In the confusion of the fighting Kayla ended up fighting alongside Donny against the largest statue. It swung its hammer at them but they both dodged it, resulting in the hammer shattering through a glass display case. Don jabbed his bow staff down on the statue's foot. It snarled at him and Don teased, "Temper, temper."
Kayla leapt up and shot a couple arrows at the statue's head, but it didn't do much damage until one of them hit him square in the eye. He roared in pain and swung his hammer around blindly, causing Don and Kayla to leap back to avoid being hit. When the statue got over the pain he turned to glare at Kayla before charging her.
Kayla leapt out of the way a few times, but for an enormous, stone statue he was really fast! He swung his free arm at her. She took a heavy blow to the gut that sent her sliding across the smooth, marble floor.
Kayla groaned as she laid on her back. She squinted her eyes before forcing them open. Just above her on a balcony she saw Raph flipping General Aguila over the side of the balcony wall, sending him plummeting towards her!
Kayla's eyes widened and she forced herself up until she somersaulted out of the way. Just a second later Aguila landed with a loud crash where Kayla had been lying just moments before. Raph leapt down to continue fighting soon after. Kayla turned to see Don get slammed into a nearby wall and raced to help him.
The fighting continued for a good five minutes and Kayla could tell everyone was getting tired. The only thing her and Don were really doing now was dodging the large hammer and attempting to kick their enormous opponent.
Finally, as Master Splinter called, "Boys, we must finish this now!" everyone got turned around so that they were pushing the statues back toward the vortex.
Don and Kayla alternated back and forth kicking the statue so that he stumbled back more and more, just like their brothers were doing with their own opponents. Don leapt up and slammed his bow staff down hard on his head, causing dust to fall from the blow. Kayla leapt up to swing her leg around, connecting a good blow to his head.
The five siblings stopped in a line and glanced at Raph and Leo. Raph glanced from Leo on one side to his younger siblings on his other side. He nodded once and the five leapt into the air. One by one they all slammed a kick into a statue, sending them all falling back into the vortex.
A rush of energy surged through the vortex, causing it to blast, sending everyone in the room flying back through the air to crash to the ground. Everyone forced themselves to stand up as they cautiously moved back towards the vortex.
"So did we win?" Mikey asked as he stood on his tiptoes to get a better look inside the vortex. The only sound in the room was the hum of the vortex as everyone waited.
Suddenly an arm burst up through the vortex, causing everyone to flinch slightly before getting their weapons ready for the fight to continue.
Aquila's pounding footsteps and dark laughter echoed around the building as he lead his generals up through the vortex. "Foolish creatures. We are immortals made of stone! Without the final monster to break our curse we will never be stopped."
A loud honking made the five siblings turn to look behind them in confusion. Suddenly the Cowabunga Carl van burst through the enormous front doors, being pursued by an enormous monster with giant bottom fangs sticking up out of its mouth and a plated spike running down its back.
Casey's voice shouted from the van, "Special delivery!" The van swerved, causing it to tip over and land on its side, slamming the roof into a nearby pillar. When the monster tried to turn and go after it its feet slid on the smooth floor, causing it to loose control and slide right towards them.
The five siblings stared in shock for a moment. Winters shouted, "Look out!" before slamming into them to knock them out of the way. However Kayla and Leo were too far forward for him to reach.
Realizing what was happening Kayla slammed all her weight into Leo, sending both of them sliding across the marble floor just as the monster crashed into the stone Generals. The thirteenth monster and the generals were sucked into the vortex. Everyone stood up and put their weapons away just as the vortex caused the whole building to shake as it was pulled back into the sky.
Dust and bricks fell from the ceiling and the portal that Winters had set up stopped spinning.
"So do we win now?" Mikey asked as they all moved closer to the now-closed portal.
"Yeah, I-I think we did." Don answered in amazement.
Everyone cheered. Kayla high-five Don, Raph and Leo fist bumped, and Mikey and Don did a chest bump before resting their arm over the other's shoulder.
They heard Casey banging on the car door trying to get out and decided they should head over there to see if they needed any help. As the small group made their way toward the van Leo and Kayla stayed where they were.
Leo looked down at her. "Thanks."
