Ch.5: A Fear, But Not The Biggest!

It was like their biggest fear had come to life. Leo, Don, Mikey, and Splinter had all feared one day Raphael's anger would make him snap and transform into a monster. Apparently, Raphael had shared the same fear, imagining himself as the most horrible monster of them all, the Shredder.

Fiercely, Splinter and his sons battled the Shredder Raphael, but none of their attacks seemed to have any effect on this fearsome foe. Shredder Raphael countered their every move, covering their bodies with cuts and bruises.

"Hahaha" laughed Shredder Raphael, as Leo and the others stood to take a breather " Pathetic! Is this the moves you were supposed to teach us Master Splinter? If they were, you were a pretty lousy teacher,"

Splinter growled at the Shredder Raphael, and Leo stepped up in anger.

"How dare you talk that way about our Sensei!' shouted Leo.

"How dare you address the monster you have created" said Shredder Raphael, pointing to Leonardo " after all, I wouldn't have gotten this powerful if it hadn't been for you and your brothers,"

"What?" said Leo shocked.

"Everytime you and your brothers pushed at my anger" said Shredder Raphael " every scream, every yell, only served to make me stronger. And once I have enough power, I'll conquer my Master's mind, and make him into the killer he was destined to be,"

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" said Don, he and the others charging in to attack.

Leonardo swung at the evil Raphael with his katanas, but the dark version of his brother jumped, and side-kicked Donny who was defending with his staff. Mikey jumped in, twirling his nunchucks at Shredder Raph's head, but the villian ducked, grabbed Mikey, and flung the turtle to the ground.

Raising his blades, the Shredder Raphael was about to stab Mikey, when Master Splinter came in and kicked Raphael away. The Shredder Raphael's eyes were glowing blood red, and a heated black aura began rising around his body, making him look even more menancing than before.

The Shredder Raphael charged towards Splinter, his blades on fire, and his speed greatly improved. Master Splinter fought hard and managed to block some of the fierce moves with his walking stick.

However, one twist of the Shredder's claw, and Splinter's walking stick was sent flying through the air, burning to ash in one of the lava pits, leaving the rat open to attack. Determined yells cut through the air, stopping the Shredder Raphael before he could finish off Splinter.

Donatello jumped in, striking the Shredder Raphael on the back of his head with his bo staff. While the villian turned to focus his attention on Donny, Mikey got up and managed to get in a few hits in with his nunchucks, throwing the dark version of his brother off balance.

Shredder Raphael was now growling in anger, and ready to kill, when Leo came in and landed on his back, pushing him to the ground. The evil Raphael couldn't believe it, he had been bested by those inferior to him!

"Now it's time to say goodbye to Raphael's greatest fear," said Leo, pulling out one of his swords, ready to finish it.

"Greatest fear?" said Shredder Raphael confused, then grinned " Ha! You flatter me. But I am not the one the Master fears most,"

"What are you talking about?" said Mikey, walking up " dreaming up that I was Shred-head would certianly give me nightmares,"

"Then you don't know your brother as well as you think you do" said Shredder Raphael " his greatest fear is something that even I can't conquer,"

"What do you mean?" asked Leo.

A horrifying, inhuman roar suddenly split through the terrian, sending shivers running down the turtles and their Sensei's spines. Shredder Raphael's grin grew even wider at seeing the fear displayed on each of their faces.

"You'll find out soon enough," said Shredder Raphael, and dissappeared into flames. The heat of which, forced Leo to jump back onto his feet.

"Where'd he go?" asked Don.

"Wherever he is..." said Mikey, shaking in fear " I think he's better off than we are. Look!"

Leo, Don, and Splinter looked to where Mikey was pointing, and what they saw made their eyes widen in fear. Clutching to one side of the lava-spewing volcano was the biggest and nastiest spider the turtles had ever seen.

It's skin was painted black, silver armor covered it's body, and it's posionus fangs glowed eeriely in the firelight. A gaint red hourglass decorated the spider's back, and eight gleering yellow eyes looked down at them with fury.

"If this Raph's greatest fear" shouted Mikey " then I want a recount!"

"Get ready Mikey" said Leo, pulliing out his swords, as the spider jumped off the volcano and headed towards them " if we don't defeat this monster, Raphael's mind could be lost forever,"

Encouraged by Leo's words, Mikey and the others got out their weapons and prepared to fight. The fight to save Raphael had truly begun.