One more chapter after this. Please review.
Ch 13 And the Night Begins to Shine.
Leo and Raph ran toward Mikey and Donnie."Quick." Leo shouted. "We need to stop them!"
"Let's just get to the bridge." Mikey yelled back.
"No." Donnie told him. "They could destroy the bridge with us on it." He removed his bo from his back as Leo and Raph came up to them.
"We need to stand and fight them." Leo told them as he unsheathed his katanas.
"Leo." Mikey stood behind him. "I need a weapon."
"No you don't." Leo began. "You need to…."
"Here Mikey." Raph removed a pair of nun-chucks from his belt behind him and handed them to Mikey. Leo narrowed his eyes at him but Raph just shrugged his shoulders. "Even a Savior should know how to defend himself." He turned toward the forest where dozens of foot soldiers were emerging behind Tiger Claw. "And something tells me they aren't going to let him get to the other side."
"Do not run away Leonardo!" Tiger Claw called out, his sword gleaming in his hand. "There is no where you can hide."
"I don't plan on running away Tiger Claw!" Leo called back. "This time you're the one whose going to be on his knees begging for mercy!"
The large tiger ran toward the four turtles with the foot running behind him. The four turtles, their weapons drawn, ran toward the group of ninjas, preparing to fight. Leo faced Tiger Claw while Raph, Don and Mikey handled the ninja.
"I'm surprised you left your cave Tiger Claw." Leo sneered at him as their weapons clashed.
"And I'm surprised you actually thought I would let you leave." The tiger growled. "Especially when there is money involved."
Their weapons locked and Tiger Claw grinned down at Leo with a menacing look while he motioned toward the forest. Leo looked around him and his eyes widen in fear. Walking fiercely out of the forest was a tall dark figure dressed in full black body armor. He made his way angrily toward Leo. His scarred eyes burning holes into Leo's very soul. A small group of ninjas were following behind.
Leo pushed Tiger Claw backwards and swung his sword at the tiger's head. Tiger Claw ducked and swiped at Leo's middle with his blade but Leo blocked it. He took a moment to look at the other turtles and was surprised to see Mikey expertly swinging the nun-chucks at the ninjas that were rushing at him while Raph and Donnie were holding their own and quickly managing to do away with their enemies.
"You will not win cub." Tiger Claw was telling him as they once again locked their swords into battle. "You and your brother will be taken by Shredder and your friends will die because of you."
"Think again you overgrown cat!" Raph yelled as he rushed toward Tiger Claw. He jumped up and brought his sai down intending to stab the large cat in the head with it but Tiger Claw moved to the side and Raph's sai stabbed deep into the tiger's shoulder. Tiger Claw let out a loud yell and fell onto his knees groaning in pain. Leo did a front kick in the cat's face and knocked Tiger Claw onto the ground unconscious.
Raph ran up to Leo and nodded toward the tall man that was coming up to them. "Who is that?" He asked.
"That's Oroku Saki." Leo told him. "Also known as the Shredder." Mikey and Donnie had just finished with their group of ninjas and were now running up to them.
"It's Saki Leo!" Mikey called out fearfully. "He'll never let us get to the Daimyo's stronghold now!"
Leo looked at his brother then at Raph and Donnie. "You guys continue to deal with the ninjas." He told them. "I have a score to settle with Saki."
"LEONARDO!" Saki screamed as his blades slid out of his gauntlet. "You continue to disappoint me boy!" Leo felt a shiver of fear run up and down his spine as he watched the large human walk toward him. Leo took deep breaths and attempted to push the nightmarish memories away while Raph, Donnie and Mikey made their way toward the ninjas that slowly separated from behind Saki.
"You can't have my brother Shredder!" Leo yelled back. He held his swords in front of him ready to do battle.
"I will not only have him, I will make sure the whole kingdom knows how he died." Saki laughed evilly as he brought his blade in front of his face. "By your hand."
The two faced each other and their blades swung back and forth. Slicing through the air with deadly intent. Behind them, the other three turtles were quickly dispersing with the rest of Saki's ninjas. As Raph finished off with his last one, he turned to see Leo and Saki fighting fiercely and getting very close to the cliff.
Meanwhile, Tiger Claw was slowly coming around and getting to his feet. He snarled angrily at Raph as he felt his wounded shoulder and, grabbing his sword, began to advance on the young turtle. Raph kept his eyes trained on Leo, fear dwelling inside of him at the thought of Leo going over the cliff.
