed to do now?" Leo asked.
"I believe you already know deep down. You must be there for your family and loved ones. You must help guide them, help them to grow stronger as you've always had. You know what to do… as does the Wind Spirit."
Leo's eyes closed to the sound of whistling, and he heard Gale fly around him. He didn't need to see the Wind Spirit to know it was there. And deep down, he did know what was about to happen next. And he would let it happen, flowing with it like the wind itself.
"I'm ready."
No sooner than he said that, Gale began to speed around Leonardo's body as he remained in his meditative stance. Soon, a tornado began to form around him as Leonardo, still in his trance, was lifted into the air. There was no fear, no concern, nothing in Leonardo's expression, his eyes remaining closed as the Wind Spirit's power began to flow through him, with each breath that he took. Leo's eyes then shot open to reveal a light blue glow.
Elsa had made it to the spot where the voice had been calling her. It was at the shore, where the waves of the Dark Sea rushed back and forth. There she stood and had been standing for several minutes. But she still heard nothing from the voice. Not another note had been sung since her arrival, and it was beginning to make her worry.
"What now? I'm here, what am I supposed to do?" Elsa called out. "You called me here for a reason! I just lost somebody very important to me, my friends lost their father! After everything we've been through since coming here… don't we deserve to know!? Why are we here?!"
However, rather than hear the song again, she felt the ground beginning to shake and looked towards the far right in shock to see a bright purple light shining from the sandy ground as a hole was opened up. Ascending from the hole was Donatello, but he appeared completely different than normal.
His body remained its greenish color, but his skin appeared to be made out of solid stone… in fact, his whole body appeared to be made from stone now. Yet he moved around like normal as he spun his staff, which grew two large stone-axes on each side. The purple mask on his face appeared merged with his body as that too became stone, yet his eyes remained their usual appearance, save for the glowing purple iris.
Shooting up from the ground on her far left was a column of pink flame, the flames died out to reveal a transformed Raphael. His skin had turned a mixture of his usual green and the blue color that Bruni had. His palms, feet, and the cracks on his shell were on fire with the same dark pink flame as the Fire Spirit, while his mask appeared to be made of a crimson red flame. The iris in his eyes also changed to a glowing vibrant pink.
Emerging from the Dark Sea behind her, a transformed Michelangelo leapt from the water and onto the beach. His skin was his normal bright greenish color, but it appeared soaking wet as every part of him was perpetually dripping water. The mask he wore was still its usual color of orange, but it appeared to be made entirely out of water and yet it remained in place. The iris in his eyes changed to a navy-blue color.
Finally, a strong breeze blew from the sky above her before something landed right in front of Elsa. It was Leonardo, who had undergone a transformation of his own. His skin was like a greenish white color as a gentle whirlwind blew around his arms and legs, his blue mask becoming a brighter sky blue that seemed to be perpetually flowing with a wind around his face. The iris in his eyes turning into a bright and glowing sky-blue color.
Needless to say, she was beyond shocked.
"Guys… Leo… what… what happened to you!?"
"We ran into the Spirits." Leo answered. "And from the looks of it, they gave us their power." He assumed as he looked towards the wind that blew around his arm.
"I think it was more along the lines of the Spirits somehow merging with us." Donnie assumed, lightly tapping his stone body.
"This feels really weird dudes..." Mikey commented, looking at his own body. "And… somehow it feels… almost natural."
"I could actually get used to this." Raph commented as he held a flame in his hands.
"This power is necessary, for you to do what must be done here."
That took all five of them by shock as they turned toward the sound of a familiar voice. The source being a transparent spiritual form of the father they all knew and recently lost.
"Master Splinter!" Elsa and the Turltes all exclaimed.
"Are you… a ghost…?" Mikey looked in sadness.
"Not quite." The spirit of Hamato Yoshi began to explain. "When my body died, my soul passed on. As a result, I have attained a higher spiritual plain of existence. Passing into death, we merge with the whole of life, we become one with all of nature, in all of the universe… even with each of you."
"And that is the nature of the fifth spirit." The female voice the Turtles all heard before their respective transformations, it was also the same voice of the singing that Elsa had been hearing, one that she now fully recognized as the spiritual form of a woman, baring a strong resemblance to her appeared next to that of Splinter's.
Tears flowed through her eyes on instinct as she felt her heart almost stop. "M… Mother…"
The spirit of Iduna smiled and nodded. "I have missed you so much, Elsa."
She placed a hand over mouth, so much emotion flowed through her that she almost broke down, had Leo not been there to reach and pull an arm around her in comforting embrace.
"You're who's been calling us here." Leo said to her.
"Yes and no." Iduna's spirit tried to explain as best she could
"You said this was the nature of the fifth spirit, what did you mean by that?" Donnie asked.
"Isn't the fifth spirit supposed to represent life or something?" Raph also asked.
