The Mountain Pass they cross was covered in snow.
The guys, Kara, and Dragan wore bamboo leaf cloaks to cover their bodies and protect them from the cold. It seemed enough for the guys and Usagi, but the girls were still feeling it.
Kara hugged her body, trying to stay warm as they walked through the pass. She tried to keep her mind off the cold but a certain someone's nagging and complaining was causing her to lose focus.
"Why isn't anyone carrying me?! Someone should be carrying me! Grrrr! I'm cold and I'm tired and I'm hungry!"
"Kintaro, the only way ANYONE is going to carry you is if you're knocked out cold. Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. You do look awfully warm." Kara turned to Kintaro, eyes solely on him as she began to walk towards him.
"Ah!" Kintaro jumped back, startled, and went to run away but Dragan stepped in between them. Kintaro ran to her, hiding behind her leg. "We're close tae the edge o' the pass. We're almost thare. Ye can last a little longer, Kara." She placed her hand over her friend's shoulder and gave her a smile.
Kara stared at her a moment and sighed. "Ugh, fiiine. The minute we get home I'm turning the heater on." She turned and went to catch up with the others.
"But it's already hot at home. You're goin' tae burn the place down if ye do that!" Dragan began to grow worried as she heard Kara chuckling under her breath, already knowing she's imagining the warm flames of a fire.
They continued on their path to the Sky Temple and still, Kintaro's nagging seemed endless. "This is unacceptable! I hate walking! Long-eared you will carry me or build me a carriage! I demand it!"
They were walking up a slant in the mountain which Kintaro was struggling to get to. Dragan noticed and went to help him when Usagi got to him first, speaking to him.
"You will never find your center by being self-centered, Kintaro-sama. Do not expect your power to come from being a boastful brat."
"You don't tell me what to do, I tell you! Now use your long ears and listen when I say: BE SILENT!"
"KINTARO!"
Both of them turned to see Dragan glaring at Kintaro.
"Ye do NOT speak tae Usagi that wye when he is tryin' to help. Waste your energy by whinin' all day but ye don't treat your friends like slaves or else you'll end up drivin' everyone whose cared for ye away!"
"Hey, don't bring us in this." Raph muttered behind her.
"I won't need anyone when I'm powerful. One day I'll be strong enough to lift an entire mountain!"
Kara was ignoring them, making her way down the path. Luckily, the cold wind had ceased so she was beginning to get warm though the cold air was still taunting her. She was rubbing her arms when she came across a boulder blocking their path. "We could use your powers right about now." She said aloud, grabbing everyone's attention.
Raph and the others walked up behind her.
"Looks like there was a landslide."
"Hmm, it's gonna have to move." Donnie muttered, looking it over then to Pugtaro. "Here's your chance, small fry. Let's see you move the 'mountain'."
"Pfft, ha! Stand aside, peasants." Kintaro dropped his axe and walked up to the boulder while waving his hand for them to give him some room.
Now that they weren't moving, Kara moved inside Donnie's cloak, and held it tight around her while watching Kintaro. Donnie blushed, staring down at her, but smiled and put his arms around her to help warm her up.
Kintaro placed his hands onto the boulder and began to concentrate before opening his eyes and pushed against the boulder, grunting as he pushed. Nothing happened.
"Did you see it move? Cause I sure didn't. Ha-ha!"
"Wait! I think I did! No, wait, that was the wind. My bad." Kara added to Raph's mocking and both of them laughed together.
"My paws are cold. I can't get a..nggh..good grip." Kintaro continued to push, using his feet to try and get some momentum only to fall on his face.
"Hahahahah! What happened to your 'great strength', golden boy?" Raph asked, smirking at him.
Kintaro growled and jumped to his feet. "Your fowl stench poisoned me!"
"Hey, lighten up, Raph. The kid tried. That's something." Leo said to him then looked at Dragan as she walked up to Kintaro, bending down by his side with a hand to his shoulder.
"Ye did good, Kintaro."
He was whimpering softly when he looked at her and blinked. "I did?"
