Author Notes:

Uh... did I mention that I really dislike fight scenes? Oi. I made the mistake of trying to make this fight too complicated, and I ended up with a mess that was completely fragmented and filled with plot holes, and nothing I did seemed to work trying to smooth over the gaps. Finally I had to just give up and simplified things significantly. Alas, that means I had to cut out a large chunk where the Hamato Brothers fight a large group of minions, which disappointed me, because it not only showed how awesome Leo's brothers were, but it gave Leo a taste of 'Teamwork', and, spoilers, he quickly got addicted to the concept. I might add that as a drabble later on. I cut out a few more things, and finally got it to a manageable and understandable fight where, hopefully, readers won't get lost in a complicated mess.

Chapter 23- Wolves and Sheep

It baffled me how a company who's biggest rival happened to be a clan of ninjas would make the choice to place large, polished mahogany rafters in the ceiling of their head executive office. I mean, I supposed it looked really nice, tying in with the matching dark red wooden paneling lining the walls, but as much as they gave the room a look of sweeping grandeur, the arched rafter beams also gave sneaky, invading ninjas places to perch unseen in shadows and watch the scene unfolding below.

The whole executive office taking up most of the top floor was huge, three walls of tapestries and antiques leading up to a floor to ceiling window that gave an eagle's eye view of the city below. The luxurious, gigantic room felt more like a medieval cathedral then an executive office, which surprised me. I had always associated the EPF with more clean, clinical, modern architecture. There was a giant stone fireplace faced by two deep backed red velvet chairs, in case one wanted to sit back and muse thoughtful into the flames, I assumed, and a long meeting table with rows of straight backed chairs that looked like it should be surrounded with rich evil businessmen for the lead villain of a movie to sneer down upon. The room even had an extremely impressive and fully stocked bar to the side, rows upon rows of expensive looking bottles of various spirits lining shelves behind a long solid marble counter topped with wooden panels matching the walls and rafters.

"...And now they've turned back around, and they're heading downtown! Why?! What could they possibly be up to?!"

It was painfully obvious to everybody that Darius Dun, for maybe the first time in his life, was losing control. The normally giant, heavily muscled man in a well tailored suit stomped around the room, his face red under his greying beard as he paced across the floor, as agitated as a rabid wolf. His hair was disheveled, and his golden monocle dangled from its fine chain, swinging wildly with each abrupt turn. "This makes no sense!" he raged, throwing up his hands. "Nothing they've done has made sense so far! They should be trying to rescue their father! They should be trying to free the rest of the clan to make an attack on us! Not... not take a stolen mech for a joyride around the city!"

"Mr. Dun, contain yourself. They are only three children." Against the large window that dominated the far end of the room was a gigantic, elaborate desk. Behind it sat an all too familiar man, his elbows on the desk and his chin resting on folded hands as he watched the much larger man pace.

My heart dropped in my chest and my breath hitched at that voice.

Agent Bishop...

Despite already knowing that he was up here and having ample time to prepare myself mentally, I still couldn't help tensing up and shrinking back a little at the sight of the cold agent in the flawless and stiff black suit.

It had been years since I had seen him last, but the cold hearted agent hadn't seemed to change at all. The sharp, angular face, as emotionless as if carved out of stone, still looked exactly as he did in my memories and nightmares. His eyes were completely hidden behind large impenetrable pitch black aviator glasses, yet I knew from experience that somehow, behind the shine of that black tint, his stare still cut deep into you, silently dissecting you. There was no escaping that cold gaze. He was a merciless cobra, waiting to strike, and you... well, you were nothing but a mere insignificant little mouse.

There was a little movement at my side, and I glanced over to see Raph creeping forward, fingering his sai with a dangerous glint in his eyes, and muscles bunched and all too ready to spring.

Quickly snapped back to reality, I narrowed my eyes at him and waved for him to stand down and wait.

He narrowed his eyes right back at me, and gestured towards Bishop, then mimed angry stabbing motions with his sai.

I gave him a look that clearly told him that would have to wait, we had a plan, and we needed to stick to it.

He frowned at me, then clenched his teeth, and I could almost hear the silent growl from him as he glared from behind his red mask at the man down below sitting behind the desk. But, for the moment anyways, he held himself in check.