Mikey and Donnie dealt with their group of ninjas and ran over to each other. "You really got the hang of those nun-chucks Mikey." Donnie told him panting hard and grinning in pride.
"I'm a quick study." Mikey told him smugly. They turned to see Leo and Saki still fighting and Raph running toward them. Donnie's eye's widen in fear when he saw the large tiger coming toward Raph with his sword drawn and ready to run him through.
"RAPH!"Donnie screamed out. "Look out!"
Donnie ran toward Tiger Claw, intending to intercept his sword before it got his brother. He got to Tiger Claw while Raph got to Leo. Donnie swung his bo at the sword but Tiger Claw saw it coming and dodge by twisting himself around and slicing his katana around and behind Donatello. Donnie swung himself around to face Tiger Claw and block the sword. He swung his bo around and prepared to bring his bo down on top of the large cat but Tiger Claw managed to turn and dodge the staff. He then grab Donnie's belt and pulled him in close.
Donnie's eyes widen in shock and his jaw gasped open as he felt cold steel go through his stomach as far in as Tiger Claw could get it. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Tiger Claw pushed Donnie away from him and pulled the long blade out of Donnie's plastron. Donnie staggered back and looked down at the blood that poured forth from his middle. He slowly sank to his knees, a look of fear and pain coming over his face.
"DONNIE!" Mikey screamed in horror and ran toward the fallen turtle.
Raph had heard Donnie's scream at him and saw, out of the corner of his eye, Donnie intercept the large cat. He reached Leo and came up behind Saki intending to jump on him and slam his sai down on the large man. But Saki had seen him coming and while blocking Leo's sword, back kicked Raph in the chest sending him flying backward. He then grabbed Leo's wrist and flipped him over his head causing Leo to fly into Raph.
Leo fell on top of Raph and the two looked up and watched Saki come toward them, growling angrily. "Stupid boy, I taught you everything you know." Saki told Leo as he stalked closer to them. "You are no match for me."
Leo rolled off Raph and onto his shell. He looked up at Saki with extreme hate. "I've learned a few things since being away from your evil influence." Leo told him. His hand felt around for one of his fallen swords. Saki pointed his blade toward Leo while Raph slowly back crawled away from them. He had seen Tiger Claw battle Donnie and his heart raced in fear when he saw the tiger push Donnie away from him and saw his sword covered in blood.
Mikey had run toward Donnie and was now kneeling beside him, cradling his body on his lap with his arms wrapped around his body. Tears ran down his face as he looked up and saw Tiger Claw smiling ferociously down at him; his hand slowly swinging his sword, now dripping with blood, back and forth in front of Mikey. "Maybe I can't kill you cub, but I will finish your friend."
Raph got up and ran toward the tiger whose back was to him. "Get away from them!" He yelled. The tiger turned and brought his sword up but it never reached the other turtle.
Raph, racing toward his fallen brother, took aim and threw his sai at the mutant tiger just as he turned. The sai hit it's mark as it went right into the large cat's throat impaling the evil mutant. Tiger Claw's head leaned back and his whole body fell backward from the sudden motion. Raph watched as the cat fell dead in front of Mikey and Donnie.
Raph's body shook violently in fear. "No, no, no, no Donnie!" He cried as he ran over toward them. "DONNIE!" Raph screamed when he saw his brother's bleeding body in Mikey's arms.
Leo watched Saki make his way over toward him. Saki had no interest in any of the other turtles except Mikey and now he was determined to kill Leo. "Clearly you are useless to me boy." Shredder intoned. "After I kill you, I will kill the other turtle and take your brother far from here and make his lifeless body an example to all you pathetic mutants." Leo could see the evil smile behind Saki's helmet. "I will take great pleasure in slowly killing your brother, deshelling him and torturing him till he screams and begs for his life to end!" Saki thrust his blade toward Leo while at the same time, Leo grabbed the sword that was under him and thrust it up and toward Saki. Saki's sword caught Leo on the side while Leo's sword caught Saki in the chest.
Leo watched as Saki fell onto his knees. The two stared at each other for a brief moment before Leo's foot shot out and caught Shredder in the chin causing the large man to reel backward and fall to the ground. Leo stood up, ignoring the pain in his side and quickly made his way to where Raph was kneeling by Donnie. He had pushed Mikey away from his brother and was now holding him, rocking him back and forth and crying into Donnie's shoulder.