She nodded with a smile then looked up to see Usagi walk up to them, placing his hand on top of his head. Kintaro looked at him as he walked up to the boulder and got a look at and around it, noticing all of it's weight was against the tree. He used his sword and sliced the tree leaving nothing but a stump, and it fell over the cliff with the boulder following not far behind it.
Both girls and the others stared at him in awe.
Usagi calmly sheathed his sword and glanced down at Kintaro. "Sometimes strength is not enough." He said with a small smile.
"Awesome." Kara and the others followed after Usagi and Kintaro but Leo began to fall behind. He gestured for Kara to him and she slowed down, looking at him. "What is it?" She asked but he moved his hand for her to lower her voice.
"Use your senses to see if anyone is following us. I feel we are not alone." He whispered, glancing towards a cave.
She nodded and closed her eyes as they walked. She was able to spot someone up in the cave but the snow around them was making it difficult for her to noticed anyone else. "You're right. Someone is hiding in the cave above us. Be on guard." She whispered to him as they caught up with the others.
The higher they went, the more snow they came across.
Donnie was holding Kara close while helping her up the mountain while Leo did the same for Dragan.
Kara glanced back at Raph noticing he was falling behind and looking exhausted when she saw he was dragging Mikey behind, unwillingly. Not a moment later Raph was spinning Mikey in the air out of anger. Kara was on the ground, laughing, while Donnie and Leo were trying to calm Raph down. Dragan had her hand to her head while shaking it in annoyance.
Using the rope from Mikey, Usagi sped ahead and tied the rope to the end of the snowy mountain trail and gave the to the girls to hold onto while the guys used the rope to find their way, the snow fall growing more harsh.
They crossed through a ridge between two mountains, protecting them from the snow storm when they came across a sign that said "Sy Buddha Temple. Straight ahead."
Kara smiled excitedly and hugged Dragan, both of them happy to see they were close to going home and ran ahead towards the sign.
Donnie saw a pile of snow between their path and stopped Kara, going first to make sure it was safe for her. When he stepped on the pile though, he fell through with a surprised yell, his head the only thing sticking out.
Mikey hopped onto his head and stood there for a second before he was kicked off of him by Kara, who landed on the other side. She bent down in front of Donnie, giggling, and with Dragan's help, pulled him out.
The guys and girls were out of breath from the constant walking.
"A-are we there yet?" Kara asked with a groan.
"We have reached the top. The high pass of Ha-ha Yanuaba."
"Oh, thank god." Kara dropped to her knees in utter exhaustion. Dragan sat down beside her, leaning against her with a sigh.
"Atleast the hard part is over" Kintaro said while walking up to them.
"No. The hard part is before us." Usagi said, staring down at the nothingness before them. His words caused an audible groan from behind them to be heard, from Kara of course. "The Descent of a Thousand Screams."
"Woooaaah. That is a loong way down." Mikey muttered in awe.
"So high you could see the top of those clouds." Leo stated, lifting his hat up to see better.
The girls eventually got up and went to see what they're looking at.
"Can't be that bad. I'll see how far down it is." Mikey rubbed his nose before inhaling hard through his nose and spitting a loogey out over the edge.
The girls and Raph leaned over to see or hear when it would land but the wind began to pick up, bringing the loogey up with it. Kara and Dragan stepped back leaving Raph alone, the loogey smacking him in the face.
"I think we got our answer." Kara looked to Dragan with a grin.
"I agree." Both of them turned to Raph and Mikey, who was laughing at Raph's misfortune til Raph tackled him down, both of them landing on the edge.
Donnie pulled them away from the edge and up to their feet by the shoulders. "Hey, do you two wanna fall?"
"Quit messing around! Come on, Usagi is getting ahead."
"On it." Dragan caught up with Leo, smiling, while the others followed too.
Soon, they were clinging to the side of the mountain, the trail small enough to where they had to have their backs against the mountain, taking small strides.
"This is great. Just great. Is this some sort of test to reach the Temple? Cause it's testing my patience for this place!" Kara grumbled, making sure not to raise her voice too loud.