"Do not underestimate the Hamatos, Bishop." Dun turned to snarl at the much calmer and composed smaller human. "Those 'children' have been trained by only the best tutors available since primary school, and they have mastered and surpassed anything that had been thrown at them. Even Bradford, the top martial arts world champion, knows to fear them."

"They are my sons, after all." a tired but serene voice reminded them.

I let a slow breath out through my nose, looking with concern down at the kidnapped patriarch of the Hamato Clan.

Thankfully, it seemed like his kidnappers had put some at least some thought into the care of a man only a day out of a twelve year coma. Master Yoshi was leaning back in a wheelchair, his tired and weak body cradled and supported by padded high backrest, and they had even allowed him a thick blanket to keep him warm. A guard stood on each side, and he was obviously a prisoner, but they seemed to want to keep him alive for now. I studied him worriedly, and was relieved to see no bruises or apparently injuries. He looked tired, but unharmed, and even defiant.

I turned and glanced at Mikey, nodding. He gave a smirk and a salute, and then was off like a silent cat across the rafters. Donnie crept up closer to me and Raph, and the three of us crouched in the shadows, waiting.

"You." Dun turned towards Master Yoshi, strolling up angrily and leaning down to snarl in his face. "What are your sons after?! What is their reasoning behind this... this foolishness?!"

Master Yoshi's steel blue eyes only held disdain as he stared at the giant man, not flinching in the slightest even as angry spittle flecked his cheek. "In case you were somehow unaware of the fact, I, unfortunately, was in a coma until recently. Alas, you would know better then I at the moment."

Dun growled and clenched his fists, stepping back and obviously barely containing his rage. He gave a frustrated snarl and turned away to face Bishop once more instead. "We cannot risk them enacting whatever plan they've set into motion." He roughly grabbed a map of the city off the large meeting table, and strode over to slap it on the desk in front of Bishop. He jabbed his finger down on some locations. "They're heading here, from all reports. Get more men here and here, and we need to get the tanks moving now. We can corner them if we hurry!"

Bishop did not look impressed, not even glancing down at the crumpled map as he coldly watched the agitated man over his clasped hands. "We already have all the men we can spare out there, and we're not going to pull any more from the warehouse siege. I will not risk the mutant escaping again."

"You fool!" Dun slammed him hand down against the desk hard enough to rattle the contents. "The Hamato brothers should be our top priority right now! If they escape, we lose everything!"

"The mutant is our only priority." Bishop corrected him sharply, lowering his hands, his face like stone. "The Hamato clan right now is meaningless. They could be completely wiped off the face of the planet, for all I care. Recapturing the mutant is the only thing that matters."

"No! I'm supposed to get the Hamato Clan, remember?!" Dun bristled angrily. "We had deal! You cannot just back out of our agreement!"

"The agreement was contingent on your usefulness." Bishop interrupted him coldly. "Which has been called into question recently."

"How DARE you!" Dun swept his arm in a rage, sending a phone and several desk ornaments flying. "If it wasn't for me-"

"Doctor Stockman's Mousers fell far short of your promised effectiveness, and, once again, I find myself in the position of cleaning up your failures." Bishop snapped, cutting him short. "The EPF is not your personal army to use for your own gain, they are only deployed as I see fit." He stood up as gracefully as an uncoiling snake, his black tinted glasses glinting dangerously at the heavily muscled man towering over him. "Do not forget who your masters are, Mr. Dun."

Dun's nostrils flared and he straightened up, his jaw tightening, but he didn't say anything more.

"That's what I thought." Bishop's lip curled slightly in a sneer.

The guards in the room shifted uncomfortably at the tension running palatably in the air as the two men stared each other down.

"COWABUNGAAAA!"

Out of nowhere, Mikey dropped down, landing skillfully on Master Yoshi's wheelchair, kicking off the brakes the moment he touched down and cackling gleefully as he sent the wheelchair speeding away from the startled guards on each side before they could react.

"Hi Dad!" Mikey grinned down at his stunned father.

"Oh. Uh, hello, Michelangelo." Yoshi's hands gripped the padding on the armrests of the wheelchair tightly as it bounced backwards wildly towards the exit comprised of two large wooden doors.

With a snarl, the guards quickly drew their guns and spun around, intent on stopping him, but then they were suddenly buried under the weight of two more forms dropping from the rafters.

"This is more like it!" Raph grinned, his fist slamming down solidly on the jaw of the guard underneath him, knocking him out cold.

