Fighting the Darkness

In the end, Luna released it all to him. The pain, the terror- her confusion and Raphael held fast against the storm of her emotions. He held her close to his chest, buried his face in her hair, and supported her until her sobs eased into quiet sniffles. He could feel that she was still afraid, but she was no longer considering removing herself from the equation. That danger had passed.

As Raphael raised his face in relief, he became acutely aware of the quiet gaze of his father. Splinter was still seated across the table from the embracing pair and his piercing look analyzed every aspect of their body language.

To his surprise, Raph did not feel the least bit embarrassed that his father had witnessed the scene. Luna had needed him and he would never apologize for answering that call. He was only sorry he'd waited so long to come to her aid. He owed little Fina an apology.

Splinter's eyes rested on him solemnly a moment longer and Raph defiantly met his gaze, expecting some sort of scolding or rebuke for this public display of affection. Instead, he was startled by the spark of pride in his father's eyes. Splinter shifted his attention to the girl still huddling and shuddering in Raphael's arms and his expression softened even further.

"You have done well, my son," Splinter quietly uttered. "It is hard to bear the sight of my daughter in pain. Harder still to know that I added to the burden she carried."

Raph's eyes narrowed as he assessed what his father was saying.

"I counseled you to wait until she was ready to speak but I was in error," his master continued. "Her fear only grew in the silence until she could no longer see her way around it. Instead of helping her face it, I only confirmed what she already knew to be true."

Splinter dropped his gaze to the table, trying not to antagonize Raphael any further. It was obvious that his son was not ready to hear about the issues facing his mate, but further delay was just going to make the situation worse. Splinter mentally braced himself and continued down the path that he had chosen.

"There is a grave darkness encroaching on her spirit, Raphael," Splinter said quietly. "One likened to that of the demon we all feared."

Raphael's grip tightened on the resting goddess and he was surprised to find that he was actually growling at his father, the vibrations rising from deep within his chest. He tried to choke it off, appalled at his behavior, but his protective instincts were firing on all pistons and he couldn't stop.

"Be at ease, my son," Splinter said, raising a paw and holding onto his own calm as best he could. "I do not declare her the demon, merely observe its taint upon her."

Raphael swallowed a sharp retort and instead settled back onto a nearby cushion. He gently placed Luna in his lap, treating her as if she were made of spun glass. He sheltered her in his protective grip, his arms a hardened steel cage that nothing would penetrate.

She leaned limply against him, resting her cheek on his plastron. Her eyes slid closed as she listened to his heartbeat. It's steady cadence a constant reassurance that she would not face these trials alone. She was exhausted from the emotional strain and he rocked her gently, trying to soothe her further.

"How did this happen?" Raph rumbled softly, his voice dangerous, promising retribution to the parties involved.

The wise old rat closed his eyes and considered the scared young goddess with his second sight. He thought about all he had learned from his sons concerning her and his intelligent mind pieced together the series of events.

It was a tale filled with woe, and yet it also contained great heroism. Pain and redemption. Darkness and light. A reflection of the balance of the universe played out upon her soul.

Unfortunately, it was a story that had yet to be resolved and Splinter feared there would be even more emotional turmoil ahead. His family was standing at the edge of an abyss and their response to Luna's needs would either save them or send them all plummeting into the depths of darkness with her.

When Splinter opened his eyes again, they glistened with unshed tears. He did not wish to burden his son with this knowledge. But he knew, as he had known since that dark day more than 20 years ago with his first vision, that there was no avoiding this future. They could only hope to direct it in the proper direction.

Raphael was watching him with a wary, but expectant, look. He wasn't going to leave this room until he heard what his father had divined. Splinter spoke softly, hoping that Luna had left consciousness behind for the moment, wanting to spare his daughter further pain.

"This is a battle that you and your brothers have been fighting since she came into your lives, though you knew it not," Splinter barely breathed the words, knowing his son's excellent hearing would let him pick them out easily.

"The seeds of corruption were sown with her defilement. Hatred and terror were heaped upon her before her demise. The demon was there. His spirit a blight upon the alleyway."

The memory of her broken bloody body flashed across Raph's mind, followed by a torrent of other horrid images. Ones he could never forget.

Luna's agonized gasp as she came back from the grave. The horrible feeling of her broken limbs just dangling as he carried her back to the lair. Her blood pooling around his feet in the shower before swirling down the drain. Her screams as Donnie set her bones. Her battered face, black eyes, and swollen lips as she lay unmoving in the infirmary. Leo losing control and pleading with her to wake.

Hatred was something he understood.

A slight vibration in Splinter's paw brought Raph's focus back to his father's face abruptly. His paw clenched tightly around his walking stick, his jaw was tight, and Splinter's whole body tensed with fury. To the outside observer, nothing much had changed, but Raphael knew better. This expression on his father was frightening. The only other time Raph had seen this much anger from him was when they were facing the Shredder and one of his brothers had fallen.

