WARNING: Contains upsetting content.
Also a huge thank you to Tyroth Darkstorm for his continued help in writing this chapter.
Chapter Nine
Mute
Over a couple of hours past and Raphael began to slowly awaken from his induced coma, as he opened his eyes, he could see two figures hovering above him.
"Raph? Raphael?"
Raphael blinked, his vision was very blurry, his body felt very heavy, his throat was sore, and his mouth was dry.
His eyes darted around as he tried to figure out where he was, and who was talking to him.
"Raphael, can you hear me?"
Raphael then saw James standing to his left speaking to him.
"He's coming to." He then heard Dahlia's voice and he saw the wolf to his right.
Raphael opened his mouth and tried to say something, but he couldn't speak, it was almost like something was blocking his throat.
Instead, a hissing sound emerged as well as a choked gasp.
James looked uncomfortable as he wiped Raphael's forehead.
"How are we going to find out how he's feeling, if he can't speak?" Dahlia asked in a small voice.
James bit his lip unsure, and Raphael felt his heart pounding in fear, he tried to ask what was going on but again, he couldn't get the words out, only a hissing noise continued to come up from his throat.
It was then he lifted his hand and touched his neck and felt the dressings.
"Raphael." James said in a sad yet serious voice "It brings me joy to see you alive and awake."
Raphael blinked at the Chimpanzee and both medics could see he had that questioning look in his eyes and they darted around.
"It's alright Raph!" Dahlia comforted "You're in Mutopia, Tyroth had a vision you were in trouble and he along with the Knights rescued you and your family!"
Raphael looked terrified and he tried to speak again, but again no sound came out, but James and Dahlia read his lips.
'Where are my family? Are they okay? Where's Pandora?'
"Pandora's alright! As are the others!"
Raphael looked around then he saw Monalisa laying in the bed next to him and he tried to get up, wanting to be nearer to her.
"Raph! No!" James cried "You need to stay still!"
Dahlia looked at the tormented turtle then at Monalisa.
"She's alright Raph!" she soothed "She's fine! She's resting right now."
Raphael again tried to talk but he got frustrated as he tried, and no sound came out.
James looked at Dahlia with desperate eyes and the wolf instantly went to a table to prepare a syringe to sedate him.
"Raphael." James said again "Listen, please, you have to calm down!"
Raphael shook his head and again tried to talk, but once again, he could only hiss, and the doctor could only read his lips to try and make out what he was trying to say.
The chimpanzee sighed and practically forced the words out.
"I'm so sorry Raphael." He said "But when you were stabbed…"
Raphael went still as he looked at the doctor.
He then began to remember the battle at the Foot Headquarters, and how Hanako had stabbed him in the throat!
His eyes then widened, as he realised that the reason, he was unable to speak was because of what Hanako had done to him! She had almost killed him, but she had failed, but she had damaged him! She had taken away his voice!
"No!" he mouthed but again, all came out was a hiss and tears started to flow from his eyes.
James swallowed hard and looked over at Dahlia who was standing with the syringe and wondering whether to inject him or not.
"Get April to call his brothers, and Master Splinter, and Pandora too!" he said.
Dahlia nodded then went to the door and she opened it to see April and Devina who both looked up.
"Raphael's awake!" the wolf reported.
"Awake!?"
The three women looked over to see Leonardo standing up next to Kemeko's bed and Kemeko was also sitting up in bed yet there was pain on her face as her stomach wound spasmed.
"Is he okay?!" Kemeko asked anxiously as she tried to get up, yet Leonardo stopped her.
"He's alive, but he's heartbroken to realise he can't speak." Dahlia replied.
Kemeko gasped then broke down in tears.
"Oh no! No! No! No!" she wept to which Leonardo hugged her close, yet it did little to comfort the young Asian girl.
Leonardo himself was devastated and he lowered his head as he continued to hold his adopted daughter.
Dahlia looked to April and April jumped up before the wolf could speak and went to find Michelangelo, Casey, Splinter and Pandora.
"Mikey! Splinter! Casey!" she called as she left the room "Come quickly!"
In the mess hall, Splinter was sipping some tea with Old George, the rat was looking pale and red eyed, and George didn't any better either.
The old turtle had tried to console his friend since he had arrived in Mutopia over the condition of his children and granddaughters, but he was just as worried.
Jake and Amber were sitting in silence near them, Jake was looking thin and pale as he stared into a mug of hot chocolate whilst Amber sipped hers as she stared at the walls.
Michelangelo was also in the mess hall at a nearby table, twisting his fork around some spaghetti he had whilst Kate watched him in worry.