"Focus, Raph!" Donnie quickly incapacitated his own flattened guard with a thwap of his Bo staff, and sprung off to quickly chase after Mikey and Master Yoshi.

There were two more additional guards stood by the door, and each of them lifted their guns, ready to stop the wheelchair racing straight for them and the exit. Until, of course, a giant humanoid turtle dropped down, twin swords slicing through the air like silver ribbons. I twisted about and kicked the doors open, and gestured towards Mikey. "This way!"

"They have the mutant?!" Dun snarled. "I KNEW something was going on with him!"

Mikey twisted around on the wheelchair and made a face at him, sticking out his tongue and waggling his finger. "Later, chumps!"

"Activate lockdown procedure code 4F78!" Bishop snapped into his rather fancy looking watch on his wrist.

Red lights flashed, and I yelped and leapt back just in time as a large steel vaulted door sudden slammed down with floor shuddering force, blocking the doorway.

"Crap!" Mikey's eyes went wide, and he hopped off his perch to skid against the floor and quickly bring the wheelchair to a stop next to me.

Raph and Donnie skidded to a halt, glancing up at the metal barrier now in our way. I inwardly cursed, looking around the room and not seeing any other exit. So much for a clean and easy escape.

"Leonardo..." I heard a whisper at my side, thick with emotion, and I glanced over to see Master Yoshi's eyes widen when he looked up at me.

I exhaled and nodded, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. This was Hamato Yoshi, the patriarch of the Hamato Clan, the father of my brothers, and the human that gave me and Master Splinter our humanity. He was actually real and right here, looking at me like he couldn't believe I was here. I had no idea what to say in the situation. How should I even address him?! I cleared my throat, shifting from one foot to the other nervously. "Um, hi. We're... uh... here to rescue you."

"I... can see that." Master Yoshi blinked at me, then his eyes flickered to my brothers. "Thank you... my sons."

I swallowed hard and inwardly wondered if I was included in that.

But then all time for talk was over as Bishop stepped forward, Dun towering a few feet behind him. The EPF agent held a gun casually pointed at us, and looked every inch the man in control.

"Ah, the renowned Hamato brothers, at last. So you've come for your father after all." His normally cold and emotionless face gave the slightest smirk, a look of a hunter's triumph as he stared at me through the black lenses of his glasses. "And I must thank you for bringing along some very important missing property of the EPF. "

I gritted my teeth and clenched the handles of my swords a little tighter.

He smirked coldly at me, and reached up to push his glasses up on his face with one hand, the glare reflecting off them shifting slightly.

An unexpected flash of silver zipped through the air so fast it was almost a blur, and before anything more could be said or done, out of seemingly nowhere, a sai suddenly smashed into Bishop's face with such force that he was knocked off his feet and sent flying back several meters, past a startled Dun, to crash loudly into the wooden high back chairs surrounding the large meeting table.

There was a moment of stunned silence. I stared at the EPF Agent's limp body laying among smashed and overturned chairs, and then turned to look at Raph.

He merely shrugged, twirling his remaining sai and raising an eyebrow at my stunned look. "What? Mikey did tell you that was going to happen."

"I totally did, bro." Mikey agreed amiably.

"Raphael..." Donnie groaned, fingering the bridge of his nose. "Nooooo..." He lowered his hand and shot Raph a dirty look. "Look, Leo obviously had a traumatic history with Bishop, and he isn't going to be able get any real sense of closure about that now"

"Oh." Raph blinked, then looked at me sheepishly. "Uh, sorry, Leo."

"No. It's... it's fine." Turning my gaze back to stare numbly at the body, I was still trying to process what had just happened.

After seven years of fear and nightmares... After all that build up, preparing myself to face him once more... and... that was it?

It just felt so... I dunno... anticlimactic.

"After this is all done, try kicking the body a few times." Raph helpfully offered. "I find that sometimes helps."

Yoshi sighed. "Raphael, my son, I see we are going to have some long discussions about the honorable treatment of our defeated foes."

"Ahem." an annoyed voice cleared his throat loudly, and we looked over to see Dun standing there, his demeanor still angry, but now regaining once more a sense of composure and arrogance.

"Ooooh, right." Mikey observed. "We still got him to take care of."

"Dun!" Donnie bristled, holding his Bo Staff. "How could you betray us like this?! After all these years..."

