Chapter 6: Shadow of a Blade

The turtles could feel the barrier breaking down around them, as they watched the sky darken until it appeared almost as night. But despite this they stood over the pond, determined to defend their father.

"It is the Darkness." Donnie whispered to his brothers and they turned slightly to listen to him. "It is what's killing Yūta." He finished.

"I thought you said he was being called?" Raph asked as his eyes remained on the eastern sky.

"He is." Donnie responded sadly. "But the Darkness has weakened him. I fear there's not enough time."

"Then we will provide them time." Leo announced as he stood facing the direction their enemy raged from. "We have prepared for this."

"Brother." Mikey commanded at that moment causing them all to look in the direction he was pointing, only to find the barrier toward the west breaking under the pressure.

"Go!" Leo ordered and Donnie and Raph promptly bolted into the waters of the pond, leaving their siblings to protect the last remaining members of the Hamato name.

Donnie was a faster swimmer and so he was mere feet in front of his brother as they shot through the underground waterways, knowing them like they knew their own bodies, expertly navigating the complex system before emerging in a pond on the west wing, where they discovered they were under attack.

In seconds Donnie jumped from the pond controlling the water as he did so and brought it around in a massive sweep to destroy the shadow creatures that threatened their home.

Raph was soon to follow and with a wave of water at his disposal, took out another small gathering of the strange enemies, causing their human-like forms to collapse into black dust.

"What are they?" Raph asked in shock, as he was not aware that such creatures could cross the border into the human world.

"I'm not sure." Donnie answered before using another length of water to knock out two more before they were able to attack a few servants. "Go, get to the inner walls." He commanded them and quickly ran away, leaving him and his brother alone with the few ninja who had been dispatched to the area.

But their forces were spread too thin, their power too weak.

"Brother." Raph called as Donnie fought to take out more of the strange beings that formed from the clouds to dance across the earth like ghosts. "Their weapons do nothing." He added and the purple-eyed Yōkai quickly turned to find that his sibling was correct.

Though the Hamato Clan had trained many others within the walls of the dojo, the common ninja were no match for this enemy, as their earth-bound weapons merely passed straight through the shadow monsters, leaving them open to attack.

Donnie quickly used his magic to save one of the men and commanded him to gather his forces and leave for there was nothing the ninja could do.

"We can not hold them all off on our own." Raph proclaimed truthfully as he too continued to fight, trying to use his magic sparingly so it would last, for it appeared that their water was the only thing that could harm this foe.

Donnie was about to respond again, only to be interrupted when another crack appeared in the barrier to the east, leaving Raph to take notice of this new development as well before he turned to Donnie as an unspoken question passed between them.

"Go." Donnie commanded as he took out another gang of enemies, which were starting to come faster now that another way had been opened to them. "I can handle this area until your return." He added and Raph merely nodded in agreement before rushing toward the other break where they could sense Mikey was converging toward as well, leaving only Leo at the pond.

Though Donnie continued to fight for the main gate and fight well, as he was the best at conserving their magic, he was still running short and the enemies just continued to come, forcing him further and further back as he tried to keep them at bay.

After some time another crack had appeared directly over the pond, and knowing that Leo would soon need their help; he attempted to leave his own battle to join him, only to find that he had been completely surrounded by the shadow creatures.

He could sense Raph trying to reach him again, but he too had proven to be cornered. But if there was one thing they had learned in their life – it was that you never cornered an animal.

In their most desperate moment the four brothers, though separated, fought as one and summoned the greatest defense at their disposal.

It seemed as if all sound was suddenly sucked from the area as power surged forth from within the tunnels beneath the earth and in seconds the complex found itself suddenly flooded as every inch of water beneath the land moved on its own to rise from the ground and crash into the enemy that threatened it.

With the magic of the water controlling every inch of soil within the walls of their home; the shadow creatures could no longer take form, leaving them to dissolve as the barrier was finally reformed in response to Splinter and Miwa completing the ritual.

But though the enemy was finally expelled, the Yōkai brothers were too exhausted to adjust for a new form that suddenly appeared within the walls. This one not made of darkness or magic, but steel and flesh.

And as the shadow of its blades moved across the land, the Yōkai realized that it possessed a presence they recognized but were too late to stop. Even though Leo and Mikey converged on the area, desperate to help their siblings, despite no longer having the power to fight, they arrived too late.

Raph and Donnie were already gone.

…

"Brother!" Raphael's voice demanded, using his spoken words as they were louder. "Brother." He called again and Donnie slowly opened his eyes to look for him, only to find his view blocked by bars.

"Where –" He started to ask, getting up to grip one of the metal things only to pull away when the metal burned his skin.

He was thankful to discover that Leo and Mikey had not been captured, so there was still hope, however as he moved to stand up in his cage; the weakness in his legs become apparent and he closed his eyes when he realized it was not his lack of magic, but the distance that stood between him and its source.

"Brother." He said sadly and Raph nodded in understanding as well.

"I know." He answered tiredly

"You gain your power from the waters." A voice suddenly said causing them to look toward it as the form of the creature who had taken them moved from the shadows so they could see it. "Without the pond you are weak and helpless."

The Yōkai chose not to respond to that as they took in the armored man before them. "If you are without the water for too long you will die." He continued truthfully but the turtles still didn't waver from staring their enemy down. "I know this to be a very long and painful process." He added. "But I will relieve the pain, for your service."

"Our alliance is to the name of Hamato and no other." Raph informed the man causing him to growl before stepping further into the light of the single lantern that hung over their cells, finally revealing his identity.

"I am of the Hamato." Saki proclaimed angrily. "And one way or another – you will serve me." He threatened as the Yōkai took him in.

Though he appeared similar to the man they had fought with briefly so many nights ago there was a distinct difference in his presence. He was no longer a man – he was demon.

"You have sold your soul." Donnie answered causing the man to turn to him. "A soulless man has no name, you are not Hamato and we will not serve you."

This caused Saki to narrow his eyes at the turtle before kicking out at the cage with such force that it was sent careening into a wall, leaving Donatello dazed and injured.

"Brother!" Raph called worriedly, only to receive conformation in their old language that he was alright.

"You WILL serve!" Saki bellowed making them jump as the blades from his gantlets appeared again, though this time they were able to see that they were not made of steel – but shadow. "Or you will die." This only left the two Yōkai to stare at him for another moment before answering together.

"Then we will die."

Chapter 7: Freedom is the Price

(Coming next Monday)