A month had passed since the Tribunal's last battle and the mutant family had been returned to New York. The heralds had had to wait until a new full moon, and one that wasn't an eclipse before they started their ceremony of resurrection of the Shredder. And their powers had been a little drained too from their last fight with the turtles.
Now that they had regained their full powers and settled on a place in the city to do the ceremony, they set up lit fire stations and placed the helmet and gauntlet aside, but close by. The Mystics got in a formation like a circle, and began to gather their powers to the fullest and began a magical chanting. There was also a thunderstorm going on outside that night.
It didn't take long for the results of their chanting to show, as the bolts on the sarcophagus started exploding. Then, the lid finally exploded as well. A skeleton rose into the air from the coffin. It was the Shredder!
Skin began to grow back over the bones, and bones reattached as well so they could function once again. It wasn't long before the transformation was complete. This was the true Oruku Saki, who had let a demon take advantage of him so long ago. He looked human-like, but was more like a ghost or zombie of his former self, having much paler skin.
Shredder looked around first and could see he was formed again before summoning his helmet and guantlet to him.
The heralds had also checked on the status of Yogami before they had done this resurrection while waiting. They found he was dead, but by who, was another matter. But now, they also wanted revenge on Karai as well. She was now claiming to be the true Shredder, but not like how her father went about it.
The Mystics hoped their master would do away with this female usurper.
Now that the Demon Shredder was himself again, he used his powers to destroy the coffin he had been in for the last 1,700 years. The five Mystics bowed to him. "Master." they said in unison.
"At last!" Fire decreed.
"At last, the Shredder is risen!" Wind added.
"I live! Now, let the world tremble!" were the Shredder's first words, then he laughed evilly.
…
Meanwhile, the turtles were all asleep and having the same dream, that Karai was calling each of their names in the same dream, that the Shredder was after her. Each turtle tried to save her in the dream, and they were thrown back and had to watch as the demon slashed her to pieces. Then the Shredder turned the city into a world of his own creation, a place of doom.
While they were sleeping, because this dream was connected to the Shredder, the turtles' chi marks had also highlighted on their bodies. It wasn't something that usually happened in their sleep, but this was too strong.
They all woke up in alarm, gasping. Master Splinter, Ancient One, and Randall walked into the room. Randall had been meditating with them to learn more special powers of the mind from the Ancient One, and they sensed something was wrong. They had gone down to check on the turtles.
"What a nightmare. I dreamed about Karai. She was reaching out to me." Leo told the others.
"Yeah, that was my dream." Raph agreed. "The city was breaking into a million pieces! And then she was at the mercy of the Shredder!"
"I saw that too. And New York turned into a horror show, kind of like an alternate universe, but worse." Don exclaimed.
Mikey nodded. "Yeah, and the Shredder was there. The ancient, voodoo Shredder!" he stated as he shook in fear. "Acting all King of the World!" Then he realized what he and his bros had said. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you telling me, we all had the same dreams?" he asked.
Randall was surprised that his brothers had all had the same dream at the same time. The Ancient One let out a hmm. The turtles and Randall looked at him. What did that mean?
"Looks like your kumquats are walking the Know-o-you-co Path." the Ancient One said.
"Yes. It seems that you are connected to forces beyond time and space through your subconscious." Splinter stated in strong words.
"Uh, in English, please, Senseis." Mikey didn't understand what they were saying. Even Randall hadn't quite heard words like those before.
"Yeah, care to translate?" Randall asked.
"Heh! And you four are the hope of the world?" the Ancient One scoffed.
Splinter went on to explain in words they would all understand, "Your amulets, your weapons, your training with the Tribunal; it has all connected you to the Shredder in some way. After all, that was the Tribunal's goal, was it not?"
The turtles all looked at their father in alarm. Even Randall was shocked to hear this and of course, he hadn't been one of the acolytes. But he was trying to understand this threat. He wanted to be a part of it if he could. April and Casey were taking the more silent approach to it until they were truly needed.