"It was merely business, Donatello." Dun sniffed, narrowing his eyes at us, apparently not bothered in the least that he was outnumbered. "I hope if I taught you anything in the years I've been your guardian, it's that it's a dangerous world out there, filled with only wolves and sheep. The question is, are you a wolf, strong enough to take what you need to survive?" He began to move deliberately towards the back of the room, towards the desk. "Or are you mere sheep, to be herded by those stronger then you, until you're finally devoured?"

"That is the purpose of the Hamato Clan, why we exist." Yoshi straightened up in his chair, looking disdainfully at the giant man. "We protect the sheep from wolves like you."

"Yup, we're the third option." Mikey grinned toothily. "The guard dogs."

"An organization with as much power and connections as the Hamato Clan needs to be led by someone willing to be ruthless, somebody willing to do what must be needed to make the company thrive." Dun turned over his shoulder to correct him scornfully. "Not children and a cripple."

"Hm. From what we overheard, the EPF seems to have a pretty tight leash around your neck." Donnie observed dryly. "So who's the sheep, and who's the wolf in that situation?"

Dun's face went dark, any pretense at civility gone. "Oh, I'll remind the EPF just how useful I am."

"Surrender, Dun." I said darkly, pointing a sword at him. "You're trapped in this room with us, there's no escape."

"We can do this the hard way, or the easy way." Raph added, and it was obvious from his stance which option he was hoping for.

Dun stopped next to the desk, put a hand on the corner of it, and, far from looking worried, actually gave an amused chuckle. "You Hamatos have no idea what you're dealing with, do you? Of why the EPF is so interested in finding your turtle pet?"

"Nobody's touching our brother." Donnie emphasized the last word meaningfully as he stepped closer to me protectively.

"Be careful, my sons." Yoshi warned us, his brow furrowed. "There is something terribly wrong with his aura."

Dun laughed and turned to grab the giant, solid wooden executive desk, his muscles bulging as he heaved, lifting the whole thing over his head. "And this is why I deserve to have the Hamato Clan! For the strong deserve to rule the weak!"

Eyes widening, we scattered, Mikey leaping on Master Yoshi's chair and shoving it out of harm's way, as the desk was launched towards us like a giant's thrown boulder. The expensive wooden desk smashed against the wall with enough force to crack the wooden paneling.

"The fuck?!" Raph stared at the desk in disbelief. There was no way that Dun should've been able to lift it, much less toss it with such ease.

Dun flexed his arms, and starting walking towards us. "Impressive, eh? I've become more then mere human." He grinned at me. "It's why the EPF wants you so badly, you know. They've discovered just how useful mutagen can be, what it can do in the right hands."

"What did the EPF do to you?!" Donnie breathed in horror.

"They saw my true potential and unlocked it!" Dun bellowed, his muscles rippling and bulging to the point the seams of his white dress suit began to fray under the strain. "I've become a god, to rule over the mere mortals."

"He's insane." Donnie realized, looking around at us.

"We need to take him down fast." I had already scrambled up to my feet, clutching my swords. "Whatever you do, do NOT let him hit you! He's too strong!"

"So, what's the plan?" Mikey glanced between me and Donnie.

Donnie looked over at me hesitantly.

"You guys ever see sparrows on a hawk?" I asked, glancing at them.

Donnie's eyes lit up, and a confident smirk crossed his face as he grabbed his bo staff from where it had clattered to the floor. "Mikey, push Dad behind the bar, he should be protected back there. This is going to require all four of us."

"On it!' Mikey quickly moved to do as asked.

"Be careful, my sons!" Master Yoshi looked pained as he was quickly moved, obviously frustrated with the limitations of his weakened body."

"Don't worry, we're experts at this!" Mikey winked at him, launching off the wheelchair once it was secured and safe, vaulting over the liquor bar to join us, and turning as he went to call out cheerfully, "And now we have Leo! We can't lose!"

"Such confidence!" Dun snarled, turning to grab one of the chairs by the fireplace and wielding the awkward object as if it were a mere wiffle bat.

"We have a right to be!" Raph grunted, sliding down to duck under the swing of the heavy chair, so close that his hair ruffled a little in the breeze created as it passed over him, then rolled up to slash Dun on the back of the knee with his remaining sai, tearing the fine fabric of the cloth, before nimbly leaping back just in time to avoid the chair smashing into the floor, right where he had been. "We're the Hamatos!"

