A/N1: Just a quick apology- this chapter should've been posted before Laundry. Yes, there is an order, which may aid you in deciphering which character is "speaking" in each chapter if you're not sure. Rather than delete and re-post the chapter, resulting in excess inbox notes, I'll leave them as they've been posted. On with the show.
~Nightmare~
He didn't have nightmares often, after they returned from the diverse universes they'd been scattered to by the enemy, but when he did, he saw his brothers, and his friend, falling, one by one. The chills were the worst, as he would come awake in a cold sweat, staring and reaching out, as if he could grasp the images and hold on to the life forces even as they ebbed away with the dream. They died with honor, he reminded himself, forcing his lungs to take in deep gulps of air, to slow his racing heart. They won.
The knowledge that the other family's souls had found peace did little to alleviate the fear. What if it came true? What if, one day, he walked out of the Lair and never returned? What if they thought he'd abandoned them? What if they lost him and the family fell apart? He wasn't a conceited Turtle, but he was well aware of their interdependence upon one another. He moved on silent feet, slipping to each door in turn. An empty bed; his heart stopped. Relief came with a hand on his shoulder and a puzzled smile. The nightmare was over. He was home.
A/N2: Most people are familiar with the 2k3 episode Same as It Never Was. It's one of the most famous, or infamous, episodes of all time, and almost wasn't aired because the writers feared it was too dark for their young audience. Thankfully, it made it to television, because it's one of the most intense, and well-written TMNT episodes ever produced, and it added a new level of depth to the show.
For those who aren't familiar, the Ultimate Ninja returns, seeking his revenge. Using a stolen magical Scepter, he sends the Turtles and Splinter into alternate realities. Donatello lands in a world where the alternate version of himself disappeared from his brothers' lives 30 years earlier. Casey and Splinter are dead, killed in the battle against Shredder. Karai is running a very grim world with an iron hand and April and the remaining brothers are leading the Resistance. In the end, with Don's help, they beat Karai, saving the world, but his brothers and April die in the final battle, just before Don is returned to his own reality.
Although the story is tragic, it struck me that they died as they lived, with honor. The idea of dying with honor is an intensely Japanese concept. For anyone interested in learning more about the Samurai code of honor, I highly recommend Stan Sakai's new illustrated version of the 47 Ronin.