"Huh. Woah! Gasp! Donnie! Donnie!" Mikey quickly grabbed Donnie, surprising him to the point he began to lose his balance, Mikey pushing him against the mountain and pointed at a lone, tall rock. "Look, it's Jei! He's out there!" He shouted but when Donnie and Raph looked they saw no one.
"I don't see anybody, Mikey. You gotta relax."
"He was out there, Raph, I'm telling you! He. Was. Out there!"
"No, I think you're letting this place get to you. There's no one out...there." His sentence slowed when he saw Jei's face form in the clouds and he glared at Mikey, beginning to hit him. "Dang it, Mikey, you got me hallucinating now."
"No, dude, the huge Jei in the clouds just now? I saw it too!"
"That's all I've been staring at and I didn't see a thing." Kara added in.
"Ye weren't touched like thay were, Kara."
"What we're seeing doesn't matter. Jei might be messing with our heads somehow but he doesn't control us anymore."
"You tell them, Leo!" Kara grinned at him with a nod.
Usagi glanced at them and began to walk normally now that the path had widened. "I have heard tales that Jei is an immortal. Even if his body is destroyed he can live on."
"No one is immortal." Kara muttered under her breath, glaring down at the ground as she recalls enemies of the past.
"Don't be like those superstitious fools. They're just afraid." Kintaro told Usagi, narrowing his eyes behind him at them.
"And yet their courage has saved your life. Instead of judging them you should have compassion for them. When you understand others their strength can become yours."
"I don't need anybodies strength. I am plenty strong myself!" Kintaro lifted his axe on to his shoulder but ended up slipping on the edge. Luckily, he caught himself and pulled himself up, curling in a ball and whimpering.
"If you are so strong perhaps you should stop being such a chicken."
"Chicken?! I am the bravest warrior in the land!" Kintaro jumped to his feet, picked up his axe, and stood with his chest out proud.
"Then you must prove it, young one." A voice echoed around them along with an evil chuckle.
"Is that who I think it is?"
"Santa?"
Kara looked to Dragan and couldn't help but smile at her answer. "Good one." Kara closed her eyes for a mili-second and snapped her head in Raph's direction. "Raph, look out!"
Raph jumped away and turned to see a ninja cat completely covered in white pop out from the snow. Soon, more showed up surrounded them.
"Ninja cats!" Kara shouted, looking around at them all.
"I knew someone was watching us." Leo confirmed as he went to reach for his sword.
"Wait, hold it! They're wearing white so maybe they're good ninjas."
"I don't think that's the reason thay're wearin' white, Mikey."
"Yeah, and if that were the case then why aren't you guys wearing white?!" Kara glared at Mikey for his stupid reasoning but that didn't stop him.
"Hey, ninjitsu brah." Mikey reached his hand out to the ninja cat but the cat used its sword to slice at him. Mikey stepped back, his arm completely gone which caused Kara, Dragan, Raph, and Donnie to let out a scream til he lifted the cloak and out came his arm from inside his shell.
After a sigh of relief, Kara smacked him across the head. "You guys gotta stop doing that!"
"So for the record; bad ninjas." Donnie stated while pulling out his staff, Raph his sai, and Dragan her sword and shield.
"Get em!" Raph shouted, charging for them but each time he would attack they would slip into the snow, vanishing.
Kara balled her fist and went to punch one but they snuck into the snow, her bare hand going through the snow. She pulled back and closed her eyes, waiting for the right moment before turning around and slamming her elbow into the wall. Feeling contact, she smirked and stepped back as they dropped to the ground. "Heh." She glanced down at her hand, her knuckles turning red from the direct contact with the cold snow and rubbed them. "The one time I didn't bring my gloves.." She muttered under her breath and blinked when she noticed she was surrounded. She took a stance and blinked again when Kintaro stood in front of her with his axe held out only to immediately drop it, scream, and run. "My hero.." She rolled her eyes and ran towards the ninja cat that was after Kintaro and spun kicked it over the edge. Hearing growling she turned around to see Kintaro captured by another one. "Oh no."