Turned as he was after his failed attempt at Raph, Dun's side was left exposed, and Donnie took full advantage of that. He easily twirled his bo staff, gracefully sending it over his shoulders and around his arm with such speed that it made the air thrum as it moved. He twisted as he lunged forward, jamming the end of the staff firmly and sharply into Dun's ribs once, twice, three times, then lightly dancing back out of reach as Dun howled in pain and turned to swat at him, flipping his bo around to cheekily smack the back of Dun's hand as it grasped for him, as if reprimanding the man.

Mikey took advantage of the opening this created, leaping off of my waiting shell to launch through the air, clocking Dun hard on the back of the head with both nunchucks as he passed. Each of the blows would've been enough to fell a normal man, but Dun just roared in pain and whirled about once more, only for a sai to sting him in the thigh from the other side.

Thus the fight proceeded. My brothers danced and wove, trading in light hits and darting away before Dun could retaliate. None of the attacks seemed to be seriously hurting him, and he definitely had the advantage of strength, but we had the speed and the numbers to wear him down.

And then, finally, like skilled herding dogs after an ornery bull, my brothers worked him into the perfect position, and I struck, leaping through the air behind him and slashing down with both swords parallel to deliver the final blow.

Snarling and showing no fear of the razor sharp blades, Dun turned and lifted up a single hand, blocking both blades with one bare palm.

My eyes widened.

He... he couldn't possibly...

The sharp edges bite deep into his flesh. Blood trickled down his hair covered forearm in thin ribbons, but he seemed to be completely unconcerned. His other hand shot out, grabbing my by the neck as he ripped me forcefully away from my swords that he kept firmly in his bleeding and deeply wounded hand.

And then, staring coldly at me, Dun tightened his knuckles so hard they turned white, veins and sinew popping on the back of his hand and his arms as he squeezed. I could only watch as the metal blades shattered like silver glass in his grasp.

"Leo!" Mikey cried out.

Dun casually threw me across the room towards the back as if I weighed nothing, away from my brothers. "Stay there for a moment, mutant." He turned and licked the wound on his hand as he walked away, then flexed his fingers experimentally. "I have some loose ends to tie up."

I slammed into a wall with enough force that the impact of my shell cracked the wooden paneling, and slumped to the floor with a groan, my breath almost knocked out of me. I shook my head to clear it and, more then a little dazed, I moved to push myself up, but I stopped and stared in disbelief when I saw his hand.

The wound was already almost completely healed.

"Oh... fuck." Raph cursed under his breath, obviously noticing the same thing.

What did we do now?! We couldn't hurt him!

"Now, I do feel like it's a shame I have to kill you three boys." Dun grin at them, obviously feeling in control once more as he took a menacing step forward. "Especially you, Donatello. It's a pity to waste such genius, and I could really use your talents."

"I'd never work for you!" Donnie snarled, as all three of my brothers crouched defiantly, weapons ready.

"I know." Dun sniffed, then, unexpectedly reached out and grabbed the long meeting table as he passed it, whipping the heavy, solid wooden furniture forward as if he were merely flinging a pillow at them and not a solid wooden table weighing several hundred pounds. My brothers yelped as they were caught by surprise by the speed and strength of his attack, all three of them slammed back and pinned against the wall under the heavy furniture. "And thus you're too dangerous to leave alive."

"My sons!" Yoshi leaned forward, reaching with a shaking arm and desperation in his eyes.

I watched in horror, pushing myself up the rest of the way to my feet. He was going to kill them!

I looked to the side, and saw the broken hilts of my katanas laying among the shards of steel blades. They were now useless.

Gritting my teeth, I clenched my bare fists and turned to take a step towards Dun. There was no way I could beat him, but maybe my life could at least buy my brothers a few minutes to try and get free.

Then my flaring nostrils caught the faintest whiff of a familiar but impossible scent.

'Leonardo. Fear nothing.'

I froze, eyes going wide. For a moment, it was almost like I could hear...

I straightened up, swallowing hard as I suddenly realized what I could try and do to save my family.

... Would that work here? In this situation? And could I even do it?

I exhaled, then closed my eyes, calming and centering myself. I needed absolute focus and control if I was going to succeed.

Oh, please, Master Splinter, be with me... help me... I had never tried this technique before, and if I failed, the price would be too high for me to bear.

