Chapter 19

Staff and Spirit

As the triumphant words left Lilith's mouth, Devaki grinned at Ue-Sama before vanishing, her words whispering in the air," Think well on the words of our mother," the scent of evil magic hot in his nose.

Ue-Sama quickly left the ruined building, seeing his friends, along with two new young women, he quickly joined them, gasping," My father! He is-"

"Not dead," The red head cut in," I'm Nariko. She didn't kill him. She took his spirit. He can be restored."

Taima's eyes narrowed as she whirled around," Lilith does not hold to a code of honor. Her weakness is her arrogance and, though devious in their own ways, her daughters. What can we do to use this to our advantage?"

Leo opened and closed his mouth before Nariko growled," I want to kill them all! Beat Hades out them and-"

"Wait," Leo interrupted Nariko's angry rant," What about a challenge? We know she's unfit to be ruler. Would she accept a challenge, a fight to the death?"

"She would, but she will not hold to honor in the match. Who ever fights her would surely perish," Taima responded quickly," However, it may do, as a distraction."

Leo caught on to her idea and put it into words," We distract her, gain back the Daimyo's spirit and bring him back to power."

Taima's eyes lit up," Brilliant. Now, for the challenge-"

"I will issue it," Ue-Sama growled," He is my father. And… she has insulted me beyond recognition. I will see her dead before I allow my father's spirit to rest in her possession."

Taima sadly explained to him," She is deadly in her weapons, and crafty in her speech and strategy. Be wary, Warrior."

"The time for wariness has passed. Make your plans swiftly!" and Ue-Sama vanished as he teleported away.

Leo looked from his brother, to their new allies. Taima quickly explained," I have control over water. Nariko controls sound. Elysia can control electricity and Rabi controls air. What can we do?"

"Find your sisters. Explain the plan to them quickly. Mikey, Donnie, you two go with them! Master Splinter, Raph and I will meet you at the palace entrance, hopefully with more warriors," Leo told her tersely. Splinter, after returning from beating down a trio of demons that had chased him, had been listening grimly as he nodded his assent to the plan

Taima nodded before she and Nariko turned and sped away, moving fast. Don and Mikey gave their brothers a thumbs up before following.

Raphael looked at Master Splinter, who was silent. He looked up at his sons before telling them quietly," The plan is sound. But there is one problem."

"What is that?" Leo asked, confused.

Splinter suddenly threw a dust (so fine, it was barely seen) into their faces. Leo gasped solidly as his breath was stolen from his lungs. Raphael fell to his knees, coughing.

Splinter suddenly morphed, from a rat to a young woman, brown skinned, auburn hair and wicked brown eyes. She smiled at them," You will never recover, unless a sacrifice be made."

She vanished from sight, just as the real Splinter came from within a building. The three demons had herded him away, kept him busy long enough for Belloma to do her work.

He gasped as he ran forward. His sons were both staring straight into space, shivering with fever, unable to move. Their breathing was very slow, almost non-existent.

What new devilry was this?

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Alala hissed quietly as she heard the voice. Her companions, consisting of Traximus and Usagi, along with some other warriors from the multiverse, stood in shock at the proclamation.

With a growl, Alala slithered up the beam of a house, where she could see clearly. Lilith stood, on the balcony of the throne room, arrayed in full armor, War Staff in hand. Her golden eyes glinted with malice as she stood like a bad dream in the waking moments of the night.

Dark clouds swirled overhead as her demon horde shouted her name with reverence.

Sliding back down, Alala looked at Usagi and Traximus, who were both outraged.

"She has no honor! What right does she have to steal the soul of another?"

Traximus was grimly silently, save for his heaving breath.

With a growl, Alala responded harshly," She won't give us a long time to make a plan. I-"

"Alala! Mahalo, how did you get here?"

Alala turned, just as her best friend and sister in arms, Elysia, came bounding towards her, hair still puffed with electricity.

"Elysia! I'm so glad you're alright!" Alala responded with relief.

Elysia quickly embraced her friend before scowling," So, Lilith plans to dominate this place, does she? What a flipper-head!"

"She holds the spirit of the Daimyo, the honorable lord who governs this dimension," Usagi told her, a little bit wary of her wild and youthful appearance.

Elysia exclaimed," Mahalo, that's not good! In fact, that just about blows Taima's first plan out of the water… no pun intended, 'Lala," Elysia added with a faint grin.

Alala growled slightly as Traximus then spoke," We cannot turn our backs on this tyranny, that much is certain."

Elysia looked up at him. Her silver eyes opened very wide before she whistled," Dude, you're a hell of a dragon. Where did they manufacture you?"