"No!" Usagi shouted as the cat stabbed a device into the mountain and tossed Kintaro over the edge.
"They got Pugtaro!" Mikey shouted as he dropped down after him.
"No!" Dragan followed after Mikey, dropping down drop by drop when she noticed a line attached to Kintaro. She ran towards it and grabbed it tight. She winced, feeling it puncture her flesh but she pulled hard, stopping him in mid air. She felt the line move and looked up to see the device break from the wall and fall. She quickly pulled out her sword and stabbed it into the ground behind her, holding on for life as the weight from Kintaro and gravity tried to pull her down with him. She rolled the line around her hand and pulled up to keep him from falling as he called out to Usagi. The line squeezed against her hand as she held him up and bit her lip as she felt tighten to the point blood began slowly oozing around the line.
"Dragan!" Kara noticed the redness around her hand and ran over to her to help her pull Kintaro up but gasped when the line suddenly snapped. "NO!!" Both of them shouted hearing Kintaro's screams as he fell only to sigh in relief when Usagi caught him. Kara turned to Dragan seeing her wounded hand but she quickly covered it and gave her a nod. "I'll be fine."
Kara stared at her a moment but nodded and both of them ran down the rest of the way to catch up with the others.
"Kintaro, are ye ok?"
"What about you guys?"
The girls asked as they caught up to them.
Dragan noticed Kintaro was walking with a limp and went over to him, bending down in front of him. "Here, let me see that." She reached her arm out to him when he noticed her hand was bleeding.
"Dragan, what happened to your hand?" He asked in surprise, the others going up to them.
"Oh, this? It is nothin'. I'll be fine." She gave him a smile and he stared at her before looking away.
"I got Dragan." Kara said as she pulled out some bandage wrap from Leo's pack.
"I'll take care of Kintaro then." Donnie begrudgingly said, taking supplies from his own pack and the two began to treat them, Leo hanging over Kara which she shooed him away.
Usagi and the others walked ahead. Once the fog began to clear they could see a temple above the mountain in front of them.
"The Temple Palace of the Sky Buddha." All of them gasped seeing what looked to be a dragon made of clouds swirl around the entrance. Usagi had his hand on the hilt of his sword before it disappeared. "It will be dark soon. We must keep moving if we are to make it by nightfall." Usagi turned to them to let them know.
Donnie was finishing taking care of Kintaro when he began to kick Donnie, complaining, "Ow, you clumsy reptile! That hurts!"
"Yeah? Well, it wouldn't hurt if you would hold still. I'm trying to help."
Kintaro jumped off the rock, pointing right at Donnie's face. "You're failing and causing me untold pain, naive. I will have your head chopped off!" Kintaro barked at Donnie but blinked when he heard someone clearing his throat and turned to see Dragan giving him a stern look while Kara looked as though she was on fire, ready to tackle Kintaro and teach him a lesson for talking to Donnie in that way.
"Ah-haha! I love Pugtaro's threats. You're pure comedy, little dog dude." Mikey said as he and Donnie walked off.
"I am not funny! I am impressive!" Kintaro shouted, throwing a tantrum by kicking snow everywhere before turning away from them and hugging himself with a soft whimper.
Once Kara had finished with Dragan she turned to Kintaro and began to feel bad for him. She glanced at Dragan before walking up to Kintaro and gently placed her hand on his head. "Hey, thanks for protecting me back there." He sniffed and looked up at her to see her walking past Dragan and Leo, catching up with Donnie and hugged his arm as they walked.
"Usagi-san, allow me to protect your young charge for awhile. Give you a rest."
"I appreciate and accept, Leonardo-san." Usagi gave him a small head bow before following after the others.
Dragan and Leo looked at each other and smiled before walking up to Kintaro.
Kintaro whimpered softly wondering why no one took him seriously when he noticed Dragan and Leo behind him. "What do you two want?"
"Only to walk with someone who I think is pretty brave." Leo smiled at him and turned around.
"Huh?" Kintaro turned around to look at the two. "What do you mean you think I'm.. I'm brave?"