The scent drifted past me once more, only momentarily, but stronger this time.

White eyes snapped open, and I stepped forward, now with purpose and determination in each step. "Dun!"

Dun stopped his advance and turned back to look towards me in disbelief. "You're not serious."

"This is your last warning." I snarled, all fear gone at the gentle and almost imperceptible touch of an unseen presence I somehow knew to be next to me. "Stay away from my family."

"Leo! Run!" Donnie grunted, struggling under the weight of the table. "Get Dad and get out of here!"

"How droll. What, are you going to trying punching me or something?" Dun smirked, turning around to deal with what he obviously assumed would be a minor nuisance. "I will need you alive if I'm to negotiate with the EPF, but I'm sure they won't care if I put another break in your shell to match the first."

I kept walking forward, my face set and determined, as I inwardly let my ki rise with each breath, and fall with each exhale, imagine the energy to almost be like water, waiting inside me to work its way up into a tempest. Back and forth. Rise up, then retreat back, only to rise up even high on the next swell.

I slowed to a stop, exhaled slowly, the raised an arm and readied my stance. My left foot shifted almost imperceptibly.

Master Yoshi's eyes widened.

Dun's lip twisted into a sneer as he reached out for me, but by the time he moved, I had already stepped aside. It didn't even look like I had deliberately dodged, it just so happened that he was reaching for me in a spot where I no longer was.

I grabbed his wrist as his arm shot past me, and he roared in pain, his knees buckling as I gave a simple twist, then my other hand moved to jab him sharply in several spots up his arm with one finger, his bulging muscles trembling under each light strike.

I could almost feel the spirit of Master Splinter guiding me, much like he used to do when I was a young student, standing behind me to nudge my stance slightly into the correct position with his own foot, or to gently but firmly guide my hands through the proper motions of the kata.

And I surrendered myself completely to his directions, trusting him as I let my... no... our energy flow back and forth, rising and falling, growing in an intensity far greater then I could've ever produced on my own.

"You are a fool, Dun." I said coldly, twisting his arm slightly, almost gently, in another direction, and he gave a cry as he was flipped forward to land on his face. I released him, stepping back. "You say that physical strength is everything, that it alone gives you the right to rule and control others, to use them and dispose of them at your convenience. But physical strength is an illusion, easily stripped away in an instant."

Dun roared in fury and lunged up to his feet. His left arm was hanging limply at his side, and he stared at it in disbelief. "What... what did you do?!"

I stood there, solid as a rock, staring at him coldly. "Pressure points. Rest assured, I did not severe the nerves, but merely damaged them. They will heal with time. Take it as a warning, and surrender."

Murder gleamed in his eyes.

My foot shifted ever so slightly again on the surface of the floor.

Despite his numbed and useless arm, Dun flung himself at me with a roar. But, once again, I had already casually moved to the side, and he fell in on a spot where I had just been only moments before. This time, he seemed to anticipate this, and tried to twist and punch at me.

Back and forth. My energy rising and falling like the swells of the ocean inside me.

I moved my head and let the attempted blow go past my face, then I reached up and grabbed his thumb, twisting him around once more and seemingly manipulating the whole body of this giant man with just his one digit on his hand, leaving him contorted and roaring in pain. "You see the world in terms of only strength and weakness, but what does that leave you if your own strength is stripped away?" My finger was jabbing lightly up his other arm, and he was howling and writhing in pain. "Who is Darius Dun really, I wonder? Underneath all those muscles, past all that pride and fancy suits, stripped of the power you so desperately crave, who are you really?"

I stepped around and twisted his hand once more before releasing it, and Dun was sent rolling forcefully across the floor.

This time he was slower to get up, panting and covered in sweat. He looked down in disbelief at both of his arms, which hung uselessly by his side, then he looked up at me hatefully, still wheezing and gasping for air.

Back and forth. Rise and fall. A tempest, a powerful and electric hurricane contained and controlled within.

Dun stood there for a few moment as he tried to catch his breath, staring at me with loathing and rage. I stared back, my eyes silently judging him.

His face twisted up, and he roared and lunged forward once more, apparently unwilling to admit defeat, even as both arms continued to dangle uselessly.

But it wasn't me he lunged for, but for Master Yoshi, still weak and helpless in his wheelchair.

But he only got a few steps, and then I was there right in front of him, crouched low and blocking his path.

