Chapter 27: Temple

"Leo, you sure you're ok?" A voice approached him, Leo peered over his shoulder immediately recognizing the voice only to have a subtle confused expression on his face.

"You're worried?" Leo questioned, forming a small smirk on his face. It was Raph, leaning against a tree with a somewhat concerned look on his face. Leo had wandered off on his own to think for himself for a bit while the others were set up at camp for the night.

It was unlike Raph to ask such a question, let alone show concern since he considered himself bulk and tough, attempting no awareness of weaknesses whether it be physically, or emotionally.

"No! I knew you would be fine, so no I wasn't!" Raph growled angrily, knowing Leo was taking advantage of his soft spot and being sarcastic.

Leo only glanced down at his open palm with a subtle sigh, Raph clearly noticed he seemed bothered and concerned about something but wasn't entirely sure exactly what it could be.

Placing a hand on Leo's shoulder as he approached, Raph only sighed as well, not bothering to look at him. "Ok, fine. I was worried, but what's really bothering you?" Raph questioned him with slight concern in his eyes as he finally glanced down at Leo.

"The future." Leo stated seriously, this only confused Raph as he tilted his head slightly. "I'm saying, what do we do after we find Xen or not…? What if we can't get back home?" Leo added.

"You think we're better off staying here…" Raph asked. "Yeah… there's nothing left for us back home. Maybe we can start new, here." Leo stated with a small annoyed sigh, he was also referring to Arna who was originally from earth as well, only to be teleported here like them and she started a new life here, so what if they did as well, maybe things would turn out better for them.

It wasn't just her, they didn't have to hide themselves from the living and humans and stay stuck in the sewers for the rest of their lives unlike here. Despite the difficulties and troubles so far, he was honestly starting to like it more and more, sure Dimension Nether was still full of mysteries, and more possible dangers, but it was something to start with unlike earth where they would most likely be stuck in hiding forever.

Raph hated to admit it, but he too was starting to like it here and Leo made a valid point that they had nothing left back on earth. Everything was gone, Splinter, their home, friends and family that Dragor killed or were here with them also most likely stuck.

Raph let out a small sigh and sat down next to Leo, "Then we stay." He remarked, Leo glanced at him with a somewhat surprised look, Raph typically always went against Leo's wishes, let alone plans and the fact he easily agreed amazed Leo to no extent.

Leo could tell he wasn't concerned or upset about being stuck at the age of sixteen anymore and had most likely gotten over it, accepting it like everyone else did instantly.

Sure being able to live forever and not worry about growing old was amazing and all, but making allies and friends only to see them grow old and die would hurt more than anything. Leo didn't care honestly, he was totally chill with it, so long as he had his brothers, April and Casey who all were also stuck at their ages by his side, then he didn't care at all unless something happened to them, they were all family after all.

It was hard enough losing Splinter, and Leo for sure wasn't going to lose the family he still had with him. Leo gave a small gentle smile at Raph, Raph fell onto his back with a large sigh.

"What if we end up finding Dragor instead of Xen?" Raph questioned Leo as he was staring up at the galaxy mixed sky full of stars, Leo only had a small concerned expression form onto his face and slowly placed his hand over his side in regards to his one broken rib that Dragor caused.

"We don't stand a chance if we do…" Leo began with concern in his voice, "We might not, but you do." Raph remarked, this only confused Leo as he glanced down at Raph.

Raph immediately smirked slightly and pointed at his back, or specifically, the Lynblade that was still equipped with Leo's third strap on his back. "You know what this sword does to me…" Leo began concerningly.

"I know, April constantly gives the blade ugly glaring looks without you noticing it, she absolutely despises that sword. Plus I saw it with my own eyes, Leo. But that sword, along with the Elder blood, you can beat him." Raph stated seriously, he clearly had faith in Leo along with the blade, despite what the blade does to the wielder he knew Leo would most likely be able to pull through.

"April's just worried about you, she knows that sword can kill you." Raph continued, "Raph, she's lost everyone that she grew up with, of course she is worried about all of us." Leo remarked sternly, he knew April was hurting still despite her not showing it and clearly accepting those losses.

Sure, April was accepting the past as there was nothing they could do about it, and only being down and miserable wasn't going to solve anything. April had lost more than any of them, and even though she tried to not concern Leo and the others about it, he still couldn't accept the fact that it was their fault and blamed himself whether she liked it or not.

"She doesn't want to lose anyone else anymore, Leo. Which means us too, so, you're not going to lose if it does end up with us confronting Dragor. We have your back bro, and we'll do our best to help you." Raph stated as he sat up giving Leo an overwhelming stern look.

He was clearly showing and telling Leo that he was the only one who was capable of defeating Dragor if Xen wasn't there or around, or worse. Dragor would clearly fight and not allow them to just walk off, especially since they ruined his teleportation plans.