"DO SOMETHING!" Raph screamed as Leo came running up to them. His eyes pleading in desperation. "Don't let my brother die!" He choked back a sob as he held his brother close.
"Raph." Donnie choked out. "I'm…cough… ss…cough…ssorry." Donnie swallowed hard only to begin coughing and gasping for breath. Blood shot out and pooled around his mouth and spit onto his chin and neck.
"Don't Donnie." Raph told him. Holding him close to his chest. "Don't talk. Everything's going to be okay."
Donnie attempted to say something as he once again began to cough and wheeze as blood filled his lungs and poured out his mouth. Raph watched horrified as his brother's body suddenly wracked with convulsions and spit up blood before suddenly going limp in his arms. His eyes fluttered closed and his head fell against his brother's arm.
"DONNIE!" Raph screamed shaking his brother's now lifeless body. "PLEASE DONNIE NOOOO!"
"Mikey." Leo grabbed his brother's hands and Mikey looked at him apprehensively. "Heal him." Leo commanded. "Bring him back."
Mikey shook his head. "I..I don't know if I can Leo." Mikey said, tears falling down his face. "I've only ever healed your bruises and cuts, I've never healed a wound like this…or…or brought someone back from the…."
"You can do it Mikey." Leo persisted. "You've got to focus on Donatello." Leo took his brother's hands and placed them on Donnie's wound. "Focus on the wound." Leo looked deep into Mikey's baby blue eyes. "Focus your mind and feel the power within you." Donnie's blood continued to flow through the brother's fingers. "He's still warm, he's still there, you can do this."
Mikey looked down at Donnie. His lifeless body in Raph's arms was being rocked back and forth as Raph continued to cry into his brother's shoulder. "Nooooo…not you too Donnie." Raph moaned. "Please, I can't lose you too."
"Do it Mikey." Leo implored. "Focus." He kept his hands on Mikey's hands and pressed them against Donnie's wound. Mikey closed his eyes and felt the blood beneath his fingers. Leo looked up at the sky and noted the moon was now an hour away from midnight. It was glowing a deep bright red and rising steadily behind the large stone castle. A feeling of warmth came over him and he turned back to look at his brother.
A bright light surrounded Mikey and flowed down to his hands. The light connected to Leo and surrounded him. Leo felt the pain in his side slowly begin to fade away. Raph's eyes were closed and still holding his brother, tears continued to fall down his cheeks and onto his Donnie's head. Suddenly, Raph felt a strange warmth flow over him. He picked his head up and looked over at Mikey. His mouth slacked opened and his eyes widen in surprise at the glow that surrounded not only Mikey but Leo and him as well.
Raph looked down and watched as the light surrounded Donnie. A strange feeling of hope began to well up inside him. He watched in amazement as Donnie's chest began to move up and down, he then looked down at his arms and saw the cuts he had received during his battle with the ninjas was now starting to miraculously heal and disappear. As the light surrounded them, Donnie moaned and slowly opened his eyes. He looked up in bewilderment at the other three. Mikey removed his hands from Donnie's plastron and the light slowly began to fade away. Raph assisted in helping Donnie sit up and the two looked at Mikey and Leo in awe.
"It's all true." Raph whispered. He looked at Leo. "Everything you said. It's all true."
Donnie slowly moved away from Raph and looked at the others confused. He looked down at his plastron and was surprised to see it was completely healed, even the blood on his plastron and copper taste in his mouth was gone. He looked back up at Mikey. His eyes full of fear and wonder. "It's incredible." He said. "You're incredible."
Leo smiled at his brother. "I knew you could do it little brother." Leo then looked behind him. He could see Saki was beginning to stir. He now turned to look at Raph. "Promise me, no matter what happens, you will get our brothers to the Daimyos'." He told him. He looked up at the sky. "The moon will be in position in a little more then an hour and Mikey must be there before then."
"Leo…"Raph began. Leo moved himself forward and pressed his lips against Raphs'. "I do love you Raphael." He told him after breaking the kiss. "But our destinies, our fate, has been pre-ordained."