He quickly skidded to a halt.

"Just as I thought." I said low and quiet to him. "You are not a wolf."

A hint of fear appeared in his eyes for the very first time.

"You are nothing but a parasite!" My hands were clasped together and pulled back, and I felt Master Splinter's guidance clearly in that moment. My hands snapped forward, and my fingers, pressed together, jabbed him lightly in the stomach.

In that instant, all that energy that had been building up, that had worked its way back and forth into larger and more powerful waves, surged forward like a mighty tsunami, soaring all at once through that simple touch.

It was like an air cannon had exploded. In an instant, a mighty burst of air rippled through the room, causing the tapestries on the walls to violently shudder and all the paintings and wall decorations to clatter loudly and hang askew. Any paper in the room was thrown up, a few of the still standing chairs toppled over, and several bottles behind the bar by Master Yoshi exploded under the shockwave.

And then I was left standing alone, my hand still extended, breathing heavily, the tails of my mask settling back down over my shell as napkins and papers slowly fluttered down around us.

One second, Dun had been standing there in front of me, and the next, he was gone, just gone, as if he had simply vanished.

Only when I looked all the way across the room did I see his body slump to the ground, a large spiderweb of cracks left in the thick glass of the large window dominating the room to testify to the force of his body's impact. He had been thrown back across the room with such force that it had almost been impossible to follow it with the naked eye.

I straightened up and glared at his prone body, my chest still heaving from that sudden exertion.

'Well done, Leonardo...'

For a moment, all was quiet. In the distance, outside I could hear sirens and the thrum of a lone helicopter, but in here, all was surreally calm.

Momentarily, anyways.

"The FUCK you aren't a magic turtle!"

Startled, I turned back to see my humans staring at me.

My brothers had apparently finally managed to shove the table off them, and Raph was gesturing towards the slumped body of Dun.

"Raphael. Language." Yoshi gently reprimanded him. "And that wasn't magic." Yoshi's eyes studied me with a mixture of impressed intrigue and curious pride. "If I'm not mistaken, that was the Tamashī no Ha, a ninjistu technique that uses intense and highly concentrated ki manipulation."

"Wait." Donnie blinked, looking between me and Master Yoshi. "You mean that Ki stuff Leo was talking about is real? How is that even scientifically possible?!"

"Does that mean we get to learn to explode people too?!" Mikey looked a little too excited at the idea.

"I do intend to teach the four of you proper Ki techniques, though not to 'explode people', Michelangelo. What Leo did is an extremely advanced technique." He leaned against the back of the chair, studying me. "I might add that it technique unique to the Hamato clan, one my father taught me, and that I had planned, one day, to teach you boys."

"My... my apologies." I bowed low, still a little short of breath. "It was my first time attempting it, and it was only out of desperation. I'm afraid that I might have been sloppy in its execution."

"Dude. You. Blew. Dun. Up!" Mikey looked amazed. "How could you possibly think that was anything less then amazing and perfect?!"

"Wait..." Donnie glanced at me. "If it's a Hamato technique, how did you know it, Leo?"

"Indeed, I am curious as well." Master Yoshi glanced at me curiously.

I exhaled, then grabbed my arm, rubbing it awkwardly. "Well, um. Master Splinter showed me."

He had shown me both in the past and just now, in the immediate present, I was certain of that. I had seen Master Splinter use the move once to fight off a hulking trophy hunter when I was very little, and over the years, he had slowly taught me techniques that I would need to use it someday, but we had never reached the point where I was ready to try it myself.

But Master Splinter had been given one last chance to protect those he loved most when we needed him.

That was the only explanation I could think of, anyways.

"Splinter." Master Yoshi's eyes went wide, and he breathed out the name almost reverently.

"Wait, Dad's pet rat?!" Raph was completely floored. " He... he was mutated as well?!"

I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Oh my gosh!" Donnie put his hands on his head and paced in a circle. "How could I miss that possibility?! You both disappeared at the same time! Of course there was a possibility that Splinter would've been mutated as well!"

"Wait, so we have even more family?!" Mikey looked hopeful and delighted.

"He..." I searched for the right words to say, then I looked up at them, my voice breaking with sorrow as I shrugged helplessly. "He got sick... and..." I looked down and swallowed hard. "I... I tried... But..."