Kayla quirked an eyebrow. "For what?"
Leo rolled his eyes. "Oh, I don't know, maybe for pushing me out of the way of a giant monster and saving me from being sucked into a giant vortex?" he joked. Kayla looked at the ground and smirked.
"Well, I couldn't exactly let all the work we put into saving your shell go ta waste, now could I?"
Leo smirked at her and Kayla did the same. Then, she looked at the ground thoughtfully for a moment.
Leo suddenly felt a weight slam into his side and realized… Kayla was hugging him. He looked down at her with a mix of confusion and amazement as he gently rested one of his arms around her.
"What's this for?" he asked quietly. Kayla pulled her face away from his plastron to look up at him, though still keeping a firm hold around him.
"I just realized I haven't properly welcomed you home yet." she answered quietly.
Leo smiled before wrapping both his arms around her in a tight hug. He heard Kayla talk quietly, "I really missed you, Leo."
Leo smiled and tightened his hug slightly. "I missed you, too."
After a few moments they pulled away and headed toward the Cowabunga Carl van.
Just as they got there Casey pulled April into a sweet yet passionate kiss.
Raph crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Typical. We do all the work, he gets all the thanks."
When April and Casey finally pulled away Mikey put his hands on his hips. "Aaw!"
As Casey helped April stand up among the broken concrete Splinter lead his children over to where the lead Foot ninja was supporting her second in command, who apparently had been injured.
"You are every bit the warriors I was informed you were. You have passed. Savior your victory tonight," she added, glancing at her second in command, "for soon we will have further business together. The kind that involves familiar faces from your past."
Kayla and her brothers stiffened and everyone turned to Raph as he spoke, "She doesn't mean…?" he trailed off as they all looked back at the two ninjas.
She had a smirk on her face as she threw down a smoke pellet, effectively disappearing from sight. Kayla ducked her head and closed her eyes like everyone else and fanned the air in front of her to blow the smoke away from her face, everyone was coughing.
Casey's loud voice echoed off the walls. "Ah come on. What is it with ninjas and smoke pellets?" he demanded rhetorically as he coughed.
As the smoke cleared everyone looked around the room, knowing the two Foot ninjas would be nowhere in sight. Kayla stood by Leo, both smiling slightly as April walked up to them.
"Looks like you picked a good time to come home." she commented to the blue-masked turtle.
Leo smiled bigger, "Thanks. For bringing me back."
Everyone looked over when they heard a sound similar to crying. Winters was sitting on the front steps with his back to everyone.
Raph was the first to approach. "Winters?" he asked hesitantly.
As they all got closer Winters threw his head back and everyone realized he was…laughing.
Mikey shook his head. "I'm never usually that happy to be in pain." he remarked as everyone gathered around Winters, who was now standing up.
"He's happy cause he's mortal again, Mikey." Don answered quietly, more for Mikey to hear.
Winters turned to address April. "April, I've had my eye on you for a long time."
April looked down shyly as Casey scowled. "I knew it." April glared at him and elbowed him in the arm to shut him up.
Winters continued like he didn't hear the outburst, "I've always known that you'd be the one to help me find my way home." Winters then turned to face the turtles, Kayla, and Splinter, "And thank you…brothers. You've made a very old man, very, very happy.
Mikey looked at the ground confusedly as he rubbed the back of his head with his hand and put his other fist on his hip. "So, um, what happens now?"
Winters looked over his shoulder through the doorway outside where the sun was coming up before turning back and bowing his head.
Then, his head went back and his eyes began glowing as a bluish-white light began flowing through his body.
Raph stepped forward to help him out of instinct but Splinter raised his walking stick to stop him, silently assuring him this was supposed to happen.
Winters' body began floating into the air, chest up as the light flowed through his entire body down to his toes. Then, like magic, his limbs and finally his body began dissolving into a gold dust, which made Kayla think of pixie dust from Peter Pan.
The whole group watched as the dust floated down to the ground as Winters' body completely disappeared.
