Forward And Back Again
Past Tense
"If you don't mind me asking, where did you send those Turtles?" asked Darius Dun.
The TriShreddatron sat in his war room where Dun, Zixx, Viral, Triple Threat, and Jammerhead were all present.
"It's simple," the Shredder told them. "I sent them to the past."
Everyone in the room looked at each other.
"This won't affect anything major will it?" Darius asked out of concern.
"No, our master has made all the necessary calculations," Viral told them.
"Some of you no doubt know the history of how New York was once under siege from a demonic entity who could bend reality to his whim?" asked Ch'rell.
"So what about it?" asked Zixx.
"That demonic entity was my predecessor, the original Tengu Shredder," Ch'rell told them. "When I had the Foot Mystics under my control, I only knew back then that the original Tengu Shredder made his appearance in Japan in 300 AD, when he scourged the land before becoming one with the human Oroku Saki."
"However, recent archaeological evidence done by our excavation teams have found evidence of a Tengu Shredder worshipping cult who operated there even before 300 AD," Viral added.
"That's certainly interesting," Dun nodded.
"I have sent the Turtles and their rat master to the past in 150 AD, when the cult was operating at its peak," Ch'rell told them. "I have done all the calculations and sending them back to any other moment would certainly affect our timeline. However, my discernment led me to the conclusion that sending them back to the time of the demon cult would certainly ensure their demise while keeping all of us intact."
"A wise strategy if I do say so myself," added Darius Dun.
"So they get sacrificed and we get to kick back and relax," Jammerhead nodded. "Sounds good to me!"
oooo
Japan. 150 A.D.
"Am I still alive?" asked Michelangelo. "Somebody pinch me!"
At once, Donatello pinched him.
"Ow!" Mikey complained.
"You're still alive, aren't you?" asked Donatello.
The three Turtles and Splinter looked all around them. They were in the middle of a burning village somewhere that looked to be medieval Japan.
"We got transported back to the past, didn't we?" asked Leo, looking all around.
"I'm afraid so," Donnie took out his bo staff.
"Be careful my sons," Splinter cautioned. "We do not know when or exactly where we are."
"I don't like the looks of this," Michelangelo looked around at the carnage.
"Be ready for action," Leo looked around as he held his swords firmly.
The clattering of horse hooves alerted the entire mutant family.
Before they knew it, a bunch of armored horsemen in grey armor surrounded them amidst all the fire and ruin.
"Halt!" one soldier shouted.
"Who are you people?" demanded Leo.
One mounted warrior who was dressed in a different, red suit of armor got in front of the Turtles and Splinter, observing them carefully.
"Lord Daigo!" the other soldiers bowed.
"These creatures," Daigo scrutinized the mutants carefully. "They look familiar but they are not the Kappa demons we are familiar with."
"You're right," his soldier agreed. "They're smaller and don't bear the fangs and claws of the usual Kappa."
"Perhaps they are a different type of Kappa?" Daigo mused.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Leo told him. "But we're not what you think we are."
"Yeah," added Mikey. "In fact, we're not even supposed to be here. So if you could just kindly move your horses and let us through…"
"You must be mistaken to think you can walk from this peacefully," Daigo told them with a savage grin.
"I don't like this sound of this," Donnie frowned.
"Men, take these reptiles and that rodent!" Daigo ordered.
"Let's do this!" Leo spun his swords around.
As two of Daigo's foot soldiers attacked, Donatello knocked them aside with his staff to clear a path for his brothers and father.
"Step aside!" Splinter cried, knocking down an armored warrior with his staff who attacked him.
Michelangelo and Leonardo leaped into action, taking down wave after wave of soldiers who came at them.
"Almost clear," Leo pointed to a bamboo forest as they fought their way through the soldiers.
Daigo looked at them unconcerned. He raised a hand as if giving a signal.
"Onwards to freedom!" Mikey cried.
At once, a dart struck every Turtle and Splinter on the necks from behind.