"Father?" Raphael asked, his voice edged with concern.

"I saw it, Raphael," Splinter hissed, still keeping his voice low though his black eyes flashed in anger. "In the throne room of the Oracle's palace. Serra displayed my daughter's pain, violation, and death for all to see. And the demon laughed. Laughed!'

Splinter's tail lashed out and smashed against the floor, as he vented his anger as quietly as he possibly could. He had meditated upon that memory for many hours, over many days, and could not make peace with it.

"Her screams haunt my dreams. Yet another daughter I could not save," Splinter muttered to himself as he bowed his head.

Raphael drew back in shock and the Master forced himself to regain control, breathing in deeply and using his breath to forcibly expel the anger from his body. There would be a time for venting rage, at this moment it helped no one. After a minute of silence he continued.

"The seeds of darkness withered away under the dedicated care you and your brother's provided. Donatello's insistence that she not withdraw into her pain and Leonardo's bond almost eradicated them entirely, but they were drawn to the surface and fertilized once more when Michelangelo nearly died to protect her," Splinter said sadly.

"Her despair was so great, her guilt at his injury so profound, those seeds sprouted and grew. And, they were well watered when Zeus berated her. He filled her heart with self-doubt and shame."

It was Raphael's turn to control his rage as that memory caused to anger boil to the surface of his being. Small licks of flame appeared on his form and Luna stirred restlessly in his arms. With great care, Raph pulled his anger, and the fire, back. Not focusing it inward but, like his father, promising it a far better target later.

Splinter's gentle voice brought him back into the moment.

"You saved her then, my son," Splinter said. "Your ferocious denial of everything the king had implied made her question his words. Your... passion that evening spoke volumes."

His father left it delicately at that, knowing his temperamental son did not like to share his more personal emotions so openly. Splinter stared at the table as he considered his next words.

"The battle should have been won, but a new betrayal brought the seeds back from the brink. A betrayal so deep it has wounded her soul," Splinter whispered. "That betrayal must be addressed, and I'm afraid only your brother can do so."

"Whatever it takes, Father," Raphael said, with a small nod of his head.

Raphael knew that Splinter could see the pain reflected in his eyes. The thought that he couldn't fix what ailed Luna was like a knife in his heart, but he had already come to accept that there were some things he simply could not provide for her. She needed Leonardo too.

"I will get Leo as soon as she wakes," Raph said. He glanced down at his beloved where she lay sleeping quietly in his embrace, and held her close while he could.

"Ah… my son," Splinter said mournfully, knowing this was going to hurt even more, "Leonardo has already tried and failed. It is not he that can address her injury."

Disbelief made Raphael's jaw drop as he raised his eyes and stared at his father across the tabletop. Leonardo had already tried?

"Not Leo? But you said only my brother…" Raph trailed off, and his expression changed to one of horror.

"Another bond?"

Raphael's voice pleaded with Splinter to say it was not so.

"I am sorry, my son."

Michelangelo had to admit it was fun to hang out with Sol. Even though the little guy was quiet it had an innocent sense of humor that reminded Mikey of his younger days. All it took was a little bit of slapstick and a funny voice to make Sol laugh.

And what a laugh! Sol's was just like Luna's. It chimed through the tunnel and echoed back on itself so musically that Mikey was almost overwhelmed with its perfection. He kind of wished the journey to April's apartment would take a little bit longer, just so he could spend some more time with the little guy. But, they didn't have much further to go. Just a few more blocks until they would head topside and up the side of the fire escape to April and Casey's apartment.

Mikey glanced over at the little blue flame and suppressed an almost painful desire to have one of his own. Instead he kept a large smile fixed firmly on his face. They weren't pets, after all, but pieces of Luna's immortal soul. But that was why he really wanted one, he thought wistfully.

Michelangelo loved his sister,perhaps more than was proper, and the close connections his brothers had formed with her left him feeling a little envious and left out. Not that he would ever admit that.

Mikey glanced again at the little soul. At some point in their journey, Sol had picked up a dark, water-smoothed pebble and had been playing with it. Sol would change its own shape and let the pebble slide up and down its little form. Throwing the pebble into the air and catching it again. In the pale gloom of the tunnel, it almost seemed as if the pebble were glowing, just like Sol.

It was so cute, Mikey had to inquire.

"What ya got there little fella?" Mikey asked.

was rock.

"It was a rock?" Mikey was confused. "What is it now?"

present.

"A present? Is it for Luna?" Mikey asked.

This was the cutest thing he'd seen all day. Better even than the tiny kitten washing video he'd downloaded this morning on Raph's phone to tease him. Sol made a little growl of discomfiture.

no, for mortal sister.

"For April?" Mikey said, "Aww…. I'm sure she'll love it."

