Ch.4: Helpless

Where they ended up next was every ninja turtles nightmare. Or more specifically in this case, Raph's nightmare. Looking up from a balcony, Leo and the others peered down to see four bodies strapped to cold, metal tables. Their bodies, and Raphael's.

Hard metal cuffs binded Raphael's hands and feet preventing him from moving an inch. He was was trying desperately to break free from his bonds, worried about Leo, Don, and Mikey who were strapped to the other tables. That's when Bishop walked in with Shredder and goons by his side.

Bishop came in front of Mikey's table first, and started cutting the orange-masked turtle apart with his sawblade. From up on the balcony, the real Mikey tried to cover his eyes at the gruesome sight, horrified by what he was seeing.

"Mikey!" Raph cried, trying even more fiercely to break free, but the bonds still refused to break.

Stockman and Hun approached Dontello's table next and started to maul the purple-masked turtle's body apart. Hun with his bare hands and Stockman with his gadgets. From the balcony now, Don had to look away.

Raph was screaming for the torture to stop and tears were flooding out of his eyes. Master Splinter watched his son's pain from the balcony in horror, and he was disgusted by the very sight of seeing one of his sons so powerless.

Once Don and Mikey were dead and hacked into pieces, Karai approached Leo's table and pulled out her katana. She ignored Raphael's tears and sliced at Leo's head, killing the turtle instantly. From the balcony, Leonardo cringed.

Raph had stopped struggling completely once Leo was killed too. All his tears had dried up, only to be replaced by pain and despair. His soul was shattered, and his fighting spirit lost.

"Hahaha" laughed Shredder, approaching Raphael " what's the matter turtle? You miss your brothers? Don't worry, you'll be joining them soon,"

Raph didn't struggle or even bother to make a comment about Shredder's threat as the villian poised his blades to strike a killing blow to the heart. Raph's eyes were clouded and pointed to the sky, staring at nothing.

"Come on Raph fight!" yelled Mikey from the balcony.

But Raph couldn't hear him, and the Shredder's blades sunk into his heart.

The white light flashed again dragging Leo and the others back to the valley of the Realm of Pain. Leo stood furious, while his brothers stood horrified over what they just saw.

"That's it!" shouted Leo " I had it with those orbs! This time we're walking straight through the valley, you hear me?"

"Calm down my son," said Master Splinter, leashing his son's anger.

"I agree with Leo" said Don, shivering slightly " I had enough with those orbs. They aren't getting us anywhere,"

"Then let's start walking Bros" said Mikey " One, two! One, two!"

With that decided, the four trudged their way through the Realm of Pain's valley, carefully avoiding any floating orbs that went past. They had already seen three horrible visions because of those orbs, and were determined not to witness any more of them.

A few minutes later the valley ended and turned into volcanic terrian. Steam hissed from the cracks, and lava bubbled up from live, active volcano. Leo could only guess that they were crossing over into the part of Raph's mind, where his anger burned the brightest.

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shook, and the volcano let out an angry roar. A fiery gyser of flame and ash exploded from the mouth, bringing with it a truly frightening figure.

"Shredder!" shouted Leo, as the villian jumped out of the flames and landed at their feet " why am I not surprised to see you here?"

"You should be," said the Shredder, and charged at the group.

Drawing their weapons, Leo, Don, and Mikey moved in to attack, while Splinter stood and watched, waiting for an opening. Amazingly, the Shredder matched every move the turtles made blow for blow. It surprised Leo just how much the Shredder had learned of their techniques.

Splinter finally found an opening as the Shredder charged to attack Leonardo, and delievered a flying kick to the villian's head. The force of the kick made the Shredder's mask fly off into a nearby lava pit, revealing his true face.

Once the face was revealed, Leo and the others froze in place and stared in shock, not believing what lay before them. Smiling wickedly at them was the face of Raphael, cloaked in the Shredder's armor, and ready to kill.

"You look like you guys have seen a ghost," said the Shredder Raphael, and with that said he charged in to attack.