Leo was the first to turn around. Situated next to Daigo were some snipers with dart guns that they used to blow with their mouths. And the dart that struck him contained some kind of toxin because Leo started feeling woozy in mere seconds.
"Oh, that's not good," Leo stumbled forward a few steps before falling down.
As he fell, he managed to tilt his head and look. His father and brothers had also fallen from the poisoned darts.
Leo tried to fight the effects but it was no good. Before long, he too passed out.
"Take these creatures back to our lair," Daigo ordered his men as he stood over them.
oooo
In the temple room of the mountain lair, Daigo and his men were joined by multiple kappas and other assorted demons who assisted them with taking the unconscious Turtles and Splinter to their cells.
"They resemble us," a large kappa told Daigo. "But these creatures are not as we are."
"I thought as much," Daigo nodded. "Either ways, the master will have a new sacrifice tonight."
"Yes, he will see you now," the kappa stepped to the side to allow Daigo to pass.
Daigo walked into the center of the temple where a large fire was burning.
"Oh great and mighty Shredder!" Daigo got down on both knees. "I kneel before you as your servant with news!"
Before Daigo, the fires burned brightly as a face contorted in the flames before an image appeared before the armored warrior.
"Speak, my servant," the terrible visage of the Demon Shredder emerged with glowing green eyes.
"In our latest raid, there were no survivors," Daigo told him. "However, we encountered several strange creatures, some of whom bare a superficial resemblance to your kappas. Among them is also a rat who walks like a man."
"I have not heard of such creatures before," the Tengu Shredder opened his mouth to reveal a row of sharp teeth. "What are they and why have they entered into my realm?"
"I do not know, master," Daigo replied. "But I will be certain to interrogate them before I bring them before you and sacrifice them in your name, master."
"Very well then," the hideous Demon Shredder told his loyal servant. "Find out what they are before you bring them before me."
"It will be as you command," Daigo bowed.
oooo
Leonardo was the first to wake up. He and his brothers and father were in prison cells made from bamboo sticks carved into the side of a mountain cave. Already he saw Splinter, Mikey, and Donnie stirring.
The soldiers were not yet aware that he was awake yet as they continued on with their conversation.
"That one mercenary from yesterday made a fatal mistake challenging Lord Daigo," one soldier said to the other.
"Yeah, lucky for him, Lord Daigo is always sporting and accepts challenges for a one-on-one duel," the other soldier remarked. "The guy got cleaved in half the minute he drew his sword against our lord."
Leo got up.
"Who are you people?" he asked.
The soldiers turned around.
"Be quiet, creature!" one soldier warned. "We won't say a word until Lord Daigo shows up!"
A man in red armor showed up soon.
"Lord Daigo!" the two soldiers bowed.
The cult leader looked at Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Splinter, trying to understand what they were exactly.
"You show up unannounced in the middle of one of my campaigns," Daigo took a seat before them. "Just what are you?"
The Turtles and Splinter looked at each other. There was no way they could just casually tell this man that they were from the future and that they were mutants. And even if they did, would Daigo even believe them?
None of them said anything.
"Not in the mood to talk?" Daigo narrowed his eyes. "Very well then, tonight when the preparations are ready, all of you will be sacrificed to the great Tengu Demon Shredder!"
At that point, the mutant's family's willful silence turned into stunned silence as all of them realized they'd been sent to the past during the era of the Tengu Shredder.
"Make peace with your maker," Daigo got up, walking off. "For you shall meet them soon."
"The Demon Shredder?" Mikey gasped. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"I share your concern, my sons," Splinter told them. "But for now, allow me to meditate and assess the situation before coming to a conclusion."
Splinter sat down cross legged and pondered. On the wall to the other side of their cells were all their confiscated weapons and the two soldiers were back on guard duty after Daigo had paid them a visit.
Soon, however, an opportunity presented itself. Both soldiers turned their backs to Splinter as they stood directly in front of his cell.
"Do you think that last village we raided was enough?" one soldier asked the other.