Raph and the others watched Leo suddenly stand up and turn to face Saki who was now on his feet. "SHREDDER!" Leo screamed. "You stole everything from me! My parents, my childhood! You forced yourself on me and took my innocence! Beat and tortured me in order to try and force me to hate my own brother! And now…I'm going to take everything from you!" Leo began to run toward Saki, his sword raised.
Shredder blocked Leo's sword and attempted to shove his own blade into Leo's middle but Leo quickly blocked the thrust. Their swords continued to clash while they screamed at each other. "I loved you!" Saki yelled. "Tried to make you a man and give you something you would never have while your brother lived!" Saki pushed Leo back and the two stared at each other with murderous hate forming in their eyes. "If only you could see what you would be once he was destroyed!"
"LIAR!" Leo yelled. He threw his katanas down and rushed toward Saki. "You only fear what YOU will be once HIS powers finally comes to light!" He leaped into the air and dodged Shredder's attempt at bringing his blades Into his body. "And I'm going to make sure they do!" He suddenly grabbed Saki around his waist and pushed them toward the edge of the cliff.
Raph helped Donnie to his feet and, taking Mikey's hand, led the other turtles toward the rope bridge. As they began to cross, Raph turned and watched as Leo and Saki continued to struggle and fight. He shook his head in disbelief as he realized Leo was pushing Saki toward the edge of the cliff while hanging onto him.
"LEO!" Raph screamed out causing both Mikey and Donnie to turn. "NOOOOO!"
The three turtles watched, terror-stricken as Leo gave Saki a final shove while he held onto Saki's middle, and with a loud guttural scream, caused both turtle and human to fall over the cliff. Mikey screamed and pushed his way past Raph. He began to run toward the edge of the cliff, screaming his brother's name. But Raph grabbed him and, fighting back more tears, forced him back toward the bridge. He forced both Donnie and Mikey to make their way to the stronghold, pushing himself to move forward and keeping his mind off the horrifying image that continued to replay in his head.
The three turtles made it to the Daimyo's stronghold with fifteen minutes to spare. Physically and mentally exhausted, they made their way up the steps that led to a large iron door of the stronghold. No one had spoken since they made their way across the bridge. Raph silently kept moving them forward and made himself to stay focused on the task of getting to the Daimyo's and finishing their mission.
As they neared the large stone castle, the door to the entrance opened and a tall man dressed in a red kimono with a golden mask and white hair stood before them. Behind him were two humans in Samurai clothing with katanas sheathed in their belts.
The human nodded toward them. "I have been expecting you Michelangelo." He told them. "Come, there is not much time."
The three turtles looked at each other and followed the human through a long hallway and up a flight of stairs that led to another long hallway. At the end of that hallway was a door and inside was a spiral stairscase. The human and turtles walked quickly and for several long minutes up the stairwell, eventually the stairs led them to a small room that was at the top of the highest tower. The Daimyo turned to Mikey.
"Come young Savior." He made a sweeping motion toward a balcony. "Your destiny awaits you."
Mikey wiped his face of the tears and looked toward the door to the balcony. He made his way hesitantly at first, then, after turning to look at Raph and Donnie, took a deep breath and walked confidently toward the balcony. Raph and Donnie watched as Mikey stood just outside the small room with the Daimyo next to him. Mikey looked up at the sky and watched as the moon appeared directly overhead. The red of the moon began to glow and surround them. Don and Raph looked at each other then back to Mikey. They watched, wide eyed, as Mikey brought his hands up and the whole night seem to light up with a bright red glow. A bright iridescent light surrounded the young turtle and lasted for several seconds. The Daimyo stepped back and watched expectantly as the turtle seemed to grow in both size and strength. Then, as quickly as it began, it was over.
After a few seconds, the Daimyo led Mikey back into the room. Raph and Donnie looked at each other before staring in awe at the young turtle. Mikey looked different to them. A majestic and stately glow seem to form around him.
The Daimyo placed his large hand on the turtle's shoulder. "Your brother's sacrifice was not in vain young Savior." He looked from Mikey to the others. "Saki's evil reign has ended and your clans will be united and harmony will reign over this land once again."
As they began their walk back down to the main room, Mikey suddenly stopped and looked from Raph, to Don and then to the Daimyo. "My brother is not dead." He told them with a matter of fact tone.
The Daimyo contemplated Mikey's words for a few seconds. "Yes, I believe you are correct." He smiled at them and they continued their way down the long flight of stairs.
