24: Raph

GOOD-BYE (Part 1)

The smell of an ocean, and the spray of one rolls over me. We are standing on a floating cliff that overlooks the Infinity Ocean. Donnie is standing by a gold picture frame. Inside it is all eight of us plus other family members. That's our anchor. Family. The one thing we can agree on.

"Just touch it," Corin says, "It will recognize you and open your way back home."

Donnie nods, then gently pokes the top of the frame. The picture disappears and below the cliff, a blue and gold swirling portal opens. On the rim of the circle is a ring of black.

"I can't believe we're going home. We've been through so much." Mikey says next to me.

Casey snorts," I can. It's going to be nice to be in a normal world."

I look at Leo, feeling sick. He's standing next to Felix, watching us ogle over this portal. He looks calm and focused, like he's made a description.

"This portal won't last forever. It's best if you get moving," Corin says.

Donnie turns to the wizard," Thank you, Corin. Be'Joke was lucky to have a friend like you."

Corin flinches," He could have done better. Good luck to you, Donatello. I will not forget that brain of yours."

"Home! Home is New York!" Casey starts singing to the tune of 'Home on the Range.'

"Guys, I'm staying here," I say.

Casey almost falls off the cliff. Splinter looks at me in shock. Shredder answers for him," What are you talking about, boy?"

I glance at Leo," I'm staying here. With Leo. I mean, he's gonna be King, right? He's gonna need a bother with him."

My family stares at me but my focus is on Leo. He looks at Felix. Felix looks at him. I think I imagine it but I think Felix nods at him.

Leo sighs," Well, Raph, you can't stay here…cause I'm going home."

Corin whips to him, "Leonardo, you can't! The throne-"

"I am trusting the throne to you, Felix and Shen, Corin. I know you three won't abuse it. But I have to stay with my family. I need them. And they need me. Besides, I can't rule a kingdom. I can barely handle my brothers."

"But-"

"Corin, Be'Joke…"

That shuts him up. Corin nods slowly and says," Okay. But keep in mind this world will always consider you their King. Good luck."

"To you as well, Corin."

I walk over to Leo as Corin and Felix back away from us. Casey yells cannon ball then belly flops off the cliff.

"You moron!" April yells, jumping off after him.

"Morons? Anybody who jumps off the cliff in the first place is a moron." Felix mumbles behind us. There's a sound of skin slapping skin. Corin must have hit the Suide.

Splinter steps off the cliff. Shredder pauses before jumping off. He turns back to us, eyeing Leo. "Leonardo," he says getting my brothers attention. "The deal…it's going to be extended."

Leo tenses. The deal…extended! Why?

And that's exactly what Leo says. Why?

Shredder shrugs. "Because we are more alike than you know, Leonardo. And I respect you for it."

He jumps before we can ask anything else.

I turn to Leo and put my hand on his shoulder. "Leo, we don't have to go-"

"I want you home, Raph. And if I have to go to make that happen, so be it."

I frown.

Mikey nears the edge when a loud shriek hits our ears. "What is that?" he growls.

Corin shoves Donnie forward, then us. "It's the Intrusion winds. They come when something new is being created. GO! You must not be caught in them. They'll send you into the black caldera that lines the portal!"

"What happens if you do get sent into it?" Leo asks.

Corins eyes are wild so Felix answers for him. "You lose all sense of reality. You're sucked into a dark place and if anyone ever got out, no one knows. It's just a rumor among the masses. GO! GO!"

"You don't have to tell me twice." Mikey says, back flipping off the cliff, yelling booyakasha.

Donnie yells to us, then jumps, too.

I sprint through the shining grass to the edge, stop and look back. Leo is saying something to Felix and clasping his hand. Felix answers him as Corin shoves Leo toward me, "GO!"

Leo is sprinting to me right as the winds hit. The entire cliff rocks under me and suddenly I'm falling. Leo jumps and he's right above me, those gorgeous blue eyes locked my emerald ones.

He reaches toward me. I reach toward him. Our fingers graze.

He's gone.

Suddenly, Leo is gone, the winds taking him away. I don't even get to yell before he's sucked into the black abyss. The last thing I hear is Felix and Corin screaming 'Leo' and 'My King' before everything goes black.