Ch.12: Donatello's Dilemina

Back in the Turtles Lair Donatello was having his own problems to deal with. The purple-masked turtle kept on tossing and turning in bed living in a horrible nightmare. Visions of glowing red eyes with yellow slits bored into every corner of his brain.

Then what's worse, he saw himself in attack position with his own eyes glowing a cold, blue fire. It was raining, and all that rain and thunder didn't help Donatello feel any better. The dream Donatello was approaching Leo and Mikey who had their weapons out also.

Leaping towards his two brothers the dream Donatello started to fight the dream Leo and Mikey. A terrific clash lashed out as the three turtles fought each other, but it was obivous as to who was getting beat by the way the battle progressed.

Stabbing at Leo's stomach with the end of his bo staff the dream Donatello grabbed Leo's katanas as they flew out of the blue-masked turtle's hand and dropped his own weapon. Just as the dream Don was about to finish off Mikey and Leo however the Nightwatcher appeared.

Swinging his manrki the Nightwatcher knocked the dream Donatello of his feet and then jumped down in order to fight. The dream Donatello was still holding onto Leonardo's katanas and ravage clash ensued between the two.

Unfortunately for the Nightwatcher it appeared that the dream Donatello was much faster than he looked and he ended up getting stabbed with Leo's own katana. Pulling out the sword from his victim's chest Donatello grinned as he saw blood run down it's tip.

The Nightwatcher had fallen and as the dream Donatello approached to remove the Nightwatcher's helmet that's when the real Donatello decided to wake up in the real world.

Looking around frantically the purple-masked turtle sighed a wave of relief as he said "It was just a dream...a nightmare,"

But Donatello was soon to learn that his dream was no mere nightmare...but a premonition. Weeks had passed since the fight at Karia's and Rapheal had not returned. No one was even sure their hot-tempered brother was ever going to return home.

Leonardo had been suffering the most though. If anything else he felt sorry for Raph. It wasn't Rapheal's fault that he had almost killed his brother...it was Karia's. If Karia hadn't been so foolish into brainwashing Rapheal he might still be here with his brothers today.

Rapheal was gone and now the turtles had to live with it. Mikey was worried about Raph too but tried to keep himself busy on clipping out headlines about the Nightwatcher. Although right now his attention on his new superhero idol was unfocused.

Master Splinter had been sensing a tenge of depression hanging about the lair ever since Rapheal's disappearence, but Donatello's aura was the strangest of them all. The brainiac turtle's aura had become disturbed and was showing hints of increased fear.

"My son " asked Splinter "what is wrong?"

"I've been having these weird dreams Sensei" said Don "about...,"

Donatello couldn't bring himself to say what his recurring dream had been about. There was no doubt Master Splinter would grow concerned and ask more questions Donatello didn't really want to answer. Sensing Donatello's mood Splinter knew he could not push more from his son at this moment, but he would try again later.

While this was going on with Donatello, Leonardo was getting tired of sitting around the lair. What he really wanted to do was to go search for Rapheal to tell him that it was okay to come back. And it's about time he did it.

It didn't take long for the other turtles to get dragged along in his search. Minutes passed by and not a sign of Rapheal was ever found. Just as the three turtles were about to give up a sound of a scuffle reached their ears and they instantly bolted towards the sound.

Turns out the Nightwatcher was the one who started the fight in the first place, although it was all over in a second. By the time Leo and the others got there the Nightwatcher was hanging up three crooks by a chain twisted around a nearby fire escape.

"Man this guy is good," said Don.

The Nightwatcher must have heard Don's voice because the next thing anyone knew he was looking up at the three turtles staring down at him. To late to hide the turtles stood their ground waiting for what the Nightwatcher planned to do next. Would he mistake them for being criminals too?

"Feeling better?" asked the Nightwatcher clearly referring to Leo.

"Uh...yeah" said Leo a little reluctant to answer "thanks,"

"You know" said the Nightwatcher "I saw another turtle like you guys a few days ago. Red mask, scowl on face...ring any bells?"

"You saw Raph?" asked Mikey in excitement "where is he?"

"Didn't say" said the Nightwatcher "he was the one who informed me about what was going on over at Karia's place. After the fight however he didn't think he was ready to come home just yet, and I hear now that he might actaully be planning to go back to Karia's,"

"What?!" asked all three turtles at once.

"Why?" asked Leo.

"Cause...he loves her" said the Nightwatcher hestitantly "by the way what happened to the Wolf?"

"She disappeared after helping get Leo back to the lair" said Don "we haven't seen her since,"

Nodding the Nightwatcher said "I gotta go, but if you ever need me I'll be where the fire touches the sky, caio,"

With that the Nightwatcher diappeared once again into the night leaving the turtles more confused than ever before. Storm clouds hung overhead indicating a sudden downpour was iminent. Sighing Leo looked at his brothers and said.

"Come on, let's check the docks real quick and go home,"

As soon as the Turtles arrived at the docks a shocking site met their eyes. Karia was there staring out over at Eliis Island, home to the Statue of Liberty. The Nightwatcher's clue suddenly became very clear to Donatello.

"The Nightwatcher..." he said "he lives over at the Statue of Liberty,"

But Leo and Mikey were more interested on what Karia was doing here than anything else right now. Suddenly the three turtles saw why as the Nightwatcher approached Karia. Karia turned and smiled when she saw the Nightwatcher and quickly took his hands in her own.

"Are we still on for that date?" said Karia.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said the Nightwatcher.

Leo and the others were shocked at this discovery. The Nightwatcher was dating Karia! All of Mikey's thoughts about his hero suddenly seemed to get flushed down the drain. He had been admiring the Nightwatcher for months, but at seeing this he wasn't so sure he should be anymore.

Before anything more freaky could be discovered about the Nightwatcher's and Karia's relationship however Donatello suddenly a deep feeling of pain grab his stomach. His eyes shut for tight for just a moment and then opened with a glow of light blue fire. Turning to face Leo and Mikey Donatello started to attack his two brothers. His dream had become reality and there was no doubt what was about to happen next.