Guys... It happened again... A one chapter idea became a multi chapter arc. WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

May 27, 2013

Within the locker room of 1 Police Plaza, Karai wrapped her hands. She hissed as she tugged the wrapping too harshly across her bruised knuckles. The girl rested her head against the cold steel of the locker. Her mind spun as she recalled everything that had occurred over the past couple of weeks.

After the joint Mayor's press conference in the wake of the Kraang invasion, Mayor Bloomberg's office had been flooded with applications to try and match with a kidnapped loved one. They had also been flooded with protesters who wanted to "Keep New York Human".

Big Mama made rounds on the major news circuits, doing her best to assuage fears and answer questions about the mystical yokai societies. She soon had access to the national news stage as the story of "Creatures in New York" gained more traction. Occasionally, Takeshi, Draxum, and the others would provide a soundbite of what it was like to grow up in the Hidden City or living as a non-human in the human world.

The story of how a human partnered with the Kraang to take over Earth also took the nation by storm. Constituents of the Hidden City and New York clamored for the Shredder to be brought to justice. Big Mama and Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, argued over which jurisdiction would charge Shredder first.

Mayor Bloomberg pointed out that the Shredder is human so he should face the human justice system first. Big Mama conceded on one condition: Her team of mutants and yokai would take point on his capture. With Shredder's skill as a ninja master along with the mutants and Foot soldiers still at his disposal, the extraction team needed to be an elite team with similar skill sets. Both men agreed.

With that, the team came together. Karai and Splinter were put in charge of the operation as they had the most history and experience with Shredder and his compound. Everyone expressed concern about Shredder taking down as many people as possible during his capture. Splinter assured them he had a plan to bring down the Shredder with minimal casualties.

A tug on Karai's fingers pulled her from her musings. Raising her head from its resting place, Leo's concerned gaze met hers.

"You good?"

Karai merely gave her boyfriend a look.

Leo rolled his eyes before tugging the girl closer to him. " I meant 'are you good with the plan'?"

"Yeah..." She nodded. "...and I'm good too, FYI."

It was Leo's turn to give her a look. He chuckled as Karai flicked his snoot.

"I am! Yeah, this is going to bring up some unpleasant memories, but Shredder's finally getting what he deserves. I'll sleep easier once it's all over." Her eyes dipped down to play with the wrappings on Leo's fingers.

The boy lowered his head to meet Karai's eyes. "Tonight's not about vengeance, Karai. It's about justice. Are you sure you're good with the plan?"

"I'm not the only one Shredder's wronged, Leonardo." Karai glared. "I'm not looking to take my 'pound of flesh'. Besides… there're others who deserve that honor more than I do."

They both glanced over to the far corner of the locker room to where Splinter was meditating. The rat didn't even flinch when the SWAT Captain swept into the room and banged on one of the lockers.

"Alright, e'ryone! LET'S ROLL!"

Shredder sat ram-rod straight on his throne, barely acknowledging the throngs of Foot Bots and Foot soldiers scattered about the chamber. Many of his new mutant lieutenants stood closest to his throne.

The throne room was far enough from the main entrance of the compound to make a quick escape if necessary, but everyone could clearly hear the pounding of fists at the door.

"This is the NYPD and HCPD! OPEN UP!" Silence filled the old church before the order was given to knock down the door.

"Are you sure about this, Master Shredder?" Rahzar growled, settling into a defensive position. "This could be our last chance to -"

"We will NOT retreat, Bradford." Shredder spat at the dog. "I refuse to run from this… rabble." His eyes narrowed beneath his mask. "Besides, I'm certain there will be familiar faces amongst our uninvited guests."

It wasn't long before the door to the throne room slid open. Splinter and Karai strode in next to the SWAT captain.

"The Hamatos." Shredder lifted his hand in greeting. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist. I am surprised that you brought friends."

The SWAT captain trained his weapon on the Shredder. "Oraku Saki, you are under arrest for crimes against humanity. The yokai will bring separate charges against you once you've faced human justice. You have the right to remain silent…"

"I waive that right." Shredder slowly stood, his tekkō-kagi springing to life.

"Saki…" Splinter warned.

Shredder pointed at his old friend. "You could have faced me like a man, Yoshi. Instead, you have signed the death warrant of every man and woman who has followed you here today. FOOT, AT-"

"I INVOKE THE GAUNTLET!" Splinter thundered.

All of the Foot soldiers ready to spring into action straightened in surprise. Karai kept her eyes on Shredder, her hand gripping her tanto at her side.

Shredder took a single step down from his throne. "What did you just say?"

Splinter stepped forward, both hands resting atop his staff. "I challenge you, Oraku Saki, to the ancient rites of our forefathers. For too long the hatred between us has festered. It is no longer mere bitterness." The rat sighed. "Innocents have now been impacted by the road our choices have led us down. Allow us to settle this once and for all."

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. Karai shivered as the man she once called 'Father' shifted his piercing gaze to her.

"Karai… is this your way of repaying the man who raised you?"

