Chapter four:
Raphie takes a breath and finally looks slightly over his shoulder to the group. "Things are a bit more complicated than I may have made things first appear. It isn't something that I share freely. I guess if you're going to help you should've known from the start." His eyes flicker down before he turns away to look to the tree once more. "Back then, all those years ago, we all came out here. Never expecting the tragedy that would strike..." As he tells the story the others can imagine it clearly.
Many many years ago...
Leo, Mikey, Donnie, and Raph with probably way less scars look around. They wonder if this place was worth it in the end. Until they spot an enemy mutant come out of the shadows.
This mutant is a hyena in clothes with holes in it stepping forth to stand before them.
The four get ready to fight as the hyena smirks then laughs at them.
"It was worth the wait. The cities so called heroes here! And now I'll take you out before going after the city you love so much!"
"We won't let you." Leo states before the four charge into battle.
"We'll see about that. I've already lengthened my lifespan. The only way you're stopping me is to kill me. And we know that's not going to happen." The hyena laughs managing to dodge out of the way of Leo's katana swipe. He notices Donnie coming up on his other side. He is quick to act sending some sort of energy knocking Donnie away.
Mikey rushes over to Donnies side to ensure he's okay.
Raph backs up Leo when the hyena turns to him. He charges alongside Leo dodging to the mutants other side when said other swings.
The mutant then swings out his arms using some sort of force to knock the turtles back.
Mikey and Donnie try to charge again with Donnie looking to be okay.
Donnie swings his staff to knock the opponent off his feet.
Mikey swinging his nunchucks at the mutants side in attempted distraction.
The hyena smirks before jumping, to avoid Donnies attempt, then landing only to use his strange blue lights power. He manages to knock Mikey into Donnie sending the two off to the one side.
The two end up landing by a wall opposite of where Leo and Raph are. They sit there a little dazed from the impact.
The hyena turns his attention to Leo and Raph as the two stand side by side.
"We'll have to find an opening we can get a hit in." Leo doesn't get to finish his whispered plan to Raph when attacks are hurdled their way.
The two dodge backwards with the hyena slowly advancing with unrelenting attacks, until the two are backed up against a wall.
"You're not winning this!" Raph growls and he charges at the mutant, swinging one sai in a feint attack before swinging his other getting a cut on the hyenas arm. He doesn't have much time to enjoy being the first to land a hit, he is swiftly thrown back by a huge blast like a sucker punch to his gut. He lands against a large rock momentarily knocking him out. His eyes slowly blink open just a little later only for his gaze to land on a sight.
Leo has no where to go and looks as though he's been trying to fight his way out. His breathing panting softly from the effort and he is slightly sweating.
The hyena doesn't back down in the slightest. "You will do for this." He raises a hand and Raph sits up thinking it's another blast.
Raph freezes in horror at what happens next.
Crystals begin forming upwards from Leo's feet engulfing him in said crystals.
With his heart pounding Raph manages to get up and charge again. He stabs his sai into the hyena's shoulder right by the neck. He got a clean hit in as the other was distracted.
The hyena cries out and spins around trying to throw Raph off of him.
Raph stabs the hyenas side once he sees the other about to use his ability. His attack stops it for now though he isn't sure he can always stop it. He'll have to stop this mutant for good if that's the case. He was taught to not kill so if he can he'll stick with it. He leaps back, pulling his sais out, when the other once again goes for an attack to knock him away. He turns to Leo only to notice that the crystals have almost completely engulfed his brother. "Leo!" He cries out rushing to the other. He tries to break the crystals and even use his hands to try to prevent it from spreading. His efforts in vain as the crystals don't even slow down. He comes to realize that he can't do anything to stop this from happening.
"Raph." Leo speaks causing Raph to look to his face. "I know you can handle things from here." He gets out before he is fully enveloped by the crystals.
Raph clenches his fists and spins around to face the hyena. He briefly spots a ram watching the entire thing before slipping away. He ignores that and goes for the hyena. He tackles the hyena who jumps away, though in Raph enraged state he doesn't let him go so easily. He leaps at the hyena using a rock to do so tackling the hyena to the ground. He doesn't even realize they landed close to the tree. He stabs his sai into the hyenas neck slicing it open.