Splinter went on, "They took the four of you, along with Adam, Joy, Torra, and Faraji, to transform you from acolytes, into Masters. The Tribunal had hoped to train you to become the ultimate warriors, capable of fighting on the physical and mystical plains. Alas, the Shredder's evil heralds put an end to the Ninja Tribunal's plans. All were destroyed and your training never finished. We can only hope that what you have learned already will be enough. And, your dreams have confirmed what the Ancient One and I have dreaded." he explained.
"I was only starting to see what was happening and got a glimpse of this guy." Randall looked back at his turtle brothers.
"Our meditations have shown us, terrible things. The Ninja Tribunal's worst fears come true! We have seen the Shredder, brought back to life." Ancient One finished.
"The Shredder! Back?" Leo asked.
"No way!" Raph said.
"And soon, he will reshape the world, into a dark chaos! It will not be pretty." the old man declared.
"But first, from what your dream suggests, he will destroy Karai! It suggests she is reaching out to you." Splinter declared.
"She wasn't the Shredder anymore, unless she is carrying on a legacy from her father." Leo wondered.
"She might call herself the Shredder in her father's place, but she still called herself your ally when last I talked to her. Of course, it was my first time talking to her too." Randall explained.
"She could have still done you in, Randall. You shouldn't have talked to her alone." Raph argued to him.
"You guys weren't exactly here to have as back up, and I wasn't going to make Casey go in with me, with the big clutz that he often is. I was careful." Randall countered.
"Knock it off, guys. We will help Karai." Leo declared.
Raph still had his doubts about the Foot leader. It was amazing Randall even trusted her.
"I have a sense that the Shredder will be heading for her very soon. You must warn her." Splinter ordered.
Don and Randall had come very close to finishing the Turtle Taxi. The reptile group all ran to the lab to pile into the car. Raph sat up in front with Don, while Leo and Mikey rode in the back. Randall didn't want to be left out, but Splinter stopped him.
"We will wait until we hear from them, Randall. You need to develop some more powers first if you are going to be a part of this." Splinter explained. "And your mental powers are not strong enough yet."
"Ugh!" the lizard groaned in defeat.
"He has point, Tokage." the old man agreed with the rat.
Being called a Tokage was something still new to Randall.
"Just when do I get to help them in all this?" Randall asked.
"I'm sure there will be a way soon enough, but right now, we must let my sons deal with the Shredder and his heralds." Splinter knew what was true in his heart. He had raised his sons well and taught them much about how to be responsible, and the Tribunal had trained them well too.
All they could do was wait. The three of them sat down and began talking more about mental training for Randall just as well.
….
At the Empire State Building, where the resurrection had happened, the Shredder was now ready to take on and claim this new land.
"Come, slaves." he ordered. He and his Mystic cronies followed him out of the entrance. "Let us venture forth and survey my new kingdom. What a pleasure it will be to hear the screams, when I remake the world, in my own image!" The Shredder declared. "This island is the perfect place to begin. The motes on both sides, will make it easy to defend."
From behind him, the Fire one spoke up, "Master, there is first the matter of the usurper."
The metal one spoke next, "She, who dares to call herself, the Shredder."
"Her very existence mocks you!" the fire one exclaimed. "You must first deal with her!"
"I… MUST?!" the Shredder turned to them in complete anger at being ordered. He blasted a surge of power over the Mystics, making them cry out in pain. "I must do whatever I please!"
"Yes, forgive us." the Earth one said.
"Mercy, Master!" the fire one pleaded. They were all on their hands and knees.
"You amuse me, and so will destroying this usurper as well. Once that sport has been savored, I will bring a reign of chaos unto this world!" Shredder proclaimed. Thunder roared angrily across the sky.
The Shredder and the Mystics regained themselves and began their journey towards the Foot building. While the turtles had been gone, Karai had used her father's fortune to finish remaking the former Foot building. She was there now. The magical beings began to lower themselves closer to the streets below.
