Memories (2003/2012)
By: AndiKaneUnderwood
THIS IS A HUGE SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN 2012 EPISODE REQUIEM! DO. NOT. READ. IF. YOU. HAVEN'T. WATCHED. THE. EPISODE!
A brother hung his head, unable to feel and unable to cry.
He couldn't be gone. He was their Master. He had been through unimaginable pain and hardship.
And yet, the proof sat right in front of him in his Master's jaded sword. Their sensei. Their father.
He closed his eyes, unable to face the world outside his door. Unable to bear the look on his brothers' faces. Unable to hear their friend's words of pity.
Their friend's hadn't known his Master as long as they had.
He remember first getting his weapon, feeling warm hands on his arms as he was guided through another movement.
He remembered running to Master's room after a nightmare and receiving a smile and invitation in return.
He remembered comforting his father after the mother they didn't remember had passed.
Most importantly. He remembered his Father's warning.
You cannot fight the evil of the world unless you have reason and motivation. You cannot be unmotivated when the time comes to meet the ultimate enemy. You must remember, my son, to have motivation and never let it out of your sight. Otherwise, you will fail.
His eyes narrowed. He had his motivation.
"I will avenge you father."
TMNT~TMNT~TMNT
The second brother grunted, pushing his fists through the dummy again.
He remembered the first time his father had shown him how to reel in his imagination and how to let it go wild.
Now his sensei was gone.
He shut himself away from the outside realm, unable to face it without letting go of his pain.
His father was gone. And he knew who had taken him.
He remembered the cool feeling of leather in his hands for the first time. He remembered the click of wood on metal as his weapons spun in his hands.
His father had shown him how to fight. His father had taught him how to defend.
That relationship had been broken, he'd felt the ties snapping like ribbons, then his end fluttering in the wind.
His father had shown him how to use his mind and how to hone his skills.
He felt the second his father faded.
He didn't get to say good bye.
His tears slid down his cheeks as he fell to the floor, his nose meeting the hard, cool materials of their training mats.
"I'll fix this, Father. I'll make it right."
TMNT~TMNT~TMNT
The third brother stared blankly at the wall.
He couldn't tear away his gaze. Not for the voices at his door, nor the sounds of life below his bed.
That was the wall his father had fix when he'd sent his fist through the drywall after an awful fight.
He didn't often get so upset.
But the fight had driven him to anger and he hadn't been able to restrain himself.
He remembered his Father's gentle reprimanding. The smell of fresh paint as he went to sleep that night.
His Father had taught him how to channel his anger into protecting his family.
Not blind rage.
Now his Father was unable to teach him anymore.
His Father was unable to do anything.
He'd never again feel his Father's hand correcting posture and positioning. Never feel his Father's hands on his forehead as he checked the boiling temperature that left him in bed.
He'd never again hear his Father tell him that no matter what path he chose, what he did, or who he became, he'd always love his son.
His eyes didn't leave the wall as tears slid down his already tear slicked face.
"I won't let him get away with this. He'll regret the day he crossed us."
TMNT~TMNT~TMNT
The fourth brother couldn't leave the kitchen.
He'd never had much skills in languages, meditation, or fighting, but cooking had come easily to him.
His Father had taught him how.
He remembered the very first lesson.
He remembered what they made.
He remembered the pain of burns when he'd accidentally touched the hot pan.
That pain didn't compare to the pain he felt now.
The pain crushing his chest suffocated him. It crushed him.
The worst part was, he couldn't escape it.
His escape was elusive.
He was unable to grasp it and pull it close.
He was unable to escape the pain.
His eyes fell closed as new emotion burned away the pain.
"I'll end him, Father. He'll be ashed when I'm done."
TMNT~TMNT~TMNT
The brother stood in unison and wiped away their tears. They met in the main room and went back to their Master's bed.
They sat in a square, each placing a hand on a corner of the bed.
"For honor." Whispered one.
"For justice." Continued the second.
"For peace." The third murmured.
"And Sensei." Finished the forth.
"We will end this. The Shredder will regret the day he set his sights of the Hamato Clan. This all ends. Tonight."
They all nodded their heads.
They would storm the Shredders lair. They would cut down anyone in their way.
They would burn his home to the ground and make him regret killing their Master.
If he thought fleeing would save him, he would be hunted down like a dog.
If he thought he could run, he would be cut down.
If he thought he could fight, they would crush him where they stood.
They would burn him, crush his throne, and topple his rein over lesser being that knew no better. They would free those he'd enslaved and they would avenge their Father's life.
His death would not be in vain.
The Shredder would not be shown mercy, for he'd never extended extended any to others.
He would not be save no matter how hard he tried, how far he ran, or how hard he fought.
The Shredder would be reduced to nothing but a memory, and even that would be reduced to ashes.
The brothers would be sure.
The Shredder was going down.
Kudos to anyone who can get the order of the brothers correct.