That was obviously enough, and faces went from surprised excitement to genuine grief. I glanced up, and was a little surprised to see just how intense the sorrow on Master Yoshi's face seemed to be. It was if I told him of the death of a beloved brother.

He looked at me, then swallowed hard and nodded. "It seems like you have quite a story to share with us... my son."

I shyly let go of my arm, glancing at him. "Of course. I owe you that... much..." I suddenly trailed off sharply, my body going stiff.

"Leo?" Donnie apparently noticed the odd look on my face.

I reached up, and carefully plucked the small dart out of the back of my neck, bringing it forward to stare dumbly at it.

"LEO!"

I turned just in time to barely see a hand shoot forward, then it had grabbed my throat and lifted me up in an impossibly strong, iron grip, leaving my feet dangling helplessly an inch off the ground.

"Hello, Leonardo." An all too familiar voice hissed at me, one that shouldn't be talking. "It's time to learn where, and to whom, you truly belong."

Choking for air and clawing at the arm fruitlessly, my eyes widened in horror as I found myself staring into the hateful, single remaining eye of Agent Bishop.

Half of his face had been torn away by Raph's sai, leaving a deep, gaping hole, but instead of showing a gruesome wound of bones and bloodied flesh, the hole and torn skin flaps revealed only jagged steel and sparking wires underneath, a machine merely wearing the mask of humanity.

"He's an android?!" Donnie realized in horror.

"I don't care what he is!" Raph snarled, dashing forward. "You oversized toaster! Put my brother down! NOW!"

I suddenly realized that the helicopter motor that I had been hearing faintly outside had been growing steadily louder and louder. Then it appeared, rising up and hovering just outside the massive window of the executive office, the EPF logo painted on its side and a giant gun mounted to the side and aimed straight towards the building.

"Shit!" Raph skidded to a halt, and, grabbing Mikey, who had been charging right beside him, vaulted over the stone bar just as the gun opened fire, taking cover just in time.

There was the sound of breaking glass, and the whole floor to ceiling window seemed to explode and collapse in a waterfall of shimmering glass shards. The room was laid bared to the outside world as it was filled with the pings and explosions of a heavy shower of bullets, shredding everything they touched.

Donnie had quickly launched himself behind the bar as well, the sturdiest cover they could find, and shoved his father over, pushing him to safety as the remaining glass spirit bottles were decimated above them, showering them all in glass shards and expensive liquor.

I couldn't breath, couldn't talk, the hand like a metal vice on my windpipe. I desperately clawed at his arm, trying to hit pressure points, anything, but he ignored my struggles completely.

"Don't ever forget that you will always be the property of the EPF, mutant." Bishop snarled at me, and then pulled out an all-too-familiar device from his belt. "Now let's take you home, where you truly belong."

And then the taser was shoved into my side, and as the electricity surged through my body, I honestly couldn't tell if the heartbroken cry of pain and loss that echoed loudly through the room over the sounds of gunfire and bullets was my own cry of despair... or if it came from my brothers.

My body went limp, and everything seemed to swim and grow foggy.

I was vaguely aware of Bishop throwing me over his shoulder and leaping out to grab a ladder dangling from the helicopter. The gunfire stopped as the winds began to whip around us, and my eyes managed to focus long enough to see the EPF building fading away in the distance.

Three figures stood in the crater left by the broken window, their cries distant and quickly swallowed up by the winds and thrumming helicopter blades.

Purple... Red... and Orange...

Then the vision of the fading three figures were lost as I was dragged up into the helicopter and dropped onto the floor in a heap. Voices were talking all around me, but I couldn't make them out any more. Hands... several human hands... began pawing over my shell and scales, and then I felt the sting of a cold, steel needle in my arm.

And my world became dark...

Author Notes:

Leo never really had a chance to play video games, so he wasn't aware that the final boss usually has more then one form. Rookie mistake. Mikey will have to teach him all the video game tropes, so he knows for the future.

If he ever gets his turtle brother back, that is.

As is probably pretty obvious, I pulled heavily from the 2k12 Splinter's moveset for Leo's Tamashī no Ha, mainly the fight with Leatherhead, and the finishing move for the Rat King. Thus, I can't take full credit for those.

And hopefully I'll be back to my 'Once per week' schedule now for the next chapter, which is quite a bit shorter. The final chapter after that, though, is another doozy, though I don't anticipate the level of trouble from that one that this one gave me.