Humans who saw them started screaming in terror. They were under the light of the full moon that was out despite the storm. Several people saw them and pointed upwards before screaming and running away. Others in cars also got into wrecks because they got distracted by this new creature coming their way.
Shredder started using his powers to destroy some cars, and even a newsstand.
"I'd forgotten what an endless source of entertainment this world is. What memories this brings back. The fear, the destruction, the agony. I feel… truly inspired! Now, let us go give our regards to this… Karai." the Shredder decreed.
The turtles were all in the Turtle Taxi, on their way to the Foot building. April had told them about it that she was back in her father's building.
After rounding a corner real sharply, the car was in the air almost ready to go on its side, and squealing the tires. "Sorry, guys. I'm still working some of the kinks out of the Turtle Taxi." Don apologized.
"No problem. I wanted to see my lunch again, anyway." Raph complained.
"Remember the plan. We're leaving one of our shell cells at the Foot building. This is just a drop and go." Leo reminded his bros.
"Right, and then we call Karai, and we say, 'Lady, get out of town.'" Raph smiled.
Even though they were allies, they just didn't have time to stop by for a social visit tonight. But up ahead, Don saw some cars blocking the way, having been wrecked.
"Whoa!" he shrieked, and slammed on the brakes, hard. It stopped them from crashing into the other vehicles at least.
The four of them looked up and saw six beings in the air, floating toward the Foot building. The leader was causing chaos in the streets.
"Please tell me that's not who I think it is." Mikey whimpered.
"That's exactly who you think it is! The original Shredder!" Leo exclaimed.
"And he's got those Mystics who destroyed the Tribunal with him!" Raph yelled angrily.
"They're heading for… Karai's! It's too late to warn her now. He'll be there in minutes." Don said.
"Can we go around? Pass him somehow?" Leo asked.
"Maybe, if I can clear a path through this wreckage. And I think I have just the thing. Hang on!" Don declared. He pulled his visor down and pressed one of the buttons.
The retractable armor spread out and Don punched the gas. The taxi's armor deflected the wrecked cars out of the way.
Mikey pointed to the left, "Try that way, Donny." he directed.
"Don't be a backseat turtle, Mikey." Don slapped his hand away, then hit pressed another button. The tires then rotated backwards. He directed the taxi through some more cars, then he threw a line to a blue car and pulled it out of the way. Their path was now clear.
"You're the turtle, Donny." Raph complimented.
"Uh, I may be the turtle, but he's, the Shredder!" Don whimpered. They had caught up right behind the Shredder. He had just used his powers on another car, and the man inside was trying to get out. His car was on fire.
Don pressed a new button and the taxi sign on top of the taxi turned and started releasing a fire extinguisher. It put the fire out, and the man got out of his car, freaked out and ran away from the scene.
The Shredder was annoyed at what happened. He hated do-gooders. He turned his head to the Turtle Taxi. "What an annoying horse-less carriage." he said, then proceeded to pick up a cement truck and aimed it at the taxi. The driver man jumped out of it and ran off. "Someone should squash it like a bug. And, I think it will be me!" he exclaimed.
He released his magic hold on the truck and it started coming down at the taxi.
Raph rolled down his window to look up. "Oh, shell! Incoming!" he yelled in panic.
"Hang on!" Don also voiced his panic. He pushed another button and the trunk's lid popped up and the engine back there was fired into power. It got them out from under the aim of the cement truck just in time, only to end up in through the glass window of a store on its back. The store's alarm was blaring.
Luckily, the turtles were all wearing their seat belts. They were in their seats upside down with their hands on the floor. "Jet engines in the trunk. Never leave home without 'em." Don admitted, then he pushed another button, and the same device on the roof of the car used to stop the fire pushed outward to the floor and pushed their car to its tires again. Don now backed the taxi up again to see where the Shredder was.
"Where's Big, Ugly, and Evil?" Mikey asked in a nervous tone.
"He's already forgotten about us." Don pointed.
"And he's almost at Karai's. We'll never get past him." Leo said.
