I DO NOT OWN TMNT~

Please enjoy my especially late chapter!

Leo yawned as he stood from his bed and stretched. He looked over and found that Don was still sound asleep, fighting the urge to train a bit Leo went over and woke Don up.

"Wha? Huh?"

Leo smiled a bit, "time to head out Don. I just want to get this over with and save our brothers. You ready?"

Don rubbed at his eyes. "Of course, let me just get my stuff and we can go." As Don gathered all of his medical supplies he couldn't help but feel uneasy of what they were about to do. He liked a good plan to go with dangerous missions such as this and for once it seemed, Leo didn't have one. "Leo...do you know where this temple is?"

Leo shook his head, "I have no clue where it is...Master Splinter said it was well...you were there to hear...of course what he said isnt exactly giving us a huge lead. Can you possibly track the shell cell signal again?"

Don shrugged. "Worth a try...lets see..." Pulling out his own shell cell Don discovered that despite them being in a complete other dimension the signal waves were still radiating from the other shell cell. "Yes! I got it Leo! We better hurry though, I'm not sure how much battery life the other shell cell has."

Leo nodded "let's go!" So the two set off, using his katana blades to swipe away at the over grown forestry Leo lead until they were greeted with the image of the deserted temple.

Don wiped at his forehead. "Wow, I didn't expect this! The temple's style looks...Mayan! That's incredible! I wonder if-"

"Don..."

"Right. We better hurry and get them out of there, the sooner the better."

The two hurried along a small dirt path leading to the temple then climbed the huge amount of stairs until they reached the massive entrance. As soon as they entered they heard a miserable whimper and looked above them. They gasped, Raph had been tied to the ceiling of the entrance by his wrists!

"Shell. Hold on Raph! We're going to get you down!" Don said as he took his bo staff out. He clicked a small button and a blade snapped up from the end. Don then cut Raph down letting Leo catch him. "Raph? Hey! You still with us?"

Raph managed a nod. "G-uys...you gatta get outta here..."

Leo sighed. "Of course! But we have to get you and Mikey first."

Don and Leo both saw a flash of sadness wash over Raph's face. "We have to get outta here. I know you came for me AND Mikey but I can safely say it's a trap." Raph paused and tried to breath through a sudden flash of pain, once he collected himself he continued. "This...thing - is not like anything we have ever fought...but at the same time it's so...familiar."

As Raph talked Don couldn't help but look over him, he had a deep gash in his right forearm that was wrapped poorly and bleeding. An array of cuts and small gashes trailed both his arms. Raph was also slurring words a lot, Don guessed a moderate concussion would probably be the cause.

"Alright Raph, were going to get you out of here and patch you up first, ok? Then you can tell us what all happened."

Raph nodded. "Uh...I'm ganna need help...the thing made sure to thoroughly sprang both my ankles so I couldn't get away."

Leo and Don were taken aback a bit by that, this creature seemed merciless, it pained them to leave Mike but they knew better then to go further. They wouldn't be much help at all if they were caught as well! Number one priority now was getting Raph patched up and hearing his story.

Don and Leo got both sides of Raph and put his arms behind each of there backs then quickly and carefully hurried back to the damyios palace. Waiting at the entrance was Master Splinter who hurried to them when he saw an injured Raphael in their toll.

"Follow me we shall take him to the infirmary."

They hurried quickly and quietly and set the battered turtle on one of the thin comfy mats. Don started working immediately but was stopped short when a few caretakers came over, Don was hesitant to let them help but he finally accepted.

Don nodded, and stood then let them work, they quickly cleaned all the cuts and gashes then wrapped them for extra precaution. They then moved to Raphs spranged ankles and with such grace and caution they wrapped them.

After this they checked over him once more then disappeared, a few seconds later one of the caretakers entered with a small cup of a strong smelling concoction. Don intervened before the caretaker could give the cup to Raph. "What exactly are you giving him?"

The care taker gave him a small smile. "Its a powerful pain-killer, I understand your brother must be in great pain from the injures he sustained... I know you are wary when it comes to your brothers in others care but please trust that me and my team only want to help."

Don felt a bit ashamed, the words of the caretaker seemed sincere. "Yes of course, I'm sorry I just- well...here" Don moved out of the caretakers way so he could give the cup to Raph.

