Note: Shout out to Tyroth Darkstorm for his one-to-one help in writing this chapter!
Also references to Tyroth Darkstorms fics 'Ancient Legacy' 'Mutants Misplaced' 'Role-Playing Gone Wrong' and the TMNT 2003 'Turtles in Space' episodes appear in this chapter.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A Shield and Sword
Outside the medical room, Tyroth saw how drained and tired Leonardo looked.
"This is awful T," the blue masked turtle lamented, his voice was hoarse, and his legs looked shaky.
"I don't know what to do anymore."
Tyroth sighed as he looked at his friend.
"I understand, this is hard on all of us. You more so, and Kemeko especially."
Leonardo looked through the window the medical room at Kemeko who was curled up on the bed crying.
"It's been nearly two weeks, and neither of us hasn't slept properly, despite Sephie's help, the nightmares are still plaguing her."
"Still, from what I've heard, she has made great progress," Tyroth said truthfully having learnt from Sephie what she had tried to teach Kemeko to help her with her nightmares.
"It just hasn't been enough to help her in her current state. Had she not suffered these nightmares, I bet she would have had the lucid dreaming all but mastered at this point."
"I suppose yes." Leonardo replied, "I want to help her, but even my suggested meditation exercises haven't helped."
He shook his head in defeat.
"Must be because how exhausted she is." Tyroth suggested as he observed Kemeko through the window of the door to the medical room.
"Even if we have the right medicine for her, she's too weak to take it right now. She needs something to help her recover so that she can start healing."
"But what?" Leonardo asked as he leaned against the wall and sat down defeated, feeling helpless and useless.
Tyroth looked down at Leonardo sadly, feeling bad for the turtle, but then he began to think, remembering how using his magic he had helped him, as well as Monalisa in her hour of need.
He thought about how he had used his magic to amplify Leonardo's meditation skills and through that they were able to reach higher astral planes to learn the mysteries they had faced, and even the Afterlife.
Yet, there was one thing they hadn't tried, at least not to his knowledge and he looked down at the depressed turtle.
"I don't have the answer..." Tyroth said, "but I might have a wild guess."
As the Dragon spoke, Leonardo looked up.
"I think Sephie had the right idea, trying to tackle the night horrors in their own domain, but I don't think Kemeko will be able to do that alone." Tyroth said, "Tell me, Leo, have you ever heard of multiple people *sharing* a dream?"
Leonardo blinked as he heard Tyroth's words then thought hard before he spoke.
"Dream sharing?" he said "I've heard of it, but never thought it possible."
I'm not sure it actually is," Tyroth replied "At least not normally, and had you asked me many years ago, I might have dismissed it as some rumour at best. But we've had our fair share of unbelievable things happen to us, often several times a year, so I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt."
"Well, we've been through so much in our lives," Leonardo mused "I'm ready to believe anything."
He thought back to the many escapades and adventures he and his family had gone through, being sent into space by the Utroms years ago, battling the demons when they invaded Mutopia, being sent to Skyrim, the Dungeons and Dragon's world, and facing many other enemies and forces of evil, he was ready to try anything out of the ordinary.
He stood up and looked at Tyroth, hope shining in his tired eyes.
"Do you think it might work to help Kemeko?" he asked desperately.
Tyroth gave a small smile, yet he kept that serious look on his face.
"I do. But I will admit, it is a longshot, but then again, we've reached into the afterlife not once, but twice already. Reaching into Kemeko's dreams can't be that much different."
Leonardo looked at Kemeko then back at Tyroth, determination rising in his soul, and he narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, let's do it!" he declared.
Tyroth nodded and gave a wink.
"Then we'll get you in your bed as well." He spoke.
A little while later, Leonardo and Kemeko lay in their beds in the medical room, Tyroth sat in a chair in-between them and explained what he was going to do, meanwhile, James and Dahlia prepared some syringes to sedate them both so to begin the procedure.
Kemeko looked over at Leonardo who reached over and clasped her hand, then they looked at Tyroth.
"Just to make sure we're all on the same page, I will go over this once more." The Dragon spoke "James and Dahlia will administer something to help you both fall asleep, something slow acting, so that you can at least begin the meditation. At the same time, I will use my magic to act as a bridge between your minds."
Both Kemeko and Leonardo nodded understanding, Leonardo had a serious look on his face whilst Kemeko looked afraid.
"If all goes as planned," Tyroth concluded "Leo should be able to reach into your dreams, Kemeko, where he can help you banish these nightmares."
"I understand." Leonardo said then looked over at Kemeko.
"Dad." Kemeko whimpered "I'm scared!"
Despite being told the plan and how it was to go, the young Asian girl was uneasy and was scared it wouldn't work despite her father and uncle Tyroth's reassurance.
