20: Raph

This Is War

I've never seen anything like it and I doubt I ever will again in my life. Vampires and werewolves, wizards and witches, humans and monsters alike are coming together under Leonardo to rebel against an awful king. What a sight. But…

Where is he!? Leo called this thing together so where the shell is he!?

"YOU IGNORANT SUBJECTS!" I jump as a deep voice booms across the castles courtyard. "YOU WILL PAY FOR GOING AGAINST ME!"

A Suide, Jasper to my surprise, yells out, "You killed one of our own and she wasn't shattered! You broke out treaty!"

The man shows himself. He stands on an iron fountain, Aro, Alec and an army behind him. I reach for my Sai's as he lays his pitch black eyes on me. "So, you do have a General. LISTEN ALL OF YOU! You really think Raphael and Leonardo are still your generals? Well, they can't protect you! Let me give you an example."

The monster raises his arm, whip aimed at my chest. My mistake for pushing to the head of the crowd. I hear my name rise up in the crowd as they recognize me. The arm surges forward-

The whip drops as an arrow pierces the Nightmare King's wrist. He howls and turns around. Floating above him is Leonardo. The King screams louder when he sees not only Felix but over five hundred people behind him, all pointing a variety of weapons on him.

Leo pulls out a double-bladed axe and smirks, "What is it you said to me, your highness? I enjoy seeing you so…broken. You look awful."

The King turns to Aro and slaps him," You told me the prison was secure! Well, look where the prisoners are now Aro! LOOK!"

"You better give up now," I say smiling as I see Leo nod, "We've got you beat."

The King glowers at me with a look that almost makes me wince," NEVER! ATTACK!"

His army surges forward. Leo raises his hands. Half the crowd surges into the trees while the other half flows to the back of Old Jack, forcing the King's army to split as well.

I yell as the King comes down on me. He lands a good punch and I fly back into the awaiting arms of my little brothers. They surround me, even Shredder, to protect me.

The King looks like he's going to burn us all when Leo yells out, "BURN THEM! BURN THEM TWICE! DON'T LET A PIECE REMAIN!"

The King whips around, as if in a panic. Leo looks down at him and smiles slyly, "Wise choice. A titanium axe. Titanium can always go through titanium, correct? Let's see if it can make some sparks."

"NO!" The King flips his whip at Leo but he and Felix are already on their way to Old Jack. I find a splint on Felix's wing. Kate's dead. Felix is hurt. Shell!

"Come on!" I cry, seeing Aro and Alec sprint after the screaming King. Our group chases after them. I can see Be'Joke and the blondie in the corner of my eye. Behind me, I can hear the hum of Shen's lightsaber.

This is it. The rebellion of the dream world century.

This is war.

Leo breaks through the castle and flies up the stairs. Aro raises a black bow and arrow that looks like it's from the Mockingjay movie. He aims it at Leo. The strings flop limp as Be'Joke throws his sword into the bow. Aro screams, unsheathes his sword and lunges at the two.

"Go!" The blond man whom I assume is Corin yells," Save Leonardo! Save our world!"

I sprint up the stairs after Leo. I look down as I see a fire ball hit Aro in the shoulder. Aro throws his sword at Corin but Be'Joke blocks it with a throw of his own.

Good luck, compatriots.

Alec stops at the top of the stairs, blocking our passage. Casey, Shen, April and Mikey push past us. Mikey screams his battle cry, Casey echoing him with his own. Alec screams as Shen's lightsaber chops at his leg. Mikey and Casey get on his back while April messes with the horses head, her telekinesis is strong. Mikey hit the Shimera's butt and screams, "GIDDY UP, LITTLE DOGGY!"

Alec yowls and bolts down the stairs. What's left of the group presses ourselves to the railing and wall as the horse runs, it's passengers screaming, "Booyakasha" and "Goongala!"

I am the first to start moving again. It's just Shredder, Splinter, Donnie and I now. We enter through iron thick doors in time to see Felix get flung out the window and the King whipping his weapon at Leo's wings. I scream and throw my Sai at his bleeding arm.

The King turns on us. I don't even blink as his whip suddenly wraps around my throat. Burning agony fries my skin and I scream. But my scream isn't a howl. It's Leo's name. I hear the clash of weapons behind me and growls. The Kings hounds are attacking my remaining allies.

"DIE!" the King howls and the burning spreads.

"LEO!" I'm blacking out. I'm dying!

Suddenly the burning is gone. Something cold touches my shoulders and lifts me from the ground where I collapsed.

Leo's loving blue eyes meet mine. His cold, hard as glass hands skim across my neck but I don't wince at the sting. "You shouldn't be here." He says, glaring at my (I'm guessing) burns.

"I've denied you too much already, Leo. It's time I hear you. It's time I show you you are worth something to me." I put my hand on the back of his neck as I say this.

Leo's eyes shine as he slowly shakes his head. I notice a glow coming from his cheek. The crack on that side of his face…it's…its healing! He's healing! He wants to live!

He's starting to glow. I reach to touch the fading crack as he says, "Raph, I…I don-"

I yelp as Leo falls face first to the floor. I look up and see the Nightmare King, all sweaty and angry. He yanks on his whip and Leo flies to the Kings feet. He turns over trying to reach his swords. The axe is back in the King's vice like grip.

"I'll keep your pieces as a trophy!" He howls.

"NO!" I howl, running forward.

Time slows. The axe comes down. Leo's sword is out but the axe cuts through it like paper. It feels like my heart shatters as the axe hits Leo's chest. Leo's body disintegrates into sharp pieces of emerald and topaz. The pieces fall all over the floor. A red, green and blue piece skid over to my feet. The red, I can only guess, is his heart.

Everything is silent around me except for the battle raging outside. Through the walls, I hear Leo's and Kate's names being called. The taste of revenge is tinted into their names. They know he's gone.

"Leo…" Donnie moans, Splinter echoing his name. I even hear Shredder choke a little. I can hear Felix whimper at the window.

The King is grinning, looking proud at the shards. At my Leo's shards…

My Leo.

My knees collapse underneath me. My shoulders throb painfully but I barley feel it. All I feel is grief.

Grief. Pain. Regret.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to the pieces as I cradle them in my palm. I apologize though I know he can't hear me. If I hadn't fought him, hurt him, he wouldn't be gone.

"I'm sorry," I moan, cupping those pieces. Tears start dropping onto the shards. I press them to my forehead, those few pieces. "I only hated you because I love you too much not to."

My voice is so broken. My shoulders feel like I've been hit with an iron rod two hundred times in the same spot over and over.

"I wish I was like you, Leo," I say, not regretting the words coming from my mouth, "I wish I was dead."

Pain explodes in my shoulders and I grit my teeth. Something soft grazes my cheek. I look up slightly to see wings folding over me. I slowly sit up and realize that these wings… they belong to me! Snow white wings with spots that match Leo's eyes. For the first time ever I'm just like my older brother.

I'm a Suide.

I jump as a large black boot steps in front of me. The King glowers down at me. "You were never like that Leonardo," He growls," always so scared he would leave you. Well, how does it feel now that he has, Raphie."

I wince as he spits my nickname. I want to hit him, avenge Leo, but something in me withholds. Besides, our followers, whatever their doing, it's taking a toll of the King already.

The King regains position, ready to decapitate me. His eyes gleam in victory," If a King is lost, so is its prince."

The axe comes down. I rise up to meet it.

Death. What a funny thing to play with…