"We saw ye tryin' tae protect Kara from those ninjas. Even though she is more than capable o' handlin' her own, ye still tried tae help her."
"Yeah, you stood your ground and tried to help fight the ninja on the mountain. That was pretty impressive, Kintaro."
"It was?-I mean, of course it was! I was born to be a hero after all." Kintaro picked up his axe and followed behind the two, both of them smiling to each other, holding hands as they walked.
All of them reached the bottom of the entrance to the temple.
Kara slowly lifted her head to see how long the stairway to the top was and slumped her shoulders. "You've got to the kidding me.."
"Come on, Kara, we're almost thare." Dragan said with a sigh as she and the others began their ascent to the top.
"You said that last time!" Kara shouted with a pout, moving to catch up with them.
"This time it's true." She shouted down to her.
It felt like ages but eventually, they all reached the top. The entrance to the Sky Temple was before them.
The guys were clearly exhausted from the climb while the girls were sprawled on the floor at the foot of the very last step. "Please tell me we're done." Kara muttered into the ground.
Usagi glanced back at the girls but when he looked they were immediately on their feet and looking normal, glancing around as if the climb didn't affect them at all.
"Finally. The Temple Palace of the Sky Buddha."
"It looks deserted for a Temple Palace." Dragan thought aloud as they made their way inside, Mikey and Kara running ahead to get a look around.
"Hmm..there should be warrior monks guarding the Temple entrance. Let us be cautious." Usagi looked over the area noticing no one was in sight.
Kintaro walked up to Kara, who was staring at the statues.
"If those things come to life, I'm not sure what I would do." She crossed her arms, staring at them before walking off, leaving Kintaro behind.
The guys, Kara, and Dragan were the first to enter the yard that lead to the actual temple. Noticing it was empty the guys began to pull out their weapons, having a feeling something was going to happen. Dragan pulled out her sword and shield while Kara got into her fighting stance.
Everyone began to look around for any signs of life when Kara spotted a lone figure chanting to themselves. "Look." She whispered, pointing him out to the others.
"Excuse us, sir, we're looking for the High Priest." Leo called out to them but they stood in shock to see Jei reveal himself.
"Welcome, my warriors!" Jei grinned at them all. "Thank you for bringing the Golden Boy to the temple. It is the only place I can perform the Ritual of the New Dawn."
"Well, that's not ominous.." Kara muttered under her breath but blinked when the ground began to shake and turned around to see the sumo bear walking up to them.
"Shall I destroy them, Master?" He asked, staring down at them.
"Destroy Usagi, the Turtles and their friends may be of some use to me." Jei charged at the guys and Sumo Kuma attacked Usagi while Kintaro ran to hide.
When Sumo Kuma raised his weapon to attack, Usagi went to block but stared in shock when Dragan stood before him, her shield blocking Kuma's attack. She gritted her teeth at his strength but planted her feet firmly on the ground and pushed forward, knocking him off balance and sliced her sword under his feet to throw him back. Usagi went behind him and threw him over his shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Both of them looked at each other and smiled, nodding, before turning to see the Turtles and Kara fighting Jei.
Jei had managed to knock them back, Kara sliding back to where the others were and glared at him, panting softly.
"Excellent. You have more than proven your worth." Jei exclaimed with a smile.
"Our worth?" Leo asked in confusion.
"Did you really think I just gave up my control over you? No. How do you think I've been spying on you all this time? I have been watching through your eyes."
Kara gasped and held herself while covering her girl areas. "Pervert."
Jei stared at her and shook his head. "Not like that, foolish girl." He turned to the Turtles and held up his charms.
Kara blinked when she noticed the guys were acting up and ran for Jei. "Not this time, pal!" She shouted while raising her fist.
"Kara, no, stop!" Dragan screamed but it was too late.