"That's exactly it." The spirit of Iduna confirmed. "But unlike the elements of fire, water, earth, and wind; life is not a tangible force. But rather… it exists everywhere, all around us. The people that walk this world, the animals that graze the fields, or fly in the sky, or swim in the ocean; the forests, the plains, the trees, everything. Life is all around us… and in a sense, so is the fifth spirit."
"So, it's like the Force!" Mikey said in realization.
"Yes, that is one way of looking at it." Splinter's spirit confirmed.
"You said the Spirits would give us their power for a reason… I think we can all guess what that reason is." Leo said with a serious expression, his brothers following suit, with even Elsa wiping away her tears.
"Shredder is still alive." Splinter's spirit revealed that which they had suspected.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised." Raph commented.
"But why was he called here?" Elsa asked. "Why him of all people?! Why a soul filled with so much hate?! Why… why would the Spirits want someone so evil here?!"
Iduna's spirit gave a sigh before answering. "The fifth spirit only saw two paths that lay before Oroku Saki, should he be called here; and both were necessary in order to free this forest. The first one, was where he admits his faults and sins, choosing to accept them and wishing to atone. The other, was where he embraces the darkness within his own soul, to become something that not even the Spirits alone can stop. Obviously, he choose the later."
"And how is Shredder becoming super powerful supposed to free this forest?" Donnie asked.
Mikey's fingers snapped. "It's a common enemy thing!" Everyone turned to him in surprise. "Think about it, guys. The Forest was closed off when the Northuldra and people of Arendelle started fighting. And sometimes the best way to bring people together who have been fighting for a long time, is to give them something that they have to do together. And right now, that means stopping Shredder."
"Yes, my son. That is exactly it." Splinter's spirit responded.
"That… actually does make sense in a way." Donnie said.
"Yeah, in a freaky and twisted way." Raph commented.
"So, what do we do now?" Leo asked.
"The Shredder is at Ahtohallan." The spirit of Iduna answered. "His influence has corrupted the sacred place… though it was foreseen by the fifth spirit as the only ones who can stop it, purge Ahtohallan of its corruption, and free this forest are the five of you." She looked directly to her eldest daughter as a look of regret formed on her spiritual face. "Oh Elsa… there is so much… that I have to say. But I am so… so very sorry with how things turned out. We should not have treated your power with fear… that led to you and Anna suffering so much and… we weren't there for you when you needed it most. I am so.. so… so sorry!" She cried.
However, Elsa reached out to grab the hands of her mother's spirit, though they phased right through the spectral form, the gesture still got Iduna's attention.
"Mother… I know why you and Father did what you did. It may have hurt… but I know you did it out of love." Elsa said as an emotional smile fell on her face. "I forgave you a long time ago."
Now it was Iduna's turn to cry tears of joy as she wanted nothing more than to embrace her daughter but was unable to due to her spiritual form. "You've grown up so much…!"
April led the group consisting of Anna, Karai, Casey, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven toward the Dark Sea.
"Are you sure you heard that voice, April?" Anna asked as they made their way closer to the beach. "I know you said you were 'overhearing' it with your own powers, but it was actually directed to you this time?"
"And you know for sure that it's not anything left over from that… Aeon fiasco?" Kristoff also asked with a slight shudder.
"Yeah, I'd rather not go through anything like that again." Sven added.
"I'm positive." April confirmed. "And this time, it was calling out to me."
"And it's another song?" Karai asked in irritation. "This is getting annoying."
"I'll say." Casey also groaned. "Why can't the voice in your head just say 'hey, you guys are supposed to come here and do this!' I mean, is that so hard?!"
"Maybe there's a reason it can only sing to us." Olaf put in.
"Oh? And what reason is that?" Karai questioned the little snowman. "Really not in the mood for all these riddles."
"Guys hold on…" April felt something with her powers as they made it to the shore of the Dark Sea. "There's something else here… it's… it's the guys!"
Before anyone could ask what it was that she meant; Olaf looked toward the side to see Elsa and the elemental-spirit-powered Turtles walking toward them. Everyone turned in the direction Olaf gazed and saw what they were seeing. Needless to say, they were shocked beyond belief.
"What… what happened to all of you?" Kristoff asked.
"We got something of an upgrade." Raph answered.
"Listen, all of you." Elsa told their friends. "Shredder is still alive, he's at Ahtohallan right now. The answers about the past, they're all there too."
"So, we go to Ahtohallan." Anna said.
"No, you guys aren't coming with us this time." Leo told them.
"What?" April questioned.
"No way! After everything's that happened…!" Kristoff began.
"We owe him payback just as much as you do!" Sven added.
"There's no chance I'm not getting a crack at the final boss!" Casey stated.
"This isn't a game, Casey." Mikey told him with a serious expression.
"Crossing the Dark Sea by itself would be difficult." Donnie explained. "But Shredder has corrupted Ahtohallan. We have no idea what we're getting into over there."
"The spirits gave each of us their powers so that we can stand a fighting chance against him." Leo said.