Leo clearly was losing this somewhat argument, so he only sighed out of defeat. He really hoped things wouldn't turn out that way, and for once have things go their way, the right and positive way.

Find Xen alive and ok, and then go from there with her. She was considered family after all, especially what she's done in order to help out, though she gave them the choice to stay out of the fight but they just couldn't after all that has happened.

"How's the bones?" Raph questioned Leo, clearly changing the subject. Leo was honestly glad he did, take his mind off all the doubts and concerning thoughts.

Now that Raph mentioned it, ever since he woke up he felt no pain at all in his side, almost as if they were healed. "I think… Jenna healed them." Leo questioned even himself, he didn't know why or how but they clearly weren't hurting at all no matter how he moved.

"I still despise that witch." Raph growled angrily, he hated what she did, fun in games wasn't always fun for everyone. And what she did to Leo was most definitely uncalled for and unnecessary whether she healed them or not in the end.

"Well, so do I, but there's nothing we can do about it. She still kept her end of the bargon." Leo said with a small gentle smile as he stood up, "We can't hate her forever…" Leo stopped with an unamused and hesitant look on his face, immediately remembering their forever age span now.

"I take that back." Leo added unamusaningly. Raph only let out a small chuckle as Leo helped him stand up, "We'll be arriving at the temple sometime tomorrow, best we go with the others and get some sleep." Leo said, patting Raph's shoulder as he walked off back towards the camp with a small wave, thanking him for the conversation and encouragement.

"Have you guys seen Casey?" April questioned both Leo and Raph who were entering back into the camp. "No, why? Wasn't he with you all?" Raph remarked glancing around for him.

"He said he had to take a leak, that was fifteen minutes ago." April added, "We've looked around, but nothing." Arna added, tossing her bag to the ground next to the fireplace.

"Maybe he just wandered off to explore?" Leo said uncertainty, he and everyone else were beginning to become concerned, it was unlike Casey to be gone like this, especially alone with how attached to Mikey or Raph he was.

"You know him best, April." Mikey remarked, who was sitting next to the fireplace munching away on some food. "Not well enough for him to wander off, he sticks with you and Raph the most, you should know him too." April remarked somewhat sternly.

Raph hesitated when April turned to look at him, "Don't look at me." Raph stated innocently, "I didn't do anything, I just went to get Leo." He added, "I never said if you did or didn't do anything, I'm just concerned if something happened." April said, considering their experiences so far have been dangerous one's.

"Well, he probably fell asleep somewhere or couldn't find his way back, something we all need to get." Arna stated as she made herself comfortable next to the fire, turning her back to them all and dozing off.

April had a very concerned expression on her face and turned to look at Mikey and Donnie who hesitated, unsure what to do. She flinched frighteningly slightly when Leo placed a hand on her shoulder, turning to look at him where both him and Raph had a small smile, "Me and Raph will go look around, stay here with the others." Leo said.

Leo and Raph went in the general direction April told them he had gone, Leo searched from the tree's while Raph the ground, calling out for him, but still nothing. It was completely silent with only the nightly sounds of crickets and other creatures, with a slight breeze.

"Leo!" Raph shouted from below, calling out for him to come down. Leo leaped down from a tree, walking over to Raph with a confused look on his face. "Found this." Raph remarked, waving one of Casey's hockey pucks in front of him.

Glancing around, they both didn't seem to see, let alone find anything more. Making their way back to the camp with no Casey, only to have April more concerned and uneasy.

April was holding the Hockey puck in hand, glancing it over. "Maybe he was snatched up by someone?" Raph questioned, trying to give suggestions. "Let me see that." Arna asked, sitting up from her lying position and only to have somewhat surprised looks at her, thinking she was asleep but apparently not.

April tossed the puck to Arna who caught it, peering it over and feeling it steadily. "It's warm." She remarked, "Well yeah…" April said confusingly, "I mean more warm than usual, meaning magic warmth." Arna added.

Everyone looked at her with confused expressions, unsure what she meant entirely. "Someone teleported him. Either to them or somewhere entirely else away from us, he could be anywhere." Arna said, tossing the puck back to April.

"So we do nothing?" April questioned worriedly, Arna only shrugged. "We either go back and talk to Jenna, play another one of her sick games for his location, or we just continue to the temple that's only several hours away where your friend, Xen could be."

Donnie and Mikey had pretty much passed out by this time, snoring away, unaware of the current situation and conversation happening. April, glancing down with a concerned but also furious look on her face, didn't say anything.

They all for sure didn't wan't to go back to talk to Jenna, let alone play her stupid games that weren't fun at all. "We get sleep, head for the temple in the morning, then we find Casey after unless he turns up during the night." Leo stated, "We came this far to find Xen, we can't go back now." He added seriously but also sadly, hoping he didn't upset April with the choice.

April surprisingly wasn't disapproved of the choice Leo made for all of them, though he clearly still saw the concern in her face as she sat down next to the ongoing fireplace for warmth and staring down at the puck in her hand sadly.