Blood from the hyena dripping down and running to the base of the tree, where it does soak it up taking power from the hyena.
Raph sits there glaring at the dead eyes of the hyena. He watched as the life slipped out of the mutant. He jumps and turns when a hand comes to his shoulder, only to relax when he sees that it is Donnie and Mikey. He turns to look to the tree now broken out of his glaring trance. He gets up approaching the tree. He reaches out placing a hand on its surface. He can feel an all too familiar presence within it, as if Leo is still there. He closes his eyes trying to mentally reach toward the feeling. He feels it grow stronger and he opens his eyes. He blinks as he notices a glowing blue figure peeking around the tree. He smiles sadly as the glowing figure blue figure of Leo, now without any mask or anything else, comes over. He notices the other glance to Mikey and Donnie so he does too. He notices that they don't seem to see Leo's figure. He looks back to Leo's figure.
Leo glances down causing Raph to do so.
At Raph's feet is Leos bandana. Raph picks it up and holds it tightly in his hand. "I may not have been able to save you, but I will protect you for the rest of my life." He swears to Leo.
Leo speaks with an almost echoey voice. "I can feel a lot of magical energy flowing through me now. I might be able to share it with you, but I am worried it might lengthen your lifespan."
"It's okay if it does." Raph assures Leo. "Then I can stay with you forever." He turns his attention to the other two who are staring at him; confusion and worry in their eyes. "Leo's still here. As a spirit attached to the tree." He explains causing them to look as if they now understand. "This form made him have some magic. He can share it with us though it might lengthen our lifespans." He blinks as he realizes something. "Plus we may have to stay here to keep him safe."
Mikey and Donnie glance to each other sharing words through their gazes. They turn back to Raph once they come to a conclusion.
"It's okay Raph. Me and Mikey will protect the city. By the sounds of it you'll be here to protect Leo." Donnie glances to the tree still not able to see the figure now beside Raph. He lowers his gaze to Raph once more. "We'll visit of course. I'll try to help and see what I can do."
Raph nods then turns to the tree. He sees Leo gesture for him to touch the tree, so he does as told placing a hand on it. He notices Leo concentrate and shivers as magic washes over him. He sees a glow of blue surround him, and he feels a connection fall into place like a two piece puzzle coming together. He blinks when things fade though he still feels the connection there. He removes his hand before turning to the other two.
Mikey and Donnie hug Raph who hugs them back with Leo watching over their shoulders.
In the present...
The two groups stare wide eyed as Raphie finishes his story. They are all left in shock at what had happened.
"I stayed and over time more was learned about the form Leo was, well is, trapped in. We managed to figure out that he could reach out to the multiverse, and noticing it starting to become unstable he used his magic to stabilize everything. It caused him to link to the worlds to do so. So I just help out in watching over the worlds while also protecting him." Raphie tells them and notices that both Mikey and Michelangelo have tears.
"That's so tragic!" Mikey sobs from hearing the story.
The two hug each other sobbing from it.
"Were you worried that if you told us earlier then we wouldn't believe you about that part?" Master Splinter inquires and things quiet down to hear the response.
"That's part of it. Another part was that it felt like a bit of a long explanation. Delaying trying to figure out what was going on." Raphie glances to something invisible to the others who all figure it must be Leo's spirit form. He turns back to the two groups. "It didn't feel worth it. Besides you all had enough of a reason to help out."
"I see." Master Splinter nods softly. "Well thank you for telling us the full truth now."
"Wait!" Leonardo speaks up causing all eyes on him. "So that figure we saw. When we fell into that dark area. Was that your Leo?"
The others blink remembering seeing that turtle figure.
"Yeah! I think so! It was a blue glowing turtle!" Donatello jumps in on this before eyes turn to Raphie for confirmation.
"Very likely." Raphie confirms to them. "When you mentioned the figure you saw it made me realize that you weren't lying. No one else has seen his form except me. He's just invisible to others. It could be since I am linked directly with this tree. Thus I'm technically never alone as I'm always linked to him. We can talk to each other at any moment we wish. No matter where I am."
"Things make a lot more sense more." Donnie mentions glancing to the tree thoughtfully.
"We should step up our game!" Michelangelo speaks up having managed to wipe away his tears. "There's more at stake than we realized before!"