Mikey brushed some of the dust off his arm as he said, "Oookay, just a little bit creepy." Don flinched as Mikey sneezed extra loudly. "Oh gross, I think he's in my no-my no-my no- ACHOO!" everyone leaned away as they looked back at him, none of them even attempting to hide their smiles. "Ah, gross. Can somebody give me a hanky? Ugh, uh, now he's in my mouth. Uh-ah, tastes awful."
Everyone couldn't help laughing at their brothers expense.
"Come on, lets get outta here." Leo suggested as he patted Mikey on the shell. Everyone murmured in agreement as they made their way out of the enormous building. Kayla instinctively walked next to Leo, with Raph being on her other side but a couple feet in front of her. After a few moments, when they were about halfway across the courtyard, she sped up just enough that she was within touching distance of her red-banded brother and punched him with all her strength in the back of his bicep.
Raph's head whipped around and Leo even widened his eyes in surprise. Raph grabbed his arm with his other hand and glared at her.
"Ow! What was that for?" he demanded, but Kayla could tell he wasn't as mad as he was pretending to be, and she didn't even hurt him. But she mock glared at him and crossed her arms as they continued walking.
"We made a deal that I could punch you and get away with it before I would completely forgive you. Now, I forgive you." she gave him a cocky smirk and tilted her head slightly, feeling her bandana tails falling over her shoulder. Raph smirked back at her and shook his head.
"Yeah, yeah. Fine, jus' don't get used to it." he threatened as they continued walking. Everyone laughed as Mikey rushed up and threw his arm around his little sister's shoulders.
"Good ta have ya back, Kay. Now, what da ya think's the likelihood I could punch Raphy-boy and get away with it, too?" he whispered in her ear.
Raph glared over his shoulder with a dark smirk. "Why don't ya try and find out, Mike?" he suggested as he cracked his knuckles.
Mikey chuckled nervously. "Uh, n-no thanks. I'll let the braver ones try that." he said as he moved to walk slightly behind Leo and out of Raph's eyesight.
Leo, however, smirked down at Kayla. "So…you're back to your old self then, huh? So, what would ya do if I gave you a noogie?"
"Huh?" before Kayla even processed what he asked she was put in a headlock with a large fist digging into the top of her head and messing up her hair. "Ah! Leo! Cut it out!" she screamed as she tried to get free of his grip. Suddenly, Leo lifted his arm, causing Kayla to fall back on her butt as he ran ahead. All his brothers followed suit, all of them laughing. Kayla glared after them, but couldn't stop a smirk from spreading across her face. She jumped to her feet and ran after them.
"You guys are so dead!" she shouted as she raced after them. Splinter, Casey, and April walked slowly after them, laughing at their antics.
Splinter shook his head. "Kids." he muttered with a smile.
A couple hours later, it was about eight in the morning, Kayla walked out of her room. Her Shadow Archer masked was in her hand as she looked down at it. As she turned a corner she smacked into someone and looked up. Raph stood before her holding his Nightwatcher helmet in his hands. He looked down and saw she was holding her mask.
He smirked. "Looks like we were thinkin' the same thing." Kayla smirked back at him as she followed him across the lair. Soon they both stopped outside Master Splinter's room. Peaking inside they saw him placing Winters' mask on an empty spot on the shelf. There were shelves covering the entire wall with masks and helmets of all our past enemies and friends. Kayla felt a shiver go up her back as her eyes fell on the familiar helmet of the Shredder. Her and Raph both looked at their father's back as he was examining the wall.
"Ya got room for two more?" Raph spoke quietly. Splinter turned around to look at his two most conflicted children as they looked nervously at what they each held in their hands. Raph sighed before both stepped into the room. Raph placed his Nightwatcher helmet on an empty spot on the lowest shelf before stepping back and letting Kayla lay her mask next to his. They both stepped back and smiled at their father, who smiled proudly at them both.
"Uh, can I get rid of this, too?" a voice asked. They looked to the doorway and Raph sighed with a look that said 'really?' while Splinter and Kayla just smiled.
Mikey stood there holding his Cowabunga Carl head in his hands and his huge 'Mikey' smile in his face. Kayla couldn't help but laugh, glad that things were finally going back to normal, well…their version of normal, anyway.
Okay, this is technically the last chapter however I still need to add the epilogue to tie up a few loose ends to the story.