"I know, my Lotus..." Leonardo soothed as he squeezed her hand "And it's easy to say that you don't have to be... but I'll be right here, in both heart and mind..."
Kemeko nodded trusting her father, then looked at Tyroth.
"You promise this will work Uncle T?" she asked.
"I will do everything in my power, Turtle child." Tyroth replied fervently.
Seeing the dragon's kind yet serious eyes, Kemeko nodded and rested back on the bed.
"Okay, let's do this." She said then she saw James and Dahlia walking over with a syringe each.
Dahlia knelt beside her, whilst James knelt by Leonardo and they both got ready to administer the drugs.
"Okay Tyroth." James said, "On your command we will administer."
Kemeko squeezed Leonardo's hand and Leonardo squeezed back.
Dahlia nodded at James ready to inject.
Tyroth then nodded at the Mutopian Medics giving them the signal, and both administered the drugs to help Leonardo and Kemeko slowly go to sleep but not before they were to enter meditation.
At the same time, Tyroth began to channel his magic and mana as his body began to glow red.
Dahlia couldn't help but watch in amazement, even though she had seen what the dragon could do, it never ceased to amaze her.
James meanwhile looked hopeful as he stood up and went over to his nurse.
"Both are in a deep sleep." He reported as Tyroth concentrated, and the red glow flowed to his hands and began to spread over Leonardo and Kemeko's sleeping forms.
Tyroth looked up at the wolf and Chimpanzee.
"I'm afraid that I will have to ask you to not interfere," he said in a serious voice "No matter what happens. This is delicate enough as it is."
Dahlia nodded earnestly.
"Understood Dragon." She said, then she felt James take her hand.
"Come Dahlia my dear, we must do as he says." He started to lead his nurse to the next room where Donatello and Monalisa were, yet the wolf mouthed 'Good Luck' to Tyroth before they disappeared within.
Tyroth followed them with his eyes, mouthing 'Thank you' to Dahlia, then he looked down to the sleeping forms of Leonardo and Kemeko.
"Be brave, Kemeko, your father will protect you." He said softly as he continued to focus and closed his eyes.
As the warm glow spread over Leonardo and Kemeko, they both entered their meditation states before falling asleep.
As Kemeko slipped into a deep sleep, it was calm and quiet for a while, but it didn't last as she soon opened her eyes to find herself in a dark and empty void.
Kemeko looked around trying to find Leonardo as she couldn't feel his hand as she had been holding onto it as she fell asleep.
"Dad? Dad?" She called in desperation then she closed her eyes and tried to stay calm, yet her heart pounded hard, so hard it felt like a drum, and it hurt in her chest.
Just then a dark laughter filled the darkness and Kemeko felt the terror fill her soul, yet she covered her ears and closed her eyes, even though she could feel the footsteps approaching her and the laughter get louder.
"I told you, child. You can never escape me. You belong to me. You will always belong to me."
Kemeko shook her head and screamed as she pushed her fingers into her ears harder.
"Do not deny it! You are Oruko!" she then heard the voice of Karai.
"You could have had everything!" then came the voice of the clone of her, yet she kept her eyes closed and her ears covered despite the fact the voices couldn't be shut out.
"No! No! I refuse!" she screamed "This is only a dream!"
"That you believe so is the dream. A delusion!" Shredder's voice shouted, "You can never escape your fate, Oruko Kemeko!"
"No!" Kemeko yelled "I am Hamato! Daughter of Hamato Leonardo!"
Just then she felt herself get grabbed by the wrists and she was forced to open her eyes and she saw the disfigured face of her clone before her.
"We are Oruko!" she hissed baring her teeth at Kemeko.
"NO!" Kemeko screamed, trying to take control of her dream "You're an abomination!" she spat in the clone's face pushing her away, then turned to Karai who was glaring at her and in her Shredder armour.
"And you're not my mother!" she pointed at her "You're just her past mistakes!" she then glared with hate at the Shredder as he came towards her, his red eyes glowing behind his helmet.
"And you!" she roared as she pointed at him "You're the worst monster!"
She then felt a hand collide with her cheek and she fell, she then looked up to see Karai looming over her.
"How dare you!" Karai snarled then placed a foot on Kemeko's leg whilst the clone hissing and growling, and her snake eyes flashing grabbed her hair.
Kemeko struggled but then she saw Shredder walking over with his clawed hand raised.
"If you're so adamant that you are not Oruko, then so be it. For if I can't have you, neither shall the freaks!"
He raised his clawed hand and Kemeko saw the sharp blades flash as he got ready to bring it down on her!
Suddenly, a streak of blue light shot through the dark void, landing between Kemeko and her demons like a bolt of lightning!