The girl raised her tanto, putting it between her and the monster of her nightmares. "I'll have my shot at you in the Gauntlet, Shredder." She took a shuddering breath. "But this feud is bigger than just the two of us."

Shredder grunted. "Very well." He turned his head to address his soldiers. "Stand down. We must now decide our Clan Champions."

Splinter nodded to the SWAT captain. "You may remain as an outside witness, Captain. The rest of your men must remain outside."

The man looked around the room with trepidation. He flinched as Fish Face bared his teeth. "Are you sure?"

"I am." Splinter motioned for his sons and April to enter the chamber. "Shredder and the Foot Clan are now bound by the ancient rites of the Gauntlet, as are we. No combat may take place outside of the designated area while the challenge is underway."

"Surely you lot won't be fighting in here!" The captain gestured around at the glass enclosed room.

"Nah. There's a full sized arena in the basement." Karai sheathed her sword. She blinked at the incredulous looks now directed at her. "What? This is a ninja clan! You don't think they'd want a place to beat each other up?"

A pit the size of an Olympic sized swimming pool had been dug in the basement, the 12 foot walls lined with stone. Splinter, Karai, Leo, Raph, and Donnie prepped themselves on the end of the area designated for 'visitors'.

April huffed from her place on the sidelines with Mikey and the SWAT captain, who's name she found out was James.

"I don't know why we're stuck on the bench for this!" April fiddled with the crystal around her neck. "Surely they could've rounded up two more fighters so it would be even."

Mikey shrugged. "From what little Pop mentioned about the Gauntlet in the mission briefing, this isn't one of those things you can tweak to 'make the teams even'." He squeezed the girl's shoulder. "We can still cheer for everyone from the sidelines. It'll be fine."

April's eyes quickly found Donnie as he ran his final checks on his new tech bō. "I don't know, Mikey. Donnie wouldn't bring out his experimental tech bō for just anything…"

"He's right, April" Karai finished prepping her weapons and came to stand next to the siblings. "The Gauntlet is an ancient ritual with very strict guidelines. It's a last ditch effort to resolve issues between warring clans. Traditionally, the first four of each masters' most talented students will battle each other,"

April couldn't help but feel a stab of anger at that. Four of the most talented? She glanced at the three turtles preparing themselves then back to Karai as she continued her explanation.

"The first round only ends after one side has been completely defeated. Anyone left standing from the winning clan will have the honor of fighting alongside their master against their opponent in the final round."

"And the last one to tap out wins." April breathed a heavy sigh. She knew her father was a good fighter, but she also knew that the Shredder was ruthless. "That's Papa's plan, right?" The girl's breath hitched when she noticed Karai wouldn't look her in the eye."RIGHT, Karai?"

Karai shook her head. "The rites say that the loser's life belongs to the winner - in life… or in death."

"WHAT?" April and Mikey exclaimed.

The red head rushed over to where her father had just finished his katas.

"Papa, you can't do this!" She gripped his hand tightly. "You've signed your family up for a death match!"

Donnie sensed April's distress, running over to see what was wrong. "April?"

April pushed him aside. She was grateful when Mikey and Karai came to drag him away. This was between her and her father.

Splinter gripped her hand in return. "Dear One, as long as the Shredder remains unchecked, he is a danger to our family as well as others. While his choices were his own, I certainly played my part in bringing us to this point. I must put things right once and for all." He sighed as April pulled his hand closer to herself.

"At the risk of our family?" April couldn't bring herself to mention the hurt she felt at not being deemed 'talented enough' to join them in the arena. She choked back tears as Splinter cupped her cheek with his free hand.

"I'm doing this for our family, April."

As tears began snaking their way down her cheeks, April felt a surge of power coming from her crystal. If logic won't work, maybe guilt will… April channeled her powers, saturating her next words with guilt guilt guilt.

"I-I don't want to lose another father."

Splinter straightened, tears pooling in the older man's eyes. April could see the effect her words had on him. Yes! It's working! But one deep breath later, Splinter regained his composure.

"I cannot promise anything, but I have faith in the skills of my family." He smiled down at his daughter.

Just no faith in MY skills… April thought defeatedly. She sighed as Splinter pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Trust me, Dear One."

She nodded.

Splinter embraced her, then slowly spun her so she could see Donnie standing close by. The wizened rat patted her shoulder before leaving the teens to talk.

April crossed her arms. "Did you know?" She knew Donnie wouldn't lie to her, not after everything they'd been through.

"Yes."

The pain of betrayal didn't sting any less with the confirmation. She shuffled her feet. "When?"

"Just before the police briefing."

The girl nodded to herself, slowly moving to embrace her boyfriend. "We're definitely talking about you guys willingly walking into a death match without me," She sandwiched his face between her hands. "But we'll talk when we're all home. Got it?"

Donnie chuckled before giving her a gap-toothed grin. "Got it."

Any fans of the IDW TMNT comics? I might've been on a reading kick when I originally outlined this idea :p