"Which means, no warning Karai." Raph added.
"Wait, maybe we still can. There's a surveillance van outside April's from Yogami's people." Don pointed out.
"Maybe it's time for a visit." Leo agreed.
Don gassed it and hurried over by April's. He made sure to slam the van hard, then backed up to give it room to lower its door. Raph had jumped on top of the van. Two men came out to see who had rammed them. Raph grabbed them and jammed them into each other, knocking them out.
"Haha! The classic hit and stun!" Mikey laughed.
The turtles hurriedly got into the van. Don began dialing the Foot's number from there. He got a video screen of Karai on the first try. She was in her battle armor.
Karai saw the turtles on the line. "The turtles. Hello. I wasn't expecting you to contact me."
"Karai, we're here to warn you. There's a-" Leo began.
"A ghost? An old relic? I know of him approaching, Leonardo. And, I am prepared to fight him." Karai said firmly.
"You don't understand. You can't fight him. You've got to run!" Leo told her in concern.
"He's not just some old relic. He's Mondo Bad Evil Guy!" Mikey started.
"A very powerful demon!" Don added next.
"There ain't no way you can take him." Raph finished.
"Don't forget who I am, Turtles. I am the daughter of Oruku Saki. I am the Shredder now. I will not let this old relic scare me away from my home and my position!" She was just angry this was happening. At least she was a Shredder that wasn't a threat to them. She had made good on that promise thus far, and just as Randall had said too. She was just being stubborn at the moment.
"I appreciate your concern, Turtles, but I must continue my preparation for him." she said and hung up.
"Well, that went well." Mikey said.
"Donny, patch us into the lair." Leo said.
Don did just that. On screen was the Ancient One. "How do I answer this idiotic contraption?" he knocked on the screen. Randall was in the background giggling.
"You already did, Ancient One." Splinter replied and appeared next to him.
"Oh." the old man said.
"Master Splinter, Karai isn't listening. She's going to fight the Shredder!" Leo exclaimed.
"Well, that's the end of her." the Ancient One stated.
"You can't let that happen!" Randall told his friends.
"We must save her from her own folly. She has some karmic role to play in all this. I'm sure of it. Continue as we planned. We must get her out of there! Randall, Ancient One and I will meet you at the appointed place. Avoid confronting the Shredder, and, be careful, my sons." Splinter advised, then the screen scribbled again.
"Avoid confronting the Shredder, he says. Oh!" Mikey grabbed his head in annoyance.
The Shredder and the Mystics arrived outside Karai's mansion. "This is the usurper's fortress?" the Shredder demanded. He used his magic to destroy the entrance to the building. "Pathetic!"
The six of them moved forward. Foot ninjas started appearing in huge numbers. The turtles would have had a huge problem with defeating that many, but, as the ninjas attacked, Shredder blasted them with his powers, making all of them go flying away. They all screamed in terror.
The ninjas were all left badly wounded or dead.
"I expected to find warriors here, not school children. Go home to your mothers, little ninja!" Shredder mocked them.
Then, the giant machines, the Foot Mechs came into action. Karai had started using them as well. They all took aim.
"At last, a chance to display some real power!" Shredder exclaimed.
One of Karai's men spoke up, "Hold the line, men! These demons must not be allowed to pass!"
"This tries my patience!" Shredder proclaimed and he blasted those too. He easily destroyed them. The Foot soldiers in them were left the same as the ones before, mostly finished.
"Is there no one here who can present the slightest challenge?!" Shredder demanded angrily. He and his cronies moved farther into the building.
On screen, Karai and a team of her workers saw the damage. "He's through our initial defenses, Mistress." a man spoke.
"Deploy the Foot Tech ninjas with Dr. Chaplin's new mystic armaments. We shall attempt to slow him a little." Karai ordered a Foot soldier next to her. He bowed and ran off to deliver the order.
Another one was next to her, "Mistress, the mayor is on Line 3."
"Connect us." she ordered.
