Ch.6: The Will To Live

"Don! Mikey! On Me, Hi-Yah!" yelled Leo, charging at the gaint spider with his swords.

Don and Mikey aimed for the spider's sides as Leo leaped for the head, hoping to take down the gruesome beast with one shot. Their plan didn't work out as hoped. Keeping its calm, the gaint spider kicked Don and Mikey away with two of its eight legs, and cocooned Leo with its web.

However, why the spider had been distracted by his sons, Splinter charged in and sliced at one of the creature's legs with his claws, making it howl out in pain. Mikey ran in to help Master Splinter, while Don ran over to free Leo from his web-like prison.

Just as Don had managed to get Leo free, the spider jumped! Taking Mikey and Master Splinter along with it! When the spider landed back on the ground, the force of the shockwave was unmistakeable.

The entire volcanic terrian started to crack, making the lava pools grow larger and wider. The searing heat from the burning flames didn't seem to affect the spider one bit and it continued to charge.

Master Splinter and Mikey had been thrown off of the spider's back, once it had landed on the ground, and were very lucky to have not have landed into one of the burning pools. Leo and Don instantly ran up to them, to see if they were alright.

"Master Splinter" said Leo, helping his Sensei up " how are we going to stop that thing?"

"I do not know my son," was all Splinter had to say.

With that forboding sentence, the spider charged in again, determined to finish off its prey once and for all.

Raph's POV

I woke up in darkness again, except this time my body had been completely frozen inside of a pillar of ice. I didn't feel cold, just confused. How did I get here? Where was I?

Voices seemed to be whispering all around me, most of them nasty remarks and comments. Telling me about how I was failure and didn't belong with my family. The more they talked, the larger the chunk of ice around my body grew.

Suddenly, a familiar voice sliced through the darkness, yelling for me, and I recgonized it right away.

"Raph! Help!" called the voice.

It was Leo! What was he doing here? I closed my eyes, listening carefully for more screams. I could here Don and Mikey screaming in terror as some monster grabbed them in his grip. I could Leo and Master Splinter rushing in to save them, but failing miserably to do so.

Anger bubbled up in my veins right away as I heard my Bros and Sensei were in trouble. Steam started to rise, and the ice melted away from my body. I cheered as I managed to break free of my icy bonds.

"Don't worry guys!" I said, running through the darkness " I'm coming to save you!"

I only hoped I got there before it was to late.

Meanwhile, the battle againist the gaint spider had taken a bad turn. The anraciod had successfully managed to cocoon all three turtles and their beloved Sensei, and was steadily approaching for the kill.

"So this is how my life was meant to end" said Mikey " I didn't know it meant being eaten alive by a gaint, armor-plated spider!"

"Don't worry Mikey" said Leo, struggling to break free of his cocoon " we'll find a way out of this,"

"Well you better come up with a plan fast" said Don, as the gaint spider opened its jaws " cause it looks like it's chow time,"

As the gaint spider bent down to eat its prey however, the entire volcanic terrian shook, bursting out pillars of fire and ash. The fiery volcano burst out in roaring anger, and an inhuman roar could be heard coming from the sky. The roar sounded so terrifying that it had the gaint spider backing up in fear.

"What's going on?" said Mikey, confused " are we dead yet?"

"No, look!" said Leo, looking towards the sky.

Raphael's dragon was soaring through the sky, with a glowing gold aura surrounding its body. Riding upon the dragon's back was none other than Raphael, cloaked in golden armor, and his sais out ready for a fight.

Raphael jumped off his dragon's back, landed on the gaint spider, and took out two of its eyes with his sais. The spider reared back and yelled in pain, as Raph jumped off before one of the spider's legs could grab him.

Raphael's dragon landed on the battlefield and started slicing at the spider with his claws, causing the anraciod to to lose five of its eight limbs. Beaten and bleeding, the gaint spider collasped on the ground, powerless to attack.

Drawing a deep breath, Raphael's dragon unleashed a pillar of golden fire at the defenseless bug, burning what was left of its body to a crisp, ending its curse. As his dragon smiled proudly in accomplishing this achievement, Raphael set his sights on freeing his brothers and Sensei from their cocoons.

"Wow Raph!" said Mikey, jumping up with joy " you should have seen yourself! It was so cool!"

Raph didn't respond to Mikey's praise and a golden orb lit up in his hand. Before Leo could question what Raphael was doing, the whole area was filled with a golden light. And when the light vanished, everyone had dissappeared.

Back in the real world, Don, Mikey, Leo, and Master Splinter found themselvess snapping out of their deep meditative trance, and sitting back in Raphael's room.

The red-masked turtle still stood sleeping on his bed, but Don could tell there had been an improvement in his condition while they were gone. Raphael's breathing had gotten easier, and his muscles seemed less tense.

Mikey was a little disappionted that his brother hadn't woken up yet, even after they had defeated the gaint monster haunting his mind. Leo noticed Mikey's saddness, and a rested a gentle hand on the quivering turtle's shoulder.

"Don't worry Mikey" said Leo " Raph's a fighter. Always has been, always will be. He's not going to let a little fear slow him down,"

"Your darn right I won't," came a voice from Raphael's bed, startling everyone in the room.

Looks of fear turned to looks of joy as Splinter and his sons looked to the one who had spoken. Grins spread around everyone's faces as Raphael's eyes began to open and look at them, filling their hearts with relief.

Their misson had been achieved, Raph was back where he belonged. With them, his family. But after encountering all of the fears and doubts in Raphael's mind, Leo wondered, would they ever be the same family again?