Both Leo and Raph knew she was having it the worst, especially after the conversation with Raph about her and her losses compared to the rest of them. She didn't want to lose anyone else as it was hard enough to accept the one's she already lost, especially her family and the people she considered family, and now Casey was missing.

Leo walked beside her and sat down, placing an arm around over her shoulder with his small side cape, using it like a blanket for her. This action of his honestly surprised her, he was never the one to perform such a thing, it was always normally her who always jumped to it with all the hugs and comforts.

He had quickly picked up on the fact she clearly did it, knowing full well it was the best way to provide comfort and hopefully ease someone's discomfort and pain with how often she seemed to do it. Raph had found a suitable spot to rest for the night, April figured Leo was going to stay up the majority of the night to keep watch considering he already had a nap.

Jogo had even ran up and crawled her way into April's lap, curling up and began purring lowly and happily, also providing comfort in cute, gentle and small form. April formed a small smile on her face, quickly accepting their comfort as she rested her head against Leo's chest, staring down at Casey's puck still and using her free hand to pet Jogo.

Time seemed to fly by quickly, April ended up falling asleep on Leo who didn't move at all during the night and of course just as she predicted, he stayed up keeping watch while everyone else slept. She couldn't tell how early it was, but it most definitely was very early as it seemed the sun was just rising.

April lifted herself slightly which seemed to spook Leo slightly as he was clearly lost in thought, staring at the fireplace that was just about almost burnt out. "Sorry…" She said silently enough for him to hear, she didn't want to wake the others.

"Don't be." He said glancing at her then back at the fire, she saw a subtle worried look in his eyes and it only made her curious though she flushed it off as she remembered about Casey immediately. She glanced around concerningly, there was still no sight of him anywhere, clearly telling her he still hasn't showed up during the night at all.

April only sighed sadly, glancing down at his puck still in hand, she could only hope for the best and that he was ok, she just hoped he was at least still alive as she absolutely did not want to lose anyone else any longer.

A few hours had passed while April and Leo, including Jogo had let the others sleep awhile longer, knowing full well that today was most likely going to be a long one. Mikey, who of course was the last to wake up, stretched and only to glance around as he noticed everyone just about packed and ready to go, saying nothing as he let out a long yawn.

Raph, tossing Mikey a bag on him before he stood up, caused to frighten him slightly, "Time to go sleepy head." Raph stated as he picked up his own bag filled with his own things. Mikey quickly stood up with the bag in hand as the others had already begun to take their leave, he rummaged through his bag to see if there were any snacks as he followed behind the others.

After a smooth several hours of walking, the temple could be seen in sight and had already looked worn down and torn apart just as Arna stated beforehand. "Wow… it's huge despite it being in some pieces…" Donnie remarked as he was the one seemingly most intrigued with it, glancing around from the distance they were at.

"It was an old good safe haven during the old times I heard, served as a barrier and fortress to many regions and clans. That is, until it finally got destroyed and lost its purpose by the numerous wars as no one would repair the temple, so it was abandoned up to this point." Arna explained, she knew this based on rumors and books she had read, and of course visiting the place once before.

As they approached the temple, most of them glanced around at and had to step over the rubble that laid around as they walked deeper inside the temple. "It's quiet…" Raph stated, with a small annoyed growl, "It's always quiet here, it's been dead here for ages, no one comes here at all." Arna said as she was the one taking the lead.

As they approached a very large room, they all noticed blood stains on the ground that had seemingly dried up and still looked fresh as blood tended to very darken over time. Donnie, crouching next to one of the stains to check it out as he placed a finger on it to see, "This is only a few days old…" He said, glancing up at the others.

"Guys!" Mikey shouted, causing them all to jolt their attention to him as he had wandered off on his own a bit away. "Mikey! Don't go off on your own!" Raph growled as he quickly came up to him, directing his attention to where Mikey was staring, only to immediately become surprised.

As the others came up to see what seemed to make them shocked out of mostly fear, they too had formed the same expression, though April who covered her mouth in horror and immediately having tears form in her eyes. "Xen…" She sobbed weakly, there in front of the group a bit of a distance away from a very large pile of rubble lied Xen, covered in injuries and blood and was clearly dead.

April, who was about to run to her, was immediately pulled back by Leo as he pulled her behind him and kept her there. Him including the other guys had become defensive over both her and Arna as Raph also had a hand on April to prevent her from moving from them, that's when she understood they weren't alone.

Everyone had eyes on the large pile of rubble in front of them, it started to move around and wiggle as dozens of average sized but also large rocks toppled to the ground and rolled from the movement. A figure slowly rised, appearing out from under the rubble, it was none other than Dragor himself as he raised his head and glared at the small group, letting out menacing laughter, dragging his wings and feet out from the rubble as he now stood on top of it. "Welcome to your demise!" Dragor laughed menacingly.