Jei blocked her attack and jabbed her side with the blunt end of his spear. Her sides still ached from before and she stood in shock, the pain stunning her for a second too long which gave Jei time to grab her by the face. "I will do with you what should of been done before. You will serve under me just like your friends." He chuckled as Kara's eyes widened. She began to feel a dark force take hold of her mind. Jei dropped her as she held her head, struggling against this feeling. "No. Nggh...s-stop! I won't...be taken over...again!" She screamed at the top of her lungs but Jei's spiritual energy was much stronger than hers.
"Do not resist, child. Your power, your strength belongs to me now." Jei cooed in her ear, her shoulders slumped and her head bowed.
"...Kara?.."
Kara stood to her feet and turned around to face them, lifting her head to reveal her eye had gone completely white, like the guys.
"No..curse you, Jei!" Dragan screamed at him, tears welling in the corner of her eyes. She gripped her sword tight in her hands, drawing it from it's sheath and ran at him at full speed. Jei smirked as she charged him, raising her sword high for an attack but blocked her attack. She flung her sword around with precision despite the rage she felt inside but Jei would block or parry her attacks.
"I sense the evil inside you." Jei said in a low voice staring right at her but she ignored his words, continuing to swing her sword. Jei blocked her last attack and twisted his spear before throwing it to the side, pulling her sword out of her hand. She immediately went to hand to hand combat but he grabbed her hand and forced her to her knees. "You will serve under me just like your friends."
He began his spell. Dragan squeezed her eyes shut feeling the same dark force from their first meeting. "Do not resist." He whispered noticing it was taking longer than the others.
"No...I...I refuse!" She snapped her eyes open and punched him in the face.
He let out a pained yell, stumbling backwards and looked towards her as she ran at him. His eyes widened seeing the image of a dragon over her, staring down at him. He waved his spear and Kara ran between them, punching Dragan across the face and kicking her away from Jei.
Dragan rolled by Usagi's side and shakily stood to her feet, holding her cheek, and glaring at Jei.
Jei chuckled darkly turning to his servants, his hand on Kara's shoulder. "Now, Turtle Ninja, destroy Miyamoto Usagi and his friend.
Dragan stared at her sword that was not too far from her but then back at her friends not wanting to hurt any of them or Leo but their attacks were relentless. With all five of their attacks combined, the two were no match for them and were eventually brought to the ground. They were surrounded. Leo stood before them with his sword pointed at Dragan.
"Leo, no. Guys, Kara, ye must fight him." Dragan begged in a soft whisper, staring up at her loved one.
"Dragan! Usagi! No!" Kintaro shouted as Leo went to finish them off.
Time seemed to slow down for Kintaro had suddenly appeared in front of them, taking the hit, but instead of dying the sword shattered into pieces.
"What?!" Jei shouted in surprise.
Not a moment later, a bright light shined where Kintaro stood, blinding them all and forcing the guys and Kara back. Usagi and Dragan stared in awe as Kintaro floated into the sky, making hand motions and then sitting lotus style with his hands out.
"Jei, release them from your power, evil one." Kintaro commanded.
Jei motioned for them to attack, the guys jumping at Kintaro all at once. Leo and Raph were the first to attack but Kintaro caught both their hands and spun them around for awhile before throwing them at the temple, crashing into one of it's walls.
Mikey swung his chains at Kintaro but he was able to dodge them without a single thought and sent an attack at his chest, sending him soaring through the sky.
Donnie ran at him, bringing out his spear end and went for an attack but Kintaro jumped onto his staff, ran up towards him, and kicked him in the face, knocking him out.
A gasp escaped his lips as a kicked knocked him back. He slid to a halt and looked up to see Kara lowering her leg and began walking up to him, her eyes soley on him. Dragan went to stand up but he held his hand out to stop her, narrowing his eyes at Kara.
Both of them ran at each other and he dodged her attacks, using his short stature against her and kicked her in the side where she was still hurt. She let out a gasp as Kintaro jumped in the air and over her head where he gently placed his paw on her forehead then shoved her to the ground with enough force to knock her out.
Kintaro landed on his feet and turned to see Kuma walk in his line of sight, stomping his feet provocatively and let out a roar. Kintaro faced him, standing protectively in front of Usagi and Dragan and yelled at Kuma. They charged and were pushing against each other til Kintaro sent a barrage of punches to his stomach and held his ground. Kintaro let out a yell before throwing Kuma into the air, he landing near the entrance to the temple.