Kemeko then felt a pair of strong arms cradling her and she saw a blue spectral form of Leonardo holding her close and his shell facing the three nightmares.
"At least a freak makes for a better parent than you." He spoke.
"Daddy?" Kemeko wept then saw her father smiling down at her.
"I got you Lotus, I promised you!" he soothed kissing her forehead.
The Nightmares stared in shock at the blue spectre of Leonardo, yet Shredder glowered and raised his bladed hand.
"Even here, you defy me, turtle." He growled furiously "But if you believe that you can win against all of us, then you are sorely mistaken."
Leonardo looked up at Shredder with a knowing smirk and he patted Kemeko's head gently as he held her close
"It is you who is mistaken." He said in a low voice "I am only her shield, He's her sword!"
He pointed to the air and the three nightmares looked up to see a large orb of fire suddenly come into being, and the entire void shook as if struck by an earthquake as the orb grew larger and larger, taking the form of Tyroth, completely made from fire and large as a mountain!
Kemeko looked up with wide eyes! As did the nightmares as a hand the size of a building descended towards them all, and captured the Shredder, Karai, and the clone, holding them in a grip like steel as they are brought up to eye level with the titan fire dragon.
The Nightmares struggled in the giant fire hand as they were held like toy soldiers.
Then the firey Tyroth opened his mouth and in a thundering voice said one word.
"Leave!"
He then Lit the nightmares all on fire before throwing them into the depths of the darkness like he was throwing a baseball.
Kemeko watched the fiery nightmares fly away but didn't see where they landed in the darkness.
"Uncle T?" she asked in curiosity.
Tyroth looked down at the Asian girl in Leonardo's arms.
"They are gone for now," he said, his voice still thundering but soft.
"But they may come back, your father and I will keep watch, so you can have the dreams you want, the ones you deserve."
Kemeko smiled as she looked at the fiery titan form of her Uncle Tyroth then at the blue spectral Leonardo.
"Thank you, Father, Uncle Tyroth." She whispered before resting against Leonardo's chest.
At the same time, Tyroth's massive finger of fire toward towards the Asian girl, it was warm to the touch, a soft and cosy warmth, like that of a blanket, and one that would make her feel safe.
"We will always be there for you." Tyroth soft in a softer tone and a small smile formed on Kemeko's face as she relaxed, and she felt Leonardo kiss her forehead.
"We promise Lotus."
"Thank you..." Kemeko breathed as she felt for the first time since the battle at the Foot Headquarters a sense of safety and peace.
"I love you both... Father...Uncle Tyroth..."
Back in the real world, Tyroth opened his eyes as he returned to Mutopia from the Dream realm.
He looked at Leonardo and Kemeko who were now sleeping peacefully and still holding hands.
Tyroth smiled and stood up, he bowed to Leonardo's form then he went over to Kemeko and kissed her forehead.
"Sweet dreams Turtle child," he said running a finger gently over the white streak in Kemeko's hair.
"Don't worry, it'll all be alright."
He then walked to the entrance of the medical room and crept out.
Unknown to the dragon, James and Dahlia had been watching everything from the next room where they had been checking on Monalisa and Donatello who too were asleep.
"Even within the two years I have been here, the Dragon never ceases to amaze me." Dahlia declared.
"I know what you mean." James agreed.
"How is it he was blessed with such power? He's like a deity...a saint almost in flesh..." Dahlia mused.
James looked at his medical protégé.
"Blessed, or cursed?" he asked, "Can you imagine the kind of burdens he carries?"
"I suppose I can." Dahlia replied as she brushed her black bangs away from her eyes, "If I were in his shoes, I doubt I could cope...he's a strong soul..."
"Indeed. And maybe his soul is the reason for his powers. Noble and just, a guardian through and through, like the dragons of old." The chimpanzee said.
"Maybe...but one thing I know for sure James..."
"Oh? And what's that?" The chimpanzee asked raising an eyebrow at the wolf.
"You said it yourself, he is a guardian, and our guardian, a noble and just guardian to protect us."
"And we're lucky to have him." James agreed "May God have mercy on those that threaten us, for they will receive none from Tyroth.
Dahlia nodded.
"Too true," she smiled at her mentor "We are lucky to have him on our side."
James chuckled in agreement then looked at his watch.
"You go get some rest yourself Dahlia," he said, "April and Alice will arrive soon to watch over the patients then I'll retire for the day."
"Thanks Boss." Dahlia replied as she stifled a yawn, glad to be relieved of duty for a few hours.
So Tyroth and Leonardo were able to dream share to help protect Kemeko from her nightmares! Hopefully it should help progress her healing.
Again huge thanks to Tyroth Darkstorm for his imput!