"Should be," his compatriots answered. "I think we've made enough sacrifices that the Shredder should be able to take form on this earth."
"Speaking of which, it's hot. It's time we took off our stuffy helmets."
Both soldiers took their helmets off to reveal that they wore bandanas underneath their helmets.
Seeing his opportunity, Splinter immediately leaped into action. He reached out through the bars and grabbed the ends of the bandanas on both soldiers. Pulling back, he drove both their heads into the thick bamboo, knocking the two men out in one swift motion.
"There," Splinter reached out with his tail through the bars and felt around until he was able to slide it under what felt like prison keys.
Finally, he took the keys and opened up his own cell before freeing his sons as well. In only a few short seconds, all of them had gathered their weapons and gear.
"Thanks sensei," Donnie smiled.
"So now we know we're back in the time of the Demon Shredder," Mikey grimaced. "We can't get out of here soon enough!"
"I agree," Leo replied. "Besides, who knows what we'll change in history if we meet the original Demon Shredder and he sees our faces. Best to just escape while we can."
"My sentiments exactly, my sons," Splinter nodded. "Now let us depart."
oooo
"What is this?!" demanded Daigo.
He and his soldiers stood before the two unconscious men who were supposed to watch over the Turtles and Splinter.
As the two guards came to, they immediately realized the severity of the situation. And now the Turtles and Splinter were gone.
"Lord Daigo," one of the cried. "Please forgive us!"
Daigo took out one of his swords and killed both men in a single powerful slash.
"Spread out and find those creatures!" Daigo ordered.
At once, his men obeyed his command and went out.
Daigo walked back to the pyre where he kneeled once more to beseech the Tengu Shredder.
"Great and mighty Shredder," Daigo told him. "Our prisoners have escaped."
The image of the ghastly Tengu Demon appeared.
"Really now?" asked the Demon Shredder.
"My men are on their way to catch them!" Daigo promised.
"Then find them and return them to me as a suitable sacrifice," the Demon Shredder told him. "Failure is not an option."
"I swear before you, my lord!" Daigo vowed. "None of those filthy creatures will leave here alive!"
oooo
"Are we almost in the clear?" asked Mikey.
"Just a little while further," Leo said, leading the way as the family trudged their way through the forest.
Soon, however, they reached a river.
"I think we're almost clear," Donnie looked all around the place.
Before they could cross the river, however, multiple large shapes began to emerge from the water.
"I don't like the looks of this," Michelangelo remarked.
Soon, they were faced with kappas, very similar to the ones they had fought when they were training under the Ninja Tribunal and when they fought the Demon Shredder in New York.
"None of you will escape from this place!" one of the kappas spoke in a raspy voice.
"No choice but to fight," Leo said grimly.
Before the Turtles and Splinter could engage the kappa, the sound of horse hooves was heard nearby.
"Oh great, not this!" Mikey groaned.
As the kappa formed a barrier preventing the Turtles and Splinter from moving forward, Lord Daigo and his men appeared, finally surrounding the mutants from all sides.
"I don't suppose we could talk this through?" Mikey smiled weakly.
"The time for talking is over," Daigo told them. "One way or another, the Shredder will have his sacrifice tonight! As his most faithful disciple, I will not disappoint him."
All of the men surrounded Leonardo and his family, preparing to fight.
"Oh yeah?" Leo retorted, thinking fast. "And what if the Shredder's star pupil is a disappointment after all?"
Daigo's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You clearly have all of us outnumbered," Leo told him. "Where's the real sport and accomplishment in wearing us down with numbers?"
Daigo raised a hand to hold his men back from attacking.
"You must be faster at drawing your tongue than drawing your blade," Daigo snarled, "if you dare to take this tone with me."
"Who can blame me?" Leo replied. "I overheard your men talking about how the mercenary who challenged you to a duel got sliced in half. And I know that you accept challenges of this nature."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" demanded Daigo.
"Precisely," Leo pointed his sword at Daigo. "I challenge you for the right for me and my family to walk away freely from all this."
To be continued.