Since he had been discharged from the sickbay, Michelangelo hadn't felt himself at all, he didn't find any pleasure in playing video games, nor read his comics, nor even watch his favourite movies as he was so worried about his brothers and sister.
He had barely eaten either and that worried everyone as nothing ever put the youngest ninja turtle off his food.
In fact, Kate had to persuade him to eat and she never left his side.
"Mikey? Master Splinter?"
Almost everyone looked up in shock to see April in the doorway.
Splinter dropped his cup and stood up.
"Miss O'Neil?" he asked desperately.
"Raph's awake!" April replied.
"Raph!" Michelangelo yelled and he hopped off his chair and raced for the doorway.
"Mike! Wait!" Kate shouted jumping up after him, Jake also stood up and followed them, Amber not far behind.
April had to jump out of the way as Michelangelo, Kate, Jake, and Amber rushed past her.
Splinter and George would have scolded the mutants for such behaviour, but giving the circumstances, they let it slide and they stood up to follow April back to the sickbay.
No sooner did the three mutants and human man reach the sickbay than they were told to wait by Dahlia who waited for James to say it was alright to go in.
At the same time, Pandora arrived with Sonia and the Geckolings, and then to the wolf nurse's chagrin, some other Mutopian's appeared, all curious to know of Raphael's condition.
"So, what's up? How's the turtle doing?" Rattletrap asked to which Jack and Sharky glared at him to shut up.
"Please! Anyone not family, stay back!" Dahlia ordered then looked to see Splinter, Casey, George, and April and beckoned them forward.
Tyroth soon arrived and he began to shoo everyone else away yet the Knights remained behind at a safe distance, as did Sonia and the Geckolings, ready to comfort their friends when they came out again.
The rat, after some reassurance from George, and the two humans came forward and they entered the room, followed by Michelangelo who reluctantly let go of Kate, and Pandora who grabbed Splinter's hand as she ran in.
Sonia hugged the scared Geckolings close as they watched the Hamato Clan enter the room.
As they entered, they saw Leonardo hugging Raphael and James standing nearby.
"My son!" Splinter cried as he saw his second eldest, prompting Leonardo to loosen his grip on Raphael so he could look at his family.
"Dad!" Pandora let go of the rat's hand and ran to her father sobbing.
"Gently!" James cried out as Pandora hugged her father tightly and sobbed.
"Oh dad!" Pandora wept then let go and looked at Raphael's stricken face.
The turtle looked so drained and pale, and the bandages still adorned his neck, and he opened his mouth, but the same hissing noise came out.
"No…" Michelangelo murmured in a broken voice "It is true…"
Splinter lowered his head as tears streamed from his eyes.
"My poor brave son!"
Casey bit his knuckles in heartbreak over his best friends' injuries, but he was also pained at the sight of Pandora who looked at her father in grief.
April swallowed the lump in her throat.
"She took away your voice dad!" Pandora sobbed "That evil bitch took it!"
Normally Pandora would be abolished for her potty mouth, but in this case, the adults said nothing as they could see the hybrid wasn't in the right state of mind to listen to anyone.
Raphael sighed and stroked Pandora's face, yet tears fell from his eyes as he couldn't even tell his daughter everything would be alright or that he loved her or that he was glad she was alive.
He could only hiss as he moved his mouth forming the words and Pandora read his lips.
'My baby girl, I'm so sorry, I was so scared for you, and your mother, Uncles and cousin...'
Pandora sniffled and held her father's paws as he cupped her face.
"I won't ever hear your voice again, will I?" Pandora demanded tearfully.
James opened his mouth to say something, but Leonardo stopped him.
Raphael looked down and sighed then looked at Pandora again, he opened his mouth but closed it again, he wasn't sure how he could comfort his daughter.
James leaned down and touched Pandora's shoulder.
"We will do all we can my dear." He said "Both me and Dahlia, and Devina's going to do all she can as well."
Pandora blinked then she looked at the Chimpanzee as she remembered Devina and her healing magic.
"Can she heal him?" she asked, "And mum and Uncle Don?"
The Chimpanzee looked worried, and Dahlia went pale.
The others looked at each other and Michelangelo's head jerked up.
"Yeah!" he chimed in "Can't Devina heal them? After all she healed me back then in Skyrim!"
He remembered only too well the incident when they had to take part in a series of tests and trials in an underground dwarf city, and he had to do one which resulted in him getting seriously hurt to the point where he almost died if it wasn't for Devina's healing magic and some potions he had to drink.
"She can…can't she?" the hybrid asked as she looked at the doubtful Chimpanzee.
