Chapter 8: Things Just Keep Getting Better
A/N: Hey, I'm back Sorry for the long wait, but I had a bit of writer's block which was preventing me from writing this chapter. I want to thank those who have read and reviewed this story thus far. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Please feel free to leave a review once you've finished reading.
Disclaimer: TMNT are property of Mirage Studios, Inc. I only own the plot.
He could hear voices, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. It felt like they were miles away, and he had to struggle to reach them. Pain racked his body in waves, but he ignored it so he could concentrate on the voices. He had to find out what they were saying.
Some of the voices sounded like they were leaving him. Where were they going? They couldn't leave him; he needed them. He had to get to them, so he concentrated his energy and willed himself to go toward the voices.
He was getting closer, and he could understand what one of them was saying. It was a gruff voice urging him to wake up. An image flashed of a Turtle in a red mask. It was Raphael who was by his side. Leo forced his eyes to open, and they did so slowly. It hurt, but he tried to block out the pain. He let out a moan, despite his effort to mask the agony he was in.
Raphael jumped at the voice. "Leo, are you okay?" he asked.
"Raph, is that you?" whispered Leo. He wanted to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Yeah, it's me," replied Raph, squeezing his brother's hand. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm in a lot of pain, Raph," said Leo. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Yeah, it's pretty obvious," answered Raph. "I'd better tell the others you're awake." But before he could get up, Mikey bounded in.
"Hey, Raph, I thought I'd take over your watch--" he began, but he stopped when he saw that Leo was awake. "Leo, you're okay!" he cried. "Dude, you scared us there for a while 'cause we didn't think you'd wake up."
Leo smiled. "You didn't think I'd give up, did you?" he asked his younger brother.
Mikey laughed. "Nah, I had a feeling you'd come through," he said.
"Mikey, it's Leo we're talkin' about," said Raph. "He's the toughest Turtle I know. Well, besides me of course."
"That's totally true," agreed Mikey. "I'd better tell the good news to the others." And he ran out the door and into the kitchen area where Splinter, Don, and the Ancient One were sitting. When they heard Mikey's news, all of them bolted from the kitchen to where Leo was, thankful that the blue-clad Turtle had awoken.
Donatello examined Leo again and inquired about the extent of the pain. Leo told him that he was very sore but that it didn't surprise him since he'd been beaten by a stone statue. He concluded that the statue was probably pleased by his defeat.
"Nuh-uh!" contradicted Mikey. "That statue got his shell kicked in thanks to Raph."
Leo was shocked. "There was no way he could've beaten the statue," he said. "How did it happen?"
Mikey grinned. "He used his dragon form," he answered.
"You're kidding!" Leo gasped. "I didn't think we'd be able to do that without our medallions."
The Ancient One rolled his eyes. "You kumquats are a bit slow for ninjas," he remarked. "Do you recall your training with the Tribunal?"
"Yeah, but we figured we wouldn't be able to use our powers once the Tengu Shredder was defeated," Don told him.
"But you have forgotten about your chi," Splinter reminded them. "As you know, your chi is manifested when you focus from within. Because of this you are able to retain your powers that you had with the Tribunal as well as the reason you are able to forge a connection and share each other's thoughts and feelings."
"Does the Tribunal know about this?" Leo inquired.
"Of course they do," replied the Ancient One. "The Ninja Tribunal knows many things. Speaking of which, they probably already know you are here."
"Well, they ain't very good at welcoming guests," remarked Raph dryly.
"I must go and speak with them," said the Ancient One. "They need to know that I did not send for you and that you came of your own accord."
"I will go with you," offered Splinter. "It is best that they hear from me as well."
"I think we should all go," said Raph. "I wanna have a little chat with them."
"No, you and your brothers will remain here," said Splinter firmly. "There is no need to stir up trouble. We must not anger the Tribunal, no matter how angry we may be at them."
"We understand, Sensei," said Leo, speaking for all of them.
"Very well," replied Splinter. "We will return soon." Then he and the Ancient One headed to the Tribunal monastery, hoping that the Tribunal wouldn't be angry with them.
Once they were gone, Raph sat back with a sigh. "Things just keep getting better, don't they?" he said sarcastically. "Why can't we just have any peace in our lives like normal people?"
"Because we aren't normal, Raph," Leo replied with a smile.
"Hey, I wonder if there's a record for how many times a person's been injured," Mikey mused.
"If there is, I've probably broken it," Leo joked.
"I think you'd be the first mutant to break a world record of being injured so many times," Don told him. "Of course, we wouldn't be able to submit it because it would cause exposure, which would be disastrous for us."
"That's a bummer," Mikey sighed. "I could have gotten my name in there, too."
"Yeah, you'd be the world's biggest goofball," Raph quipped.
Mikey stuck his tongue out at his brother. "No, that would be your spot, Raphie," he said. "I'd be in there for the first mutant turtle to ever be champion of the multiverse!"