"Perhaps we should try to track down that ram mutant. He might know more about what's going on." Donatello points out and they start to huddle to discuss plans.
Before Raphie can join them Master Splinter approaches him.
"If it is alright could I attempt to speak with your Leonardo?" Master Splinter requests of Raphie. "I think I may be able to make a safe connection that won't affect me. And even if it does I will claim responsibility only onto me."
"How are you planning to do that?" Raphie inquires curiously to the other. If he had eyebrows one would be raised.
"Using the same meditation technique to reach the spirit realm. I do hold belief that it may also work in this situation. It will not delay working on a solution. That can be worked on while I do this. Though I doubt I'll find out more than you already know. I'd still like to talk with him anyways."
Raphie looks to his Leo's invisible presence as if sharing a look with him. He turns back calmly to Master Splinter. "Alright. You can give it a try." He slightly glances as if watching his Leo disappear back into the tree. Before his eyes end up going back to Master Splinter.
"Thank you." Master Splinter is sure that this worlds Leo must feel more comfortable with him doing this, since he probably looks like how this worlds Splinter might have looked. He would invite Splinter, though he's not sure his Rise counterpart can do this as he sees a big difference between them. He might as well just do this himself. He thinks also that it might be easier on this worlds Leo. He goes to the tree sitting next to it cross legged. He closes his eyes beginning to meditate, once his hands are resting on his knees with his fingers upwards and pinched together. He focuses, reaching out like he would to the spirit realm. He finds any noise fades away and the air feels different suddenly.
It's almost like a slightly heavier feel that hangs like a mist. It also has a sense of being charged as if magic electric sparks are going on all around; even though there's just silence.
Master Splinter opens his eyes finding himself in a room, one that looks like it's painted black. He lets his eyes flicker around for any sign of anyone else here.
A glow appears catching his eye and a turtle form steps into view, after his body forms in the glow that fades when he steps out. The turtle form is glowing blue and is at a more regular size, compared to when he was first seen by the two groups when they came to this world, making him more recognizable even with his glowing eyes.
Master Splinter smiles to the figure. "Hello Leonardo." He greets to the other who momentarily dips his head in greeting. "It is good to see you. Even if I may not be the Splinter from your world." He makes eye contact despite the glowing eyes of the other. "I am terribly sorry for the fate that you had to bear. I can only imagine how hard it was on you. Though I am proud of you. You're still doing your best to do good even in a state that you didn't have to."
"The worlds might have fallen if I didn't help Sensei. I was the only one who could help." This worlds Leo's echoey voice explains to Master Splinter. "It was the right thing to do."
"Well our time here may not be as long as I'd like. So let us talk about what's going on." Master Splinter suggests getting a nod from this Leo, who sits on his knees next to the rat mutant. "Okay. How bad is the draining right now?"
"It's not that-" This Leo suddenly gasps hunching over.
Master Splinter worriedly reaches towards him only to see this Leo start to flicker; flicker between vanishing and returning to his glowing form. He glances around as the ground shakes a little. He turns back to this Leo who is in pain from the draining worsening. He knows that there's no other explanation. He puts his arms around this Leo's flickering form. "You've got this. Try to block it if you can. The others are working on a solution. I'm not going to leave."
This Leo tries to take breaths as he tries to block the draining attempts. "I can't fully block it." He groans out as Master Splinter rubs a hand down his back.
"That's okay. Just do the best that you can." Master Splinter assures him ready to try to help him through this. He really hopes that this isn't the final end. He knows that they need to save this Leo, and seeing him like this makes him want to speed up the saving process.
After a few moments this Leo becomes solid again and his breathing settles. He sits up not seeming to be in pain anymore.
"Does that always happen?" Master Splinter inquires worriedly.
"Kind of? It is more like I can feel it but it hasn't been that bad before. Just pain and feeling the draining." This Leo explains worrying Master Splinter even more; though he keeps a calm face. "When it started I did try to track it only to find that it tried to suck me in if I did. It was too dangerous to try to do so."
"I understand. We don't want to lose you. Just hang in there and we will all try to find a way to help you. You are doing amazing." Master Splinter tries to assure this Leo.
