So, as at least one Guest reviewer noticed, it would be pretty difficult for Leo to run with Donnie like that after going for three days without food and water. Don't be afraid to point out something that doesn't make sense, I don't bite! In fact I appreciate it. Thanks Guest reviewer!
It would be insanely difficult for someone to do what Leo did, so my explanation is that he is used to exerting himself after going without food, and that he managed to sneak some water every now and then. Because you can survive for a while without food, but can't survive long without water.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The old bedroom. Why had he brought Donnie straight to his old bedroom?
"No one is supposed to come here," Donnie said, "Except to clean, of course. Did you come here to clean? Is that how you knew this would be empty?"
"We'd better get going," Leo said to Donnie, trying to take his attention away from the room, "I don't think Saki followed us."
"Right," Donnie said, unlocking the bedroom door, "You know, you didn't have to run away like that."
"Sorry. I just...panicked." Leo said.
"Which is something you don't do, at least not since I've known you." Donnie said, stepping out of the room. "As soon as we get to Raph's room, you're telling me everything that happened back there with Saki."
"As long as you tell me what you guys did yesterday." Leo said quietly, looking down the hallway to see if there was anyone who might be listening.
"What makes you think we did anything?" Donnie asked, leading the way.
"Because it made Saki really, really mad." Leo explained.
"Oh." Donnie said, "Fine, we'll tell you after you eat."
"What? No!" Leo said, "If I go back to the kitchens they probably won't let me leave. I need to see you guys first."
"You can eat at Raph's." Donnie said, "We'll have something sent up for you."
"I can't do that!"
"You don't have much of a choice." Donnie said, turning to face him. "You haven't had anything to eat or drink for at least a day."
"I had some water, Don." Leo said, rolling his eyes, "It's kind of hard to go too long without it."
"We'll get you some food then. Remember, I'm a Prince, so you have to do as I say."
"Not the 'prince' card again, Don." Leo said.
"Well, it works doesn't it?" Donnie asked, "Now come on. I think I know the way from here."
The two of them crept down the corridor, keeping a much better eye out for soldiers than when they had run down the hallway. Finally they made it to Raph's room. The door to that room was starting to look more welcoming each time Leo saw it.
"Hey guys," Donnie said, opening the door, "Look who I found."
"BRO!" Mikey shouted, throwing himself into Leo's arms, "I missed you!"
"What's this?" Raph said, poking his head up from the chair he was sitting in, "Donnie, what's he doing here?"
"Our uncle was keeping him in his antechamber," Donnie explained, closing the bedroom door, "He hasn't had anything to eat for at least a day."
"What the heck?" Raph said, standing up, "What was he punishing you for, Fearless?"
"He thinks I talked to you." Leo said.
"But you did," Mikey frowned, "So what?"
"You're Princes. I'm a servant." Leo explained.
Raph walked over to his dresser and grabbed something from the top, but Leo wasn't paying too much attention.
"I brought him here to tell him what we did, and to get him some food." Donnie said, "They'd make him work right away if he went back to the kitchens."
"Here." Raph said, thrusting something into Leo's face.
"W-what?" Leo asked, "Raph, that's your water!"
"Just drink it already! We can always get more."
So Leo took the glass and drank, slowly at first, then faster and faster. Suddenly the glass was gone, yanked right out of his hands.
"Hey!" He said, turning to Donnie.
"Not too much at once!" His brother reprimanded, "It'll make you sick."
"Sick?" Mikey asked, "Not gonna happen! Come on, sit down over here!"
And he sat Leo down in the nearest chair.
"There!" Mikey said, "Feeling better, bro?"
"I thought we were over this whole 'bro' nonsense." Raph complained.
"Nope!" Mikey said, "Feeling better?" He asked again.
"Yes, thank you." Leo said, "Can I drink some more now, Donnie?"
Donnie handed him the glass again, and this time Leo finished it.
"So just how long did you go without anything ta eat or drink?" Raph asked.
"Three days, duh." Mikey said, "That's how long he's been gone."
"That's impossible, Mikey." Donnie said, "Well, you can go without food for three days. But water? If he went without water all that time he wouldn't have been able to run earlier."
"I'm tougher than you think, guys." Leo said, "And I told you, I was able to get something to drink. Speaking of which, can I have some more?" He asked, stretching the glass out towards them.
"I'm calling the servants." Raph said.
"What?!" Leo asked, standing up.
"To bring up more water, Fearless!" Raph explained, "And some food. We haven't had lunch yet. What, you thought I'd turn ya in or something?"
"And we're getting the story," Donnie said, looking at Leo, "The whole story of what happened."
"So, let me get this straight." Raph said, drinking from a goblet that had been brought up for him, "You got punished because Saki thought you had seen us?"
"For the last time, yes!" Leo said, reaching for a slice of bread.
"What happened to your other sleeve?" Mikey asked, "How'd you tear the other one off?"
"I didn't," Leo said, "Saki did, with the gauntlet. He was trying to scare me. Alright, your turn. What did you do yesterday that helped the Palace, but made Saki so mad?"
"That was awesome." Raph said, swinging an arm over Donnie, "We totally took out their main weapon."
"They were utilizing a catapult," Donnie said, "It was backing up their army."
"So we just snuck outside through the gatehouse and broke it!" Mikey said.
