Gonna warn you now... I'm not great at writing extended action scenes. Hope these suffice!

May 27, 2013

It wasn't long before both clans were called to send their champions to the center of the arena. Splinter walked out with Karai, Leoardno, Raphael, and Donatello at his side. Donnie swung his new tech bō across his shoulders.

Shredder stormed into the ring with Rahzaar, Fish Face, and two new mutants. Karai sucked in a breath at the sight of the towering falcon mutant alongside the snarling hammerhead mutant.

"Do you like my new lieutenants, Karai?" Shredder gestured to the duo. "I needed new leadership once you and Tiger Claw abandoned the Foot Clan. Surely you recognize Koya and Bludgeon? You loved to tend to them as a child."

Karai ground her teeth as she did remember the falcon and the shark. Koya was Shredder's prized attack falcon back in Japan and Bludgeon was a simple shark in the aquarium at the Foot Clan main HQ. Whenever Karai had been left to her own devices, she enjoyed just sitting and watching the creatures. It made her sick now that she would be forced to fight them. The girl snapped out of her thoughts at the pressure pushing in on the side of her foot. Glancing down revealed Leo's foot connected pressed against her own. Karai sighed. She could deal with her emotions after the fight. She tightened her grip on her tanto.

A random Foot soldier designated with the task of the opening ritual ran out between the heads of the clans. He bowed to Spinter.

"Clan Hamato! You have issued a challenge to the Master of the Foot Clan. Are you prepared to stand as willing participants in this ancient rite?"

All five Hamatos bowed back. "Hai!"

The Foot soldier turned to bow to the Shredder. "Clan Foot! Are you prepared to defend your clan and your Master's honor in this ancient rite?"

Rahzar, Fish Face, Koya, and Bludgeon bowed back. "Hai!" Koya and Bludgeon glared at the only one not bowing out of respect for the ritual: Shredder.

Shredder had eyes only for the rat standing before him. "Let us get on with it."

The Foot soldier gave Shredder a side eye as he raised his arm. "Then let the Gauntlet commence!"

Shredder and the Foot Champions turned to return to their end of the arena for final preparations. Splinter held Leo back behind the group as the Hamatos headed towards their end of the arena.

"Leonardo, did you see how the new mutants looked at the Shredder?"

The boy nodded. "Yes, Sensei. It doesn't look like they're behind Shredder one hundred percent."

Splinter nodded. "Take advantage of their disharmony. Your family is your strength."

Raph began bouncing on the balls of his feet as his father and brother approached their group. "Can we start already? I'm itchin' for a fight!" He stilled as Splinter placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"While your enemies may try otherwise, your goal is disarming, not the death of your opponents. Am I clear?" Splinter looked each of his children in the eye.

"Hai, Sensei!" They all responded.

"Then good luck, my children."

Both clans dove head first into battle. After the initial scuffle, several pairs broke off.

Raph ended up facing Fish Face. The carp played with his butterfly knife.

"It's high time someone made a meal out of you, pequena tartaruga!" Fish Face lunged at the red clad turtle.

Raph dodged the attack, spinning his twin sai. "Hate to break it to ya, Fish Face, but I'm TAKEN!" He landed a roundhouse kick to the mutant's head. Fish Face stumbled away, disoriented. Raph smirked as he readied for a counter attack. "Besides - you're REALLY not my type!"

The battle raged all about the arena. Donnie was currently running though aerial fighting techniques since Koya launched into the air the moment the battle began.

The falcon sneered as she circled the turtle. "I've heard of you and your silly little stick."

Donnie spun the tech bō, simultaneously pressing buttons to light up different functions. "Then you haven't heard about my upgrade." One more button press revealed a grappling hook. Donnie flipped and twisted the hook so that it entangled itself around Koya's talons. A swift jerk brought the airborne mutant to the ground.

Nearby, Rahzar roared as he furiously swiped at Karai. "There is no one to protect you this time, Tiger Cub! You. Are. MINE!"

Karai blocked a swipe with her tanto. She grunted at the effort to keep the skeletal wolf at bay. "Same goes for you, you mangy mutt!" The girl pushed him back with as much effort as she could to give herself some breathing room. She flinched as she heard Leo's voice cry out.