Kintaro walked up to Dragan and Usagi, smiling at them. "Are you two alright, my friends?"
Dragan smiled in return, nodding her head
"You did it." Usagi said to him with a smile.
Kintaro smile more at the two but blinked when a chain suddenly wrapped around him and was pulled back by Jei, hanging upside down by his hand.
"Not even your great strength can break this enchanted chain, golden boy." Jei held his spear to Kintaro's face, making him whimper.
"Hold on, Kintaro! I will-"
"You will do nothing, Ronin. All that has happened is as I had intended. I wanted you and the Turtles to teach Kintaro humility, compassion, and courage to unleash the boys powers. You have transformed him into the perfect vessel for me.
"For you? So it is true!"
"Yes! I am immortal! I have traveled from body to body for many centuries but the golden boy's form will be the most powerful of all."
"I won't let ye lay a paw on him, Jei!" Dragan stood to her feet, running for her sword and picked it up. She ran to charge at him but the ground under Jei lifted him and Kintaro up high, knocking her and Usagi off their feet.
"Gods of the New Dawn, hear me!" Jei roared. The sky around them grew dark, turning to a shade of red. "To serve you for all eternity, grant me the power to move my soul to this new form." Jei placed his hand over Kintaro's body as he began to chant the incantations.
While this was happening, Kara and the others woke from their knock out, Kara holding her head and side.
"Ugh, was feeling really evil there for a minute.." Mikey muttered.
"I think we got hit so hard by Kintaro's spiritual power-"
"He smacked the evil right out of us." Raph finished Donnie's sentence and turned to Leo.
"Speak for yourself." Kara muttered, groaning as her side was hit not once but twice.
"Yeah but Jei doesn't know that. Put your evil eyes back on and follow me." Leo told them as he and the others ran towards them.
Kara wasn't sure if she'd be able to do it again but she stood to her feet, using her bangs to cover her eyes and followed after Leo and the guys.
Donnie and Mikey held Usagi down while Kara went behind Dragan, locking her arms behind her back and forced her to her knees while Raph and Leo slowly stalked out of the fog and towards them.
"Yes. Hold them, my disciples, but do not finish them yet. Let them bare witness as your master ascends to power!" Jei's body was shoved back like a ragdoll as his soul pushed out of his body and slunk towards Kintaro.
Leo pointed his sword at Usagi while Raph's sai was pointed at Dragan.
Dragan glanced behind her at Kara, hoping her words would release her from Jei's control but she blinked when she noticed color under her bangs, a dark ocean blue in fact. Noticing Dragan had figured it out, a smile crept on Kara's face and she gave her a wink.
In the blink of an eye Kara pulled Dragan's sword out from her sheath and threw it with all her strength at Jei, her sword stabbing right through his body, pulling his soul back inside.
"Treachery." Jei gasped as Kara and the others charged at Jei.
Despite the sword evident through his body, Jei fought off the guys and Kara as if it wasn't even there.
"Kintaro, what the crap?!" Kara yelled as she was smacked with Kintaro, flying to the ground.
"It's not like I have a choice!" He shouted as Jei spun him around and let out a grunt as he hit the ground, hard.
Dragan and Usagi stared at Kintaro's unconscious form.
"You monster!" Usagi glared at Jei, his pupils shrunk in pure rage as he charged for him.
As he attacked Jei, Dragan stared down where Kintaro was thrown then looked around at her friends who were hurt and in pain. This shouldn't have happened. They should all be at home enjoying each other's company not fighting for their lives. She clenched her fists tightly at her side and turned around where Usagi and Jei were fighting and picked up her shield, running for them.
Jei had knocked Usagi's sword away from him and struck him at his side, cutting his kimono top, forcing Usagi to his knees.
"It ends here, Usagi. No blade can stop me. No mortal can stop me! I will live forever!"