Raph scowled. "You're gonna pay for that one, Mikey," he growled, but before he could do anything, Don intervened.
"Cool it, you guys," ordered the purple-clad Turtle. "Leo needs his rest, and he can't get it with you two arguing."
"Hey, Don, did you bring any Tylenol with you?" asked Leo. "I kind of have a headache."
"Yeah, I have some," answered Don. He reached into his knapsack and pulled out the first aid kit. He got out the bottle of pills and handed Leo two of them. "Here, take some of my water," he said, handing Leo his bottle. "You probably have a concussion, which means you shouldn't go to sleep yet."
Leo thanked Don and took the pills. "I wonder what the Tribunal thinks about us being here," he mused after he'd taken the pills.
"I hope they don't throw us out," said Mikey fearfully.
"I doubt they'd do that, Mikey," reassured Don.
"After what we went through to get here, they better not turn us away," grumbled Raph.
None of the others said anything more. Instead they amused themselves with a few games of Uno, which Mikey had brought along.
Meanwhile, Splinter and the Ancient One entered the Tribunal monastery feeling anxious. They had no idea what the Tribunal would say about the Hamato Clan's arrival. Splinter was determined to make it clear that they were in danger if they stayed in New York.
The Ninja Tribunal eyed Splinter and the Ancient One as they entered. They were surprised to see the rat and wondered why he was there with his sons.
"What brings you here, rodent?" demanded Chikara.
Splinter bowed to them. "Honorable Tribunal, my sons and I have come to seek the Ancient One's help," he told them. "He sent me a letter that stated we should come here if we felt the need to escape."
"And why would there be a need for you to come?" asked Kan.
"The Ancient One warned me that my family is in grave danger--" began Splinter, but Chikara cut him off.
"We told him to disregard that feeling of danger," she replied. She turned to the Ancient One. "Why did you not heed us, Young One?"
"Forgive me, Masters," said the Ancient One, bowing to them. "I felt that Splinter-san needed to be warned, especially after what happened to Leonardo."
Chikara's angry face softened. "We are sorry to hear about what happened to your son," she said to Splinter. "I trust that he is well?"
Splinter shook his head. "No, he is not," he replied. Then the told them about what had transpired at the farmhouse and during their journey to the Ancient One's temple. "Leonardo was the one who requested to come here," he concluded. "He felt that it would be beneficial to receive the Ancient One's help."
The Tribunal stayed silent for a minute. Then Chikara said, "Very well, you may stay. I only hope that the danger you are running from does not catch up with you. You are dismissed."
"Thank you," said Splinter graciously. After bowing to the Tribunal, the Ancient One and Splinter went back to the temple. Both were relieved that that the Tribunal was allowing the Hamato Clan to stay. They went into the room where the Turtles were and relayed the news. The Turtles were elated and were ready to celebrate.
"Let's order some pizza," suggested Mikey.
The Ancient One laughed. "Silly kumquat, there is no pizza here," he said. "However, I think some miso soup will be a great substitute."
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A few weeks later
"Why the shell are we sitting in a circle?" Raphael asked.
They had just finished a rigorous training session and were sitting in a circle on the dojo floor. Leonardo was very happy to be working out with his brothers, and they were glad to see him back as well. Michelangelo made quite a few jokes about almost having to take over the leadership position until Splinter gave him a look that said he had better be quiet or he was going to do twenty flips.
"This is the beginning of our group therapy sessions," Splinter answered.
"Therapy sessions?" Raph repeated. "What for? I don't have a problem."
"Wanna bet?" Mikey muttered, which earned him a smack on the head from Raph.
"My sons, enough!" scolded Splinter. "I thought that perhaps we should share our feelings regarding Leonardo's capture. I know that we are all still feeling the effects of that trying time, and we need to talk about it."
"But, Sensei, I'm not ready to talk about it," protested Leo.
"I know, Leonardo," said Splinter gently. "That is why we are going to tell our stories first. Perhaps if you hear us speak about it, you will have the courage to tell your story. Is that all right?"
"Yeah, that's fine," replied Leo.
"So, who's going first?" asked Raph.
"I think Michelangelo should tell his story first," suggested Splinter. "After him will be Donatello, then Raphael, then myself, and finally Leonardo will tell his story. Do you agree with this?"
"Yes, Sensei," said the Turtles.
Mikey was a little nervous. He didn't want to tell about how he felt while Leo was captured, but he knew that it was the best way to help Leo get better. So he took a deep breath and began his tale.
A/N: And another chapter comes to a close. I hope you enjoyed it. The next five chapters will be all the stories concerning Leo's capture as told from the Turtles' and Splinter's perspectives. However, it will still be told in the third person POV. I've got a basic plan for these chapters but I don't know when they'll be finished. I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long, and I'll try not to do it again. But if I do, just bear with me, okay? Please feel free to leave a review once you've finished reading. I enjoy feedback. Have a shell-tastic day!