"KARAI! I could use a hand over here!"

Leo had ended up against Bludgeon. Both of his katanas were currently wedged inside the shark's mouth to keep Leo from being bitten in half.

The boy grinned as a small throwing knife embedded itself in one of Bludgeon's eyes. The mutant tore himself away, roaring in pain.

Sorry, man. Leo thought, stumbling to his feet. It's part of the Gauntlet. He felt a protrusion on the hilt of one of his katanta. It was a shark's tooth!

"Thanks, Karai!" He shouted. "Got you a souvenir!"

"Focus, Leonardo!" Splinter shouted from the sidelines. Splinter's eyes darted about, following the rest of his children amidst their battles.

Donnie shrieked as Koya launched back into the air. While Donnie's grappling hook was entangled around her legs, the falcon's wings were unencumbered. She proceeded to drag the turtle around the arena.

"Your fancy little stick won't help you anymore!" The bird cackled.

The purple clad turtle began to feel sick as he was jerked about. As the flight stabilized, Donnie could see where Koya was taking him - straight towards his brother perched atop Fish Face.

"Raph!" He hollered. "Look out-"

The boys crashed into each other before Donnie could get out the warning. Raph felt the wind knocked out of him as his younger, yet lankier brother landed on top of him.

"Dang it, Donnie!" The stocky turtle collapsed under Donnie's weight.

Karai bobbed around Rahzar. Her small size and speed allowed her to land several blows and cuts to the mutant.

The skeletal wolf chuckled darkly. "You sure you didn't learn to fight from a house cat, Tiger Cub?" Rahzar timed his attack correctly, snatching Karai by the back of her head. The kunoichi couldn't stop the cry that slipped out as razor sharp claws dug into her skull. She dropped her tanto to scrabble against the arm that held her.

Leo spun his back on Bludgeon at the sound of his girlfriend's distress. "Karai!"

The shark took advantage of Leo's distraction. The shark roared as he spun, using his massive tail to send Leo hurtling across the arena.

"Leo…" Karai whimpered. She recoiled as Rahzar brought her closer to his face. His breath smelled like rotting meat.

"If you're so worried about your boyfriend, why don't you JOIN HIM!"

The mutant threw Karai across the arena in Leo's general direction.

"KARAI!" Splinter leapt to his feet, helpless to do anything.

Leo groaned, looking around. The boy recovered his wits just enough to move so he could catch Karai before she crashed to the ground in a pile of broken bones. The pair lay on the ground, breathing heavily. Leo shifted his weight so Karai could rest her head against his carapace.

"I-I got you, Karai. I got you." Leo panted. The girl weakly grasped his arm in thanks.


Back on the sidelines, April fumed. She anxiously played with her crystal.

"Mikey, we can't just sit here and do nothing! They all almost died!" She huffed. "I'm going to help them!"

Mikey reached for his sister as she moved towards the ring. "April, no!" He stilled as two Foot soldiers stepped forward to grab April's arms.

"No one can enter the area while the Gauntlet is active," One of the guards stated in a deep, authoritative voice.

April stiffened under their touch. Her hair lifted off her face as her eyes began to glow. "You're gonna want to get your hands off me. NOW."

The guards flinched at her words, but kept their hands where they were. "Not unless you remain in your seat."

Mikey's eyes widened as April reached for her crystal once more. Uhoh! He grabbed her hand, tugging her backwards. He looked imploringly at the guards.

"We'll stay back. We promise!"

The Foot soldiers nodded, releasing April. The girl snarled, turning her wrath on Mikey as she snatched her hand back.

"So you're okay with letting our whole family die?"

To Mikey's credit, he didn't back down. The inwardly breathed a sigh of relief as the glow in April's eyes dimmed.

"I'm trusting our family to do what needs to be done." He turned back to face the arena. "They have to do this without us."

April crossed her arms. "They shouldn't have to," She grumbled.

"You're right, They shouldn't have to."

April pressed a hand to her head. That voice… "You again?" She glanced towards Mikey. He gave no indication that he had heard the voice or her response to it.

She felt a gentle caress against her mind. "Me again. Just know that whatever the outcome of today may be, you will always have a home with me, April. I will protect you."