The mayor was brought on screen. "I can't keep my people back much longer, Ms. Saki. It's mayhem over at your place!" he declared.
"I will sort out my own affairs, but I need more time. I am counting on you, Mr. Mayor. There will be an extra deposit in your swiss account." she promised him. He smiled.
"In that case, take all the time you need. I'll come up with something." The Mayor replied, then he disconnected the call.
Karai was sure she could handle the fight ahead. Her organization had been planning since she had heard about what had happened from Yogami's. She was certain that the new weapons that had been made would be enough.
The turtles finally made it to the Foot building. They got out and observed the damages too. "Whoa. This looks worse than your room, Mikey." Raph said.
"Karai's forces have been crushed. Time's running out." Leo said. "Let's move!"
They all ran inside at the order.
The Shredder and the Mystics had arrived at the top of the building. He had destroyed all of Karai's business along the way, and any who worked for her. The doors to her penthouse blasted open.
"Karai! It is time to face the one, true Shredder!" he and the Mystics went inside.
The four Foot Elite guards jumped out to greet them. Even they often had powers that were like that of a magical being too. But not nearly like the ones they were facing.
The Mystics wanted to take the Elite guards on, but were stopped by their leader. "Back. Today's pleasures are mine." Shredder declared. Then he waved his right arm and he made their weapons rise up out of their hands.
The Elites were surprised. Their weapons went high into the air and were forced down back on them. They were now out of the picture too.
"Surrender, and I may spare some of your pathetic lives." Shredder ordered. He proceeded to move forward and then, he was hit by a mysterious blast of blue electrifying powers.
He snarled, and was blasted again. Many Foot Techs were cloaked and were giving it to him. He pushed it off like it was nothing. "Parlor tricks. But it won't be nearly enough to stop me!" he exclaimed.
The Foot Techs appeared and one ordered them to use some form of magical containment on the Shredder. The stuff used formed some kind of slimy cocoon around him and it laid on the floor. But the Shredder's powers even ate through that and he blasted his way out angrily, "Enough!"
His powers continued to blast the Foot Techs too, dropping them in seconds like flies. The Foot organization had underestimated this demon's powers.
"Show yourself, Karai! Now!" he ordered angrily.
Karai could see that what the turtles had said was true, but she still would fight him. "Get me Dr. Chaplin." she ordered.
Dr. Chaplin was a young redheaded scientist guy that her father had hired before his demise. He did sort of have a crush on Karai, and was happy to work for her.
"Status report, Doctor!" Karai demanded.
"I'm just making some last minute callaborations on the weaponry, Mistress." Dr. Chaplin replied.
"Chaplin, we've had months to prepare. You should be finished." Karai stated.
"This is delicate work. No one's ever tried this kind of magic tech before. It's taking some time." Chaplin explained.
"Time is one thing we do not have." She put her helmet on to go face her enemy. "Now ready your men and get here!" she ordered. "The fight is upon us!" She gathered her magical weaponry to go face him.
Shredder and the Mystics kept on floating forward. "Will you hide forever, Karai?!" Shredder demanded.
A door lifted up, and Karai appeared. "I hide from no one, Relic! Your time passed long ago! Go crawl back into the grave where you belong!" she ordered.
"With every word, you call upon yourself an ever more terrible fate!" Shredder threatened her.
Karai stepped forward. "My fate will not be determined by you!" she proclaimed.
The turtles had finally made it to her penthouse and were ready to assist her.
"Karai, wait! Don't fight him! Run!" Leo ordered.
"Dispose of those creatures!" Shredder ordered the Mystics. They turned to face the turtles. "I have business with the imposter."
The Shredder made himself glow, his powers were green energy.
Karai yelled in anger and made her move to attack the demon.
The Mystics bared down on the turtles. "Remind me again why it's a good idea to save Karai?" Raph asked.
"To be honest, I'm not sure that it is anymore." Leo replied.
"Now, Acolytes, join your beloved Tribunal, in the afterlife!" The Metal one exclaimed as he and the other Mystics made their move on the turtles.