Chapter 21: Splinter

MY FALLEN ANGELS

I know I'm a terrible father. I've known it since the first time I hit Leonardo. I've known it since he started cutting. But nothing tells you it better when your son shatters and dies.

I watch Raphael collapse. I watch his wings appear in agony.

Donatello looks down at his dagger, rubbing tears away. Raphael's name is cracked, the blade falling apart. "Grief," Donatello sighs. "The blue spots mean grief. They stand for the tears that eventually turn floods to blood of suicide."

My world is spinning. Shen's gone. Miwa's gone. Leonardo's gone. Now…Raphael.

"I'm terrible," I moan turning away from my sons and to the battle waging behind me," I've led my sons to suicide."

Saki snorts," And they're not the only ones."

I turn to him." What?"

"Why do you think I was able to connect with your son, Yoshi? We are, were, more alike than any of you knew."

Oh my…" Your…you're a…where are your wings?"

Saki glares at me," Is this your way of grieving for your son or do I have to show you how to?"

Stupid! I can't even grieve for my son! What kind of father am I?!

I turn back to my grieving sons. I can't cry, I know I should but I can't make myself. All I can do is speak. "I…I'm sorry, Leonardo. I'm sorry. Forgive me. Please…forgive me!"

I said I couldn't make myself cry. It doesn't mean I won't. As I silently cry, I feel Saki pat my shoulder. Leonardo almost changed Saki. He's a good boy. I treated him like he was a devil.

"RAPH!"

I bolt up to see the King bearing down on my son.

"If a king is lost, so is its prince."

"Raphael!" I scream. I couldn't help Leonardo. Now I can't save Raphael.

The bright axe rushes down to Raphael's chest and he seems to fling himself up to meet it. Donatello moves forward, the knife shaking in his hand.

The axe almost touches Raphael's chest when it bounces back, almost taking the Kings head off. The shards on the floor all around are shaking, starting to float. What…? I look at Donatello.

The blade is sliver again, Leonardo's name is in the center. No cracks, no pieces missing. He's…full.

I look back at the King. He's shaking as the pieces start connecting. Raphael is on the ground, staring at the floating shards. Slowly, they come together. They become solid as Leonardo appears, wings snowy white with no spots.

"I can't believe it," Saki whispers, shocked at the breathing spectacle.

As Leonardo smiles down at Raphael, Saki says," The fallen angels only fall from grace but once."

I shake my head, looking at my eldest boys in awe. "Not my fallen angels."