Alala put her hand over her mouth, trying to keep herself serious as she scolded," Elysia, that is a very rude and inappropriate question! We have more important problems at hand!"

Elysia shrugged," Just sayin…" as Traximus cleared his throat, speechless for once.

All at once, Elysia was smacked upside the head, as Nariko flipped off a building, speaking," Listen up, half-breeds, we gotta plan. The son of the… Daimyo," she remembered the name that Leo had used," Is going to challenge Lilith. Meanwhile, we have to get to the palace and steal the Spirit and the War staff back, return them to their rightful owners."

"What gives you the right to lead us?" Traximus growled down at her. Mikey and Donnie landed beside Usagi at that moment, as did a pale maiden, who looked around before speaking softly," Leonardo gave orders. We only carry them out."

Usagi looked at the giant warrior, nodding," We have no better plan… though I intensely dislike this sneaking around."

Nariko grinned," We won't have to sneak around much. Just long enough to get the upper hand."

Traximus finally agreed," Sounds like a plan to me."

Rabi and Elysia were both quiet at that moment. They were looking at Don and Mikey.

Elysia finally whirled her harpoon, her silver eyes twinkling as she cocked her head curiously," Well, guys, let's get to it."

Rabi nodded wordlessly.

Taima then turned around, as they headed towards the palace.

Donatello let his eyes drift over to where his dark-haired dream was running. She was very much smaller, in reality, and her form didn't look as full as it had in his dream.

Possibly a result of his… well, teenage male imagination. He HAD been dreaming, after all…

He ran into a pole.

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Splinter pulled the two bodies of his sons to a sheltered place, as a hundred demon warriors surrounded him. His eyes narrowed, and his staff was raised above his head as he prepared to defend his sons.

But they did not attack. The reason for this, he couldn't guess. They did watch him warily, evil faces wary as they stayed their positions.

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Ue-Sama teleported onto the Throne Room balcony. His green eyes glinted as he shouted," Demoness! Succubi! Hear my challenge! Fight me to the death, and we'll see if you are truly worthy to take over my father's place!"

She deemed to look at him, her golden eyes narrowed as she replied flatly," You fight a battle you will never win."

"To die in battle is more honorable then to cower before you," Ue-Sama responded shortly.

The witch smiled as she replied," Very well, I accept your challenge. Devaki! Belloma! To me!"

The two sisters, terrible in their beauty and hideous in their wickedness, appeared. Devaki took the War staff, and Belloma a crystal jar, which glowed brightly. Ue-Sama guessed that the little jar held his father's spirit and a renewed sense of courage assailed him, filling him with confidence as Lilith raised her hands, carrying he and herself to the pit below, the arena.

He held his weapons, ready to fight her, and all the knowledge he had of magic was tucked safetly into his mind. Lilith smirked," My son, you make me proud, though you are foolish in your confidence. I give you one last chance to recall your challenge."

"Never, demon," Ue-Sama spat.

Her eyes hardened," Very well," as she leapt high into the air, suddenly vanishing.

Ue-Sama closed his eyes. She would appear… there!

he turned and ducked a swipe before trying to strike her, only to see her disappear again. Well two could play at that game…

Her fist struck him in the stomach and he was hurled into the wall.

Well, for so long, anyways. Hopefully, his friends would save his father before she slew him.

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Taima frowned, her eyes narrowing. There was no one at the palace. She looked at the group of warriors. Traximus was looking to disbelieve her words. Alala whispered," Where is this Leonardo you spoke of?"

Nariko hissed," Something is amiss. I can feel it."

Usagi responded tersely," You state the obvious. Many things are amiss."

Nariko wanted to growl. She wanted to spit a fiery retort but stilled it. Now was not the time. Too much was at stake for her to give in to her hot-headed and dark side.

Taima sensed this and appreciated it as she turned to her companions," Ue-Sama must not sacrifice himself in vain. Perhaps Leonardo and his father and brother have fallen to trouble."

Michelangelo growled," Then there's no time. If Master Splinter and Leo and Raph are in trouble, Don and I can help them. You guys hurry, and get the War Staff! Save the world!"

Don nodded as he and Mikey turned to go. Usagi wanted to go with them, but another part of him knew that it would not be easy to steal back the important items. Taima swallowed hard. She didn't feel right about this. But there was no turning back.

The palace was heavily guarded, but Taima took care of the sentinels quickly, gathering the moisture from the air, she quickly encased them with ice, as Elysia slipped in past the first sentinels, quickly shocking the guards in the inner room. The group of warriors quickly advanced.

Time was running out.

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