23: Leo

A TRUE HERO

"Aro got away."

I look at Corin, kneeling on the stone floor, looking out the window. He sniffs, sobs, then looks at me. "We were so close. But Aro bested me. He took me down with a stroke to the leg. Be'Joke…he…Be'Joke," I let another sob go through Corin. Donnie, with his bandaged arm rubs Corin's back. "Aro got onto Alec after that. They both took off. I don't know where they are. They're gone."

"I'm…" I take a breath," I'm so sorry, Corin."

The magician takes a handful of the purple jacket he now wears. "Be'Joke said he wanted to die in a grand way. He wanted to redeem himself of his past mistakes."

"He was a hero," Donnie says.

Corin snorts. "Hero, smero. I just wanted his coat."

Raph smiles," And I thought I was mean."

"He wanted you to have it…didn't he?" I say.

Corin squeezes his eyes shut. "They want to you to speak, Leonardo. They want to see you."

I look out the window. The sun is setting. Below the castle is the thousands of people that fought against the King. "I wouldn't know what to say."

Is that… a movie camera? What the crap!?

"It'll come to you." Mikey says as he puts a hand on my shoulder. "It always does."

"Just be yourself, Leo." April adds.

I look at Raph. He nods. I nod back. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

My friends and family follow me to the balcony. Outside, a roar deafens me as I exit. There's the cries of "Leonardo" and "Raphael." I raise my hands and the crowd quiets.

"You got this." Raph whispers to me. I take a deep breath, letting my surroundings fill me.

"Fellow soldiers, dear rebels, the King is dead." The air fills with cheers but I silence them." The King said 'If a King is lost, so is its prince.' What I'm saying is that Aro and Alec have escaped." There's a rush of gasps. "I know that seems scary. I know that the idea that a new Nightmare King will arise is feverish but let me assure you of one thing. They are just as fearful as you. The King knew I wasn't scared of him. That's why he was against me. Fear is only a concept of the mind. No fear exists and they have no power, Aro has no power!"

I take another breath, bow my head," We lost so many comrades today. Their bravery will not be forgotten on this day. We will fight on for them. They put their trust in us as we did for them and look where we are! Look where we stand! On the pillar of a new day which they have been eager to obtain. The best we can do is live it for them! Show them we are survivors!"

My wings spread at that moment and the crowd goes wild. There's a whistle above. I smile at Felix who sits on one of the spires above Old Jack's face.

"You are all heroes!" I yell out," But I want to acknowledge the greatest, truest hero I know. My hero." I turn, and gently bring Raph to the edge with me.

"Leo, what are you-"

"My brother, my hero, Hamato Raphael!"

The people below me roar, but all that matters is the eyes next to me staring. "Your hero," he whispers to me.

I look at him," Everybody needs one right."

Raph's face glows like the sun. He grabs my hand tightly, then raises them high above our heads. The screams grow louder. Slowly, the cheers and screams turn into chants. The chants thump in my chest.

"King Leonardo! Prince Raphael! KING LEONARDO! PRINCE RAPHAEL!"

I release Raphael, letting a warm feeling flow over me as I dream of fireworks, then hold my hand out to the sky. Pink, yellow, blue and red fireworks light up the dark sky. Slowly, Raph and I go back into the castle.

After a moment of almost complete silence, a heavy voice says," They love you. You did well."

I turn. All my friends are sitting behind me. Donnie's arm is bandaged, Mikey has a cut on his cheek. April has a sprained wrist and Casey's knee is out of place. Shen is bandaging Shredders cut up arm and Sensei, Splinter, has a scarred face. He looks depressed. Though, Corin looks worse than he ever will.

I start over to him when Raph grabs my arm, "Leo," he growls as if it's a warning. I pat his hand and shrug him off.

I stop in front of my Sensei, my father. We stare at each other for a while. Finally, I say," Look, I don't know why you did what you did to me, and honestly, I don't want to. But…" I pause to collect myself. I know this is right, but I can't help but feel surprised at what I'm doing. "But I can't live like this stuff never happened. I can't forget it." Splinter lowers his head. "I forgive you."

"WHAT!?"

I ignore everyone's surprised gasps and yells. Splinter stares at me, eyes wide. "I said I forgive you." Then I kneel down and hug him. Splinter hesitates then hugs me back. He says nothing but I don't mind. I like the silence. He's my father and the only way I'll be complete is if I forgive him.

We sit there for a while. The only thing that bus me and I know it bugs Raph, is when Shen says," He'll make a very good king. The best the Dream Realm will have ever seen."

King?

Oh, shell.