This Leo slightly raises his head for a moment and is quiet for that moment. "Raph says that the others are done with planning." He informs Master Splinter after the moment of quiet, he even looks to the other as he does so.
"Alright. Then I am going to return. You can come along too." Master Splinter gets a small nod from this Leo. He closes his eyes focusing and he opens his eyes back beside the tree.
"Did it work?" Splinter inquires curious with the same curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
"Yes. I was able to speak with him. The only thing I was able to find out was the draining is getting worse."
"I felt it." Raphie clenches his hand by his chest. He looks really bothered by this. "We're getting closer and closer to running out of time."
"If this plan works then we should be able to end this once and for all." Donatello tells them. "Okay so here is what we came up with. We obviously had to change some things obviously." He begins to explain to Master Splinter what they are going to do.
Master Splinter nods. "Sounds good to me." He slightly glances to the tree. He isn't surprised that he can't see this Leo. He believes that a connection needs to be there for him to be able to see the other. "We're going to save you." He promises quietly to the other and gets a feeling that this Leo heard him.
...
A new world has been chosen and a new trap has been set.
This time they have split into two groups, one who pretend to have broken away from Raphie, and another who stays by Raphie. They want to make that mutant think that the news has split them. Then they'll see which group he goes for.
"We don't need him to end this. Not if he's going to lie and hide things from us." Raphael grumbles for show as he leads the one group with himself. "Let's find that damn mutant and end this." He spots a shadowy figure watch them, smirk then dash off. He smirks to himself as he knows that the other is going after Raphie.
It's working.
With the other group...
Raphie walks alone currently while the others talk to each other in another part nearby. He notices the ram in the shadows glance to the group before turning to him. He pretends to not see and keeps walking keeping a fake worried face on. He stops when he hears not so sneaky footsteps approach then stop not far behind him.
"Lost your support there?"
Raphie turns to look to the ram who smirks at him. "No thanks to you. I know you did it for this reason but without their help I might not be able to stop the trees destruction. My brothers destruction. My loves destruction. You want the destruction of my darling sapphire. I know that much. Even though I don't know why."
The ram chuckles before gaining an evil glint in his eyes at this.
Raphie narrows his eyes at the other. "But I can still try to stop you." He charges at the ram with that.
"You are truly a fool." The ram mentions not realizing the trap that has been set for him. "I will destroy you and it will harm that turtle spirit in the tree to allow me to weaken him. So I can properly destroy him once and for all." He dodged a punch thrown his way with a leap to the side. "Then the worlds will truly pay."
"What the fuck have any of us ever done to you!?" Raphie questions charging at the ram for another attack.
"You've traveled the shadows of the worlds. With that love of your life always with you. Yet you seem to have failed to notice the truth that each world shares. The truth that shows why they deserve to suffer and possibly even collapse into nothing. That tree and you got in the way of that vision. So of course you both have to go." He dodges another punch which just barely misses him. "Now that you've lost that precious help of yours for lying to them and hiding the truth, I can do what I've been waiting to do for so long. And there's nothing you can do to stop me." He charges this time though before he can hit Raphie something stabs into his shoulder causing him to tumble to the ground. He looks to it finding a sai and he quickly looks around realizing that he's surrounded.
Not just surrounded but, with a little boost from the tree, the Rise turtles have made a ring so the ram can't easily escape.
"No where to run." Raphie slams a foot down in front of the ram getting his attention. He narrows his eyes at him. "So before this all ends for you how about some explanation? What does the worlds show that I supposedly miss that makes them worthy of punishment? So much so that me and the tree has to die for it."
The ram glares around before looking back to Raphie. He smirks and chuckles darkly looking down. "You truly have no idea do you?" He suddenly tilts his head back with a demonic cry. He is surrounded by a quick flash of shadowy mist.
Suddenly the Rise turtles gasp and the magic keeping the ram trapped disappears.
Raphie gasps, his eyes widening and he slightly grabs at his chest, as he feels the hit heavy through his link to the tree.
The draining has been so intensified that if it can't stop it in the next few hours, at most, then this could be the end of the fight against the one drawing out the trees power.
The tree, Leo, is trying to hold on but it's taking everything he has so he can't assist them in this moment anymore.