April hadn't really seen much of the souls. Usually, they were with Luna when April was over though Mikey had seen April eye them on occasion as they flew overhead. She seemed as fascinated by them as Mikey was and he was sure she would appreciate this 'gift'.

Sol stopped in the middle of the tunnel and Mikey stopped with it, unsure why they had paused, but afraid he had somehow upset the little soul.

"What is it Sol?" Mikey asked. "I didn't mean to make you self-conscious. She really will love it, I'm sure."

sister must keep it.

"Of course she will," Mikey hastened to reassure the little soul.

on her. always.

"Oh," Mikey wasn't sure what to say. "Um, why is that, Sol?"

protection.

Michelangelo took a moment to digest that. This conversation had taken a turn he had not expected. All this time he thought Sol had been playing it had actually been up to something else. It was so easy to underestimate these little beings. They looked and acted so innocent one didn't expect such forward thinking from them.

"What sort of protection?" he asked.

hit it.

"huh?"

HIT IT

Sol tossed the little pebble in the air and Mikey snatched a nunchuck from his belt and landed a solid blow to the rock. It should have sent the pebble flying down the corridor. Instead, his nunchuck bounced back so rapidly, Mikey had to duck to avoid his own weapon. The rock remained floating exactly where it had been in the middle of the tunnel.

Then Sol moved back and shot a bolt of its own energy at the stone. The rock absorbed it like it never was. It just glowed a little brighter. Mikey's mouth dropped open and Sol bobbed a little in place, satisfied.

too much power will take her home.

"So, if an immortal shows up and tries to use too much power on her it will, like, teleport her back to her apartment?" Mikey asked, "That's awesome! Wait, what if she's attacked in her apartment?"

Sol made a noise of disappointment that this one still didn't understand.

home. not apartment.

"Home? The lair?" Mikey asked and Sol gave a little flash of acknowledgment.

home.

Michelangelo nodded sharply.

"Ok, so here's what we're gonna do. Can you make a small hole at the top of the rock?" Mikey said.

Sol tilted itself a little to the side, curious, then flashed an affirmative.

Mikey nodded again and pulled a length of black, super strength silk cord from his belt. It was a climbing rope of Don's own design. Super thin, but strong enough to hold more than 500 lbs. Michelangelo drew his knife and sawed carefully through it, creating a short length. He held it up to Sol and released it. Sol held it in the air beside the rock, which now mysteriously had a hole in it.

Mikey blinked. He hadn't even seen Sol change it.

"Put that cord through the hole and tie the ends together," he instructed. "It will be a necklace that April can wear next to her skin, under her clothes. That way, she'll always have it."

Sol flared brightly in response. Glad that it had shared its plan with this clever one. Sol did not know what a necklace was, but if this brother said it would keep the amulet on her… well, that's all Sol really wanted. Their project complete, the two picked up the pace and headed up into the light to meet April.

Donatello was impressed. Not only had Hades not flinched at the challenge of being the first god in his new scanning machine, he had practically jumped at the chance. Hades had smoothly glided over to the modified table and hopped right up on the scanner.

Don's machine was basically a scaled-up version of a computer scanner. It was a six-foot long, four foot wide table made of a semi-opaque, glass-like substance that the light energy could pass right through. The subject would lay flat on the top and the prism refracted the light from below in a bar that made a pass from the subjects head to their feet.

Don knew from experience what it felt like when the machine turned on. The light was warm, and for some inexplicable reason, calming. Casey claimed it felt like getting a massage. Relaxing and safe.

Don didn't know what the god would feel, but he hastened over to the computer bank that controlled the unit and started the warm up sequence before Hades could change his mind.

The light started. The beam formed. It refracted up at the god and produced a reaction Don could never have anticipated. Data was rolling in, crossing Don's monitor at a speed far too rapid for comprehension, but Don wasn't even looking at the screen. His eyes were riveted to the scanner itself.

The white light of the scanning beam struck Hades and refracted again, converting his form to one of pure yellow energy. He no longer looked like a solid human form lying on a table. Instead, the humanity was a transparent outline with no surface. It was filled with tiny yellow and orange sparks that spun, zipped, and darted around rapidly. Some smashing into each other and forming larger particles that drew many more particles to them as if they had their own gravity.

Each moment the light shone the particles got larger and fewer, until Hades entire form was merely one giant yellow light, sending rays in all directions. By the time the scan reached Hades' feet, the light was so bright that Don had to shield his eyes with his hand and turn his head away.

The scan ended. The light faded. Hades hopped down and came over to the stunned Donatello to see what his computers had recorded. He placed a palm on Don's shoulder and Don flinched, startled at the touch.

"That was…interesting," Don said shakily, turning back to his computers to cover his shock. Hades laughed.

"I'll leave you to your calibration, Donatello, but don't wait too long. Luna needs resolution soon." Hades said.

Don's eyes sharpened from their previous confused blur at Luna's name.

"Give me an hour," Don said decisively. "I'll have it all sorted out by then."