"Well, Pandora." James said with a sigh "As much as Devina has healing magic, there are limits to it, and some wounds can't be fully healed."
"What?" Pandora asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Michelangelo also felt his stomach tighten as he listened as well as studied James's face.
"The thing is, Devina's magic can seal wounds, yet she cannot remove poisons, venom nor infections…which is I discovered a while back when she first came to live in Mutopia."
Dahlia nodded as she remembered learning that as well when she arrived and studied under James's tuition.
"Also, Raphael's injuries have been here a while, and it's going to take a while, so even with Devina's magic, had she been able to help earlier, this may not be happening…"
Pandora stood there and stared at the chimpanzee in silence, Michelangelo looked forlorn as he looked at Pandora and Raphael and he wanted to go over to them both, but April placed a hand on his shell to stop him.
"So…she can't heal him?" Pandora asked in a small voice as she looked at her father then back at James.
"Child…I didn't say she can't heal him…" James said in a calm voice "I just said it may take more time, and we're still not certain..."
Pandora shook her head.
"No!" she cried "I can't take it! I can't stand the thought of my father maybe never talking again!"
"Pandora…" Leonardo reached for his niece.
"Get away from me!" Pandora snapped then turned away as tears flowed from her eyes.
"Little Geisha!" Michelangelo called over as he chased after her before anyone could stop him.
Splinter shook his head then walked over to Raphael and stroked his face wiping his tears.
"My poor son." He said, "It's going to be alright, we will look after Pandora, until you and Monalisa get better."
Raphael looked at his master and nodded slowly before mouthing 'Thank you…' then he looked to Monalisa and Donatello still in their induced comas and more tears fell to which Splinter held him close.
Leonardo meanwhile patted James's shoulder and nodded at Dahlia showing they appreciated their help and effort to help his brothers and sister.
Outside, everyone heard Pandora's heartbroken outburst and they jumped as they saw her run out the door with Michelangelo not far behind.
Pandora saw them but she strode past, but not before glaring up at Devina who flinched at how the hybrid looked at her.
She knew why, and she sighed.
"I should have not followed Tyroth." She thought to herself, and she felt Jack place a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.
"She's just upset." He said, "I'm sure she doesn't mean what she thinks of you right now."
Devina looked at the wolf in thanks then looked to where Pandora had run off, Michelangelo following her.
Kate wanted to follow but Sarah stopped her thinking it best to let Michelangelo handle the situation.
Sonia looked saddened for Pandora and the Geckolings suddenly hugged Tyroth and Sephie close, tears falling from their eyes.
The Dragon and Gecko soon realised and hugged them back.
Freya and Loki saw how upset Pandora was and they hoped against hope that nothing like that would happen to their parents, and there was that one incident they thought they lost their mum when Vulstrun attacked her and broke her neck, but thanks to James and Sarah they had used the water to heal her, but it was a close call.
Sonia meanwhile watched after Pandora then she turned to see Splinter, April, Casey and Leonardo walking out, all looking pale and devastated.
Tyroth looked to Leonardo and the blue masked turtle glanced at him.
"Is it as bad as I think?" Tyroth asked.
Splinter sighed as he leaned on his cane.
"My poor son…" he said, "My poor brave son…."
"His vocal cords are damaged so bad he can't speak." Casey wept.
Everyone gasped in horror.
Devina put her head in her hands in guilt.
"Oh no!" Sonia cried.
"Oh, poor Pandora!" Heather gasped.
"What will Mona say when she wakes up and finds out?" Sharky asked.
Percy didn't say a word as he looked at his feet.
Kate looked to where Michelangelo and Pandora had left.
Jake and Amber looked at each other in shock then at the door.
"I'm so sorry Splinter." Old George tried to console his friend.
Tyroth lowered his head and looked at everyone.
"Guys." He said getting everyone's attention.
"I know this is hard news, but we need to do what we can to be supportive to our friends and be there when they need us."
The other Knights agreed.
"I will make another announcement in the mess hall over supper time." The Dragon informed "in the meantime, we will resume our activities."
"If we can…" Jake murmured as he looked at Amber sadly and the iguana gripped his hand in comfort before walking out of the sickbay with the other Knights.
So sad, it's been confirmed that Raphael is now mute due to his injuries, and Pandora has taken it the hardest. Its going to take a long time for Raphael to fully recover if he's able to talk again.
The event Michelangelo speaks of where his life was saved by Devina comes from Tyroth Darkstorm's Skyrim/TMNT Crossover 'Mutants Misplaced' and the other reference that the Geckolings remember was from his other recent fanfic 'Nemesis' Both really amazing fanfics!