"Don't count on it!" Dragan shouted, slamming her shield across Jei's face. Kintaro spun upwards by the chain and bit down on Jei's arm. Dragan dropped her shield, seeing her sword still stuck in his body and grabbed it's hilt, turned it inside his body and pulled it out with great force, bringing his soul into the sword. Usagi ran to her, grabbing Jei's body and threw him over the edge of the bridge and into the nothingness below them. Usagi then stomped his foot on the chain, keeping Kintaro from falling after him.
Both of them closed their eyes hearing the soft howl of Jei, knowing, he was gone for good.
"In the words o' Kara; no one is immortal." She stared down at her sword, the glow now gone and sheathed it.
Donnie was supporting Kara as they made their way to them.
Mikey bent down, his ear to the edge of the bridge. "Did you hear him land? I didn't hear him land."
"I don't think you're going to." Raph told him.
"Well, good riddance, I say." Kara said glaring down where he last was then looked over at the others.
Usagi pulled Kintaro to safety, the chain loosening around him and the first thing Kintaro did was hug him. "Thank you, Yojimbo."
"All is well, Kintaro. You are safe." Usagi gently placed his hand on Kintaro's head.
Kintaro then went and hugged Dragan. She blinked down at him but smiled and bent down, hugging him close. "I am glad ye are safe, ma friend."
Once Sumo Kuma had awoken he looked down at the Turtles and closed his eyes in sadness. "Forgive me, friends, I too was enchanted by the wizards evil. I am grateful you freed my temple."
"Say what now?" Kara blinked in surprise.
"Your temple?" Donnie asked.
"I am head monk of the Temple Palace of the Sky Buddha. Now that Jei is gone I will send for the return of my fellow monks so that we may attend and protect Kintaro: The Golden Boy." Kuma bowed his hand, clapping his hands together at Kintaro.
"I am grateful to you Turtles and friends, too." Kintaro did the same, smiling at them.
"Aw, yeah! See? I told you Pugtaro was a good dog!"
"Only took three days time to do it." Kara muttered to Donnie making him smirk at her comment.
"Up high, little pup!" Mikey raised his hand high but Kintaro couldn't reach due to his height. "Ok, ok, down low." He lowered his hand down which Kintaro gave it a gentle slap.
"Uh, we still have a problem guys. How are we gonna get home?" Donnie asked, looking at them all.
"Spiritual power brought you here so it is the key to your return." Kuma explained to him, holding Kintaro's axe out to him. "Kintaro, you can make the way." Kintaro took his axe and closed his eyes as his chest began to glow. He turned around, cutting the air in front of him and creating a portal for them.
"This doorway will not last long." Kuma told them all.
"Then it's time to go. So long, Kintaro. You did good." Raph patted Kintaro on the head as they all made their way through the portal one by one.
"Catch ya on the flip, awesome rabbit dude. Later, Pugtaro bro." Mikey smiled at them, giving Kintaro a two-fingered salute.
Kara gave Kintaro a pat on the head and Usagi a hug. He blinked in surprise but hugged her back, smiling. She grinned at them all before running through the portal.
Dragan bent down in front of Kintaro and smiled. "I won't forget ye, friend. Be brave an strong for us, ok?" Her smile brightened when he jumped into her arms, hugging her tight.
"I promise I will. I'll miss you, Dragan." She gave him a gentle squeeze before letting him go and turned to Usagi, bowing her head respectfully. "It was an honor meetin' ye, Usagi. I wish ye well on your journey's here on out."
He nodded and bowed his head as well. "The same to you, friend." She smiled at them all and went through the portal behind Kara.
Leo was the last to go. He turned to Usagi and bowed his head. "Goodbye, Usagi-san."
"Farewell, my brother." Both of them bowed their heads before Leo parted through the portal.
The first thing he saw was a mountain of every known blanket they had and in the middle was Kara's and Dragan's head poking out, a blissful smile on each of their faces. "Ahhh, warmth."
"Don't hog the blankets, now." Raph said as he pulled off a blanket and sat next to them. Mikey did the same, and soon, all of them were huddled together and were sound asleep.
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