So close to the end of this story! I'll admit this one has been a roller coaster for me to write. This was my first ever attempt at writing fanfiction and I couldn't be more appreciative of all the support that you readers have given me! Thank you so much!
The smell of blood hung thick in Mikey's nostrils. That coppery scent permeated everything and forced new tears to form in the fragile blue eyes.
The Foot Elite had missed their target, but found a mark.
The older Leo stood out of sheer will, the blades of the Elite buried deep in his chest.
Grimacing he grasped the blades as the Foot Elite tried to wrest them free. Splinter's eyes stung with fresh tears. His brave son.
"G-Go!" Leo coughed. "Go to your sons!"
The old rat flipped through the air as the Shredder's fist slammed down to the floor where he had been moments ago.
He landed heavily beside Mikey and Don. He looked at them, the crushing weight of his love for them all made it hard for him to breathe. His vision clouded and became unfocused as the blood loss and long battle finally caught up with the master.
The Shredder roared and flew towards the small family. His eyes wild, spittle flying from his mouth.
Resting his paws on the backs of his sons Splinter whispered "You have made me so proud. I love you all."
Suddenly, he shoved the two through the portal before whirling around and grabbing the broken blaster from the ground.
The older Leo's eyes closed contentedly as Splinter pulled the trigger.
Standing over Leo in Donnie's lab, Raph watched through the portal in horror as the scene played out before him.
He watched as the old Leo was impaled. He watched as his two younger brothers were thrown into their own dimension. And he watched as his beloved master fired the blaster, disappearing into the resulting explosion.
What he didn't see was the deadly debris flying towards him. Sharp bits of stone and metal flew into their dimension, slicing cruelly at the young ninja. Raph felt a sharp pain across his whole body as the shrapnel tore into him. With a cry he crashed to the ground.
Mikey and Don were blown forward by the explosion. Landing on his injured shoulder Donatello cried out in pain. His energy drained, it was all he could do to keep conscious. His ears were ringing, but he could still hear the muffled screaming.
Gritting his teeth in pain, Don turned onto his side, looking for the source of the stifled shouts. His eyes turned wide as he saw Mikey scrambling back towards the portal. On the other side, Don made out the burnt, smoking silhouettes of the Shredder and his Foot minions. He could also make out the still forms of the older Leo, and worst of all, Master Splinter.
"-inter! Master SPLINTER!" Mikey's tormented screams came into focus. The youngest turtle was reaching out for his fallen sensei. Donnie tried to sit up. He had to stop Mikey. It was too late to save Splinter.
His legs barely supporting himself, Donnie stood, making his way to the orange turtle.
"Mikey-" he groaned. "It's too late"
"NO! I can't leave him there!" Mikey screamed.
A sudden beeping had Don on full alert. The portal!
"Mikey! Wait! DON'T!"
With a final beep the portal fizzled and crackled before the rift was shut with a metallic hiss.
Silence hung in the air as the youngest turtle stood frozen, looking at where his arm used to be. Still reaching, his arm had been severed as the rift had come slamming shut.
Mikey's face went pale as his limb bled profusely splattering against the floor with a sickening slap. His eyes rolled back, and he fell harshly to the ground.
Donnie felt his heart stop. Frantically he made his way to his baby brother trying to wrap his mind around what had happened.
Cradling Mikey in his arms he desperately turned to Raph looking for help. It was then he saw the blood.
Raph had been hit bad. Tiny pieces of debris had torn him to shreds from head to toe. He bled onto the lab floor from hundreds of wounds. Including one from his right eye.
As he had fallen his sai had been in his hand. Donnie heaved as he saw the gruesome slash it had made across Leo's eyes.
No. No. No! NO! NO!
The nightmare was real. He had made it happen. His body turned cold and numb. The smell of blood and ash hung in the air.
A tortured whisper escaped his lips.
"What have I done?"