As Raph sipped the medicine he coughed a bit from the bitter taste. "Ugh, that's ...refreshing..."

The caretaker chuckled then turned to Splinter. "He will probably fall asleep in about fifteen minutes." Master Splinter nodded then bowed, Leo and Don follows suite. "Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate all you have done for my son."

The caretaker bowed in return and left, Raph sat up a bit and looked over to find three sets of eyes on him, he chuckled. "Guess I have a time limit to my little story telling session, don't I?"

Splinter and the others sat around Raph. "Go on my son please tell us."

Raph nodded. "Well...me and Mikey were sitting in the living room and the squirt wanted a video game. So he got up and went to his room to get some...I shoulda went with him... I heard him scream and I ran up to his room and when I found him he was knocked out on the floor when I knelt next to him to see what happened I sensed something else in the room...then I ended up getting knocked out just like Mike.

When I woke up I was laying in a cold concrete cell, Mike...well he was leaning against the same wall and panting like he had just ran a marathon. When I got a better look at him I saw that...he had been beaten badly...I asked him what the shell happened but he acted like he was almost...afraid to talk. I didn't want to upset him more so I let it go and tried to patch him up the best I could.

After a while he finally talked, he asked where we were...course I didn't have an answer at the time! It was at least an hour or so until two of the same looking shadow things that had knocked us out came and got me. They threw me in front of what apparently was their leader, he looked bigger then the guards, as soon as I hit the floor and looked up I noticed he had started twisting around and letting out these screeching noises like he was in pain.

He started seeping this dark liquidity stuff, finally after his little weird spell was over he stated that he was going to use me as bait when you guys came to save us to lure you into a trap. He said that if I tried to warn you when you found me that he would snap all of our necks in front of Mikey...I attacked him and to say the least he was not happy.

All the injures I received was from that one fight...the guards had to drag me back to the cell. Then when I got in there I saw that they had beaten Mikey again...he looked paler. I had to ask what the shell happened, didn't take no for an answer. He finally told me, h-he said that they were using his-his blood to heal their stupid 'shadow ruler'!"

Don and Leo both gasped, Splinter shook his head solemnly and put a comforting hand on Raph's shoulder. Raph took a breath and quickly told them the rest, he could feel himself drifting to sleep.

"I asked him why that thing needed healing but then I remembered how the thing had started squirming and screaming. He passed out as soon as he told me that...then the guards came back in and took me away. The next time I woke up I was tied to a huge marble column, Mikey was in the middle of the big room we were in and had big chains tied to each of his wrists with massive weights on the ends of them, he couldn't fight...couldn't do anything to defend himself in any way... all of the sudden the leader creature came out and started...beating his head...a-and then he got this huge dark sword out.

He just...swung...He kept swinging, he was a distance from Mikey but the blade was so sharp that just the tip of it was deadly. Mikey...He wouldn't stop bleeding, I kept screaming for the thing to stop but it just laughed! Then it left, it's servants came in and took some blood off the floor and...got some fresh from Mike's wounds. It was sick, just sick!

They let me free knowing I wouldn't try anything since I had to crawl around because of my ankles. When...I got over to him he was... bawling telling me that he was ok, he told me to run while I could and that...He would be fine. I don't know when and why I blacked out but I did and the next time I woke up I was tied on the inside ceiling of the entrance to the temple he had kept us in."

Don and Leo shook their heads in utter shock, sickness and confusion "It just doesn't add up...why would they need Mikey's blood to heal their leader?! Why him! Shell...we have to get him back soon! Our baby brother is...getting beaten." Don said, choking back tears.

Raph was dozing off now, Splinter quickly quieted Leo and Dons rants. "My son, is there more?"

"There's...one more thing...before I go to sleep ...there leader...he-" Raph stopped to yawn.

Don saw sleep pry at Raph's consciousness. "Raph stay with us a little longer! What about their leader?"

"You know him."

Leo was almost shaking Raph by now. "Who is it Raph?!"

Raph closed his eyes and yawned.

"Sh'Okanabo"

Super sorry for all these late updates, hopefully when December comes I will find myself with more time! For now though, I will continue to try to update as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience and continued support! -Love Pistachio Lover