"And we get that!" Anna added. "But we'd promise that we'd all do this together! Look, I don't… we don't want to stop any of you from doing what you need to do! Shredder has to be stopped… but… we already lost someone in this fight… we… I can't lose anybody else. I can't lose you, Elsa!"
"You won't lose me, Anna." Elsa told her sister, gripping her hands tightly. "This isn't about us protecting you, there's a reason you have to stay here."
"Shredder's not the only threat here." Leo added. "We still don't know what the evil of deception is. Not to mention, Tiger Claw and the others are also out there. They could attack the Northuldra and everyone else."
"And you need us to help the Mutanimals to keep them safe." April was able to figure it out.
"Exactly." Leo confirmed.
"Don't worry, we got fancy elemental powers now." Mikey said.
"We'll find Shredder, and we'll bring him down once and for all." Raph added.
"We'll cleanse Ahtohallan and help free this forest, saving Arendelle in the process." Donnie put in as well.
"Alright… guess that makes sense." Kristoff seemed to get it, as did everyone else, though Karai and Anna seemed the most hesitant.
"I… Wanted to help… bring him down…" Karai muttered, the grief of losing her father still fresh.
"We'll be sure to give him a few good hits in for you, sis. Promise." Leo put a hand on Karai's shoulder, right before she pulled her adoptive brother into a hug, which he returned. Raph shared a hand-clasp with Casey, followed by another hug from Karai, and even knelt down to give Olaf a head-pat. Donnie gave fist-bumps to Kristoff and Sven, before he and April shared a hug of their own. Mikey and Olaf also shared a brief hug before he and Casey fist-bumped and gave Karai a hug of their own.
Elsa looked at Anna, keeping her hands clasp as she saw her younger sister still wasn't onboard with this idea. However, Elsa had something to say to her.
"Anna, listen to me." Elsa began. "We have a place in this battle; my place is Ahtohallan, yours is hear to protect our people. Our father as Arendellian royalty, and our mother was Northuldra; the people of the kingdom and our forest are one and the same, and they need someone to help lead and guide them. I've been watching you for a while, and I know for a fact you can do this. You called me a gift to our parents before, but you're a gift too. You may not have any magic, but you have the heart and the will to stand for what you believe in, and fight for what's right. I promise I'll come back, all of us are going to come back. And we'll all go back to Arendelle and have the biggest pizza party you can imagine."
Anna actually laughed at that last part, but the sad expression still remained in her eyes. Even so, she knew she couldn't stop her sister. So, with reluctance, she nodded.
"Alright." She looked towards Leo. "You make sure she comes back, okay? And that all of you do, too."
"We will. I promise." Leo vowed.
"Then you better get going." April told them.
"Do what you do best and save the world." Kristoff added.
With that, the elemental-powered Turtles as well as Elsa turned toward the Dark Sea, but before they could make an attempt to cross it…
"Hey guys…" They all turned back to see Olaf giving them a confident smile. "Kick his butt."
All five of them shared smirks before Raph gave Olaf a thumbs up. "You got it, buddy."
Elsa, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello turned back to the Dark Sea and made their move. Elsa created her ice-wings and shot into the air, with Leonardo right behind her, a tornado forming under his lower body to propel him straight into the air. Raphael followed a similar lead as flames shot from his hands and feet like rockets, giving him the ability to fly alongside them. Michelangelo ran straight into the waves before leaping and landing into the water, the second his feet touched it, he began to surf along the raging waves, riding the surface of the water itself like a surfboard, only he could control the direction and movement. Donatello also ran into the Dark Sea, but as he ran into the water, which each step he took, a column of rock shot up to meet his foot before another met the next foot, and so-on, allowing him to run slightly above the water.
As the five of them made their way into the darkened horizon; Anna, April, Karai, Casey, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watched in awe and fear as they saw their friends vanish. They then turned around and began to make their way back to the camp to prepare their allies for the final battle to come.
Done.
I actually had a hard time coming up with this in the beginning, because I didn't want to repeat what happened in the canon "Vision Quest" episode, but this chapter does have a similar feel, but also something to make it stand out, and I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.
(But you can imagine the Vision Quest OST being played when the Turtles arrived in their spiritual-elemental forms before Elsa. That would be pretty awesome. LOL)
So now we know what the fifth spirit is. This Spirit is life itself, and just like life, it's not a tangible force that one can touch or feel like water, earth, fire, or air; it exists in and around us. The spirits of not only Master Splinter, but Iduna, also appeared before the heroes to tell them what must be done. And now, each of the Turtles has merged with one of the spirits to give them elemental powers of their own so they can stand against the Shredder; while their allies remain behind to protect the people. But that's not the only reason they were left behind… you'll see in the next chapter.
The final battle for the Enchanted Forest has begun. Who will prevail? Find out in the epic climatic showdown of "Frozen Turtles: Into the Unknown!"