The ram chuckles with an echoey demonic voice before speaking with the same voice. His eyes black reminding the non Rise group from when they were infected by that parasite. "You fools have turned a blind eye to the truth out there. But that doesn't matter now. You're already too late to save that stupid tree. And you haven't even realized it yet."
"No." Raphie shakes his head. "You're wrong. You underestimate my connection with dear sapphire. I know we're not too late. Not yet anyways."
The ram chuckles darkly at this. "You have no idea what you're fighting. And no true idea of what you're fighting for. The worlds don't deserve this. Your precious sapphire doesn't deserve this. Don't you want to release him into that sweet afterlife where your family awaits?"
"You're just trying to trick us into falling for your words! It won't work! This worlds Leo may be trapped in that tree but he still serves a purpose!" Leonardo points out with his swords in hand.
"I have spoken to him." Master Splinter adds causing the ram to glare at him. "There is no pain or suffering other than the draining you're causing. These two are fine with the jobs life has given them. It may not be what some see as the best of situations but they certainly make do with what they're given."
"You are all fools!" The ram whips his head around as he screams this at them. "Can you not see that all the worlds do is give pain to the residents of it!? That's all they do! Pain and suffering! I've seen it time and time again over these centuries! Those worlds should have died! But that stupid tree just had to save them! They don't deserve it!"
"You really see nothing else but the unhappy moments." Mikey mentions getting a harsh glare from the ram. "There is so much more to the world than pain and suffering. It allows you to cherish and truly enjoy when you're at your best. Feeling your best. With those that you care about. It lets you find out what lightens your world. Instead of it just being handed to you. The pain is just as necessary in life as the happier moments."
"You're wrong!" The ram charges Raphie who dodges before spinning a kick at the ram. He dodges as well only to have to move to avoid Leonardo leaping at him with a swing of a katana.
Raphael takes this momentary opportunity to leap at the ram slamming him down. He swings his sai at the ram who is now below him, only for the ram to manage to block the attack with a horn.
The ram swings his head in an attempt to ram his head into Raphael who moves back a little. He quickly shifts his feet and slams them hard into Raphael's chest. He pushes hard to try to use the momentum to shove Raphael off.
Raphael pushes back, refusing to lose ground. He puts up a good fight until a dark blast sends him flying back. His back shell hits the ground with a thud.
The rams gaze gets drawn to Leonardo who charges from one side. He can hear Leo charging the other way since the magic can't be used to trap the ram right now. He kicks Leo's legs hard enough to send him to the ground. He turns swinging his head at Leonardo. He gets a hit and his right horn catches Leonardo's skin.
Leonardo cries out as a cut happens with blood drawn. He falls to the ground not sure what the damage truly is in the way of if he'll end up blind or not.
Raphael roars in fury charging for the ram once more. He now swings his sais with much more aggression than before. He forces the ram to dodge time and time again, especially after he manages to get a small barely bleeding cut on the rams right cheek.
Donatello rushing to Leonardo's aide.
The ram uses a landing to charge forward slamming into Raphael's torso.
Raphael is sent to the ground with a winded gasp as his shell hits the unforgiving ground. He lays there for a moment in stunned quiet before his adrenaline and rage helps him rise once more.
The ram smirks glancing to see that everyone, who isn't Donatello and Leonardo, step forward ready for a synchronized group attack.
The group looks ready to show this ram how wrong he was to do all of this. They look like they're ready to finally end this once and for all.
"Let me show you the pain of the worlds!" The ram lets out an inhuman roar before darkness seeps from his feet. He spreads it towards the turtles enveloping them in it as they cry out.
Feeling the pain of the worlds. Tortured with the negativities that make them want to drown so this suffering can end.
Their cries echoing the area as they become lost in the pain that feels like it's never ending... Like a torture worse than their worst waking nightmare.
Raphie closes his eyes reaching out to his connection with his Leo. His eyes snap open and with a share of their strength the two let out a blue light wave. He blinks as he finds himself standing in a small village that looks like it was from centuries ago. He swears that it gives off the dreary vibe of being lacking of good times. He turns as his Leo's form floats over to his side where they share a glance.
Before the two look around where they are.
"Come one come all!" Someone calls and Raphie feels drawn to it so he follows.
His Leo at his side.