"WHAT!" Leo shouted, "You went through the secret tunnel to the gatehouse, even though you know that's the Purple Dragon headquarters? What were you guys thinking?"
"We were thinking that we didn't want that catapult to cause any more damage." Donnie said, crossing his arms.
"Besides, we were careful." Raph said, "Donnie was the one who broke it. Me and Casey just stood watch."
"And what did Mikey and April do?" Leo asked, assuming that they must have been a part of this.
"Don't be silly, bro!" Mikey said, "April didn't do anything. She just sat there in the guardhouse while I went to find their enemy food."
"Wait, you two separated?" Raph said, turning to Mikey, "Didn't we tell you not to do that?"
"You guys don't know just how important food is in the middle of a war!" Mikey said, "I had to make it taste bad to ruin their day!"
"So you left April alone in the enemy headquarters." Leo pointed out.
"Hey, it all worked out didn't it?" Mikey said, "They totally had to stop attacking us."
"Yeah, they ran out of men." Raph said, "Most of 'em were probably still in the woods, looking for escaped prisoners."
"Do you even realize how dangerous that was?" Leo asked, "The last time I was in here, you yelled at me for putting Mikey in danger. Don't you see that you just did that yourselves?"
"Alright, we get it." Donnie said, rubbing his forehead, "Next time, we're going to plan this out better."
"There isn't going to be a next time." Leo said.
"You are most correct, my Friend."
All heads looked up, towards the door.
"USAGI!" Mikey screamed, throwing himself onto their friend, "You're back! Did you get my message?"
"If you mean the one you delivered to me by one who calls himself Leatherhead, then yes." Usagi said, "That is the reason I arrived here safely. But I think we need to discuss how you came to meet him, Prince Michelangelo."
"Heh heh, funny story," Mikey said, scratching his head.
"And we need to discuss why you are speaking so openly here." Usagi said, "Surely you know that it is better to speak where no one can hear you?"
Raph sighed. "Yes, Usagi." He said, "How much did you hear?"
"Enough, your Highness." Usagi said, "I managed to sneak into the Castle without alerting your uncle to my presence. I fear this is no time to tell him that I've returned."
"How'd you get in?" Mikey asked, "Did you use the guardhouse passage or the waterfall?"
"What?" Usagi asked, "No, I climbed over the wall. But we will discuss that momentarily. We must hurry to Prince Michelangelo's room so that we can reach the passageway and speak without fear of being overheard."
"Or we could take the shortcut," Raph said, walking over to his bed and opening up the secret passageway.
"There is another secret passage?" Usagi asked.
"Come on," Donnie said, lighting a candle, "We'll fill you in on the way."
By the time they reached the Treasure Room, Mikey had more or less told Usagi everything that had happened while he was gone.
"And we've got most of the treasure out of the room, in case Saki finds it." Mikey concluded, even though Usagi had already seen the treasure in the passageway to Raph's room.
"This is quite a tale," Usagi said, looking around the almost-empty treasure room, "Filled with prisons, splinters and waterfalls, catapults and gold. I am not sure if I should commend you for your actions, or scold you. What I don't understand," he looked at Leo, "Is why Saki chose to keep you near him when he punished you."
"At any rate, I learned a few things by watching him." Leo said, trying to take the focus off of himself, "He was very upset when the catapult broke. But today he was even more upset, and I think it was because he finally learned about the escaped prisoners."
"Yes, the prisoners." Usagi said, "That reminds me. On my way back from the Daimyo I heard a rumor-"
"What did the Daimyo say?" Mikey interrupted, "You didn't tell us yet!"
"Oh." Usagi said, "Well, I presented him with the Seal." He took the sword out of his sheath and handed it to Raph. "He immediately called for his attendants to leave so we could speak privately. I told him of your problem with your uncle, and he reaffirmed that he recognizes you as the true King, High Prince Raphael. And if it is true that Oroku Saki is indeed the Shredder, the Daimyo has promised to come to your aid."
"In other words, he isn't gonna do anything until he knows for sure." Raph said, "Here, take the sword back. I don't have a place ta put it yet."
"Very well," Usagi said, taking the Seal back from Raph and sheathing it, "The Daimyo said he was going to keep an eye on the events here. That was before your messenger arrived with news of the war, Prince Michelangelo. I must say, it caused quite a stir within the Daimyo's realm."
"So, what's the Daimyo going to do?" Leo asked.
"I was unable to speak with him," Usagi said, "The news came after I had left the Daimyo's presence."
"Saki's not going to ask for help against the Purple Dragons." Donnie commented, "He's been undermining this entire war. We know he's been working with the enemy this whole time. So the Daimyo will probably say out of the fight."
"Unfortunately, I fear that the Daimyo will soon attack the Castle, if the rumors are true." Usagi said.
"What rumors?" Mikey asked.
"And why would he attack us?" Donnie asked.
"You just said that the Daimyo would stay out of this," Leo said.
"That is not what I said, my Friend." Usagi shook his head, "I said that he would keep an eye on the events here. And if the rumors are correct, there has been one very important event that occurred recently somewhere in this part of the world."
He leaned forward, as if even in that Treasure Room there was a chance that someone would overhear what he was about to say.
"They say that your Father, the rightful King, has escaped from his prison and turned to the Daimyo for help."
